U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley has named nine uncapped players to his 25-man training camp roster that will begin workouts Jan. 4 at U.S. Soccer's National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The group will prepare for the USA’s first match of 2009, a friendly against Sweden on Jan. 24 at The Home Depot Center. Read the full story at ASN's U.S. Men's National Team page.

Chad Marshall will return to the Columbus Crew next season after signing a new contract with the 2008 MLS Cup champions, the club announced Friday, Dec. 26. The 24-year old defender was out of contract and spent a week-long trial with Mainz of the German second division while negotiationing with the Crew. Read on here on the Columbus Crew's page.

The LA Galaxy have signed Jamaican goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, the club announced Tuesday. An experienced goalkeeper at the international level, Ricketts joins the Galaxy after previous stints with Village United of the Digicel Premier League in Jamaica, Bolton Wanderers of the English Premier League and Bradford City of League Two in England. Ricketts, 31, will officially be added to the Galaxy’s roster, pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and international transfer clearance. Per league and team policy, details of the contract were not disclosed. Read on here and vote in the poll on the Galaxy page.

Soccer United Marketing and ESPN have sold international broadcast rights for all Major League Soccer games to MP & Silva in an eight-figure agreement that extends through 2013, according to Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal.

Second Bundesliga side Hansa Rostock have inquired with Hannover 96 about U.S. winger Salvatore Zizzo, according to German soccer magazine kicker. Read on at ASN's Over There page.

D.C. United’s Under-16 Academy teams beat Potomac at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Md., this week by a 3-1 score.

The U-16s went up 2-0 in the first half after Luis Cartagena tallied in the 22nd minute (assisted by Dallas Aminzadeh) and Omar Kabba doubled the lead in the 32nd (assisted by Sam Bradley). Potomac got a goal back in the 68th minute, but Nick Smirniotopoulos iced the game with a goal in the 80th.

“Our U-166s progressed this weekend with a comprehensive 3-1 win over much-improved local rivals Potomac Academy,” said U-16 Head Coach Richie Burke. “More importantly, we produced a very satisfying performance, dominating possession and creating many good chances. We were glad of the tremendous form of our two young strikers, Marcus Selandy-Dufour and Luis Cartagena, both of whom are young enough to have another two seasons with us at U-16 level. Each was involved in most of our offensive work with Luis scoring his second Academy goal in as many starts. We received strong performances once again from team leaders Nicky Yin, Steve Mashinski and Sam Bradley – all were very significant to our team’s high level of play. We will go into the winter break with confidence high and will look to the re-start of our matches in February with renewed anticipation.”

U-18s settle for tie
The U-18s were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw after going up 2-0 in the game’s first 22 minutes. United’s William ‘Junior’ Bioh talled in the 20th minute (assisted by Chris Hegngi) and Shane Cooke struck just two minutes later (assisted by Travis Pittman) to give D.C. the early lead, but Potomac struck in the 34th minute and were awarded a penalty in the 70th, which was converted and proved to be the final goal of the match.

“It can be frustrating to lose a 2-0 lead., but we have to remember it is very early in season,” said U-18 Head Coach Judah Cooks. “We will see this style of play in many games throughout the year and the challenge for our boys and staff is to continue to play attractive soccer while breaking down teams that play a more defensive, counter-attack style. It was a game that we will learn and get better from.”

Next Up
The Academy teams will now turn its focus to the Disney Showcase in Orlando December 26-30 where it will play Chelsea in its first match. In preparation for the tournament, the team will play friendly matches versus local club Arlington and affiliate club Freestate.

Former University of Connecticut and Chivas USA forward Chukwudi Chijindu is undergoing a trial run at German regional league (fourth division) club SV Babelsberg 03, according to a local newspaper report. Read on here.

The Sounders seem to be making a habit of having their major announcements easily predictable. Of course, as long as they continue to seemingly make all the right moves, nobody, including myself, is going to complain. Today was the latest such announcement, and although it had been considered a fact for almost two weeks, the Sounders made it official by announcing Sigi Schmid as the first head coach in franchise history. Considering that Schmid just led the Columbus Crew to MLS Cup glory, outclassing every team in the league on their way, it seems that he was the best possible choice for the job. Sigi downplayed his success in the press conference, saying that "All I am is a conduit to the athletes that I have been blessed with." But his track record - three college championships, two MLS doubles and a Concacaf Champions Cup to boot - indicate that he must be doing something right. Seattle certainly believes so. Read on here.

Landon Donovan's loan move to German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich is finally a done deal, according to reports in the German press. In a Dec. 15 interview with German tabloid Bild.de, Bayern head coach Juergen Klinsmann said the club would only make one acquisition in the January transfer window: Donovan. "He's not coming to ride the bench," Klinsmann said of the Galaxy striker. Bayern's Web site also reports Donovan's move as final. Read on here.

U.S. Soccer has re-signed Pia Sundhage as head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team for four more years. U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati announced the extension today. Sundhage, 48, has led the USA to a record setting 32 wins so far in 2008 (32-1-2), which includes the team’s memorable run to the Olympic title, culminating in the gold medal victory against Brazil in Beijing, China. Read on here.