29 September 2004

Roma Appoint Del Neri

Luigi Del Neri has been appointed coach of Roma replacing Rui Voller who resigned following
Saturday's embarrassing 3-1 defeat against 9 man Bologna. Del Neri himself was sacked as coach
of European Champions Porto without playing a game after criticisms over his lack of professionalism.


28 September 2004

Rangnick Replaces Geynckes

Ralf Rangnick has succeeded Jupp Heynckes as coach of Schalke. Rangnick was previously with Hannover.


27 September 2004

Voller Resigns

Rudi Voller has resigned as coach of Roma after the club suffered a humiliating 3-1 defeat against nine
man Bologna, their second league defeat of the season. Voller said :

"I want to thank President Franco Sensi for accepting my decision to resign. I am accustomed to dealing
with a team in a certain manner. I tried to continue doing it my way but last night I understood that it
wasn't the right way for Roma. If I can't control something, then there is nothing I can do to change it.
The club was behind me 100% and the squad, led by Francesco Totti, asked me to stay on. I feel it is
the right thing to do as I don't think I can help this team. The best way to help them is to put more
responsibility upon their shoulders for what is happening here, although in the last few games perhaps
I made mistakes too." 

Former Chievo coach Luigi Del Neri is favourite to succeed Voller.


Chelsea Invest In Training Complex

Chelsea are developing a new underground training centre with glass roof which will house 15 pitches.
The complex will open in 2006.


24 September 2004

KNVB To Introduce European Play-Offs

In a really stupid move the KNVB (Dutch FA) are to introduce a play-off system to determine European
places. Teams finishing in places 2-5 will play in a knockout competition with the winner earning a
place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League and the teams that finish 2nd and 3rd
earning UEFA Cup places. The changes will take effect from the 2005-2006 season.


23 September 2004

Forsell Out For Six Months

Birmingham striker Mikael Forssell is out for six months following knee surgery.


22 September 2004

Bad Start For New World Club Championship

In a move which will do nothing to aid the credibility of FIFA's revamped World Club Championship it
has been confirmed that the first two events will be held in Japan. 


21 September 2004

Roma Avoid European Ban

Roma will play their next two European games behind closed doors as punishment for referee Anders
Frisk being struck on the head by a coin thrown by a Roma supporter during the champions league tie
between Roma and Dynamo Kyiv. Dynamo Kyiv, who were leading 0-1 before the match was suspended
at half time, has been awarded a 0-3 victory.


20 September 2004

Brian Clough Loses Battle With Cancer

Brian Clough, dubbed the best English manager never to coach England, has died at the age of 69 after
losing his battle with stomach cancer. Clough scored 204 goals in 222 games for hometown club
Middlesbrough before moving up the road to Sunderland where his career was cut short by a knee
injury. Clough stayed in the North East to become manager of Hartlepool at the age of 30 then moved
to the East Midlands and guided Derby to the Championship in 1972. After a row with the board he left
and had brief spells at Brighton and Leeds before joining Nottingham Forest. He took the club into the
first division and won the league in 1978 and successive European Cups in 1979 against Malmo and
1980 against Hamburg. Clough retired after Forest were relegated in 1993.


Real Crisis At Madrid - Camacho Resigns

Jose Camacho has resigned as coach of Real Madrid following the clubs second successive defeat of the
week. The 1-0 to Espanyol, hot on the heels of a 3-0 thrashing by Leverkusen promoted Comacho to
resign. Real have only scored 3 goals in 6 games this season. Camacho's assistant, Mariano Garcia
Remon, will take charge of the club for the time being with Sven Goran Eriksson, Luis Felipe Scolari
(the obvious choice) and even Bobby Robson rumoured to be among the candidates to succeed Camacho.


15 September 2004

Hughes Appointed Blackburn Coach

Mark Hughes has been appointed coach of Blackburn Rovers. Hughes will continue as coach of Wales
for two more games.


Heynckes Sacked

Schalke have sacked Jupp Heynckes after a poor start to the season which saw the club win one
and lose three of their first four games of the season. Assistant coaches Eddy Achterberg and
Oliver Reck will take charge of the team for the time being.


12 September 2004

Blatter Criticises England Players For Media Blackout

"There has to be a balance of criticism of players of a national team, but those such as England, France,
Germany or Brazil are identified as public personalities, they are national team players and they have
an obligation to communicate and to accept from time to time that they are criticised."
Sepp Blatter


Real Target Gerrard

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has done nothing to dispel rumours that the club are planning
to make Steven Gerrard their next Galactico. He was quoted as saying the following in The Sunday
Mirror :

"Steven Gerrard is a player I really like, he is the type of player who would suit the famous shirt of
Real Madrid."


11 September 2004

Hierro Thinks Premiership Is Fantastic

Former Real Madrid captain Fernando Hierro has spoken of his delight at playing in the Premiership :

"I think the Premiership is fantastic. I can't express how great it is - the atmosphere, the fans, how they
play football, I love everything I've seen. I feel like I definitely had the right idea coming here because
I have seen things I never would have seen if I hadn't come."


Diouf Speaks of Divisions At Liverpool

Senegal's El-Hadji Diouf, the flop of the season last year has criticised former coach Gerard Houllier and
the divisions in the team :

"It was a shambles there. The players had enemies amongst themselves. The squad was not close-knit.
The French were on one side, the English and Czechs on the other. It's a great relief to have left
Liverpool. Houllier never managed to get the respect of players."


10 September 2004

Beckham Signs €50 Million Deal With Gillette

David Beckham, already Europe's highest paid sportsman with projected earnings of over €34 million
this year has signed a five year €50 million contract with Gillette, makers of extraordinary poor adverts
for their razors.


9 September 2004

England Players In Media Blackout

England's players have refused to speak to press over what they perceive to be unfair criticism following
Saturday's 2-2 draw at Austria. David Beckham, who had a poor match in Austria, and David James,
who gifted the Austrian's two goals, were criticised by the press but Boy Blunder Owen, who was
again dreadful was once again spared.


8 September 2004

Tomasson Extends Contract

Jon Dahl Tomasson has extended his contract with Milan until 2009.


6 September 2004

Ronaldo To Wed In New Year

Ronaldo has set a date of 2 January 2005 to marry his fiancé, the stunning Brazilian model and MTV presenter
Daniella Cicarelli.


Bayern Stars Find Magath's Methods Too Tough

Bayern Munich's players have complained about new coach Felix Magath's tough training methods.

"I've never had harder training sessions than under Magath, not in the national team nor at Leverkusen"
Brazilian defender Lucio

"Training is tough and we are doing a lot more running than last season"
France defender Willy Sagnol

Paraguay's eternally crippled striker Roque Santa Cruz said :

"I'm not going to change my attitude. I'm not going to start kicking opponents or throwing myself to the
ground just to please this person."

Magath however was quick to deflect the criticism back on his players following the clubs embarrassing
4-1 defeat by Leverkusen :

"Some players are too busy rubbing gel into their hair and neglect the football."


3 September 2004

Everton Give Rooney Kits To Charity

Everton have donated €88,000 worth of replica Wayne Rooney kits to aid agency Cafod who are
helping child soldiers integrate back into society in Liberia.

Allan Lincoln, a director of Cafod's partner agency, said :

"The kids are huge Rooney fans and followed his success closely during the recent European Championships.
Football also allows them to have fun and regain some of the childhood that was so brutally taken away
from them."


2 September 2004

Mourinho Received Death Threats

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has revealed that he received death threats on the eve of Porto's
European Cup final against Monaco :

"On the other line the guy said 'We won't do anything now because you have that final to play but once
it is over, you're dead. We are going to get you. As soon as you arrive in Porto your bed will be laid, you
don't have a chance."


1 September 2004

Rooney's Agent Nets €2.2 Million

In what is believed to be the biggest fee paid to a football agent in the UK, Paul Stretford has been paid
€2.2 million for arranging Wayne Rooney's transfer to Manchester United.

Rooney's transfer breaks down as follows :

€14.5 million to be paid immediately

€14.5 million to be paid on 1 August 2005

€4.35 million to be paid if Rooney is still a Manchester United player in three years time

Everton to receive 25% of any transfer fee is Rooney is sold

€1.45 if Manchester United win the Champions League

€0.72 if Manchester United are runners-up in the Champions League

€0.72 if Manchester United win the Premiership

€0.36 if Manchester United finish second in the Premiership

€0.21 if Manchester United win the FA Cup

€2.18 if Rooney extends his contract with Manchester United

€0.72 if Rooney earns 20 England caps in competitive games while a Manchester United player and
a further €0.72 is Rooney plays another 20 competitive games while a Manchester United player