Previous Winners (Women)
FIFA World Player GALA 2008
MARTA (BRA)
FIFA World Player GALA 2007
MARTA (BRA)
Birgit PRINZ (GER)
CRISTIANE (BRA)
FIFA World Player GALA 2006
MARTA (BRA)
Kristine LILLY (USA)
Renate LINGOR (GER)
FIFA World Player GALA 2005
Birgit PRINZ (GER)
MARTA (BRA)
Shannon BOXX (USA)
FIFA World Player GALA 2004
Birgit PRINZ (GER)
Mia HAMM (USA)
MARTA (BRA)
FIFA World Player GALA 2003
Birgit PRINZ (GER)
Mia HAMM (USA)
Hanna LJUNGBERG (SWE)
FIFA World Player GALA 2002
Mia HAMM (USA)
Birgit PRINZ (GER)
WEN Lirong (CHN)
FIFA World Player GALA 2001
Mia HAMM (USA)
WEN Lirong (CHN)
Tiffeny MILBRETT (USA)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Football has a socio-cultural dimension
By Blatter (Fifa President)
FIFA is no longer merely an institution that runs our sport. It has now taken on a social, cultural, political and sporting dimension in the struggle to educate children and defeat poverty. At the same time it has also become a powerful economic phenomenon.
The 208 national associations affiliated to FIFA represent 260 million people actively connected to the game, including players, coaches and administrators. Based on the reasonable assumption that each of them has three or four family members or friends with an interest in the game, that figure rises to one billion, a seventh of the Earth's population.
Football can also move mountains. The Iraqi FA continued to play throughout the war even though no national teams went to Baghdad to play, until very recently that is. We also organised a similar match between Palestine and Jordan in Ramallah in October 2008, which highlights the power of football and the fact that it is recognised by all politicians.
The football family has a major responsibility and must set an example. We are in the process of testing a computer program called Transfer Matching System. Thanks to this software, all international transfers will be entered on FIFA's computer systems and made completely transparent.
When the system becomes operational after the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ we will be able to monitor every single transfer, check supply and demand, and prevent illegal practices such as players signing contracts with two different clubs at the same time.
Another crucial area is the fight against racism. To my mind, fining the clubs "responsible" does not work. They need to be docked points in the league and in European competitions and kicked out altogether if need be. Such punishment is actually envisaged in our Disciplinary Code and without it we cannot hope to eradicate this problem.
Additionally, the FIFA Confederations Cup in Africa has allowed us to identify the areas in which we need to make improvements, particularly in transport and accommodation.
South Africa is expecting 450,000 visitors to the 2010 FIFA World Cup and it needs to do some fine tuning in these two key areas, which are all the more important because it's as big as France and Spain put together and covers an area of one million square kilometres. Its telecommunications are first class but there is still work to be done. Nevertheless, South Africa will be ready.
FIFA is no longer merely an institution that runs our sport. It has now taken on a social, cultural, political and sporting dimension in the struggle to educate children and defeat poverty. At the same time it has also become a powerful economic phenomenon.
The 208 national associations affiliated to FIFA represent 260 million people actively connected to the game, including players, coaches and administrators. Based on the reasonable assumption that each of them has three or four family members or friends with an interest in the game, that figure rises to one billion, a seventh of the Earth's population.
Football can also move mountains. The Iraqi FA continued to play throughout the war even though no national teams went to Baghdad to play, until very recently that is. We also organised a similar match between Palestine and Jordan in Ramallah in October 2008, which highlights the power of football and the fact that it is recognised by all politicians.
The football family has a major responsibility and must set an example. We are in the process of testing a computer program called Transfer Matching System. Thanks to this software, all international transfers will be entered on FIFA's computer systems and made completely transparent.
When the system becomes operational after the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ we will be able to monitor every single transfer, check supply and demand, and prevent illegal practices such as players signing contracts with two different clubs at the same time.
Another crucial area is the fight against racism. To my mind, fining the clubs "responsible" does not work. They need to be docked points in the league and in European competitions and kicked out altogether if need be. Such punishment is actually envisaged in our Disciplinary Code and without it we cannot hope to eradicate this problem.
Additionally, the FIFA Confederations Cup in Africa has allowed us to identify the areas in which we need to make improvements, particularly in transport and accommodation.
South Africa is expecting 450,000 visitors to the 2010 FIFA World Cup and it needs to do some fine tuning in these two key areas, which are all the more important because it's as big as France and Spain put together and covers an area of one million square kilometres. Its telecommunications are first class but there is still work to be done. Nevertheless, South Africa will be ready.
JUNIOR (Brazil)
By Wilkipedia
Junior, from the pitch to the box
Blessed with an outstanding array of talented individuals, including the likes of Socrates and Zico, the Brazil team that won the hearts of the footballing world at the 1982 FIFA World Cup Spain™ will live long in the memory. And it was not just in midfield or up front that the Auriverde showed their sparkle.
Bursting onto the global scene was one Leovegildo Lins da Gama Junior, better known as Junior, a right-footed left-back equally adept at orchestrating attacking moves as fulfilling his defensive remit. At the age of 28, the then Flamengo man was appearing at his first FIFA World Cup finals, the high point of a career that would last for a further 11 years.
"Sometimes I find it hard to believe that I played the game professionally for top-level sides for 20 years. It seems like a lifetime," says a man whose name grew to be synonymous with Brazil's best-supported club, Flamengo. "I never even considered playing for another Brazilian team," he tells FIFA.com. "It was simply out of the question. I spent all my youth with Flamengo and practically my entire professional career. I'm eternally grateful for having played a part in the most glorious period of the club's history," adds Junior, whose career lasted from 1974 to 1993 and also included spells in Italy with Torino (1984-87) and Pescara (1987-89).Memorable momentsA quick glance at Junior's list of honours at Flamengo goes some way towards explaining his iconic status at the club. The player won no fewer than four Brazilian league titles in the fabled red-and-black hoops, as well as taking both the Copa Libertadores and the Toyota Intercontinental Cup in 1981, and making the starting berth on Brazil's left flank his own for the best part of a decade. In the wake of his stellar displays for the Seleção at Spain 1982, Junior was the subject of a flurry of offers to play in Europe until finally, in 1984, Torino won the race for his signature.
"One of the conditions I insisted upon was that I would be allowed to play in midfield, which was my position when I started out in football. I'm not a full-back, I'm a midfielder who ended up playing in defence," explains the gifted wide-man. "I knew that I could play on for longer as a midfielder. I really wanted to enjoy that experience and after that I'd already made up my mind to go back to Flamengo to finish my career."
Everything turned out according to plan. Over the course of his five-year sojourn in Italy, where he was known as Leo Junior, the Brazilian maestro won the admiration of fans and media alike, and was even voted Serie A player of the year for the 1984-85 campaign. He went on to appear for Brazil at Mexico 1986, his second FIFA World Cup finals, before making the journey back to his homeland in 1989. And at the age of 35, the evergreen star still had the legs to drive his beloved Flamengo to yet more glory.
"I was the last remaining member of that 1980s generation and so for me it was really special to play a part in winning the Brazilian Cup (in 1990) and particularly the Brazilian league title (in 1992)," says Junior, who was born in the Paraiba state capital of Joao Pessoa. "The latter title was probably the trophy that meant the most to me, because it helped me say a fond farewell (to Flamengo)."
But Junior was more than just a world-class footballer. His ample charm and generosity of spirit made a vital contribution to dressing-room harmony, while his famed ability to spin a yarn also remains intact. "I think I can only remember scoring one own goal in my career, but it was so ridiculous that it should count as several. It was in a Brazilian league match against Sport Recife in 1991, they were on the verge of relegation to the second division and needed to win," says the Rubro-negro legend.
"I was in middle of the park and, without looking up, I knocked the ball back to our keeper Gilmar, but he was on the other side of the box! The ball trickled into the net and we could only stand there looking at each other. We ended up losing 2-1 - how embarrassing!"TodayEven before his playing days drew to a close; Junior knew his future lay within the boundaries of the beautiful game. "That said, I knew I wasn't going to be a coach. I tried my hand at it twice (in 1993-94 and later in 1997), but I did it because I love Flamengo. They asked me to do it and I could never say no to them," says Junior, who was also briefly a club director at the Carioca giants in 2004, before fully focusing on the job that has ensured his continued fame across Brazil, that of TV commentator.
"When I used to live in Italy I took part in a few TV programs and in Brazil I took up the profession for good from the 1998 World Cup. For me it's the perfect progression from a career as a player, because I always loved analysing the game," says Junior, who currently works for Brazilian channel Sportv.
"And I think I managed to learn something in those 20 years out on the pitch," he adds with a smile and just a touch of false modesty. And as anyone who saw Junior in action will attest, his knowledge of game is most definitely not in question.
Facts and figuresClubs: Flamengo (1974-84 and 1989-93), Torino (1984-87), Pescara (1987-89)National team: 79 appearances (1979-1992)Honours: Four-time Brazilian league winner (1980, 1982, 1983, 1992), Copa Libertadores winner (1981), Toyota Intercontinental Cup winner (1981), Brazilian Cup winner (1990), appearances at two FIFA World Cup finals (1982, 1986).
Junior, from the pitch to the box
Blessed with an outstanding array of talented individuals, including the likes of Socrates and Zico, the Brazil team that won the hearts of the footballing world at the 1982 FIFA World Cup Spain™ will live long in the memory. And it was not just in midfield or up front that the Auriverde showed their sparkle.
Bursting onto the global scene was one Leovegildo Lins da Gama Junior, better known as Junior, a right-footed left-back equally adept at orchestrating attacking moves as fulfilling his defensive remit. At the age of 28, the then Flamengo man was appearing at his first FIFA World Cup finals, the high point of a career that would last for a further 11 years.
"Sometimes I find it hard to believe that I played the game professionally for top-level sides for 20 years. It seems like a lifetime," says a man whose name grew to be synonymous with Brazil's best-supported club, Flamengo. "I never even considered playing for another Brazilian team," he tells FIFA.com. "It was simply out of the question. I spent all my youth with Flamengo and practically my entire professional career. I'm eternally grateful for having played a part in the most glorious period of the club's history," adds Junior, whose career lasted from 1974 to 1993 and also included spells in Italy with Torino (1984-87) and Pescara (1987-89).Memorable momentsA quick glance at Junior's list of honours at Flamengo goes some way towards explaining his iconic status at the club. The player won no fewer than four Brazilian league titles in the fabled red-and-black hoops, as well as taking both the Copa Libertadores and the Toyota Intercontinental Cup in 1981, and making the starting berth on Brazil's left flank his own for the best part of a decade. In the wake of his stellar displays for the Seleção at Spain 1982, Junior was the subject of a flurry of offers to play in Europe until finally, in 1984, Torino won the race for his signature.
"One of the conditions I insisted upon was that I would be allowed to play in midfield, which was my position when I started out in football. I'm not a full-back, I'm a midfielder who ended up playing in defence," explains the gifted wide-man. "I knew that I could play on for longer as a midfielder. I really wanted to enjoy that experience and after that I'd already made up my mind to go back to Flamengo to finish my career."
Everything turned out according to plan. Over the course of his five-year sojourn in Italy, where he was known as Leo Junior, the Brazilian maestro won the admiration of fans and media alike, and was even voted Serie A player of the year for the 1984-85 campaign. He went on to appear for Brazil at Mexico 1986, his second FIFA World Cup finals, before making the journey back to his homeland in 1989. And at the age of 35, the evergreen star still had the legs to drive his beloved Flamengo to yet more glory.
"I was the last remaining member of that 1980s generation and so for me it was really special to play a part in winning the Brazilian Cup (in 1990) and particularly the Brazilian league title (in 1992)," says Junior, who was born in the Paraiba state capital of Joao Pessoa. "The latter title was probably the trophy that meant the most to me, because it helped me say a fond farewell (to Flamengo)."
But Junior was more than just a world-class footballer. His ample charm and generosity of spirit made a vital contribution to dressing-room harmony, while his famed ability to spin a yarn also remains intact. "I think I can only remember scoring one own goal in my career, but it was so ridiculous that it should count as several. It was in a Brazilian league match against Sport Recife in 1991, they were on the verge of relegation to the second division and needed to win," says the Rubro-negro legend.
"I was in middle of the park and, without looking up, I knocked the ball back to our keeper Gilmar, but he was on the other side of the box! The ball trickled into the net and we could only stand there looking at each other. We ended up losing 2-1 - how embarrassing!"TodayEven before his playing days drew to a close; Junior knew his future lay within the boundaries of the beautiful game. "That said, I knew I wasn't going to be a coach. I tried my hand at it twice (in 1993-94 and later in 1997), but I did it because I love Flamengo. They asked me to do it and I could never say no to them," says Junior, who was also briefly a club director at the Carioca giants in 2004, before fully focusing on the job that has ensured his continued fame across Brazil, that of TV commentator.
"When I used to live in Italy I took part in a few TV programs and in Brazil I took up the profession for good from the 1998 World Cup. For me it's the perfect progression from a career as a player, because I always loved analysing the game," says Junior, who currently works for Brazilian channel Sportv.
"And I think I managed to learn something in those 20 years out on the pitch," he adds with a smile and just a touch of false modesty. And as anyone who saw Junior in action will attest, his knowledge of game is most definitely not in question.
Facts and figuresClubs: Flamengo (1974-84 and 1989-93), Torino (1984-87), Pescara (1987-89)National team: 79 appearances (1979-1992)Honours: Four-time Brazilian league winner (1980, 1982, 1983, 1992), Copa Libertadores winner (1981), Toyota Intercontinental Cup winner (1981), Brazilian Cup winner (1990), appearances at two FIFA World Cup finals (1982, 1986).
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Biography of John Mikel Obi
By Wilkipedia
He was born in Jos, Nigeria, as John Michael Nchekwube Obinna, the son of a former civil servant. As his father was a member of the Igbo ethnic group "Nchekwube" means "hope" and "Obi" is a nickname for the Igbo name "Obinna" (meaning "Father´s will")
Obi was playing top-flight football for Plateau United aged 15, and by 2003, was gaining headlines for his country at the FIFA Under-17 World Championships held in Finland. After a brief spell in South Africa witH Ajaz Cape Town, Mikel gained global recognition in 2005 by starring at the FIFA World Youth Championship where Nigeria beat all opponents and made it to the final but lost to Argentina by 2–1.
During preparations for the 2003 FIFA Under-17 World Championships, the Nigerian Football Association mistakenly submitted "Michael" as "Mikel" for the tournament in Finland, He decided to keep the new name, saying that it had a special ring to it. On July 31, 2006, he stated that he prefers to be called Mikel John Obi instead of John Obi Mikel, as he had most commonly been called.
In the summer of 2005, Mikel played for Nigeria at the FIFA U-20 World Youth Championships held in the Netherlands. He had an excellent tournament until Nigeria reached the final, where they lost 2–1 to Argentina. Obi won the silver ball after being voted the tournament's second best player.
On January 24, 2009, Mikel was charged with drunk driving, just hours before an FA Cup game against Ipswich Town – Mikel was not due to play in the game as he was serving a suspension.
Controversial transfer to England
On April 29, 2005, a few days after Mikel turned 18, English premier League side Manchester United announced that it had struck a deal with Lyn Oslo to sign the player . United's website also claimed that they had done a deal directly with the teenager and that he had signed a contract to join them. Mikel's agents were bypassed as the club persuaded the youngster to sign a 4 year contract without representation. Lyn Oslo allegedly sent a fax to his agents abroad, claiming their services were no longer required by Mikel. Reports said the deal was initially worth £4m, and would see the player arrive at Old Trafford in January 2006.
Rival Premier League side, Chelsea, later issued a counter-claim suggesting that they already had an agreement with Mikel and his agents, but Lyn Oslo denied this claim. However, subsequent reports indicated that Chelsea claimed to have been involved in arranging the player's original move to Europe with a view to signing him at a later date. Further substance was added to this claim after it was revealed that the player had impressed Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho while training with the club's first-team squad during the summer of 2004.
Mikel expressed his delight at joining United in a hastily arranged] press conference, where he was pictured holding up a Manchester United shirt, which bore the squad number 21. Following his signing of the contract to join Manchester United, there were claims from Norway that he had received a number of threatening phone calls from unknown sources. Mikel was assigned a security guard and moved to a safe hotel. However, on May 11, 2005, the midfielder went missing during a Norwegian Cup game against Klemetsrud; he had not been selected for the match but had been watching from the stands. Whilst the player was believed to have left with one of his agents, John Shittu, who had by now flown in to meet Mikel, his disappearance sparked massive media coverage in Norway and also provoked a police enquiry after the Lyn Oslo director Morgan Andersen made claims in the Norwegian media that Mikel had been ‘kidnapped’ '. These claims were later repeated by Manchester United's assistant manager Carlos Queiroz, who accused Chelsea of being involved in the alleged 'kidnapping'.
It subsequently emerged that Mikel had travelled to London with his agent John Shittu. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson considered travelling to Oslo to visit Mikel, but decided against this after Mikel was reported to have left the country. Staying in a London hotel, and some nine days after disappearing, Mikel stated on Sky Sports News that he had been pressurised into signing the contract with United, claims furiously rebuffed by both Manchester United and Lyn Oslo. Mikel also claimed that he had asked the clubs for a week to think about it, but that this request was refused and the clubs pressured him into signing without his advisors being present. Mikel's claims, if true, would mean that Manchester United had acted in breach of FIFA and FA rules. Mikel told the British media that Chelsea were the club he genuinely wanted to sign for. In response to these events, United made an official complaint to FIFA about the behaviour of both Chelsea and the player's agents, John Shittu and Rune Haunge, already infamous for his role in the George Graham bungs scandal. FIFA dismissed these claims in August 2005 stating there was insufficient evidence to bring a case against Chelsea.
Following the tournament, Mikel failed to return to Lyn Oslo, and the club lodged a complaint with FIFA. On August 12, 2005, FIFA ruled that Mikel should return to Lyn Oslo to see out his contract with the Norwegian club, whilst they would decide at a later date whether the contract he signed with United should be upheld or cancelled. After a delay of over a month, Mikel complied with the FIFA decision and returned to Lyn Oslo in early September 2005 after a three month absence.
Transfer resolved
Rather than leaving FIFA to determine the validity of the contract signed with Manchester United, Chelsea intervened by volunteering to settle the transfer saga through negotiation with Lyn Oslo and Manchester United.
On June 2, 2006, Chelsea, Manchester United and Lyn Oslo reached a settlement to resolve the future of the player. Mikel's registration was to be transferred from Lyn to Chelsea; Manchester United agreed to terminate their option agreement with Mikel. Under the terms of this agreement Chelsea agreed to pay Manchester United £12 million, half paid upon the finalisation of the contract and the other half in June 2007, and Lyn £4 million, half payable immediately and half in June 2007. As a result of this settlement, all claims in this matter were withdrawn. On July 19, 2006, Chelsea were granted a work permit for the midfielder after they completed the £16 million signing in June 2006.
In the aftermath of the transfer, Morgan Andersen, who had a previous conviction for forging official documents, was convicted of fraud and making false accusations and given a one-year suspended jail sentence by an Oslo court. The court also ordered him to pay 20,000 kroner (£1,944) in costs. Chelsea made a High Court claim for £16m against FC Lyn Oslo and Andersen following the conviction, claiming that the previously agreed settlement was not binding as "the transfer was based on a fraudulent misrepresentation, now proven by a court of law". This claim was subsequently resolved out of court.
He was born in Jos, Nigeria, as John Michael Nchekwube Obinna, the son of a former civil servant. As his father was a member of the Igbo ethnic group "Nchekwube" means "hope" and "Obi" is a nickname for the Igbo name "Obinna" (meaning "Father´s will")
Obi was playing top-flight football for Plateau United aged 15, and by 2003, was gaining headlines for his country at the FIFA Under-17 World Championships held in Finland. After a brief spell in South Africa witH Ajaz Cape Town, Mikel gained global recognition in 2005 by starring at the FIFA World Youth Championship where Nigeria beat all opponents and made it to the final but lost to Argentina by 2–1.
During preparations for the 2003 FIFA Under-17 World Championships, the Nigerian Football Association mistakenly submitted "Michael" as "Mikel" for the tournament in Finland, He decided to keep the new name, saying that it had a special ring to it. On July 31, 2006, he stated that he prefers to be called Mikel John Obi instead of John Obi Mikel, as he had most commonly been called.
In the summer of 2005, Mikel played for Nigeria at the FIFA U-20 World Youth Championships held in the Netherlands. He had an excellent tournament until Nigeria reached the final, where they lost 2–1 to Argentina. Obi won the silver ball after being voted the tournament's second best player.
On January 24, 2009, Mikel was charged with drunk driving, just hours before an FA Cup game against Ipswich Town – Mikel was not due to play in the game as he was serving a suspension.
Controversial transfer to England
On April 29, 2005, a few days after Mikel turned 18, English premier League side Manchester United announced that it had struck a deal with Lyn Oslo to sign the player . United's website also claimed that they had done a deal directly with the teenager and that he had signed a contract to join them. Mikel's agents were bypassed as the club persuaded the youngster to sign a 4 year contract without representation. Lyn Oslo allegedly sent a fax to his agents abroad, claiming their services were no longer required by Mikel. Reports said the deal was initially worth £4m, and would see the player arrive at Old Trafford in January 2006.
Rival Premier League side, Chelsea, later issued a counter-claim suggesting that they already had an agreement with Mikel and his agents, but Lyn Oslo denied this claim. However, subsequent reports indicated that Chelsea claimed to have been involved in arranging the player's original move to Europe with a view to signing him at a later date. Further substance was added to this claim after it was revealed that the player had impressed Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho while training with the club's first-team squad during the summer of 2004.
Mikel expressed his delight at joining United in a hastily arranged] press conference, where he was pictured holding up a Manchester United shirt, which bore the squad number 21. Following his signing of the contract to join Manchester United, there were claims from Norway that he had received a number of threatening phone calls from unknown sources. Mikel was assigned a security guard and moved to a safe hotel. However, on May 11, 2005, the midfielder went missing during a Norwegian Cup game against Klemetsrud; he had not been selected for the match but had been watching from the stands. Whilst the player was believed to have left with one of his agents, John Shittu, who had by now flown in to meet Mikel, his disappearance sparked massive media coverage in Norway and also provoked a police enquiry after the Lyn Oslo director Morgan Andersen made claims in the Norwegian media that Mikel had been ‘kidnapped’ '. These claims were later repeated by Manchester United's assistant manager Carlos Queiroz, who accused Chelsea of being involved in the alleged 'kidnapping'.
It subsequently emerged that Mikel had travelled to London with his agent John Shittu. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson considered travelling to Oslo to visit Mikel, but decided against this after Mikel was reported to have left the country. Staying in a London hotel, and some nine days after disappearing, Mikel stated on Sky Sports News that he had been pressurised into signing the contract with United, claims furiously rebuffed by both Manchester United and Lyn Oslo. Mikel also claimed that he had asked the clubs for a week to think about it, but that this request was refused and the clubs pressured him into signing without his advisors being present. Mikel's claims, if true, would mean that Manchester United had acted in breach of FIFA and FA rules. Mikel told the British media that Chelsea were the club he genuinely wanted to sign for. In response to these events, United made an official complaint to FIFA about the behaviour of both Chelsea and the player's agents, John Shittu and Rune Haunge, already infamous for his role in the George Graham bungs scandal. FIFA dismissed these claims in August 2005 stating there was insufficient evidence to bring a case against Chelsea.
Following the tournament, Mikel failed to return to Lyn Oslo, and the club lodged a complaint with FIFA. On August 12, 2005, FIFA ruled that Mikel should return to Lyn Oslo to see out his contract with the Norwegian club, whilst they would decide at a later date whether the contract he signed with United should be upheld or cancelled. After a delay of over a month, Mikel complied with the FIFA decision and returned to Lyn Oslo in early September 2005 after a three month absence.
Transfer resolved
Rather than leaving FIFA to determine the validity of the contract signed with Manchester United, Chelsea intervened by volunteering to settle the transfer saga through negotiation with Lyn Oslo and Manchester United.
On June 2, 2006, Chelsea, Manchester United and Lyn Oslo reached a settlement to resolve the future of the player. Mikel's registration was to be transferred from Lyn to Chelsea; Manchester United agreed to terminate their option agreement with Mikel. Under the terms of this agreement Chelsea agreed to pay Manchester United £12 million, half paid upon the finalisation of the contract and the other half in June 2007, and Lyn £4 million, half payable immediately and half in June 2007. As a result of this settlement, all claims in this matter were withdrawn. On July 19, 2006, Chelsea were granted a work permit for the midfielder after they completed the £16 million signing in June 2006.
In the aftermath of the transfer, Morgan Andersen, who had a previous conviction for forging official documents, was convicted of fraud and making false accusations and given a one-year suspended jail sentence by an Oslo court. The court also ordered him to pay 20,000 kroner (£1,944) in costs. Chelsea made a High Court claim for £16m against FC Lyn Oslo and Andersen following the conviction, claiming that the previously agreed settlement was not binding as "the transfer was based on a fraudulent misrepresentation, now proven by a court of law". This claim was subsequently resolved out of court.
Biography of John Mikel Obi
Chelsea career
By Wilkipedia
On September 12, 2006, Mikel made his first start for Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League against Levski Sofia and took a powerful shot which the goalkeeper failed to save and Didier Drogba pounced on the rebound. Mikel received many positive comments for his performance in the match. However, since being sent off in a match against Reading on October 14, 2006, Mikel was fined on three separate occasions by Chelsea for turning up late to training.
At the time, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was believed to have strong reservations about his lifestyle outside of Stamford Bridge and the club were reportedly considering offloading the player. Mikel was dropped for over a month, during which his father Michael voiced his concerns over his son's behaviour. After improved punctuality and showings at training sessions, Mikel earned a recall for Chelsea's Champions League group away game against Werder Bremen on November 23, 2006. Mikel scored his first goal for Chelsea in their 6–1 FA Cup victory over Macclesfield Town on January 6, 2007. He also scored against Nottingham Forest in the following round of the competition. During Chelsea's triumph in the League Cup Final in 2007, Mikel was sent off in injury time (having come on as a substitute) after clashing with Kolo Toure, the incident was followed by a huge fracas, in which Touré and Emmanuel Adebayor of Arsenal were sent off Cesc Fabregas and Frank Lampard were booked and José Mourinho and Arsene Wenger were involved in a kerfuffle on the pitch.
In subsequent games, Mourinho deployed Mikel as a starter in a holding role in key games where he impressed greatly, notably in the Chelsea versus Tottenham FA Cup 6th round replay, the Champions League Quarter-final games versus Valencia, the Champions League Semi-final games versus Liverpool and also the victorious FA Cup Final against Manchester United. Mikel's height and great strength, allied to good ball control and an unusually wide range of passing, allows him not only to disrupt opposing attacks, but also to spread the play effectively. With the departure of Claude Makele, Mikel has been widely tipped to be his successor in defensive midfield, and finally displaying the potential which persuaded Chelsea to pay £16m for him.
2007–08 Season
Mikel was sent-off for the third time in his career in September 2007, when Mike Dean dismissed him for a tackle on Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. Chelsea appealed against the red card but the three-match suspension was upheld.
He was also sent off in the semi-final of the Carling cup against Everton, for a challenge on Phil Neville. Despite this, he came back strongly to round off what has been a good first two seasons for him at Chelsea Football Club.
2008–09 Season
The summer of 2008 saw veteran midfielder Claude Makele transferred to French club Paris Saint Germain, leaving the defensive midfield position vacant. Throughout the 2008/09 season, Mikel has seen a great deal of playing time due to the injury to Michael Essien. During this period of increased action, Mikel has performed admirably in the role. His ever-improving game has been praised by former Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, and his importance to the team was underlined when he provided the free kick that Solomon Kalou scored to equalise against Manchester United. He has also go on to cement a better partnership with Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack. He played so well in 2008-2009 season that he was nominated for the club player and young player of the season. On the 22nd of July, Mikel signed a new 5-year contract with Chelsea.
International career
Mikel made his debut for Nigeria senior team on August 17, 2005, when he came on as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 friendly win over Lybia. He did not play for the national team again prior to being named in the squad for the 2006 African Cup of Nations. In Nigeria's first group game, which was against Ghana, Mikel was an unused substitute. However, he was introduced into the second game, against Zimbabwe, early in the second half. Within ten minutes of coming on, he had supplied both the corner that resulted in Christian Obodo heading the game's opening goal, and scored Nigeria's second goal. He made his first international start in Nigeria's final group game, a 2–1 victory over Senegal. During the cup, Mikel said that he had been instructed not to make any public comments about his club career. FIFA is to investigate claims that Obi had received death threats.
Mikel was suspended from all Nigerian national teams. Berti Vogts, manager of the Nigerian national team, dropped Mikel from the team's squad for the African Nations' Cup qualifier against Niger, for failing to attend their previous match against Uganda. Mikel cited an injury, but because he did not attend an independent check by Nigerian officials, he was dropped. This, and his refusal to play for the Nigerian Under-23 side resulted in his suspension by the NFA. He has now apologized and has been called up to the National squad for the African Cup of Nations. During the 2008 African Nations Cup in Ghana, he scored 1 goal and registered one assist, both against Benin Republic, to help Nigeria qualify for the quarterfinals against hosts, Ghana where they narrowly lost 2-1. Mikel had been called up for the Under-23 side in preparation of the team's last olympic qualifier on March 26, 2008, needing a win to qualify. His failure to show up for any of the qualifiers again setting off some controversy with the U-23 team coach Samson Siasia, who dropped him from the Olympic squad amidst significant furor from the media.
By Wilkipedia
On September 12, 2006, Mikel made his first start for Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League against Levski Sofia and took a powerful shot which the goalkeeper failed to save and Didier Drogba pounced on the rebound. Mikel received many positive comments for his performance in the match. However, since being sent off in a match against Reading on October 14, 2006, Mikel was fined on three separate occasions by Chelsea for turning up late to training.
At the time, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was believed to have strong reservations about his lifestyle outside of Stamford Bridge and the club were reportedly considering offloading the player. Mikel was dropped for over a month, during which his father Michael voiced his concerns over his son's behaviour. After improved punctuality and showings at training sessions, Mikel earned a recall for Chelsea's Champions League group away game against Werder Bremen on November 23, 2006. Mikel scored his first goal for Chelsea in their 6–1 FA Cup victory over Macclesfield Town on January 6, 2007. He also scored against Nottingham Forest in the following round of the competition. During Chelsea's triumph in the League Cup Final in 2007, Mikel was sent off in injury time (having come on as a substitute) after clashing with Kolo Toure, the incident was followed by a huge fracas, in which Touré and Emmanuel Adebayor of Arsenal were sent off Cesc Fabregas and Frank Lampard were booked and José Mourinho and Arsene Wenger were involved in a kerfuffle on the pitch.
In subsequent games, Mourinho deployed Mikel as a starter in a holding role in key games where he impressed greatly, notably in the Chelsea versus Tottenham FA Cup 6th round replay, the Champions League Quarter-final games versus Valencia, the Champions League Semi-final games versus Liverpool and also the victorious FA Cup Final against Manchester United. Mikel's height and great strength, allied to good ball control and an unusually wide range of passing, allows him not only to disrupt opposing attacks, but also to spread the play effectively. With the departure of Claude Makele, Mikel has been widely tipped to be his successor in defensive midfield, and finally displaying the potential which persuaded Chelsea to pay £16m for him.
2007–08 Season
Mikel was sent-off for the third time in his career in September 2007, when Mike Dean dismissed him for a tackle on Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. Chelsea appealed against the red card but the three-match suspension was upheld.
He was also sent off in the semi-final of the Carling cup against Everton, for a challenge on Phil Neville. Despite this, he came back strongly to round off what has been a good first two seasons for him at Chelsea Football Club.
2008–09 Season
The summer of 2008 saw veteran midfielder Claude Makele transferred to French club Paris Saint Germain, leaving the defensive midfield position vacant. Throughout the 2008/09 season, Mikel has seen a great deal of playing time due to the injury to Michael Essien. During this period of increased action, Mikel has performed admirably in the role. His ever-improving game has been praised by former Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, and his importance to the team was underlined when he provided the free kick that Solomon Kalou scored to equalise against Manchester United. He has also go on to cement a better partnership with Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack. He played so well in 2008-2009 season that he was nominated for the club player and young player of the season. On the 22nd of July, Mikel signed a new 5-year contract with Chelsea.
International career
Mikel made his debut for Nigeria senior team on August 17, 2005, when he came on as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 friendly win over Lybia. He did not play for the national team again prior to being named in the squad for the 2006 African Cup of Nations. In Nigeria's first group game, which was against Ghana, Mikel was an unused substitute. However, he was introduced into the second game, against Zimbabwe, early in the second half. Within ten minutes of coming on, he had supplied both the corner that resulted in Christian Obodo heading the game's opening goal, and scored Nigeria's second goal. He made his first international start in Nigeria's final group game, a 2–1 victory over Senegal. During the cup, Mikel said that he had been instructed not to make any public comments about his club career. FIFA is to investigate claims that Obi had received death threats.
Mikel was suspended from all Nigerian national teams. Berti Vogts, manager of the Nigerian national team, dropped Mikel from the team's squad for the African Nations' Cup qualifier against Niger, for failing to attend their previous match against Uganda. Mikel cited an injury, but because he did not attend an independent check by Nigerian officials, he was dropped. This, and his refusal to play for the Nigerian Under-23 side resulted in his suspension by the NFA. He has now apologized and has been called up to the National squad for the African Cup of Nations. During the 2008 African Nations Cup in Ghana, he scored 1 goal and registered one assist, both against Benin Republic, to help Nigeria qualify for the quarterfinals against hosts, Ghana where they narrowly lost 2-1. Mikel had been called up for the Under-23 side in preparation of the team's last olympic qualifier on March 26, 2008, needing a win to qualify. His failure to show up for any of the qualifiers again setting off some controversy with the U-23 team coach Samson Siasia, who dropped him from the Olympic squad amidst significant furor from the media.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
GHANA'S HAPPY CAMP
By (FIFA.com)
Over seven months have elapsed since Ghana qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009, giving coach Sellas Tetteh extended preparatory time as he seeks to give his side the best possible chance of success at the tournament which begins in 11 days time. After reaching the final in 2001, the Black Satellites failed to qualify for the next three finals in UAE, Netherlands and Canada respectively, until they defeated all challengers in Rwanda early this year.
A 1-1 draw in their opening match with Cameroon was the only blotch on their copybook, as they defeated Mali and the hosts 2-0 to set up a semi-final match with South Africa, which they won 4-3. The Indomitable Lions were their opponents in the final, which they comfortably won 2-0, thanks to two goals from Ransford Osei, one of the stars of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Korea 2007. "It was gratifying to me that we did not just win, but we also played beautiful football," commented Tetteh after the victory. Since then, the Ghanaians have embarked on an intensive schedule. After winning in Rwanda, they played in Bulgaria, before playing in a four-team tournament in Egypt. They now find themselves at the Aspire Football Academy in Doha, Qatar, before moving on to Tunisia to re-acclimatise before their first game kicks off against Uzbekistan on 26 September in Ismailia.
Sellas Tetteh on Ghana's qualification to South Africa 2010.
Ghana also have to face England and Uruguay in their group, a tough test which is not lost on Tetteh. "Sometimes when you're in such a difficult group, you have to work very hard and it brings the best out of the team," he told FIFA.com. "In Korea 2007 and in Rwanda this year, we were in a very difficult group, but we came out of it.
"But it's not good talking about the world title now, though we have play for it. We can't afford to look any further than our preparations - and we haven't got every member in the squad here with the various European leagues just getting started.
"I like the balance of the team we have and we are going to fine-tune them to get what we want. We have 24 now and, for the tournament, we would need 21 out of which three goalkeepers are constant. I expect that to raise the level of competition."
Names in the provisional squad include Real Madrid's Daniel Opare, Sampdoria's Rabiu Mohammed, and Atletico Madrid's Sadick Adams, who missed the CAF African Youth Championship earlier this year. Marseille's Andre Ayew, the son of footballing legend Abedi Pele, is the team captain.
According to Tetteh, the team have been training at night in the "superb and unbelievable" facilities in Doha in order to cope with the oppressive temperatures in the Middle East. The late night sessions allowed the group to do some bonding, particularly on Sunday afternoon when they watched Ghana's senior side defeat Sudan 2-0 , a result which secured the Black Stars place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.
"We watched it as a team and we were able to watch it live," smiled Tetteh. "We were so happy. We knew that we would get to the World Cup, but we were almost expecting it on Sunday, because we had beaten Sudan before and we knew it would be very difficult for them, because they were fasting. But still, we are there - and that is great for the country."
And who knows? Some of the players who celebrated that result in front of the television set might make the squad to South Africa. At Egypt 2009, they have a great chance to impress.
Over seven months have elapsed since Ghana qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009, giving coach Sellas Tetteh extended preparatory time as he seeks to give his side the best possible chance of success at the tournament which begins in 11 days time. After reaching the final in 2001, the Black Satellites failed to qualify for the next three finals in UAE, Netherlands and Canada respectively, until they defeated all challengers in Rwanda early this year.
A 1-1 draw in their opening match with Cameroon was the only blotch on their copybook, as they defeated Mali and the hosts 2-0 to set up a semi-final match with South Africa, which they won 4-3. The Indomitable Lions were their opponents in the final, which they comfortably won 2-0, thanks to two goals from Ransford Osei, one of the stars of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Korea 2007. "It was gratifying to me that we did not just win, but we also played beautiful football," commented Tetteh after the victory. Since then, the Ghanaians have embarked on an intensive schedule. After winning in Rwanda, they played in Bulgaria, before playing in a four-team tournament in Egypt. They now find themselves at the Aspire Football Academy in Doha, Qatar, before moving on to Tunisia to re-acclimatise before their first game kicks off against Uzbekistan on 26 September in Ismailia.
Sellas Tetteh on Ghana's qualification to South Africa 2010.
Ghana also have to face England and Uruguay in their group, a tough test which is not lost on Tetteh. "Sometimes when you're in such a difficult group, you have to work very hard and it brings the best out of the team," he told FIFA.com. "In Korea 2007 and in Rwanda this year, we were in a very difficult group, but we came out of it.
"But it's not good talking about the world title now, though we have play for it. We can't afford to look any further than our preparations - and we haven't got every member in the squad here with the various European leagues just getting started.
"I like the balance of the team we have and we are going to fine-tune them to get what we want. We have 24 now and, for the tournament, we would need 21 out of which three goalkeepers are constant. I expect that to raise the level of competition."
Names in the provisional squad include Real Madrid's Daniel Opare, Sampdoria's Rabiu Mohammed, and Atletico Madrid's Sadick Adams, who missed the CAF African Youth Championship earlier this year. Marseille's Andre Ayew, the son of footballing legend Abedi Pele, is the team captain.
According to Tetteh, the team have been training at night in the "superb and unbelievable" facilities in Doha in order to cope with the oppressive temperatures in the Middle East. The late night sessions allowed the group to do some bonding, particularly on Sunday afternoon when they watched Ghana's senior side defeat Sudan 2-0 , a result which secured the Black Stars place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.
"We watched it as a team and we were able to watch it live," smiled Tetteh. "We were so happy. We knew that we would get to the World Cup, but we were almost expecting it on Sunday, because we had beaten Sudan before and we knew it would be very difficult for them, because they were fasting. But still, we are there - and that is great for the country."
And who knows? Some of the players who celebrated that result in front of the television set might make the squad to South Africa. At Egypt 2009, they have a great chance to impress.
History of Chelsea FC
By Fifa.com
Chelsea were founded on 14 March 1905 at The Rising Sun pub (now The Butcher's Hook), opposite the present-day main entrance to the ground on Fulham Road, and were elected to the Football League shortly afterwards. The club's early years saw little success; the closest they came to winning a major trophy was reaching the FA Cup final in 1915, where they lost to Sheffield United.. Chelsea gained a reputation for signing big-name players and for being entertainers, but made little impact on the English game in the inter-war years.
Former Arsenal and England centre-forward Ted Drake became manager in 1952 and proceeded to modernise the club. He removed the club's Chelsea pensioner crest, improved the youth set-up and training regime, rebuilt the side, and led Chelsea to their first major trophy success – the League championship – in 1954-55. The following season saw UEFA create the European champions’ Cup, but after objections from The football League and the FA Chelsea were persuaded to withdraw from the competition before it started.
Chart showing the progress of Chelsea F.C. through the English Football League system since joining in 1905-1096 to 2007-08.
The 1960s saw the emergence of a talented young Chelsea side under manager Tommy Docherty. They challenged for honours throughout the decade, and endured several near-misses. They were on course for a treble of League, FA Cup and League going into the final stages of the 1964-65 season, winning the League Cup but faltering late on in the other two. In three seasons the side were beaten in three major semi-finals and were FA Cup runners-up. In 1970 Chelsea were FA Cup winners, beating Leeds United 2–1 in a final replay. Chelsea took their first European honour, a UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup triumph, the following year, with another replayed win, this time over Real Madrid in Athens.
The late 1970s and the 1980s were a turbulent period for Chelsea. An ambitious redevelopment of Stamford Bridge threatened the financial stability of the club, star players were sold and the team were relegated. Further problems were caused by a notorious hooligan element among the support, which was to plague the club throughout the decade. In 1982 Chelsea were, at the nadir of their fortunes, acquired by Ken Bates for the nominal sum of £1, although by now the Stamford Bridge freehold had been sold to property developers, meaning the club faced losing their home. On the pitch, the team had fared little better, coming close to relegation to the Third Division for the first time, but in 1983 manager John Neal put together an impressive new team for minimal outlay. Chelsea won the Second Division title in 1983-84 and established themselves in the top division, before being relegated again in 1988. The club bounced back immediately by winning the Second Division championship in 1988-89.
Chelsea reached their first UEFA Champions League final in 2008.
After a long-running legal battle, Bates reunited the stadium freehold with the club in 1992 by doing a deal with the banks of the property developers, who had been bankrupted by a market crash. Chelsea's form in the new Premier League was unconvincing, although they did reach the FA Cup final in 1994. It was not until the appointment of former Eropean footballer of the Year Ruud Guliit as player-manager in 1996 that their fortunes changed. He added several top-class international players to the side, as the club won the FA Cup in 1997 and established themselves as one of England's top sides again. Gullit was replaced by Gianluca Vialli, who led the team to victory in the League Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1998, the FA Cup in 2000 and the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in 2000. Vialli was sacked in favour of another Italian, Claudio Ranieri, who guided Chelsea to the 2002 FA Cup Final and Champions League qualification in 2002-03.
In June 2003, Bates sold Chelsea to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich for £140 million, completing what was then the biggest-ever sale of an English football club. Over £100 million was spent on new players, but Ranieri was unable to deliver any trophies, so he was replaced by Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho. Under Mourinho, Chelsea became the fifth English team to win back-to-back league championships since the Second World War (2004-05) and 2005-06) in addition to winning an FA Cup (2007) and two League Cups (2005 and 2007). In September 2007 Mourinho was replaced by Avram Grant who led the club to their first UEFA Champions League final, in which they lost on penalties to Manchester United. Grant was sacked days later and succeeded by Luiz Felipe Scolari in July 2008.
Scolari spent only seven months in the job before being dismissed after a string of poor results. Russia coach Guus Hiddink was appointed caretaker manager until the end of the 2008-09 season. Chelsea's season ended with a 2–1 win over Everton in the FA Cup Final. Two days later former AC Milan coach Carlo Anceloti was confirmed as Chelsea's new manager.
Chelsea were founded on 14 March 1905 at The Rising Sun pub (now The Butcher's Hook), opposite the present-day main entrance to the ground on Fulham Road, and were elected to the Football League shortly afterwards. The club's early years saw little success; the closest they came to winning a major trophy was reaching the FA Cup final in 1915, where they lost to Sheffield United.. Chelsea gained a reputation for signing big-name players and for being entertainers, but made little impact on the English game in the inter-war years.
Former Arsenal and England centre-forward Ted Drake became manager in 1952 and proceeded to modernise the club. He removed the club's Chelsea pensioner crest, improved the youth set-up and training regime, rebuilt the side, and led Chelsea to their first major trophy success – the League championship – in 1954-55. The following season saw UEFA create the European champions’ Cup, but after objections from The football League and the FA Chelsea were persuaded to withdraw from the competition before it started.
Chart showing the progress of Chelsea F.C. through the English Football League system since joining in 1905-1096 to 2007-08.
The 1960s saw the emergence of a talented young Chelsea side under manager Tommy Docherty. They challenged for honours throughout the decade, and endured several near-misses. They were on course for a treble of League, FA Cup and League going into the final stages of the 1964-65 season, winning the League Cup but faltering late on in the other two. In three seasons the side were beaten in three major semi-finals and were FA Cup runners-up. In 1970 Chelsea were FA Cup winners, beating Leeds United 2–1 in a final replay. Chelsea took their first European honour, a UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup triumph, the following year, with another replayed win, this time over Real Madrid in Athens.
The late 1970s and the 1980s were a turbulent period for Chelsea. An ambitious redevelopment of Stamford Bridge threatened the financial stability of the club, star players were sold and the team were relegated. Further problems were caused by a notorious hooligan element among the support, which was to plague the club throughout the decade. In 1982 Chelsea were, at the nadir of their fortunes, acquired by Ken Bates for the nominal sum of £1, although by now the Stamford Bridge freehold had been sold to property developers, meaning the club faced losing their home. On the pitch, the team had fared little better, coming close to relegation to the Third Division for the first time, but in 1983 manager John Neal put together an impressive new team for minimal outlay. Chelsea won the Second Division title in 1983-84 and established themselves in the top division, before being relegated again in 1988. The club bounced back immediately by winning the Second Division championship in 1988-89.
Chelsea reached their first UEFA Champions League final in 2008.
After a long-running legal battle, Bates reunited the stadium freehold with the club in 1992 by doing a deal with the banks of the property developers, who had been bankrupted by a market crash. Chelsea's form in the new Premier League was unconvincing, although they did reach the FA Cup final in 1994. It was not until the appointment of former Eropean footballer of the Year Ruud Guliit as player-manager in 1996 that their fortunes changed. He added several top-class international players to the side, as the club won the FA Cup in 1997 and established themselves as one of England's top sides again. Gullit was replaced by Gianluca Vialli, who led the team to victory in the League Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1998, the FA Cup in 2000 and the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in 2000. Vialli was sacked in favour of another Italian, Claudio Ranieri, who guided Chelsea to the 2002 FA Cup Final and Champions League qualification in 2002-03.
In June 2003, Bates sold Chelsea to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich for £140 million, completing what was then the biggest-ever sale of an English football club. Over £100 million was spent on new players, but Ranieri was unable to deliver any trophies, so he was replaced by Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho. Under Mourinho, Chelsea became the fifth English team to win back-to-back league championships since the Second World War (2004-05) and 2005-06) in addition to winning an FA Cup (2007) and two League Cups (2005 and 2007). In September 2007 Mourinho was replaced by Avram Grant who led the club to their first UEFA Champions League final, in which they lost on penalties to Manchester United. Grant was sacked days later and succeeded by Luiz Felipe Scolari in July 2008.
Scolari spent only seven months in the job before being dismissed after a string of poor results. Russia coach Guus Hiddink was appointed caretaker manager until the end of the 2008-09 season. Chelsea's season ended with a 2–1 win over Everton in the FA Cup Final. Two days later former AC Milan coach Carlo Anceloti was confirmed as Chelsea's new manager.
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