LTA’s Italian National Team Goalkeeper, Anna Maria Picarelli, has just completed a highly successful three-weeks loan spell with Kristianstads DFF (KDFF) in Sweden’s Top League.

American born Picarelli who will now return to California powerhouse Ajax America in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) was contracted to step in when KDFF was left with no experienced keepers for almost a month due to injuries. The unorthodox keeper proved an instant hit by saving a penalty from Sweden’s best player and a perennial WPS target Therese Sjögran albeit KDFF narrowly lost to the League leading LdB FC from Malmo. Picarelli went on to feature in two more games with KDFF (who also boast LTA’s New Zealand international Kirsty Yallop in their ranks), both of which were wins, and she left the Sweden’s south coast outfit in the highest ever third place in the Damallsvenskan table behind LdB FC and Göteborg FC.

“Sweden was a fantastic experience,” Picarelli said. “The soccer there is treated as it should be, very professional and very competitive.  KDFF is a great club that suited me as a player because it is not the team everyone expects to be at the top but is making its mark in the Swedish League, and I am grateful to have been a part of that.”

Picarelli, who has been capped 18 times by Italy will next feature for Le Azzurre on June 19th and June 23rd in crucial FIFA Germany 2011 Women’s World Cup qualifiers at home to Slovenia and away to Finland.

2004 NCAA National Champion with the Fighting Irish, Waldrum took his team to the six of the last ten NCAA Final Four Championships. In his time in charge, he won 9 out of 10 possible Big East Regular Season Conference Championships and six Big East Conference Tournament Championships. Having compiled 3rd best career winning percentage on NCAA winningest coaches list among all-time coaches, Waldrum has been named Big East Coach of the Year unprecedented five times in 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, and 2008.

Waldrum’s Notre Dame team produced multiple US Women’s National Team players who went on to play in the World Cups and win the Olympic Games as well as many players who now play in the new Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) League, considered the best women’s league in the world.

Having ventured into international football by defeating a number of full national teams with Notre Dame (including wins over Mexico and Republic of Ireland WNTs), the Texas native, Waldrum, took charge of the Trinidad & Tobago U17 Women’s National Team program in 2008 and led them to the highest ever finish in World Cup qualifiers – 2nd in group (failed to advance on goal difference).

Randy Waldrum is the former president of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), which is the largest football coaches association in the world with almost 30,000 members, and he has also worked as a staff coach for the US Soccer Federation. He holds both UEFA and USSF coaching licences.

María Ruiz is more known to most people as Mery. “My first team had three girls who were called María, and I was nicknamed ‘Mery’ to differentiate,” she explains. Mery is one of the best strikers in Spain and one of the few Spanish players who has played in the American Women’s Soccer Leagues, which are some of the best in the world. Her football quality is unquestionable, but her other great virtue is her love for teaching children. “… I started coaching in the U.S., and one of the conditions I set before signing for Espanyol was to be able to continue training kids. I’m also still in school together with (LTA’s Italian forward) Pamela Conti,” she says. It is not easy, but Mery finds time for everything.

First steps

Like many girls, Mery started playing football in the street and in school with other children. Because of her parents’ work, she moved to Morocco where she continued playing. “They had to convince the physical education teacher to let me play football. I spent all day with the other kids my age playing,” she recalls. Mery knew she wanted to move back to Spain and join her first girls’ team. “I was 13 years old, and it was difficult to find a team for girls. In the end, it was Lourdes, which was also my school. We played in a league in which there were girls of 13 and women of 32 years old. I spent two years there, and then a U16 category was created,” she remembers.

Once in the U16s, Mery’s team became successful. “We started in the regional competition and went all the way up to the Nationals, which was a huge success,” she says. She personally did so well that a team from the Superliga called Estudiantes decided to sign her. “We were a group of seven players who lived and trained in Madrid. We would just go to matches together. If we played at home, we just met the team at the field, and if it was an away game the team bus came to pick us up at some midpoint,” she explains. Mery recalls those days with great joy. “We did our physical conditioning in a park. We had a personal trainer, who knew one of my teammates, who did an outstanding job. She was always able to surprise us and teach us something new. Her workouts were the best I’ve ever experienced.”

Despite the difficulties Estudiantes had a couple of very good seasons. “I spent two seasons there: in the first we finished third, and in the second – fourth and even led the league midseason. We even managed to reach the final of the Copa de la Reina (the Spanish Cup),” she says. Mery has always been very impulsive, and she decided she wanted to try playing in the US, one of the greatest countries in the world for women’s football.

America

“My English was not very good, but I still signed up with a company which took players for 30-day trials in America. We were in Florida, and it was terribly hot. It seemed like it was 50 degrees Celcius because of the humidity … At the end of the trials, I had offers from three universities, and I opted for Park (Missouri) because they gave me full scholarship. I went there with a friend from Madrid Laura Baeza,” she says.

Mery, who had begun studying for a teacher in Spain, started a course of Athletic Training. She spent five years playing in the college league, but in her third season she got another great opportunity. “I was called by a team named FC Indiana to play in the Women’s Premier Soccer National League, which lasted from May to August. I played there two very successful years in a row, in the first we won the league and lost the cup final, and in the second it happened in reverse,” she reveals. Her last year in the US, she played in Buffalo. “I wanted a change, but things did not go as well, and we lost to Indiana in the play-offs.” Mery thought about staying another year in the United States where football is lived quite differently. “Being a new sport for them there is not so much machismo, and many people follow women’s football,” she says. However, after much thought, she decided to accept the offer from Espanyol.

“My experience in the United States was very good. I have grown both in football terms and academically. Also, it was difficult because I had to survive in a country very different from mine. The support of my parents was fundamental because they insisted that I should stay when things were not going so well,” she says.

Mery closed her US stage for now and embarked on a new adventure. “I had options to play in Europe, but Espanyol’s interest was the decisive factor. I spoke with Pamela Conti, and she told me she was going to sign there, as well. It is a team with great players, who in recent seasons has been competing at the very top, and it is part of the structure of a great club. I did not hesitate,” she stresses.

The coaching

“When I was in America, I realized that a lot of young girls came to our games. I saw a lot of girls play in the gardens, parks, backyards … We were role models for them. While in college, we did a few camps, and some coaches asked me to train young girls. But there was also a group of girls trained by one of the fathers, who didn’t really know much about soccer, so he hired me to come and help from time to time,” she explains.

Thus began her coaching career. She organized and worked in multiple camps as well as working with individual players. She remembers helping two twins for a period of four years: “Everyone learned so much during the four years we were there, and the girls improved a lot.” “The parents also absorbed a lot of football concepts in that time!” she points out.

Obviously, Mery wanted to continue with coaching. “I’m with Lino now coaching an academy team, and I really enjoy it! Also, I’m coaching a futsal team together with Pamela,” she says. For the Madrid-native, one of the most positive aspects is that more and more girls receive more personalized training. “I wish I had been able to train like this when I was little. I would have liked to have an all-girls team. Fortunately, it is now changing for the better,” she says.

Mery feels very rewarded with this work. “Seeing children improve makes you feel very useful. You feel very grateful because by doing a little you get a lot in return. Children appreciate your efforts and your dedication to them; it’s something very beautiful,” she remarks.

Mery, who recalls that she started learning by playing against “the tree and the wall,” is not only one of the best on the football pitch but is also remarkable off of it.

LTA’s Spanish international forward Laura Del Rio has signed a contract with Boston Breakers of the USA Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS).

Madrid-born striker has recently completed the first round of the Frauen-Bundesliga in Germany with 1. FFC Frankfurt where she scored 8 goals in 13 appearances in League and Cup matches. The Breakers agreed to terms with Del Rio after her negotiating rights were acquired from the now-disbanded Los Angeles Sol for a third round draft pick in the 2010 WPS Draft.

Del Rio returns to the US where she spent two seasons with FC Indiana of the USL W-League. In 2008 Del Rio was FC Indiana’s top scorer with 15 goals and 13 assists, leading her team to the W-League Central Conference Championship, W-League National Championship Final, and the US Open Cup crown. In her 2009 campaign, the Spanish striker was first in the league with 18 goals and 4 assists and was named to the 2009 W-League All-League Team and the 2009 All-Central Conference Team.

In Boston, Del Rio will join such world-class players as Kristine Lilly, who is the most capped women’s or men’s football player in the history of the sport, as well as the finalist for this year’s FIFA World Player of the Year and England National Team Captain Kelly Smith. The coach of the team is the former FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games winning coach with the USA Women’s National Team – Tony Di Cicco.

Laura Del Rio becomes the first player from Spain, and the first player represented by LTA Agency in what is arguably one of the top two Women’s Leagues in the world.

Boston Breakers News Release:
Breakers Sign Del Rio

Boston Breakers Player Profile Page:
Breakers Del Rio Profile

Marca Article:
Laura del Río deja Alemania para volver a Estados Unidos

AS Article:
Laura del Río ficha por el Boston

FutFem News Article:
Laura del Río vuelve a EEUU

FutFem Del Rio Interview:
Laura del Río: «Si me hubiera quedado en España esto no podría haber sucedido»

LTA: You have been successful in America, why move to Russia? Why now?
SB: I need to improve as a coach and that can only come from operating outside of my comfort zone. I have coached the same club for 6 years, and it was time for a change and a new challenge. The league where FC Indiana competes is going through changes, and when the opportunity presented itself, I decided to take it. As all coaches I want to coach against the best, I want to challenge my players and myself.

LTA: What are your goals in Russia and what do you want to achieve as a coach in general?
SB: Short term I want to win the Russian League and the Cup, and the UEFA Women’s Champions
League. Ultimately, I want to coach in the Women’s World Cup and win it.

LTA: Those are very ambitious goals, are they realistic?
SB: With commitment and hard work anything is possible. Specifically in Russia, the talent is here. What is missing is the focus and the approach. When I take on a task, I do it to the best of my ability and aim as high as possible. If I didn’t dream about winning the World Cup or that goal was unattainable for me, I would not coach. Winning it all in women’s football is what drives me to go across the world to coach.

LTA: Can you achieve your goals at Zvezda?
SB: Why not? In Stanislav Kharitonov I have an opportunity to work with one of the best football executives in Europe. He has a good vision, wants to win and be the best, and takes care of the finer details. He is one of the reasons I am in Russia.

LTA: Your thoughts on Russia’s performance in the Euro 2009 in Finland?
SB: They underperformed because they lacked experience at this level and conceded very poor goals. Take for example all three goals conceded against England. Very poor from Russia’s perspective. But there is great latent potential. Russia really is at a very unique point in time as far as women’s football goes. The next three years can really help them arrive internationally. Four years ago Russia won the U19 Euros. That generation of players will be reaching footballing maturity in 3-4 years time, and they represent Russia’s best chance for international success. And make no mistake, they have the quality necessary to compete against Germany and USA, no doubt in my mind.

LTA: What are your thoughts about women’s football in Europe?
SB: The level is excellent. Clearly, Germany is at the forefront of development of the game and has excellent women’s football infrastructure and environment. Having said that, I believe that Russia right now has a very unique opportunity to gain ground on both Germany and USA.

LTA: Some would say that before catching up to Germany and USA, Russia needs to catch up to Sweden, don’t you think?
SB: No, Sweden have reached their peak both in terms of their national team and Damallsvenskan, and I think you will see countries such as Russia, France, Holland, England pass them by. The opportunity is certainly there.

LTA: You have coached 28 internationals from 19 countries, does anyone stand out?
SB: No, all players have unique character traits and footballing abilities, and I treat them all equally. I ask for excellence and commitment in every training session and match, and when they deliver, we get along fine.

LTA: The biggest difference in coaching in America and in Europe?
SB: [pause] There is no promotion/relegation in America so there is very little pressure. You can lose and there are minimal consequences for clubs. In Europe top clubs can’t afford to drop points, quality, and consistency is required for success.

LTA: You have some critics in America who say that you can be difficult.
SB: [Laughs] Who said I am difficult? Probably owners and coaches of teams I beat. My wife thinks I am nice. All joking aside, too many people confuse charisma with quality. As a coach I have to recognize qualities in players and have to have my tactics right in every match. Coaches do not have to be liked. They have to be respected but not liked, especially by opponents [laughs]. Respect comes from quality training, discipline, and winning. I interact or socialize with players very little off the field. Coaching is a results oriented business, and I don’t get paid for being a pen pal. I get paid for results; that’s why I am here in Russia.

LTA: As a coach, do you get the best out of all your players and what can Zvezda players expect?
SB: Without a doubt. I will get them to perform at a level they didn’t think it was possible for them to perform. All Zvezda players who will be in my top 11 will be good enough to be in Russia’s top 11.

LTA: You went out of the UEFA Champions League on goal difference. That must have been a disappointment for the club and for you?
SB: Yes, but from day one our focus was on 2010 after I had a chance to bring in my players, staff, methods, and philosophy.

LTA: Thank you for your time and good luck in the new season in Russia!
SB: Thank you. I can’t wait to start our pre-season next month.