Frank Dell'Apa

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Jan. 5, 2014 – Benfica great Eusebio dies in Lisbon

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This Week in NE Soccer History

Jan. 5, 2014 – Eusebio da Silva Ferreira dies in Lisbon

Eusebio da Silva Ferreira concluded his Benfica career and moved to the NASL to play for the Boston Minutemen in 1975, the year Pelé joined the New York Cosmos. The Eusebio-Pelé rivalry played out early in the season when the teams met at Nickerson Field June 20, 1975, the Minutemen winning, 2-1. Pelé left the game after his goal was ruled offside, the oversold crowd (estimated at 20,000-plus) storming the field, the result later annulled by NASL commissioner Phil Woosnam. Minutemen owner John Sterge was experiencing financial difficulties and facing Securities and Exchange Commission charges, so he sent Eusebio and Wolfgang Suhnholz to Toronto, where they won the 1976 Soccer Bowl title. [Read more…] about Jan. 5, 2014 – Benfica great Eusebio dies in Lisbon

Jan. 4, 1996 – Frank Stapleton named Revolution’s first coach

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Today in New England Soccer History.

Jan. 4, 1996 – Frank Stapleton named Revolution’s first coach.

The Revolution were the last MLS team to choose a coach before the inaugural season. And Stapleton was their final interview, after Osvaldo Ardiles and Brian Quinn. Ardiles had an opportunity in Japan, so would not have come cheaply. [Read more…] about Jan. 4, 1996 – Frank Stapleton named Revolution’s first coach

Jan. 3, 2003 – Revolution acquire Peter Nowak from Chicago Fire

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Today in New England Soccer History

Jan. 3, 2003 – Revolution acquire Peter Nowak from Chicago in exchange for draft pick. Nowak, 38, retires before the season starts.

Here is my story for the Boston Globe. The Revolution had reached the 2002 MLS Cup final and were about to add Shalrie Joseph, Pat Noonan and Matt Reis for the ’03 season. Nowak seemed ready to go. [Read more…] about Jan. 3, 2003 – Revolution acquire Peter Nowak from Chicago Fire

Jan. 2, 1939 – Joe Kennaway’s final Old Firm Derby. Rangers 2×1 Celtic.

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Today in New England soccer history

Jan. 2, 1939 – Joe Kennaway in goal for his final Old Firm Derby. Rangers 2×1 Celtic. Kennaway gained Celtic’s attention while playing for Fall River and was signed after John Thomson’s death in 1931, going on to make 263 appearances, plus one for Scotland’s national team. Kennaway coached Brown University from 1946-59.

Jan. 1, 2007 – Charlie Davies leaves BC to sign with Hammarby IF

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Today in New England Soccer History

Jan. 1, 2007 – Charlie Davies leaves Boston College to sign with Hammarby IF

Charlie Davies goes on to star for U.S. national team (17 caps, 4 goals), in three European countries, and set a Revolution post-season scoring record with four goals in 2014. Davies totaled 18 goals in 70 games, tied for 14th with Raul Diaz Arce on the Revolution all-time list.

NE Revolution missed chance, too late now?

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Wrote this for New England Soccer Journal. Some new info in here about proposed stadium in Boston, plus a partial list of players Revolution have missed out on, for one reason or another: 

After the 2014 MLS Cup, the future seemed bright for the Revolution. Sure, they had fallen short – for the fifth time – in the final. But Jay Heaps had constructed a skillful, young team, and Jermaine Jones had provided remarkable dynamism and leadership. The Revolution dedicated billboards to Jones, and they had realistic hopes of returning to the final and, maybe, winning it.

Two years later, things are not looking so promising. The 2016 season marked the Revolution’s first failure to advance to the playoffs in four years. Management failed to significantly improve the team, and after treading water in 2015, the Revolution began sinking. [Read more…] about NE Revolution missed chance, too late now?

Where have all the (US) strikers gone?

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A few years ago, there seemed to be a trend for producing strikers in the U.S. Some were born in the U.S., others moved to the country as youngsters, and they were scoring goals in high level competitions. Four were league-leaders well into the 2012 season.

Not many people, it seemed, were paying attention to this phenomenon. And it was difficult to draw conclusions, as I wrote here.

At the time, Jozy Altidore (Dutch Eredivisie), Aron Johannsson (Denmark Superliga), Yura Movsisyan (Russian Premier League) and Chris Wondolowski (MLS) were at the top of the scoring charts. Others were among the top 10: Terence Boyd (Austria), Caio Canedo (Brazil), Charlie Davies (Denmark), Clint Dempsey (England), Herculez Gomez (Mexico), Vedad Ibisevic (Germany), Rogelio Funes Mori (Argentina), Giuseppe Rossi (Spain). Seven of those (Altidore, Davies, Dempsey, Gomez, Johannsson, Rossi, Wondolowski) were born in the U.S.

So, the story noted that, where once the U.S. seemed to be a country that would produce goalkeepers, instead was churning out goal-scorers. [Read more…] about Where have all the (US) strikers gone?