May 24, 2013 07:41AM

Soccer-Man United assistant manager Phelan leaves club (Reuters)

MANCHESTER, England, May 24 (Reuters) - Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan left the Premier League champions on Friday as new manager David Moyes prepared to make his own coaching appointments. Former United player Phelan is departing along with goalkeeping coach Eric Steele ahead of the arrival of Moyes, who takes over from the retired Alex Ferguson on July 1. "I would like to put on record the club's thanks for everything Mike and Eric have done," Moyes said in a statement released by United. ...

May 24, 2013 07:27AM

Soccer-Porto sell Moutinho and Rodriguez to Monaco (Reuters)

LISBON, May 24 (Reuters) - Porto have sold midfielders Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez to French club Monaco for 70 million Euros ($90 million), the Portuguese champions said on Friday. (Reporting by Daniel Alvarenga, Editing by Ed Osmond)

May 24, 2013 07:15AM

Soccer-Europa League winners to get Champions League spot (Reuters)

(Adds details, quotes) LONDON, May 24 (Reuters) - European soccer's governing body UEFA sought to increase the appeal of the Europa League on Friday by announcing that from 2015 the competition's winners would qualify for the elite Champions League. Sixteen teams rather than the current six will also qualify directly for the group stages of UEFA's secondary competition in a bid to boost its prestige and attractiveness to sponsors. ...

May 24, 2013 06:51AM

Friday MLS Forecast: Week 13: Weighing the ramification of international duties (Goal.com)

The prospect of losing players for friendlies created its usual consternation as MLS coaches grappled with the impact of yet another set of ill-advised friendlies.

May 24, 2013 06:38AM

Fire acquire D Soumare from Union (The Associated Press)

CHICAGO (AP) -- The Chicago Fire acquired defender Bakary Soumare from the Philadelphia Union on Thursday for a second round-pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft and allocation money.

May 24, 2013 06:36AM

Soccer-De Rossi appeals for fans to leave knives at home (Reuters)

By Terry Daley ROME, May 24 (Reuters) - Italy and AS Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi appealed to fans on Friday to "leave their weapons and knives at home" before this weekend's Italian Cup final against local rivals Lazio. Sunday's match comes around seven weeks after a Serie A meeting between the two neighbours was preceded by violent clashes in the streets of Rome in which several people were stabbed. ...

May 24, 2013 06:25AM

Soccer-Russia call up two newcomers for Portugal qualifier (Reuters)

MOSCOW, May 24 (Reuters) - Russia coach Fabio Capello has called up two uncapped players, defenders Vladimir Granat of Dynamo Moscow and Kuban Krasnodar's Alexei Kozlov, for next month's World Cup qualifier against Portugal. Granat, 26, was included in Russia's squad for Euro 2012 by Capello's predecessor Dick Advocaat but has yet to make his international debut. Kozlov, also 26, was a surprise addition to a 27-man squad, announced by Capello on Friday, having only attended Russia under-23 team's training camp some five years ago. ...