31 May 2005

Trap Steps Down

After guiding Benfica to their first league title in 11 years Giovanni Trapattoni has
resigned citing personal issues :

"I need to return to Italy to be with my family and I have other problems to resolve
after that. I want to thank this very famous club, the team, the president (Luis
Filipe Vieira) and all the people that have worked with me this past year."

Benfica failed to win the double after losing the cup final 2-1 to Vitoria on Sunday.

Del Neri Makes Return At Palermo

Former Chievo, Porto and Roma coach Luigi Del Neri has been announced as
Francesco Guidolin's replacement as Palermo coach. Palermo's president Maurizio
Zamparini said :

"We reached an agreement this afternoon. We lost a very good coach but we found
the perfect replacement."

Francesco Guidolin resigned following the last league match of the season on
Sunday :

"This has been a great day of festivities for the team, the club and the city. I spoke
with President Maurizio Zamparini in a relaxed manner and we found some common
ground. I told him that it is perhaps the right time for me to take a break. Aside from
anything else, I can't really do much better than what I've achieved here. I do worry
that I'll never encounter such a wonderful fanbase again."

Irureta Leaves Deportivo

Javier Irureta has resigned as coach of Deportivo after a seven years stint during
which the club won their first and only La Liga title in 2000, the Spanish Cup in 2002
and two Spanish Super Cups in 2000 and 2002. This season Depor suffered the
ignominy of being the first club in the history of the champions league to not score
a goal during the group stages and finished a disappointing 9th in the league.
Irureta had no regrets :

"Now is not the time for being bitter. I have spent seven magnificent years here
and leave a satisfied and contented man."

Bayern Open Allianz Arena With Victory

Bayern Munich beat the German national team 4-2 in the official opening of the
€340 million, 66,000 all seater stadium. Deisler opened the scoring for Bayern after
5 minutes, Chelsea's Robert Huth, playing for Germany, put past his own 'keeper
(Lehmann) after 36 minutes, Sagnol (74) and Salihamidzic (87) scored Bayern's
other goals. Germany replied through a Borowski penalty on 56 minutes and Klose
scored four minutes from time. Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer hailed the
stadium as the best in the World :

"It is the first time the stadium has had 66,000 fans inside and the atmosphere was
incredible. I have seen almost all stadia in the world but this is the best but I guess
it is a matter of taste.

Totti Extends Contract

In a surprise move Roma captain Francesco Totti has signed a new deal which will
earn him a massive €10.40 million a season until June 2010. Totti has been with
Roma for 13 years, joining them for a reported seven figure fee in 1992.


30 May 2005

Ronaldo Dropped After Separation


Ronaldo has been dropped from Brazil's Confederations Cup squad at his own request
following his separation with fiancee Daniella Cicarelli. Ronaldo and Daniella were
due to wed on Valentine's day in a French chateua for fortunately for him the couple
failed to submit the correct paperwork.

Valencia Take Chance on Flores

Valencia have named Quique Flores named as their new coach. Flores spent a
decade as a player with Valencia between 1984 - 1994 before spells with
Real Madrid and Zaragoza. He was in charge of Real Madrid's youth team before
coaching Getafe to 13th place in the season just ended.


29 May 2005

Lyon Appoint Houllier


In a bewildering move Lyon have appointed former Liverpool coach Gerard Houllier
as the replacement to Paul Le Guen. The defensive minded Houllier will inherit one
of the most spectacular attacking teams in Europe.

EPL to Discuss 4 Points For An Away Win

In a move to combat a drop in attendances and falling television ratings Premiership
clubs are considering awarding 4 points for an away win in order to encourage
attacking football. Playing 100 mph crash, bang, wallop football, which I expect is
what will happen if this gets the go ahead, isn't going to help the chances of English
clubs in Europe.


27 May 2005

Capello Reveals Next Season's Objectives

"We already have some clear ideas. Bringing back the European Cup to Turin is our
principal objective for next season. We are looking for players who can make a
10% difference to the side rather than just 2%. Seeing as we are not starting from
the bottom, this will be very difficult to do. I've asked the club for a rich squad even
if we know that the money box is closed and we can't violate the books. We'll do our very best." - Fabio Capello

Koeman Senior Takes Charge at Feyenoord

Erwin Koeman, the older brother of Ronaldo Koeman, has succeeded Ruud Gullit
as coach of Feyenoord. Koeman guided RKC to 9th place in the Eredivisie his first
coaching job earlier this season.


26 May 2005

Champions League Final Post Match Comments

"Even the Brazil team that won the 1970 World Cup could not have staged a
comeback with Milan leading 3-0. I am disappointed as anyone who has played in
Italy would be. At 3-0 Milan were convinced that no-one could come back but what
has happened has happened. Milan never stopped playing and Shevchenko could
have won it in extra-time. I have seen comebacks like that in football but never
against a team that so clearly was superior as Milan were." - Maradona

"I think it will go down in history - people will be talking about it in 20-30 years
time. I honestly haven't seen a game like that I don't think." - Jamie Carragher

"Fantastic. After losing 3-0, losing players and with injury problems at the end, it's
fantastic. If the players believe, you can do it. It's good for us. When the captain
scores all the team play the same. It's been a really good match. a good game."
Rafael Benitez

"I said at half-time we had to go for it - we didn't want to be beaten 4 or 5-0,
then we got the first goal. The save Jerzy Dudek made from Shevchenko at the end
was unbelievable. I can't believe we've just won." - Jamie Carragher

“The match was well contested. We had six minutes of madness. It's inexplicable
because the team played well for all 120 minutes. That's the way it went and we
must go forward. We recognise it, we are displeased and disappointed. It's not the
time to blame anything or anyone, we are sad and sorry for what happened but this
is football. Congratulations to Liverpool for hanging on and winning the cup.
Now we must play our last match of the season and then we will start thinking
about next season." - Carlo Ancelotti

"Football is like politics: one thinks they have won and then you don't. Liverpool's
three goals were very strange. They had three chances and took them while we
had plenty at the end. Milan played really well. As for Carlo Ancelotti leaving, I don't
think so. I don't sack anyone." - Silvio Berlusconi

"It was too much. It was too beautiful to be true. It is hard, but this is football. 3-0 at
half time, with me scoring two goals. I repeat it was too beautiful to be good.
I cannot understand how it happened, I cannot find a reason, however we will try
again next season, we will take our revenge. Liverpool did very well, they also risked
much, but when things must go the wrong way in football, they just do it. We had
many chances, it went like this, the save on Sheva was incredible at the end but we
gave our best. I congratulate them." - Hernan Crespo

UEFA Won't Change Rules for Liverpool

UEFA spokesman William Gaillard insists that Liverpool will not be allowed to defend
the European Cup because the FA had already decided that the top four teams in
England would compete in the Champions League :

"The rules are what they are. They were used already once when Real Madrid won
and actually were not among the qualifiers in the Spanish league. The Spanish
FA told us they would replace the fourth-placed team - Real Zaragoza - with Real
Madrid. It is a tough decision to make but it is not for us to make, it is for the FA and
they told us Everton would be the fourth English club. Rules are rules and they were
passed for a very good reason."


25 May 2005

O'Neill to Step Down

Celtic have confirmed that manager Martin O'Neill will resign as coach at the end of
the week. A statement read :

"It is with great reluctance that Celtic plc today announce that manager Martin
O'Neill is leaving the club for family reasons (to look after his wife) after five years
in charge."

Chairman Brian Quinn added :

"Martin's contribution to Celtic has been quite immense. He has played a central
role in the club's enormous success over the past five seasons and he goes with
sincere best wishes from everyone associated with the club."

Gordon Strachan will be O'Neill's replacement.

Ferdinand Gets Another Ban

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has been banned for driving for 28 days
and fined €2180 after he was caught speeding at 105 mph. It was the players fourth
driving conviction following one for drink driving in 1997 and for speeding in 2002
2003. Judge Ashley Howells said :

"This court views speeding on local highways most seriously, particularly when the
speed is more than 100 mph, and our view is that Mr Ferdinand must be disqualified.
He is a role model and should be a positive role model for young people in society
and this does not give out the right message."

No More Charity From Mourinho

"The time of Chelsea making life easy for other clubs has finished. So, for example,
if AC Milan want a good striker on loan they have to knock on another door because
easy deals for other clubs just finished with Chelsea. So if somebody wants a very
good Chelsea player, you have to pay the same way you pay to everybody else"
Jose Mourinho


24 May 2005

Eto'o Fined €12,000 For Real Insults

Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o has been fined €12,000 for saying "Madrid, cabron,
saluda al campeon" (Madrid, bastards, hail the champions) during Barca's La Liga
victory speech at the Nou Camp on Sunday. The fine is four times the amount
Spain's racist national team coach Luis Aragones was fined for calling Thierry Henry
a black shit and shows how arse backwards the Spanish Football Federation is.

Eto'o later apologised for his comments.

Le Saux Retires

36 year old Southampton defender Graham Le Saux has announced his retirement
from football :

"I decided at the beginning of the season that this would probably be my last.
I would much rather have retired seeing Southampton stay in the Premiership but
it was just not meant to be. Having constant and intensive treatment ahead of
every game, my body knows how hard I've tried this season."

Le Saux won a league championship with Blackburn in 1995 and also played for
Chelsea and made 36 appearances for England. Le Saux will continue his excellent
work as a pundit for the BBC.

Co Adriaanse New Porto Coach

AZ Alkmaar's Co Adriaanse has signed a two year contract to replace Jose Couceiro
who resigned on Sunday after Porto finished runner-up to Benfica. AZ Alkmaar were
leading the Dutch league before the strain of competing domestically and in Europe
(they reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup) saw them slip to third place.
Co Adriaanse said :

"Porto is one of the best clubs in the world, for me it is a big step to go from
AZ Alkmaar to FC Porto."

Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa explained his decision for appointing the
outspoken former Ajax coach, who claims he will learn Portuguese within four
months :

"I chose him because of his technical profile, because of the way his team played,
because of the discipline he imposes and for the rigour that I know he has for
everything to do with our team."

Real Dismiss Ibrahimovic Rumours

In a statement on their website Real dismissed Swedish newspaper reports that
they were preparing a €70 million bid for Juventus striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic :

"Real Madrid would like to make it clear that no one from the club, either directly
or indirectly, has opened negotiations of any sort with the player's agent, nor the
Italian club, nor with the player himself."

Ibrahimovic's agent Mino Raiola was quoted as saying the following in Swedish
daily Goeteborgs-Posten on Saturday :

"Zlatan is currently the best player in the world and that's why Real want him."