Story Soccer

Soccer Hobby

2012-01-01T08:19:00.000-08:00

Soccer is one of the most popular sports, if not the most popular sport or hobby in the world. The soccer World Cup, which is the world soccer tournament that goes occurs every four years, gets more viewers than any other sporting event in the world. Soccer is such a big deal in some countries that it has caused political tensions between nations when their teams have played against each other in the World Cup. So why is soccer such a great hobby for everyone? For one thing, it does not require much equipment to play soccer, you just need a soccer ball to kick around and a couple friends, and some sort of goal that you can use to kick the ball into. The rules are rather simple and obvious, you just kick the soccer ball around and try to kick it into the other team's goal to score, and you can't touch the soccer ball with your hands.

Kicking a soccer ball around is something that can be addicting and you can spend hours and hours doing it without getting bored. You can do different tricks with your like dribbling and or seeing how many times you can kick the soccer ball without letting it hit the ground. You can practice tricks like the bicycle where you jump and kick it sideways or kick it in the air while falling onto your back. You can do that one trick where you roll the ball with one foot onto the back of your other leg and then use that other leg to kick it forward, from behind, over your head; that's one of my favorites. It makes people think I am a good soccer player when I do that one, even though I am not.

One nice thing about soccer or a soccer hobby is that it definitely keeps you in shape with all of that running you have to do, and you have to be in pretty good shape to do well at soccer. Playing soccer is not like a light jog where you can just take it easy the whole time. You are at a full, dead sprint over and over. It's fun too, so it doesn't feel like you are just working out, you are playing a game instead. The last soccer team I played on was an indoor soccer team. I thought I was in shape, but then I could only last for a couple minutes before I had to take a breather, each time I went in.

One of my earliest memories of playing soccer was when I was on a little league soccer team as a kid. I was playing defense and all I did was kick the ball as hard as I could to the other end of the field every time it came to me. I also remember afterwards, I ate a piece of chocolate candy with the wrapper still on it. I didn't swallow it, but it made me sick and had to quit dribbling my soccer ball on the way home from the soccer game, while I puked because the feeling in my mouth was so disgusting. I think my body was worked up from the sprinting in the soccer game as well and my stomach was tight. It still makes me sick to think about that experience all of these years later. But I sure had fun as a kid playing on my soccer team and had a lot of good experiences. I also still have a lot of good memories from my soccer days as a kid. It was fun being the center of attention as I kicked the ball around each time it came to me. I wasn't that good though, and I played defense, so I usually just gave the soccer ball a nice boot to the other side of the field each time it came to me.

There are a lot of drills you can do with a soccer balls, just on your own to become a better soccer player. You can just practice dribbling, as mentioned above, where you just kick the soccer ball back and forth between your legs as you run. Once you get good at dribbling the soccer ball, you can show it off when you play games, but dribbling the soccer ball and cutting past people. Or, you can practice kicking and aiming the soccer ball at a certain point on a wall or practice kicking it into the goal or passing with the side of you foot, so you can get your aim better and score more goals when you play. You can dribble the soccer ball with your feet while weaving through cones. You can practice heading the soccer ball and aiming with your head. For some reason soccer player's favorite thing to do is hit the soccer ball with their heads.

Selecting Soccer Cleats - Nightmare or Lack of Knowledge?

2012-01-01T08:14:00.000-08:00

What kind of soccer cleats should you buy?

There are so many choices. And all this marketing nonsense out there. Exactly. There is no simple answer to this question. How to buy proper soccer cleats could be very challenging but it does not have to become a nightmare. With the adequate knowledge you can easily choose the right soccer shoes for yourself or your child, if that's the case.

So, let's see what should you look for while buying soccer cleats?
Besides the price, you want to make sure they are comfortable.
But how would you know if they give you enough comfort, before you play in them at least few times?

You won't.

But you can increase your chances of buying comfortable soccer cleats by considering the following factors:

1. Manufacturer.

2. True Leather or Synthetic.

3. Studs Type.

4. Size.

Let's talk about these factors a little bit more.

Manufacturer
Adidas and Nike are the 2 most popular. For a good reason. They are probably the best on the market.

While Adidas has manufactured soccer shoes "forever", Nike has made great strides over the last few years. Both companies make equally good quality soccer shoes.

I personally never played in Nike's shoes, so I can't tell you about this brand from my experience. My sons played soccer using both brands. After trying them for a while, the younger son sticks to Nike while Pat (older) uses Adidas shoes only. They both are very happy with their selections.
Do you know why?

Their feet are build differently. Pat has a much wider foot than his brother. Adidas makes its cleats bigger in width than Nike.

Basically if you have:

· Wide foot - look for a pair of Adidas Soccer Cleats.

· Skinny foot - look for a pair of Nike Soccer Cleats.

It wouldn't be fair not to mention 2 other brands, almost as good as the above two:
Diadora and Puma.
Other brands like: Umbro, Kelme, Mitre, Lotto - only if you really can't afford the brands mentioned above or if you just simply like these brands.

True Leather or Synthetic

Upper portion of every soccer shoe is made out of either true leather or synthetic material.

What is better?

True leather...in my opinion. And I recommend it to everybody who is serious about playing soccer.

True leather gives you an uncompromising feel of the ball. It molds to your feet producing great comfort. It also lasts longer than synthetic materials. And it is healthier for your feet.
Synthetic materials don't let the feet "breathe" building up of sweat, potential blisters and feet problem in the near future.

But...(of course there is a "but")
...True leather cleats cost more.
There are few different types of leather used to manufacture soccer cleats.
The least expensive is full grain. Sometimes full grain leather soccer shoes could cost only slightly more than "artificial". Spending $10-20 more on much better shoes would be really worth it.
The best leather out on the market is K-Leather (Kangaroo). Though more expensive but it is softer, lighter and still durable.
If your feet are not growing like the speed of sound and your budget is not too tight, definitely consider buying soccer cleats made from K-Leather.

There is another "but" or an exception to my "non-synthetic soccer shoes" rule: soccer cleats made of high quality synthetic material.
These soccer shoes are manufactured with special microfiber technology that upgrades synthetic material, usually a PU (polyurethane). It makes the PU very soft, and strong, giving it similar feel to a natural material. Top Super-Microfiber material can be just as expensive as some leather!

Nowadays almost all-leading sport's footwear manufacturers use microfiber materials. For example, Nike makes their top quality cleats from super lightweight synthetic material called KNG-100 (Air Zoom Total 90) and Nike-Skin (Mercurial Vapor). Even Adidas, for the first time, used microfiber for its newest creation Adidas Predator Absolute (there is a Kangaroo leather model as well).
So, my "non-synthetic cleats rule" applies only to a regular (cheap) synthetic material like PU or PVC (polyvinylchloride).

Studs Type

Molded Studs
There are practically two different molded soccer cleats on the market.
The traditional - contains a sole that has round studs (usually between ten to fifteen).
The X-Grip (or Bladed shape) - slimmer than round studs, strategically placed in different angles to offer a player a better footing.

Soccer shoes with molded round studs (traditional) are more universal. What I mean is that, this type of soccer cleats are good for hard and firm surfaces as well as for soft grounds. However, they are not really reliable for extreme circumstances like: very hard and dry fields (turf shoes will be the ultimate choice here) or very soft and wet surface (screw-ins).
The X-Grip design is manufactured for specific field conditions. In this case, with different length and angles of studs, we have to choose between soccer cleats made specifically for either hard (HG), firm (FG) or soft (SG) ground. Your choice then should be based on the type of fields you play soccer on the most.
If you play on all kinds of surfaces, I would recommend-traditional round studs.
But if you really want to stick to new style, then buy X-Grip for firm pitch (FG).
Of course, the best scenario would be to have two pairs of soccer cleats for different field conditions. But who can afford it? Not to many of us.

Replaceable (screw-ins) cleats are very optional.
Most young soccer players do not need them. With the poor quality of most youth fields, screw-ins just wouldn't get enough use to warrant purchase.
Unless, you play a lot on great, soft fields and have extra cash (screw-ins can not be the only soccer cleats you have). Also some leagues do not allow this type of equipment.

Size
It is very important that the soccer cleats you buy must fit perfectly. This means as snug as possible, tight to the foot (sorry parents, you can't have growing room in soccer cleats). Close-fitting shoes facilitate the best touch (the feel for the ball).
Soccer shoes I usually get, for my older son (16 years old) and myself, are ½ size smaller. This is, because leather expands after a while and then molds to the foot. For my 10 year old, since synthetic does not stretch and cleats in junior size are not that expensive, I buy his exact shoe size.

The World's Most Beloved Sport - The History of Soccer

2012-01-01T08:10:00.000-08:00

While it is undisputed that the origins of modern soccer, or football, originated in Britain, there is a great deal of evidence that points to this beloved game as having an older history.

Where did the game of soccer really begin, and how old is it? To understand how many different varieties of "soccer" there are, you need to understand a bit about the older versions of the game and how they have evolved.

Below, you will find a list of the predominant cultures that had a variety of soccer, and learn how each one differs from what we play today. And no, they never used anything like Lotto shinguards back then either!

Chinese Soccer History
Japanese Soccer History
Egyptian Soccer History
Greek/Roman Soccer History
British Soccer History

Chinese Soccer History

To many, this is the oldest version of soccer to exist. However, there is quite a lot of controversy of whether or not this is the oldest, or Japan's version is the elder. The Chinese version of the game, originally named "Tsu Chu", involved players on a field that had to hit a leather ball stuffed with fur into a small hole. Like Soccer, no hands were permitted during the play of the game, and it was considered an honor to be a member of a team.

The Emperor of the Han Dynasty, when the game was developed, was an avid player and fan, and spread the popularity of this game all over China during his reign. This roughly dates back to 300 B.C., although there is controversy on the subject of dating, which could result in the origins of the game being as far back as 5000 B.C. Regardless, this version of Soccer is extremely old. Despite that, there is still a version of Tsu Chu played today. While the two games are similar, Tsu Chu has had no effect on the modern version of the game, as it was originally developed and created for play in Great Britain.

Japanese Soccer History

Kemari, the Japanese version of "Soccer", is perhaps one of the most different forms of the sport, in comparison to modern soccer. Kemari was a game of "Keep it up", much like modern hacky sacks, although used with a larger ball that was stuffed with saw dust. This version involves a "pitch", or the field, designated by the selection of four trees, the cherry, maple, pine and willow. Many great houses in Japan would grow trees to have a permanent pitch, or field, established.

Kemari was normally played with two to twelve players. Established in roughly 1004 B.C., it vies for position of the oldest game with China's Tsu Chu. In fact, China's Tsu Chu players and Japan's Kemari players were the first to have an "International" game of their versions of Soccer, which is dated to have occurred in roughly 50 B.C., although a definite date of 611 A.D. is known. Regardless, this game stands with China as a sister sport to Soccer, while it never affected the modern version of the game.

Egyptian Soccer History

While not much is known about Egyptian Soccer, or other ball games, it is thought there was a version of a type of ball game played by young women during the age of Baqet III. On his tomb, images of this sport were depicted, although no one is certain how the game was played or whether or not it truly affected the outcome of modern soccer. Recordings of this game date as far back as 2500 B.C., although not much more is known asides the fact that it was played with a ball. The lack of information on the sport and how it was played has eliminated it from runnings as the first evidence of a game similar to soccer.

Greek/Roman Soccer History

Perhaps the closest relative to modern soccer are the games that were formed by the Greeks during the prime of their culture. They had numerous varieties of football style games, some of which required hands, some of which forbade hands. In the end, after the Roman conquering of Greece, the game Harpastum is what modern soccer would be based from. This game, probably a modified version of the Greek's "Harpaston", which translates roughly to handball. While grossly misnamed, this game is what is considered to be one of the precursors to modern soccer.

British Soccer History

In Britain during the 8th century, soccer was created, not as a recreational sport, but as a war game. One of the stories of the original roots of the sport comes from when a Danish Prince was beheaded, and his head was used as a ball and was kicked around. Ever since this 'legendary' tale, villages and other communities would play a game where they would have to kick a ball to a specific goal. It was a violent game, where injury and death were not uncommon, but it was popular nevertheless. In fact, it was so violent, that in 1331, King Edward the III passed laws to try to stop the playing of the game. It did not work, however, and the sport continued on.

There are even stories of soccer games that involved hundreds upon hundreds of players. In these games, there were many deaths, some resulting in the hundreds. It wasn't until 1815 when Eton College set up a series of rules for the game that it became less violent and more of a true sport. At this time, other colleges and universities took up the banner and began to play under similar rules. Later, the rules were evaluated and judged, and the Cambridge rules were created as a result in 1848. In the Cambridge rules, shin-kicking, carrying the ball and tripping were all forbidden. Rugby rules allowed these aspects, and the two varieties of soccer, or football, split to form their own followings.

On October 26, 1863, London schools and sports club sent representatives to the Freemason's Tavern, where the Football Association was formed. Rugby supporters left this association to form the Rugby Association. This is where the birth of modern soccer began. In 1969, the Football Association finalized the modern game of soccer by forbidding the use of hands in the game.

The term "Soccer" was coined when someone was asked if he was a Rugger, which is a Rugby player. The -er signified that the person participated in a a particular sport. The individual, Charles Wreford Brown, replied with "Soccer!", taking the phrase from Association, SOC, and adding the -er. The term stuck. While British individuals still call the game Football, Americans and other countries call it Soccer, especially if they have heavy support in American Football present. Ever since the foundation of the Association, "Football" has risen in popularity, becoming one of the best love games in the history of Earth. Now, hundreds of thousands play the sport, although it lacks the initial violence present at its creation.

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2011-12-29T07:10:00.000-08:00

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EPL 2011-12: QPR Vs Manchester United Match Time

2011-12-19T06:48:00.000-08:00

Loftus Road will witness football action when QPR clash with champions Manchester United in match week 16 of the Premier League on Sunday, December 18, 2011.

QPR are coming off a 1-0 loss away at Liverpool, in match week 15. QPR emerged with their dignity intact against their accomplished rivals, and they owed it to a sterling display by veteran goalkeeper Radek Cerny who kept the Liverpool forwards at bay for the most part. But for the keeper, Liverpool's star Uruaguayan striker Suarez could have had a hat-trick but had to remain satisfied with just the solitary goal, off a header on 48 minutes. The pressure told on Liverpool and QPR came close to getting an equaliser when Martin Skrtel kicked QPR midfielder Faurlin in the late stages of the game but the penalty shout was ignored by the referee.

In match week 15, Man United registered a thumping 4-1 victory over Wolves, in a match hosted by the Red Devils at Old Trafford. This was United's most convincing win getting their title defence back on track after it had flagged in recent weeks following a 6-1 loss at home to Man City. In a welcome return to form, Wayne Rooney scored a brace and that must be an ominous sign for United's rivals who will be wary of the star striker's propensity to score goals in bunches. Rooney's return to form coincided happily with the reduction of his Euro 2012 ban and he was assisted by brilliant performances from Nani and Valencia, the latter dazzled with some brilliant crosses. Jones showcased his talent in midfield. On the flip side, Wolves forward Matt Jarvis proved a handful for Chris Smalling in United's back-line.

Head to head, in the last 18 years, Man City and Arsenal have met in 6 league games, with United winning on 5 occasions and the remaining game ending in a stalemate. The last time these teams met was in March 1996; that match hosted by QPR ended in a 1-1 draw.

QPR have won 2, drawn 3 and lost 5 of their last 10 league matches, while Man United have won 6, drawn 3 and lost 1 of their last 10 games.

Currently in 13th place on the league table, QPR have hosted 7 home games, this season, winning 1, drawing 4 and losing the remaining 2; the Old Trafford side who are 2nd placed on the table behind Man City have had 5 wins and 2 draws, in their 7 away games.

Though QPR are likely to be out of their league against the champions, Neil Warnock's side have shown sufficient glimpses of their potential to be able to salvage a point from the game. That said, the home side will have to be at the top of their game against a United squad who are just two points adrift of Man City and likely to go for the kill.

QPR's starting eleven against Liverpool: Radek Cerny, Luke Young, Daniel Gabbidon, Anton Ferdinand, Armand Traore, Jamie Mackie, Joey Barton, Alejandro Faurlin, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Tommy Smith, Jay Bothroyd

Man United's starting eleven against Wolves: David De Gea, Chris Smalling, Rio Ferdinand, Jonathan Evans, Patrice Evra, Antonio Valencia, Michael Carrick, Phil Jones, Luis Nani, Danny Wellbeck, Wayne Rooney

Top Five Off-Field Controversies Of Balotelli In 2011

2011-12-18T06:47:00.000-08:00

Mario Balotelli has become a legend of Premier League football in a very short span of time and not just for his on-field antics of which there is no dearth. For some unknown reason, fans love to see characters in sport rather than efficient automatons who perform on the pitch and are unheard of, off it. And that trend makes Balotelli all the more popular with followers of the game.

In this article I take a look at the top five off-field controversies that Manchester City's star Italian striker was involved in during the year 2011:

Controversy # 5: Balotelli Buys Motorbike, Banned From Riding It: July 2011

The Italian ace bought a Harley Davidson and whizzed around Manchester on it before club manager Mancini got wind of it. The player was immediately banned from riding the motorbike owing to the risk of injury arising from it.

Controversy # 4: Gets His Car Impounded 27 Times In First Nine Days: April 2011

The player set a record average of three parking violations a day in the first nine days of driving his Maserati in England, keeping Man City club valets busy in recovering the car from the police.

Controversy # 3: Tops £300,000 In Club Fines: April 2011

Balotelli set a new record for fines paid at Manchester City when he topped £300,000 after his most recent offence of throwing darts at youth players of the club. He threw the missiles from a first floor window at the club and when questioned is reported to have said he did it because he was "bored".

Controversy # 2: Eats Expensive Curry For £150,000: December 2011

Balotelli accompanied by friends went out for a late night curry eat out 48 hours before the crucial match with Chelsea thereby breaking the curfew imposed by Man City manager Mancini. The infringement cost the star striker £150,000 or a week's wages, making it the most expensive curry ever eaten, in the history of humanity.

And The Winner Is:

Controversy # 1: Sets House on Fire: October 2011

Mario Balotelli set his house on fire after letting off fireworks in his bathroom early morning on Saturday, October 22, 2011. Two fire crews using breathing apparatus were summoned at about 1 am on Saturday to Balotelli's house in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire. The police were also summoned and their main challenge was to keep the Manchester City striker from going back into his house to recover belongings.

FIFPro Nominations

2011-12-17T06:49:00.000-08:00

There was a recent announcement in the football world, which may or may not have raised much of an eyebrow. The FIFPro, which is the association of professional footballers, announced a list of, wait for it, 55 players from which eleven will be voted into the best team of 2011. This certainly is not up there with the prestige of the Ballon d'Or which has also just had its final shortlist announced. You just wonder where all of this is heading. Award after award after award. With so many token awards for footballers around, does it all devalue the actual winners of these things? Why so many awards. Why so much ego stroking? Alright, there is nothing wrong with crowning a player as the best footballer in the world, but why all the pretence and confusion surrounding such big nomination lists to start with?

The list which has produced for example has come from the votes from over 50,000 professional footballers who were polled. All well and good you would think, but looking down the list of players here up for the award, you simply have to scratch your head and wonder just what games some of these players were watching to even contemplate voting for some of the names on that list. This really is taking awards to the pointless extreme.

Players know how good they are, what they have achieved. While there is only ever one winner of a yearly award, such big nomination lists simply offer a slap in the face to those who don't win. Nope, come back next year as you're not good enough now, and let's parade that fact in front of the world and its baying media.

The most obvious confusion around all this voting for the FIFPro World XI 2011 is the inclusion of Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand. Really? Ferdinand managed just 19 Premier League appearances last season for his club and just four international appearances, with no goals and no assists. Alright, that's not his job, but was he really so brilliant in so few games to warrant a nomination?

Those lowly figures were the sum of his 2010/11 season and this season he has been slacking off with just 15 matches in total for his club, and not on the England radar. So how does someone like this even register in someone's mind to put in a vote for him? It is somewhat baffling, as you think of some of the best defenders in the world; you think Maicon, Pique, Nesta, Alves and Abidal. You don't immediately think of penciling Rio Ferdinand into the back line of a world's best eleven.

With award nominations such as Ferdinand's here, they are more likely than not just based on, "Oh he's had a great career, a bit past it now, but let's give him a pat on the back." There is no truth or value in his nomination, there is no-one, fellow professional or not, who can say Ferdinand deserves to be in such a highly regarded crowd vying for a spot in the World's Best XI.

The way to look at it is this, if you were picking a World's best eleven to and play a match, would Ferdinand be anywhere near the squad? No. Bottom line. Would he even be the water boy? No, because he would probably injure himself running from the dug out to the touchline. His presence alone in this field of 55 almost cheapens the award by itself. Clearly he is not going to make the shortlist, let alone the team for this one. But what really makes a mockery of Ferdinand's inclusion in the World's best eleven, is that he was not even on the initial shortlist of 23 for the Ballon d'Or this season, which is recognition for the world's best player. Eric Abidal was there. Dani Alves was there. Gerard Pique was there. Ferdinand? Again, no. So it will probably always remain a mystery as two who nominated him. Bet any money it was someone wearing a Manchester United shirt though.

Barcelona have eleven players in the running to make the team, six of which made last year's best eleven; Pique, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Villa. But we won't find out until next January as to who makes the final eleven at the FIFA Golden Ball gala. Bet any money that Lionel Messi will be in the team. In a world of handing out awards just for tying up your own boot laces correctly, this is one man who deserves all the praise which can be heaped upon him. He will win the Ballon d'Or over Xavi and Cristiano Ronaldo again, giving the little Argentinean his third consecutive title to put him up there with the greats Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten who all earned three of these awards.

That is the kind of company which Messi's name deserves to be kept with, not Ferdinand's. If you were going to name your best team, you would pretty much just pick Lionel Messi anyway. You really wouldn't need Ferdinand or anyone else.

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2011-12-15T09:11:00.001-08:00

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2011-12-15T09:05:00.000-08:00

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2011-12-13T06:57:00.000-08:00

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Real Madrid's Ronaldo: Those who like football like watching me play

2011-10-10T02:56:00.000-07:00

The Santiago Bernabeu star hasshrugged off recent jeers and claims that football enthusiasts enjoy his styleof play, even fans of his rival from the Camp Nou outfit.

RealMadrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo believes football fans around the globe lovewatching him in action as he responds to recent criticism.

Ronaldowas jeered and hissed in September's 4-0 Euro 2012 qualifying win over Cyprusin which a number of fans shouted the name 'Messi,' referring to Lionel Messi,the Barcelona striker.

"Thesethings [the Cyprus jeers] are abnormal things. And, I don't care aboutthem," Ronaldo is quoted as saying by AS.com.

Theformer Manchester United man shrugged shoulders at the whole affair andinsisted he was not affected by it. In fact, he feels everyone loves his game -his message coming just days after former Madrid coach Bernd Schuster saidRonaldo is less selfish now.

"I think that all those who like football are happy when Cristiano Ronaldois playing," he boasted.

Itis an issue which had gone quiet in recent weeks, but following Portugal's 5-3Group H win over Iceland on Friday, Ronaldo has returned to talk about whathappened against Cyprus.

Ronaldocould be in action when Portugal play Denmark on Tuesday. His side need just apoint from their final group game to secure a place at Euro 2012.

source:www.Goal.com

No Rio or Gerrard for England

2011-10-02T20:03:00.000-07:00

England will head into their Euro 2012 showdown with Montenegro without two of their most experienced players after Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard were both left out ofFabio Capello's squad.

England need a draw in Podgorica on Friday to book their place at next summer's European Championship finals. And Capello has decided they can achieve that mission without two men who have amassed a combined total of 167 caps.

Gerrard had already said he did not believe he was fit enough to be involved after only just recovering from a groin injury. However, Ferdinand was expected to be included after shaking off the hamstring strain he suffered at West Brom in August.

Jermain Defoe and Joleon Lescott have lost their places, with Bobby Zamora and Scott Carson recalled to a 24-man squad.

Zamora's only cap came in a friendly against Hungary in August last year, after which he was sidelined after suffering a broken leg the following month. He did return as a substitute for the June qualifier with Switzerland but did not play.

Now 30, Zamora was bizarrely cited by Capello as one of the young players on which England's future rested following their woeful World Cup performance.

Tottenham full-back Kyle Walker is recalled after impressing England coach Fabio Capello with a wholehearted display in Sunday's north London derby, culiminating in a 25-yard drive for the winning goal in a 2-1 victory for Spurs.

Capello has promised that his side will not look for a draw in Montenegro, but aim to take all three points.

"If you play for a draw it is a big mistake, you are defending a result and it is easy then to make silly or stupid mistakes," he told FATV.

"We need to go to win in Montenegro and not to play for a draw."

England squad: Scott Carson (Bursaspor), Joe Hart (Man City), David Stockdale (Ipswich); Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Bolton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Man Utd), Micah Richards (Man City), John Terry (captain, Chelsea), Kyle Walker (Tottenham); Gareth Barry (Man City), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Man City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Man City), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Man Utd); Darren Bent (Aston Villa), Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Danny Welbeck (Man Utd), Bobby Zamora (Fulham)

source: www.bbc.co.uk, ESPN (www.soccernet.com)

ALL players have a shelf life — even Frank Lampard

2011-09-25T20:45:00.000-07:00

There is talk of a lack of respect towards a man who has played 88 times for his country and made more than 700 appearances for Chelsea and West Ham.

A lot of this is down to the fact Lampard is one of the brightest and most engaging footballers of his generation, not simply one of the best.

He is courteous, approachable, uncontroversial and unconfrontational, though still extremely tough mentally. So there is an obvious sadness at the inescapable demise of a popular figure. Yet time waits for no man.

A few weeks ago, an England team without Lampard produced a lively and impressive 3-0 win in Bulgaria.

Four days later, with Lampard restored, they laboured to a 1-0 victory over Wales at Wembley. It seemed Fabio Capello's team had taken one of its customary steps backwards.

That Lampard was no worse than James Milner or Gareth Barry is not the point.

As for Lampard's Chelsea career, though he may no longer be an untouchable, it is far from over.

But Andre Villas-Boas was not appointed by Roman Abramovich to maintain the status quo. And no manager is more powerful than in his first few months. There were always going to be high-profile casualties and Villas Boas has to be applauded for the brave decision in replacing Lampard at half-time against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Having lost the first half 3-0, they won the second 1-0.

With Meireles, Ramires and Mata in the side, there is more pace and fluidity in the team and a far better service to Fernando Torres.

Lampard was left on the bench for the 4-1 win over Swansea where 18-year-old starlet Josh McEachran rather than he came on as the third and final sub. The Mail on Sunday reports that Lampard then got up and walked down the tunnel without speaking to his manager. He then departed to prepare for a 60-minute warm-down rather than, as suggested, "storming off" to the dressing room.

Lampard, the arch professional, doesn't do "storming off".

With Torres now suspended for three league matches, both he and Didier Drogba could well start those games.

But the days of the Lampard-Drogba-JT axis of power are over. It wasn't bad while it lasted, though.

source: Thesun.co.uk

Los Angeles' Robbie Keane has become MLS's fourth-highest-paid player

2011-09-19T19:08:00.000-07:00

According to a recent Associated Press report, Robbie Keane has become the fourth-highest-paid player currently in Major League Soccer, making $3.4 million a year.

Fellow Los Angeles Galaxy star David Beckham remains first at $6.5 million annually while New York Red Bulls designated-player duo of Thierry Henry at $5.6 million and Rafa Marquez at $4.6 million are second and third, respectively. Keane’s other Galaxy teammate Landon Donovan is fifth with a $2.3 million salary.

In addition, there are some other recently announced salary figures from some of the league’s newcomers. Philadelphia’s attacking midfielder Freddy Adu makes $594,884 while Toronto FC’s Danny Koevermans earns $1,413,319 and Torsten Frings collects $1,113,663 per year. Rounding out, New York’s Frank Rost is listed at $545,460

source: Goal.com

Chelsea fans urged to boycott Genk game

2011-09-14T20:23:00.000-07:00

CHELSEA fans are being urged to boycott the club's next Champions League home game against Genk.

The Blues opened their European campaign with a 2-0 win over German side Bayer Leverkusen last night.

But just under 34,000 supporters were at Stamford Bridge to witness second-half goals from David Luiz and Juan Mata.

And a campaign attracting growing interest on social networking site Twitter wants the Chelsea faithful to stay away on October 19 in protest at the club's ticket prices.

The Chelsea Supporters Group believe the only way to get Roman Abramovich and Co to sit up and take notice is for fans to vote with their feet.

source: Thesun.co.uk

Ticket prices were heavily reduced for last season's Champions League group games but have jumped up to £40 this term, except in the stadium's family centre where they cost £36.

And with standard seats set to cost a minimum of £52 should the Blues reach the knockout rounds, many supporters simply cannot afford to attend games.

Michelle Shaw, co vice-chairman of the CSG, said: "Not only am I boycotting Genk, I am also boycotting Leverkusen and Valencia.

"Why? Because I don't want to wake up one May and find I can't afford my season ticket any more.

"The only way to send a message to the club is by a low attendance at the Genk game."

However, not all fans share the same view as Shaw and her fellow CSG members.

One supporter, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I totally understand why people are up in arms about ticket prices.

"Times are hard but the club had frozen them for a number of seasons and a rise was inevitable at some point.

"Considering the atmosphere has deteriorated anyway, I reckon it's more important to get behind the team and make the Bridge a fortress once again.

"We've got a new manager and new players who deserve our support, so I for one will not be joining the boycott."

Who says Arsenal need a leader?

2011-09-10T21:27:00.000-07:00

Amazingly, the team accused of lacking a true general in their ranks now boasts half-a-dozen current international skippers.

They are Thomas Vermaelen, Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky, Yossi Benayoun, Andrey Arshavin and Chu-Young Park.

Yet the Gunners' new captain, Robin van Persie, does not wear the armband for Holland.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said: "All I can say is we have, I think we counted, six or seven captains, so they're all big personalities. I will discover who, like you.

"I have some idea but I wouldn't like to prioritise one more than the other."
It was the 8-2 thrashing at the hands of bitter rivals Manchester United which led to accusations Arsenal lacked backbone and characters.

But the recent arrival of Israel skipper Benayoun and South Korean captain Park has changed all that.

Wenger also signed former Werder Bremen skipper Per Mertesacker, who once led Germany for a 45-minute spell, in the August transfer window.

It means the Frenchman now has a wealth of leaders to choose from — with Belgium star Vermaelen, Wales ace Ramsey, Russia's Arshavin and the Czech Republic's Rosicky already among his ranks at the Emirates.

source: Thesun.co.uk

Top 10 Transfers of Summer 2011 - The Final List

2011-09-04T21:20:00.000-07:00

Goal.com (sport news website) made the list of top 20 transfer in 2011 summer. His judgement is based on :

The player's overall ability (the most important factor)

How the player will fit into his new lineup

How the player will adapt to his new surroundings, and vice-versa

The transfer fee payable, if any, and any other financial details known, with unofficial transfer fees listed as approximations.

But here I'll mention only top 10 transfer:

1. Cesc Fabregas
From: Arsenal
To: Barcelona
Fee: 34 million euros

It may have been the most tedious of transfer sagas but there can be little doubting the impact that Fabregas’ move will have on both Barcelona and Arsenal. A tactical reshuffle seems likely at Camp Nou and the 24-year-old is the reason for it.

2. Sergio Aguero

From: Atletico Madrid

To: Manchester City
Fee: 38 million euros

The former Atletico Madrid man had been earmarked as the replacement for the unsettled Carlos Tevez but 'El Kun' has the ability to far surpass the achievements of his compatriot at Eastlands. Strong, fast and deadly in front of goal, the explosive star looks set to take the Premier League by storm in 2011-12 and beyond.

3. Samir Nasri
From: Arsenal
To: Manchester City
Fee: 25 million euros

Samir Nasri is a signifier of the power shift currently taking place in the Premier League by joining Roberto Mancini's men. Clearly believing that the Eastlands outfit has the ability to chase silverware, the Frenchman could prove pivotal to his new side's title aspirations.

4. Alexis Sanches
From: Udinese
To: Barcelona
Fee: 26 million euros

Shortly after joining the European champion, the Chile international declared that he hopes to one day be as good as new teammate Lionel Messi.

5. Arturo Vidal
From: Bayer Leverkusen
To: Juventus
Fee: 10.5 million euros

Having personified consistency in Germany, the 24-year-old will be looking to prove himself as one of, if not the leading, defensive midfielder in Europe with Juventus.

6. Radamel Falcao
From: Porto
To: Atletico Madrid
Fee: 40 million euros

In the two full seasons that Radamel Falcao spent at Porto, he scored 73 goals in 88 games and was pivotal in the side that won the treble under Andre Villas-Boas last campaign. Now he will be expected to replace Sergio Aguero in the Spanish capital. His caliber commanded a huge transfer fee but the Colombian certainly has the ability to justify it.

7. Maarten Stekelenburg

From: Ajax
To: Roma
Fee: 6.3 million euros

The Italian side has secured a quite astonishing bargain. A World Cup finalist and undoubtedly one of the most consistent goalkeepers on the planet, the 28-year-old keeper will be up there with Serie A's best in 2011-12.

8. Ashley Young

From: Aston Villa
To: Manchester United
Fee: 19 million euros

Not cheap by any means, the former Watford man is likely to move into the Premier League champion's first team. The battle to maintain a place ahead of the likes of Nani will be an absorbing one.

9. Juan Mata

From: Valencia

To: Chelsea
Fee: 26 million euros

A lack of creativity among the Chelsea ranks was plain for all to see as Manchester United strolled towards the title. Juan Mata has the ability to change all that and got off to the perfect start with a strike against Norwich on his debut.

10. Manuel Neuer
From: Schalke
To: Bayern Munich
Fee: 18 million euros

Having solidified his position among the continent's finest goalkeepers at the Veltins Arena last season, Neuer moves to Bayern Munich in the form of his life.

source: Goal.com

EPL Transfer Summary After window closed

2011-08-31T20:40:00.000-07:00

The transfer market was shut and before the deadline. Some famous players and Big clubs signed the deal. Let's see who's in and out. Here is the summary:

Peter Crouch (Tottenham) to Stroke City for £10m

Raul Meireles (Liverpool) to Chelsea for £15m

Diego (Wolfburg) to Atl. Madrid on loan

Mikel Arteta (Everton) to Arsenal for £10m

Andre Santos (Fenerbahce) to Arsenal £6.2m

Bendtner (Arsenal) to Sunderland on loan

Yossi Benayoun (Chelsea) to Arsenal on loan

Joe Cole (Liverpool) to Lille on Loan

Owen Hargreaves (unattached) to Manchester City

Per Mertesacker (Bremen) to Arsenal (Undisclosed)

Craig Bellamy (Man City) to Liverpool (Undisclosed)

Royston Drenthe (Real Madrid) to Everton on Loan

David Ngog (Liverpool) to Bolton (Undisclosed)

Arsenal’s tough week to end in the eye of a Red Devil storm

2011-08-26T03:14:00.000-07:00

After one of the most trying weeks in the club’s recent history, one that saw an ugly home defeat to Liverpool, the departure of the second of its two best players and a gutsy performance in Italy against Udinese, the Gunners now have to hop on the team coach and head to Manchester.

Add caption

With Arsene Wenger gaining a new wrinkle in his brow by the day, the last thing he needed was a trip to Old Trafford to take on the white hot Red Devils. That is the way of the world though and unless Irene decides to take a sharp right across the Atlantic, the match will be played and Wenger’s men will no choice but to step up.

The test this weekend is something different altogether and Wenger knows this all too well. This match would be a daunting one if his team had started the domestic campaign in good nick. It hasn’t. It would be daunting if it had all its best players available and not transferred away from the club. It doesn’t.

With a winless start to the year already two matches deep, and the Fabregas/Nasri sagas out the door, Arsenal’s season technically starts now.

For the Champion League, Arsenal joined the tough group with Marseille, Olympiakos and Borussia Dortmund. You can see the difficult UEFA games that Arsenal has to get through.

source: Goal.com

David De Gea's troubled beginnings

2011-08-21T21:18:00.000-07:00

Edwin van der Sar couldn't believe what he was seeing. This was new and it was not necessarily better.

Rather, it was the 18-yard box on his very first game for Juventus in 1999. In good faith, Van der Sar attempted one of his routine Ajax passes to the centre-half. He had, after all, been told in negotiations that Juventus would adapt the Dutch style in order to integrate their new goalkeeper.

However, on receiving the ball, defender Paolo Montero panicked, pummelled it away and then proceeded to berate Van der Sar. On the line, manager Carlo Ancelotti was doing the same.

The Dutchman was soon nicknamed 'Van der Gol' and routinely mocked by Italian media. As David Winner tells the story, "within a year he was consulting a therapist and telling his agent he no longer trusted himself even to catch a ball."

Given Van der Sar's unflappable image at Manchester United, the anecdote should put a different perspective on David De Gea's anxious first two games for the club. The Spaniard has, admittedly, made at least two awful errors. But, like Van der Sar back then, he's also had to get used to a new country and a new culture.

De Gea, of course, is only 20. At Juventus in the summer of 1999, Van der Sar was 28. But the Dutchman still had to go to the less demanding surrounds of Fulham to effectively remember how to be a goalkeeper and rebuild his confidence.

The issue raises a wider point about young goalkeepers and world-class level - either in terms of club or quality goalkeepers. Unlike in almost every other position, the two don't come together that often.

With foreign goalkeepers such as De Gea, there are a number of external factors like the language barrier and basic acclimatisation. But, essentially, the problem is experience. At a big club where every error is exaggerated because of the importance of each result and isolation of the position, goalkeepers need an awful lot of experience to complement their existing talent.

Even then, though, both Casillas and Van der Sar were already at big clubs who had invested a lot of time in nurturing them. And Casillas was also at Real Madrid at a unique time in their history.

With the Galactico project gradually leaving the first XI increasingly unbalanced, Casillas was often "overexposed and under-protected". Many goalkeeping coaches argue, however, that this is better for a young goalkeeper as it keeps them busy without thinking while simultaneously building their confidence. Buffon certainly reckons so. He claims picking Parma first was the most important decision of his career.

But the deeper question in all of this, then, is why Sir Alex Ferguson opted for promise instead of proven experience? Might it yet be an unnecessary risk to United's season? While any further De Gea errors are clearly forgivable in that context, Ferguson's in actually buying him wouldn't quite be the same.

But the reason he has is because all at Old Trafford are convinced that the recent slips have been no more than aberrations. De Gea is considered to be another Casillas, to have both the talent and mentality to overcome any shortfall in experience. And many of the most learned voices in Spain echo this.

There was one caveat though: "If nothing odd happens, he will succeed. He is only 20; he will reach his peak at 30. There is loads of time."

Except when it comes to the exaggerated expectations of a very top club, time is rarely afforded.

source: www.soccernet.com

Puyol and Pique welcome Fabregas to Barcelona

2011-08-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

Barcelona defenders Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique have welcomed their friend and international teammate Cesc Fabregas to the Catalan club as the European champion prepares to announce the signing of the Arsenal captain.

Pique had earlier claimed on Twitter that "today will be a great day" and those sentiments were echoed by goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who announced the deal could be done "in a matter of hours".

Club captain Puyol also expressed his optimism on the social networking site, before Pique all but confirmed the deal as he tweeted, "We now have him here".

Puyol then showed his delight at the prospective move as he wrote: "Welcome home!!! Happy to have you here @cesc4official"

source: goal.com

Cristiano Ronaldo is put to the test

2011-08-09T19:18:00.000-07:00

CRISTIANO Ronaldo is to undergo scientific tests in a TV documentary - to discover what makes him a top footballer.

The Real Madrid star, 26, will be monitored in a high-performance lab for Ronaldo: Tested To The Limit on Sky Sports next month.

Meanwhile, it was sensationally claimed last night that Ronaldo copied Michael Jackson and hired a mystery Mexican to be the surrogate mum of his son Cristiano Jr last year.

The lad's ex-nanny alleged he paid one woman for her eggs and another to "incubate" the child. Both were Mexican, just like the egg donor and surrogate mum said to be picked for Jacko's child Blanket.

source: Thesun.co.uk

Dalglish yet to decide on Suarez

2011-08-05T02:58:00.000-07:00

Luis Suarez will have five days to prove to Kenny Dalglish he is ready for Liverpool's opening game of the Premier League season.

Widespread reports are claiming Suarez will miss the Reds' curtain-raiser against Sunderland at Anfield following a long Copa America campaign that saw the Uruguayan score in the final and pick up the Player of the Tournament award.

Liverpool would be keen to have Suarez available against Sunderland after his impressive showing at the Stadium of Light last season, and Dalglish, contrary to reports, appears willing to give his prized asset as much time as possible to prove his sharpness before the season kicks off.

"Luis will be back next week and we will start thinking about him then," Dalglish said. "He's had a fantastic summer as an individual and as a team player.

"We'll see how he is when he comes in. We can't predict how he is going to be like, but he should be pretty happy with himself and pretty confident looking forward to the start of the season."

Suarez will return to training on Monday before being assessed by both the Liverpool manager and the club's medical staff.

source: ESPN (soccernet.com)

Is Jurgen Klinsmann the best man for the USA national team job?

2011-08-02T02:01:00.000-07:00

Former-Germany manager and player Jurgen Klinsmann has been announced as the new head coach of the USA national side.

The German will replace Bob Bradley, who was fired earlier this week. Details of his contract have yet to be revealed but he will be unveiled as USA boss at a press conference on Monday.

Love
Nobody can deny that Klinsmann loves the United States. The former-Bayern boss loved the USA that much that shortly after his retirement from playing he moved to the States. He even got in trouble with his home nation when he refused to relocate full-time to manage the national team.

He commuted from America to Germany and split his time between the two countries. There is no doubt that Klinsmann considers the USA his second home and this job could be ideal for everybody.

Legend
Klinsmann is a true living legend. He helped Germany win the World Cup in 1990 as a player and also the 1996 European Championship in England. In club football he also won numerous trophies with Bayern Munich, Inter, Stuttgart and Monaco.

Boss
However his managerial experience is very limited. Klinsmann enjoyed a two year spell in charge of national side, in which he lead his country to third place in 2006 World Cup. The 46 year-old then took charge of Bavarian giants Bayern Munich.

He was replaced after less than a year after encountering problems with the Bayern hierarchy, despite being just three points behind Bundesliga leaders Wolfsburg.

Development
Although he hasn’t had a great deal of success as a boss he has so much knowledge of the game to pass on. He could be just the man to take football to the next level in the United States. The national side have enjoyed a creditable rise up the football rankings in recent years and will be hoping to even further under the German.

MLS
The key to the national side has to be the success of the MLS. The league has shown a steady growth in popularity in the last five years and the construction of purpose build ‘Soccer’ stadiums is only good for the development of the game in America.

Attendances at MLS games are also growing and it seems that the beautiful game is finally starting to hold its own against the nations other national sports.

Inspiration
The key ingredient to Klinsmann being the boss of the USA national side is that he will inspire his players to better themselves and hopefully that will lead to the sport kicking up a notch in the USA.

source: www.soccernews.com

Uruguay have become the kings of South America for a record 15th time

2011-07-24T18:59:00.000-07:00

Uruguay has won its first Copa America since 1995 after a comprehensive 3-0 win in the final over a toothless Paraguay at the Monumental in Buenos Aires.

Goal-line technology 'a year away'

2011-07-19T19:02:00.000-07:00

Goal-line technology could be introduced for the 2012-13 Premier League season, according to chief executive Richard Scudamore.

The issue of goal-line technology has long-been debated, in particular after television replays at last year's World Cup showed England midfielder Frank Lampard's strike against Germany had crossed the line.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, previously an opponent of technology in football, came under pressure in the wake of the incident, and, in recent months, tests have been ongoing over resolving the issue.

Writing in the Premier League's new review of the season, which will be distributed to MPs and peers on Wednesday, Scudamore said: "The whole point of the game is about scoring goals. Players strain every sinew to either create or deny them, fans shout themselves hoarse exhorting their teams to score them, managers' and players' careers can be defined by them.

"The technology is available, it is the fairness that is important and the Premier League would introduce it tomorrow if it could. Now FIFA is constructively engaged we are hopeful the 2012-13 season is a realistic aim.''

source: Soccernet.com

Foreign coaching has propelled the USA women - is it time for the men's team to emulate that success?

2011-07-17T20:22:00.000-07:00

Watch Highlight of Women's World Cup Final : Japan vs USA.

For all the success the United States women’s national team has had during the 2011 Women’s World Cup, it wasn’t too long ago that the team struggled to live up to expectations and appeared to be stagnating.

The U.S. hasn't won the World Cup since 1999 and had fallen behind Brazil and Germany when it came to pumping out talent. Making a bold decision to hire a foreign coach three years ago, the team has been reinvigorated and now awaits Japan in the 2011 World Cup final.

With the United States men’s national team declining in the quality of its play during the most recent Gold Cup, is it time for the team to emulate its successful partners?

While the difference in talent and playing style between the men’s and women’s game remains substantial, the philosophy of coaching is relatively the same.

For example, the Japanese men's and women's teams play an almost identical style of soccer. Since most teams have a physical advantage over the Blue Samurai, both teams emphasize passing and ball movement.

U.S. starting goalkeeper Hope Solo believes that under a foreign coach, the U.S. national team improved because the team was liberated by the freedom and confidence granted by Pia Sundhage.

“I think a lot of the American-style coaches, they like to be more involved with every pass and every play,” said Solo.

“From the moment Pia stepped in, she really changed the dynamic of the team. She has a completely different philosophy. She is one of more laid-back coaches I’ve ever had. She really wants to push the players to start being creative and thinking for themselves on the field.”

Surely the male and female games must be approached differently, but the Xs and Os apart, the tactical and technical sides of the game don't change much on either level.

During the Gold Cup, in almost every match the U.S. team appeared lethargic and uninterested. The only time the team looked motivated was, ironically, the first 30 minutes of its embarrassing 4-2 loss to Mexico in the final, when it took an early two-goal lead.

After that match, star player Landon Donovan refused to back head coach Bob Bradley, revealing a growing frustration with the current coaching situation.

It isn’t that head coach Bob Bradley is inept as a coach; he has done a solid job under difficult circumstances with an average group of talent. However, the team needs a change in the mental aspects of the game. A foreign coach would provide the team with the means to continue its growth.

Solo remembers being immediately impressed by Sundhage’s style of coaching, as it allowed the team to enjoy the game rather than focus on too many instructions.

“She said, 'You guys are creative, you are soccer players,'” said Solo. “She wanted us to think and read the game for ourselves. She makes us think when we watch films and dissect the game so that when we step on the field, we can think for ourselves and she doesn’t have to be on the sidelines saying, 'Pass the ball to Carly' or other instructions.”

She added, “She lets the game come to us.”

source: Goal.com

Argentina 3-0 Costa Rica: Aguero double provides Copa America salvation

2011-07-12T21:37:00.000-07:00

Sergio Aguero was the Argentina hero on Monday evening, as his double helped dismiss the threat of Costa Rica and secure a 3-0 victory for Sergio Batista's under-pressure outfit, and in the process confirm its place in the quarterfinals of the 2011 Copa America as Group A runners-up.

How do you replace Scholes???

2011-07-12T21:11:00.000-07:00

For first time since 1994, Paul Scholes will not be roaming in Manchester United’s midfield, providing the accurate pass or clutch goal, for a club clearly in a transition phase.

Despite his obvious decline physically, Scholes’ steady foot and soccer IQ were held in high regard by coach Sir Alex Ferguson, who admits that he doesn’t know how he will be able to replace those assets as he rebuilds the team.

“The big problem for us is, of course, how do you replace someone like Paul Scholes? It is very difficult,” said Ferguson. “I think that he is certainly one of the top four players in the world.”

The Red Devils, who recently lost goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar and defender Gary Neville to retirement, have been unusually aggressive in attracting new players to fit their blueprint for next season. While the club won the English Premier League title, its 3-1 loss in the Champions League final displayed the divide between itself and champions Barcelona.

After that result, United signed Aston Villa’s Ashley Young, Blackburn’s Phil Jones and Atletico Madrid’s David de Gea, leaving returning players, fans and management excited about the upcoming season.

The team still needs a playmaker to distribute the ball to attacking players Wayne Rooney, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, Dimitar Berbatov and others. It is rumored that the veteran manager is looking to add Inter’s midfielder Wesley Sneijder to pull the strings in the midfield.

“I think it is impossible to get another Paul Scholes, but if we get another player in similar lines in terms of the quality of his passing and vision, we would have to do something,” Ferguson said.

If Ferguson is unsuccessful in capturing Sneijder or any other top player, there might be some options on his team that warrant a second look. It was only four years ago when the Scot invested a reported 30 million pounds in a Brazilian midfielder with some promise named Anderson, who recently signed a four and a half year contract extension.

Ferguson acknowledged that rebuilding United wasn’t a process that was decided over this summer but from three years of planning.

“With Gary Neville , Paul Scholes, and Edwin Van Der Sar, we were well aware that we were going to have to replace them at some point,” said Ferguson. “So the work in the last two or three years has been about that, trying to make sure we still have the quality in the squad to succeed.”

It might be exciting for Red Devils fans to continue to see marquee names being added to the team but sometimes a familiar face can provide similar results if given the chance.

source: Goal.com

Facebook Challenge Goal Manchester United

2011-07-03T19:10:00.000-07:00

Facebook challenge Manchester United strikers and others : Rooney, Nani, Chicharito, Van de saar and their fitness coach. And the winner is Chicharito!

Collection of alive best soccer players

2011-06-28T02:46:00.000-07:00

As the new 11/12 season has not started yet, let's see the skill and goals of the best football players. Some of them are retired but other still plays in the famous leagues.

Chelsea close in on Villas-Boas

2011-06-21T19:46:00.000-07:00

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS was in London last night sorting out the final details of his switch to Chelsea.

Blues owner Roman Abramovich paid a record £13.25million to release Villas-Boas from his job as Porto boss. A Chelsea statement said: "We note the release clause of Andre Villas-Boas has been activated.

"We can confirm our interest in him and hope to reach agreement with him on personal terms and make a further announcement in the near future."

It emerged last night that Villas-Boas met with Abramovich last weekend. At that point a basic agreement for the Portuguese to take over at Stamford Bridge was put in place.

Villas-Boas, 33, quit Porto by fax yesterday and once the compensation had been paid the way was clear for him to become Red Rom's eighth boss since he bought Chelsea in 2004.

Villas-Boas, who succeeds Carlo Ancelotti at the Bridge, won FOUR trophies in his one season as Porto boss.

Club officials were unhappy that their manager had quit by fax. And they will be even more grumpy if Villas-Boas returns to poach their star players. Colombian striker Falcao, rated at £26.5m, is a prime target.

Villas-Boas would also like £35m-rated Portuguese midfielder Moutinho. But hitman Hulk may be beyond even Red Rom's budget - the buyout clause in his contract is a staggering £91m!

Porto have already appointed assistant boss Vitor Pereira as their new manager.

source: Thesun.co.uk

Kop fans aren't happy with new blue kit

2011-06-17T02:14:00.000-07:00

LIVERPOOL'S new third kit has left red faces at Anfield - because it features a splash of blue.

Fans, furious at Everton's colour being used, flooded message boards and forums in protest yesterday after the club posted a picture of next season's second away shirt on their website.

Officials insist the blue piping on the kit is in fact cyan. But judging from the reaction, it certainly is not going to have fans flocking to snap up replicas when it goes on sale next month.

Influential fans group Empire Of The Kop found more than two-thirds would NOT dream of wearing it.

Supporter Craig Butler wrote: "Massive disaster, you have made us the laughing stock of the league in my and many others' eyes."

A club spokesman said: "This is not the first time we have had blue trim on our kit."

source: Thesun.co.uk

Jones deal nears completion

2011-06-12T21:18:00.000-07:00

Phil Jones will finally become a Manchester United player next week with lawyers from the two warring clubs working out the details of the player's transfer valuation, according to ESPNsoccernet sources.

ESPNsoccernet has been informed that once Manchester United reach the magic mark of £20 million that Blackburn Rovers want then Jones will become a United player.

The 'compromise' being thrashed out at the moment between the two sets of lawyers revolves around United winning trophies and Jones' appearances, which could make the transfer worth in excess of £20 million depending on United's capacity to continue to win silverware on a regular basis, and the player's ability to hold down a place in the team.

A figure of £20 million, though, will be reasonably attainable, and that will be the generally-accepted figure of Jones' value.

An insider suggested that it was pointless for Liverpool to bid £22 million, as widely reported, as the player has signed a contract for Manchester United made up his mind to go to Old Trafford.

Blackburn were incensed that they have to sell at the price being quoted when the player was valued at £25 million, while United are annoyed that they should pay anything more, as that £16 million was the price stipulated in the get-out clause.

"The two sets of lawyers are sorting it out, and there is sure to be a compromise by the middle of next week," said the well-connected Ewood Park source.

source: ESPN (www.soccernet.com)

Premier League wage bill soars to £1.4 billion

2011-06-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

PREMIER LEAGUE clubs are spending £1.4 BILLION on salaries - while many Championship sides are shelling out beyond their means to get promoted.

A new study by Deloitte has found wages for players - including Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard - rose by £64m in just 12 months.

The wages-to-revenue ratio has reached an all-time high of 68 per cent with Chelsea top with an annual £174m bill.

Manchester City spent £133m - £1m more than their neighbours United during the 2009-10 season.

Analysts also found more than a third of Championship clubs are paying out more in wages than their revenue.

Alan Switzer of Deloitte said: "A wages-to-revenue ratio of 88 per cent is a cause for concern and will need to be addressed by Championship clubs.

"They have been put on notice about the need to rein in their spending."

source: www.thesun.co.uk

Amazing 360 Flip Throw Goal by High School Student

2011-06-02T19:30:00.000-07:00

Here is the throw in soccer game of US high school and his throw style is amazing. The more awesome things is that became the score.

Berba set to quit Utd after final axe

2011-05-30T00:19:00.000-07:00

DIMITAR BERBATOV is set to quit Manchester United after being axed from their Champions League final squad.

Berba - joint top Premier League scorer with 20 goals - did not take his seat in the stands for the game.

And at the end he failed to join the other omitted players on the Wembley pitch. Instead he is understood to have gone straight on to the team bus at the final whistle.

His Champions League record might explain Alex Ferguson's decision. Berba last scored in the competition in October 2008.

He started just five of United's last 20 games, largely due to the emergence of the Wayne Rooney-Javier Hernandez partnership. But Berbatov, 30, did expect to be on the bench and will have been all the more bewildered that Michael Owen was chosen.

Now he is set to look for a club where he can be considered first choice. United pal Nani admitted: "It's a very difficult moment for him. It's very hard but the manager has to make a decision and it's very hard for him too."

Source: The sun.co.uk

UNITED completed an £18.3million deal to sign keeper David De Gea

2011-05-25T01:33:00.000-07:00

MANCHESTER UNITED have completed an £18.3million deal to sign keeper David De Gea from Atletico Madrid.

De Gea, 20, is set be United's new No 1 stopper. Boss Alex Ferguson said: "We identified him quite a while back as one we should go for. He is very quick with good presence and is an outstanding replacement for Edwin van der Sar.

"One great quality Edwin has is his composure and David has that to."

Ferguson said last weekend the club were in the middle of concluding a deal for a keeper, with Van der Sar, 40, retiring after Saturday's Champions League final.

Fergie checked out De Gea when he and United goalkeeping coach Eric Steele went to watch him in action against Valencia back in September. They have been monitoring him ever since.
United have scouted far and wide to land the right man to succeed Van der Sar.

They looked at Schalke's Manuel Neuer, who faced them in the Champions League semi-final. But Neuer, 25, opted for a move to Bayern Munich.

Ajax keeper Maarten Stekelenburg was also heavily scouted, as was Sporting Lisbon's Rui Patricio.

The move for De Gea is considered as a gamble by some as he has been playing regular first-team football for only 18 months. But Fergie clearly sees something special in the Spain Under-21 star, who has told his Atletico team-mates he is on his way.

Source: www.thesun.co.uk

Sir Ferguson confirms he is targeting three summer signings for Manchester United

2011-05-19T20:16:00.000-07:00

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that he wants to make three summer signings to bolster his Manchester United squad.

The Premier League champions have been linked with a host of players over the last few months and are expected to bring in a replacement for retiring Edwin van der Sar, but the veteran boss did not give any names to reporters at United's end-of-season award ceremony.

"We have some ideas in mind," said Ferguson.

"Hopefully we can get them put in place. I am looking at maybe three signings which would boost our overall quality in our team.”

Ferguson also revealed that he wished he could have been involved in a prank at Anfield on Sunday which saw United fans goad Liverpool supporters with a banner celebrating their record-breaking 19th title.

The banner was hung from the Anfield Road end prior to kick-off, and the offending group of supporters made their getaway in a car waiting outside the ground.

"I wish I had taken that banner to Liverpool on Sunday," added Ferguson.

"I bet there were 76,000 fans wishing they had thought of that."

source: Goal.com

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is not as good as Cruyff, Platini or Di Stefano – Pele

2011-05-17T19:27:00.000-07:00

Brazilian legend Pele has once again raised questions over the greatness of Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and says that he has to achieve a lot to be compared with some of the legends of the past.

Messi, winner of the past two Ballon d’Or awards, is widely recognised as the best footballer in the world at the moment. There are also strong suggestions that the 23-year-old is set to become one of the greatest footballers of all-time.

According to Chilean newspaper La Tercera, the former Santos forward has once again raised his concern on the hype surrounding Messi and is quoted as saying: “People like to compare but they seem to have forgotten [Johan] Cruyff, [Michel] Platini and [Alfredo] Di Stefano, who were better than [Lionel] Messi.”
The three-time World Cup winner with Brazil also gave his opinion on the Champions League final and said: “Manchester United are a strong side and are faithful to the English style of football. But I have no doubt that as a team Barcelona are the best in the world.”

Messi scored against United in the final of Europe’s most prestigious club competition in 2008-09 in Barcelona’s 2-0 victory.

source: Goal.com

AC Milan win first Serie A since 2004 with draw at Roma

2011-05-09T01:12:00.000-07:00

AC Milan clinched their first Serie A title since 2004 with a 0-0 draw at Roma on Saturday.

With two games to go, AC Milan have 78 points, nine more than city rivals Inter, who have three remaining games.

But head-to-head results decide the destination of the Scudetto in the event of a tie, and the Rossoneri won both league matches between the sides.

AC Milan's triumph brings to an end a run of five successive league titles for Inter Milan.

It also marks a successful first season for coach Massimiliano Allegri, who joined AC Milan last summer after his surprise sacking by Cagliari in April 2010.

His former side are AC Milan's next opponents, at the San Siro on Saturday, where his players can celebrate their latest title victory in front of their home fans.

Allegri said his team were worthy champions despite claims before the season began that too many of Milan's players were past their best for them to challenge for the title.

"We gave a lot all year long to get here and we deserve to win. I'm lucky because the president [Silvio Berlusconi] gave us the opportunity [with new signings] to get important results.

"We had a lot more to give and we showed that. We won 23 out of 36 games and proved that we deserved it."

Vice-captain Gennaro Gattuso, 33, who was part of Milan's last league winning side in 2004, added: "They said we were dead, they said I was finished so to win after seven years is wonderful.

"Allegri deserves a 10 out of 10, he was the architect of this success, he managed to keep the group compact."

Both Milan clubs have now won 18 Serie A titles, but Juventus are still Italy's most successful domestic side by a distance with 27.

Video Highlight of Barcelona vs Real Madrid: 1-1

2011-05-03T20:00:00.000-07:00

1-1 Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Video Highlight of UEFA Champion Semi Final

I’m saving Roo to destroy Chelsea

2011-05-03T19:51:00.000-07:00

ALEX FERGUSON is ready to rest Wayne Rooney tonight - so he will be fresh to face Chelsea.

Rooney has a tight hamstring and Manchester United boss Fergie does not want to risk him in tonight's Champions League semi-final second leg against Schalke with his side already 2-0 up.

Instead he wants to save Rooney for Sunday's Premier League showdown against Chelsea - which could decide the title.

The England striker is likely to be a sub tonight - alongside Mexican hitman Javier Hernandez - with Dimitar Berbatov starting up front on his own.

Ferguson, chasing a record 19th league crown, said: "We're in a great position and, although we didn't play as well as we know we can when we lost at Arsenal on Sunday, we still have players in good form all over the field.

"Wayne Rooney's performances have been fantastic again in the past couple of months and he is back with a freshness that is invigorating for the whole team.

source: Thesun.co.uk

Are Manchester United on the verge of bottling the title race?

2011-05-02T21:24:00.000-07:00

Arsenal's victory over Manchester United has not only thrown open the title race but ignited a whole new debate.

Will United be written off as bottlers like their rivals would have been should they fail to wrap up the title that has been within their grasp for weeks?

It may seem a ludicrous suggestion for Sir Alex Ferguson’s team of serial winners, who are a 90-minute Old Trafford stroll away from a third Champions League final in four years, but there is a modicum of validity to the claim.

Consider the Premier League table on February 26. United stood top on 60 points, four ahead of second-placed Arsenal. Down in fifth place, with a game in hand on the top two, were Chelsea on 45 points and yet to emerge from a winter hibernation that had nearly ruined their season.

Since then, Chelsea have swatted away Premier League opposition, accumulating 25 points out of a possible 27 to give themselves an unlikely sniff of the title.

By contrast, United have spluttered against their major rivals. They began March with consecutive away defeats at Chelsea and Liverpool, and have now come unstuck against Arsenal, too.

Of the last 24 points available to them, they have claimed 13, which is far from championship-winning form.

Ferguson’s team drew 0-0 at Newcastle United and Everton (Javier Hernandez in the 84th minute). Only when defeating Fulham 2-0 at home have United won with plenty still in the locker over the last two months.

Ferguson could reasonably point to the match officials contributing to the Chelsea defeat (David Luiz should have been sent off and the decisive late penalty was on the soft side) but his side were beaten comprehensively at Anfield and it was a similar tale at the Emirates Stadium.

Without the pressure of staying in the title hunt, Arsenal were dominant and good value for their victory, courtesy of a fluent move clinically finished by Aaron Ramsey. By contrast, their opponents were lacklustre. Inevitably, United rallied in the last 20 minutes but Arsene Wenger’s team displayed the resilience that has been so lacking over a disastrous spring and held off with few scares.

Sadly for Arsenal fans it will all be too little too late. Had they managed to take care of Bolton, Sunderland, Blackburn and West Brom in the same manner in recent weeks then a six-year trophy drought would be coming to an end - instead, they crumbled when the pressure was on, and played with their customary verve when it was off again.

It should not be ignored that United had travelled to Germany in midweek, and that Arsenal had the luxury of a full week’s preparation. All four of the Champions League semi-finalists failed to win at the weekend.

However, the fixture list had provided a five-day break between the two competitions for Britain’s biggest club and Ferguson has few injuries to contend with, just the mystery of Darren Fletcher’s virus.
Perhaps United have simply found their level. They may well become a dominant force in English football again but they are not at the moment. There have been too many hiccups, too much mediocrity this season for that.

Should Chelsea win at Old Trafford next Sunday, the Premier League champions will end the season with less than 80 points for the first time since United’s 98-99 treble winners. History remembers the team of Eric Cantona, Peter Schmeichel et al as a great one but it is unlikely that the current vintage will be seen in the same light if they do not stand atop the Premier League podium in mid-May.

It is too early to apply the ‘chokers’ tag to United. If anything, they have exceeded the sum of their parts this season. But should Chelsea overtake them over the coming weeks, the critiques will be scathing.

source: Wayne Veysey, www.goal.com

15 best-paying teams in the world

2011-04-25T02:32:00.000-07:00

Barcelona and Real Madrid top an ESPN list of the world's highest-paying sporting teams, with three other football clubs featuring in the top ten.

A global salary survey published in ESPN The Magazine, which was conducted by Sporting Intelligence, revealed which clubs or franchises paid the most on a per-player basis in their most recently completed seasons, with the two Spanish giants coming in first and second ahead of last year's top payers, the New York Yankees.

Rank	Team	League	Average Annual Salary Per Player	Average Weekly Salary Per Player
1	Barcelona	La Liga	$7,910,737	$152,130
2	Real Madrid	La Liga	$7,356,632	$141,474
3	New York Yankees	MLB	$6,756,301	$129,929
4	Los Angeles Lakers	NBA	$6,540,690	$125,782
5	Orlando Magic	NBA	$6,367,114	$122,445
6	Chelsea	EPL	$6,020,741	$115,783
7	Inter Milan	Serie A	$5,999,643	$115,378
8	Boston Red Sox	MLB	$5,991,203	$115,215
9	Denver Nuggets	NBA	$5,990,174	$115,196
10	Manchester City	EPL	$5,863,585	$112,761
11	Utah Jazz	NBA	$5,829,643	$112,109
12	Bayern Munich	Bundesliga	$5,780,358	$111,161
13	Philadelphia Phillies	MLB	$5,765,879	$110,882
14	AC Milan	Serie A	$5,647,633	$108,608
15	Boston Celtics	NBA	$5,236,922	$100,710

The sports and leagues: Aussie rules football (AFL), baseball (MLB, NPB), basketball (NBA), cricket (IPL), football (CFL, NFL), soccer (Bundesliga, EPL, La Liga, MLS, Serie A, SPL).

The countries: Australia, Canada, England, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Scotland, Spain, USA.

source: ESPN, www.soccernet.com

Premier League's 6 best transfers of the 2010-11 season

2011-04-20T02:30:00.000-07:00

Goal.com UK picks the top signings of the current campaign based on impact, adjustment, price and contribution to their new sides since their arrivals in the past year.

The transfer window produces its fair share of flop signings as clubs aim to boost their chances of a highest possible finish in the Premier League, but it cannot be denied that some real gems are also unearthed in the process too.

Goal.com judges the best transfers for 2010-11 based on:

The player's overall contribution (this being the most important factor)
How the player fitted into his new line-up
How quickly the player adapted to his new surroundings, and vice-versa
The transfer fee paid, if any, and any other financial details known. (Transfer fees unconfirmed by either club or otherwise unknown are given as approximations.

1. Javier Hernandez: to Manchester United from Guadalajara - £8m (€9m)

Potentially one of the best buys in Premier League history, Chicharito had been monitored by the club for a couple of years before they finally got their man in the summer of 2010.

Hernandez has scored some vital goals for United in his debut season at the club, few more important than his double in the Champions League last 16 second leg against Marseille at Old Trafford.

2. Rafael VAN DER VAART : to Tottenham from Real Madrid - £8m (€9m)

His performances may have slightly tailed off towards the end of the season, but the Dutchman certainly played a crucial part in keeping Spurs in the race for fourth place, while scoring some crucial goals in the Champions League before Redknapp's side were beaten in the quarterfinals by his old club.

3. William Gallas: to Tottenham from Unattached - Free

Spurs fans had their reservations regarding the signing of the former Arsenal defender, but manager Harry Redknapp described the move as a no-brainer, and the Frenchman has repaid his boss's faith in him.

Two performances stick out as the ones that could yet endear Gallas to the Tottenham faithful; his stellar display against former club Arsenal in which Spurs won 3-2, and the Champions League home leg against AC Milan in which the centre-back cleared a certain goal off the line.

4. David Luiz: to Chelsea from Benfica - £21m (€24m)

David Luiz has wasted no time in establishing himself as a fan favorite at Stamford Bridge following two decisive goals against Manchester United and City.

At just 23, Luiz has demanded a relatively high transfer fee but has shown all the signs of justifying his £21m price tag with the Blues, while drastic changes could be happening around him.

5. Chris Smalling: to Manchester United from Fulham - £10m (€11.5m)

Smalling has excelled for United this season, largely in the absence of the vastly experienced Rio Ferdinand, and at 21 years of age the former Fulham man looks like he could be the figurehead of the United defense for many years to come.

6. Luis Suarez: to Liverpool from Ajax- £22.8m (€26m)

A January signing during what Kenny Dalglish was probably hoping would be a relatively quiet winter transfer window, which ultimately saw him lose £50m striker Fernando Torres.

Suarez wasted no time in scoring, netting with a fine strike against Sunderland towards the end of March. The Uruguayan also endeared himself to Liverpool fans by turning in a performance of the highest calibre against bitter rivals Manchester United as the Reds ran out 3-1 winners.

source: Goal.com

It’s time for a change, Arsene

2011-04-18T00:44:00.000-07:00

ARSENAL'S failure to defend a lead took on a new dimension at the Emirates yesterday.

Only the Gunners could go ahead in the 98th minute - and still not win. They got exactly what they deserved. A solitary point which is of no use to them at all.

Now Manchester United need only a dozen points from their last six games to be champions - even if Arsenal win all theirs. So there was a silver lining to a weekend in the capital for the watching Alex Ferguson - even if United's Treble dream was ended the day before by Manchester City.

In the end, Arsene Wenger was told to "p*** off" by Kenny Dalglish after the Arsenal boss advanced on him, moaning about the injustice of it all.
Do us a favour, Arsene.

The 102nd-minute penalty conceded by Emmanuel Eboue for bundling over Lucas in the box was what you would expect from Arsenal's madcap full-back. And another example of the errors that have littered Arsenal's season.

As it was, Wenger's team had to rely on a penalty to break the deadlock - their 16th of the season. So the Frenchman can hardly moan about the breaks going against his boys.
The lack of character that has been the hallmark of this Arsenal side has been there for everyone to see over the last six weeks.

Just one win in five Premier League games.

And just two in nine overall - against Orient in the FA Cup and a Blackpool team in freefall.
It must be eight seasons since Thierry Henry spoke about the need for "a fox in the box".
And yet, along with his failure to sign adequate goalkeepers and centre-halves, Wenger has also done nothing to buy an orthodox, proven goalscorer. Since Henry netted 27 goals in the 2005-06 season, only one Arsenal player has scored over 20 in the league - Emmanuel Adebayor in 2007-08.

If you can't put the ball in the net when it matters most you won't win a thing. As ever, when the season comes to the boil, Arsenal go off it.

They cannot even beat strugglers like Sunderland, Blackburn and West Brom. Or a Liverpool team, already without Steven Gerrard, that then lost Fabio Aurelio, Jamie Carragher and Andy Carroll.

How much longer will Arsenal fans put up with all this?

How much longer before Fabregas and Van Persie realise they are wasting the best years of their careers chasing their manager's dream?

How much longer before Wenger's vanity and stubbornness starts to cause damage to a club he has served so brilliantly?

Arsenal's majority shareholder, American Stan Kroenke, was there yesterday. He may not be a football expert but even he can see this team is heading nowhere.

If Wenger doesn't want to make the marquee signings that can turn things round then, perhaps, someone else should be given the opportunity.

source: Steven Howard, Thesun.co.uk

United risk Roo three-game ban

2011-04-06T02:45:00.000-07:00

ALEX FERGUSON is risking losing Wayne Rooney for THREE games to make sure he can face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final.

Rooney, 25, accepted a charge of using offensive, insulting and/or abusive language for his foul-mouthed rant at a TV camera at West Ham. But Roo and Manchester United are arguing that the striker's two-match suspension is too severe.

That ban rules him out of this weekend's Premier League clash with Fulham PLUS the FA Cup semi against their Manchester rivals at Wembley on Saturday week.

An FA hearing will consider the appeal - and could increase it by an extra game if they consider it frivolous.

That would also rule him out of the leaders' league trip to Newcastle on April 19.
Rooney is likely to hear the verdict just two hours before taking on Chelsea in the Champions League tonight.

An FA statement said: "Manchester United player Wayne Rooney has admitted a charge for the use of offensive, insulting and/or abusive language.

"However, Rooney has submitted a claim that the automatic penalty of two games is clearly excessive.

United boss Ferguson yesterday refused to talk about the Rooney incident, saying: "I am not going to discuss it at all. We have submitted our case."

But Fergie is happy the striker's hat-trick at West Ham shows he is coming to the boil at the right time of the season in terms of his scoring.

source: Thesun.co.uk

Rafael Benitez: It Would Be A 'Dream' To Return To Liverpool

2011-03-25T02:12:00.000-07:00

Rafael Benitez has admitted that he harbours a "dream" of returning to manage Liverpool.

The Spaniard parted ways with the club last summer, after an underwhelming campaign that saw the Reds miss out on a Champions League place.

The Merseyside outfit brought in Roy Hodgson from Fulham, but have since replaced him with club legend Kenny Dalglish - who was the last manager to guide the club to the league title.

Meanwhile, the ex-Valencia boss succeeded Jose Mourinho at Inter, but has since left the Italian club after a poor start to the season.

Now he admits that a return to the Reds would be a dream come true, but admits that current boss Dalglish is doing a good job.

"I am really proud of being the manager of Liverpool Football Club and I would like to come back in the future," Benitez told Sky Sports News.

Benitez also conceded that he is ready to manage another club in England, but hinted that he would not entertain offers from either Everton or Manchester United.

He said: "Fans in Liverpool know the teams I would not go [to] but I think these clubs wouldn't offer me a job.

"I'm a professional but obviously some clubs I would not go to, especially the big rivals of Liverpool. I won't say the names, but it's not difficult!"

(But it'll be a very nightmare for Liverpool fans, if you, Benitez , comes back here!!!)

source: Goal.com

What Matches Do You Want To See In The Champions League Quarter-Finals?

2011-03-18T03:02:00.000-07:00

8 Teams in the Champions League Quarter-Finals
Barcelona (Spain)
Real Madrid (Spain)
Manchester United (England)
Tottenham Hotspurs (England)
Chelsea (England)
Schalke 04 (Germany)
Inter Milan (Italy)
Shakhtar (Ukraine)

Our LIVE! coverage of the draw will begin at 11:30 CET, and we will have all the news, views and reactions you need. Our experts will breakdown each of the four quarter-final ties.

England fearing Barcelona but confident of dominating final four

Amar Singh, UK deputy editor, says: "This could be a vintage year for England, with three teams vying for Wembley. As long as the dreaded Barcelona or all-English tie are avoided, all three could make the semis.

"Manchester United are really starting to click up front with Rooney and Hernandez, Chelsea march onwards despite failing to dazzle but have the Carlo Ancelotti factor, and Tottenham's fearlessness and record in the previous rounds means they can't be underestimated."

pain wishing for Clasico final: 'We have the two best teams'

"A Clasico in the Champions League final - that's the dream of everyone in Spain, from fans to media, from players to managers," says Spanish chief editor Sergio Aguilera.

"Real Madrid overcame their Round of 16 curse in style by thrashing Lyon, and Barcelona's victory over Arsenal was nothing short of sensational. Clearly, both teams are real candidates to reach the final. I'd say that both squads must be treated as serious rivals, and between them they are the teams everyone will want to avoid when the big draw comes this Friday."

Italy surprised to remain, but maintaining champion spirit

Sergio Chesi, Italian editor at Goal.com, says: "It's a bit of a surprise for we Italians that we're even in the draw. After the first leg we were certain that all of our teams would go out, but Inter went on to show all of Europe exactly why they are reigning champions.

Germany desperate for easy Schalke draw after Bayern failure
"Of course, they want to avoid Barcelona. Despite having goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, otherwise Schalke are too weak defensively to deal with the favourites. Chelsea and United are also a danger, so fans generally want to see Shakhtar, the other 'underdog' remaining. Real Madrid and Inter would be difficult but special: Mesut Ozil would face the club that chased him away, while fans haven't forgotten the UEFA Cup showdown with the Nerazzurri in 1997... although a repeat of that would be too much to ask."

Ukraine warn big guns to watch out for rampant Shakhtar

"Shakhtar are on a mission: they look to be en route to beat hated rivals Dynamo Kiev domestically but they are yet to match their Champions League feats," notes Michael Yokhin, Goal.com's Eastern Europe expert.

source: Goal.com

If Real Madrid Don't Win All Their Games, Will Jose Mourinho stay or go???

2011-03-13T21:41:00.000-07:00

Even the great one Jose Mourinho isn't immune from the ruthless daggers that are constantly hovering around the Santiago Bernabeu dugout.

There's much uncertainty about Mourinho's future at Real Madrid. Is he really happy in the Spanish capital under the watchful eyes of Florentino Perez and Jorge Valdano? Will he be given the sack if he doesn't deliver trophies this season? Will he see out his four-year contract?

The 'Special One' has made it clear that he will stay on and respect his agreement with the club, provided his bosses do not give him the sack. But there are other factors to consider, such as his on-going relationship with the hierarchy.

The internal spat between Mourinho and club director-general Jorge Valdano has died down in recent months, but the volatile Portuguese tactician is someone who lives and die by the motto "my way or the highway".

If all goes swimmingly in the boardroom, Mourinho is likely to stay until he guides the club to success, or until he dethrones Barcelona... whichever comes first. Therein, however, lies the problem.

Things rarely go swimmingly at the 'Casa Blanca' when they are not winning. The smallest fall-outs after a catastrophic result tends to turn into full blown crises for months on end. And the next seven days could go a long way to determine Jose's fate at the club.

source: KS Leong, Goal.com

Raúl González - the Alive Legend of Real Madrid

2011-03-02T23:52:00.000-08:00

Name: Raúl González Blanco

Club: Schalke 04

Position: Striker

Nationality: Spain

Date of Birth: 27 June 1977

Height: 178 cm

Awards: a three-time UEFA Club Football Best Forward Award winner and a two-time Champions League Golden Boot winner

Strengths: Extremely clever, Raul's intelligence sees him get away from his marker and create space well. His finishing touch in the box is second to none.

Weaknesses: Lacks pace and strength, and age is catching up with him to make these issues even more apparent.

Club Career

Raúl is a product of Atletico Madrid’s youth system but was picked up by Real Madrid in 1992/93. Jorge Valdano tabbed Raúl for first team duty when he was only 17, thus becoming the youngest player ever to wear a Real Madrid shirt.

1994-2010

The Real Madrid captain has scored over 190 goals in close to 500 games in 14 seasons in La Liga, numbers that don’t just highlight his tremendous talent, but also establish him as one of the best Spanish players ever to play the game. His acute goal-scoring instinct has earned him the Pichichi Trophy in 1999 (25 goals in 37 games) and 2001 (24 goals in 36 games).

Raúl was a key player in Real Madrid's last six big titles, three European Championships (1998, 2000 and 2002) and three National Championships (1999, 2001 and 2003). Raúl took over the captaincy of Real Madrid when Fernando Hierro was transferred in 2003, a responsibility he held until leaving the club in 2010. Unusually for such a successful and long-serving player, and despite appearing in two finals, 2002 (in which he scored) and 2004, Raúl never lifted the Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup).

Raúl and fellow long-serving teammate Iker Casillas were both awarded a 'contract for life' in 2008 – the terms of which stipulate that it will be renewed annually for as long as they play 30 games per season.[13] On 23 September 2009, Raúl equaled former veteran and legend Manolo Sanchís' league appearance record for Real Madrid, and is second in La Liga behind Andoni Zubizarreta who played 622 games.

Ever since, he has been under heavy criticism by the media and part of the supporters because of his poor performances . Real Madrid struggled to win a title in Spain and in European Championships, with no success in either of them.

Having spent the rest of the 09/10 season recovering from that injury, At the age of 33, he chose to continue his career in. Although new coach Jose Mourinho wanted Raúl to continue, Raúl did not want to spend another season as third or fourth choice striker.

He left Real Madrid on 25 July 2010, having scored 323 goals in 741 appearances. He is a true Madrid legend.

2010-Present

Raúl signed a two-year contract with FC Schalke 04 on 28 July 2010.

After a quiet start he has rediscovered his goal scoring form in the Bundesliga with a brace against St. Pauli in November 2010 in a 3–0 win, and later he scored his first hat-trick for the club in a 4–0 win over Werder Bremen.

New Star as Goalkeeper

2011-02-28T20:04:00.000-08:00

Now, Arsenal and Man Utd are looking for the new goalkeeper as their present ones, Van der Sar & Manuel Almunia, will be retired sooner. And here I've the brand new goalkeeper from Soccer Club Riverball, Finnland to recommend. (When I saw the video and considered his soccer skill, I wondered myself whether his positioning is goalkeeper or midfield!)

Abramovich ready to turn to Hiddink

2011-02-21T20:00:00.000-08:00

ESPNsoccernet understands Roman Abramovich is lining up Turkey coach Guus Hiddink to replace Carlo Ancelotti in the Chelsea hotseat, should the Italian fail to deliver the Champions League this season.

Ancelotti has endured a torrid few months at Stamford Bridge, overseeing the Blues' elimination from the Carling Cup, FA Cup and Premier League title race.

Pressure is mounting on the former AC Milan boss, despite the fact he delivered the club their first ever Double last season, and it is thought that winning the European Cup at Wembley in May is the only thing that will save him from the sack.

Should Ancelotti not guide the Blues to Champions League glory, Abramovich is ready to wield the axe and re-appoint Dutchman Hiddink, who won the FA Cup with Chelsea during a successful three-month spell with the club as caretaker manager in 2009.

An ESPNsoccernet source confirmed: "If Abramovich does decide to dispense with Ancelotti then the manager he will try for first will be Hiddink."

The Champions League has continued to prove elusive for Abramovich and it appears Ancelotti is faced with a simple ultimatum: deliver the Russian billionaire his holy grail or find a new job.

But if Chelsea continue to flounder in the league despite their owner investing a cool £75 million in Fernando Torres and David Luiz, the big question is whether he can gamble on winning the Champions League to qualify again for it next season.

He may be tempted to act now to stop the rot, as chances are running out for the under-fire Ancelotti, and it would be cost-effective to buy Hiddink out of the remainder of his contract with Turkey, which runs out next summer.

source: ESPN (soccernet.com)

Gangers: Messi vs. Zidane

2011-02-21T19:47:00.000-08:00

Funny video with Messi vs Zidane gang!

Brazil Ronaldo Retires At The Age Of 34

2011-02-13T20:29:00.000-08:00

Ronaldo has confirmed that he will announce his retirement on Monday, calling time on a rich and unforgettable career in football.

The legendary striker, currently with Corinthians, has cited injury and fitness concerns as the reason for his bowing out months before his final contract was due to expire.

"My body aches. In my head I want to continue, but this body can't take much more," Ronaldo told Fantastico online magazine. "In recent days I have cried like a baby."

The forward has spent the last two years at Corinthians after a glorious spell in Europe with PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona,Inter, Real Madrid and AC Milan.

His one season at Camp Nou is frequently cited as one of the greatest individual campaigns in footballing history, while his spells at San Siro and the Bernabeu were no less eventful.

Meanwhile Ronaldo is also widely regarded as one of Brazil's greatest ever players. He is the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer, with 15 goals in four tournament appearances - two of which the Selecao would win.

Nonetheless, with Corinthians being eliminated from the Copa Libertadores early, and his physical condition preventing a consistent run in the Timao line-up, Ronaldo has now called it a day.

He will formally end his career at a press conference at Corinthians headquarters at 12:40pm local time.
source: Goal.com

Argentina vs Portugal 2-1Goals & Highlights

2011-02-09T19:47:00.000-08:00

Neville retirement no laughing matter

2011-02-03T23:37:00.000-08:00

Gary Neville's announcement that he has retired from football will not be mourned on Merseyside. It will not be met with sadness by supporters all across the country who came to greet the mention of his name with a smirk or a sneer; this was a footballer who divided opinion like few others. However, it marks the end of a great career, and one that demonstrated just what can be achieved through application and determination. It should be met with sadness.

Neville's decision was timely, certainly. This is not a retirement that induces bemusement, as Eric Cantona's did when he walked away from Old Trafford at the age of just 30. Anyone who watched Neville performance against Stoke in October, his 600th appearance for the club, would have seen a player who had become a shadow of his former self, and a liability to his team.

After an error-strewn performance he was removed at half-time by Sir Alex Ferguson. Now, in order to protect the image United fans have of him, he has removed himself from the first-team squad with less than half of the season remaining.

But an inglorious end should not mask what has been one of the great United careers, and from a man who frequented the Stretford End as a child. Of his fellow 'Fergie Fledglings', the remarkable clutch of young talent that emerged at the start of the 1990s, Neville never had the star quality of David Beckham, the innate genius of Paul Scholes or the explosive skill of Ryan Giggs. Rather, his was a career founded on other qualities: sheer professionalism, bloody-minded determination and a desire to make the absolute most of his ability.

So why the mixed feelings towards this dedicated servant of the national side? Well, for one, as United fans sung with gusto so often, "Gary Neville is a red, he hates scousers". He made no secret of the fact, once admitting: "I can't stand Liverpool, I can't stand Liverpool people, I can't stand anything to do with them." These were sentiments that obviously appealed to his adoring Mancunian public.

Neville's feelings of antipathy for Liverpool's natives was mutual, of course. A relationship based on hatred was cemented in February 2006 when he was fined £5,000 for baiting Reds fans following a stoppage-time winner from Rio Ferdinand at Old Trafford. Neville's reaction to the FA punishment was to state, with tongue lodged in cheek, that: "being a robot, devoid of passion and spirit, is obviously the way forward for the modern-day footballer."

No one would accuse Neville of being a robot. Indeed, Carlos Tevez coined a far more colourful expression when describing his former team-mate as a "sock sucker" and a "moron" during another public dispute in January 2010. His animosity not restricted to Merseyside, Neville indulged in a spat with Manchester City, his middle-finger gesture to Tevez during a subsequent derby clash seeing his passion for Manchester United again rise to the surface.

Yes his moustache is comical, yes his father is called Neville Neville, and yes, plenty of humour has been derived from this most serious of characters. But Neville's retirement is no laughing matter. It marks the end of the career of a great one-club man, and a consummate professional who fulfilled his potential to the absolute fullest.

Would it be asking for too much for Neville to unite opinion for once, and for all to agree that he will be missed, if only just a little?

source: Tom Adam, Goal.com

Madrid have dismissed reports that Mourinho made any remark about returning to England...

2011-01-27T20:31:00.000-08:00

Real Madrid have made it clear that coach Jose Mourinho did not make any comments about returning to England at the end of the season to the British tabloid The Sun.

The Sun published an interview with Mourinho earlier on Thursday in which the Portuguese was quoted as saying that he was unhappy in Spain and that he wanted to return to England.

However, Madrid have now stated that this interview was a compete fabrication and told Goal.com Spain that Mourinho didn't speak to The Sun and never made those comments.

source: Goal.com

Man Utd's Edwin van der Sar to retire at end of season

2011-01-27T20:29:00.000-08:00

Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar will retire from football at the end of this season.

The 40-year-old former Netherlands international moved to Old Trafford from Fulham in 2005.

Van der Sar has made 245 appearances for the Red Devils and helped them to win three Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League.

"It is now time to pay attention to my family," he told the website of his management agency.

Van der Sar admitted he had been contemplating quitting the game since his wife, Annemarie, collapsed with a brain haemorrhage in December 2009.

"I cannot really identify a time when it [the decision] happened," said the former Ajax and Juventus player. "Let's just say that it was playing on my mind from the moment Annemarie had her stroke.

"She has fought back from it. We decided on another year in England and thus to stay at Manchester United.

"But, once engaged in the season, the thought of saying goodbye started to gnaw a bit more emphatically."

Van der Sar admitted it had been a difficult decision to make, but ultimately the correct one.

It is a difficult process. After a defeat, I thought differently than after playing a few good games in a row.

"My age played no role. I am 40 years old but I still feel fit.

"And then the decision came suddenly. Do not ask me how or why, but suddenly you know. That was sufficient.

"The time has come to devote greater attention to my family - although they have never complained. Everyone in the family has indeed always had to focus on me, but we have also had a lot in return."

United goalkeeping coach Eric Steele commented that Van der Sar will go down alongside Peter Schmeichel as one of the club's greats following his decisive penalty save from Nicolas Anelka in the Champions League shootout against Chelsea in 2008.

During the 2009/10 season, he set a new Premier League record by going 1,311 minutes without conceding a goal.

He has twice been named Europe's best goalkeeper by Uefa, has made the Premier League team of the year on two occasions and was named in the team of the tournament for Euro 2008.

He began his career with Ajax in his native Netherlands and enjoyed nearly a decade of success, winning four Eredivisie titles and three Dutch cups in addition to winning the Uefa Cup in 1992 and the Champions League in 1995.

He then spent two years at Italian club Juventus before moving to Fulham in 2001, and then to United four years later.

Van der Sar called time on his international career after Euro 2008 before returning briefly to help out Oranje coach Bert van Marwijk in two 2010 World Cup qualifiers a few months later, before retiring for good with a Dutch record 130 caps to his name.

United's Polish keeper Tomasz Kuszczak, who has been at the club since 2007, recently declared his desire to succeed Van der Sar as the club's number one.

However, United have been linked to several keepers and the club signed Denmark international Anders Lindegaard from Norwegian club Aalesund in November last year while Ben Amos, 20, went on loan to Oldham until the end of the season.

source: BBC Sports

FIFA Ballon D'Or Candidate in 2010

2011-01-09T23:34:00.000-08:00

Will Lionel Messi retain his crown? Will Xavi be recognised as the world's best for his midfield exploits? Or will the quiet genius Andres Iniesta be rewarded for his World Cup-winning strike? We'll find out on Monday 10 January (today)

Andres INIESTA
Club: FC Barcelona
Country: Spain
Position: Midfielder
Defining moment of 2010: Scoring the winning goal in the World Cup final on July 11

Ballon d'Or Last Year: Fourth place with 149 points - a personal best.

FIFA Award Last Year: Fifth place with 190 points, behind Kaka, Xavi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

2010 Lowdown: World Cup winner, La Liga winner, Spanish Super Cup winner; FIFA World Cup All-Star Team placement.

2010 Story: A player who grows more consistent year on year, Iniesta defied fitness worries to once again wow the world in 2010. His World Cup-winning goal was just a small part of a superb tournament, and his play in the blue and red of Barcelona was, while punctuated by rest periods, a joy to watch. The fact that he so often came off the bench to make a difference is testament to how much his teammates need him.

Lionel MESSI

Club: FC Barcelona
Country: Argentina
Position: Forward
Defining moment of 2010: Scoring all four as the Blaugrana battered Arsenal 4-1 on April 6

Ballon d'Or Last Year: Won the award for the first time with 473 points, over double that of second-placed Cristiano Ronaldo.

FIFA Award Last Year: First place with 1073 points, a record total for any player and over three times the total of second-placed Cristiano Ronaldo on 352.

2010 Lowdown: La Liga winner, Spanish Super Cup winner; La Liga Player of the Year; La Liga top goalscorer; European Golden Shoe winner; Champions League top goalscorer; Argentine Footballer of the Year.

2010 Story: In La Liga, Messi has spent the last twelve months scoring a goal a game, and setting up a goodly amount, too: in the 5-0 rout at the Clasico he showed that even when he's not hitting the net he's helping others to do so. At 23 his natural genius is becoming more tempered by maturity, and the results are there for all to see. Certainly the most exciting of goalscorers...

XAVI

Club: FC Barcelona
Country: Spain
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: 25 January 1980 (age 30)
Defining moment of 2010: Setting up both goals in the decisive 2-0 win at the Bernabeu on April 10

Ballon d'Or Last Year: Third place with 170 points for Xavi's best-ever finish.

FIFA Award Last Year: Third place with a total of 196 points, up from 155 the previous year.

2010 Lowdown: World Cup winner, La Liga winner, Spanish Super Cup winner; FIFA World Cup All-Star Team placement, Premi Catalunya de l'Esport award.

2010 Story: Last year's third-ranked player enjoyed an awesome but exhausting 2010 in which his passing was once again marked out as the world's most accurate and most likely to result in goals for his club side. At international level he was the heart of Spain, playing more vital a supporting role than even Iniesta, completing over 500 passes in South Africa.

source: goal.com

City land Dzeko for £27m

2011-01-03T01:50:00.000-08:00

Manchester City have reportedly agreed a £27 million deal to sign Edin Dzeko from Wolfsburg and the sought-after Bosnian striker expected to arrive in England by the end of the week.

Dzeko has long been a target for City but it is believed Wolfburg boss Steve McClaren's need for funds to strengthen his squad has helped bring down their asking price.

City just need to agree personal terms with Dzeko, who has reportedly asked for £175,000 in wages. The club is expected to negotiate a lower figure than that but Dzeko will still become one of the world's highest paid players.

Dzeko, who has been a goal-machine for Wolfsburg, has also been a target for Bayern Munich and Juventus but cash-rich City are near certain they will get the man they hope could make the difference in the Premier League title race.

The move is likely to have a flow-on effect at the club with 24-year-old Dzeko joining Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli among the preferred striking stocks, meaning Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz will have to look elsewhere to find regular football.

Jerome Boateng is convinced Manchester City will be signing a star performer if they can lure Dzeko to the club. From his own meetings with the striker, the German international acknowledges what a threat he can be.

"Dzeko is a very good striker,'' Boateng told the Manchester Evening News. "Of course, we would love to see him at City because he is a quality player. He played against Hamburg a few times whilst I was there - and he scored.

source: Soccernet.com

Goal.com’s KS Leong looks at whether Barca’s Three Musketeers are worthy to be crowned the best players of 2010.

2010-12-07T21:09:00.000-08:00

Ballon D'or Award

It was announced on Monday that Barcelona trio Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Xavi have been nominated as the top three candidates for the FIFA Ballon d’Or, as voted by coaches and captains of national teams and a panel of global journalists.

Although this is the first year that FIFA’s World Player of the Award award has merged with France Football’s Ballon d’Or, it is the third time that three players from the same club will finish as the best three footballers of the year after the great Milan side of the late 80’s completely dominated proceedings in the 1988 and 1989 editions of the Ballon d’Or.

But as always, there will be debates and contentious arguments regarding the finalists. Many believe that Inter and Netherlands playmaker Wesley Sneijder should have been in the top three at the very least, and even perhaps a worthy winner.

Diego Forlan single-handedly carried Atletico Madrid to Europa League glory last season, and he did likewise with Uruguay in South Africa 2010, leading his country to a respectable fourth-place finish at the World Cup with some spectacular goals.

Then there’s Iker Casillas and Julio Cesar, two goalkeepers who performed miracles for club and country throughout 2010. But should any of those four, or any of the others for that matter, in the initial 23-man shortlist who deserve to be in the final three more than Iniesta, Messi and Xavi?

Iniesta’s inclusion will perhaps draw the most mixed reception. The attacking midfielder spent the first half of 2010 nursing a niggling injury and as a result, his performances were below his usual high standards. But the extra rests that he picked up along the way turned out to be a blessing in disguise as he has become the only star player who featured in the final of the World Cup to carry his form into the new league season.

Lionel Messi failed to carry Argentina far into the World Cup, but his form for Barcelona has been simply sublime in the whole of the calendar year: 54 goals in 47 club games in 2010 up until the final three shortlist was announced, including six hat-tricks. If the Ballon d’Or is part recognition and reward for consistency, then Little Leo deserves to retain the gong he won last year.

Since finishing second in the 2008 edition, Messi’s level has not dropped one bit. If anything, he has been steadily improving, not just in his goal ratio, but his all-round performance. And that doesn’t include the mesmerizing exhibitions and masterclasses that he puts on every time he steps onto the pitch.

There is hardly a more consistent player in world football at the moment. But if there is a challenger, then it has to be Xavi.

The midfield maestro is a real critics’ and players’ favorite. Not always as dazzling on eye as Messi and Iniesta, he is a footballer that you have to truly analyze and dig up some numbers to appreciate and admire his craft.

He didn’t score at the World Cup, he doesn’t bag hat-tricks, he doesn’t dribble past walls of defenders every week. He is a player who consistently strings close to 100 passes together match after match, he covers well over 10 kilometers per game, and his vision and passing range is incomparable.

The Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year accolades have always stirred up debates amongst fans in the past. Don’t expect it to be any different this year now that the awards have merged.

If you’re still craving more Spanish omelet, the top three coaches who are vying for the managerial equivalent of the award are all currently in Spanish football: World Cup winner Vicente del Bosque, Barca’s master conductor Pep Guardiola, and Inter’s treble winner and now property of Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho.

(source: by KS Leong, www.goal.com)

Cristiano Ronaldo - Most Expensive Player in Football History

2010-11-22T21:03:00.000-08:00

Full name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro

Birthday: February 5, 1985 (age 24)

Birthplace: Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

Height: 1.84 m

Weight: 75kg

Nickname: Ronnie, CR, Rocket Ronaldo, CR7, C. Ronaldo

Position: Right/Left Winger

Current club: Real Madrid

Ronaldo is the most expensive player in football history after moving Manchester United to Real Madrid in a transfer deal worth £80 million (€94m, US$132m). Besides, his contract with Real Madrid, in which he is to be paid £11 million per year over the following six years, makes him the highest-paid football player in the world.

Early Life

Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Portugal and grew up with a brother and two sisters. His second name (Ronaldo) is relatively rare in Portugal. His parents named him after former US president Ronald Reagan because he was his father's favourite actor, and not for political reasons.

He began kicking a football when he was three, and when he started primary school at age six, his passion for the sport was obvious. By 1995, at just ten years of age, Cristiano Ronaldo's reputation was growing in Portugal. Madeira's top two teams, CS Marítimo and CD Nacional were both interested in signing him. Marítimo, the bigger team, missed a crucial meeting with Rui Santos manager of Andorinha, and as a result Ronaldo signed for Nacional. After a title-winning campaign at Nacional, Ronaldo went on a three day trial with Sporting who subsequently signed him for an undisclosed sum.

First Clubs in Portugal

Ronaldo joined Sporting's other youth players who trained at the Alcochete, the club's "football factory," where he received first-class instruction. He also featured for Portugal in the UEFA Under 17 Championships.

His performances at the UEFA Under 17 championship drew him to the attention of the wider football world. He came to the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer of 2003, when Sporting Clube de Portugal beat Manchester United 3–1 in the inauguration of the Alvalade XXI stadium in Lisbon. After the match, United's players spoke enthusiastically of the young talent that they had just played against, saying they would rather have him in their team than play against him in the future.[citation needed]

Christiano Ronaldo at Manchester United 2003–2006

Ferguson decided that he wanted the youngster for his team, who were in the market for a right-sided midfielder with the departure of David Beckham to Real Madrid; Cristiano was signed for a fee of £12.24 million.

Ronaldo requested the number 28 (his number at Sporting), as he did not want the pressure of living up to the expectation linked to the number 7 shirt, which had previously been worn by players such as George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, and David Beckham. "After I joined, the manager asked me what number I'd like. I said 28. But Ferguson said 'No, you're going to have No. 7,' and the famous shirt was an extra source of motivation. I was forced to live up to such an honour.”

2006-2009

The 2006-2007 season proved to be the breakout year for Ronaldo, as he broke the 20 goal barrier for the first time and picked up his first league title with Manchester United.

In November and December 2006, Ronaldo received consecutive Barclays Player of the Month honours, becoming only the third player in Premier League history to do so after Dennis Bergkamp in 1997 and Robbie Fowler in 1996. He was voted into his second consecutive FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year award at the end of the year.

He finished as the runner-up to Kaká for the 2007 Ballon d'Or and was 3rd in the running for the FIFA World Player of the Year award, behind Kaká and Lionel Messi.

On 11 June, Manchester United accepted an unconditional offer of £80 million from Real Madrid for Ronaldo after it was revealed that he again had expressed his desire to leave the club. It was confirmed by a representative of the Glazer family that the sale was fully condoned by Ferguson.

Real Madrid

Ronaldo was presented to the world media as a Real Madrid player on 6 July 2009, where he was handed the number 9 jersey. Ronaldo was welcomed by 80,000 fans at his presentation at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, surpassing Diego Maradona's record of 75,000 fans when he was presented in Italy, after he was transferred from Barcelona to Napoli in 1984.

With the departure of Raúl in the summer of 2010, Ronaldo was handed the number 7 jersey.

Drogba - one of best centre forwards

2010-11-11T19:25:00.000-08:00

Name: Didier Yves Drogba Tébily

Club: Chelsea (Eng)

Position: Striker

Nationality: Ivory Coast

Date of Birth: March 11, 1978

Height: 188 cm

Strengths: Aerial prowess and power; there are few players in the world as strong.

Weaknesses: Temperament, propensity to dive and over-exaggerate tackles and confrontations.

Style: Robust, bustling centre forward who harasses his markers. But he is excellent with the ball on the deck and a strong finisher with the ability to use both feet.

Club Career

1998-2002 : Le Mans

Undoubtedly one of the best centre forwards in the world, Drogba still manages to polarise opinion with his theatrical and temperamental style of play taking the shine off the powerful striker's incredible talent. Drogba moved from his native Ivory Coast to France in 1988, living with his uncle in order to pursue a career in football. He started his career at Dunkirk before moving to Abbeville, Levallois and Le Mans.

2002-2003 : En Avant Guingamp

But it was after a move to Guingamp that he really began to catch the attention, netting 17 goals in their 2002-03 Ligue 1 campaign before signing for Marseille.

2003-2004 : Olympique de Marseille

It was 2003 and Didier Drogba emerged rather late on the first scene of top European soccer, at age 25. Still, his appetite for goal wouldn't allow him to lay low, even though he reached a comfortable level for any footballer, Marseille being a team that would battle each year for the league and cup, as well as on the European front, in the UEFA Champions League.

The main passion for Drogba, goals, remained his primary target and he managed to score 19 times in 35 matches for Marseille, of which 5 in the UEFA Champions League group stages and another 6 in the following UEFA Cup run.

2004- Present: Chelsea

Age 26, it was the perfect setup for him to step in the light, as he got a contract offer from what is still the most important club in the career of Drogba, Chelsea London. Chelsea and Jose Mourinho then came knocking and smashed the British transfer record for a striker, paying £24 million for his services in 2004.

Although being helped by a tremendous performance by Drogba, Chelsea didn't manage to win the Champions League trophy, stopping in the finals, they are considered amongst the favorites each year and many, believe that only time separate Chelsea and Drogba from being crowned the kings of Europe.

Spain dominate shortlist for new FIFA Ballon d'Or

2010-10-26T01:04:00.000-07:00

Seven members of Spain's World Cup-winning squad have made it onto the shortlist for the first ever FIFA Ballon d'Or award, with Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan the surprise name on the 23-man list.

Xavi, David Villa, Xabi Alonso, Iker Casillas, Carles Puyol, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas were the Spaniards who made the list, but there was no place for an Englishman, Frenchman or Italian after their poor performances in South Africa.

The winner will be revealed at a ceremony in Zurich on January 10, 2011, with the players chosen by football experts from the FIFA's Football Committee, the Technical and Development Committee and the Committee for Women's Football and the FIFA Women's World Cup, as well as by a group of experts from France Football magazine.

The new award is a combination of the FIFA World Player of the Year award and the France Football Ballon d'Or and on December 6, 2010, FIFA and France Football will announce the names of the three men who have received the most votes.

Shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2010:

Xabi Alonso (Spain), Daniel Alves (Brazil), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Côte d'Ivoire), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Asamoah Gyan (Ghana), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Julio Cesar (Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Maicon (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Muller (Germany), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Carles Puyol (Spain), Arjen Robben (Netherlands), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).

World Coach of the Year nominees:

Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea), Vicente del Bosque (Spain), Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United), Pep Guardiola (FC Barcelona), Joachim Low (Germany), Jose Mourinho (Inter Milan/Real Madrid), Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay), Louis van Gaal (Bayern Munich), Bert van Marwijk (Holland) and Arsene Wenger (Arsenal).

source: ESPN (www.soccernet.com)

Jose not planning any Real deals

2010-10-15T00:49:00.000-07:00

Jose Mourinho has all but ruled out the possibility of new signings at Real Madrid in January.

ollowing the return of Florentino Perez to the presidency in 2009, Madrid have spent huge sums on the squad, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Karim Benzema, Angel Di Maria, Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira among those to have arrived.

Despite the spending, Mourinho had complained of a lack of options in attack, with only Gonzalo Higuain and Benzema as established strikers, and there have been rumours of a move for Athletic Bilbao forward Fernando Llorente.

However, Mourinho has now said that, barring "something unusual", he is not expecting any additions to his squad before the end of the campaign.

"It's normal there's talk of players," he said on the club's official website. "Madrid is Madrid and there's always talk of players. Mainly it's great players because, if you talk of mediocre players, people won't believe it.

"It seems normal to me, but as coach I have to say not only what I think but what the club thinks and that is that this is the squad until the end of the season. These are the players which we have faith in.
"Real Madrid have made the investment that they had to do in previous years and this summer. We don't have the perfect squad, because the perfect squad doesn't exist. We have an excellent squad with players who give me a lot of confidence and I don't want any players in the winter market.

"It seems premature to me and unrealistic when there is talk of signings in January when the coach, and surely the director general (Jorge Valdano) and the president, will say that the market now and in January for Real Madrid is closed if nothing unusual happens."

source: ESPN

Juve deny Buffon rumours

2010-10-08T02:54:00.000-07:00

Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta has dismissed reports Manchester United are working on a deal to sign Gianluigi Buffon.

United are currently in the process of identifying a successor to Edwin van der Sar, who turns 40 this month, and have recently spent time scouting Atletico Madrid youngster David De Gea and Anders Lindegaard of Aalesunds.

Reports have suggested that Sir Alex Ferguson may have made a move for Italy goalkeeper Buffon, 32, but Marotta insists no talks have taken place over a deal.

"I deny any negotiation with United. Buffon is a Juventus player," he told Tuttosport.

Buffon's agent, Silvano Martina, added: "These transfer rumours make no sense. Buffon has been sidelined for three months so who would want an injured player? Moreover, it seems to me that the best player at United so far has been Van der Sar."

Buffon will be out of action for the rest of the year after suffering a back problem during the World Cup.

source: ESPN

Ooops, I Didi it again. Arsene!

2010-10-04T01:54:00.000-07:00

DIDIER DROGBA admits his amazing scoring record against Arsenal has him baffled.

His latest strike, as Chelsea went four points clear at the top, made it 13 goals in 13 clashes with Arsene Wenger's Gunners.
He said: "I don't know how to explain my record against Arsenal. Maybe it is just a question of being in the right place at the right time.

"It is good to go into the break now with a gap at the top, good to know we are four points ahead."
The Stamford Bridge goal-machine put the Blues in front before defender Alex scored from a stunning free-kick.
Yet Arsenal should have found the net themselves early on and Drogba admitted he complained to boss Carlo Ancelotti about the team's defending.

He added: "We were not defending well. We were not getting into the right positions. We didn't do what we were supposed to.

"In the second half we were much, much better. We showed more power, stayed in position better and played the ball out to Ashley Cole."

Arsenal have managed just one point, at Sunderland, from their last three Premier League matches.
Wenger admitted: "It was disappointing. We had the chances to win the game."

Source: thesun.co.uk

Spur have no Defence

2010-09-27T02:56:00.000-07:00

HARRY REDKNAPP insists Spurs will go for the jugular against FC Twente on Wednesday - because he hardly has any fit defenders.

Tottenham have just two fully-fit centre-backs - Sebastien Bassong and Vedran Corluka - ahead of the Champions League clash at White Hart Lane.

Ledley King remains a doubt with his ongoing knee problems, Michael Dawson is out with ankle trouble and Younes Kaboul has a calf injury.

On top of this William Gallas has groin trouble and perennial crock Jonathan Woodgate is close to retiring.

Boss Redknapp will try to hammer the Dutch champions - who were managed by former England chief Steve McClaren last year - with an attacking line-up as he tries to ease away from the pack in Group A. Redknapp said: "We have to go for it. Winning the game is all-important and it will set us up nicely.

"The group is wide open with one point each. Inter Milan are obviously the favourites but after that, it's wide open. At home, our crowd are pumped up. It will be an intimidating atmosphere, just like it was in the qualifier against Young Boys. We attacked and got after them from the start.

"That is what we have to do in these European games, especially in this group. In Milan you might set up differently but at home... no.

"I have some concerns at the centre of defence. We've lost some key players through injury - even William Gallas, who I signed on a free from Arsenal, is out until after the next international break.

source:thesun.co.uk

Fàbregas - Youngest Arsenal first team player

2010-09-16T01:18:00.000-07:00

Name: Francesc Fabregas Soler (Cesc Fabregas)
Club: Arsenal (Eng)
Shirt Number: 4

Personal
Position: Central midfielder
Nationality: Spanish
Date of Birth: 04/05/1987

Height: 177 cm
Weight: 69 kg in Arsenal Fàbregas started his career as a trainee with Barcelona but sensing that he would have limited opportunities at Barcelona. Fàbregas also was signed by Arsenal in September 2003 at the age of 16. Although life in England is not easy, he nevertheless made his debut for Arsenal not long after, on 23 October 2003, in a League Cup tie at home to Rotherham United. He also became Arsenal's youngest ever first team player, aged 16 years and 177 days. In the next 2004-2005 season, he got the chance to be the First team player in the game against Manchester United in the Community Shield. Due to an injury of Vieira, Fàbregas stepped in and made four consecutive Premier League starts. Following injuries to key midfielders in the 2004–05 season, he established himself as Arsenal's starting central midfielder and playmaker. He went on to break several of the club's records, earning a reputation as one of the best young players for his position of his generation. Fabregas with Arsenal will end in 2014 before 2010/2011 starting, there was once again intense media rumour about his future, and in June 2010, a €35M bid from Barcelona was rejected. In Spain Team In UEFA Euro 2008, Fàbregas was issued with squad number 10. He mostly was substitute but he scored his first international goal in that competition in Spain's 4–1 win over Russia. In the semi-finals, Spain defeated Russia 3–0 with Fàbregas providing two assists. The midfielder made the starting eleven in the final against Germany where Spain prevailed 1–0; this was Spain's first major title since 1964. Fàbregas was selected as a part of del Bosque's 23-man squad list for the FIFA World Cup 2010.With del Bosque preferring a famous midfield of Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Xavi and Andrés Iniesta, Fàbregas didn't involve in any of Spain's games in the competition. He featured as a substitute in four of their seven matches. In the final itself, Fàbregas set up the extra-time winner for Iniesta to win Spain the World Cup for the first time in their history.