28 February 2006

Perez Quits - Galacticos Era Comes to An End

Florentino Perez has quit as president of Real Madrid :

"We have designed a squad which combines the world's best players. Maybe I have spoiled them and that lies at the root of their confusion. I want them to understand that the only thing that is important is Real Madrid. I am sure I have committed a lot of mistakes. That's why I think that a change in the club's presidency will be positive and it will get a few of the players unstuck. My mistake is similar to a parent who wants to give his kid only the best. You spoil them, so it's not the players fault but mine."

The announcement came following successive defeats against Arsenal in Europe and
Mallorca in the league. Fernando Martin, an ally of Perez, has been unanimously voted in as the new president of Real Madrid.

Timeline :

2000 - Florentino Perez becomes president of the club in May 2000 and quickly sells
star midfielder and Champions League hero Fernando Redondo to Milan. Redondo is married to the daughter of the club's former president Lorenzo Sanz, who Perez ousts as President

2000 -  Perez keeps his election promise of  signing Luis Figo from bitter rivals Barcelona for a then world record fee of €54.10 million

2001 - In a controversial move Real Madrid's training ground is sold to Madrid council for a massively inflated €480 million, instantly wiping out the club's €270 million debt

2001 - Real Madrid win the league for the first time in four years then sign Zinedine
Zidane for what remains a World record fee (€67 million). The move ushers in the Galacticos era - Perez claims the clubs policy will be to build the team with 'Zidanes and Pavons' i.e. the biggest stars in the World (Zidane) and players from the youth team (Pavon)

2002 - Real Madrid beat Dortmund 2-1 in the European Cup final

2002 - Ronaldo signs from Inter for €43.90 million

2003 - Real win the league and release club captain Fernando Hierro and Steve McManaman, hero of the 2000 European Cup final victory over Valencia

2003 - David Beckham signs from Manchester United for €25 million

2003 - In Perez's most controversial move key defensive midfielder Claude Makelele is sold to Chelsea, despite protests from team-mates

2003 - Striker Fernando Morientes is sent on loan to Monaco and promptly scores the goal which sends Real Madrid out of the Champions League

2004 - After 4 years in charge and following a trophy-less season Perez makes his first high profile defensive signings, Walter Samuel from Roma and the injury prone Jonathan Woodgate from Newcastle. Woodgate fails to play a game all season due to injury

2004 - Perez wins a second term as Real Madrid president

2005 - Following another barren season former Milan and Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi is appointed director off football and Wanderlei Luxemburgo is appointed new coach. Tomas Gravesen is signed to vacate the position left by Claude Makelele two years ago

2005 - Real spend heavily in the transfer market signing Ramos, Robinho, Baptista and Cicinho largely against the wishes of Arrigo Sacchi who announces he will step down in  December. The first galactico, Luis Figo, ends a frustrating season on the bench before joining Inter on a free transfer

2005 - Real are humiliated at the Bernabeu by champions Barcelona

2005 - 10 points adrift of Barcelona in the league, out of the Spanish cup and facing elimination from the Champions League, Perez resigns

Zaragoza Fined For Racist Abuse

The Spanish Football Federation (REFE) have fined Zaragoza €9,000 after the club's
fans chanted racial abuse at Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o. Eto'o threatened to walk
off the pitch in protest but was talked out of it by his team-mates then exacted
revenge by making the second goal in a 0-2 win.

The club were fined a similar amount earlier in the month after fans shouted abuse at Betis forward Robert. Zaragoza have called for help in order to track down the perpetrators :

Totti to Call Time On International Career

"I really want to be a part of the World Cup because it will be my last competition
with the national shirt.  That is the project which is in my end and I am almost
certain that I will see it through until the very end. The last World Cup and European
Championship didn't go as I had planned but I will be in Germany and I'll make up for them." - Francesco Totti

Liverani Ready To Leave Lazio

27 year old Lazio midfielder Fabio Liverani, who is having an outstanding season, is open to offers after the club refused to meet his contract demands :

"From now on I will consider myself free to evaluate other offers. I don't know if it is possible to continue here. I have made my demands clear to the club. However, President Claudio Lotito says that he won't go past certain figures. If the club consider me to be an important player then it will be my priority to remain but if not then it is only right that I think about my future. This isn't a final goodbye though. It's just that a certain amount of time has passed and I want some answers. As I have said, I want to stay here because I am very fond of this club and this city, but time is running out. We have to be quick."

Liverani will be available on a free transfer at the end of June.

Eriksson & Van Basten Unhappy With World Cup Deadline

"The deadline for FIFA (World Cup squad submissions) I am not really happy with, the 15th May I think it is, and I think it is too early but we have a work-shop next week and I know a lot of managers are not happy and I personally spoke with Marco van Basten last week, and we agreed we should try and talk to as many managers as possible to try and change that. I am rather confident it will be changed because I think it was the same before the last World Cup, FIFA came out and said they wanted a certain date but it was delayed." - Sven Goran Eriksson

24 February 2006

Chelsea Condemn Death Threats

Chelsea have condemned posters who issued death threats on their website against Norwegian referee Terje Hauge.

"Chelsea totally condemns any threats made to referees, officials, players or supporters of any club or football organisation. A small number of abusive messages were posted on the official chat site yesterday, Thursday, following the Barcelona game. These were among 4,000 general messages posted yesterday and the offending messages were removed as soon as Chelsea were alerted to them."

"If Chelsea are able to trace the authors of these messages, and if they are Chelsea season ticket holders or members, then action will be taken against the culprits. Chelsea does monitor the official chat site but it will now be conducting a review of these procedures and improving them."

"Chelsea would like to stress that, at this stage, it is impossible to say whether the
messages were posted by Chelsea fans as the site is publicly accessible. Similarly the club is not in control of other fan websites, inside or outside of the United Kingdom that claim connections with Chelsea, and those websites are also publicly accessible."

Hauge sent off defender Asier Del Horno during Wednesday's Champions League match against Barcelona.

Maradona Hails His Successor

After a string of false Maradona's (Ortega, Aimar, Gallardo, Saviola etc, etc) Diego Maradona believes Barcelona's Lionel Messi is the real deal :
 
"I have seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentinean football and his name is Messi. Messi is beautiful to watch - my kind of player in our blue and white jersey. He's a leader and is offering classes in beautiful football. He has something different to any other player in the world. Messi is the best player in the world, along with Ronaldinho. I see him as very similar to me."

Another all time great, Johan Cruyff, said of  Messi :

"is the reason why Barcelona are a better team this season. The boy can conquer the whole stage."

Shevchenko Wants Ronaldo At Milan

Andriy Shevchenko has echoed the views of team-mate Kaka' and suggested Milan should sign Ronaldo after the striker revealed he is considering his future at Real Madrid :

"We can't overlook a player like him. It is clear that Ronaldo needs a new stimulus
and in my opinion he is certainly still an excellent striker. This is not an opportunity Milan should miss out on."

Alberto Gilardino, whose place is potentially under threat, has, not surprisingly, called
for the Brazilians arrival.


24 February 2006

Benitez Rules Out Quick Sissoko Return