Andy Najar's contract, D.C. United news & notes
Midfielder Andy Najar, the MLS rookie of the year, is close to finalizing a new contract with D.C. United, his representative told the Insider late Friday. Najar, 17, still has several years remaining on his current deal, but after his sensational first season, the sides decided to restructure it. This year, not including bonuses, he earned about $60,000 -- the 14th-highest figure on the roster.
United and Najar are also nearing a decision on his European destination for two to three weeks of informal training this winter. A plan to send him to Spain hit a last-minute snag, but agent Chris Megaloudis said he still expects Najar to head overseas in January.
For much more.....
*Last week, the Insider told you that United had interviewed former Hertha Berlin manager Lucien Favre for its head coaching job -- a rather random pairing given Favre's substantial history and United's financial shortcomings. Now we have discovered a local connection: Favre's son, Loic, works for the soccer division of Wasserman Management Group, which represents numerous athletes around the world and has an office in Bethesda, Md.
Loic has spent considerable time in the States and helped arrange Spanish midfielder Carlos Varela's move to United this season. It's unclear whether the elder Favre remains under consideration for the United opening. Club officials have declined comment on coaching candidates.
*Sightings here in Toronto: Najar, who was honored for his rookie of the year award; Jaime Moreno, who was recognized at the annual awards reception for his 15 years of MLS service; and Tom Soehn, the former United head coach who is now director of soccer operations for the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps.
*MLS is hoping to soon finalize dates and matchups for each club's home opener in mid-March. At the moment, United's first match is tentatively scheduled for Sat., March 19 and seems more likely to be at RFK Stadium than on the road. The full schedule is probably two months from being finalized.
By
Steve Goff
| November 19, 2010; 11:20 PM ET
Categories:
D.C. United
| Tags:
D.C. United
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Wasn't Arsenal his destination to train because of their future interest in him? Are they not interested any more?
Posted by: VirginiaFan | November 19, 2010 11:37 PM | Report abuse
For those who thought KC got silly with the name change to Sporting...
http://unprofessionalfoul.com/2010/11/18/your-top-25-futuremlsfranchise-names/
Posted by: fischy | November 20, 2010 1:19 AM | Report abuse
Goff, what is up with the MSA Feasibility Study??!! It was supposed to be completed in October! Are they waiting until after MLS Cup to make an announcement?
Posted by: cidcamp70 | November 20, 2010 7:58 AM | Report abuse
"United's first match is tentatively scheduled for Sat., March 19"
Curious99: Start the countdown!
Posted by: I-270Exit1 | November 20, 2010 8:24 AM | Report abuse
Saw on twitter, might have been Goff's might have been someone else's where Najar said he was "too young to choose between the USA and Honduras.
Posted by: JacobfromAtlanta-ish | November 20, 2010 8:48 AM | Report abuse
The Alex Morgan Fan Club is now in session.
Posted by: universityandpark | November 20, 2010 12:40 PM | Report abuse
Great finish for the USA women vs. Italy. (The previous 93 minutes, not so hot.)
Alex Morgan entered as the last USA sub in the 80-somethings. Then scored in the 4th minute of stoppage time to break the 0-0 tie. Odd thing, the 4th official had indicated just 2 minutes. Though Italy subbed during the 2 minutes, there's no explanation I could see for why the final whistle hadn't been blown at least a minute earlier.
Posted by: benonthehill | November 20, 2010 12:41 PM | Report abuse
Saw on twitter, might have been Goff's might have been someone else's where Najar said he was "too young to choose between the USA and Honduras.
Posted by: JacobfromAtlanta-ish
======================
Probably saw a reference to the article posted on DCU's website
http://www.dcunited.com/news/2010/11/najar-not-ready-to-make-national-team-decisions
Posted by: emanon13 | November 20, 2010 12:45 PM | Report abuse
Ale Ale Ale Ale Ale Ale Ale Ale Alex Morrrgannn!!
Yeah, I went Gaga on you guys.
Posted by: JacobfromAtlanta-ish | November 20, 2010 12:46 PM | Report abuse
119 days until United's first league 2011 match!
Posted by: Curious99 | November 20, 2010 2:17 PM | Report abuse
Frankly, I'm surprised he was earning 60,000, purely because he came from the academy. Still, it turned out to be a great bargain.
Posted by: UnitedDemon1 | November 20, 2010 2:19 PM | Report abuse
Consider it started.
Posted by: Curious99 | November 20, 2010 2:19 PM | Report abuse
Georgetown and Virginia women in NCAA round of 16 action this afternoon:
http://www.ncaa.com/brackets/2010/ncaa_bracket_DI_soccer_women.html
If you click on the Hoyas-Minnesota match, you will get a video link.
Posted by: universityandpark | November 20, 2010 2:19 PM | Report abuse
UnitedDemon1:
Academy signings are all Generation Adidas signings, and GA players always have higher salaries than the league minimum.
Posted by: Chest_Rockwell | November 20, 2010 2:25 PM | Report abuse
Word has it there are plenty and mean PLENTY of seats left for MLS Cup.
Posted by: Ron16 | November 20, 2010 2:30 PM | Report abuse
The Alex Morgan Fan Club is now in session.
Posted by: universityandpark
==========
In Jacob's head, it's always in session.
Posted by: I-270Exit1 | November 20, 2010 2:54 PM | Report abuse
If you click on the Hoyas-Minnesota match, you will get a video link.
Posted by: universityandpark | November 20, 2010 2:19 PM
==========
As the Gators are out, I'm rooting for Alma Mater #2. Go Gophers! Youbetcha!
Posted by: I-270Exit1 | November 20, 2010 2:59 PM | Report abuse
Not a bad day for Barca...
Posted by: Reignking | November 20, 2010 4:14 PM | Report abuse
According to the new CBA the league minimum was 40k last year. Najar was probably around that with his base plus bonuses.
Posted by: csd1 | November 20, 2010 4:57 PM | Report abuse
It's like Drake says, "bandwagon's overloaded, see if you can run behind", fan club is going to need to rent a bigger room for the next session.
Also, for those of you in the Atlanta area and interested, the U20s will be holding an open training inside KSU Stadium Tuesday from 5-6:30, with autographs and pictures afterwards. I wish I could, but infant previously made family plans.
Posted by: JacobfromAtlanta-ish | November 20, 2010 6:43 PM | Report abuse
@virginiafan Hes too old for arsenal.
Posted by: TheJim1 | November 20, 2010 6:57 PM | Report abuse
I've made*
Silly iPhone autocorrect.
Posted by: JacobfromAtlanta-ish | November 20, 2010 7:05 PM | Report abuse
I understand the team needs a new stadium, but what the deal with wanting to move AWAY from the fanbase to a tiny 20K seat stadium? I can't imagine that would be good for them!
Posted by: ericruenes | November 20, 2010 10:06 PM | Report abuse
Georgetown women through to the Elite Eight (sorry, Gopher fans); Virginia out.
Sunday men's action involving Maryland, Georgetown, W&M, ODU, WVU:
http://www.ncaa.com/brackets/2010/ncaa_bracket_DI_soccer_men.html
Several of these matches have live audio and/or video streams, so click on the match you are interested in to see whether any such are available.
Posted by: universityandpark | November 20, 2010 11:45 PM | Report abuse
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