Schäfer to Depart Rowdies, Return to Vfl Wolfsburg

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https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/926608

Schäfer to Depart Rowdies, Return to Vfl Wolfsburg

German midfielder appointed Sporting Director at former club, will make final appearance June 22

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https://www.eurosport.de/fussball/bundesliga/2017-2018/ruckkehr-nach-wolfsburg-schafer-wird-sportdirektor-an-der-seite-von-schmadtke_sto6805908/story.shtml

Rückkehr zum VfL Wolfsburg: Marcel Schäfer wird Sportdirektor an der Seite von Schmadtke

Der frühere Fußball-Nationalspieler Marcel Schäfer beendet seine Profikarriere und kehrt in neuer Funktion zum Bundesligisten VfL Wolfsburg zurück. Der 34-Jährige wird ab 1. Juli Sportdirektor bei den Niedersachsen und damit ein enger Mitarbeiter des neuen Wölfe-Geschäftsführers Jörg Schmadtke. Zuletzt spielte Schäfer in den USA bei den Tampa Bay Rowdies (United Soccer League).

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http://www.tampabay.com/sports/2018/06/13/just-as-the-world-cup-prepares-to-go-on-without-us-hope-arrives/

Just as the World Cup prepares to go on without us, hope arrives

"There's no way to really explain it," said Tampa Bay Rowdies player and assistant coach Joe Cole, who played for England in three World Cups, the last in 2010. "Countries stop for it. But we want you to come to the party. Sometimes you leave early. Sometimes you never show up. I think the hard part is America, it has so many other things. And it likes to win. There's not much chance of you winning the World Cup right now. What does it mean to us? You can't put it into words."

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https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/926585

USL Players, Coaches Welcome World Cup Decision

Three-time participant Cole believes announcement will further sport’s growth in United States

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http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mls/article213081354.html

The United States will co-host the 2026 World Cup. Here's how Miami plans to be involved

The 2026 World Cup is coming to America — and Miami is expected to be one of the venues.

The united bid of the United States, Mexico and Canada on Wednesday morning was selected to host the 2026 Cup by the FIFA Congress in Moscow, Russia, where the 2018 World Cup kicks off Thursday morning. The tri-nation bid, a first in Cup history, won by a vote of 134 to 65 over Morocco.

It is the first time the tournament will be played in North America since the United States hosted in 1994.

Two Miami residents — newly-elected U.S. Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro and former University of Miami president and congressional candidate Donna Shalala, a U.S. Soccer board member — were deeply involved in the bid process. Cordeiro, who was co-chair of the bid, spent much of his first few months in office traveling the world, lobbying.

"Obviously, Miami is very special to me, being my hometown; in fact, the beaches figure prominently in some of our slides," Cordeiro said by phone from Moscow following the announcement. Hard Rock Stadium, which was built to FIFA soccer specifications by Joe Robbie and recently renovated by Stephen Ross, has hosted sellout soccer crowds the past few summers for the International Champions Cup and is considered a leading candidate to be a World Cup stadium in 2026.

The fact that Miami is a gateway to Latin America and easy to get to from Europe will also make it a favorable site for team training camps. In the past few years, many of the world's top clubs have played here. Barcelona and Real Madrid sold out last summer for El Clasico Miami. This summer, in late-July, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester City will play at Hard Rock, and the national teams of Colombia and Venezuela have a game there Sept. 7.

Twenty-three proposed cities were included in the winning bid -- 17 from the United States, three from Mexico and three from Canada. That list will be whittled down to 16 host cities by the bid committee and FIFA. In addition to Miami, the U.S. cities are Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York/New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

The Mexican cities are Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Canadian cities are Toronto, Montreal and Edmonton.

Miami Dolphins president and CEO Tom Garfinkel is hopeful Miami will be chosen to play a significant role in the 2026 World Cup. Miami was not a host city for the 1994 Cup because of schedule conflicts with the Marlins, who played at the stadium at the time.

“I think it’s exciting for the United States and North America...we’ll see what it means for Hard Rock Stadium. That’s something that still needs to be seen. I know that (Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium Owner) Stephen Ross put a lot of money into the stadium, and we designed it to be a global entertainment destination," Garfinkel said. "I think it’s among, if not the best, place to do soccer in the world now. We had El Clasico last year. We’ve got three matches coming here soon... We’re excited about that. We’ll have a couple more, hopefully, to announce by the end of the season. International soccer is going to be a big thing here. We hope to get one of the big games and be one of the final places for the World Cup when it comes here.”

Sixty of the 80 games will be played on U.S. soil, including all games from the quarterfinals through the final.

"We are blessed with 23 world class facilities, some iconic, some brand new, cutting edge and everything in between," Cordeiro said. "We will have a very difficult decision to make when we have to determine the final 16. It's a good problem. It speaks to the quality of the facilities we have. This is not a decision I'm looking forward to, but we are very, very excited about hosting. We got outstanding marks from from the FIFA task force for our facilities; that’s Miami, but also everywhere else."

Although the United States, Mexico and Canada have had some rifts on political fronts, the three nations -- and their governments -- were united in their efforts to secure the World Cup.

“Hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a rare and important moment to demonstrate that we are all truly united through sport," Cordeiro said. “We are humbled by the trust our colleagues in the FIFA family have put in our bid; strengthened by the unity between our three countries and the CONCACAF region; and excited by the opportunity we have to put football on a new and sustainable path for generations to come.”

David Beckham, owner of the Miami Major League Soccer team scheduled to begin play in 2020, has been behind the United Bid from the start. He said in a video: "I played for the L.A. Galaxy for six years and I know the passion that runs through those three countries." He said the 2026 Cup should be even more exciting than the 1994 Cup because "the excitement is more there now, and the infrastructure is more there."

"Hosting a FIFA World Cup is an extraordinary honor and privilege," said Steven Reed, President of Canada Soccer and Co-Chair of the United Bid. "Canada, Mexico, and the United States are ready to welcome the world to North America and serve as stewards of the largest FIFA World Cup in history. Our vision is of a world of opportunity for our Candidate Host Cities and for the global football community."

"We are grateful for the chance to bring to life FIFA's new vision for the future of football," said Decio de Maria, President of Mexico Football Federation and Co-Chair of the United Bid. "Together-in partnership with our Candidate Host Cities, the Member Associations, and FIFA-we will use this platform to unite the world around football and help create a new and sustainable blueprint for the future of FIFA World Cups."

DeMaria congratulated Miami soccer investors such as Robbie, Ross and now Beckham and his partners Jorge and Jose Mas and Marcelo Claure for their efforts.

"Miami being part of this project is a recognition of the investors for a long time and now more openly in investing in development of football in Miami," he said. "If someone had to be very excited, and receive an applause, it’s those investors that now are going to develop further football in the area of Miami."

MLS released the following statement: “The decision to host World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the United States is a testament to our three nations coming together for the United Bid, and a monumental step in our collective mission to further advance the game of soccer in North America. We congratulate all of those who worked tirelessly to bring the World Cup back to North America and thank the countries that voted for the United Bid, and for their belief in our vision for the future of the sport in our region. There is no doubt that World Cup 2026 will elevate the sport of soccer to entirely new levels and Major League Soccer is honored to be a part of this joyous day.”

The United Bid is expected to generate more than $14 billion in revenue and $11 billion in profits for FIFA, which will be shared with the 211 FIFA Member Associations, helping further develop and expand the game of football across the globe.

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http://www.fox13news.com/news/local-news/private-donors-step-up-for-st-pete-pier-sculpture

Private donors step up for St. Pete Pier sculpture

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - The city of St. Petersburg is hoping to bring in a world-renowned artist to create a sculpture to make the new pier pop.

Until now, the fight has been how to pay for the massive hanging rope sculptures.

Wayne Athernolt, with St. Pete’s Cultural Affairs Office, says the artwork designed by sculptor Janet Echelman would allow St. Pete to join cities like London and Boston, which feature her work.

Athernolt says the signature art piece would be one of the most significant displays of public art in Florida.

“It says St. Petersburg is ready to play on the world market in terms of art,” Athernolt said.

There had been a controversy between Mayor Rick Kriseman and members of City Council over the $2.5-million price tag, but some private donors are stepping in and helping foot almost half of the bill.  That was enough to get council member Steve Kornell onboard.

“The only way I would say no is if the donations didn’t come through,” Kornell told FOX 13 Tuesday.

A little less than half of the money needed for the design would come from private donors. The rest of the sculpture would be funded through St. Pete’s Art Council and money the city gets from the county.

Athernolt says the county money is specifically required to be spent on infrastructure projects like the Echelman piece.

“Somebody who is complaining about potholes in the Old Northeast, [the money] can’t be used for that,” Athernolt said.

Echelman is from St. Pete and her mom still lives there. Mayor Rick Kriseman tweeted pictures while visiting her studio in Boston.

The city just completed a study to engineer the sculpture with the size of the pier. The study also indicates it wouldn’t pose a threat to wildlife.

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https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2018/06/12/rangers-midfielder-chase-minter-named-usl-team-week

Rangers midfielder Chase Minter named to USL Team of the Week

F – Leon Taylor, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Taylor scored a late equalizer on his debut for the Rowdies to preserve Tampa Bay’s undefeated home record in a 1-1 draw against Nashville SC.

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https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/926331

USL Fans’ Choice Save of the Week – Week 13

Some of the league’s top shot-stoppers featured prominently in the past week, who gets your vote?

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8qslrp/leon_taylor_named_to_usl_team_of_the_week/

Leon Taylor Named To USL Team of the Week (rowdiessoccer.com)

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https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/926382

Leon Taylor Named To USL Team of the Week

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (June 12, 2018) — Tampa Bay Rowdies forward Leon Taylor has been named to the USL Team of the Week following his excellent debut.

Taylor came off the bench in his first-ever appearance for the Rowdies and scored the game-tying goal in the 84th minute.

The full USL Team of the Week is below.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8qx7b5/rowdies_partnering_with_spiideo_and_cinesports/

Rowdies partnering with Spiideo and CineSports for advanced video capture analysis (spiideo.com)

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https://www.spiideo.com/tampa-bay-rowdies-spiideo-agreement-soccer-usa/

USL Pro club Tampa Bay Rowdies using Spiideo for video capturing and analysis

The Tampa Bay Rowdies, Spiideo and CineSports have recently agreed to a new and exciting partnership. Established in 1975, the Florida based team played its inaugural season as part of the NASL (North American Soccer League), the first professional league based in the United States and Canada.

As part of the growing United Soccer League (USL), Tampa Bay haven’t wasted any time utilizing Spiideo’s camera system to enhance their home pitch. 

    ‍“The installation of the Spiideo camera system has provided the staff with an enhanced teaching tool for providing players with immediate tactical feedback.”  says Stuart Dobson, assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

The Spiideo camera system is already transforming how the Rowdies incorporate video and analysis into their daily routine by recording training and their most recent USL match against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. ‍

    ‍“The live tagging feature has given us powerful teaching moments in which we are able to immediately review key moments from pitchside, whether it be during training sessions or following games.  The system allows the staff to switch between having the full team in view, for assessing key tactical moments, to zooming in on a small area to focus on an individual play.”, Stuart continues.‍

As coach or analyst you can pan and zoom in on the footage, pause, rewind, create clips, draw, tag, create presentations etc. Spiideo puts a lot of focus on ease of use and accessibility, since anything that you want to use in our daily process must be extremely low maintenance and remove manual work like charging batteries, dealing with memory cards and cables etc. (here are a few such examples of how coaches are using Spiideo in their work )

To to know more about the Tampa Bay Rowdies setup visit: www.cinesports.tv

To learn more about Spiideo solutions in general for football visit: https://www.spiideo.com/soccer/

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8qwf99/what_position_do_you_think_is_most_important_for/

What position do you think is most important for the Rowdies to add midseason? (twitter.com)

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https://twitter.com/BayInvasion/status/1006964180602245120?s=19

Bay Invasion - Tampa Bay Sports Coverage
‏
@BayInvasion

With three starters now gone from the pitch (Collins, Schäfer, Najem), plus other injuries, what position is most important for the #Rowdies to acquire mid-season? #COYR

2:19 PM - 13 Jun 2018

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8qslbq/marcel_sch%C3%A4fer_departs_rowdies_for_vfl_wolfsburg/

Official Marcel Schäfer Departs Rowdies for VfL Wolfsburg Return (rowdiessoccer.com)

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https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/926592

Marcel Schäfer Departs Rowdies for VFL Wolfsburg Return

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8qtcjr/vfl_wolfsburg_%C7%80_early_return_for_sch%C3%A4fer/

VfL Wolfsburg ǀ Early Return for Schäfer (vfl-wolfsburg.de)

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https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/en/info/news/detailspage/artikel/early-return-50429.html

Early return

VfL’s all-time record appearance maker Marcel Schäfer ends his active playing career and returns as the Wolves new Sporting director.

Early than expected, Marcel Schäfer is to end his stint with American second-flight club Tampa Bay Rowdies and return to VfL Wolfsburg, where the Green-Whites all-time record appearance maker (256 league games/13 goals) will take over the function as Sporting director as from July 1st. It had originally been planned that the 34-year-old would end the season in the United States and return to take over a functionary position at VfL Wolfsburg in 2019. Following intensive discussions between the Supervisory Board and management, a decision was quickly reached, which effectively marks the end of the active playing career of the eight-time German international.  

"The return of a figure of identification"

"In our talks with Marcel, it quickly became clear that we were on the same wave-length and following the same target. He knows VfL inside-out, is highly motivated and has a lot of good ideas, as to how we can guide the club back on to a successful track. We are really looking forward to collaborating with him," commented VfL general-manager Jörg Schmadtke. His management colleague Dr. Tim Schumacher added: "In Marcel Schäfer, we can look forward to the return of a real figure of identification to VfL Wolfsburg. Everyone who knows Marcel, knows how much the Wolves mean to him and just how much will and energy he will bring to the task. As a player, he always had his eye on the big picture, gave his all for VfL and he now brings some new impressions with him from the USA, which we can benefit from."

"Raring to go"

Marcel Schäfer is very eager to get stuck in again with the Wolves: "I am delighted about returning to help the club that’s holds such a special place in my heart. What VfL has to offer immediately convinced me and I am very happy about the opportunity to play my part. Of course I am also leaving Tampa Bay with a tear in my eye. I am very thankful to the Rowdies, in particular club owner Bill Edwards, for making my dream of playing in America and gathering some new experiences come true. They laid no stones in the path of my return either! My family and I always felt completely comfortable in Florida and we made a lot of friends. I will never forget my time at Tampa Bay, but I am now raring to go in my new function at VfL. I want to get stuck right in and have lots to learn in my new area."

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8ql5fh/scottish_daily_mail_sport_collins_has_found_his/

Scottish Daily Mail Sport: Collins Has Found His Light at End of Tunnel (i.redd.it)

https://i.redd.it/lg51tf2y0m311.jpg

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8qds3p/reports_sch%C3%A4fer_may_depart_rowdies_early_to_join/

Reports: Schäfer may depart Rowdies early to join Wolfsburg Front Office (OC) (theunsubs.com)

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http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2018/06/11/reports-marcel-schafer-may-depart-rowdies-early-to-join-wolfsburg-front-office/3924

Reports: Marcel Schäfer may depart Rowdies early to join Wolfsburg Front Office

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https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1006538711893454849

Tampa Bay Rowdies

‏Verified account @TampaBayRowdies

You may have won $5,000 in the #RowdiesRiches Sweepstakes! Grab your match program this past Saturday & head to http://RowdiesRiches.com .

10:08 AM - 12 Jun 2018

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https://twitter.com/JHollowayWriter/status/1006435852464087040

Jonathan Holloway
‏
@JHollowayWriter

Check out my article in todays Scottish Daily Mail @ScotMailSport, @neillycollins3's impressive rise to management is a credit to himself, his career and @TampaBayRowdies. Great guy and pleasure to talk to, Neill is flying the flag for Scottish coaches abroad.

3:19 AM - 12 Jun 2018

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https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1006591199950594048

Tampa Bay Rowdies

‏Verified account @TampaBayRowdies

1️⃣ appearance,
1️⃣ goal,
1️⃣ @USL Team of the Week nod!

Congrats to El Smoove, @LeonTTaylor!

1:36 PM - 12 Jun 2018

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https://twitter.com/USL/status/1006854186703769601

USL

‏Verified account @USL

BREAKING: #United2026 has won the right to host the #WorldCup after earning 67% of the FIFA Congress vote!

7:01 AM - 13 Jun 2018

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https://twitter.com/spiideo/status/1006853768405757952

Spiideo
‏
@spiideo

Read more about how USL pro club Tampa Bay Rowdies, one of the latest additions to the Spiideo family, use the system in their daily work #sportstech #soccer #USL

7:00 AM - 13 Jun 2018

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https://twitter.com/united2026/status/1006851829769129984

United 2026

‏Verified account @united2026

The world will unite in North America! #United2026 has officially won the right to host the @FIFAWorldCup!

🇨🇦🇲🇽🇺🇸 | http://united2026.com

6:52 AM - 13 Jun 2018

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https://twitter.com/united2026/status/1006854226713161728

United 2026

‏Verified account @united2026

The moment our united dream became a reality! 🇨🇦🇲🇽🇺🇸

7:02 AM - 13 Jun 2018

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https://twitter.com/ussoccer/status/1006856402059612161

U.S. Soccer

‏Verified account @ussoccer

The world's biggest sporting event is returning to our shores! #United2026 will host the @FIFAWorldCup!

🇨🇦🇲🇽🇺🇸 | http://united2026.com

7:10 AM - 13 Jun 2018

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https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1006859985245138944

Tampa Bay Rowdies

‏Verified account @TampaBayRowdies

Rowdies midfielder Joe Cole🗣

“Having the 2026 FIFA World Cup awarded to the region shows how much the sport has grown here in the US in recent years. Traveling around the country during the season, it’s easy to note the passion fans have for soccer here in America.”

#United2026

7:25 AM - 13 Jun 2018

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https://twitter.com/USL/status/1006858832241137777

USL

‏Verified account @USL

Are you ready?

#United2026 | #WorldCup

7:20 AM - 13 Jun 2018

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https://twitter.com/NJEMurray/status/1006861038124445696

Nicholas Murray
‏
@NJEMurray

"Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing the biggest tournament on the globe to North America once again.” - @TampaBayRowdies & former @England international Joe Cole.

The #USL's #WorldCup alumni welcome success of @united2026 bid.

7:29 AM - 13 Jun 2018

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https://twitter.com/USL/status/1006865546250539009

USL

‏Verified account @USL

Need the complete #United2026 rundown? We have the highlights from @FIFAcom!

More → http://uslsc.cr/2l8pIn2

7:47 AM - 13 Jun 2018

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https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1006883928668561411

Tampa Bay Rowdies

‏Verified account @TampaBayRowdies

NEWS: The Rowdies are releasing Marcel Schäfer from his contract to allow him to return to @VfL_Wolfsburg to take the position of Sporting Director. Schäfer will make his final appearance for the Rowdies on June 22.

Read more: http://bit.ly/2HLw5We

9:00 AM - 13 Jun 2018

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https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1006885619640029184

Tampa Bay Rowdies

‏Verified account @TampaBayRowdies

Comments from Rowdies Chairman and CEO Bill Edwards, Head Coach @neillycollins3 and Marcel Schäfer on Schäfer’s return to Wolfsburg.

9:06 AM - 13 Jun 2018

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https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1006886266896609282

Tampa Bay Rowdies

‏Verified account @TampaBayRowdies

While he's leaving soon, we still have one chance to watch Marcel Schäfer play in the green and gold! He'll make his final appearance for the Rowdies on June 22 against @PennFCOfficial at Al Lang Stadium.

9:09 AM - 13 Jun 2018

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https://twitter.com/TheHoopedSleeve/status/1006896697589395459

The Hooped Sleeve
⚽️
👌
‏ @TheHoopedSleeve

The Hooped Sleeve
⚽️

👌 Retweeted Tampa Bay Rowdies

As sad as it is to let him go, we know that this is a huge opportunity for ANY player with the storied career and legendary status that Marcel has had at @VfLWolfsburg_US. 🐺

He certainly graced us with that quality here. 🙂

#ThankYouMarcel #DankeMarcel 💪👏🇩🇪🇺🇸

The Hooped Sleeve
⚽️

👌 added,

Tampa Bay Rowdies

Verified account @TampaBayRowdies

NEWS: The Rowdies are releasing Marcel Schäfer from his contract to allow him to return to @VfL_Wolfsburg to take the position of Sporting Director. Schäfer will make his final appearance for the Rowdies on June 22.…

9:50 AM - 13 Jun 2018

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https://twitter.com/RalphsMob/status/1006944540597473280

Ralph's Mob
‏
@RalphsMob

Danke Schäfi!  Thanks Marcel, for giving us your all.  All the best back at @VfLWolfsburg_US 💚💛

1:01 PM - 13 Jun 2018

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https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1006982897293672448

Tampa Bay Rowdies

‏Verified account @TampaBayRowdies

You’ll be seeing some new faces on the sidelines this summer, our first EVER Rowdies Jr. Reporters. Stay tuned to our social media for some Jr. Reporter content!

Meet this year's Rowdies Jr. Reporters

Powered by SnappyTV

3:33 PM - 13 Jun 2018

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https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1006997389738160128

Tampa Bay Rowdies

‏Verified account @TampaBayRowdies

Marcel Schäfer addressing his teammates before we hit the field for this afternoon’s training session.

4:31 PM - 13 Jun 2018

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http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/city-beat/article213123774.html

Texts reveal new details about Sacramento's MLS bid and the financiers being courted

Southern California billionaire Ron Burkle toured Sacramento's soccer stadium site and has had detailed discussions with Republic FC and Mayor Darrell Steinberg about becoming the lead investor in a Major League Soccer expansion franchise, according to text messages obtained by The Sacramento Bee.

City and team officials also have met with a group led by former Sacramento Kings player Omri Casspi and two East Coast real estate magnates, one of whom owns a stake in the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves, text messages show.

Public records show that a third ownership scenario for an MLS team in Sacramento may also be in play. A city records request filed by an Austin, Texas, law firm in April sought correspondence between city officials and Anthony Precourt, owner of the Columbus Crew MLS team. Precourt plans to move the Crew to Austin before next season, but the records request — combined with an ESPN analyst’s prediction last week that the Crew will move to Sacramento — has fueled speculation that Sacramento may be Precourt’s second option if he’s unable to secure a stadium deal in Austin.

Neither Precourt nor the law firm that filed the records request responded to requests for comment.

The text messages obtained by The Bee through a Public Records Act request detail the intense campaign by Republic FC and City Hall to recruit a deep-pocketed investor who can lead Sacramento's bid for one of two remaining expansion spots in Major League Soccer. Potential investors were given tours of a planned soccer stadium site in the downtown railyard and the mayor was in frequent communication with MLS Commissioner Don Garber over the past six months.

The messages from the mayor, his aides and top Republic FC officials also show that in addition to the Burkle and Casspi groups, several other potential investors have expressed interest in leading or becoming involved in Sacramento’s bid, including a financier from Miami and an individual from Chicago who was not identified in the messages.

Sacramento was passed over for a spot in the latest round of MLS expansion because the league wants Republic FC to find a wealthy investor who can help cover the $400 million upfront cost of a franchise and keep the team financially viable in the long term. Teams were instead awarded to Nashville and Cincinnati, although MLS plans to add two more teams in the future.

Republic FC Chairman Kevin Nagle has said he is willing to bring in a new investor to help lead the bid. Text messages showed that Nagle has agreed to contribute $125 million toward the MLS franchise fee.

“As we’ve shared before, we’ve been in active discussions for some time with several potential investors to finalize our ownership group and deliver the MLS club our fans and community deserve,” Nagle said in a written statement. “We remain in close contact with both MLS and Mayor Steinberg as we make steady progress towards our goal. We look forward to sharing more details with our fans, but must continue to respect the private nature of our ongoing conversations at this time.”

Major League Soccer spokesman Dan Courtemanche said Wednesday that the league’s board of governors will discuss the next round of expansion during its meeting at the All-Star Game on Aug. 1 in Atlanta. Multiple cities are expected to compete with Sacramento for the final two spots, including Detroit, Phoenix and San Diego.

Steinberg has made recruiting a lead investor a priority, telling Garber in a December text message he would “personally vet any potential investors with you and your team before we went too deep in any one direction.”

During that same text message, Steinberg asked that MLS give Sacramento “due consideration” toward an expansion franchise when it secures a lead investor and requested that the league not force the city to compete against other cities vying for the final two spots.

“Please don’t put Sacramento back in the larger pile,” he wrote to Garber. “We have earned a different consideration. I will deliver for MLS and Sacramento if you give me and us the chance.”

Garber did not respond to the message with a text of his own, although texts show the two have spoken on the phone on numerous occasions.

In an interview Wednesday, Steinberg said he has “been encouraged by all of the conversations we’ve had over the months because what I’ve seen is a significant interest in partnering with our local ownership group and making Sacramento a Major League Soccer city.”

“This takes time, but these months have not been wasted in any way,” the mayor said.

Burkle appears to be Sacramento’s preferred investor.

The Southern California billionaire was recruited to lead Sacramento’s bid to purchase the Kings in both 2011 and 2013, but had to back out over concerns that his ownership stake in a sports management company would create a conflict of interest. Burkle owns a share of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins and his net worth is estimated at $2.3 billion.

On March 14, Burkle was joined by three partners during a visit to Sacramento, according to a text message from Republic FC Chief Operating Officer Ben Gumpert to mayoral aide Scott Whyte. The Burkle group toured the site of a planned soccer stadium in the downtown railyard with developer Larry Kelley, whose company owns the site; had lunch with Kelley and Sacramento developer Mark Friedman; and visited the Republic FC offices.

“Ron certainly is up the curve on sports investing given his experience (unlike most of the other ones you have met or spoken with),” Gumpert wrote to Whyte. “Also has spent enough time in Sacramento to appreciate the market.”

Steinberg personally texted Burkle as recently as April 30, asking if there was “anything new on the MLS front?” Burkle did not respond to the text.

Frank Quintero, a principal at Burkle’s Yucaipa Company investment firm, confirmed in an interview that he and Burkle were “definitely up in Sacramento,” but declined to elaborate on Burkle’s interest in Republic FC. Burkle sat in the front row of a Kings game at Golden 1 Center the night of his visit.

The group involving Casspi also received significant attention, according to the text messages. Casspi, who was drafted by the Kings in 2009 and most recently played for the Golden State Warriors last season, first expressed interest in buying a stake in Republic FC in 2014.

His partners in the MLS bid were identified in messages as Meyer Orbach and Ezra Stark.

Orbach is a New Jersey-based real estate investor whose company owns hundreds of high-end apartments on the East Coast, including several prominent properties in Manhattan. He purchased a 9.5 percent stake in the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves in 2016.

Stark, based in Cleveland, is the chief operating officer of Stark Enterprises, a real estate firm that has been quickly expanding, especially in the New York area.

Gumpert told city officials in a text that Stark and Orbach are “connected to Omri through Israel/Jewish organizations.” Casspi is a native of Israel. Gumpert said both Stark and Orbach had met with MLS league officials and that “both are very focused on the real estate side” of an investment in Republic FC.

Casspi, Stark and Orbach did not return messages Wednesday.

As for Precourt, there were no text messages released this week detailing conversations between his company and Sacramento officials. Precourt is in negotiations with the city of Austin to take control of a site for a planned MLS soccer stadium, setting a deadline for the end of June.

Last week, ESPN soccer analyst Taylor Twellman said on air that he does not think the Crew will move to Austin, but instead will “end up in Sacramento.” He did not elaborate.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://wwd.com/eye/lifestyle/simon-doonan-soccer-style-1202708235/

Simon Doonan’s Deep Dive Into ‘Soccer Style’

For his ninth book, Doonan is kicking it back to the Sixties, when the birth of soccer style began. Here, he opens up about "Soccer Style: The Magic and Madness," out now.

n a Venn diagram of soccer and fashion, the overlap might include some combination of David Beckham in a sarong, Neymar in head-to-toe black and Cristiano Ronaldo napping under an Hermès blanket on a private plane. If there’s one person who knows the ins and outs of this overlap, it’s Simon Doonan, creative director at large for Barneys New York whose latest work, “Soccer Style: The Magic and Madness,” is out now.

In the book — the author’s ninth, though he’s “stopped counting” — Doonan dives deep into the off-the-field fashion of soccer’s biggest players. His research included four years of reading autobiographies and magazine interviews, as well a lifetime of watching the sport. The result is a highly detailed, yet equally amusing read in which the biggest soccer players in the world are classified into one of the following fashion tribes: Good Taste Ambassadors, Label Kings, Psychedelic Ninjas, Hired Assassins and Bohemians and Fauxhemians.

“As I looked at the landscape of contemporary football, I felt a burning need to classify it and understand it because there were clearly very different groups here,” says Doonan on a recent afternoon at his Manhattan apartment. “What most people do is say, ‘I don’t like this but I do like that.’ I don’t do that ‘cause I’m looking at the culture of football.”

The Good Taste Ambassadors, he says, are more reserved — think Álvaro Morata, Xabi Alonso and modern-day Beckham — whereas the Label Kings — Ronaldo, for example — are more flashy. “They’re great patrons of à la mode,” Doonan says of the Label Kings. “God bless them, because they pay full retail. Hello.”

The Psychedelic Ninjas, Doonan’s favorite group, love to mix and match designer and vintage finds — and most likely own a Givenchy rottweiler printed T-shirt — while the Hired Assassins wear “lots of black, a black ripped Balmain jean, maybe an Off-White hoodie.” The Bohemians and Fauxhemians go against soccer’s traditionally antihippie attitude, with Andy Carroll, who posed for Alexander Wang’s 2014 H&M collaboration, as a leading example.

“Soccer players are very noteworthy in their absolute commitment to style and to fashion,” says Doonan. “It comes from several things. First of all, their build. They’re totally sample-size, they’re like a designer dream. Secondly, they’ve got the cash. I have quotes from Georgie Best in the Sixties. People who played with him would note that even after training, he would get washed and look like he was going dancing. Shouldn’t we all look like we’re going dancing all the time?”

Doonan identifies the start of true soccer style as the moment the Professional Footballers’ Association lifted its 20-pound wage cap in 1961.

“Suddenly you have players like George Best buying clothes, opening a boutique, having an E-Type Jaguar, that was all unheard of,” Doonan says. “Before they barely had bicycles to go to the training and the game. This incredible moment of timing came together where the Swinging Sixties collided with sports, collided with a new era of personality obsession. The same kind of confluence happened in the Nineties, where with new TV deals, football was suddenly this mega financial thing and new obsession with celebrity and new obsession with fashion.”

He also dedicated a section of the book to the personal tastes of the wives and girlfriends of professional athletes, and in another, he explores the players’ tattoo choices and various hairdos throughout the years. The most stylish player, he says, is “absolutely David Beckham.”

“He’s the patron saint of soccer style, no question,” Doonan says. “If you’re a working-class English kid and you’re hardworking and you’re creative and you’re positive in the way you approach life and you look great, it’s a fantastically inspiring story. I have nothing but admiration for [David and Victoria Beckham]. Both of them made that same transition. [David] from being a footballer, which was historically not considered to be so cool and he made it cool. She was a pop star, she made it into the fashion world very successfully. Victoria Beckham is cool. People want to be her, they want to see what she’s wearing.”

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.dentonrc.com/sports/ap_sports_headlines/atlanta-s-hot-soccer-scene-featured-in-winning-world-cup/article_19a5a1ea-018b-51c8-ad9a-0aa9fb2b2867.html

Atlanta's hot soccer scene featured in winning World Cup bid

ATLANTA — Atlanta’s burgeoning soccer scene was featured in North America’s successful bid for 2026 World Cup.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium was shown off in the videos the North American bid officials played for FIFA voters Wednesday in Russia. The images were all shiny, new and impressive — from the stadium’s retractable roof and huge oval video board to the all-important shots of sellout crowds for MLS Atlanta United.

The video evidence helped sway FIFA to overwhelmingly approve the bid from the United States, Mexico and Canada. The bid suggested Atlanta and Dallas-Fort Worth as host sites for 2026 semifinals, and Atlanta United season ticket-holder Ken Harper can’t wait.

“Based on the worldwide interest in the World Cup, I think it has the potential to have the same impact the Olympics did in ’96 on our city,” Harper said Wednesday. “I think it’s fantastic.”

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/canada-will-ride-enormous-wave-soccer-support-2026-world-cup/

Canada will ride enormous wave of soccer support into 2026 World Cup

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https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2018/06/13/world-cup-foxborough-think-have-great-chance-bid-president-says/UR2Da4QLoESnRYhHMTCZ7O/story.html

World Cup in Foxborough? ‘I think we have a great chance,’ bid president says

FOXBOROUGH — The World Cup is coming to North America in 2026. Will Gillette Stadium be one of the host locations?

Brian Bilello, president of Boston Soccer 2026, believes his recently launched nonprofit can lure World Cup action to the Greater Boston area.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.thedailytimes.com/sports/local-soccer-coaches-thrilled-by-news-of-u-s-hosting/article_22df1b1d-ebda-5a97-8bce-6f35ad7cef43.html

Local soccer coaches thrilled by news of U.S. hosting 2026 World Cup

(Follow link for full article.)

http://bluehqmedia.com/tom-ricketts-bringing-more-soccer-to-chicago/

Tom Ricketts Bringing More Soccer to Chicago?

Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts appears to be taking a business venture with another Chicago sports team. Ricketts has recently become the majority owner of Chicago’s new United Soccer League team. The team, which is still unnamed, is expected to begin playing for the USL in 2021. There is currently a club name contest going on for the future team. Simply fill out the information on this page to have your vote cast for the new team’s name.

Ricketts and real estate developer Sterling Bay have joined together to bring another soccer team to Chicago. While the new team is not affiliated with the Chicago Fire, that could happen in the near future. Ricketts and Sterling Bay seem to be the perfect duo to start a sports team. Sterling Bay will keep a minority ownership stake and will be responsible for developing the stadium, while Ricketts controls the more day-to-day operations. The team is expected to be one of the main attractions to the new Lincoln Yards development. The location of the stadium could be a vital part of the expansion of the USL. The Chicago Fire are criticized often for being located in the suburbs. The stadium in Lincoln Yards could have advantages when trying to lure fans from the Fire.

The USL is rapidly growing and game attendance continues to climb. Teams like FC Cincinnati consistently have over 20,000 people in attendance, higher than many of the teams in the MLS. Major League Soccer is still superior, but the USL is on the rise. If the United Soccer League can form a formidable farm system for the MLS, it could do wonders for soccer in the United States. Soccer is growing and it’s not too crazy to expect the United States national team making large steps forward in the future. The team may not hit the field for a few more years, but there is quite a bit of excitement for the new team.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018/06/14/mls-investors-text-messages/

Texts Shed Light On Sacramento’s Hunt For MLS Investors

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Sacramento is still fighting hard to bring an MLS franchise to the capital city, despite losing an official bid to Cincinnati last month.

Now newly revealed text messages and emails are showing some of the behind the scenes deal-making to get a Major League Soccer team awarded here.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.espn.com/soccer/club/united-states/660/blog/post/3524720/what-winning-the-2026-world-cup-election-means-for-future-of-united-states-soccer

Will winning the 2026 World Cup election unite a fractured U.S. Soccer Federation?