[MLS] Several key members of Chivas USA suffered significant injuries during the 2008 season and one of the players who stepped up to fill in has been sidelined by offseason surgery.
Defender Bobby Burling, a reserve in his rookie 2007 season, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle last week and is expected to be back in time for the start of preseason training in early February.
“Man City have scored in all of their home wins this year.”
— Said Sky Sports TV commentator Rob Hawthorne in case fans were wondering how soccer games are won. (BBC)
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Following in the footsteps of U.S. international Charlie Davies, Boston College senior forward Alejandro Bedoya has signed with a Swedish club.
[BRAZIL] Three-time World Player of the Year Ronaldo, 32, will make a comeback next year in his native Brazil with Corinthians.
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Chelsea, Roma and Panathinaikos secured the three remaining spots in the Champions League knockout phase with wins in Tuesday’s final round of play in Groups A to D. Didier Drogba came off the bench to score Chelsea’s winner against Cluj.
[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions. They include college coaching opportunities, as well as jobs in pro soccer, youth soccer, the soccer industry and television.
The Australian government will spend $29.4 million to support the country's bid to host the 2018 World Cup. Sports Minister Kate Ellis will announce the three-year campaign this week ahead of the campaign's formal launch by Football Federation Australia in 2010.
"We have a World Cup campaign to focus on and we will take the positives into it. This is not to say, though, that the team does not have to work out its problems and now move ahead full speed." Concacaf President and Trinidad & Tobago soccer federation "special advisor" Jack Warner comments upon his […]
"I've found the SPL [Scottish Premier league] to be a lot more physical than both [MLS and NCAA]. The number of challenges and tackles are increased and every game is truly a battle. Even in training, it is more physical and a battle as everyone is competing for a spot on the pitch." U.S. and […]
"I'm a person who must either give full gas, or nothing. When I no longer feel I can give full gas, it's sensible to say so." Norway national team coach Aage Hareide resigns after five years in charge, apparently tanked. The country is last in its World Cup qualifying group with only two points from […]
"Many people asked us along the way what soccer has got to do with literature. The connection seemed bizarre to them, but for us the connection is natural — the creativity and the passion, the excitement and the pain, the rage and the fame: soccer is life, literature is about life." Writer Assaf Gavron, who […]
Despite earlier indications to the contrary, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has announced a full-strength, 23-man squad to fly to Japan for the World Club Cup this weekend. At least someone's taking it seriously. Ferguson had said earlier this season that he might leave some of his first-choice players behind ahead of a December 26 […]
The stronger dollar could be good news for any MLS team planning to import players from Europe, writes Greg Lalas. At the same time, it may make European clubs think twice about importing U.S. talent. Jozy Altidore cost Villarreal $10 million when it bought the striker from RB New York this past summer, which at […]
The San Jose Quakes and Joe Cannon are in contract talks after the team declined to pick up the goalkeeper’s contract option for the 2009 season, writes Elliott Almond. Cannon, 33, said he’s cautiously optimistic about the negotiations. "My heart has always been in San Jose no matter where I’ve played," he said. "It’s a […]
Former New England Revolution defender Michael Parkhurst, 24, thinks that now is the ideal time for a move to Europe, writes Monique Walker ahead of Tuesday’s expected announcement that the player has joined FC Nordsjaelland of Denmark. "I just felt like with me being the age I am, and being out of contract, that if […]
Real Madrid sacked German coach Bernd Schuster Tuesday and appointed recently fired Tottenham Hotspur manager Juande Ramos in his place. Injury-hit Real lost its third league game in four outings Sunday, and Schuster said afterward that it would be “impossible” for the reigning Spanish champion to beat Barcelona in this weekend’s superclasico. Fifth-place Real trails […]
Concordia (Ore.) senior defender Jackie Pronovost completed her stellar career with a fourth first-team selection to the NSCAA/adidas NAIA Women’s All-America Team. Pronovost’s sister, Justine, garnered her third all-America honor as she was named to the second team. For all the NAIA women’s selections …
Like her sister, Penn State goalie Alyssa Naeher, named to the NCAA Division I first team, Amanda Naeher of Division III women’s champion Messiah was named to the NSCAA/adidas Division III Women’s All-America first team. She was joined by fellow Messiah midfielder Kacie Klynstra on the first team. For all the D3 All-America selections …
Three players — first-team pick Nicole Cito (Metro State) and second-team selections Gabriela Demoner (Franklin Pierce) and Katy Tafler (Grand Valley State) — were named to the 2008 NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division II Women’s All-America for the third time. For all the D2 All-America selections …
Notre Dame’s Kerri Hanks was selected as an NSCAA/adidas All-America for the fourth time. She was a second-team All-America choice in 2005 and a first-team selection each of the subsequent years. She was joined by Irish teammate Carrie Dew on the 2008 first team. UCLA, Florida State and Stanford also had two players apiece on the first team. For all the D1 All-America selections …
Women’s College Cup teams North Carolina, Notre Dame, Stanford and UCLA and quarterfinalist Florida State all had four players named to NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division I regional first teams. For all the regional teams …
It’s fitting that the Men’s College Cup will be played at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. Dallas soccer has had a big impact on the college game. All four Men’s College Cup teams have key players who hail from the Dallas soccer community. Two played for the Texans — St. John’s Ale Ivo and Maryland’s Omar Gonzalez — and two played for Solar — Wake Forest’s Corben Bone and North Carolina’s Cameron Brown. They’ll each square off in Friday’s semifinals.
[OFF THE POST] When ITV broadcast live from the locker room of minor league team Histon to capture its celebrations after an FA Cup win over Leeds United, it provided a national television audience with the image of a buck-naked Histon player performing a victory dance.
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE/TV SCHEDULE] The final round of group play takes place Tuesday and Wednesday, but 13 of the 16 knockout round qualifiers have already been determined. The five teams in contention for the final three spots compete on Tuesday. Chelsea, Roma and Bordeaux compete for the top two spots in Group A. In Group B, Panathinaikos and Cypriot club Anorthosis Famagusta clash for a chance to advance along with Inter.
“It was like playing against Ronaldinho on the Playstation – he did the exact same run-up, it was very strange.”
– Palermo goalkeeper Marco Amelia reveals how he stopped a penalty kick by AC Milan’s Brazilian star Ronaldinho late last month. (Goal.com)
