Eric Cantona Announced as Director of Soccer for New York Cosmos

The most iconic club in the history of American soccer, the New York Cosmos folded alongside the North American Soccer League in 1985. After years of an attempted revival (to no avail), Pele announced the revival of the New York Cosmos in August 2010. With the revival, the Cosmos announced the creation of a youth academy called the Cosmos Academy and the purchase of the Copa NYC tournament. Since then, the Cosmos have seen several players join the organization with the goal of getting the Cosmos into Major League Soccer. On January 19, the Cosmos made what is arguably their biggest splash since announcing Pele as the honorary president of the club. The Cosmos announced that Manchester United legend Eric Cantona had joined the club as Director of Soccer. During his storied career, Cantona became the first foreign player in Premier League history to have a massive impact on the game. During five years with the Red Devils (1992-1997), Cantona became the captain of Man United and won four Premier League titles and two FA Cups. Since his retirement in 1997, Cantona has continued to try to get a job with a club in management to no avail. But that has completely changed today with Cantona joining the ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls: The Biggest Match This Season in MLS?

Long considered a year that would forever change America's soccer landscape, 2010 has lived up to its billing of being a huge year. From seeing the United States national team finally having a defining moment with Landon Donovan's stoppage time goal against Algeria in the World Cup to seeing Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez move from Barcelona to the New York Red Bulls, American soccer has really moved forward this year. But tonight, we may see the biggest match in the 14 year history of Major League Soccer as those New York Red Bulls travel to the Home Depot Center in Carson, California to take on the Los Angeles Galaxy. This match will contain the likes of Edson Buddle (the league's leading scorer), Juan Pablo Angel (New York's top goalscorer), David Beckham (the biggest foreign star in MLS), Rafa Marquez (Mexico's captain) and Landon Donovan (the most famous American footballer of all-time), marking the biggest show of talent to ever be assembled on a prime-time stage in MLS history. Despite the absence of Frenchman Thierry Henry due to injury for the Red Bulls, this is arguably the most important match in their franchise's history. This match could be even bigger than the MLS Cup final ...

Red Bulls Moves for Rafa Marquez and Thierry Henry Mark Change in MLS

After a miserable last place finish in 2009, the New York Red Bulls have completely changed the entire organization in 2010. From getting a new coach in Hans Backe and a new general manager in Erik Solér to moving into the beautiful new Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, the Red Bulls are quickly becoming an organization that almost every Major League Soccer organization should be modeling themselves after. To further boost the "new Red Bulls," the Red Bulls are currently in second place in the Eastern Conference behind the Columbus Crew, a major step forward after a miserable season the year before. But, New York was still not finished, as they signed Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez to join their side as the Red Bulls look to win their first ever MLS Cup. With the signing of Henry, the Red Bulls now have another amazing finisher to go alongside Juan Pablo Angel at the top, and Marquez will now provide some much needed stability in the back for a league that has no defender that shares Marquez's qualities. But these moves are not only fantastic moves for the New York Red Bulls, but also for Major League Soccer. Picking up Henry and Marquez now ...

Thierry Henry Move Is Bigger For MLS Than David Beckham’s Move in 2007

After months of speculation, the inevitable happened yesterday, former Arsenal and Barcelona superstar Thierry Henry joined the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer. Henry, who has been one of the top footballers in the world during the last decade, is a major acquisition for the Red Bulls, a side that has yet to win the MLS Cup during their 14-year history. Now, many people already are calling Thierry Henry the next "David Beckham," after the former English captain joined the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007. Of course, Beckham did not live up to expectations before requesting a permanent transfer to AC Milan of Italy in March of 2009, a move that was not accepted by Major League Soccer. Since then, Beckham rejoined the Galaxy before again going to Milan on loan and tearing his left Achilles tendon, causing Beckham to miss out on the recent 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. However, the American media must be sure not to call Henry the "next Beckham." For starters, Henry will not continue on his international career by going on loan during the MLS off season, something that Beckham did with Milan during the last several years. Henry announced yesterday that he ...

2010 FIFA World Cup: France’s Thierry Henry to Join MLS After World Cup

After months of speculation, it finally has become official that French striker Thierry Henry will join Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls for the second half of the season after playing for France in next month's World Cup. Rumors started to break on Henry joining the Red Bulls back in September, and only escalated from there as Henry continued to get less time for FC Barcelona as Barcelona moved towards another La Liga title. But now, it has become official as Henry is due to officially become a Red Bull within the next several days. Overall, Henry has scored the most goals in the history of the French National Team with 51, and already has participated in three World Cup's before the one next month. In his first World Cup in 1998, Henry was the leading scorer on a French side that went on to win the World Cup. And in 2006, Henry's France went all the way to the final, where they lost to Italy. But overall, Henry will be most remembered internationally for his handball that sent France to the 2010 FIFA World Cup back in November of 2009 at the expense of Ireland. And as a club player, Henry is considered to ...

Will Landon Donovan’s Loan To Everton Save the Toffees’ Season?

After a great 2008-2009 season in which Everton finished fifth in the English Premier League and were able to get to the FA Cup final by beating sides such as Liverpool and Manchester United, Everton have had an abysmal season with seven losses at the halfway point of their Premier League season. So far this year, Everton have found themselves flirting with trouble by remaining close to the relegation zone as recently as early December before a solid run that included draws against Tottenham and Chelsea, which helped Everton get into 11th place in the Premier League table. But now that Landon Donovan has now joined Everton on a 10-week loan, the question for the Toffees will be: Will Landon Donovan save their season? In the next 10 weeks, Everton will have fixtures at Arsenal, home against Manchester City, home against Sunderland and Wigan, at Liverpool, home against Chelsea and Manchester United, and away at Tottenham along with their Europa League knockout stage two-legged fixture against Sporting Libson. Without question, these are going to be the 10 weeks that will tell us if Everton will make it into the Europa League again for the fourth consecutive season under David Moyes. So far in his tenure ...