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New Frontrunner ‘Emerges’ To Replace Yanga Coach | Soccer Laduma
Young Africans are reportedly looking for a new assistant coach.
With Miguel Gamondi and his fellow coaches believed to be skating on thin ice at Young Africans, a new frontrunner has reportedly emerged to coach the East African giants.
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Earlier this week, Soccer Laduma revealed that the chiefs at Yanga had called the Argentine tactician in for a meeting this weekend to discuss the back-to-back defeats the team had suffered against Azam FC and Tabora United.
Ultimately, it was decided not to fire the 57-year-old, but according to The Citizen, this has not stopped the Jangwani Street giants from looking for potential replacements.
It was rumoured that the head coach of CS Constantine, Kheireddine Madoui, was the prime candidate to succeed the Olavarría native.
However, with the Algerian side sitting atop the league standings and set to commence their CAF Confederation Cup campaign soon, it is believed that the 47-year-old would only be willing to leave at the end of the season, as he wants to see out the rest of the 2024/25 campaign.
So, for the time being, Gamondi is set to stay on as Yanga head coach, but according to the Tanzanian publication, it is his assistant whose job is under immediate threat.
It is understood that the club are looking to appoint former Azam FC head coach Abdihamid Moallin as their new second-in-charge.
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The United States native is said to have recently resigned from his role at KMC, and the East African giants want to bring him in to replace their current Senegalese assistant, Moussa N’Daw.
Young Africans have held talks with Moallin to discuss a potential deal, as they believe he possesses all the attributes they are looking for in an assistant.
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Bafana qualify for Afcon: Congo’s shock loss to South Sudan puts SA through
South Africa can now go into their last two matches — against Uganda at Mandela National Stadium in Kampala on Friday (3pm SA time) and on Tuesday against South Sudan at Cape Town Stadium (6pm) — already qualified.
It is the second time Bafana have back-to-back appearances at the Afcon after they last did so in 2013 and 2015.
The South Africans won a surprise bronze medal under Broos in the 2023 Afcon in Ivory Coast in January and February. That tournament was delayed from its original mid-2023 schedule over heat concerns in the West African summer to early this year.
Uganda are on top of Group K with 10 points, and their place in next year’s tournament in Morocco was also confirmed by Congo’s shock result.
The top two teams progress to the finals.
Bafana arrived in Kampala on Thursday where the continue their preparations for what are now dead rubbers against Uganda and South Sudan.
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BREAKING: Bafana Qualify For AFCON! | Soccer Laduma
GQEBERHA, SOUTH AFRICA – OCTOBER 11: South Africa during the 2025 African Cup of Nations, Qualifier match between South Africa and Republic of Congo at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on October 11, 2024 in Gqeberha, South Africa. (Photo by Richard Huggard/Gallo Images)
Bafana Bafana have qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations without kicking a ball.
Hugo Broos’ charges are set to face Uganda in their penultimate AFCON qualifier on Friday afternoon.
Read: Broos Gives Insight Into Latest Bafana Change
South Africa will enter Friday’s encounter knowing that qualification has been secured after third-place Congo lost to South Sudan on Thursday afternoon.
Broos’ charges currently sit second in Group K with eight points heading into their final two matches, while Congo are on four points with one match to play.
Congo’s defeat to South Sudan now means they can’t overtake South Africa with one game left to play.
Meanwhile, Uganda have also qualified for the tournament as they sit top of the group with ten points.
The 1996 African champions will now battle it out with the Cranes for top spot in the next week.
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Cheeseboy On Maswanganyi: ‘It Will Take Some Time’ | Soccer Laduma
Patrick Maswanganyi of Orlando Pirates and Keanu Cupido of Cape Town City during the MTN8, Semi Final, 2nd Leg match between Orlando Pirates and Cape Town City FC at Orlando Stadium on 31 August 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
With Themba Zwane unavailable to play his role as chief orchestrator in the Bafana Bafana squad, pressure is likely to fall on the shoulders of Patrick Maswanganyi to be the conductor, whether he starts or comes on from the bench.
Both Zwane and Maswanganyi hail from Tembisa and possess the type of skills that make life difficult for opposition defenders.
Zwane sustained an Achilles injury in Bafana’s last 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo and is only expected back on the pitch in 2025.
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So, without his most trusted attacker, Hugo Broos has to find someone capable of finding a chink in the opposition armour and Maswanganyi, on a good day, can certainly turn on the style.
It might, however, take some time for the Orlando Pirates midfielder to fill the shoes of Zwane, who contributes with assists and goals.
Former Bafana Bafana attacker Lebohang Mokoena feels that pressure should not be placed on the shoulders of Maswanganyi to fill the shoes of Zwane.
“‘Tito’ is still going to need some caps under his belt for him to fill those shoes. I think it will take him some time and we should not put pressure on him,” Mokoena said to the Siya crew.
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“Yes, he can do the job in that creative department, but to fill ‘Mshishi’s’ shoes is going to really be difficult for him at this current time. He still needs to adjust to the national team. I have not seen much of him in the national team, so not yet. But I think he is a prospect. If he plays more into those pockets, instead of coming deep to collect the ball…I think he needs to get the ball more in that last third. He can (fill the shoes), but with time.”
Bafana take on Uganda in their penultimate Group K AFCON qualifier in Kampala on Friday, before hosting South Sudan in Cape Town next Tuesday. Three points will be enough to seal qualification for the competition in Morocco next year.
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On Friday afternoon, Bafana Bafana will look for all three points when they take on Uganda in a crucial AFCON 2025 qualifier. Open a TAB account now and bet on Soccer 10, Mega 10 Jackpot, Soccer 13, and more at tab4racing.com.
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The Debate – How racism and war spur soccer violence: sports and politics don’t mix?
A football match in Paris is raising concerns over potential clashes between Jewish and Palestinian sympathisers. Security measures have been heightened following last week’s violence in Amsterdam, where Israeli supporters clashed with both local men of Arab origin and Dutch fans. Tensions fueled by the Gaza conflict have brought emotions to a boiling point. We’ll ask our special panel: can we still say that sports and politics don’t mix?
Produced by Mark Owen, Théophile Vareille, Guillaume Gougeon and Ilayda Habip.
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France tightens security for Israel football match after clashes in Amsterdam
French authorities have stepped up security in Paris ahead of a France-Israel soccer match on Thursday, hoping to avoid a repeat of violent clashes between locals and Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam last week, Reuters reports.
The Nations League match at the Stade de France comes at a fraught moment, with diplomatic relations between French President, Emmanuel Macron, and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu strained by Israel’s war in Gaza.
Some 4,000 police will secure the event, deployed in the stadium, outside the ground and on public transport, the Paris police force said.
“It’s an exceptional measure, three to four times greater than what we usually mobilise,” Paris police chief, Laurent Nunez, told RTL radio on Wednesday.
Only French and Israel flags would be allowed inside the stadium, he added.
Macron will attend the game in a show of solidarity, while Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau said after the Amsterdam clashes there was never any question the game would go ahead as planned.
READ: Media gaslighting after the double thrashing of Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam
Still, turnout will likely be low, with just 20,000 fans expected in the 80,000 capacity stadium north of Paris.
French supporters’ group, Les Irreductibles Français, conducted a survey among its members, which showed 15 per cent would boycott the match due to the Israel-Gaza war, while around 30 per cent cited “security risks”.
Passions over Israel’s conduct in Gaza run high in France, home to Europe’s largest Jewish and Muslim communities. Reports of anti-Semitic acts increased by an “unprecedented” 284 per cent in 2023, France’s Human Rights Commission said in June, while anti-Muslim acts rose around a third.
Israeli soccer fans and locals clashed in Amsterdam last week, with at least five Israelis injured after Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Europa League game at Ajax.
Aurélien Bernheïm, co-founder of the Movement for French Jews, a right-wing Zionist youth group, said around 30 of his organisation’s members would attend the match.
“But I won’t hide it, many of these young people were scared to go as they had in their heads these appalling images from Amsterdam,” he said.
Walid Attalah, president of the Associations of Palestinians in Ile de France, said the match should have been cancelled.
“Russia has been banned because there was the occupation of Ukraine, it was illegal, there were war crimes, but Israel is never sanctioned for what it does,” he said.
Some supporters, however, shrugged off concerns.
“I’m not worried,” said Yannick Vanhee, who leads a French supporters association in Dunkirk.
“Authorities have been putting more and more security into these events.”
OPINION: Why should Europe be concerned about the events in Amsterdam?
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The 50 best women’s soccer players in the world, ranked!
The women’s game continues to grow by leaps and bounds, and toward the end of another monumental 12 months, it’s only fitting that ESPN FC Women’s Rank, our ranking of the top 50 women footballers in the world, returns. As much as we saw the power balance change within teams this year, we saw a whole lot of movement on our top 50 player list, as well as some new faces too.
We’ve conducted this ranking for the past three years (read 2021, 2022 and 2023 here) and the changes in our ranking reflect the ever-evolving landscape of the sport. There were just four Americans last time, and none in the top 10 after a disastrous World Cup for the U.S. women’s national team — but after claiming gold at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, eight American players have made our list, including three in the top 10.
Unsurprisingly, 2023 World Cup winners Spain are still the leaders with nine players on the list, while there are six from France and World Cup runners-up England. In total, 19 different countries are represented, including players from Malawi and Zambia for the first time.
When it comes to their clubs, we have 16 different teams represented. Barcelona lead the way with 11 players, with Chelsea (7) and Lyon (6) behind them. The NWSL also contributes 13 players from eight clubs in total — with NJ/NY Gotham FC (3) having the most.
Out of the full list of players, there are 15 appearing for the first time — including three from African countries — which just goes to show how the talent pool in the women’s game is deeper than it has ever been. Picking just 50 was tougher than ever.
– Fan vote result for the best women’s soccer player of 2024!
ESPN FC Women’s Rank methodology and voting panel explained
We polled 18 women’s soccer experts from around the world. Current and former coaches for top-tier clubs teams or national teams, general managers, administrators and journalists were asked to anonymously pick their top 50 players of 2024. Using a ranked ballot, each No. 1 vote was worth 50 points, and each No. 50 vote was worth one point. At the end, we tallied up the points to get our list.
While our 2023 ranking was a runaway for last year’s No. 1, Aitana Bonmatí, as she was chosen No. 1 on nearly every ballot, this year was much more competitive: Seven different players landed at No. 1 on the ballots of at least one voter in our panel.
This list covers the 2024 calendar year, which means you might not see some players who spent most of the year sidelined. Indeed, we excluded options to vote for the likes of Chelsea’s Sam Kerr and Real Madrid’s Caroline Weir due to their long-term injuries.
Here is this year’s list of voters: Vlatko Andonovski, Kansas City Current head coach and former U.S. national team head coach; Denise Reddy, U.S. national team assistant coach; Sonia Bompastor, Chelsea head coach; Randy Waldrum, Nigeria head coach and former Houston Dash head coach; Lluis Cortes, Saudi Arabia head coach and former Barcelona head coach; Carmelina Moscato, assistant Racing Louisville coach and former Tigres UANL head coach; Hayley Carter, Orlando Pride general manager; Tanya Oxtoby, Northern Ireland national team head coach; Esther Appiah-Fei, analyst specializing in African soccer; Natalia Astrain, analyst and former U.S. youth national team head coach; Moya Dodd, World Leagues Forum adviser and former FIFA executive; Tom Garry, women’s football journalist for The Guardian; Amanda Zaza, women’s football journalist for SVT in Sweden; Cintia Barlem, women’s football journalist for TV Globo in Brazil; Sophie Lawson, ESPN women’s football writer; Emily Keogh, ESPN journalist; Jeff Kassouf, ESPN journalist; Caitlin Murray, ESPN editor.
Canada’s drone scandal during the 2024 Olympics, Gilles stepped up on and off the pitch to rally the defending champions. Against France, she slotted home to an empty net to give the team momentum despite FIFA’s six-point penalty, and in the next game, she headed home the only goal against Colombia to secure passage out of the group. Since arriving on loan from NWSL side Angel City in September 2022, Gilles has been key in Lyon’s back line, helping steer the French champions to two domestic trophies and a Champions League final. — Keogh
Stat to know: Gilles has made a team-high 31 defensive interventions for Lyon in the Champions League this season.
Country: Spain
Club: Barcelona
Age: 33
Position: Defender
2023 Rank: 49 (▲ 9)
In the absence of her injured defensive partner Mapi Leon, Paredes’ importance at the heart of Barça’s defense grew last season. With fullbacks playing high and a midfielder (Engen) alongside her, she was often left to hold the backline together, contributing to clean sheets in the Champions League, Copa de la Reina and Spanish Supercopa finals. Paredes’ absence was noticed when she didn’t play in the 4-4 draw at Benfica in the Champions League, which says a lot. — Marsden
Stat to know: Paredes has made 79 interceptions in the UEFA Women’s Champions League since 2016-17 — the second most during that span, behind Wendie Renard (82).
2:38
Which Irish legend would Katie McCabe loved to have played with?
ESPN sit down with Arsenal midfielder Katie McCabe to talk Irish legends, toughest opponents and more.
Country: Republic of Ireland
Club: Arsenal
Age: 29
Position: Defender/midfielder
2023 Rank: 24 (▼ 15)
Widely regarded as one of the most versatile and relentless players in the WSL, McCabe has become a pillar for Arsenal. Her grit and determination make her a threat, she refuses to back down in any situation, and she’s known for unleashing long-range strikes when her team needs them most. Forced to adapt to various positions because of injuries in the squad, McCabe’s versatility has become one of her defining strengths.
“I think I’ve ended up asking her to play almost all positions except central defender, goalkeeper and No. 9,” said former Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall. “She always comes in and says ‘No problem, I’ll play where you need me to be.” — Keogh
Stat to know: McCabe has created the second-most chances in the Champions League this season (14).
Country: Scotland
Club: Chelsea
Age: 26
Position: Central midfielder
2023 Rank: N/A (★ debut)
Cuthbert has been Chelsea’s unsung hero for years and is heartbeat of the squad, anchoring the midfield with her intelligence and grit. While holding midfield isn’t a position that brings flashy goals or mazy dribbles, the Scotland international has scored her share of screamers. But it’s her vision, tactical awareness and relentless work rate that make her indispensable.
When Cuthbert is sidelined, Chelsea’s game often feels incomplete — a testament to her influence in a team overflowing with talent. “Erin Cuthbert is one of the best players in the world,” said Emma Hayes, her former Chelsea manager. “She’s a top, top midfielder and deserves that credit.” — Keogh
Stat to know: Cuthbert has created the second-most chances for Chelsea (13) in the Champions League since the start of last season.
Country: Norway
Club: Chelsea
Age: 30
Position: Forward
2023 Rank: 36 (▼ 1)
Since joining Chelsea in 2019, Reiten has been a cornerstone of the team, showcasing her electrifying pace, drive and technical prowess. The Norway international has continued to elevate her game, consistently delivering both goals and assists, and at her finest she is ruthless, precise and selfless.
Former Chelsea boss Hayes praised her consistency last season, while Reiten herself showed that she is willing to put the team first when she said at the start of the campaign: “Whatever Sonia [Bompastor] wants me to do, I’ll do it best I can!” — Keogh
Stat to know: Reiten played 16 WSL games last season for Chelsea, scoring seven goals and providing five assists with an xG, or expected goals, of 6.2.
Country: Sweden
Club: Barcelona
Age: 30
Position: Forward
2023 Rank: 7 (▼ 29)
Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
Sweden international Rolfö drops 29 spots, and out of the top 10, after missing the majority of last season recovering from knee surgery. She returned to action in March, scoring in her first game back, and went on to help Barça win the Champions League. She scored a penalty in the semifinal win over Chelsea and started the final against Lyon. In total, she still managed an impressive seven goals in 15 games — despite many of her appearances coming as a left back. — Marsden
Stat to know: Rolfö’s 13 goals in the Champions League since 2018-19, playing for Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg and Barcelona, are the most scored by a defender in that span.
Country: Spain
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 24
Position: Left back
2023 rank: 10 (▼ 25)
Carmona scored the only goal of the 2023 World Cup final against England to cement her status as a hero in Spain, and she has continued to shine for Real Madrid since returning to club duties. Having inherited the captain’s armband from Ivana Andrés this season, the young defender has matured, leading her team from the backline and routinely popping up with goals.
Adept at playing in a wide midfield or wing-back role, Carmona is at her best when she has free reign of the left side of the pitch to add further firepower to the attack. — Lawson
Stat to know: With 1.77 successful take-ons per 90 minutes, Carmona is in the 99th percentile in her position, and she also manages 1.48 shots per game.
Country: United States
Club: Arsenal
Age: 26
Position: Right back
2023 Rank: N/A (★ debut)
Fox’s journey from the U.S. to the WSL has been remarkable, and she is only just beginning to showcase her talent. Since moving to Arsenal from the NWSL’s North Carolina Courage in January, she has adapted to the English league with ease, quickly establishing herself as one of the best right backs in the world. With an Olympic gold medal under her belt for the USWNT and a growing collection of Player of the Match honors for her club, she’s proving to be a force to be reckoned with.
“She’s always been really driven,” Arsenal teammate Alessia Russo said. “Now to play with her here at Arsenal is great. She’s a top player, she’s an athlete and she works really hard, and she’s a real asset.” — Keogh
Stat to know: Fox made a team-leading 21 appearances for the USWNT in 2024, including starting all six matches at the Olympics.
Country: England
Club: Manchester City
Age: 24
Position: Forward
2023 Rank: 22 (▼ 11)
Hemp was one of three England stars who made the Ballon d’Or shortlist and has made a superb start to the 2024-25 season for Man City, often proving to be the catalyst behind the team’s fightbacks. In the space of a single week in October, the winger helped City come from behind to beat Liverpool, St. Polten and Aston Villa.
Against Villa she scored the equalizer, then teed up the winner for Jill Roord. Afterward, City manager Gareth Taylor described her as a “role model,” while City striker Khadija Shaw summed up exactly what makes her teammate so good, saying: “She is a grafter and she buzzes around the pitch. She is an unbelievable player. I love playing with her. I enjoy it every day. The sky is the limit.” — Hamilton
Stat to know: Hemp leads the WSL since the start of last season with 10 assists.
Country: England
Club: Manchester City
Age: 31
Position: Center back/Left back
2023 Rank: 50 (▲ 18)
Greenwood took on the captaincy of Manchester City this year from Steph Houghton, with manager Gareth Taylor saying she is someone who embodies “everything they do” at the WSL club. While on the international stage, she has continued to be a vital cog in the England squad, proving equally adept at playing left back or center back. Her distribution remains second to none, she had more touches (2,154) than any other WSL player last season and she made more distance carrying the ball too (6,712 meters), too. — Hamilton
Stat to know: Greenwood’s 91.3% pass completion percentage in the Champions League this season is 15th highest of any player. But of the other 14 players ahead of her, only one is older: Wolfsburg’s Kathrin Hendrich, 32.
Country: France
Club: Lyon
Age: 23
Position: Defender
2023 rank: N/A (★ debut)
Bacha made her claim for the left back spot after breaking into Lyon’s first team seven years ago as a teenager, and although she was sometimes benched last season in favor of compatriot Perle Morroni, she remains a reliable and tidy defender who can create chances in attack from her excellent crosses into the box.
Currently sidelined after sustaining an ankle surgery over the summer, Bacha will face stiff competition to get back into the starting XI from summer signing Sofie Svava when she returns to full fitness. — Lawson
Stat to know: With 10 assists in the Champions League since 2021-22, Bacha has the most in that span by any player aged 25 or younger.
Country: United States
Club: Chicago Red Stars
Age: 36
Position: Goalkeeper
2023 Rank: N/A (★ debut)
Naeher is as cool as they come in a shootout: Twice in 34 days earlier this year, Naeher saved three penalty kicks, and she converted one for the USWNT against Canada. From the star-jump toe save in the dying seconds of extra time in the Olympic semifinal, to the one-handed palm swat in stoppage time of the final, she reminded the world in Paris why she’s so clutch. — Kassouf
Stat to know: Naeher has made three penalty saves in the NWSL this year, second only to the Washington Spirit’s Aubrey Kingsbury (4).
Country: France
Club: San Diego Wave FC
Age: 27
Position: Forward
2023 Rank: N/A (★ reentry)
Find yourself a winger who can do just about anything, and you might have found Cascarino. Lyon fans already knew that about the France international: She was part of the team’s six most recent Champions League-winning campaigns before transferring to the San Diego Wave in the summer window.
She made an instant impact for a Wave team that struggled to generate scoring opportunities earlier in the year. Cascarino is versatile enough to play in multiple roles on the wing, and she will be key to whatever a struggling San Diego franchise does next. — Kassouf
Stat to know: Cascarino is averaging a team-high 0.42 assists per 90 minutes for San Diego Wave in the NWSL this year.
Country: Spain
Club: Barcelona
Age: 20
Position: Forward
2023 Rank: 5 (▼ 18)
Paralluelo’s exploits at the World Cup saw her finish fifth last year, but she has dropped down this year’s rank despite doing well at Barcelona. Playing from the left or as a No. 9, the Spain forward scored 20 goals in 19 Liga F games as Barça won the title. Only Caroline Graham Hansen scored more.
In total, Paralluelo netted 34 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions as Barça won all four trophies available to them. That earned her a place on the Ballon d’Or podium, alongside teammates Graham Hansen and Aitana Bonmatí, for the second year running. There is belief within the club that she could one day win the award. — Marsden
Stat to know: Paralluelo is only one of two players in the Spanish Liga F with 20 goals since the start of last season; teammate Graham Hansen is the other.
Country: England
Club: Chelsea
Age: 33
Position: Right back
2023 Rank: 23 (▼ 4)
The 33-year-old defender has become synonymous with the right side of England’s defense and has excelled at club level with Manchester City, Lyon, Barcelona and now Chelsea. Her durability is astonishing, and her opponents have had to make tactical plans to prevent her marauding runs down the right.
When Chelsea announced her arrival in the summer, they twice used the phrase “serial winner,” and you can see why — her list of accolades includes five Champions League titles. But she’s showing no signs of slowing down, and now, reunited with former Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor, she is hoping a move back to the WSL will help prolong her career. — Hamilton
Stat to know: Bronze’s five assists are the most by an English player in the past three seasons of the Champions League.
1:30
Banda: Dream come to true play alongside ‘GOAT’ Marta
Barbra Banda speaks about playing with Marta and reflects on her season with Orlando Pride.
Country: Brazil
Club: Orlando Pride
Age: 38
Position: Forward
2023 Rank: N/A (★ reentry)
The rejuvenation of Marta at 38 years old is quietly one of the stories of the year after she was not on our list in 2023 and 2022. The six-time world player of the year stuck it out in Orlando through years of turmoil with the Pride to lift her first NWSL trophy, the Shield, this fall.
She’s no longer the player who can take on five defenders at once, but her superior vision remains, and in 2024 the technical execution that appeared to be fading was back with vigor. Marta played as if she were 10 years younger, and Orlando benefited. — Kassouf
Stat to know: Marta is tied with Trinity Rodman for the third-most chances created in the NWSL in 2024 with 46.
Country: Germany
Club: NJ/NY Gotham FC
Age: 34
Position: Goalkeeper
2023 Rank: N/A (★ debut)
Berger ranks as ESPN’s best women’s goalkeeper in the world for her ability to both make jaw-dropping saves and be the first line of attack. This season, she made an instant impact with NJ/NY Gotham FC and led the NWSL in post-shot expected goals minus goals allowed, according to FBRef, a measurement of shot stopping efficiency. Berger proved her value for Germany again at the Olympics in the team’s bronze-medal run. — Kassouf
Stat to know: Berger leads the NWSL this season with 8.26 goals prevented, the third highest in a single season since 2022.
Country: France
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Age: 26
Position: Striker
2023 Rank: N/A (★ reentry)
Katoto finished seventh in ESPN’s 2022 list but sustained an ACL injury that saw her sit out last season, only returning to form this year. Known for her sharp instincts and playmaking ability, she has consistently been a nightmare for defenses, scoring 35 goals in 45 appearances for France and over 120 times for PSG since 2014. The striker has firmly reestablished herself among the world’s elite and, last month, she earned a spot in the Ballon d’Or ranking. — Keogh
Stat to know: Katoto is one of three players to have 70-plus goal contributions in France’s Première Ligue since 2020-21, alongside Clara Mateo and Kadidiatou Diani.
Country: Colombia
Club: Chelsea
Age: 25
Position: Striker
2023 Rank: N/A (★ debut)
Ramirez briefly set the women’s world transfer record when Chelsea signed her from Levante for an initial €450,000 in January 2024. And as if that wasn’t enough to live up to, she had the added expectation of filling in for injured Sam Kerr, which she did with aplomb on the way to last season’s WSL title.
The Colombia international is a powerful striker who can muscle her way past defenders, but as well as being ruthless in front of goal she possesses the ability to hold the ball up, turn and sprint behind the defensive line. She has scored some brilliant goals — like her outrageous overhead effort against Arsenal in October — and ended up 21st in the Ballon d’Or voting, though she should rank higher next year. — Hamilton
Stat to know: Ramirez leads the WSL this season with five goal-creating actions.
Country: Poland
Club: Barcelona
Age: 27
Position: Forward
2023 rank: 42 (▲ 20)
There are few players in the world who are as lethal in front of goal as the Poland striker. Pajor built her career in a nine-year spell at German giants VfL Wolfsburg, where she bagged 95 goals in 114 league games before making a €400,000 switch to Barcelona this summer.
In doing so, the striker became the eighth most-expensive signing of all time in women’s football (tied with Barcelona teammate Kika Nazareth), but she is proving value for money as she has scored nine times in her first seven league games for the Catalans. — Lawson
Stat to know: Pajor leads Barcelona in shots on target (five) in the Champions League this season.
Country: Haiti
Club: Lyon
Age: 21
Position: Forward
2023 rank: 37 (▲ 16)
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SATURDAY, NOV. 16 (all times ET)
• Spurs vs. Arsenal (WSL) (8:40 a.m.)
• Chelsea vs. City (WSL) (12:25 p.m.)
SUNDAY, NOV. 17 (all times ET)
• Everton vs. Liverpool (WSL) (9:55 a.m.)
• Orlando vs. KC Current (2:30 p.m.)
Dumornay burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old prodigy before transferring to Reims and then European giants Lyon. She was crowned the women’s 2024 Concacaf Player of the Year, beating out the likes of USWNT star Sophia Smith, Jamaica’s Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, and Mexico’s Lizbeth Ovalle.
Dumornay has gone from strength to strength since leaving her native Haiti in 2021 but only really announced herself to the wider footballing world with some eye-catching performances for her country at the 2023 World Cup. A conduit through which so much of her team’s best play flows, she has hit her stride under new Lyon boss Joe Montemurro with four goals in four appearances in the league at the time of writing. — Lawson
Stat to know: Dumornay scored nine goals in 20 appearances from midfield across all competitions with Lyon last season.
Country: Spain
Club: Barcelona
Age: 25
Position: Right back
2023 Rank: 25 (▲ 5)
Batlle began her career at Barcelona but failed to make the breakthrough before spells at Madrid CFF, Levante and then Manchester United. Now back at her first club, last season was one to remember as she effortlessly switched between the left and right side of the defense as the Blaugrana won the quadruple. She spent most of the season flying forward from left back, due to Fridolina Rölfo’s injury, but also played some games on the right, which she would consider her more natural position.
Rölfo’s return saw Batlle left on the bench in the Champions League final, but she quickly bounced back from that disappointment and is now Barça’s first choice right back following Lucy Bronze’s return to England. — Marsden
Stat to know: In the 2023-24 Champions League, Batlle put in the third-most successful tackles in the competition (22).
Country: Malawi
Club: Kansas City Current
Age: 26
Position: Forward
2023 Rank: N/A (★ debut)
How does a player go from unranked last year to so high on the list? Only by the simple feat of breaking the single-season NWSL scoring record once thought to be untouchable in her first season in the league. Chawinga scored 20 goals this NWSL season, smashing Sam Kerr’s record of 18 goals in 2019, and also became the first player in NWSL history to score against all 13 other teams in a single season.
Yes, Chawinga’s speed is impressive, but it’s the way she uses it: getting in behind defenses to latch onto a through ball, dribbling past helpless defenders, or even tracking back to help on the wing. She is the younger and (to date) less-famous sister to Tabitha, who plays for Lyon. But with more seasons like this, that will soon change. — Kassouf
Stat to know: Chawinga leads the 2024 NWSL with 26 goal contributions (20 goals, six assists).
Country: Spain
Club: Barcelona
Age: 26
Position: Central midfielder/Center back
2023 Rank: 16 (▼ 2)
Guijarro’s versatility means she often plays different roles in Barça’s team, from center back to forward. When Keira Walsh plays in midfield, Guijarro can take the brakes off and step forward more — she scored 10 goals last season. She can also play a deeper role, breaking up play and starting attacks, while she has even been used as a defender. In a side stacked with attacking talent, she remains one of the game’s more underrated players. — Marsden
Stat to know: Guijarro has scored the third-most goals (eight) in Champions League for Barcelona since 2022-23, including two in the 2023 final vs. Wolfsburg where she earned player of the match.
Country: United States
Club: Lyon
Age: 30
Position: Central midfielder
2023 Rank: 29 (▲ 12)
Horan captained the USWNT to the Olympic gold medal last summer, and she can play the Nos. 6, 8 or 10 roles in midfield. Her best work, however, is done as an attacking midfielder who can tap into the skills of her early role as a striker when she went to PSG as a teenager. Horan is dangerous as a target on set pieces for both Lyon and the USWNT. She is frequently regarded as one of the USWNT’s most tactically astute players. — Kassouf
Stat to know: With four goal contributions in five matches for the USWNT at the Concacaf W Gold Cup, Horan helped her side win the title.
Country: France
Club: Lyon
Age: 29
Position Forward
2023 rank: 12 (▼ 4)
Diani made her league debut for Paris FC (then called Juvisy) at age 15 in January 2011 and has spent all 15 years of her career in the French Première Ligue. Yet despite being one of the more senior players around, there is a youthful exuberance in how she dribbles around defenders to set up her teammates.
With speed and skill, Diani stands out from her regular role on the right side of attack, although she’s also adept at leading the line as a No. 9 striker too — as her 82 goals across the last eight seasons can attest. A player whose contributions off the ball can often be overlooked, she remains a key part of the attack for both France and Lyon. — Lawson
Stat to know: Diani is tied for the second-most goals scored (16) in the Champions League since 2016-17.
Country: United States
Club: Chicago Red Stars
Age: 26
Position: Forward
2023 Rank: N/A (★ reentry)
Swanson was arguably the best player in the world when she was hurt in April 2023, a knee injury that forced her to sit out the 2023 World Cup and our 2023 ranking. She returned to the field in early 2024 and mostly picked up where she left off in her two previous years of incredible form for the Chicago Red Stars and USWNT, going on to score the winning goal in the Olympic gold-medal match. Swanson is a player who requires freedom as a winger to cut inside or roam as a No. 10. Simply put, she changes games when she gets on the ball. — Kassouf
Stat to know: Swanson is tied with Sophia Smith for most goals scored (14) with the USWNT since 2023 in all competitions.
Country: Japan
Club: Manchester City
Age: 27
Position: Central midfielder
2023 Rank: 44 (▲ 30)
Hasegawa possesses an unrivalled ability to control the pace and tempo of a match, and Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor insists she is one of the best holding midfielders in the world. “She’s so intelligent and her stature goes against the grain, she’s one of the best ball recoverees in the game,” he said last year. “I call her the assister of the assister. She’s the cog in the wheel that sets off the opportunity.”
Rightly taking a big leap from last year’s vote, the Japan international finished 26th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or ranking. — Hamilton
Stat to know: Hasegawa has completed the most passes by any midfielder in the WSL since the start of last season; her 90% pass completion rate is also the highest of all WSL midfielders in that span.
Country: Spain
Club: Barcelona
Age: 30
Position: Central midfielder
2023 Rank: N/A (★ reentry)
After she finished No. 1 on FC Women’s Rank in 2022, she missed out completely last year when an ACL injury sidelined her on the eve of Euro 2022, forcing her to sit out the majority of the season. But the two-time Ballon d’Or winner — called “The Queen of Barcelona” by former teammate Lucy Bronze — has made a triumphant return.
Putellas has collected a handful of silverware — a World Cup, Champions League, and Liga F title — showing the world why she’s still considered football royalty. Indeed, she scored from off the bench in the 2024 Champions League final against Lyon to cement her return to the continental stage. With six goals in her first seven matches this season, Putellas has reminded us all why she is one of the most clinical and reliable players in the game. — Keogh
Stat to know: Putellas is tied for most goals (16) for Barcelona in the Champions League since 2016-17, and has the second-most during that span behind Pernille Harder (18).
Country: Malawi
Club: Lyon
Age: 28
Position: Forward
2023 Rank: N/A (★ debut)
Chawinga has truly had a breakout season. The former Wuhan Jianghan University forward stormed onto the scene with a stellar loan spell at PSG that saw her net 19 goals in 21 games, before eight-time European champions Lyon signed her this summer.
Last season, she became the first Malawian to play and score (five goals and two assists) in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Furthermore, her remarkable performances earned her a spot among the elite names on the Ballon d’Or shortlist (where she finished 16th out of 30), a place in the Champions League Team of the Season, and the D1 Arkema Player of the Year title in France. — Keogh
Stat to know: Her 31 goal contributions since the start of last season are the most in the French league in that span: 19 goals (first), 12 assists (tied-first).
Country: Colombia
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 19
Position: Forward
2023 rank: 4 (▼ 7)
A player who boasts flair and class on the ball, Caicedo is more likely to assist in the build-up to goal rather than score herself, but she is also capable of finding the net from distance when required. It’s hard to believe that she is still only 19 years old.
The Colombia attacker first turned heads at the 2023 World Cup, a staggering feat when you consider that just three years prior she was undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer, and has continued to impress at Real Madrid. There is still so much to come from her, though Madrid’s failure to challenge Barcelona could account for her drop from last year’s fourth spot. — Lawson
Stat to know: The teenager has already completed 45 one-vs.-one dribbles for Colombia in all competitions since 2022, the most on the team during that period.
1:56
USWNT’s Girma excited to be recognised by ESPN FC Women’s Rank
Naomi Girma reflects on being named at No. 2 on ESPN FC Women’s Rank.
Country: England
Club: Chelsea
Age: 23
Position: Forward
2023 Rank: 11 (▲ 1)
James has become a star for England and Chelsea, improving her clinical finishing and expert hold-up play to become one of the best forwards in the game. Though she has struggled with minor injuries, on the pitch she exudes confidence and her direct style has seen her develop into a key player for both club and country, despite not featuring for England since April.
Former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes described the 22-year-old as “maverick” and said “it’s a playground for her out there,” after the forward’s performance in Chelsea’s 3-1 victory over Arsenal last season. — Keogh
Stat to know: James has seven goal contributions (three goals and four assists) in her past six matches with England, while she had two goal contributions in her previous 10.
Country: England
Club: Barcelona
Age: 27
Position: Central midfielder
2023 Rank: 17 (▲ 8)
Once the world’s most expensive player when she moved to Barcelona from Manchester City for €400,000 in 2022, Walsh is one of Europe’s finest midfielders. Her consistency and intelligence have made her undroppable for club and country, while her ability to control the tempo, break up opposition play and deliver pinpoint passes, sets the standard for modern defensive midfielders.
Time and again, Walsh proves why she is the benchmark for the position. Her vision, calmness, and tactical awareness elevate her among her peers, while former Barcelona manager Jonatan Giráldez has previously described her as “special.” — Keogh
Stat to know: Walsh’s 92.47% successful pass percentage is the highest of any Barcelona player with at least five games played in the Champions League since her arrival in 2022.
Country: United States
Club: Washington Spirit
Age: 22
Position: Forward
2023 Rank: N/A (★ reentry)
Rodman is the most dynamic and entertaining player in the USWNT pool. She performs audacious acts so regularly that she makes them look casual, whether it is the “Trin Spin” turn she regularly executes (often with a nutmeg for added insult) or a wonder goal like the one she scored against Japan in extra time of the 2024 Olympic quarterfinal.
Rodman was the only player to appear in every match for the USWNT from the start of 2023 until October 2024 when she sat out the training camp to rehab a back injury. Amid a huge coaching shakeup and significant roster turnover, Rodman was the constant for the USWNT and, after landing at No. 33 in 2022 and missing our list in 2023, she’s back in the top 10.
She also continued to light up the NWSL with her exceptional play on the wings for the Washington Spirit. Give Rodman too much space to dribble as a defender, and you’ll regret it. Get too close and you’ll probably be nutmegged. Lose sight of her for just a moment and she’ll find the space to exploit. Oh, and she’s a superstar who often tracks back defensively to cover for her fullbacks. — Kassouf
Stat to know: Rodman has the fifth-most goal contributions in NWSL in 2024 with 14.
Country: Spain
Club: Arsenal
Age: 28
Position: Forward
2023 Rank: 30 (▲ 23)
Caldentey has made winning silverware seem routine in recent seasons. From lifting the World Cup with Spain in 2023, to securing three Champions League titles with Barcelona (2021, 2023, 2024) in four years, her dominance has been undeniable across the highest levels of football. Last season she played a key role in Barcelona’s unprecedented quadruple, before opting to make a high-profile move to Arsenal. And her meteoric rise is reflected in a jump from 30th in last year’s rankings.
What sets Caldentey apart is not her individual brilliance but her ability to elevate the performances of those around her. She consistently makes the players around her better, which is a rare and invaluable trait. Now, at the peak of her career, she is poised to be a crucial figure for Arsenal. — Keogh
Stat to know: The 89 chances she has created in the Champions League since 2016-17 is only behind Barcelona’s Caroline Graham Hansen (119) and Lyon’s Selma Bacha (90).
Country: Jamaica
Club: Manchester City
Age: 28
Position: Striker
2023 Rank: 32 (▲ 26)
If there’s one player who unquestionably deserves a place among the elite, it’s Shaw. With 53 WSL goals in 62 games since moving to City in 2021, the Jamaica striker has established herself as one of the most prolific goal scorers in Europe and her rise has been incredible.
Last season, Shaw’s relentless drive and natural goal-scoring instinct saw her claim the WSL Golden Boot with 21 goals, one shy of the league record, and what makes that achievement even more remarkable is that she sat out the final three games because of injury. But her influence also extends beyond goals as the focal point of City’s attack, with her power, intelligence and vision allowing her to create consistent opportunities for her teammates to shine. — Keogh
Stat to know: Shaw leads Jamaica with 27 goals in all competitions since 2018. No other player has scored more than 12.
Country: United States
Club: Portland Thorns
Age: 24
Position: Forward
2023 Rank: 13 (▲ 8)
Smith is the type of player who can change a game on her own. Best utilized as a No. 9, she got that opportunity at the 2024 Olympics, where she thrived, scoring three goals, including the winner in the semifinal.
Often, Smith’s singular talent was the one answer the Portland Thorns had amid a relatively poor 2024 season at a team level. She was the top-scoring American in the NWSL again this season, and she found ways to get involved in games from both central and wide areas while also shaking off sometimes rough play from opponents.
Smith is the rare type of player who gives the impression of being faster with the ball at her feet, a forward who can carve up several defenders with one move. This year, she has further developed the ability to score in tight spaces and under close pressure from defenders. — Kassouf
Stat to know: Smith is tied for the third-most assists in the NWSL in 2024 with six.
Country: Norway
Club: Barcelona
Age: 28
Position: Forward
2023 Rank: 15 (▲ 11)
It feels as if Graham Hansen is finally receiving the recognition she has deserved for a long time, and four of our voters picked her as their No. 1 choice. As one of the most creative and clinical forwards in the world, the 28-year-old has often flown under the radar in a Barcelona team stacked with world-class talent. But last season she made her mark with over 40 goal contributions for her club, including 21 goals in 25 Liga F matches.
Her incredible year earned her a first-time nomination for the Ballon d’Or, where she finished second — an astonishing achievement for a debutant — and it’s no surprise that she now consistently ranks among the top 10 players in the world. Her former teammate Ella Masa says she is “one of the rare ones” in world football. — Keogh
Stat to know: Graham Hansen leads the Champions League with 28 big chances created since 2016-17, and no other player has more than 16.
Country: Zambia
Club: Orlando Pride
Age: 24
Position: Forward
2023 Rank: N/A (★ debut)
It’s amazing what a change of scenery can do for notoriety. Last year, Banda was playing in the Chinese Super League, away from the spotlight. Now, she’s arguably the best player in arguably the best league in the world, and everyone is on notice.
Banda’s move to the Orlando Pride earlier this year marked the second-highest women’s transfer ($740,000) behind Zambia teammate Racheal Kundananji, whose move to Bay FC a few weeks earlier set the new mark. And she immediately took the NWSL by storm, tallying 12 goals and five assists in her first 11 starts.
For her country, Banda recorded back-to-back hat tricks for Zambia at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, then followed it up with another hat trick at the Olympics this summer. — Kassouf
Stat to know: Banda has scored the second-most goals in the NWSL in 2024 with 13.
Country: United States
Club: San Diego Wave
Age: 24
Position: Center back
2023 Rank: 21 (▲ 19)
USWNT head coach Hayes called Girma “the best defender I’ve ever seen” midway through the team’s run to an Olympic gold medal last summer. Hayes’ assessment is as qualified as anyone in the world — and astute observers had already said as much. Girma is the best defender in the world right now, full stop.
She is the whole package as a center back. A cerebral defender who seems to always be in the right place, much like USWNT great Becky Sauerbrunn in her prime, Girma also boasts superior athleticism to complement her vision, and her distribution out of the back is an underrated part of the USWNT’s success — especially how Hayes likes to play.
Defenders rarely are recognized this high up the list of best players in the world, because goal scorers typically always claim more attention. Girma, however, is a generational talent. At 24, she should still have several major-tournament cycles ahead of her. She is already getting opportunities to wear the captain’s armband for the USWNT. Her adjustment to the professional and international levels straight out of college was remarkable; Girma was an MVP finalist as a rookie. — Kassouf
Stat to know: Girma is tied for fifth-most shots blocked in the NWSL in 2024 with 22.
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Bonmatí dismisses Messi comparisons after second Ballon d’Or with Barcelona
Aitana Bonmatí reacts to winning the women’s Ballon d’Or for a second consecutive year.
Country: Spain
Club: Barcelona
Age: 26
Position: Central midfielder
2023 Rank: 1 (⇔ unchanged)
For the second season running, Bonmatí tops the list after another trophy-filled season with Barcelona, being voted at No. 1 by half of our voting panel. She helped Barça win the quadruple for the first time in the club’s history — LaLiga, the UEFA Women’s Champions League, the Copa de la Reina and the Spanish Supercopa — and again delivered in the big games for club and country.
She scored in the Champions League semifinal comeback win against Chelsea and in the final against Lyon, when she was selected player of the match as Barça won the competition for the second successive year. She also netted in the inaugural final of the UEFA Women’s Nations League as world champions Spain beat France.
Bonmatí remains distinctive as a midfielder who can dictate play but also delivers in the final third. In 41 appearances last season, she netted 19 goals and set up 17 more and, as she picked up her second Ballon d’Or in late October, she said: “What drives me to be here is the winning mentality that we have as a team and a national team, it’s what leads you to these successes.” — Marsden
Stat to know: Bonmatí leads the Champions League in goal contributions since 2016-17 — she has 31 (16 goals, 15 assists).
Source: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/42095376/espn-2024-best-50-women-soccer-players-ranked-world
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HOK and Snow Kreilich raise thin canopy above St Louis soccer stadium
Global design studio HOK and Minnesota-based Snow Kreilich Architects have teamed up to create the Citypark urban sports campus and stadium for a Major League Soccer club in St Louis, Missouri.
Designed for the St Louis City Soccer Club, Citypark spans 25.5 acres in the heart of downtown St. Louis, near the iconic Gateway Arch and Mississippi River.
“[The venue] shifts the MLS stadium narrative from an enclosed singular space divorced from the city to a public space that brings together all of St Louis to be part of a civic soccer experience,” the team said.
Completed in November 2022 by HOK and Snow Kreilich Architects, the complex includes a 22,500-seat stadium, team headquarters and a practice facility, and has a structural system made primarily with recycled steel.
The stadium was built on a former freeway off-ramp and parking lot with an elevated topography that allowed the pitch level to be set 17 feet (5.1 metres) below the street-level concourse and minimised the height of the building in relation to the surrounding buildings.
The team submerged the operations and support spaces below grade – accessed by tunnels and buried loading docks – to create a 360-degree seamless fan experience that connects to the surrounding street grid.
The ground level of the rectangular stadium is enclosed with light-grey masonry and glass that allow views both into and out of the venue.
Additionally, an elevated upper concourse wraps around the building with a drink rail along the facade, opening the stadium to the gameday festivities on the exterior of the stadium.
A 120-foot wide, portico-like canopy is supported by two rows of columns – an inner row of robust, compressed columns and an outer row of delicate, tensile columns – to balance above the steeply raked concrete seating bowl.
“It acts as a front porch to the city and creates connections between the city and the activity of the stadium,” said HOK.
While providing shade to fans and amplifying the sound of cheering, HOK and Snow Kreilich Architects wanted to create a modernist structure reminiscent of the Gateway Arch.
“Citypark exhibits a seamless fusion of structural engineering and architectural design,” said the studios.
“Through a coordinated system that features steel in a variety of ways, the structural engineering complements the architecture, creating open, interconnected spaces and fluid exterior forms.”
Lightweight spanning trusses were combined with an invisible lateral system that concealed the seismic bracing. Meanwhile, the canopy’s shallow cantilever is supported by an outrigger system and varied beam sizes that allow the edges of the canopy to look thinner.
The venue opened its inaugural season in 2023, billing itself as a “zero-waste venue: with 100 per cent recycled structural steel – that can be disassembled and reused – low-energy LED lighting, low-flow water fixtures, and a high-efficiency building control system.
“The urban stadium is connected to and focused on the City as much as it is on soccer,” the team said.
CCA shades Mexican baseball stadium with concrete umbrellas
An additional 17,000-square foot (1,580-square metre) flexible indoor event space sits in the centre of the complex, offering views into the pitch to the north, practice fields to the south, and the Mall to the east.
Meanwhile, a 70,000-square foot (6,500-square metre) outdoor space on the eastern side of the complex provides public infrastructure for civic events, food, and performances – further connecting the stadium to the context.
Other professional sports facilities that HOK is currently working on include Major League Soccer’s first fully electric stadium for New York City Football Club in Queens and a renovation for the National Football League’s Jacksonville Jaguars stadium with a fritted dome in Florida.
The photography is by Michael Robinson.
Project credits:
Client: St. Louis CITY SC
Design architect: HOK
Design architect: Snow Kreilich Architects
Architectural support: KAI Enterprises
Architectural support: WA, Inc
Landscape architect: HOK
Landscape architecture Support, Irrigation: DG2 Design
Turf design: Kimley-Horn
Construction manager: MAK Joint Venture (Mortenson Construction, Alberici Construction, Keeley Construction)
Steel fabricator: Hillsdale Fabricators
Steel detailer: Esskay Structures Inc
Steel erector: Alberici Constructors, Inc
Owner’s representative: Kwame Building Group + Unlimited Partners
Structural engineer: HOK
Civil engineering and structural engineering support: David Mason & Associates, Inc
MEP engineering, fire protection & technology: ME Engineers
Plumbing engineering support: Custom Engineering
Sustainability consultant: HOK
Interior design: HOK + Snow Kreilich Architects
Architecture/interiors support, FF&E: Arcturis
Signage & wayfinding: Kiku Obata & Company
Lighting designer: ME Engineers
Code: Code Consultants, Inc
Wind studies: CPP Inc
Accessibility: Ed Roether Consulting, LLC
Technology design support: Faith Group, LLC
Food service: S20 Consultants, Inc
Vertical transportation: Van Deusen & Associates, Inc
Source: https://www.dezeen.com/2024/11/13/hok-and-snow-kreilich-raise-st-louis-soccer-stadium/
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Franklin and Noe: A Story about Soccer, Friendship, Community, and Resilience
An interaction more than two decades ago between a soccer ref and soccer enthusiast Franklin Herrera was the catalyst for a friendship between Franklin and fellow soccer enthusiast Noe Garcia that resulted in Redwood City kids having the opportunity to play competitive club soccer even if their parents couldn’t afford the hefty fees.
That interaction took place at Redwood City’s Red Morton Park during a soccer game between Franklin and Noe’s 8-year-old sons’ recreational soccer teams. (Franklin and Noe were each coaching their son’s team.) Noe’s son committed a foul and the ref scolded him sternly. Franklin intervened, telling the ref that, while the foul needed to be addressed, he could have made his point without being quite so harsh.
Noe was astounded by what he’d heard. “Frank’s team was losing. But I could see then that Frank wasn’t about winning. For him, it was about the kids, the community, the team, everything except him.”
At the time, Noe had been thinking about starting a more competitive team for his son, and Franklin, who clearly knew something about coaching kids’ soccer, seemed like an ideal partner. Noe floated the idea by Franklin, Franklin accepted his offer, and the pair, working under the auspices of Redwood City’s Juventus Sport Club, launched one of Redwood City’s first youth club soccer teams. What Noe didn’t know at that time was that Franklin’s gentle giant demeanor and contagious conviviality made him an ace recruiter who thought nothing of approaching kids he didn’t know and suggesting that they try playing soccer.
“He sees a kid on a bike or a kid hanging around the park and he’ll say, ‘Hey, come play soccer’,” says Anna Laura Carlos, a Redwood City mom who has five kids who played soccer under Franklin’s watch.
national trend.) So Franklin and Noe decided to start their own youth club soccer program and to do it their way.
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JASA’s youth program didn’t advertise or have a flashy Web site or a five-year plan. Instead, it relied on what Franklin refers to as “organic growth” that started with the team, not the club.
JASA coaches were compensated but minimally. Because most jobs were done by parents, clubs’ fees–$300 to $500 per child per season–were less than half what club teams charged with far bigger staffs. (Franklin and Noe didn’t take a salary.) If a family couldn’t afford the fees, they chatted privately with Franklin–the designated parent liaison–to figure out how the family could pay less and volunteer more. If that wasn’t an option, Franklin looked for a community sponsor–a family or business willing to help out.
As Anna sees it, “Money is not the important thing for Franklin. It’s about building a community.”
video Franklin’s wife Kristy and his son Alexander made about Franklin’s recovery, was that Franklin needed to give himself the same kind of encouragement he gave his players: “You’ve got to fight as hard as you can.”
What Franklin didn’t know at the time was how much Noe was wrestling with his own issues: his business was in decline, he was losing his house, and he was going through a divorce. “I got strength from Franklin,” Noe says. “My personal problems were zero compared to what my friend was going through. Franklin was ready to give up, throw in the towel. It gave me strength to be the strong person in front of him, even though, inside, I could hardly function.”
It was an arduous and heroic battle, but four months after being admitted to Saint Francis, Franklin temporarily left his walker at the door and exited from the hospital on his own two feet.
The winds of change
A year after he was released from the hospital, Franklin returned to his job as a paraprofessional for kids with special needs at Redwood City’s Kennedy Middle School. Several years later, when he approached Noe about starting a club team for Noe’s daughter, lingering symptoms of Franklin’s illness, including reduced strength in his hips and shoulders and poor balance, made him unable to return to coaching.
Instead, Franklin spent at least four hours a day, six days a week walking the fields at Red Morton Park where JASA’s teams practiced. He’d chat with players. (Noe contends that Franklin knew the names of each of the 600 kids on JASA’s roster; Franklin denies this.) He resolved issues that arose between kids and coaches, coaches and parents, even parents and kids. (Anna, the mom mentioned earlier, says that Franklin has been like a second father to her kids.) And he informally assumed multiple positions–director of coaching, director of the girls’ program, director of the boys’ program, field coordinator, equipment manager, custodian–that other club teams typically hire people to do.
Redwood City’s youth soccer landscape changed yet again on July 15th when JASA and Juventus, the club Franklin and Noe’s teams had been affiliated with the first time they coached together, merged to become the JSC Soccer Club.
The merger happened in part because Franklin and Noe were victims of their own success. Being responsible for hundreds of kids on dozens of teams, while holding down full-time jobs–they said they’d no longer enjoy the work if they got paid–made it impossible for them to give the administrative aspects of their youth program the attention it required.
JSC has hired staff to do some of the jobs that once were done by volunteers. As a result, families pay more than in the past, though Franklin says it’s still less than other clubs charge. Franklin’s official title is community liaison. He continues to walk Red Morton’s fields six days a week and he insists that he will continue to fight to ensure that every kid who wants to play soccer will play, regardless of their ability to pay.
Noe, meanwhile, is the assistant coach for his daughter’s soccer team and the coach for his grandson’s team and has two more grandkids who he’ll start coaching as soon as they’re old enough to dribble a soccer ball.
Noe didn’t vote for the merger, but, now that it happened, he’s accepted it. “Soccer’s is my therapy, my medicine. I’ll stick with it no matter what.”
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