By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 14, 2018) US Soccer Players - He came, he saw, he conquered, he left. From the moment he joined Atlanta United, Gerardo “Tata” Martino was already one of the biggest names ever to coach in Major League Soccer. Some insiders quietly wondered, however, whether he’d get a handle on the league’s myriad quirks, or wind up a curiosity, another asterisked figure in . . .
The difficult road ahead for Gregg Berhalter
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 7, 2018) US Soccer Players - Neither his former team nor his new one is directly involved in Saturday’s MLS Cup final. Still, Gregg Berhalter’s name was on the lips of many here in the lead-up to the big game between Atlanta United and the Portland Timbers. With the long-awaited confirmation and introduction of the USMNT’s new coaching hire finally arriving . . .
The evolution of the MLS coaching carousel
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 29, 2018) US Soccer Players - Not so long ago, MLS coaching work was something of a closed shop. Head coaches generally came from a certain sort of pedigree, usually domestic and often part of one or two influential personal networks. Back in 2016, the league's official site dubbed those networks “coaching trees." They originated with Bruce Arena and Sigi . . .
Shade trees and hard lessons: Mulling the way forward for the USMNT
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 22, 2018) US Soccer Players - An old Greek proverb states that “society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in.” Those words come to mind when considering Dave Sarachan’s time in charge of the USMNT, which reached its end with Tuesday’s 1-0 friendly loss to Italy in Genk, Belgium. Taking over the team in a caretaker . . .
Growth, but in what direction? Pondering USL’s future
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 16, 2018) US Soccer Players - Last week the USL marked the conclusion of its eighth season of existence. On the field, they got a hard-fought championship final between Louisville City and Phoenix Rising in front of a packed crowd at the University of Louisville's Mark & Cindy Lynn Soccer Stadium. The home team edged Didier Drogba & Co. 1-0 in a . . .
Romain Gall and the latest USMNT roster
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 8, 2018) US Soccer Players - Sometimes resumes and backstories prove to be Rorschach tests for readers. One observer might look at a long list of previous employers and wide-ranging destinations and see instability, perhaps challenges settling in. Others eye the same bullet points and see ambition, drive, enterprise or a useful restlessness. This often takes . . .
Toronto FC’s arduous 2018
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 1, 2018) US Soccer Players - Michael Bradley had just played his second game in as many days, his third game in seven. After playing a substitute’s role in the USMNT’s 1-1 draw with Peru in Connecticut on Tuesday night, he’d caught a plane south and met up with his Toronto FC teammates for a Wednesday MLS visit to DC United at Audi Field on October 17. He . . .
A new Hall of Fame faces American soccer’s generation gap
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 26, 2018) US Soccer Players - First things first: The new National Soccer Hall of Fame is gorgeous. The sleek, airy $55 million facility is a welcome addition to the American game’s “bucket list” of must-see attractions, restoring the Hall to life after nearly a decade after the closure of its previous home in Oneonta, New York. Yet as with so many matters of . . .
The USMNT’s October leads to another pivotal moment
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 19, 2018) US Soccer Players - The USMNT has wrapped up their October camp with players returning to their clubs after a 4-2 loss to Colombia and Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Peru. It’s been a useful international window, despite the lack of victories in match play. Several youngsters and newcomers earned their debuts and/or their first starts for the national . . .
The Soccer Syndicate and North America’s scouting problem
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 15, 2018) US Soccer Players - There's one obvious problem North American soccer faces when it comes to identifying and developing players. It's the sheer size and scope of the United States and Canada. These are the second- and third-largest countries on earth, with a combined population of more than 360 million. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 million of . . .
