John Moores continues his pursuit of purchasing English Premier League club Everton, but the former San Diego Padres owner also has one eye fixed of bringing Major League Soccer to the California city.
According to a report from the San Diego Union Tribune, Moores is one of two parties investigating the possibility of bringing MLS to San Diego. Steve Peace, a senior advisor to Moores, confirmed “interest” in MLS, while the identity of the second party remains unknown.
With the potential departure of the NFL’s San Diego Chargers to Los Angeles, an MLS club could find a home at a redeveloped Qualcomm Stadium site. However, according to the San Diego Union Tribune, a league source has said discussions remain “very preliminary.”
Here are some more news and notes from around the league on Monday:
PIRLO NOT PLANNING ON JOINING INTER MILAN ON LOAN
Italian maestro Andrea Pirlo has plied his trade for three of Serie A’s best clubs, and rumors have linked him with a return to one of them on loan this MLS offseason. However, the New York City FC midfielder is not planning on a homecoming any time soon.
Inter Milan has reportedly been interested in securing a deal for the World Cup winner, but Pirlo says he has no plans to return to Italy just yet. The 36-year-old joined NYCFC after his contract with Juventus expired at the end of last season, making 13 appearances and recording two assists in MLS since July.
“But I want to honor the contract with New York City,” Pirlo told Corriere dello Sport. “I’m used to these rumors, but I do not move. I’m not in the U.S. to be on vacation, I’m here to have a winning experience.
“(Juventus) wanted me to stay, but it was the right time to make a new experience after four fantastic years and having won everything they could win,” he added. “For me, [moving to New York] was a way of life, a chance to learn something new.”
Pirlo previously spent three seasons with Inter Milan, making 22 appearances between 1998 and 2001.
FORMER U-17 COACH WILLIAMS JOINS RSL STAFF
Following his stint as head coach of the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team, Richie Williams has joined the coaching staff of Real Salt Lake.
RSL announced on Monday that the club has hired Richie Williams as an assistant coach with a primary focus on the midfield. Most recently, Williams took charge of the U.S. at the U-17 World Cup after taking the role of head coach in 2012.
“Real Salt Lake is one of the better organizations in the league and has had a lot of success over the years,” Williams said. “After meeting up with (RSL General Manager Craig Waibel) and (head coach Jeff Cassar), I thought it would be a very good opportunity. Being part of this staff, we all have the common goal of winning the MLS Cup and I think those are things that made me want to come on board.”
“Richie has had a lot of success as a player and as a coach. He’s such a fierce competitor and has a lot of experience that will enhance our coaching staff,” added Waibel. “When we started looking at adding a coach he was at the top of the list and the process was very smooth because the interest was mutual.”
An eight-year MLS veteran, Williams spent six seasons as a coach with the New York Red Bulls while twice serving as an interim coach before working with both the U.S. Under-18 and Under-17 Men’s National Teams.
PORTER RE-SIGNED BY MONTREAL
After a season that saw the forward become an instant-hero and tear his ACL, Cameron Porter has re-signed with the Montreal Impact.
Porter’s biggest moment of is young career came in March, when he scored an incredible goal to lead the Impact past Pachuca and into the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League.
The forward only made five appearances for the Impact after his arrival, though, undergoing knee surgery after an injury against the New England Revolution just weeks after his big goal in CCL.
The 21-year-old was a third-round selection in the 2015 MLS Draft, going to Montreal as the 45th overall pick.
NYCFC WANTS COSTA RICAN MATARRITA
New York City FC has been left with a gaping hole on their left side, and the club is reportedly interested in plugging that hole with Costa Rican international Ronald Matarrita.
The 21-year-old currently plies his trade with LD Alajuelense in his home country. He earned his first national team appearance this September after a 2015 season that has so far seen him feature in 22 games, recording a goal and an assist. Overall in four seasons with Alajuelense, Matarrita has scored four times and added six assists in 77 appearances.
Maturate would fill a major need for the second-year club following the departure of Angelino, who returned to Manchester City following the conclusion of his loan spell.
As a San Diego resident I think there’s too many issues with our sports marketing here to be seriously considered for an MLS team. The indoor San Diego Sockers team actually do well support wise but part of that is the affordable ticket prices. At this point I wouldn’t mind settling for a NASL or USL team in town but that’ll depend on how things progress.
Soccer in San Diego makes a lot of sense, more sense, I think, than two teams in LA. San Diego has been a hotbed for youth soccer for at least 20 years and has produced a lot of good soccer players and has a large Hispanic population. Put a good product on the field and I don’t see how they could fail.
San Diego?! Eww… they’re basically the second worst sports city in the country… right behind Miami. And most of the Mexicans in San Diego will support Tijuana Xolos! Or… even worse… the LA Galaxy!
would love to see MLS in San Diego
Qualcomm Stadium renovation for MLS. Start the discussion.
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/dec/28/soccer-mls-san-diego-john-moores/