Tag: Strasbourg

USMNT left back Wiley joins Chelsea from Atlanta United

The 19-year-old is expected to join Ligue 1 side Strasbourg on loan this season

Atlanta United has confirmed the transfer of left back Caleb Wiley to Premier League power Chelsea.

The Blues paid a reported £8.5 million ($11m) fee for the 19-year-old, who is expected to join Ligue 1 side Strasbourg on loan for the upcoming season.

Wiley will join up with Chelsea following his participation in the Olympics with the United States.

“Caleb epitomizes the pathway that we envisioned when we started this club,” Atlanta United vice president and technical director Carlos Bocanegra said in a club release.

“Born and raised in Atlanta, he joined our Academy at 11 years old, played for ATL UTD 2 and went on to earn every step in his path up to signing as a Homegrown. Over that time, he debuted for the U.S. men’s national team and was chosen to represent our country at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“Now he can continue his career at a top club in Europe. We wish Caleb the best in this next challenge of his career and look forward to following his journey.”

Wiley made his pro debut for Atlanta United 2 in 2020 when he was just 15 years old, and made the jump to the first team as a regular in 2022.

Overall, Wiley made 85 appearances for Atlanta’s first team in all competitions, recording six goals and nine assists.

Wiley has earned two caps for the USMNT so far, making his debut in April 2023. He has also represented the U.S. at the U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels.

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Rumored USMNT coaching candidate Vieira leaves Strasbourg

The timing of the Frenchman’s departure raised some eyebrows

Patrick Vieira has departed RC Strasbourg by mutual consent, the Ligue 1 side announced on Thursday.

Vieira served one season as Strasbourg head coach, leading the club to a 13th-place finish in 2023-24.

The timing of Vieira’s departure has raised some eyebrows, as the 48-year-old Arsenal legend has recently been mentioned as a candidate for the vacant U.S. men’s national team position.

Earlier this week, former USMNT striker Taylor Twellman said that Vieira was interested in job.

“There’s one name that I’ve said from the beginning that has a real interest in this, and that’s Patrick Vieira,” Twellman said on the Rich Eisen Show.

“He won a World Cup as a player. He loves the American player. But he also walks into that room and every single player’s tail is going to be between their legs because he doesn’t hold back on anyone.”

After Vieira left Strasbourg on Thursday, reporter Fabrizio Romano added that the Frenchman was “under consideration” for the USMNT job.

TUDN, meanwhile, went one step further and said that U.S. Soccer and Vieira were in talks over the role.

Though Strasbourg framed Vieira’s departure as mutual, L’Equipe reported that the club actually sacked the coach for not being in accordance with its project.

Vieira is seen as a strong candidate for the USMNT position because of his sterling playing career, which included a World Cup win with France and several league titles with Arsenal and Inter, as well as his coaching experience in the U.S. and abroad.

The Frenchman began his coaching career in Manchester City’s academy, and his first senior role was with New York City FC, giving him a window into the American game. Vieira departed NYCFC in 2018 and has gone on to coach Nice and Crystal Palace.

The USMNT position has been vacant since Gregg Berhalter was dismissed last week in the wake of the team’s stunning group-stage exit at the Copa América.

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Tim Weah bags two assists in five minutes as Lille thump Strasbourg

Weah is looking sharp, which is great for USMNT fans

Tim Weah’s return from injury doesn’t seem to include a slow build back up to top form.

The U.S. men’s national team attacker, making his second appearance of the 2022-23 season after suffering an ankle issue in preseason, produced two assists in a five-minute span as Lille sprinted to a 3-0 away win over Strasbourg.

Weah made his first appearance of the season for Lille last weekend, playing 16 minutes in a 1-0 win over Lens. On Friday, he came in as a substitute in the 65th minute, with Lille ahead by a goal thanks to Jonathan David’s first half spot kick.

In short order, Weah was setting David up for a brace. A Lille attack in the 76th minute went awry inside the Strasbourg box, but the visitors kept play alive, cycling it wide right for Weah. Given enough room to serve the ball in, Weah chose to drive a low ball back into the mixer towards the Canadian national team striker, and David simply had to tap the ball home from all of four yards.

Five minutes later, Lille surged forward on the break, giving Weah a platform to pick up another assist. A nasty tackle from Gerzino Nyamsi sent Carlos Baleba sprawling, but advantage was played as the ball zipped right to Weah.

Before anyone from Strasbourg could challenge him, Weah cleverly chopped a square pass over to the onrushing Rémy Cabella, who provided a clinical finish from just inside the area.

Now with three wins in their last four games, Lille have moved up to sixth place in Ligue 1 at the moment, just one point off of the European places.

Watch Weah’s two assists for Lille

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