Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. SOUNDING OUT LAGERWEY
In what could be the biggest move of the offseason, it looks like Real Salt Lake are set to lose their general manager, with multiple outlets reporting that Garth Lagerwey will be leaving the club in order to take up the same role with the Seattle Sounders. So who might fill his shoes at RSL? Seems one assistant coach has already landed a promotion.
2. HENRY CALLS IT QUITS
Turns out that Thierry Henry's final club was in fact the New York Red Bulls, with the French superstar officially announcing his retirement in order to take up a media role in London. Back in New York, is there any truth at all to reports of Steven Gerrard as the Red Bulls' newest DP?
- DAMARCUS IS DONE
While DaMarcus Beasley still has a good few years left in him playing for the Houston Dynamo, he used Instagram to officially call time on his US national team career on Monday. It’s a career which has seen the left back accomplish as much as any American ever has, with Beasley the only US international to have featured in four World Cups.
4. ROXBURGH DEPARTING
The New York Red Bulls are also on the hunt for a new front-office figure after confirming that sporting director Andy Roxburgh has left the club. General manager Marc De Grandpre called Roxburgh's tenure "a great two years of service to the club," noting that "his influence on the club will be felt for years to come."
5. SOAR-ING TO ITALY
While the New England Revolution will be looking to build on their success last season, it looks like they’ll have to do it without AJ Soares, with reports on Monday suggesting that the 26-year-old center back is set to join Italian Serie A side Hellas Verona.
6. NEW DP FOR ORLANDO
While there was no official news about reported acquisition Brek Shea on Monday, Orlando City did announce a new Designated Player, with the club confirming that Honduran striker Bryan Rochez will be joining the MLS side as a young DP.
7. ACCAM POURS WATER ON FIRE RUMORS
Is David Accam joining the Chicago Fire or not? The latest twists in the tale have the Ghanaian striker himself claiming that the stories are untrue, stating “Yes, I’m leaving my former club but I’m not joining any club in the MLS, this is simple.” See what Frank Yallop, who remained hopeful a deal could be reached, had to say on ExtraTime Radio.
- OKUGO REFLECTS
Amobi Okugo is one of many recent additions to Orlando City’s inaugural MLS squad. As he departs the Philadelphia Union, the player sat down for an in-depth talk about his decision to stay in MLS and how things changed during his time in Pennsylvania.
9. THE SEATTLE MODEL
The owners of Los Angeles FC have a little more than two years to work out how to make a second MLS team in LA a success. Executive Chairman Henry Nguyen has spoken to the Los Angeles Times about replicating the Seattle Sounders. Aiming to copy the Pacific Northwest is certainly a good standard to reach for.
10. THE REPUBLIC IS GROWING
While Sacramento Republic FC are still pushing to become an MLS franchise, in the meantime the USL PRO side have been given approval to expand their current home, from a capacity of 8,000 to somewhere between 10,500-11,500. With season-ticket sales already at 7,200, SRFC are confident they’ll be able to fill their new stands.
11. TIMBERS SPONSORS
The Portland Timbers are set to make history. Having signed a sponsorship deal with online bank Simple, the club will be the first in MLS to have a different sponsor on their practice and pregame gear to that of their match kits.
12. EAST & WEST
With 23 teams confirmed for the USL PRO next season, will the league be following MLS’s example and splitting into two conferences? What will that mean for scheduling? And what about the playoffs?
13. TRACKING THE STRIKERS
Could Jozy Altidore be on his way to Germany? Werder Bremen are the latest club linked with the struggling US striker, who looks all but certain to depart Sunderland in January. Meanwhile, it looks like fellow USMNT striker Aron Johannsson has put his injury problems behind him.
- KANSAS CITY MOVES
Are Sporting Kansas City laying the groundwork for a new youth development system in Garden City? It certainly appears to be a possibility. In other good news, following a season in which he broke the club’s goalscoring record, SKC are said to be close to agreeing a contract extension with Dom Dwyer.
15. THE CUTEST COUPLE
Speaking of Dom, it looks like US soccer has a new power couple.
MLSsoccer.com Musts
ExtraTime Radio: How Frank Yallop landed the Chicago Fire’s newest DP
Philadelphia Union working hard to bring back Conor Casey
Nat Borchers explains why he chose the Portland Timbers
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