The editorial staff at MLSsoccer.com is looking back over the year with our "Best of 2010" awards, running Dec. 13 through Jan. 2. Each day we'll hand out an award from a variety of categories culled from the storylines of Major League Soccer and the North American soccer scene.
In this installment, we look back at the Quotes of the Year.
Actions, as they say, speak louder than words.
That might be true. But it’s still plenty of fun to look back at 2010 and remember some of the best moments from players and coaches who made the year a memorable one at the microphone.
So listen up: here are some the best sound bites of 2010.
“I don’t think we were the underdog, I just don’t think people expected us to win.”
- FC Dallas midfielder Brek Shea after FCD beat the LA Galaxy 3-0 in the Western Conference final on Nov. 15.
“It’s inconceivable to me that he would remain in the head coaching job beyond the end of the season, and he knows that. He understands that.”
-D.C. United president Kevin Payne on interim coach Ben Olsen, who was later named the head coach for 2011.
"Bradley will last no more than two years. And José Mourinho will coach the US to the 2022 World Cup in America." [inlinenode:323101]
- Franco Spicciariello of Italy's Guerin Sportivo, on US national team coach Bob Bradley’s contract extension through 2014.
“The first goal starts it off, the second goal was terrible, third goal was terrible. When you are giving teams three goals, it is unprofessional. That’s really what it is.”
-New England Revolution coach Steve Nicol after the Revs lost 5-0 to Real Salt Lake on July 3.
“No disrespect to the Eastern Conference, but tonight was the championship.”
- FC Dallas defender Daniel Hernandez after FCD beat the Galaxy in Western Conference final on Nov. 15. The Colorado Rapids went on to win the MLS Cup.
“I haven’t thought about the national team at all since the World Cup was over. And I’m not going to think about it again. I’m just thinking about this team.”
-Colorado Rapids forward Conor Casey after winning the MLS Cup the same year he was controversially left off the US roster for the World Cup.
“We needed a loss. It’s been forever.” [inlinenode:318477]
- Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman after FC Dallas beat RSL in the first leg of the Western Conference semifinal series on Oct. 30. RSL went on to lose the series.
“Hi Bianca!”
-LA Galaxy and US national team star Landon Donovan addressing his former wife Bianca Kalich during a postgame interview after the Americans’ 1-0 win over Algeria on June 23. Donovan appeared on the cover of the New York Post in the days after, with a headline implying that his dramatic goal had saved his marriage with the television actress.
"[I don't] want to be fussy, but if I have to go far away with my family, I prefer to do it in a beautiful town."
- French international Robert Pires to L'Equipe on the possibility of playing in Philadelphia.
“As long as Freddie takes his Speedos off and stops divin', we'll be alright.”
-- New England coach Steve Nicol on former Seattle Sounders and Chicago Fire Designated Player Freddie Ljungberg
“I expect someone like Freddie Ljungberg, who has scored so many goals and played hundreds of games with the national team, and won so many trophies, would be more honest than he is.”
– Philadelphia Union coach Peter Nowak on Ljungberg
"I don't need to elaborate on the things that De Rosario and De Guzman said. You can see the work I've done with Chivas USA. It's a couple of Canadian guys making those comments. That's all I have to say about that." [inline_node:318356]
- Former Toronto FC coach Preki after he was fired on Sept. 14, responding to comments made by TFC players Dwayne De Rosario and Julian De Guzman about his coaching style.
“Henry was sitting on a yellow and the referee didn’t really have the courage to make the call. That’s what it came down to.”
- FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman after New York Red Bulls star Thierry Henry escaped punishment during a post-goal celebration leading to an injury to FCD goalkeeper Kevin Hartman on Sept. 17.
“The vuvuzelas.”
-- Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen, when asked on ExtraTime Radio what was the biggest upset of the World Cup.
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