U.S. head coach Bob Bradley has named longtime MLS midfielder Jesse Marsch to be an assistant coach on the staff of the U.S. Men’s National Team. A player in MLS since the league’s inception in 1996, Marsch has announced his retirement from Chivas USA and will help lead the U.S. through the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Marsch, who holds a USSF ‘A’ license, will join the U.S. team for training camp beginning Feb. 10 at The Home Depot Center, ahead of the game against El Salvador on Feb. 24 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

“I have had the opportunity to work with Jesse for many years, and I believe the knowledge and experience he brings will be a great benefit to both the players and the coaching staff,” said Bradley.

Marsch made two appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team, most recently against China in June of 2007. His first came Nov. 11, 2001, in a World Cup qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago in Port of Spain.

“I’m excited about this opportunity with U.S. Soccer,” said Marsch. “I am looking forward to working hard to help this team be successful in the future.”

Marsch, who wore the captain’s armband for Chivas USA for much of the 2008 and 2009 seasons, made 358 appearances in his 14-year MLS career. One of the most decorated players in league history, he has collected three MLS Cup titles and four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup medals.

The former midfielder has worked with Bradley since 1992, when Marsch was a freshman at Princeton under Bradley the Tigers head coach. In the inaugural season MLS season in 1996, Bradley served as an assistant coach for D.C. United and Marsch a midfielder during their run to the MLS Cup title, the start of three successive league titles for both men.  In 1998, Bradley took the reigns of the expansion Chicago Fire and Marsch helped the club complete its historic double, winning both the U.S. Open Cup and the MLS Cup. When Bradley took over as head coach of Chivas USA prior to the 2006 season, Marsch moved to the club and went on to make 106 appearances in four seasons.

The Racine, Wis., native currently resides in Manhattan Beach, Calif., with his wife Kim and three children.

Following the El Salvador match, the United States will play third-ranked Netherlands on March 3 in Amsterdam, allowing the U.S. to face one of the top teams in the world prior to the start of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Kickoff at the Amsterdam ArenA is set for 8:30 p.m. local time (2:30 p.m. ET), and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Galavision. Fans can also follow along on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and at twitter.com/ussoccer.

The U.S. Men’s National Team has been drawn into Group C with England, Slovenia and Algeria for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The U.S. will open its sixth consecutive World Cup finals tournament against England on June 12 in Rustenburg, and will follow that game with matches against Slovenia on June 18 in Johannesburg and Algeria on June 23 in Tshwane/Pretoria.

Eastbourne Borough have released goalkeeper Michael Jordan by mutual consent and cancelled his contract and registration.

The 6ft 2 ins, 22 year-old signed for Borough in January 2009 and made onlytwo appearances last season.   This campaign he came into the side after his “rival” for the No.1 jersey Danny Knowles who arrived  from
Woking in the summer was sent off in a game and he made 13 apperances. Knowles reclaimed his spot and in recent weeks Jordan has had to be content with a place on the substitutes bench.
 
Michael Jordan began his career at Arsenal in 2002 and was awarded a professional contract  by the Gunners in 2004.  His cv also includes spells at Chesterfield, Lewes and Stevenage Borough.

This weekend is our last chance to catch the Ohio Vortex at the Canton Civic Center.  The Vortex take on the Detroit Waza (Friday, Jan. 15th) and the Louisville Lightning (Saturday, Jan. 16th).  They will then embark on a long, long road trip to finish the season. 

The Vortex have quietly created a talented squad with a good mix of youth and experience.  Seasoned veteran Wes Sechrist matches perfectly with the passion and fire of midfielder Allen Eller.  Defender Mike Pertz and midfielder Steve Gillespie lead the youth movement and represent the team’s best prospects in the outdoor game.  Adam Campellone and Dado Grozdanic have made the biggest contributions to Ohio’s potent attack.

The Vortex have brought pro soccer back to NE Ohio and there is a chance they will bring the PASL-Pro Championships to the Civic Center.  It has been confirmed that the City of Canton is under consideration to host this season’s championships, regardless of where the Vortex may finish in the standings.  It is not much of a surprise, considering the Civic Center is widely regarded as one of the best facilities in the entire league.

Top-flight soccer in Cleveland has had some bad luck as of late.  First, news of the collapse of the City Stars became public.  Then we heard no mention of a Cleveland franchise in the new USSF Division 2 league. 

Now we hear the worst news of all: Cleveland is no longer being considered as a host city for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup bid.  We are not alone in our sorrow as Chicago, the home of U.S. Soccer and President Barack Obama, was also taken out of consideration.  Cleveland and Chicago were among several traditional markets that were ousted in favor of “emerging cities”. 

Cleveland  is the same city described as “one of the top five soccer markets in the United States” by George Nanchoff of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. Many people, including Nanchoff, believed the fall of the City Stars would have no effect on the World Cup bid. We now know that there were many other, more important factors.  However, it seems logical that the lack of professional soccer didn’t help.

We shouldn’t lose all hope. This summer Cleveland will serve as host to the AC Milan Continental Cup, the fastest growing international youth soccer tournament in the U.S.  This will bring some fine young players to our own backyard.

Thank you to the NSCAA for allowing us to cover their 2010 convention.  The event is one of the world’s largest soccer conventions.

We would also like to thank the following sponsors for making our coverage of this prestigious event possible: the Ohio Vortex and Tourbeau Sports Group.

I have to say I have enjoyed covering the PASL this season; it’s been a rewarding experience.  Seeing great talent sign on with PASL clubs shows the true quality of the league.  I was thrilled to see John Michael Hayden, who spent time with the Cleveland City Stars, sign with the Louisville Lightning. 

It was also good to see a veteran defender like Wes Sechrist sign with the Ohio Vortex, a team which already included fiery midfielder Allen Eller. Rumors of a John Ball revival cannot be verified at this point, but make interesting conversation.

The biggest event so far has been the return of Brian Farber.  The league’s biggest star had numerous offers, but chose to go back to the California Cougars.  Farber will return to the Portland Timbers to play outdoors and is one of a few current players expected to make a move to MLS in 2011.

Yes, the indoor game is different.  It reminds you of hockey because of its fast and physical play.  It is not as pure as the outdoor game, but it is an American creation that is entirely unique.

The Louisville Lightning (PASL-Pro) have scheduled a press conference for January 4th.  The club is expected to announce that they have signed a key player.  Insiders suggest this may be the biggest event in the franchise’s young history.   

Ben Wilson will provide coverage of the press conference here at International Soccer Network.

Some key stats from the December 19th match against 1790 Cincinnati Express:

• Allen Eller 3 goals (hat trick), 1 assist
• Milko Cecez 2 goals
• Adis Kuduzovic 2 goals, 2 assists 
• Lucas Martorana 1 goal
• Adam Campellone 1 goal
• Nate Yates 1 assist
• Wes Sechrist 1 assist
• Jared Dombrowski 1 assist

Midfielder Steve Gillespie missed the match with an injury (turf toe).

The Bermuda Hogges and Western Mass Pioneers have announced that they will be playing in the PDL next season.  Both played in the USL’s Second Division last season.

Perhaps this is the first of many moves caused by the USL/NASL dispute.  The good news is that the USL-2 home openers have been announced and there are some exciting matchups.

A source with the USSF says that a definitive answer may not be available until next week, but some are suggesting that it indeed could be after the holidays. The Professional League Task Force is currently gathering and evaluating information from both groups. 

Another source was able to tell us that one committee has yet to see any documentation or be advised on the situation.  This suggests that the process may not be as far as expected.  I thnk everyone can agree that U.S. Soccer is taking their time and is thoughtfully considering all of their options.  They are not about to make a rash decision just so that that we can get a quick decision.

The U.S. Soccer Board of Directors will have the final say regarding the sanctioning of the USL and NASL.  It does not appear that any committee will have to ratify the changes.