Sep
7
The 10 Greatest Ever Soccer Players in Mls History
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Greg Power asked:
Walter Zenga (New England Revolution)
The man they nicknamed Uomo Ragno (Spider-Man), was an ever present in the Inter Milan goal through the 1980’s, making no less than 328 appearances and appearing for his country 58 times.
Even more impressively, in Italia 90 set a record of keeping 5 consecutive clean sheets, totalling 518 minutes without conceding a goal, a record that still stands today.
He is now the manager of Serie A side Catania.
Richard Gough (Kansas City Wizards/San Jose Clash)
A no-nonsense centre half and one of Glasgow Rangers most successful ever players, winning 9 titles as part of the infamous ‘9 in a row’ team. Gough also amassed 61 appearances for the Scottish national side. His spell at Rangers was interrupted by a brief stint with Tottenham Hotspur, only to return to Rangers, becoming the first ever Scottish player to be sold for over £1,000,000.
He spent 2 years in the MLS with Kansas City Wizards and San Jose Cash, being named in the MLS XI of the Year whilst with the Wizards.
Lothar Matthaus (Metrostars)
Perhaps not just one of the greatest players in the history of the MLS, but in the history of soccer. Winning World Soccer Player of the Year, European Footballer of the year and Fifa World Player of the Year, Matthaus could play in defence or midfield, with a rocket right foot that earned him the status of Germany’s most capped player.
His managerial career, however, has not been as successful as his playing days, with short spells in Brazil, Austria and Serbia, and as of now in Israel as the manager of Maccabi Netanya.
Roberto Donadoni (Metrostars)
A vital key in AC Milan’s success through the 80s and 90s, when very few could argue against them being the best club side in the world (other than Barcelona’s dream team). Notorious for effortlessly running past players on the right flank, Donadoni collected 5 Serie A titles, 3 European Cups, 3 European Super Cups and 2 Intercontinental cups before moving on to the Metrostars, where he was named in the Best XI in the 1996 Season.
Now boss of the Italian national side, Italy are left with a mountain to climb in order to progress to the quarter finals after disastrous results against Holland and Romania.
Maurice ‘Mo’ Johnston (Kansas City Wizards)
Mo Johnston was a Scottish centre forward starting his career with Partick Thistle, and then spending a couple of seasons at Watford before his move to Celtic that would later earn him hatred across Glasgow.
Leaving Celtic for Nantes, vowing to never return to Scotland, Johnston reconsidered and done a U-Turn, claiming to sign for Celtic again at the end of the season. As the summer approached, Johnston changed his mind once more, this time signing for arch rivals Rangers. This infuriated Rangers fans as Johnston is an ex Celtic player and supporter, but worse still, he was Roman Catholic. Celtic fans turned on him, opting for the nickname of Judas, replacing his former moniker of MoJo, Rangers fans disliked him from the start.
Nevertheless, he scored 46 goals in 100 games, before moving back to England with Everton. This unsuccessful spell was followed by brief stints with Falkirk and Hearts, before joining the Kansas City Wizards, spending 5 seasons there.
Hw was more recently head coach of Metrostars, before being given his marching orders, taking over the helm of Toronto FC.
Mo Johnston’s last minute winner for Rangers vs Celtic, 1989
Denilson (FC Dallas)
At 21, Denilson became the most expensive player in the world when Spanish outfit Real Betis paid approximately $32,000,000 to Sao Paulo for his services. Renowned for his dazzling stepovers and skinning opponents on the left flank, he was regarded as one of the most promising players the game had seen.
Sadly, the promise he showed never really developed, mostly down to his selfish play by holding on the ball for too long, or as the UK would say, ‘ball-hogging’.
He only played 7 games for Dallas before returning to his native Brazil.
Carlos Valderrama (Tampa Bay Mutiny, Miami Fusion, Colorado Rapids)
Considered the greatest Colombian player of all time, his creativity and flare was only surpassed by his hair - a curly orange electrified afro. Elegant and intelligent with the ball at his feet, El Pibe (The Kid) never actually ran anywhere on the pitch, but with his level of skill, why bother? His status of legend was confirmed in 2006, when a 22 foot bronze statue of him was erected in his home town of Santa Marta. Brilliant.
Spending 6 years in the US, Valderrama still holds the record for the most assists.
Youri Djorkaeff (Metrostars)
Aptly nicknamed ‘Snake’, Djorkaeff was a cultivated attacking midfielder and formed a crucial partnership with Zinedine Zidane, resulting in France winning the 98 World Cup and Euro 2000.
Banging the goals in for Monaco, he spent one season at Paris St Germain before signing for Italian giants Inter Milan and Kaiserslautern, when somehow Bolton Wanderers persuaded him to sign.
He became Metrostars ‘MVP’ during his brief spell in the US, before an ankle injury forced him to retire.
Hristo Stoichkov (Chicago Fire, DC United)
Unpredictable and quite possibly insane, this tricky Bulgarian had everything: pace, mesmerizing dribbling and a devastating shot. Barcelona snapped him up from CSKA Sofia, where his temperament, passion and goal scoring record immortalized him as a Barcelona great.
He was also instrumental in Bulgaria’s unexpected run in the 94 World Cup, during which time they made it to the semi final, losing to Italy. Stoichkov also earned the Golden Boot, finishing joint-top with Russia’s Oleg Solenko.
David Beckham (LA Galaxy)
The man who needs no introduction, ‘Goldenballs’ is the most famous soccer player on the planet, who’s brand is more renowned than his free kicks and defence-splitting passes.
A style icon for every male in Britain whilst playing for Manchester Utd, Beckham’s commitments to his life away from soccer meant that his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson was likely to deteriorate, as it did to the extent that Ferguson managed to kick a soccer boot at Beckham’s eye, requiring stitches.
Fast forward a couple of years, Beckham joins ‘Los Galacticos’, winning the Supercup in his first season. He had to wait until 2007 for a major honour though, when Real won the Primera league.
Whilst at Galaxy, his career has seen a couple of milestones, a 100th cap for the England national team, and a stunning 70 yard goal against Kansas City Wizards, almost mirroring his efforts for Man Utd against Wimbledon in 1996.
ANGEL
Walter Zenga (New England Revolution)
The man they nicknamed Uomo Ragno (Spider-Man), was an ever present in the Inter Milan goal through the 1980’s, making no less than 328 appearances and appearing for his country 58 times.
Even more impressively, in Italia 90 set a record of keeping 5 consecutive clean sheets, totalling 518 minutes without conceding a goal, a record that still stands today.
He is now the manager of Serie A side Catania.
Richard Gough (Kansas City Wizards/San Jose Clash)
A no-nonsense centre half and one of Glasgow Rangers most successful ever players, winning 9 titles as part of the infamous ‘9 in a row’ team. Gough also amassed 61 appearances for the Scottish national side. His spell at Rangers was interrupted by a brief stint with Tottenham Hotspur, only to return to Rangers, becoming the first ever Scottish player to be sold for over £1,000,000.
He spent 2 years in the MLS with Kansas City Wizards and San Jose Cash, being named in the MLS XI of the Year whilst with the Wizards.
Lothar Matthaus (Metrostars)
Perhaps not just one of the greatest players in the history of the MLS, but in the history of soccer. Winning World Soccer Player of the Year, European Footballer of the year and Fifa World Player of the Year, Matthaus could play in defence or midfield, with a rocket right foot that earned him the status of Germany’s most capped player.
His managerial career, however, has not been as successful as his playing days, with short spells in Brazil, Austria and Serbia, and as of now in Israel as the manager of Maccabi Netanya.
Roberto Donadoni (Metrostars)
___________________________________________________________________
A vital key in AC Milan’s success through the 80s and 90s, when very few could argue against them being the best club side in the world (other than Barcelona’s dream team). Notorious for effortlessly running past players on the right flank, Donadoni collected 5 Serie A titles, 3 European Cups, 3 European Super Cups and 2 Intercontinental cups before moving on to the Metrostars, where he was named in the Best XI in the 1996 Season.
Now boss of the Italian national side, Italy are left with a mountain to climb in order to progress to the quarter finals after disastrous results against Holland and Romania.
Maurice ‘Mo’ Johnston (Kansas City Wizards)
Mo Johnston was a Scottish centre forward starting his career with Partick Thistle, and then spending a couple of seasons at Watford before his move to Celtic that would later earn him hatred across Glasgow.
Leaving Celtic for Nantes, vowing to never return to Scotland, Johnston reconsidered and done a U-Turn, claiming to sign for Celtic again at the end of the season. As the summer approached, Johnston changed his mind once more, this time signing for arch rivals Rangers. This infuriated Rangers fans as Johnston is an ex Celtic player and supporter, but worse still, he was Roman Catholic. Celtic fans turned on him, opting for the nickname of Judas, replacing his former moniker of MoJo, Rangers fans disliked him from the start.
Nevertheless, he scored 46 goals in 100 games, before moving back to England with Everton. This unsuccessful spell was followed by brief stints with Falkirk and Hearts, before joining the Kansas City Wizards, spending 5 seasons there.
Hw was more recently head coach of Metrostars, before being given his marching orders, taking over the helm of Toronto FC.
Mo Johnston’s last minute winner for Rangers vs Celtic, 1989
Denilson (FC Dallas)
At 21, Denilson became the most expensive player in the world when Spanish outfit Real Betis paid approximately $32,000,000 to Sao Paulo for his services. Renowned for his dazzling stepovers and skinning opponents on the left flank, he was regarded as one of the most promising players the game had seen.
Sadly, the promise he showed never really developed, mostly down to his selfish play by holding on the ball for too long, or as the UK would say, ‘ball-hogging’.
He only played 7 games for Dallas before returning to his native Brazil.
Carlos Valderrama (Tampa Bay Mutiny, Miami Fusion, Colorado Rapids)
Considered the greatest Colombian player of all time, his creativity and flare was only surpassed by his hair - a curly orange electrified afro. Elegant and intelligent with the ball at his feet, El Pibe (The Kid) never actually ran anywhere on the pitch, but with his level of skill, why bother? His status of legend was confirmed in 2006, when a 22 foot bronze statue of him was erected in his home town of Santa Marta. Brilliant.
Spending 6 years in the US, Valderrama still holds the record for the most assists.
Youri Djorkaeff (Metrostars)
Aptly nicknamed ‘Snake’, Djorkaeff was a cultivated attacking midfielder and formed a crucial partnership with Zinedine Zidane, resulting in France winning the 98 World Cup and Euro 2000.
Banging the goals in for Monaco, he spent one season at Paris St Germain before signing for Italian giants Inter Milan and Kaiserslautern, when somehow Bolton Wanderers persuaded him to sign.
He became Metrostars ‘MVP’ during his brief spell in the US, before an ankle injury forced him to retire.
Hristo Stoichkov (Chicago Fire, DC United)
Unpredictable and quite possibly insane, this tricky Bulgarian had everything: pace, mesmerizing dribbling and a devastating shot. Barcelona snapped him up from CSKA Sofia, where his temperament, passion and goal scoring record immortalized him as a Barcelona great.
He was also instrumental in Bulgaria’s unexpected run in the 94 World Cup, during which time they made it to the semi final, losing to Italy. Stoichkov also earned the Golden Boot, finishing joint-top with Russia’s Oleg Solenko.
David Beckham (LA Galaxy)
The man who needs no introduction, ‘Goldenballs’ is the most famous soccer player on the planet, who’s brand is more renowned than his free kicks and defence-splitting passes.
A style icon for every male in Britain whilst playing for Manchester Utd, Beckham’s commitments to his life away from soccer meant that his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson was likely to deteriorate, as it did to the extent that Ferguson managed to kick a soccer boot at Beckham’s eye, requiring stitches.
Fast forward a couple of years, Beckham joins ‘Los Galacticos’, winning the Supercup in his first season. He had to wait until 2007 for a major honour though, when Real won the Primera league.
Whilst at Galaxy, his career has seen a couple of milestones, a 100th cap for the England national team, and a stunning 70 yard goal against Kansas City Wizards, almost mirroring his efforts for Man Utd against Wimbledon in 1996.
ANGEL
Aug
25
Betting Trends : Opening Fixtures of the SPL 2009/10
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Javan McCabe asked:
A look into the opening day fixtures in the Scottish Premier League 2009/10 season and the betting trends from the opening matches from the past ten seasons with an overall prediction across several markets.
Hamilton have been omitted from the trend analysis due to the small number of seasons they have participated in the SPL over the past ten seasons.
15th AUGUST 2009
Aberdeen v Celtic
Aberdeen’s last six openers have had two or less goals in them.
Aberdeen haven’t won an opening match since 2002.
83% of Aberdeen’s last six matches have ended with an even number of goals.
Celtic haven’t lost on the opening day in the past ten seasons.
Since 2002 Celtic have had this sequence WDWDWDW
PREDICTION : Under 2.5 goals would be a good bet as would a draw.
Dundee Utd v Hearts
Dundee Utd have won 20% of their opening fixtures.
Hearts have won 83% of their last six opening fixtures.
PREDICTION : If unable to lay a Dundee Utd win, dutch a Hearts win together with the draw.
Hibernian v St Mirren
Hibernian’s last five matches on the opening day have ended with two goals or less.
75% of St Mirren’s openers have ended with two goals or less.
PREDICTION : Under 2.5 goals
Kilmarnock v Hamilton
Kilmarnock don’t have any noticeable trends.
PREDICTION : Skip it
Rangers v Falkirk
Rangers have never lost an opening game in the past ten seasons.
70% of Rangers’ opening fixtures result in two goals or more.
50% of Falkirk’s opening fixtures result in two goals or more.
PREDICTION : Over 2.5 goals
St Johnstone v Motherwell
With thirteen attempts between them, only once have these two managed to win on the first day. 77% of these matches have ended up with two goals or more.
PREDICTION : Over 2.5 goals
WINFRED
A look into the opening day fixtures in the Scottish Premier League 2009/10 season and the betting trends from the opening matches from the past ten seasons with an overall prediction across several markets.
Hamilton have been omitted from the trend analysis due to the small number of seasons they have participated in the SPL over the past ten seasons.
15th AUGUST 2009
Aberdeen v Celtic
Aberdeen’s last six openers have had two or less goals in them.
Aberdeen haven’t won an opening match since 2002.
___________________________________________________________________
83% of Aberdeen’s last six matches have ended with an even number of goals.
Celtic haven’t lost on the opening day in the past ten seasons.
Since 2002 Celtic have had this sequence WDWDWDW
PREDICTION : Under 2.5 goals would be a good bet as would a draw.
Dundee Utd v Hearts
Dundee Utd have won 20% of their opening fixtures.
Hearts have won 83% of their last six opening fixtures.
PREDICTION : If unable to lay a Dundee Utd win, dutch a Hearts win together with the draw.
Hibernian v St Mirren
Hibernian’s last five matches on the opening day have ended with two goals or less.
75% of St Mirren’s openers have ended with two goals or less.
PREDICTION : Under 2.5 goals
Kilmarnock v Hamilton
Kilmarnock don’t have any noticeable trends.
PREDICTION : Skip it
Rangers v Falkirk
Rangers have never lost an opening game in the past ten seasons.
70% of Rangers’ opening fixtures result in two goals or more.
50% of Falkirk’s opening fixtures result in two goals or more.
PREDICTION : Over 2.5 goals
St Johnstone v Motherwell
With thirteen attempts between them, only once have these two managed to win on the first day. 77% of these matches have ended up with two goals or more.
PREDICTION : Over 2.5 goals
WINFRED
Aug
15
No Champions League Screen for Manchester Following Uefa Violence
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Krissy Haze asked:
Manchester Council has dramatically abandoned plans to use big screens to screen next week’s Manchester United Vs Chelsea Champions League final after Glasgow Rangers fans caused chaos in the city. An estimated 20,000 Glasgow Rangers fans were in the city to see their team play Zenit St Petersberg in the match at the City of Manchester Stadium, but the occasion soured when people ran riot in the city centre, attacking both police officers and civilians.
Richard Leese, leader of the city council leader, told reporters that Manchester would not be screening the vital game next Wednesday as “an appropriate response to what happened last night.” He said that “any business or resident of the city centre” would agree with the council’s decision not to show the game.
Trouble started in the city when a big screen that was supposed to be showing the game to an estimated 20,000 fans in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens failed just fifteen minutes before kick off. All attempts to fix the screen failed, so the council laid on free transport for 11,000 fans to watch the game on a screen in the Velodrome. However, some fans refused to go to the alternative venue and violence erupted.
Glasgow Rangers released a statement yesterday, which condemned the behaviour of their badly behaved fans. Martin Bain, the club’s chief executive, said: “The club has had discussions with Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council in view of incidents in the city last night. The police and council praised the behaviour of the overwhelming majority of Rangers fans.” However, he added “We are deeply disappointed that a small minority soured what was great carnival atmosphere and this is a view shared by our fans who travelled in unprecedented numbers to Manchester.”
Uefa, the governing body of European football, is now investigating the violence. However, it is not yet known whether Glasgow Rangers can be punished for the bad behaviour of its supporters.
William Gaillard of Uefa said that Greater Manchester Police and the city as a whole had done a “fantastic” job in looking after the fans. He said: “I can’t believe that any other city would have done anything better. Of course we are very disappointed with the behaviour of a small minority especially after the city had done everything it could to accommodate everyone’s needs and were rewarded by injured policemen and hundreds of tons of rubbish.”
SANTOS
Manchester Council has dramatically abandoned plans to use big screens to screen next week’s Manchester United Vs Chelsea Champions League final after Glasgow Rangers fans caused chaos in the city. An estimated 20,000 Glasgow Rangers fans were in the city to see their team play Zenit St Petersberg in the match at the City of Manchester Stadium, but the occasion soured when people ran riot in the city centre, attacking both police officers and civilians.
Richard Leese, leader of the city council leader, told reporters that Manchester would not be screening the vital game next Wednesday as “an appropriate response to what happened last night.” He said that “any business or resident of the city centre” would agree with the council’s decision not to show the game.
Trouble started in the city when a big screen that was supposed to be showing the game to an estimated 20,000 fans in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens failed just fifteen minutes before kick off. All attempts to fix the screen failed, so the council laid on free transport for 11,000 fans to watch the game on a screen in the Velodrome. However, some fans refused to go to the alternative venue and violence erupted.
___________________________________________________________________
Glasgow Rangers released a statement yesterday, which condemned the behaviour of their badly behaved fans. Martin Bain, the club’s chief executive, said: “The club has had discussions with Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council in view of incidents in the city last night. The police and council praised the behaviour of the overwhelming majority of Rangers fans.” However, he added “We are deeply disappointed that a small minority soured what was great carnival atmosphere and this is a view shared by our fans who travelled in unprecedented numbers to Manchester.”
Uefa, the governing body of European football, is now investigating the violence. However, it is not yet known whether Glasgow Rangers can be punished for the bad behaviour of its supporters.
William Gaillard of Uefa said that Greater Manchester Police and the city as a whole had done a “fantastic” job in looking after the fans. He said: “I can’t believe that any other city would have done anything better. Of course we are very disappointed with the behaviour of a small minority especially after the city had done everything it could to accommodate everyone’s needs and were rewarded by injured policemen and hundreds of tons of rubbish.”
SANTOS
May
2
The History and Tradition of the Glasgow Rangers
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Brian Link asked:
One of the most popular soccer teams in Scotland is the Glasgow Rangers. The Rangers are a team deep in history and tradition. In 1872, the Glasgow Rangers were formed by two brothers, Peter and Moses McNeil, and their friends William McBeath and Peter McNeail. They chose the name for their soccer club by combing through a book on English rugby and borrowing from an existing team’s name. The team saw limited action in their inaugural year with only a handful of friendly matches including a draw against Callander F.C. and an 11 to nil drubbing of Clyde.
Fast forward to more modern times and the Glasgow Rangers popularity has exploded. In 2006, Paul Le Geun took managerial control over the Rangers and went on a spree of signings for the team along with transactions that cleaned up some of the fat on the team. They struggled early on and, after a handful of defeats to lower level clubs, were removed from the League Cup. The Rangers cross-town rivals, the Glasgow Celtics, were dominate during this period which caused much agony for diehard Rangers fans.
Walter Smith was brought on in 2007 to replace Paul Le Guen. Smith brought on former Rangers player All McCoist to be his assistant manager.
The Glasgow Rangers have three primary colors: red, royal blue and white. Their home shirts are royal blue with white and red trim and the players wear white shorts with black socks. They occasionally will reverse parts of their uniform. For example, you can sometimes see the Glasgow Rangers playing in white socks and shorts that are royal blue in color.
The Rangers remain one of the most popular soccer clubs in all of Scotland, playing at any level, even though they split local attention and interest with the Glasgow Celtics. Thanks to the long history the Rangers have there are no signs of their popularity slowing down anytime soon.
JUSTIN
One of the most popular soccer teams in Scotland is the Glasgow Rangers. The Rangers are a team deep in history and tradition. In 1872, the Glasgow Rangers were formed by two brothers, Peter and Moses McNeil, and their friends William McBeath and Peter McNeail. They chose the name for their soccer club by combing through a book on English rugby and borrowing from an existing team’s name. The team saw limited action in their inaugural year with only a handful of friendly matches including a draw against Callander F.C. and an 11 to nil drubbing of Clyde.
Fast forward to more modern times and the Glasgow Rangers popularity has exploded. In 2006, Paul Le Geun took managerial control over the Rangers and went on a spree of signings for the team along with transactions that cleaned up some of the fat on the team. They struggled early on and, after a handful of defeats to lower level clubs, were removed from the League Cup. The Rangers cross-town rivals, the Glasgow Celtics, were dominate during this period which caused much agony for diehard Rangers fans.
Walter Smith was brought on in 2007 to replace Paul Le Guen. Smith brought on former Rangers player All McCoist to be his assistant manager.
The Glasgow Rangers have three primary colors: red, royal blue and white. Their home shirts are royal blue with white and red trim and the players wear white shorts with black socks. They occasionally will reverse parts of their uniform. For example, you can sometimes see the Glasgow Rangers playing in white socks and shorts that are royal blue in color.
The Rangers remain one of the most popular soccer clubs in all of Scotland, playing at any level, even though they split local attention and interest with the Glasgow Celtics. Thanks to the long history the Rangers have there are no signs of their popularity slowing down anytime soon.
JUSTIN