As most observers anticipated, the San Jose Earthquakes failed to make the 2008 playoffs as an expansion team, yet their defense performed up to expectations. The team has retained the services of a key member of its back line.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
New deals, stadium project spur KC optimism
[MLS] Kansas City further revamped its roster for the 2009 season by re-signing attacker Davy Arnaud and midfielder Jack Jewsbury to new four-year contracts, a week after it had restructured the contract of Claudio Lopez and removed his Designated Player status.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Mike Petke comes ‘home’
The name of the team, the coach, and most of the players have changed, but the next stage of Mike Petke‘s career is taking him back to New York.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Central American squads prepare for Hexagonal
[DIGICEL UNCAF CUP] Central America’s regional championship gets underway on Thursday with special attention on the three teams — Costa Rica, El Salvador and host Honduras — that will compete in the final round of World Cup qualifying.
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
When – if? – Beckham returns, then what?
Let us assume that, come the end of February, David Beckham manages to remember that he is a Galaxy player, and that he bids a tearful farewell to his new AC Milan colleagues and returns to Los Angeles.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Honduran Palacios Signs For Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur has signed Wigan Athletic’s Honduran forward Wilson Palacios, for a reported fee of $19.4 million. Real Madrid had also expressed an interest. Palacios moved to Wigan from Birmingham last summer, and has impressed with his sparkling wing play.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
AIG To End Man. United Sponsorship
You, the U.S. taxpayer, will no longer be sponsoring Manchester United. Insurance giant AIG, bailed out by the U.S. government to the tune of $150 billion, announced as expected Wednesday that it will not renew its shirt sponsorship deal with the EPL and European champion when the current contract expires at the end of the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Cautious Plaudits For Grella
"He was tidy around the ball and his finishing was good. He’s showed a good attitude in training, but strikers are there to score goals and he did that." Leeds United reserve team manager Neil Thompson on 21-year-old American striker and trialist Mike Grella, scorer of three goals for Leeds Reserves in a 4-0 win […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Revolving Doors Mean No Soul At LA
"A team loses its soul when it loses so many players so often." Former L.A. Galaxy playmaker Mauricio Cienfuegos laments the high turnover of players at his old club.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
European WC Bids Suit Australia Fine
Spain and Portugal’s announcement that it will launch a joint bid for the 2018 World Cup could be a blessing in disguise for Australia’s hosting aspirations, according to Football Federation Australia Chief Executive Ben Buckley. Australia expects England to be its biggest competitor in the bid to secure hosting rights, but now that there are […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Sanneh, Bautista Try Out With Galaxy
L.A. Galaxy coach Bruce Arena has 33 names on his roster for the first training session of the new year Wednesday, writes Grahame L Jones, and it includes a couple of surprises — trialists Tony Sanneh, 37, and Venezuelan defender Henry "Leo" Bautista, 25. Former U.S. national team player Sanneh was a starting defender on […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Salt Lake Presents ‘Risky’ Haitian Draft Pick
Soccer pundits gave Real Salt Lake low marks for gambling with every one of its three picks at last week’s MLS SuperDraft, writes James Edward. But the team’s general manager, Garth Lagerwey, said his coaching staff did much more homework than they’re getting credit for. Lagerwey said it would have been safer to grab a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Madrid Gets Tiny Fine For Fascist Fans
Real Madrid has been fined a risible $3,900 by the Spanish sootball federation after a group of its fans were reported by a referee for making fascist gestures and chanting fascist slogans during last weekend’s home game with Osasuna. Referee Alfonso Perez Burrull said in his report that some Real fans were waving flags and […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Maurice Edu Turns Down Loan Option
U.S. national team midfielder Maurice Edu has said he turned down the possibility of a loan move away from Glasgow Rangers in order to stay at the club and fight for a first team place. Edu has played just twice for the Scottish club since his summer move from Toronto FC, and was also sidelined […]
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 America Daily, Story
Woitalla takes seventh writing award
[AWARDS] Soccer America executive editor Mike Woitalla received his seventh award in the NSCAA Writing Contest when he was selected as one of three winners in the 2008 contest.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Alabama JC women’s program shuttered
[SIGN OF THE TIMES] In a move called “an economic-type decision,” Shelton State has dropped Alabama’s only junior college to offer women’s soccer as a scholarship program.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Teen star called into national team camp
[U.S WOMEN] Christine Nairn, a freshman redshirt at Penn State, has been called into the U.S. women’s national team’s 17-day training camp at U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Ochoa and Castillo called into Mexico camp
[HEXAGONAL COUNTDOWN] Mexico coach Sven-Goran Eriksson called up U.S. products Carlos Ochoa (California prep and and college star) and Edgar Castillo (New Mexico youth star) for a three-day training camp before the Tri’s friendly international against Sweden in Oakland, Calif., next Wednesday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Grella hits hat trick in Leeds trial
[AMERICANS ABROAD] If English club Leeds doesn’t sign him, Mike Grella will wonder what it will take to land a job in England. The Duke star, who bypassed MLS for a shot in Europe, scored a hat trick in a 4-0 win for Leeds over Barnsley in a reserve game on Tuesday night at Elland Road.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Colombian scoring star Montero to train with Seattle Sounders
[MLS] The pursuit of high-scoring Colombian forward Fredy Montero takes an interesting twist Wednesday when he joins the rest of Seattle Sounders FC for their first-ever MLS training session. But, no, he isn’t under contract, according to a team source.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“To be a goalkeeper, you have to be a very special person. People remember only the goals. No one remembers how many saves you make.”
— N.C. State coach George Tarantini on the qualities of a goalkeeper fending off attackers that make Robert Gibbs well-suited to be President Barack Obama‘s press secretary. Gibbs was a backup goalie for the Wolfpack for three seasons (1990-92). (McClatchy Newspapers)
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Clough Not Impressed By His New Team
“The lads at [non-league] Burton [Albion] were better at doing certain things. Any player in the lower leagues would not have made those sorts of basic mistakes. It was a strange experience and I have been in a state of shock for the last 48 hours, really.” Nigel Clough, freshly installed as manager at Championship […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Kinnear Can Relate To Fan Rage
“The fans must vent their anger, I understand that.” Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear, who has been known for the odd loss of temper, empathizes with fans frustrated at his team’s 3-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers at the weekend.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Deuchar And Espindola Leave Salt Lake
Strikers Fabian Espindola and Kenny Deuchar have both left Real Salt Lake. The Argentine signed with Deportivo Anzoategui in Venezuela last week, while Deuchar, who never lived up to his nickname Dr. Goals in MLS, has signed for Scottish Premier League side Hamilton Academical.