By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 17, 2020) US Soccer Players - On the one hand, being Major League Soccer champions two times in four years is pretty good. Add in that third trip to the title game and it's closer to great than pretty good. The Seattle Sounders aren't yet a true MLS dynasty, but they're about as close as a club can get. Seattle's achievements reflect well on the work of . . .
Alums McBride, Stewart begin to sketch out their vision for USMNT
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 16, 2020) US Soccer Players - The new management structure for the USMNT program is slowly taking shape, as are the priorities and mentality of those in charge. This week new USMNT general manager Brian McBride was introduced to the media via a conference call, joined by his new boss sporting director Earnie Stewart. The two offered insight to their approach . . .
DC United signals intent with Flores transfer
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 15, 2020) US Soccer Players - DC United paying Morelia $5 million for Peruvian midfielder Edison Flores might not seem like that big of a deal. It's just one of a rash of multi-million dollar transfers going down this offseason, part of the broader, multi-season push from MLS teams into the more expensive waters of the international transfer market. It doesn't . . .
Adams, Johnson, McKennie and the Bundesliga title
By J Hutcherson (Jan 14, 2020) US Soccer Players - While some in Germany press for games during the festive period, the Bundesliga still values taking time off. That ends on Friday when the 2019-20 season resumes with Schalke 04 playing Gladbach. After leading the Bundesliga for most of the season, Schalke ended the first-half in 2nd-place to RB Leipzig. It's an unlikely situation in Germany, with . . .
The MLS youth movement continues
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jan 13, 2020) US Soccer Players – Bobby Convey was once the youngest player in MLS history, signing with DC United for the 2000 season when he was just 16. At age 14, Freddy Adu became the youngest American ever to sign a major league pro contract in any team sport, drafted first overall by DC United back in 2004. That same year, Adu made his debut as a second-half . . .
Process, perception, and US Soccer’s latest batch of hires
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 10, 2020) US Soccer Players - There's a saying, known to some as the first law of holes. It goes like this. "If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging." After what most would consider an extended period of stumbles, setbacks, and own goals, the United States Soccer Federation is doing its best to stop digging. At field level, USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter . . .
MLS in the market for Liga MX players
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 8, 2020) US Soccer Players - Supply and demand make markets. When one party has something the other party wants, the selling party can dictate terms: Pay my price or go without. In a closed system, where the selling party is the only source of supply, that dynamic leads to unfair pricing practices. Major League Soccer's relationship with Liga MX of Mexico does . . .
Expansion isn’t the biggest story for MLS in 2020
By J Hutcherson (Jan 7, 2020) US Soccer Players - We've reached the point in the preseason where all 26 MLS clubs have coaches. Welcome aboard Ronny Deila, a surprising choice to take over from Dom Torrent at NYCFC. Orlando City also left it late before officially announcing former Monterrey coach Diego Alonso. Then there was Chicago naming Raphael Wicky just after Christmas, the latest step away . . .
Inter Miami surprises by hiring Diego Alonso
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jan 6, 2020) US Soccer Players – The end of 2019 made waves with Inter Miami hiring Diego Alonso as their first coach. Alonso built his reputation in Liga MX. He wasn't the big name some had expected the MLS expansion side to sign, but he is an interesting choice. The 44-year-old Alonso, a former journeyman striker, is a two-time Concacaf Champions League winner . . .
The USMNT January Camp in 2020
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 3, 2020) US Soccer Players - Gregg Berhalter's roster for the 2020 edition of the USMNT January camp tells the story of what he hopes to achieve with the month-long exercise as a decisive year for the team and the coach himself gets underway. Berhalter's list of 25 names includes a few players with years of national team experience and the requisite cap numbers . . .
