Los Angeles Galaxy are in an awkward position right now. After reaching the Major League Soccer play-offs for the first time since 2016, they lost in conference semifinals to Los Angeles FC and since then they have been trying to do one thing – keep Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The legendary Swedish superstar is going to be […]
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Carlos Vela has been named the 2019 MLS MVP after a record-breaking season with Los Angeles FC. Vela received 69 per cent of the weighted vote to beat LA Galaxy star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez, and New York City pair Maxi Moralez and Heber to the award. The 30-year-old Vela scored an unprecedented […]
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The post Vela beats Ibrahimovic by landslide to be named 2019 MLS MVP appeared first on Soccer News.
“I love the United States, it’s a fantastic place,” he said. “I know people have mentioned me moving there, it would be something I would consider.” Those are the words of Villarreal midfielder Santi Cazorla who has confirmed that he would consider a move to Major League Soccer at some point in the near future, […]
The post Santi Cazorla open to joining MLS appeared first on Soccer News.
The post Santi Cazorla open to joining MLS appeared first on Soccer News.
Liverpool’s Adam Lallana is attracting interest from Chinese Super League clubs, as well as those from the American MLS, according to The Telegraph. The midfielder’s contract expires at the end of the season and as things stand right now, he will be free to discuss a transfer outside England in January. His current role in […]
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The post Lallana attracting interest from MLS and China appeared first on Soccer News.
Clint Mathis took the call and stepped outside his California office. The man who spent much of his career roaming opposing defenses likes to be on the move when he’s on the phone.
So he paced a bit while South Carolina soccer coach Mark Berson and athletics director Ray Tanner made small talk on the other end — before they came with the purpose of their call. That’s when Mathis stopped in his tracks.
“I got a little teary-eyed,” Mathis said, “a little choked up.”
Before Mathis played — and scored — in a World Cup and before he spent over a decade in Major League Soccer, Mathis starred for South Carolina.
Friday, the two-time All-American became the first Gamecock men’s soccer player to have his jersey retired.
Clint Mathis— One of the all- time greats gets his jersey retired as MSOC wins 1-0 against FIU.#Gamecocks pic.twitter.com/1x6UrRjo4G
— Ray Tanner (@RayTannerSC) November 2, 2019
“This is where I really grew up,” Mathis told reporters Friday afternoon while he stood on the field at Stone Stadium. “I came from a boy to living on my own to trying to become a man. But it was also a situation where I had to learn responsibility of being able to go between school and sports, which is not always the easiest because of time constraints.
“It was a huge transition in my life to be able to really put me on that platform, to take that next step into professional sports.”
Mathis, a Georgia native, went to USC in 1994. When he left after the 1997 season, he had 53 goals and 121 points. Both stats remain top three in program history. He was taken by the Los Angeles Galaxy as the No. 6 pick of the 1998 MLS Draft.
Berson, Carolina’s only men’s soccer coach since its 1978 founding, didn’t have to think hard about a lead candidate to represent his sport when USC announced it push to retire more jerseys.
The goals and assists were great, but what Berson recalled most was the way Mathis responded to bumps in his career. Two ACL tears — one in college that forced him to play with a knee brace his junior season and one in the pros ahead of the 2002 World Cup — didn’t prevent success.
“Those are not insignificant injuries,” Berson said. “The guy just has a willpower. He overcame a lot of things. The key to his success has been — yeah, he’s got some flamboyance … he made his own rules. That’s what he’s most remembered for — but not many people remember what he had to overcome to play. That’s a lot of work that goes on off camera.
“I think that’s a big part of who Clint is today.”
Mathis, 42, is married and has four kids. He lives in California and works in software. This visit to USC marked his first time back in at least 10 years. Several things looked different, but at least one memory remained — a 1994 win over Clemson.
“The stands were full, they were on top of the fence there,” Mathis said. “Probably had five rows of people outside the lines. That was back when you could stand on the sidelines. Just the support we had from our alumni and really getting to see what a true rivalry was in college, I’ll always remember that game against Clemson.”
And that night he had his USC jersey retired.
“I’ve had some pinnacle moments in my life, where I’ve said, ‘Hey, I’ll never forget this no matter how old I get,'” Mathis said. “And this is definitely up at the top of that list.”
___
(c)2019 The State (Columbia, S.C.)
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The post Former World Cup, MLS star Clint Mathis honored with South Carolina jersey retirement appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.
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Los Angeles Galaxy have ended their Major League Soccer season in a way they definitely did not want to, losing to Los Angeles FC in the El Trafico clash, during the Western Conference play-offs. This was expected to be Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s last match for the Galaxy and his final match in MLS, as his current […]
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LA Galaxy will hold talks with Zlatan Ibrahimovic next week as the enigmatic Swedish striker mulls over his next move. Ibrahimovic, 38, is out of contract in December and appears to have plenty of options in Europe and beyond. The former Inter, Barcelona and Manchester United striker has been linked with several clubs in Serie […]
The post LA Galaxy plan Ibrahimovic talks to resolve striker´s uncertain future appeared first on Soccer News.
The post LA Galaxy plan Ibrahimovic talks to resolve striker´s uncertain future appeared first on Soccer News.
Nick DeLeon’s stunning late goal led Toronto past defending champions Atlanta United 2-1 and through to the MLS Cup final. With 12 minutes remaining in Atlanta on Wednesday, DeLeon produced a thunderous long-range effort that beat Brad Guzan and secured Toronto’s spot in the November 10 final. Toronto will travel to Seattle Sounders in a […]
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The post Atlanta United 1-2 Toronto: Defending champs beaten as visitors advance to MLS Cup final appeared first on Soccer News.
The current MLS season is not over just yet, but there are rumours swirling around about the potential new signings in the off-season. We are just two matches away from finding out who will win MLS Cup 2019, but we could also be a couple of months away from finding out whether Carlos Tevez will […]
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Raul Ruidiaz scored twice as Seattle Sounders shocked Los Angeles FC 3-1 to advance to the MLS Cup final. Supporters’ Shield champions LAFC had dominated throughout the season and broke records along the way, however, Bob Bradley’s side came unstuck on Tuesday. The visiting Sounders took control after Eduard Atuesta opened the scoring for LAFC […]
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The post Los Angeles FC 1-3 Seattle Sounders: Visitors stun LAFC to reach MLS Cup final appeared first on Soccer News.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Carlos Vela have been named in the MLS Best XI for 2019. LA Galaxy striker Ibrahimovic was named in the side for the second successive campaign after scoring 30 goals and assisting seven more in 29 regular-season matches. Vela has enjoyed a stellar year with Los Angeles FC, meanwhile, having netted a single-season […]
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The post Ibrahimovic and Vela headline MLS Best XI appeared first on Soccer News.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Carlos Vela have been named in the MLS Best XI 00000717 for 2019. LA Galaxy striker Ibrahimovic was named in the side for the second successive campaign after scoring 30 goals and assisting seven more in 29 regular-season matches. Vela has enjoyed a stellar year with Los Angeles FC, meanwhile, having netted a […]
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The post Ibrahimovic and Vela headline MLS Best XI appeared first on Soccer News.
Mesut Ozil’s time at Arsenal could be getting to an end very soon. Arsenal playmaker has not been playing this season almost at all and Unai Emery is ready to offer the German player to other clubs, as he is taking up a huge part of the club’s wage bill. But where could Ozil go […]
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The post Could Mesut Ozil go to MLS? appeared first on Soccer News.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic wondered if Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson was distracting the El Trafico VAR when Carlos Vela’s controversial second goal was allowed to stand. Los Angeles FC claimed their first victory over rivals LA Galaxy in the MLS Western Conference semi-finals, running out 5-3 winners in an instant classic. Vela netted twice to […]
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The post Zlatan: Was El Trafico VAR busy drinking coffee with Magic Johnson? appeared first on Soccer News.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic wondered if Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson was distracting the El Trafico VAR when Carlos Vela’s controversial second goal was allowed to stand. Los Angeles FC claimed their first victory over rivals LA Galaxy in the MLS Western Conference semi-finals, running out 5-3 winners in an instant classic. Vela netted twice to […]
The post Zlatan: Was El Trafico VAR busy drinking coffee with Magic Johnson? appeared first on Soccer News.
The post Zlatan: Was El Trafico VAR busy drinking coffee with Magic Johnson? appeared first on Soccer News.
