CARSON, Calif. - Bob Bradley embarked yesterday on a weeklong trip to Guadalajara, his first as manager of Chivas USA. Bradley, who was officially named Chivas USA's Head Coach on November 21, 2005, will spend a week in Mexico's second-largest city and the birthplace of Chivas, during which he will meet with officials and players from Club Deportivo Guadalajara and learn about the history, philosophy and structure of Mexico's most popular soccer club. In addition, the 47-year-old native of Montclair, New Jersey will be taking his first of several intensive Spanish courses.
CHIVAS SEEKS 'FUTURAS ESTRELLAS': Chivas USA's first 'Torneo de Futuras Estrellas' (Tournament of Future Stars), was held last weekend at Cal Poly Pomona. Twelve teams participated in the two-day tournament, in which Oxnard FC defeated Chivas USA's U-19 team 2-1 in Sunday's title match. In addition, 16 of the tournament's best players will be invited to participate in a Chivas USA training session at The Home Depot Center with a chance to join Chivas USA's player development program. Chivas USA will soon be announcing similar tournaments for U-15 and U-17 players.
CHIVAFANPACK FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Last week Chivas USA officially introduced the 2006 ChivaFanPack, which includes four tickets for Chivas USA's 2006 Opening Day, April 2 versus Real Salt Lake at The Home Depot Center, as well as a Chivas Centenary cap, a Chivas USA soccer ball and the official 2006 ChivaGirls Calendar, for just $60, making the ChivaFanPack the ideal Holiday gift for friends and family. For more information about the ChivaFanPack, call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.CDCHIVASUSA.com.
LASC REGOGNIZES GREATEST MOMENTS: On Sunday night, Chivas USA President and Co-Owner Antonio Cué attended a ceremony in which the Los Angeles Sports Council honored the greatest Southern California sports moments of 2005. Cué received the award recognizing Chivas USA's 'Greatest Moment', which was Opening Day 2005. Also in attendance were Chivas USA's Chief Executive Officer Javier León and Senior Vice President and General Manager Whit Haskel, who were accompanied by former U.S. Soccer president Alan Rothenberg.
WORLD CUP VIEWING PARTY: Last Friday, Chivas USA held a successful viewing party at the 'La Huasteca' restaurant in Lynnwood, California, for the 2006 World Cup Draw, where nearly 300 people attended. The 32 finalists that are to participate in the FIFA 2006 World Cup being held in Germany, between June 9 and July 9, 2006, have been chosen and placed in eight groups of four. The U.S. National Team was drawn into Group E, along with Italy, Ghana and the Czech Republic, while The Mexican National Team in Group D will face off against Iran, Angola and Portugal.
NEW SEASON: Chivas USA will play its first game of the 2006 MLS season and its second as a member of Major League Soccer against Real Salt Lake on Sunday, April 2, at The Home Depot Center. Here are Chivas USA ticket prices for the 2006 season, in the following five categories: General ($190 = $10 per game), Zona ($266 = $14 per game), Terraza ($342 = $18 per game), Reservado ($475 = $25 per game), Especial ($532 = $28 per game), Preferente ($665 = $35 per game). A ChivaBono makes for an ideal holiday gift for friends, family and loved ones.
MLS 2006 SUPERDRAFT: Major League Soccer announced the selection order of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. The event will be held on Friday, January 20, 2006 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. After picking standout goalkeeper Brad Guzan in 2005, Chivas USA is to have the Draft's first pick in 2006.
CHIVAS FUTBOL ACADEMY: The Chivas Futbol Academy continues its training sessions at The Home Depot Center this week in preparation for this weekend's slate of games in Baldwin Park, with sessions at The Home Depot Center's Field 5 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday. Chivas USA will soon be announcing the inauguration of a Chivas Futbol Academy in San Bernardino. Here are the weekend's results for Chivas USA's Soccer Academy in the Baldwin Park League: Chivas USA A 4-0 Atlante (Peewees), Chivas USA B 0-1 Chivas Monrovia (Peewees), Chivas USA 1-0 Milan (Sixth Div.), Chivas USA 1-3 La Lupita (Fifth Div.), Chivas USA A 3-1 Zacatepec (Fourth Div.) Chivas USA B 4-7 Inter (Fourth Div.). For more information on the Chivas USA Soccer Academy, please contact Eduardo Creel at ecreel@cdchivasusa.com.
GUADALAJARA UPDATE: Club Deportivo Guadalajara, Chivas USA's sister team, resumed training after a short vacation in preparation to its participation in the third annual InterLiga, the qualifying tournament for Mexican teams for the prestigious Copa Libertadores 2006. The tournament will be played between January 4 and 14. Chivas de Guadalajara will once again be under the command of Hans Westerhof, who returns to Guadalajara after coaching Chivas USA in the second half of the 2005 MLS season.
SAPRISSA VERSUS LIVERPOOL: Chivas USA's 'cousin team', Costa Rican side Saprissa, which is owned by Chivas USA co-owner Jorge Vergara, debuted yesterday in the FIFA World Club Championship in Japan, with a 1-0 victory over Australia's Sydney FC, thanks to a 47th-minute goal by forward Christian Bolaños. Saprissa will now face the 2005 UEFA Champions League winner and English Premier League powerhouse Liverpool next Thursday in Yokohama, Japan. The other semifinal match will be disputed between Brazilian side Sao Paolo and Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad.
PLAYERS ON VACATION: The 2005 season is officially over for Chivas USA now that its players have gone on vacation, after two months of postseason training where the Red-and-White also played two exhibition games, against Real Salt Lake on October 28, and against Mexican Side Tigres UANL on November 9. The team will resume training in the first week of February, in preparation for the 2006 MLS season.
