Portland
Timbers' Giovanni Savarese prepared for preseason: "I can’t wait to start working with the guys" | Portland Timbers
Preseason camp opened for the Portland Timbers at Providence Park today as players and technical staff reported for physicals ahead of the club’s departure training in Tucson, Ariz. at the Kino Sports Complex.
Major League Soccer
Colorado Rapids appoint Ena Patel as director of player personnel | Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids Soccer Club announced today that Ena Patel has been hired as the club’s director of player personnel. In her role, Patel will report to Executive Vice President & General Manager Pádraig Smith and will oversee player contracts, salary budget, regulatory compliance, and soccer operations protocols.
Rebuilt LA Galaxy feel offseason changes will have them contending in 2018 | MLSsoccer.com
Everything that could go wrong did go wrong for the LA Galaxy in 2017, as the club’s transition into a new era following the departure of ex-manager Bruce Arena ended with the nominal MLS titans finishing in last in the entire league.
After quiet winter, Sounders confident 2017 core will improve in 2018 | MLSsoccer.com
Seattle’s highest-profile move ahead of their upcoming 2018 MLS campaign to date was a December trade for former Columbus Crew SC defender Waylon Francis. The Costa Rican is a proven commodity at the MLS level, but not exactly a blockbuster acquisition.
Tyler Miller’s successful charity campaign shows strength of LAFC community | MLSsoccer.com
In the buildup to the club’s inaugural season, Los Angeles Football Club supporters have come out in full-force for everything from welcoming new signings at the airport to traveling en masse for last week’s MLS SuperDraft.
Dos Santos brothers, Vela called by Mexico for Jan. 31 friendly vs. Bosnia | MLSsoccer.com
Three MLS players were called up by the Mexican national team on Tuesday for their upcoming friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Jan. 31 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Atlanta United's plan for Year 2? More of the same, just better | MLSsoccer.com
Atlanta United made a tremendous splash in its inaugural campaign, scoring lots of goals, playing sizzling attacking soccer and thrilling huge home crowds to become just the third first-year club to reach the postseason in MLS history.
Lee Nguyen doesn't report for first day of New England Revolution preseason | MLSsoccer.com
“Lee didn’t report to preseason and he’s not honoring his contract,” general manager Mike Burns told MLSsoccer.com. “We’ll handle the matter internally, and we’ve already had discussions with MLS. It’ll be handled appropriately. We have zero tolerance for guys who don’t honor their contracts.”
Report: Montreal Impact express interest in Italian star Claudio Marchisio | MLSsoccer.com
It was reported last week that Italian star Claudio Marchisio was mulling a move to MLS this summer. Now, one of his potential North American landing spots appears to be coming into focus. A report from Calciomercato.com in Italy states that the Montreal Impact have expressed interest in the 32-year-old Juventus midfielder and have opened initial talk
New England add to attacking corps with forward Cristian Penilla | MLSsoccer.com
The Revs acquired forward Cristian Penilla on loan from Pachuca for the 2018 season, with a transfer option for the 2019 season, to add to their striking options along with Juan Agudelo, who is currently in camp with the US national team. Penilla will either be a Designated Player in 2018, or Targeted Allocation Money will have to be used to buy down his budget charge depending on how the rest of the offseason shakes out according to a New England spokesman.
Sacha Kljestan eager to lead Orlando City in new era | Pro Soccer USA
Nothing about the last three weeks has been easy for Sacha Kljestan. “Definitely the hardest offseason of my life,” he said. “Hard for me and my family.” It started with Kljestan, captain of the New York Red Bulls, finding out he would be traded.
Training Day: Bradley sets the tone as LAFC kick off first preseason | MLSsoccer.com
In an opening scene of iconic LA neo-noir crime thriller “Training Day,” Detective Alonzo Harris hits the hydraulic switches on his black Monte Carlo, throws on the unmistakable G-Funk anthem “Still D.R.E.,” and hangs a left onto Broadway from 7th Street in downtown LA’s jewelry district.
Despite interest from Spain, Ola Kamara says he always wanted to be in LA | MLSsoccer.com
Once Ola Kamara knew late last year that the LA Galaxy were pursuing him, there was nothing he wanted more than to head west. Major League Soccer’s signature club might have fallen on hard times in 2017, but the allure hadn't dimmed in the least for Kamara.
United States
Michael Bradley unsure if he’ll play for USMNT again - Stars and Stripes FC
The United States men’s national team is set to undergo a complete overhaul through the next year after their embarrassing failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. One of the bigger question marks regarding the player pool is if current captain Michael Bradley’s international career will continue on.
World
Arsenal's new Henry?! Aubameyang can take the Premier League by storm | Goal.com
The story goes that when Arsene Wenger met fellow Frenchman Thierry Henry on a flight from Italy to Paris in 1999, he told the young attacker: "You're wasting your time on the wing. You're a No.9."
UEFA Nations League: England draw Spain; Germany, France, Netherlands together
England will take on Croatia and Spain in their UEFA Nations League Group while World Cup holders Germany face France and Netherlands. Gareth Southgate's side last played Spain in Nov. 2016 where they battled out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Isco grabbing a late equaliser at Wembley.
Freddy Adu isn't done yet!
Freddy Adu has been in the spotlight since he turned pro at age 14. Fourteen years later, after several failed moves, he's hoping to revive his career in 2018