VANCOUVER WHITECAPS & MLS NEWS
Whitecaps loan Marco Bustos to Mexican club Zacatepec – The Province
Marco Bustos is back with the Caps, sort of. The Canadian midfielder announced Tuesday he’d joined Mexican club Zacatepec on loan.
Sam Adekugbe’s Swedish move looks off — but maybe not – The Province
Signed by IFK Goteborg on loan a year ago, the Swedish club held an option until Dec. 31 to make the move permanent — but they have declined to do so after they couldn’t finalize details with the Whitecaps.
David Ousted, is off to D.C., yes, maybe? – The Province
Where will David Ousted land in 2018? When we last spoke, the former Vancouver Whitecaps keeper was expressing frustration over how the MLS’s salary system was making it very difficult for teams to pick him up.
Outsider Carl Robinson emerges as 11th hour rival to Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy for Wales job – Wales Online
It remains unclear whether Robinson, who has been manager of MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps for the past four years, will actually be interviewed by Wales. He is happy in his current job across the Atlantic, with Vancouver’s new season due to start again next month. However, at least one member of the six-man FAW committee leading the search for Coleman’s successor believes Robinson’s credentials need to be examined properly.
Watch the 2018 MLS Schedule Reveal Show Thursday at 10:30 am PT – MLS
You’ve already seen your team’s 2018 home opener – now it’s time for the full 2018 schedule. Major League Soccer will announce the complete lineup of games for the upcoming regular season on Thursday afternoon, and MLSsoccer.com will kick off the reveal with a special live show.
Feilhaber headed to LAFC for $400k in TAM, GAM – NBC Sports
Well, this is something. Sporting KC has traded playmaker Benny Feilhaber to expansion side LAFC for $400,000 in allocation money.
Chicago Fire nearing contract deal with Bastian Schweinsteiger – MLS
The Chicago Fire are edging closer to re-signing Bastian Schweinsteiger, a source familiar with the negotiations told MLSsoccer.com on Wednesday.
LA Galaxy re-sign defender Ashley Cole – LA Galaxy
The LA Galaxy have signed defender Ashley Cole to a one-year contract, the club announced today. Cole, 37, signs ahead of his third season in Los Angeles.
Orlando City SC Signs Forward Dom Dwyer To Three-Year Contract – Orlando City
Orlando City SC signs forward Dom Dwyer to a three year-contract ahead of the 2018 season.
Real Salt Lake sign Spanish striker Alfredo Ortuño – MLS
Ortuño has spent most of his career in the Spanish second division. He last played for La Liga 2 side Cadiz, scoring 17 goals and adding three assists in 42 league appearances for the club last season. He left Cadiz after his loan from La Liga club Las Palmas expired following the season, then left Las Palmas last fall following a transfer controversy between him and La Liga 2 club Real Valladolid.
Toronto FC’s off-season wishlist is not a long one – Waking the Red
A few reinforcements here and there are what the Reds need to stay the course.
No Player In The U.S. Pool Deserves His First Cap More Than Stefan Frei – The 18
The 2017 MLS Cup Final will be rightly remembered as the crowning achievement on a historic, record-setting season for Toronto FC, but for the second year running, Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei came agonizingly close to writing the script himself — almost literally single-handedly.
The new MLS coaches in 2018 – U.S. Soccer Players
It’s the start of 2018, and it might already be crunch time for the new coaching hires in MLS. There’s no time like the present for pressure, with clubs already making major moves.
The British footballer with a goal to make it big in the US – BBC Newsbeat
When professional footballer Jack Blake was released from Nottingham Forest, he didn’t make the standard move to another British club. Instead he decided to follow in the footsteps of David Beckham and Frank Lampard and play in the US.
Six MLS clubs make top 30 of SoccerEx’s Football Finance 100 rankings – MLS
Thirteen MLS clubs made SoccerEx’s Football Finance 100 list for 2018, with six teams making the top 30 of the annual rankings of financial might among global soccer clubs.
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BC SOCCER NEWS
VISL All-Star Games This Weekend – BC Soccer Web
While most of the soccer world has the weekend off, we plan to play here on Vancouver Island; specifically Saturday January 6. The Intra League & Inter Provincial All-star games will be held at Hampton Park, home of Gorge FC, here in Saanich.
United/Jr. Heat product to play Canada West – Lake Country Calendar
West Kelowna’s Michaela Jacobsen has signed on with the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns for the 2018 Canada West women’s soccer season.
Soccer star earns prestigious Premier’s Award – Cowichan Valley Citizen
Mariah Thomas was hesitant to put her name in the hat for the 2017 Premier’s Awards for Aboriginal Youth Excellence In Sports, but it paid off once she went through with it.
Canadian legends Nick Dasovic & Andrea Neil team up for Individualized Coaching Program – Dasovic-Neil Coaching
Nick Dasovic & Andrea Neil have teamed up to provide training programs for players & coaches. The programs specialize in individual, positional, age, and gender specific training for players, with a combined technical and physical focus while providing education and mentorship opportunities for coaches to improve their skills and deepen their knowledge base.
BC Soccer Web’s 2017 Soccer & Sports Book Recommendations – BC Soccer Web
Over the years, there have been many books on soccer and sport that have given us joy, laughter, and much to think about. We’re happy to share these with you. We’ll be updating this list as new titles become available, so keep checking.
PCSL CHALLENGE CUP PHOTOS: Vancouver Utd. 3, Mid-Isle Mariners 1, July 30, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Richard Howes.
2016-2017 BC Soccer Year in Review – BCSA
BC Soccer Assoc. is proud to release their 2016-2017 Year in Review after another successful year of soccer. The #respectall initiative, High Performance License, Club Charter Program activity, along with the delivery of hundreds of coaching courses and referee clinics this past year highlight some of the successes.
BC PROVINCIAL WOMEN’S A CUP PHOTOS: Surrey United 1 NSGSC Renegades 0, May 13, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
2017 VISL JACKSON CUP PHOTOS: Nanaimo Utd. 2 Cowichan LMG 1 (XT), April 2, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
FVSL PHOTOS: Pakenham Cup Final, PMO Rangers 1 PMO Lordco Gunners 0, April 1, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Richard Howes.
Becoming a BC Soccer Referee – BCSA
Whether you are an experienced referee new to British Columbia or if you are new to the discipline of refereeing BC Soccer Assoc. has a clinic and a pathway for you. The minimum age to become a referee is 12 years old (small sided) and 14 years old (11-a-side). Please enjoy the short video showcasing some Referee programs that BC Soccer offers and continue below for more on how to become a referee in BC!
Free Physiotherapy Clinical Trial for Achilles Pain at UBC – UBC Centre for Hip Health & Mobility
Do you have Achilles pain? Interested in free Physiotherapy? If yes, join our clinical trial to look at the effectiveness of intramuscular stimulation (IMS), a form of acupuncture therapy, in treating Achilles tendon pain.
The BC Soccer Web Guide to Empire Field – BC Soccer Web
Empire Fields and Plateau Sports Park is the lofty and formal name given to Vancouver’s newest addition to the soccer scene. Yet, anyone who’s ever kicked or carried both kinds of footballs around these parts knows the place by heart.
Introducing BC Soccer Web Syndication – BC Soccer Web
You can now add BC Soccer Web news to your website simply by adding our new RSS Feed! Find out more.
Send your Soccer News to BC Soccer Web! – BC Soccer Web
BC Soccer Web is the hub for soccer in British Columbia. We want to share your soccer news with the entire province, and you can help by letting us know! We want your match reports, club news, league standings, and info on upcoming tournaments and clinics. Whether you submit links to existing news on the web, or your own original writing, we want to share it with the soccer community in B.C.
CANADA SOCCER NEWS
Canada Soccer HOF announce eligible players for 2018 – TSN
To be eligible for the Hall, players must have been retired for at least five years and played the game with “excellence at the international and club level” over a career that lasts at least 10 years, unless special exception is granted by the Canada Soccer Association’s general secretary.
Webinar – Early Specialization vs Multi sports – Ontario Soccer
Dr. Martin Toms, a former Ontario Soccer Summit presenter, will be hosting a webinar Jan. 10 at 3:30 p.m. PST on early specialization vs multi-sport approaches.
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USL, NASL & LOWER DIVISION NEWS
Nashville SC Signs MLS Defender Justin Davis To 2018 Squad – Nashville SC
Nashville SC of the United Soccer League (USL) announced the signing of former Minnesota United defender Justin Davis alongside midfielders Bolu Akinyode and Josh Hughes and defenders Michael DeGraffenreidt, pending USL and federation approval.
Details of Memphis’ United Soccer League franchise expected Monday – Commercial Appeal
AutoZone Park will host a press conference Monday at 4 p.m. with the expectation that details will be announced about the city’s new franchise in the United Soccer League.
Sounders using tuition incentive as development tool – Sounder at Heart
Down in the USL with Sounders FC 2, Sam Rogers had a rather remarkable year. He committed to Villanova, broke into the squad as a regular centerback after transitioning from defensive midfield, signed a pro contract and graduated from Ballard High School. Once he signed that pro deal he lost his scholarship to Villanova. His educational path could have terminated. Instead, the Seattle Sounders and Rogers found a new path — tuition assistance to the University of Washington.
Pay to play: Could deferred MLS bid make soccer investors reconsider their ‘no public money’ promise? – News-Review
Sacramento’s push for a major league soccer team is in “extra time,” lead investor Kevin Nagle wrote days before Christmas, after Nashville secured one of two spots Sacramento was hoping to land. Now, uncertainty over the Capitol’s big-net bid is reviving a controversial question in the 916: Will the public be asked to help pay for something its leaders want?
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
Carli Lloyd, Julie Ertz on first U.S. women’s soccer team roster of 2018 – Philly.com
The U.S. women’s national team gets back to work this week, as CONCACAF’s Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament in October starts to loom on the horizon.
Bush on USWNT January Roster: This Is It? – The Equalizer
Another January, another USWNT camp. The winter camp has become a time-honored tradition with the team; the largest and longest camp of the year, the group is usually a good indication of who is currently in the pool, and many a USWNT regular got their first look at a January camp. However, this roster is a bit different than those which have come before.
Utah Royals FC sign Iceland international Gunnhildur “Gunny” Jonsdottir – RSL Soapbox
The Utah Royals continue to build their roster, making room for an international spot.
Asisat Oshoala aims for Women’s Player of the Year hat-trick – Guardian (Nigeria)
Being the only Nigerian left standing in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) final shortlist for the individual honours for 2017, there are huge expectations that Asisat Oshoala will, like in 2014 and 2016, pick up the African Women’s Player of the Year title again tonight.
Bayern Munich Women’s goalkeeper Wang Fei eyeing success in Germany – Xinhua
Former Chinese international goalkeeper Wang Fei said on Wednesday that she is aiming to perform at her best in Germany after being introduced into the FC Bayern Munich Women’s side in December, 2017.
Equal Bonuses For Women’s and Men’s National Football Teams – Iceland Review
KSÍ, the Football Association of Iceland, has decided that the women’s national team in football will receive the same bonuses as the men’s team, fótbolti.net reports. The board of KSÍ made the decision in order to further equality within the sport. The women’s team will now receive the same performance bonuses, which will depend upon success on the pitch, as the men’s team.
Referee Emma Cleary happy to be at the centre of things – Irish Times
Emma Cleary shrugs off the notion that she must have had some hard times on the football pitch: stories of the many ways in which referees are abused are common currency within the game but the 30-year-old physiotherapist from Manorhamilton seems perplexed.
Verizon, A+E Networks Reach Digital Distribution Deal – Cablefax
Verizon also upped its sports lineup in the deal, gaining the right to expand its distribution of National Women’s Soccer League games beyond the go90 platform.
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Man City top global financial power ranking, Arsenal 2nd, PSG 3rd and Guangzhou Evergrande 4th – Inside World Football
Runaway English Premier League leaders Manchester City have more financial clout than any other club in world football, according to a new study commissioned by global sports event organisers Soccerex.
Arsenal 2 Chelsea 2: Hector Bellerin scores in 92nd minute to seal draw in Emirates thriller – The Telegraph
The ‘xG’ – expected goals – for this encounter would have been extraordinary. Five-all? It was entirely possible as there were so many clear-cut chances traded in this capital clash.
Premier League Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs. West Ham – NBC Sports
The final festive fixture is upon us Thursday, as Tottenham Hotspur looks to get a season sweep of West Ham United in a match at Wembley Stadium.
Torino fires Sinisa Mihajlovic, hires Walter Mazzarri – Sportsnet
Torino coach Sinisa Mihajlovic was fired Thursday, a day after his team was eliminated from the Italian Cup with a derby defeat to Juventus.
Juve progress in Coppa Italia, but is VAR showing signs of job-costing regression? – Inside World Football
Here we go again. Juventus reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over neighbours Torino who were incensed at yet another example of video technology seemingly going wrong.
Transfer needs for all 20 Premier League clubs – NBC Sports
Everyone could use a Harry Kane or N’Golo Kante, so we’ll try to avoid saying each side could improve at center midfield or striker unless it’s almost absolutely the case.
2018 European football calendar – UEFA
Welcome to 2018 and what promises to be another busy year of European football. Here we map out all the key dates for your diary, including fixtures, awards and final tournaments.
A-League team-by-team report card: two out of 10 for quality – The Guardian
At the midpoint of the season, Sydney’s dominance puts them in a rosy light, but suggests almost every other team is coming up short.
Amazon holds talks over Premier League UK TV rights – The Telegraph
Amazon has held talks over the UK rights to the Premier League ahead of next month’s auction, Telegraph Sport can reveal.
UAE win penalty shoot-out to meet Oman in Gulf Cup final – Inside World Football
In a repeat of the final a decade ago and of this year’s Group A opener, the United Arab Emirates and Oman will meet in the climax of the 23rd Gulf Cup on Friday in Kuwait after both squeezed through in their respective semi-finals.
CAF boss: Fight against corruption led to referee snub for awards – African Football
The 2017 CAF Awards will be held in Accra, Ghana, tonight and the category of Referee of the Year – which has been won for the last three straight years by the Gambia’s Bakary Gassama – was a notable absentee from the shortlist of nominees unveiled last month.
Wynalda, Commisso Set Record Straight on U.S. Soccer Election Campaign Backing – SI.com
U.S. Soccer presidential candidate Eric Wynalda revealed to SI.com on Wednesday that he has received campaign funding from Riccardo Silva, the owner of the NASL’s Miami team, but he denied reports that he had received money for extensive campaign travel around the country from billionaire Rocco Commisso, the owner of the New York Cosmos and the chair of the NASL.
The FA Cup is where teams are afforded the chance to dream – The Guardian
The magic may have gone for some but the old competition is a reminder that we were all kids, and underdogs, once.