By RYAN TOLMICH
Robbie Keane is set to kick off the 2015 season with a return to his hometown.
The LA Galaxy announced on Monday that the club will visit Ireland for a preseason friendly against Shamrock Rovers that is set for Feb. 21. The friendly will see Keane return to his hometown of Dublin, and more specifically the area of Tallaght.
Shamrock Rovers are the most successful club in Ireland, having won the League of Ireland 17 times while claiming 24 FAI Cups.
Here are some more of Monday’s MLS news and notes:
FIRE ADD GHANIAN FORWARD ACCAM AS DESIGNATED PLAYER
The Chicago Fire have inked the club’s second Designated Player heading into the 2015 season.
After announcing the signing of forward Kennedy Igboananike earlier this month, the Fire have confirmed the addition of Ghanian international David Accam from Sweden’s Helsingborgs IF.
Igboananike was one of the Black Stars’ final cuts ahead of the 2014 World Cup after earning his first call up in March. The pacey forward, who previously spent time with Östersund, Evesham United and Ledbury Town, scored 30 goals in 62 matches for Helsingborgs.
“I’m really excited to be a part of MLS and the Chicago Fire,” Accam said. “The commitment that the Fire showed me was the main reason I chose Chicago over other offers that I had. I would also like to thank the coach Frank Yallop and the owner Andrew Hauptman for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to play for the Fire. I cannot wait to repay their faith.”
NYC FC ADD FORMER UNION TECHNICAL DIRECTOR VARTUGHIAN AS ASSISTANT COACH
Jason Kreis’ has added yet another member to his New York City FC coaching staff.
NYC FC announced Monday that the club has added former Philadelphia Union technical director Rob Vartughian as an assistant coach. Vartughian, originally from New York, will join fellow assistants C.J. Brown and Miles Joseph on Kreis’ staff.
“I have a great amount of respect and admiration for Jason Kreis and how his teams have played over the years,” Vartughian said. “I think he’s a coach that really trusts his assistants and values everyone’s input. He is open and treats everybody like equals.
“My background is in goalkeeping so I’ll work specifically with the goalkeepers, but Jason prefers all of his coaches to be involved with all areas of the team.”
CREW, D.C. UNITED, FC DALLAS TO PARTAKE IN ATX PRO CHALLENGE
A trio of MLS sides are set to kickoff their 2015 season in a four-team, single-elimination tournament.
The Columbus Crew announced on Monday that the team will join D.C. United, FC Dallas and the USL PRO’s Austin Aztex for the ATX Pro Challenge in Austin, Texas, from Feb. 13 to Feb. 15.
In addition, the Crew revealed that the trip to Austin will be just one of the club’s preseason stops, with additional details to come at a later date.
Here’s a closer look at the tournament’s schedule:
Friday, February 13, 2015 (all times ET)
Game 1 (6:45 p.m.): Crew SC vs. FC Dallas
Game 2 (9 p.m.): Austin Aztex vs. D.C. United
Sunday, February 15, 2015 (all times ET)
Third Place Game (2 p.m.): Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
Championship Match (4:15 p.m.): Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
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What do you expect from the Galaxy’s trip to Ireland? How will Accam and the Fire fare in the 2015 season? What do you think of Kreis’ coaching staff?
Share your thoughts below.
So excited for the Shamrock Rovers match! Went to a game a few years ago on a trip – great supporters!
Yep, still The Champs… Go Galaxy!
WOW. Fire start it well with DPs, now Fire signs any no-name C level Euro league as a DP, and some the DPs are failures in C level leagues. But speed or sizes is focus here!
Yes!!! Some good soccer coming to Austin!!!!! Ives you coming back to the ATX for this?
Leave Ives alone. On the above picture, if you removed Robbie Keane I’d think it was a prison riot
Huge measuring-stick game that will finally resolve the burning question of whether MLS has finally surpassed the League of ireland in the ranks of national soccer leagues.
Because LA, as it stands, will be the best team in MLS ?
I am going to challenge that assumption. Maybe there is enough parity that they are close in the middle of the pack ?
Duh… Coach Klinsmann has already made it clear, any European club is better than playing in MLS. Montenegro second division included.
So if the MLS Cup winners are not the best team in MLS, please tell us who is?
They’re the MLS Cup champs. Your Sounders fell short when it mattered.
Hmmm – should I tell them I was kinda joking?
Rob Vartughian: “Coach Kreis, I can’t wait to coach Frank Lampard!!! When do we start!!!”
Jason Kreis: “here is a life size cardboard cutout of Frank…That’s as good as it is going to get.”