Miami-Dade County is responsible for three of the 10 teams competing for a state championship in boys soccer this week. Palmer Trinity (Class 1A), Immaculata-LaSalle (Class 2A) and Felix Varela (Class 5A) high schools will all attempt to bring home FHSAA boys soccer titles in games at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand.
One of soccer’s greatest goalkeepers, Gordon Banks, passed peacefully in his sleep last night at the age of 81. Banks was a World Cup winner with England in 1966 and part of the original NASL revolution in the 1970s. Banks was the goalkeeper for the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers in their infancy playing on the NASL roster alongside a whole load of greats including Gerd Müller, Teófilo Cubillas, Elías Figueroa and George Best.
Fernando Clavijo, a Uruguayan-born defender who rose to prominence in the United States as a player, manager and director, passed away Friday after a nearly five-year battle with multiple myeloma.
Fernando Clavijo came to the United States in 1979 to join the New York Apollo of the American Soccer League. He would stay in the U.S., eventually gaining American citizenship in 1987. That decision led to the unlikely role he played in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, where a 38-year-old Clavijo would start three of four games for the host Americans.
Clavijo’s coaching career began as a player-coach in 1991, but he would spend most of the rest of his life on the sidelines. His first journey to South Florida came in 1998, when he led the Florida ThunderCats of the National Professional Soccer League, an indoor team based at what is now the BB&T Center in Broward County.
He would spend time leading two Major League Soccer clubs (New England Revolution 2000-2002, Colorado Rapids 2005-2008) and one national team (Haiti 2003-2005).
After his stint with Colorado, he took a job with Traffic Sports USA, serving as the Director of Soccer for the company and for Miami FC, its entry into the United Soccer League.
From there, Clavijo became FC Dallas’ Technical Director. He remained in that position until his death in Fort Lauderdale on Friday.
Looking at the two Miami teams you saw a real contrast. Miami United had come out of the gate well and had a great run in the cup which ended with a match up against an MLS side. The Miami FC 2 had labored early on but had grown as the season progressed. United’s season was over in the Sunshine Conference playoff semi. Dispatched comfortably by Armada by a 4-1 scoreline. It was to be the final many people expected at the start of the season in the Sunshine Conference. FC vs Armada.
The Fort Lauderdale City Commission voted unanimously Tuesday evening to begin accepting proposals for the renovation of Lockhart Stadium and Fort Lauderdale Stadium. These proposals will include Inter Miami CF’s plan for its youth academy and USL team, as well as an independent USL bid revealed on Monday.
The resolution will start a 21-day window in which proposals could be submitted to the city. It is unknown whether other proposals will be submitted.
Per city rules, the 21-day window will start once the request for proposals is published in the South Florida Sun Sentinel and the Florida Administrative Register.
To watch video of the commission meeting, click above.
Jason Kreis, the former Major League Soccer most valuable player and a former manager for Real Salt Lake, New York City FC and Orlando City SC, will head upstairs and join Inter Miami CF as a consultant to the team’s technical department, headed by sporting director Paul McDonough.
It was part of a larger announcement yesterday, but largely overlooked. As part of its proposal to the City of Fort Lauderdale for a redevelopment of Lockhart Stadium and surrounding land, Inter Miami CF shared its intention to form a United Soccer League (USL) team in Broward County.
In a unexpected turn of events, it appears that Inter Miami CF is planning on locating its youth academy in Broward County, setting its sights on a redevelopment of Fort Lauderdale’s Lockhart Stadium, the club announced in a statement Monday afternoon.
“Inter Miami proposes to build and operate a state of the-art soccer training facility, a world class professional soccer stadium and a soccer-centric community destination,” the cover letter to the proposal reads.
Miami Soccer Academy defeated Miami United by four goals to two in the final of the inaugural South Florida Champions Cup.
In this episode of the Magic City Soccer podcast, Matt and Drew discuss Miami United’s 2-2 draw with Uruguayan champions Peñarol, break down The Miami FC’s new roster acquisitions, touch on Inter Miami CF’s youth academy and preview Copa America 2019. Join us, won’t you?
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