Britain’s first £1 million player (in 1979) had an impact on American soccer. He played in the USA for the Detroit Express before making the famous move to Nottingham Forest. Post-playing career, he coached American John Harkes at Sheffield Wednesday. Here’s video — memories, highlights and interviews — on the life of Trevor Francis, who died this […]
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Posted inSoccer America Confidential
Hugo Sanchez cherishes his 'springboard' seasons with the San Diego Sockers ahead of legendary career
The greatest Mexican soccer player of the 20th century, and a pivotal figure in the conversation for the greatest of all, credits his time in the United States for his success with Real Madrid. Hugo Sanchez, LaLiga’s No. 4 all-time goalscorer, told Soccer America that his time with the North American Soccer League’s San Diego […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
Monday morning: What we're reading (and listening to)
1. Philadelphia Atoms alumni celebrate the 50th anniversary of their 1973 NASL championship By Jonathan Tannenwald (Philadelphia Inquirer)2. Europe gets serious about women’s football, apart from money By Helen Chandler-Wilde and David Hellier (Bloomberg)3. The curious case of Youssoufa Moukoko’s contract By James Thorogood (DW.com)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
When Pele conquered America
Pele was 34 and semi-retired when the New York Cosmos fended off interest from Juventus and Real Madrid to lure the world’s greatest player to the soccer backwater that was America in 1975. “If you go there, all you can do is win a championship. You come here, you win a country,” Englishman Clive Toye, […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Soccer, before and after Pele's arrival
When Pele came to the United States to play for the Cosmos in 1975, few Americans had actually seen the great Brazilian play. Pele is the only three-time winner of the World Cup, playing on Brazil’s 1958, 1962 and 1970 championship teams, but it wasn’t until 1974 that Americans could readily watch the World Cup […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
Pele archives: What we're reading (and listening to)
1. Pele’s magic ignites U.S. soccer boom By Paul Gardner (Sporting News, 1977)2. A fellow professional: Decoding a decades-old photograph of my father By George Quraishi (Howler Magazine, 2016)3. NASL Memories: The fan who caught Pele the night that soccer came of age By Ian Plenderleith (Soccer America, 2021)
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Al Trost on the 50th anniversary of the Munich Olympics and his NASL career as an American standard-bearer
Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of the start of the soccer competition at 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, remembered for the tragedy at which 11 Israelis were killed by Palestinian attackers. Affiliates of the Palestinian militant group Black September held 11 Israeli athletes and coaches hostage before killing each one. Two victims were slain early […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Obituary: Graham Tutt (1956-2022)
Graham Tutt, who was inducted to the Georgia Soccer Hall of Fame a decade ago, made the state his home after joining the Atlanta Chiefs of the indoor and outdoor NASL in 1980. Born in London in 1956, Tutt debuted for Charlton Athletic in goal at the age of 17. Decades later, he looked back […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
The Rochester Lancers: 'the antithesis of the New York Cosmos' — book review and author Q&A
Alive and Kicking: The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers by Michael Lewis (Independently published) * * * * * * * * * * U.S. soccer was not born in the 1970s, but it’s certainly the time when the sport came of age. At the start of that decade, the North American […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Portland, how 'Soccer City USA' came to be almost overnight
A lot of cities have laid claim to being the best U.S. soccer city. Only one is known as “Soccer City USA.” It’s hard to argue with Portland’s designation today: The Timbers, who will host MLS Cup against NYCFC on Saturday, are the only MLS team that’s drawn so well — a sellout streak of […]