His move to Celtic might have fallen through, but the Timbers midfielder has nothing left to prove in America, and a fresh challenge would do him goodBrendan Rodgers was left confused by the first question posed over Celtic’s interest in Darlington Nagbe. Asked about a player called “Darling”, the Northern Irishman didn’t immediately process who or what he was being pressed on. It’s fair to say Nagbe’s name isn’t exactly renowned in Scottish soccer circles. Related: Seattle's triumph, and good riddance to Gerrard: the 2016 MLS season in review Continue reading...
Disappointing results dominated the landscape for both the women’s and men’s teams this year as some famous names slipped off center stageThe USMNT had never lost a World Cup qualifying game in Guatemala when they played there in March, but a 21-game unbeaten streak against their opponents was about to end in abject fashion. Related: Guatemala 2-0 USA: World Cup 2018 qualifying – as it happened Related: Argentina hammer four past outclassed USA to reach Copa América final Related: Hope Solo ignores Zika chants to star in USA Olympic soccer win over France Related: Hope Solo's punishment shows that women are judged more harshly | Shireen Ahmed Related: Mexico's Rafael Márquez scores late winner to stun USA in World Cup...
The former USA coach failed to hit upon a consistent formula at Swansea City but his status as an outsider in the Premier League hastened his downfallBob Bradley had little reason to know how quickly he would be proved right when ruminating, at his first press conference as Swansea City manager, upon the modus operandi of his new bosses.“I don’t think they’d have got where they are by making decisions with the heart,” Bradley said of the club’s owners, Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien. And while on this occasion he was second-guessing the logic of his own appointment, it would be less than three months before he discovered just how harsh the Premier League can be. Related: Bob Bradley had...
If the USMNT coach really wants to make an impact on US soccer a second time around, he must look at the problems inherent in the American gameBruce Arena, the Brooklyn-born, no-nonsense manager who once elevated USA as high as fourth in the Fifa rankings, will return to a seat he once occupied for eight years. Between 1998 and 2006, the 65-year-old collected 71 wins for the US national team – including a memorable run to the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals – and became the most successful coach in the history of the national team. He has also proved himself on the domestic stage, winning five MLS Cups with LA Galaxy and DC United. Related: Bruce Arena's in-tray: the key...
The Galaxy coach will replace Jürgen Klinsmann. But if he is a stop gap until 2018, who are the long-term candidates?Let’s get the obvious out of the way — Bruce Arena is the USA coach until at least the 2018 World Cup. In Arena’s favor, he’s done the job before, knows the US set up, and has also taken them to a World Cup quarter-final in 2002. Though if you’re going to consider that a success, you also have to consider the failure to get out of the group in 2006. Related: US Soccer confirm Bruce Arena will replace Jürgen Klinsmann Related: US fans wanted Jürgen Klinsmann out but they may come to regret his exit Continue reading...