Soccer is an immensely popular sport in the United States of America. Interestingly, USA is the only country which has yielded skilled players in numerous foreign leagues. Among the first Americans to become regulars in foreign leagues were John Harkes at Sheffield Wednesday in England, Eric Wynalda at Saarbrücken in Germany, Kasey Keller at Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany, and Earnie Stewart at NAC Breda in the Netherlands.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Caption- Hark’s was one of the pioneer American players to play for foreign leagues

Here’s a list of Americans playing in foreign leagues:

In Croatia’s Prva Nogometna Liga

* Johann Smith (Rijeka)

In Denmark’s Superliga

* Danny Califf (Midtjylland)

* Benny Feilhaber (AGF)

* Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjælland)

* Marcus Tracy (Aalborg)

* Jeremiah White (AGF)

In England’s Premier League

* Jozy Altidore (Hull City)

* Clint Dempsey (Fulham)

* Brad Friedel (Aston Villa)

* Brad Guzan (Aston Villa)

* Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

* Tim Howard (Everton)

* Eddie Johnson (Fulham)

* Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa)

* Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)

In England’s Football League Championship

* Jay Demerit (Watford)

* Frank Simek (Sheffield Wednesday)

In England’s Football League One

* Mike Grella (Leeds United)

* Jemal Johnson (Milton Keynes Dons)

* Ian Joyce (Southend United)

* Jon-Paul Pittman (Wycombe Wanderers)

* Zak Whitbread (Millwall)

In France’s Ligue 1

* Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes)

* Charlie Davies (Sochaux)

In Germany’s Fußball-Bundesliga

* Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

* Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96)

* Sal Zizzo (Hannover 96)

In Germany’s 2. Fußball-Bundesliga

* Kenny Cooper (1860 Munich)

* Luis Robles (Kaiserslautern)

* Matt Taylor (Frankfurt)

* David Yelldell (Koblenz)

In Italy’s Serie A

* Oguchi Onyewu (Milan)

In Italy’s Lega Pro Prima Divisione

* Gabriel Ferrari (Foggia)

In Mexico’s Primera División

* Edgar Castillo (UANL Tigres)

* Michael Orozco (San Luis)

* José Francisco Torres (Pachuca)

* Marco Vidal (Indios)

In Norway’s Tippeligaen

* Mikkel Diskerud (Stabæk)

* Clarence Goodson (Start)

* Hunter Freeman (Start)

* Troy Perkins (Vålerenga)

In Portugal’s Liga

* Freddy Adu (Belenenses)

* Kamani Hill (Vitória)

In Scotland’s Premier League

* DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers)

* Maurice Edu (Rangers)

In Sweden’s Allsvenskan

* Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro)

With his breathtaking moves, swift dribbling and first-rate score card, Ronaldo is one of the best soccer players we have ever had.

As the winger of Spanish club Real Madrid and captain of the Portuguese national team, Cristiano Ronaldo has made and broken numerous soccer records. Time and again compared to the Brazilian legend Pele, Ronaldo is often touted as the best soccer player ever.

Ronaldo also holds the distinction of being the most expensive player in football history after his transfer to Real Madrid from Manchester United for £80 million. His contract with Real Madrid has made him the highest-paid soccer player in the world.

Ronaldo’s impeccable talent was first spotted by Manchester United’s manager Alex Ferguson who then signed him for £12.24 million in 2003. Ronaldo proved his worth in the very next season. The following season, Ronaldo won his first club honor, the FA Cup, and also reached the UEFA Euro 2004 final with the Portugal team.

In 2008, Ronaldo won his first UEFA Champions League title, and was named player of the tournament. He was named the FIFPro World Player of the Year and the FIFA World Player of the Year, in addition to becoming Manchester United’s first Ballon d’Or winner in 40 years. This year again, Ronaldo is a front runner for the prestigious FIFA World Player of the Year Award.

Presently recuperating from a menacing ankle injury, Ronaldo remains the most popular player to watch out for in the World Cup 2010. Though he has been temporarily forced out of the qualifiers due to the injury, fans eagerly await his return to the field with a bang in the South Africa gala. Football fraternity is confident that the injury, in no way, can mar the Ronaldo’s soccer acumen and the player will continue to entertain the fans with his skill for years to come.

Here’s a list of individual honors received by Ronaldo till date:

1. UEFA Euro 2004 Team of the Tournament
2. FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year: 2004–05, 2005–06
3. Portuguese Footballer of the Year: 2006–07
4. UEFA Team of the Year: 2003–2004, 2006–07, 2007–08
5. FIFPro World XI: 2006–07, 2007–08
6. PFA Young Player of the Year: 2006–07
7. PFA Players’ Player of the Year: 2006–07, 2007–08
8. PFA Fans’ Player of the Year: 2006–07, 2007–08
9. PFA Premier League Team of the Year: 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
10. FWA Footballer of the Year: 2006–07, 2007–08
11. Barclays Player of the Season: 2006–07, 2007–08
12. Barclays Player of the Month: November 2006, December 2006, January 2008, March 2008
13. Barclays Golden Boot: 2007–08
14. Barclays Merit Award: 2007–08
15. European Golden Shoe: 2007–08
16. UEFA Club Forward of the Year: 2007–08
17. UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2007–08
18. FIFPro World Player of the Year: 2007–08
19. Ballon d’Or: 2008
20. FIFA World Player of the Year: 2008
21. FIFA Team of the Year: 2008

Argentina coach Diego Maradona has been banned from football for two months by FIFA for his furious outburst after last month’s victory over Uruguay.

Controversies seem to be a company to Maradona. Already under a scanner for Argentina’s poor performance and frequent player rotation, Maradona has now been banned for his bawdy tirade against reporters and critics. Under pressure in the run-up to the match against Uruguay last month, Maradona reportedly directed an expletive-laden diatribe that was broadcast on live TV.

The ban will run from 15 November to 15 January 2010, which means that Madonna will miss the World Cup draw on 4 December. He could also miss a home international friendly against the Czech Republic scheduled for 16 December at a so-far unspecified venue, though his role as coach at the World Cup will not be affected.

Maradona, who attended the three-hour disciplinary committee hearing in Zurich, has also been fined £15,000.

In a statement, FIFA said that they had taken into consideration the “sincere remorse” shown by the Argentina head coach, who had flown from Madrid to Zurich after Argentina’s 2-1 friendly loss to Spain on Saturday. Football’s governing body warned that a repetition of a similar incident would result in stronger sanctions being imposed in the future.

A series of drubbings from Bolivia, Ecuador, Brazil and Paraguay, and the pressure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup had apparently put tremendous pressure on the coach. Critics had already raised doubts about Maradona’s capabilities as a coach considering his ways of team selection, with 70 players being called in for 14 matches. Maradona’s 13 month tenure as the Argentinean coach has been marked by clashes with players, coaches, journalists and directors.

The only respite that Maradona would have while serving his ban is Argentina’s last minute qualification to the World Cup.

Trouble seems to be following Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. Soon after Nani lashed out at the manager for his tyrannical management, the Football Association (FA) has announced a fine and ban for Ferguson for his stinging attack on referee Alan Wiley’s fitness.

Sir Alex Ferguson has received a two-match touchline ban for his comments about referee Alan Wiley’s fitness.

More trouble for the controversial manager

The Football Association handed the 67-year-old a four-game ban, with two of those suspended until the end of the 2010/11 season. Ferguson has also been fined £20,000 and warned about his future conduct.

Ferguson had made withering comments about Wiley’s fitness after his side’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland on 3 October. “The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. He was not fit, “Ferguson had remarked after the match.

Ferguson in an argument with referee Alan Willey

He had later apologized to the referee for any embarrassment caused and pleaded guilty to the FA’s charge of improper conduct, but requested a personal hearing.

Peter Griffiths QC, chairman of the FA’s four-man regulatory commission, said: “The commission considered his admitted remarks, in the context in which they were made, were not just improper but were grossly improper and wholly inappropriate. He should never have said what he did say.”

Ferguson will now serve the touchline ban in Manchester United’s forthcoming Premier League matches at home to Everton on 21 November and away at Portsmouth on 28 November. The suspended sanction will be automatically activated should he be found guilty of a similar charge before the end of the 2010/11 season on top of any sanction imposed for that offence.

However, Alan Leighton, head of referees’ union Prospect, felt Ferguson’s apology had been “half-hearted” and was also disappointed by the ruling.

“From our point of view it is disappointing. The Football Association had a chance to make a point and they flunked it,” he said. “To question the fitness of referee is to question his ability to do the job and his integrity,” Leighton said.

Ferguson has a history of improper conduct charges for incidents involving referees. In the 2007/08 season he was given a two-match touchline ban and fined £5,000 for his angry outburst at referee Mark Clattenburg during a match at Bolton. Then, during the last campaign he was banned for two games and fined £10,000 after a squabble with referee Mike Dean after a match against Hull.

Ifotbol.com debate:

You’ve read about Nani’s outburst against Ferguson and now the FA has slammed him for his improper conduct. Do you think Ferguson should have been banned to the stands for the remainder of the season? Express your views on ‘THE WALL’ at http://www.ifotbol.com/

Nani has spilled the beans about the tyrannical reign of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

(Source: Sun Sports)

In a revealing interview, to the Portuguese paper I, the Portugal winger has charged Fergie for breaking promises and not giving him enough time on the pitch.

End of his career?

Ferguson’s reign under controversy again

During the interview, Nani also admitted that Fergie’s selection policy has left him baffled and his shredded his confidence to pieces. He insists that he has no plans to leave United, though it remains to be seen what Fergie thinks after this stunning flare-up.

“Ferguson is a very complicated man. He’s tough. If things are all right, then they are all right. But when he thinks something is wrong, everything is screwed. He can go from complimenting you to just plain trashing you in a matter of minutes. Has it happened to me? Hell, yes! He’ll say ‘Nani, how could you miss this or this?” Nani told the paper.

Nani further added: “He shouts at players in front of everyone. No one escapes, everybody is the same. Giggs and Neville suffer most, because they have more experience. It is ‘F**k’ here and ‘F**k’ there.”

Nani has taken his ire out; however, this could spell the beginning of the end for a player who has failed to emerge from the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo.  Past incidents prove that Ferguson has ruthlessly ditched players who spoke out of turn.

Dutch defender Jaap Stam was flogged to Lazio for £16.5million soon after he published his controversial autobiography in 2001. In 2003, David Beckham was sent packing to Real Madrid after a hugely-publicized spat with the Scot.  Then, in 2005 Roy Keane left the club to join Celtic for the last six months of his playing career, after going public with his criticism of the team – a move that left Fergie fuming.

Jaap Stam	David Beckham	Roy Keane

Ferguson’s other ‘victims’

(Ref: BBC News)

Tributes have been placed at the scene of Robert Enke’s death.

Germany and Hannover 96 goalkeeper Robert Enke has died after being hit by a train in an apparent suicide on Tuesday, police have confirmed. Enke, 32, was fatally injured at a level crossing north west of Hanover.

The German football federation (DFB) said in a statement: “The German team has learned of the death of Robert Enke with great shock.”

A statement released by the German indicates a suicide- “The victim is apparently national team goalkeeper Robert Enke from Hannover 96. The first police indications are that it was a suicide.”

Enke was reportedly struck by a regional train travelling between Norddeich and Hannover at a railway crossing in Neustadt am Rubenberge and died on the spot.

Enke had played eight times for Germany and also for clubs Carl Zeiss Jena, Borussia Monchengladbach, Benfica, Barcelona, Fenerbahce and Tenerife, before returning to the Bundesliga with Hannover in 2004. He made his international debut aged 29 and became Germany’s number one keeper after Jens Lehmann retired from internationals at the end of Euro 2008.

Robert Enke

Born: 24/8/77, Jena, East Germany
Debut: 1995-96
Clubs: Carl Zeiss Jena, Borussia Monchengladbach, Benfica, Barcelona, Fenerbahce, Tenerife, Hannover 96
Germany debut: 27/3/07 versus Denmark Caps: 8

Happy, sad, funny, weird- call them whatever you want, but these are some of the most striking soccer moments that you should not miss. Here’s some soccer action at its best, take a look.

They are the best of the breed. They ooze excitement, thrill and talent. They conquer games and our hearts alike. Here are the 15 top players of 2009 who made and broke records, exhibited excellent game and took the game of football to newer heights with their unparalleled talent.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

2. Lionel Messi

3. Fernando Torres

4. Iker Casillas

5. David Villa

6. Kaka

7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

8. Steven Gerrard

9. Ronaldinho

10. Emmanuel Adebayor

11. Wayne Rooney

12. Sergio Aguero

13. Frank Lampard

14. Franck Ribery

15. Samuel Eto’o

]]> http://ifotbol.com/blog/2009/10/15-best-soccer-players-2009/feed/ 34 http://ifotbol.com/blog/2009/09/top-10-most-expensive-football-transfers/ http://ifotbol.com/blog/2009/09/top-10-most-expensive-football-transfers/#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:22:46 +0000 admin http://ifotbol.com/blog/?p=53

Cristiano Ronaldo is the most expensive player of all times!  Whopping £80m paid for him place Real Madrid in the top four spots for most expensive purchases.  Making a big splash (of money), the soccer club has signed up the last two men crowned World Player of the Year- Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka.

Take a look at some of the game’s most pricey transfers of this decade (1999-2009).

Cristiano Ronaldo: Manchester United to Real Madrid – £80m (2009)

Kaka: AC Milan to Real Madrid – £56m (2009)

Zinedine Zidane: Juventus to Real Madrid – £45.62m (2001)

Luis Figo: Barcelona to Real Madrid – £37m (2000)

Hernan Crespo: Parma to Lazio – £35.5m (2000)

Gianluigi Buffon: Parma to Juventus – £32.6m (2001)

Robinho: Real Madrid to Manchester City – £32.5m (2008)

Christian Vieri: Lazio to Inter – £32m (1999)

Dimitar Berbatov: Tottenham to Manchester United – £30.75m (2008)

Andriy Shevchenko: AC Milan to Chelsea – £30m (2006)