MLS

As has been well-documented, the emergence of signing young international players with Targeted Allocation Money and the increased regularity of moving Homegrown Players up the ranks has made the MLS SuperDraft less meaningful than ever (not that signing a 22-year-old who’s spent the last four years playing a three-month long season was ever a recipe for success). That’s not to say that a few of the 2019 selections won’t contribute in meaningful ways, but it’s just that — a few.

The 2019 schedule for Major League Soccer — which will be its 24th season — was released Monday (including the MLS 2019 TV schedule on ESPN), with action beginning on March 2. There’s a lot to get excited about beginning with Day 1, including FC Cincinnati’s inaugural game (away to the Sounders at 10 p.m. ET on FS1), Wayne Rooney’s D.C. United hosting defending champion Atlanta (6 p.m.

January 11, 2019, marks the 19th (and hopefully last) edition of the MLS SuperDraft.

We’ve suspected as much since late October, but Mexico has finally unveiled former Atlanta United manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino as boss. Martino is fresh off being named the 2018 MLS Coach of the Year after guiding Atlanta to the MLS Cup in only its second year of existence. 

Martino’s club experience also includes stints in charge of Newell’s Old Boys and Barcelona, while at the international level he’s previously managed Paraguay and Argentina. 

The season of giving hasn’t ended for the San Jose Earthquakes. The staff and two players, Eric Calvillo and Paul Marie, started their new year by visiting the San Quentin State Prison to show them drills and watch them play pickup games. 

This was not a typical training session for the Earthquakes, but for the inmates of the San Quentin Soccer Association, it was a privilege to escape from their corrections facility and enjoy a little bit of freedom. 

Just when you thought Sydney Leroux and Dom Dwyer could not exceed couple goal expectations, well, they 100 percent have. On New Year's Eve, the couple revealed the gender of their second child, and this time, Cassius was not as upset about being a big brother. 

Don’t worry Cassius. Mommy and daddy cried too. pic.twitter.com/ZP2e3rGdsw

A Japanese club going on a preseason tour of California wouldn’t usually set the pulse racing, but Vissel Kobe is no ordinary J1 League side. After signing former NYCFC striker David Villa back on Dec. 1, the Ushi (Cows) now boast a lineup that also includes former Barcelona star Andres Iniesta and German legend Lukas Podolski.

In an unexpected announcement, Sigi Schmid, an incredibly important figure in American soccer, passed away at the age of 65 on Tuesday. It was reported that he was admitted to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center due to a heart-related condition.

Boca Juniors hero Guillermo Barros Schelotto spent four illustrious seasons in Major League Soccer with the Columbus Crew. Now he’s coming back to MLS — as the new LA Galaxy coach.