XM Satellite Radio Unveils All Star Broadcast Team for FIFA World Cup 2006 Coverage.

XM Satellite Radio announced its all-star broadcast team for XM’s dedicated FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Soccer coverage in both Spanish and English. XM and its broadcast partner Futbol de Primera have amassed an impressive team for XM’s broadcast coverage, featuring some of the most respected and decorated names in soccer from the U.S., Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and El Salvador. Carlos Hermosillo, Bora Milutinovic, Javier Aguirre, Carlos Valderrama, Jesús “Chucho” Ramírez, Luis Alves “Zague”, and others will provide commentary, analysis and play-by-play coverage live from Germany on XM Deportivo (XM channel 147), XM’s 24-hour Spanish-language sports channel. XM will also offer a dedicated English-language play-by-play channel, FIFA World Cup 2006 (XM channel 148), with an equally impressive broadcast team that fea! tures U.S. soccer legends Jeff Agoos, Thomas Dooley and Phil Schoen, among others. XM is the official satellite radio broadcaster for FIFA World Cup Germany 2006.

“This is the first time in the history of the sport that World Cup Soccer has been available on radio in the U.S. in both Spanish and English, and XM intends to offer the most comprehensive coverage available with play-by-play coverage for tournament games, insightful commentary from respected World Cup Soccer veterans and the latest World Cup news in both languages,” said Eric Logan, executive vice president of programming, XM Satellite Radio. “Whether their hometown is Monterrey, Mexico or Monterey, Kentucky, fans living in the U.S. will be able to follow their favorite team at home, in the car or on the go with XM’s unprecedented coverage of FIFA World Cup Germany 2006.”

“XM will be on site and all over the World Cup with our play-by-play coverage and game analysis live from Germany with coverage of every team,” said Andres Cantor, the legendary soccer play-by-play announcer and lead anchor for XM’s Spanish-language World Cup coverage. “And for Spanish-speaking fans, XM will dedicate XM Deportivo to 24 hours of World Cup coverage. Soccer fans across the nation will have a feast like never before.”

Beginning June 5, Humberto Grondona, Jaime “Chelona” Rodríguez, Dr. Carlos Bilardo and Sammy Sadovnik, among others, will join Andres Cantor on XM Deportivo with commentary, play-by-play coverage and the latest World Cup soccer news through July 10. Fans can already enjoy the latest in FIFA World Cup 2006 news, team reports, player and coach profiles and more throughout the day on XM Deportivo.

XM FIFA World Cup 2006 Broadcast Team

Jeff Agoos
With 134 appearances with the U.S. Men’s National Team, Agoos ranks second in career international appearances. He was a member of the 1998 World Cup team in France and the 2002 World Cup team in Korea/Japan where the U.S. reached the quarterfinals.

Dr. Carlos Bilardo
Coach Carlos Bilardo was the architect of Argentina’s World Cup victory in Mexico in 1986. Four years later he nearly repeated this achievement at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, losing in the final to Germany on a penalty kick. He is recognized worldwide as an insightful analyst of the modern game.

Andres Cantor
Known for his passion for and encyclopedic knowledge of soccer, Cantor has broadcast from the 1990, 1994, 1998, and 2002 FIFA World Cups. He is widely recognized for his trademark “GOOOOL” call.

Javier Castrilli
A referee in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Castrilli has officiated some of the top games in Argentina and throughout the world.

Thomas Dooley
Thomas Dooley played in 81 games with the U.S. National Team during his career, including two FIFA World Cups. He played every minute for the U.S in 1994, and served as the captain of the U.S. team in France 1998 he.

Humberto Grondona
Recently in charge of the youth system of Mexico’s National Teams, Grondona brings his background as a coach and an analyst to Fútbol de Primera’s broadcasts. He coached professionally in his native Argentina for Independiente and Racing Club.

Carlos Hermosillo
Hermosillo recently ended a brilliant 17 year playing career that included two World Cups. He is one of the top two leading goal-scorers in the history of Mexican soccer and was one of the most recognizable soccer players in Mexico.

Dave Johnson
For the past ten years he has been the television play-by-play voice of DC United, Washington D.C.’s Major League Soccer (MLS) team. On radio Johnson has called the MLS Cup in 2000, several US Men’s National team friendly matches and World Cup qualifiers, among others. His soccer credits also include work on ESPN and Fox Sports Net.

Bora Milutinovic
Milutinovic stands alone as the only man to coach five different teams in the Finals of five consecutive FIFA World Cups (1986-Mexico, 1990-Costa Rica, 1994-United States, 1998-Nigeria, 2002-China).

Jesus “Chucho” Ramirez
As the head coach of Mexico’s U-17 National Team, Chucho led Mexico to its first FIFA World Championship at any age level when the team won the FIFA U-17 World Championship in Peru in 2005.

Jaime “Chelona” Rodriguez
He led El Salvador to the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain and later became the first player from his country to play in Germany and Japan. He also played professionally in Finland and Mexico.

Sammy Sadovnik
Sammy has reported on many of the top soccer tournaments in the world. He called play-by-play commentator for the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. Originally from Peru, Sammy is now Executive Producer of the Fútbol de Primera Daily and Sunday Shows airing on XM Deportivo.

Phil Schoen
One of the most recognizable play-by-play announcers in the sport of soccer, Schoen is the primary soccer broadcaster for Gol TV and hosts the network’s “American Soccer” show. He has been the “voice of soccer” for ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, covering matches such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League, MLS, US Cup, and NCAA Finals.

Christopher Sullivan
Christopher Sullivan was a member of the U.S. World Cup team in 1990, and totaled 19 games with the U.S. National Team during his career. He was one of the first Americans to break into first division soccer in Europe, playing for clubs in Denmark and Germany. Currently, Sullivan is an analyst for Fox Soccer Channel and provides technical soccer tips for the weekly program Fox Soccer USA.

Carlos Valderrama
The long-time captain of the Colombian National Team and Colombian Player of the Century, Valderrama played in the 1990, 1994, and 1998 FIFA World Cups and accumulated 111 appearances for the National Team during his career. He played professionally in the U.S. MLS from 1996 through 2002, and was named the league’s first MVP in 1996.

Luis Alves “Zague”
One of the best Mexican players ever, Zague scored 209 goals in the Mexican league for clubs America, Atlante and Necaxa, and played for Mexico in the 1994 FIFA World Cup.