RBNY closing in on Reyna for assistant coach role | Soccer By Ives

By IVES GALARCEP

The New York Red Bulls have yet to make a final decision on a head coach, but they have apparently found the man to give the club a strong American influence on the coaching staff.

Sources have told SBI that the Red Bulls are closing in on hiring former U.S. Mens National Team captain and former Red Bull midfielder Claudio Reyna to be the teams new lead assistant coach.

A veteran of European soccer as a captain at clubs such as Glasgow Rangers, Sunderland and Wolfsburg, Reyna carries the international pedigree sought after by Red Bulls bosses Gerard Houllier and Andy Roxburgh while also having the familiarity with the New York/New Jersey area and American soccer the club also want for the coaching staff.

The Red Bulls have yet to make a final decision on a head coach, with early front-runner Gary McAllister looking like less of a sure thing at this point, but the club is expected to have a head coach in place before the MLS Combine, which begins on Jan. 11th. The Red Bulls have interviewed a variety of candidates for both positions, including former Montreal Impact head coach Jesse Marsch and former Chivas USA head coach Robin Fraser, but appear ready to hire Reyna to join Mike Petke as Red Bull assistants.

Reyna, 39, has yet to coach on the professional level, but his playing experience, and his work with U.S. Soccer as youth technical director has helped continue to develop him as a coaching candidate. He has worked with U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann in a variety of roles, but has been away from the spotlight since the passing of his 13-year-old son Jack Reyna last July.

A New Jersey native who has continued to live in the New York Area since his retirement as a player, Reyna has very strong ties to the local soccer community and his work on the national level with youth soccer could provide a boost to the Red Bulls academy set-up.

Reynas tenure as a player with the Red Bulls was a disappointing one. He spent two seasons with the club as a Designated Player, but injuries kept him from ever capturing his top form. Most American fans will remember him as the U.S. captain who played in three World Cups and played in the English Premier League as well as in Scotland and Germany.

As for the head coaching situation, the Red Bulls continue talks with McAllister, who remains a weakening front-runner, but no final decision has been made. It remains unclear just who the Red Bulls would turn to if they ultimately pass on McAllister. It appears unlikely that the team would hand over head coaching duties to Reyna, who has no head coaching experience (or even experience as a pro assistant at this point).

What do you think of this development? Like the idea of Reyna joining as an assistant coach? Could you see him being New Yorks head coach one day? Who would you like to see be the Red Bull head coach?

Share your thoughts below.

FernandoLlorente (getty) | Soccer By Ives

Thursday Kickoff: Cole nears West Ham return, "Maza" back to Mexico, and more

BY DAN KARELL

Spanish forward Fernando Llorente is set to become a free agent this summer, but he might not wind up waiting that long to leave Athletic Bilbao for a new club.

Athletic have announced that Llorente has entered contract negotiations with Italian champions Juventus on a contract ahead of a potential winter transfer move.

Llorente has fallen out of favor with Athletic Bilbao since refusing to sign a new contract with the Spanish first division club. He has barely played this season.

Juventus is trying to beat big spenders like Manchester City and Tottenham to the punch by signing him in January to hopefully give the Turin club a reliable goal scorer. Juve has struggled to find a forward to provide a consistent threat.

Here are some other stories to get your Thursday started:

COLE SET FOR WEST HAM AS BENYOUN RETURNS TO CHELSEA

In the wake of the Daniel Sturridge transfer to Liverpool and the Demba Ba transfer to Chelsea, Joe Cole, currently on the books at Liverpool, is heading back to his former club West Ham for a fee of around ￡3 million while Yossi Benayoun is leaving the Hammers to rejoin Chelsea.

Cole has only made six substitute appearances for Liverpool this season, after spending last season on loan with Lille in Ligue 1, playing alongside Eden Hazard, now on London rivals Chelsea.

Cole is due to have his medical today, and if he signs before Noon on Friday hell be available for this weekends FA Cup match against Manchester United.

Benayoun returns to Chelsea after an injury-hit loan spell with West Ham that saw him make just six appearance for the East London club.

MAZA RETURNS TO MEXICO WITH CLUB AMERICA

Francisco Rodriguez, also known as Maza, has completed his transfer to Club America in Liga MX from German club VFB Stuttgart.

The Mexican center back has played for El Tri in both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, and is arriving just in time for the Clausura Tournament, where he will go up against his old club, Chivas Guadalajara.

Rodriguez first moved abroad in 2008 with a move to PSV Eindhoven in Holland, before moving to Stuttgart in 2011.

DEMBA BA NEARLY SIGNED, SEALED, AND DELIVERED

Following last nights 2-1 defeat to Everton, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew admitted that Demba Ba was sold, and gave the striker his blessing to move on.

The Senegalese goal-scorer has been in negotiations with Chelsea since the weekend, and it was announced yesterday via a club statement that the two clubs had agreed on a transfer fee, and the deal could be processed.

Ba is due for a medical with Chelsea today at their team headquarters in London.

QUICK KICKS

Roberto Mancini and Mario Balotelli were allegedly involved in a training ground scuffle, which could be the last straw that signals the end of Balotellis time in Manchester. (REPORT)

Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp is interested in signing free-agent Israeli international defender Tal Ben-Haim. (REPORT)

Enrique Cerezo, president of Spanish club Atletico de Madrid, believes star striker Radamel Falcaos next destination will be their cross-town rivals, Real Madrid. (REPORT)

Former Inter Milan striker Adriano says he is back training and wants to return to play football in 2013. (REPORT)

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What do you think of these reports? Think Llorente could be a star at Juve? What kind of impact do you see Maza having with Club America? Think Balotellis days in Manchester are numbered?

Share your thoughts below.

JoseGoncalves (GETTY) | Soccer By Ives

MLS Ticker: Revs sign defender, Birchall returns to England, and more | Soccer By Ives

By JUSTIN FERGUSON

The New England Revolution continued their busy offseason Thursday by finalizing a loan deal with Switzerland’s FC Sion for central defender Jose Goncalves.

Goncalves, a 29-year-old from Portugal, has spent the last nine years all over Europe, including stops at Bundesliga side FC Nurenberg and Scotland’s Hearts of Midlothian.

After signing three midfielders earlier in the winter, New England now has an experienced central defender that its front office has been searching for. Goncalves joins midfielders Scott Caldwell, Kalifa Cisse and Andy Dorman as the newest members of the Revolution.

The loan deal from FC Sion includes a purchase option for the future.

Here are some more stories involving MLS players old and new:

BIRCHALL RETURNING TO PORT VALE

Former Los Angeles Galaxy and Columbus Crew midfielder?Chris Birchall is on his way back to his first club, League Two’s Port Vale FC.

Birchall, who was rumored to head back to Port Vale before the start of the 2012 MLS campaign, signed with the English club Thursday. Columbus declined the option on Birchall last month, making Birchall a free transfer target.

The Trinidadian international reportedly was unhappy with his lack of playing time with the Crew in 2012 and will look to get his career back on track at his old club.

IBRAHIM MAKES ETHIOPIA’S AFCON ROSTER

Minnesota Stars forward Fuad Ibrahim, the former Generation Adidas player for FC Dallas and Toronto FC, has been named to his home country’s roster for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

After being waived from Toronto at the end of the 2010 season, Ibrahim returned to professional soccer in 2012 with the NASL’s Stars. The Ethiopia-born, Minnesota-raised Ibrahim made five appearances for the club this past season.

Ibrahim was called up to Ethiopia’s preliminary roster last month and is one of only three foreign-based players to make the final cut for the AFCON team.

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What do you think of New England’s loan signing of Goncalves? Do you think he will give the Revs what they need in central defense for 2013? Think Ibrahim’s play in the AFCON could lead to a few MLS teams consider signing him from Minnesota?

Share your thoughts below.

Fredy Montero | Soccer By Ives

Seattle Sounders’ Montero celebrates his goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the second half of their MLS soccer game in Vancouver

CARSON, California August 25, 2012: The Seattle Sounders defeated CD Chivas USA 6-2 during a Major League Soccer (MLS) game at Home Depot Center stadium.

BoatengRacism (Getty) | Soccer By Ives

AC Milan’s midfielder Kevin Boateng (L)

Mid-Day Ticker: Boateng, Milan stand up to racist chants, Shawcross and Jagielka sign new deals, and more | Soccer By Ives

A friendly between Italian giant AC Milan and fourth division club Pro Patria was suspended early on Thursday due to racist chants towards Milans black players.

Just 25 minutes into the match, Milans Kevin-Prince Boateng punted a ball towards host Pro Patrias supporters, some of whom had been verbally abusing him and his teammates from the opening whistle. Boateng proceeded to remove his jersey and walk off the field. In a gesture of support, his Milan teammates and the entire Pro Patria squad walked off the field together, abruptly ending the match.

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri told reporters afterwards that he hoped that the events on the field would be an important signal for change in regards to racism in the sport.

Boateng, Urby Emanuelson, Sulley Muntari and MBaye Niang were among those targeted in the chants. AC Milan was playing in a final tuneup match before its match against Siena on Sunday.

Here are some more mid-day stories from the world of soccer:

SHAWCROSS SIGNS RECORD DEAL WITH STOKE CITY

After rumors that Manchester City would make a move for their star center back heated up over the weekend, Stoke City and its fans can breathe easy today as the club re-signed Ryan Shawcross to a five-and-a-half year deal.

The 25-year-old English central defender will now make ￡45,000 a week. The contract, estimated to be worth ￡13.5M, is the biggest in Stoke City history.

The club captain indicated in November that he wanted to remain at Britannia Stadium long-term, but lengthy contract talks prompted other EPL clubs to look into Shawcrosss availability. Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool reportedly joined Manchester City in sending offers for Shawcross.

Shawcross joined Stoke City in 2008 for just ￡1M after a successful loan spell from Manchester United.

JAGIELKA EXTENDS CONTRACT WITH EVERTON

Another English-born defender tied his future to his current club on Thursday, as Phil Jagielka signed a contract extension that would keep him at Everton until 2017.

The extension comes on the heels of fellow defender Seamus Colemans re-signing last week.

The 30-year-old central defender, who has become a fixture on Roy Hodgsons English national squads, has played in every league match for Everton this season.

Jagielka joined Everton from Sheffield United in 2007 and will most likely end his career with the Toffees.

GALINDO NAMED NEW CHIVAS COACH

After spending the last few seasons in charge of Liga MX clubs Cruz Azul, Atlas and Santos Laguna, Benjamín Galindo is returning to Chivas de Guadalajara as the clubs new manager.

Galindo was named to the position only a few hours after the club fired John Vant Schip, whose job security was in jeopardy after fellow Dutchman Johann Cruyffs departure from the club.

Galindo, the fourth-leading goalscorer in Chivas history, managed the club from 2004-2005. He is leaving Santos Laguna, where he won the 2012 Clausara and finished in second at the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League.

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Think Boateng and Milan did the right thing by walking off? What kind of effect do you see the re-signings Shawcross and Jagielka having on their respective clubs? See Galindo enjoying some success in his return to Guadalajara?

Share your thoughts below.

MLS formally announces first four Generation adidas signings | Soccer By Ives

By IVES GALARCEP

Major League Soccer took its time, but finally got around to announcing the first four members of the 2013 Generation adidas draft class on Thursday, several weeks after reaching agreements with the bulk of the class.

Andrew Farrell, Walker Zimmerman, Mikey Lopez and Jason Johnson were all announced as members of the Generation adidas class.

Lopez signed his GA deal a week ago, while Farrell, Zimmerman and Johnson were among the first to reach agreements two weeks ago.

One GA signing MLS did not announce on Thursday was teenage striker Kekuta Manneh, the first player to actually reach an agreement with MLS for a GA deal this go-round. MLS could be waiting to unveil Manneh when they finalize the deal for another Generation adidas target, Central Florida striker Deshorn Brown.

Farrell, Lopez, Zimmerman and Johnson could be the first four players selected in the 2013 MLS Draft, which takes place in two weeks in Indianapolis. Toronto FC holds the No. 1 and No. 3 picks, though the team is expected to deal at least one of those picks.

What do you think of the news? Who are you hoping your team can select in the draft?

Share your thoughts below.

NewWoodberry (ISIPhotos.com) | Soccer By Ives

London Woodberry (22)