1. Sun, surf and soccer: Team Hawaii’s one NASL season in paradise By Pablo Maurer and Matt Pentz (The Athletic) 2. Chinese soccer investment retreats from Europe By Jeff Tracy (Axios) 3. Everything you need to know about vaccine passports By Rebecca Heilweil (Recode)
nasl
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
'I'm With the Cosmos: The Story of Steve Hunt': English winger reflects on his days with Pele and Co.
I’m With the Cosmos: The Story of Steve Hunt By Steve Hunt with Ian McCauley (Pitch Publishing) * * * * * * * * * * English winger Steve Hunt was among several young players to counter the notion that the North American Soccer League was a place where diminishing stars of the 1970s […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Former Dallas Tornado great Mike Renshaw dies at the age of 72
Mike Renshaw, who starred for the Dallas Tornado in the early days of the North American Soccer League, has died at the age of 72. Renshaw learned about the Tornado when he saw a help wanted ad in the Liverpool Echo for players to go on its world tour in 1967-68. The Tornado played 48 […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
Friday morning: What we're reading (and listening to)
1. MLS extends deadline for CBA negotiations with players again By Jeff Carlisle (ESPN) 2. FC Cincinnati set to announce acquisition of forward ‘Brenner’ from Sao Paulo FC By Pat Brennan (Cincinnati Enquirer) 3. Clive Toye on christening the Cosmos By David Kilpatrick (Soccer Off Broadway)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Former U.S. international Chico Borja dies at the age of 61
Former U.S. international Hernan “Chico” Borja, who starred for the New York Cosmos in the NASL’s last years, has died at the age of 61 after an extended battle with cancer. Borja was born in Ecuador and moved to New Jersey as a teenager. He starred at NJIT, then an NCAA Division III program, before […]
Posted inStory
Remembering Geoff Barnett: 'I'm not driving a ****ing Chevette!'
I was very saddened to hear that former Arsenal and Minnesota Kicks goalkeeper (and later coach) Geoff Barnett passed away last week, age 74, after contracting Covid-19. Geoff very kindly agreed to talk to me in 2014 when I was researching my book on the North American Soccer League, Rock n Roll Soccer. I met […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
North Carolina FC drops down to USL League One
North Carolina FC, the oldest continuously operated second division team in the USL Championship, is dropping a level to the USL League One in 2021. NCFC chairman Steve Malik described the move as “strategic,” a move that will reduce the club’s losses and allow it to concentrate on its player development initiatives on the men’s […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
SA's 50th Anniversary (Early 1970s): Goalkeeper Bruce Arena, fathers of future stars, Clive Toye, Joe Morrone, et al.
Upon our golden anniversary, as Soccer America looks back on its coverage from our early years, we found in our early 1970s editions not only names who made news for many years to come, but also the dads of future stars. * * * * * * * * * * In 1972, Joe Morrone was three […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Maradona, his rare U.S. appearances
Unlike Pele before him or stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo more recently, Diego Maradona rarely played in the United States. Here are some of Maradona’s rare visits … 1979. Cosmos vs. Argentina. Less than a year after winning its first World Cup title, Argentina traveled to face the Cosmos, the reigning NASL champions. […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Video Pick: Pele's 80th birthday special
To celebrate his 80th birthday on Friday, Pele, with the help of flamenco nuevo guitarists Rodrigo and Gabriela, released his new version of song “Acredito No Véio” (Listen to theOld Man), which appeared on Pele’s 2006 album. “I’ve written many books, I’ve scored many goals, I’ve fathered children, I’ve planted many trees,” Pele said. “The […]