31 January 2007

Bayern Sack Magath
Bayern Munich have sacked coach Felix Magath after Tuesday's goalless draw by
Bochum left them in fourth place and 8 point behind leaders Bremen and Schalke.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said :

"We regret this decision but in our role as managers of the club we have to see
real development and take action."

Magath won successive league and cup doubles in his first two seasons in charge,
said :

"Obviously this isn't the best news because I'm proud of the two great years
touched with success that I've had here but it's always been clear that my
contract could come to an end one day."

Magath's predecessor, Ottmar Hitzfeld, will take over for the remainder of the
season with Lyon's Gerard Houllier rumoured to be his long term successor next
season.


28 January 2007

Platini Re-Iterates Desire To Trim Champions League

"We need a re-balancing between the countries with big clubs and the clubs in
other countries. England, Spain and Italy are currently allowed to qualify two
plus two (first and second place via direct qualification and third and fourth
place via the preliminary rounds) but I'm proposing that three clubs be
qualified directly for the competition, starting in 2009."
UEFA President Michel Platini

Mourinho Determined To See Out Contract

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has tried to end speculation over his future
following rumours of problems with owner Roman Abramovich and Chief Executive
Peter Kenyon :

" I have a contract that runs until 2010, and that's a very important thing. I am
manager today and until the end of the season and I believe I will be manager
until 2010. If I believe, from what I read in the press, there are contenders
(take replace him at the end of the season) but I don't get influenced by the
press. The players feel I am the same - same desire, same commitment."


 27 January 2007

Drogba Criticises Shevchenko

"On Shevchenko's side I don't really sense the desire to collaborate. I think that as
a big signing he believes he is obliged to justify his transfer fee with goals at
any cost. I love to share but when I give, I appreciate it when I get something back.
That's what happened with Hernan Crespo but let's say it is a little different this
season. That is a real pity because everyone would have something to gain if we
really worked together. I have tried to understand his position and get an
explanation. We know we are not rivals because, unlike in the past years, there is
room for two in attack this season. I understand it is a really difficult situation for
him to handle but you have to think of the team first." - Didier Drogba


 26 January 2007

Higuain Chooses Argentina

France coach Raymond Domenech has revealed that Real Madrid's French born
teenage Argentinean striker Gonzalo Higuain has ended long running speculation
over his international future :

"He told me clearly today after talks with him, his father in Madrid and after seeing
Fabio Capello (Real Madrid coach) that he had chosen Argentine nationality and
that his father had taken steps for him to obtain it. He said that he was Argentine,
that all his family and friends were over there, that he'd always lived there and
that he didn't feel French. We've had a proper explanation. I'm not going to fight him.
From today the problem's solved and the shirt that he wants to wear is Argentine."

Beckenbauer Voted Onto FIFA Executive Committee

Franz Beckenbauer has been voted onto FIFA's executive committee as a
representative of UEFA. Beckenbauer is rumoured to be considering running for
the FIFA presidency in the future.

Platini Wins UEFA Presidency

Former three time European Footballer of the Year Michel Platini (51) has
succeeded Lennart Johansson (76) as president of UEFA. In a secret ballot of the
52 UEFA member associations, Platini received 27 votes and Johansson 23.
Platini, who will be president for at least four years, said :

"When I was a footballer after a victory we got the cup and did a lap of honour
with our team-mates. Today it's a great triumph for me, but I won't be doing any
lap of honour. I am just happy to be representing European football. It is the
start of a great adventure. The hardest part of all this lies ahead of me."


 25 January 2007

UEFA Announce €32.43 Million Profits

UEFA have announced profits of €32.43 million from a turnover of €700.49 million
for the 2005-2006 season. Television accounted for €481.37 million while sponsorship
brought in another €116.64. 'Solidarity payments' made by UEFA to the smallest
federations and clubs rose to €123.35 million.

Neville Tips Hughes To Succeed Ferguson

"Playing with the likes of Bryan Robson and Steve Bruce you always thought they'd go
on to be managers. Some may have thought one of them would be our next manager
but I certainly didn't think Sparky (Mark Hughes) would be a manager yet out of the
three. He's probably now the most outstanding candidate for it. He really seems to
have taken to management. Sven (Goran-Eriksson) was mentioned a few years ago
when our manager was talking about retiring. You think back now to the choices
being talked about and they would have been disastrous." -  Gary Neville


 24 January 2007

Drogba Appointed UN Goodwill Ambassador

Chelsea's Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba has been appointed a Goodwill
Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) :

"I have been given opportunities to succeed in life, but I constantly think
about the ones who did not have this chance. We all need to contribute to help
defeat poverty."

Drogba will also help the fight against Aids in Africa :

"As a man and a role model for many young boys in Africa I will do my best to
promote the right messages to other men and boys to stop the pandemic."

Blackburn Plan To Cut Ticket Prices

Blackburn chairman John Williams plans on reducing the cost of tickets to curb
falling crowds ahead of next season's increased TV revenue:

"Our view is that some of this new money must be returned to our supporters in
admission prices. Most clubs, apart from the biggest, have a problem with (low)
crowds. It is crucial that the game remains a live spectacle. The Premier League
is becoming increasingly predictable. While it is good we still have a title
race, most people can name at the beginning of the season who the top four clubs
will be. Although we have to remain as competitive as we can, we are committed
to returning some of the increase in TV money to our supporters from next
season."

Blackburn's average attendance this season is 21,621 from a 31,000 capacity.


 21 January 2007

Kenyon Downplays Chelsea Rumours

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has tried to dismiss rumours that coach
Jose Mourinho in unhappy at the club over what he perceives to be a lack of
support from the board (over their failure to finance the signing of a centre
back) and Frank Arnesen's influence on transfers :

"There is a healthy tension in the club and that is all focused on moving Chelsea
forward. We have demonstrated that just continuing the way you are going is not
going to progress you as a club. Within Chelsea it is business as usual. On all the
key issues the manager, the owner, the chief executive and the board are involved.
That will not change because we believe to be successful we need a team that is
together. We are lucky to be involved in the best league in the world and with that
comes lots of different responsibilities and lots of different pressures."


 19 January 2007

Deisler Announces Retirement

Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Sebastian Deisler has announced his
retirement from the game at the age of 27 after a career plagued by injuries
problems. The gifted winger has had five knee operations in addition to numerous
hamstring and groin injuries. He said :

"I can't trust my knee any more. I don't enjoy playing football any more."

Deisler made his name at Monchengladbach before earning a move to Hertha Berlin
in 1999. Two years later Bayern Munich agreed to sign him for the following
campaign (2002-2003 season) for what seemed a bargain fee of just €9.5 million
but he damaged knee cartilage which ruled him out of the 2002 World Cup and
delayed his Bayern debut until February 2003. In November of that year Deisler
was treated for clinical depression.

 18 January 2007

Premier League Sign Record Overseas TV Deal

The FA Premier League have sold the overseas television rights for the next
three seasons of Premiership matches for €942.44 Million. The deal covers 208
countries. In addition to the new domestic rights deals (€3.16 billion over three
years) it takes the Premierships earnings to over €4 billion euros. As a result
of the new overseas deal next seasons champions will receive €75 million in prize
money and their share of the television revenue while the club that finishes bottom
of the league will pocket €45 million.

The Premier League's chief executive Richard Scudamore said :

"We have a cosmopolitan approach to players and a cosmopolitan approach to
ownership and that is paying off. We have seen growth everywhere but the really
big jumps have been in Asia and the Middle East. No territories have gone down
but in some cases the rights have ended up being sold for three or four times
the current amount."


 14 January 2007

Terry In Mourinho Rallying Cry

Chelsea captain John Terry has said coach Jose Mourinho has the players backing
in the behind the scenes row between Mourinho and member of the Chelsea board :

"We all agree that we don't want Jose to go and if it takes five or six of the
senior players to tell them so, then that's what we're prepared to do. Jose is
the best in the business, there's no doubt about that, and I'm sure he will be
for the next 20 years. That's what we want at Chelsea, the best and only the
best. So there is no way we want the best boss around to be walking away. We
don't want to see top people leaving. Jose Mourinho must stay. We are all loyal
to Jose. We know what he has done for us as players and for this club as a whole.
This situation is putting pressure on everyone at this club. I am convinced he will
stay. I think he will be here again next season, I really do. I don't think he will
be going anywhere."


 11 January 2007

Player Jailed For Throwing Punch In FA Cup Tie

James Cotterill, a defender who plays for non league side Barrow, has become the
first player in England to be jailed for an on-field offence. Cotterill fractured the jaw
of Bristol Rovers striker Sean Rigg after punching him during a FA Cup first round tie
on November 11, 2006. He was convicted of GHB and given a four month jail
sentence :

Judge Robert Brown said :

"The courts have for a long time now made it absolutely clear that this sort of
violence on the field of play cannot and will not be tolerated and for this kind
of off-the-ball incident a custodial sentence is inevitable."

Mourinho Blames Board For Lack of Reinforcements

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has said his attempts to strengthen his injury hit
team have been knocked back by the board :

"I do not have to tell you the reason. They are club reasons. This is our situation at
the moment. I hear nobody is coming in, and if nobody is coming in, nobody can
leave. I cannot let a player go, even if he is a player I think should go because we
are very short of options and numbers. It is not my choice, it is not my club. I am
just the manager."


 7 January 2007

Kahn To Retire In 2008

"I will honour my contract with Bayern until 2008 and after that it will be the
right time at 39 years to call a halt and concentrate on something else."
Oliver Kahn


 5 January 2007

Bayern Want €30 Million For Hargreaves

"If Manchester United came to see us with that offer of €30 million that
everyone is talking about, we would have to think about it. That is a figure
that would allow us to be active in the transfer market." - Franz Beckenbauer

Last month Hargreaves re-iterated his desire to join Manchester United :

"It's about the opportunity to possibly play in another league I haven't played
in before, which is also the country I represent and where my family lives. If
people don't understand that, I don't expect them to. It's not their life. It's
mine but I don't think anyone in the football world is in the same situation as
mine. It's not like I'm saying I want to go to AC Milan or Inter Milan because
they're offering me more money. It's because it's England and because Britain is
where my family is. My parents and my brothers are in Canada, but the whole of
my dad's side of the family is in Bolton and my mum's side is in Rhyl. I think some
people don't realise that. They think I'm half-German or something, but I'm not.
I was brought up by a British family. It just happened to be in Canada."

UEFA Team of The Year

Based on the votes of 390,000 visitors to uefa.com the following XI players have
been nominated into UEFA's Best XI for 2006.

GK. Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
LB. Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona)
CB. Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid)
CB. Carles Puyol (Barcelona)
RB. Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)
RM. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
CM. Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
AM. Kaka (Milan)
LM. Ronaldinho (Barcelona)
FW. Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
FW. Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona)
Coach. Frank Rijkaard (Barcelona)