Brotherly Game Daily Links: Getting to know Sporting KC
Union have a new midfielder, MLS Power Rankings and Ajax beat Real Madrid
Philadelphia Union News
Union acquire Jamiro Monteiro on loan with option to buy
The midfielder joined Ligue 2’s Metz this summer, but he has only made three league appearances in his time there. He got his start in the Netherlands, where he led SC Cambuur to promotion before moving to the Eredivisie’s Heracles ahead of the 2017-18 season.
Know Your Enemy: Sporting Kansas City
It says a lot about how long Peter Vermes has been in control in Sporting Kansas City, and about how that control helps him build a roster, that the club was able to sell Ike Opara in the offseason, lose Andreu Fontas to injury in week one, and still feel fairly secure in back with new signing Botond Barath entering for his first minutes.
MLS News
MLS Power Rankings: NYRB claims the top spot
Union drop six spots from the first Power Rankings, earning the 18th spot.
Nashville SC to retain current manager Gary Smith for debut MLS season
Smith, 48, is entering his second season as manager of Nashville’s USL team, which competes in the second tier of the U.S. soccer pyramid. Now he will manage the club’s MLS entrant when it begins play in the league next season.
Rest of the World News
Ajax stuns Real Madrid to advance to Champions League Quarterfinals
Estadio Bernabeu is traditionally where the Champions League dreams of Real Madrid’s opponents have gone to die. But on Tuesday, the venerable football cathedral was a house of nightmares for los blancos, who bowed out of the tournament at the round of 16 stage for the first time since 2010.
Muller, Boateng, and Hummels cut from German national team
Low, along with assistant coach Marcus Sorg and national team manager Oliver Bierhoff, travelled to Munich to inform Bayern players Boateng, Hummels and Muller -- all part of the squad that won the 2014 World Cup -- of his decision.