Soccer America Archives

He is the self-described, self-styled “special one,” the man who arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2004 fresh from having sewn up both the Portuguese league and far more prestigious European Champions League to take control of an English club that had suddenly found itself with an endless supply of funds to spend on the world’s […]

MLS: Weekend action to shape postseason

With three games left in the regular season, three teams have clinched playoff berths – D.C. United, FC Dallas and the Chicago Fire. Nine are vying for the remaining five playoff berths. Here's how this weekend's six games can shape the postseason. SATURDAY, Sept. 30 NEW ENGLAND-COLORADO 7:30 pm ET. TV: Direct Kick, FSN-NE. New […]

USL-1: Rochester faces Vancouver for title

Three-time champ Rochester Rhinos host final debutant Vancouver in the USL-1 championship game on Saturday (live at 7 pm ET on Fox Soccer Channel). If the Rhinos win the title of the nation's second-tier league they'll set the title record at four; defending champion Seattle Sounders having also lifted the crown three times.

YOUTH: New U-17 national championship

Energy drink Red Bull, which owns the New York MLS franchise of the same name, is launching a U-17 national championship that comprises 16 teams and consists of four weekend-long tournaments, the first of which takes place Nov. 17-19, 2006, in Raleigh, N.C., in conjunction with the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) Shootout. ''Red Bull […]

6. YOUTH: New U-17 national championship

TV PREVIEW: Madrid derby features hot clubs

The Madrid derby between second-place Real and fifth-place Atletico (TV: Gol TV, Sunday, live, 12 pm ET) takes on new significance this year as both teams are off to strong starts. This weekend's headline match at Real's Bernabeu Stadium pits Real coach Fabio Capello and against Atletico's Javier Aguirre, the former NASL player. Both clubs […]

GERMANY: Klinsmann's pick finally gets post

Field hockey coach Bernhard Peters, who became the symbol of Juergen Klinsmann's efforts to remake German soccer, was finally hired by the German federation (DFB) to work as an ''external advisor'' two weeks after he led Germany to a second straight field hockey World Cup title. Peters, 46, was Klinsman's choice for the job of […]

5. USL-1: Rochester faces Vancouver for title

Three-time champ Rochester Rhinos host final debutant Vancouver in the USL-1 championship game on Saturday (live at 7 pm ET on Fox Soccer Channel). If the Rhinos win the title of the nation’s second-tier league they’ll set the title record at four; defending champion Seattle Sounders having also lifted the crown three times.

2. MLS: Weekend action to shape postseason

With three games left in the regular season, three teams have clinched playoff berths – D.C. United, FC Dallas and the Chicago Fire. Nine are vying for the remaining five playoff berths. Here’s how this weekend’s six games can shape the postseason. SATURDAY, Sept. 30 NEW ENGLAND-COLORADO 7:30 pm ET. TV: Direct Kick, FSN-NE. New […]

1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“I think it quite possibly could be the worst to play in, as far as fans, bar none. It’s to the point now that you don’t even want to tell your friends that you have a game, it’s so embarrassing.” — Colorado keeper Joe Cannonon the 76,125-seat Invesco Field, where the Rapids recently faced Chicago […]

3. WOMEN: Carolina captures 11th win in a row

No. 2 North Carolina won its 11th game in a row with a 2-0 win at Clemson thanks to first-half goals by freshman defender Ali Hawkins and sophomore midfielder Yael Averbuch. Sophomore Anna Rodenbough picked up her eighth solo shutout of the season in the Tar Heels’ 12 games. No. 3 Florida State‘s troubles with […]

5. CORRECTION: Unbeaten NAIA teams

Mid-Continent of Kentucky was the only NAIA Top 10 men’s team that remained unbeaten from the Sept. 20 rankings after Embry-Riddle’s pair of losses. Joe Zakowicz’s Cougars, ranked No. 9 this week, are 4-0-2. The only other unbeaten NAIA teams in this week’s Top 25 are Oklahoma’s Science & Arts at No. 7 and Fresno […]

4. TV PREVIEW: ACC match showcases sophomore stars

No. 3 Maryland hosts No. 7 Duke Friday night in the NSCAA Match of the Week on Fox Soccer Channel (live, 8 pm ET). The match features two of the country’s top sophomore strikers. Maryland’s Graham Zusi, last week’s Soccer America Player of the Week, has tallied a point in each of the Terps’ last […]

2. SURVEY: Canadians play big roles at women’s powers

Longtime North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance has called it the biggest change in women’s soccer in the last decade. Canadian players have played a growing role in the success of nationally ranked teams. In 2002 and 2005, Canada national team star Christine Sinclair led Portland to NCAA Division I titles. In 2004, Canadian Katie Thorlakson […]

1. Wisconsin hands UIC first loss of season

No. 9 UIC, the sensation of the men’s college season, fell from the unbeaten ranks when it lost at Wisconsin, 1-0, on Thursday night. Eric Conklin scored the game’s only goal for the Badgers on a header off a free kick taken by Zack Lambo in the 19th minute. “Teams are up for us,” said […]

Soccer America Confidential, Story

Jerseys plus TV equals $$$

Ever since Red Bull took over the train wreck formerly known as the MetroStars, full-blown jersey sponsorship league-wide was only a matter of time. Contingent upon the deal being approved by the board of governors was permission for “Red Bull” to be prominently displayed on the front of the jersey, as is common throughout the […]

3. TV PREVIEW: Madrid derby features hot clubs

The Madrid derby between second-place Real and fifth-place Atletico (TV: Gol TV, Sunday, live, 12 pm ET) takes on new significance this year as both teams are off to strong starts. This weekend’s headline match at Real’s Bernabeu Stadium pits Real coach Fabio Capello and against Atletico’s Javier Aguirre, the former NASL player. Both clubs […]

4. GERMANY: Klinsmann’s pick finally gets post

Field hockey coach Bernhard Peters, who became the symbol of Juergen Klinsmann‘s efforts to remake German soccer, was finally hired by the German federation (DFB) to work as an “external advisor” two weeks after he led Germany to a second straight field hockey World Cup title. Peters, 46, was Klinsman’s choice for the job of […]

U.S. Soccer Youth Development

By Mike WoitallaExecutive Editor, Soccer America Magazine The U.S. Soccer Federation is reevaluating the nation's approach to youth player development and coaching education. Even before the USA's unsatisfactory performance at the 2006 World Cup, U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati, elected in March, decided to launch a complete review of all the Federation's technical areas. […]

My View: By Mike Woitalla

How over-coaching and the emphasis on winning stifle young American talent. The little boy dribbled and kept dribbling. He had taken the ball away from the midfield pack and zoomed toward his own goal. This surprised the other children and allowed him to keep the ball to himself for much longer than any player had […]

College Scene

By Bryan Alvarez Assistant Editor, Soccer America Magazine On the field, they played in Freddy Adu's shadows. Even today they marvel at the moves he executed, contributing to the making of a legend. Off the field, they were Freddy's older brothers, all two years older than the phenom who entered the U.S. U-17 residency program […]

MLS Youth Development

By Ridge MahoneySenior Editor, Soccer America Magazine By forming a provision by which ''homegrown'' players can sign pro contracts and bypass the leagueÆs distribution procedures, MLS has provided incentive for teams to get serious about finding and developing talent. Argentinos Juniors isnÆt the equal of glamorous Buenos Aires neighbors River Plate and Boca Juniors, yet […]

Section 2 Around the Net, Story

Chicago Takes Fourth U.S. Open Cup

The Chicago Fire won its fourth U.S. Open Cup last night, beating the defending champ Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 at Toyota Park. Nate Jaqua opened the scoring in the 10th minute, heading home after Andy Herron’s shot across the goalmouth deflected toward him. Six minutes later Herron added his name to the scoresheet, heading in […]

Section 2 Around the Net, Story

McClaren’s Agent: ‘Majority’ are Corrupt

Some people just don’t think the “bung” scandal that has recently enveloped English soccer is all that surprising. Bungs are kickbacks, and Collin Gordon, close friend and agent of England manager Steve McClaren, says managers and agents take them all the time. Gordon called England “the dirty man of Europe” when it came to transfer […]

Section 2 Around the Net, Story

D.C. United Plays Down Adu-Reading Link