By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Dec 6, 2017) US Soccer Players - There’s something extra to Portland Timbers star Diego Valeri winning the 2017 MLS MVP award. It's not just his excellent season with 21 goals and 11 assists while playing in all 34 regular season games. It's his status as one of the league’s most likable characters. Valeri's status in Portland is easy to understand. It's because of . . .
Portland’s MVP
The one thing that could make Diego Valeri's 2017 MLS story even better is if the Portland Timbers were still playing. Valeri won the 2017 MLS MVP award by setting a new standard for an MLS midfielder. As many pointed out before and after the award, Valeri also sets a standard as a person. FourFourTwo's Katelyn Best told that story in October. It's hard not to pick an attacking player as MVP, and . . .
Portland’s Diego Valeri is the 2017 MLS MVP
Portland's Diego Valeri won the 2017 MLS Most Valuable Player award, the league announced on Monday. Valeri scored 21 goals and had 11 assists in a season that saw the Timbers finish top of the Western Conference in the regular season. Valeri set the new record for goals by a midfielder. Valeri took 50.71% of the total vote, beating NYCFC's David Villa's 16.4% in second-place. All-Time MLS Most . . .
Is MLS a selling league?
By Jeff Rueter – SAINT PAUL, MN (Nov 30, 2017) US Soccer Players - On Wednesday, MLS commissioner Don Garber spoke as part of the Sports Business Journal’s Dealmakers conference. He covered a wide range of topics. That included confirming a potential, SUM-organized tournament next summer for non-World Cup participants. He also touched briefly on Anthony Precourt’s initiative to move the Columbus . . .
Anthony Hudson named coach of the Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids made it official on Wednesday, naming Anthony Hudson as the MLS club's new head coach. Hudson previously coached the New Zealand national team and was strongly linked with the Rapids job. New Zealand failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, losing an intercontinental playoff to Peru. Hudson resigned from that job the following week. “It’s an exciting moment and a wonderful . . .
10 years to now in MLS
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Nov 27, 2017) US Soccer Players – Major League Soccer has had its ups and downs over the years. From national TV ratings that have struggled to grow to stadium attendance that has, MLS can point to many failures and successes. Expansion is another area where MLS can point to positives, but even that success story has run into one outstanding issue in Columbus. The . . .
Greg Vanney wins 2017 MLS Coach of the Year
Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney is the 2017 MLS Coach of the Year. It's an announcement that shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody paying attention to the 2017 MLS season. Vanney improved on an already impactful Toronto club that came close to winning the 2016 MLS Cup. During the 2017 MLS regular season, Vanney's squad set a new MLS record for points en route to the Supporters' Shield and the top . . .
Three things for the 2017 MLS conference finals
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Nov 20, 2017) US Soccer Players – The MLS playoffs version of the Final Four finally kicks off Tuesday. We’re used to the upset story in the MLS playoffs, a competition where the tag of “favorite” seldom counts for much. From the Houston Dynamo knocking out the Portland Timbers and the Columbus Crew getting past NYCFC, 2017 is showing once again that anything can . . .
Atlanta United designated player Miguel Almiron wins 2017 MLS Newcomer of the Year
MLS award season continued on Monday with Miguel Almiron winning the 2017 MLS Newcomer of the Year. Almiron, a member of Paraguay's national team, joined the expansion Atlanta United squad in 2017 as a designated player. He has nine goals and 14 assists over 30 games in a season where Atlanta qualified for the MLS playoffs. "For me it's a big honor, Almiron said. "It's wonderful that they voted . . .
Preview: The 2017 MLS Eastern and Western Conference finals
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Nov 17, 2017) US Soccer Players - The 2017 MLS playoffs lurch back into action on Tuesday. Columbus hosts Toronto and the Seattle Sounders visit Houston in the first-legs of the two conference finals. It will be 16 days since the last playoff game. That lull robs the postseason of momentum. No team benefits from more than two weeks of preparation. At some point, . . .
