We're a little more than a week from the 2013 MLS SuperDraft and the draft class is continuing to grow.
MLS announced on Monday that it had signed Indiana's versatile forward/defender Eriq Zavaleta to a Generation Adidas contract. Zavaleta scored 18 goals in his sophomore season for the national champion Hoosiers after scoring an impressive 10 goals as a freshman. Although Zavaleta's scoring numbers are impressive, some scouts feel that the 6-foot-1 target forward is better suited for a central defender role in MLS. Zavaleta joins a Generation Adidas list Furman's Walker Zimmerman, Louisville's Andrew Farrell, North Carolina midfielder Mikey Lopez and Virginia Commonwealth forward Jason Johnson.
Zavaleta wasn't the only signing as MLS also inked five seniors in Connecticut midfielder Carlos Alvarez, Boston College midfielder Kyle Bekker, Maryland midfielder John Stertzer and Notre Dame pair Ryan Finley and Dillon Powers.
The Frank Lampard saga continues to turn as Lampard's agent Steve Kutner told The Guardian that the 34-year-old midfielder will "under no circumstances" sign a contract extension with Chelsea FC. Meanwhile, The British tabloid Daily Mail is looking to a far different source for Lampard's next destination, his fiancé who says that his choices are limited to "L.A.. or Italy."
The Montreal Impact announced on Monday that Marco Schallibaum will be the club's head coach for Montreal's second season in MLS. The 50-year-old head coach is a veteran of the Swiss Super League, where he played for a decade before becoming a manager. Montreal parted ways with Jesse Marsch in November.
Soccer By Ives is reporting that Toronto FC head coach Paul Mariner will be dismissed by TFC with New Zealand International Ryan Nelsen taking the position. Earlier in the day, the Toronto Sun's Kurtis Larson confirmed that Nelsen will have a role with Toronto in 2013, but did not specify on his role. This news comes as TFC officially announced that Bob de Klerk will not return as the club's technical manager.
Meanwhile, ESPN analyst Alexi Lalas has reported that Portuguese International Paulo Sousa is "a good bet" to become the new head coach of the New York Red Bulls.
The Colorado Rapids officially announced the re-signing of Honduran midfielder Hendry Thomas.
D.C. United confirmed that Andy Najar will go on a month-long loan to Belgian side Anderlecht.
*FIFA held their annual Ballon d’Or gala in Zurich on Monday and U.S. women's national team forward Abby Wambach was named Women's Player of the Year while former USWNT head coach Pia Sundhage was selected as Coach of the Year. Argentina and FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi was awarded the Men's Player of the Year for the fourth year in a row while Spain manager Vincete Del Bosque was awarded Coach of the Year. FIFA also unveiled the world First XI which was a strictly La Liga affair. The complete XI is below...
GK: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid).
DEF: Dani Alves (FC Barcelona), Gerard Pique (FC Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Marcelo (Real Madrid).
MID: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Xavi (FC Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (FC Barcelona.
ATT: Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona), Falcao (Atlético Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid).
