Former Manchester United and Chelsea star Juan Mata turned back the clock with a sensational free-kick for Melbourne Victory on Saturday. Despite the Spaniard's individual brilliance, a late collapse saw his side surrender a two-goal lead in a frantic A-League encounter.
Football can be a cruel game, but few will experience a Saturday as nightmarish as former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi. The 24-year-old shot-stopper, who once walked the halls of the Spurs training ground under the watchful eyes of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, found himself at the centre of a sporting catastrophe during Wellington Phoenix’s 5-0 thrashing at the hands of rivals Auckland FC.
Former Manchester United and Chelsea star Juan Mata rolled back the years by scoring an eye-catching brace for Melbourne Victory in a 3-1 derby win over Melbourne City on Saturday. The goals even drew praise from Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes who took to social media to show his appreciation for the 37-year-old's excellent efforts in the A-League clash.
Josh Cavallo, the first openly gay active professional male footballer, has launched a scathing attack on his former club Adelaide United. The 26-year-old alleges that "internal homophobia", not footballing reasons, was the true cause behind his lack of playing time and eventual departure from the A-League side. In a deeply personal statement, he also revealed that teammates mocked his relationship.
Former Chelsea midfielder Ulises Davila has pleaded guilty to orchestrating a yellow card fixing scheme in Australia’s A-League that netted nearly £100,000 in illegal betting payouts. The ex-Macarthur FC captain admitted to leading an operation involving two teammates, manipulating cautions in multiple matches — a scandal that has shocked Australian football and tarnished his once-promising career.
Former Bayern Munich and Juventus attacker Douglas Costa has an arrest warrant issued against him due to unresolved child support payments amounting to over €78,000. His contract with Sydney was terminated after mutual agreement after Costa has been forbidden from leaving his native country Brazil and went on to apologise to the club's fans in his statement.
Orlando City and Louisville City share the record for the most USL Championship titles, each winning the championship two times. Orlando City won in 2011 and 2013, while Louisville City won in 2017 and 2018.
How many teams are in the USL?
The 2024 season of USL will see 24 teams compete for the league. When the league was founded in 2011 as USL Pro, only 12 teams contested. That number rose to 14 in 2014, 24 in 2015, 30 in 2017, 36 in 2019, and now back at 24.
Who has made the most USL appearances ever?
Jamaican midfielder Kenardo Forbes is the player with the most appearances in USL history, having featured in 303 games.
Who is the all-time top scorer of the USL?
With 105 goals (and counting) in 249 games, Jamaican forward Dane Kelly is USL's leading goalscorer of all-time.
Who is the youngest player ever in the USL and how old was he?
Axel Kei, a centre-forward, holds the record as the youngest-ever player in USL Championship history. He made his debut in 2021 at the remarkable age of 13 years and 282 days.
Which famous players have played in the USL?
Jamie Vardy, Gareth Bale, James Maddison, John Stones, and Darren Bent are some of the most iconic players to have played in the Championship.
Which famous managers have managed in the USL?
Alen Marcina, Mark Briggs, Trevor James, and Noah Delgado are among the most popular coaches in USL history.
What is the biggest stadium in the USL?
Protective Stadium, which is where Birmingham Legion FC play their home games, is the biggest stadium in the USL with a capacity of 47,000.
Who is the most expensive player in the history of the USL?
Fanendo Ali is the most expensive player in USL history, being bought for $1 million (allocation money) by FC Cincinnati in a trade with Portland Timbers.