Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. GERRARD EYES US MOVE
Is Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard headed to Major League Soccer? Gerrard announced Friday morning that he will leave his beloved club at the end of the season and will not play for another team in England, leaving him open for a potential move to MLS. Numerous reports have linked the 34-year-old midfielder to the LA Galaxy, but club president Chris Klein insists that the two sides "don't have anything yet."
2. LAMPARD ON THE MARK
Frank Lampard played the role of hero once again for Manchester City on New Year's Day, scoring the game-winner for the hosts in a wild 3-2 win over Sunderland. This comes after the announcement on Dec. 31 that Lampard will stay on with Manchester City through the season before joining 2015 MLS expansion side NYCFC, and Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says he understands NYC fans' frustrations.
3. MONEY MAN
Jermain Defoe might not be going anywhere after all. Although rumors are swirling that Hull City have joined the race to sign the Toronto FC striker, it appears that his top suitors - Harry Redknapp and Queens Park Rangers - can't foot the bill to bring him home.
4. DYNAMO RESHUFFLE
With a number of the existing coaches on their way out, new Houston Dynamo boss Owen Coyle has brought in Sandy Stewart to reprise his role as Coyle’s assistant coach at a fifth successive club. The Dynamo have also hired Paul Caffrey as the team’s new sports performance director.
5. RAPIDS PLANNING AHEAD
What will 2015 have in store for the Colorado Rapids? Team President Tim Hinchey is hoping for much improved performances from his club this year and, in an interview with the team podcast, also discussed the possibilities of a second Designated Player and a new jersey sponsor.
6. LANDON DONOVAN: SPECIAL ADVISOR?
Could Landon Donovan’s next gig see him become a special advisor to Scottish side Hibernian? It will if manager Alan Stubbs gets his way. The former Everton assistant knows Donovan from their days with the Toffees, and he wants Donovan to offer insight into Hib trialist and Galaxy youngster Jack McBean.
7. FOLLOWING A FORMULA
There are six MLS sides with their own USL PRO teams headed into next season and, while we may not know what those teams will look like just yet, does each club’s choice of head coach give us an indication of what we can expect?
8. TEMPORARY STOP
With David Beckham’s search for a Miami stadium seemingly at an impasse, Miami-Dade Commissioner Juan Zapata would like Beckham’s group to consider a temporary home at Florida International University’s South Campus instead.
9. INVITATION ONLY
MLS has invited nine more players to the MLS Combine in Fort Lauderdale - bringing the total up to 64 - and the league also announced Thursday that 19 players have been invited to take part in the Caribbean Combine in Puerto Rico, beginning Friday.
10. THE US YEAR AHEAD
With 2015 upon us there’s plenty to look forward to with the United States national team, but what are the things we’d all like to see? Perhaps one wish would be for many of the struggling Americans in Europe to find better situations.
11. CAMERON ON SHEA
One American who isn’t struggling in England is Geoff Cameron, and the US international offered his thoughts on how his season is going as well as former teammate Brek Shea’s recent move back to MLS with Orlando City in his weekly dispatch with NBC Sports' Pro Soccer Talk.
12. U-20’S OFFER BRIGHT FUTURE
As the Canadian U-20’s continue to thrive, their success could have a lasting impact on Canadian soccer. Orlando City SC, meanwhile, could play a part in the future of the Portuguese national team after two of their players were once again called up for a training camp with the Portuguese U-20’s.
13. WILL THE COPA CENTROAMERICANA RETURN?
Following the success of the tournament this year, UNCAF plans to decide this month whether or not the Copa Centroamericana will once again be played in the United States in 2016.
14. EARTHQUAKES' HONORARY NEW SIGNING
In a moving gesture, the San Jose Earthquakes recently added a new player, signing Khiem Nguyen to a posthumous contract after the 24-year-old Air National Guard airman sadly passed away on Veterans Day.
15. TYING THE KNOT, RINGING THE BELLS
Servando Carrasco may be without a club presently after his contract with the Houston Dynamo ran out but, but that’s probably the furthest thing from his mind right now.The midfielder tied the knot with US women’s international Alex Morgan on New Year’s Eve in Santa Barbara, and People magazine has the photos. Meanwhile, Jermaine Jones saw in the New Year in his own uniquely JJ way.
MLSsoccer.com Musts
The 2015 Soccer Calendar: all the events that matter to North American fans
Top 5 goals of 2014: The “How’d he do that?” Goals
A Day in the Life of Victor Ulloa
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