One year ago this Wednesday, Ray Hudson lost his job as coach of the Miami Fusion when Major League Soccer pulled the plug on the Fusion and the Tampa Bay Mutiny.
The Newcastle, England, native and South Florida soccer icon didn't spend any time in the unemployment line.
Before the clubs' corpses were even cold, Hudson's hiring was announced later the same day by D.C. United, the slumping one-time MLS king that was hoping Hudson could work his magic in the nation's capital.
The desired turnaround didn't materialize in Hudson's first season, as D.C. finished with a league-worst 9-14-5 record. Those results prompted the same type of drastic retooling Hudson undertook before his first (and last) full season in charge of the Fusion.
United broke up the remnants of its championship teams, sending forward Jaime Moreno, defender Eddie Pope and midfielder Richie Williams to the MetroStars for defender Mike Petke, a 2003 first-round draft pick and a future player allocation. Soon after, the club traded young winger Justin Mapp to the Chicago Fire for proven performer Dema Kovalenko.
"I think in some ways it marks the end of an era," Hudson said. "In some ways it's a sad day for the club, but major changes needed to be implemented and that fork in the road could not be ignored.
"These players leave big boots to fill but also leave ample salary-cap room to get quality, skilled, energetic footballers who are hungry for success."
Hudson, working with technical director Dave Kasper, is just getting started making the roster his own.
D.C. holds the first two of four allocations that have yet to be dispersed by Major League Soccer, as well as the first and fifth overall picks in next Friday's SuperDraft.
This week, deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis responded to what he called fans' "questions regarding how any returning U.S. national team players would be allocated within MLS if they were to sign with the league."
Gazidis laid out the priority order by which any returning U.S. national team players would be allocated within MLS. Dutch-based Earnie Stewart is reported to be on his way stateside, and Joe-Max Moore is another possibility after his work permit was not renewed at Everton of the English Premier League.
"We are in ongoing discussions with a number of such players, which may or may not ultimately result in a signed contract," Gazidis said.
If such players are signed and there is interest in them from two or more teams, preference would be given first to a team prepared to use a player allocation, and then in reverse order of finish from 2002. If there is more than one team prepared to use an allocation, the allocations will be ranked as follows:
1. D.C. United (for failure to qualify for playoffs);
2. D.C. United (acquired in a trade with the MetroStars, who failed to qualify for playoffs);
3. MetroStars (Mamadou Diallo replacement);
4. Colorado (Carlos Valderrama replacement).
MLS officials want the weakest teams based on last season's finish to come first, followed by replacement allocations ranked in reverse order of finish. This is the same principle that was adopted in ranking allocations in 2001 and '02.
Hudson has targeted University of Virginia forward Alecko Eskandarian, the Hermann trophy winner, for the club's first draft pick.
D.C. also has been linked to Bulgarian defender Galin Ivanov and Polish World Cup forward Cezary Kucharski, according to the Washington Post. Within MLS, reports have mentioned the Chicago Fire's Bulgarian veteran Hristo Stoitchkov (who would serve as a player-assistant coach), New England Revolution midfielder Jim Rooney and Columbus Crew veteran John Harkes.
MLS signs developmental dynamic dozen
University of Virginia forward Alecko Eskandarian finalized his contract Thursday with Major League Soccer, which also made 16-year-old Eddie Gavan its youngest player ever. The pair were among 12 players added to Project-40 for young prospects, run by the league and U.S. Soccer Federation. Teams can select them during the MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 17. Eskandarian, 20, scored 25 goals in his junior season at Virginia last fall and won the Hermann Trophy as the top player in college soccer.
Garber agrees to new deal
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber has reached a preliminary agreement on a contract extension through at least 2005. Garber's previous contract expired Dec. 31. He took over after the league's first commissioner, Doug Logan, was fired in August 1999. The deal must be ratified by the league's board of directors, scheduled to meet Jan. 18 at Kansas City, Mo. Under the 45-year-old Garber, the league's attendance rose 9 percent per game in 2001 and 6 percent last year, reversing declines.
Fire sale benefits Wizards
The Kansas City Wizards acquired forward Josh Wolff on Tuesday from the Chicago Fire in exchange for the third overall pick in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft. The trade was the third in as many weeks for Chicago, which cited salary-cap restrictions as motivation for remaking its roster. Peter Nowak, the Fire's captain and all-time assist leader, last week was traded to the New England Revolution for a conditional pick in 2004.
Graziani loaned to Ecuador club for year
San Jose Earthquakes forward Ariel Graziani has been loaned to Barcelona Sporting Club of the Ecuadorian League for the 2003 season. The Earthquakes said Thursday that the club had agreed to release Graziani to MLS, which then conducted the loan. The Empalme, Argentina, native remains under contract with MLS, and the Earthquakes will not receive an allocation to compensate for Graziani's absence, a team official said.
Coach signs new deal in Dallas
Dallas' Mike Jeffries, a finalist for 2002 MLS Coach of the Year, re-signed with the club Wednesday. Financial terms of the two-year contract were not disclosed. Jeffries, who has guided the Burn to back-to-back postseason appearances, has compiled a 22-20-12 regular-season record.
MLS unveils weekend-heavy 2003 schedule
Major League Soccer has scheduled a record-high 89 percent of games in the 2003 season on weekends or holidays, in an effort to boost attendance. The schedule, announced on Tuesday, kicks off on Saturday, April 5, and ends on Sunday, Oct. 26. Each of the 10 MLS clubs will play a total of 30 league games, after competing in 28 regular-season contests during the 2001 and '02 seasons.
Rapids announce signing of ex-Gunner Grimandi
Veteran Gilles Grimandi became the first French player to join MLS, signing with the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday. The 32-year-old midfielder-defender reportedly turned down offers from Middlesbrough of the English Premier League and several French teams. Grimandi, who spent the past five seasons with Arsenal, also was a member of the historic "double" winning side that captured the Premier League championship and the FA Cup in 1997-98.
Twellman set to extend MLS contract
MVP runner-up Taylor Twellman of the New England Revolution is close to an agreement to stay in Major League Soccer. Revolution spokesman Jurgen Mainka confirmed the two sides had reached "an agreement in principle" but were still working out final details. Twellman had three years left on a deal that would have paid him $24,000 a year. The league, which negotiates all player contracts, has said he would be given a raise only if he agrees to remain under the league's control longer. Twellman had 23 goals and a league-leading 52 points last season for New England, which was defeated by the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS Cup.
More news from the U.S. national teams • The U.S. women's national team will open its 2003 schedule with a match against Japan on Jan. 12 at Torero Stadium in San Diego, Calif. The match, which will kick off at 1 p.m. PT (ESPN), will represent the first U.S. game in the run-up to the 2003 Women's World Cup in China. The U.S. women's team will face Iceland in its second domestic game on Feb. 16 at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina. The match will kick off at 6 p.m. ET (ESPN2).
• The United States national soccer team worked out for the first time this year, preparing for exhibition games against Canada and Argentina that will test a young squad. Coach Bruce Arena's team faces Canada on Jan. 18 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Argentina in Miami on Feb. 8. Qualifying play for the 2006 World Cup in Germany begins in 2004.
The roster for the Canada game could include 15 players with three games or fewer of international experience.
"One thing is for certain: We need to inject some new blood into our program," Arena said.
• Struggling English Premier League club West Bromwich Albion isn't giving up the chase for American World Cup defender Tony Sanneh. After being turned down by Sanneh and Macedonian midfielder Artim Sariki, manager Gary Megson is trying to hire Nigerian international Ifeanyi Udeze. Megson said he was still chasing Sanneh, who plays in Germany for Nuremberg. But the American was quoted as saying he wanted something better than a loan deal. "I spoke to them and told them what I wanted, but when it came to the offer in writing it was less than we had discussed so I rejected it," Sanneh said. "I want to go to England, but I am not going to accept that sort of deal."
• A month after American World Cup striker Joe-Max Moore left Everton, another arrived at Goodison Park on Wednesday. Brian McBride, 30, was signed on loan from the Columbus Crew. He is to play up to nine league games in England before rejoining the Crew in time for the MLS season opener April 5. It's likely he will spend much of that time on the Everton bench. Canadian forward Tomasz Radzinski, Kevin Campbell, teenage star Wayne Rooney and Duncan Ferguson are ahead of him in the order.
The original 27-man U.S. national team camp has seen minor alterations since the roster was announced Dec. 23. The Columbus Crew duo of Brian McBride (loan to Everton) and Kyle Martino (injury) were forced to withdraw. Newly acquired MetroStars defender Eddie Pope, coming off minor knee surgery in October, started the week working out with the trainers and spending the afternoon in the gym. Meantime, Chicago Fire midfielder Chris Armas elected to continue rehabilitation in New York.
Now that we're past all of the 2002-in-review lists, it's time to look ahead at 2003. What do you predict will be on the 2003-in-review U.S. soccer lists?
Keep your responses coming on any topic related to U.S. soccer, and we'll print the most interesting, succinct and grammatically correct submissions on any soccer-related subject in coming editions.
I find it upsetting that Don Garber would call L.A.'s new stadium the spirtual home of US soccer. The stadium isn't built, hasn't hosted a game and the crowds there will probably never support the U.S. over Mexico (our biggest rival). No the true home of U.S. soccer currently is and will always be Crew Stadium in Columbus.
-- David Deshe, Columbus, Ohio
Hooray for Rochester! Pae-Tec Park will be a great boon for American soccer. This team/town has a proven winner's aura. It sells out 2nd division games. With a showpiece field, major-league exposure, killer friendlies and national team matches all on offer, Rochester will be able to emerge from its provincial shell to truly take its place in national and even international football.
-- Tom Lazarus, Rochester, N.Y.
Why do U.S. journalists not break the news on any USMNT game? Everything is being discovered via the foreign press. What gives? Is USSF in it's infinite wisdom threatening loss of credentials?
-- Jim Meissen
CNNSI.com wire services contributed to this report.
