FIFA Confederation Ranking Comparison - December 2012

Comparing FIFA Confederations using the average FIFA ranking of the top 5 teams from each region.

Top 5 Avg. - Confederation (+/- November)

3.8 - Europe (-0.2)
1 - Spain
2 - Germany
4 - Italy
6 - England
7 - Portugal

11.0 - South America (-0.6)
3 - Argentina
5 - Colombia
13 - Ecuador
16 - Uruguay
18 - Brazil

24.4 - Africa (+1.6)
14 - Côte d'Ivoire
19 - Algeria
25 - Mali
30 - Ghana
34 - Zambia

37.8 - CONCACAF (+0.8)
15 - Mexico
28 - USA
39 - Haiti
51 - Panama
56 - Jamaica

43.8 - Asia (-3.4)
22 - Japan
35 - South Korea
36 - Australia
59 - Iran
67 - Uzbekistan

130.6 - Oceania (-0.6)
91 - New Zealand
108 - New Caledonia
139 - Tahiti
150 - Solomon Islands
165 - Vanuatu

FIFA Best and Worst All-Time Rankings - Dec 2012

Nations currently at their best or worst all-time FIFA ranking position (since 1993).

Best Ranking
13 - Ecuador
25 - Mali
39 - Haiti
151 - Aruba
174 - Montserrat
182 - Timor-Leste

Worst Ranking
18 - Brazil
126 - Saudi Arabia
164 - Yemen
190 - Sri Lanka
196 - Eritrea

Leagues with 20+ Brazilian Players - 2012

Top Division leagues with 20 or more Brazilians.

128 - Portugal
45 - Italy
34 - Ukraine
33 - Japan
29 - Cyprus

27 - Romania
27 - South Korea
25 - Malta
24 - France
24 - Russia

22 - Hong Kong
22 - Turkey
22 - Spain

20 - Azerbaijan
20 - Bulgaria
20 - China
20 - Qatar
20 - USA

Top 30 UEFA Clubs outside the Top 5 UEFA Leagues

The top 30 European Clubs that are not in one of Europe's Top 5 Leagues (By Coefficient: Spain, England, Germany, Italy, France) according to the Euro Club Index. (Dec 04, 2012)

8 - FC Porto (Portugal)
9 - Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)
12 - Benfica (Portugal)
16 - Zenit St. Petersburg (Russia)
24 - Ajax (Netherlands)

25 - Olympiacos (Greece)
26 - CSKA Moscow (Russia)
30 - Metalist Kharkiv (Ukraine)
32 - Anzhi Makhachkala (Russia)
33 - Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine)

36 - PSV (Netherlands)
37 - Fenerbahçe (Turkey)
40 - Rubin Kazan (Russia)
43 - FC Basel (Switzerland)
44 - Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic)

46 - Anderlecht (Belgium)
47 - Sporting Braga (Portugal)
48 - FC Twente (Netherlands)
49 - Spartak Moscow (Russia)
54 - Sparta Praha (Czech Republic)

59 - Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (Ukraine)
60 - Celtic (Scotland)
64 - Lokomotiv Moscow (Russia)
65 - Galatasaray (Turkey)
67 - Dinamo Moscow (Russia)

68 - FC København (Denmark)
74 - Sporting CP (Portugal)
76 - APOEL Nicosia (Cyprus)
77 - Racing Genk (Belgium)
78 - Steaua Bucuresti (Romania)

2012 USMNT Results

Date	Opponent (FIFA Rank)	Result	USA FIFA Rank	Venue
Jan 21	Venezuela (41)	1-0 W	33	Glendale, Arizona
Jan 25	Panama (47)	1-0 W	33	Panama City, Panama
Feb 29	Italy (8)	1-0 W	31	Genoa, Italy
May 26	Scotland (48)	5-1 W	29	Jacksonville, Florida
May 30	Brazil (6)	4-1 L	29	Landover, Maryland
June 3	Canada (75)	0-0 D	29	Toronto, Canada
June 8	Antigua & Barbuda (105)	3-1 W	28	Tampa, Florida
June 12	Guatemala (85)	1-1 D	28	Guatemala City, Guatemala
Aug 15	Mexico (18)	1-0 W	36	Mexico City, Mexico
Sep 7	Jamaica (60)	2-1 L	33	Kingston, Jamaica
Sep 11	Jamaica (60)	1-0 W	33	Columbus, Ohio
Oct 12	Antigua & Barbuda (106)	2-1 W	32	North Sound, Antigua
Oct 16	Guatemala (81)	3-1 W	32	Kansas City, Kansas
Nov 14	Russia (9)	2-2 D	27	Krasnodar, Russia

W-L-D

9-2-3 - 2012 International Record
4-1-3 - Away Record
5-1-0 - Home Record

53.5 - Average Opponent FIFA Rank
30.9 - Average USA FIFA Rank

49 - Players made a USMNT appearance in 2012

2-1-1 Record against Top 20 opponents

1.6 - Goals Scored per Game
1.0 - Goals Allowed per Game

43% - 6 of 14 games shutouts

FIFA Confederation Ranking Comparison - November 2012

Comparing FIFA Confederations using the average FIFA ranking of the top 5 teams from each region.

Top 5 Avg. - Confederation (+/- October)

3.6 - Europe (-0.2)
1 - Spain
2 - Germany
4 - Portugal
5 - Italy
6 - England

10.4 - South America (-0.2)
3 - Argentina
8 - Colombia
11 - Uruguay
13 - Brazil
17 - Ecuador

26.0 - Africa (+1.6)
15 - Côte d'Ivoire
19 - Algeria
28 - Mali
29 - Ghana
39 - Zambia

38.6 - CONCACAF (+2.6)
14 - Mexico
27 - USA
46 - Panama
50 - Jamaica
56 - Honduras

40.4 - Asia (+1.6)
24 - Japan
32 - South Korea
33 - Australia
44 - Iran
69 - Uzbekistan

130.0 - Oceania (-2.6)
93 - New Zealnad
104 - New Caldeonia
139 - Tahiti
149 - Solomon Islands
165 - Samoa

Lao League Club Logos

Club Logos from the Lao League, the highest division in Laos.

Lao Airlines FC

Yotha FC

Vientiane FC

Lao Army FC

Eastern Star FC

Ezra FC

Friends Development FC

Lao-American College FC

Lao Lane Xang FC

Lao Police Club

German Bundesliga: Unique Internationals - 2012/2013

Nations that are currently represented by a single player in the German Bundesliga.

Algeria
Karim Matmour (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Angola
Nando Rafael (Fortuna Düsseldorf)

Argentina
Javier Pinola (1.FC Nürnberg)

Belarus
Anton Putsila (SC Freiburg)

Burkina Faso
Aristide Bancé (FC Augsburg)

Chile
Junior Fernándes (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)

Colombia
Elkin Soto (1.FSV Mainz 05)

Costa Rica
Júnior Díaz (1.FSV Mainz 05)

England
Michael Mancienne (Hamburger SV)

Estonia
Ragnar Klavan (FC Augsburg)

The Gambia
Dawda Bah (FC Augsburg)

Ghana
Abdul Rahman Baba (SpVgg Greuther Fürth)

Israel
Almog Cohen (1.FC Nürnberg)

Kazakhstan
Heinrich Schmidtgal (SpVgg Greuther Fürth)

Latvia
Artjoms Rudnevs (Hamburger SV)

Liechtenstein
Sandro Wieser (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim)

Mali
Garra Dembélé (SC Freiburg)

Mexico
Maza (VfB Stuttgart)

Montenegro
Milorad Pekovic (SpVgg Greuther Fürth)

Morocco
Mohamed Amsif (FC Augsburg)

Philippines
Stephan Schröck (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim)

Portugal
Vieirinha (VfL Wolfsburg)

Romania
Ciprian Marica (FC Schalke 04)

Saudi Arabia
Mazin Ahmed Al-Huthayfi (Fortuna Düsseldorf)

Sierra Leone
Gibril Sankoh (FC Augsburg)

Zimbabwe
Knowledge Musona (FC Augsburg)

Italy Serie A: Unique Internationals - 2012/2013

Nations that are currently represented by a single player in Italy's Serie A.

Australia
James Troisi (Atalanta)

Canada
Robert Stillo (Genoa)

Cote d'Ivoire 
Tallo (AS Roma)

Egypt
Ahmed Hegazy (Fiorentina)

Finland
Perparim Hetemaj (Chievo)

Guinea
Kévin Constant (AC Milan)

Hungary
Dániel Tőzsér (Genoa)

Iceland
Birkir Bjarnason (Pescara)

Israel
Eran Zahavi (Palermo)

Kenya
McDonald Mariga (Inter Milan)

Macedonia
Goran Pandev (Napoli)

Portugal
Neto (Siena)

Sierra Leone
Rodney Strasser (AC Milan)

Tunisia
Yohan Benalouane (Parma)

United States
Michael Bradley (Roma)

Spain La Liga: Unique Internationals - 2012/2013

Nations that are currently represented by a single player in Spain's La Liga.

Angola
Manucho (Real Valladolid)

Bosnia-Herzegovina
Emir Spahic (Sevilla)

Cote d'Ivoire
Romaric (Real Zaragoza)

Equatorial Guinea
Rodolfo Bodipo (Deportivo La Cornua)

Guinea
Lass Bangoura (Rayo Vallecano)

Hungary
Ádám Pintér (Real Zaragoza)

Iran
Masoud Shojaei (Osasuna)

Montenegro
Andrija Delibasic (Rayo Vallecano)

South Korea
Chu-Young Park (Celta Vigo)

Tunisia
Kader (Atlético Madrid)

United States
Oguchi Onyewu (Málaga)

CONCACAF Players in England

CONCACAF Players currently playing for teams in the top 5 English leagues (EPL to Conference National).


Antigua and Barbuda

Premier League
Leigertwood, Mikele (Reading)

Championship
Blackstock, Dexter (Nottingham Forest)

League Two
McCoy, Marvin (Wycombe Wanderers)

Conference National
Ashikodi, Moses (Ebbsfleet United)
Murtagh, Keiran (Macclesfield Town)


Barbados

Premier League
Boyce, Emmerson (Wigan Athletic)

League One
Forte, Jonathan (Crawley Town)

League Two
Nurse, Jon (Barnet FC)

Conference National
McCammon, Mark (Lincoln City)
Soares, Louie (Grimsby Town)

Bermuda

League One
Smith, Jonte (Crawley Town)

League Two
Wells, Nahki (Bradford City)

Canada

Premier League
Hoilett, Junior (QPR)
Jackson, Simeon (Norwich City)

Championship
Edgar, David (Burnley)

League One
Dollery, Jon (Crawley Town)
Haber, Marcus (Stevenage)
Hume, Iain (Doncaster Rovers)

Conference National
McCallum, Gavin (Woking FC)
Menz, Lucas (Ebbsfleet United)
Smith, Ross (Ebbsfleet United)

Costa Rica

Premier League
Oviedo, Bryan (Everton)
Ruiz, Bryan (Fulham)

Curaçao

League One
Martis, Shelton (Doncaster Rovers)

Dominica

Conference National
Louis, Jefferson (Newport County)

Grenada

Premier League
Roberts, Jason (Reading)

League Two
Johnson, Leon (Wycombe Wanderers)
Straker, Anthony (Southend United)

Conference National
Bubb, Bradley (Woking FC)

Guadeloupe

Championship
Zubar, Ronald (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Racon, Therry (Millwall FC)

League One
Zubar, Stephane (Bournemouth AFC)
Comminges, Miguel (Stevenage)

Haiti

League One
Lecsinel, Jean-Francois (Sheffield United)

Honduras

Premier League
Figueroa, Maynor (Wigan Athletic)
Palacios, Wilson (Stoke City)

Championship
Núñez, Ramón (Leeds United)

Jamaica

Premier League
Mariappa, Adrian (Reading)
McAnuff, Jobi (Reading)

Championship
Austin, Rodolph (Leeds United)
Elliott, Marvin (Bristol City)
Fuller, Ricardo (Charlton Athletic)
Johnson, Jermaine (Sheffield Wednesday)
King, Marlon (Birmingham City)
Mears, Tyrone (Bolton Wanderers)
Nosworthy, Nyron (Watford FC)

League One
Bean, Marcus (Colchester United)
Campbell-Ryce, Jamal (Notts County)
Daley, Keammar (Preston North End)
Davis, Claude (Crawley Town)
Goodison, Ian (Tranmere Rovers)
Lisbie, Kevin (Leyton Orient)
Stewart, Damion (Notts County)
Williamson, Lee (Portsmouth FC)

League Two
Burton, Deon (Gillingham FC)
Grant, Joel (Wycombe Wanderers)
Smith, Nathan (Chesterfield FC)
Taylor, Cleveland (Burton Albion)

Conference National
Ford, Simon (Grimsby Town)

Mexico

Premier League
Hernandez, Javier (Manchester United)

Montserrat

League One
Griffith, Anthony (Leyton Orient)

St. Kitts and Nevis

Conference National
Willock, Calum (Ebbsfleet United)
Newton, Adam (Woking FC)

Trinidad and Tobago

Premier League
Jones, Kenwyne (Stoke City)

Championship
Edwards, Carlos (Ipswich Town)
Scotland, Jason (Ipswich Town)

League One
Boucaud, Andre (Notts County)

Conference National
Thomson, Jake (Newport County)

United States

Premier League
Cameron, Geoff (Stoke City)
Dempsey, Clint (Tottenham Hotspur)
Edu, Maurice (Stoke City)
Friedel, Brad (Tottenham Hotspur)
Guzan, Brad (Aston Villa)
Howard, Tim (Everton)
Lichaj, Eric (Aston Villa)

Championship
Doyle, Conor (Derby County)
Holden, Stuart (Bolton Wanderers)
Packwood, Will (Birmingham City)
Rachubka, Paul (Leeds United)
Ream, Tim (Bolton Wanderers)
Spector, Jonathan (Birmingham City)
Whitbread, Zak (Leicester City)

League One
Grella, Mike (Scunthorpe United)
Rogers, Robbie (Stevenage FC)
Simek, Frank (Carlisle United)

League Two
Robbie Findley (Gillingham FC)

Conference National
Holden, Euan (Stockport County)

Maps: USA Players Abroad - 2012/2013

Maps of American Players playing in leagues outside of the US and Canada.


 
View USA Players Abroad - 2012/2013 in a larger map

View USA Players Abroad - 2012/2013 in a larger map
View USA Players Abroad - 2012/2013 in a larger map


I used the current player list from Yanks Abroad for these maps.

Edit: Added more players from squad lists at Transfermarkt and Soccerway

Worst EPL Teams - 1992-2012

English Premier League teams with the lowest Points Per Game average since 1992.


PPG - Team (Season - Pts)
Record
Goal Differential

_________________________________________________________________

0.29 - Derby County (07/08 - 11pts)
1W 8D 29L
-69 GD


0.39 - Sunderland (05/06 - 15pts)
3W 6D 29L
-43 GD


0.50 - Sunderland (02/03 - 19pts)
4W 7D 27L
-44 GD


0.63 - Watford (99/00 - 24pts)
6W 6D 26L
-42 GD


0.64 - Ipswich Town (94/95 - 27pts)
7W 6D 29L
-57 GD


0.66 - Wolverhampton Wanderers (11/12 - 25pts)
5W 10D 23L
-42 GD


0.68 - West Bromwich Albion (02/03 - 26pts)
6W 8D 24L
-36 GD


0.68 - Bradford City (00/01 - 26pts)
5W 11D 22L
-40 GD


0.69 - Leicester City (94/95 - 27pts)
6W 11D 25L
-35 GD


0.71 - Swindon Town (93/94 - 30pts)
5W 15D 22L
-53 GD


0.74 - Portsmouth (09/10 - 28pts)
7W 7D 24L
-32 GD


0.74 - Watford (06/07 - 28pts)
5W 13D 20L
-30 GD


0.74 - Leicester City (01/02 - 28pts)
5W 13D 20L
-34 GD

World Cup Qualifier Upsets - October 2012

Upsets from the last round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (October 12-16).

FIFA Rank difference - Home Team (Rank) - Score -  Away Team (Rank)

Upset Wins (25+ FIFA Rank Difference)
71 - Macedonia (104) 1:0 Serbia (33)
65 - Bolivia (72) 4:1 Uruguay (7)
49 - Albania (84) 1:0 Slovenia (35)
33 - Iran (58) 1:0 South Korea (25)
29 - Guatemala (81) 2:1 Jamaica (52)

Upset Draws (40+ FIFA Rank Difference)
114 - Portugal (3) 1:1 Northern Ireland (117)
103 - Cuba(146) 1:1 Panama (43)
103 - Moldova (145) 0:0 Ukraine (42)
88 - Kazakhstan (147) 0:0 Austria (59)

World Cup Qualifiers by FIFA Rank - Part 2 - October 2012

FIFA rankings of the nations that will meet in the next round of World Cup Qualifier games on October 16, 2012.


Rank Difference - Home Team (Rank) v Away Team (Rank)

CONCACAF
5 - Honduras (66) v Canada (61)
49 - USA (32) v Guatemala (81)
50 - Costa Rica (72) v Guyana (122)
54 - Jamaica (52) v Antigua and Barbuda (106)
59 - Mexico (19) v El Salvador (78)
103 - Cuba (146) v Panama (43)

ASIA
17 - Oman (95) v Jordan (78)
31 - Qatar (101) v Uzbekistan (70)
33 - Iran (58) v South Korea (25)
46 - Iraq (80) v Australia (34)

SOUTH AMERICA
1 - Paraguay (38) v Peru (37)
13 - Chile (17) v Argentina (4)
19 - Venezuela (39) v Ecuador (20)
65 - Bolivia (72) v Uruguay (7)

EUROPE
2 - Ukraine (42) v Montenegro (44)
10 - Italy (8) v Denmark (18)
12 - Spain (1) v France (13)
13 - Hungary (49) v Turkey (36)
19 - Germany (2) v Sweden (21)
22 - Belarus (87) v Georgia (65)
26 - Belgium (30) v Scotland (56)
33 - Czech Republic (22) v Bulgaria (55)
37 - Latvia (118) v Liechtenstein (155)
38 - Slovakia (48) v Greece (10)
40 - Romania (46) v Netherlands (6)
46 - Croatia (11) v Wales (57)
49 - Poland (54) v England (5)
49 - Albania (84) v Slovenia (35)
60 - Israel (82) v Luxembourg (142)
62 - San Marino (207) v Moldova (145)
71 - Macedonia (104) v Serbia (33)
81 - Cyprus (107) v Norway (26)
81 - Bosnia-Herzegovina (29) v Lithuania (110)
82 - Iceland (97) v Switzerland (15)
88 - Austria (59) v Kazakhstan (147)
99 - Russia (12) v Azerbaijan (111)
114 - Portugal (3) v Northern Ireland (117)
130 - Faroe Islands (158) v Republic of Ireland (28)
132 - Andorra (201) v Estonia (69)

OCEANIA
28 - New Caledonia (113) v Solomon Islands (141)
35 - New Zealand (92) v Tahiti (127)


Top 5 Games
1 - Paraguay (38) v Peru (37)
2 - Ukraine (42) v Montenegro (44)
5 - Honduras (66) v Canada (61)
10 - Italy (8) v Denmark (18)
12 - Spain (1) v France (13)

World Cup Qualifiers by FIFA Ranking - October 2012

FIFA rankings of the nations that will meet in the next round of World Cup Qualifier games on October 12, 2012.


Rank Difference - Home Team (Rank) v Away Team (Rank)

South America
3 - Ecuador (20) v Chile (17)
3 - Argentina (4) v Uruguay (7)
29 - Colombia (9) v Paraguay (38)
35 - Bolivia (72) v Peru (37)

Europe
1 - Wales (57) v Scotland (56)
3 - Serbia (33) v Belgium (30)
9 - Russia (12) v Portugal (3)
10 - Turkey (36) v Romania (46)
11 - Switzerland (15) v Norway (26)
13 - Albania (84) v Iceland (97)
19 - Greece (10) v Bosnia-Herzegovina (29)
20 - Estonia (69) v Hungary (49)
26 - Republic of Ireland (28) v Germany (2)
37 - Bulgaria (55) v Denmark (18)
56 - Armenia (64) v Italy (8)
60 - Luxembourg (142) v Israel (82)
70 - Slovakia (48) v Latvia (118)
72 - Slovenia (35) v Cyprus (107)
86 - Belarus (87) v Spain (1)
88 - Kazakhstan (147) v Austria (59)
93 - Macedonia (104) v Croatia (11)
103 - Moldova (145) v Ukraine (42)
131 - Czech Republic (22) v Malta (153)
137 - Faroe Islands (158) v Sweden (21)
144 - Liechtenstein (155) v Lithuania (11)
195 - Netherlands (6) v Andorra (201)
202 - England (5) v San Marino (207)

CONCACAF
6 - El Salvador (78) v Costa Rica (72)
23 - Panama (43) v Honduras (66)
29 - Guatemala (81) v Jamaica (52)
74 - Antigua and Barbuda (106) v USA (32)
85 - Canada (61) v Cuba (146)
103 - Guyana (122) v Mexico (19)

Oceania
35 - Tahiti (127) v New Zealand (92)

$200,000+ MLS Players - 2012

Major League Soccer players with a 2012 Guaranteed Salary of $200,000 or more.

Chicago Fire
$487,125 - Sherjill MacDonald
$366,666 - Alvaro Fernandez
$250,000 - Pavel Pardo
$230,833 - Arne Friedrich
$219,500 - Patrick Nyarko
$217,750 - Gonzalo Segares

Chivas USA
$600,000 - Juan Pablo Angel
$554,333 - Shalrie Joseph
$275,000 - Danny Califf
$205,666 - Ryan Smith

Columbus Crew
$341,250 - Chad Marshall
$324,000 - Federico Higuain
$243,000 - Dilly Duka
$225,375 - Jairo Arrieta
$223,333 - Milovan Mirosevic
$209,000 - Tony Tchani

Colorado Rapids
$400,000 - Conor Casey
$326,666 - Marvell Wynne
$247,188 - Drew Moor
$245,000 - Pablo Mastroeni
$206,000 - Jeff Larentowicz

FC Dallas
$1,910,746 - Julian de Guzman
$705,000 - David Ferreira
$354,000 - Brek Shea
$309,250 - Blas Perez

DC United
$663,190 - Dwayne De Rosario
$487,460 - Hamdi Salihi
$258,250 - Brandon McDonald
$242,340 - Branko Boskovic
$238,333 - Emiliano Dudar
$228,043 - Dejan Jakovic

Houston Dynamo
$312,062 - Brad Davis
$293,750 - Ricardo Clark
$236,000 - Brian Ching
$202,000 - Luiz Camargo
$200,000 - Bobby Boswell

Sporting Kansas City
$255,750 - Julio Cesar
$255,500 - Paulo Nagamura
$220,000 - Jimmy Nielsen
$216,250 - Aurelien Collin
$215,000 - Bobby Convey
$212,500 - Kei Kamara

Los Angeles Galaxy
$3,999,999 - David Beckham
$3,417,242 - Robbie Keane
$2,400,000 - Landon Donovan
$257,000 - Omar Gonzalez
$228,333 - Sean Franklin
$225,000 - Edson Buddle

Montreal Impact
$1,937,508 - Marco Di Vaio
$290,000 - Davy Arnaud
$265,000 - Bernardo Corradi
$225,000 - Alessandro Nesta
$218,333 - Justin Mapp
$202,000 - Andrew Wenger
$201,833 - Troy Perkins

New England Revolution
$446,000 - Benny Feilhaber
$200,000 - Juan Toja

New York Red Bulls
$5,600,000 - Thierry Henry
$4,600,000 - Rafa Marquez
$3,624,999 - Tim Cahill
$301,999 - Heath Pearce
$292,500 - Kenny Cooper
$205,000 - Teemu Tainio

Philadelphia Union
$519,000 - Freddy Adu
$294,702 - Gabriel Gomez
$280,000 - Bakary Soumare
$268,000 - Carlos Valdes

Portland Timbers
$1,515,000 - Kris Boyd
$356,250 - Danny Mwanga
$275,000 - Donovan Ricketts
$226,000 - Darlington Nagbe

Real Salt Lake
$477,500 - Javier Morales
$405,625 - Alvaro Saborio
$311,250 - Kyle Beckerman
$250,000 - Jamison Olave
$243,750 - Will Johnson
$211,972 - Nat Borchers

Seattle Sounders
$756,000 - Fredy Montero
$625,000 - Christian Tiffert
$275,000 - Michael Gspurning
$225,000 - Mauro Rosales
$208,000 - Steve Zakuani

San Jose Earthquakes
$300,000 - Chris Wondolowski
$203,333 - Khari Stephenson

Toronto FC
$2,413,666 - Torsten Frings
$1,563,323 - Danny Koevermans
$790,000 - Eric Hassli
$436,250 - Darren O'Dea
$390,000 - Richard Eckersley

Vancouver Whitecaps
$1,239,316 - Kenny Miller
$596,499 - Barry Robson
$350,000 - Jay DeMerit
$276,987 - Martin Bonjour
$237,500 - Camilo


Note: Originally posted 9/20/2012.  Updated 10/10/2012.

FIFA Rankings: Biggest Movers Oct 2008 to Oct 2012

The biggest movers in the FIFA rankings between Oct 2008 and Oct 2012.  

Rank Change - Nation (Oct 2008 Rank to Oct 2012 Rank)

Best Movers since 2008
150 - Central African Republic (199 to 49)
75 - Dominican Republic (177 to 102)
73 - Montenegro (117 to 44)
68 - Estonia (137 to 69)
64 - Jamaica (116 to 52)
61 - Tahiti (188 to 127)
55 - Liberia (153 to 98)
54 - Cape Verde Islands (105 to 51)
49 - Panama (92 to 43)
46 - Bosnia-Herzegovina (75 to 29)
44 - Haiti (104 to 60)
43 - Nicaragua (181 to 138)
42 - El Salvador (120 to 78)
42 - Lebanon (151 to 109)
40 - Faroe Islands (198 to 158)

Worst Movers since 2008
82 - Northern Ireland (35 to 117)
80 - Moldova (65 to 145)
73 - Lithuania (37 to 110)
71 - Kyrgyzstan (127 to 198)
66 - Israel (16 to 82)
63 - Saudi Arabia (51 to 114)
60 - Mauritania (145 to 205)
59 - Cameroon (12 to 71)
58 - Macedonia (46 to 104)
55 - Latvia (64 to 119)
51 - Swaziland (141 to 192)
51 - Syria (99 to 150)
49 - Kenya (79 to 128)
48 - Cuba (98 to 146)
47 - Eritrea (140 to 187)
44 - Finland (44 to 88)
43 - Bahrain (72 to 115)
41 - Gambia (90 to 131)
40 - Turks and Caicos Islands (169 to 209)

Consistent FIFA Rank since 2008
0 - Australia (34)
0 - Lesotho (159)
0 - Spain (1)
0 - Togo (93)
0 - Uzbekistan (70)
1 - Albania (83 to 84)
1 - Germany (3 to 2)
1 - Guinea-Bissau (172 to 173)
1 - Mozambique (100 to 99)
1 - Netherlands (5 to 6)
1 - Oman (94 to 95)

MLS Bargain Goal Scoring Leaders

Comparing the 2012 Guaranteed Salary Compensation of MLS goal scoring leaders (7+ goals) with the number of goals they have scored this season.  (Salary ÷ Goals Scored = Goals per $)

Goals per $ - Player (Goals: Guaranteed 2012 Salary)

$6,250 - Simon Dawkins (8: $50,000)
$8,180 - Eddie Johnson (13: $106,333)
$8,546 - Jaime Castrillon (8: $68,375)
$8,946 - Juninho (7: $62,625)
$9,231 - Alan Gordon (13: $120,000)

$11,714 - CJ Sapong (7: $82,000)
$12,272 - Will Bruin (11: $135,000)
$13,531 - Saer Sene (11: $148,843)
$13,636 - Chris Wondolowski (22: $300,000)
$13,854 - Chris Pontius (12: $166,250)

$16,261 - Maicon Santos (7: $113,833)
$16,592 - Patrice Bernier (9: $149,333)
$17,857 - Fabian Espindola (7: $125,000)
$18,281 - Kenny Cooper (16: $292,500)
$18,750 - Steven Lenhart (10: $187,500)
$19,318 - Kei Kamara (11: $212,500)
$19,687 - Ryan Johnson (7: $137,813)

$23,860 - Alvaro Saborio (17: $405,625)
$24,791 - Chris Rolfe (8: $198,329)
$27,428 - Darren Mattocks (7: $192,000)
$27,857 - Lionard Pajoy (7: $195,000)
$27,857 - Eddie Gaven (7: $195,000)
$28,171 - Jairo Arrieta (8: $225,375)

$44,580 - Brad Davis (7: $312,062)
$63,000 - Fredy Montero (12: $756,000)
$94,741 - Dwayne De Rosario (7: $663,190)

$173,702 - Danny Koevemans (9: $1,563,323)
$216,428 - Kris Boyd (7: $1,515,000)
$244,088 - Robbie Keane (14: $3,417,242)
$266,666 - Landon Donovan (9: $2,400,000)
$400,000 - Thierry Henry (14: $5,600,000)
$571,428 - David Beckham (7: $3,999,999)

Best and Worst FIFA Rankings: October 2012

Nations that have achieved their best or worst all-time FIFA ranking in October 2012.

Best Ranking
24 - Algeria
27 - Mali
43 - Panama
49 - Central African Republic
51 - Cape Verde Islands
147 - Philippines
154 - Aruba
178 - Guam
181 - Montserrat

Worst Ranking
14 - Brazil
113 - Saudi Arabia
118 - Latvia
150 - Syria
170 - Indonesia
198 - Kyrgyzstan
201 - Mauritius
203 - Brunei Darussalam
205 - Mauritania
206 - Timor-Leste
207 - Bhutan
207 - San Marino
207 - Turks and Caicos Islands

FIFA Confederation Ranking Comparison - October 2012

Comparing FIFA Confederations using the average FIFA ranking of the top 5 teams from each region.

Top 5 Avg. - Confederation (+/- September)


3.4 - Europe (-0.2)
1 - Spain
2 - Germany
3 - Portugal
5 - England
6 - Netherlands

10.2 - South America (+0.8)
4 - Argentina
7 - Uruguay
9 - Colombia
14 - Brazil
17 - Chile

27.6 - Africa (+1.0)
16 - Côte d'Ivoire
24 - Algeria
27 - Mali
31 - Ghana
40 - Egypt

41.2 - CONCACAF (+4.8)
19 - Mexico
32 - USA
43 - Panama
52 - Jamaica
60 - Haiti

42.0 - Asia (-2.2)
23 - Japan
25 - South Korea
34 - Australia
58 - Iran
70 - Uzbekistan

127.4 - Oceania (+2.6)
92 - New Zealand
113 - New Caledonia
127 - Tahiti
141 - Solomon Islands
164 - Samoa

Previous Clubs of Chelsea FC Players

The previous club of the 2012 Chelsea FC first team players.

Brazil
Oscar (Internacional)

England
Ryan Bertrand (Gillingham Youth)
Gary Cahill (Bolton Wanderers)
Ashley Cole (Arsenal)
Frank Lampard (West Ham United)
Victor Moses (Wigan Athletic)
Daniel Sturridge (Manchester City)
John Terry (West Ham United Youth)
Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
Ross Turnbull (Middlesbrough)

France
César Azpilicueta (Marseille)
Petr Čech (Stade Rennais)
Eden Hazard (Lille)
Florent Malouda (Lyon)

Germany
Marko Marin (Werder Bremen)

Norway
John Obi Mikel (Lyn Oslo)

Portugal
Paulo Ferreira (Porto)
Hilário (Nacional)
David Luiz (Benfica)
Ramires (Benfica)

Russia
Branislav Ivanović (Lokomotiv Moscow)

Spain
Juan Mata (Valencia)
Oriol Romeu (Barcelona)


 *Loans not included

Map: Japanese National Team Players Abroad

View Japanese National Team Players Abroad in a larger map

Players that have been capped by the Japanese National Team playing in leagues outside of Japan.



Australia
Shinji Ono - Western Sydney Wanderers

Belgium
Eiji Kawashima - Standard Liege

Bulgaria
Daisuke Matsui - Slavia Sofia

England
Shinji Kagawa - Manchester United
Maya Yoshida - Southampton
Tadanari Lee - Southampton
Ryo Miyaichi - Wigan Athletic

Germany
Shinji Ikazaki - VfB Stuttgart
Gotoku Sakai - VfB Stuttgart
Atsuto Uchida - Schalke 04
Makoto Hasebe - VfL Wolfsburg
Hajime Hosogai - Bayer Leverkusen
Takashi Inui - Eintracht Frankfurt
Hiroshi Kiyotake - 1.FC Nuremberg
Hiroki Sakai - Hannover 96

Italy
Yuto Nagatomo - Inter Milan
Takayuki Morimoto - Catania

Netherlands
Mike Havenaar - Vitesse Arnhem
Michihiro Yasuda - Vitesse Arnhem

Russia
Keisuke Honda - CSKA Moscow

USA
Takuya Yamada - Tampa Bay Rowdies

EPL Iron Men

Players that have played a minimum of 2500 minutes in 5+ consecutive EPL seasons.

11
Brad Friedel (Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur: 2001-2012)

10
Gareth Barry (Aston Villa, Manchester City: 2002-2012)
Jussi Jääskeläinen (Bolton Wanderers: 2001-2011)

8
Peter Atherton (Coventry City, Sheffield Wednesday: 1992-2000)
Kevin Davies (Bolton Wanderers: 2003-2011)
Richard Dunne (Manchester City, Aston Villa: 2002-2010)
 Lucas Neill (Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United: 2001-2009)

7
Sylvain Distin (Manchester City, Portsmouth: 2002-2009)
Sami Hyypia (Liverpool: 1999-2006)
Chris Perry (Wimbledon, Tottenham Hotspur: 1995-2002)
Pepe Reina (Liverpool: 2005-2012)
Robbie Savage (Leicester City, Birmingham City: 1997-2004)
 Peter Schmeichel (Manchester United: 1992-1999)
Tim Sherwood (Blackburn Rovers, Tottenham Hotspur: 1992-1999)
Des Walker (Sheffield Wednesday: 1993-2000)
Nigel Winterburn (Arsenal: 1992-1999)

6
David Beckham (Manchester United: 1995-2001)
Jamie Carragher (Liverpool: 2004-2010)
Kenny Cunningham (Wimbledon: 1994-2000)
Shay Given (Newcastle United: 2000-2006)
Colin Hendry (Blackburn Rovers: 1992-1998)
Thierry Henry (Arsenal: 2000-2006)
Tim Howard (Everton: 2006-2012)
Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough, Fulham: 2006-2012)
Gareth Southgate (Aston Villa, Middlesbrough: 1997-2003)
Neil Sullivan (Wimbledon, Tottenham Hotspur: 1996-2002)
David Unsworth (Everton, West Ham United: 1994-2000)
Edwin van der Sar (Fulham, Manchester United: 2003-2009)
Patrick Vieira (Arsenal: 1996-2002)
Alan Wright (Aston Villa: 1995-2001)
Dwight Yorke (Aston Villa, Manchester United: 1994-2000)

5
Sol Campbell (Tottenham Hotspur: 1995-2000)
Jamie Carragher (Liverpool: 1998-2003)
Dion Dublin (Coventry City, Aston Villa: 1994-1999)
Matt Elliott (Leicester City: 1997-2002)
Les Ferdinand (QPR, Newcastle United: 1992-1997)
Rio Ferdinand (West Ham United, Leeds United: 1997-2002)
Tim Flowers (Southampton, Blackburn Rovers: 1992-1997)
Stephane Henchoz (Blackburn Rovers, Liverpool: 1997-2002)
Emile Heskey (Leicester City, Liverpool: 1996-2001)
Hermann Hreidarsson (Charlton, Portsmouth: 2003-2008)
Mark Hughes (Manchester United, Chelsea: 1992-1997)
Paul Ince (Liverpool, Middlesbrough: 1997-2002)
Dennis Irwin (Manchester United: 1992-1997)
David James (Manchester City, Portsmouth: 2004-2009)
Paul Jones (Southampton: 1997-2002)
Gary Kelly (Leeds United: 1993-1998)
Jeff Kenna (Southampton, Blackburn Rovers: 1993-1998)
Claus Lundekvam (Southampton: 2000-2005)
Gary McAllister (Leeds United, Coventry City: 1992-1997)
Steve McManaman (Liverpool: 1993-1998)
Darren Peacock (QPR, Newcastle United: 1992-1997)
Kevin Phillips (Sunderland, Southampton: 1999-2004)
Kevin Pressman (Sheffield Wednesday: 1993-1998)
Paul Robinson (Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur: 2002-2007)
Mikael Silvestre (Manchester United: 2001-2006)
Neville Southall (Everton: 1992-1997)
Gary Speed (Everton, Newcastle United: 1996-2001)
Kolo Toure (Arsenal: 2003-2008)
Andy Townsend (Chelsea, Aston Villa: 1992-1997)
Ian Wright (Arsenal: 1992-1997)
Ashley Young (Aston Villa: 2006-2011)
Luke Young (Charlton Athletic, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa: 2004-2009)

Supporter Videos: Coritiba (Brazil) and Göztepe SK (Turkey)

Coritiba (Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil)



Göztepe SK (Güzelyalı, İzmir, Turkey)

MLS Goals per 90 Minutes Played Leaders

Top MLS Players in Goals per 90 minutes played in the 2012 season (minimum 1000 minutes played)

1.03 - Alan Gordon (SJ)
0.80 - Chris Wondolowski (SJ)
0.68 - Danny Koevermans (TOR)
0.67 - Thierry Henry (NY)
0.65 - Eddie Johnson (SEA)

0.59 - Alvaro Saborio (RSL)
0.59 - Darren Mattocks (VAN)
0.58 - Kenny Cooper (NY)
0.55 - Steven Lenhart (SJ)
0.53 - Fredy Montero (SEA)

0.52 - Chris Pontius (DC)
0.52 - Robbie Keane (LA)
0.51 - Saer Sene (NE)
0.48 - Maicon Santos (DC)
0.45 - Will Bruin (HOU)

0.45 - Marco Di Vaio (MTL)
0.44 - Patrice Bernier (MTL)
0.44 - Chris Rolfe (CHI)
0.43 - Landon Donovan (LA)
0.41 - Kei Kamara (SKC)

0.41 - Jairo Arrieta (CLB)
0.37 - Simon Dawkins (SJ)
0.36 - Teal Bunbury (SKC)
0.36 - David Beckham (LA)
0.36 - CJ Sapong (SKC)

0.34 - Brian Ching (HOU)
0.33 - Blas Perez (DAL)
0.33 - Marco Pappa (CHI)
0.33 - Kris Boyd (POR)
0.33 - Gabriel Gomez (PHI)

0.32 - Eric Hassli (TOR)
0.30 - Lionard Pajoy (DC)
0.30 - Jack McInerney (PHI)
0.30 - Jaime Castrillon (COL)
0.30 - Sanna Nyassi (MTL)



As of Sep 21, 2012

"Stan" National Team Logos

Afghanistan

Iraqi Kurdistan - Non-FIFA member

Kazakhstan

Pakistan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan

Kyrgyzstan

World Cup Qualifier Upsets

Upsets from the last round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (September 7-11).

FIFA Rank difference -- Score -- Home Team (Rank) v Away Team (Rank)


Upset Wins (25+ FIFA rank difference) 
84 -- 2:0 -- Iceland (118) v Norway (34)
70 -- 1:0 -- Lebanon (124) v Iran (54)
62 -- 2:1 -- Jordan (87) v Australia (25)
36 -- 1:0 -- Bulgaria (89) v Armenia (53)
34 -- 2:0 -- Solomon Islands (153) v Tahiti (119)
27 -- 2:1 -- Jamaica (60) v USA (33)


Upset Draw (40+ FIFA rank difference) 
83 -- 2:2 -- Bulgaria (89) v Italy (6)
71 -- 1:1 -- Lithuania (116) v Slovakia (45)
55 -- 2:2 -- El Salvador (67) v Guyana (122)
50 -- 1:1 -- Scotland (47) v Macedonia (97)
44 -- 1:1 -- Peru (51) v Argentina (7)
43 -- 2:2 -- Uzbekistan (70) v South Korea (27)

World Cup Qualifiers by FIFA Ranking - Part 2 - September 2012

FIFA rankings of the nations that will meet in the next round of World Cup Qualifier games on September 11, 2012.


Rank Difference - Home Team (Rank) v Away Team (Rank)

Europe
3 - Serbia (42) v Wales (45)
10 - Norway (34) v Slovenia (24)
17 - Cyprus (135) v Iceland (118)
20 - Turkey (35) v Estonia (55)
23 - Northern Ireland (129) v Luxembourg (106)
31 - Belgium (40) v Croatia (9)

36 - Bulgaria (89) v Armenia (53)
36 - England (3) v Ukraine (39)
39 - Hungary (37) v Netherlands (8)
47 - Austria (49) v Germany (2)
50 - Scotland (47) v Macedonia (97)

61 - France (15) v Belarus (76)
62 - Israel (75) v Russia (13)
64 - Switzerland (20) v Albania (84)
64 - Bosnia-Herzegovina (30) v Latvia (94)
85 - Poland (56) v Moldova (141)
85 - Georgia (86) v Spain (1)

103 - Portugal (4) v Azerbaijan (107)
104 - Slovakia (45) v Liechtenstein (149)
105 - Greece (11) v Lithuania (116)
124 - Sweden (18) v Kazakhstan (142)
133 - Italy (6) v Malta (139)
142 - Romania (57) v Andorra (199)
158 - San Marino (206) v Montenegro (48)

South America
8 - Chile (14) v Colombia (22)
12 - Uruguay (5) v Ecuador (17)
23 - Paraguay (29) v Venezuela (52)
44 - Peru (51) v Argentina (7)

Asia
43 - Uzbekistan (70) v South Korea (27)
55 - Japan (23) v Iraq (78)
62 - Jordan (87) v Australia (25)
70 - Lebanon (124) v Iran (54)

CONCACAF
10 - Antigua and Barbuda (101) v Guatemala (91)
23 - Panama (50) v Canada (73)
27 - USA (33) v Jamaica (60)
45 - Mexico (21) v Costa Rica (66)
55 - Guyana (122) v El Salvador (67)
75 - Honduras (72) v Cuba (147)

Oceania
9 - Tahiti (119) v New Caledonia (128)
58 - New Zealand (95) v Solomon Islands (153)

World Cup Qualifiers by FIFA Ranking - September 2012

FIFA rankings of the nations that will meet in the next round of World Cup Qualifier games on September 7-8, 2012.


Rank Difference - Home Team (Rank) v Away Team (Rank)

UEFA
2 - Estonia (55) v Romania (57)
4 - Slovenia (24) v Switzerland (20)
5 - Scotland (47) v Serbia (42)
5 - Wales (45) v Belgium (40)
8 - Montenegro (48) v Poland (56)
9 - Denmark (10) v Czech Republic (19)
10 - Georgia (86) v Belarus (76)

27 - Netherlands (8) v Turkey (35)
32 - Azerbaijan (107) v Israel (75)
51 - Albania (84) v Cyprus (135)
71 - Lithuania (116) v Slovakia (45)

81 - Finland (96) v France (15)
83 - Bulgaria (89) v Italy (6)
83 - Latvia (94) v Greece (11)
84 - Iceland (118) v Norway (34)
86 - Malta (139) v Armenia (53)
88 - Croatia (9) v Macedonia (97)

102 - Luxembourg (106) v Portugal (4)
116 - Kazakhstan (142) v Ireland (26)
116 - Russia (13) v Northern Ireland (129)
119 - Liechtenstein (149) v Bosnia-Herzegovnia (30)

138 - Moldova (141) v England (3)
152 - Germany (2) v Faroe Islands (154)
162 - Andorra (199) v Hungary (37)

CONMEBOL

17 - Colombia (22) v Uruguay (5)

22 - Argentina (7) v Paraguay (29)

46 - Ecuador (17) v Bolivia (63)


CONCACAF
10 - Guatemala (91) v Antigua and Barbuda (101)
23 - Canada (73) v Panama (50)
27 - Jamaica (60) v United States (33)
45 - Costa Rica (66) v Mexico (21)
55 - El Salvador (67) v Guyana (122)
75 - Cuba (147) v Honduras (72)

Oceania
33 - New Caledonia (128) v New Zealand (95)
34 - Solomon Islands (153) v Tahiti (119)

FIFA Confederation Ranking Comparison - September 2012

Comparing FIFA Confederations using the average FIFA ranking of the top 5 teams from each region.

Top 5 Avg. - Confederation (+/- August)


3.2 - Europe (+0.2)
1 - Spain
2 - Germany
3 - England
4 - Portugal
6 - Italy

11.0 - South America (+0.8)
5 - Uruguay
7 - Argentina
12 - Brazil
14 - Chile
17 - Ecuador

28.6 - Africa (+3.2)
16 - Côte d'Ivoire
28 - Algeria
31 - Ghana
32 - Mali
36 - Libya

39.8 - Asia (-2.6)
23 - Japan
25 - Australia
27 - South Korea
54 - Iran
70 - Uzbekistan

46.0 - CONCACAF (+0.8)
21 - Mexico
33 - USA
50 - Panama
60 - Jamaica
66 - Costa Rica

130.0 - Oceania (+6.6)
95 - New Zealand
119 - Tahiti
128 - New Caledonia
153 - Solomon Islands
155 - Fiji

EPL: Transfers in from Foreign Leagues

Incoming Summer 2012 transfers to the EPL from foreign leagues.

Argentina
Claudio Yacob - Racing Club to West Bromwich Albion

Australia
Curtis Good - Melbourne Heart to Newcastle United

Belgium
Christian Benteke - Racing Genk to Aston Villa
Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe - Club Brugge to Everton
Yassine El Ghanassy - KAA Gent to West Bromwich Albion

Brazil
Oscar - Internacional to Chelsea

Denmark
Bryan Oviedo - FC Copenhagen to Everton

France
Hugo Lloris - Lyon to Tottenham Hotspur
Stephane M'Bia - Marseille to QPR
Alexander Tettey - Stade Rennes to Norwich City
César Azpilicueta - Marseille to Chelsea
Alou Diarra - Marseille to West Ham United
Thorgan Hazard - Lens to Chelsea
Modibo Maíga - Sochaux to West Ham United
Eden Hazard - Lille to Chelsea
Olivier Giroud - Montpellier to Arsenal
Samba Diakite - AS Nancy to QPR
Romain Amalfitano - Stade de Reims to Newcastle United

Germany
Ashkan Dejagah - VfL Wolfsburg to Fulham
Samed Yesil - Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool
Sascha Riether - FC Cologne to Fulham
Pavel Pogrebnyak - VfB Stuttgart to Reading
Gylfi Sigurdsson - TSG Hoffenheim to Tottenham Hotspur
Lukas Podolski - FC Cologne to Arsenal
Marko Marin - Werder Bremen to Chelsea
Shinji Kagawa - Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United
Mladen Petric - Hamburg SV to Fulham

Greece
Kevin Mirallas - Olympiakos to Everton

Ireland
Pierce Sweeney - Bray to Reading

Italy
Gaston Ramirez - Bologna to Southampton
Maicon - Inter Milan to Manchester City
Matija Nastasic - Fiorentina to Manchester City
Júlio César - Inter Milan to QPR
Javier Garrido - Lazio to Norwich City
Fabio Borini - AS Roma to Liverpool
Chico - Genoa to Swansea City

Netherlands
Maya Yoshida - VVV Venlo to Southampton
Alexander Büttner - Vitesse Arnhem to Manchester United
Oussama Assaidi - Heerenveen to Liverpool
Vurnon Anita - Ajax to Newcastle United
Ron Vlaar - Feyenoord to Aston Villa
Jan Vertonghen - Ajax to Tottenham Hotspur
Karim El Ahmadi - Feyenoord to Aston Villa
Brett Holman - AZ Alkmaar to Aston Villa

Portugal
Javi Garcia - Benfica to Manchester City

Scotland
Matthew Kennedy - Kilmarnock to Everton
Ki Sung-Yueng - Celtic to Swansea City
Steven Davis - Rangers to Southampton
Jamie Ness - Rangers to Stoke City
Steven Naismith - Rangers to Everton
Steven Whittaker - Rangers to Norwich City
Fraser Fyvie - Aberdeen to Wigan Athletic

Spain
Pablo Hernandez - Valencia to Swansea City
Esteban Granero - Real Madrid to QPR
Nuri Sahin - Real Madrid to Liverpool
Arouna Koné - Levante to Wigan Athletic
Santi Cazorla - Málaga to Arsenal
Ivan Ramis - Mallorca to Wigan Athletic
Michu - Rayo Vallecano to Swansea City
Jonathan De Guzman - Villarreal to Swansea City

Switzerland
Emmanuel Mayuka - Young Boys to Southampton
Raphael Spiegel - Grasshoppers to West Ham United

Ukraine
Goran Popov - Dynamo Kiev to West Bromwich Albion

EPL: Relegated Club Attendances

Newcastle United set the Premier League record in 2008/2009 as the highest attended club to ever be relegated from the Premiership with about 926,244 (48,749 avg.) fans in attendance throughout the season. Only Sunderland, in 02/03, had been ranked in the average attendance top 5 before, with an average of close to 40,000 fans.

Blackpool, in 2010/2011, were the first "lowest attended" team to be relegated from the Premier League.

Top 5 Highest Average Attendance Relegated Teams
08/09 -- Newcastle United -- 48,749
02/03 -- Sunderland -- 39,698
03/04 -- Leeds United -- 36,666
02/03 -- West Ham United -- 34,432
00/01 -- Manchester City -- 34,058


-----------------------------------------------------------------

Attendance Rank -- Team -- Average Attendance

2011/2012
13 -- Wolverhampton Wanderers -- 25,682
16 -- Bolton Wanderers -- 23,669
17 -- Blackburn Rovers -- 22,551

2010/2011
11 -- West Ham United -- 33,426
14 -- Birmingham City -- 25,461
20 -- Blackpool -- 15,779

2009/2010
15 -- Hull City -- 24,389
18 -- Burnley -- 20,653
19 -- Portsmouth -- 18,249

2008/2009
3 -- Newcastle -- 48,749
12 -- Middlesbrough -- 28,428
14 -- West Brom -- 25,827

2007/2008
12 -- Derby County -- 32,432
14 -- Birmingham -- 26,180
17 -- Reading -- 23,585

2006/2007
11 -- Sheffield United -- 30,512
13 -- Charlton Athletic -- 26,195
19 -- Watford -- 18,750

2005/2006
10 -- Sunderland -- 33,904
13 -- Birmingham -- 27,392
15 -- West Brom -- 25,403

2004/2005
11 -- Southampton -- 30,609
16 -- Norwich City -- 24,350
17 -- Crystal Palace -- 24,108

2003/2004
8 -- Leeds United -- 36,666
12 -- Leicester City -- 30,983
15 -- Wolves -- 28,874

2002/2003
5 -- Sunderland -- 39,698
12 -- West Ham -- 34,432
16 -- West Brom -- 26,720

2001/2002
13 -- Derby County -- 29,839
17 -- Ipswich Town -- 24,516
19 -- Leicester City -- 19,835

2000/2001
10 -- Manchester City -- 34,058
16 -- Coventry City -- 20,582
19 -- Bradford City -- 18,511

1999/2000
14 -- Sheffield Wednesday -- 24,855
17 -- Watford -- 18,544
19 -- Wimbledon -- 17,157

1998/1999
13 -- Blackburn -- 25,761
15 -- Nottingham Forest -- 24,415
18 -- Charlton -- 19,823

1997/1998
14 -- Bolton -- 24,352
15 -- Crystal Palace -- 21,983
18 -- Barnsley -- 18,443

1996/1997
9 -- Middlesbrough -- 29,871
13 -- Nottingham Forest -- 24,587
15 -- Sunderland -- 20,974

1995/1996
10 -- Manchester City -- 27,941
16 -- Bolton -- 18,822
18 -- QPR -- 15,672

1994/1995
15 -- Leicester City -- 19,532
16 -- Norwich City -- 18,625
17 -- Ipswich Town -- 16,907
19 -- Crystal Palace -- 14,902

1993/1994
12 -- Sheffield United -- 19,562
17 -- Swindon Town -- 15,011
21 -- Oldham -- 12,569

1992/1993
9 -- Nottingham Forest -- 21,910
14 -- Middlesbrough -- 16,724
17 -- Crystal Palace -- 15,726



Originally published on May 25, 2009
Updated August 30, 2012

Best and Worst FIFA Rankings: August 2012

Nations that have achieved their best or worst all-time FIFA ranking in August 2012.

Best Ranking
3 - England
20 - Ecuador
38 - Libya
71 - Central African Republic
157 - Aruba
182 - American Samoa
199 - South Sudan

Worst Ranking
13 - Brazil
104 - Saudi Arabia
147 - Syria
159 - Indonesia
162 - Singapore
168 - India
184 - Myanmar
194 - Laos
199 - South Sudan
201 - Macau
206 - Bhutan

2012-2013 EPL Clubs: Trophies

62 - Liverpool
18 - Premier League
14 - Community Shield
8 - League Cup
7 - FA Cup
5 - UEFA Champions League
4 - Championship
3 - UEFA Europa League
3 - UEFA Super Cup

59 - Manchester United
19 - Premier League
16 - Community Shield
11 - FA Cup
4 - League Cup
3 - UEFA Champions League
2 - Championship
1 - UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
1 - UEFA Super Cup
1 - FIFA Club World Cup
1 - Inter Continental Cup

38 - Arsenal
13 - Premier League
12 - Community Shield
10 - FA Cup
2 - League Cup
1 - UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

25 - Chelsea
7 - FA Cup
4 - Premier League
4 - League Cup
4 - Community Shield
2 - Championship
2 - UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
1 - UEFA Champions League
1 - UEFA Super Cup

24 - Aston Villa
7 - Premier League
7 - FA Cup
5 - League Cup
2 - Championship
1 - UEFA Champions League
1 - UEFA Super Cup
1 - Community Shield

23 - Tottenham Hotspur
8 - FA Cup
4 - League Cup
4 - Community Shield
2 - Premier League
2 - Championship
2 - UEFA Europa League
1 - UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

21 - Manchester City
7 - Championship
5 - FA Cup
4 - Community Shield
3 - Premier League
1 - UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
1 - League Cup

19 - Everton
8 - Premier League
8 - Community Shield
1 - Championship
1 - UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
1 - FA Cup

15 - Newcastle United
6 - FA Cup
4 - Premier League
4 - Championship
1 - Community Shield

14 - Sunderland
6 - Premier League
5 - Championship
2 - FA Cup
1 - Community Shield

11 - West Bromwich Albion
5 - FA Cup
3 - Championship
1 - Premier League
1 - League Cup
1 - Community Shield

6 - Norwich City
3 - Championship
2 - League Cup
1 - League One

6 - West Ham United
3 - FA Cup
2 - Championship
1 - UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

4 - Fulham
2 - Championship
1 - League One
1 - League Two

3 - Queens Park Rangers
2 - Championship
1 - League Cup

3 - Reading
2 - Championship
1 - League One

3 - Stoke City
2 - Championship
1 - League Cup

2 - Swansea City
1 - League One
1 - League Two

1 - Southampton
1 - FA Cup

1 - Wigan Athletic
1 - League One

Everton vs Liverpool - EPL League Positions

The final league positions of Everton and Liverpool from 1992 to 2012.

EPL Player of the Month Awards

Current Premier League players that have received an EPL player of the month award.


5 - Steven Gerrard
March 2001, March 2003, December 2004, April 2006, March 2009

5 - Wayne Rooney
February 2005, December 2005, March 2006, October 2007, January 2010

4 - Frank Lampard
September 2003, April 2005, October 2005, October 2008

4 - Paul Scholes
January 2003, December 2003, October 2006, August 2010

3 - Ashley Young
April 2008, September 2008, December 2008

3 - Peter Odemwingie
September 2010, April 2011, February 2012

3 - Robin van Persie
November 2005, October 2009, October 2011

2 - Andy Johnson
October 2004, September 2006

2 - Dimitar Berbatov
April 2007, January 2011

2 - Fernando Torres
February 2008, September 2009

2 - Gareth Bale
April 2010, January 2012

2 - Ryan Giggs
August 2006, Februar 2007

2 - Scott Parker
February 2011, November 2011


1
Anton Ferdinand
Carlos Tévez
Darren Bent
David Luiz
David Silva
Demba Ba
Edin Džeko
Florent Malouda
Gabriel Agbonlahor
Gylfi Sigurðsson
Jermain Defoe
Joe Cole
John Terry
Kevin Nolan
Louis Saha
Mark Schwarzer
Micah Richards
Michael Owen
Nemanja Vidic
Nikica Jelavić
Petr Čech
Phil Jagielka
Rafael van der Vaart
Rio Ferdinand
Roque Santa Cruz
Samir Nasri

CONCACAF Players in Top UEFA Leagues - 2012-2013

CONCACAF players in the top 15 European Leagues according to the UEFA coefficient rankings.


AUSTRIA

USA
Terrence Boyd (Rapid Wien)


BELGIUM

Costa Rica
Mynor Escoe (RCS Charleroi)

Haiti
Réginal Goreux (Standard Lüttich)

Trinidad and Tobago
Khaleem Hyland (KRC Genk)

USA
Sacha Kljestan (RSC Anderlecht)


DENMARK

Costa Rica 
Christian Bolaños (FC Copenhagen)
Cristian Gamboa (FC Copenhagen)
Bryan Oviedo (FC Copenhagen)

USA
Charlie Davies (Randers FC)
Clarence Goodson (Bröndby IF)
Conor O'Brien (SönderjyskE)
Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland)


ENGLAND

Antigua and Barbuda
Mikele Leigertwood (Reading)

Barbados
Emmerson Boyce (Wigan Athletic)
Jonathan Forte (Southampton)

Canada
David Hoilett (QPR)
Simeon Jackson (Norwich City)

Costa Rica
Bryan Ruiz (Fulham)

Grenada
Jason Roberts (Reading)

Honduras
Maynor Figueroa (Wigan Athletic)
Wilson Palacios (Stoke City)

Jamaica
Adrian Mariappa (Reading)
Jobi McAnuff (Reading)

Mexico
Giovani dos Santos (Tottenham Hotspur)
Javier Hernandez (Manchester United)

Trinidad and Tobago
Kenwyne Jones (Stoke City)

United States
Geoff Cameron (Stoke City)
Clint Dempsey (Fulham)
Brad Friedel (Tottenham Hotspur)
Brad Guzan (Aston Villa)
Tim Howard (Everton)
Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa)

FRANCE

Guadeloupe
Alexandre Alphonse (Stade Brest)
Mickaël Tacalfred (Stade Reims)

Haiti
Romain Genevois (OGC Nice)
Jeff Louis (AS Nancy)
Jean-Eudes Maurice (PSG)

Mexico
Guillermo Ochoa (AC Ajaccio)


GERMANY

Canada
Rob Friend (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Marcel de Jong (FC Augsburg)
Olivier Occéan (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Costa Rica
Júnior Díaz (1.FSV Mainz 05)

Mexico
Maza (VfB Stuttgart)

USA
Timothy Chandler (1.FC Nuremberg)
Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96)
Joe Gyau (TSG Hoffenheim)
Fabian Johnson (TSG Hoffenheim)
Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04)
Daniel Williams (TSG Hoffenheim)
David Yelldell (Bayer Leverkusen)


ITALY

USA
Michael Bradley (AS Roma)


NETHERLANDS

Canada
Atiba Hutchinson (PSV Eindhoven)

Costa Rica
Esteban Alvarado (AZ Alkmaar)

Curaçao
Cuco Martina (RKC Wallwijk)

Suriname
Leroy George (NEC Nijmegen)

USA
Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar)


PORTUGAL

El Salvador
Arturo Álvarez (FC Paços de Ferreira)

Guadeloupe
Cédric Collet (SC Beira-Mar)
David Fleurival (SC Beira-Mar)

USA
Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting CP)
Tony Taylor (Estoril Praia)


RUSSIA

Costa Rica
Marco Ureña (Kuban Krasnodar)

USA
Yevgeni Starikov (Zenit St. Petersburg)


SPAIN

Costa Rica
Joel Campbell (Real Betis)
Keylor Navas (Levante)

Mexico
Andrés Guardado (Valencia)
Héctor Moreno (Espanyol)
Jonathan dos Santos (Barcelona)
Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad)


TURKEY

Canada
Milan Borjan (Sivasspor)

Costa Rica
Randall Azofeifa (Genclerbirligi)

Jamaica
Luton Shelton (Kardemir Karabükspor)

EPL Unique Internationals 2012-2013

Nations that are currently represented by a single player in the EPL.

Antigua and Barbuda
Mikele Leigertwood (Reading)

Austria
Andreas Weimann (Aston Villa)

Benin
Stéphane Sessègnon (Sunderland)

Burundi
Gaël Bigirimana (Newcastle United)

Colombia
Hugo Rodallega (Fulham)

Congo DR
Youssuf Mulumbu (West Bromwich Albion)

Costa Rica
Bryan Ruiz (Fulham)

Ecuador
Antonio Valencia (Manchester United)

Egypt
Ahmed Elmohamady (Sunderland)

Ghana
Michael Essien (Chelsea)

Greece
Apostolos Vellios (Everton)

Grenada
Jason Roberts (Reading)

Israel
Yossi Benayoun (Chelsea)

Latvia
Kaspars Gorkss (Reading)

Macedonia
Goran Popov (Stoke City)

Montenegro
Stefan Savic (Manchester City)

Oman
Ali Al Habsi (Wigan Athletic)

Philippines
Neil Etheridge (Fulham)

Slovenia
Haris Vuckic (Newcastle United)

South Africa
Steven Pienaar (Everton)

Togo
Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City)

Trinidad and Tobago
Kenwyne Jones (Stoke City)

CONCACAF EPL Players - 2012-2013

Antigua and Barbuda
Mikele Leigertwood (Reading)

Barbados
Emmerson Boyce (Wigan Athletic)
Jonathan Forte (Southampton)

Canada
David Hoilett (QPR)
Simeon Jackson (Norwich City)

Costa Rica
Bryan Ruiz (Fulham)

Grenada
Jason Roberts (Reading)

Honduras
Maynor Figueroa (Wigan Athletic)
Wilson Palacios (Stoke City)

Jamaica
Adrian Mariappa (Reading)
Jobi McAnuff (Reading)

Mexico
Giovani dos Santos (Tottenham Hotspur)
Javier Hernandez (Manchester United)

Trinidad and Tobago
Kenwyne Jones (Stoke City)

United States
Geoff Cameron (Stoke City)
Clint Dempsey (Fulham)
Brad Friedel (Tottenham Hotspur)
Brad Guzan (Aston Villa)
Tim Howard (Everton)
Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa)

FIFA Rankings: Top 5 by Language Spoken (August 2012)

ARABIC
34 - Algeria
38 - Libya
40 - Egypt
41 - Tunisia
68 - Morocco

DUTCH
8 - Netherlands
53 - Belgium
135 - Suriname
157 - Aruba
165 - Curaçao

ENGLISH
3 - England
24 - Australia
26 - Republic of Ireland
32 - Ghana
36 - USA

FRENCH
14 - France
16 - Cote d'Ivoire
23 - Switzerland
39 - Mali
43 - Gabon

GERMAN
2 - Germany
23 - Switzerland
53 - Belgium
60 - Austria
110 - Luxembourg

PORTUGUESE
5 - Portugal
13 - Brazil
78 - Cape Verde Islands
85 - Angola
107 - Mozambique

RUSSIAN
11 - Russia
76 - Belarus
140 - Tajikistan
145 - Kazakhstan
196 - Kyrgyzstan

SPANISH
1 - Spain
4 - Uruguay
7 - Argentina
15 - Chile
18 - Mexico


Notes:

Official and Co-Official Languages

Some nations have multiple Official languages (eg Switzerland, Belgium) and appear in the list more than once.

List made using the August, 2012 FIFA Rankings

Some of the most widely spoken languages (eg Mandarin, Hindustani, Bengali, Punjabi, Javanese, Japanese, Korean, etc) were not in the list because they would include less than 5 FIFA nations.

FIFA Confederation Ranking Comparison - August 2012

Comparing FIFA Confederations using the average FIFA ranking of the top 5 teams from each region.

Top 5 Avg. - Confederation (+/- July)

3.4 - Europe (+0.2)
1 - Spain
2 - Germany
3 - England
5 - Portugal
6 - Italy

11.8 - South America (-0.2)
4 - Uruguay
7 - Argentina
13 - Brazil
15 - Chile
20 - Ecuador

31.8 - Africa (+0.8)
16 - Cote d'Ivoire
32 - Ghana
34 - Algeria
38 - Libya
39 - Mali

37.2 - Asia (+/-0.0)
22 - Japan
24 - Australia
29 - South Korea
48 - Iran
63 - Uzbekistan

46.8 - CONCACAF (-2.4)
18 - Mexico
36 - USA
54 - Panama
62 - Costa Rica
64 - El Salvador

136.6 - Oceania (+4.4)
95 - New Zealand
136 - Tahiti
141 - New Caledonia
155 - Fiji
156 - Vanuatu

USWNT 2012 - Player Goal and Assist Statistics

Goal, Assist, and Point statistics from the 2012 US Women's National Team season. The numbers in parenthesis represents games played in 2012.  Overall International record 19-1-1.

Goals
20 - Alex Morgan (20)
18 - Abby Wambach (21)
10 - Carli Lloyd (21)
8 - Amy Rodriguez (20)
8 - Sydney Leroux (17)
4 - Heather O'Reilly (17)
4 - Megan Rapinoe (18)
3 - Tobin Heath (16)
2 - Lauren Cheney (21)
1 - Shannon Boxx (16)
1 - Rachel Buehler (20)
1 - Lori Lindsey (6)

Assists
11 - Alex Morgan (20)
10 - Lauren Cheney (21)
8 - Heather O'Reilly (18)
8 - Amy Rodriguez (20)
7 - Abby Wambach (21)
6 - Tobin Heath (16)
6 - Megan Rapinoe (18)
4 - Kelly O'Hara (17)
4 - Amy Rodriguez (20)
3 - Rachel Buehler (20)
2 - Shannon Boxx (16)
2 - Heather Mitts (9)
2 - Christie Rampone (21)
1 - Stephanie Cox (4)
1 - Ali Kreiger (1)
1 - Carli Lloyd (21)
1 - Hope Solo (1)


Points (2pts per goal, 1pt per assist)
51 - Alex Morgan (20)
43 - Abby Wambach (21)
21 - Carli Lloyd (21)
20 - Amy Rodriguez (20)
16 - Sydney Leroux (17)
16 - Heather O'Reilly (18)
14 - Lauren Cheney (21)
14 - Megan Rapinoe (18)
12 - Tobin Heath (16)
5 - Rachel Buehler (20)
4 - Shannon Boxx (16)
4 - Kelly O'Hara (17)
2 - Lori Lyndsey (6)
2 - Heather Mitts (9)
2 - Christie Rampone (18)
1 - Stephanie Cox (4)
1 - Ali Krieger (1)
1 - Hope Solo (1)


10+ Career Goals (Players with caps in 2012)
143 - Abby Wambach
38 - Carli Lloyd
34 - Heather O'Reilly
30 - Alex Morgan
25 - Amy Rodriguez
23 - Shannon Boxx
18 - Lauren Cheney
15 - Megan Rapinoe

10+ Consecutive Seasons with the Same EPL Club

English Premier League players that have played 10+ consecutive EPL seasons with the same club.

Tony Adams (10)
Arsenal 1992-2002

Shola Ameobi (11)
Newcastle United 2000-2012

Darren Anderton (12)
Tottenham Hotspur 1992-2004

Gareth Barry (11)
Aston Villa 1998-2009

Francis Benali (11)
Southampton 1992-2003

Dennis Bergkamp (11)
Arsenal 1995-2006

Wes Brown (12)
Manchester United 1998-2011

Nicky Butt (12)
Manchester United 1992-2004

Jamie Carragher (15)
Liverpool 1997-2012

Carlo Cudicini (10)
Chelsea 1999-2009

Lee Dixon (10)
Arsenal 1992-2002

Jason Dodd (13)
Southampton 1992-2005

Rio Ferdinand (10)
Manchester United 2002-2012

Ricardo Gardner (11)
Bolton Wanderers 2001-2012

Steven Gerrard (14)
Liverpool 1998-2012

Ryan Giggs (20)
Manchester United 1992-2012

Shay Given (11)
Newcastle United 1997-2008

Lee Hendrie (11)
Aston Villa 1995-2007

Tony Hibbert (12)
Everton 2000-2012

Sami Hyypia (10)
Liverpool 1999-2009

Denis Irwin (10)
Manchester United 1992-2002

Jussi Jaaskelainen (11)
Bolton Wanderers 2001-2012

Roy Keane (13)
Manchester United 1993-2006

Gary Kelly (10)
Leeds United 1993-2004

Martin Keown (12)
Arsenal 1992-2004

Ledley King (13)
Tottenham Hotspur 1999-2012

Frank Lampard (11)
Chelsea 2001-2012

Matthew Le Tissier (10)
Southampton 1992-2002

Gary Neville (17)
Manchester United 1993-2011

Phil Neville (11)
Manchester United 1994-2005

Matt Oakley (10)
Southampton 1995-2005

John O'Shea (10)
Manchester United 2001-2011

Leon Osman (10)
Everton 2002-2012

Ray Parlour (12)
Arsenal 1992-2004

Lucas Radebe (10)
Leeds United 1994-2004

Paul Scholes (18)
Manchester United 1994-2012

Mark Schwarzer (11)
Middlesbrough 1996-2008

David Seaman (11)
Arsenal 1992-2003

Alan Shearer (10)
Newcastle United 1996-2006

John Terry (14)
Chelsea 1998-2012

David Watson (10)
Everton 1992-2003