The LA Galaxy are in last place of the Western Conference. After being bounced out of the CONCACAF Champions League to the hands of Toronto and suffering yet another league defeat, AEG President Time Leiweke awoke to another bit of bad news concerning his LA Galaxy.
Both Bruce Arena and Landon Donovan have decided to part ways with the club.

Paul Mariner believes Khano Smith could make an MLS comeback. (Photo by Art Donahue/artdonahue.com)

Former New England Revolution midfielder Khano Smith's MLS career came to a screeching halt in 2010 at just 29-years-old thanks to extremely inconsistent and often frustrating play. Now former Revs assistant coach and current Toronto FC director of player development Paul Mariner believes the ex-pro could make a comeback at left back, according to a report in the Bermuda Gazette.

Welcome to your Weekly Football wrap! From the looks of it, the Valencianos are all ready to celebrate their traditional Fallas festival by burning these "ninots" (puppets) of Jose Mourinho and Barca's assistant coach, Tito Vilanova at the celebration on March 19.

photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com

If at first you don't succeed, try again.

That is the approach Sochaux is taking in terms of Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu.

Having had a previous bid worth an estimated $774,400 turned down, Sochaux has launched a second bid for the U.

Today, US Soccer came out with their list of candidates available for selection to the US Soccer Hall of Fame. On that list are two current coaches of Sporting KC. Head coach and technical director, Peter Vermes is on the list again, as is assistant coach, Kerry Zavagnin, in his first year of eligibility.

Social media has been a revelation for players and fans to engage in talks, express themselves to each other and establish a stronger relationship. There's a downside to tweeting before thinking things through, however.

Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Lee Nguyen used a homophobic slur in a joke-toned tweet at teammate Brad Knighton Monday night, drawing immediate backlash.

CFC Azul added two more midfielders to its roster with commitments from Sam Groves (left) and Kevin Lewis (Photo: USLsoccer.com graphic).

CFC Azul added two more players in advance of their inaugural season on Tuesday, with midfielders Kevin Lewis and Sam Groves in the fold for 2012.

Both players are University of Hartford products, with Lewis coming off his junior year and Groves a recent graduate (2011) of the school.

Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

American players are not the only ones going abroad for training stints during the MLS offseason.

In an effort to keep sharp and maintain fitness, Rafael Marquez has begun practicing with Barcelona B.

Jurgen Klinsmann, Dawn Scott (WNT Fitness Coach), Pia Sundhage, Caleb Porter (U-23 MNT Head Coach), Andreas Herzog, Martin Vasquez (MNT Assistant Coach), Eric Yamamoto (U-23 MNT Assistant Coach)
Two World Cup veterans. Two players who scored bushels of goals for club and country.

The 2012 NHL Draft is still a ways away. It will take place at Consol Energy Center in the city of Pittsburgh starting on July 22nd. However, it's never too early to take a look at the best prospect available for the draft.

While there are a number of international players at the top of the list, there is also quite a bit of domestic talent.

Photo: Michael Long

This time last year, the Philadelphia Independence were entering the end of preseason training. Now, players from the 2011 team—as well as new players who were announced or rumored to be joining the club before the 2012 WPS season was cancelled—are spread all over Europe and the US.

It appears that University of Wisconsin women's soccer coach Paula Wilkins is in the market for a new assistant coach.

Pat Farmer is leaving the Badgers after four seasons to take over at Cornell, according to Tweets posted by the UW program's official account and current and former players.

By Chris Wright

NASL side Minnesota Stars launched their new kits for 2012 not so very long ago and, while the home strip's pretty swish and all, it's their away kit that well and truly steals the show.

The silver kit is made by Admiral Christ, remember Admiral?

Lansbury Seeking Answers on His Future

Arsenal youngster Henri Lansbury is expected to hold a face-to-face meeting with manager Arsene Wenger before deciding whether to ask for a permanent transfer or ink a new deal with the Gunners.

Now that we're through the holidays its time to get back to business. Hopefully KSE will make a coaching choice this week, as this debacle of an off-season can't go on much longer. More on that in a moment.

The Under-19 United States National Team will be participating in the Stuttgart Junior Cup, the US Soccer Federation announced on Tuesday. The format is an indoor six-a-side tournament similar to futsal. With that format in mind, the United States is opting for Futsal National Team assistant coach Mark Litton.

The Colorado Rapids are set to hire FC Dallas assistant and Academy Director Oscar Pareja has the team's new head coach, the Denver Post reported on Tuesday evening.

Pareja has beaten out a group of candidates that included Denis Hamlett, Tom Soehn and Richie Williams. The Rapids are expected to make the announcement this week.

Columbus Crew technical director Brian Bliss can add U.S. Under-20 national team assistant coach to his resume after becoming the first assistant appointed to Tab Ramos' staff on Wednesday.

Bliss will maintain his duties with the Crew while assuming the added international responsibilities.

Another week of former SKC Wizards updates, some extra news this week as well. By now you've heard about Craig Rocastle signing with the Missouri Comets, but there's other news as well. Eddie Johnson's club career continues to spiral down for him, as he's already out at Puebla in Mexico. Apparently the forward failed his physical and was not fit and was released basically 2 days after showing up in Mexico.

The New England Revolution today announced the additions of three members to new head coach Jay Heaps' staff. Jay Miller joins Heaps as his primary assistant, while former Revolution defender Nick Downing was named strength and conditioning coach and Scott Emmens was hired as the team's equipment manager.

FC Dallas reserve team coach and academy director Oscar Pareja will be leaving that role to take the head coaching job with the Colorado Rapids. Pareja, an MLS veteran as a player, also worked as an assistant coach with the United States Under-17 National Team in 2007-08. "I am honored to join such a great organization like the Colorado Rapids, and want to thank everyone at Kroenke Sports & Entertainment for the opportunity.

photo by John Dorton/ISIphotos.com

The Colorado Rapids have signed Oscar Pareja as their head coach, the club announced on Thursday.

Having beaten out three other finalists, Pareja will attempt to lead the Rapids to the MLS Cup final in his first head coaching position.

Today Colorado made it official and hired Oscar Pareja as the team's 7th head coach. The Rapids say 6th but I like to count Roy Wegerle's 1 game as player/manager at the end of the 1996 season. ;) There's been no details as to the amount or length of his contract other than "long" according to Tim Hinchey at the press conference.

The Chicago Fire announced that Mike Matkovich and Leo Percovich will return to the club as Frank Klopas' assistant coaches for the 2012 season. Matkovich rejoins the Fire as an assistant coach, having previously served in the role for the club from 2009-10. The fact that Klopas is bringing Matkovich back on suggests that there was some kind of rift between Matkovich and former Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos.

University of Redlands Coach Ralph Perez, a former Galaxy assistant coach, is a class act. He (gently) coached me when I participated in a Galaxy fantasy camp for a column. He is often an analyst on Galaxy radio broadcasts with Joe Tutino. And he has assumed numerous coaching roles

The legend of Pep Guardiola continues as he was named the best manager of 2011, ahead of José Mourinho (Real Madrid), last year's winner, and Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United).

Guardiola, who was recently named the world's best manager by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), picks up yet another acknowledgement to his brilliant career.

The legend of Pep Guardiola continues as he was named the best manager of 2011, ahead of José Mourinho (Real Madrid), last year's winner, and Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United).

Guardiola, who was recently named the world's best manager by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), picks up yet another acknowledgement to his brilliant career.

Minnesota Stars FC. That's the new name of the former NSC Minnesota Stars. Both CEO Djorn Buchholz and player assistant coach Kevin Friedland, who also does some promotional work with the team, said the NSC name on the logo was confusing. "It's not something we looked at and said, this has got to change.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

In a conference call on Wednesday, Union assistant coach John Hackworth confirmed that Michael Farfan is in northern England training with English Premier League club Sunderland. "But with Michael, he's there because he wanted to make himself fully prepared and ready, he wanted to go experience it and make sure he's ready for preseason," Hackworth said.

Philadelphia Union assistant coach John Hackworth spoke to reporters via conference call on Wednesday night ahead of today's SuperDraft. He discussed the Union's approach to the Players Combine, the possibility of trades, particularly for an international spot, and how the Union are in a different position going into the 2012 SuperDraft compared to 2010 and 2011.

David Nikolic, a Milwaukee native who spent 18 years in the UW-Milwaukee program, was named the Great Lakes Region women's assistant coach of the year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Nickolic and head coach Michael Moynihan left the Panthers last month to take the same positions at Northwestern.

Jurgen Klinsmann, Dawn Scott (WNT Fitness Coach), Pia Sundhage, Caleb Porter (U-23 MNT Head Coach), Andreas Herzog, Martin Vasquez (MNT Assistant Coach), Eric Yamamoto (U-23 MNT Assistant Coach)
Two World Cup veterans. Two players who scored bushels of goals for club and country.

I read a comment made by Carlo Ancelotti yesterday about possible transfer targets and when Fernando Torres' name came up I immediately thought bollocks!. I thought straight away that the press would make his comments out to be something that they aren't and when I woke up this morning I was proved right.

Very interesting news emerging from Paris. PSG Coach Carlo Ancelotti is claiming that he has been offered Chelsea striker Fernando Torres. Of course Chelsea have maintained that Torres is not for sale so there is a very high likelihood that the deal won't go through.

That said, with notable Chelsea strikers Drogba and Kalou having linked up with their national side for the African Cup of Nations, Torres has been gifted the perfect opportunity to prove himself.

Chasing the Big Leagues Sassuolo (Serie B) is a post from: Just Football

Tales from Tier Two is a series on Just Football in partnership with @tiertwofooty, in which we assess the promotion chances of the clubs in tier two of Europe's major leagues at the midway point of 2011/12.

Roberto Mancini has said it is "impossible" for Carlos Tevez to play for Manchester City again.

Recently, City assistant coach David Platt suggested Tevez could play for the club again if his future was not resolved in this month's transfer window, but Mancini threw cold water on that suggestion today:

"It is impossible.

Joe Paterno, the longtime Penn State coach who won more games than anyone in major college football but was fired amid a child sex abuse scandal that scarred his reputation for winning with integrity, died Sunday of lung cancer at the age of 85.
Paterno's legacy was clearly tarnished by the terrible tragedy of child abuse and his inability to manage and prevent it, but that shouldn't totally overshadow his positive influence on their university and players who competed for him.

Cold air, but sunny skies down at Starfire for the last split session training on the schedule. Session One, the younger players, saw 10v10 action. They needed a warm body to fill out the full 20, instead assistant coach Ezra Hendrickson (now on twitter) played as a left back in their three back set.

On Tuesday, the United States Soccer Federation announced that Richie Williams has been named coach of the Under-17 National Team. Williams - a former National Team and Major League Soccer player who also served as an MLS assistant coach - had been coaching the U-18 team. The U-17 coach is a fulltime role.

U.S. Soccer Press Release:
RICHIE WILLIAMS NAMED U.S. U-17 MNT HEAD COACH Former U.S. MNT Midfielder to Oversee U-17 Residency Program
CHICAGO (Jan. 24, 2012) - U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati has named former U.