Not many of us have the time to scour the Web for all soccer-related news. Thus, in an attempt to make your life easier and give you your evening soccer fix, MLSsoccer.com presents our new feature, "Final Whistle," which gives readers a quick rundown of the afternoon soccer news happening around the globe.
Former US national team captain Thomas Dooley has reportedly put forth his candidacy for the Toronto FC coaching job.
Meanwhile, reports South of the Border have Chivas USA forward Giancarlo Maldonado leaving Los Angeles for Cancún and the Iron Colts of Atlante.
Steam is picking up for pro soccer in San Antonio, where they are preparing to field an NASL team in 2012. Support is coming from the local paper and from a well-known former pro sports owner.
Also in the NASL, FC Edmonton’s Dutch coaches are leaving for Asia, only a short time after taking up a position with the fledgling club.
Another Dutch coach making his exit is Martin Jol, who leaves giants Ajax in fourth place in the Eredivisie and with no chance to advance in the UEFA Champions League.
Jol, who tried leaving Ajax earlier this year to take the Fulham job, is the now the odds-on favorite to assume the reins at Newcastle United, where Chris Hughton was shown the door to the surprise of many with the Magpies in 12th place.
Staying in the EPL, Liverpool comfortably defeated American goalkeeper Brad Friedel and Aston Villa 3-0 in an unhappy return to Anfield Road for Villans manager Gérard Houllier. Liverpool's current manager Roy Hodgson says his club’s “limp is getting better.”
The fact that Pepe Reina became the fastest Liverpool goalkeeper to 100 clean sheets, drew the praise of LFC’s American owner, John Henry.
Liverpool achieved the result without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, the latter celebrating the birth of his second child.
Italian side Napoli also dominated their opponent on Monday night but needed a stoppage time goal from Christian Maggio to see off Palermo and move into third place in the Serie A table level with Juventus and only six points behind AC Milan.
Portuguese runaway league leaders Porto also overcame Vitória de Setúbal 1-0 in a match shrouded in controversy. Visiting Setúbal were awarded a late PK that could have proven the equalizer had the referee not forced the kicker to retake the spot kick. (PORTUGUESE)
In other Monday Night Football action, Deportivo La Coruña defeated Hércules 1-0 on a late set piece in a La Liga matchup between clubs situated in the lower half of the table.
In Holland, Excelsior and NAC Breda only managed to play five minutes before fog brought an end to their Monday night Eredivisie league match.
These are heady days for Monterrey, who won their fourth Mexican league title on Sunday. On Monday, they celebrated with a parade (VIDEO) while city officials confirm that work will start on the club’s new stadium in 2011. (SPANISH)
The fall-out from the announcement of the World Cup hosts for 2018 and 2022 does not end. A consultant for Australia says they played it too clean while FIFA says there is no chance for Franz Beckenbauer’s suggestion of a winter World Cup in 2022.
For a different perspective on the media reaction following Qatar’s beating out the USA for 2022, one ESPN reporter is critical of the views expressed by the mainstream American media on the topic.
Nigerian international Peter Odemwingie, who suffered racial abuse while playing in Russia, believes that the 2018 World Cup can help the country overcome what he believes to be a major social issue.
Brazilian female soccer star Marta was the highest-paid player in the WPS and leveraged her championship season to become a FIFA Women’s Player of the Year candidate. This while WPS is working through a new salary structure for players.
In addition to Women's Player of the Year, the finalists for other year-end FIFA awards were announced with Real Madrid’s José Mourinho and FC Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola duking it out for FIFA Manager of the Year honors.
One Spanish daily is trying to make trouble for Mourinho’s Real Madrid side by suggesting that there is unrest in the Merengues locker room because no one celebrates Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals. (SPANISH)
If that story is highly speculative, try this one on for size: The leader of Burma’s military junta planned to make a bid for Manchester United to help his countrymen forget their nation’s problems.
Finally, at AC Milan it is revealed that Ghanaian midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng – whom US fans will not remember fondly – is a big Michael Jackson fan and often bursts out with songs and dances in the Rossoneri locker room in honor of his pop hero. (ITALIAN)
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