San Jose Earthquakes News
Fire goalkeeper Johnson to train with Everton
Chicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson’s busy offseason got a little bit busier on Thursday, when the club announced that the 22-year-old keeper will train with English Premier League club Everton from Dec. 4-10.
Johnson has already spent a good deal of time in Europe this offseason, participating in the nine-day US U-23 national team camp in Germany in November.
Related: Agudelo to train with Liverpool Ream to West Brom, Bolton Bunbury trains with Bolton2011 in Review: Chivas USA
Starting this week, MLSsoccer.com will look back at the 2011 season team by team. We continue our 2011 in Review series today with Chivas USA. Click here for the full archive.
Related: 2011 in Review: Q&A w/Fraser Chivas decline option on Jazic WATCH: Best Chivas goals 2011 in Review archivesGringo Report: Restrepo takes top spot at America de Cali
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — University of Virginia alum Diego Restrepo is set for the biggest couple of weeks of his fledgling career after América de Cali's first-choice goalkeeper, Julián Viáfara, has been suspended for six months after testing positive for a banned substance.
That means the 23-year-old Under-17 World Cup veteran will step in and start for one of Colombia's most successful clubs in one of the most important months in its history.
Related: Postcard from Mexico: Hoyos working way back from crash Gringo Report: América's Castillo signs with Tijuana2011 in Review: Q&A with Chivas USA's Robin Fraser
CARSON, Calif. – Chivas USA didn’t reach MLS Cup Playoffs in 2011, but with head coach Robin Fraser at the helm, the Rojiblancos head into next season with stability at the head coaching position for the first time in several years.
Embarking on his “building” project with the club, Fraser navigated his team to an 8-14-12 record. MLSsoccer.com recently spoke with Fraser following his first full season as head coach Chivas USA to discuss, his first year in charge of the and his plans for the future of his club.
Related: 2011 in Review: Chivas USA Chivas decline option on Jazic WATCH: Best Chivas goals 2011 in Review archivesKick Off: Is the newest "Train" about to arrive in Portland?
Remember ex-MLS forward Adolfo “El Tren” Valencia?
Well, his son José Adolfo Valencia looks to be the latest Colombian to join the Portland Timbers, according to reports from that country. (SPANISH)
Revs re-sign veteran goalkeeper Reis
The New England Revolution have re-signed veteran goalkeeper Matt Reis, keeping one of the franchise's steadiest players in team colors as they usher in a new era next season under head coach Jay Heaps.
The four-time MLS All-Star has played more games in goal (215) – and started more games in goal (214) – than any other Revolution goalkeeper in club history. Reis holds almost every one of the Revs’ career goalkeeping records, including goals against average (1.33), wins (80), saves (868), shutouts (55) and saves percentage (.725).
Related: 2011 in Review: Q&A w/Burns 2011 in Review: New England RevolutionUS U-17s rally for late 2-2 draw in friendly vs. France
The US Under-17 national team fought back for a last-gasp 2-2 draw with France in the first match of the 2011 Nike International Friendlies on Wednesday at the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
Wesley Wade of the New York Red Bulls Academy got the equalizer with the last kick of the game, as he slotted home a loose ball after a long throw-in from Shaquell Moore. DeAndre Robinson had opened the scoring for the US in the 25th minute, but France rallied to take a 2-1 lead into second-half stoppage time.
Related: US soccer match report Agudelo reveals offseason training plans with LiverpoolHyndman: Hernandez's leadership translates off field
To many observers, this offseason seemed to portend the end of the Daniel Hernandez era in Dallas. But the truth is, his time with FCD has just begun.
Hernandez and the team agreed to a three-year deal on Wednesday that will keep the veteran midfielder at Pizza Hut Park. Hernandez will continue to play for FC Dallas in 2012, but will ultimately transition to a role as an assistant coach under manager Schellas Hyndman.
Related: FCD re-sign Hernandez to three-year player-coach deal All the latest offseason transactionsAgudelo reveals offseason training plans with Liverpool
Shortly after a training stint with Stuttgart in Germany, New York Red Bulls teen sensation Juan Agudelo will don another red kit during the offseason.
The 19-year-old forward revealed on Twitter on Wednesday that he’ll be joining Premier League side Liverpool FC for some more offseason training in an effort to stay sharp, according to US head coach Jurgen Klinsmann's wishes for all USMNT players to stay active.
Related: Ream set for stints with EPL sides KC's Bunbury to train with Bolton Pelosi begins his Liverpool careerFCD re-sign Hernandez to three-year player-coach deal
FC Dallas midfielder and captain Daniel Hernandez is leader on the field, and now he’ll be a leader on the sideline, too.
On Wednesday, the club announced they had signed Hernandez, 34, to a three-year contract as a player-coach. The new deal will see the 13-year veteran suit up as a player for at least one more season before joining head coach Schellas Hyndman on the bench.
Related: All the latest offseason transactions FC Dallas escape Expansion Draft unscathed this time Toronto FC deal for FC Dallas defender Hall MLS announces players available in Re-Entry ProcessJoseph, Reis inch closer to secure future with Revs
New England stalwarts Shalrie Joseph and Matt Reis appear close to sealing a return to the Revolution in 2012.
Joseph (out of contract) and Reis (option year) entered the offseason with some measure of uncertainty about their futures with the club, but Revolution general manager Michael Burns said the club believes that both players will return next season.
Related: 2011 in Review: New England Revolution Heaps thrilled to take coaching reins at New EnglandAmerican Exports: Rough go for Yanks in Europa League
AMSTERDAM — It was not a very fruitful Wednesday night for clubs that employ Americans seeking passage to the Europa League knockout phase.
Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City slipping to third in a contentious Group H with a tough 1-0 loss at Braga in Portugal.
With the US international holding down right back, the Brums failed to capitalize on several chances, including a first half Nikola Zigic penalty kick. In the end, it was Hugo Viana's deflected 51st-minute strike that decided matters.
Related: Postcard from Europe: Bendik eyes trials in MLS American Exports: Findley, Forest fall hard to LeedsYallop excited to bring Lenhart, Salinas back to SJ
SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes dipped into their past Wednesday to help restock their future, signing out-of-contract forward Steven Lenhart to a new deal and trading allocation money to Vancouver in exchange for former Quakes midfielder Shea Salinas.
The Lenhart deal, while not unexpected, was still big news for the Quakes, who went 4-3-6 with the bruising forward in their starting lineup.
Related: Quakes reaquire Salinas from 'Caps, re-sign Lenhart New Earthquakes stadium to feature field-level suites MLS announces players available in Re-Entry ProcessGoat Notes: Chivas USA decline Jazic's contract option
CARSON, Calif. – Chivas USA declined the contract options for six players on Wednesday, making them available for the MLS Re-Entry Draft on Dec. 5 and Dec. 12.
Highlighting the list is left back Ante Jazic, who enjoyed the finest season of his six-year MLS career. Jazic made 28 appearances for the Goats in 2011 and led the club with seven assists. The choice to decline Jazic's option is a monetary decision, and Chivas will likely try to bring the defender back at a reduced salary.
Related: Goats continue to shuffle deck on 2011 roster MLS announces players available for Re-Entry Process2011-12 Offseason Transactions
Click HERE to see all 2011 In-season transactions
Whitecaps go into full rebuild mode to upgrade for 2012
VANCOUVER, B.C. — The Vancouver Whitecaps had a busy Wednesday, trading winger Shea Salinas to the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for allocation money and putting six players on the Re-Entry Draft list.
Salinas, arguably one of the most exciting dribblers in Major League Soccer, played 26 games for the Whitecaps this season, with the Texan picking up one goal and three assists.
Related: San Jose reacquire Salinas, re-sign Lenhart MLS announces players available for Re-Entry processRevolution Academy starts new season with a bang
Photo by Keith Nordstrom/New England Revolution
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The compressed fall schedule presents several challenges for the New England Revolution academy program as the 2011-2012 US Soccer Development Academy season commences.
Related: Future is now for teenage sensation Fagundez 2011 in Review: New England Revolution WATCH: Revs' best goals of 2011DC decline Quaranta, Simms options with eye on future
WASHINGTON – In their continued effort to return to the upper echelon of MLS teams, D.C. United declined contract options for nine players on Wednesday in order to free up cap space and give the team more maneuverability for offseason roster acquisitions.
Among those nine were Clyde Simms and Santino Quaranta, two of D.C.’s longest tenured players. All will be available for next week’s Re-Entry Draft.
Related: MLS announces players available in Re-Entry Process DC shore up defense by acquiring RSL veteran RussellPostcard from Europe: Bendik eyes trials in MLS
AMSTERDAM — With his contract set to expire at year's end, Sogndal 'keeper Joe Bendik isn't quite sure what will happen in 2012. But after the last two years in Norway, that may not be such a bad thing.
There have been both longer and stranger trips for American exports, but the story of Bendik's adventure since leaving Clemson University packs more than fair exposition value.
And now, after a tumultuous and educational two seasons abroad, the 22-year-old is currently chasing his first pro job back home.
Related: American Exports: Findley, Forest fall hard to Leeds American Exports: Rangers optimistic over BocanegraNBC hires Seattle's Arlo White as voice of soccer
NBC Sports, the newest TV home for MLS, may be more than three months away from televising its first-ever MLS match, but the network has already made a major splash with the hiring of its new voice for soccer.
The Peacock network announced on Wednesday that former Seattle Sounders man Arlo White (photo courtesy of Seattle Sounders/Corky Trewin) will handle play-by-play duties for MLS and US national team games on NBC and NBC Sports Network, which launches on January 2, 2012, in a rebrand of the Versus channel.
Related: WATCH: MLS-NBC press conference MLS, NBC announce partnership Garber: MLS ready for prime time