[UPDATE] Carlos Ruiz, who played a supporting role in the much-publicized “The Beckham Experiment” as the overpaid (for purposes of getting the Los Angeles Galaxy under the salary cap) foreign star, is on the move for a second time since leaving Major League Soccer. After a successful Apertura campaign at Paraguayan club Olimpia, he got his wish to move to closer to family in Guatemala and the United States, signing with Mexican club Puebla, where he will replace former FC Dallas teammate Ramon Nunez.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Blanco replaces DeRo on all-stars
[MLS] Talk about an inconvenient conflict! Toronto FC’s Dwayne De Rosario was selected to the MLS All-Star First XI for the All-Star Game July 29 against Everton in Sandy, Utah, but he’ll be unavailable because of his club’s CONCACAF Champions League preliminary match against the Puerto Rico Islanders the same day. Chicago’s Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who was narrowly beaten out by De Rosario in the voting for the fifth and final midfield spot, will take De Rosario’s spot on the team.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. team loses five players
[GOLD CUP] Charlie Davies‘ signing with French club Sochaux was good news for the New Hampshire product but bad news for the U.S. national team, which faces Panama Saturday in the quarterfinals at the Gold Cup. He is the fifth player to leave the U.S. team to return to his European club, having left Tuesday to complete his medical exam and sign his contract.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“As I told Robert, for a couple of naturalized citizens, we’ve done OK.”
— German-born Sigi Schmid, coach of the 2008 MLS champion Columbus Crew, after touring the White House with former Polish international Robert Warzycha, before Monday’s ceremony with President Barack Obama at the White House. Schmid, who now coaches the Seattle Sounders FC, and three former Crew players were reunited with the team for the ceremony. Warzycha replaced Schmid as head coach. (mlsnet.com)
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Onyewu Completes Medical To Join Milan
AC Milan’s latest signing, American Oguchi Onyewu, has successfully completed his medical, according to the Web site MilanNews.it. The central defender signed for the Rossoneri on a free transfer after five years with Belgian club Standard Liege. Onyewu will now join up with his teammates ahead of their preseason tour of the United States, where […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Feilhaber Continues To Roll Abroad
Benny Feilhaber has returned to the U.S. soccer radar with some flare. After an impressive performance for the USA in the Confederations Cup and a game-changing role as a substitute in a 2-0 Gold Cup victory over Honduras last week, Feilhaber scored twice in his first summer appearance for AGF Aarhus in a friendly on […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Rangers Fans Charged For Assault
Two Rangers fans have been charged with assaulting two police officers during violent clashes at the 2008 UEFA Cup final in Manchester. About 150,000 Rangers fans traveled to Manchester for the match between the Glasgow club and Zenit St. Petersburg on May 14, 2008. Violence erupted when a big screen in the largest fan zone […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Seattle To Bid On U.S. Open Cup Final
This week, Seattle Sounders FC will bid for the right to host the U.S. Open Cup championship game at Qwest Field. Seattle would qualify for the final if it wins the semifinal match against the Houston Dynamo on July 21. Seattle hopes its bid will be accepted over possible ones from the other semifinalists: D.C. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beckham Returns To Practice, Media
As expected, David Beckham‘s return to the Los Angeles Galaxy sparked a media frenzy. Beckham did his best to diffuse the controversy regarding an upcoming book, “The Beckham Experiment,” in which Galaxy teammate Landon Donovan questioned Beckham’s commitment to the club. Beckham and Donovan insist they have resolved their differences and they’re ready to continue […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Carlos Tevez Joins Manchester City
Carlos Tevez has officially joined Manchester City from crosstown rival Manchester United. The Argentine left Old Trafford last month after rejecting United's offer to turn his loan spell into a permanent switch. Tevez said: "City came with a very good proposal and ambition to become one of the biggest clubs in the world. It was […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Holden Enjoying Golden Stretch
Stuart Holden should be enjoying himself right now. On July 4, the 23-year-old scored on his international debut, helping the USA to a 4-0 drubbing of Grenada in the team’s opening game of the Concacaf Gold Cup. On Saturday, the midfielder struck for a stoppage-time equalizer as the USA rallied for a 2-2 draw with […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
International soccer returns to Baghdad
[IRAQ] Iraq played its first home game in Baghdad since the 2003 invasion toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein, beating Palestine, 4-0, on Monday. The 45,000-seat Shaab Stadium, which seats about 45,000 people, was packed with fans — indicative of the improvement in conditions.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. internationals on the move abroad
[MAKING A LIST] Danny Szetela returned to Spanish club Racing Santander after spending the last year and a half on loan to Italian Serie B club Brescia. For all the U.S. internationals who have made confirmed moves over the summer …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Krupnik joins Red Bulls from Israel
[MLS] The struggling New York Red Bulls signed 29-year-old American defender Leo Krupnik from Maccabi Haifa, champion of the Israeli Premier League, in a move that will take effect after the international transfer window opens on July 15.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Beckham and Donovan make peace
[MLS] On Saturday, David Beckham called Landon Donovan “unprofessional” for attacking his professionalism in the new book The Beckham Experiment. On Monday, the Los Angeles teammates said they had made peace at a meeting with Coach Bruce Arena, allowing them to move forward in their bid to end the Galaxy’s skid of three straight seasons without making the MLS playoffs.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Schelotto leads in all-star voting
[MLS] Seven first-time all-stars joined runaway vote leader Guillermo Barros Schelotto and perennial stars London Donovan, Dwayne De Rosario and Shalrie Joseph on the MLS All-Star First XI for the 2009 MLS All-Star Game, which will be played on July 29 at Real Salt Lake’s Rio Tinto Stadium when the MLS All-Stars play England’s Everton (TV: ESPN2 and Galavision, live, 9:30 p.m. ET).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“It’s a fabulous challenge, but I’d rather work with those two than two lousy players.”
— Los Angeles Galaxy coach Bruce Arena on having to settle difference between his team’s two stars, David Beckham and London Donovan. (USA Today)
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Winning is only solution to L.A. soap opera
Monday is the first day David Beckham will train with the Galaxy since leaving on his self-created long-term loan deal to AC Milan, and already he’s playing the victim.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Cowboys Stadium Also Built For Soccer
Dallas’ new Cowboys Stadium was built with football and soccer in mind. "Soccer wasn’t at the back of our minds in building the stadium. It was front and center alongside football,” Stephen Jones, the Cowboys’ executive vice president, said. “It is one of the pieces of the puzzle we knew we had to have in […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Philadelphia Union to Construct European-Style Academy
Peter Nowak, the head coach of the expansion Philadelphia Union, plans to bring some European-style development to the Philadelphia area. According to the former Polish national team captain, there are already plans to work with the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association to bring talented youth players in and prepare them for what it takes to […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Controversial Comeback at Qwest
Sounders FC scored two goals Saturday: one hotly disputed, one nearly unprecedented. Added up, they provided a 2-1 win over the first place Houston Dynamo before a sellout crowd of 32,404 at Qwest Field. “I feel pretty good,” assistant coach Brian Schmetzer, who was in charge because head coach Sigi Schmid was attending his son’s […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beckham Book Reveals ‘Dysfunctional’ Galaxy
The New York Times’ Jack Bell interviews Grant Wahl, whose controversial book, “The Beckham Experiment: How the World’s Most Famous Athlete Tried to Conquer America,” hits bookstores two days before David Beckham returns to the Los Angeles Galaxy lineup to play the New York Red Bulls on Thursday. In the interview, Wahl talks about how […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beckham Responds to Donovan’s Criticism
Making his first public appearance in Southern California since returning from loan to AC Milan, David Beckham addressed criticisms from teammate Landon Donovan in the book, “The Beckham Experiment” that he was fully committed to the Galaxy last season before leaving on loan to AC Milan. Primarily, Beckham defended his own professionalism while criticizing Donovan’s […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Top Premier League Clubs Eye Subotic
The talents of Borussia Dortmund’s towering defender Neven Subotic, who played for the U.S. U-17 national team but now represents Serbia, have been well documented by a trident of esteemed English Premier League clubs including Arsenal, title contender Chelsea, and nouveau riche Manchester City. Subotic appears to have a host of destinations to pick from, […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
David Beckham returns to the Los Angeles Galaxy in a Thursday night clash with the New York Red Bulls. The second leg of the Copa Libertadores final is on Wednesday. In the U.S. pro scene, Carolina faces Vancouver (USL, Friday), Toronto hosts Houston (MLS, Saturday) and Sky Blue FC takes on Chicago (WPS, Sunday). The Concacaf Gold Cup reaches the quarterfinal stage on Saturday, when the USA plays Panama, and Sunday. Look for updates in Wednesday’s and Friday’s Soccer on TV.