MLS and Players Agree to New CBA Deal: Latest Details and Reaction

There will be no strike in Major League Soccer. While negotiations went down to the final hours before this weekend's season-opening matches, the MLS and MLS Players Union have struck a deal to get the ball rolling on Friday. Continue for updates. MLSPU Executive Director Bob Foose Talks New CBA Friday, March 6 Brian Straus of Sports Illustrated reported Foose's thoughts on how the new CBA came to be: “That’s the groundbreaking part of this deal for us and that’s what will ultimately lead to really substantial and real positive change for this league. That, despite the fact that what we heard consistently through the process was that [free agency] would never happen." “That’s a very, very good start for us. And we did in 12 years. That’s something I don’t want to be lost on anyone. We’re 12 years into this union and we’ve been able to introduce some free agency… none of the other major leagues has ever done it anywhere near that quickly in North America.” “From the most basic perspective, it’s about player choice. But the impact of this that won’t be seen or reported on is, number one, the deals that are going to get done between the players and their current clubs ...

Robbie Keane Wins 2014 MLS MVP: Voting Results, Comments and Reaction

Major League Soccer named Los Angeles Galaxy forward Robbie Keane its MVP for the 2014 season on Wednesday, ending a whirlwind campaign for the 34-year-old Irishman that ranks among the best of his storied career.Keane scored 19 goals and had 14 assists, both highs for his MLS career, en route to leading the Galaxy to the MLS Cup. Los Angeles will play the New England Revolution on Sunday as it attempts to win its third Cup in the last four years.  Keane, a longtime Irish national who spent most of his prime in the English Premier League, bested Revolution midfielder Lee Nguyen and Seattle Sounders forward Obafemi Martins. New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips finished fourth. Keane's weighted point total (88.69) gave him a significant advantage over second-place Martins (63.22) and Nguyen (57.54), per the MLS release. MLS uses a three-tiered voting system, with media, club and player votes all playing a factor. Keane is the first Galaxy player to win the MVP since teammate Landon Donovan in 2009 and third overall (Carlos Ruiz, 2002). Donovan, Keane and defender Omar Gonzalez were one of three Galaxy members to be voted to this year's MLS Best XI, which honors the league's top 11 players.A prolific scorer throughout his time in ...

MLS Commissioner Don Garber Responds to Jurgen Klinsmann’s Comments About League

USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann did not pull punches when criticizing the quality of Major League Soccer following the return of national team stars Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley. In response, MLS commissioner Don Garber offered pointed comments of his own directed at the USMNT boss, calling Klinsmann's remarks "detrimental" to the sport in the United States.    Soccer reporter Jonathan Tannenwald provided Garber's response from a Wednesday conference call: Klinsmann, in his fourth year as the head of United States soccer, made his critical comments Monday before Team USA's 1-1 draw in a friendly against Honduras. Asked about the recent high-profile transfers of Dempsey to the Seattle Sounders and Bradley to Toronto FC, Klinsmann said his stars will struggle to keep the same form while playing in an inferior league. “Concerned? I mean, there’s nothing I can do about it," Klinsmann said, per Paul Tenorio of the Orlando Sentinel. "I made it clear, I made it clear with Clint’s move back and his move back that it’s going to very difficult for them to keep the same level that they experienced at the places where they were. It’s just reality, it’s just being honest." Dempsey played for Fulham F.C. and Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League from 2007 to 2013. He transferred to Seattle ...

MLS Cup 2013: Date, Time, TV Info and Preview of Sporting KC vs. Real Salt Lake

Apparently, it was a good year to be No. 2 in Major League Soccer. Following Real Salt Lake's advancement on Sunday and Sporting Kansas City's a day earlier, both No. 2 seeds in the Western and Eastern Conference tables have advanced, setting up a 2013 MLS Cup that it's safe to say few expected. For many, it had been preordained from the start of the postseason that the New York Red Bulls and the Portland Timbers would meet in the finale of the United States' soccer season. Or, if it wasn't both of them, at least one of the two teams that had topped their respective conferences would have at least gotten a shot. But, alas, it wasn't meant to be. Real Salt Lake won both of their legs against Portland, good for an aggregate score of 5-2. Their celebration of their first MLS Cup appearance since 2009 even took place before a shell-shocked crowd at Portland's Jel-Wen Field. Sporting Kansas City's triumph was a little less certain. Heading into Saturday's matchup at Sporting Park, the two teams had played to a scoreless draw two weeks prior. When the Dynamo took an early lead on Oscar Boniek García's goal in the third minute, it ...

Robbie Rogers Returning to LA Galaxy as 1st Openly Gay MLS Player

A little more than three months after coming out and retiring from soccer in an open letter to fans on his blog, Robbie Rogers is reportedly returning to the pitch. UPDATE: Saturday, May 25th, at 3:50 p.m. ET by Kyle VassaloThe Chicago Fire's official team site released a statement on the deal:"The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Saturday the team has acquired midfielder Mike Magee from the Los Angeles Galaxy in exchange for the right of first refusal to U.S. international Robbie Rogers and other considerations. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed."Chicago Fire President of Soccer Operation Javier Leon speaks about the deal with the Galaxy:“We initially acquired the rights to Robbie Rogers because we think he is a great player. As he expressed his interest in being home near his family, we’re happy to have worked out a deal with the Galaxy that will benefit all parties. We wish Robbie all the best with the Galaxy.”---End of update---USA Today's Mike Foss and Erik Brady first reported the 26-year-old Rogers will join the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer next season. He will become the first openly ...

Breaking Down Portland Timbers’ New 2013 Kits

As part of a massive launch of new kits across Major League Soccer, the Portland Timbers and Adidas announced the team's new primary and secondary kits for the 2013 season on Thursday. The team announced the changes at an art gallery event, where coaches and players addressed the many fans in attendance.For those who were unable to make the trip to Oregon, the Timbers also took to their Twitter feed to give fans a glimpse of the new digs. Here is a look at Mikael Silvestre modeling the team's new primary look (via the Timbers' Twitter feed):As has been the case in the past, both Timbers jerseys are almost perfect matches for one another, save for the color. The primary kit is the club's trademark "Ponderosa" green, with white chevron stripes adorning the sides and expanding over the sleeves.In a breakdown of the jersey on the Timbers' official website, it also notes the addition of a rising sun at the neckline and the phrase "Stand Together" etched on the inner-neck portion. The "Stand Together" phrase is meant to honor the club's supporters and their work in the Portland community.At first glance, the secondary kit is a carbon copy of the primary only in a rose ...

Breaking Down LA Galaxy’s New 2013 Kit

The Los Angeles Galaxy have won back-to-back MLS Cups, and now they have kits that denote their place atop the American soccer world.In an introduction ceremony for the 2013 roster, the Galaxy introduced a brand new secondary kit that will be worn during the upcoming Major League Soccer season. The Galaxy's Twitter feed sent out a look at the players modeling their new digs at the event on Wednesday night:Though the jersey remains mostly the same at first glance, there are a few noticeable changes in design from last year's model.Most notably, if most Galaxy fans didn't know what a quasar was prior to Wednesday—don't worry, we had to Google it, too—they will become awfully familiar with the new kit. The quasar, which is a luminous galactic nucleus, plays a prominent role in the changes.Showing up most noticeably at the left collarbone, the quasars in that area are meant to signify each of the Galaxy's four MLS Cups. There are three silver ones, for the Cups in 2002, 2005 and 2011, with a gold quasar placed atop the others to congratulate the Galaxy on their triumph last season.In a statement released with the kit's unveiling, Adidas product manager pinpointed all ...

Landon Donovan Smart to Return for Another Year with Los Angeles Galaxy

The Los Angeles Galaxy may have lost the face of Major League Soccer with David Beckham's departure, but they will not be losing the face of their franchise. According to the Los Angeles Times' Jim Peltz, longtime Galaxy and Team USA star Landon Donovan will return for his ninth season with the outfit.Donovan had been considering retirement following a fantastic season that culminated in Los Angeles' second straight MLS Cup. It's unclear when Donovan will report to Galaxy camp, according to coach Bruce Arena, as he's still recovering from a grueling 2012 season. "He just needs a little bit more time off," Arena said (per the Los Angeles Times). "He's had a couple of years that have taken their toll."Obviously, this is a huge development for the Galaxy. Though most assumed that Donovan would ultimately return, his flirtation with retirement put the team's three-peat in big-time jeopardy. By returning, Donovan should help keep the worries about a post-championship nosedive to a minimum. But returning to the Galaxy will likely prove to be a great move for Donovan as well. First of all, Donovan still has a ton left in his 30-year-old tank. Even though he played through just about the entire 2012 calendar year, Donovan scored 11 goals and dished ...