ARIZONA CLUB JOINS CHELSEA’S U.S. YOUTH SOCCER NETWORK

March 28, 2010

Chelsea increases our partnerships with America’s leading youth soccer clubs with the announcement that Sereno Soccer Club of Phoenix joins our growing network.

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CHELSEA EXPANDS U.S. YOUTH SOCCER PARTNERSHIP TO DALLAS

March 28, 2010

Coinciding with the Chelsea Academy’s visit to the United States, Chelsea has announced a partnerships with Solar Soccer Club of Dallas.

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The Best Defensive Midfielders Ever To Play Soccer

March 10, 2010

Despite the importance and emphasis placed on skills and creativity in the modern game of soccer, the role of the defensive midfielder can often make the difference between winning and losing. They can prevent the opposition from playing and begin attacks for their own team with a tackle and a pass.

Regularly playing a part in a two or three man central midfield, the defensive midfielder can also be known as the anchor-man or holding player. There are many different types of defensive midfielder with some relying solely on tackling while others use their ability to pass, much like American Football’s quarter-backs.

Some of the best defensive midfielders in the game have included Gilberto Silva, Gennaro Gattuso and Javier Mascherano. The position is popular in the modern game as teams often deploy wingers and rely on the defensive midfielder to break up opposition attacks and feed the wide players, who play as additional attackers.

One of the best players to have performed this role, embodies the skills required to play as the holding midfielder. Playing as the defensive midfielder for Chelsea, Real Madrid and France, Claude Makelele is the perfect example of the understated role of the anchor-man. He rarely ventured forward and allowed the more creative talents of Zidane, Robben and Pires to play freely and expressively.

Makelele has won almost every major honour in his club career, including the UEFA Champions League, two La Liga titles, two Premier League titles and the FA Cup. Despite playing for France from 1995 to 2008, Makelele missed out on their FIFA World cup and European Championship winning campaigns of 1998 and 2000 respectively.

Makelele has often been described by his team mates as being the best player, but also that people rarely notice him. These compliments are made by some of the world’s greatest including Zidane, Raul and Henry and show that Makelele is a player’s favourite as he allows others to take the glory.

Makelele often played for France with another exceptional defensive midfielder, Arsenal, Juventus and Inter’s Patrick Vieira. Vieira arrived at Arsenal in 1996 following just two appearances for AC Milan, going on to play almost 300 games in a successful nine year period.

Vieira breaks the mould of the Makelele-style midfielder with his height, speed and ability to pass added to his fierce tackling and excellent reading of the game. Vieira would form a vital part of Arsene Wenger’s formidable Arsenal midfield that would win three Premier League titles and four FA Cups (with two league and cup doubles).

For France, Vieira would become part of the French midfield that would win the FIFA World Cup and European Championships with Zidane, Deschamps, Petit, Pires et al. Vieira has regularly found himself in trouble with referees as his tough tackling and complete commitment found him sent off twelve times in his career. Vieira would have a long running feud with the third of the best defensive midfielders ever to play soccer, Manchester United and Republic of Ireland’s Roy Keane.

Keane is famous for his aggression, competitiveness and tackling, though he should also be known for his abilities as a leader and footballer. Keane’s determination has often landed him in similar trouble as Vieira, including a hideous tackle of Manchester City’s Alf Inge Haaland after the Norwegian had apparently injured Keane in a previous game.

Keane led United to multiple league and cup wins, seven Premier Leagues, four FA Cups and one UEFA Champions League as well as many more trophies. Keane would play for Ireland at World Cups and had a row with a manager and then left the squad or got dropped or something. Keane would continue to play at club level but retired to become a manager for Sunderland United.

Defensive midfielders must be defensive and play in midfield. It really is that simple. Midfielders are traditionally good passers, tacklers and all-round footballers. Defensive midfielders have changed this role slightly to be more like a defender while still playing midfield. And so the defensive midfielder is born.

The Best Right Midfielders Ever To Play Soccer

March 10, 2010

Traditionally the position of right-sided midfielder is an offensively minded, technically-gifted footballer. Often, the right midfielder will neglect defensive duties in favour of showing skills and pace and attacking the opposition left back. Right midfielders can also be called right wingers or wide rights.

The main aim of the right midfielder is to beat the opponent and deliver crosses or through-balls to create goal-scoring opportunities. Some of the best in history have included Stanley Matthews, Jairzinho and Eddie McGoldrick. Their speed, skill and ability to create chances from nothing helped their teams to greatness.

In the past thirty years, the role of the right midfielder has changed as the game has evolved. Formations change and subsequently the midfielder’s role within the team takes on more responsibility. However, the fundamental abilities required to be a great right midfielder remain the same, the ability to create goals.

The most famous soccer player in history, achieved his reputation being an excellent right midfielder for Manchester United and England. Primarily known now as part of the Beckhams with his wife Posh Spice and kids, David Beckham

signalled his arrival in professional football with a goal from his own half against Wimbledon in 1996.

Beckham lacked the brilliant pace of many right wingers but is largely credited as being the best dead-ball specialist in the world. Free-kicks and corners, as well as long range shots are just some of the reasons that Beckham has currently played over 100 times for England in a ten year career.

Beckham has won almost every major club honour with Manchester United and Real Madrid including six FA Premier League titles, two FA Cups, UEFA Champions Leagues and one La Liga title. Due to England’s failure at every major tournament since 1966, Beckham looks set to miss out on any major international honours, a terrible shame for such a determined and committed professional.

Ronaldo de Assis Moreira is one of the greatest living footballers, with skills that any player would envy. Ronaldinho has worn the famous Number 10 shirt of Brazil, as previously worn by Pele, and has never looked not worthy of such an honour.

With his ability to beat players, skills that seemingly defy physics and his perfect striking of the ball, Ronaldinho is a footballing magician. Winner of the FIFA World Cup, two Spanish League titles and a Champions League win show that Ronaldinho’s skills push his team on to great things to accompany his individual awards. Ronaldinho has twice won FIFA World Player of the Year as well as numerous other individual awards.

Ronaldinho’s club career has seen him play for some of the best teams in Europe including Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris St. Germain. A great free-kick taker, Ronaldinho’s goal scoring record is excellent for a midfielder and would be more than respectable for a forward. This is the new role of the right winger, as they take on more responsibility of scoring goals as well as creating them.

The best modern winger, and best player in any position, in my opinion is the Portuguese and Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro. With pace, skill, aggression, determination and power, he is the ultimate footballer. Still only 23 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo has already won two FA Premier League titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup and the UEFA Champions League.

As part of the three-pronged Manchester United attack, Ronaldo has been a revelation scoring more than any other United player in their double-winning season. Ronaldo’s ability to head the ball is unusual for a winger, shown by his headed goal in United’s win over Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League Final.

Yet to win the FIFA Player of the Year, Ronaldo has won almost every major individual honour in the game. With so many years ahead in his career, there is no limit to what Cristiano Ronaldo can achieve for both club and country. He could go on to be the greatest player ever to play the game of soccer, although there could be some competition from the likes of Lionel Messi, Alexandre Pato and Victor Moses.

EPL – Most Popular soccer Event

March 9, 2010

lubs. It is widely regarded as the elite club competition in world football. It is the world’s most lucrative football league, with combined club revenues of more than £2 billion in 2008–09. It is also ranked first in the UEFA coefficients of leagues based on performances in European competitions over the last five years, ahead of Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country’s primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier League is a corporation in which the 20 member clubs act as shareholders. Seasons run from August to May, with teams playing 38 games each. It is sponsored by Barclays Bank and therefore officially known as the Barclays Premier League.

The English Premier League formed as the FA Premier League on 20 February 1992 following the decision of clubs in the Football League First Division to break away from The Football League, which was originally founded in 1888, and take advantage of a lucrative television rights deal. A total of 43 clubs have competed in the Premier League since 1992, but only four have won the title: Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Arsenal, and Chelsea. The current champions are Manchester United, who won their eleventh Premier League title in the 2008–09 season, the most of any Premier League team.

Structure of EPL

The Premier League is operated as a corporation and is owned by the 20 member clubs. Each club is a shareholder, with one vote each on issues such as rule changes and contracts. The clubs elect a chairman, chief executive, and board of directors to oversee the daily operations of the league. The Football Association is not directly involved in the day-to-day operations of the Premier League, but has veto power as a special shareholder during the election of the chairman and chief executive and when new rules are adopted by the league. For more information see here

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