Soccer America Archives

Freddy Adu smiles a lot, especially when a soccer ball is near his feet. It’s an infectious smile enhanced by perfect teeth and exuberant eyes. His smile and a talkative, upbeat manner endear Adu to people who meet him. That charisma may serve Adu as much as his precocious soccer skills in January, when he […]

In his fifth match with his new club Sunderland, U.S. midfielder Claudio Reyna injured his ankle during a 1-1 tie with Aston Villa on New Year’s Day. Kasey Keller, meanwhile, picked up his first victory with Tottenham at the expense of fellow U.S. goalkeeper Brad Friedel and Blackburn. Friedel was beaten by a close-range header […]

MLS has purchased the English-language television rights in the United States for the next two FIFA World Cups (Japan/Korea 2002 and Germany 2006) from the Kirch Group, and will produce, package and sell the programming. The arrangement also includes the English-language domestic television rights to the 2003 Women’s World Cup to be held in China. […]

Kasey Keller played his first league match of the 2001-2002 season since joining Tottenham Hotspur last summer. In a 1-1 tie at Aston Villa, Keller was beaten on a 90th minute penalty kick by Juan Pablo Angel. British press reports said Keller played well. TottenhamÆs regular starter in goal, Neil Sullivan, was on the bench. […]

In 2001, Landon Donovan went from young phenom to professional star by helping the USA qualify for the 2002 World Cup and playing a vital role in San Jose’s capture of the MLS title. The Facts Born: March 4, 1982, in Ontario, Calif. Hometown: Redlands, Calif. Pro clubs: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) 2001-present, Bayer Leverkusen […]

North Korea is the only Asian team to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Its 1-0 win over Italy in 1966 is considered one of the great upsets in World Cup history. North Korea’s 1966 team is the great mystery team of the World Cup. No one had heard of the North Koreans before […]

The backbone of South Korea’s national team plays in the J-League. The exodus of players from South Korea to Japan that began with Noh Jung Yoon in 1993 has steadily increased. South Korean players have had little success in Europe – former Bundesliga star Cha Bum Kun is the notable exception – but they are […]

In his third game for Sunderland since arriving from Glasgow Rangers, Claudio Reyna celebrated his second English Premier League victory. SunderlandÆs Niall Quinn scored twice against BlackburnÆs American keeper in the 3-0 win. England ò Claudio Reyna (Sunderland, PL) vs. Blackburn (3-0) Started: 90 minutes. Sunderland ended a four-game away losing streak and moved up […]

The U.S. Soccer Federation has hired Thomas Rongen as the head coach of the U.S. U-20 menÆs national team. Rongen, who was released as D.C. United coach after the 2001 season, replaces Wolfgang Suhnholz. Rongen has notched two winning seasons during his six seasons as an MLS coach. In 1996, he coached Tampa Bay to […]

U.S. attacker Earnie Stewart scored on a free kick at the edge of the penalty area to help NAC Breda defeat Heerenveen, 2-1. It marked Stewart’s ninth goal this season. NAC is in fourth place on 34 points, behind PSV Eindhoven, which has 34 and a superior goal difference, second-place Feyenoord (35 points) and leader […]

U.S. midfielder Claudio Reyna scored the game-winning goal in the 77th minute in SunderlandÆs 1-0 home victory over Everton on Saturday. It was ReynaÆs second appearance in the English Premier League since joining Sunderland from Glasgow Rangers for a transfer fee of $6.8 million on Dec. 7. A crowd of 48,013 was at the Stadium […]

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber issued the following statement Dec. 21: “In follow-up to the previously issued statement of December 14, MLS is continuing the process of evaluating all team markets,” Commissioner Garber said. “At the present time no decisions have been finalized and discussions are on-going. MLS does not anticipate any further announcements […]

Is the United States better than it was four years ago? That’s the obvious question as we speculate on whether a Bruce Arena-led U.S. team can improve upon the last American World Cup performance – the three losses compiled by Steve Sampson’s 1998 squad. In the 10-game final round of qualifying four years ago, Sampson’s […]

NSCAA/ADIDAS First Team Goalkeepers — Oliver Sanders (Rio Grande), Mark Spears (William Carey). Defenders — Jeff Dolbeer (Berry), Thordur Jensson (Auburn-Mont.), Steven Linpow (Mobile), Jared Origi (St. GregoryÆs). Midfielders — Ousmane Coulibaly (Mobile), Matt Evans (Azusa Pacific), Jasmin Kadric (Embry-Riddle), Aduato Neto (Mobile). Forwards — Simon Carey (Rio Grande), Martin Gustavsson (Auburn-Mont.), Boyzzz Khumalo (Lindsey […]

Among South Koreans’ dreams for 2002 are national unity, an improved relationship with co-host Japan, and a place in the second round. There is a joke, Chung Mong Joon explains, that sums up his nation’s relationship with its most bitter rival: Every time South Korea elects a new government, Japan is asked to apologize for […]

NSCAA/ADIDAS First Team Goalkeeper — Jeff Rink (Nassau). Defenders — Martin Heagney (Santa Rosa), Jacob Kovacs (De Anza), Ross Perich (Macomb). Midfielders — Bryan Courtney (Holyoke), Chris Gannon (Nassau), Miguel Lopez (CC of San Francisco), Diego Mejia (Raritan Valley). Forwards — Tony Bonjorno (Mont.-Rockville), Leandro Focco (Canada), Ricky Quest (Herkimer County), Pablo Suarez (Raritan Valley). […]

MLS’s waiver system is used to rid teams of unwanted players – and force others to take pay cuts if they want to remain. More than two dozen players waived, none claimed. A rather benign beginning to the offseason, one might think. Far from it. The list of those waived includes one of the most […]

NSCAA/ADIDAS First Team Goalkeeper — Byron Foss (SMU). Defenders — Chris Gbandi (Connecticut), Danny Jackson (North Carolina), Lee Morrison (Stanford). Midfielders — Luchi Gonzalez (SMU), Kyle Martino (Virginia), Diego Walsh (SMU). Forwards — Nicholas McCreath (Rhode Island), Pat Noonan (Indiana), John Barry Nusum (Furman), Dipsy Selolwane (Saint Louis). Second Team Goalkeeper — Brian Steckroth (Navy). […]

NSCAA/ADIDAS First Team Goalkeeper — Thom Peer (Wisc.-Parkside). Defenders — Joe Cartlidge (Cal State Dom. Hills), Vincent Kwarula (Southern Conn.), John Thompson (Lewis). Midfielders — Georges Haba (Dowling), Sean Lockhart (Cal State-Dom. Hills), Justin McMillian (SIU-Edwardsville). Forwards — Luiz Araujo (Grand Canyon), Davy Arnaud (West Texas A&M), Roy Fink (Tampa), Anthony Maher (Mercyhurst). Second Team […]

NSCAA/ADIDAS First Team Goalkeeper — Chris Boyles (Messiah). Defenders — Glen Collins (Greensboro), Ryan Kitzen (Johns Hopkins), Brendan Mayer (Macalester). Midfielders — Shaun Cavanaugh (Wheaton, Mass.), Mike Iacono (Kean), Josef Powell (Williams), Ignacio Scarella (Rowan). Forwards — Alex Blake (Williams), Ted Giannacopoulos (Williams), Chris Heslep (John Carroll). Second Team Goalkeeper — Josh McElroy (Norwich). Defenders […]

NSCAA/ADIDAS First Team Goalkeeper — Joseph Alessi (Yavapai). Defenders — Cody Jones (Tyler), Jeffrey Panik (Cuyahoga), Raymond Raydil (State Fair), Garthfield Whyte (Meridian). Midfielders — Ricky Charles (Bryant & Stratton), Levi Dobondi (Mercer County), Jose Villasenor (CC of Rhode Island), Damien Westfield (Young Harris). Forwards — Alan Gordon (Yavapai), Alex Grecu (Mesa), Michael Ngonyani (Springfield). […]

Making up for lost time, Joe-Max Moore, who had gone 18 months without scoring for Everton, struck for the second time in four days. The American had a consolation goal in Everton’s 3-2 loss to Leeds Wednesday. John O’Brien also scored, hitting Ajax’s third goal in a 5-1 win over Vitesse in the Dutch Eredivisie. […]

NSCAA/ADIDAS Boys Under-17 Kevin Bailey (Dale City, Va.), Craig Capano (Hyde Park, N.Y.), Michael Chabala (Fresno, Calif.), Greg Dalby (Poway, Calif.), Matthew Hoff (Fenton, Mo.), Danny Karbasslyoon (Roanoke, Va.), Aaron King (Denver), Justin Mapp (Brandon, Miss.), John Mariscalco (Dayton, Ohio), Alex Matteson (Chesterfield, Mo.), Andrew Moor (Dallas), Darnell Nance (Stonghton, Mass.), Simon Omekanda (Rochester, Mich.), […]

NSCAA/ADIDAS First Team Goalkeeper — Glennis Donnelly (Meramec). Defenders — Sarah Gibson (Long Beach), Lindsay Knapp (CC of Rhode Island), Jessica Vasiloff (Lewis & Clark), Arin Belden (Monroe), Darrah Graziano (Monroe). Midfielders — Lindsey Kayal (Young Harris), Mari Rubert (CCBC-Catonsville). Forwards — Tenille Bennet (Dixie State), Tracy Hess (DeAnza), Kim Jents (Long Beach). Second Team […]

NSCAA/ADIDAS Goalkeepers — Sherry Slye (Bacon, Ohio), Marlsa Suarez (Immaculate Heart Acad., N.J.). Defenders — Nicole DiNapoli (South Kingstown, R.I.), Lisa Jaffa (South Side, N.Y.), Stacy Leeper (Shawnee Mission East, Kan.), Summer Loving (Katy Taylor, Texas), Jennifer Michewicz (Owen J. Roberts, Pa.), Marie Pedersen (Peninsula, Calif.), Ashley Schilling (St. Francis DeSales, Ohio), Lauren Zealear (Nevada […]