WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
Deybi Flores earns first call-up to Honduras senior men’s national team – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed today that midfielder Deybi Flores has been called up to the Honduras senior men’s national team for an upcoming friendly versus Cuba. The home fixture is scheduled for Wednesday, December 16 at Estadio Juan Ramón Brevé Vargas in Juticalpa.
VIDEO: Waston scores first international goal for Costa Rica in 1-0 win over Nicaragua – Whitecaps FC
On Tuesday night in Liberia, Costa Rica, Waston scored his first international goal for the Ticos in a 1-0 win over Nicaragua. The 6-foot-5 centre back opened his account in the 59th minute, soaring over the Nicaragua goalkeeper and defender to head in a corner.
The Good, The Average and The Bad: Extending Pa-Modou Kah Edition – AFTN
Amid all the Re-Entry frenzy (well, two people on Twitter seemed excited), Vancouver Whitecaps announced on Friday that veteran defender Pa-Modou Kah has re-signed a one year contract extension for the upcoming season.
Interview with Vancouver Whitecaps 2 Coach Steve Meadley – The Footy Site
Steve Meadley, is currently Assistant coach for the Vancouver Whitecaps 2, who just completed their first season in United Soccer League (USL).
Dan Kennedy calls return to Southern California with LA Galaxy “a bit surreal” – MLS
There have been murmurs for months that Dan Kennedy would be returning to Southern California for the 2016 MLS campaign, and the LA Galaxy made it official Tuesday, acquiring the 33-year-old goalkeeper from FC Dallas for a pair of 2017 SuperDraft selections.
Rapids acquire Pappa from Sounders – Goal
The veteran midfielder will swap the Sounders for the Rapids as the last-place team in the Western Conference continues to re-tool.
Toronto FC Signs Drew Moor – Toronto FC
Toronto FC announced Wednesday that the club has signed free agent defender Drew Moor. As per club and league policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed. Moor becomes the first free agent signing in club history.
Pro career beckons after Morris wins NCAA title – Goal
U.S. national team forward Jordan Morris helped lead Stanford to an NCAA title, making a move to the pros a safer bet for the top prospect.
AEG sells remaining interest in Houston Dynamo – Soccer America
Phil Anschutz’s AEG, which owned six of MLS’s 10 clubs during the league’s low point, has sold its majority interest in the Houston Dynamo to Gabriel Brener, leaving it with the LA Galaxy as the only MLS club it still owns. It marks the first time in MLS’s 20 years each club has a different investor.
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BC SOCCER NEWS
BC Soccer Assoc. Appoints New Board of Director and Hires New Member Services Coordinator – BCSA
BC Soccer Assoc. has appointed Chuck Bennett as a new Board of Director and hired Ryan McQuillan as a new Member Services Coordinator. Chuck Bennett has been appointed, as per BCSA bylaws, for the remaining of Dino Anastopulos’ term as Dino has resigned.
Coach takes blame for LMG’s first loss this year – Cowichan Valley Citizen
After his team’s first loss of the Vancouver Island Soccer League season, Cowichan LMG head coach Glen Martin was pointing the finger of blame squarely at himself.
Cope re-elected President of KYSA – KYSA
Graham Cope has been re-elected President of the Kamloops Youth Soccer Association (KYSA) for another year. This will be the ninth consecutive year that Cope has been elected President and the tenth successive year that he has served on the KYSA board.
One-man wrecking crew leads Juan de Fuca to big soccer win – Goldstream Gazette
It was a fourth division Vancouver Island Soccer League men’s league game and, as usual, there weren’t many people around to watch at Westhills Stadium.
Young signs on with Heat soccer for 2016 – Kelowna Capital News
Spencer Young will keep his athletic talents right at home next season as a member of the UBC Okanagan Heat men’s soccer team.
BC Soccer Web Feature Matches – December 15 -January 4 – BC Soccer Web
The full-time whistle has blown for most B.C. Leagues in 2015. But we park the bus in stoppage time for one last weekend of action from the VMSL & FVSL. Play resumes in most leagues the weekend of January 8-10.
CANADA vs. MEXICO, March 25, 2016 @ BC PLACE STADIUM. Buy Tickets Today!
CANADA SOCCER NEWS
Canada will face USA in February Men’s International Friendly – CSA
Canada and USA will renew their international soccer rivalry on 5 February 2016 when the two nations meet in a Men’s International Friendly match. The match will be played at the Stub Hub Centre in Carson, CA, USA, near Los Angeles.
Kadeisha Buchanan steps into soccer stardom – CBC
She’s already one of the best defenders in all of women’s soccer, and Kadeisha Buchanan’s career is still just getting started.
Junior Hoilett interview: QPR forward wants stability under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink – Sky Sports
The Canada international joined QPR from Blackburn Rovers on a free transfer in July 2012 during Mark Hughes’ ill-fated spell in charge of the club, and has since experienced somewhat of a revolving door at Loftus Road.
Canadian youth rise to CU20W occasion – CONCACAF
Despite a 1-0 loss on Sunday to the United States in the final of the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship, Canada accomplished more than a majority of its objectives during the 12-day tournament in Honduras.
The top Canadian soccer moments of 2015 – TSN
It’s been another good year for the beautiful game in Canada, highlighted by our country putting on a great show last summer as host nation for the Women’s World Cup. For the first time ever, all three of Canada’s Major League Soccer teams qualified for the playoffs and a player from a Canadian team even scooped the league’s MVP award. As 2015 winds down, here are my top four moments of the Canadian soccer year.
Accessible soccer to find more openings in 2016 – OSA
This has been an incredibly successful year for the growth of accessible soccer programs in Ontario. At year end, we have 15 club based programs operating from Windsor to Ottawa and north in Sudbury.
VIDEO: Live the anthem: just be good | John Herdman – TEDxVancouver / YouTube
A recent TEDxVancouver talk by Canadian Women’s National Coach John Herdman.
How To Destroy Your Child’s Athletic Future In 3 Easy Steps – SportFactory
If you are find yourself excited at the potential of your child’s athletic career, I invite you take an objective look within. And if you catch yourself doing any of the three following things, I can all but guarantee your child will not end up where you believe they will.
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NASL & USL NEWS
Fury FC Transfer Richter, Ubiparipovic and Ryan – Ottawa Fury
Ottawa Fury FC today announced that they have granted the transfer requests of three players – defender Ryan Richter, midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic and captain Richie Ryan. The destinations of these three players will be announced by their respective clubs. As per club policy, terms of any transfers will not be disclosed.
The Fury’s nightmare off-season – 24th Minute
A magical season in Ottawa is turning into a nightmare of an off-season. Gone from the team that was a win away from the Soccer Bowl championship is Drew Beckie, Andrew Wiedeman, Tom Heinemann, Ugur Albayrak, Oliver, Nicki Paterson, Aly Alberto, Hassan Sinisa Ubiparipovic and captain Richie Ryan. Yikes.
The Fury’s new boss: The Paul Dalglish Q and A – the11.ca
I interviewed new Ottawa Fury head coach Paul Dalglish a couple of weeks ago; the interview was set for the next issue (No. 8) of Plastic Pitch. But, wow, have things changed. Phillip Dos Santos in now the technical director of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Ryan Richter, Sinisa Ubiparipovic and Richie Ryan have all had their transfer requests approved. And the team has already lost forwards Tommy Heinemann and Andrew Wiedeman. There’s been a bloodletting in Ottawa, and it simply can’t be ignored.
Wild day of NASL transfers rounds out a busy month – This is Cosmos Country
It’s been exactly a month since the NASL named its champion and a flurry of player transfer news since then has made things very interesting. After only a month, it looks like we have clear winners and losers in the offseason and a few surprising non-contenders.
Fort Lauderdale Strikers Announce Technical Staff – NASL
Fort Lauderdale Strikers Head Coach and General Manager Caio Zanardi today announced the technical staff for the 2016 North American Soccer League (NASL) season. Phillip Dos Santos has been appointed assistant coach, while Ricardo Lopes returns as goalkeepers coach. Cassiano Costa will serve as strength and conditioning coach. Zanardi also announced that Bruno Costa will join the Strikers as assistant general manager and lead the team’s scouting efforts.
Hammerheads Sign Local Standout Mechem – USL
Wilmington Hammerheads FC announced on Tuesday it had signed UNC-Wilmington defender Michael Mecham for the 2016 USL season.
Midfielder Yann Ekra Signs With Independence For 2016 Season – Charlotte Independence
The Charlotte Independence today announced its first new player signing for the 2016 season, welcoming four-year USL veteran Yann Ekra to the Queen City.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
Above all, Wambach’s leadership stands out most – The Equalizer
Abby Wambach will play the final game of her illustrious career on Wednesday in New Orleans, La., against China.
One for the road: Abby Wambach’s final match closes book on unassailable legacy – The Guardian
As she calls time on an unforgettable career with Wednesday’s friendly against China, the American striker readies for the next chapter – whatever that may be
Wambach ready to use her head for other goals – Sportsnet
The face of U.S. women’s soccer for the past decade since Mia Hamm retired, Wambach insists she’s been at peace for a while now with her decision to make Wednesday night’s friendly against China in New Orleans her final international match.
Japan legend Homare Sawa announces retirement – The Equalizer
Legendary Japan midfielder Homare Sawa announced her retirement on Wednesday, the same day on which her friend and United States forward Abby Wambach will play her final match before retiring.
Women’s football development on the rise in 2015 – FIFA
Women’s football made considerable progress in 2015, not only because of a successful FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in Canada but also through the unprecedented number of development programmes implemented across the globe.
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Pep Guardiola: next week there will be clarity over my Bayern Munich future – The Guardian
Pep Guardiola has confirmed he will make a decision over his future with Bayern Munich in the next week amid increasing speculation that he could be set to replace Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City.
Jose Mourinho: Chelsea board discuss manager’s future – BBC Sport
Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea future is in question following discussions about his position between the London club’s board of directors.
How Ranieri’s Leicester City has overtaken the EPL – SI.com
Leicester City sits on top of the Premier League table after 16 rounds in one of Europe’s biggest stories nearly halfway through the season. New manager Claudio Ranieri has sharpened Leicester’s focus, harnessing his players’ scrappiness to become a formidable defensive side paired with England’s in-form striker, Jamie Vardy.
Leicester City players are just five points off winning multimillion pound windfall – The Telegraph
Foxes players agreed heavily incentivised bonus scheme before season started… but did not consider including European qualification.
Vardy & Company bring a bit of anarchy to BPL – Sportsnet
For anyone with a little pre-Christmas time on their hands, the top of the Premier League goal-scoring charts makes for some reasonably interesting reading.
River Plate makes final of FIFA Club World Cup – Sportsnet
South American champion River Plate booked a place in the Club World Cup final for the first time in 19 years by beating Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0 on Wednesday.
Guangzhou’s Brazilians out to upset Barcelona in Club World Cup – Goal
The Asian champions will include some familiar faces to the Selecao when they go looking cause a major upset in Thursday’s Club World Cup semifinal in Yokohama.
Brazil MF Fred banned for doping – TSN
The governing body of South American soccer says Brazil midfielder Fred has been banned for one year for doping.
Derby’s Paul Clement: ‘Seeing how Carlo Ancelotti operated was invaluable’ –The Guardian
The former Chelsea, PSG and Real Madrid coach reveals how he kept players such as Ibrahimovic and Ronaldo stimulated in training, how he has got Derby purring and why Ancelotti’s team talks would take him by surprise.
Goa beat Delhi 3-0 to enter the final – Indian Super League
FC Goa reached the final of the 2015 Hero Indian Super League after beating Delhi Dynamos FC 3-0 in the second leg of their semi-final clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Tuesday night. Strikes from Joffre and Rafael Coelho in the first half and a Dudu goal in the second were enough for Goa to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg.
FIFpro’s Piat says TPO must be outlawed and players paid – Inside World Football
The French president of the international players union FIFpro says the current transfer system encourages third party ownership which he has described as “a monster”.
Huddersfield Town offer club themed funerals for fans – ESPN FC
What do you get the Huddersfield Town fan who has everything this Christmas? For starters, how about his/her own Terrier’s-themed funeral service?