LA Latest news

[Frank Cunha]

you are correct, I saw the articles about it :danc:

[Frank Cunha]

Vasquez Named New Galaxy Assistant 07/01/04

Los Angeles Galaxy Vice-President and General Manager Doug Hamilton announced today that former USA and Mexico international midfielder Martin Vasquez has been hired as the club's new assistant coach effective immediately. A veteran of both MLS and the Mexican First Division, Vasquez has appeared in over 400 league matches, and is a long-time fixture as both a player and a coach in the Southern California soccer scene.

"We are very pleased with the addition of Martin to our coaching staff as he will bring over a decade of experience playing at the local, national and international levels and has the unique distinction of being the only player to play for both the U.S. and Mexico," said Hamilton. "He is an extremely well respected coach, who has worked at every level of the game."

The 40-year-old Vasquez, who holds a U.S. "A" Coaching License, joins the Galaxy following a two year-stint (2001-2002) as the assistant coach under Carlos Juarez with the San Diego Spirit, formerly of the WUSA. From 1999-2000, he spent two seasons at Cal Poly Pomona also as the assistant to Juarez, overseeing both the men and women's programs.

"As a player, I had goals and objectives, and one of my ambitions was always to come and play for the Los Angeles Galaxy, but I never realized that opportunity. However, this game gives you a lot of opportunities and now I have my chance to coach with the Galaxy," said Vasquez. "I believe that I can help this team with my experience and knowledge of the game. I'm excited to begin working with all of the players and being able to impart those little things about the game that I learned during my 18 years of playing and coaching professional soccer. I'm also looking forward to helping the team win another championship."

In three MLS seasons, Vasquez was one of the league's top defensive midfielders and appeared in 87 games (83 starts), recording nine goals and 16 assists for 34 points with the Tampa Bay Mutiny (1996 and 1997) and San Jose Earthquakes (1998). A 1996 MLS Eastern Conference All-Star, Vasquez started in all but one match and tallying five goals and six assists in a standout first season, which lead to Tampa's first Eastern Conference Championship and the best overall record in MLS.

Prior to joining MLS, Vasquez spent eight seasons in the Mexican First Division, appearing in more than 300 games with Tecos Universidad Autonoma Guadalajara, Universidad de Guadalajara Leones Negros, Puebla, Veracruz and Atlas from 1987 to 1996. He made his professional debut in 1984 with the Los Angeles Lazers of the Major Indoor Soccer League, and also played with the Memphis Storm and outdoors with the Hollywood Kickers and California Kickers. Before turning Pro, Vasquez played three seasons at Cal State - Los Angeles.

"Martin adds to our staff the perspective of a player who has played at the league and national team level for both the United States and Mexico. His MLS experience from three years in this league, will allow him the ability to relate that playing experience on a day-to-day basis at training," said Galaxy Head Coach Sigi Schmid. "I really expect Martin to be most influential on our younger developing players like (Guillermo) 'Memo' Gonzalez, Alejandro Moreno, Arturo Torres, Ricky Lewis and Scot Thompson to help us develop these promising talents as well as helping to shape our side for the 2004 season."

A former U.S. National Team member, Vasquez appeared seven times (All Starts) for the USA during 1996 and 1997. Vasquez registered 435 minutes for the Red-White-and-Blue and was among the final player pool leading up to the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. He made his first appearance with the U.S. on December 21, 1996, starting at sweeper in a 2-2 draw against Guatemala in a CONCACAF World Cup qualifying match in San Salvador, El Salvador.

A native of Jalisco, Mexico, Vasquez made 10 appearances for Mexico in 1991 and 1992 under national team coach Cesar Luis Menotti of Argentina before becoming a U.S. citizen in 1996. However, he remained eligible for U.S. Team because none of his appearances came in a full international game. He is the only player to appear for both the U.S. and Mexican Full National Teams.

Vasquez, who was born on December 24, 1963, is married to Denise. The couple resides in West Covina, CA with their two children, Michael (12), Erika (10) and Emily (six months).

Los Angeles Galaxy tickets are now on sale for the 2004 season at The Home Depot Center, who open their ninth season in MLS with a match against the New England Revolution at 7 pm (PT) on Saturday April 3, 2004. For more information or to purchase your 2004 Los Angeles Galaxy season tickets, please call toll-free 1-877-3GALAXY or visit www.lagalaxy.com.

[Soccerdad]

looks like they are getting ready for the Chivas USA. Adding another latino coach to keep and get some new local latino players and fans.

good idea.

[Frank Cunha]

one Mexican team is enough, but not the whole league

[Soccerdad]

its jusr a geographic thing. Big latino fan base, gota use it!

[Frank Cunha]

Bartolomeu Joins Canada 12/01/04

MetroStars defender Edgar Bartolomeu has been called by newly appointed Canadian National Team Head Coach (and former San Jose Earthquakes Head Coach) Frank Yallop into national team training camp from January 12-23 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. During the camp Canada will play a friendly against Barbados on January 18th in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Born in Angola, Bartolemeu has obtained Canadian resident status and resides in Toronto in the off-season. He spent two seasons with the Toronto Lynx in 1999 and 2000.

Wear the official jersey of Yallop's new side, the Canadian National Team! WorldSoccerShop

[Frank Cunha]

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"It's a dream for any American player to play in a European league."
-- Antonio Martinez, who is leaving the Los Angeles Galaxy to sign with Spanish Second Division club Cordoba. Martinez, 26, played three and a half seasons for the Dallas Burn before joining L.A. in the middle of the 2003 season. (Diario Cordoba)

[Frank Cunha]

Galaxy go with Josh Gardner at #13. Still no Grabavoy or Adolpho Gregario, UCLA's highly-rated winger.

[Frank Cunha]

1. WIDER IS BETTER? The field at Home Depot Center, which is already 75 yards across, might be even wider for the 2004 MLS season.

Several sources said last weekend that the surface will be widened to the vast 80-yard expanse of last June, when the Galaxy opened the stadium with a 2-0 victory against Colorado.

It was soon narrowed to 75 yards and its dimensions of 120 x 75 are the largest in MLS.



2. FOUR OR THREE: Not coincidentally, Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid is pondering a shift to a four-man backline. He's deployed a three-man system almost exclusively since the middle of the 2002 season.

One of the players who might be affected by the change is Chris Abright, who has played both flank midfield positions for the Galaxy but lined up at right back for the national team in its 1-1 draw with Denmark on Sunday.

Foes could be seeing Tyrone Marshall at left back, Hong Myung Bo and/or Danny Califf and/or Ryan Suarez at central defender, and Abright at right back. Other candidates include U.S. under-23 defenders Ricky Lewis and Scot Thompson, ex-Burn Paul Broome, and SuperDraft picks Jason Perry and Chris Aloisi.

[Frank Cunha]

"It was communicated, but that is not to say we agreed with the absence."
-- Los Angeles general manager Doug Hamilton, responding to Carlos Ruiz' claim that the Galaxy should have known he would miss the first two days of preseason. (Los Angeles Times)

[Lemmy]

Originally Posted by Frank Cunha

1. WIDER IS BETTER? The field at Home Depot Center, which is already 75 yards across, might be even wider for the 2004 MLS season.

Several sources said last weekend that the surface will be widened to the vast 80-yard expanse of last June, when the Galaxy opened the stadium with a 2-0 victory against Colorado.

It was soon narrowed to 75 yards and its dimensions of 120 x 75 are the largest in MLS.

I thought that there was a maximum width of 65-70 meters that FIFA set.

[Frank Cunha]

Kirovski Signs With Galaxy 06/02/04

The Los Angeles Galaxy have signed U.S. National Team forward Jovan Kirovski, it was announced today by Galaxy Vice-President and General Manager Doug Hamilton. The Galaxy using their allocation received from the retirement of Mauricio Cienfuegos acquired Kirovski, who joins the club after a two-year stint with Birmingham City of the English Premier League (EPL). No financial terms of the MLS contract were announced.

A dangerous presence in the attack, Kirovski brings a strong technical base and fits in best either up top or behind the forwards. One of the USA's most experienced internationals; he has played with several of the top clubs in Europe, boasting stints at Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and Sporting Lisbon. He began his professional career in Europe as a 15-year-old, joining Manchester United's youth program in 1992.

"We're very pleased to bring Southern California native Jovan Kirovski back to Los Angeles," said Hamilton. "He is an experienced international who brings a strong physical presence and the ability to run at people as well as great technical ability to challenge defenders and score goals, which he has demonstrated with his play in some of the top European leagues."

A member the U.S. National Team since 1994, Kirovski has made 59 international appearances, participating in such prestigious tournaments as FIFA World Cup Qualifying, Copa America, CONCACAF Gold Cup, and U.S. Cup. Kirovski boasts nine goals with the full U.S. National Team, ranking him in the top 20 all-time. He made his first international appearance vs. Saudi Arabia in a 2-1 loss on Oct. 19, 1994, in Dhahran. Only a month later, he scored his first goal, the game-winner, vs. Jamaica on Nov. 22, 1994.

"I'm very excited to join the L.A. Galaxy, I've been thinking about coming back to play in the U.S. for a long time. Being from Southern California, this is a great opportunity for me to come home and have all of my family and friends around me," said Kirovski. "With my style of play, I look forward to being another offensive weapon, to create and score some goals and, hopefully, I can do that. The most important thing is to win games and go on to win the MLS Cup."

A native of Escondido, CA, Kirovski has 10 all-time appearances for the U.S. National Team during World Cup qualifying from 1996-2002. Kirovski played in eight games making seven starts in qualifying matches to the 2002 World Cup, helping the team qualify to Korea/Japan. He earned his 50th cap in the 3-2 loss against Honduras on Sept. 1, 2001.

"We're thrilled to add Jovan to the Galaxy's growing offensive arsenal," said Galaxy Head Coach Sigi Schmid. "He is anxiously awaiting an opportunity to play first team football on a regular basis and is a player that by his performance with the Galaxy can earn his ticket to the World Cup in 2006."

The 6-1, 175-pound Kirovski started seven of the nine games the USA played in 2000, including scoring the game-winning goal in the opening game of the 2000 Gold Cup against Haiti at the Orange Bowl in Miami. Kirovski posted his best year for the USA in 1999, appearing in 11 games - 10 starts - and recording more minutes (990) than any other player while registering two goals and an assist for five points. In addition, he was a member of the bronze medal-winning squad at the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup in Mexico. He scored a highlight-reel goal that opened the doors to a 3-0 U.S. demolition of Germany on Feb. 6 in Jacksonville, and also scored on a header in the USA's 2-1 victory over New Zealand in the Confederations Cup opener.

In 1996, he scored five goals in his last nine games with the U.S. Olympic Team, including three game-winners, one of them a freekick tally against Tunisia. At the 1996 Gold Cup, Kirovski scored a goal in the USA's 3-0 win in the third-place match against Guatemala. He was also a member of the USA's U.S. Cup '95 championship squad and the '95 Copa America semifinalists.

The 27-year-old Kirovski started his professional career in 1992 signing with world-renowned club Manchester United, joining their reserve team. For the next four years, Kirovski played with Manchester United's A and B squads and was part of the same class that produced English stars David Beckham and Ryan Giggs.

In 1996, Kirovski signed with two-time defending Bundesliga Champion (at that time) Borussia Dortmund in August. For the next two seasons (1996-98), he played in 20 games with Dortmund, scoring his first professional goal for Dortmund in a Champions' League match vs. Sparta Prague in a 3-0 win on Dec. 10, 1996. The U.S. international helped Borussia Dortmund capture two of the World's most prestigious club tournaments, winning the 1997 Champions' League and the 1997 World Club Championship.

Next, Borussia Dortmund sent Kirovski on a one-year loan to second division club Fortuna Cologne. With Fortuna Cologne, Kirovski scored two goals in 20 appearances. He returned to Dortmund for the 1999-2000 season, but did not make an appearance. In 2000, he joined Portuguese league champion Sporting Lisbon for a season, making five appearances all as a substitute.

He then moved to the English first division signing with former EPL club Crystal Palace. Joining U.S. National Team teammate Greg Berhalter at Crystal Palace, Kirovski posted one of his best seasons playing in 26 games - 22 starts - with five goals, three of which were game winners, as an attacking midfielder. Most recently, he spent two seasons with Birmingham City of the EPL, playing in 20-plus games and scoring two goals.

Los Angeles Galaxy tickets are now on sale for the 2004 season at The Home Depot Center, who open their ninth season in MLS with a match against the New England Revolution at 7 pm (PT) on Saturday April 3, 2004. For more information or to purchase your 2004 Los Angeles Galaxy season tickets, please call toll-free 1-877-3GALAXY or visit www.lagalaxy.com.

[Pferd]

Originally Posted by Lemmy

I thought that there was a maximum width of 65-70 meters that FIFA set.

isn't the fifa largets field 100 m width 200 m length? i have the referee handbook and could check it, but hey, im jus a little bit lazy

[Frank Cunha]

5. MLS: Ruiz seeks salary max; MLS wants two more years

By Scott French

Los Angeles Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz is seeking a significant pay raise, and Major League Soccer may be willing to accommodate him in exchange for a two-year extension of his loan agreement, according to the president of Guatemalan club Municipal.

German Villa, the top official from the Guatemala City club that owns Ruiz's rights, said there remained "gaps" between the sides, but that he thought a deal would be finalized within a week or so.

Villa, who was on hand for the Galaxy's scrimmage Friday against the U.S. under-17 team at the Home Depot Center, said Ruiz was seeking to be paid the league "maximum," and that MLS officials appeared willing to do so if Municipal was willing to add fifth and sixth years to the loan agreement, which expires following the 2005 season.

Municipal, Villa said, were open to the idea in exchange for "some benefit to our organization." The club would like to receive a larger fee for the added two years of the agreement.

Municipal also wants to make explicit, in the agreement and in Ruiz's contract, procedure to be followed if another club offers to purchase his contract. Ruiz had unsuccessful trials during the offseason with Wolves and Portsmouth.

Villa said he met Wednesday with MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidas, Los Angeles Galaxy general manager Doug Hamilton and Richard Motzkin, Ruiz's agent. Ruiz "at some point participated" in the meeting, Villa said.

The "maximum" salary permitted under MLS's salary cap is $280,000, although several players make more than that. Ruiz's current contract pays him $30,000 per season in base salary and an annual average of $50,000 including guaranteed bonuses, according to figures compiled by the MLS Players Association and reported independently by Soccer America.

The Galaxy began preparations for the 2004 season Feb. 2.

[Frank Cunha]

JÜRGEN KLINSMANN TO ADVISE LOS ANGELES GALAXY
CARSON, CA (Thursday, February 12, 2004) - The Los Angeles Galaxy and SoccerSolutions, a sports marketing consultancy, have today announced that former FIFA World Cup champion, German national team captain and world-renowned goal scorer, Jürgen Klinsmann, who played with such top professional soccer clubs as Bayern Munich (Germany), Inter Milan (Italy), Monaco (France), and Tottenham Hotspur (England), will provide technical advice to the coaching staff and players of the Galaxy.

“Jürgen can give the Galaxy organization a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of the game. He understands how top clubs in the world operate,” said Galaxy President and General Manager Doug Hamilton. “He has won championships at every level with some of the world’s most respected coaches. He knows what the best players have to do to reach their potential. Just as impressively, he represents through his own professional development how important it is to embrace different cultures, apply best practices from various sports and businesses, and be open to change.”

In his consultant role as Galaxy Technical Advisor, Klinsmann will spend significant time on site at The Home Depot Center, home of the club, through the 2004 season. He will attend and participate in evaluation and planning sessions, coaches meetings, training sessions, and individual player meetings in order to provide Galaxy coaches and players with insights gained from his successful experiences at the highest levels of international soccer.

“I’m very pleased to be invited to work with the Galaxy and to be able to share some of the patterns of excellence I learned while playing in four of the world’s most competitive professional leagues as well as worldwide with the German national team. The Galaxy has demonstrated its ability to succeed within the MLS, and it has positioned itself to also be a factor in international soccer circles. I look forward to contributing to the club as it strives to achieve its vision,” stated Klinsmann.

In addition to providing services directly to the Galaxy coaching staff and players, SoccerSolutions, under Klinsmann’s direction, will also be engaged by the team for assistance with international player exchanges, exhibition games with foreign clubs, overseas training opportunities, an