Galatasaray sign Everton’s Neill

January 14, 2010

Lucas Neill has left Everton after just four months. The right back, who joined Everton in September, has signed a 1.5 year deal with Galatasaray.

The Australian international, who’s contract at West Ham United expired in June 2009, was already linked with a (transfer free) move to Galatasaray last summer.

Neill choose Everton instead but has now joined the Turkish side after just four months with the Toffees.

Neill joins Galatasaray for a reported fee of €1 million.

Tags: 1 million, contract, deal, everton, free move, galatasaray, June, Lucas Neill, September, summer, toffees, transfer, turkish side, United, west ham, west ham united, year

Kahn urges old rival Lehmann to quit

December 15, 2009

On Tuesday, controversial Jens Lehmann received unexpected advice. Former Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn told his old colleague to quit football. “Maybe it would be better for him to retire now. Who knows where things might yet lead.”

Lehmann was involved in several incidents in the last couple of days. First, the VfB Stuttgart goalie criticised the club bosses for sacking coach Markus Babbel. Then, on Sunday he received a red card and gave away a penalty in the draw against Mainz (1-1). Stuttgart backed his goalie, which is hard to believe for Kahn.

“Jens is a good goalkeeper, but what should the club think? There is no point to it anymore. Stuttgart’s management have got to work out whether Lehmann is helping or damaging the team,” Kahn said to German paper TZ. Kahn and Lehmann sustained a bitter feud for several years when they were both fighting for the Germany number one jersey but they appeared to make peace at the 2006 World Cup when Kahn retired from international football.

However, after a talk with coach Christian Gross at training on Monday, it does not seem like Lehmann is going to follow Kahn’s advice. “”I am convinced that Jens will be fully motivated after the preparation for the second half of the season and will do all he can to end his career on a high in the summer of 2010,” said Gross.

Tags: advice, bitter feud, christian gross, coach, colleague, couple of days, german paper, Germany, Goalkeeper, international football, Jens, jens lehmann, mainz, markus babbel, Munich, number, oliver kahn, peace, second half, stuttgart, summer, VfB, World, World Cup

AZ sign Paraguayan star

August 27, 2009

Eredivisie giants AZ Alkmaar have confirmed the signing of youngster Celso Ortiz from Paraguayan club Cerro Porteno.

The 20-year-old, who will feature for Paraguay in the Under 20 World Cup next month, is highly regarded in his homeland and will join up with the Dutch club in January.

His contract will run until the summer of 2014 and the deal represents shrewd business by AZ, who are managed by Ronald Koeman, as they predict his value may swell after next month’s tournament.

Technical manager of AZ Marcel Brands told the club’s official website: “We are very delighted with the signing of Ortiz. He is one of the biggest talents of Paraguay.

“He will come in January to Alkmaar as he first has to play at the World Cup Under 20 and then he would miss around four to six weeks before arriving at the club.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: alkmaar, az alkmaar, Brands, celso, Cerro, club cerro, dutch club, Eredivisie, giants, manager, marcel, paraguay, paraguayan, Porteno, ronald koeman, signing, six weeks, summer, talents, tournament, World Cup, youngster

Writers go for Grafite

August 2, 2009

Wolfsburg’s Brazilian striker Grafite has been voted Germany’s footballer of the year by the country’s football writers and sports magazine Kicker.

The Brazilian earned 331 votes cast thanks to his 28 goals in 25 Bundesliga matches last season which contributed to his team winning the league title.

German international Mario Gomez, who transferred this summer to Bayern Munich from Stuttgart, came second with 171 votes, with Wolfsburg’s Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko, voted player of the year by his peers in June, coming third with 169.

Wolfsburg manager Felix Magath earned the coach of the year award for the third time in his coaching career.

He first won in 2003 while in charge of Stuttgart before winning it again two years later after leading Bayern Munich to a league and cup double.

The 55-year-old achieved 778 votes with second-placed Markus Babbel of Stuttgart earning 65, and Hertha Berlin’s Lucien Favre, who came third, achieving a mere 23.

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: Babbel, bayern munich, berlin, bosnian, Bundesliga, edin dzeko, favre, felix magath, football writers, footballer, footballer of the year, Germany, grafite, Hertha, hertha berlin, kicker, lucien, mario gomez, markus babbel, peers, sports magazine, stuttgart, summer, third time, Wolfsburg

German Super Cup to be reinstated

July 31, 2009

The German Super Cup should become an official fixture on the calendar from next season after the German Football League today unanimously agreed on its reintroduction.

The event was scrapped 14 years ago and made way for a multi-club pre-season League Cup competition.

That was held for the last time two years ago, since when the previous two Bundesliga champions and DFB-Pokal winners have pushed for a Super Cup to be reintroduced.

Bayern Munich defeated Borussia Dortmund last summer and Werder Bremen beat Wolfsburg earlier this month in an event billed as the Super Cup but which was not officially recognised by the domestic football governing bodies.

However, the German Football League (DFL) are set to revive the competition officially next summer.

“The clash between the German champion and the DFB-Pokal winner is very prestigious and it will excite the fans,” said DFL president Dr Reinhard Rauball after a board meeting produced a unanimous vote in favour of its reintroduction.

“We want to build on an old tradition which is particularly popular in other European countries.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: Bayern, board meeting, Bremen, Bundesliga, clash, cup competition, dfb pokal, dfl, domestic football, Dr Reinhard Rauball, european countries, favour, german champion, german football league, governing bodies, last time, Munich, president dr, Reinhard Rauball, summer, tradition, unanimous vote, Werder, werder bremen, Wolfsburg

Hahnemann readying for Wolves challenge

July 13, 2009

Premier League’s promoted side Wolverhampton Wanderer’s goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann has said that he is looking forward towards a first team spot at Molineux next season.

The former Fulham stopper, who was released by Championship side Reading, has joined the Premier League side on a free transfer this summer.

Although a first choice keeper at the Madejski Stadium, the 37-year-old American has recognized that he is due to face tough competition from Wayne Hennessey, Carl Ikeme and a Matt Murray fighting for fitness.

But that hasn’t deterred the short stopper’s confidence as he aims to become a regular with Wolves.

He told the Sunday Mercury: “I’m here for the team to do well, but I need to play.”

“That’s one of the reasons why I came here because I wanted to play and it’s a chance to get back in the Premier League.”

“If Wayne plays I’m going to be pushing him all year, there’s nothing I can do about that, but I want to play.”

“I’m not used to sitting around on the bench and I didn’t really like it when I did that at Fulham.”

“I tried to change that but it didn’t quite happen for me and eventually I got my move to Reading and I did find my spot.”

“It is a different situation for me that I haven’t been in for a while, but it’s going to be a great challenge.”

By: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: abhimanyu, bench, Carl Ikeme, confidence, different situation, English Premier League, first choice, fitness, fulham, Goalkeeper, hennessey, madejski stadium, Marcus Hahnemann, matt murray, mercury, molineux, nothing, premier league, rajput, summer, transfer, wanderer, Wayne, while, wolves

“Ron Jans not available for PSV Eindhoven”

February 18, 2009

FC Groningen manager Ron Jans has committed his future to his current side, and won’t join another club before the summer of 2010. As such, the coach isn’t likely to join PSV Eindhoven.

"I’ll definitely serve my contract at Groningen," said the 50-year-old. "My contract was extended a few months ago, and I promised to stay at least until the summer of 2010. PSV hasn’t called yet and don’t need to call, I’m not available yet."

PSV have been looking for a new manager ever since Huub Stevens resigned from the job. Ron Jans was viewed as one of the major candidates.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Club, coach, contract, Eindhoven, Eredivisie, groningen, hasn, Huub, huub stevens, jans, job, jonathan, Jonathan Roorda, manager, PSV, quot, roorda, side, Stevens, summer

Raul doesn´t want “artificial” call-up for gala match

February 18, 2009

MADRID (AFP) – Real Madrid veteran striker Raul does not want to be called up for a November friendly against Argentina to mark the Spanish Federation’s centenary as he perceives it would comprise an "artificial" homage to him, AS sports daily said Tuesday.

Raul did not make the squad for last summer’s Euro 2008 triumph and has not featured for the "Furia roja" for the past two seasons despite a return to form at club level which last week saw him become his club’s all-time top scorer with 309 league goals.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) was seeking to call him up for the centenary at Real’s Bernabeu stadium in recognition of his exploits – he is also Spain’s all-time top scorer with 44 goal – but AS indicated the 31-year-old player was not keen if it meant a one-off "artificial homage".

Vicente del Bosque has not called Raul back in to the squad for World Cup qualifiers this season despite his good form and despite the fact that the coach enjoyed great success with Raul in Madrid with two Champions League amd two domestic titles between 1999 and 2003.

"He (Raul) does not want to beg, he does not want homages. He just wants to be called up on merit," the player’s agent Gines Carvajal said.

Written by: AFP

Tags: AFP, Argentina, bernabeu, bernabeu stadium, Champions, champions league, domestic titles, Euro, euro 2008, exploits, fact, football, football federation, Furia, gines carvajal, homage, LA Liga, league goals, MADRID, raul, real madrid, recognition, RFEF, Spain, spanish federation, spanish football, squad, summer, top scorer, two seasons, veteran striker, vicente del bosque, world cup qualifiers

With “De Ro” gone, Dynamo girds for new MLS season, Champions League quarters

February 17, 2009

Despite a late start in preseason training and a significant personnel change, Houston Dynamo players and coaches say they are ready and eager for the quarterfinal CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.

Houston and Mexico’s Atlante will be the first sides to meet, beginning their two-leg series February 24 at Robertson Stadium in Houston. The return leg is a week later in Cancun.

The Dynamo began training February 2, later than most fellow Major League Soccer clubs, and much later than most teams remaining sides in the Champions League.

Most Mexican teams started in January or earlier following a short winter break after the fall Apertura. Atlante already has played five matches in the Mexican Clausura (the spring season). The Dynamo, meanwhile, have eased into their preseason training with just four friendlies so far. The match against Atlante will represent the Dynamo’s first competitive contest since clinching a Champions League quarterfinal spot with a 1-0 win over CD Luis Angel Firpo on November 26.

“We know Atlante has a little bit of an advantage, because they’ve played some games already,” Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson said. “But we’ll be ready.”

They may be ready, but they’ll be without offensive engine Dwayne De Rosario, who was traded in January to Toronto during the MLS offseason. Stuart Holden, a well-regarded young attacker, will fill the void. Still, Houston is bound to miss De Rosario, who played a big part in steering his side through Champions League group play last summer and fall.

De Rosario’s 88th-minute, 30-meter strike gave his team a 2-1 win over Panama’s San Francisco FC during Group B play. And he supplied the corner kick that Brian Ching headed in for that quarterfinal-clinching win over Firpo in November.

Houston has a term of redemption ahead in MLS; the Dynamo was heavily favored to eliminate the New York Red Bulls in last year’s MLS playoffs, but fell in perhaps the most shocking post-season upset in league history. Houston players are focused on doing more this year in Major League Soccer, but manager Dominic Kinnear promised that Champions League performance wouldn’t suffer because of it.

“I’m taking it seriously, and I know the players are, too,” Kinnear said. As for the late start, he said thought the players needed a bit of an extended break after playing in 50 matches last year.

“We’ve had some player movement, but not a ton,” the manager said. “Everything kind of sustains itself. We’ve got the same coaching staff, the same formation. There’s no drastic changes in how we do things. Everybody knows what to expect from the first day. So I don’t think it was necessary to start earlier.”

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