By CAITLIN MURRAY
German goalkeeper and FIFA women’s Player of the Year finalist Nadine Angerer is joining the National Women’s Soccer League.
Asked this week by a German news website where she will play in the NWSL, Angerer said: “I still cannot say because the contract is not signed and it’s still not quite final. But my new club will announce in January.”
The German national team captain had told German media in July she would be moving onto the NWSL after a stint in Australia, but had not elaborated further. Angerer spent 2013 with the Brisbane Roar of Australia’s W-League.
Wherever Angerer ends up, it would be a huge boost to any NWSL club. After winning UEFA Player of the Year on the strength of a splendid performance between the posts during the Euro Cup, she is now a finalist for the 2013 FIFA Player of the Year award to be decided later this month.
Here’s a look at some other news from around the league:
SIGNING OF SCOTT TO ENGLISH CLUB RAISES QUESTIONS
Notts County Ladies FC of England’s top women’s league announced Wednesday they have signed FC Kansas City midfielder Desiree Scott.
Sources familiar with the situation have told SBI it’s not a done deal, despite the announcement. Key clearances involving the league and the Canadian Soccer Association are not in place, a source said.
Sources have said that Scott is expected to report for pre-season camp with FC Kansas City.
Notts County appears to be set with the signing, despite it being “subject to international clearance,” according to a team release.
“Desiree is an extremely impressive footballer, and she’s shown this across many levels,” Notts County manager Rick Passmoor said in a statement. “Bringing her to Notts County shows our ambition, as well as hers. We continue to strive forward as a football team, a team which trains full time, and a team which has real intent to achieve in women’s football.”
Scott had won a bronze medal with the Canadian national team at the 2012 Olympics in London and made the NWSL Second XI last season.
Sources indicate fellow FC Kansas City defender and Canadian national team member Lauren Sesselmann could also be in negotiations with Notts County, but facing the same hurdle of clearances as Scott.
PORTLAND SIGNS BROOKS AS AMERICANS FLOCK TO NWSL
Amber Brooks has officially joined the Portland Thorns, the club announced Thursday.
“Amber is a massive addition to our team,” said Thorns coach Paul Riley. “She has the ability to anchor a creative midfield and run the show. She is technical, intelligent and mobile. I’m excited to get Amber in Portland and look forward to her being a major part of our quest for the championship.”
Brooks had been picked by the Thorns in the college draft prior to the inaugural 2013 NWSL season, but instead opted to go abroad, playing for Bayern Munich and scoring 10 goals in 22 games.
Bayern Munich had claimed Brooks was pressured by U.S. Soccer to join the NWSL, but Brooks later tweeted that the decision was her own. Brooks has one cap with the U.S. Women’s National Team.
Interestingly, Christen Press wrote in her blog this week that U.S. Soccer is pushing for its national team players to join the NWSL. Press wrote that she had negotiated to stay with Tyreso FF in Sweden for their Champions League run and will join the NWSL later.
The Thorns also announced they waived goalkeeper Adelaide Gay and midfielder Elizabeth Guess.
QUICK KICKS:
The Houston Dash hired former USWNT coach Tony DiCicco as a consultant while they continue their head coach search. (Press release)
The USWNT is scheduled to host friendlies against Russia on Feb. 8 and Feb. 12, with locations yet to be announced. (Russian calendar)
The Western New York Flash signed defender Katherine Reynolds to a new contract. (Press release)
The NWSL 2014 season will begin on April 12. (Press release)
The NWSL will release the list of allocated players on Friday from the U.S., Canadian and Mexican federations. (Official tweet)
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Where do you think Nadine Angerer will end up? Do you think Desiree Scott should stay in the NWSL? How do you feel about American national team players flocking to the NWSL?
Share your thoughts below.
What are the chances of Marta returning to play in the U.S. after her contract expires with Tyreso?
It looks like Whitney Engen, and Melissa Tancredi have been drawn for Houston Dash. Engen won’t be available until June possibly because she is playing in the UEFA Champions League.
with brooks going to portland, will that make it easier to send Morgan to Houston?
Morgan is not going anywhere.
Angerer had announced she was moving to the NWSL before the Dash were announced, so I’d guess she’s going somewhere else. But who needs a starting goalie? Almost every team has an allocated keeper, except WNY and after that season no one questions whether Franch should be a starter. Another case might be Boston who doesn’t seem happy with their allocation, Santiago, and she may not be allocated to them anymore, but they do seem happy with Naeher as a starter and they now have Betos as a backup. So what team is left? Seattle and Portland both need a backups now, but I don’t think Angerer would be happy as a backup. Chicago’s got two good keepers. Sky Blue has two good keepers. KC’s got two good keepers. Maybe Washington’s a possibility? But I don’t think Harris would’ve come back if Angerer was going there. So that leaves Houston.
I’ve seen some thoughts that questioned the Angerer move. You only have 2 international slots and there are plenty of good keepers (heck, Loyden is sitting on the bench in NJ). It’s great to have her in the league, but seems there would be other international players available who would be a better investment.