January 31-2014
California-born Steven Beitashour (photo), who played last year for the Iranian national soccer team and is expected to play for Iran in the World Cup finals this summer, has just been traded by his club team, the San Jose Earthquakes, to the Vancouver Whitecaps in Canada. Beitashour, 26, was reportedly seeking to be traded to a European club, but instead will stay in the Canadian-American league. The fullback has two goals and 16 assists in 87 appearances over four seasons with the Earthquakes. San Jose is where he was born and reared.