Breakfast Links - December 15, 2023
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
Happy Holidays, my friends! We are 10 days away from Christmas and everyone is ready to come together and open some gifts. But, here are your Breakfast Links for the time being.
Houston
The Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash players are enjoying some much-deserved time off the field, while the busy season gets busier for the clubs’ front office. Alex Singer and the Dash are yet to announce who the new head coach will be for the 2024 season, with big decisions when it comes to roster building to be made. NWSL will hold their Expansion Draft tonight, but the Dash agreed to two separate trades with expansions teams Bay FC and Utah Royals, gaining full protection for that event. The Houston Dynamo found out that they will be taking on St Louis CITY SC in the First Round of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup. The club will need to strengthen its deep for a year of 4 competitions.
The Dynamo announced their Player Awards for 2023 with captain Hector Herrera taking home team MVP and Player’s Player of the Year. Fans can now vote on X for the Fan Favorite award.
MLS
Major League Soccer’s Board of Governors met yesterday and announced new Sporting and Competition initiatives that will be implemented ahead of the 2024 MLS season. Highlighted by innovations piloted in MLS NEXT Pro, the approved initiatives prioritize player health and safety, evolving the game while upholding the integrity of the competition.
Seattle Sounders FC have signed defender Alex Roldan to a new contract through the 2026 MLS season with an option for 2027, the club announced Thursday. Roldan, 27, has three goals and 17 assists in 135 appearances (97 starts) for the Sounders. A key part of Seattle's historic Concacaf Champions Cup-winning squad in 2022, he's also scored three goals in 25 games for El Salvador.
Atlanta United have made their first addition of the offseason, announcing Thursday they have signed goalkeeper Josh Cohen through the 2025 MLS season with an option for 2026. Cohen, 31, was out of contract after previously helping Maccabi Haifa win three Israeli Premier League titles. He played 161 matches across all competitions for the club, highlighted by UEFA Champions League games against world-renowned sides Benfica, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.
Around the World
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has said he still has the backing of the club despite being knocked out of Europe and added that he is "not concerned" that a heavy defeat to Liverpool could crank up the pressure on his job. United head to Anfield on the back of a run of one win in their last five games, including the 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on Tuesday which ended their interest in this season's Champions League
Manchester City's Erling Haaland will likely miss his second consecutive Premier League game with a foot injury on Saturday, said manager Pep Guardiola, who hopes his striker can travel with the team to the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
A defiant Xavi Hernández said on Friday he has no intention of stepping down as Barcelona coach and does not understand the noise that is being generated around the club. Barça registered back-to-back defeats this week, losing to LaLiga leaders Girona 4-2 at home on Sunday and then 3-2 at Antwerp in the Champions League on Wednesday.
