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.
Friday, September 11, 2009
DIDIER YVES DROGBA TEBILY
By Wilkipedia
Didier Yves Drogba TébilY (born 11 March 1978 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire) is an Ivorian who plays in the centre forward position. He currently plays for Chelsea in the EPL and is the captain and all-time leading scorer of his national team. He scored more goals for Chelsea than any other foreign player and is currently Chelsea's 9th highest goal scorer of all time.
As a young child Drogba moved to France. After playing in youth teams, Drogba made his professional debut aged 18 for Ligue 2 club Le Mans. A late blommer, he signed his first professional contract aged 21 but it was not until the 2002–03 season that he realised his potential, scoring 17 goals in 34 appearances in Ligue 1 for Guingamp. During the same season he made his first international appearance for Cote d’’Ivoire in September and scored his first international goal the following February. He moved to Olympique de Marseille in 2003 for £3.3 million and his prolific ways continued, finishing as the third highest scorer in the league with 19 goals and making it to the 2004 UEFA Cup Final.
Drogba moved to Chelsea the following season for a record breaking fee of £24 million, making him the most expensive Côte d'Ivoire player in history. In addition, Drogba scored decisive goals in the 2005 FA Community Shield and League Cup final and helped the club win their first ever Premier League title. Drogba came to prominence as one of the world's foremost strikers in 2006 as he won the league title with Chelsea again and captained the national team for the first time. In the 2006 World Cup he scored Côte d'Ivoire's first ever goal of the competition and he was chosen as the 2006 African Footballer of the Year. The next season he finished as top scorer in the 2006-07 Premier League with 20 goals and also scored the winning goals in the 2007 League cup and FA Cup and finals.
Away from the pitch, Drogba is known for his charity work and was appointed by the United Nations Development Programme as a Goodwill Ambassador in 2007. He has three children with his wife, a Millian, Alla.
Early life
Didier Drogba was born in Cote d’Ivoire and at the age of five he was sent to France by his parents to live with his uncle, Michel Goba, a professional footballer. However, Drogba soon became homesick and returned to Abidjan after three years. He played football every day in a car park in the city but his return to Côte d'Ivoire was short lived. Both of his parents lost their jobs and he again returned to live with his uncle. In 1991, his parents also travelled to France, first to Vannes and then settling in 1993 at Anthony in the Paris suburbs, at which point the 15-year-old Drogba returned to live with them and his siblings. It was here that he began playing team football more frequently, joining a local youth side.
Didier Yves Drogba TébilY (born 11 March 1978 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire) is an Ivorian who plays in the centre forward position. He currently plays for Chelsea in the EPL and is the captain and all-time leading scorer of his national team. He scored more goals for Chelsea than any other foreign player and is currently Chelsea's 9th highest goal scorer of all time.
As a young child Drogba moved to France. After playing in youth teams, Drogba made his professional debut aged 18 for Ligue 2 club Le Mans. A late blommer, he signed his first professional contract aged 21 but it was not until the 2002–03 season that he realised his potential, scoring 17 goals in 34 appearances in Ligue 1 for Guingamp. During the same season he made his first international appearance for Cote d’’Ivoire in September and scored his first international goal the following February. He moved to Olympique de Marseille in 2003 for £3.3 million and his prolific ways continued, finishing as the third highest scorer in the league with 19 goals and making it to the 2004 UEFA Cup Final.
Drogba moved to Chelsea the following season for a record breaking fee of £24 million, making him the most expensive Côte d'Ivoire player in history. In addition, Drogba scored decisive goals in the 2005 FA Community Shield and League Cup final and helped the club win their first ever Premier League title. Drogba came to prominence as one of the world's foremost strikers in 2006 as he won the league title with Chelsea again and captained the national team for the first time. In the 2006 World Cup he scored Côte d'Ivoire's first ever goal of the competition and he was chosen as the 2006 African Footballer of the Year. The next season he finished as top scorer in the 2006-07 Premier League with 20 goals and also scored the winning goals in the 2007 League cup and FA Cup and finals.
Away from the pitch, Drogba is known for his charity work and was appointed by the United Nations Development Programme as a Goodwill Ambassador in 2007. He has three children with his wife, a Millian, Alla.
Early life
Didier Drogba was born in Cote d’Ivoire and at the age of five he was sent to France by his parents to live with his uncle, Michel Goba, a professional footballer. However, Drogba soon became homesick and returned to Abidjan after three years. He played football every day in a car park in the city but his return to Côte d'Ivoire was short lived. Both of his parents lost their jobs and he again returned to live with his uncle. In 1991, his parents also travelled to France, first to Vannes and then settling in 1993 at Anthony in the Paris suburbs, at which point the 15-year-old Drogba returned to live with them and his siblings. It was here that he began playing team football more frequently, joining a local youth side.
Can Chelsea Win the British Premier League This Year?
By N Playfoot
Chelsea are quite rightly considered one of the strongest teams in the British Premier League, Europe and the world. They have a squad that would be the envy of almost any club except maybe Real Madrid. They have a squad that is full of international players and could arguably field two teams of internationals except for the goal-keeping position where they have Ross Turnbill and Hilario as back up. They have Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Mikel, Deco just to name a few of their plethora of international midfielders.
With a squad like this to choose from you can see why many football pundits are tipping them to win the British Premier League. If you see the odds that the bookmakers are putting up for Chelsea you can see that they too believe Chelsea are true title contenders and we know that the bookies are very rarely ever wrong.
There only contenders to Chelsea are the other three of the "Big Four" of the British Premier League who are Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United. Manchester United are the title holders from last year and have a great squad, The biggest question is whether they can overcome the loss of Ronaldo who is arguably the best player in the world and was also the top scorer for Manchester United for the last two years. Then there is Arsenal who play irresistible football going forward but still have questions about their defense after losing Kolo Toure to Manchester City. Chelsea have a great chance to win the British Premier League this year and will be in the race till the very end.
Chelsea are quite rightly considered one of the strongest teams in the British Premier League, Europe and the world. They have a squad that would be the envy of almost any club except maybe Real Madrid. They have a squad that is full of international players and could arguably field two teams of internationals except for the goal-keeping position where they have Ross Turnbill and Hilario as back up. They have Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Mikel, Deco just to name a few of their plethora of international midfielders.
With a squad like this to choose from you can see why many football pundits are tipping them to win the British Premier League. If you see the odds that the bookmakers are putting up for Chelsea you can see that they too believe Chelsea are true title contenders and we know that the bookies are very rarely ever wrong.
There only contenders to Chelsea are the other three of the "Big Four" of the British Premier League who are Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United. Manchester United are the title holders from last year and have a great squad, The biggest question is whether they can overcome the loss of Ronaldo who is arguably the best player in the world and was also the top scorer for Manchester United for the last two years. Then there is Arsenal who play irresistible football going forward but still have questions about their defense after losing Kolo Toure to Manchester City. Chelsea have a great chance to win the British Premier League this year and will be in the race till the very end.
Monday, September 7, 2009
From contenders to no-hopers
Carlo Garganese
We have seen it so many times in the past where great players don’t make great coaches, and it now seems to have happened again with the greatest player of them all – Diego Maradona.
With the players he has at his disposal, Argentina should already be qualified for South Africa. Yet with just three games of their Conmebol group to go – two of them difficult trips to Paraguay and Uruguay – and only two points separating the fourth-placed Albicelestes from Colombia and Ecuador in fifth and sixth, there is the very real possibility of missing out on their first World Cup for 40 years. There is no doubt that the main reason why Argentina find themselves in such a predicament is due to Maradona. Football is sometimes over-complicated. If you pick the best players at your disposal, providing there is balance, you are likely to have a far greater chance of success than if you choose lesser players. This has been proven by Maradona, whose squad selection has been absolutely bizarre at times. The coach has an unhealthy obsession with local players, almost as if he is on some quest to prove that South American football can still stand up against the poachers of Europe. Ten on Diego’s roster for the Brazil clash were from the Argentine League, including 35-year-old Martin Palermo, who has not played internationally for 10 years, and 36-year-old defender Rolando Schiavi earning his maiden call-up. It is no secret that Argentina are weak in defence, yet Maradona overlooked his only top-class centre-back in Inter’s Walter Samuel, offering a baptism of fire for debutant Sebastian Dominguez of Velez Sarsfield. Meanwhile, despite such an embarrassment of riches in midfield, he started with the 34-year-old Juan Sebastian Veron – whom regardless of his fine domestic form with Estudiantes has been playing out of Europe now for three years – and Jesus Datolo, who admittedly was one of Argentina’s best players and scored a wonder goal, but has been nothing more than average for Napoli since joining them in January of this year. There are so many complaints that can be thrown at Maradona’s door. Why is the calamitous Gabriel Heinze still playing? Why was Carlos Tevez preferred in attack when his start to the season has been so inferior to the red-hot Diego Milito? Why is Lazio's Mauro Zarate still being snubbed when he is such a phenomenon? And what about Argentina’s formation? Why is Maradona employing an England-style 4-4-2, especially in a game against a Dunga-led Brazil who are renowned for loading the midfield and hitting on the counter-attack through the rigid gaps? Argentina should be playing a 4-2-3-1 – with this formation they would have every country in the world quaking in their boots. Javier Mascherano and (the currently injured) Esteban Cambiasso holding in midfield, Diego Milito as the lone marksman, and any three from Lionel Messi, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Sergio Aguero, Zarate, Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Lucho Gonzalez, and Maxi Rodriguez in the attacking midfield trident. With Inter stars Samuel and Javier Zanetti patrolling the defence, Argentina have a team capable of blitzing the World Cup. By using the 4-4-2, the Albicelestes waste all their strengths that are located in midfield and attack and expose all their weaknesses in defence. Another example is captain Mascherano. Maradona once said that his Argentina team is “Mascherano and 10 others”, yet the Liverpool man has largely struggled and he was torn apart by Kaká. This is the same Mascherano who marked the Brazilian so expertly during the 2007 Champions League Final. The reason why the former West Ham man is labouring comes down to formation. He is not suited to the 4-4-2 (even West Ham's Hayden Mullins was preferred to him in this system!). To play centre midfield at the highest level in a 4-4-2 you need to be an all-action runner who can combine attacking, defending and physical play. Mascherano is a reader of the game, a man-marker, and needs to sit deeper or play in a more compact midfield. All romantics of the game want Maradona to do well, but should he have another negative result against Paraguay on Wednesday, then the Argentine FA will have a big decision to make on whether they should replace him as coach before the final two decisive October qualifiers versus Peru and Uruguay.
Carlo Garganese
We have seen it so many times in the past where great players don’t make great coaches, and it now seems to have happened again with the greatest player of them all – Diego Maradona.
With the players he has at his disposal, Argentina should already be qualified for South Africa. Yet with just three games of their Conmebol group to go – two of them difficult trips to Paraguay and Uruguay – and only two points separating the fourth-placed Albicelestes from Colombia and Ecuador in fifth and sixth, there is the very real possibility of missing out on their first World Cup for 40 years. There is no doubt that the main reason why Argentina find themselves in such a predicament is due to Maradona. Football is sometimes over-complicated. If you pick the best players at your disposal, providing there is balance, you are likely to have a far greater chance of success than if you choose lesser players. This has been proven by Maradona, whose squad selection has been absolutely bizarre at times. The coach has an unhealthy obsession with local players, almost as if he is on some quest to prove that South American football can still stand up against the poachers of Europe. Ten on Diego’s roster for the Brazil clash were from the Argentine League, including 35-year-old Martin Palermo, who has not played internationally for 10 years, and 36-year-old defender Rolando Schiavi earning his maiden call-up. It is no secret that Argentina are weak in defence, yet Maradona overlooked his only top-class centre-back in Inter’s Walter Samuel, offering a baptism of fire for debutant Sebastian Dominguez of Velez Sarsfield. Meanwhile, despite such an embarrassment of riches in midfield, he started with the 34-year-old Juan Sebastian Veron – whom regardless of his fine domestic form with Estudiantes has been playing out of Europe now for three years – and Jesus Datolo, who admittedly was one of Argentina’s best players and scored a wonder goal, but has been nothing more than average for Napoli since joining them in January of this year. There are so many complaints that can be thrown at Maradona’s door. Why is the calamitous Gabriel Heinze still playing? Why was Carlos Tevez preferred in attack when his start to the season has been so inferior to the red-hot Diego Milito? Why is Lazio's Mauro Zarate still being snubbed when he is such a phenomenon? And what about Argentina’s formation? Why is Maradona employing an England-style 4-4-2, especially in a game against a Dunga-led Brazil who are renowned for loading the midfield and hitting on the counter-attack through the rigid gaps? Argentina should be playing a 4-2-3-1 – with this formation they would have every country in the world quaking in their boots. Javier Mascherano and (the currently injured) Esteban Cambiasso holding in midfield, Diego Milito as the lone marksman, and any three from Lionel Messi, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Sergio Aguero, Zarate, Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Lucho Gonzalez, and Maxi Rodriguez in the attacking midfield trident. With Inter stars Samuel and Javier Zanetti patrolling the defence, Argentina have a team capable of blitzing the World Cup. By using the 4-4-2, the Albicelestes waste all their strengths that are located in midfield and attack and expose all their weaknesses in defence. Another example is captain Mascherano. Maradona once said that his Argentina team is “Mascherano and 10 others”, yet the Liverpool man has largely struggled and he was torn apart by Kaká. This is the same Mascherano who marked the Brazilian so expertly during the 2007 Champions League Final. The reason why the former West Ham man is labouring comes down to formation. He is not suited to the 4-4-2 (even West Ham's Hayden Mullins was preferred to him in this system!). To play centre midfield at the highest level in a 4-4-2 you need to be an all-action runner who can combine attacking, defending and physical play. Mascherano is a reader of the game, a man-marker, and needs to sit deeper or play in a more compact midfield. All romantics of the game want Maradona to do well, but should he have another negative result against Paraguay on Wednesday, then the Argentine FA will have a big decision to make on whether they should replace him as coach before the final two decisive October qualifiers versus Peru and Uruguay.
Carlo Garganese
Ghana reach 2010 World Cup
Collins Udoh
The Black Stars outclassed Sudan 2-0 at home, allowing them to be the first African country to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Group D consists of Ghana, Mali, Benin and Sudan. Before the game Ghana topped the group with a maximum points tally of 9, while Mali had 4.
The two-goal win sent Ghana to 12 points, allowing them to create a substantial gap over the other sides in their standings. The Black Stars pushed forward from the start, and they were soon rewarded for their efforts with a 14th minute goal from Sulley Muntari. Sudan struggled to get back into the game, with few chances falling the way of the visitors. Ghana consolidated their lead in the 54th minute with Chelsea star Michael Essien scored putting the game beyond the Sudanese.
With regards to qualification to the World Cup next year, Ghana is the first African country after hosts South Africa to qualify for the event. The Black Stars did so with their 2-0 win over Sudan, thanks to Benin registering a draw against Mali.
This means that none of the other sides in the group can qualify for next year’s World Cup.As far as the African Nations Cup goes, Ghana has already qualified, and the other two spots are still up for grabs.
The Black Stars outclassed Sudan 2-0 at home, allowing them to be the first African country to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Group D consists of Ghana, Mali, Benin and Sudan. Before the game Ghana topped the group with a maximum points tally of 9, while Mali had 4.
The two-goal win sent Ghana to 12 points, allowing them to create a substantial gap over the other sides in their standings. The Black Stars pushed forward from the start, and they were soon rewarded for their efforts with a 14th minute goal from Sulley Muntari. Sudan struggled to get back into the game, with few chances falling the way of the visitors. Ghana consolidated their lead in the 54th minute with Chelsea star Michael Essien scored putting the game beyond the Sudanese.
With regards to qualification to the World Cup next year, Ghana is the first African country after hosts South Africa to qualify for the event. The Black Stars did so with their 2-0 win over Sudan, thanks to Benin registering a draw against Mali.
This means that none of the other sides in the group can qualify for next year’s World Cup.As far as the African Nations Cup goes, Ghana has already qualified, and the other two spots are still up for grabs.
Tunisia hold Nigeria
Colin Udoh
Nigeria were held to a 2-2 draw by Tunisia at the Abuja National Stadium, compromising the Super Eagles' chances of qualifying for next year's World Cup in South Africa.Osaze Odemwingie opened scoring for Nigeria after 25 minutes, driving his way past his marker on the left to crash a shot into the roof of the net.But the Nigerian celebrations were still on when Nabil Sliti levelled with an unstoppable effort from long range.Tunisia were the better side, and looked dangerous on the break as they tormented the Nigerian side.But Michael Eneramo restored Nigeria's advantage on 85 minutes after good work down the left by John Mikel Obi and Obinna Nsofor.That lead didn't last long either as, with time running out, Esperance midfielder Oussama Darragi replicated Odemwingie's first half goal, cutting down the right hand side and rifling his shot into the roof of the net. The result keep Tunisia two points ahead of Nigeria, and means that the north Africans stay in the driving seat for World Cup qualification, while the Super Eagles are on a wing and a prayer. Live scoring as it happened:
Nigeria LINE UP1. Vincent Enyeama; 13.
Adefemi Olubayo, 3.
Taye Taiwo, 2.
Joseph Yobo, 6.
Dele Adeleye; 14.
Seyi Olofinjana, 10.
John Mikel Obi, 16,
Kalu Uche; 11.
Osaze Odemwingie, 15.
Ike Uche, 8.
Chinedu Obasi Subs12.
Dele Aiyenugba, 4.
Nwankwo Kanu, 5.
Onyekachi Apam, 7.
Sani Kaita, 9.
Obinna Nsofor, 17.
Yusuf Mohammed, 18.
Michael Eneramo
The Tunisia line-up is still not out, but we think it will be something like this Kasraoui, Soussi, Ghazel, Haggui, Mikari; Ragued, Korbi, Taider; Darragi, Ben Saada and JemaaThat may look like a 4-3-3, but its actually a 4-5-1, with the hard men being Ragued and Taider. Darragi and Ben Saada will be the ones looking to thread balls behind the Nigerian wall.Its about an hour to the game, and the stadium is full already, nearly to capacity. Its such an intimidating atmosphere, for anybody. And the Tunisia line up is out. We got it almost spot on. First choice goalkeeper Kasraoui has been dropped to the bench. Now, thats a surprise. Did he [ick up something?
There was a huge roar when Nigeria trotted in from the dressing room. The noise here can bring down Jericho. Will the Tunisians be suitably intimidated? We'll just have to wait and see.Warm-ups are complete. The teams are back in the dressing room. They should be coming out anytime now for pre-match formalities.Here come the Tunisian subs bench.
Colin Udoh
Nigeria were held to a 2-2 draw by Tunisia at the Abuja National Stadium, compromising the Super Eagles' chances of qualifying for next year's World Cup in South Africa.Osaze Odemwingie opened scoring for Nigeria after 25 minutes, driving his way past his marker on the left to crash a shot into the roof of the net.But the Nigerian celebrations were still on when Nabil Sliti levelled with an unstoppable effort from long range.Tunisia were the better side, and looked dangerous on the break as they tormented the Nigerian side.But Michael Eneramo restored Nigeria's advantage on 85 minutes after good work down the left by John Mikel Obi and Obinna Nsofor.That lead didn't last long either as, with time running out, Esperance midfielder Oussama Darragi replicated Odemwingie's first half goal, cutting down the right hand side and rifling his shot into the roof of the net. The result keep Tunisia two points ahead of Nigeria, and means that the north Africans stay in the driving seat for World Cup qualification, while the Super Eagles are on a wing and a prayer. Live scoring as it happened:
Nigeria LINE UP1. Vincent Enyeama; 13.
Adefemi Olubayo, 3.
Taye Taiwo, 2.
Joseph Yobo, 6.
Dele Adeleye; 14.
Seyi Olofinjana, 10.
John Mikel Obi, 16,
Kalu Uche; 11.
Osaze Odemwingie, 15.
Ike Uche, 8.
Chinedu Obasi Subs12.
Dele Aiyenugba, 4.
Nwankwo Kanu, 5.
Onyekachi Apam, 7.
Sani Kaita, 9.
Obinna Nsofor, 17.
Yusuf Mohammed, 18.
Michael Eneramo
The Tunisia line-up is still not out, but we think it will be something like this Kasraoui, Soussi, Ghazel, Haggui, Mikari; Ragued, Korbi, Taider; Darragi, Ben Saada and JemaaThat may look like a 4-3-3, but its actually a 4-5-1, with the hard men being Ragued and Taider. Darragi and Ben Saada will be the ones looking to thread balls behind the Nigerian wall.Its about an hour to the game, and the stadium is full already, nearly to capacity. Its such an intimidating atmosphere, for anybody. And the Tunisia line up is out. We got it almost spot on. First choice goalkeeper Kasraoui has been dropped to the bench. Now, thats a surprise. Did he [ick up something?
There was a huge roar when Nigeria trotted in from the dressing room. The noise here can bring down Jericho. Will the Tunisians be suitably intimidated? We'll just have to wait and see.Warm-ups are complete. The teams are back in the dressing room. They should be coming out anytime now for pre-match formalities.Here come the Tunisian subs bench.
Colin Udoh
End of the road to S/Africa? - Super Eagles held to 2-2 draw by Tunisia
By Dimeji Ojo,
THE dream of Nigeria’s Super Eagles to qualify for the 2010 World Cup suffered a major setback on Sunday at the National Stadium, Abuja, as they were held to 2-2 draw by the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia.The Tunisian side maintained its lead on the table with eight points, leaving the Nigerian Eagles on six points.For the Super Eagles, however, to be at the 2010 mundial billed for South Africa, they have to beat the Harambee Stars of Kenya at away and also Mozambique in Abuja to finish with 12 points.Also, Nigerians would have to pray fervently for the Carthage Eagles to lose at away to Mozambique that would make them to finish 11 points if at all they beat Kenya in the last game.Tribunesports recalls that the Super Eagles once scaled through this similar setting on the way to the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup as they defeated Sudan 4-0 in Omdurman when all hopes seemed to have been lost.It was a disappointing performance by the Shaibu Amodu - piloted Eagles on Sunday.The team put smiles on the faces of Nigerians in the 22nd minute as Osaze Odemwingie out of sheer brilliance shot into the roof of the net after making a solo run down the box.However, the celebration that greeted the curtain raiser hardly ended when Nabil Taider got the equaliser for the visitors with a powerful low drive which stretched goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to the limit.The Tunisians were more organised in the second half as they held onto the ball to keep the homers at bay.Substitute Tunisia-based Michael Eneramo put Nigeria ahead again in the 80th minute when he connected a cross from Obinna Nsofor with a jab past goalkeeper Mathlouthi Aymen.Nigerians were waiting anxiously for the final whistle before Darragi Oussma got the leveller, when he intelligently chipped the ball into the roof of the net in the 89th minute with Enyeama at his mercy.
THE dream of Nigeria’s Super Eagles to qualify for the 2010 World Cup suffered a major setback on Sunday at the National Stadium, Abuja, as they were held to 2-2 draw by the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia.The Tunisian side maintained its lead on the table with eight points, leaving the Nigerian Eagles on six points.For the Super Eagles, however, to be at the 2010 mundial billed for South Africa, they have to beat the Harambee Stars of Kenya at away and also Mozambique in Abuja to finish with 12 points.Also, Nigerians would have to pray fervently for the Carthage Eagles to lose at away to Mozambique that would make them to finish 11 points if at all they beat Kenya in the last game.Tribunesports recalls that the Super Eagles once scaled through this similar setting on the way to the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup as they defeated Sudan 4-0 in Omdurman when all hopes seemed to have been lost.It was a disappointing performance by the Shaibu Amodu - piloted Eagles on Sunday.The team put smiles on the faces of Nigerians in the 22nd minute as Osaze Odemwingie out of sheer brilliance shot into the roof of the net after making a solo run down the box.However, the celebration that greeted the curtain raiser hardly ended when Nabil Taider got the equaliser for the visitors with a powerful low drive which stretched goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to the limit.The Tunisians were more organised in the second half as they held onto the ball to keep the homers at bay.Substitute Tunisia-based Michael Eneramo put Nigeria ahead again in the 80th minute when he connected a cross from Obinna Nsofor with a jab past goalkeeper Mathlouthi Aymen.Nigerians were waiting anxiously for the final whistle before Darragi Oussma got the leveller, when he intelligently chipped the ball into the roof of the net in the 89th minute with Enyeama at his mercy.
Friday, September 4, 2009
MANCHESTER UNITED'S FOUNDATION
By Sir Alex Ferguson
Manchester United Foundation was formed to celebrate 50 years of the Club playing in Europe. It aims to use the passion for Manchester United to educate, motivate and inspire young people to build a better life for themselves and improve the communities they live in. The Foundation delivers football coaching, skills training, personal development and life changing experiences, providing young people with opportunities to change their lives for the better. Through football, we encourage young people to develop as players and more importantly as people. Our work to benefit communities and improve the lives of young people is delivered through:
"Manchester United
- innovative and educational programmes
- promoting a greater understanding of social issues through education
- developing unique and relevant partnerships
Our goal is to educate, motivate and inspire future generations to build better communities for all.
"Through working in partnerships, Manchester United Foundation will develop our youngsters so that they are able to acquire qualities which will remain with them through life - being positive, believing in themselves, working hard and recognising the importance of team work. These are all attributes which I instil every day in our players."
Manchester United Foundation was formed to celebrate 50 years of the Club playing in Europe. It aims to use the passion for Manchester United to educate, motivate and inspire young people to build a better life for themselves and improve the communities they live in. The Foundation delivers football coaching, skills training, personal development and life changing experiences, providing young people with opportunities to change their lives for the better. Through football, we encourage young people to develop as players and more importantly as people. Our work to benefit communities and improve the lives of young people is delivered through:
"Manchester United
recognises the important role
which we can play in engaging with young people".
- innovative and educational programmes
- promoting a greater understanding of social issues through education
- developing unique and relevant partnerships
Our goal is to educate, motivate and inspire future generations to build better communities for all.
"Through working in partnerships, Manchester United Foundation will develop our youngsters so that they are able to acquire qualities which will remain with them through life - being positive, believing in themselves, working hard and recognising the importance of team work. These are all attributes which I instil every day in our players."
By Sir Alex Ferguson
Manchester’s Top contenders in Europe
BARCELONA
Who’s in charge? Pep Guardiola. A Treble in his first season has set the bar sky-high. Repeating the European leg would be a fantastic achievement for the 38-year-old, who has no need to tinker with a winning formula.What’s new? Barça’s big summer signing will have surprised many United fans, thoroughly underwhelmed by Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s appearance at OT with Inter last term. Still, he scored 25 goals in Serie A and someone thinks he’s worth €70million.
Main man
Lionel Messi. Little argument there; the Argentinian offers eye-popping sleight of foot, plus ball-on-a-string control. And as Rio and Edwin will ruefully attest, he’s not bad in the air either.How they got here By winning the league nine points clear of second-placed Real – with 105 goals to boot.Last time out Er… they did OK. Beat Wisla Krakow to qualify, topped Group C, crushed Lyon and Bayern, edged past Chelsea in the semis then… oh, let’s move on, shall we?Verdict Holders, favourites and a team others will want to avoid.
REAL MADRID
Who’s in charge? Former president and Galacticos godfather Florentino Perez was re-elected Bernabéu president this summer. Perez duly appointed Chilean Manuel Pellegrini as head coach after five years piloting the Yellow Submarine of Villarreal. However, he won’t have that long to deliver trophies in Madrid.What’s new? Unprecedented summer spending, even by Galactico standards. Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema, Xabi Alonso, Raul Albiol, Alvaro Arbeloa and Esteban Granero arrived in arecruited from AZ Alkmaar (with whom he’d won the Dutch Eredivisie) after Bayern sacked beleaguered Jürgen Klinsmann towards the end of a disappointing (ie they didn’t win it) 2008/09 Bundesliga.
What’s new? Bayern flexed their muscles this summer, spending €30m on Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez and €14m on Russian midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk.
Also in:
forward Ivica Olic, midfielders Danijel Pranjic and Alexander Baumjohann, and defender Edson Braafheid. The biggest coup of all, however, was keeping Franck Ribéry.
Main man
Ribéry's been Bayern’s best player in the last two years and will be again. Keep an eye on Gomez, too – he has a phenomenal scoring record. How they got here Parallels with Juve: sacked their manager in the season run-in, appointed a caretaker, rallied to finish second and qualify outright. Last time out Topped their group, demolished Sporting Lisbon in the first knockout game, then a drubbing by Barcelona.
Verdict
Recruited well on the pitch and in the dugout; likely to be in the quarters again.
AC MILAN
Who’s in charge?
Leonardo – former Brazilian international who lit up the San Siro between 1997 and 2001 – steps into the position vacated by Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti. Leonardo has no direct managerial experience, but has worked as technical director at Milan so knows the gaffer’s brief.What’s new? Klaas-Jan Huntelaar arrived for €14.5m from the Dutch firesale at Real, but after a dire pre-season (featuring defeats by Chelsea, Inter, Bayern – twice – and Benfica), there have been howls for further reinforcements.
Main man
Andrea Pirlo. Pin-point passer and creative heart of the Milan side was subject to west London overtures, but remains at the San Siro; he’ll be vital.How they recruited from AZ Alkmaar (with whom he’d won the Dutch Eredivisie) after Bayern sacked beleaguered Jürgen Klinsmann towards the end of a disappointing (ie they didn’t win it) 2008/09 Bundesliga.
What’s new?
Bayern flexed their muscles this summer, spending €30m on Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez and €14m on Russian midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk.
Also in: forward Ivica Olic, midfielders Danijel Pranjic and Alexander Baumjohann, and defender Edson Braafheid. The biggest coup of all, however, was keeping Franck Ribéry.
Main man
Ribéry's been Bayern’s best player in the last two years and will be again. Keep an eye on Gomez, too – he has a phenomenal scoring record.How they got here Parallels with Juve: sacked their manager in the season run-in, appointed a caretaker, rallied to finish second and qualify outright.Last time out Topped their group, demolished Sporting Lisbon in the first knockout game, then a drubbing by Barcelona.
Verdict
Recruited well on the pitch and in the dugout; likely to be in the quarters again.
INTER MILAN
Who’s in charge?
Jose Mourinho, whose relationship with the Italian press is a volatile marital hell: one week they love each other, the next they're at each other’s throats. On the pitch, Jose has achieved domestic dominance, but not cracked Europe.What’s new? As makeweights go, Samuel Eto’o is pretty heavy. His arrival as part of the Ibrahimovic deal looks a coup – after all, he’s scored decisive goals in two Champions League finals.
Main man
The arrival of Brazilian centre-back Lucio, from Bayern, bolsters a defence including Marco Materazzi, Cristian Chivu and Walter Samuel meaning Inter will be no pushovers. How they got here Unbeaten at home in Serie A in 2008/09, the Nerazzurri strolled to the title, 10 points clear of Milan and Juve. Last time out Sneaked out of the group to face United, but were bossed by Michael ‘il magnifico’ Carrick at the San Siro and dumped out by early goals in each half at OT.Verdict
So far, so feeble for Jose’s men. They’ll need to improve dramatically to challenge for the trophy. But Jose shouldn’t be written off.
Who’s in charge? Pep Guardiola. A Treble in his first season has set the bar sky-high. Repeating the European leg would be a fantastic achievement for the 38-year-old, who has no need to tinker with a winning formula.What’s new? Barça’s big summer signing will have surprised many United fans, thoroughly underwhelmed by Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s appearance at OT with Inter last term. Still, he scored 25 goals in Serie A and someone thinks he’s worth €70million.
Main man
Lionel Messi. Little argument there; the Argentinian offers eye-popping sleight of foot, plus ball-on-a-string control. And as Rio and Edwin will ruefully attest, he’s not bad in the air either.How they got here By winning the league nine points clear of second-placed Real – with 105 goals to boot.Last time out Er… they did OK. Beat Wisla Krakow to qualify, topped Group C, crushed Lyon and Bayern, edged past Chelsea in the semis then… oh, let’s move on, shall we?Verdict Holders, favourites and a team others will want to avoid.
REAL MADRID
Who’s in charge? Former president and Galacticos godfather Florentino Perez was re-elected Bernabéu president this summer. Perez duly appointed Chilean Manuel Pellegrini as head coach after five years piloting the Yellow Submarine of Villarreal. However, he won’t have that long to deliver trophies in Madrid.What’s new? Unprecedented summer spending, even by Galactico standards. Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema, Xabi Alonso, Raul Albiol, Alvaro Arbeloa and Esteban Granero arrived in arecruited from AZ Alkmaar (with whom he’d won the Dutch Eredivisie) after Bayern sacked beleaguered Jürgen Klinsmann towards the end of a disappointing (ie they didn’t win it) 2008/09 Bundesliga.
What’s new? Bayern flexed their muscles this summer, spending €30m on Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez and €14m on Russian midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk.
Also in:
forward Ivica Olic, midfielders Danijel Pranjic and Alexander Baumjohann, and defender Edson Braafheid. The biggest coup of all, however, was keeping Franck Ribéry.
Main man
Ribéry's been Bayern’s best player in the last two years and will be again. Keep an eye on Gomez, too – he has a phenomenal scoring record. How they got here Parallels with Juve: sacked their manager in the season run-in, appointed a caretaker, rallied to finish second and qualify outright. Last time out Topped their group, demolished Sporting Lisbon in the first knockout game, then a drubbing by Barcelona.
Verdict
Recruited well on the pitch and in the dugout; likely to be in the quarters again.
AC MILAN
Who’s in charge?
Leonardo – former Brazilian international who lit up the San Siro between 1997 and 2001 – steps into the position vacated by Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti. Leonardo has no direct managerial experience, but has worked as technical director at Milan so knows the gaffer’s brief.What’s new? Klaas-Jan Huntelaar arrived for €14.5m from the Dutch firesale at Real, but after a dire pre-season (featuring defeats by Chelsea, Inter, Bayern – twice – and Benfica), there have been howls for further reinforcements.
Main man
Andrea Pirlo. Pin-point passer and creative heart of the Milan side was subject to west London overtures, but remains at the San Siro; he’ll be vital.How they recruited from AZ Alkmaar (with whom he’d won the Dutch Eredivisie) after Bayern sacked beleaguered Jürgen Klinsmann towards the end of a disappointing (ie they didn’t win it) 2008/09 Bundesliga.
What’s new?
Bayern flexed their muscles this summer, spending €30m on Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez and €14m on Russian midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk.
Also in: forward Ivica Olic, midfielders Danijel Pranjic and Alexander Baumjohann, and defender Edson Braafheid. The biggest coup of all, however, was keeping Franck Ribéry.
Main man
Ribéry's been Bayern’s best player in the last two years and will be again. Keep an eye on Gomez, too – he has a phenomenal scoring record.How they got here Parallels with Juve: sacked their manager in the season run-in, appointed a caretaker, rallied to finish second and qualify outright.Last time out Topped their group, demolished Sporting Lisbon in the first knockout game, then a drubbing by Barcelona.
Verdict
Recruited well on the pitch and in the dugout; likely to be in the quarters again.
INTER MILAN
Who’s in charge?
Jose Mourinho, whose relationship with the Italian press is a volatile marital hell: one week they love each other, the next they're at each other’s throats. On the pitch, Jose has achieved domestic dominance, but not cracked Europe.What’s new? As makeweights go, Samuel Eto’o is pretty heavy. His arrival as part of the Ibrahimovic deal looks a coup – after all, he’s scored decisive goals in two Champions League finals.
Main man
The arrival of Brazilian centre-back Lucio, from Bayern, bolsters a defence including Marco Materazzi, Cristian Chivu and Walter Samuel meaning Inter will be no pushovers. How they got here Unbeaten at home in Serie A in 2008/09, the Nerazzurri strolled to the title, 10 points clear of Milan and Juve. Last time out Sneaked out of the group to face United, but were bossed by Michael ‘il magnifico’ Carrick at the San Siro and dumped out by early goals in each half at OT.Verdict
So far, so feeble for Jose’s men. They’ll need to improve dramatically to challenge for the trophy. But Jose shouldn’t be written off.
Arsenal - We Gave Our Game to United
By Gunners Hawk
Contrary to my standard, I am publishing Manchester’s day-after thoughts two days after the game, for the simply reason that I wanted to read the reaction of Arsenal fans following defeat, and I have to say I’m surprised with what I’ve been reading.
Surprised because many insist on bashing the referee and/or Rooney, when it is as clear that we were our own worst enemy on the day and that we beat ourselves.
Referee mistakes?
That Mike Dein could have been less harsh with Arsenal players and more with the Manchester United ones is true, as is true that Arshavin was clearly fouled and the penalty was not given. But, as things stood in the 60th minute of the game, we were dominating our opponents, creating chances and heading towards a very important win. After that, two mistakes cost us the game.
If you want to blame the referee or Rooney for the defeat, you are free to do so, but let me tell you that Arsenal.com, the club’s official website, wrote that there was contact between Almunia and Rooney so dive or no dive, there was contact in the penalty area and instead of asking what would have happened if it was a different referee, or a different striker or a different team, we should instead ask why Almunia decided to get so far off his line to challenge Rooney.
To err is human but be ready to pay for it against Manchester United.
Three episodes changed the direction of the game on Saturday: Almunia rushing out of his goal to challenge Rooney, Diaby’s own goal and the fact that the team was not able to respond the first time in the season they found themselves trailing.
Allow me to start with Diaby. I can’t blame him for our defeat, he played a very good game and was in the wrong place at the wrong time. That he is a better player when compared to last year is true, but unfortunately he’s still very poor when defending has to be done although in a way that should not be his job.
On Rooney’s penalty, well, we’ve been through it already. The only way a professional diver like Rooney could get something out of that move was indeed to do what he did, and with Gallas keeping up with him, he needed Almunia to come out and slide just the way he did to accomplish his mission.
Finally, that we lack the experience required to raise our head and fight back when we’re hit by such a quick one-two is a known fact. But having said that, one kid who seems to have the balls to actually fight when this happens, Jack Wilshere, was kept on the bench when it would have been wise to use him to replace a tired-looking Arshavin. I love Ramsey, but he’s still a long way to be good enough in these sort of games.
Speaking of experience, Wenger believes we lack it when under pressure
Many praised the performance of our midfield but fortunately, others were more honest and realised that after United equalised and we were under some pressure, the midfield faded away and was not able to step it up a gear. We missed Cesc Fabregas of course, with him, it would have been a complete different story and what annoys me is that Wenger knows that we need more experience as he said in one of his post-match interviews yet I’m not sure if he intends to solve this problem in the near future.
Looking Forward
I’m sorry if contrary to many I just can’t see this defeat as the result of referee mistakes but I always prefer to focus on our team, our performance. I’m also sorry if you believe I’m starting to show some pessimism. Actually, I’m satisfied with what I’ve seen in this first month of football, after all, Nasri, Rosicky, Vela and Walcott are yet to kick a ball, but the small minor adjustments required need to be fixed soon.
I’ll be back for the Manchester City game, maybe before, but I’m afraid we need to get all three points against Adebayor’s side, since losing could result in being six points below the likes of Chelsea and Spurs and I would hate that, if it happens
Contrary to my standard, I am publishing Manchester’s day-after thoughts two days after the game, for the simply reason that I wanted to read the reaction of Arsenal fans following defeat, and I have to say I’m surprised with what I’ve been reading.
Surprised because many insist on bashing the referee and/or Rooney, when it is as clear that we were our own worst enemy on the day and that we beat ourselves.
Referee mistakes?
That Mike Dein could have been less harsh with Arsenal players and more with the Manchester United ones is true, as is true that Arshavin was clearly fouled and the penalty was not given. But, as things stood in the 60th minute of the game, we were dominating our opponents, creating chances and heading towards a very important win. After that, two mistakes cost us the game.
If you want to blame the referee or Rooney for the defeat, you are free to do so, but let me tell you that Arsenal.com, the club’s official website, wrote that there was contact between Almunia and Rooney so dive or no dive, there was contact in the penalty area and instead of asking what would have happened if it was a different referee, or a different striker or a different team, we should instead ask why Almunia decided to get so far off his line to challenge Rooney.
To err is human but be ready to pay for it against Manchester United.
Three episodes changed the direction of the game on Saturday: Almunia rushing out of his goal to challenge Rooney, Diaby’s own goal and the fact that the team was not able to respond the first time in the season they found themselves trailing.
Allow me to start with Diaby. I can’t blame him for our defeat, he played a very good game and was in the wrong place at the wrong time. That he is a better player when compared to last year is true, but unfortunately he’s still very poor when defending has to be done although in a way that should not be his job.
On Rooney’s penalty, well, we’ve been through it already. The only way a professional diver like Rooney could get something out of that move was indeed to do what he did, and with Gallas keeping up with him, he needed Almunia to come out and slide just the way he did to accomplish his mission.
Finally, that we lack the experience required to raise our head and fight back when we’re hit by such a quick one-two is a known fact. But having said that, one kid who seems to have the balls to actually fight when this happens, Jack Wilshere, was kept on the bench when it would have been wise to use him to replace a tired-looking Arshavin. I love Ramsey, but he’s still a long way to be good enough in these sort of games.
Speaking of experience, Wenger believes we lack it when under pressure
Many praised the performance of our midfield but fortunately, others were more honest and realised that after United equalised and we were under some pressure, the midfield faded away and was not able to step it up a gear. We missed Cesc Fabregas of course, with him, it would have been a complete different story and what annoys me is that Wenger knows that we need more experience as he said in one of his post-match interviews yet I’m not sure if he intends to solve this problem in the near future.
Looking Forward
I’m sorry if contrary to many I just can’t see this defeat as the result of referee mistakes but I always prefer to focus on our team, our performance. I’m also sorry if you believe I’m starting to show some pessimism. Actually, I’m satisfied with what I’ve seen in this first month of football, after all, Nasri, Rosicky, Vela and Walcott are yet to kick a ball, but the small minor adjustments required need to be fixed soon.
I’ll be back for the Manchester City game, maybe before, but I’m afraid we need to get all three points against Adebayor’s side, since losing could result in being six points below the likes of Chelsea and Spurs and I would hate that, if it happens
Egyptian Premier League launches new season
Faiza Ahmed
Shady Mohammed (L) and Ramzi Saleh of Al-Ahly celebrate after defeating El-Ismaily in a play-off football match for the Egyptian Premier League title in Alexandria, May 24. (Reuters)
CAIRO — The Egyptian Premier League will launch its season in style, with a match between Egypt’s two most popular and polarising teams, Zamalek and Al-Ahly – an exciting prospect for their Egyptian fans. Both teams had a successful start, with Al-Ahly defeating Ghazl El-Mehalla 2-0 on Aug. 6, while Zamalek defeated ENPPI 3-1 the following night. Zamalek have struggled in recent years, suffering two consecutive losses in the Confederations Cup and seeing their tenacious rival Al-Ahly take the league championship for the last five years. Zamalek fans, however, are confident that this year will be different.
Al-Ahly welcomed the arrival of a new Liberian striker, Francis Doe, who did not disappoint during his first game, scoring both of the team’s goals.
New Al-Ahly technical manager Hossam El-Badry altered the team's strategy this season, using a 2-4-4 formation. Many sports commentators said that this could take the team out of contention; El-Badry experimented with such a formation in pre-season matches with poor results. The easy victory over El-Mehalla, however, has allayed the fears of both commentators and fans alike.
Zamalek spent much of the pre-season in rigorous training for this season’s matches in Switzerland and Romania, playing several practise matches and working in harmony with top European teams. Ahmed Hossam, who joined the team this year from the English Middlesbrough Club, was a new gain for Zamalek. Although he did not play in the opening match, team officials expect excellent performance from him for the rest of the season.
Without a doubt, the most anticipated matches in Egypt this year will be are those that pit Zamalek against Al-Ahly, as both teams acquired several elite players from the region and Europe.
Shady Mohammed (L) and Ramzi Saleh of Al-Ahly celebrate after defeating El-Ismaily in a play-off football match for the Egyptian Premier League title in Alexandria, May 24. (Reuters)
CAIRO — The Egyptian Premier League will launch its season in style, with a match between Egypt’s two most popular and polarising teams, Zamalek and Al-Ahly – an exciting prospect for their Egyptian fans. Both teams had a successful start, with Al-Ahly defeating Ghazl El-Mehalla 2-0 on Aug. 6, while Zamalek defeated ENPPI 3-1 the following night. Zamalek have struggled in recent years, suffering two consecutive losses in the Confederations Cup and seeing their tenacious rival Al-Ahly take the league championship for the last five years. Zamalek fans, however, are confident that this year will be different.
Al-Ahly welcomed the arrival of a new Liberian striker, Francis Doe, who did not disappoint during his first game, scoring both of the team’s goals.
New Al-Ahly technical manager Hossam El-Badry altered the team's strategy this season, using a 2-4-4 formation. Many sports commentators said that this could take the team out of contention; El-Badry experimented with such a formation in pre-season matches with poor results. The easy victory over El-Mehalla, however, has allayed the fears of both commentators and fans alike.
Zamalek spent much of the pre-season in rigorous training for this season’s matches in Switzerland and Romania, playing several practise matches and working in harmony with top European teams. Ahmed Hossam, who joined the team this year from the English Middlesbrough Club, was a new gain for Zamalek. Although he did not play in the opening match, team officials expect excellent performance from him for the rest of the season.
Without a doubt, the most anticipated matches in Egypt this year will be are those that pit Zamalek against Al-Ahly, as both teams acquired several elite players from the region and Europe.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Argentina Vs Brazil 6th September 2009
from: oleolefootball.com
The South American “super derby” takes place this coming Sunday when Argentina host Brazil in Rosario and will be looking to put one over their bitter rivals. Argentina are currently going through a shaky period under new boss Diego Maradona and they currently occupy the last automatic qualifying spot for next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa. With four teams qualifying automatically, and the fifth team going into a playoff against the fourth placed team in the CONCACAF final round, Brazil lead the way with 27 points, followed by Chile on 26, Paraguay on 24 and then Argentina on 22 points. To gauge how close it all is though, it would be prudent to point out that Ecuador are currently fifth with 20 points and Uruguay sixth with 18. With Columbia and Venezuela just behind on 17 points, it’s easy to realise just how big the game on Sunday is for the Argentineans. If they don’t win, and Ecuador and Uruguay win their games, things could get really interesting in the three games that remain after that.
For their part, Brazil appear to be cruising once again for a World Cup final spot. They lead the way on 27 points and have recorded seven wins, six draws and just one defeat in their fourteen games thus far. If they beat Argentina, and Ecuador fail to win, means that Brazil would have guaranteed their place in South Africa with three games to spare.
You can watch the Argentina vs. Brazil game by tuning into oleolefootball.com this coming Sunday, and enjoying South American football live to your computer screen. Argentina and Brazil lock horns this Sunday as they battle it out for World Cup 2010 berths
Brazil travel to Argentina on Sunday knowing that a win could book them their spot in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Argentina host Brazil in a vital for them World Cup qualifying game, with all the pressure firmly on Diego Maradona’s shoulders.
The South American “super derby” takes place this coming Sunday when Argentina host Brazil in Rosario and will be looking to put one over their bitter rivals. Argentina are currently going through a shaky period under new boss Diego Maradona and they currently occupy the last automatic qualifying spot for next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa. With four teams qualifying automatically, and the fifth team going into a playoff against the fourth placed team in the CONCACAF final round, Brazil lead the way with 27 points, followed by Chile on 26, Paraguay on 24 and then Argentina on 22 points. To gauge how close it all is though, it would be prudent to point out that Ecuador are currently fifth with 20 points and Uruguay sixth with 18. With Columbia and Venezuela just behind on 17 points, it’s easy to realise just how big the game on Sunday is for the Argentineans. If they don’t win, and Ecuador and Uruguay win their games, things could get really interesting in the three games that remain after that.
For their part, Brazil appear to be cruising once again for a World Cup final spot. They lead the way on 27 points and have recorded seven wins, six draws and just one defeat in their fourteen games thus far. If they beat Argentina, and Ecuador fail to win, means that Brazil would have guaranteed their place in South Africa with three games to spare.
You can watch the Argentina vs. Brazil game by tuning into oleolefootball.com this coming Sunday, and enjoying South American football live to your computer screen. Argentina and Brazil lock horns this Sunday as they battle it out for World Cup 2010 berths
Brazil travel to Argentina on Sunday knowing that a win could book them their spot in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Argentina host Brazil in a vital for them World Cup qualifying game, with all the pressure firmly on Diego Maradona’s shoulders.
The Champions League
from: oleolefootball.com
The Champions League is arguably the most valued cup competition in world football today; quite often thrilling battles, tremendous amounts of skill and a few shocks along the way are seen as Europe's elite (and not so elite) try to show what they are capable of against the cream of the crop. The Champions League allows the top teams from the best leagues in the world (the Premiership, La Liga and Serie A) to face off against each other home and away, whilst also allowing those from lesser leagues to put themselves in the spotlight
Last season the Champions League was won by Serie A side AC Milan; they were lucky to be allowed into it after having points deducted due to the match fixing scandal. AC Milan went on to eventually lift the trophy at the end of the campaign despite struggling in the league, mainly due to the exploits of Brazilian talisman Kaka and their solid defense. Milan got revenge over a Liverpool side in the final, winning 2-0 against the team that had beaten them on penalties. Barcelona, winners the year before failed to impress, while Arsenal stuttered through the tournament before eventually being knocked out by PSV Eindhoven.
This year, there are quite a few sides capable of winning it. Although Liverpool have started poorly (drawing against Porto and then losing to Marseille at Anfield) they should still manage to qualify, as any team with Steven Gerrard in it should do. Out of the English sides, Arsenal have started well, beating Sevilla 3-0 and then Steaua Bucharesti away 2-0; Chelsea followed up a draw against Rosenborg with a promising victory over Valencia away from home. As for Manchester United, the Red Devils beat Sporting Lisbon in the first round with ex-Sporting player Cristiano Ronaldo scoring and then sneaked a win against Roma after Wayne Rooney's goal.
It is not just the English sides that are expected to do well; both Spain and Italy have those capable of winning it. Barcelona comfortably sit top of their group with two wins in two games, while Real Madrid, Sevilla and Valencia are all second with the possibility of them taking first place. As for the Italian clubs, Inter Milan suffered a surprise loss to Fenerbahce but should still go through. Roma will advance should they manage to hold off Sporting Lisbon's challenge, and last year's winners AC Milan should progress to the knockout stages despite their loss to Celtic. Lazio are placed third in the 'Group of Death', and will try their hardest to qualify.
Due to Bayern Munich's collapse in last year's Bundesliga they are a notable absence from the Champions League this year, however the likes of Schalke, VFB Stuttgart, Fenerbahce and CSKA Moscow are all capable of getting shock results on their day. One thing is for sure though; this year's Champions League battle is definitely one you do not want to miss, and you can watch all the live football action
The Champions League is arguably the most valued cup competition in world football today; quite often thrilling battles, tremendous amounts of skill and a few shocks along the way are seen as Europe's elite (and not so elite) try to show what they are capable of against the cream of the crop. The Champions League allows the top teams from the best leagues in the world (the Premiership, La Liga and Serie A) to face off against each other home and away, whilst also allowing those from lesser leagues to put themselves in the spotlight
Last season the Champions League was won by Serie A side AC Milan; they were lucky to be allowed into it after having points deducted due to the match fixing scandal. AC Milan went on to eventually lift the trophy at the end of the campaign despite struggling in the league, mainly due to the exploits of Brazilian talisman Kaka and their solid defense. Milan got revenge over a Liverpool side in the final, winning 2-0 against the team that had beaten them on penalties. Barcelona, winners the year before failed to impress, while Arsenal stuttered through the tournament before eventually being knocked out by PSV Eindhoven.
This year, there are quite a few sides capable of winning it. Although Liverpool have started poorly (drawing against Porto and then losing to Marseille at Anfield) they should still manage to qualify, as any team with Steven Gerrard in it should do. Out of the English sides, Arsenal have started well, beating Sevilla 3-0 and then Steaua Bucharesti away 2-0; Chelsea followed up a draw against Rosenborg with a promising victory over Valencia away from home. As for Manchester United, the Red Devils beat Sporting Lisbon in the first round with ex-Sporting player Cristiano Ronaldo scoring and then sneaked a win against Roma after Wayne Rooney's goal.
It is not just the English sides that are expected to do well; both Spain and Italy have those capable of winning it. Barcelona comfortably sit top of their group with two wins in two games, while Real Madrid, Sevilla and Valencia are all second with the possibility of them taking first place. As for the Italian clubs, Inter Milan suffered a surprise loss to Fenerbahce but should still go through. Roma will advance should they manage to hold off Sporting Lisbon's challenge, and last year's winners AC Milan should progress to the knockout stages despite their loss to Celtic. Lazio are placed third in the 'Group of Death', and will try their hardest to qualify.
Due to Bayern Munich's collapse in last year's Bundesliga they are a notable absence from the Champions League this year, however the likes of Schalke, VFB Stuttgart, Fenerbahce and CSKA Moscow are all capable of getting shock results on their day. One thing is for sure though; this year's Champions League battle is definitely one you do not want to miss, and you can watch all the live football action
Biography – Ronaldinho
By Mubeen Musthakeem
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, better known as Ronaldinho, was born on the 21st of March 1980 in Porto Alegre in Brazil. His mother was a saleswoman who later went on to become a nurse. His father worked at a dockyard and played football for a local club. His dad suffered a fatal heart attack when Ronaldinho was only eight and after his older brother Roberto joined Gremio, the family moved to a much wealthy part of the town. Ronaldinho was a very skilled at his tender ages and he was interested in beach football but later turned to professional football. He first came into the media when he had scored all 23 goals in the 23-0 win against a local club at the age of 13. He represented his country in the 1997 U-17 World Cup and became a rising star.
Ronaldinho started his professional football career with Gremio and he moved to the French club Paris Saint-Germain in 2001. He did not have a very successful time at France and in 2003 he joined Barcelona. He won the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004 and also in 2005. Ronaldinho had an excellent time at Barcelona and won plenty of other awards. The Brazilian acquired some injuries and the 2007-08 season did not go well for him and it was time for him to turn his head to another club. He got a really good offer from Manchester City but he turned it down to join the Italian giants AC Milan in 2008. He finished the season with 32 appearances at 10 goals for the club.
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, better known as Ronaldinho, was born on the 21st of March 1980 in Porto Alegre in Brazil. His mother was a saleswoman who later went on to become a nurse. His father worked at a dockyard and played football for a local club. His dad suffered a fatal heart attack when Ronaldinho was only eight and after his older brother Roberto joined Gremio, the family moved to a much wealthy part of the town. Ronaldinho was a very skilled at his tender ages and he was interested in beach football but later turned to professional football. He first came into the media when he had scored all 23 goals in the 23-0 win against a local club at the age of 13. He represented his country in the 1997 U-17 World Cup and became a rising star.
Ronaldinho started his professional football career with Gremio and he moved to the French club Paris Saint-Germain in 2001. He did not have a very successful time at France and in 2003 he joined Barcelona. He won the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004 and also in 2005. Ronaldinho had an excellent time at Barcelona and won plenty of other awards. The Brazilian acquired some injuries and the 2007-08 season did not go well for him and it was time for him to turn his head to another club. He got a really good offer from Manchester City but he turned it down to join the Italian giants AC Milan in 2008. He finished the season with 32 appearances at 10 goals for the club.
4 4 2 Diamond Formation
By Sundip Tailor
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti will go with his tried and tested diamond formation. It's a peculiar strategy since it offers little width and puts significant demands on certain players. We discuss it here in some depth.
The advanced player behind the front two should expect little room to maneuver as he will be marked closely by the holding midfielder from the opposition. Consequently, any attacking midfielder will not do. Those whose game is based on movement, particularly from deep, would find it difficult to impose themselves from this position.
Instead, a more intricate player is required, one who can thread passes after 1 or 2 touches. Pace and ball skills are of added bonus since this would induce free kicks in dangerous positions. In Chelsea's case, it may therefore be more effective to employ a player like Deco as opposed to Lampard in this role.
Note, playing one behind two front men is different from playing 1 behind a single striker. The later situation offers more opportunities for movement than the prior.
Width is important as otherwise approach play becomes narrow and predictable. This is not something to be overlooked as highly skilled teams can suffer from this. Arsenal, for one, have intentionally concentrated their play down the center, which has caused opposition teams to pack the midfield. Liverpool too, over the last 18 months have shown excessive dependency on the Gerrard-Torres link up.
One way to offset this is to send the middle two in the diamond into wide areas when the team has possession. This can be problematic as these players are unlikely to be effective down the flanks and more importantly leave large spaces in the event of a counter attack.
Ideally, you compensate for a lack of width via your full backs. This sounds easier than it is. Your first concern as a manager doing this is whether your full backs are physically up to the task. Can Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa sustain trips up and down the pitch for 50 games in a season? Your second concern is the end product of these players, if their crossing or final ball is poor than what exactly is the point?
Most academies will educate young players to force opposition play down the sides as any resulting cross should be dealt with by the defense. The compelling argument for playing the diamond is that this process happens naturally.
By Sundip Tailor
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti will go with his tried and tested diamond formation. It's a peculiar strategy since it offers little width and puts significant demands on certain players. We discuss it here in some depth.
The advanced player behind the front two should expect little room to maneuver as he will be marked closely by the holding midfielder from the opposition. Consequently, any attacking midfielder will not do. Those whose game is based on movement, particularly from deep, would find it difficult to impose themselves from this position.
Instead, a more intricate player is required, one who can thread passes after 1 or 2 touches. Pace and ball skills are of added bonus since this would induce free kicks in dangerous positions. In Chelsea's case, it may therefore be more effective to employ a player like Deco as opposed to Lampard in this role.
Note, playing one behind two front men is different from playing 1 behind a single striker. The later situation offers more opportunities for movement than the prior.
Width is important as otherwise approach play becomes narrow and predictable. This is not something to be overlooked as highly skilled teams can suffer from this. Arsenal, for one, have intentionally concentrated their play down the center, which has caused opposition teams to pack the midfield. Liverpool too, over the last 18 months have shown excessive dependency on the Gerrard-Torres link up.
One way to offset this is to send the middle two in the diamond into wide areas when the team has possession. This can be problematic as these players are unlikely to be effective down the flanks and more importantly leave large spaces in the event of a counter attack.
Ideally, you compensate for a lack of width via your full backs. This sounds easier than it is. Your first concern as a manager doing this is whether your full backs are physically up to the task. Can Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa sustain trips up and down the pitch for 50 games in a season? Your second concern is the end product of these players, if their crossing or final ball is poor than what exactly is the point?
Most academies will educate young players to force opposition play down the sides as any resulting cross should be dealt with by the defense. The compelling argument for playing the diamond is that this process happens naturally.
By Sundip Tailor
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Who Will Win the Premier League?
By Adam Burke
The question that is on everybody's lips at the moment is who will win the coveted title of English Champions. Manchester United have won it for the past three seasons and are hoping for a record breaking fourth consecutive title. The main threat to Manchester United will come in the usual shape of the 'Big Four', Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal, plus possibly this year's big spenders and United's rivals, Manchester City. Manchester City have spent nearly £100m this year securing the services of some big name players such as Gareth Barry from Aston Villa, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor from Arsenal and Carlos Tevez who turned down the opportunity to stay at Old Trafford.
Many pundits are tipping the blues, Chelsea to win the title this time around. Reason being unlike the other members of the 'Big Four' they not lost any players where as Arsenal have lost Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor, Liverpool have lost Xabi Alonso and Manchester United have lost Carlos Tevez and world player of the year, Cristiano Ronaldo. Although they have all gone some length to replacing them they were all key figures for their teams. Chelsea have also strengthened their squad slightly, signing Russian Zuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow for 18m and two young English players in Ross Turnbull on a free transfer and Daniel Sturridge from Manchester City.
Liverpool came so close last year and were arguably the better team over the year but were let down by so many home draws against the 'lesser sides'. It was by far the closest that Liverpool had come to winning the league since 1990 and maybe they will be able to better it this year. They have lost a key midfield player in Xabi Alonso who went to money bags Madrid and signed Alberto Aquilani from AS Roma for 20m, unfortunately he will no be featuring for the first two months of the season because of an ankle injury. They will be hoping that they could better what they achieved last year but they could be ruing the missed opportunities, however with the talasmanic Steven Gerrard and constant goal threat Fernando Torres they have a good shot at it.
Arsenal have not won a major trophy in the last four years and have finished 4th in the Premier League for three out of the last four seasons. However they had a good run in the Champions League last year eventually bowing out to the beaten finalists Manchester United at the semi-final stage. Arsenal have a young squad captained by Cesc Fabregas who is only 22 himself. They have been dogged by injuries in the past few seasons to key players such as Rosiscky, Walcott and Eduardo and Samir Nasri had broken his leg now too, they will be hoping for better luck in the injury department that's for sure . Under manager Arsense Wenger they are certain to be playing fantastic looking football but whether they will be able to go the distance with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United will have to be seen.
The reason why many people don't think Manchester United are going to win the Premier League this year is because of the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo for a record 80m to Real Madrid, Ronaldo was a pivotal figure in Manchester United's recent success and was almost unstoppable in the 2007/2008 campaign banging in a massive 42 goals over the year.
Although Sir Alex received a world record transfer sum for Ronaldo only 19m has been reinvested. Sir Alex has signed Ecudorian Luis Antonio Valencia from Wigan for approximately 16m, Valencia is a much more convential winger who passes defenders, gets to the byline and wips in a cross. The shock of the summer was possibly Manchester United signing Michael Owen on a free transfer after a horrid time at Newcastle where he was hampered by injuries but still managed 39 goals in 80 games in four seasons. There is a slight risk to it but if anyone can get Owen firing like he did in his Liverpool days then Sir Alex can and Manchester United would have done a shrude bit of business. Will they be able to retain the Premier League title for the 4th year running?
As for me, I believe that although Liverpool had a fantastic season last year United never really looked that good and they missed a real opportunity to win the title. I am going to go with Manchester United to win the Premier League for 4th year in a row with Chelsea a close second and Liverpool third. I do feel Arsenal will manage to hold on to 4th place but only just with Manchester City right on their tail.
I'm sure that we will see an extremely close title race and as ever a very entertaining season of football.
The question that is on everybody's lips at the moment is who will win the coveted title of English Champions. Manchester United have won it for the past three seasons and are hoping for a record breaking fourth consecutive title. The main threat to Manchester United will come in the usual shape of the 'Big Four', Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal, plus possibly this year's big spenders and United's rivals, Manchester City. Manchester City have spent nearly £100m this year securing the services of some big name players such as Gareth Barry from Aston Villa, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor from Arsenal and Carlos Tevez who turned down the opportunity to stay at Old Trafford.
Many pundits are tipping the blues, Chelsea to win the title this time around. Reason being unlike the other members of the 'Big Four' they not lost any players where as Arsenal have lost Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor, Liverpool have lost Xabi Alonso and Manchester United have lost Carlos Tevez and world player of the year, Cristiano Ronaldo. Although they have all gone some length to replacing them they were all key figures for their teams. Chelsea have also strengthened their squad slightly, signing Russian Zuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow for 18m and two young English players in Ross Turnbull on a free transfer and Daniel Sturridge from Manchester City.
Liverpool came so close last year and were arguably the better team over the year but were let down by so many home draws against the 'lesser sides'. It was by far the closest that Liverpool had come to winning the league since 1990 and maybe they will be able to better it this year. They have lost a key midfield player in Xabi Alonso who went to money bags Madrid and signed Alberto Aquilani from AS Roma for 20m, unfortunately he will no be featuring for the first two months of the season because of an ankle injury. They will be hoping that they could better what they achieved last year but they could be ruing the missed opportunities, however with the talasmanic Steven Gerrard and constant goal threat Fernando Torres they have a good shot at it.
Arsenal have not won a major trophy in the last four years and have finished 4th in the Premier League for three out of the last four seasons. However they had a good run in the Champions League last year eventually bowing out to the beaten finalists Manchester United at the semi-final stage. Arsenal have a young squad captained by Cesc Fabregas who is only 22 himself. They have been dogged by injuries in the past few seasons to key players such as Rosiscky, Walcott and Eduardo and Samir Nasri had broken his leg now too, they will be hoping for better luck in the injury department that's for sure . Under manager Arsense Wenger they are certain to be playing fantastic looking football but whether they will be able to go the distance with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United will have to be seen.
The reason why many people don't think Manchester United are going to win the Premier League this year is because of the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo for a record 80m to Real Madrid, Ronaldo was a pivotal figure in Manchester United's recent success and was almost unstoppable in the 2007/2008 campaign banging in a massive 42 goals over the year.
Although Sir Alex received a world record transfer sum for Ronaldo only 19m has been reinvested. Sir Alex has signed Ecudorian Luis Antonio Valencia from Wigan for approximately 16m, Valencia is a much more convential winger who passes defenders, gets to the byline and wips in a cross. The shock of the summer was possibly Manchester United signing Michael Owen on a free transfer after a horrid time at Newcastle where he was hampered by injuries but still managed 39 goals in 80 games in four seasons. There is a slight risk to it but if anyone can get Owen firing like he did in his Liverpool days then Sir Alex can and Manchester United would have done a shrude bit of business. Will they be able to retain the Premier League title for the 4th year running?
As for me, I believe that although Liverpool had a fantastic season last year United never really looked that good and they missed a real opportunity to win the title. I am going to go with Manchester United to win the Premier League for 4th year in a row with Chelsea a close second and Liverpool third. I do feel Arsenal will manage to hold on to 4th place but only just with Manchester City right on their tail.
I'm sure that we will see an extremely close title race and as ever a very entertaining season of football.
Develop Soccer Power, Strength and Fitness - 5 Myths About Strength Training For Youth Soccer Player
By Mike Grafstein
With so much info on the internet, TV and magazines you must understand these 5 common myths about strength and conditioning for youth soccer fitness training.
This is a must before your child is ever going to be successful at improving their strength, power, speed and fitness on the soccer field.
Myth 1: Soccer is an endurance / "cardio" game so you need to go for a 20 to 30 minute jog for soccer fitness.
Truth: Soccer is
a power and speed game. Sending your child out for a 20 to 30 minute jog is "old school, outdated" soccer fitness training and will only teach them to be slow, weak and put them at risk for overuse injuries. Short burst interval training is the current soccer fitness training solution.
You need to find a soccer fitness program that includes interval training to maximize your childs short and long term conditioning needs.
Myth 2: Sit ups and crunches will tone my stomach and build my "core"
Truth: Abdominal exercises such as crunches, sit-ups, and abdomen machines are actually the LEAST effective method of building the core. They do more harm than good. Sit ups cause increase pressure on the "jelly" discs in the back. Over time this may lead to back problems.
Myth 3: Weight training or lifting weights will cause growth plate damage. Lifting weights will "stunt" growth. Truth: Growth plate injuries are result of unsupervised weight training. Soccer Athletes who perform strength training or resistance training exercises with proper form, technique and progression develop stronger joints, improve stability, increase strength, power, speed, confidence and are more dominating on the soccer field.
Myth 4: Children shouldn't weight train until they are 14 or 15.
Truth: Absolutely false. Most people think of body building when they think of weight training. A young boy or girl of the age of 8 may start a properly designed soccer resistance training program with significant benefits.
Myth 5: My child will become "bulky" and "lose their flexibility and ability to move" on the soccer field.
Truth: This is absolutely false. A properly designed program for both young soccer girls and soccer boys improve body composition (body image), overall health and athletic performance on the soccer field. An effective youth soccer strength and power program has the following components built into it:
1) Exercises to prevent anterior cruciate ligament tears. i.e. Single leg squat 2) Exercises that closely resemble the actions on the soccer field. i.e. Lunges 3) Total body exercises for base strength. i.e. Squats 4) Exercises that build power. i.e. A progressive plyometric (jump) program 5) Conditioning that includes intervals and sprints 6) Exercises that include stop - start and change of direction. 7) Sound nutritional guidelines. i.e. Pre and post training and game meals.
It is vital that you look for these components in any strength and conditioning program for your son or daughter.
By Mike Grafstein
With so much info on the internet, TV and magazines you must understand these 5 common myths about strength and conditioning for youth soccer fitness training.
This is a must before your child is ever going to be successful at improving their strength, power, speed and fitness on the soccer field.
Myth 1: Soccer is an endurance / "cardio" game so you need to go for a 20 to 30 minute jog for soccer fitness.
Truth: Soccer is
a power and speed game. Sending your child out for a 20 to 30 minute jog is "old school, outdated" soccer fitness training and will only teach them to be slow, weak and put them at risk for overuse injuries. Short burst interval training is the current soccer fitness training solution.
You need to find a soccer fitness program that includes interval training to maximize your childs short and long term conditioning needs.
Myth 2: Sit ups and crunches will tone my stomach and build my "core"
Truth: Abdominal exercises such as crunches, sit-ups, and abdomen machines are actually the LEAST effective method of building the core. They do more harm than good. Sit ups cause increase pressure on the "jelly" discs in the back. Over time this may lead to back problems.
Myth 3: Weight training or lifting weights will cause growth plate damage. Lifting weights will "stunt" growth. Truth: Growth plate injuries are result of unsupervised weight training. Soccer Athletes who perform strength training or resistance training exercises with proper form, technique and progression develop stronger joints, improve stability, increase strength, power, speed, confidence and are more dominating on the soccer field.
Myth 4: Children shouldn't weight train until they are 14 or 15.
Truth: Absolutely false. Most people think of body building when they think of weight training. A young boy or girl of the age of 8 may start a properly designed soccer resistance training program with significant benefits.
Myth 5: My child will become "bulky" and "lose their flexibility and ability to move" on the soccer field.
Truth: This is absolutely false. A properly designed program for both young soccer girls and soccer boys improve body composition (body image), overall health and athletic performance on the soccer field. An effective youth soccer strength and power program has the following components built into it:
1) Exercises to prevent anterior cruciate ligament tears. i.e. Single leg squat 2) Exercises that closely resemble the actions on the soccer field. i.e. Lunges 3) Total body exercises for base strength. i.e. Squats 4) Exercises that build power. i.e. A progressive plyometric (jump) program 5) Conditioning that includes intervals and sprints 6) Exercises that include stop - start and change of direction. 7) Sound nutritional guidelines. i.e. Pre and post training and game meals.
It is vital that you look for these components in any strength and conditioning program for your son or daughter.
By Mike Grafstein
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