[WPS] There were few surprises in Women’s Professional Soccer’s draft of college stars Friday in St. Louis. Amy Rodriguez and Megan Rapinoe, the only college seniors invited to the U.S. women’s national team camp that begins Tuesday at the Home Depot Center, were taken by Boston and Chicago, respectively, with the No. 1 and No. 2 picks. The two big names from previous U.S. national teams, Briana Scurry and Brandi Chastain, went to Washington in the fifth round and FC Gold Pride in the seventh round, respectively. For all the selections …
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Various European leagues are in action during the weekend and the Mexican Clausura 2009 season opens.
(All times Eastern unless noted. TV programming is always subject to change. Check your local listings.)
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hull City Signs United’s Manucho On Loan
EPL newcomer Hull City has signed Manchester United's Angolan striker Manucho, 25, on loan until the end of the season. It is hoping to secure a work permit for him in time to play against Arsenal Saturday.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Benitez Rejects Latest Contract Offer
“The owners feel that the manager’s decisions need to be subject to the chief executive. But I know that I am subject to results and to our fans and they are the best judges I will ever have.” Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez explains that having to be accountable to Chief Executive Rick Parry on playing […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Not Real Or Milan, But Portsmouth
Liverpool has accepted a bid from Portsmouth for winger Jermaine Pennant, 26, the player surprisingly linked in recent weeks with both Real Madrid and AC Milan. He will discuss personal terms with the FA Cup holders "over the next few days," the Portsmouth website said.
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Hamm Happy As WPS Logo, No More
“Today I have no desire to do any kind of fitness, like stand up on a line, race out and be timed. I still go out and run to stay healthy, but I also know when it really hurts, I can stop.” Mia Hamm tells LZ Granderson she has no plans to come out of […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hughes Already Planning For Kaka
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is so confident that his team will sign Brazilian playmaker Kaka from AC Milan that he has already worked out a 4-1-4-1 formation incorporating all the team’s expected signings during this month’s transfer window, report Daniel Taylor and Graham Chase. Hughes and his staff “have devised an adventurous system that […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Calderon Quits As Real President
Ramon Calderon resigned as president of Spanish champion Real Madrid Friday after an emergency board meeting at the Bernabeu, Reuters reports, quoting Spanish media. It said that Calderon, in office since 2006, had been under pressure to quit since the newspaper Marca published allegations earlier this week of irregularities at the club’s general assembly last […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Atlanta Won’t Make MLS In 2011
A lack of commercial and local government partners, as well as the moribund economy, mean that Atlanta won’t be fielding an MLS team in 2011, writes Dan Chapman. But Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who submitted the city’s application last October, hasn’t ruled out trying for a possible franchise for the city in 2013. Kim Shreckengost, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Garber: St. Louis Must Strengthen Investor Base
St. Louis’ chances of landing a Major League Soccer franchise in 2011 hinge on the city strengthening its investor base, according to MLS Commissioner Don Garber . “It’s a great soccer market and we hope to be here at some point,” Garber said Thursday, in town for the NSCAA convention. “It’s got most of what […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS SuperDraft
For MLS SuperDraft coverage from Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney and Paul Kennedy in St. Louis.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS SuperDraft Selections
An MLS SuperDraft record six Wake Forest players were taken in the 2008 draft held Thursday in St. Louis. They included Hermann Trophy winner Marcus Tracy, taken by Houston in the fourth round. Tracy bypassed the adidas Combine and will place instead for Danish club Aalborg. For the round-by-round SuperDraft picks …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U-20 Men’s World Cup Qualifying
[U.S. SOCCER] The U.S. U-20 national team will face Jamaica, El Salvador and either Honduras or St. Vincent & the Grenadines in group play at the Concacaf qualifying tournament for the 2009 U-20 World Cup in Trinidad & Tobago March 6-15.
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U-17 Boys World Cup Qualifying
[U.S. SOCCER] In its quest to continue its streak of being the only nation to qualify for every U-17 World Cup, the U.S. U-17 boys national team will face Canada, Cuba and Honduras next spring at the Concacaf championship in Tijuana, Mexico.
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Bradley scores ‘dream goal’
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Things haven’t gone so well for midfielder Michael Bradley since joining Borussia Moenchengladbach last summer. His team sits in last place at the midseason point. But Bradley scored a spectacular goal on Thursday in an exhibition during the team’s midseason training camp in Spain.
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DaMarcus’ Discontent
[AMERICANS ABROAD] U.S. midfielder DaMarcus Beasley says he’s ready to leave Glasgow Rangers if he doesn’t get more playing time. He also says he loves the club he joined in the summer of 2007 but fears that his U.S. national team future will be jeopardized if he remains on the Scottish Premier League’s bench.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Agoos and Fawcett Elected to the Hall of Fame
[U.S. SOCCER] Jeff Agoos, who won five MLS titles and played 134 times for the USA, and Joy Fawcett, who won two Women’s World Cups and two Olympic gold medals, will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Kljestan to train with Glasgow Celtic
[MLS] Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan, a 2008 U.S. Olympian who has appeared 11 times for the full national team, is leaving the USA’s Southern California training camp to train for a week with Scottish Premier League leader Celtic.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“He’s big, he’s fast, his first name should be last, Stern John.”
— A chant from Bristol City fans about Stern John, the Trinidadian striker who starred in MLS before moving to England in 1999. (BBC)
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FIFA announces bidding process
[WORLD CUP 2018/2022] FIFA has announced the timetable for the bid process to determine the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, beginning with the deadline of Feb. 2 for a national association to express its intent to bid. It has been expected U.S. Soccer would wait until after Tuesday’s inauguration of Barack Obama to announce its intention to host.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Wake and Maryland top the charts
The trend in MLS is clear: teams are much more aggressive and confident in drafting players from the top college programs. Three players from Division I champion Maryland were taken in the first round and ACC rival Wake Forest landed two selections.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
A solid SuperDraft with real depth
Lacking perhaps a true standout yet well-stocked with promising talents, the pool of 60 players available in the 2009 SuperDraft were distributed among the 15 MLS teams Thursday. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney reports from St. Louis
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What They’re Saying
“I just know that [the Sounders have] some good players. I looked over the roster obviously. The main name I saw was Freddie Ljungberg, who played at Arsenal. I grew up watching him play and I’m excited about him. I don’t know yet [how I’ll fit in]. I’m just going to go over there and play. I’m confident in my abilities and what I can do. Obviously, coach [Sigi Schmid] has seen some stuff in me that he likes, and he’s got ideas and we’ll see how it works out.”
— Akron’s Steve Zakuani, a former member of English club Arsenal’s youth program, was taken with the No. 1 pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
From the small-college ranks …
Four players from non-Division I schools were taken in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, including two in the first round: Lynn’s Jean Alexandre (Real Salt Lake) and Tampa’s Ryan Maxwell (New England). Only three players from small colleges or JCs had previously been taken in the first round of the first 13 MLS drafts.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
MLS SuperDraft selections
An MLS SuperDraft record six Wake Forest players were taken in the 2008 draft held Thursday in St. Louis. They included Hermann Trophy winner Marcus Tracy, taken by Houston in the fourth round. Tracy bypassed the adidas Combine and will play instead for Danish club Aalborg. For the round-by-round SuperDraft picks …