Soccer America Archives

"With sports you never know what is going to happen. One thing I know I'll always have is my degree." Santa Clara's Jide Ogunbiyi, selected at No. 18 in the 2009 SuperDraft by RB New York, faces the choice of either reporting for training camp immediately, or finishing his final year at college to earn […]

"We were so close, 45 minutes away from being in [MLS] Cup. We just couldn't quite get over the hump. It's just more motivation for this year. With the same guys returning, we're looking forward to more good times." Chicago Fire midfielder Justin Mapp signals the official opening of Preseason Optimism.  

"They saw me as that [a leader] in August when they signed me. I wouldn't know any other way to do it, but obviously I'll take as big a role as they want me to take." Seattle Sounder FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller on talk that he's the obvious choice for team captain.  

“The season hasn’t gone the way everyone expected it to, and it hasn’t gone the way I expected it to. But I came to another very good team with good players. The guys I’ve been competing with have been scoring goals, and when I got my opportunity, I didn’t put the ball in the net […]

"I do like to take chances and be aggressive. I like to score goals. But I like to stay within a system, too. I want every player to have responsibility. I'm not going to be one of these coaches talking about how he's going to play aggressive, attractive soccer and use three or four forwards, […]

The English Football Association has called for "the strongest possible sanctions" against Millwall fans found guilty of violence and vandalism during Saturday’s fourth round FA Cup defeat at Hull City. A section of the visiting support ripped out 50 seats, threw missiles, and destroyed toilets before, during and after the game. Police made 12 arrests. […]

Retired French referee Bruno Derrien has published a memoir, “Down With The Referee,” telling how managers and coaches cultivate their relationships with match officials. According to the book, “the canniest coaches manage their relationships with referees as studiously as they do with their players,” writes Ian Hawkey. Derrien tells, for example, how Manchester United manager […]

At Toronto FC’s press conference to introduce midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, the P-word was being thrown around by club officials "with reckless abandon," reports Gareth Wheeler. That stands for Playoffs, but Wheeler says that while such confidence is refreshing, another P-word could also be used about expectations: Premature.

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said Monday that he wants on-loan L.A. Galaxy midfielder David Beckham to stay on at the club, and that he will be disappointed when, or if, he returns to California in March. Speaking on Italian radio the day after Beckham scored his first goal for Milan goal in a 4-1 […]

U.S. midfielder Sacha Kljestan‘s hat trick for the national team against Sweden at the weekend may have actually harmed his chances of moving to Scottish champions Glasgow Celtic, writes Ronnie Cully. In short, the higher the player’s value, the less likely that Celtic can afford him. Kljestan “impressed everyone” during his six-day trial at Celtic […]

“I’ve kept an eye on Emile’s career and when he’s confident he’s a top player. Something leveled at Emile is that he doesn’t score enough goals and I am sure he probably thinks exactly the same. But it doesn’t mean he hasn’t made a massive difference in other areas.” Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill on […]

“It’s disappointing to lose Jimmy. We said all along that we’d like to keep all of our players but the possibility of Jimmy leaving has been there all the time. He’s been seeking the type of contract we couldn’t give him.” Fulham manager Roy Hodgson on the departure of midfielder Jimmy Bullard to Hull City. […]

“I think he certainly has benefited from one year of playing somewhere else. He looks as athletic as before, probably more comfortable on the ball. I think with any player you get experience by playing and by making mistakes. I think he has gained some experience that is quite good for him.” RB New York coach Juan Carlos Osorio on returning defender Eric Brunner, 22, who left a year ago to play for Miami in the USL rather than downgrade his salary to a developmental contract.

AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani has said that Brazilian playmaker Kaka will not leave for Real Madrid or any other club at the end of the season. The player turned down a $150 million move to Manchester City this week, but Spanish media reports have linked him with a move to La Liga’s reigning […]