Red Bulls Discuss Rafa Marquez’ Impact On MLS (With Video)

Harrison, NJ—For the second time in three weeks, media from around the world descended upon Red Bull Arena to be introduced to a new Designated Player for the New York Red Bulls. Two weeks ago Thierry Henry became possibly the greatest DP signing the league had seen. Many could argue that their newest addition, Mexican national team captain Rafael Marquez, could be even bigger. You could read it in the body language from the dignitaries speaking at the press conference (Red Bull’s Global Soccer Director Dietmar Beiersdorfer, Red Bull New York’s GM Eric Soler, Head Coach Hans Backe & MLS Commissioner Don Garber) and hear the excitement in their voices—this signing is hugely significant, not only to the Red Bulls on the field, but to the franchise and Major League Soccer in general off the field too. Of course at the introductory press conference, attention was mainly focused towards Marquez the player and person. Coach Backe discussed his experience of working with Rafa before as he spent 11 months as an assistant coach with the Mexican national team. He stated how Marquez will operate as a defensive midfield player for the Red Bulls (despite most of his career ...

Rafael Marquez May Be a Villain to U.S. Fans But To New York He’s a Hero

Recently on its website, Sports Illustrated published a list of the most hated teams in sports history. It was all the teams you loved to hate. Whether it be lots of money, dirty play, or just lots of attitude, the team was despised. One more thing that especially got most of the teams vilified was that they won championships. To American soccer fans, Rafael Marquez is a villain. To the New York Red Bulls, he may just be the bad guy that gives them a winning edge. Think back to the NBA in the late 1980s and throughout the '90s. Dennis Rodman was mean. He was pierced all over, had tattoos all over, and dyed his hair crazy colors. He wore wedding dresses. He kicked cameramen. He also, however, led the league in rebounding seven consecutive seasons and was named defensive player of the year twice. Most importantly, he played a key role in three championship teams with the Chicago Bulls and two with the Detroit Pistons (a team infamous for its "Bad Boys" moniker). Marquez has an awful reputation with soccer fans in the United States. He is the captain ...

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 ...

Seattle Sounders Visit El Salvador To Tackle Metapan

Coach Sigi Schmid and his Seattle Sounders have been traveling so far and often that premium frequent flyer miles would be a seemingly deserving reward. Seattle Sounders FC plays matches 3,000 miles apart this week. Sounders FC can clinch a place in the CONCACAF Champions League group stage with a win or draw at El Salvador's AD Isidro Metapán on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. PT in a match carried on the Fox Soccer Channel. Seattle then returns home to seek to continue its climb up the Western Conference of MLS when it hosts the Houston Dynamo on Sunday night at 8 p.m. PT. The Metapan match is a return engagement of the Seattle meeting last Wednesday won by the Sounders 1-0 on a 40-yard second half missile by striker Fredy Montero seconds after he came off the bench. In a postgame press conference, Metapan coach Edwin Portillo conceded that his club would face a daunting task the following week against a Sounder squad whose personnel impressed him.  Given the 1-0 loss, Portillo acknowledged that it would be tactically necessary to play more aggressively to compensate for the one goal to nil defeat. Portillo acknowledged that his strategic intention in the Seattle contest was to ...

Top 10 MLS Stars Due for a Move To a European Side

As a new influx of stars make their way from Europe to the MLS and help to raise its credibility around the rest of the world, it's no longer one-way traffic in terms of MLS/Europe transfers. Over the last few years, a growing number of U.S. and foreign players have made their name in the MLS and gone on to pursue careers throughout Europe. But who are in the next crop ready for a move? Don't be surprised if it's any of these guys.... Begin Slideshow

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Puerto Rico Islanders: A Suicide Mission

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy are in state of flux as they head to Juan Roman Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon, Puerto Rico for the second leg of the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round against the Puerto Rico Islanders. It will be a tough go for the Galaxy, which is running a two-game losing streak with defeats to the Islanders and the Chicago Fire. Breakdowns in the defensive backline have led to goals aplenty from Colin Clarke's club, who ran away with the first leg to the tune of 4-1. The Islanders can afford to lose 3-0 and still advance due to the away goals rule. Because of this, either of these instances needs to happen: the Galaxy must win by four, or score five goals while leading by at least three. Again, let me reiterate: the Galaxy must win by four, or score five goals while winning by at least three. That is a pretty tall task to ask. “I’m sick of giving up goals and I’m sick of not winning at home,” said Galaxy captain Landon Donovan after the Chicago Fire defeat. ...

Peter Vagenas Placed On Seattle Sounders Injured Reserve List

The Seattle Sounders FC announced Monday that midfielder Peter Vagenas has been placed on the disabled list. The reason is a right quadriceps strain. As a result of his injury Vagenas, 32, is required to miss six games. Included in that number was the San Jose Earthquakes match on July 31. Vagenas is eligible to return to MLS play for the September 9 match in Seattle against the Real Salt Lake. The 5-8, 163 pound Vagenas is in his tenth season in Major League Soccer. He played college soccer at UCLA. Vagenas has started all seven appearances in 2010 and has played a total of 542 minutes. Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

El Capitán Arrives in New York to Complete Red Bull’s El Tri

Red Bull New York has announced the signing of Mexico National Team Captain Rafael Márquez as the club’s third designated player. Márquez signed with the MLS side on a four year deal worth $25 million, as reported by ESPN Deportes reporter John Sutcliffe. “I am excited to be joining the Red Bulls,” Márquez said. “Despite having the opportunity to fulfill my contract with Barcelona, coming to New York and playing in Major League Soccer was a chance that I could not refuse. I am completely committed to doing my very best to help the Red Bulls in their playoff push this year and compete for championships in the years to come.” Márquez and his former club FC Barcelona came to an agreement to terminate the defender’s contract with the Catalan side over the weekend, a deal which would have kept Márquez in a Barcelona shirt till 2012. FC Barcelona held a sendoff ceremony for the Mexican captain on Saturday, July 31, 2010 at Camp Nou. While at FC Barcelona, Márquez won two UEFA Champions League Cups, four League titles, one FIFA Club World Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, one Spanish Cup, three Spanish Super Cups and three Catalan Cups. Márquez played a ...

Decrepit Backline Dooms LA Galaxy in 3-2 Loss To Chicago Fire

If you thought I had lost my mind when I said that we haven't seen the worst from the backline of Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy, I suppose you may have to get your head on straight. With that being said, I have come up with two conclusions: either I am hexing this backline for their inability to deliver in the clutch, or the culprits are hexing themselves for failing to deliver in the clutch. For the sake of argument, let's go with the latter. On Sunday, the Galaxy's defense of Sean Franklin, Omar Gonzalez, Gregg Berhalter, and Todd Dunivant set a new low (if not all-time) for themselves by giving up two goals in as many minutes (to Marco Pappa and Collins John) in the first five minutes of play. I am confident this defense is playing like they want to get walloped by Real Madrid in Pasadena on Sunday. Actually, they probably will anyway. See my preview on that match later this week. But it seems as if the Fire looked at the game tape from the debacle against Puerto Rico, and saw the weaknesses in the backline. And it shouldn't surprise anyone that Carlos ...

New York Cosmos Are Returning

Flushing Meadows Corona Park, New York - During the halftime of the Copa NYC final match between Poland and Jamaica, Brazilian great Pele made a rare appearance to announce the return of the once NASL five-time powerhouse champion, the New York Cosmos. As the Cosmos Honorary President, Pele made it clear to the thousands of fans in attendance that the goal of this Cosmos organization is to develop a Youth Program that will develop world-class players. As stated in their Press Release: "The New York Cosmos have already agreed to a unique partnership with Queens-based youth club BW Gottschee, who has 60 years of experience, passion and success at a local and national level. "The Cosmos Academy, as they will be known, will field teams from U12-U18 and participate in the US Soccer Development Academy." "Furthermore, The New York Cosmos have acquired the Copa NYC tournament, and beyond running it every year in New York, they will be looking to expand it both domestically and internationally in order to engage more local communities to participate in the ‘global game’ at a grassroots level." Along with this announcement, New York Cosmos are aspiring to becoming the second ...