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TFC’s Bradley, Altidore called up for Canada game

Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley and forward Jozy Altidore have been called up by the United States national team for a pair of upcoming friendlies, including one game against Canada.

U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann announced his 23-player roster on Wednesday for the matches against Iceland (Jan. 31) and Canada (Feb. 5). Both friendlies will take place at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., home of the LA Galaxy.

Other Canadian-based players named to the American squad include defenders Tim Parker of the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Montreal Impact’s Eric Miller.

Bradley (15 goals, 109 caps) and Altidore (31 goals, 89 caps) are veterans of the U.S. side, while Parker and Miller have yet to make their debuts for the senior team.

Bradley was recently named the U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year for 2015. The TFC midfielder captained the U.S. in 16 of his 18 matches last year.

The U.S. is No. 32 in the current FIFA world rankings. Canada is ranked 88thin the world.

Whitecaps’ Parker answers call from U.S. nationals

Rookie season capped by ‘shock’ invite; Bug scratches name on multi-year deal

It has been quite the calendar year for the soccer-playing pride of Hicksville, N.J.

Tim Parker, the Vancouver Whitecaps’ surprisingly solid rookie centre back in 2015, capped an eventful 12 months — the St. John’s (N.Y.) University senior was selected 13th overall in Major League Soccer’s SuperDraft last January — by officially earning his first senior national team call-up for the United States.

“The last year has been crazy, just a whirlwind of emotions,” Parker, 22, said from Long Island on Wednesday following the announcement of the 23-man squad that will start a three-week camp in California on Monday.

“A lot of positive things have come out of it. There’s going to be a lot for me to learn from the coaching staff and some of the veteran guys who are going to be there.

“I’m just going to soak up as much information as I can and apply that to games and bring it back to the Whitecaps.”

The announcement came the same day the Caps confirmed they had signed dynamic winger Cristian Techera to a multi-year contract extension after finalizing his transfer from Uruguayan side Atletico River Plate Montevideo.

Nicknamed The Bug, the 5-2 Techera scored seven goals and added five assists in 26 appearances after being acquired on loan in April.

“I’m delighted,” Caps head coach Carl Robinson said on a conference call.

“He showed his value in the team last year. What he brought was different than what we had.”

Robinson praised Techera’s “infectious play,” noting he’s the type of athlete who gets fans out of their seats.

The Caps used some of their TAM (the targeted allocation money MLS created to allow teams to go beyond the salary cap) to complete the transfer. Robinson said the club still has “money to play with” to bring in other players.

Robinson, who earlier in the off-season signed Japanese forward Masato Kudo, said he continues to look at upgrading the attacking side of his roster and securing right-back depth. But he’s not in any hurry and may give the young talent from the club’s USL team and residency program a chance to show what they have at training camp before adding more international players.

Robinson reiterated that he has “full faith” in the ability of Costa Rican Jordan Smith, who played in seven games as a late addition in 2015, to replace the traded Steven Beitashour at right fullback.

“He’s an exciting, attacking fullback,” said Robinson, adding that he believes the coaching staff can help Smith make the necessary tweaks to his footwork and positioning to correct his defensive deficiencies.

Parker, 22, is part of a young, MLS-heavy group called into the U.S. camp ahead of friendlies against Iceland (Jan. 31) and Canada (Feb. 5).

Robinson said Parker, who scored twice off corners and played like a seasoned veteran defensively in his 14 starts, was fully deserving of the call-up.

“It’s exciting for him to sample something different. Hopefully, it makes him hungry as well.”

Parker was actually informed of the call-up four days before Christmas.

“It was a good surprise. I had no idea, to be honest. When I got the first email, I was kind of shocked in a way. It would be amazing ... being able to put on a USA jersey and my first senior cap (against Iceland or Canada).”

A good showing in California could also help Parker in a bid to make the U.S. Under-23 team that will try to qualify in the spring for the Rio Summer Olympics.

Montreal Impact announce coaching staff changes, promotes from within

Wilfried Nancy , Yannick Girard and Massimo Di Ioia join Mauro Biello's coaching staff in MLS.

Promote from within seems to be the Montreal Impact's new philosophy. After confirming Mauro Biello as the permanent head coach during the club's post-mortem, the club just announced that its coaching staff is 100% composed of Academy coaches, outside Biello of course.

Since Jason Di Tullio was already named assistant during Biello's interim tenure, Wilfried Nancy is now an assistant coach and was recently the U16 coach for the Academy. He is joined by Yannick Girard as fitness coach, who replaces Paolo Pacione who was not kept.

Massimo Di Ioia replaces Vassili Cremanzidis as video and data analyst.

Promote from within they say. Promote from within they did.

MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact and its head coach Mauro Biello announced on Thursday the coaching staff of the first team for the 2016 MLS season.

Wilfried Nancy becomes assistant-coach, Yannick Girard will be the fitness coach, while Massimo Di Ioia also joins the staff as video and data analyst.

Assistant coach Jason DiTullio, goalkeeper Youssef Dahha and mental coach Antoine Guldner will all be back in 2016 and will complete a coaching staff almost completely from Quebec.

"I'm happy to put in place my coaching staff," mentioned head coach Mauro Biello. "I had the opportunity to work with Wilfried and Yannick during the past seasons and I was very impressed. They are two coaches with great soccer knowledge and who know the latest trends. Also they come from our Academy and understand very well the culture of this club."

Wilfried Nancy, who was with the club Academy since its beginning in 2011, trained the U21 and U18 teams, and more recently the Impact U16 squad. Following a partnership with MLS and the French Football Federation, he received an Elite Formation Coaching Licence (EFCL). He also has the UEFA A licence and will eventually get the A licence from the Canadian Soccer Association. He also played pro in France (Ligue 2, CFA, national).

"It's with great pride that I join the first team of the club because I've always been part of this environment, as a player or as a coach," said Wilfried Nancy. "I'm honored to join the MLS team. I will apply what I've learnt and bring my expertise on the field every day."

Yannick Girard was the Impact Academy fitness coach since its start in 2011. Before joining the club, he was a fitness coach for pro athletes and amateur clubs in the province. He owns a European university degree in physical preparation (DUEPP).

"It's a reward for the work that has been done the past five years," mentioned Yannick Girard. "I'm excited with this new challenge. I will now have the chance to show my expertise and my knowledge at a higher level."

Former Impact player in the second division and head coach of the Impact U19 in 2014 and assistant coach with the U11 in 2015, Massimo Di Ioia owns the provincial B License. Following a few different technical roles with the Lac St-Louis Regional Soccer Association, he was named technical coordinator of the Lakeshore soccer club. As a player, he played 24 matches with the Impact from 2006 to 2008.

Assistant coach Enzo Concina has decided to return to Italy for personal reasons and will join Bologna FC 1909 as scout. Fitness coach Paolo Pacione will also not be returning with the club, as well as the performance analyst Vassili Cremanzidis.

"I would like to thank Enzo, Paolo and Vassili for their services with us and I wish them the best in their future endeavours," added Mauro Biello.