D.C. United are stuck at the bottom of the MLS but at least one member of their squad has always been on the rise since the beginning of the season. Andy Najar, the 17-year old Honduran, has been very impressive in 11 starts for United and such has been the speed of his development that some are already tipping him to become a naturalized U.

After three wins and only 12 goals in 18 league matches, DC United coach Curt Onalfo was fired today and replaced on an interim basis by assistant coach Ben Olsen. This coming despite the fact that only two weeks ago, GM Kevin Payne said this:
Quote: "I understand fans.

After dinner tonight, the U.S. WNT competed in their own version of Minute to Win It. The popular game show, which airs on NBC and is hosted by Guy Fieri, requires people to play decptively difficult games using household items and pulling off the feats in under 60 seconds. Assistant coach Erica Walsh put the contest together, obtaining all the materials to conduct the contest and dividing the 24 players into three teams of eight.

With the immediate success of youth players during Team USA's win at the Mandela Challenge Cup, Coach Bob Bradley has set his sights on bringing in younger soccer stars to the senior team. 8-year-old Zachary Jesus-Salvatore Kpodo is the 4th player selected under 23 since after the USA's successful run at the 2010 World Cup.

Could 1860 Munich and U.S. international forward Kenny Cooper be on his way to the Coca-Cola Championship before the transfer window closes? That is a distinct possibility according to his agent, who says Plymouth Argyle are interested in arranging a loan deal for the former FC Dallas big man. Cooper is said to be responsive to the idea in hopes of improving his chances of making the Americans' 2010 World Cup squad.

Shamrock Rovers assistant coach Wayne Deans, 30, was busted for £70,000 worth of cocaine, after a Garda tip-off.

Gardai called to Deans house in Tallaght, with a search warrant after the tip-off. When Gardai arrived to the house the front door was open so they entered the house to find £70,000 of cocaine on Deans kitchen table.

Ben Olsen looks thrilled to take over as manager, but guys like Devon McTavish should be happy about the coaching change.

The hot seat in D.C. just got too hot for Curt Onalfo as he has been released from his manager duties with United. The club announced today that Ben Olsen will take over as the interim manager with D.

D.C. United president Kevin Payne and spoke with Steven Goff after the firing of head coach Curt Onalfo and the appointment of former United player and assistant coach Ben Olsen as interim head coach.
Onalfo's three-year contract will be paid off unless he takes another job and the search for a replacement has begun.

Today Robert Scorca brings us his latest interview and this time it's with none other then Miami FC coach Victor Pastora. Here is the first of a two part series where Robert explores Coach Pastora's past, present and future.
From the Miami FC site:

Victor was born on April 8, 1975 in Matagalpa, Nicaragua.

photo: Jose Argueta / isiphotos

DC United head coach, Curt Onalfo, was let go late yesterday. United is 3-12-3 with an MLS-worst 12 points. He was replaced on an interim basis by former player and current assistant coach, Ben Olsen. Injuries and dubious decisions from the front office led to his dismissal.

Are the CAF guilty of a huge injustice?

Togo have been banned from the next two Africa Cup of Nations following their withdrawal from this year's tournament.
The Confederation of African football (Caf) also fined the Hawks $50,000 for quitting the competition in the wake of a gun attack on the team bus in Angola.

Peter Nowak and John Hackworth have a unique relationship with the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer, but is not an uncommon setting in other parts of the world.
Michael Lewis writes of the roles and responsibilities of Nowak and Hackworth.
Slowly but surely, Major League Soccer is acting more and more like leagues all over the World.

DC United fired Coach Onalfo yesterday. He is being replaced on an interim basis by assistant Ben Olsen. Coach Olsen only recently retired from playing and was a fan favorite in DC.Onalfo took over in DC eight months ago bringing along friend and assistant coach Kris Kelderman with him. Onalfo also later picked up Kurt Morsink after the Wizards released him and traded for Adam Cristman from the

DC United assistant coach Ben Olsen has been named interim head coach, with the club announcing Curt Onalfo has been dismissed from the job. Onalfo, the former DC player, US National Team assistant, and Kansas City Wizards coach took over in the offseason after being fired from the Wizards on August 3rd, 2009.

33-year Apple Valley head soccer coach Chuck Scanlon

Last Saturday Apple Valley completed another perfect regular season by going 17-0-0. The Eagles have now won 41 consecutive games since their last defeat in the state tournament quarterfinals on October 24th, 2008.

Mike Lapper, current assistant coach for the Columbus Crew, former defender for the U.S. National Team and various clubs, most notably the Crew, was kind enough to give me an exclusive interview for Pro Soccer Weekly. Mike is a really nice guy and gives some very frank answers to the questions that I had for him.

After a welcome day off on Sunday, D.C. United's players grabbed their hard hats and went back to work on Monday morning. Behind the Badge caught up with Assistant Coach Mark Simpson to see the goalkeepers go through their paces. A formidable figure between the posts for the Black-and-Red during his United career, Simpson is an ideal teacher for the likes of second-year player Bill Hamid, along with trialists Andrew Quinn and Ray Burse.

Assistant Coach Tony Anglin was promoted to head coach of the Colorado Force. (Photo Courtesy Colorado Force)

Tony Anglin didn't stay an assistant coach for long.

On Wednesday, the Colorado Force announced that Anglin would take over as head coach, replacing Craig Deacon.

"I am absolutely honored and delighted to be asked to head up the coaching staff and to succeed Craig Deacon as head coach of the Colorado Force," Anglin said.

Stephen Dunn - Getty Images

6 months ago: CARSON, CA - JUNE 5: Goalkeeper Pat Onstad #18 of the Houston Dynamo reaacts after giving up the fourth goal of the game against the Los Angeles Galaxy on June 5, 2010 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

PSP

Some of the work that PSP photographer Nicolae Stoian did with Photographers for Hope at the 2010 Homeless World Cup is on display at UEFA's House of European Football in Nyon. You can view photos from the show on UEFA's website.

Union

Jack McInerney talks about his motivation during his recent USMNT U-20 call up and the chemistry he has with Amobi Okugo: "Everywhere we go, we're right there with each other," McInerney said.

By Ollie Irish

Name: Brian McBride

Nationality: American

Position: Centre-forward

Why so hard? Not all football hard men are also dirty players, McBride being perhaps the best example I can think of.

The website Inside Minnesota Soccer is the go-to source for USSF Division II soccer news, the category directly below Major League Soccer. Site operator Brian Quarstad has compiled team previews for each of the 12 teams competing this year including AC St Louis. The league includes the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps, both of whom will be joining MLS in 2011.

According to the Expressen, New York Red Bull Coach Hans Backe is interested in Seattle Sounder Fredrik Ljungberg. Ever since the Swedish coach announced his move to the MLS, the Swedish press has tried to link the former Manchester City assistant coach to the designated player.It seems the Swedish press are eager to know about the MLS.

By AVI CREDITOR

"Crazy Ray" has struck again.

French coach Raymond Domenech is at the center of yet more drama after getting into an argument with an assistant coach and having his team walk out of practice Sunday.

Domenech has already polarized players through his lineup selection and has sent starting striker Nicolas Anelka home for subordination.

DC United assistant coach Ben Olsen has been named interim head coach, with the club announcing Curt Onalfo has been dismissed from the job. Onalfo, the former DC player, US National Team assistant, and Kansas City Wizards coach took over in the offseason after being fired from the Wizards on August 3rd, 2009.

Four great chapters in MLS history ended this week.
The first, of course, was the Curt Onalfo Era at DC United. The temptation to lay into the guy is nigh-irresistible, but by all accounts he's a wonderful person and this is a case of bad things happening to good people. Me, I tend to think this is Instant Karma (well, Eight Month Karma) for dismissing Kansas City as an entry-level job.

There is a growing consensus among U.S. soccer followers that the fewer collegiate players on youth national teams, the better. The thinking is that prospects who play professionally -- even if only on a reserve or academy team -- receive better tutoring than college kids and, thus, are further along in their development.

The Philadelphia Union are a playoff caliber team. It's true. The league's most valuable player (official or not), two of the most exciting young offensive prospects in MLS, An endless supply of young, talented midfielders, a driven coach, and an assistant coach who made his name as a player development guru.

D.C. United interim coach Ben Olsen will not be considered for the full-time position because of his inexperience, club president Kevin Payne said Monday.

"I don't think he is ready," Payne said. "It's been a great learning experience for Ben and I am sure he will learn a great deal over the next couple of years.

Amid the continuing troubles engulfing the USL's 1st and 2nd divisions, the league is busy organizing their extensive lower divisions' 2010 season. Last week they announced the 2010 "alignment" of the Premier Development League (PDL).
The PDL is made up of amateur teams (with a few pro exceptions), and college-age players (with a few older exceptions) who are, well, developing.

How does a young college or university assistant coach get a job as a head coach?
I have been told by more than one athletic administrator that when going through a search, most athletic directors look for coaches who have previously successful head coaching experience (maybe at a level tier than the potential position) or have been an assistant coach at a very successful program (having a 'blueprint' of what it takes to be successful at that level).

Togo's footballers were today flying out of Angola after their government intervened and ordered them to return following the terrorist attack on their team bus.
The decision, which comes hours after members of the squad voted to stay and take part in the Africa Cup of Nations, emerged after the Prime Minister of Togo demanded they return home immediately.

My my, what do we have here? It's Elano scooping the lovely snow up with his wheelbarrow. And this is no playground, futbolitas. It's his own backyard in Istanbul, Turkey! Oh, how we wished all our backyards looked like this. It's nice to pretend to be a Snow Samaritan sometimes, especially if you're trying to break into Dopey's squad and can't manage hat-tricks every week.

By FRANCO PANIZO

The deadly attack on the Togo national team prior to the start of the African Cup of Nations left the soccer world stunned, and few disagreed when Togo decided to pull out of the tournament.

The African Football Confederation (CAF) is among those few.

As of Friday April 10, 2010, 19 Stars players have been signed by the National Sports Center to contracts. The team is allowed 30 roster spots and Lagos stated earlier this year that he thought the team would end up with about 24 rostered players. Please see below for the roster and a list of players that have been released from trials and a separate list of those still on trail with the team.

Some real quick house cleaning news about the Wizards today that's kind of interesting. First, I want to real quick touch again on the goal that Seattle scored against the Wizards on Saturday. Seattle coach, Sigi Schmid has responded to the news earlier today that the goal shouldn't have stood. He says that basically while Brad Evans did take the throw in up field, that happens all the time in soccer and you can't be "nitpicky" about when you call it.

On Wednesday, April 28th, I held a conference call with all 6 female coaches in Women's Professional Soccer to talk about the development of women's soccer in America and around the world. On the call, we had:

Emma Hayes, Chicago Red Stars Head Coach
* Pauliina Miettenen, Sky Blue FC Head Coach
* Lisa Cole, Boston Breakers Assistant Coach
* Denise Reddy, Chicago Red Stars Assistant Coach
* Nicci Wright, Washington Freedom Goalkeeper Coach

Below, I've included the text from my intro, and then a very brief summary of each Q&A, with time markers for your listening convenience.

D.C. United midfielder Chris Pontius was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters for Week 12 of the 2010 MLS season. Pontius scored two goals and recorded an assist in D.C. United's 3-2 victory over Seattle Sounders FC on Thursday, June 10 at Qwest Field.

The way the team is playing, Germany are making it increasingly difficult to write a level-headed match analysis - so excuse the odd outburst of rampant hype and adulation.

Argentina's Game Plan: Prior to the match I wondered, whether Argentina might choose to surprise Germany with changes to their tactics or line-up - maybe even going for a more defensive game plan like they did in March.

Jeremy Alumbaugh, SIU-E soccer assistant coach

In a move long rumored (I first heard about it in late May) former Missouri State Bear's assistant and Springfield SC Director Jeremy Alumbaugh has returned to the Missouri Valley Conference. Alumbaugh has joined the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars staff, one of two new members of the MVC.