Galaxy´s Arena named MLS manager of year

November 12, 2009

Los Angeles Galaxy’s Bruce Arena was named the 2008 Major League Soccer coach of the year Wednesday, after guiding the club to its first playoff berth since 2005.

Arena, now in his second season as Galaxy head coach, led Los Angeles to one of the most dramatic single season turnarounds in MLS history.

In 2008, the Galaxy finished at the bottom of the Western Conference, surrendering a league-high 62 goals.

One of Arena’s biggest priorities during the 2009 off season was to solidify the club’s defense.

Arena drafted University of Maryland star defender Omar Gonzalez with the third overall pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft and brought in US national team veteran Gregg Berhalter at centreback.

Arena also handed the netminding duties to first-year MLS goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, a 32-year-old Jamaican international who spent most of his career in Europe. Berhalter, Gonzalez and Ricketts were a big reason the Galaxy cut their goals-against average in half from 2008 allowing just 31 goals this season.

In addition to shoring up the defense, Arena also brought in a host of new players, meshed them together, and helped reconcile the highly-publicized differences between star players Landon Donovan and David Beckham.

Los Angeles opened 2009 slowly, but after Beckham returned in midseason from a loan spell with AC Milan the Galaxy began piling up victories. On Friday, the Galaxy host the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference Championship match.

NEW YORK (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, bruce arena, David Beckham, donovan ricketts, Europe, Goalkeeper, goals against average, gregg berhalter, head coach, Houston, houston dynamo, landon donovan, los angeles galaxy, Major League Soccer, Maryland, midseason, Milan, New York, omar gonzalez, playoff berth, second season, soccer coach, star defender, star players, turnarounds, U.S., Western Conference

Beckham takes first 38 touches for Milan

January 7, 2009

David Beckham’s first appearance for AC Milan was analysed in such detail by the Italian press that we know he made 38 touches of the ball.

He only played the first half of the friendly in Dubai against Hamburg and was steady rather than spectacular. An error in the defensive third has been highlighted by pundits but generally they thought his two crosses, two headers and two tackles showed promise.

“Tactically he is intelligent, he always plays for the team. He will be useful,” said coach Carlo Ancelotti.

A true test could come on Sunday at AS Roma when Milan return to Serie A action after a three-week midseason break.

Beckham may only be on the bench but at least that will give the Italian media chance to analyse their other obsession – the 33-year-old’s tattoos.

Newspapers want to know how much spare flesh he has that hasn’t been scribbled on after speculation he has had another tattoo.

Los Angeles Galaxy will hope it doesn’t say: ‘I love Milan’.

PHOTO:AC Milan’s David Beckham looks on during their friendly soccer match against Hamburg SV in Dubai, Jan. 6 REUTERS/Jumanah El-Heloueh

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