The New York Red Bulls unveiled their 2013 home jersey on Monday in a special VIP Season Ticket Holder event at New York City’s Pier 59, per NewYorkRedBulls.com.

The bright red from 2012 appears to be replaced with a maroon color. There is also a distinct maroon cut on the collar, as well as on the sleeves and under the arms.

The new jersey can be purchased at the Red Bull Arena's Bullshop between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Red Bulls finished third in the Eastern Conference last season with 57 points, going 16-9-9. They reached the quarterfinals in the playoffs, as well as the Round of 16 in the Open Cup.

The Red Bulls begin the 2013 campaign on the road, visiting the Portland Timbers on March 3 and the San Jose Earthquakes on March 10. Their first home game will be on March 16 against D.C. United. 

There are always those who will say, "You have to look good to play good," but changing jerseys has historically been more of a money-grabber for teams, instead of something that single-handedly boosts a club's play.

Of course, given the Red Bulls haven't advanced past the quarterfinals in the MLS playoffs since 2008, every little bit of mental advantage could help. The new jerseys, albeit with minute changes, do appear to look better overall, and the change to maroon is a nice touch.

Hopefully for the Red Bulls, the new jerseys will give them wings in 2013.

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The Houston Dynamo are set to begin the 2013 MLS season on Saturday night against DC United. First, the club had to unveil the new kits they will wear throughout the campaign, and it did so by posting a series of pictures on Twitter.

While the changes to the overall style are limited, Jonathan Kaplan of the club's official site reports the streamlined design was developed to help the club survive the harsh weather conditions in Houston. Team president Chris Canetti was pleased with the result, stating:

Introducing a new uniform is always exciting for a team and its fans. We are proud of the new look and how it represents the club. The base concept remains the same, but the new version provides a fresh, new look for the club.

Let's take a closer look at the new home and road jerseys, grading them for their wow factor and overall design. Of course, winning in them will make a much bigger difference in the grand scheme of things.

Wow Factor: 5 of 10

In today's world, it seems like every professional and collegiate sports team around the country is trying to attract attention with the wildest jersey designs possible—flashing something that will jump off the page and get people talking about it on social media.

The Dynamo clearly weren't interested in any radical changes of that nature. They kept things relatively simple with the only standout portion of the jersey being the stark contrast between the bright orange and white.

There are no crazy patterns or unnecessary additions just to make it different. It's a pretty basic kit with a cool color scheme and normal patches—something that wouldn't look totally out of place if you saw it on a youth tournament field any given weekend.

Design: 8 of 10

The design category gets a much better grade. That's because simple isn't always a negative. Sometimes going with what works, and just making minor changes to make it more sleek, is just as effective, if not more so, than a major overhaul.

Houston certainly proved that with its new jerseys. Not only does the kit keep with the club's tradition, but when MLS fans look at it, they immediately identify it with the Dynamo. That's crucial when it comes to new kits.

Too many times a club will attempt something completely unique, but in the process lose their club identity. The Dynamo avoided that by sticking with the same scheme and upgrading it. The result is a really good overall design.

Overall Grade: 7 of 10

Ultimately, the new kits deserve a clear passing score. They are solid, albeit unspectacular, and keep the club style intact. If they really do help the team in the heat of Houston like the club claims, that makes them all the better.

Sure, they could have gone for something a little more outlandish and hoped it worked. But the risk would have far outweighed the potential reward. They made the right decision to stick with the basics with minor alterations.

The true test will be how the Dynamo fans respond in terms of purchasing the new kits. After two straight trips to the MLS Cup, fan enthusiasm should be riding high, and the fresh jerseys are another reason for them to get excited for the new season.

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The 18th season of Major League Soccer is set to kick off this Saturday with a full slate of weekend action.

With an offseason full of transfers, each team’s fanbase is wondering how their team will fare with their new squad.

Here are 10 players whose performances will have a great deal to do with their team’s success.

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According to Sky Sports, English midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker is set to sign for the MLS side, Vancouver Whitecaps.

The 28-year-old defensive midfielder is due to fly out imminently to finalise personal terms on a move that appears all but sealed.

Reo-Coker, whose wife is American, has expressed excitement over signing for the Caps and can't wait to make his mark when the season kicks off on March 3:

"I am delighted, it will be a new experience and I can't wait. I am looking forward to the challenge."

The player's agent, Tony Finnigan, admitted there had been talks with both the New York Red Bulls and the Portland Timbers, but the Blue and White have stolen the headlines:

It is something new for Nigel, and he is relishing the prospect of going.

He just wants to play football, and that chance has arisen in Major League Soccer and he now taking that with both hands.

Everything is sorted, and he just has to finalise the details when he arrives there.

Reo-Coker started his career at Wimbledon, and after a move to Portsmouth failed to materialise, he ended up at West Ham United. He rose through the ranks and became captain, leading his team to the 2006 FA Cup final where they lost to Liverpool.

He swapped claret and blue shirts shortly after, signing for Europe-chasing Aston Villa for £8.5 million under Martin O'Neill and Randy Lerner.

He was a key player alongside Gareth Barry in the engine room for several years, then sampled the likes of right midfield and right-back before eventually being frozen out of the squad.

Gerard Houllier released him on a free transfer and, after a season with Bolton Wanderers and a short stint with Championship side Ipswich Town, is on the verge of making the well-marked transition to Major League Soccer.

Caps fans will be getting a midfield destroyer in its purest form. Reo-Coker does not have the ability to launch an accurate 50-yard pass to release a flying winger, but what he does have is the mental and physical strength to inspire his teammates.

He's committed and robust in the challenge, dogged in his marking and vocal on the pitch. His versatility has stood him in good stead, but he operates best as an anchor midfielder just in front of the back four.

The Caps are getting a good player who, unlike many others joining MLS sides from Europe, is not over the hill in terms of career. All he needs a place to feel like home.

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For many, he is among the most recognizable faces in United States soccer history, if not the most recognizable. But for all the thrills Landon Donovan has provided fans of his club sides and the men’s national team over the years, there have been a comparable number of irritations.

His self-imposed exile from the sport, over which he was supposedly brooding long before the MLS Cup final against Houston last December, can be chalked up in the latter category.

For several months Donovan left both Los Angeles Galaxy and the national setup in the dark regarding his plans while taking a Brett Favre-style sabbatical, and while Galaxy provided a hint as to his return in statements made Sunday, the 30-year-old’s timetable is a convenience to no one but himself. Galaxy general manager and head coach Bruce Arena told the Major League Soccer side’s official website:

After a series of collaborative discussions between Landon, his representatives and our key club leaders, we have agreed to allow Landon to remain on an extended leave of absence and return to training with the team during the first week of March.

He added, “We understand this arrangement is not ideal, but we are confident it will allow Landon the time he needs to be both mentally and physically prepared for the upcoming season.”

Not ideal, but so typically Donovan.

Here is a player who, for the entirety of his career, has borne the weight of expectation on his shoulders—both as a leader for the United States national team and as one of the country’s most promising exports to Europe. And while the dual burden has left him admittedly tired (in November he told the LA Times he was “worn out” from the “expectations”), that doesn’t detract from the rights of fans, teammates and coaches to keep expecting—if not consistent play at a high level, then clarity regarding his agenda.

That clarity, despite Galaxy’s Sunday statement, has still not come, and after Monday training Arena’s remarks to the press were pregnant with frustration.

“For whatever reason [Donovan] feels physically and mentally fatigued and needs some time off,” he told the Times.

Donovan himself has admitted struggling with mental strength—notably self-motivation—frequently during his career. In an October interview with ESPN he revealed he had routinely “struggled with motivation,” saying there were “times when it all came easily,” and others when it didn’t.

None of this will come as news to anyone who saw him try to break through in the Bundesliga between 2001 and 2009.

Donovan’s own website says he found life in Germany “much harder than expected” after making the move and, despite being given every chance by Bayer Leverkusen, just “wasn’t enjoying the experience.” He was “unhappy and not fully committed to his new German team.” Eight years later at Bayern Munich the situation repeated itself, and the Bavarian giants opted not to extend his loan from Los Angeles.

Donovan’s failed attempt at establishing a long-term career in European football is worth mentioning for two reasons.

One: It foreshadowed his current situation, which is once again down to a lack of motivation as much of anything else. Two: It served to exasperate and even embarrass a section of the American soccer establishment that had expected the IMG Academy graduate to make it big across the pond.

But Donovan wilted under the pressure, and even though he played some of the best football of his career upon returning to Southern California, there were still those who remained ashamed of him. His dithering of the past few months will have done nothing to restore his dignity in their eyes.

When Donovan finally does make his return (at this point likely in early April), Galaxy will have played both legs of its CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal against Costa Rican champions Herediano, and the United States, with late-March matches against Mexico and Costa Rica, could well find itself facing an uphill battle to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.

Much of the goodwill he still maintains among many fans may well have evaporated by then, especially if he doesn’t address them, and the reasons behind his absence, directly.

In the meantime, he has already lost something.

“Obviously Landon’s not going to be the captain,” Arena told the Times. “He’s not here.”

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Soccer superstar David Beckham is being lined up as a prospective owner of a new MLS franchise, according to reports in the Daily Mail.

Sportsmail suggests the MLS are planning to introduce two new franchises in Miami and New York, and Beckham is seen as the ideal ambassador for both clubs.

Beckham has recently called time on his playing career in the States, but part of the deal that took him to the L.A. Galaxy in 2007 included an agreement to become the owner of an MLS club.

The 37-year-old has recently signed a short-term playing contract with French Ligue 1 outfit Paris Saint-Germain, but his future beyond the summer remains unclear.

The former England international may decide to continue his playing career once his spell in Paris has been completed, but with his days drawing to a close, the global icon could also opt to move "upstairs."

MLS commissioner Don Garber recently said a Miami franchise would "make sense," and certainly there would are few people that come with Beckham's profile to launch a new brand.

There has been no Florida-based MLS franchise since the Miami Fusion were taken out of the league in 2001, and the large Hispanic population around the area make it a conducive location in which to expand U.S. Soccer.

Once Beckham does decide to hang up his boots, it would seem unlikely the 115 cap England ace would move into management.

A managerial failure would not look good for "Brand Beckham" and a franchise ownership would be one way he could stay in the game without risking his reputation.

Beckham already has a number of Soccer Academies dotted around the globe and franchise ownership would provide the perfect opportunity to once again further his marketability and money-making prowess.

Using Beckham as a promotional vehicle to drive forward a newly established club would be a major feather in the cap of the MLS and U.S. Soccer, and one which already appears a logical solution once the ex-Galaxy star has called time on his playing days.

Any club affiliated with Beckham can immediately expect a huge promotional surge, and U.S. Soccer fans should get used to the thought of a Beckham franchise coming soon.

Can you see David Beckham as an MLS franchise owner, and if so, what impact do you think his involvement will have on the game stateside?

For more, follow me on Twitter @bainesyDiego10

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David Beckham came to MLS in hopes of aiding its international growth. It’s time designated players like Thierry Henry and Oscar Boniek Garcia step up and follow suit.

MLS has grown substantially since its inception in 1996. 

The league expanded from 10 to 19 teams. There are now 13 soccer-specific stadiums, and MLS signed its most lucrative television contract to date in 2011. 

The three-year deal with NBC Sports was for a reported $10 million a year.

All this progression has not changed the perception of MLS internationally. It's still considered by many to be a “sub-par” league “struggling to survive.”

Not even Sepp Blatter could abstain from his habitual blathering when asked about MLS in an interview with Al Jazeera TV last year.

"It is a question of time, I thought -- we had the World Cup in 1994. But it is now 18 years in so it should have been done now. But they are still struggling."

In order for MLS to alter this warped perception it must rely on its biggest stars and unknown commodities. Current MLS DPs must carry out the protracted mission Beckham set out to finish when he signed in 2007.

With Beckham embarking on a new mission in Ligue 1, here are the three DPs that could pick up where he left off in growing MLS internationally.

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Landon Donovan will return to play in Major League Soccer with the Los Angeles Galaxy in late March, according to a statement made by Galaxy coach Bruce Arena via the L.A. Galaxy on Twitter:

The 30-year-old's playing future was thought to be unclear after the Galaxy gave him some time off at the start of the year—especially when he started talking about retirement as well—but he will return to his former club for the 2013 season in L.A.  

Arena said in a statement on the club's official website:

After a series of collaborative discussions between Landon [Donovan], his representative and our key club leaders, we have agreed to allow Landon to remain on an extended leave of absence and return to training with the team during the final week of March.

We understand this arrangement is not ideal, but we are confident it will allow Landon the time he needs to be both mentally and physically prepared for the upcoming season.

The statement comes as great news for Galaxy fans, who will no doubt welcome the American international star back into their midst for the upcoming season.

The midfielder and forward holds the record for the most team goals (92) during his eight seasons at the club, and also has three titles for the club in that time. His international record is also prolific, with Donovan netting 49 goals in 144 outings for the United States men's national team.

But more importantly, Donovan brings experience and leadership every time he takes the field, and is a huge retention for the club going forward this year.

The Washington Times reports that Donovan appears likely to miss the first few Galaxy games of the season, and may actually not end up playing for his old club until the end of March, or even later than that. The veteran will likely miss L.A.'s season-opener against Chicago on March 3 as well as Chivas USA (March 17) and Colorado (March 23) before he lines up once more in L.A. 

Yet having said that, you won't find too many Galaxy fans complaining about the exact date Donovan actually does take the field again and do what he does best.

They're just glad that he is coming back once more.

So too are the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Comment below or hit me up on Twitter:  

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With the start of the MLS regular season now under two weeks away, could Seattle be about to pull off what might be the biggest move of the offseason?

France Football and the Seattle Times report that the Sounders are very interested in the Argentinean striker Javier Saviola, whose contract with La Liga side Malaga is set to expire in June.

Given that this is less than six months away, Seattle are able to enter into pre-contract talks with the player, and they could be about to potentially seal a move which would make him a Designated Player for the Sounders upon his arrival in the summer.

Saviola once ranked among Europe's hottest prospects, but although he featured 123 times for Barcelona and scored 49 goals during a six-year period between 2001 and 2007 after his arrival from River Plate, he never really fulfilled all of his potential.

Relatively quiet loan spells with Monaco and Sevilla followed before he made a shock move from Barcelona to archrivals Real Madrid, but he made even less of an impact in the Spanish capital, featuring only 17 times during the two years he spent there.

A move to Benfica in 2009 brought Saviola a little more success—he was part of the team that won the Portuguese title in the 2009-10 season—and he left after three years with the Lisbon side to return to Spain to join Malaga.

This season, Saviola has scored eight times in 24 appearances, including a goal against Zenit in the Champions League

Throughout his career, Saviola has struggled with inconsistency, and there have been doubts about his fitness, but his ability has never been in question. A move to the Pacific Northwest and to the MLS might well represent a fresh start for Saviola, who, at the age of 31, still ought to have a good few years left in him.

Should he make the move to sign with Sigi Schmid's side, Saviola will join up with compatriot Mauro Rosales, who's been with the Sounders since the 2011 season, and there are a number of other Spanish speakers in the squad who should make the task of settling in that little bit easier.

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At the age of 25, US international and former Columbus Crew star Robbie Rogers came out as gay on Friday in a blog post titled, "The Next Chapter...".

Rogers, who made 18 appearances for the United States Men's National Team, was one of Major League Soccer's most promising players when he was with the Columbus Crew. After the 2011 season, he made the jump across the pond but struggled to get playing time with English side Leeds United. He was released by Leeds last month and has been without a club since.

In his blog post, Rogers also announced that he is "stepping away" from the game. He wrote:

Secrets can cause so much internal damage. People love to preach about honesty, how honesty is so plain and simple. Try explaining to your loved ones after 25 years you are gay. Try convincing yourself that your creator has the most wonderful purpose for you even though you were taught differently. 

I always thought I could hide this secret. Football was my escape, my purpose, my identity. Football hid my secret, gave me more joy than I could have ever imagined… I will always be thankful for my career. I will remember Beijing, The MLS Cup, and most of all my teammates.  I will never forget the friends I have made a long the way and the friends that supported me once they knew my secret.  

Now is my time to step away. It’s time to discover myself away from football.  It’s 1 A.M. in London as I write this and I could not be happier with my decision. Life is so full of amazing things. I realized I could only truly enjoy my life once I was honest.  Honesty is a bitch but makes life so simple and clear.  My secret is gone, I am a free man, I can move on and live my life as my creator intended.  

It's unclear whether Rogers is simply taking a break from soccer to gather himself and think about the future, or if he's truly retiring. But at the young age of 25 and with the talent he possesses, a comeback isn't out of the picture.

However, Shawn Mitchell. a reporter for the Columbus Dispatch, tweeted: 

You never say never, but told that Robbie Rogers does not plan to resume playing career. #Crew96 #MLS #USMNT

One can only hope that Rogers' decision to put his career on hold was not solely based on the pressure of being the first high-profile gay soccer player. Injuries probably played a part in his choice as he's suffered from a concussion and an ankle injury.

There has been an outpour of respect and support for Rogers' announcement from fellow US soccer players and the soccer community.

100 percent love and support for one of my best friends Robbie Rogers. You will be missed on the pitch. Amazing talent, amazing person.

“ @robbierogers #robbierogers Just getting some sh*t off my chest. fb.me/2G6VcA57v” Respect man. Proud of you bro.

Much love and respect to my boy @robbierogers ! Proud to be your friend bro

Extremely proud of the courage from @robbierogers.Truth is not always easy to display, but truly strong people always find a way #RESPECT

@robbierogers We love u bro. It take lots of guts to be a Man and U r a Man and a #FreeMan. Life if Beautiful Enjoy it. Love u bro.

@robbierogers Brave men like you will make it so that one day there's no need for an announcement.That day can't arrive soon enough.#Support

The bravery of Robbie Rogers in commendable, I hope he realizes that he doesn't need to retire.He will be more supported than he knows.

@robbierogers proud of u buddy. Hope u only retire of ur over soccer and want to pursue other interests.

Even England's FA offered its support to Rogers. Only a few non-US players have tweeted out their support for Robbie, and hopefully more join in. One of them is Joey Barton.

Can I just say well done to @robbierogers .Takes enormous amounts of courage to do what he's done. Fair play.

Colin Clark, who was suspended by MLS for directing a homophobic slur toward a ball boy during a match, also supported Rogers. 

The courage @robbierogers has shown coming out is of the class most men can only dream of. I was lucky to call him a teammate.

If Rogers decides to continue to play, he'd be one of only a few openly gay players in all of soccer, let alone professional sports. 

A return to MLS would see him with the Chicago Fire after Columbus traded his rights following his move to Leeds. Rogers was discontent after hearing that his rights were traded a few weeks ago.

Looking back, this could be because he felt comfortable in Columbus, and if he did return to MLS, being with a different team would've put him in a difficult position. In fact, writer Brian Straus is confident that most of Robbie's teammates in Columbus knew that he was gay.

Confident that most, if not all, in Crew locker room knew Rogers was gay. And it was fine. That's a good sign for others in RR's position.

Andy Iro, one of Roger's former teammates with the Crew, said that Robbie had "been uncertain about if he was going to make a public statement or just fade out of the game." (h/t Shawn Mitchell)

Rogers could even play a role with the national team. With the lack of quality wingers, it's possible that Robbie could get a chance to play for the US again and ultimately play in next year's World Cup.

Tremendous respect has to be given to Rogers for having the courage to come out and make his announcement.

With racism already plaguing the soccer world, we don't need homophobia to be next. Fans and players alike can make a difference and welcome and embrace players who are gay.

We as a society are the only ones who can eliminate the fears and pressures associated with being gay. Hopefully, the time will be soon when everyone, including athletes, will not have to think twice about coming out. 

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