Wolfsburg targets Brazilian defenders
January 26, 2010
VfL Wolsburg are on the hunt for two Brazilian defenders, a day after the dismissal of head coach Armin Veh.
Wolfsburg is close to sealing the deal on Rever. The reigning German champions will pay approximately €5 million for the Gremio centre back.
Wolfsburg moved for Rever after they failed to sign Benedikt Höwedes (Schalke 04), Simon Kjaer (Palermo), Miranda (Sao Paulo) and Douglas (Twente).
However, Die Wolfe face stiff competition from Lazio in the race for the defender’s signature. The Italians are supposedly ready to make a move for Rever as well.
Wolfsburg also hopes to land Schalke’s Rafinha, in a bid to further bolster their struggling defence (they already conceded 38 goals this league campaign).
The Brazilian right back wants to leave Schalke, but has a price tag that scares many interested clubs.
“It’s not likely that he will join us,” said Wolfsburg’s technical director Dieter Hoeness. “We’re not willing to pay ten to fourteen million for him.”
Meanwhile, German media report that former Real Madrid manager Bernd Schuster is the main candidate to succeed Armin Veh at the Volkswagen Arena. Other names that are mentioned are former VfB Stuttgart coach Lucien Favre and Huub Stevens, the Dutch tactician who’s currently in charge of Salzburg.
Tags: Armin Veh, Bernd Schuster, dieter, Dieter Hoeness, Douglas, face stiff competition, german champions, german media, head coach armin, huub stevens, italians, kjaer, lazio, league campaign, MADRID, Palermo, price tag, rafinha, real madrid, Salzburg, sao paulo, Simon Kjaer, stuttgart, tactician, technical director, WolfsburgRelated posts
West Ham target Toni
December 4, 2009
West Ham are reportedly closing in on signing Luca Toni, who has fallen out of favour with his coach at Bayern Munich, Louis van Gaal.
A report in Friday’s Guardian newspaper suggests Toni, despite preferring a move back to Italy, could be on his way to Upton Park where he has a good relationship with Hammers’ boss Gianfranco Zola.
A further tie linking the 32-year-old with West Ham is the English Premier League side’s technical director, Gianluca Nani, who ‘discovered’ him in his days playing for Brescia.
Toni moved to Bayern in 2007 and was top scorer in both his seasons for the club but the veteran Italy international is now looking for a move with van Gaal saying he is free to go in the January transfer window.
Toni earned himself a 25,000 euros fine last month for telling the Italian media his relationship with van Gaal “is as good as over” following just four league appearances since the Dutchman took over on July 1.
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: AFP, Bayern, bayern munich, brescia, dutchman, English Premier League, favour, good relationship, guardian newspaper, italian media, Italy, july 1, league appearances, london, Louis, luca toni, nani, premier league, target, technical director, Toni, top scorer, upton park, veteran, west ham, ZolaRelated posts
Grant appointed as Pompey Manager
November 26, 2009
Avram Grant has been confirmed as the new manager of Portsmouth.
The 54-year-old Israelian replaces Paul Hart who was sacked earlier this week after a dreadful run of results. The former Chelsea manager has been granted a work permit and will be in place in time for the match against Manchester United on Saturday.
“Avram is a very experienced and a respected manager who has managed at the highest level. The board believes he is the man to help steer the club out of the relegation zone,” said Portsmouth’s chief executive, Peter Storrie.
“He knows the club, the players and the set-up at Fratton Park, so it was the logical move to make him the next manager, once the board had decided to relieve Paul Hart of the role. He will take charge of training on Friday alongside first-team coaches Paul Groves and Ian Woan.”
Grant will still, technically, be the Portsmouth director of football for Saturday’s game. However, the club will then apply to the Football Association to change his permit status to manager. Grant spent the 2006-07 season as Portsmouth’s technical director before he joined Chelsea as director of football.
Following Jose Mourinho’s departure from Stamford Bridge, Grant was handed the charge and he went on to lead Chelsea to the 2008 Champions League final. He now takes charge of a Pompey side who stand bottom of the Premier League having collected just seven points from 13 games.
Anurada Bhat
Tags: CHELSEA, director of football, football association, israelian, jose mourinho, logical move, manchester united, paul groves, paul hart, place in time, pompey, Portsmouth, premier league, relegation zone, seven points, stamford bridge, team coaches, technical director, woan, work permitRelated posts
Inter’s Julio Cesar extends contract
November 11, 2009
Brazilian international Julio Cesar is thrilled to have signed a contract extension with Italian champions Inter Milan.
In a meeting with vice president Rinaldo Ghelfi and technical director Marco Branca on Tuesday afternoon, Inter goalkeeper penned down a new contract extension that links him with the club till 2014.
The goalie told the clubs official website that he was extremely delighted to have got yet another chance to feature for the Nerazzurri and celebrate many more new victories to come.
“I am very happy and I thank president Moratti and the whole club.
I have already won a lot with Inter, but our strength is the work we are doing to win a lot more.”
“And now I want to celebrate with many more victories,” he concluded.
Media reports had earlier said Manchester United were interested in the 30-year-old, who has consistently been among the best goalkeepers in Italian football in recent seasons. And both Brazilian national team manager Dunga and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon have recently stated that they believe Júlio César to be the strongest goalkeeper in the world at the moment.
Julio Cesar has made over 150 appearances in all competitions since joining Inter in 2005. He quickly replaced Francesco Toldo as the team’s first-choice ‘keeper, and has enjoyed considerable success with the Nerazzurri after winning four scudetti and the 2006 Coppa Italia.
Anurada Bhat
Tags: best goalkeepers, branca, brazilian national team, contract extension, coppa italia, dunga, first choice, francesco toldo, gianluigi buffon, inter milan, italian champions, italian football, julio cesar, manchester united, Marco Branca, Milan, new contract, president moratti, Rinaldo Ghelfi, technical director, tuesday afternoonRelated posts
Manchester City “within the rules” over Helan signing
September 8, 2009
Premier League big-spenders Manchester City have insisted they have acted “within the rules” over the signing of 17-year-old defender Jeremy Helan after FIFA confirmed they are investigating a complaint by French side Rennes.
Rennes made their complaint after City signed the French teenager earlier this year but the Manchester club say there was already a civil court dispute between Helan and Rennes before he moved to Eastlands.
City said in a statement: “Manchester City is aware of the ongoing contractual dispute in the French Labour Courts between Jeremy Helan and Stade Rennais. The dispute between the player and the club pre-dates any interest from Manchester City.
“Manchester City obviously cannot comment on the case until the French judicial process has run its course, however we are comfortable that we have acted within the rules throughout the process and in no way induced any breach of contract by Jeremy Helan.”
FIFA confirmed they are looking into a complaint by Rennes, saying: “We can confirm that there is a case pending with FIFA’s Player Status Department involving Jeremy Helan, Stade Rennais FC and Manchester City.”
The case follows FIFA’s ban of Chelsea signing any new players for the next two transfer windows for inducing another French teenager, Gael Kakuta, to breach his contract with Lens.
Another French side, Le Havre, claim they are in the process of reporting Manchester United to FIFA over the signing of 16-year-old Paul Pogba. United deny any wrongdoing and have threatened action against Le Havre if they make any more damaging allegations.
Rennes’ complaint was made before either of the other cases came to light, as the Ligue 1 club’s technical director Pierre Dreossi told the Independent: “We have referred this to FIFA.”
He added: “For us it was strange to have no discussion from City and now, in the week after the FIFA declaration on Chelsea, I would hope that it will be the same thing for Manchester City.
“Kakuta signed up for just a possibility of a full contract. For Helan there was definitely one there, under the terms of the pre-contract agreement, because he had played for his country.”
Abhimanyu Rajput
Tags: big spenders, breach of contract, CHELSEA, city manchester, civil court, contractual dispute, FIFA, french labour, french side, french teenager, Jeremy Helan, kakuta, labour courts, Le Havre, Ligue 1, Manchester, manchester city, manchester club, manchester united, Paul Pogba, Pierre Dreossi, player status, premier league, technical director, wrongdoingRelated posts
Ferguson laments growth in simulated fouls
September 4, 2009
Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson lamented Friday that simulation by players had crept into English football in recent years, after top European coaches agreed to try to root it out.
“It’s a very difficult area. In my experience in English football over the past 15 years it has crept into the game, there’s no doubt that’s not acceptable,” he told journalists.
Ferguson, one of the participants in the Elite Club Coaches Forum at European football’s governing body UEFA said it was one of the top general issues raised at the meeting.
“We all agreed that education is the best way forward, from the youth team to the first team,” he said.
“No one coach is proud that players simulate to get a decision,” Ferguson added, especially because of its impact on youngsters.
Arsenal announced on Thursday that they will appeal against UEFA’s decision to ban their striker Eduardo for two matches for allegedly diving to win a penalty against Celtic in a Champions League qualifier and “deceiving the referee”.
UEFA Technical Director Andy Roxburgh said Eduardo’s specific case was not discussed during the forum, in which Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger also took part.
Asked about the Eduardo sanction, Ferguson described it as a “big example,” even though he agreed with Arsenal’s stance in protecting its players and the difficulty of identifying the limits to disciplining simulation.
“It’s always difficult because I see it every week now, I see some guy dive,” Ferguson acknowledged.
“They (referees) can’t pick every instance, it’s impossible, there’d be no players left, but that’s the way it’s going.”
However, Ferguson insisted that high profile cases had to be tackled.
“UEFA’s position, and I tend to agree with it, is that there’s such a high profile competition now, that we have to make sure it’s done in the fairest possible way.
“In the moral high ground, I have to agree that something needs to be done. I wouldn’t be pleased if my player did that, but I wouldn’t say it in public.”
Roxburgh said the experimental use of two extra match officials on the touchline in this season’s Europa League might help referees spot cases of simulation and act as a deterrent.
GENEVA (AFP)
Tags: alex ferguson, andy roxburgh, area, arsenal manager arsene wenger, Champions, champions league qualifier, club coaches, Coaches, coaches forum, competition, Director Andy Roxburgh, Eduardo, elite club, english football, european coaches, Ferguson, geneva, governing body, manager, manager arsene wenger, Manchester, manchester united, moral high ground, no doubt, profile cases, referees, sanction, sir alex ferguson, Technical, technical director, uefa, Wenger, youngstersRelated posts
Kenya behind in strategy for 2010 World Cup
August 25, 2009
Kenya should gain financially from teams planning to come to the country to acclimatise before proceeding to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup finals.
The country is strategically placed to attract teams who want to take advantage of the high altitude and visit world-famous tourist sites ahead of the tournament.
However, due to a lack of adequate international stadiums and never-ending political wrangles, there could be problems.
Football Kenya (FKL) technical director Patrick Naggi said Kenya, being a tourist hub in Africa had shot itself in the foot through its approach at marketing itself and the failure to upgrade its sports facilities to attract teams.
“We have not done enough as a nation. There is too much bickering among the politicians over petty issues,” said Naggi.
“Instead of working together to compliment their efforts, they are busy fighting each other. Our football has also taken the same route. We are all to blame.”
The Kenya government has pumped 30 million shillings (225,000 dollars) towards the maintenance of the national stadiums, of which there are two – both in Nairobi – which can be classed to international standards.
The Sports Minister Helen Sambili is due to name a high-level committee, composed of officials from her office and the ministry of tourism to look into exploring ways to exploit the World Cup to the country’s advantage.
But one top official in her ministry conceded that time was running out.
“The concerns are well-founded and understandable since the World Cup is just less than ten months away. We have to move very fast,” Benjamin Sogomo, the new chief executive of the Sports Stadia Management Board (SSMB) told AFP.
One of the main objectives the committee will be tasked is to convince some of the top teams to base themselves in Kenya prior to the tournament.
But although Nairobi is only four hours away from South Africa, the inadequate training facilities may put the whole process into jeopardy.
Due to the favourable climatic conditions, the national teams of Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria, have in the past opted to hold their training preparations in Kenya before travelling to play their away qualification matches.
But this appears highly unlikely before the 2010 World Cup as competition from the neighbouring countries such as Mozambique, Angola and Botswana, which have already embarked on massive construction in readiness for the big event, may sway their national federations to move away.
But Naggi believes Kenya could still have attracted national sides from South America and even Europe, especially the Italian and German teams because of the huge business investments in the Kenyan coastal region, owned and managed by nationals from the two countries.
“I am sure a team like Brazil would be very keen to come here. They show a lot about Kenya in Brazil,” said Naggi, who spent three months in the South American nation training as a football coach in 1999.
“Coming from sea level, they would have taken advantage of our high-altitude and by the time they move to South Africa, they will have gained in their performances over the other teams.
“The two countries also share the same multi-ethnic backgrounds and the diversity of the natural resources and heritage. But unlike them, we don’t have the numerous training grounds and stadiums they would require to set up their training camp here,” he added.
With the exception of the Nyayo National stadium, which is currently under suspension from FIFA for failing to meet its safety standards, the only other world class facility is the Moi International sports centre, on the northern outskirts of the Kenyan capital.
NAIROBI (AFP)
Tags: 30 million, Benjamin Sogomo, Botswana, brazil, cameroon, climatic conditions, compliment, director patrick, ghana, high altitude, jeopardy, kenya government, management board, Minister Helen Sambili, ministry of tourism, Mozambique, nairobi, nigeria, Patrick Naggi, shillings, South Africa, South America, South American, sports facilities, ssmb, stadiums, technical director, tourist hub, tourist sites, world cup finals, wranglesRelated posts
Alonso is final summer signing, say Real
August 5, 2009
Real Madrid say they have finally wrapped up their mega pre-season spending spree with the transfer of Xabi Alonso from Liverpool.
“With this signing, the chapter is now closed on transfers,” the club’s technical director Jorge Valdano said late on Tuesday after Liverpool announced it had agreed an undisclosed transfer fee with Real for the 27-year-old midfielder.
“Before the start of the pre-season, the coach (Manuel Pellegrini) told us it was necessary to strengthen two positions: the defence and the midfield, and that is what we have done,” he said.
Alonso is expected to undergo a medical in Madrid on Wednesday before signing his contract.
Real, whose total recruitment outlay this summer totals almost 266 million euros, last week signed Alvaro Arbeloa, also from Liverpool, for 6.5 million euros.
The club have already spent a world record 94 million euros to lure Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United, as well as landing Brazil star Kaka from AC Milan, France striker Karim Benzema from Lyon, Valencia defender Raul Albiol and striker Alvaro Negredo from Getafe.
They now plan to focus on offloading some other players to pare the squad down to 25, the number sought by Pelligrini.
The search for new big-name signings began after construction magnate Florentino Perez returned as president in June.
Perez oversaw the Real ‘Galacticos’ of Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo during his first term at the club in 2000-2006.
MADRID (AFP)
Tags: ac milan, Alonso, arbeloa, brazil, florentino perez, France, galacticos, getafe, Jorge Valdano, kaka, Karim Benzema, Liverpool, Lyon, MADRID, magnate, Manchester, manchester united, manuel pellegrini, midfield, midfielder, Milan, outlay, raul albiol, real madrid, ronaldo, spending spree, technical director, Valencia, xabi alonso, zinedine zidaneRelated posts
PSV set to consider move for Hesselink
July 4, 2009
Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, who had previously denied any interest in Vennegoor of Hesselink, will consider to make a move for the out-of-contract player.
The Eredivisie club’s technical director Adrie van Kraaij had described speculation about the 30 year-old as “nonsense”.
But after being informed of Celtic’s decision to let the player go, Van Kraaij admitted the prospect of a free transfer could yet entice the club to make a move.
“Is he really allowed to leave Celtic as a free agent? That’s news to me,” Van Kraaij told Dutch newspaper Spits.
“Those stories that we were interested earlier on were nonsense. But now I will start talks internally, like we always do.”
“Apart from that I won’t give any comments.”
Vennegoor of Hesselink’s contract at the Hoops expired earlier this week and new boss Tony Mowbray indicated yesterday he was happy to let the frontman leave Celtic Park.
He said: “I have had no contact with Jan. Jan is out of contract – he is free to seek other employment and I’m pretty sure that’s what he will be doing at the moment.”
By:
Tags: celtic park, club psv eindhoven, contract player, dutch club, Eindhoven, Eredivisie, free agent, frontman, hoops, Jan, jan jan, new boss, nonsense, prospect, rajput, Scottish Premier League, speculation, technical director, tony mowbray, Van Kraaij, VennegoorRelated posts
David Villa wants Barca move: press
July 2, 2009
MADRID (AFP) – Valencia striker David Villa, one of the stars of Spain’s victorious Euro 2008 squad, has been in touch with Barcelona about a move to the European champions, Spanish media said Thursday.
“I only want to go to Barca,” Villa told Barcelona’s technical director Txiqui Begiristain at a secret meeting, the Catalan sports paper Mundo Deportivo said.
He said “that there are only two alternatives: to agree on his transfer to Barca or he is ready to see out his contract with Valencia,” the daily Sport reported.
It said the 27-year-old has rejected interest from Chelsea and from Barca’s arch-rivals Real Madrid.
Barcelona, which won a unique treble of league, Spanish cup and European Champions League trophies last season, is ready to offer Villa contract of four or five years, said Mundo Deportivo.
Tags: arch rivals, Barcelona, catalan, champions league, CHELSEA, daily sport, DAVID VILLA, English Premier League, euro 2008, european champions, LA Liga, MADRID, mundo deportivo, real madrid barcelona, secret meeting, Spain, spanish cup, spanish media, sports paper, striker, technical director, treble, trophies, ValenciaRelated posts
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