“For a semifinal, a spectacle for our national game, to be played on such an appalling playing field was very disappointing. It wasn’t conducive to the type of football that we try to play.” Falkirk defender Steven Pressley criticizes the playing surface at Scotland’s national stadium, Hampden Park, after his team’s 3-0 loss to Glasgow […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Wigan Boss Slams Man. City’s Palacios Approach
“I have to say Manchester City’s behavior was absolutely disgusting. If they had not come in a week last Friday and unsettled the boy [Wilson Palacios], he would have signed a contract for us. He was wobbling and wasn’t sure about going to London [to Tottenham Hotspur]. We had offered him a contract and he […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hoeness Rage At Ribery’s ‘Circus’ Penalty
“That’s ‘Cirque du Soleil,’ and I didn’t like it one bit.” Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness was not at all amused by Franck Ribery‘s attempt to chip Stuttgart goalkeeper Jens Lehmann from the penalty spot during his side’s 5-1 road victory in the German FA Cup round of 16 game Tuesday. With Bayern leading […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Robinho Denies Involvement In Nightclub Assault
“He strenuously denies any allegation of wrongdoing or criminality, and is happy to cooperate with the police if required further.” A spokesman for Manchester City’s Brazilian striker Robinho following his arrest, and release “pending further inquiries,” in connection with an alleged sexual assault in a Leeds nightclub on January 14.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Keane Could Return To Spurs In Swap Deal
Tottenham Hotspur has offered Liverpool either Aaron Lennon or Jermaine Jenas, plus cash, in exchange for striker Robbie Keane, report Sam Wallace and Ian Herbert. Keane went north from Tottenham to Liverpool just last summer for $29 million. They describe it as potentially “one of the most remarkable transfers in recent history,” but there […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Despite Quakes Shirt Deal, A Bumpy Road Ahead
Ann Killion brings attention to the “six-story-tall Earthquakes jersey” that was visible in front of the Fairmont Hotel, San Jose, on Tuesday. “The Earthquakes,” she writes, “want to make sure no one missed their big news: They have a corporate sponsor. In this economy, for a team in a minor sports league, that’s news worth […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Sounders’ Finalist Hopes To Become First Native American in MLS
Central defender Chase Mikkelsen has made it to the list of 10 finalists for a roster spot on the Seattle Sounders FC roster, and the winner from the team’s talent search, which looked at more than 600 regional players, will be decided this weekend. If he wins, he will become the league’s first Native American […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Leiweke Sure That Beckham Will Return
Back on the West Coast, Anschutz Entertainment Group Chief Executive Tim Leiweke insisted that David Beckham “loves” Los Angeles, and that his move to MLS has been a success. He said that the player will be returning to the team, despite MLS Commissioner Don Garber saying Tuesday that the league would talk about a permanent […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beckham: Milan ‘Special’, MLS ‘Frustrating’
L.A. Galaxy midfielder David Beckham has admitted that he’s enjoying his loan spell at AC Milan even more than he’d expected, and has compared European soccer unfavorably with Major League Soccer, whose games he called “a bit frustrating.” Beckham, 33, was quoted in Italian daily Corriere Della Sera as saying: “Playing here [in Milan] […]
Posted inSoccer America Classifieds, Story
Soccer America Classifieds
Welcome to Soccer America Classifieds, Soccer America’s newest email newsletter connecting soccer companies and organizations to Soccer America members each week. Soccer America Classifieds feature soccer classified advertisements on the latest soccer job openings, soccer products and soccer opportunities. Read Soccer America Classifieds each Wednesday.
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
There’s EPL and Spanish Cup action on Wednesday, and the U-20 South American Championship. UNCAF Cup placement games begin on Thursday and conclude on Sunday with the final. Look for Gol TV and more Mexican League updates in Friday’s Soccer on TV e-letter.
Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“What I’ve found is a lot of women want to coach and they aren’t being invited in, and once they are in they don’t find it a very friendly territory.”
— University of Southern California sociology professor Michael Messner, author of the upcoming book, “It’s All for the Kids: Gender, Families and Youth Sports,” on his eight-year study of youth soccer, finding that men are routinely drafted for coaching duties while women are moved into “team parent” roles. (Vancouver Sun)
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Best Youth Club Rankings
The Baltimore Bays and Dallas Texans are No. 1 in Soccer America‘s annual rankings of the top boys and girls clubs, respectively. For the Top 30 rankings ..
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Texans reclaim No. 1 girls ranking
[GIRLS TOP 30] A banner year propelled the Dallas Texans back into the top spot in Soccer America‘s Best Girls Club rankings. They moved ahead of their frequent opponent Eclipse Select on the national stage. For a look at Soccer America‘s Top 30 Girls Clubs …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Bays take top boys spot
[BOYS TOP 30] For the first time since Soccer America began its annual rankings of the Best Boys Clubs in 2004, the Baltimore Bays are No. 1 in its annual rankings, edging last year’s top-ranked club, the Dallas Texans. For a look at Soccer America‘s Top 30 Boys Clubs …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
NSCAA/adidas National High School Rankings
Boca Raton Wellington and Ft. Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, both South Florida schools, are No. 1 in the latest NSCAA/adidas winter rankings for boys and girls, respectively.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
U.S. Youth Soccer honors competitive coaches
U.S. under-15 girls national team coach Tad Bobak of the So Cal Blues girls program is among the regional winners of the U.S. Youth Soccer Competitive Coach of the Year award. The national winners will be announced at the U.S. Youth Soccer Awards Gala on March 6 as part of the US Youth Soccer adidas Workshop in San Jose, Calif.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Hernandez and Moylans enter North Carolina Hall of Fame
Izzy Hernandez, coach of the national powerhouse Broughton boys and girls programs, and Mike and Brendan Moylan, co-founders of Hillsborough-based Eurosport, the world’s largest soccer retailer, were inducted into the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame at its annual banquet on Saturday in Greensboro.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Mixed results for Chivas USA at Copa Chivas Comex
Chivas USA’s U-18 team went 1-2-1 in its first four games at the 24-team Copa Chivas Comex in Guadalajara, Mexico. With one game to play against Brazil’s under-17 national team, Chivas USA was fifth in its six-team group.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
U.S. girls national team megacamp rosters
Coming off a year in which the USA won the Under-20 Women’s World Cup and finished second at the inaugural Under-17 Women’s World Cup, the U.S. national youth team program for girls began a new cycle with 48-player megacamps for under-18 and under-20 players in Chula Vista, Calif., and for under-17 and under-15 players in Sunrise, Fla.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
RISING STAR: Eclipse Select’s Taylor Vancil
Taylor Vancil played every game in goal for the United States at the Under-17 Women’s World Cup in November, helping guide the Yanks to a second-place finish. Taylor plays club ball with Illinois powerhouse Eclipse Select even though her family has moved to Colorado. In the fall, she will play at Louisville. Learn more about Taylor Vancil in our Rising Star profile.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
New York City prep soccer and Title IX
Most folks associate Title IX issues with college athletics, but Title IX litigation or the threat of Title IX litigation is increasingly common in high school sports. In a case receiving national coverage, the New York City Department of Education agreed to move the girls soccer season from the spring to the fall (the same as for boys soccer) because the spring prep season conflicted with club soccer. The decision, which followed threats of litigation by the New York Civil Liberties Union, has not been universally praised.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Keeper Friedel sets up Aston Villa goal
[AMERICANS ABROAD] In midweek English Premier League action, keeper Brad Friedel assisted on Aston Villa’s goal in a 1-0 win over Portsmouth that moved it into third place. Clint Dempsey and Fulham didn’t fare so well against Sunderland.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“It depends on what it is they’re looking to do. We think David has been an important part of our league and a great ambassador and I hope that he stays in Major League Soccer for an extended period of time. If it’s something that makes sense for him and the Galaxy we’ll certainly be supportive of that, but it’s way too premature to comment.”
— MLS Commissioner Don Garber on AC Milan’s desire to turn David Beckham‘s loan into a transfer. (Goal.com)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Jazic signs, Chivas USA awaits word on Razov
[MLS] Chivas USA opens its preseason training camp Wednesday with only one of its two Antes under contract.