Beckham praise for MLS coach of 2009; breakaway N. American soccer league

(WFI) England and Los Angeles Galaxy star David Beckham says coach Bruce Arena is fully deserving of the 2009 MLS Coach of the Year award for reversing the fortunes of the team.

"He deserves it. I think he's helped us as players and as a team. His experience with this league and with American players, it's been essential for us stepping toward winning something,” Beckham told MLSnet.com.

The Galaxy play the Houston Dynamo in Friday's Western Conference final at The Home Depot Center for a place in the MLS Cup.

Arena claimed the award Wednesday after garnering the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches and members of the media. It’s the second time he has won the accolade after picking up the award in 1997 during his coaching stint with D.C. United.

"I can't say this is the best one, but it's really a reflection of the efforts of those people involved with the LA Galaxy,” Arena told MLSnet.com. Although it's deemed an individual honor I really think it's an honor for our team and our organization. In that sense I feel real good about it."

Arena, a former coach of the U.S national team, is in his second season as Galaxy coach. Following the 2008 campaign, he overhauled the Galaxy roster; 16 of the 26 players in the squad joined the club after last season.

The changes turned the Galaxy into a more attacking side, the new players contributing nine goals and 15 assists in the regular season. A defence which leaked a league-worst 62 goals in 2008 conceded just 31 this term.

Other players gave credit to Arena for turning the team around.

"I think when he got the job last year this team became tougher right away," said midfielder Mike Magee, "even when he had a group of guys that weren't necessarily his guys. The thing he's best at is bringing out the best in players. Once he got the chance to bring in his players we knew he was going to turn this franchise around.”

The Galaxy host the Dynamo in the Western Conference final at 8 p.m. Pacific Time Friday. The winner advances to the MLS Cup in Seattle on Nov. 22 against the winner of Saturday's Eastern Conference Championship between the Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake.

Breakaway North American league
A new professional football league could begin play in North America in April 2010.

Former USL-1 clubs Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina Railhawks, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps along with St. Louis Soccer United will be the founding teams.

The team owners cited numerous problems with the structure of the USL-1 as the reason to form the breakaway league.

The owners submitted an application to the United States Soccer Federation to approve the new league as a Division II Men's Outdoor Professional League on Monday. Team owners plan to submit an application to the Canadian Soccer Association for sanctioning as a Division I League.

"For ten years, the Atlanta Silverbacks played under the umbrella of a third party owned league. To put it simply, it just didn't work," said Boris Jerkunica, chairman of the Atlanta Silverbacks.

"The long-term view of the team owners did not align with the short-term view of the third party league owners. Because of this, the Atlanta Silverbacks decided to drop out from USL-1 in 2009. We are pleased to be part of a new league that will be owned and operated by the team owners as required by FIFA."

Joey Saputo, president of the Montreal Impact, will serve as chairman of the new league.

"This is not your typical new league," Saputo said. "Most of our teams have existed for years. We have united some of the best owners, teams and markets around a new vision for a professional soccer league in North America.

"We look forward to elevating our teams and league in order to give more opportunities to players, coaches, media and sponsors, entertain our fans and play our role in helping soccer truly recognize its potential in the United States and Canada."

Team owners will decide on a league name and a commissioner at a future date.

Real Salt Lake for sale
Utah real-estate developer Dell Loy Hansen is in advanced talks to buy 49 percent of MLS franchise Real Salt Lake.

Hansen told the Deseret News newspaper that there is a deal in principle with team owner and SCP Worldwide chairman Dave Checketts.

"We're just looking forward to finishing the approvals," he said.

The deal is estimated to be worth $50 million, which may include a stake in Rio Tinto Stadium. The price for an MLS expansion franchise is thought to about $40 million.

SCP launched Real Salt Lake in 2005. In 2008, the company spent $65 million in private funds to construct a new 20,000-seat stadium.

Written by Sam Steinberg       

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