Los Ángeles Galaxy de Beckham y Donovan, nuevos campeones de la MLS

(EP) Los Ángeles Galaxy de David Beckham se han proclamado campeones de la 'Major League Soccer' (MLS) después de derrotar en la final al Houston Dynamo por 1-0, con gol del capitán Landon Donovan.

Los Galaxy dominaron todo el encuentro y merecieron ganar desde un principio, algo que consiguieron gracias al gol del internacional. El estadounidense levantó el balón sobre el portero de los Houston, que se encontraba en posición avanzada, y otorgó al equipo angelino su primer campeonato desde 2005 y el tercero en la pasada década.

"Han sido nada menos que cinco años que se han coronado con esta noche. Ha sido un año muy especial y estoy muy contento de haber formado parte de esto", comentó después del partido David Beckham, que no aclaró las dudas acerca de su futuro.

El británico, que jugó lesionado y ayudó a la victoria de su equipo con una asistencia que dio lugar al único gol del encuentro, ha sido criticado por su intención de trasladarse a Europa para volver a jugar en el Milan italiano y por no haber logrado elevar el nivel del fútbol estadounidense. "Siempre es bueno tener escépticos en el camino, y es bueno para demostrar que están equivocados", añadió el inglés.

Sin embargo, todas estas críticas se han visto silenciadas gracias al título obtenido por el equipo y a un sonriente Beckham que celebró el campeonato de la MLS frente a una multitud de aficionados en el Home Depot Center.

No haber logrado el título hubiera significado un fracaso para un equipo que cuenta con tres jugadores con un salario por encima del tope de la entidad, Beckham, Donovan y el delantero irlandés Robbie Keane.

La foto del día: Henry by Kiss

Thierry Henry posando de esta guisa para promocionar un concierto de la mítica banda The Kiss.

Rafa Márquez ya es jugador del Red Bulls de Nueva York

(Espn) El equipo de los Red Bulls de Nueva York anunció que el jugador mexicano Rafael Márquez ha firmado un contrato multianual, no precisaron el montante ni la duración del mismo. La estrella de la selección mexicana se convirtió en el tercer Jugador Designado del club y será presentado este martes 3 de agosto en el Red Bull Arena.

Márquez se mostró feliz y satisfecho de llegar a una liga que está en pleno crecimiento, como lo es la MLS. "Estoy muy emocionado de unirme a los Red Bulls, a pesar de tener la oportunidad de cumplir mi contrato con el Barcelona, venir a Nueva York y jugar en la Major League Soccer es una oportunidad que no pude rechazar. Estoy totalmente comprometido a hacer mi mejor esfuerzo para ayudar a los Red Bulls en los playoffs de este año y competir por los campeonatos en los años siguientes".

El defensa central pasó las últimas siete temporadas de su carrera en el club catalán FC Barcelona y a nivel internacional Márquez ha jugado para la Selección Nacional de México 94 veces.

La MLS abre el cupo a los jugadores franquicia

(M) La liga estadounidense de fútbol, MLS, allanó el camino para concretar nuevas contrataciones de renombre al permitir a los equipos incluir hasta tres jugadores con sueldos sin tope en sus planteles, como parte de las nuevas reglas anunciadas este jueves.

La regla del jugador "designado" o franquicia, también conocida como la regla David Beckham, entró en vigencia en el 2007 para permitir que cada club pague a un jugador cualquier cantidad superior al presupuesto de salarios acordado. Ese presupuesto es un gasto que comparten todos los propietarios de la MLS.

Los equipos ahora podrán tener dos cupos para futbolistas "designados" y podrán comprar una tercera plaza por 250.000 dólares. Cada jugador "designado" comprenderá 335.000 dólares sobre el tope salarial o alrededor de un 13 por ciento del presupuesto de un club.

Con todo esto, Todd Durbin, vicepresidente de relaciones de futbolistas y de la Major League Soccer, asegura que se busca "expandir la regla del jugador 'designado' es otro ejemplo del compromiso de la MLS de proveer fútbol del más alto nivel a nuestros seguidores", agregando que "después de tres temporadas, hemos visto que la regla de los jugadores 'designados' mejora la calidad del juego, genera intriga y discusión, y realza las marcadas identidades de nuestros clubes dentro de la cancha".

El futuro del fútbol en Estados Unidos no se quedará aquí debido a que Durbin afirma que "continuaremos viendo distintos enfoques de nuestros clubes al formar sus plantillas, y estos cambios les darán mayor flexibilidad".

David Beckham booked by Police

Beckham gets a ticket to add to his week of woe

David Beckham has had a week of woe in LA. Not only did LA Galaxy lose at home on Saturday, earlier in the week the LA Galaxy soccer star was been booked after police pulled him for doing an illegal right hand turn.

The star was given an on-the-spot fine after taking an illegal right turn on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. The star also received a point on his license following the incident, which took place as he drove his flashy people-carrier down the famous LA street.

Beckham's luck can only get better after the double whammy of getting booked by the police, and experiencing defeat with LA Galaxy!

Beckham down after LA Galaxy Toronto Defeat

Beckham struggles to put a brave face on LA Galaxy Defeat

David Beckham was clearly disappointed after LA Galaxy crashed 3-2 at home to Toronto FC on Sunday. Beckham played all 90 minutes but could not prevent LA Galaxy sliding to defeat at home to the previously winless Canadian side.

'We are disappointed,' he said. Three games into the season we can't panic too much but it is obviously not the result we wanted.'

Danny Dichio put Toronto ahead on 42 minutes, with Landon Donovan equalising for the Galaxy a minute later. Jarrod Smith got Toronto back into the lead after 53 minutes before Beckham helped to win a penalty for his team when Carl Robinson handled his attempted cross inside the area.

Donovan converted the spot-kick but Galaxy's hopes were dashed when Jeff Cunningham scored a breakaway goal with three minutes to go, leaving the hosts to rue a series of missed chances.

'As long as I can create chances at some point we are going to score,' he said. 'Hopefully that will start soon.'

The Galaxy play defending MLS Cup champions Houston Dynamo at the Home Depot Center on April 19.

Beckham to quit LA

Gossip columns fill up the inches with speculation Beckham is to quit LA

More silly season stuff as speculation is trotted out that David Beckham and his wife Victoria are to quit LA less than a year after moving.

The Beckhams are reportedly 'disillusioned' with life in LA and are homesick for life in London, close to family and friends. The alleged disappointment for the Beckhams comes after a poor debut season for Becks, who is finding age is catching up with him as his season was wrecked by injury.

The claims tie in with reports on the weekend that Posh is keen on snapping up a pad in Chelsea, London so she can promote her fashion range DVB jeans further in Europe.

We really can't see Beckham calling it a day in LA any time soon. Whatever you may think about Beckham he is not one to shirk a footballing challenge, and staying playing with LA Galaxy is his best chance of getting that 100th England cap he craves.

Beckham: Gullit will improve LA Galaxy

Beckham backs Gullit to improve LA Galaxy in MLS

David Beckham has given his approval to new coach Ruud Gullit at LA Galaxy. Former Madrid and Manchester United midfielder Beckham’s first year in Major League Soccer was ruined by a series of knee and ankle injuries, but he is confident he will be able to have much greater influence under new coach Ruud Gullit this year.

Beckham will play his first match in over two months against Japanese J-League side Gamba Osaka in Honolulu. The winners will get a place in the tournament final. Australian A-League team Sydney FC take on MLS champions Houston Dynamo in the other semi-final.

Questioned on whether he thought there would be major improvement to the form of LA Galaxy after the failure to reach the MLS playoffs, Beckham said: “There has to be. It is a fresh start with a new manager, a new regime and a new togetherness. Many things have already changed, definitely for the good, and we want to build momentum and start winning things.”

David Beckham back in training

David Beckham back in training with LA Galaxy

David Beckham is now back training with LA Galaxy as they gear up for their pre-season games. Beckham and L.A. Galaxy shortly will head for Hawaii as part of a 3-week / 5-game tour that will include Honolulu, Seoul and Shanghai.

With speculation that England manager Fabio Capello is considering bringing Beckham back in the England team, Beckham is expected to play as much as he can on this tour, to get him upto the required fitness levels for England as soon as possible.

The L.A. Times has quoted Beckham as saying:

"It's always tough when you're in preseason and you're running every morning and every afternoon and there are no games," he said. "We're looking forward to going to Hawaii. It's my first time there."

"It's always been great when I've visited different parts of Asia with Real Madrid and Manchester United and also England. Every time I've been there the fans have been exceptional, so I'm looking forward to that as well."

David Beckham losing his appeal

Goldenballs losing his touch as the Yanks get critical?

David Beckham and his American odyssey might just be running into a bit of trouble. After cancelling an interview with TJ Simers, who was California Sportswriter of the Year in 2000, Beckham has come in for some sustained criticism.

Simers writes: "The only thing going on with Beckham these days appears to be his underwear ad, which is just perfect for him because all he has to do is lie there and say nothing.

"Huge billboards will go up soon showing him with his chest bare: and isn't it always? - and his briefs appearing a size too small. You'd think a guy with as much money as he's got could find underwear that fit. "

Simers also criticised Beckham for his overall lack of impact on soccer in America, arguing that he has made little difference to the profile of the MLS in the States.