http://www.yardbarker.com/soccer Recent articles about Soccer en-us Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is expected to agree a new contract with the club early next week. Ferdinand, who has spent over a decade at United under Sir Alex Ferguson, has not yet agreed an extension on his current deal that runs out this summer. And the 34-year-old, who won his sixth Premier League title this season, announced on Wednesday he was retiring from England duty in order to concentrate on club matters. And United boss Ferguson said: "I think it is something he could have done last year. "Ending his international career will definitely help him, as it did with Paul Scholes, and hopefully Manchester United will get the benefit of that." Sat, 18 May 2013 11:07:24 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/ferdinand_expected_to_sign_new_deal/13644820 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/ferdinand_expected_to_sign_new_deal/13644820 Ferdinand expected to sign new deal http://www.yardbarker.com/soccer/articles/ferdinand_expected_to_sign_new_deal/13644820 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/d/3df0f2d7916830388bc08a6ac2ed4ff68d3c8062/mini/PicImg_Football__Manchester_7697.jpg via @DanMcfcJones Roberto Mancini is out as the Manchester City manager, and it looks like there are no hard feelings between the former boss and City fans. Mancini’s relationship with management and the City players seemed to be quite the opposite. Mancini took out a full page ad in the Manchester Evening News thanking fans for their support through his years as City’s manager. Article found on: Next Impulse Sports Sat, 18 May 2013 10:53:29 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/roberto_mancini_takes_out_newspaper_ad_thanking_city_fans/13644784 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/roberto_mancini_takes_out_newspaper_ad_thanking_city_fans/13644784 Roberto Mancini Takes Out Newspaper Ad Thanking City Fans http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/roberto_mancini_takes_out_newspaper_ad_thanking_city_fans/13644784 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Sir Alex Ferguson is content to leave the problem of what to do about Wayne Rooney to new Manchester United manager David Moyes. Rooney has asked to leave United this summer even though he still has two years on his contract remaining. Ferguson revealed last week the request had been turned down, and, along with Gary Neville, advised the England forward to get away during the summer, get his head sorted out and return refreshed. The matter is not quite so simple, as United will not want to allow the 27-year-old to drift beyond the summer without some kind of clear vision of his future. However, as Ferguson acknowledged, it is not his problem any more. "I'm no longer interested in that," said the Scot. "Quite rightly, David is going to deal with it. I am happy with that." United look set, however, to confirm the future of defender Rio Ferdinand early next week. It is understood negotiations over a new deal are at an advanced stage and provided there are no unforeseen hitches, an Sat, 18 May 2013 10:29:07 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/rooney_no_longer_fergusons_problem/13644661 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/rooney_no_longer_fergusons_problem/13644661 Rooney no longer Ferguson's problem http://www.yardbarker.com/soccer/articles/rooney_no_longer_fergusons_problem/13644661 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/2/c241424b185bc8fb4f0ac39c4b9c4e3d62a8afd8/mini/manchester-united-rangers.jpg David Beckham has been tipped for a return to MLS as owner of a new club, following talks between his advisors and league executives. The former England captain announced his retirement on Thursday, 20 years after signing his first professional contract, and has been tight-lipped about his future plans. And while Beckham's contract with MLS, signed when he joined the L.A. Galaxy in 2007, included an option to purchase an 'expansion franchise', it has been revealed his advisors have been in talks with the league about possible locations for a new team. "There have been discussions with his advisors, his management, preliminary discussions," MLS executive vice-president of communications, Dan Courtemanche said. "It is one of many markets that has been mentioned, so have other markets." MLS hopes to add a 20th club in New York City, with Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour reported as the likely buyer. And Beckham's option, which would allow him to create a new franchis Sat, 18 May 2013 10:29:06 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/david_beckham_set_for_us_return/13644658 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/david_beckham_set_for_us_return/13644658 David Beckham set for U.S. return http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/david_beckham_set_for_us_return/13644658 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Michael Laudrup lauds Alex Ferguson and talks about the Premier League - originally posted on Soccerlens.comRead part one here. When the current Wigan manager, Roberto Martinez, took over Swansea City in 2007, they were plying their trade in League One. He planted a seed in the Swansea-system which was then taken over by former Queens Park Rangers manager and Portugal midfielder Paulo Sousa. Then in 2010, Brendan Rodgers took the helm and helped them earn a place and a win in the English Championship play-off which secured their promotion to the Premier League. In June 2012, Rodgers was replaced by the former Denmark midfielder, Michael Laudrup. Under Laudrup’s management, Swansea went on to not only win the 2013 League Cup but also finish in the top-ten of the Premier League – which in itself is quite a feat, keeping in mind how QPR are finishing bottom of the table. These are amazing achievements for a club that was promoted to the Premier League in the 2011. This season’s journe... Sat, 18 May 2013 09:13:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/michael_laudrup_lauds_alex_ferguson_and_talks_about_the_premier_league/13644286 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/michael_laudrup_lauds_alex_ferguson_and_talks_about_the_premier_league/13644286 Michael Laudrup lauds Alex Ferguson and talks about the Premier League http://www.yardbarker.com/soccer/articles/michael_laudrup_lauds_alex_ferguson_and_talks_about_the_premier_league/13644286 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/f/bfd5698f3b07937a98d95cd58155272770992d64/mini/new-rcd-mallorca-coach.jpg Experienced midfielders Giorgos Karagounis and Simon Davies are set to leave Fulham this summer. The contracts for both midfielders are due to expire at the end of the season, and they are not being offered fresh deals. The 36-year-old Karagounis joined the club on a free transfer in September and has played over 20 league games, becoming a firm fans' favourite. "It is most likely that Sunday will be the last game that Giorgos will play for Fulham," his agent, Paschalis Tountouris, told Goal. "He's had a terrific year and the Premier league was a great experience. There would be options for him to stay in England and would consider any challenges that may be available. "It's very good that the fans of Fulham have recognised his contributions this season to vote him as the second best player and he will always have them in his heart." Davies, 33, is moving on after six successful seasons at Craven Cottage which have seen him play over 150 games - but recently he has b Sat, 18 May 2013 08:55:04 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/giggs_senior_stars_back_moyes/13644175 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/giggs_senior_stars_back_moyes/13644175 Giggs: Senior stars back Moyes http://www.yardbarker.com/soccer/articles/giggs_senior_stars_back_moyes/13644175 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/9/e927d74765ac4d03466d3b397f36d967522b79e8/mini/football-manchester-united.jpg United States defender Steve Cherundolo has signed a one-year contract extension with Hannover, six days after the captain set a club record for Bundesliga appearances. Hannover announced Friday that Cherundolo will be staying through to the end of next season, ahead of the team's final league match of the season against Fortuna Duesseldorf. Cherundolo says he's looking forward to his 16th season with Hannover. Coach Mirko Slomka says the defender is ''an example of loyalty, reliability and accomplishment.'' The 34-year-old Cherundolo from San Diego was a member of the last three U.S. World Cup teams. He appeared in his 299th Bundesliga game last Saturday against Bayer Leverkusen - breaking the previous club record set by Juergen Bandura from 1964-74. Fri, 17 May 2013 13:21:07 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/us_defender_cherundolo_signs_new_hannover_deal/13639414 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/us_defender_cherundolo_signs_new_hannover_deal/13639414 US defender Cherundolo signs new Hannover deal http://www.yardbarker.com/soccer/articles/us_defender_cherundolo_signs_new_hannover_deal/13639414 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the Premier League club are in 'advanced' talks over Auxerre starlet Yaya Sanogo. The highly-rated striker, 20, has scored nine goals in just 11 league appearances for the Ligue 2 outfit. He current deal expires this summer and reports in France have claimed that he has shunned offers from a host of clubs in his homeland by agreeing a four-year deal with the Gunners. However, Wenger has insisted a deal is not yet concluded for the France Under-21 international, but admitted it was close. "It is in the advanced stages but it is not done," he said, when asked about Sanogo. If, as expected, Arsenal conclude a deal then they would be due to pay Auxerre compensation as Sanogo is under 23. Fri, 17 May 2013 12:56:55 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/wenger_closes_in_on_sanogo/13639267 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/wenger_closes_in_on_sanogo/13639267 Wenger closes in on Sanogo http://www.yardbarker.com/soccer/articles/wenger_closes_in_on_sanogo/13639267 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Roberto Martinez has hinted he may step down as manager of Wigan following the club's relegation from the Premier League. The Spaniard, who has been heavily linked with a move to Everton, will meet with Wigan chairman Dave Whelan on Monday and promises to make a quick decision about his future. Martinez says Wigan has ''incredible, solid foundations and whoever is going to be the manager is going to have a very successful time.'' Wigan became the first team to win the FA Cup and be relegated from the Premier League in the same season. Its final match is at home to Aston Villa on Sunday. There will be a vacancy at Everton because David Moyes is leaving to become Manchester United manager on July 1. Fri, 17 May 2013 11:11:26 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/martinez_hints_at_departure_from_relegated_wigan/13638257 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/martinez_hints_at_departure_from_relegated_wigan/13638257 Martinez hints at departure from relegated Wigan http://www.yardbarker.com/soccer/articles/martinez_hints_at_departure_from_relegated_wigan/13638257 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/8/88f6bf887045d7e2b7e2719ed120b29677b0ebab/mini/football-watford-swansea.jpg During an open training session for Turkish champions Galatsaray on Thursday, an overzealous fan ran out onto the pitch and delivered a slide tackle on forward Didier Drogba. It's unclear whether the fan's actions were deliberate or not, but Drogba walked away hobbling after the fan slid into his lower right leg. Security caught up to the fan shortly afterwards, with one of the late arriving ones actually kicking the fan before he was taken away. However, you have to wonder how the fan slipped through security in the first place. Fortunately, Drogba appeared to be OK afterwards, which is good news for the sane Galatsaray fans. DISCLAIMER: Holdout Sports does not condone this fan's behavior. However, the security guard should not have kicked that fan, either. H/T Dirty Tackle. Visit us at holdoutsports.com and follow us on Twitter @HoldoutSports. Fri, 17 May 2013 07:45:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/galatsaray_fan_delivers_slide_tackle_on_didier_drogba_at_open_training_session_video/13636823 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/galatsaray_fan_delivers_slide_tackle_on_didier_drogba_at_open_training_session_video/13636823 Galatsaray fan delivers slide tackle on Didier Drogba at open training session (Video) http://www.yardbarker.com/soccer/articles/galatsaray_fan_delivers_slide_tackle_on_didier_drogba_at_open_training_session_video/13636823 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Andre Villas-Boas has hinted he could make a move for David Villa but has dismissed speculation linking Tottenham with the Croatian Ante Rebic. Spurs have been linked with Barcelona forward Villa and RNK Split striker Rebic but the manager insists they are just focusing on the battle for fourth place. "He is one of the world's best strikers," said Villas-Boas when asked about Villa. "What comes out of speculation at this time at Tottenham is very surreal because you know the club is very active in the last weeks of the transfer window, so you can see that speculation is growing - but at the moment we are focused on trying to get fourth spot. "Rebic? I have no idea who this player is, I'm sorry. I don't know where this news has come form, not out of disrespect to the player but he's not someone I'm looking at." Fri, 17 May 2013 07:44:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/villas_boas_hints_at_villa_bid/13636793 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/villas_boas_hints_at_villa_bid/13636793 Villas-Boas hints at Villa bid http://www.yardbarker.com/soccer/articles/villas_boas_hints_at_villa_bid/13636793 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi wants David Beckham to carry on working with the club after his retirement and is hopeful of reaching an agreement with Beckham within the next two weeks. The 38-year-old former England captain announced Thursday that he will retire from football after PSG's last game of the season. The big-spending club remains hopeful he will have a part to play in PSG's future, possibly in an ambassadorial role. ''I met him yesterday, actually, and he's very interested to continue being involved with the big project of Paris Saint-Germain,'' Al-Khelaifi said at a news conference on Friday. ''He believes in the project, he believes in the club, he loves the club.'' Beckham could feature in PSG's final home game against Brest on Saturday. PSG last game is away to Lorient on May 26. ''He enjoyed the last six months, so we are in discussions now. Just yesterday he announced he was going to retire so we have time to disc Fri, 17 May 2013 07:43:59 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/psg_president_wants_beckham_stay/13636787 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/psg_president_wants_beckham_stay/13636787 PSG president wants Beckham stay http://www.yardbarker.com/soccer/articles/psg_president_wants_beckham_stay/13636787 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/9/d97b14e3b3f207f6e628735e68408a7a68b45af9/mini/2009_MLS_Conference_afcc.jpg On Thursday afternoon the United States men’s national soccer team announced its roster for its upcoming slate of five games, and Landon Donovan was left off of it. Jurgen Klinsmann’s team will play two friendlies against Belgium and Germany, then jump into three important World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica, Panama and Honduras. Donovan, the nation’s all-time leading scorer will not be with the squad. Donovan has fallen a bit out of favor with Klinsmann following his brief hiatus from the sport this past winter. He returned to his club team, the Los Angeles Galaxy, on March 30 of this year and has been in excellent form since. But he has yet to earn his way back onto the national team despite a desire to continue playing internationally. While this seems like a big deal, it probably isn’t. Klinsmann obviously wants to see more of the 31-year-old Donovan before he brings him back into the national team fold. He will eventually be back. After all, the man has been capped 144 times ... Thu, 16 May 2013 21:34:52 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/landon_donovan_left_off_us_national_team_for_qualifiers/13634690 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/landon_donovan_left_off_us_national_team_for_qualifiers/13634690 Donovan left off U.S. national team http://www.yardbarker.com/soccer/articles/landon_donovan_left_off_us_national_team_for_qualifiers/13634690 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/3/b33ed29d6c09cf00d271c3d175678ffb47b8d11e/mini/landon.jpg International soccer superstar David Beckham has officially announced his retirement from professional sport. Enjoy the highlights of one of the biggest names the game has ever seen. Thu, 16 May 2013 10:46:45 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/david_beckham_announces_retirement_enjoy_some_unreal_highlights/13630094 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/david_beckham_announces_retirement_enjoy_some_unreal_highlights/13630094 Beckham makes retirement official http://www.yardbarker.com/soccer/articles/david_beckham_announces_retirement_enjoy_some_unreal_highlights/13630094 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/d/9d93c7ad009383f741cb7ee7214c4ef69fa19e15/mini/beckham.jpg A man who was planning to dribble a soccer ball from Seattle to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup died on Tuesday after being hit by a car just 14 days into his trip. 42-year-old Richard Swanson was walking down highway 101 in south Lincoln City, Ore., when he was hit by a car from behind around 10:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, according to The News Guard. He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. A father of two sons, Swanson, a Seattle native, lost his job as a graphic designer last year and had trouble finding another job. In a video posted on the site where he was chronicling his trip, Swanson explained that he was bummed out and thinking about what he wanted out of life. He said one thing he wanted to do was see a World Cup. So without having too many responsibilities like a job and kids to raise, he decided to sell his house and make the trip. “Screw what happens, I don’t even care,” Swanson said of the plan, via Dirty Tackle. “As crazy as the idea sounds, that... Wed, 15 May 2013 01:02:57 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/man_dribbling_soccer_ball_from_seattle_to_brazil_for_world_cup_dies_after_being_hit_by_car/13620137 http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/man_dribbling_soccer_ball_from_seattle_to_brazil_for_world_cup_dies_after_being_hit_by_car/13620137 Tragic end to soccer fan's World Cup trek http://www.yardbarker.com/soccer/articles/man_dribbling_soccer_ball_from_seattle_to_brazil_for_world_cup_dies_after_being_hit_by_car/13620137 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/0/80fdfdb4f9d8ef89959cabafb93cd3b1f9c277a1/mini/richard-swanson-soccer.jpg