Marc Machado

Such sad news - Vassili was a trailblazer in MLS when it came to moving from analysis to sporting leadership positions. That he did all of this while fighting cancer and being so open about his journey made it all the more impressive.

Sending my best to his friends and family ♥️

Get ready to meet futi Sorry for the wait. Would some free advanced data make it up to you?

We're so back

Introducing Glass Onion by US Soccer, An Identifier Synchronization Tool — American Soccer Analysis By Akshay Easwaran Every soccer data analysis group has had the same jump-scare: they sign data provider contract #2, and suddenly, they need a solution to link teams, matches, and players across th...

There's a new tool from @ussoccer.com and @akeaswaran.me is here to tell you about it. Introducing Glass Onion, an Identifier Synchronization Tool

www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/2026/1/...

Congrats, Jason!

A screenshot of text that reads as follows: Some weeks ago (this announcement is seriously overdue), I stepped down from my roles at USA Today Sports and Pro Soccer Wire. I was lucky enough to be offered the opportunity to join Variance Incorporated in a role that will involve research for Transfer Flow and scouting for Crux Football, and it was one I couldn't turn down. They're paying me to watch and research soccer! In my opinion, that's pretty good. My 3.5 years with PSW/USA Today were challenging and rewarding. I am fiercely proud of what we grew Pro Soccer Wire into: the kind of place that soccer fans of all sorts could find something that spoke to them. Whether it was explainers, deep dives, or celebrations of animals who ran on a field, we made a good website. Most of the credit for that goes to Seth Vertelney, whose work rate should be the stuff of legend. If you enjoy PSW, Seth's work as managing editor is why. I'm better at what I do for having worked with him, and it was no small thing for Seth, Nate Scott, and Randy Kim to hand one of the only new soccer writing jobs available in 2022 to a team site blogger gone half-mad during the pandemic. I don't know anywhere else I could have gotten the runway that every NWSL Take-Off required (Seth, I'm sorry they never really got any shorter), or where I could use valuable Deadline Day time to write about King Kazu. I'm thrilled to hear that he's now the soccer editor at USA Today Sports. They couldn't have picked a better person.

A screenshot of text that reads as follows: From summer 2024 onward, my role shifted into a hybrid, covering trending sports topics for USA Today Sports and PSW. My thanks to Gabe Zaldivar, Casey Moore, Ellen Horrow, Jesse Yomtov, Alicia Del Gallo, and the entire Trending team for helping a Soccer Person adapt to the non-stop rush of U.S. sports news with kindness and patience. This new job leaves the window open for me to keep covering soccer, and in the near future I will be launching my own independent site covering the Washington Spirit and D.C. United. I would probably shrivel up and die without 30+ trips to the Audi Field press box per year, but more importantly I believe I still have something useful to contribute to soccer in the DMV. Hopefully you agree enough to click some links and follow some accounts. I apologize in advance for the self-promotion to come, which is already causing me some mild agony. In the meantime (and once that new thing gets going, whatever shape it takes), I am open to provide freelance coverage of DC's soccer teams, the NWSL, or the senior national teams. If you're an editor who needs such a thing, send me a DM/text/email/whatever means of contact you have.

It's Personal News Notes App post time.

(ok actually it was time weeks ago, but it is still also time now)

🗣️ Because maybeeeeeee

Robin is in Chicago babyyyyyyy

And after alllllll

We signed Robin Lodddddddd 🗣️

We have acquired Finland National Team midfielder Robin Lod as a free agent. #cf97

Appreciate the kind words, James!

Thanks Donald!

Thanks Doug!

Thanks, Adam! Appreciate you promoting my work at B&RU when I was getting started. As an avid Filibuster fan, always meant a lot.

Thanks Drew!

Thanks Nate!

Thanks, Jason! Appreciate your help in getting me involved with B&RU. Keep crushing it!

Thanks John!

Thanks Catalina!

I don't post personal updates often, but for those who follow my Substack/have noticed my inactivity there, I wanted to share that I've joined the Chicago Fire as a data analyst/scout.

Grateful for everyone who read/supported my work, dating back to my time with B&RU.

Excited for what's ahead! 🔥🆙

Thank you for everything, Guti 👏

We have transferred Chicago native and Homegrown midfielder Brian Gutiérrez to LigaMX side Club Deportivo Guadalajara for a multi-million-dollar transfer fee. #cf97

Just give Doyle and Wiebe a small budget and complete editorial freedom to make 10 hours of stuff worth watching on Apple TV every week, it would transform MLS overnight

MLS plans to extend transfer windows a bit beyond when major European windows close after the schedule flips in summer of 2027.

MLS also has gotten green light from FIFA and Concacaf to include the three Canadian MLS teams as domestic, so all 30 MLS clubs will be aligned.

How the Seattle Sounders turned smart spending into an all-time great MLS roster MLS is keeping its teams busier than ever, so the Sounders are looking inward to create an elite squad.

Without spending big, the Seattle Sounders have assembled an all-time MLS roster to withstand one of the busiest seasons ever.

“Our fourth DP is our development system,” general manager Craig Waibel told me. “That’s where we choose to spend the money because it’s working.”

For @backheeled.com ⤵️

Best XI, Awards Ballot & final Power Rankings vote of the year! This is the longest newsletter I'll ever write. I am sorry.

Free Newsletter: Best XI, Awards Ballot & final Power Rankings vote of the year!

This is the longest newsletter I will ever write (b/c I should've put out the awards ballot as a separate post last week... oh well!)
open.substack.com/pub/tacticsf...

Pochettino: "Cristian Roldan is maybe an example of if you want to build your perfect player...he has a little bit of everything."

BREAKING: Columbus Crew midfielder and MLS legend Darlington Nagbe is retiring after the 2025 MLS season, per sources.

Nagbe, 35, is a four-time MLS Cup winner (2015, 2018, 2020, 2023) with three clubs (Portland, Atlanta, Columbus).

One of MLS's best-ever midfielders 👏

With three goals in the first half tonight, Chicago Fire FC have now scored 39 road goals this regular season, which is the second most in a single season in MLS history (44, LA Galaxy in 1998).

DC United owners Jason Levien, Steve Kaplan speak candidly on team struggles, need to rebuild support DC United is entering the final few weeks of what has been a very disappointing 2025 season. They were the first team to be eliminated from contention for the MLS Cup playoffs, marking the sixth straight season that they will miss out on the postseason. In July, they fired head coach Troy Lesesne, bringing in René Weiler after a month of having academy director Kevin Flanagan serve as the interim coach until the visa process could be finalized.

It's been a disappointing DC United season, and the owners are finally speaking up about the club's struggles. @blazindw.bsky.social sits down with #DCU owners Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan for an in depth interview on what the club's path forward will be to rebuild the trust of the fans.

MLS Winners and Losers: LAFC's "no-brainer", Charlotte FC's hot streak & more LAFC tried a new look, Charlotte FC wrote their name in the record books, the Vancouver Whitecaps didn't play with their food, and more.

At first glance, Charlotte FC look unremarkable. A longer look, however, paints them as a legit trophy threat.

I dive into Sir Minty's boys + soccer injustice that was done in San Diego, LAFC's new look, DC United's latest low & more.

For Backheeled ⤵️
www.backheeled.com/mls-winners-...

Friday Stat Dump: This week we are looking at "Positive Possessions". Positive Possessions are those which end at a point further up the pitch than they started. Seems simple enough? Let's get into it.

Possessions by themselves are neither good nor bad. It matters more what you do with them.

1/

Mateusz Klich signed with KS Cracovia today, but per D.C. United this *does not* open up a Designated Player slot for them.

As of May 1, TFC had no GAM remaining (and one of the ugliest cap situations in the league).

They’ve since accumulated $900k in 2025 GAM through trades, while generating an additional $200k in guaranteed 2026 GAM.

Factor in the DP moves, and it feels like a page is being turned in Toronto.