Also in today’s roundup, Dagny Brynjarsdottir signs contract in Iceland, and Barcelona Women are making an appearance in LA
Phil Murphy, Governor of New Jersey, on his love for soccer and the richness of its diversity https://t.co/t4imycMgQN @MikeWoitalla pic.twitter.com/hYX2oTAPYl
— SoccerAmerica (@socceramerica) July 14, 2018
In congruence with ongoing controversy surrounding the managing of Sky Blue FC, co-owner Phil Murphy (who is also the Governor of New Jersey), answered some questions in an interview last week with SoccerAmerica that provided a look into how involved he is with the NWSL side.
When asked about Sky Blue’s struggles on the field this year, Murphy said “It’s a very disappointing season. Disappointing year, not for lack of effort. We have some really talented women, led by Carli Lloyd. A high-quality group trying their hardest. A lot of bad breaks, but clearly not the results that we had expected or hoped for.”
Murphy did then admit that while he is the public face and main financial investor of the ownership group that controls the New Jersey club, he is not particularly involved in the day-to-day management of the team.
“I’m the majority owner but my principal co-owner is much more actively involved and obviously we have a professional staff at the general manager and business side as well as the coaching staff. I’m intensely involved on the capital side, but less so on operations.”
He did express pride and optimism in the women’s game in America, saying it is “one of the great products of Title IX, which continues to be one of the more important policy moves in the past several decades in terms of sport in America. The women’s league has a long to go but I think it has the best quality of play on the field of any women’s league in the world.”
The interview was released on Friday, before The Equalizer’s report about ongoing concerns from players and staff surrounding the club.
Dagny Brynjarsdottir signs with Selfoss FC
Welcome back @dagnybrynjars. Just over a month after her son came into the world, the Iceland international has signed for Selfoss FC in her native country. Contract is until mid-October. pic.twitter.com/Mc5AMA0R7z
— Kieran Theivam (Tayvam) (@KiersTheivam) July 17, 2018
A little over a month after having her first child, the Portland Thorns’ Dagny Brynjarsdottir has signed a short-term contract with Selfoss FC in Iceland. Brynjarsdottir took the 2018 NWSL season off due to her pregnancy, but with the Iceland Women’s National Team firmly in the running to qualify for the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, it’s not surprising the midfielder is looking to get back to match fitness as soon as possible.
Brynjarsdottir previously played for Selfoss in 2014, and then transferred to Bayern Munich in 2015. She then joined the Thorns in 2016, and has five goals for the club.
Barcelona Women to play WPSL side SoCal FC in July
For the first time, FC Barcelona's men and women will tour abroad together!
As part of the tour @FCBfemeni will play a friendly game on Saturday 28 at 10.00 in the 11,700 capacity Drake Stadium at UCLA, against SoCal FC – https://t.co/V8O71ow3Q3 pic.twitter.com/hoxkBAkyEL
— Womens Soccer United (@WomensSoccerUtd) July 17, 2018
Running parallel to the NWSL break due to the Tournament of Nations, Barcelona Women will be making an appearance in California on July 28th against SoCal FC.
The match will be played at UCLA’s Drake Stadium, and will be free and open to the public. Upon registering to attend, fans could win two tickets to the coinciding men’s friendly against Tottenham United at the Rose Bowl.
The Barcelona Women are current champions of the Copa De La Reina, and count players such as 2017 FIFA Player of the Year Lieke Martens on their roster.
