United States announces intention to host World Cup in 2018, 2022; Mexico also seeks event

February 3, 2009

NEW YORK – The United States Soccer Federation officially announced its intention to bid for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments on Monday, joining CONCACAF neighbor Mexico in seeking to host the quadrennial championship.

U.S. federation President Sunil Gulati announced via conference call that the organization submitted its letter of intent to FIFA on Friday, the same day the Mexican federation announced its ambition to stage the event.

“We’re very happy to have two countries bidding,” CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer said. “It shows the vitality of the confederation and our firm interest in being the host of one of these future World Cups.”

While Mexico is seeking to return the World Cup it staged in 1970 and 1986, the United States will be trying to lure one of the two premier sports events on the planet for the first time since 1994. The 1994 event still stands as the best attended World Cup in history, attracting 3.6 million spectators.

“Out of the 1994 World Cup we launched a pro league, which is not the Premier League, or La Liga; we’ve built a half dozen soccer-specific stadiums; we have TV coverage in (two) languages… it’s unfinished business. It’s still not like other in countries,” Gulati said. “It’s time to finish job. FIFA recognizes that; we certainly recognize that.”

The United States and Mexico will be part of nearly a dozen countries seeking to stage the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Australia, Indonesia, Japan and Qatar announced their intentions out of the Asian confederation while Russia and England are seeking to get the championship back in Europe for the first time since 2006 along with joint bids by Belgium and the Netherlands, and Iberian neighbors Spain and Portugal.

South Africa is set to stage the 2010 World Cup while Brazil has been selected to host the 2014 tournament.

No country can host the World Cup if another nation from that continent has staged either of the previous two. FIFA President Sepp Blatter reportedly has stated that FIFA will not consider joint bids unless a single bidding country does not meet its requirements.

Gulati announced that David Downs would head the United States’ bid effort. Downs resigned Friday as the head of the sports division of Univision, the USA’s most-watched Spanish-language television network, to take the post.

Gulati did not say which year he wanted to win the bid for, but did offer a preference.

“We’re open to either,” Gulati said. “Neither has particular advantage, but sooner is always better.”

Mexican federation general secretary Decio de Maria trumpeted his country’s virtues when it announced its ambition.

“Mexico has a name in the world of soccer,” De Maria said on the federation’s Web site. “It has two organized two World Cups, a Confederations Cup, has the responsibility to organize an Under-17 World Cup in 2011 and Mexico has one of the greatest followings in the world.”

FIFA will inform all the interested countries of the bid specifications by February 16. Each country must complete a signed “Bidding Agreement” by December 11 with complete plans by December 11. The 24-member FIFA Executive Committee, which includes Blazer, CONCACAF President Jack Warner and Rafael Salguero of Guatemala, will choose the hosts in December 2010.

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Clough in frame for Derby role

January 6, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Nigel Clough could become the new manager of Derby County – the club his father Brian transformed into the champions of England more than 35 years ago – in just a "matter of days".Adam Pearson, Derby’s chairman of football, told reporters in a conference call on Monday: "Nigel is one of the names in the frame… we’ve spoken to his chairman and everything seems positive."Derby, now just above the relegation zone in the second-tier Championship, are presently without a full-time manager after Paul Jewell resigned last week following an unsuccessful 13-month spell in charge which saw the club relegated from the lucrative Premier League.But the club’s American owners are determined to take the Midlands side back to the top-flight.And Derby fans will have a fresh taste of the big-time when their side plays English, European and world champions Manchester United at Pride Park on Wednesday in the first leg of their English League Cup semi-final.Since retiring as a player Nigel Clough, a former England midfielder, has built a reputation as a manager in non-league football with Derby’s near neighbours Burton Albion, where he has been in charge for over a decade."There is obviously a connection with his father but, more importantly he ticks the boxes on a number of other attributes," Pearson said of Clough."We are looking for a manager who can develop, coach and build the confidence of what we believe to be a good squad of players. Nigel has that manner, he is firm and fair, considerate and intelligent and confident."Is it a done deal? No, it’s not," Pearson stressed. "There are other young, upcoming managers also in the frame who have similar attributes. We are looking for that type of manager."We haven’t had a formal discussion with Nigel but the appointment of a permanent manager is literally days away."Nigel is very much in the frame. I’ve known him a very long time and he has the right attributes and the right skills. We’ve spoken to his chairman about the possibility and everything seems positive."But there are also one or two others, which we are keeping under wraps, who we are also having close discussions with. But it would be foolhardy not to admit my interest in Nigel."Clough, 42, grew up in Derby when his father was County’s manager.Brian Clough turned a team languishing in the old Second Division when he became Derby manager in 1967 into First Division champions at the end of the 1971/72 season.However, in 1973, he resigned following a power struggle with Derby chairman Sam Longson.

Written by: AFP

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Clough in frame for Derby role

January 5, 2009

Adam Pearson, Derbys chairman of football, told reporters in a conference call on Monday: "Nigel is one of the names in the frame… weve spoken to his chairman and everything seems positive."

Derby, now just above the relegation zone in the second-tier Championship, are presently without a full-time manager after Paul Jewell resigned last week following an unsuccessful 13-month spell in charge which saw the club relegated from the lucrative Premier League.

But the clubs American owners are determined to take the Midlands side back to the top-flight.

And Derby fans will have a fresh taste of the big-time when their side plays English, European and world champions Manchester United at Pride Park on Wednesday in the first leg of their English League Cup semi-final.

Since retiring as a player Nigel Clough, a former England midfielder, has built a reputation as a manager in non-league football with Derbys near neighbours Burton Albion, where he has been in charge for over a decade.

"There is obviously a connection with his father but, more importantly he ticks the boxes on a number of other attributes," Pearson said of Clough.

"We are looking for a manager who can develop, coach and build the confidence of what we believe to be a good squad of players. Nigel has that manner, he is firm and fair, considerate and intelligent and confident.

"Is it a done deal? No, its not," Pearson stressed. "There are other young, upcoming managers also in the frame who have similar attributes. We are looking for that type of manager.

"We havent had a formal discussion with Nigel but the appointment of a permanent manager is literally days away.

"Nigel is very much in the frame. Ive known him a very long time and he has the right attributes and the right skills. Weve spoken to his chairman about the possibility and everything seems positive.

"But there are also one or two others, which we are keeping under wraps, who we are also having close discussions with. But it would be foolhardy not to admit my interest in Nigel."

Clough, 42, grew up in Derby when his father was Countys manager.

Brian Clough turned a team languishing in the old Second Division when he became Derby manager in 1967 into First Division champions at the end of the 1971/72 season.

However, in 1973, he resigned following a power struggle with Derby chairman Sam Longson.

Written by: AFP