* Wizards Travel to Red-Hot Real Salt Lake
* Wizards Sign Jamar Beasley
* U.S. World Cup Roster Announced
* Manchester United Legend Denis Irwin Visits Kansas City
* Manchester United Tickets On Sale
* Now on KCWizards.com
* This Week on KC Soccer Radio
* Wizards Youth Soccer Camps Update
WIZARDS TRAVEL TO RED-HOT REAL SALT LAKE:
Kansas City travels to Rio Tinto Stadium Saturday for a road test against in-form Real Salt Lake, the 2009 MLS Cup champions. Salt Lake has won its last four contests, and hasn’t lost a road game since Kansas City won 2-0 at RSL May 16, 2009. The Wizards are 5-3-2 all-time against RSL during the regular season, including a 2-2-1 record on the road. The teams split the 2009 series, with Real winning 1-0 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on August 29.
Wizards midfielder Davy Arnaud has now played 198 matches for the club. With two more appearances, he will become just the 5th player in team history to appear in 200 games for Kansas City. Wizards assistant Kerry Zavagnin is the team’s all-time appearance leader, with 237 career games in a Kansas City uniform.
Saturday’s match will again be broadcast live on KCWE 29 with 30-minute pre-game and post-game shows. Play-by-play man Dave Borchardt will have the call in English, with Sasha Victorine serving as analyst. Secondary audio is available in Spanish, featuring Enrique Morales and Raul Villegas.
Real Salt Lake will be without striker Robbie Findley, who was named to the U.S. World Cup squad Wednesday. The Wizards are without left back Roger Espinoza, who is on the Honduras World Cup team.
WIZARDS SIGN MIDFIELDER JAMAR BEASLEY:
The Kansas City Wizards announced Wednesday that the team has signed midfielder Jamar Beasley to a Major League Soccer contract. Per team and League policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. To make room on the roster, Kansas City has waived midfielder Igor Kostrov.
Beasley, 30, signed with MLS directly out of high school in 1998 when he joined the New England Revolution. He was, at the time, the youngest player to ever sign with the League. Beasley played in MLS from 1998-2001 with the New England Revolution and Chicago Fire. Beasley has scored seven goals and recorded eight assists in 59 MLS games (17 starts).
“Jamar is a quick guy that adds more speed to the wings and up front for us,” Wizards Manager Peter Vermes said. “He adds depth for us in midfield and attack.”
After the 2001 season, Beasley left MLS and signed with lower-level Italian club Atletico Puteolana, where he stayed for one season. Beasley then became a prolific indoor soccer goal-scorer starting in 2003, first with the Kansas City Comets. Beasley was a star for Kansas City, scoring 53 goals in 61 games from 2003-2005. He then moved across the state when the Comets suspended operations, scoring 33 goals in 30 games for the St. Louis Steamers from 2005-2006. Beasley played for the Detroit Ignition from 2006-2008, scoring 40 goals in 29 games. Beasley has been with the Rockford Rampage since 2008.
Beasley has been an active member of the United States National Futsal Team, participating in both the 2004 and 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup events. At the 2004 event in Chinese Taipei, Beasley played in five of six games for the USA, scoring one goal. In 2008, Beasley started two of four group-stage matches for the USA in Brazil.
Beasley’s younger brother, DeMarcus, has played for Scottish powerhouse Rangers F.C. for the past three European seasons and is currently with the U.S. National Team preparing for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in South Africa. DeMarcus has appeared for the 90 times for the Red, White and Blue since 2001, scoring 17 goals. He also played in both the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cup tournaments for the U.S.
U.S. National Team Head Coach Bob Bradley will name his final 23-man World Cup roster today live on the 12 p.m. CT SportsCenter. The announcement is expected to come around 12:20 p.m. CT.
Transaction: Kansas City Wizards (MLS) sign midfielder Jamar Beasley to Major League Soccer contract. Kansas City also waives midfielder Igor Kostrov.
Vitals:
Jamar Beasley
Midfielder
Height: 5-9
Weight: 150
Born: October 11, 1979
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Citizenship: USA
Last Club: Rockford Rampage (MISL)
U.S. WORLD CUP ROSTER ANNOUNCED:
U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley has named the 23-man roster that will travel to South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The team departs for South Africa on May 30, and will play its opening match of the tournament against England on June 12 in Rustenburg live on ABC at 1 p.m. CT. The roster includes former Kansas City Wizards player Herculez Gomez.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (All-Time World Cup Roster Appearances)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (2010), Marcus Hahnemann (2006, 2010), Tim Howard (2006, 2010)
DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (2006, 2010), Jonathan Bornstein (2010), Steve Cherundolo (2002, 2006, 2010), Jay DeMerit (2010), Clarence Goodson (2010), Oguchi Onyewu (2006, 2010), Jonathan Spector (2010)
MIDFIELDERS (9): DaMarcus Beasley (2002, 2006, 2010), Michael Bradley (2010), Ricardo Clark (2010), Clint Dempsey (2006, 2010), Landon Donovan (2002, 2006, 2010), Maurice Edu (2010), Benny Feilhaber (2010), Stuart Holden (2010), José Torres (2010)
FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (2010), Edson Buddle (2010), Robbie Findley (2010), Herculez Gomez (2010)
Detailed Roster
“We have been working for almost four years to reach this point, and we are grateful to all the players who have been part of the process. There is a tremendous amount of respect for the efforts and professionalism that everyone has put into building this team,” said Bradley. “It’s important in any team building process to get to the final 23, and clearly there were some tough decisions to make. We are confident that this is a group of players that will work together and be committed to doing whatever it takes to be successful. We feel the roster has a good balance of players who have been a part of previous World Cups, those who have gained great experience in qualifying and Confederations Cup and some newer faces that have proved they belong. We are extremely excited to play the final Send-Off match in Philadelphia and then begin the great challenge of playing in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.”
MANCHESTER UNITED LEGEND DENIS IRWIN VISITED KANSAS CITY WEDNESDAY:
Manchester United legend Denis Irwin visited Kansas City Wednesday to help promote the upcoming friendly between United and the Kansas City Wizards on Sunday, July 25 at New Arrowhead Stadium. Irwin was live on the Fox 4 morning show before an in-studio appearance on Sports Radio 810 WHB at 9 a.m. CT.
Irwin then visited Kansas City Wizards practice to meet with the team, before hosting a coaches clinic at Kansas City’s Swope Park Training Center. Irwin was very impressed with the facility, calling it better than some that English clubs train at. For pictures of Irwin’s visit, click here.
Irwin, an Irish left back, is one of the most decorated and beloved players in Manchester United history. Irwin played for Manchester United from 1990-2002 after beginning his career with Leeds United (1983-1986) and Oldham Athletic (1986-1990). He appeared in 529 games for United, scoring 33 goals in the process. Irwin was twice named to the Premier League Team of the Year, first for the 1993-1994 season and later for the 1998-1999 season.
United won 19 trophies during Irwin’s tenure with the club, including 7 Premier League titles, 3 FA Cups, 1 League Cup, 4 Charity Shields, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 Cup Winners’ Cup, 1 European Super Cup and 1 Intercontinental Cup. Irwin was also named to the Premier League 10 Seasons Team of the Decade at left back.
Internationally, Irwin established himself as one of the Republic of Ireland’s first-choice defenders for much of the 1990’s. Irwin appeared in 56 games and scored four goals from 1990-1999, including serving as the team’s #2 at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States. Irwin played in two group-stage matches for Ireland, with his country going 1-1 with him in the lineup.
Since retiring from football after playing at Wolverhampton Wanderers from 2002-2004, Irwin has returned to Manchester United as a presenter for MUTV.
MANCHESTER UNITED TICKETS ON SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
Fans who wish to watch the Kansas City Wizards take on soccer giants Manchester United in an exhibition match Sunday, July 25 at Arrowhead Stadium can now purchase individual tickets to the match.
Tickets, which range from $30 - $200 can be purchased online through Ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000, or by visiting Kansas City area Ticketmaster outlets or the Arrowhead Stadium box office. Premium tickets, VIP opportunities and group tickets can be purchased by calling the Wizards at 888-4KC-GOAL.
Fans who purchase new Wizards season tickets will also get a ticket to the Manchester United game. Season tickets start at only $150 and can be purchased by calling 888-4KC-GOAL.
Managed by Sir Alex Ferguson since 1986, Manchester United currently boasts a lineup full of international stars such as Wayne Rooney (England), Patrice Evra (France), Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria), Nani (Portugal), Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands), Antonio Valencia (Ecuador), Paul Scholes (England) and legendary midfielder Ryan Giggs (Wales) who has been a part of every United Premier League Championship and holds the record for most appearances in club history with 837. Rooney scored his 100th Premier League goal this season and is currently tied for the English Premier league scoring lead with 26 goals. In addition, last month Manchester United added to its stable Mexican star Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, who is considered one of the top young players in the world. United are committed to fielding all of its players for the North American tour who are not obligated to World Cup duties.
THIS WEEK ON KC SOCCER RADIO:
Wizards fans can follow the beautiful game on local radio this summer in both Spanish and English, with the Kansas City Soccer Show and Zona Wizards.
The Kansas City Soccer Show, which airs every Saturday from 10-11 a.m. CT on Sports Radio 810 AM, will cover the international game, the 2010 World Cup and the Kansas City soccer scene, including the Wizards, KCW Juniors and local youth soccer. There’s a lot for the show to talk about this week, as co-hosts Jake Gutierrez and Josh Whisenhunt cover the World Cup squad selections, the Wizards game at Real Salt Lake and the upcoming Kansas City Wizards-Manchester United exhibition match at the New Arrowhead Stadium. Fans are encouraged to call into the program at 913-381-0810. Manchester United legend Denis Irwin will join Gutierrez and Whisenhunt for a segment during the show.
Zona Wizards, the Wizards weekly Spanish-language radio show, airs weekly during the 2010 MLS season. The show, which features interviews with Wizards players and coaches, airs every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. CT on La Gran D 1340 AM, which is also the Wizards Spanish-language flagship station.
WIZARDS YOUTH SOCCER CAMPS NOW ON SALE:
Registration to any of the Kansas City Wizards’ youth camps is now open, with nine different camps taking place at various locations around the Kansas City metro area this summer.
All camps will be managed and directed by full time Wizards employees, and include appearances by Wizards coaching staff and/or players along with a game ticket and many other benefits. The Wizards offer a variety of camps, consisting of Elite Camps for boys only, Fantasy Camps for the experienced male and female players at the team’s Swope Park Training Center and a handful of other camps in the Overland Park area.
For more information or to register for a Kansas City Wizards youth camp, visit www.kcwizards.com/camps, or contact Betsy Pollard at (913) 387-3883 or bpollard@kcwizards.com.
