Major Link Soccer: Changes at Chivas

Seattle

While Sigi Schmid and Adrian Hanauer have had their share of criticism for the way the 2013 season turned out, relative to expectations, the Sounders' neighbors across Royal Brougham Way has had a far worse time of it for the past decade. Seattle Mariners President and COO Chuck Armstrong will retire in January 2014.

MLS

The Chivas USA head coach position is vacant for the third time in just over a year. Jose Luis Real Casillas was named the new manager of Chivas de Guadalajara in Liga MX. Former Guadalajara manager Juan Carlos Ortega was named Director of Sporting Development for both Chivas USA and Guadalajara.

Hilario Grajeda has been assigned as the referee for the MLS Cup Final in Kansas City.

The Houston Dynamo will announce the team's USL Pro affiliate for the 2014 season today. Reports emerging yesterday identified the Pittsburgh Riverhounds as Houston's affiliate. Their in-state rivals are reportedly planning to field their own USL Pro team. Recent comments by FC Dallas vice president Dan Hunt seem to suggest that youth development is a priority for the team in deciding to field its own USL Pro side.

In its annual MLS end of season awards, SB Nation named Mike Magee its MLS MVP.

In yesterday's MLS Waiver Draft, only two players were selected. Brad Stuver went to Columbus and Paolo Del Piccolo was selected by New England.

Teams are already announcing that they will not pick up 2014 options for certain players. Probably the highest profile player to not have his option picked up thus far is David Ferreira of FC Dallas.

The Bent Musket argues that ESPN, NBC and MLS are all responsible for the failure to take advantage of playoff soccer this year.

The Yorkies are at it again. This time, the TFC supporters group poked fun at the newest MLS franchise by sharing a few rejected nicknames for Orlando's expansion team. Elsewhere in Canada, Quebec City's mayor believes that his city is capable of hosting a NASL club or Montreal Impact's reserve team.

With MLS likely to consist of 21 teams in 2015, there has been no shortage of speculation over whether the league will go back to a 3 conference format. Empire of Soccer proposes two possibilities for the 2015 schedule, including a 2 conference version and a 3 conference version.

Orlando City has already sold out season tickets for one section in its stadium for the 2015 MLS season.

Now that all but 2 teams are in offseason mode, we're beginning to hear about players training with teams in Europe. Thierry Henry is working out with Arsenal, but Arsene Wenger denies that his former player will return to the club in January. Henry's teammate, Ryan Meara is training with Charlton Athletic.

Waking the Red tells us that Bright Dike is preparing to train with Celtic, although it may be more accurately described as a trial.

College Soccer

Top Drawer Soccer has continued to update its rankings as the tournament progresses. UW is still in the top spot, with Jordan Morris and Aaron Kovar's Stanford team jumping to #16 and Seattle appearing in the poll for the first time this season at #25. Sean Okoli's Wake Forest remains just outside of the top 10 at the #11 spot.

England

Bill Foulkes, a Manchester United defender who survived the 1958 Munich plane crash, passed away yesterday. In addition to making more appearances for the club than all but 3 players, Foulkes also spent 5 seasons as a manager in the original NASL, with stops in Chicago, Tulsa and San Jose.

A non-league club whose name and crest were chosen in homage to Tottenham Hotspur currently finds itself in a fight to keep its crest, after Tottenham's lawyers ordered Fleet Spurs FC to remove the cockerel from its crest. After news of Tottenham's actions broke, Fleet Spurs FC has received numerous letters of support, including a donation from a Tottenham supporter.

Manchester City fullback Pablo Zabaleta claims that his national team and former club teammate Lionel Messi often asks him about what it's like to play for the club.

Spain

La Liga's Real Betis may soon be on the receiving end of a fine exceeding $80,000 and a possible stadium closure after some of its supporters reportedly racially abused one of the team's own players in last weekend's 4-0 loss to Sevilla.

Germany

Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola believes his tactics are being leaked to the press by someone at the club and has promised to terminate the offender's relationship with the club if and when he discovers the mole's identity.

World Cup

Due to the rules governing the color schemes of kits at the 2014 World Cup, the competition looks bound to be overrun by monochrome kits.

It was previously reported that the FMF would stand to lose $600 million if Mexico failed to qualify for the World Cup. A lot of that revenue is generated from within the United States, leading one Adidas executive to breathe a sigh of relief once El Tri finally punched its ticket to Brazil.