November 28, 2006
In an interesting twist to the David Beckham to the LA Galaxy rumors, Manchester United owner Malcolm Glazer is interested in buying into the MLS club, re-branding the team, and helping pay the freight to get Beckham to LA.
While all the ties between Beckham and LA have been poured over before, this new news that Manchester United wants to now become the first EPL team with an ownership stake in an MLS team is a very interesting twist.
Given Malcolm Glazer's ownership of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers and his front row seat at how the Tampa Bay Mutiny of MLS worked out, I'm a tad surprised that Glazer has an interest in MLS right now. Although, the LA Galaxy appear to be the MLS club that is in the best financial shape with The Home Depot Center being the engine that fuels the strongest business entity within MLS.
The next question will be whether the new club name with be LA United or the LA Red Devils.........................
Former Arena assistant named the new head coach of the KC Wizards
Curt Onalfo, a former MLS player and assistant with the US Men's National Team, has been named as the new head coach of the KC Wizards.
The move continues the housecleaning of former Hunt Sports Group hires by the new ownership of the Wizards. Former Wizard player Peter Vermes was named the team's technical director earlier in the offseason and it was expected that he would pass up interim head coach Brian Bliss and bring in his own coach.
It will be interesting to see where Webster native Brian Bliss goes from here. His former boss, Bob Gansler, has been hired as Mo Johnston's assistant in Toronto. One potential landing spot for Bliss could be with Columbus should Sigi Schmid leave to become Jurgen Klinsmann assistant with the US Men's National Team. Hopefully Brian gets another shot at being a head coach in MLS.
Nowak tells Adu to head to Holland
I couldn't agree more when Peter Nowak suggests PSV or Ajax as the next logical step in Freddy Adu's career.
It will be interesting to see how Adu takes the advice. It's obvious that Freddy's viewpoint of his own development hasn't always been in line with the way Nowak has handled things with DC United. Will Adu listen or will he go his own way?
Rhinos pick up a couple of USL honors
Matthew Ford was named the USL 1st Division Sprinturf Executive of the Year and the Rochester Raging Rhinos of the W-League picked up the Fair Play Award at the USL Annual General Meeting in Tampa, Florida.
Getting PAETEC Park up and running and helping put together a team that was second in the league during the regular season and the playoffs earned Ford the award in his first season with the Rhinos.
Hopefully he can repeat as Executive of the Year in 2007!
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