One of my favorite soccer writers Simon Kuper of the Financial times tells us about Brian Clough, an English player who lost his career early to injury, then came storming back as a manager of great success and failure.

This article is about the man, the book on his 44 days as Leeds boss, and the movie of that book. And Muhammad Ali. Although I think the Ali comparison stuff is stretching it. Quite a bit.

Now, the book is absolutely fantastic - The Damned United by David Peace. A true story fictionally told, and originally written. Go find it right now.

The movie already came out in Great Britain to modest reviews. Doubtful it will get a release in theaters anywhere else around the globe. Oh well. But a DVD should happen in America. I hope.

But seriously, go read the book. The voice of the written words will crawl into your brain and make you happy. Plus, when was the last time you went and read a book? The whole thing?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ohio's own Bill Archer, whose blog can be found at Big Soccer, gives us a 2 part interview with the president of the brand spankin new Philadelphia MLS team Nick Sakiewicz.
PART 1
PART 2

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mighty Maurice Edu scored his first goal for Rangers last night, and it was the game winner!!! They beat St Mirren 2-1. Former New Eng Rev Andy Dorman got the St M goal. Hooray Maurice. Boo Barry Ferguson.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Trinidad & Tobago's coach Francisco Maturana has resigned. That makes it 2 CONCACAF coaches out the door in 7 days. (How ya hangin in there Sven?) Russell Latapy has been named the interim coach. You might remember him scoring against the USA last fall down in Port of Spain, even though he is 51 years old.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

FIFA.com has a Q & A with our very own Jozy Altidore. Nothing really new here, what did you expect from FIFA, but fun to see none the less.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Champions League Results

CONCACAF Semifinals
Second Leg
-Tue Apr 7
Cruz Azul 3-1 Puerto Rico - series tied 3-3 on aggregate. CA win it 4-2 on PK's.
-Wed Apr 8
Atlante 3-1 Santos Laguna - Atl advance 4-3 on agg.

CONCACAF Final
First Leg
-Wed Apr 22
Cruz Azul v Atlante
Second Leg
-Wed Apr 29
Atlante v Cruz Azul (-)

UEFA Quarterfinals
First Leg
-Tue Apr 7
Manchester United 2-2 Porto - MU goals by Wayne Rooney & Carlos Tevez. Por goals by Cristian Rodriguez & Mariano Nicolas Gonzalez.
Villarreal 1-1 Arsenal - Vil goal by Marcos Senna. Ars goal by Emmanuel Adebayor.
-Wed Apr 8
Liverpool 1-3 Chelsea - Liv goal by Fernando Torres. Chel goals by Branislav Ivanovic(2) & Didier Drogba.
Barcelona 4-0 Bayern Munich - Bar goals by Lionel Messi(2), Samuel Eto'o & Thierry Henry.
Second Leg
-Tue Apr 14
Chelsea v Liverpool (3-1)
Bayern Munich v Barcelona (0-4)
-Wed Apr 15
Porto v Manchester United (2-2)
Arsenal v Villarreal (1-1)