On Friday, the United States Soccer Federation announced that the US Soccer Developmental Academy will be playing a 10-month season starting in September and ending in June. The new schedule applies to the 2012-13 season. US Youth Soccer technical director Claudio Reyna "Going to a 10-month season is an important step in the evolution of elite player development.

One of Jurgen Klinsmann's goals upon becoming coach of the U.S. national team was to revamp the system from senior team to youth structure, and with Friday's announcement, he has certainly made a major change to the latter.

Starting in September, the U.S. Development Academy will operate on a 10-month schedule, mimicking the development systems of nations around the world.

Asked directly what excites him most about his new opportunity to be the Coach of the Seattle Sounders U-23 side Darren Sawatzky gives two answers. The first isn't a surprise. As the Technical Director of the Sounders Academy his passing for player and personal develop is a strong fit in this new intermediary step between Academy and Pro.

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.

Singapore legend returns to Malaysia. Fandi Ahamd has been appointed Technical Director of second tier Johor. He will only work two weeks a month because of commitments in Singapore.
He will get to meet English striker Richard Offiong who recently signed for the club.

There is a real possibility that we will see Jose Mourinho pacing the touchline in the Premier League next season.

Despite being 7 points clear at the top of La Liga, and into the Champions League knockout stages, Mourinho is growing tired of the snipping in Madrid and said on Tuesday that "I don't know if I will be here next season.

In our recaps of Seattle Sounders FC's Academy Alumni the focus was primarily on the players within the NCAA system. Players like Sean Okoli (second leading scorer on the U18s in 2010/11), Deandre Yedlin and Nick Palodichuk are following typical American collegiate paths. Yedlin and Okoli even got picked for the recent United States U-20 path.

The Seattle Sounders continued their active offseason on Wednesday, officially announcing the signing of 23-year-old fullback/midfielder Christian Sivebaek. The move has been rumored since late December, and the player himself had even confirmed the deal.

"Christian is a player that we have been following for quite some time," Sounders technical director Chris Henderson said in a team release.

The brain trust for Seattle Sounders FC's on field product went to Bradenton, Florida for the MLS Combine. Yesterday, the club provided a conference call with Coach Sigi Schmid and Technical Director Chris Henderson. Like many outside observers they see a deeper draft class than usual, but with top level talent stable in quantity and quality.

There have been numerous rumours saying that Andrei Arshavin is now considered surplus to requirements at Arsenal, and the Russian captain has also made it plain that he is worried about losing his place in the national team if he doesn't play regularly for the Gunners. The Zenit technical director Igor Korneev admitted last month [.

"Wilma...!" -- Fred Flintstone in a paroxysm of ecstasy after he convinces Betty Rubble to "role play a bit."

We'll keep you posted. More on this at 5.

Wait, start from the beginning.

Out of seemingly nowhere, the U.S. Soccer Federation has cleared house. Today, the U.S. power that be announced U.

Shortly after his contract with the Revolution was not renewed, Steve Nicol entertained an offer to fill the vacant heading coaching job in Colorado according to a Goal.com report in November. But, according to Nicol, it wasn't he who to reneged on the opportunity.

In a Jan. 10 report from the Boston Globe, the former Revolution manager stated that he never said "no" the Colorado job, but rather, it was the club who declined his services.

This Thursday, January 12 will feature the Chicago Fire's 5th MLS SuperDraft with Frank Klopas as the team's technical director. In order to establish how Klopas has stacked up to his competition over this time period, we will take a look at the highlights and lowlights of the draft histories of the other MLS teams.

This Thursday, January 12 will feature the Chicago Fire's 5th MLS SuperDraft with Frank Klopas as the team's technical director. In order to establish how Klopas has stacked up to his competition over this time period, we will take a look at the highlights and lowlights of the draft histories of the other MLS teams.

January 18, 2012 will mark Frank Klopas' 4th full year as technical director for the Chicago Fire. The club has enjoyed a roller coaster ride, from the highs of cup finals to the lows of missing the Playoffs. In this time, Klopas has been responsible for signing players both foreign and domestic. With the transfer window opening in the past couple of days, I believe an examination of the Fire's international signings under Klopas is important, especially considering that the search for international talent for the 2012 season is well under way.

FC Milwaukee defender Brittany Von Rueden continues to make an impression on the U.S. women's national team coaches.

U.S. Soccer women's technical director April Heinrichs called Von Rueden in for another Under-18 camp, which starts Saturday in Chula Vista, Calif.

Mequon's Von Rueden, a senior at Milwaukee DSHA who has verbally committed to play at Notre Dame next fall, was part of four Under-18 national team camps in 2011 – most recently last month in Florida.

The Columbus Crew announced on Wednesday that their technical director and US National Team alum Brian Bliss will be assisting Under-20 National Team coach Tab Ramos. He will remain in his role with Columbus. "Having played for the national team, it is an honor to be asked to return and contribute in another way," Bliss said in a press release announcing the additional role.

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.

Marc Burch, formerly of D.C. United, negotiated new terms with the Seattle Sounders. Burch will compete with Leo Gonzalez for starting time at left back, but per today's release Coach Sigi Schmid sees him adding needed depth.

"We are happy to have Marc signed," said Sigi Schmid, Sounders FC head coach.

Happy New Year! We hope all of you had a great holiday season and are getting even more excited for the 2012 Sounders Season.

The "Silly Season" is now in full swing and the end of 2011 was just heating up with all kinds of rumors and new signings for the Sounders and we think that's just the beginning.

Happy New Year! We hope all of you had a great holiday season and are getting even more excited for the 2012 Sounders Season.

The "Silly Season" is now in full swing and the end of 2011 was just heating up with all kinds of rumors and new signings for the Sounders and we think that's just the beginning.

The Cordell Cato v Mrisho Ngassa "battle" may not exist at all. Word out of Mrisho Ngassa's Tanzanian club (Azam FC) is that they will release him to Seattle Sounders FC on a free. After purchasing him for a national record 40 thousand dollars this would be a huge move for a club in a relatively poor footballing region.

Full Audio Of Adam Johansson Conference Call

Here's our recording of Adam Johansson's introductory conference call. He talks about being impressed by the Sounders organization, his desire to join the attack and explains his injury history. There's also some audio from Technical Director Chris Henderson.

Seattle Sounders FC signing Adam Johansson fills the hole at right back left open from the loss of James Riley, but Technical Director Chris Henderson sees him as adding more to the role rather than a like-for-like swap;

I think losing James Riley, a seasoned veteran in our league, it's tough to lose James.

A couple days after seemingly every news outlet in Sweden announced the signing, the Seattle Sounders made it official: Adam Johansson has joined the team on a multi-year deal. Johansson has played most of his professional career with Swedish power IFK Goteburg and has seen semi-regular time with the Swedish national team since making his international debut in 2009 against the United States and playing in three World Cup qualifiers that year.

Chicago Fire head coach and technical director Frank Klopas recently traveled to Europe for his annual scouting trip. Earlier this week, the Fire posted a little story and a video of Klopas wrapping up his trip by visiting Atletico Madrid. Things have been fairly quiet on any European players that might but coming over to play for Chicago but the Greek press has the first morsel of information just before the European transfer window opens.

As Seattle Sounders FC's Academy enters its winter break to rest and recharge they stand in strong in the standings. The U-18s are first in the Northwest Division and seventh by PPM among teams with 10+ games. At the U-16 level the team is dominating tied for first by PPM with 10+ games and in first in the division.

The Chicago Fire declined to participate in yesterday's weighted lottery for Lee Nguyen. Of the six teams that did enter, the Vancouver Whitecaps ended up as the lucky winners. Vancouver will be getting somewhat of an unknown product but Nguyen did dominate when he played in the V-League and he'll always have some USMNT call-ups in 2007 to his name.

Alexandra Wong (McLean Power; Rockville, Md.) and Anna McClung (GSA Phoenix; Gate City, Va.) where selected by U.S. Women's National team technical director April Heinrichs to be part of the final U-18 wnt camp of 2011.
Wong and McClung will head to Florida for the camp that takes place December 11-18.

FC Milwaukee defender Brittany Von Rueden is headed south for the final U.S. Under-18 women's national team camp of the year.

Von Rueden, a Notre Dame recruit, is one of 26 players called in by U.S. Soccer women's technical director April Heinrichs for the camp Dec. 11 to 18 in Sunrise, Fla.

Taylor SchisslerEclipse Select and U.S. Soccer Communications
CHICAGO -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club defender and New Lenox, Ill., resident Taylor Schissler is one of 26 players who were called in to participate in the U.S. U-18 Women's National Team's final training camp of 2011.
The Lincoln-Way Central junior will take part in a Dec.

CHICAGO (Nov. 22, 2011) - FOX Soccer will broadcast all three U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team matches during the 2011 Nike International Friendlies in conjunction with the Development Academy Winter Showcase in December. The U.S. will take on Brazil, France and Turkey during the competition, which will be held at the Premier Sports Campus in Sarasota, Fla.

Steve Nicol reportedly isn't interested in joining Colorado as head coach. (Photo by Art Donahue/artdonahue.com)

Former New England Revolution head coach Steve Nicol turned down a possible chance to jump right back into coaching in Major League Soccer with the Colorado Rapids, according to a report on Goal.

The list continues to grow of former coaches and teammates who heap praise on the new coach of the New England Revolution, Jay Heaps.
Frank Dell'Apa of the Boston Globe speaks to former New England coaches Fernando Clavijo and Steve Nicol about their protege turn manager.
"It's a bold move, isn't it?

Shocking move by the Colorado Rockies who fired coach Gary Smith. What makes this decision such a head scratcher is that Smith led the Rapids to their first MLS Cup less than a year ago.

Managing director Jeff Plush said Monday that he decided not to renew Smith's contract, which ended after the season.

Liverpool have fallen behind AC Milan in the race to sign highly-rated Sao Paulo midfielder Lucas.
The Serie A side's technical director Marco Branco has reportedly met with the 19-year-old's agent, Juan Figer, to discuss a move to the San Siro, taking the Italian club to the head of the queue for the prospect's signature.

Teal Bunbury, who has two caps with the U.S. Men's National Team, had to withdraw from the Under-23 roster after suffering an ankle injury.

Sporting Kansas City forward Teal Bunbury was forced to withdraw from U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team training camp roster after suffering a right ankle contusion in his team's 2-0 loss to Houston in the MLS Western Conference Final.

Teal Bunbury, who has two caps with the U.S. Men's National Team, had to withdraw from the Under-23 roster after suffering an ankle injury.

Sporting Kansas City forward Teal Bunbury was forced to withdraw from U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team training camp roster after suffering a right ankle contusion in his team's 2-0 loss to Houston in the MLS Western Conference Final.

There are probably Colorado fans who will disagree with me based solely on what transpired last year on the frozen tundra, but I'm glad he's gone.

"Reasonable people can disagree what the right next path is, whether that's players or travel (arrangements). There's any number of things," [Managing Director Jeff] Plush said Monday night in a phone interview.

Gary Smith, who led the Colorado Rapids to an improbable championship in 2010, was shown the door on Monday.

The coach, who had agreed to a new contract, and the team announced a parting of the ways on Monday afternoon. The departure came the same day that Rapids players cleared out their lockers following a 4-0 aggregate loss to Kansas City in the Eastern Conference semifinals.