MLS News
Kaka Named Captain of New MLS Franchise Orlando City
MLS News
Tuesday, 24 February 2015 11:46

Brazilian legend Kaka will ply his trade in Major League Soccer this season with new franchise Orlando City. 

The man who's starred and captained AC Milan and laced up for Real Madrid will fittingly lead the new club's inaugural MLS season wearing the captain's armband, the team has announced. 

Manager Adrian Heath explained the decision to have the seasoned pro lead the side, per Copa America's official website:

Kaka has demonstrated great leadership both on the filed and in the locker room since the start, and the other players have naturally looked to his guidance throughout pre-season, so he was the natural pick to skipper the club. 

Ricky's role will extend off the pitch as well, serving as the team's liaison with the front office and coaching staff on all player-related concerns to ensure we provide the best possible environment for the players to train, develop and succeed personally and professionally. 

The 32-year-old Kaka has already shown fans several glimpses of what exactly he's capable of in an Orlando shirt: 

¡CRACK! @KAKA con Orlando City. Caño tremendo. https://t.co/i18QhSpiL8”

— eljugadordelidolo (@eljugadordepes) February 24, 2015

 

Kaká marcou pelo Orlando City https://t.co/88EOuU1yHa"

— Dividida FC (@BlogDivididaFC) February 22, 2015

 

Kaka still knows where the goal is at Orlando City training https://t.co/NhQYivBe7g

— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) February 4, 2015

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MLS: Why the Canadian Teams Should Be Feared in 2015
MLS News
Monday, 23 February 2015 22:24

MLS' Canadian teams are often overlooked by American supporters. The casual American fan rarely gets to watch the franchises north of their border unless they're on local TV or MLS Live. Now supporters should sign up for a subscription, because Canadian clubs are destined to make an impact this season.

Toronto FC will have more interest from fans this season due to the American connection of Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore. There will also be a lot of pressure for TFC to make the playoffs considering the enormous amount of money ownership spent this winter.

However, before Bradley and Altidore arrived, Toronto was known as the futile team who were an embarrassment year in and year out.

Their humiliation reached a new high after Jermain Defoe wanted out of Toronto despite signing a multi-million-dollar contract just seven months earlier.

TFC managed to swap an unhappy Defoe for a determined Altidore from Sunderland. The U.S. international's struggles in England were well-publicized. He only scored once in 42 Premier League games.

However, during Altidore's tenure, Fabio Borini and Steven Fletcher were Sunderland's highest-scoring strikers with seven Premier League goals apiece.

Sunderland is a team whose sole focus is to survive relegation. That means they'll defend a lot and rarely generate scoring chances. The Black Cats currently rank third-last in shots per game, according to WhoScored.com. In Altidore's first season, the Tyneside club was 17th in attempts, per WhoScored.

This surely won't be the case with TFC. The addition of Sebastian Giovinco will help Altidore score goals. Giovinco's playmaking abilities, speed and technique will not only ensure that the American is one of MLS' best forwards, but it will also ensure that the Italian is contributing in that aspect.

Toronto general manager Tim Bezbatchenko also secured experienced French midfielder Benoit Cheyrou. Head coach Greg Vanney expects the ex-Marseille man to partner Bradley, per MLSSoccer.com's Armen Bedakian:

Giovinco will be in front of those guys, but I think Michael and Benoit are a good combination. Left foot, right foot, they give us a lot of balance, experience and tactical savvy as well. I think they also have a lot of respect for each other and what they’ve been able to accomplish.

Center back Steven Caldwell will have another French-born player, Damien Perquis, playing in the back line with him. Both players will most likely be flanked by Justin Morrow and Mark Bloom with Joe Bendik in goal.

Toronto should be a playoff team, especially with the new postseason format. Bradley finally has a solid midfield partner who gives him extra freedom. The Perquis-Caldwell pairing is a good balance of speed, positioning and awareness. Altidore and Giovinco should also be one of MLS' most lethal partnerships.

The only issue is Bradley being named captain. Caldwell was the skipper before the armband was given to his teammate. He expressed his potential disappointment to the media, relayed by John Molinaro of Sportsnet, if the captaincy changed arms:

I love being captain of this football club. I’ve captained every team I’ve played for since I was 15, so it’s something I relish and enjoy. I think I’m quite good at it. It’s a great honour to be captain of any club. I don’t treat it lightly. I love being captain of Toronto. I hope to stay on.

TSN's Jason DeVos and Kristian Jack believe that the decision will unsettle the dressing room. As expected, Caldwell was disappointed, but wants to move on, as tweeted by Molinaro:

This may not be an issue during the season. Caldwell is a professional and the coaching staff has a close working relationship with Bezbatchenko. In turn, TFC should finally make the playoffs.

 

Can the Vancouver Whitecaps Make it Three?

The Vancouver Whitecaps have been to the playoffs more than any other Canadian club, qualifying in two of their four MLS seasons. However, the Whitecaps have been eliminated in the wild-card game both times. This year may be different despite being in the loaded Western Conference.

Vancouver's top goalscoring striker in 2014 was Erik Hurtado with just six goals. It was clear that the Whitecaps were lacking a presence up front.

However, just like the previous winter, Carl Robinson and his coaching staff scouted South America for players. They signed Uruguayan forward Octavio Rivero, who is the missing piece the Whitecaps desperately need.

Rivero made his preseason debut against the New England Revolution on February 4. The striker scored a second-half brace in a 2-0 victory.

Even though he's scored just once since his first preseason match, Rivero has shown other qualities. He's a lethal finisher, but he times his runs and executes them to perfection. He's also solid with the ball at his feet and is strong in the air, hence the "Cabeza" (head) in his Twitter handle.

With Pedro Morales, Kekuta Manneh, Mauro Rosales and Nicolas Mezquida supplying Rivero, the Whitecaps will be a dangerous team.

Robinson has also patched up the defense following the departures of Andy O'Brien and Johnny Leveron. The Welshman acquired 22-year-old center-back Diego Rodriguez on loan, along with experienced MLS defender Pa Modou Kah.

Both players will compete to start alongside Kendall Waston. Either defender will be a solid choice. Kah is an MLS veteran, but Rodriguez is quicker, younger and can speak Spanish, Waston's native language.

Robinson has a tough decision to make, but it's a conundrum any coach wants to have. 

Vancouver is competing in a stacked conference, but they only needed to add a center-back and a striker. The Whitecaps have addressed both positions. The majority of their squad is returning from last season and the new additions joined the team earlier this winter, so chemistry is strong.

The Whitecaps conceded just 40 goals last season, and goalkeeper David Ousted led MLS in clean sheets in 2014. Now that they have a goalscoring striker, the sky is the limit in 2015.

 

Can the Montreal Impact Recover from the Chaos and Make the Playoffs?

The Montreal Impact was the worst team in MLS last year. Montreal accumulated just six wins and 28 points in 2014. However, for the first time in franchise history, the club will begin a campaign with the same coach who finished the previous season. OptaJack notes these Impact stats:

Jesse Marsch was fired after one year, as was Marco Schallibaum. Frank Klopas is now the longest-tenured coach since Montreal entered MLS.

However, Klopas' squad has undergone a major makeover. No fewer than 13 players have been acquired and at least 13 have departed the club, per MLSSoccer.com. 

Virtually every new player is an upgrade. The defense has been enhanced with Chivas USA's Donny Toia and Chicago Fire's Bakary Soumare via two of the league drafts. Victor Cabrera was acquired on loan from River Plate, Laurent Ciman was signed for free and the New York Red Bulls' Ambroise Oyongo was involved in a trade.

Oyongo was a part of the deal that sent midfielder Felipe and the Impact's spot in the allocation order to the Red Bulls. Midfielder Eric Alexander was also shipped to Montreal.

Oyongo's situation is a bit shady at the moment. The player claims he's a free agent because when he was acquired by New York, he was playing for an amateur team in Cameroon, per the Canadian Press (h/t Sportsnet).

The situation is broken down by Sofiane Benzaza of SB Nation. If Oyongo does not play for the Impact, it would be a significant blow because he's a talented full-back.

Montreal conceded the joint-highest number of goals in the East in 2014. All of these additions, including goalkeeper Eric Kronberg, should help improve the back line.

Marco Donadel, Nigel Reo-Coker and the aforementioned Alexander add some defensive grit and drive in midfield. Ignacio Piatti, Andres Romero, Dominic Oduro and Justin Mapp are all fast, technical players who will contribute in the attacking third of the pitch.

Montreal needs a striker after losing Marco Di Vaio. The club is still looking for a big-name forward, but it will surely find one soon.

There was clearly a lot of movement during the winter. A lot of teams bulked up their squads, so it will be tough to make the playoffs, even with 12 teams qualifying this year. OptaJack points out how many players the Impact used in 2014:

However, the Impact showed more ambition compared to last offseason. Montreal might not make the postseason, but it will be difficult to beat the Impact in 2015.

 

Peter Galindo covers MLS and U.S. soccer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @GalindoPW.

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Matt Besler Can Silence Jurgen Klinsmann's Criticism with Strong 2015 MLS Season
MLS News
Thursday, 19 February 2015 01:07

Over the past few weeks, fitness has been discussed more than it should be in regard to the Major League Soccer contingent in the United States men's national team talent pool.

One of the central figures of the situation has been Sporting Kansas City center-back Matt Besler, who suffered one of the biggest drops in form after the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The controversy began after the USMNT's 3-2 loss to Chile in which the Yanks conceded late in the second half on two occasions.

"After the World Cup, a lot of players dropped their levels 30, 40 percent when they came back from vacation,” United States manager Jurgen Klinsmann said after the match, per Dan Itel of MLSSoccer.com.

“It doesn’t matter if they are in Europe or the US, you can’t do that at the international level," he continued. "You get exposed after minute 65 or 70 if you can’t go the speed anymore, and both ways, so there’s a lot of work ahead of us, ahead of the players first of all.”

Because of the key role he is supposed to fill at the international level, Besler was one of the main targets of the criticism.

Although he was not named specifically during Klinsmann's fitness rant, Besler was offended enough to comment on the situation.

“I think it’s unfortunate that a player has to answer questions about fitness,” Besler told Sam McDowell The Kansas City Star. “I won’t say anything about his comments. He can say whatever he wants.”

Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes also chimed in on the situation in the same article.

“To expect those guys to be in top form at a January camp — and I mean this — I think it’s utterly ridiculous,” Vermes said.

While it may be unfair to a player to criticize his fitness at the annual January camp for MLS-based players, it is fair to question the state of Besler's game at the moment.

In the months following his return from South America, Besler and the Sporting defense conceded 1.3 goals per game. During a crucial stretch of the MLS season from August 23 to September 6, Sporting let in 11 goals in four games.

Besler did deserve his share of the blame when Sporting's collapse began, but he also had a few experienced players alongside him.

One of the 28-year-old's key allies in the back four was Aurelien Collin, who was the other half of the formidable center-back duo formed by Sporting on the way to the 2013 MLS Cup.

Although many regard Besler as the leader of the back four, Collin was a vital cog in the defensive machine as well.

All that will change in 2015, as Besler will become the go-to guy in the middle of defense after Collin's offseason departure for expansion side Orlando City.

Thanks to the absence of a solid partner in the back four, Besler is one of, if not the, top players under pressure to perform during the 2015 MLS season. 

If Besler wants to silence the critics, especially Klinsmann, about his fitness and form, he can do so by turning into a defensive rock. Throughout the first four months of the MLS campaign, Besler will be tested by some of the Western Conference's best attacking units while he adjusts to a new center-back partner.

Who the consistent starter next to Besler is remains to be seen, as Kevin Ellis, Jalil Anibaba and Ike Opara are all candidates to replace Collin.

If Sporting wants to return to playoff glory in November and December, Besler needs to take the lead in the back four from the first game of the season on.

If Besler is able to thrive in his extended leadership role, he will be able to prove a point to Klinsmann that not only is he fit to play at the highest level, but he is able to command a top team's defense as well.

The USMNT defense has always been a fragile unit under Klinsmann. But if Besler can display the qualities required for a center-back to be dominant at the club level, he could parlay that into a successful CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Possessing a strong defense at the Gold Cup will be key for the Yanks, who will face stiff competition from Mexico and Costa Rica for the trophy. 

If Besler is able to use Klinsmann's comments as added motivation, the United States could finally possess a reliable center-back.

Not only will the USMNT reap plenty of rewards from Besler's potential success, but Sporting will be able to challenge for its second MLS Cup in three years despite facing a tougher road to the final through the Western Conference playoffs. 

While there may not be a perfect answer to Klinsmann's comments at the moment, Besler has a chance to silence the USMNT boss with a solid showing across the board in the most important year of his career to date. 

 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. 

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New York City FC Launching Youth Academy: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction
MLS News
Tuesday, 17 February 2015 10:39

New York City FC has taken another stride toward becoming a force of Major League Soccer by announcing the launch of a new youth academy.   

The club revealed on Tuesday its intention to craft "one of the leading youth talent development centres in the United States," with sporting director Claudio Reyna quoted by the club's official website as saying:

I couldn’t be happier to announce our new Academy. We have been building the foundations over the past months to get us ready to launch the Academy and everything has come together to ensure that sustainable youth development can be at the heart of our Club. It is particularly pleasing for me to be involved with our Academy. I am passionate about developing young players; something I was very proud to be involved with as Youth Technical Director of the US Soccer Federation.

This is another critical step as we build New York City FC. This is a Club, not just a team and we want to develop a long and sustainable future, rooted in our community. We want to show the world how much young talent there is in and around New York and make sure we are playing an active and enthusiastic role in nurturing it.

Ex-United States international Reyna goes on to emphasise that New York City FC still has a long way to go before achieving its MLS goals, touching on the desire to establish a style of its own.

Nick Chavez of Soccer Newsday shared his thoughts on the announcement:

This news comes just four weeks after the club's official Twitter account announced three new youth affiliate clubs would be joining its ranks. New York City FC now has 11 affiliate clubs in New Jersey, Long Island and other surrounding boroughs:   

Having lured former Spanish international David Villa to the club's ranks last summer and with Frank Lampard set to arrive later this year, per Bob Williams of The Telegraph, first-team stars are already present in the squad.

However, nurturing young talent is an aspect that sometimes goes undervalued when a club can invest heavily in the market, something the City Football Group ownership may allow New York City FC to do.

With the franchise poised to compete in its maiden MLS season this year, New York City FC is only at the start of its journey toward rising through the American ranks.   

However, Reyna's confidence in developing a next generation of Major League Soccer stars suggests the club already has its sights set on creating a long-term outlook from the very beginning.

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Bob Bradley's Legacy Is Cemented with U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame Induction
MLS News
Monday, 16 February 2015 14:09

Bob Bradley is one of the most successful American soccer coaches in history. He's been in charge of university teams, MLS sides such as the Chicago Fire and New York MetroStars, and the U.S. men's national team. Bradley's resume is impressive, but his National Soccer Hall of Fame induction confirms his status as a legend.

Bradley's career began while he was still earning his Master's degree. He coached Ohio University's men's soccer team in 1981, and he guided his Alma mater, Princeton, to two Ivy League titles and the Final Four in 1993.

Fellow American head coach Bruce Arena had a big influence on Bradley's career. When Arena was coaching the University of Virginia, Bob was an assistant. The 58-year-old was also a member of Bruce's staff with D.C. United.

Those experiences with Arena helped Bradley gain valuable experience before joining Chicago, New York and Chivas USA.

The Fire won MLS Cup in its expansion season in 1998 and finished as runner-up in 2000. The team also won two U.S. Open Cups in both of those seasons under Bradley.

Before Bradley joined the MetroStars, they were struggling for consistency and failed to reach a major final. They also missed the MLS playoffs three times.

Once he was hired, Bradley guided New York to a U.S. Open Cup final and to the MLS playoffs twice before being fired shortly before the conclusion of the regular season in 2005.

Bradley then took control of another newly formed team in Chivas USA. He took a young side into the playoffs one year removed from one of the single-worst seasons in MLS history.

The tactician's career took off on the international stage when he was named head coach of the USMNT. Ives Galarcep of Fox stated that U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati hired Bradley after at least two failed pursuits of Jurgen Klinsmann.

However, Bradley gave the national team an identity, won a Gold Cup and produced some monumental results along the way.

Some fans were critical of Bradley during his tenure, but, according to ESPN's Leander Schaerlaeckens, the ex-USA coach has the second-highest amount of victories in the team's history. Only Arena has more wins.

Bradley's U.S. team gained international recognition during the 2009 Confederations Cup. The Stars and Stripes defeated Spain in the semifinal before a late defeat against Brazil in the final.

Fans who disapproved of Bradley point to three specific results that held back the United States: The blown 2-0 lead versus the Brazilians, the loss to Ghana in the round of 16 at the 2010 World Cup and a capitulation in another final against Mexico at the 2011 Gold Cup.

On the other hand, Brazil was still a strong team, and no one expected the U.S. to make it past the first round of the Confederations Cup.

As for the World Cup, Ghana was a tireless, hardworking team just like the United States. The Slovenia draw was disappointing, but it was hard fought. Plus, the U.S. won Group C and finished undefeated after 90 minutes in every match. Even if the USMNT advanced, Uruguay probably would have defeated the USA.

The Gold Cup defeat was similar to the Brazil loss. Mexico was simply better, and Bradley knew he was probably getting the sack regardless of the result.

Overall, Bradley's tenure with the USMNT should be considered a success. He molded the team into a competitive squad with a strong identity. If there was one nation opponents wanted to avoid, it was the U.S. 

Bradley is also a pioneer for U.S. coaches abroad. He was Egypt's manager before Stabaek made him the first American to coach a team in a top-flight European league. 

Stabaek was a recently promoted side, so the expectations were not high. However, Bradley guided the Norwegian club to a ninth-place finish, 10 points above the relegation zone. 

Bradley is considered a "father" for the new generation of MLS coaches, according to legendary Bulgarian player Hristo Stoichkov. The ex-Barcelona forward played for the likes of Louis van Gaal and Johan Cruyff, so it's special for Stoichkov to say that about the ex-USMNT boss.

The legacy of Bradley should be unquestioned. His induction into the Hall of Fame shows just how much of an impact he's had on the sport in the United States.

 

Peter Galindo covers MLS and U.S. soccer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @GalindoPW.

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Examining Robbie Rogers' Impact on the American Sports Culture
MLS News
Sunday, 15 February 2015 08:10

Two years ago, Robbie Rogers published a post on his personal blog in which he announced his coming out. 

In the 24 months since his announcement, Rogers has left a profound impact on the American sporting culture, and he has turned himself into one of the more reliable players on one of the best sides in Major League Soccer. 

By inspiring others to come out as gay and using the game of soccer as a positive platform, Rogers has become one of the most recognizable faces in the American game for all of the right reasons. 

When he made his announcement, Rogers was a free agent after he spent time in the lower tiers of English football. He decided to retire from the game in his blog post following his release from Leeds United.

"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." 

After four months away from the game, Rogers chose to come back to Major League Soccer and continue the career that earned him 18 caps for the United States men's national team. 

Rogers began training with the L.A. Galaxy at the beginning of May of 2013, and a few weeks later he became a permanent member of the squad thanks to a trade with the Chicago Fire. 

Acquiring Rogers was not an task for the Galaxy, as the club had to send Mike Magee to Chicago in exchange for Rogers' rights. 

The deal appeared to be of the one-sided variety at the time because Magee was a proven asset with the Galaxy, while no one knew what Rogers could contribute. Magee went on to score 15 goals for the Fire after netting six for the Galaxy in 10 matches. 

Two days after the trade, Rogers debuted for the Galaxy in a match against the Seattle Sounders. In the moments leading up to his first MLS appearance since 2011, the crowd at the StubHub Center began to give him a standing ovation. 

When he entered the pitch for Juninho in the 77th minute, Rogers became the first openly gay athlete to play in a top sports league in North America. 

After all the attention from his first appearance died down, Rogers had to get to work to earn a consistent spot in the competitive Galaxy lineup. He started just seven games and played four additional matches as a substitute in his first season back in MLS. 

With many questioning the high price the Galaxy paid for Rogers in 2013, the player did have some pressure on his shoulders to succeed in 2014. What happened next was something no one saw coming. 

Starting in June, the midfielder was shifted to left-back by Galaxy boss Bruce Arena, who was short of players at the position. After a few games on the left defensive flank, Rogers had installed himself as the permanent starter at left-back. 

He was in such good form that many thought he was deserving of a call-up to the United States men's national team. That has not come as of yet, but there is a strong possibility he could feature at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup if his form from last season holds up.

Rogers and the Galaxy went on to win the 2014 MLS Cup, which was the third in four years for the franchise. By winning the trophy, Rogers also became the first openly gay athlete to win a major American sports trophy. 

But by the time he lifted MLS Cup with his teammates, Rogers was labeled more as a shutdown defender on the pitch than the player who came out 22 months prior. 

Rogers not only made an impact on the soccer field, he also paved the way for other athletes to share their stories and feel comfortable about coming out. 

Since his announcement in 2013, NBA player Jason Collins and NFL prospect Michael Sam have come out as gay to the American public. 

Collins did so in 2013 during a piece he wrote for Sports Illustrated in which he credited many, including Rogers, with helping him make his decision public. 

At the time his article was published, Collins was a free agent just like Rogers. Following his announcement, Collins ended up with the Brooklyn Nets before retiring in 2014. 

Unlike Rogers and Collins, Sam was in the process of transitioning from the collegiate to professional level at the time of his coming out. 

His decision was accepted by many, but he did have his share of critics in the NFL. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft, but he did not play a regular-season game in his rookie season. 

One has to think if Rogers did not come out as gay we may not have seen players like Collins and Sam come out in public like they did. 

As it is with any sensitive topic matter like this, one athlete has to take charge and be the face of the movement whether they like it or not. 

Rogers is the face of the gay athlete in America, and he has inspired these two professional athletes as well as countless others who are not in the athletic spotlight to be comfortable in their own skin and make the life-changing statement. 

Although it may not happen tomorrow or a few months from now, the next athlete to come out from a major American sport will most likely credit Rogers in some fashion about the timing of their decision. 

While other athletes have benefited from Rogers' advice and success since coming out, the acceptance of his decision and support from an entire league may end up having the largest lasting impact when we look back on this 20 years from now. 

If Rogers was a football or basketball player, he may have had a hard time finding a new professional team, but the complete opposite has happened in soccer.

In the months following his return to MLS, the league stepped up its efforts with its "Don't Cross the Line" campaign, with most of the league's stars appearing in advertisements for the movement. 

The campaign featured in-stadium advertisement boards and commercials with most of the league's biggest stars standing firm against discrimination. 

With a ton of support behind him from the start, Rogers was able to focus on turning himself into a successful soccer player once again. If he plied his trade in another sport, he may have been shunned by the league just like what is happening with Sam and the NFL. 

By settling into the Galaxy lineup and extending his career by a few more years, Rogers has also been able to extend his platform and push for equal rights on a larger scale. 

One of the biggest issues staring the sport in the face right now is the laws in place in Russia and Qatar, who are the next two hosts of the FIFA World Cup. 

"I think about the role that FIFA plays and their sensitivity to the LGBT community—not only the LGBT community but to human rights in different countries," Rogers said via ESPNFC. "I mean, if you read their mission statement on their website it talks about using football to promote education and human rights." 

Rogers can find a way to make a difference on the world scale regardless of if he makes the trip to Russia in 2018 with the USMNT. By using soccer as a platform, Rogers and other stars of the sport have a chance to create change.

"I think people need to start talking about it now," he said in the same ESPN article. "We waited until the last six months before the Russian Olympics to bring up the issue." 

If the conversation begins now about the human rights issues in Russia and Qatar, pressure can be put on the respective countries to change their laws in the ever-evolving world we live in.

While he may continue to have success on the field for years to come in MLS, Rogers' lasting legacy could come off the field in the push for equality in other countries as well as America. 

If he is able to pave the way for adjustments in the laws of the two host nations, or at least get a major discussion going ahead of the World Cup, he will have achieved more than scoring a goal or playing 90 minutes of strong defense. 

It has been just two years since Rogers decided to come out, but in that small window of time, he has turned into a role model for people from all different walks of life. 

If he continues to influence other athletes and off-the-field matters in such a positive manner, we could look back on the letter he penned in England as a true landmark moment in sports history. 

 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. 

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Ranking the 10 Most Important Players in the MLS 2015 Season
MLS News
Friday, 13 February 2015 23:37

The 2015 MLS season kicks off on March 6 with plenty of new storylines after a plethora of offseason moves and signings and two expansion clubs looking to make a good first impression.

The 10 players were ranked by what they will contribute to the club both on and off the field as well as the club's situation and any compelling storylines that will follow a player through the season.

English forward Bradley Wright-Phillips (NYRB), Jozy Altidore (TOR) and Robbie Keane (LA) are all in the Top 3 but who ends up being the most important player heading into the 2015 season? Keep clicking to find out.

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David Villa Scores the 1st Goal in New York City FC's History
MLS News
Wednesday, 11 February 2015 03:32

New York City FC played the first match in their history on Tuesday night, and one of their marquee signings scored their first-ever goal. 

Spanish legend David Villa grabbed the opener in a 2-0 victory against Scottish side St Mirren at the new Manchester City Academy. 

It was a typical striker's finish from the former Valencia, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid man, and fans of the new franchise will be hoping to see the same in more competitive matches when the MLS kicks off in March. 

[Twitter, Vine]

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Several 2015 MLS Jerseys Leaked Online
MLS News
Saturday, 07 February 2015 17:24

Footy Headlines leaked several MLS kits on Saturday as the 2015 season approaches.

Sporting Kansas City's jersey has a new pattern, but overall, it's a nice design and probably one of the nicer shirts of the leaked items.

Toronto FC's new jersey is also quite sleek, but it doesn't include a sponsor because BMO ended its deal with the club near the end of last season.

The Portland Timbers' shirt looks all right, but the white and yellow across the sponsor is slightly distracting. However, the "Let it rain. Let it pour. Let the Portland Timbers score" slogan on the collar is a nice touch.

The New England Revolution's 2015 away jersey looks a lot different than the 2014 shirt. The green trim is an interesting addition.

Columbus' jersey is a lot plainer than the others, but that's not a bad thing. Sometimes, a simple design is the best.

D.C. United will keep its 2014 home kit but will have a new away shirt for 2015, according to Footy Headlines. FC Dallas, the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake have not revealed any of their new designs but will keep some of their jerseys from last year.

Both expansion teams have already unveiled their jerseys. New York City FC revealed its home shirt in November, and so did Orlando City SC.

This season, the jerseys will have the new MLS logo somewhere on the shirts, which was revealed to commemorate the league's 20th anniversary. However, it will be the main crest for the foreseeable future.

The 2015 MLS season begins on March 6 with the defending champion LA Galaxy facing the Chicago Fire. However, a work stoppage could be on the horizon, although commissioner Don Garber told the Orlando Sentinel's Paul Tenorio that both sides are doing everything possible to avoid a strike.

Teams are still preparing for the season as if everything will go on as scheduled, but with less than a month left and no new collective bargaining agreement in place, the campaign could be delayed.

 

Peter Galindo covers MLS and U.S. soccer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @PGFutbol.

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5 MLS Offseason Signings Who Will Have the Highest Expectations
MLS News
Friday, 06 February 2015 22:43

MLS received a big boost on Friday, as ex-Juventus attacker Sebastian Giovinco was finally introduced by Toronto FC. The 28-year-old will be earning an annual salary of $7 million, per Kurtis Larson of the Toronto Sun. However, those high wages come with lofty expectations.

There are a few big names, like Giovinco, who have immense pressure on their shoulders. Those players will be highlighted in this slideshow. They will be graded based on their star-power, their role with their new team and if the individual is a designated player.

Players who won't arrive until July, like Steven Gerrard, can also be considered since he signed a contract this winter. If a specific individual wasn't acquired between December and the present day, he doesn't qualify.

Here are the five offseason signings who will have the loftiest expectations this season.

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