31 August 2004
Voller Appointed Roma Coach
As expected Rudi Voller has been appointed coach of Roma. Voller has signed a one year contract
at €2.7 million.
30 August 2004
Robson Sacked
Newcastle have sacked Bobby Robson after a poor start to the season. Newcastle have yet to win a
match this season and the 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa, with Alan Shearer sitting on the bench, left the
club fifth from bottom. A statement from the club read :
"After a disappointing start to the Premiership season the directors of Newcastle United have informed
Sir Bobby Robson that they have decided he is to be replaced as team manager. The directors of
Newcastle wish to place on record their thanks for the way in which Sir Bobby has worked tirelessly
over the past five years to try to bring success to the club."
"There is no hesitation by the club in recording its sincere appreciation for the way in which Sir Bobby
has handled team affairs during that five-year spell which has seen a significant turnaround in the
club's fortunes. The club agreed early in 2003 to extend Sir Bobby's contract by one further season.
However after careful consideration the club decided it was in the best interest of all concerned to
revisit that decision."
"The club continues to have the greatest respect and admiration for Sir Bobby and his lifelong
achievements both at home, abroad and particularly at the club he has supported since a boy, his
Newcastle. He leaves having remodelled the Newcastle team with many young players who are
admired and coveted across the UK and Europe. The club will no doubt continue to benefit from
the knowledge and experience he has given during his time here."
28 August 2004
Argentina Win Olympic Gold
Argentina beat Paraguay 1-0 with Carlos Tevez scoring his eighth of the tournament to win his countries
first Olympic gold medal in 52 years.
27 August 2004
Prandelli Resigns As Roma Coach
Cesare Prandelli has resigned before the start of the season due to his wife developing a serious
illness. Former Roma legend Rudi Voller is tipped to be his replacement.
24 August 2004
Derlei To Solve Portugal's Problems In Attack?
Brazilian born Porto striker Derlei will be approved for Portuguese citizenship shortly fuelling rumours
that he will join fellow Brazilian Deco in Portugal's squad.
13 August 2004
Real Madrid Pull out of Move for Vieira
Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira has tried to put a positive spin on the collapse of his transfer to
Real Madrid. In a statement on Arsenal's website he said :
"I am staying at the club. I've spent the summer considering my future and a possible move to Real
Madrid, but my love for Arsenal and the ties which I have here were too strong for me to break."
What Vieira didn't mention is that late in the negotiations Arsenal demanded a further €3.6 million
after agreeing a feel believed to be in the region of €32 million and his agent demanded €6.6 million
in bonuses at this point Real broke off negotiations.
12 August 2004
Zinedine Zidane has announced his retirement from International football :
"I think that at a given moment you must say 'stop'. I have thought long and hard over this decision.
It's the end of my international career with the French team."
11 August 2004
Vogts Blames DFB For German Decline
Former Germany coach Berti Vogts, who lead the Germans to glory in Euro 96, has blamed the German
FA for the nations failures in recent years :
"The DFB have been asleep for the past six years. There is no creativity in coaching and the flaws are
enormous. I sometimes ask myself whether we are some kind of nation from the wilderness."
10 August 2004
Del Neri Sacked
Porto have sacked coach Luigi Del Neri, blaming the coaches poor timekeeping and lack of
professionalism. Del Neri took two days off this week and failed to turn up for Friday's training session
after missing a flight. Del Neri said :
"I really didn’t expect it. It was like a bolt from the blue. I am very bitter and just want to pause for
a while. Anything can happen in football but I never expected to be fired in this way and for these
spurious motives."
9 August 2004
Hughes Jailed
West Brom striker Lee Hughes has been jailed for six years after crashing his Mercedes CL55 into
another vehicle while drunk, killing father of four Douglas Graham, and then failing to stop.
Judge Christopher Hodson said :
"In running away you showed a callous disregard for others who were in the other car, one of whom
was dead, another of whom was seriously injured and two others who were injured. I am quite certain
that in running away you were thinking of yourself and you were attempting to avoid the legal
consequences of driving having consumed alcohol."
8 August 2004
Adriano Suffers Loss of Father
Inter striker Adriano's father Almir Leite Ribeiro died last night aged just 44. Adriano has returned to Brazil.
A statement on Inter's website read :
"Accompanied by a Nerazzurri executive and his agent Gilmar Rinaldi, Adriano will arrive in Brazil in the
coming hours. Massimo Moratti, president Giacinto Facchetti, the executives and staff of FC
Internazionale Milano, Roberto Mancini, the coaching staff and the players express their condolences
and support for Adriano."
7 August 2004
Naploi Declared Bankrupt
Former Italian champions Napoli have been declared bankrupt with debts of €70 million. Napoli are
likely to be demoted to Serie C1.
6 August 2004
Taddei Left Out of Siena Squad
Siena are furious with Brazilian forward Rodrigo Taddei after a proposed move to Roma broke down.
Siena's president was furious after Taddei's agent criticised the club over their negotiations with
Roma. Paolo De Luca said :
"The latest arrogant statements by his agent left their mark. As far as we are concerned, Taddei can
sit in the stands and watch for a year, because we will not accept this kind of ungrateful attitude."
Taddei scored 8 times and made 4 assists in his first season in Serie A but was also involved in a car
crash that killed his younger brother Leonardo.
French FA Block Flamini Transfer
The FFF (French FA) has cancelled midfielder Flamini's transfer to Arsenal. The U21 international signed
his first pro contract with Arsenal instead of his first club Marseille which is against FFF rules. The
matter is now likely to go before a FIFA tribunal.
5 August 2004
FA Fail To Sack Eriksson
A statement issued by the FA has cleared England coach Sven Goran Eriksson of any wrongdoing
over his affair with FA secretary Faria Alam. The FA were looking for a way in which to get rid of
the expensive and inept Eriksson after previous FA secretary Mark Palios foolishly handed him a
highly inflated contract which would pay out £14 million in the event of a dismissal shortly after
Eriksson pimped himself to Chelsea.
"In the case of Sven-Goran Eriksson, The Board decided on the basis of the report and on legal
advice that there is no case for him to answer. In the case of Faria Alam, an employee without
executive status within the FA, The Board has decided it is not appropriate to make any public
statement with regard to her role in this inquiry. The FA announces that it has accepted Colin
Gibson's resignation. Neither The FA nor Colin Gibson will be making any further statement."
Gibson resigned after a newspaper revealed he had offered them the story on Eriksson's affair if
in return they didn't mention that Palios also had an affair with the same secretary.
3 August 2004
Lizarazu Retires From International Football
Injury prone past it Bixente Lizarazu has announced his retirement from international football :
"I share with Lilian the idea that we must give our places to other players for 2006. It's now up to
them to take their responsibilities. You must have time and a lot of matches to reach the highest
level and they will need this to reach maturity in two years time."
Scholes Retires From International Football
29 year old Manchester United midfielder has announced his retirement from international football.
Scholes had been surprisingly frank about his international form, having failed to score for three
years before Euro 2004, suggesting Lampard should take his place. Although Scholes has cited
personal reasons for his decision it's believed he was frustrated with a role on the left side of midfield.
"This is a decision I have not taken lightly, I have been considering retiring from international football
for a while now. I started my England career in 1997 and have enjoyed seven years of great football,
playing in the best competitions, with some of the best players, under the best managers. Euro 2004
was fantastic but afterwards I felt the time was right for myself and my family to make it my last
England appearance."
Italian Super-cup Moves Back to Italy
The annual Italian Super-Cup, played between the league champions (Milan) and cup holders
(Lazio) has been switched back to Italy from Tripoli after "unexpected organisational problems".
Abramovich Marvels At Milan
Chelsea's billionaire owner has praised Milan, who beat his team 3-2 in a hugely entertaining
encounter which concluded both clubs US tour in the Champions World Series. Abramovich singled
out Shevchenko for praise :
"Shevchenko is a phenomenon, a champion, a great athlete and a wonderful man."
He added :
"I wanted to shake Carlo Ancelotti's hand because I admire him and the way his Milan side plays."
2 August 2004
Van Basten Aiming For Spectacular Football
"This staff intends to build a team which is offensive and attractive where the players must show
proof of initiative and especially take pleasure in putting on the orange jersey. Football must be a
pleasure. The group will inevitably be rejuvenated but I'm not worried because there are a number
of very talented young footballers in Holland."
Italians Too Strong For Defending Champions
Italy won the second annual Homeless World Cup beating defending champions Austria 4-0 in
Sweden. The tournament is organised by the International Network of Street Papers. Most of the
players sell street papers in their own country and the tournament aims to increase public
awareness of homelessness while improving the self esteem of players. 26 teams from Europe,
Africa, Asia and the Americas participated in the event.
The first Homeless World Cup was held in Austria last year with 18 countries taking part. Next years
tournament will be held in New York.
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