Spain's La Liga. For Real Madrid fans, this summer must have made things seem as if Christmas had come way early. Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso all came wrapped in brilliant white uniforms, courtesy of returning Santa Claus, Florentino Perez. When the new Galacticos collection takes the Bernabeu field on Saturday against Deportivo La Coruna the world will be watching. The Madrid faithful will be hoping that their new heroes can match the performance of one of their old heroes, Hugo Sanchez.
Mexico's greatest ever player scored 164 goals in 207 games for Real Madrid during his seven-year spell with the Spanish giants. He won the Pichichi Trophy, awarded to La Liga's top scorer, four times at the Bernabeu while winning five La Liga titles. Should Ronaldo or Kaka match that performance, it seems unlikely that Presidente Perez will ever have to worry about re-election again.
On Sunday, "Hugol" will be worried about a much less glamorous section of La Liga. He will be in Andalucia, getting set for his first full season at the helm of Almeria. They kick off the new campaign hosting Valladolid. While the eyes, telephoto lenses and HD cameras of the world's media will be trained on Madrid (before heading to Barcelona on Monday for the Spanish and European champions' kickoff against Sporting Dijon), Sanchez will be trying to reestablish his coaching credentials and improve his chances of a shot down the road at his dream job, the Real Madrid hot seat.
With Villarreal sending Jozy Altidore on loan to Hull City in the EPL, Sanchez is the only MLS alumnus involved with La Liga this season. The prolific goal scorer's career makes him an answer to a whole trove of trivia questions, with one of the more obscure being that, along with Roy Wegerle, he is one of only two players to have played in both the North American Soccer League (outdoors) and Major League Soccer. Back in 1979 and 1980, Sanchez spent two very productive loan spells with the San Diego Sockers in the old NASL (26 goals in 32 games), and played for the then Dallas Burn in MLS's 1996 inaugural season. In between he built his brilliant career in Spain, first with Atletico Madrid (1981-1985), and then Real Madrid (1985-1992).
The volatile, charismatic Sanchez seemed an unlikely coaching candidate when he finally hung up his scoring cleats, but in 2000 he took the head coach job at his beloved Pumas in Mexico. It didn't last long. He fought with the team's president, Jimenez Espriu, and left after less than a year. But in 2001, when Espriu left, Sanchez was offered the Pumas reins again. He rebuilt the team and won both the Clausura and Apertura tournaments in 2004. Yet, a year later, the bloom was off the rose again and Sanchez parted ways with Pumas in November 2005. After feuding with Mexican national team head coach Ricardo Lavolpe in the lead up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Sanchez succeeded him in the wake of the El Tri's second-round loss to Argentina in Germany.
A national hero, Sanchez had the backing of the fans and Mexico's powerbrokers. He raised eyebrows when he insisted on changing the team home jerseys from green to white. But a third-place finish at the 2007 Copa America eased worries about his inability to beat the U.S. Then, Mexico failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics after Sanchez had earlier promised a podium finish at the Games. Suddenly his time as national team head coach was over.
Few pundits expected Sanchez to resurface in Spain. But, in December 2008, he was appointed head coach of Almeria. The team was on a five-game losing streak and had slumped to 16th place in the 20-team La Liga. Sanchez was given the mandate to avoid relegation, which he did with games to spare. Such was Almeria's and Sanchez's reversal of fortune that the coach was linked to Real Madrid. And Sanchez made no secret of his desire for the job. Perez picked Manuel Pellegrini instead and Sanchez stayed on at Almeria. But with his ambition part of the public record, Sanchez will be watched more closely in Spain this season.
The main task for Sanchez will be keeping Almeria in La Liga. It won't be easy. Real Madrid not only bypassed him for their coaching job, but also recalled his top striker, Alvaro Negredo. The Spanish forward scored 19 goals for Almeria last season while on loan from the Bernabeu. And while there was no place for him among the Galacticos, Madrid needed to recoup some of their summer expenditures and recalled Negredo to sell him. Almeria couldn't compete in the marketplace for their former striker's services, who subsequently signed with Sevilla. The big question for Sanchez is whether or not can he keep Almeria competing in La Liga. If he does, then he might get the call from Real Madrid himself one day.
UEFA Europa League
In first leg, qualifying round play on Aug. 20, 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup star
Clint Dempsey
was outstanding in Fulham's 3-1 win over FK Amkar Perm (Russia). The former Revs midfielder had a hand in the Cottagers' opening goal and scored the second. He also picked up a yellow card in the 82nd minute. Former FC Dallas and Kansas City Wizards forward
Eddie Johnson
dressed for Fulham but didn't get off the bench.
After conceding six goals against Arsenal last Saturday, Tim Howard posted a shutout in Everton's 4-0 win over Sigma Olomouc (Czech Republic). Louis Saha and Jack Rodwell each scored two goals for the Toffees.
Former Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan got the start for Aston Villa in the 1-0 loss at Rapid Vienna (Austria). Brad Friedel was on the bench for the game.
Colorado Rapids alumnus Dedi Ben Dayan played the full 90 for Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel) as they scored a dramatic 2-1 win at FK Teplice (Czech Republic). The Czechs tied the game at 1-1 in the 89th minute on a Tomas Vondrasek goal, but in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Gil Vermouth scored the winner for Hapoel.
All games second leg games will be played on Aug. 27.
CONCACAF Champions League
In Group C action on Wednesday, August 19, former FC Dallas and Chivas USA midfielder
Ramon Nunez
played the full 90 as Cruz Azul (Mexico) beat Saprissa (Costa Rica) 2-0 at home on first half goals by Christian Riveros and Joel Huiqui. Two-team MLS veteran
Douglas Sequeira
, who recently joined Saprissa from Norwegian team Tromso IL, also played the full 90.
In Group D action on Thursday, Aug. 20, ex-LA Galaxy striker Carlos Pavon went the distance as Real Espana (Honduras) beat W Connection (Trinidad) 1-0 at home.
Elsewhere around the world
In Argentina, the Torneo Apertura finally got underway after a delay caused by the financial crisis plaguing that country's soccer. On Sunday, Aug. 23, former D.C. United designated player
Marcelo Gallardo
played the full 90 in River Plate's 2-0 defeat at Banfield.
In Australia, in Week 3 of the Hyundai A-League, the Wellington Phoenix rose from the dead to score in the 88th minute to secure a 1-1 tie at Queensland Roar on Saturday, Aug. 22. Former Revs defender Tony Lochhead played the full 90 for the Phoenix, while ex-Crew and Wizards midfielder Diego started for Wellington but came out of the game in the 69th minute. FC Dallas alumnus Victor Sikora played the full 90 as Perth Glory picked up its first win of the new season on Sunday, Aug. 23, a 2-0 home win against the Newcastle Jets.
In Brazil, in Week 21 of the Campeonato Brasileirao, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, former MetroStars defender Danilo da Silva played the full 90 as Internacional lost 2-1 at home to Corinthians. It was Internacional's first home defeat of the season. That loss was compounded by another defeat on Saturday at Palmeiras. Danilo again played the full 90 as Internacional lost 2-1 and dropped to fifth in the standings.
In Bolivia, in Week 8 of the Torneo Clausura, former MetroStars midfielder Joselito Vaca's Oriente Petrolero tied 2-2 at home with Blooming on Sunday, Aug. 23, in a game that featured 8 yellow cards and three red cards.
In Colombia, in Week 7 of the Copa Mustang II, former MetroStars striker Sergio Galvan Rey came off the bench early for the second consecutive week as Atletico National beat Cucuta Deportivo 1-0 on Sunday, Aug. 23. He replaced Orlando Berrio in the 18th minute. Giovanni Moreno scored Nacional's goal, bringing his total to five in the last four games.
In Denmark, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, FC Nordsjaelland lost their first game of the new season. Former Revs defender Michael Parkhurst played the full 90 as FCN went down 1-0 at AaB on an 86th minute strike by Andreas Johansson. The losing continued on Sunday at Sonderjyske. Parkhurst picked up a yellow card in the 1-0 road loss.
On Saturday, Aug. 22, Danny Califf's FC Midtjylland's poor start to the new campaign continued with a 4-1 home loss to FC Copenhagen. The former Galaxy defender played the full 90.
In England, former New York Red Bulls starlet Jozy Altidore made an immediate impact for Hull City in his EPL debut on Saturday, Aug. 22. After coming into the game as a 60th-minute substitute, Altidore set up the game-winning goal for the Tigers with his first touch of the ball, his pass setting up Kamel Ghilas' 61st-minute strike that gave Hull a 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers. After a last-minute loss at Chelsea on Opening Day and suffering a 5-1 thrashing by Spurs in midweek, the first win of the season was a badly needed boost for Altidore's new Yorkshire-based team.
Another MLS veteran to make his EPL season debut on Saturday was Blackburn Rovers skipper Ryan Nelsen. The former D.C. United skipper missed Opening Day due to a knee injury and had to leave Rovers' 2-1 road loss to Sunderland at halftime due to a recurrence of that injury.
After their midweek Europa League victory, Clint Dempsey's Fulham looked tired against Chelsea at Craven Cottage on Sunday, Aug. 23. The Blues maintained their 100 percent start to the EPL season with a 2-0 win. Dempsey played the full 90 for the Cottagers.
Tim Howard's Everton also lost on Sunday after a winning midweek Europa League excursion. The Toffees lost 1-0 at EPL Cinderella team Burnley. The Clarets, like unfancied Hull City last season, have got off to a fast start in their first EPL season, beating Manchester United last week.
Across Stanley Park on Monday, former MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Brad Friedel was outstanding in Aston Villa's 3-1 win at Liverpool on Monday, Aug. 23. It was Villa's first win at Anfield since 2001 and puts a severe dent in the Reds' title hopes, with Liverpool now having lost two of their first three EPL games this season. Friedel's backup, ex-Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan, returned to the Villa bench after his Europa League outing at Rapid Vienna in midweek. Ex-Rapids goalie Marcus Hahnemann remained on the bench for Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 1-0 loss to Manchester City on Saturday.
Down a rung in the Championship, former Columbus Crew striker Stern John is expected to be sidelined two months with an elbow injury sustained in Crystal Palace's Opening Day game with Plymouth Argyle two weeks ago.
Further down the English football food chain in League One, the coaching carousel took a very quick turn at Norwich City. With Bryan Gunn fired after just one game of the new league season, Norwich appointed Paul Lambert as coach last week. Lambert's former charges, Colchester United, sparked the Gunn firing by beating the Canaries 7-1 on Opening Day. In the wake of Lambert's appointment, former Colorado Rapids defender Ian Butterworth tendered his resignation as Norwich assistant manager.
Ex-Toronto FC midfielder Andy Welsh played the full 90 in Yeovil Town's 3-3 home tie with Leyton Orient.
In France, on Saturday, Aug. 22, former Fire defender Carlos Bocanegra played the full 90 as Rennes played to a 1-1 draw at home with Marseilles. Rennes remains unbeaten after three games of the new Ligue Une season.
In Germany, on Sunday, Aug. 23, former MetroStars midfielder Michael Bradley returned to the Borussia Moenchengladbach starting lineup for the visit to Werder Bremen. The Foals went down 3-0 with Bradley being substituted at halftime.
In Bundesliga.2 action, former FC Dallas marksman Kenny Cooper continued his impressive start to the new German season. His 18th-minute strike gave 1860 Munich an early lead at home against Karlsruhe on Monday, Aug. 24. But the Bavarian team didn't hold the lead for long, giving up an equalizing goal within a minute. Another two goals in the second half gave Karlsruhe the 3-1 victory.
Injury ruled ex-Wizards and Chivas USA striker Matt Taylor out of FSV Frankfurt's 0-0 home tie with SC Paderborn 07 on Friday night, Aug. 21.
In Ireland, former Colorado Rapids midfielder Tom McManus was a second-half substitute as Derry City beat St. Patricks 1-0 on Sunday, Aug. 23. That result moved the Candy Stripes to within three points of third place in the standings, a position currently held by Cork City.
In Italy, in the coaching battle of former MLS players on Serie A's Opening Day, former Revolution goalkeeper and coach Walter Zenga led Palermo to a 2-1 home win over ex-MetroStars midfielder Roberto Donadoni and Napoli.
In Mexico, in Week 5 of the Torneo Apertura, the Pumas slump continued. The Clausura champions dropped to 0-5 after losing at UAG, 3-0, on Friday, Aug. 20. Bruno Marioni scored a hat trick and former MetroStars midfielder Diego Jimenez played the full 90 for UAG. Ex-Chivas USA striker Paco Palencia was a second-half substitute for Pumas.
On Saturday, Chivas USA alumnus Ramon Nunez got second half playing time in Saturday's dramatic Mexico City Clasico, Cruz Azul's 3-2 home loss to stadium co-tenants and archrivals Club America. The Honduras international played the final 36 minutes, coming into the game with Cruz Azul trailing 2-1. An 81st minute strike by Rogello Chavas knotted the game at 2-2, but then Daniel Marquez struck for Club America in the 90th minute to win the game. The loss extends Cruz Azul's winless streak in the Clasico to 15 games. The Clasico theme continued further north on Saturday as well, with UANL Tigres hosting Monterrey. It had been 13 years since Monterrey had won the Clasico as the road team. A 66th-minute goal by Jesus De Nigris snapped that streak, giving Monterrey a 2-1 come-from-behind win. Former FC Dallas defender Duilio Davino was one of 12 players issued a yellow card (Monterrey had seven cards, Tigres five) in a very testy affair.
In other Saturday action, former Chivas USA striker Isaac Romo dressed but did not play in Querétaro's 2-2 home tie with Chiapas.
Ex-Colorado Rapids striker Daniel Osorno started for Atlas in a 2-0 home loss to Morelia. Another Rapids alumni, defender Alain N'Kong, started for Indios de Ciudad Jurarez in their 1-1 home tie with San Luis. 2002 MLS MVP Carlos Ruiz played the first 58 minutes for Puebla in their 2-1 road win at Pachuca. Ruiz, along with fellow forward Jared Borgetti was pulled from the game after Puebla went down to nine-men following the ejection of Roberto Gutierrez in the 55th minute. Puebla had been playing with 10 men since the 34th minute when Sergio Garcia was red-carded. Puebla has jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before the red card confetti descended on the game and held on for the win despite being players short for most of the game.
In Norway, on Friday, Aug. 21, league leaders Rosenborg BK put four goals past former FC Toronto goalkeeper Kenny Stamatopoulos in a 4-1 road win at Fredrikstad. On Saturday, ex-Fire and Wizards midfielder Khari Stephenson had an eventful afternoon for Aalesunds. He came into the game at Molde FK as a 62nd-minute substitute with Aalesunds trailing 2-0 from a Pape Pate Diouf brace. Stephenson pulled one back for Aalesunds with a penalty kick in the 80th minute, but Molde scored a third goal a minute later, and then sixty seconds after that the Jamaican international picked up a yellow card. Molde won the game 3-1 and remain second in the standings.
In Sunday action, former Real Salt Lake defender Willis Forko played the full 90 as FK Bodo Glimt beat Viking Stavanger 2-0 at home. Multi-team MLS veteran Thiago Martins also started for BG. Road woes continued for IK Start as they were pounded 4-1 at FC Lyn Oslo.
Former FC Dallas defender Clarence Goodson played the full 90 for Start, as did fellow MLS alumnus Hunter Freeman, who also picked up a yellow card in the 58th minute. Former D.C. United goalkeeper Troy Perkins conceded three goals as Valerenga lost its fifth consecutive league game, 3-2 at Stabaek IF.
In Scotland, on Saturday, Aug. 22, former Toronto FC striker Collin Samuel scored his first goal of the new SPL season in St. Johnstone's 5-2 defeat at Scottish giants Glasgow Celtic. Real Salt Lake alumnus Kenny Deuchar did not dress for the trip to Parkhead.
Dundee United held former Revs midfielder Andy Dorman's St. Mirren in their home opener. Dorman came out of the game in the 72nd minute. The game ended in a goalless tie.
On Sunday, Aug. 23, reigning SPL champions Glasgow Rangers had to come back from a goal down and a man down to beat Hearts at Tynecastle, 2-1. Ex-Fire midfielder DaMarcus Beasley dressed for the game but stayed on the bench.
In South Africa, in Week 2 of the South African Premiership, former Chicago Fire and D.C. United forward Hristo Stoichkov guided his Mamelodi Sundowns to a 0-0 tie at Soweto giants, Orlando Pirates on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Former Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake alumnus Dipsy Selolwane was a halftime substitute for Ajax Cape Town in their 1-1 tie at Free State Stars.
Performance of the Week
Aston Villa had not beaten Liverpool since Sept. 8, 2001. But that all changed on Monday night, thanks to some fine counter-attacking play, stout defending and an outstanding display by
Brad Friedel
in goal. In last season's corresponding fixture, the former Columbus Crew and Liverpool goalkeeper endured a nightmare return to his old Anfield stomping grounds. Friedel was sent off as Villa was humiliated 5-0 by the Reds. That red card was overturned on appeal and on Monday night Villa turned over Liverpool, 3-1. Not only did Friedel make big saves on Steven Gerrard (twice), Dirk Kuyt, Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson, he was a commanding presence in the penalty area, handling crosses with aplomb and keeping his defense organized against the constant wave of furious Liverpool attacks. For all that, the hero of the U.S. 2002 World Cup quarterfinal run earns the POTW.
Mark C. Young is an Emmy Award-winning freelance writer/TV producer who has covered several FIFA World Cups and Olympic Games. He is a contributor to Goal.com and also writes for the blog "No Mas."
