By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Sep 2, 2019) US Soccer Players – For years, many called MLS a retirement league. Aging European superstars crossed the Atlantic for what critics decried was an easy payday. The young talent from South America joining the league over the past few seasons pushes against that, but it's still an easy criticism to make. It shows up every time a European player of a . . .
Moving on from Rivalry Week
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Aug 26, 2019) US Soccer Players – Although MLS is a fairy new league, it and its fans have worked to build up rivalries. The notion of a Rivalry Week may feel contrived. Still, more often than not, it does its job in generating wider interest. It's more than a marketing strategy. Since these games come in late summer, they go a long way in gauging the health of . . .
Q&A with Sporting KC defender Seth Sinovic
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Aug 19, 2019) US Soccer Players – MLS is loaded with notable defenders. Among the best, and most consistent, over the past decade has been Seth Sinovic. The Sporting Kansas City left back was raised in Kansas and has been a part of the team since 2011. Over that time, Sinovic helped the team win the 2013 MLS Cup and three US Open Cups. Sinovic played college . . .
Tactical questions for five European clubs
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Aug 12, 2019) US Soccer Players – Preseason friendlies are a time to test new players and tactics. For the many European clubs that spent the past few weeks training and playing games on American soil, it was a chance for managers to do just that against other high-caliber opponents. While most teams featured incomplete rosters after National Team tournaments . . .
5 Americans to watch in Europe in 2019-20
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Aug 5, 2019) US Soccer Players – Despite preseason friendlies still on the schedule, the start of August brings with it games that actually matter across Europe. First up is the Premier League. For many Americans, England's topflight has become a regular part of their mornings each weekend. Starting this weekend, many of you will get those morning routines back. . . .
Orlando City focuses on youth development
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jul 29, 2019) US Soccer Players – There are many metropolitan areas throughout this country that can claim to be thriving soccer centers. It's what happens after two decades of MLS fan growth and team expansion. The professional club game has become a regular part of the daily sports diet of millions of people. It isn't surprising that youth clubs, academies, and . . .
The Leagues Cup matters for MLS and Liga MX
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The early MLS Rookie of the Year candidates
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jul 15, 2019) US Soccer Players – MLS is a league that plays through FIFA international dates and major tournaments. Throw in a crowded schedule that includes the US Open Cup, and coaches learn quickly that rookies are instrumental to the success of any team. The need to rotate players makes the league one of the best in the world when it comes to giving young . . .
5 Things from the 2019 Gold Cup
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jul 8, 2019) US Soccer Players – In what may have been the most competitive and unpredictable Gold Cup in history, Mexico lifted the trophy on Sunday night at a sold out Soldier Field in Chicago. At the same time, the region’s teams showed a growth in talent and maturity, putting the world’s other confederations – notably Africa and Asia – on notice that they plan . . .
Preview: The 2019 Gold Cup semifinals
By Clemente Lisi – PHILADELPHIA, PA (Jul 1, 2019) US Soccer Players – The Gold Cup enters the semifinal stage with several key storylines. At a tournament that has seen plenty of upsets so far, we head to the final four. The teams left standing at this tournament, Mexico, Haiti, Jamaica and the United States, says a lot about the current state of Concacaf. After the confederation instituted the . . .
