MLS hopefuls have begun gathering in Florida for the MLS Combine, which features more than 60 players, including a trio from South America. The combine, which runs through Tuesday, precedes the Superdraft scheduled for a week from today.

Nine of the most promising attendees have already signed MLS contracts as part of the Generation adidas program, which usually identifies the top draft prospects.

They include Bruins defender Chance Meyers of Thousand Oaks and UCLA midfielder Tony Beltran of Claremont.

More details from the (edited) MLS press release:

Highlighting this year’s class are seven players that have experience with the U.S. Youth National Teams and a finalist for this year’s MAC Hermann Trophy, college soccer’s version of the Heisman Trophy. Six of the nine players are leaving college early to enter the MLS SuperDraft - Eric Avila (UC Santa Barbara), Tony Beltran (UCLA), Chance Myers (UCLA), Patrick Nyarko (Virginia Tech), Ciaran O’Brien (UC Santa Barbara) and Rob Valentino (Univ. of South Florida). Three players – Josh Lambo (Chicago Magic FC), Alex Nimo (FC Portland) and Brek Shea (Texans FC) – are high school students who are foregoing their college eligibility to sign professional contracts.

Avila and Myers are currently training with the U.S. Men’s U-23 National Team while they prepare for Olympic Qualifying to begin in March. Beltran was a member of the U-20 Men’s National Team that advanced to the quarterfinals of last year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada.

Lambo, Nimo and Shea were members of the U-17 World Cup Team that competed in last year’s Youth World Championship in Korea.

Nyarko, a forward from Virginia Tech, led the Hokies to their first ever NCAA Final Four appearance in 2007 where they fell to eventual NCAA Champion Wake Forest. He recorded seven goals and 10 assists during the season, was named to the 2007 NSCAA/adidas NCAA Men’s Division I All-America Team and is a finalist for the Mac Hermann Trophy, honoring the country’s top Division I collegiate soccer player. The award will be announced today.

OC resident Jurgen Klinsmann has taken the coaching job with German powerhouse
Bayern Munich.

A capacity crowd is expected in Carson Saturday for the InterLiga finals:

The first match begins at 6:00 p.m. and features InterLiga newcomer San Luis versus Guadalajara-based club Atlas, followed by the match-up between Mexico City rivals América and Cruz Azul beginning at 8:30 p.m.

Call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 for tickets.

The Galaxy have announced they will hold open tryouts Feb. 9-12 at Home Depot Center. Registration forms will soon be available at lagalaxy.com.

Kids should stick with a Galaxy-sponsored indoor tournament set for Feb. 16-17 at the Home Depot Center velodrome. There are six age groups for boys ranging from Under-8 to Under-13 (girls can play on the teams, too). Register here.