“Just Google ‘Loon Call,'” Manny Lagos says, his voice rising towards a new level of excitement. “It’s one of the coolest sounds you’ll ever hear. I always joke that if anybody ever shot a loon in Minnesota, they’d probably go to jail. We love ’em.” Lagos’ words are said with the passion of a man who is Minnesota through and through. Born and raised in St. Paul, Lagos has had his pulse on Minnesota’s soccer scene since childhood, and has likely heard more loon calls than most throughout the American soccer scene. There’s a certain passion in his voice when he discusses the bird and ..read more

Photo by Brad Rempel/USA Today Sports Friday is set to be another big day in the history of Minnesota soccer. Minnesota United has confirmed that commissioner Don Garber will be on hand for an announcement Friday, which is expected to consist of the unveiling of plans to launch Minnesota’s MLS team in 2017. The St. Paul Pioneer-Press reported last week that Minnesota’s MLS expansion team will begin play in 2017, along with Atlanta United. Garber will be joined by former New England Revolution forward, and Minneapolis-born, Taylor Twellman, Governor Mark Dayton, Mayor Chris ..read more

Jerome Miron/USA Today Sports First it was on, then it was off, and now it could be back on again. Fabian Castillo’s agent is reportedly in New York City at MLS headquarters looking to finalize the FC Dallas attacker’s move to Turkish side Trabzonspor. Reports on Sunday suggested that the deal was “dead.” (REPORT) Minnesota United FC is reportedly seeking a deal with the University of Minnesota over use of the university’s football facility for the 2017 MLS season. The Loons’ proposed 20,000-seat stadium in St. Paul has yet to break ground. (REPORT) The Portland Timbers have signed P ..read more

A future in MLS remains on the horizon for Minnesota United, but a busy offseason has the Loons in a position to emerge from the 2016 NASL season with trophies in hand. Under the leadership of first-year head coach Carl Craig, Minnesota United spent the offseason bringing in some heavy hitters. Reigning NASL Golden Ball winner Stefano Pinho and former FC Edmonton star Lance Laing join the Loons after dominating in 2015, while MLS veterans like Danny Cruz, Ben Speas and Bernardo Anor add even more talent to an already high-level attack. The series of high-profile additions join a roster t ..read more

After receiving interest in 2015 over a potential move to MLS, a certain Dutchman is again being tabbed to America. Ex-Hamburg player Rafael Van der Vaart has reportedly been in contact with several MLS teams, including Sporting Kansas City, Columbus Crew SC and the New York Red Bulls. The veteran midfielder was previously linked to Sporting KC as a DP option last season. (REPORT) While the timing on Minnesota United FC’s arrival in MLS is uncertain, if the team does join the league in 2017, the club is reportedly leaning towards playing its home matches at TCF Bank Stadium. (REPORT) D.C ..read more

Another former AC Milan midfielder has joined Kaka in Orlando this afternoon as Orlando City SC signed Italian defensive midfielder Antonio Nocerino. Nocerino was signed this afternoon by Orlando City. Nocerino played with Kaka at AC Milan for the 2013-14 season. Orlando enabled itself to sign Nocerino by obtaining his discovery rights in a trade with DC United in which the Lions gave up targeted allocation money and general allocation money. (REPORT) OFFICIAL: Nocerino is coming to The City Beautiful. City signs former AC Milan CDM. Read: https://t.co/9jUsBzkv7p pic.twitter.com/qgU51CQTFb ..read more

Minnesota United will make the leap to MLS relatively soon, but following an offseason of restructuring and rebuilding, the club is more focused than ever on achieving its short-term goals as a member of the NASL. Set to depart the league in either 2017 or 2018, Minnesota United’s move from the NASL presents the club with several challenges. Those challenges are set to be met head on by sporting director Manny Lagos, who relinquished head-coaching duties to long-time assistant Carl Craig to move into a front-office role. The role, in truth, is a familiar one, as Lagos has served in ..read more

After another season in which head coach Manny Lagos took Minnesota United to the NASL playoffs, the MLS-elect side has opted to enhance his role. United announced on Thursday that Lagos would become the club’s first sporting director. With that role, Lagos will assume all responsibility for player recruitment, acquisition and development. In addition to this change, Lagos’ assistant Carl Craig has been handed the reigns as head coach. Lagos has spent the last six years as the manager in Minnesota, earning NASL Coach of the Year honors in both 2011 and 2014. The former MLS player led the ..read more

photo by Troy Taormina/USA Today Sports It appears that all MLS clubs will soon be controlled by different majority owners. Houston Dynamo co-owner Gabriel Brener is nearing a deal that would likely give him controlling interest in the club, Fox26Houston.com reported on Tuesday. Brener currently owns 25 percent of the Dynamo, but is teaming up with another pair of investors to buy the 50-percent stake that Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) holds. If the deal is finalized, Brener would also assume control of the Houston Dash of the NWSL. AEG would then remain in control of only the L ..read more

Photo by Brad Rempel/USA Today Sports Minnesota United has reportedly found an MLS home. TwinCities.com reported Friday that St. Paul mayor Chris Coleman and Minnesota United owner Bill McGuire are expecting to announce a stadium deal that will see the venue built on a vacant area owned by the Metropolitan Council. The site has been targeted by the club for roughly six months and is located close to Interstate 94 with several public transportation stops in the vicinity. With a stadium location set, Minnesota United are set to begin MLS play in St. Paul in 2018. Friday’s expected ..read more