Japan’s Ono eyes World Cup

January 22, 2010

Shinji Ono said on Friday that he is hoping for a recall to the Japan team for this year’s World Cup after returning to the J-League to play for Shimizu S-Pulse.

The 2002 Asian Player of the Year spent two years in Germany but struggled to get much first-team football with Bochum largely due to injury.

Now he says he is determined to do what it takes to play again for Japan, having won his last cap in August 2008.

“It will be impossible unless I can play seriously for Shimizu in every game. In so far as I have a chance, I just want to go ahead to realise my dream,” Ono told reporters.

The midfielder previously played for Japan in three World Cups. He won the 2002 UEFA Cup with Dutch side Feyenoord then joined Bochum in January 2008 before returning to Japan this month.

“It was the best timing for coming back,” he said.

“I’m now 30 years old. I want to prove that you can start your career at 30.”

Shimizu coach Kenta Hasegawa said: “He has a lot of experience. Of course, our target is to win the title. We are going to challenge with the fresh spirit of a beginner.”

Shimizu finished the season seventh in the J-League.

SHIZUOKA, Japan (AFP)

Tags: AFP, coach, course, dream, dutch side, feyenoord, Germany, hasegawa, j league, January, Japan, japan team, kenta, midfielder, ono, shimizu s pulse, Shinji Ono, SHIZUOKA, shizuoka japan, target, team football, uefa, UEFA Cup, World Cup, world cups

Blackburn chase Feyenoord’s Slory

January 5, 2010

Blackburn Rovers have targeted Andwele Slory to strengthen their attack. Blackburn boss Sam Allardy hopes to sign the Feyenoord winger on a free transfer.

Slory’s contract at Feyenoord expires after this season and the Dutch side isn’t eager to extend the speedy forward’s contract as they are in serious financial problems. Extending his contract would make Slory one of the high earners at De Kuip.

The 27-year-old attacker already has offers on the table from CSKA Moscow and Panathinaikos, but Slory fancies a switch to the Premier League.

Tags: attacker, boss, chase, cska moscow, dutch side, earners, feyenoord, Moscow, panathinaikos, premier league, Sam, winger

England failure made McClaren stronger

September 5, 2009

Steve McClaren insisted Saturday that his travails as coach of England was a “big failure,” given his team’s failure to reach the Euro 2008 finals, but ultimately made him stronger.

McClaren got the bullet after England were denied their place after losing at home to Croatia and now the former Middlesbrough manager is enjoying the experience of handling Dutch side FC Twente.

But he told the BBC’s Football Focus he had not forgotten for one moment his time as national coach.

“I don’t think a day goes by that some aspect of the experience with England doesn’t come flashing back to mind and teaching me a lesson, making me move on.

“It was a huge disappointment. I felt, as one would, I’d let down the nation because we didn’t qualify.

“However people say it was this, that or the other, the responsibility was mine and mine alone. I had to take that.

“It wasn’t pleasant, an experience I don’t want to go through again, but it is one that has not quite killed me and makes me stronger.”

McClaren has moved on and helped Twente to finish Dutch runners-up last season.

But he insisted: “It is not a road to redemption, it is not to prove to anybody anything, it is really what I do.

“Generally, I have been quite successful at what I do.

“You can’t win all the time, sometimes failures come. Sometimes they are big failures and this was a big failure (with England).

“So I moved on and took an opportunity to coach in Europe.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: croatia, disappointment, dutch side, England, euro 2008, Europe, failure, football focus, london, middlesbrough manager, national coach, road to redemption, runners, Steve McClaren, travails, twente

Four of five Dutch teams advance to group phase

August 28, 2009

Thursday was a good day for Dutch football, as four of five teams from that country advanced to the group stage of the inaugural UEFA Europe League.

PSV beat Bnei Yehuda 1-0 in Israel last week, and earned the same result in the return leg played in Eindhoven. The only goal of the match came from Belgian Timmy Simons, who converted a penalty in the 25th minute.

SC Heerenveen arguably delivered the most surprising result, holding Greek side PAOK to a goalless draw to advance on away goals. The first leg, played in Greece last week, ended 1-1.

FC Twente played out a scoreless draw at Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Steve McClaren’s side has won the opening leg 3-1, due to which there was never much pressure on the Enschede outfit in the second leg game.

Ajax had nothing to fear after last week’s 5-0 win over Slovan Bratislava, and Martin Jol’s men added a 1-2 win in the Slovakian capital. Siem de Jong and Kennede scored for the Dutch, while Jakub Sylvestr netted the only home game.

The only Dutch side to be eliminated in this round is NAC Breda losing 9-2 on aggregate to Villarreal. Cazorla, Rossi (2), Marcos Senna, Pereira and Kiko scored for Villarreal in Thursday’s 6-1 win. The only NAC goal came from Edwin de Graaf.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Bratislava, dutch football, dutch side, dutch teams, Eindhoven, Enschede, europe league, greece, group stage, home game, karabakh, marcos senna, martin jol, nac breda, paok, Pereira, return leg, slovakian capital, slovan bratislava, Steve McClaren, Timmy Simons

Defiant Sneijder says no to Madrid exit

August 26, 2009

Real Madrid’s Dutch international midfielder Wesley Sneijder is defiantly refusing a move to Inter Milan, with some reports hinting a love interest is keeping his feet firmly in the Spanish capital.

Sneijder is one of several players Real are trying to offload to counterbalance the mega-millions purchase of Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso. Real president Florentino Perez has already spent over 250 million euros on players so far.

But despite a concrete offer of over 15 million euros from Inter and the summer transfer deadline falling on August 31, the 25-year-old Sneijder is refusing to budge.

According to sports daily Marca Sneijder held talks with Real’s general manager Jorge Valdano earlier this week and told him: “Jorge, I’ve told you I am not leaving. What I want is to play here. It’s not a question of money, it’s more a footballing choice.”

Rival sports daily AS suggested Wednesday that Sneijder wants to remain in Madrid because of personal reasons.

Real and Inter have already agreed a fee of 15 million euros plus two million euros at a variable rate, according the Spanish media reports.

After moving from Dutch side Ajax two years ago Sneijder has since played 52 league matches for Real, scoring 11 goals, and played nine times in the Champions League.

During Monday’s friendly against Norwegian side Rosenborg, Sneijder’s number 10 shirt was worn by French midfielder Lassana Diarra.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: Alonso, cristiano ronaldo, dutch international, dutch side, inter milan, Jorge Valdano, Karim Benzema, lassana diarra, love interest, MADRID, mega millions, midfielder, Milan, nine times, personal reasons, real madrid, ronaldo, spanish capital, spanish media, transfer deadline, variable rate, Wesley Sneijder, xabi alonso

‘Boro-striker Alves too expensive for Ajax’

August 18, 2009

In the search for a strong targetman AFC Ajax contacted the agents of Middlesbrough-striker Afonso Alves. However, the Dutch side decided to cancel the negotiations because the Brazilian is too expensive. Boro’s record signing (£ 17,500,000), that wasn’t very successful after his arrival in January 2008, is one of the players Boro would like to sell because of his huge salary (appr. £45,000). Fellow striker Tuncay Sanli is another player the Riverside-club would like to sell because of his extreme wages, especially for a Championship-club. By selling Stewart Downing to Aston Villa, Middlesbrough already proved successful at cutting the expenses.

Paul Haring

Tags: AFC, afonso, Alves, appr, arrival, aston villa, Championship-club, dutch side, fellow, January, negotiations, Paul Haring, record, riverside club, salary, Sanli, stewart downing, striker, target, Villa, wages

Teams line up to have Keirrison on loan

July 25, 2009

A day after FC Barcelona signed Brazilian prodigy Keirrison, several European teams reportedly showed interest in having the player on loan for a season.

The Catalan giants are likely to loan out the 20-year-old in order to give him time and gain experience elsewhere.

Dutch side Ajax of Amsterdam are one of the interested parties, as are Portuguese outfits FC Porto and Benfica, media report. It is expected that a decision on the player’s near future will be announced early next week.

Keirrison, who made the move from Palmeiras and cost 14 million Euros, is said to be one of the most talented Brazilian youngsters. In 19 games for Palmeiras, the striker scored 11 goals.

By: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Ajax, Amsterdam, benfica, dutch side, fc barcelona, gain experience, games, giants, interested parties, palmeiras, PORTO, prodigy, striker, youngsters

Luis Suarez to captain Ajax Amsterdam

July 16, 2009

Ajax manager Martin Jol has appointed Luis Suarez to be the side’s captain for the upcoming Eredivisie season.

The Uruguayan is one of the key players at the Dutch side, which he joined from FC Groningen in 2007. Since, he scored no less than 39 goals in 65 appearances.

Belgian Thomas Vermaelen wore the captain’s ribbon last season, but his departure to Arsenal left Jol with the task of finding a replacement.

“Luis is one of the most important players and is very involved. Both on and off the pitch he has impressed me in the last few weeks,” Jol explained his decision.

By: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: ajax amsterdam, Amsterdam, arsenal, captain Ajax, dutch side, Eredivisie, groningen, Jonathan Roorda, Luis, luis suarez, martin jol, pitch, ribbon, task, Thomas Vermaelen, uruguayan

Twente sign Ruiz and Parker

July 16, 2009

FC Twente have completed the signings of Costa Rican Bryan Ruiz and South African Bernard Parker, as last season’s Eredivisie runners-up seem to be well prepared for the upcoming season.

Ruiz joins the Dutch side from Belgian outfit KAA Gent. The 23-year-old can play on the left wing or just behind the strikers, and reportedly costs five million Euros, a Twente club record.

Bernard Parker, also 23 years of age, is a striker of attacking midfielder and spent the last half year at Red Star Belgrade in Serbia. Here, he scored six goals in 16 games.

Parker played himself in the spotlight scoring both goals in South Africa’s 2-0 win over New Zealand at the Confederations Cup last month.

By: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: 23 years, African, Belgrade, Bernard Parker, Bryan Ruiz, confederations cup, dutch side, Eredivisie, games, half year, KAA, kaa gent, left wing, midfielder, New Zealand, Red, red star belgrade, roorda, runners, serbia, South Africa, spotlight, strikers

FA cancels Newcastle’s Dutch trip

July 14, 2009

Newcastle United will not be playing a friendly against Dutch side FC Utrecht next week, as the English FA won’t allow for the match to take place.

While the Magpies were scheduled to travel to Utrecht, arch rivals Sunderland are to participate in a friendly tournament in Amsterdam, at only 30 kilometers distance.

Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen had already voiced his concern and tried to ban Sunderland from playing in his city.

The FA now took measures themselves, deciding to ban Newcastle instead as Sunderland’s participation in the ‘Amsterdam Tournament’ was planned before, and because tickets have already been sold.

By: Jonathan Roorda