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  • Ukraine’s Nemiroff Vodka Invests In English Soccer Amid Sixfold Growth

    Ukraine’s Nemiroff Vodka Invests In English Soccer Amid Sixfold Growth

    Russia’s invasion of, and subsequent war in, Ukraine has not stopped some businesses from expanding internationally, In fact, looking beyond the war-torn domestic economy has been a necessity for many of them. In the vodka market, there have also been some clear benefits.

    Sanctions on Russia and public pressure have forced retailers—from Amazon and Coty, to McDonald’s and TJ Maxx—to pull out or suspend operations. According to Yale’s Chief Executive Leadership Institute, more than 1,000 companies have withdrawn. They are led by U.S. entities with a 32% share, and the U.K. with 10.6%.

    With made-in-Russia vodkas being spurned in the West, others like Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Diageo’s volume leader Smirnoff have filled the gaps in some markets. Ukraine’s Nemiroff has also taken advantage of the situation and is leading an export drive, with the U.K. as one of its top targets.

    Sales in Britain last year increased sixfold thanks to a switch in distribution partner to Scotch producer Whyte & Mackay in mid-2023. The deal also enables Nemiroff to distribute the whisky maker’s products exclusively in Ukraine starting in January 2025. Nemiroff’s CEO, Yuriy Sorochynskiy told me: “The situation in Ukraine and sanctions against Russian products have opened up opportunities and given us some momentum.

    Changing mindsets in Ukraine’s favor

    “For many years, the world recognized vodka as a Russian product. This is not the case, and we are now making it about prestige Ukrainian products. We are showing the world that we can produce very-high-quality vodka with all the elements coming from within Ukraine.” However, changing mindsets often takes time.

    Nemiroff had been in the U.K. for several years but at low volumes. The brand has entered supermarket chains like Sainsbury and Asda and is now doubling down on its latest sales burst by highlighting the brand in the sports arena. A Premier League sponsorship will be key to giving it greater exposure and act as an enabler in bringing it to more retailers and other consumer outlets in the U.K.

    “It’s not an easy process but this is a top priority country for us. It is a strategic market and, also, the United Kingdom has supported Ukraine,” explained Sorochynskiy. Other established markets include Canada, the United States, and Australia.

    A shoe into the English Premier League

    For the first time, Nemiroff has partnered with four English Premier League clubs—Aston Villa, West Ham United, Everton, and Fulham FC—to roll out a campaign called “That’s My Spirit” which launched at London’s Tate Modern gallery last week.

    Sorochynskiy said: “Each of our club partners brings unique strengths to the table. They unite millions of fans around the world (and) are perfectly aligned with Nemiroff’s aspirations. Their exceptional venues provide the ideal backdrop for showcasing our premium products, both in the UK and worldwide, opening new avenues for meaningful engagement. This is about more than logos on jerseys—it’s about forging connections: four clubs, one spirit. Partnering with these giants of the game, Nemiroff brings its own legacy into the mix.”

    As well as the brand exposure, the deal includes club-inspired cocktails, match-day activations and initiatives, digital engagement, merchandise collaborations, and support for grassroots football programs. The Premier League partnership will run “for at least two seasons” according to Sorochynskiy. “We will look closely at how this deal increases the consumption of our products,” he added.

    Supporting Ukraine’s domestic market

    Nemiroff also has an eye on lifting the Ukrainian economy. It is faring relatively well, with GDP set to end the year at $189 billion, up 3.5%. By comparison, Russia’s GDP is expected to grow at 3.9% said state-owned news agency Tass earlier today, quoting the country’s deputy prime minister Alexander Novak.

    As the biggest vodka brand in Ukraine, Nemiroff is at the end of quite a long production chain that includes raw materials suppliers from grain to bottles, labels, and packaging. “Exports therefore have a direct economic impact at home,” said Sorochynskiy.

    Nemiroff is unique among Ukraine’s vodka producers in being a big exporter, a process that began about 25 years ago. It was already the number three vodka brand in the world in the duty-free channel pre-Covid (based on IWSR figures).

    Lex, Nemiroff’s revamped top-end luxury vodka, is not yet in the British market but there are hopes it might be introduced next year. Meanwhile, in North America, the company has signed a portfolio distribution deal with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits covering Canada—and the U.S. also remains a future expansion target.

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  • More Agencies Sense Value In Women’s Soccer

    More Agencies Sense Value In Women’s Soccer

    Racheal Kundananji was finding the net with unerring accuracy.

    Her reward? The then 23-year-old striker, averaging roughly three goals every four games at Madrid CFF in Spain’s Liga F, had earned a move to Bay FC in the U.S. National Women’s Soccer League—to the melody of €735,000 (now around $774,000) before possible extras, making her the most expensive signing ever in the women’s game.

    A steep price in female transfer terms and many sporting contexts, it’s peanuts at the upper echelon of men’s professional soccer. Here, players jumping from team to team in deals under a million euros or dollars—as the Zambian star Kundananji did in February—is more common a level below the elite leagues, as the celebs occasionally change jerseys for nine-figure fees, then picking up a mega salary.

    It’s no secret that agencies and agents earn a commission when their clients sign a new contract. So, they look for the money. In the U.S., the women’s soccer market has been huge for a while, and larger agencies like Wasserman see sense in representing some of the best men and women. In Europe, it’s different; the biggest bucks are in the men’s game, so they usually work with them, while some specializing in the women’s side stick to that niche.

    That could be about to shift, however.

    “It offers resources that I haven’t seen in any other women’s football (soccer) companies,” says Xènia Pérez, a center-back for Atlético Madrid and Spain’s national team. The defender is talking about Leaderbrock, an agency that has just launched Leaderbrock W—a branch providing the same services to women as its men, with the latter comprising talents such as Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Pedri (Barcelona), Alfonso Pedraza (Villarreal) and Joan Jordán (Alavés).

    “You can feel the ambition to keep growing,” Pérez continues. “Little by little, companies are becoming more committed to the women’s discipline. But there is still a long way to go—to avoid (us) having a secondary role in most of them.”

    While there is room to develop, the fact agencies can now strategically market women’s players rather than solely aid their movements across the transfer market is worth raising. “When we started, agents weren’t even part of a representation agency. They were just people helping you,” Andrea Falcón of Benfica, whose career highlights include a coveted Champions League title with Barcelona Femení, tells me.

    “The main thing is drafting qualified professionals who can guide athletes, as we are often less familiar with this world than men,” the striker adds, noting that agents and players often have different motivations. “We need professionals to establish a relationship of trust because, in the end, we’re entrusting our future to them. It’s important to know they will always look out for our best interests.”

    In Pérez and Falcon’s case, as well as pros Paula Tomás (Aston Villa), Alejandra Bernabé (Chelsea), Natalia Escot (Barcelona), and María Valenzuela (Levante Badalona), they are part of an organization treating men and women’s soccer as equals. With offices in Germany, Portugal, and the Netherlands—and input from the Liga F’s only women’s coach, Sara Monforte—the idea is a complete service, with advisory, legal help, tax support, and building players’ brands all key facets in the sport.

    At this point, the question on some agencies’ minds might be: How viable is incorporating women into their business?

    Breaking Into Women’s Soccer

    It seems interest in women’s soccer is constantly rising. One barometer is World Cup viewership, where the number of people tuning into the 2023 edition was estimated at over two billion, almost double that of 2019—1.12 billion. Matching the popularity is television rights’ values; these are more valuable than ever, though the hype around the game’s potential could leave some overestimations of their actual worth—when pitted with how much they bring in return.

    The quality and personalities are certainly there. At the top, players like Aitana Bonmatí—winning two Ballon d’Ors back to back—are leading the way. All this provides a strong enough base to give women further visibility by promoting them and striking sponsorship deals, which agencies are pouncing on more—a boost to their own PR, too.

    “In recent years, we’ve managed to have more role models. Everyone knows Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmatí, or Patri Guijarro. Before, that possibility didn’t exist—you couldn’t watch women’s football on TV or have female references. We’ve grown a lot in that regard, but there is still room to improve,” adds Falcón.

    “It’s not just about knowing players who win Ballon d’Ors or Barça players who win the Champions League—it’s about making women players and football more visible overall. Everyone knows the players from any team in La Liga, the English Premier League, the German Bundesliga, or leagues in France or Italy, but that’s not the case for us (in Portugal).”

    Of course, the counter is a healthy separation between the men’s and women’s craft—not comparing them to each other and allowing them to exist and evolve independently. Given the differences, not least the often wide financial disparity, that is always a natural—and even healthy—tendency.

    Only, given the talent and exposure across the sport, businesses are now spotting ways to incorporate both, leveling the playing field a little in the process.

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  • Ohio State Soccer Player Shot During Car Chase Near Campus

    Ohio State Soccer Player Shot During Car Chase Near Campus

    A soccer player from Ohio State University was shot this week during a car chase near the school’s campus, officials said.

    The Incident

    The university reported that junior defender Nathan Demian—a native of Vancouver, British Columbia—was an innocent bystander during the incident early Sunday.

    The Columbus Police Department reported that the shooting took place shortly before 2:30 a.m. local time during a chase between two vehicles with someone in one car firing at the other.

    According to The Columbus Dispatch, the city’s police department responded to a neighborhood near the Ohio State University campus following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival to the scene, they discovered that Demian sustained a gunshot wound.

    Ohio State University
    A view of an Ohio State Buckeyes logo on a sideline tent before a game at Beaver Stadium on October 31, 2020, in State College, Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, Ohio State University announced that a men’s…


    Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

    Following the shooting, Demian was taken to the OSU Wexner Medical Center in serious condition, The Columbus Dispatch reported. However, the soccer player is expected to survive.

    Response From Ohio State University

    In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, the Ohio State University Department of Athletics said “Following the Ohio State men’s soccer match with Wake Forest Saturday, redshirt junior Nathan Demian from Vancouver, British Columbia was a victim of an off-campus shooting.”

    “He was an innocent bystander, is not a suspect in any way and was not involved in any altercation. The soccer program is thankful for the incredible university support and medical care available to Nathan and his family during this difficult time,” the statement said. “Nathan’s family is with him, and the team is extremely close. The family has asked that everyone keep Nathan in their prayers. The department will do all it can to support Nathan, his family and the men’s soccer program in every way possible.”

    “Because of the police investigation underway the department will not be able to discuss the incident further,” the statement added.

    On Monday, Ohio State men’s soccer coach Brian Maisonneuve spoke with reporters on a Zoom conference about the incident, The Columbus Dispatch reported.

    “We’re going to miss him on the field. But he’s such a huge personality,” Maisonneuve said during the conference, according to The Columbus Dispatch. “He really gets everybody going in practice and in games. He has got a great voice. He’s a character in the best way possible. And, like I said, his play speaks for itself. He’s a competitor, and it’s going to be tough not to have him out there.”

    This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.

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  • Inside soccer legends’ quest to grow American fandom with US-focused show

    Inside soccer legends’ quest to grow American fandom with US-focused show

    It can be so basic, Gary Neville believes.

    It should be, Rebecca Lowe agrees. 

    That’s where the true magic emerges. 

    Anyone with even a faint interest in the Premier League or soccer as a whole has very likely seen and heard both on television as central parts of the sport’s coverage on the biggest outlets.

    Gary Neville (L.), Rebecca Lowe (C.) and Jamie Carragher on the “It’s Called Soccer” set. Courtesy of It’s Called Soccer

    But now they want to be heard in a different way.

    Viewed through a different lens.

    Connected with fans through a different medium. 

    And, most notably, to bring the beautiful game to a newer, growing audience. 

    So Neville and Lowe, along with Jamie Carragher, have teamed up for “It’s Called Soccer,” a new digital show about the sport designed for American fans.

    “What we do here, I just think it’s a case of: press record, let us speak and press stop. It’s really simple,” Neville told The Post in a wide-ranging sit-down interview along with Lowe at the Spotify studios in downtown Manhattan. “And I love the simplicity of what we do. Sometimes, when you’re on television, you’re waiting around for three hours for the game to start. You’re in very restricted timeframes — you have three minutes to speak or you have two minutes to speak. You’re kind of quite compartmentalized. I love the freedom of being able to press record, everything is recorded, and press stop. And then it goes out. 

    “I like the idea that we can just have a conversation about the sport that we love. It takes it back to, in England, the old adage was that you went down to the pub with your mates, you talk about football, you have a conversation, you have a debate, you have an argument — ‘who should we play, should we sack him?’ And that’s what it is. That’s what football is. I just love that idea.” 

    Gary Neville (L.), Rebecca Lowe (C.) and Jamie Carragher on the “It’s Called Soccer” set. Courtesy of It’s Called Soccer

    That the trio want to expand into America is significant. 

    Neville is a Manchester United and England legend.

    He spent his entire 20-year career with Manchester United, winning eight Premier League titles and two Champions league titles with the club.

    He served as captain for five years.

    Neville was also the starting right back for England for over 10 years, playing at two World Cups and three European Championships. 

    Carragher is a Liverpool legend who spent his entire 17-year career with the team, winning a Champions league title.

    He represented England at two World Cups and a European Championship. 

    Both Neville and Carragher have since become two of the sport’s top on-air analysts and personalities since retiring. 

    And Lowe is central to NBC’s Premier League coverage in the United States as the network’s studio host. 

    All three help frame how millions of fans around the world consume soccer.

    And they see America as the sport’s next frontier. 

    Gary Neville (R.) and David Beckham pose with the Premier League trophy
    on May 11, 2003. Manchester United via Getty Imag
    Jamie Carragher spent his entire 17-year career with Liverpool. AFP via Getty Images

    The show (co-produced and distributed by Buzz16 and Wave Sports And Entertainment) is part of Neville’s media channel The Overlap’s venture into the United States.  

    “I think it was time,” Lowe said. “The World Cup is coming. Also, the Premier League now has gotten to a point which I didn’t think I would see 10 years ago. It was like ‘hang on a second, there’s a market there. It’s not being served enough.’ There’s space for more. 

    “With the world of social media, everything is more reachable. Mo Salah is more reachable through social media. He doesn’t look like this figure in a far-off country that you can’t have any affiliation with. And the product does the work for us. It’s just the most incredible league. If it was a rubbish league, it wouldn’t be catching on. The content and the product itself does the job, which attracts the people.”

    Rebecca Lowe is the studio host for NBC’s Premier League coverage. Visionhaus/Getty Images

    They believe this platform allows them to be their true, authentic selves. 

    Neville wishes that television cameras would pick up what the crew says off-air, because “it’s the most interesting stuff.”

    This show, he hopes, is as close to that dynamic as possible. 

    And viewers, they stress, are better off for it. 

    Gary Neville (L.) and Jamie Carragher (R.) have become two of soccer’s top media personalities since retiring as players. Getty Images

    “It feels like less of a performance,” Neville said. “Whereas when you go on television you have to think about what you wear, you have to have your makeup on, you have to have your hair done, you got this big production around you. You have to come in at a certain time to speak, then you get told to stop. All that formality is gone. I think I’ve become less formal as I’ve sort of moved through my career. I feel like I’m liking the informal approach.”

    “I think we as humans try to create the next best thing, try to overcomplicate things,” Lowe added. “But when I sit and listen to podcasts, sometimes I catch myself thinking ‘I’m listening to two women just having a chat like they’d have on the phone. Why am I loving this so much?’ And I think it’s because of simplicity, it’s connection – you want normal. Especially in an age of social media when a lot of people don’t appear normal, they appear to have an amazing life, you just want to hear normality. I think we try to press record, talk about football, press stop. As long as you’re normal within those boundaries and you touch on interesting things, it works.”

    Just 12 episodes in, the American focus is noticeable. 

    Already, they’ve had former USMNT manager Jurgen Klinsmann, current USMNT star Antonee Robinson, former USWNT legend Brandi Chastain, longtime NFL star Josh Norman and current USWNT manager Emma Hayes on the show. 

    Still in its infancy, if they have one goal for the show, what would it be?

    “To still be going in five years,” Neville said. “If something lasts, that’s the ultimate test. Longevity is underestimated.” 

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  • North Carolina wins the 2024 NCAA DI women’s soccer championship

    North Carolina wins the 2024 NCAA DI women’s soccer championship

    North Carolina took down Wake Forest, 1-0, to win the 2024 DI women’s soccer national championship. It’s the Tar Heels’ first title since 2012, and the program’s 22nd NCAA title in totality. 

    Below you can find the bracket, schedule and every score from the 2024 tournament.

    The championship bracket was revealed during a selection show on Monday, Nov. 11 on NCAA.com. Thirty conference champions earned automatic qualification, with the remaining 34 teams selected at-large by the Division I Women’s Soccer Committee.

    2024 NCAA DI women’s soccer tournament bracket

    Click or tap here for the 2024 interactive bracket. Here’s the final bracket:

    2024 NCAA DI women’s soccer tournament scores

    Women’s College Cup (semifinals & final)

    Monday, Dec. 9 | National Championship

    Friday, Dec. 6 | Semifinals

    First round

    Friday, Nov. 15

    Saturday, Nov. 16

    Sunday, Nov. 17

    Second round

    Friday, Nov. 22

    Third round 

    Sunday, Nov. 24

    Quarterfinals

    Friday, Nov. 29

    Saturday, Nov. 30

    2024 NCAA DI women’s soccer tournament schedule

    • Selection show: 4 p.m. ET Monday, Nov. 11 on NCAA.com
    • First round: Friday- Sunday, Nov. 15,16 or 17
    • Second and third rounds: Friday, Nov. 22 and Sunday, Nov. 24
    • Quarterfinals: Friday or Saturday, Nov. 29 or 30
    • Women’s College Cup: 
      • Semifinals: Friday, Dec. 6
      • National Championship: Monday, Dec. 9

    NCAA DI women’s soccer championship history

    The North Carolina Tar Heels have the most all-time national titles (22) while the reigning national champs Florida State have claimed four titles in the past decade. Here is every champion and runner-up in the last ten years:

    Year Team (Record) Score Runner-Up Site
    2023 Florida State (22-0-1) 5-1 Stanford Cary, N.C.
    2022 UCLA (22-2-1) 3-2 (ot) North Carolina Cary, N.C.
    2021 Florida State (22-1-2) 0-0 (2ot, pk) BYU Santa Clara, Calif.
    2020 Santa Clara (10-1-1) 1-1 (2ot, pk) Florida State Cary, N.C.
    2019 Stanford (24-1-0) 0-0 (2ot, pk) North Carolina San Jose, Calif.
    2018 Florida State (20-4-3) 1-0 North Carolina Cary, N.C.
    2017 Stanford (23-1-0) 3-2 UCLA Orlando, Fla.
    2016 Southern California (19-4-2) 3-1 West Virginia San Jose, Calif.
    2015 Penn State (22-3-2) 1-0 Duke Cary, N.C.
    2014 Florida State (23-1-1) 1-0 Virginia Boca Raton, Fla.

     Click here for the full championship history since 1982.

    Women’s soccer teams with the most NCAA DI national championships

    North Carolina won its 22nd NCAA women’s college soccer title in 2024, which leads all DI programs. Here’s the complete history of the championship match.

    READ MORE

    What to know about the DII women’s soccer semifinals

    The final four teams are set for the 2024 DII women’s soccer championship. TNT Sports’ Wayne Cavadi takes a look at each team and what to expect.

    READ MORE

    Wash U wins the 2024 NCAA DIII women’s soccer tournament

    Washington-St. Louis won its second-ever DIII women’s soccer title in 2024.

    READ MORE



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  • Shepherd’s historic women’s soccer season ends in the Elite Eight | Journal-news

    Shepherd’s historic women’s soccer season ends in the Elite Eight | Journal-news

    RIDGE, N.H. — The Shepherd University women’s soccer team’s historic 2024 season ended in an Elite Eight matchup with Franklin Pierce on Saturday afternoon.

    Sophomore midfielder Jenni Huttunen led the Ravens to a 2-1 victory with two goals in the second half, one of which was a penalty kick.

    Junior midfielder Josie Beezel scored the Rams’ lone goal in the final eight minutes of play on an assist from sophomore midfielder Reagan Ackermann.

    By the final whistle Franklin Pierce had outshot Shepherd 16-8 however, the Rams outshot the Ravens 5-4 on goal.

    “We played fantastically today, I think by all accounts we were the better team,” Shepherd head coach Sam Odell told Shepherd University Athletics.

    “We dominated chances, territory, hit the bar twice, and had a couple cleared off the line, but it wasn’t our day.

    I couldn’t be prouder of the team and their accomplishments this season. This is not the way we wanted the story to end, and it’s especially tough for it to be in this manner – sometimes you just wish that you were second best as it can be easier to accept when that happened, but that was not the case today.

    We had a really good chance of winning the national championship this year and are devastated to be going out in the Elite Eight. That speaks volumes for the team’s goals and standards this season. This year we won all three trophies available, won 18 games, and have become a force on the Division II stage.

    We will be back here next year, and knowing this amazing group as well as anyone, they will use this experience as fuel to win the national championship next year.

    I am a proud and disappointed coach at the same time today, but I love this team and couldn’t be prouder of them for how they played today and all season. We have an amazing group that has a special collective quality which is so powerful when they channel it. We will be back.” Odell concluded.

    The Rams may have seen their historic season end in heartbreak, but their journey will be remembered as a turning point for the program.

    With a record-breaking 18-2-4 season, their first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship and a spot in the Elite Eight, the Rams solidified their place as a rising power in Division II soccer.

    This season was not just about victories but about setting a new standard for what Shepherd women’s soccer can achieve.

    With a core of talented players and a coach who believes in their potential, the Rams are already looking ahead. Shepherd has proven their unwavering grit, determination and ability to come together as a cohesive unit as they are set to come back stronger next year with hopes of turning their national championship dreams into a reality.

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  • Kidnapped soccer star rescued after shootout between police and captors in Ecuador jungle

    Kidnapped soccer star rescued after shootout between police and captors in Ecuador jungle

    An Ecuadoran soccer star held hostage for three days has been rescued after a firefight between police and his captors in the jungle near Colombia.

    Pedro Perlaza, 33, a defender with top-flight club Delfin, was freed along with another person, police announced Wednesday evening in a social media post.

    He had been missing since Sunday evening.

    In a social media post Thursday, police said three suspects had been arrested and that they had demanded $60,000 in exchange for their release.

    A video released by police on Thursday showed the two men who were kidnapped — both barefoot — tearfully thanking their rescuers.

    “They’ve been badly treated, but they’re alive,” Diego Velastegui, head of police in the northwestern port city of Esmeraldas, told reporters.

    Police “were met by bullets from the criminals” near the coastal town of Atacames, he said. The kidnappers fled after officers returned fire. Velastegui said several of the kidnappers were wounded.

    Perlaza had been held in a wooden shack built on stilts, tucked into a wooded area, according to an aerial photo released by authorities.

    Argentina Ecuador Soccer Copa Libertadores
    Pedro Perlaza of Ecuador’s Liga Deportiva Universitaria reacts during a Copa Libertadores soccer match against Argentina’s River Plate in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. 

    Agustin Marcarian / AP


    Perlaza was capped three times by the national team in 2020 and has spent his entire career with Ecuadoran clubs.

    He was crowned champion in 2019 with Delfin and in 2022 with Aucas.

    The ordeal comes just a few weeks after fellow Ecuador soccer player Marco Angulo died from injuries he sustained in a car crash.

    In recent years, Ecuador has faced a wave of violence linked to drug trafficking.

    The country’s homicide rate has risen from six per 100,000 inhabitants in 2018 to 47 in 2023.

    Kidnapping, extortion, murder and prison massacres are now commonplace, in a country once considered an island of tranquility in Latin America.

    In September, the director of Ecuador’s biggest prison, Maria Daniela Icaza, was killed in an armed attack. The country’s penitentiaries have been under military control since January, when President Daniel Noboa declared a state of “internal armed conflict” after a brutal wave of violence, sparked by the jailbreak of a powerful crime boss.

    In January, gunmen stormed and opened fire in a TV studio and bandits threatened random executions of civilians and security forces. A prosecutor investigating the assault was later shot dead.

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  • I was a professional soccer player and Zlatan Ibrahimovic was my idol before dramatic career change

    I was a professional soccer player and Zlatan Ibrahimovic was my idol before dramatic career change

    Ion Surdu grew up, watching Zlatan Ibrahimovic play soccer, dreaming of one day emulating his hero. But instead, he fell down the path of combat, with the athlete set for the biggest opportunity of his life this weekend.

    At Oktagon 64, ‘Dracul’ will fight for the welterweight championship inside the SAP Garden in Munich, Germany.

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan celebrates after scoring the team's first goal from a penalty kick during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio a...
    Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

    Ion Surdu wanted to be a footballer, and now he’s a championship fighter

    In a matter of days, Ion Surdu will go head-to-head with UFC veteran, Kaik Brito, for Oktagon gold, in a quest to achieve the glory he once hoped he’d reach in soccer

    Born in Moldova, before moving to Romania at the age of 11, the sportsman fell in love with the beautiful game, watching a player he believes defines ‘personality and character’ in the form of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, hammer the ball into the back of the net.

    Inspired by the Swedish legend, the future mixed martial artist started playing himself, quickly realizing he had a talent.

    After working hard on the training ground, Surdu took the next step, signing on the dotted line to play at a decent level in Eastern Europe

    Sheesh: Justin Gaethje reveals the biggest puncher he’s ever faced in the UFC octagon

    In an exclusive interview with Bloody Elbow, he said: “When I was in high school, my dream was to play soccer professionally and be one of the best players. I signed a contract with a team, but the manager wasn’t doing very well, so then I moved down to the third division.

    “At that level, soccer is not the best pay, you cant live just from soccer. There were no thoughts at this point about becoming an MMA fighter; I love soccer. But with some of the politics in the team at the time, it was hard to get into the team.

    “That’s why I love MMA now; it is about being the best of the best, and also, it is up to you yourself, not relying on other people. You don’t have to rely on the other ten players! If you train hard, then you’re responsible for your result.”

    It seems the fighter made the right decision, proving his skills in the cage beyond doubt, most recently knocking out David Kozma in front of 27,000 roaring fans at Eden Stadium in Prague, Czech Republic.

    Ion Surdu has something special planned for Kaik Brito

    While his rival has experience in the UFC, Surdu is more than confident that he’s come up with a method to render his opponent unconscious and claim the biggest prize in European MMA.

    The 29-year-old told Oktagon: “He is dangerous, young, experienced, and always moving forward. But we have prepared something special for him. I do not think this fight will go the distance.

    “I predict it ends in the third or fourth round with a good counter and perfect timing.”  

    Amazing: ‘Zico is a legend in Brazil’… Alexandre Pantoja discusses meeting his soccer hero

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  • Bruin acquires four agencies, launches soccer representation business

    Bruin acquires four agencies, launches soccer representation business

    As1 will represent more than 300 athletes including Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes. (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

    US-based sports and entertainment investment firm Bruin Capital has launched a new international soccer representation firm through the acquisition of several agencies.

    As1 (AS ONE) has been formed after Bruin purchased Nomi Sports, Position Number, and Promoesport.

    Bruin also has an agreement to acquire a fourth agency, Football Division Worldwide, which is scheduled to close shortly, pending customary regulatory approval. That will also be folded into the new company.

    Ignacio Aguillo has been appointed As1’s chief executive and will work directly with Bruin founder and CEO George Pyne, who is chairman of the new agency.

    Aguillo’s background includes leadership roles with Spanish soccer giants Atletico Madrid, France’s RC Lens, and Italian outfit Parma and the World Padel Tour, as well as over 15 years in the investment banking sector.

    With As1, he will seek to “develop the company into a leading international football agency differentiated by its best-in-class capabilities, resources, and global reach to support the dynamic athletic and entrepreneurial aspirations of today’s elite football players.”

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    At launch, As1 will represent more than 300 athletes and coaches from a combined 35 countries.

    This includes several players in England’s Premier League such as Luis Díaz (Liverpool), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), and Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea), as well as new Manchester United head coach Rúben Amorim.

    As1 also represents Irene Guerrero, a World Cup champion with Spain.

    The new company’s clients compete in a combined 34 professional leagues, including the Premier League, Italian Serie A, German Bundesliga, France’s Ligue 1, and Liga Portugal.

    As1’s new global headquarters will be based in London, with additional offices in Spain, Portugal, and the UAE.

    All four agency founders, Raul DaCosta (Nomi Sports), Miguel Pinho (PositionNumber), Rodri Baster (Promoesport), and Manuel Sierra (Football Division Worldwide), will continue to lead their respective businesses, working directly with Aguillo. 

    As1 is part of Legion Sports, a new holding company created by private equity firm The Jordan Company (TJC).

    In 2019, Bruin announced a long-term strategic partnership with TJC and CVC Capital Partners. It operates as an affiliate of Bruin Capital to acquire and develop international sports properties across I.P., athlete representation, technology, media, and events.

    In addition to access to growth capital for additional strategic initiatives, As1 will have full operational support from Bruin executives as it looks to capitalize on potential synergies across Bruin’s holdings of companies in the gaming, media, tech, branding, VIP hospitality, brand strategy, and field turf management sectors.

    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP advised Bruin/Legion on each of the deals that comprise the As1 platform.

    Pyne has said: “I’ve been involved with athlete representation for quite a long time, including now through Bruin’s interests in TGI Sport, which currently represents more than 300 professional cricketers and several other amateur and professional athletes. 

    “The industry is evolving in our new creator economy where every athlete can become a global brand or enterprise, and that’s how we are going to approach things from the very beginning. Given our background, network, and track record, we believe this new platform can become something special. 

    “Behind that, we’re thrilled to have Ignacio, with his unique background and qualifications, become CEO. He and the team will have the full extent of our resources to help their clients realize their immense potential on and off the pitch and to help As1 set a differentiated paradigm for athlete representation.”

    Aguillo added: “We have been listening carefully to our athlete clients and partners to build a highly differentiated firm that addresses the needs of a modern elite football player.

    “Our commitment to nurturing long-term relationships and providing strategic advice across different facets of the value chain sets us apart. My partners and I cannot wait to show our clients the great things we will do together.”

    Earlier this year, Bruin purchased a minority stake in sports-focused production company Box to Box Films.

    That came soon after Bruin announced it was divesting from its ownership of Two Circles, the international digital-focused sports agency.

    Other investments by Bruin include travel and hospitality firm On Location, which is the official hospitality provider of the Olympic Games, and video streaming technology firm Deltatre, which most recently announced a digital partnership with North American ice hockey’s National Hockey League.


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  • Peterson’s 2 goals lead Summerville girls soccer past Wildcats | Sports

    Peterson’s 2 goals lead Summerville girls soccer past Wildcats | Sports

    The streak has been snapped.

    For the first time since 2017, the Summerville High School girls varsity soccer team has defeated its local rivals, Sonora. The Wildcats traveled across Tuolumne County on Monday evening to face off against the Bears at Thorsted Field.

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