Alexander Abnos @AnAbnos Twitter profile

Pinned Tweet

Alexander Abnos

1 year

I wouldn’t be where I am today without Grant Wahl. But the real story is how many people can say the same thing. On my Grant stories, which are probably very similar to yours:

Grant Wahl was my idol and my friend. A selfless, wonderful man.

Soccer journalist Grant Wahl died on Saturday in Qatar. His friend and former colleague Alexander Abnos pays tribute to a special man

theathletic.com

22

152

1K

Last Seen Profiles

@2ndsfly

@Roberto76927217

@laura_elmendorf

@Blankyross1

@podimconference

@m0sstrx

@StrathallanSchl

@stwmaniax

@oku_yungx

@bmorphism

@jpflondon

@RowsterInc

@tjisoo

@boobataebubble

@papisa3166

@Chick_Labs

@LIFE_CROWNS

@mr135039

@laguns

@Jack1184821

@Fatahiyya_

@DianteHealth

@DevlinBarrett

@Yaikichan

@Djoe_V2

@BitMetis

@Arthur1__

@DrNeilHudson

@aku_suri

@chikako_1119

@KilcockGAA

@sachan_anuruddh

@Pti_Pakpatan

@Djpaulmcardle

@LBU561

@dorajar_

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 months

These games are happening at the same time in the same country.

20

267

4K

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

6 years

This was an incredible jump cut.

26

655

3K

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

One nation, one team, one degree Fahrenheit.

15

202

2K

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

9 months

I think Lionel Messi's decision to play in the United States was sealed 8 years ago at this exact moment. This is when he realized that this was a land of free chicken sandwiches, where even the *Washington Wizards* could make people happy.

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

9 years

Priceless Argentina national team gets free chicken at the Wizards game reaction no. 2: http://t.co/1V6lpU4SEI

16

117

201

14

191

2K

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

7 months

Seeing an indirect freekick in the box is like catching a glimpse of bigfoot. Seeing a goal scored off of one is like catching a glimpse of bigfoot breakdancing.

U.S. Soccer Men's National Team

@USMNT

7 months

GIOVANNI MY OH MY

108

952

12K

5

130

2K

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

Switzerland is going to play in a World Cup looking like a "HELLO my name is" sticker

28

153

2K

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

11 months

I am now reading about HotShot. This product is absolutely insane.

michelle cooper

@michelle1cooper

11 months

HotShot is taking names out here. #NWSL

51

288

4K

14

158

2K

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

9 months

If you're already bored with the sheer predictability of men's European club football, allow me to suggest MLS, where the first-placed team was one of the league's worst-ever teams 1.5 seasons ago and the last-placed team has Lionel Messi.

14

132

2K

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

Phil Neville, an Englishman, is holding a post-match huddle in the middle of the field here in the United States! Surely there will be a full news cycle and plenty of criticism surrounding this absolute madness.

23

93

1K

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

#USMNT fans: I'm a bit biased here, but overlook Iran at your peril. Among the elite teams in Asia consistently, and currently in some of the best form I've ever seen them in. Only missed knockouts at last 2 WCs bc of ridiculous golazos. Playing v. close to home. Not an easy out.

89

103

1K

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

3 years

Maybe MLS's quickest path to being a top-5 league worldwide is just waiting around for European club soccer to completely self-destruct.

15

149

1K

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 months

Recap: • FS2 cuts away from FC Cincinnati-Monterrey for college basketball • FS2 runs an on-screen alert saying FCC-Monterrey is on the Fox Sports App • On the Fox Sports app, the FCC-Monterrey stream links to a stream of FS2, which is playing...college basketball. Awesome

42

78

1K

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

7 years

Chapecoense had been a Brazilian soccer Cinderella story. From Serie C in 2012 to Serie A & Copa Sudamericana final in 2016. Now this.

4

1K

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

7 years

🚨🚨 STOPPAGE TIME GAME-TYING BICYCLE KICK GOALIE GOAL🚨🚨

21

924

1K

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

8 months

I'm not exactly unbiased, but it would seem to me that when a referee is actively engaging in conversation with a player who is holding the ball, it seems kinda unfair to then allow a quick restart in this manner!

Major League Soccer

@MLS

8 months

Caught sleeping... Sergio Busquets with the high IQ play to set up Facundo Farias to give #InterMiamiCF a 3-1 lead.

134

714

10K

101

42

1K

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

8 years

After a moment of silence for Orlando victims, fans of Ecuador and Haiti erupt in a "USA, USA" Chant here in New Jersey.

5

421

933

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

1 year

Man, I wish Grant could have been around to see that.

3

57

919

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

9 months

There's a big difference between identifying clear and obvious errors and searching for reasons to change on-field calls. This is actually a good test case. People who are not watching this game, or are seeing this Tweet later: Can you even guess why this goal was disallowed?

Fastbreak Breakfast

@fastbreakbreak

9 months

MUKHTAR MY GOD

8

11

208

173

63

840

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

9 years

They forgot a comma. Never forget a comma. http://t.co/5HHI8yxhaz

42

922

722

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

7 years

Ever wondered what #MLS ' player acquisition rules look like in a flowchart? Here you go. (zoomable version here: )

48

337

714

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

3 years

On top of every other huge major COVID-related thing that happened a year ago today...there was also this.

Meg Linehan

@itsmeglinehan

4 years

Looking at ISI Photos and saw that #USWNT players have all taken the field wearing their warm-up jerseys inside out, hiding the U.S. Soccer crest... but not the four stars. Yeah, that feels intentional. 📸 Brad Smith/ISI

253

5K

21K

9

57

711

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

5 years

Josef Martínez, man.

12

128

696

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

5 years

I love, love, love this photo via Kevin C. Cox of Getty. #ATLUTD is an orchestra, Arthur Blank is the conductor.

6

141

676

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

☹️

47

126

654

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

There have been a lot of elements of this Challenge Cup final that pretty clearly illustrate how the #NWSL continues to fail its players.

8

132

645

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

3 years

The inclusion of Wichita and St. Louis without Kansas City is just hilariously perfectly calibrated to piss off 100% of Kansas Citians.

78

73

622

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

1 year

Grant Wahl inspired me endlessly. First as a role model - a fellow Kansas kid who went to my high school and covered my favorite sport. Then as a co-worker at SI, where his work and advice was always top-notch. And later as a good friend. Tonight has been traumatic and surreal.

U.S. Soccer

@ussoccer

1 year

U.S. Soccer Statement On The Passing Of Grant Wahl:

2K

13K

62K

15

42

613

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

3 years

Soccer people today:

6

90

582

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

7 months

I've been watching MLS all year long and this kid from the commercial hasn't made any progress whatsoever in his ability to speak Spanish to his grandmother.

10

37

594

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

3 years

I like Jordan Siebatcheu because we all call him Jordan Siebatcheu but his name according to Google is Theoson Siebatcheu but his name according to Wikipedia is Theoson-Jordan Siebatcheu but he wears Pefok on the back of his jersey.

12

58

548

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

1 year

hell yeah

1

37

537

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

Here's who can qualify for the World Cup, secure at worst a playoff spot, or be eliminated from contention on Matchday 12 of the CONCACAF Octagonal. Hi-res version here:

43

91

520

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

5 years

#MLSCup attendance is 73,019. It is the second MLS Cup final attendance to be a prime number. Props to anyone that can name the other one before the end of the game.

16

72

482

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

6 years

It's not just the dummy at the end. Lukaku's diagonal run opened up the space for Meunier on the right, then he seamlessly occupied the next defender to give Chadli an opening in the box. So, so freaking smart.

FOX Soccer

@FOXSoccer

6 years

We dare you to find a better counterattack! Chadli finishes off a beautiful team play to give Belgium the win late in stoppage time. 🔥🔥🔥

135

3K

7K

3

122

474

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

8 years ago, weeks before leaving to work at a World Cup, I got a jury summons for a date in the middle of the tournament. I postponed and never heard back... ...until today, weeks before leaving to work at a World Cup, for a date in the middle of the tournament! Incredible.

14

6

499

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

3 years

Congratulations to Kansas City for gaining 10 major league titles in a single day. Go Monarchs!

3

67

468

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

5 days

Ages of tonight's Portland Thorns starting XI when Christine Sinclair scored her first international goal: Hogan: 1 Payne: -1 Obaze: -2 Sauerbrunn: 14 Muller: -4 months Coffey: 1 Beckie: 5 Fleming: 2 Sugita: 3 Smith: -5 months

National Women’s Soccer League

@NWSL

5 days

This finish by Christine Sinclair 🤌 Portland leads Washington 2-0 on @IONNWSL !

2

15

156

1

50

431

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

Ok so maybe not *everyone* at Providence Park is up for #MLSCup .

4

38

371

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

I’m sorry, this is just a hilarious chyron for an assistant coach at a cup final.

6

27

358

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

1 year

This is taken a bit out of context. The question was about how teams the Netherlands will face later in WC will adjust to their playing style. Van Gaal started by saying (via translator): "I would assume that the stronger the country is, the less they'll adjust to the system..."

12

54

345

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

5 years

Thanks to @SportingKC for posting this photo of our next president.

0

20

340

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

6 years

A man that big, that fast, with such soft feet, that reads the game that well and moves so intelligently...how exactly are you supposed to stop Lukaku when he’s in form like this?

7

69

323

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

5 years

Pulisic is 20. McKennie is 21. Dest is 18. Sargent is 19. Cannon is 21. All were asked to make veteran-level contributions tonight because most of the actual veterans on this team are either not there or not up to the task. #USMNT has a bunch of problems, but that's one of 'em.

16

29

326

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

3 years

If any American sports people are confused by the #InterMiamiCF news, let me sum it up this way: Imagine that the Astros did what the Astros did, but instead of winning the World Series they missed the playoffs entirely.

8

44

325

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

5 years

Tyler Boyd plays like someone who is not burdened in the least by the last 2 years of U.S. men’s soccer.

3

18

310

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

4 years

Is that the first time we’ve heard the VAR conversation on an MLS broadcast? If so please let it be the first of many. That was great.

8

18

309

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

5 years

🚨🚨FIELD PLAYER PLAYING GOALKEEPER ALERT 🚨🚨🚨 Turn on Man City-Atalanta right now. Edeson injured. Claudio Bravo red-carded. Kyle Walker (?!?!?!?!) coming on?

2

22

288

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

4 years

I suspect that I'm in the minority in not liking fake crowd noise on these Bundesliga broadcasts. Sure, it's comforting, but it's an inaccurate portrayal of what's happening and deprives us of a unique opportunity to know what high-stakes matches like this sound like on-field.

33

31

283

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

"from the club's developmental pathway"

Inter Miami CF

@InterMiamiCF

2 years

Signed ✍🏽 Harvey Neville #InterMiamiCF signs Harvey Neville from @Intermiamicfii to a first team contract running through the 2024 MLS season. Neville becomes the third player this season promoted to the First Team from the Club’s developmental pathway.

21

28

202

5

31

279

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

9 years

My favorite quote from the @MLS oral history I put together w/ @GrantWahl & @BrianStraus in the new SI magazine. http://t.co/iWRX3QostG

10

196

270

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

4 years

I would imagine that a lot of us in the American soccer world are pulling pretty hard for Wolves right now.

5

7

268

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

8 years

Chiefs and Royals have shared Kansas City since '69. This is the first time in those 46 years both have made the playoffs in the same year.

7

246

264

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

1 year

I'm sorry, I don't doubt that these things are incredibly difficult to produce, but it's insane that the MLS whiparound show has commercials.

14

12

266

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

9 years

New favorite Vine.

6

245

262

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

10 months

Stopped by the Adidas flagship store in SoHo on my way home. Think it’s fair to say it’d be especially weird if the deal didn’t actually happen now.

14

42

267

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

3 years

Get you someone who commits to you the way Brian Schmetzer commits to not accepting any credit for his team’s successes.

2

16

267

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

5 months

With the departures of Graham Zusi and Roger Espinoza, there are now 0 people on the Sporting Kansas City playing roster who have ever been Kansas City Wizards. It took 13 post-rebrand seasons for that to be true.

4

35

269

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

6 years

Clearly not a catch; you can see on the replay Kareem Hunt fails to accurately recite the opening stanza of Kubla Khan while maintaining possession.

CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable

@cjzero

6 years

I have no idea what a catch is again

36

217

463

13

73

244

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

5 years

Eric Cantona just became the world's most in-demand eulogist.

Carl Anka

@Ankaman616

5 years

Eric Cantona.... thank you.

36

164

453

2

35

244

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

4 years

I assume the "humiliating" here refers to MLB, which fits. But it could also easily apply to ESPN bookers, who included Manfred on this panel and not Lisa Baird, whose NWSL is not only actually coming back, but is doing so before any of major U.S. league.

Chris Cotillo

@ChrisCotillo

4 years

How humiliating is this? Tonight, Rob Manfred will appear on an ESPN special called "The Return of Sports" with five other commissioners -- all of whom have restart plans already finalized.

99

886

6K

2

41

241

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

8 years

I just screamed very loudly at the TV and this goal is why.

7

142

224

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

6 years

A tradition unlike any other.

7

77

220

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

10 months

I don't think it's possible to do "being a professional athlete" much better than Rapinoe. Produced at an elite level for over a decade, won championships and World Cups, played with a distinct style that matched her personality, and became a cultural icon in the process.

The Athletic

@TheAthletic

10 months

Two-time FIFA World Cup champion Megan Rapinoe will retire at the end of the 2023 NWSL season, she announced. Rapinoe has been with the Reign since the NWSL’s first season in 2013. More:

12

32

208

2

15

226

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

5 years

The striking thing about this is the number of times he says it was a decision based on emotion/feeling. I think most #USMNT fans would want that to be the case, but it's worth appreciating just how hard those types of decisions can be, *especially* when you're 18.

AFC Ajax

@AFCAjax

5 years

The American Dream continues…🇺🇸 Sergiño Dest -> @USMNT 🗽

212

1K

6K

5

23

213

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

3 years

Gonzalo Higuain had a golden opportunity to celebrate his goal by smoking an imaginary cigarette. He chose not to. Our loss.

2

11

215

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

Hope there are cameras on-site for Greece-born Kansas City Chiefs draft pick George Karlaftis's first visit to the One True Parthenon

10

25

217

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

8 years

NFL: Please don't dance. Soccer:

1

174

207

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

5 years

Why do people keep talking about Opening Day? MLS started like 4 weeks ago.

3

22

206

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

MLS in 2001 / MLS in 2021. all that's old is new again.

7

25

210

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

4 years

“I don’t have an Instagram,” Federico Higuain said. “I’m a football player.” Great stuff from @MLSist

‘This game is my life’: Federico Higuain, Crew legend, plays on with D.C. United

The player/coach is still getting used to his new surroundings, but his influence on United could be huge in a short amount of time

theathletic.com

3

18

192

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

9 years

Priceless Argentina national team gets free chicken at the Wizards game reaction no. 2: http://t.co/1V6lpU4SEI

16

117

201

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

1 year

National teams that give managers a second World Cup cycle:

3

19

192

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

7 years

The extra time equalizer on Christmas Day was scored by a man named Jesus.

2

114

178

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

1 year

His general point seemed to be that once you get to a certain level, teams just play the way they play, and don't radically alter what they're doing to match an opponent, using the U.S. as an example. He also said that he didn't expect France/Argentina/Spain to adjust to NED.

3

20

174

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

7 years

This was Theodore Whitmore's reaction to Je-Vaughn Watson's goal.

10

119

171

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

10 years

The @Arsenal men & @ArsenalLadies 1st teams took a combined squad photo. It's the only cool sports thing of the week. http://t.co/Ka7x29GgHR

10

227

169

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

7 months

I mean....this is pretty crazy.

16

25

172

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

6 years

I just have no idea what positive endgame MLS is hoping to reach with their approach to the Columbus Crew situation. Every step of the way it seems like they've made a bad situation worse.

1

57

168

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

3 years

I hate to harp on things like this, especially when it's not exactly new, but NYCFC's Yankee Stadium camera angle is just awful.

13

6

167

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

3 years

Women's soccer coverage has been extraordinarily successful here at @TheAthleticSCCR . IMO, it speaks to a huge & dedicated audience for serious, in-depth coverage in that space. Having Steph join @itsmeglinehan will enable us to do so much more of that, and I'm excited as hell.

The Athletic Soccer

@TheAthleticSCCR

3 years

We're thrilled to welcome Steph Yang ( @thrace ) – our new full-time women’s soccer writer – to @TheAthletic ! 📚:

29

60

1K

1

10

166

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

This man is in the middle of playing a senior World Cup qualifier.

1

18

160

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

Is Johnny Russell a top 10 all-time Wizards/Sporting KC player? I don’t know if he is, but I’m pretty sure he’s in the conversation.

16

8

159

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

@laura_nelson Yet ironically enough, given the ever-increasing size of the front grills on some of those trucks and SUVs, they probably wouldn't have seen it coming from just a few feet away.

3

5

153

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

6 years

An entire conversation in 0 words and ~3 seconds.

1

17

141

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

7 years

Zinedine Zidane scores in his final match for Real Madrid. 10 years pass. Enzo Zidane scores in his first match for Real Madrid. Thats cool.

0

80

139

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

I absolutely believed this was real when it came out and there’s a part of me that wishes I never learned it wasn’t.

SPORTbible

@sportbible

2 years

17 years ago today, YouTube was created and of course it was Ronaldinho who had the first ever video with over 1 million views... 😍

859

15K

82K

7

11

150

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

4 years

In which I argue that @AOC should lead the charge for a fan-owned #NWSL team in Queens or the Bronx, because she definitely isn't busy enough already:

Taylor Swift, Céline Dion and Stephen Curry: Our NWSL expansion wish list

After the Angel City announcement, the sky's the limit on potential NWSL owners. We've got some ideas.

theathletic.com

3

10

149

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

5 years

I'm having a great day, because it's the first at my new job as Staff Editor at @TheAthleticSCCR . I am thrilled to be joining the team, and also to be the latest person in your timeline bugging you to get a subscription (you should totally do that):

26

8

149

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

3 years

On FS1, Dr. Joe just said that PRO told him none of the crew that worked the Orlando-NYCFC debacle yesterday will get another assignment in these playoffs. Accountability!

5

13

150

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

You know who else picked Austin FC to finish outside of the playoffs? Their own fans! And other fans!

4

17

148

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

Worth saying regardless, but especially since she’s been all over TV today and specifically right now in this E60 doc: we’re very lucky to have @itsmeglinehan at @TheAthleticSCCR .

0

12

146

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

7 years

And just like that, the #USMNT can call up a forward that has scored 57 goals in the last 3 seasons.

Sporting Kansas City

@SportingKC

7 years

IT'S OFFICIAL! #SportingKC 's @Ddwyer14 is now a 🇺🇸 citizen.

54

610

3K

4

39

140

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

9 months

#USWNT knockout round kickoff times (ET) if they were to somehow make it to the final: As group winner: 10pm, 9pm, 4am, 6am As runner-up: 5am, 3:30am, 4am, 6am If nothing else, cheer for your sleep schedule.

7

43

144

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

8 years

@itsdannykang One of the worst parts of living in NYC is when you see a subway performer like this, but then have to get on the train.

1

21

135

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

3 years

4 months ago, Daniel Salloi had scored one MLS goal in the two previous seasons. Now he has 12 goals + 6 assists in 21 games, is an All-Star, and is playing against England in World Cup qualifying. Pretty wild.

4

6

142

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

7 years

Yordano Ventura, killed in a car crash, pitched 1 of his most memorable games with "RIP Oscar Taveras", killed in a car crash, on his cap.

2

65

133

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

2 years

*fin*

8

139

Alexander Abnos

@AnAbnos

4 years

I'm honestly pretty skeptical on US sports leagues returning at all this year, but if they're gonna come back, I think NWSL players just set the standard for a deal w/ their league -- no pay cuts at all, even if players can't participate: