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As Pogba gears up for his return, he faces a crucial decision regarding his next club. With offers from Galatasaray and Marseille in the mix, the Frenchman has the opportunity to redefine his career after a challenging period.

Source: https://www.snl24.com/soccerladuma/international/rest-of-world/new-club-interested-in-pogba-20241217

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ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Matrix Midwest) – St. Louis native and former U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team captain Becky Sauerbrunn has announced her retirement from professional soccer, U.S. Soccer announced.

Through her 16-year international career, Sauerbrunn played in three Olympic Games and three Women’s World Cups.

For country, she finishes with 219 caps (185 starts), the 10th most in USWNT history. She has captained the USA 42 times during her career, fifth most in USWNT history.

While in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Sauerbrunn won two championships in her five seasons with FC Kansas City before playing two seasons with the Utah Royals, and eventually with the Portland Thorns for her last five seasons.

She helped Portland win the 2022 NWSL title and the 2021 NWSL Shield.

“I learned early on that we were all just renting our jerseys,” said Sauerbrunn. “That I got to wear the U.S. Soccer crest once was an honor and privilege for which I’m forever grateful. The fact that I got to do it over 200 times is truly humbling. I competed with and learned from some of the greatest players and leaders this sport has ever seen, and I consider myself beyond lucky to have been able to play a small part in this program’s storied history.”

Sauerbrunn went to Ladue High School, whose field is now named after her, and played for the JB Marine Soccer Club.

She was named the Missouri Player of the Year twice, as well as a high school All-American before being recruited to play at the University of Virginia, where she was named a First-Team All-American.

When she first came onto the USWNT scene, Sauerbrunn earned just three caps in her first three years. She earned her first spot on the team in 2011 for the Women’s World Cup in Germany.

During that tournament, which featured the iconic Megan Rapinoe-Abby Wambach equalizing header goal in the quarterfinal against Brazil, Sauerbrunn stepped up after Rachel Buehler was given a red card.

She also started in the 3-1 semifinal win over France, going the full 90 minutes to help the US reach the final.

In the 2012 London Olympics, she played in three matches to help Team USA win the gold medal.

Sauerbrunn ended her career starting 167 of her 182 caps between 2013 and 2024.

The 39-year-old is considered one of the greatest defenders in U.S. Women’s National Team history.

Copyright 2024 Matrix Midwest. All rights reserved.

Source: https://www.firstalert4.com/2024/12/17/st-louis-native-former-us-womens-national-team-captain-announces-retirement-professional-soccer/

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Two-time World Cup winning defender Becky Sauerbrunn, a mainstay with the United States women’s national team for over 15 years, as well as in the NWSL, announced her retirement from professional soccer on Tuesday.

She made the announcement via Instagram as well as through the USWNT.

“I learned early on that we were all just renting our jerseys,” Sauerbrunn said in a statement via US Soccer. “That I got to wear the U.S. Soccer crest once was an honor and privilege for which I’m forever grateful.

“The fact that I got to do it over 200 times is truly humbling. I competed with and learned from some of the greatest players and leaders this sport has ever seen, and I consider myself beyond lucky to have been able to play a small part in this program’s storied history.”

A steady, consistent defender whose reading of the game was made her one of the best in the world, the St. Louis native was part of the victorious U.S. World Cup teams in 2015 and 2019, and also was also in the gold medal-winning squad at the 2012 Olympics.

Kansas City Current), the Utah Royals, and most recently the Portland Thorns. She won a pair of NWSL titles with Kansas City in 2014 and 2015, and another with the Portland Thorns in 2022. She was also part of the Thorns sides that won the Community Shield in 2020, as well as a trifecta of titles in 2021 that included the NWSL Challenge Cup, the International Champions Cup, and the NWSL Shield.

Off the field, Sauerbrunn’s was among those at the forefront of the USWNT’s push for equal pay, which culminated in the landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2022 that saw the USWNT achieve equity with their USMNT counterparts. She also was a strong advocate for women’s rights and racial quality, adding to her already considerable legacy of excellence in all manner of endeavors.

Source: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/43025281/becky-sauerbrunn-announces-retirement-usa-club-soccer

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Privacy Manager

Source: https://frontofficesports.com/soccer-europe-unify-league-super-league/

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At just 25 years old, Deyna Castellanos has cemented her status as the “queen” of soccer in Venezuela, blazing a trail for her country and women in sports worldwide. Earlier this year, Castellanos made headlines when she signed a four-year, $1.8 million contract with Bay FC, a San Francisco-based women’s professional soccer team, as informed by NBC. 

The deal made her the highest-paid foreign player in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), a historic moment for the Venezuelan star. 

© Getty Images

 A Record-Breaking Career  

Before her groundbreaking signing with Bay FC, Castellanos had already built an impressive resume. She played for Atlético de Madrid, Manchester City, and the Venezuelan national team, where she holds numerous records. She remains the top scorer in South America’s under-17 championships and the U-17 Women’s World Cup, where her performance first put her on the global map.  

© UEFA via Getty Images

Castellanos’ ultimate dream remains tied to her national team despite her individual success. “My biggest dream is to qualify with the Venezuelan women’s team for the World Cup,” she said in an interview with Noticias Telemundo. “We are growing, we are maturing, and we are evolving in many ways. The goals may change, but the dreams remain the same.”  

From Venezuela to the World  

Castellanos credits a pivotal moment in her life for propelling her career to new heights. At the age of 16, she earned a scholarship to Florida State University, where she scored 47 goals in 77 games, breaking collegiate records. “Being a student-athlete in the United States changed my life,” she reflected, emphasizing the discipline and principles she gained while balancing her academic and athletic commitments.

Coming from Venezuela, however, her path was far from typical. “When I was little, they didn’t help you apply for an academic and sports scholarship in the United States,” she said, adding that opportunities for female soccer players in her country were practically nonexistent.   

Giving Back Through Her Foundation  

Castellanos is working to change that reality for the next generation of athletes. She helps young soccer players secure scholarships in the United States through her foundation. “We have already sent 50 girls to the United States,” she said, emphasizing that the initiative isn’t limited to Venezuelans. “Not just from Venezuela, but from all over the world, which is crazy.” 

© Getty Images

 Her foundation’s ambitious goals include expanding its reach and increasing the number of players it helps each year. “We have to keep looking for funds that can change our goal of sending 15 to 20 players to the United States each year, and maybe even 20 to 40,” she said. “We want to change things.”  

Advocating for Equality in Soccer 

 While Castellanos’ achievements and salary are groundbreaking, they also highlight the gender pay gap in soccer. “I don’t know if we will ever see equality in salaries. Let’s hope so,” she said, acknowledging the disparity between men’s and women’s soccer. Still, she remains optimistic about the future. “Women’s soccer has evolved a lot and will continue to grow, and salaries will be better every year.”  

© Getty Images

 A Safe Space in Women’s Soccer  

As a member of the LGBTQ community, Castellanos also champions inclusivity in women’s soccer. She described the sport as a welcoming space for everyone. “We have always felt at home, we have not felt judged, whether you are heterosexual, bisexual, gay — I think women’s football does that very well.”  

Source: https://www.hola.com/us/celebrities/20241216736292/deyna-castellanos-soccer-players-scholarships-in-the-us-through-foundation/

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The 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year has been revealed at the awards ceremony in Morocco on Thursday.

Nigeria and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman has won the award for the first time in his career.

Lookman beat out competition from Achraf Hakmi, Ronwen Wiliams, Serhou Guirassy and Simon Adingra.

The Atalanta forwarrd becomes the sixth player to win the prestigious accolade after Nwankwo Kanu, Emmanuel Amunike, Victor Ikpeba, Victor Osimhen and Rashidi Yekini

Meanwhile, the Women’s Player of the Year award went to Zambia and Orlando Pride star Barbra Banda.

Full Awards List: 

Men’s Player Of the Year: Ademola Lookman

Women’s Player Of the Year: Barbra Banda

Men’s Interclub Player of the Year: Ronwen Williams

Women’s Interclub Player of the Year: Sana Massoudy

Goalkeeper of the Year (Men): Ronwen Williams

Goalkeeper of the Year (Women):Chiamaka Nnadozie

Young Player of the Year (Men): Lamine Camara

Young Player of the Year (Women): Doha El Madani

Men’s Coach of the Year: Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire)

Women’s Coach of the Year: Lamia Boumehdi (Morocco)

National Team Of the Year (Men): Cote d’Ivoire

National Team of the Year (Women): Nigeria

Club of the Year (Men): Al Ahly

Club of the Year (Women): TP Mazembe

Source: https://www.snl24.com/soccerladuma/international/african-football/official-2024-caf-award-winners-list-20241216

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