When you’re out of FA Cup competition and Champions League/Uefa Cup competition, you get to take a little R&R. Sometimes that means a little trip to Spain or Italy, but if you’ve got an American with pull, it means the good ol U.S. of A. Brad Friedel’s Blackburn Rovers open up a three day training stint at the Walt Disney Resort compound in Orlando on February 15th, 18th and 19th, taking full advantage of the warm weather and Disneyland.

[image via REDeveloper]

If you’ve ever had the chance to meet Brad Friedel, then you know what kind of guy he is. The Premier Soccer Academy that he’s built in Ohio is similar to the idea that’s happening in Bradenton, Florida yet different in that his academy is for club players. The future of having the opportunity to train everyday at a high level, similar to the model in England is another HUGE step in the right direction for American soccer, especially when American soccer/football players are putting money where their mouth is and back in the game for the kids.

Today Blackburn announced the one year extension that Brad Friedel was signed to, keeping him at Ewood Park (with former MLS’er Ryan Nelsen) until June of 2010. Friedel has smashed the record for Premiership appearances for Rovers at 300 games this past weekend against Timmy Howard and Everton. I still remember sitting at lunch in Sydney, Australia back in 2000 and Brad getting a call from Graeme Souness (his former manager at Galatasary) about the possible transfer from Liverpool, back when Blackburn was in the Championship (Division One).

image via BBC 

One of the biggest success stories to come out of MLS has been Kiwi Ryan Nelsen.  After leading DC United to a championship, the then 27 years old went on trial with Mark Hughes’ Blackburn Rover and was immediately signed on a free transfer.  In less than 6 months, Nelsen was leading the starting 11 out at Ewood Park and guiding Blackburn (along with Brad Friedel) into UEFA Cup.  Although Nelsen has been a constant in the starting lineup, the pesky hamstring problem he faced last year has flared up again, forcing him to take a couple of weeks off.