The Full 90

SOCCER BOOM!

The Rise of the Mens League in Austin

SHANE MAGUIRE

The Legacy of

SIR ALEX The life and career of the legendary manager

The man who’s seen it all

GAME CHANGE The Growth of Local Youth Soccer

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Letter from the Editors

We met in Ezine at the beginning of the year, and decided to work together almost right from the start, having known that we wanted to make a magazine about soccer. It’s been a good ride, and though it was stressful at times, and we didn’t always get along, it was worth it. We’ve had lots of laughs throughout the semester, and we’ve learned a lot along the way.

When making The Full 90, we wanted to shatter the cliques about teen made magazines. We didn’t want a watered down, simple stories, so we went for a more professional feel. We intended it to not only be for teens, but also adults who are interested in the sport. After the three months of work we’ve put into the magazine, we feel that we’ve achieved that goal.

Enjoy, The Editors 2

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(Biographies From left to right)

Jacob Reichers has a passion for soccer. First playing at age 5, Jacob has not stopped playing since. He plays for Lonestar Soccer Club and school teams, doing his best to balance the two. Outside of soccer Jacob enjoys all sports and loves to be outdoors. Camping and photography are some of his hobbies.

Ashley Gonzales has been playing soccer since she was 8, and its taken over her and her family’s lives ever since. She lives with her parents, younger brother, and younger sister. Between herself and her siblings, there’s some type of soccer going on everyday. She currently plays for Lonestar Soccer Club on a state classic league team. School and sports are her main priorities, but she tries balance a social life also.

Ian Golliher is the biggest Barclays Premier League fan in the world... and that’s an understatement. He’s been playing soccer since he could walk and has become a loyal Manchester United fan. Along with being involved in soccer, Ian devotes time to working hard at LASA and having fun with his family.

Clay Cortez has enjoyed writing in the third person since a young age. The current LASA freshman played soccer for all his life, and has supported Manchester United since he was eight. Along with soccer, Clay also enjoys writing screenplays, directing movies and holding the title of the biggest Harry Potter fan in the world. He also plans to marry Taylor Swift. In the meantime, Clay lives with his parents and his older sister.

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Letter from the Editors We take you behind the scenes of The Full 90.

Contributers Who’s who on The Full 90 staff.

Shane McGuire A profile on the ex-pro, coach of Lonestar, Shane McGuire.

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Youth Soccer Soccer is on the rise in the US, here’s the rundown of what’s going on.

BPL Predicted Table Don’t know what to expect this BPL season, look no further.

Sir Alex The Sir Alex era is over, but it won’t be forgotten.

AMSA Here’s a local story from Austin’s own soccer league, AMSA.

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World Cup 2014 The World Cup is around the corner, get ready for the madness with this preview.

Preseason Fitness How to keep off the couch and keep in shape.

Table of Contents

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all in for world cup 速 Full 90

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Story by Jacob Riechers Photos by Jennifer Riechers

Kickin’ it with Shane Maguire 8

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Coach had just called the team in to him, the players sprinted in knowing he was already in a bad mood. He told the team that the intensity just was not there tonight, and that we better fix it quick. Frustrated, the team ran back to their allotted section of cones and attempted to complete the complicated passing arrangement. After another minute Shane had seen enough, and yelled out “everybody start running, and don’t stop until I say so.”

“My ambition was to be a professional soccer player, that’s all I wanted to do, other than an astronaut. I wanted to be an astronaut for a while too but I figured out I didn’t quite have the brains for an astronaut so I decided that you didn’t have to be just as smart [to play soccer].”

Coach Shane Maguire can be just like any other stereotypical coach that makes you run. But he also has a very uncommon background that gives him a significant edge as a coach.

Maguire grew up playing in Ireland and has experienced the pros and cons of a very different system than the soccer in the U.S. Shane has experience not only as a player but also as a coach, as he has one of the highest license a coach can hold. Maguire is one of few people that truly understand that development is more important than results.

Coach Shane Maguire grew up in a village called Carnlough, located in Northern Ireland.

Carnlough, at the time, had a population of around 2,000 people according to Shane. Coach Shane walked me through what soccer was like growing up in Ireland. The fundamentals of the soccer system are vastly different that what the US has. In Ireland Shane said that

the level of professionalism is vastly different; goal posts are created using whatever possible, jumpers, jerseys or even bags, and the majority of all games would be played on asphalt. In Ireland people will play soccer every break they get including but not limited to before school, lunch break, after school, and in the evenings after completing homework. At age 11 all the students would take a set of exams, and then have the choice to go to grammar school or a comprehensive school. Because Shane was more academically inclined, he chose to go to grammar school.

Shane has experienced a system where there are no coaches or parents involved.

Every evening there would be a big kids game in the center parking lot of the village. The game consisted of 16 to 17 year olds up to grown men. Everyone wanted to be picked to play in the game.

“If you got picked for the big kids game, it was like heaven.

You made sure that you were out there and you played your very, very best,” said Shane.

Shane was able to start

successful. From the local men’s team, players received invitations to play with other teams. Shane would play with the regional team in the off-season of the local team.

“That was kind of like growing

playing the “big kids game” at age 14, and occasionally the local coach would come and watch those games. Then Shane was approached to come and play for the local men’s league team. The local men’s team Shane joined at age 14 had been particularly

offers from professional clubs. He decided to give his dream career a shot, knowing that he had already secured a place in college that he could fall back onto if needed.

Shane spent 3 months at Burnley Football Club, and watched himself fall from the very best to

Coach Shane getting ready for a big game.

up in soccer,” said Shane.

16 is the age most players receive invitations to clubs in England and Scotland. Shane saw his friends receive many offers but he was not as fortunate.

Because Shane was unhappy with the offers he received he decided to stay in school until 18.

Then at 18, he started receiving

“If you got picked for the big kids game, it was like heaven.”

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the very worst within a matter of months.

At the third month, “Reality kind of kicked in. It’s like maybe I’m not as good as what I think I am,” said Shane.

Then Shane moved to Hull City and immediately disliked it.

“I didn’t like the coaching, I didn’t like the style of play, I

Scunthorpe United because the level of pay was not particularly attractive.

“So at that stage I decided to go back to college. So I went back to college and I did a degree in PE and geography with the full intent of being a PE teacher with geography being my secondary subject,” Shane said.

“Coaching is as close as you can get to playing without playing. But playing soccer is the best thing in the world.”

Coach Shane getting the team together to talk tactics, pre-game.

didn’t really like the guys,” Shane said.

Shane left Hull City within the first couple of days. Lastly, Shane traveled to Scunthorpe United, and decided that he was at a level he could play at. Shane then left

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After attending college at Liverpool Hope University, Shane joined the Irish Football Association before meeting the woman that brought him to the States, 4 years later.

Now Shane is currently

coaching at Lonestar Soccer Club and at the St. Stephens Soccer Academy.

“Coaching is as close as you can get to playing without playing. But playing soccer is the best thing in the world in my mind. Its something I’ve always loved doing,” Shane said.

Shane’s love for the game has translated to his enthusiasm as a coach. “They care much more about development and what was happening before was it was all about getting wins. And now they realize they were sacrificing kids development in order to get a win,” Shane said referring to the major professional clubs.

“It’s very difficult because… it’s [a] much more consumer driven market [in the US]. In Ireland and England no one pays for soccer. Here you’re paying $2500 to $3000 minimum per year for your kid to participate in soccer. [In Ireland] no one pays that. Like [in Ireland], you’re someone who enjoys playing soccer, over here you’re a customer, you’re a paying customer,” Shane said. This makes it difficult for the sport to be the priority, instead putting the priority on the price and coach.

If youth soccer were to change in the US and mimic that of Ireland’s, Shane believes, a positive change might be seen.

Shane is one of very few that understands the need to enjoy what you are doing as a player.

Shane realizes that results are not near as important as development; and hopefully he will be able to spread the philosophy that has built and nurtured the greats of soccer.

Game Change Story by Ashley Gonzales Photos by Wendy Gonzales

Youth soccer in Austin has changed a lot in the past decade. From the competitiveness and dedication of the players, to the way it’s coached, and the sheer amount of kids who want to play. The amount of opportunities young players have here locally has increased drastically. The game of soccer will continue to shift in new ways, but here in Austin, the soccer lifestyle has changed dramatically.

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For some people, the sport has become less of a pastime and more of a lifestyle. If you’re an active student, as well as playing soccer competitively, then it may feel as if sports take over your life.

However, the chances that you have to be recognised by college, or even professional coaches are higher than they’ve ever been. Youths have begun playing as soon as they can, with kids beginning to play as soon as they turn three. Youths in Austin, as well as their families, are more involved in the sport than ever before.

20 years ago, the highest levels of youth soccer don’t compare to what exists today.

“When I first got involved in the youth game in 1993 there were no Regional Premier Leagues, ECNL, USDA, US Club, etc. The highest level of play was National Cup. Also, our youth system only had U18s and U23’s. Now we have U14, U15, U17, U18 & U23’s.” Coach Steve Allison said.

Founded in 2009, Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) provides a true national competitive environment for girls ages 13 to 17. It also provides girls with opportunities to be scouted for youth national teams, as well as colleges. 66 clubs all over the United States now have teams that are part of ECNL, and nine of the locations abide here in Texas. The United States Development Academy (USDA) is similar to ECNL in the respect that it develops and identifies players for national teams. However, it covers a much larger range of people,

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Many children are starting soccer as soon as they can. In Austin, the earliest you can be registered for a team is when you are 3.

ages 13 to 22. Out of 79 clubs in the entire country, 9 clubs in Texas participate in USDA. USDA was created in just 2007. Just a few years ago, the massive amount of opportunities young players have now to be recognized by important coaches and leagues did not exist.

“We play too many games, the emphasis is on winning at too many clubs at the early ages, and the training to match play ratio needs to improve.”

Soccer has always been a competitive sport, but lately club soccer has gotten more and more demanding,

requiring a huge amount of dedication.

“Although I’ve seen some improvements in the player development model in both north and south Texas since I’ve been here, more could be accomplished if there were less competitions at the U8 to U12 age levels and more focus on training and true player development.” Allison said. “We play too many games, the emphasis is on winning at too many clubs at the early ages, and the training to match play ratio needs to improve. We need to train three to four times per week with one match per weekend only and no tournament play where you play five to six matches in 48 hours.”

Many coaches agree with Allison’s philosophy.

Controversy still occurs

between the amount of trainings per week versus the amount of matches youths play. Many clubs here in Austin only practice twice a week and have one to two games on the weekend and even more if there is a tournament. However, as soccer levels progress higher, depending on the club, some teams practice together three times a week, with players doing extra sessions by themselves.

“There is too much pressure on winning for the kids. It should be about enjoyment first.”

Coach Mark Teale said. “The

focus is on winning rather than development. Parental expectation is still too high.”

For young, competitive kids who still must be focused on school, yet also on soccer, schedules can become very stressful. Most of us were taught to focus on school before anything else, because it’s what will get you into a college, or it’s what really affects your future. But for a lot of kids now, soccer remains just as important.

Some even depend on it for scholarships.

Youth soccer has evolved a great deal over the past few years, and it will continuously change.

“I always believe that if change is needed to make things better then it has to change to get it right.” Allison said. “Young players still require a solid technical foundation built to meet the demands of the game so that they can learn and better understand the principles of play while their minds & bodies mature through time.” ◆

A young 12 year old player demonstrates a croif turn during her game. “Overall the women’s game warrants a more technical stlye of play.” said Steve Allison

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By Ian Golliher and Jacob Reichers

Premiere Predictions

Photo by Ronnie MacDonald from Chelmsford, United Kingdom

The 2013/2014 Barclays Premier League season has begun. With new managers working behind the scenes and underdog stories in the works, the BPL table still needs speculation.

Using each teams’ history, accomplishments, new signings and our Full 90 analysts, we have pieced together our predicted finishes for the season.

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243

20th

Goals Conceded

4

Ground Capacity:

26255

18

Times Relegated from Top Division

th

Highest BPL Finish

The ongoing 2013/2014 season looks a daunting one for the newly promoted side Crystal Palace.

Their start was slow and with no turnaround in sight, can Ian Holloway pull his team out of the drop zone?

Even with players like Dwight Gayle and Julian Speroni, we predict the club to fall into last place this season.

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Times Relegated from Top Division

10

th

Ground Capacity:

48707

Highest BPL Finish

19

th

660

Goals Conceded

The new manager of Sunderland, Gus Poyet, has a mess to clean up. Last season Sunderland barely escaped the drop in 17th place and this season looks even more difficult. The squad has talent, but we don’t think they have enough to stay in the BPL.

0

18

th

Ground Capacity:

26896

Goals Conceded (1st Season)

4

Times Relegated from Top Division

1st Time in BPL

Cardiff City proved worthy of this chance after finishing 1st in the Football League Championship and earning their first promotion to the BPL. Along with that achievement, their new signings are top class.

Things look promising for the team, but we think that it will take time. They will put up a fight but we think when it’s all said and done they will finish in 18th place.

8 249

Times Relegated from Top Division Highest BPL Finish

27740 11

Goals Conceded

Ground Capacity:

th

17th

Stoke City has had a spot in the BPL since 2008 and we don’t think that will change. Since 2008, Stoke has finished below the middle of the table mark every year. They don’t have a prolific team, but we predict that their solid defense will keep them in it.

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Sources: www.chelseafc.com, www.manutd.com, www.mcfc.com, www.arsenal.com, www.uefa.com, www.premierleague.com, msn.foxsports.com.

Premiere Predictions

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Norwich City

Key Player:

Nathan Redmond

15

Key Player:

Key Player:

Key Player:

Sources: premierleague.com foxsoccer.com soccerstats.com

Finish Last The Verdict: Season: Newly promoted side, Hull

2nd*

City, aim to avoid relegation.

Finish Last The Verdict: Season:

15th

Aston Villa need Christian Benteke to continue his great run of form.

West Ham United

Key Player: Mark Noble

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12th

Fulham will struggle this season, even after continous mid-table finishes.

Aston Villa Christian Benteke

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Finish Last The Verdict: Season:

Hull City Robbie Brady

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11th

replicate last season, and will finish much lower this season.

Fulham Dimitar Berbatov

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Finish Last The Verdict: Season: Norwich City will not

Finish Last The Verdict: Season: West Ham must continue to

10th

work towards the top half of the table.

West Brom. Albion

Key Player: Claudio Yacob

Finish Last The Verdict: Season: West Brom. must find a

8th

* Position in the Championship

replacement for Lukaku this season.

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10

Newcastle United

Key Player:

Hatem Ben Arfa

9

Key Player:

Key Player:

Key Player:

Key Player:

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to finish strong, after last season.

Finish Last The Verdict: Southampton are going to Season:

14th

be this years surprise team, finishing much higher than expected.

Finish Last The Verdict: Season: With the loss of Gareth Bale,

5th

Tottenham is looking to regain the eyes of the public.

Finish Last The Verdict: Season: With David Moyes gone,

6th

a new era could be in the works for Everton.

Liverpool

Key Player: Luis Suarez

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9th

Everton Leighton Baines

5

Finish Last The Verdict: Season: Swansea are looking

Tottenham Hugo Lloris

6

year, Newcastle hopes to show their true potential.

Southampton Rickie Lambert

7

16th

Swansea City Michu

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Finish Last The Verdict: Season: After the injuries of last

Finish Last The Verdict: Season: Liverpool is on the way to Cham-

7th

pions League football but still is not ready to compete with the top teams.

201627 11 3 English League Titles

4

th

Goals

FA Cups

Champions League Cups

The reigning BPL Champions have much to prove this season. United has a long list of problems and perhaps the biggest problem is the adjustment of new manager David Moyes. They have plenty of time to turn things around but we predict that the Reds will only accomplish placing 4th.

0

Champions League Cups

1417

Goals

13 10 FA Cups

3rd

English League Titles

Arsenal has made a great start to the season, and have proved that they have a dangerous squad.

With many players in the form of their careers, this season looks good for Arsene Wenger. We predict that they will finish 3rd this season as they continue to improve and impress the world.

5

2

nd

FA Cups

0 3

Champions League Cups

837 Goals

English League Titles

Manchester City have shown that they have one of the top teams in the world and own some of the greatest players of the modern era. The Citizens have had great signings and success in the past couple of years and are on the rise. This season, we believe they will finish in 2nd.

7 1

FA Cups

1357 Goals

Champions League Cup

1

st

4

English League Titles

The reign of Manchester teams could end with the return of “The Great One”, José Mourinho.

Chelsea won the Champions League last season, and look unstoppable this season. We predict that Chelsea will claim the BPL title this time around.

Sources: www.chelseafc.com, www.manutd.com, www.mcfc.com, www.arsenal.com, www.uefa.com, www.premierleague.com, msn.foxsports.com.

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Sir Alex looking up to his supporters while managing a game, December 9, 2006.

20 byFull 90Osuide Photo Austin

by Clay Cortez

The Legend of

Sir Alex The season’s over; Manchester United just beat Swansea 2-1 to win their 13th Premiere League title. But right now, no one’s thinking about the title, they’re thinking about the man who got them there. Sir Alex walks onto the field, greeted by cheers from the crowd. The noise grows even louder as the announcer reads a list of his achievements. Ten Community Shields, one European Cup Winners’ Cup, one European Super Cup, two Champions League titles, one Intercontinental cup, one FIFA Club World Cup, and thirteen Premiere League titles. The crowd is on its feet as Sir Alex is handed the microphone.

“I have been very fortunate.

I’ve been able to manage some of the greatest players in the country, let alone Manchester United,” said the manager. “...It’s been an unbelievable experience for all of us.”

His retirement sent a shock through the soccer world, from everyone, not just Manchester United fans, and his achievements are as legendary as the statue of him over Old Trafford.

After twenty six and a half years, Sir Alex has ended his managerial career at the club as the most successful British manager of all time

“[Sir Alex is one of the best coaches of all time] By virtue of trophies, [his] stature in the sport of football and the many great players he has brought together who have worn the Red and Black,” said Steve Allison, former head coach of Greensboro college, and current director of coaching at Lonestar soccer club in Austin Texas.

Sir Alex Ferguson took over as manager of the club on November 6,1986. At the time of the offer, he was the manager of the Scottish club Aberdeen, who he’d been managing for the last eight years.

The summer before he signed with Manchester, Sir Alex received many offers, and it was rumored that he was also being considered for the managerial position at Liverpool, but soon after, it was announced that the position would go to Kenny Dalglish, who remained manager of Liverpool for the next six years.

Sir Alex’s career at Aberdeen got off to a rocky start, after only getting to the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup, and the Scottish League Cup Final. Though Aberdeen was a major club in the league, they had only won the league once. Ferguson largely blamed the teams performances on the lack of respect he was

given by the team. The club improved marginally the following season, losing the Scottish League Cup Final to Dundee in a re-play.

Finally, in 1980, and after three years at the club, it looked like Sir Alex had finally gotten it right.

That season, Ferguson lead the team to win the Scottish League for the second time in the club’s history. The win was a turning point for the team as Sir Alex had captured the full respect of the players.

“That was the achievement which united us,” Sir Alex told the Gaurdian in 2008. “ I finally had the players believing in me” After their win in 1980, Aberdeen rose to new level of success.

Along with the a second place finish in the Scottish League, the club would go on to win another Scottish Cup, which resulted in their qualification for the English Cup Winners Cup in ‘83.

Aberdeen had never won the tournament before, only three Scottish clubs ever had, and their next game was against Bayern Munich. Though they were definitely the underdogs, Aberdeen gave a good performance, and knocked Bayern out of the tournament. After this unexpected win, the team advanced to a final game against the Spanish giant, Real

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Madrid. To the surprise of many in the soccer world, Aberdeen beat Real Madrid 2-1 in extra time. This was the first and only time Aberdeen has won the Cup. Aberdeen continued it’s success, winning two more league titles (‘84 and ‘85), and another Scottish Cup (‘86), as Sir Alex began an international career. Sir Alex was appointed the temporary manager of the Scottish nation team during the 1986 World Cup, after former managed John Stein suffered a heart attack while coaching a game. A short time later, Sir Alex stepped down after another manager was appointed.

After a bad season in 19851986, Ferguson told the management that he wanted to look for work elsewhere. Tottenham and Arsenal both offered him positions at their clubs, but he rejected both of them. Manchester United began showing interest in Ferguson, and in November Sir Alex was appointed manager of the club.Sir Alex remains on of the most successful manager in the history of Aberdeen, and half of all of Aberdeen’s titles were won under Sir Alex.

Two days after signing, Sir Alex was put in charge of the club for the first time, in a league match against Oxford United.

Manchester United lost 2-0. The club lost their next game against Norwich City, and finally procured Sir Alex’s first victory with the club against QPR. Sir Alex took over Manchester United mid-season, and as such, he replaced the well liked Ron Atkinson as manager. The decision to replace Atkinson was not the most popular with the players. Sir Alex discussed this in his

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first interview with Manchester United, right before his first game as manager.

“I talked to the players about that to the player today. It’s a terrible position to be in, me standing there, introducing myself to new players in the voice of the manager. [I asked them] is that kind of a concern? And yeah, they’ve expressed that, [concern] for Ron Atkinson… once we get a relationship, I’m sure we’ll do well.”

Manchester continued improving over the rest of the season, beating their rival, Liverpool, on Boxing Day, and finishing 11th in the league (when Sir Alex took the position, they were 22nd.)

It was period of relative success for Ferguson, but also one of great loss. Only three weeks into Sir Alex’s career at Manchester, tragedy struck, when his mother, Elizabeth, died of lung cancer.

(Her death, obviously, was a major landmark in his life, and after retirement, he’s been campaigning to find a cure for the disease.)

Sir Alex decided to build on the club the next year (‘87) as he made some substantial signings for the club. The season went well, and Manchester finished second to Liverpool. Sir Alex’s success at the club seemed only temporary, as the a losing streak in the following season (‘88) but the club back in 11th place. It got even worse for Ferguson, as Manchester entered another slump in the next season, falling just above the relegation zone. Many fans and members of the soccer community called for him to be removed from the managerial position, and Sir Alex latter called it “the darkest period [he had] ever

suffered in the game.”

“I think you have to be a certain type of player to perform well with Alex Ferguson. He was ruthless, and some people even accused him of being a bully; [he had] very old school values. You have to be a certain person to handle being under Sir Alex, and I think you saw that in his first few years at Manchester United,” Paul Dauglish, son of Kenny Dauglish, head coach of the Austin Aztex, and former Houston Dynamos player. The pressure on Sir Alex reached a climax as Manchester went seven games without a win.

The FA Cup seemed like the only way out for Sir Alex, if not from the board then from the fans.

Manchester United drew Norwich City, a very respectable team at that time, as their opponent. The game was close, but Manchester was able to pull out a 1-0 win to advance to the next stage in the tournament. Manchester reached the finals and won giving Sir Alex his first major trophy as a United manager.

The following season (1990’91) Manchester finished 6th in the Premiere League, playing well, but not consistently, though they did perform well in other international competitions. Sir Alex still had many critics, many of whom were not happy with the lack of League titles in the last few years. Sir Alex promised that next season, he would win the League title, but that wasn’t the case. All though United had some exciting youngsters, like Ryan Giggs, who were now joining the first team, Manchester was still missing something. Sir Alex needed a striker who could win games for him, and he believed he found

that in the French forward Eric Cantona, and he was right. With the help of Cantona, Manchester tore through the season, and won the League (whose name was just changed to the Premiere League that year.) Manchester United accomplished the unthinkable, and ended their twenty- six year drought of no League titles. Sir Alex had just done what none of his predecessors could do in their whole careers, and it only took him seven years, and he was just getting started.

United was untouchable; dominating the 1993-1994 Premiere League, winning it with an eight point buffer. That year, the Manager of the Month Award was introduced, and Sir Alex was the first to win it. The next two seasons, Sir Alex’s success continued, finishing second and then first in the Premier League and winning a League and Cup Double (winning the F.A. Cup and the Premiere League in the same season) for the second time in his Manchester career. That season, Sir Alex also promoted many of the club’s young players, such as Gary Neville, David Beckham, and Paul Scholes to the first team; players who would later make a big impact for the team.

United won another Premier League title in the 1996-1997 season, their fourth in five years, and expanded their empire at an international level, as the club advanced to the semi-final stage of the Champions League for the first time in 28 years. The progress didn’t stop there, though.

Two seasons later, in 1999, Manchester United completed an unprecedented treble wins, winning the Premier League, the F.A. Cup,

and the Champions League. In the semi-final of the F.A Cup, Ryan Giggs scored the winning goal that sent the team to the final.

With their recent performances, it seemed that Ferguson’s “youngsters” were starting to pay off. “ [Sir Alex] had a way of motivating his players who had the most respect for the man. He got the most out of everyone who played for United,” Allison said.

Ferguson continued to get the best from his players, as he lead United to a record third League win in a row. His success, however, was tainted by arguments between Sir Alex the board of directors, regarding the future of

“ [Sir Alex] had a way of motivating his players who had the most respect for the man. He got the most out of everyone who played for United,” -Allison said. the club. The battle reached a climax as Ferguson told MUTV that he was leaving the club.

“The decision has been taken.

I’m going to leave the club. I’m disappointed with what has happened because I was hoping something would be sorted out.

It hasn’t happened as I thought it would and that’s all there is to it.”

The two parties reached an agreement a few weeks later, though little is known about what the agreement actually was.

Regardless, his retirement scare

did seem to hurt the club, as Manchester finished third in the Premier League, and didn’t perform well in either the Champions League, or the F.A. Cup. After a bad season in 2001, Sir Alex took advantage of the transfer window to buy Rio Ferdinand (then 24). After a horrible start to the season, Manchester came back to win the League title from Arsenal’s grasp, in a win that Sir Alex said was “[his] most satisfying ever.”

After a long streak of wins, United faced a rare period of losses. From 2003-2005, Manchester United did not manage to win a title. Regardless of their losses, Ferguson used the time to reassess and build up the club, adding on teenage striker Wayne Rooney to the line-up. It was this constant assessment of players and the future of the club that made him the manager he was.

“From a coach’s point of view, he make me aware of the importance of the management side, of managing a group of players and I’ve been able to analyze and assess individuals performances on a daily bases by not being too involved in the training session and the practice sessions. He was the best at that, managing a group of players,” Dalglish said.

Sir Alex’s season preparations were delayed as the Glazer family took full control of Manchester United.

Manchester came out of their slump better than ever, winning the Premier League in a landslide. Sir Alex’s efforts during the 2003-2005 seasons to build up the team paid off, as new signings Carrick, Vidic, Evra, Van Der Sar, and Ronaldo added new layers to

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the team. Sir Alex added Nani and Anderson to the side in the 20072008 season as Ferguson won another League championship with the United side which he said “[was] the best squad he had managed to assemble thus far.

Under Sir Alex, Manchester continued to win, accumulating six more trophies in the next five years of his career. After leading a Manchester side in 2013, after a landslide win in the Premier League. His announcement shocked soccer fans everywhere, as the man who had made the fiber of Manchester United stepped down.

Statue of Sir Alex which was erected at Old Trafford on Novmeber 23rd, 2012 to celebrate his time at Manchester.

“He was the best at managing a group of players...[and] he made me aware of the managerial side [of coaching],” -Dalglish “[Sir Alex was one of the best managers of all time] by virtue of trophies, [his] stature in the sport of football and the many great players he has brought together who have worn the Red and Black,” said Allison.

Under Sir Alex, Manchester United won more than half of the clubs total League, enough success, even, to elicit respect from his rivals.

“His trophy hall...certainly put his name forward to be considered for one of the greatest managers ever,” Dalglish said.

Like his statue will watch over fans who will pack Old

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Photo by Seanpaune

Trafford in the years to come; Sir Alex will always be a part of Manchester United. “[Sir Alex] Provided consistency in the dressing room, [on the] field and [in the] board room.

And let’s face it, no one did it like Fergie.” ◆

JUST DO IT.

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The Premier League starts here.

26 by AndrĂŠ Full 90 Photo Zahn

Story by Ian Golliher Photos by Chuck Fisher

AMSA’s Affect on Austin Chuck Fisher holding Waterloo’s Heineken Cup trophy

Most people enjoy leisurely Sundays.

It could mean going to the pool, watching a movie, or even a little rest and relaxation. For the players of the Austin Men’s Soccer Association, it means competing for the top spot in their division.

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Waterloo FC suited up in their silver stripes

“I was surprised at how competitive the AMSA league was when I first joined,” said Tim Oates, former Notre Dame and Waterloo FC striker. “I was skeptical at how competitive the Over 30 league would be only to find that there were many former college players and other talented players that made for an exceptionally competitive environment.”

AMSA could be considered the premier amateur men’s league in Austin and one of the largest in Texas. With more than 3200 players in 140 teams, AMSA attracts players from all over Austin. AMSA does more than just provide amateur soccer to anyone interested, it has started a new tradition and has branded itself in Austin’s history.

being Waterloo’s top goal scorer in the 2012/13 season, Hentschel owns Waterloo Ice House, which sponsors the club.

AMSA’s success wasn’t limited to size, it has become an important piece of all of its

“I was surprised at how competitive the AMSA league was when I first joined.”

AMSA was founded to provide a high quality soccer experience to Austin in January 1973. It all began with a group of Tavern goers who had a shared love for the game. They had played at Zilker park on Sundays and wanted to step it up a level. So the group formed the men’s league and established the first handful of teams to compete in the upcoming spring. Since that first season of AMSA, the league has grown and established itself as a permanent part of Austin.

“The league is well-run and has done a great job in making premier soccer very accessible.

The league has grown to the point that it was able to buy our own fields,” long-time Waterloo player Scott Hentschel said. Along with

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players’ lives. Players devote hours and hours every week to improving as a player and team.

“I would say that between practicing, playing games and managing the team on a weekly basis I devote roughly 10-12 hours a week,” player-manager of Waterloo FC Chuck Fisher said.

“...on a weekly basis I devote roughly 10-12 hours a week.”

The players typically play weekly, with practice during the week and any additional matches or individual training in between. While the amount

of time dedicated to AMSA may vary between players, the most competitive and highest level teams put in the extra minutes to become as successful as they are. For a team as successful as Waterloo FC, players have to stay in shape and work outside of team practice and games.

“Prior to my ‘retirement’ from the game I dedicated 2 hours of practice per week and 4 hours on the weekend for AMSA games. I also had a workout routine that was geared toward endurance training specifically for Waterloo soccer that I dedicated about three hours,” Oates said.

The desire and dedication that some players of AMSA have has lead them to achieve great things.

For teams like Waterloo, those achievements include five Over-

30 Premier League titles, three Over-40 Premier League titles, a Heineken Cup in 2012 and much more.

“Waterloo FC is probably holds the record for most successful dynasty in AMSA history. We had a streak of 8 consecutive city championships at one time and have won every O40 Premier league title in its history. We are successful for two reasons. We have very strict standards for quality of play and very strict standards for being a good person. We have let really good players go play for other teams because they did not fit into our culture,” Hentschel said.

Along with the high level of competition AMSA brings to Waterloo and the rest of the league, it’s becoming a pastime of Austin and its loyal players.

“Austin is a very diverse booming city and to have an adult soccer league like AMSA here makes it an even better place to live and raise family,” Fisher said.

AMSA brings people together for the love of soccer and promotes an active lifestyle for the people of Austin. In addition, as soccer becomes more and more popular in the US, AMSA contributes through promoting it locally in Austin.

“All cities have cultural goals of bringing people together, keeping people in great shape and making the most of the parks and the green spaces. Organizations like AMSA play a big role in that process,” Hentschel said.

AMSA does a lot for Austinites. It brings competition, opportunities and most of all a great time.

“We have a really good group of guys playing together in a well-organized league. This is what I believe is the secret to our success. When a team can

develop that kind of chemistry, anything is possible,” Fisher said.

“I know when my playing days are done that I gave it everything I had and left nothing behind and that I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.” ◆

What was you or your team’s greatest moment in AMSA?

“For me personally, it would have to be scoring a hat trick against our longtime rival Thunder...it was extra special because in the same game a team mate (Tim Oates) also scored a hat trick and we beat them 6-0. That was a good day. As far as a team moment, it would have to be the day we won our 5th consecutive championship in the O30 Premier league. That is tough to do.”-Chuck Fisher “My greatest moment besides the 8 consecutive league titles is the fact that I won the team scoring title last year.”-Scott Hentschel “I would say that our dominance over a 5 year span winning the league in the Over 30 division, finishing runner up in the Heineken Cup and then establishing a solid Over 40 team that, since the inception of the league a couple of years ago, been the dominant team. Having been part of both squads was an honor.”-Tim Oates

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THE

WORLD CUP MONOPOLY

Since 1930, two countries have won half of all the World Cups. According to fifa.com, out of roughly 200 countries that compete in each tournament, only eight have won the trophy, and only 22 countries have ever finished in the top four of the tournament. Looking at the data, one can see that a small portion of the world has dominated the sport since the first tournament, and they still do today.

The Full 90 breaks down the figures and shows you the patterns from the past so you can use them to predict the future of the sport, and who will win the next World Cup.

England- 1

Germany- 3

France- 1 Spain- 1 Italy- 4

Brazil- 5 Maps by Alvin Lee

Key

Wins Key: One = One World Cup Win

Arentina- 2

Espnfc.com reports that countries in Europe and South America are the only countries to win the Cup. Maps by Alvin Lee

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Uruguay- 2

Photo by Celso Flores

Brazil remains the most successful country in the World Cup, having won five times. They are also the only team to have played in all 19 tournaments.

Photo by Ronnie Macdonald

Theguardian.com reported that only five countries outside of Europe or South America have won the World Cup.

Number of top four finishes for a North American country: 1

Countries finished in the top four: Europe:

South America:

Spain-2 Argetina- 4 Netherlands-4 Uruguay- 1 Germany-12 Chile-1 Italy- 7 Croatia- 1 Sweden-3 England- 2 France-5 Belgium- 1 Poland-2 Czechoslovakia-2 Hungary-1 Yugoslavia-1 Austria-1 Portugal- 2 Turkey-1

Other: North Korea-1 Usa-1

This graph shows the concentration of semi-finalists, finalists, and qualifiers for lower rounds.

A Little History:

Cup Hosts:

The World Cup began with the first tournament in 1930. The tournament commences every four years, with teams coming from all over the world to meet in a previously decided location. The Cup skipped two years in the forties, due to World War II. Those were the only two tournaments ever skipped.

The vast majority of World Cup’s hosts are from Europe and South America, and those same teams also dominate the winners list. Suprisingly, FIFA has announced the countries who will host the next two World Cups, Quatar and Brazil.

This graphic provides an insight into the dominace of European and South American football throughout history.

Map by Dufo

Of the European Powerhouses: Germany, Italy and England hold 43 percent of the wins, while on the South American side, Brazil and Argentina make up another 37 percent.

Map by Alvin Lee

Of the last six champions, four of them have been from Europe.

Winners: Spain, Italy, Brazil, France, Brazil, and (West) Germany

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PREPARATION MAKES PERFECT

By Ashley Gonzales

Pre-season requires a lot of hard training and disciplined eating to get back in shape for a yet another season, especially for young, competitive players. If you know what to eat, how to train, and how to plan out your schedule, you definitely won’t regret it. Here we have all of the information you need to know in order to maximize your strength, move faster and sprint longer for a new successful season.

WHO?

You. WHAT? WHEN?

It takes discipline to push yourself without anyone else telling you how to eat and exercise. However, when it comes time for the season to start, your competition is every other player out there...including your teammates. If you work extra hard for a couple months before, the work pays off.

During pre-season, you work away from your team and coach in order to peak mainly your fitness, strength and health. Working on ball skills is less important during this time. Stay on a schedule so that workouts and eating habits remain consistent and straightforward. Don’t decide your schedule as you go.

Start training 5-6 weeks before you’ll be meeting with your team for the first time. If you’re completely physically prepared, you’ll have even more time to focus on ball/ team work at group practices.

ks

e 6 we

WHERE?

WHY?

Anywhere you can. Work on sprints at the fields, in your yard, or at a track. Go on longer runs around your neighborhood or at a park. If you’re dedicated and have the will to get better, then you’ll always have a place to work out.

Pre-season has so many benefits. First off, it helps prevent injuries during the regular season because your body will already be strong and used to a lot of physical fitness. If you are a competitive person, then your goal is to be the best player you can be. Better than players on other teams, and better than your teammates.

This information was provided by http://athletics.patrickhenry.edu and http://www.livestrong.com.

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Planning your Time... your eating & workout schedule.

A basic layout of your training:

WEEK 1:

WEEK 2:

WEEK 3:

WEEK 4:

WEEK 5:

WEEK 6:

Train 5 days this week.

Begin interval and strength training.

One ball work session focusing on first touch.

Train 5 days this week. Focus on the same exercises & times as last week in order to know that you’re consistent and truly able to do them correctly.

One ballwork session focusing on heading and jumping and another session on sprints.

Train 5 days this week.

A more intense version of week 1. Faster sprints & longer jogs. Slightly more reps of strength exercises.

Train 5 days this week.

Increase strength reps and especially focus on core strength. Longer jogs and increase number of sprints.

One ballwork session focusing on finishing.

Train 5 days this week.

Focus on agility, keep slowly increasing sprint times and strength reps.

One ballwork session focusing on playing under pressure.

Train 6 days this week. Just a little more intense than week 5 as far as workouts go. This week, you’ll focus more on ballwork.

One more finishing session, and 4 sessions focusing on match fitness. (Scrimmages and team practices.)

These tips are inspired by a training calendar provided by ‘Performance’ at fourfourtwo.com.

Your diet is just as important as your fitness...Here are some examples of healthy, beneficial foods to eat during preseason.

BREAKFAST

DINNER

LUNCH

SNACK

Oatmeal and apricots or a banana Water or milk Fruit smoothie Toast with honey and fruit Bagel and cream cheese

Potato Salad Grilled fish and brown rice Chicken salad sandwich Tuna salad and fruit Spaghetti

Omelete Chile Grilled Chicken and veggies Pasta and veggies Chicken Curry

Cottage cheese Cucumber slices Yogurt and raisins Ham or turkey slices Peanut butter and apples

The health information and ideas were inspired by a training calendar provided by ‘Performance’ at fourfourtwo.com.

Pasta photo by Guy Renard

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Urban HOMME by

David Beckham

Own the Game

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Impossible is Nothing.

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brazuca

The Official Match Ball of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™

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.com

Photo by Adidas