Photo by ISIphotos.com
By AVI CREDITOR
After having his name tossed around the rumor mill in the last couple of months, Juan Carlos Osorio has a new squad to coach – the Honduras national team.
The former Chicago Fire, New York Red Bulls and Once Caldas coach has been selected to become the next manager of Los Catrachos. Fresh off capturing the Colombian clausura championship with Once Caldas, Osorio was rumored to be returning to MLS as coach of Chivas USA.
Instead he'll look to guide Honduras in this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup and beyond.
An interesting side note from the Honduras coaching search, according to this story, is that current Chicago Fire coach Carlos de los Cobos was one of the final candidates for the position.
Here are a few more stories from around the soccer world:
NEVILLE RETIRES
Longtime Manchester United defender Gary Neville announced his retirement from soccer, effective immediately.
The 35-year-old Neville appeared an astounding 602 times for the Red Devils throughout his career. He also earned 85 caps for England, but has been besieged by injury of late.
"Gary was the best English right back of his generation," Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson told the BBC.
It's speculated that Neville will to be stepping into a role either in television or as a coach.
TFC, PARTIZAN DRAW IN TURKEY
Nana Attakora scored off an attempted cross in the sixth minute, but Partizan Belgrade pulled even from the penalty spot before halftime as Toronto FC and Partizan played to a 1-1 draw in a friendly in Turkey on Wednesday.
Dwayne de Rosario missed a penalty for TFC, which also saw Doneil Henry get sent off for receiving two cautions.
TFC is in Turkey until Feb. 12 and will play Dinamo Zagreb in a friendly two days before departing.
BARCELONA, REAL MADRID ADVANCE TO COPA DEL REY FINAL
After entering the second leg of its Copa del Rey semifinal tie with a 5-0 lead, Barcelona took the opportunity to rest most of its regular starters. It didn't seem to matter.
Adriano, Thiago and Ibrahim Affelay each scored as Barca downed Almeria, 3-0, to advance to the Copa del Rey final.
Joining Barcelona in the final will be rival Real Madrid, which received late goals from Mesut Ozil and Emmanuel Adebayor to defeat Sevilla, 2-0 (3-0 on aggregate) to take their semifinal tie.
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What do you think of Osorio coaching Honduras? Surprised that De los Cobos was a candidate? What's your reaction to Neville retiring? Like TFC's preseason slate? Who do you see winning the Copa del Rey?
Share your thoughts below.