ed a pitch off his right leg Aug. 17, played two more games in pain and then found out he had fractured his shin. He finished the season with a .255 average, 31 homers and 79 RBIs.Teixeira hasnt appeared in more than 123 games in a season since 2011.Teixeira, chosen by the

Sebastian Giovincos arrival at Toronto FC from Juventus last year was a surprise to many. An Italy international, landing from one of the worlds elite leagues at the peak age of 27, Giovincos move was to some more integral than David Beckham, Kaka and Frank Lampards song-and-dance arrivals.Why? Because Giovinco was one of the first 20-something players to take the leap to MLS with so much still to prove. Giovinco has taken MLS by storm since his move to Toronto FC. We take a look at the diminutive forwards finest moments. Beckham was 31 when he joined LA Galaxy, but with nearly 100 England caps having just won the Liga title with Real Madrid.Kaka had won nearly every personal and team prize in the game before moving to Orlando last year, while Lampard, like the others, had nothing left to prove with over 600 Premier League appearances and 177 goals.Giovinco played a bit-part role in Juventus side since 2013, and had earned just seven Italy caps in two years having previously been a regular.His career hadnt reached its peak, but instead of taking a step back and searching for European football across the continent, he took a risk by joining a franchise who had yet to reach Major League Soccers play-offs in their eight-year history. Giovinco has scored two in two for Toronto this season Make no mistake, he is paid handsomely. His salary of $7.1m a year is the second-highest in MLS in 2015 behind Kaka, but the pressure of the price tag has not shown. He scored 22 goals in 33 MLS appearances as Toronto FC reached the play-offs, and was named 2015 MVP winner, Golden Boot winner, Newcomer of the Year winner and single-season points record winner for goals and assists combined.Giovincos transfer to Toronto to was very surprising, says Sky in Italys Augusto De Bartolo. No Italian players went to MLS at the peak age of their careers. The last two established Italians to choose soccer were Alessandro Nesta and Andrea Pirlo, but they went in the twilight years.He is the most important player in the young history of Toronto FC, he has won all of these awards without changing his style of play. The Italian was WhoScored.coms player of the season for MLS in 2015 He was not fully appreciated in Italy, due to the desire of the coaches to use players with physical strength. He made the choice to move to MLS when he was still on the roster of the Azzurri at an age when players generally show all of their potential.Just 5ft 4ins and with bags of skill, Giovinco has suited MLS to the ground. His low centre of gravity and eye-catching guile has been a breath of fresh air to the league, which is enjoying a period of rapid growth.Giovinco has been so impressive, he even attracted a small approach from Barcelona of all clubs.I didnt believe it myself, Giovinco told SportItalia last year. It was true though, even if there was nothing concrete. A small approach, shall we say. Sky in Italys August De Bartolo says Giovincos style is comparable with Gianfranco Zolas For those yet to watch him at length on these shores, one comparison springs to mind.When you watch Giovinco on the pitch, the only player you think of is Gianfranco Zola, says Sky in Italys De Bartolo. They are not only very similar on a physical and technical basis, but in their career too.Like Giovinco, Zola was not fully appreciated in his country, and moved to another championship. It is not uncommon for Italians to notice the value of a player when he leaves the country. It happened with Zola, it is happening with Giovinco. He is a little big player, like Zola.Zola earned just 35 caps for Italy, retiring after not being selected for the 1998 World Cup, but Giovincos international career has life left in it - one of a growing number of players to see their national team prospects improve following a move to MLS. The leagues retirement home tag is fading, and Giovinco has contributed to much of the erasing.In my opinion, Giovinco could play in La Liga, the Premier League or Bundesliga. Many thought his decision would prevent him playing a big role at Euro 2016 with the Azzurri, but Antonio Conte is still considering him as a big resource for the squad. Steven Gerrard and Andrea Pirlo both moved to MLS, but Giovinco took the challenge on his mid-20s He played the last two matches of the Euro Qualifying campaign against Azerbaijan and Norway, and Conte actually prefers him to Napolis Lorenzo Insigne.Could that Barcelona interest, or that of any other European powerhouse, turn from small to something serious? Like many MLS stars, the anonymity of life in the league is a major positive, something Steven Gerrard, Lampard and Pirlo have all strongly referenced. Giovinco scored a fine goal in Torontos 2-2 draw at NYC FC last week Giovinco told The Guardian last year: The difference between Italy and here is that here we can enjoy time with family, time with friends. So after training, we can just go for a walk, go for ice cream, shopping, whatever. And when we do get stopped by fans, they are very respectful. Its a difference lifestyle, and Im definitely enjoying it.The faster the league grows, and the more Giovinco stars, the sooner that might change, but his risky move has paid off. Watch Giovinco in action as Toronto FC travel to Sporting Kansas City on Sunday evening in MLS, live on Sky Sports 5HD at 11pm Also See: WATCH: Incredible Amarikwa chip 10 MLS questions for Ridgewell WATCH: MLS top 5 young players WATCH: MLS ridiculous questions Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Online . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. Discount Soccer Jerseys . The phone hearing is scheduled for 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt. Winchester, who was not penalized for the hit, appeared to make contact with Kellys head early in the first period of Thursdays game in Boston. http://www.cheapsoccerchina.com/ . Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Cheap Barcelona Jerseys China . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. Stitched Soccer Jerseys . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. NEW YORK --?Yankees?first baseman?Mark Teixeira?said he was certain this was the right time, but that didnt make it any easier for him to say goodbye.Teixeira fought back tears Friday?as he announced that his 14th season in the major leagues will be his last. At 36, he has decided to retire at the end of the season.I got to live out my dream, said Teixeira, who has hit 404 career home runs and won a World Series with the Yankees in 2009.Teixeira said in spring training that he hoped to play another five years. He has missed time because of problems with his neck and knees, however, and he said his decision to call it a career was made at the All-Star break.I just realized my body cant do it anymore, Teixeira said. If Im going to grind through seasons not being healthy, Id rather be home with my kids.My neck hurts almost every day. The knee thing popped up. It all kind of dawned on me thats not in the cards.Teixeira is in the eighth and final year of the $180 million contract he signed as a free agent in December 2008. He said he kept the decision to himself at first, but after the Yankees went into sell mode at this weeks non-waiver trade deadline, he understood there would be questions about his future.I dont want to be a distraction, said Teixeira, a three-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner.Teixeira was in the lineup for Friday nights 13-7 win over the Cleveland Indians. He?doubled in the first inning after receiving a warm ovation, then legged out a single in the third and took third on Brian McCanns double.?It was special tonight, he said. I had a lot of the Indians come over and say congratulations, and the umpires, just telling me that they enjoyed watching me and playing against me.At .202, his batting average reached .200 for the first time since before play on May 20.It had to be really rewarding for the game that he had tonight, Girardi said, adding that hell continue to play Teixeira as much as I can [the rest of the season].Teixeiras best season came in 2009, his first with the Yankees, wheen he hit .dddddddddddd92 with 39 homers and 122 RBIs and finished second in American League MVP voting.He said he was proudest of hitting at least 30 home runs and driving in at least 100 runs for eight straight seasons from 2004 through 2011.He was limited to 15 games and a .151 average in 2013 after he tore the tendon sheath in his right hand while with the U.S. team at the World Baseball Classic. He had surgery that July and missed the remainder of the season, then hit .216 with 22 homers and 62 RBIs the following year, when the hand was still regaining strength and he was slowed by a hamstring injury.Fully recovered, he made the All-Star team again in 2015 but fouled a pitch off his right leg Aug. 17, played two more games in pain and then found out he had fractured his shin. He finished the season with a .255 average, 31 homers and 79 RBIs.Teixeira hasnt appeared in more than 123 games in a season since 2011.Teixeira, chosen by the Texas Rangers with the fifth overall pick in the 2001 amateur draft, also played for the Rangers,?Atlanta Braves?and?Los Angeles Angels?in his 14-year career. He owns a .269 career batting average with 1,281 RBIs.He is one of five switch-hitters in MLB history with at least 400 home runs, joining Mickey Mantle (536), Eddie Murray (504), Chipper Jones (468) and Carlos Beltran (415).Only nine players have finished their careers with at least 400 home runs and five Gold Gloves. All are in the Hall of Fame, except Barry Bonds and Andruw Jones, who will be eligible in 2018.?Teixeiras potential successor at first base is 23-year-old Greg Bird,?who is missing this season after shoulder surgery in February.On Friday, Teixeira said it mattered to him to retire as a Yankee.I gave you everything I had, he said, speaking to Yankees fans as his voice cracked. It wasnt always enough, but I tried my best.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. ' ' '