Offseason? What offseason? When your team needs a coach, there’s simply no offseason in sight.
At least, that’s the puzzling case for Chivas USA, who have reportedly lost out on the chance to hire Juan Carlos Osorio after the former Chicago Fire and New York Red Bulls boss told the media in his native Colombia he’s staying put with Once Caldas in 2011.
Osorio had been linked with the Goats’ job and was also reportedly considered as the top man for the Honduran national team. Chivas USA, meanwhile, don’t expect to make a decision on their vacancy before the new year.
There’s coaching news on the international scene as well, as enigmatic Chilean national team coach Marcelo Bielsa will reportedly lead his team against the United States in their international friendly on Jan. 22 in Los Angeles. Bielsa – who piloted the team into the Round of 16 at the World Cup – previously resigned from his post in November.
Moving from Chile to Scotland, there is more news on the Freddie Ljungberg-Celtic front. It appears the former Chicago Fire and Seattle Sounders Designated Player could have a potential 18-month loan offer coming, and he will attend Celtic’s match against Motherwell on Wednesday to get a feel for the atmosphere with his potential new club.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon, meanwhile, has played his Cher card in support of Ljungberg, saying that age is nothing but a number for the former Arsenal superstar.
A Celtic report wouldn’t be complete this week without more news from the Dwayne De Rosario saga, but it appears not much has moved forward since Toronto FC begrudgingly started the wheels turning for the Canadian star to give it a go in Scotland.
There’s Edson Buddle news too, but the English media is reporting that Birmingham City – the team the LA forward recently trialed with – might be looking in other directions.
Was anyone else perplexed by Tuesday’s reports of Herculez Gomez joining MLS? Here’s a blow-by-blow of what went down with the US international and Pachuca forward, including a quick but important primer on holiday traditions in Latin America.
Speaking of forwards bound for MLS, those waiting for good news on Irish international Robbie Keane could be out of luck, as the longtime Tottenham mainstay could be headed to a new club in Europe.
What would an MLS SuperDraft class be without the Akron Zips? It appears we’ll have to wait until at least 2012 to find out, as a number of coach Caleb Porter’s players appear headed to MLS.
The Philadelphia Union’s signing last week of teenager Zach Pfeffer turned more than a few heads and started a number of conversations, all leading to one question: who’s next?
One homegrown player who’s already risen to the pro ranks is New York’s Juan Agudelo, who gets his due coverage in a report from the Wall Street Journal.
England national team boss Fabio Capello is also making news, though perhaps not getting the attention he might want from the ranks of the English Premier League. He’s come out in support of a winter World Cup in Qatar.
Getting tired of those end-of-the-year reviews looking back at the US team’s run in South Africa? Neither are we. Here’s ESPN’s take.
Did anyone else catch the Independence Bowl on Monday, featuring the Air Force Academy and Georgia Tech? The Air Force mascot flew the coop before the game, leaving writers in Denver to speculate about what the Colorado Rapids mascot Edson the Eagle might do if given the same chance.
And finally, news broke recently that LA Galaxy star David Beckham and his wife Victoria are headed to New York so that Posh can dip her toes in the fashion industry. She’s off to a good start, as her first $2,600 handbag sold out within an hour of launch.
MLSsoccer.com must-reads
Feilhaber weighing options from three clubs
New England switch gives hope to Cochrane
The Top 25 stories of 2010: No's. 19 - 14
