Philadelphia Union and Faryd Mondragon confirmed Monday that the veteran goalkeeper will leave to sign with Colombian club Deportivo Cali.

Mondragon, 40, will return to his hometown to play for the team he made his professional debut for more than 20 years ago.

"For family reasons, I have requested the club to allow me the opportunity to finish my career where it started," Mondragon said in a statement released Monday afternoon by the Union.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon remains a Union player.

A Union official confirmed Sunday that Mondragon is in camp with the Union and said the club has not talked with Deportivo Cali, despite Colombian reports that Mondragon could sign with his hometown club, Deportivo Cali.

The U.S. team has proved quite popular with the Canadian media so far (and thanks also to the several American journalists in town!). Of course, the U.S. playes obliged with many interviews which of course serve to promote the game, the team and the tournament. Above, Becky Sauerbrunn gives her thoughts on various soccer topics.

By Chris Wright

Paging Mr M. Al Fayed. This fantastic statue of Carlos 'El Pibe' Valderrama outside the football stadium in his hometown of Santa Marta, Colombia is a lesson in carrying off hero worship with a dash of panache...

I can't believe this 22-foot tall bronze beauty has never invaded my consciousness before.

Winter of discontent Former Premier League referee Jeff Winter has got a few questions to answer this morning after a strange sectarian article appeared on his official website. Winter has been blogging his travels around Australia and New Zealand over the festive period. But one of the blog posts takes a very peculiar take on [.

Goal: Liverpool winger Stewart Downing arrested outside nightclub for alleged 'assault'

The former Villa midfielder was detained by police in the early hours of Sunday morning after an incident with his ex-girlfriend in a club near his hometown of Middlesbrough

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2012-01-08 19:10:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

FC Cologne forward Lukas Podolski has indicated that he will consider all his transfer options at the end of the current season, insisting that he can "fit into any side in Europe."

Podolski has been on the radar of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger for quite a while and widespread reports in the English media suggested that Tottenham Hotspur were also keen on signing the Germany international.

File him under journeyman if you will; Paul Thirlwell's career hasn't exactly hit stellar heights anywhere. Decent spells at his hometown club Sunderland, Sheffield United and Derby were flecked by seemingly the only consistency of his career – injury. Ask any fan of his current club Carlisle to define Thirlwell in a single word and the wags will chorus on cue – ‘injured'.

File him under journeyman if you will; Paul Thirlwell's career hasn't exactly hit stellar heights anywhere. Decent spells at his hometown club Sunderland, Sheffield United and Derby were flecked by seemingly the only consistency of his career – injury. Ask any fan of his current club Carlisle to define Thirlwell in a single word and the wags will chorus on cue – ‘injured'.

A deserving award for the second-half goal machine. And it's a fascinating case this year, probably the strangest MVP we've ever had. What's interesting is how DeRo was discarded not once but twice, first by hometown TFC and then by New York, who really needed Frank Rost (epic eye roll here) in that DP spot.

Anthony Brooks in Action for the U-20s

One of the newer faces in the U-20 Men's National Team pool is John Anthony Brooks, who goes by Anthony. The big defender has been in a few camps before and he's enjoying his time here in Germany: "I think it's been greats," Brooks told the YNT Blog.

By Chris Wright

Daniel Bauer, a midfielder who plays for Magdeburg in Germany's Northern regional league, has been forced to flee from his hometown after five masked men broke into his house and threatened him and his girlfriend on Friday night.

So, was Bauer the victim of an opportunist burglary?

At least while at the helm of the Seattle Sounders.

I know Sigi Schmid would like nothing better than return to the area where he grew up and coached his hometown Galaxy and play his old club come November at MLS Cup in Carson. But first he needs to win an actual postseason game or two.

It's strange to think that a coach with as many wins and as much experience as Schmid has never won a playoff game in three seasons in Seattle, let alone a series, but it's true.

How much do they love 2011 U.S. Women's World Cup Team member Becky Sauerbrunn in her hometown of St. Louis? Just see below:
Becky makes an appearance for some local soccer players in St. Louis

By Chris Wright

We're not sure if corn maze tributes are a 'thing' in MLS fan circles these days, but this is the second crop-based tribute we've seen in the past couple of months with Seattle Sounder's veteran 'keeper Kasey Keller getting the treatment this time, courtesy of the Schilter Family Farm in his hometown of Olympia, Washington.

By Chris Wright

With the 30th September release date crowning on the horizon, the FIFA 12 Hype Machine is ramped all the way up to eleven at the moment and the EA virals are coming thick and fast the lastest seeing Hope Solo squaring off against Steve 'kinda like a gorilla and a leopard' Nash in a duel to the death game of pixel-based football.

The speedy ones, A-Rod and Alex, are back in action with the WNT

The U.S. WNT has gotten a fantastic reception in Kansas City where the folks couldn't be nicer and more excited to see the team, which everyone sincerley appreciates. The squad trained on Monday and Tuesday at the Sporting KC Training Facility at Swope Park and the media, fan and kid turnouts have been excellent.

Does Gerrard still merit automatic Merseyside selection?

This piece by resident Liverpool expert and Timbers fan John Nyen

The year is 1989 and a nine year old Steven George Gerrard is playing for Whiston Juniors in his hometown of Whiston, Merseyside. His abilities place him in the Liverpool youth academy.

Lamar Neagle has broken onto the scene this season in Major League Soccer. After taking time to develop in the USL-2 with the Charleston Battery, Neagle returned to his home state to play for the Seattle Sounders. This season has become a career year for the winger/forward. We checked in with Lamar to ask about everything from the Open Cup to the locker room antics.

Post by Pedro Gomes- Most of us remember the after school PSA commercial about drugs that ended with one kid asking another, "What are you chicken?" and the other replying with "I'm not a chicken, you're a Turkey." Then turns away from the peer-pressuring dope dealer and walks off triumphantly.

A great team win for Carolina.The Railhawks entered the match looking for their third straight victory and a club record 17th victory. They achieved both. The win allowed the team to go nine points ahead on the NASL table. With a win or a draw in the next game, they can clinch the regular-season championship.

Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay has revealed the Bluebirds tried in vain to keep Craig Bellamy from the clutches of Liverpool on deadline day.
The 31-year-old spent last season on loan at his hometown club from Manchester City, but was unable to help them secure a passage into the Barclays Premier League.

Bluebirds launched Bellamy bid

Championship outfit Cardiff failed in a late bid to bring Craig Bellamy back to his hometown club.

View the full story here: Sky Sports

A news article on 2011-09-01 23:25:57 from: Sky Sports

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images Sinead Farrelly is a former UVA standout and was selected No. 2 in the 2011 WPS Draft by her hometown Philadelphia Independence. VASoccerNews did a Q&A with...
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Iker Casillas, how we love thee and thee's charity work. You made many campers happy this past Monday when you visited them (and your hometown) in Navalcruz, which is just one of the million reasons why you'll always be our number #1 'baller of choice.

Except when David Beckham finally comes to his senses and accepts our sleepover invitation.

Already a hometown favorite among Seattle fans for status as a local product, Lamar Neagle boosted his cult hero status in the Emerald City with his hat-trick performance in the Sounders' 6-2 romp over Columbus on Saturday. He also earned SBI MLS Player of the Week honors in the process.

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Hurricane Irene closed airports, flooded roads and rails, and generally made it impossible to get aroun on the east coast.

Despite this disrupting natural disaster, it will be hard for MLS's Eastern Conference teams to argue that the storm was the reason they didn't show up on Saturday night.

We've mourned the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo to La Liga in the past taken from us as Fantasy Premier League managers and sent to a warmer climate, and now Cesc Fabregas has returned to his hometown club. Well, ... Continue reading →

FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique knows a thing or two about winning.
The 24-year-old helped Spain capture its first World Cup trophy in 2010 and claimed the UEFA Champions League title with his hometown club this season. He also dates singing star Shakira, whom he met in South Africa last summer.

Now that the recent hubris of the USMNT is over and the dust has cleared, fans can't wait to see new USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann and the US team in action vs. Mexico on August 10th. While many US fans no doubt have heard the name of Jurgen Klinsmann, I don't know if many people know the scope of career he has had both as a player for Germany and a manager at the club and international level.

Alberto Aquilani's agent insists he will only accept a permanent transfer to Fiorentina and blasted Roma. "They would've been considered."
The midfielder spent last season on loan at Juventus and is not part of Liverpool's plans.
"Alberto has given the all-clear to join Fiorentina, but he doesn't want to find himself in the same position of having to reconsider his position next season," agent Franco Zavaglia told Rete Sport.

There has been a recent large outlay of money for home grown players between English Clubs. In many peoples view the money exchanged for certain players has been described as ‘excessive'. Names including James Milner, Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson have all crossed the £20 million plus threshold.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Video first spotted on theoffside.com.

Last month we told you how Spanish International and crystal-coloured eye crusher, Jesus Navas, got hitched to his longtime (albeit quite young) love Alejandra in their hometown of Seville. Now, for the most intrusive of minds, you can witness this couple's most intimate moments from their big day, curiously set to an orchestra-on-auto-tune soundtrack.

Barca might want you, but Arsenal need and love you, and that is all you need!

Cesc, did you read Sandro Rosell's comment regarding your possible transfer last week: "let things run their course and hope they go in our favour"? How do you feel about Barca's unwillingness to meet Arsenal's apparantly more than reasonable asking price of £40m in one go?

When we visited Shannon Boxx in her hometown(s), it was a beautiful day in Los Angeles. Boxx grew up in Torrance and Redondo Beach, and currently lives in the South Bay, which is one of the best spots in many, many great spots in Southern California.
We visited her at her apartment during a rare respite from the road where she talked about the travails of a professional soccer player.

In Part 1 of Back Home with Christie Rampone we visited the U.S. captain at her home in Manasquan, N.J. before the team left for the Algarve Cup at the end of February. There we saw her unique house (an old, old house that had been almost totally and fantastically remodeled) and we of course met her family, and dog.

By Chris Wright

In which an Argentinian youth tries to land one on Lionel Messi as the Barca star emerges from a restaurant in his hometown of Rosario, misses completely then legs it down the street...

According to the Argentinian media, the uppity yob was a Rosario Central supporter, arch-rivals of Newell's Old Boys the club where Messi started his career.

Could have been Messi Lionel Messi has escaped unscathed after an attempted attack on him. The Barcelona star was posing for photos outside a restaurant in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, when a hooded youth attempted to punch him. The attacker didn't land his punch and Messi later played down the incident.

Their Words "Aye. Then we'll get him. Ban him on Friday." Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson speaking to a United communications officer after an Associated Press reporter asked a question about Ryan Giggs. Other Sources Tornado rips through hometown of Portland Timbers' Jack Jewsbury - from The Oregonian's Geoffrey C.

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands Ajax have completed their swoop for FC Twente ace Theo Janssen in a reported €3million (£2.6m) deal. The 29-year-old, a key performer for Twente this term, has joined the Eredivisie champions on a two-year contract, with the option for a third year. Janssen, voted player of the season by Dutch newspaper De [.