Mowbray denies rift with board over Caldwell exit

January 15, 2010

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray insists he has not fallen out with the Scottish Premier League club’s directors over the surprise sale of defender Gary Caldwell to Wigan this week.

Scotland centre-back Caldwell joined English Premier League strugglers Wigan on Thursday amid claims he was sold against the manager’s wishes.

The 27-year-old left Parkhead six months before his Celtic deal was due to expire after talks over an extension broke down.

Caldwell had hinted Mowbray was happy to agree to his wage demands but was vetoed by chief executive Peter Lawwell and majority shareholder Dermot Desmond.

But Mowbray said: “I admire Gary Caldwell as a guy and as a football player. Yet, there was a negotiation that went on and on and never came to a conclusion to the point that he was running out of contract, a club made a bid and we accepted that bid.

“I don’t think we need look too deeply into those comments. Certain mischievous avenues could try to create a wedge that is not there.

“It’s wrong to say that there’s a conflict of interest at this club with myself and my board.

“First and foremost, it should be said I’ve got a very strong relationship – working relationship – with the executives at the club and my chief executive, Peter, and with the major shareholder, Dermot.

“There’s no animosity and nothing going on behind the scenes that anybody should try to read into.”

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: animosity, avenues, conclusion, conflict of interest, Dermot, Dermot Desmond, desmond, English Premier League, football player, Gary Caldwell, Glasgow, majority shareholder, negotiation, Peter, Peter Lawwell, relationship, scotland, scotland centre, Scottish Premier League, six months, surprise, tony mowbray, wage demands

Maradona set to start media empire

January 9, 2010

Diego Maradona is preparing to launch his own television and Internet channel. The news is seen as a surprise for the world of football.

A company identified as On & Off Holdings said the launch will happen next week, though it offered few details. The channel, however, did not specify when and where the channel would be viewed.

Maradona has been widely criticized ever since he took charge of the Argentinan national football team. Argentina struggled and sealed qualification at the last minute.

However, Maradona, considered one of the best players in the history of football, is no stranger to television. In 2005 his Argentine talk show “La Noche del 10 (The Night of the No. 10)” gained great popularity.

Maradona has been charged with a hefty ban towards the end of Argentina’s World Cup qualification campaign after blurting out immoral speech and gestures at the media.

Tags: Argentina, Argentine, diego maradona, history of football, internet channel, last minute, launch, media empire, national football team, popularity, stranger, surprise, talk show, television, world cup qualification, world of football

Portugal: FC Porto held by Belenenses

October 31, 2009

FC Porto risk losing touch with the top of the Portuguese league following a surprise 1-1 draw with Belenenses on Friday.

With only seven points from their first eight games, Belenenses haven’t been able to establish themselves in the top half of the table like they managed to do in recent seasons.

Nevertheless, the Lisbon outfit caused Porto the necessary amount of trouble on Friday and even took the lead through Lima in the first minute after the break.

Fans at O Dragao stadium weren’t left entirely empty-handed however, as Ernesto Farias netted the equalizer three minutes after the hour.

The two leaders, Sporting Braga and Benfica, face each other on Saturday and the winner of that match will extend their lead over third-placed Porto to four points.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: belenenses, benfica, Braga, dragao stadium, eight games, ernesto farias, four points, Lima, Lisbon, match, O Dragao, PORTO, portugal, risk, seven points, sporting braga, surprise, three minutes, weren

Barca undecided over Robinho

October 11, 2009

Barcelona are refusing to rule out a big-money bid for Manchester City forward Robinho when the transfer window opens in January.

The Brazil superstar has been consistently linked with a La Liga return ever since his surprise £32.5million switch from Real Madrid in September 2008.

Robinho is currently on the sidelines after injuring his ankle on international duty and he could find it difficult to make a return to Mark Hughes’ starting XI.

Craig Bellamy has been in blistering form in his absence along with Carlos Tevez, while Emmanuel Adebayor is back and playing again for City following suspension.

Barca’s sporting director Txiki Begiristain has refused to confirm the club’s intentions in the New Year, but highlights that the forward would be eligible to be registered for them in the UEFA Champions League.

“He’s a very interesting player and can play in the Champions League,” Begiristain told Sport.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: absence, Barcelona, brazil, carlos tevez, craig bellamy, emmanuel adebayor, MADRID, manchester city, Mark Hughes, money, new year, real madrid, Robinho, sidelines, Superstar, surprise, txiki, UEFA Champions League

Nigeria´s Martins signs for VfL Wolfsburg

August 1, 2009

German champions VfL Wolfsburg confirmed on Saturday the signing of Nigerian international striker Obafemi Martins from relegated English club Newcastle.

The 24-year-old signed a four-year deal on Friday night to become the surprise Bundesliga champions fourth recruit for the new season. Details of the contract were not given but it is estimated to be worth two million euro.

Capped 21 times for Nigeria, Martins played for Serie A side Inter Milan from 2002 to 2006 before joining Newcastle.

He will, however, have to fight for his place on the team with Brazilian forward Grafite and Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko, respectively the top two goal scorers in the Bundesliga last season with 54 goals between them.

WOLFSBURG, Germany (AFP)

Tags: bosnian, English, friday night, german champions, Germany, goal scorers, grafite, inter milan, martins, Milan, NEWCASTLE, nigeria, Nigerian, Obafemi, recruit, season details, signs, striker, surprise, two million

New WAG on The Scene: Kristina Andriotis

July 30, 2009

Teddy Sheringham is dating 23 yr old former model Kristina Andriotis….He knows how to get the ladies does our Terry.

The former ‘baller, 43, is dating Kristina who is just two years older than his son.

Bit weird, but in fairness Teddy doesn’t look his 43 years and with his track record must be quite the charmer.

The former footballer has previously been in relationships with Danielle Lloyd and Katie Price.

Kristina works in PR and is a former model, what a surprise! The pair have reportedly moved in together so maybe this is the girl to tame Terry.

Go to Source

Tags: bit, danielle lloyd, fairness, footballer, former model, girl, katie price, Kristina Andriotis, relationships, Scene, surprise, target, Teddy, Teddy Sheringham, Terry, wag

Utrecht to face Groningen in Dutch Cup

July 8, 2009

The draw for the second round of the Dutch Cup tournament delivered one surprise, as FC Utrecht host FC Groningen for a clash that could really go either way.

The second round sees the arrival of professional teams, after a first round that features only amateur sides.

Ajax Amsterdam play their first Cup match of the season away to Apeldoorn outfit AGOVV, PSV host De Graafschap and holders SC Heerenveen should be able to find their way past the winner of the first round game between Waspik and SDC.

FC Twente, last season’s losing finalists, play against either Drachtse Boys or Joure.

The first round is set to be played on August 28, with second round fixtures planned for September 22, 23 and 24.

By: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: AGOVV, Ajax, ajax amsterdam, Amsterdam, Apeldoorn, clash, Drachtse, Dutch, dutch cup, Eredivisie, fc utrecht, game, Graafschap, groningen, jonathan, match, professional teams, sdc, surprise, twente, utrecht

Bayern: Ribery not for sale

June 26, 2009

European giants Bayern Munich have yet again ruled out the prospect of selling midfielder Franck Ribery and labeling him as a “‘irreplaceable” player, who is not for sale at any price.

Ribery, who has become Europe’s most sought after player, has been linked with a move, as Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona chase to sign the player.

However, Madrid based Real Madrid, who are favourites to land the 26-year-old France international, had not given up hope on a move to the Bernabeu, claimed the player’s agent.

But Bayern chairman Karl-Heinze Rummenigge has reiterated that the Bundesliga giants will not be swayed, adding that their refusal to discuss a fee is not their way of pushing up the asking price.

”Franck Ribery is irreplaceable,” he told L’Equipe.

”Real Madrid know our position: he is not for sale. That Franck wants to go to Real is not a surprise. It’s a fascinating club and attractive on a financial level.

”But Bayern are not a bad club either. At our club the doors are solid and very resistant and we’re not going to push up the bidding.

”Ribery figures among the best players of the world. And when you have a player of this quality among the squad you don’t separate.

”We want to build around this player who (Bayern coach) Louis van Gaal absolutely wants under his command.”

Written by: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: asking price, Barcelona, Bayern, bayern munich, bernabeu, Bundesliga, CHELSEA, coach, doors, Europe, France, france international, franck ribery, giants, heinze, Karl-Heinze, l equipe, Louis, louis van gaal, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, rajput, real madrid, Rummenigge, surprise

Italy, Sweden advance to semi’s at Under-21 Championships

June 24, 2009

Italy finish first at the UEFA Under-21 Championships, following a 2-1 win over Belarus. Hosts Sweden beat Serbia 3-1 to defend their second place.

Belarus momentarily headed for a surprise as Sergey Kislyak put them ahead after 44 minutes against Italy.

But in-form striker Robert Acquafresca levelled from the penalty spot a minute later and went on to score the winning goal with 15 minutes left to play.

The eventful match between Serbia and Sweden had the hosts take a quick 2-0 lead with two goals from Marcus Berg. Gojko Kacar pulled one back for the Serbians in minute 28 but Ola Toivonen restored the gap a minute later.

Things got even worse for Serbia when Nenad Tomovic was sent off in the 45th minute, followed by teammate Nikola Petkovic in the 68th.

In the semi finals, Italy face Germany while Sweden get to meet with Group B winners England.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: 15 minutes, 44 minutes, belarus, England, gap, hosts, Italy, kacar, marcus berg, match, Nikola Petkovic, petkovic, robert acquafresca, serbians, surprise, Sweden, teammate, toivonen, uefa under 21, uefa under 21 championships

Heynckes to coach Leverksusen

June 5, 2009

BERLIN (AFP) – Jupp Heynckes, who took over as caretaker coach at Bayern Munich after the sacking of Jurgen Klinsmann last season, was on Friday named as the new coach of Bayer Leverkusen.

Heynckes, 64, succeeds Bruno Labbadia, who has moved on to Hamburg, on a two year contract, something of a surprise given that he stated he wished to spend more time with his family after his brief spell at the helm at Bayern.

“Leverkusen’s approach gave me pleasure, all the more so as I realised when I was at Bayern that I still had the desire. That’s why I accepted the mission.”