Panduru quits as coach of Romania's FC Vaslui
 
BUCHAREST, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Promoted Vaslui's Basarab Panduru on Sunday became the second coach to quit in the Romanian first division this season.

Vaslui are one from bottom with only one point from five matches.

Emil Sandoi resigned from another promoted club, Pandurii Tirgu Jiu earlier this month after four straight defeats.

"I wanted to keep Panduru as coach but eventually we agreed on an amiable separation," Vaslui's main shareholder Adrian Porumboiu told Reuters.

Porumboiu said Mircea Rednic, who steered Vaslui to promotion for the first time in the club's history, would probably return.
 
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Gabon sack Brazilian coach Jairzinho after defeat
 
LIBREVILLE, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Gabon's soccer federation have sacked the national team's Brazilian coach Jairzinho -- a member of Brazil's 1970 World Cup-winning side -- following the team's 3-0 defeat by Angola in a World Cup qualifier this month.

The September 4 defeat left the Panthers languishing fourth in their African zone qualifying Group Four for the 2006 World Cup finals, trailing well behind Angola, Nigeria and Zimbabwe on points.

Leon Ababe, president of Gabon's Football Federation (Fegafoot) said in a letter published at the weekend that Jairzinho, who had coached the national side for more than a year, was being dismissed for "unsatisfactory performance".

Federation sources said the Brazilian had already submitted a resignation letter to the Gabonese soccer body, which has been plagued by internal wrangling and financial problems.

Fegafoot were due to choose a new coaching team for the Panthers, who face Algeria in their next World Cup qualifier in early October.
 
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Betar coach Ohana quits over differences with new owner
 
By Ori Lewis

JERUSALEM, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Betar Jerusalem coach Eli Ohana quit on Saturday after just one match in the Israeli premier league season, saying he did not want to continue working under the club's new owner.

Ohana told a news conference he was unhappy with the attitude shown towards him and Betar's former bosses by Russian tycoon Arkady Gaidamak, who took over the club last month.
 
"I had come to my decision to leave on Wednesday already, but I decided to wait until after (Thursday's) news conference as I did not want to cause a row," said the charismatic Ohana.

"I had a private conversation for about 10-15 minutes with Gaidamak in which he tried to persuade me (to change my mind).

"I am not leaving because of the club's form ... but it is better to go now than in the middle of the season when, if things go badly, it could be a far more unpleasant situation," he added.

Several conflicting statements made by Gaidamak, in which he praised and criticised Betar's previous owners and Ohana, came to a head on Wednesday when the Russian was quoted in Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth as saying Ohana lacked the leadership qualities to be the Betar coach.

Ohana, a former Israel international striker in the 1970s and 1980s, has been a popular figure at Betar but the club's erratic form during his two seasons in charge prompted a large section of supporters to call for his dismissal.

The day after Gaidamak's comments were reported, he called a news conference but his bid to ease matters failed in the presence of a nervous-looking Ohana and the glum-faced former owners Meir Panigel and Meir Levy.

Gaidamak was largely unknown to Israeli fans before he bought a 100 percent stake in the club last month. He broke on to the Israeli sports scene in July when he took a controlling stake in Hapoel Jerusalem basketball club.
 
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Advocaat hired as South Korean soccer coach
 
September 13, 2005
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- South Korea's soccer team turned to a Dutch coach once again, hiring Dick Advocaat Tuesday.

The 57-year-old Advocaat will replace Jo Bonfrere, who resigned last month. Advocaat signed a contract running through next year's World Cup, Song Ki-ryong of the Korean Football Association said. The deal can be extended until 2007 if both sides agree.

Guus Hiddink, another Dutch coach, led South Korea to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup, when the South Koreans lost to Germany 1-0 at Seoul. Hiddink currently is coach of Australia's national team and PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Eredivisie, the nation's top league.
 
Advocaat coached the Netherlands in the 1994 World Cup, where the Dutch lost to Brazil in the quarterfinals. He won the 1996 Dutch Cup and 1997 Eredivisie with PSV Eindhoven, then won the Scottish title twice with Glasgow Rangers.

Advocaat coached the Dutch national team during qualifying for the 2004 European Championship. He was fired by Germany's Borussia Moenchengladbach in April after less than six months as coach, and in July became coach of the United Arab Emirates national team. Song said Advocaat notified the UAE Football Association on Sunday of his intention to end that contract. The UAE failed to qualify for the World Cup.

South Korea already has qualified for its sixth straight World Cup.
 

Brazilian youngster Rafinha joins Schalke
 
(updates after news conference)

FRANKFURT, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Schalke 04 completed the signing of Brazilian youth international defender Rafinha from Coritiba on a four-year contract on Monday.

Schalke, who are preparing for a Champions League campaign after finishing as runners-up to Bayern Munich last season, will pay a fee of five million euros ($6.12 million) for the 19-year-old right-back, according to media reports.
 
"This is an investment in the future," Schalke team manager Andreas Mueller told a news conference. "He has a lot of potential and his value will go up."

Rafinha played in the Under-20 World Championship in the Netherlands earlier this year and scored the extra-time goal that put Germany out of the competition in the quarter-finals.

"Schalke have great potential," said Rafinha. "There are other Brazilians in the squad and that was also important in making this decision."
 
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Malaga agree deal for Brazilian midfielder Bovio
 
MADRID, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Malaga have agreed a deal for Brazilian midfielder Bovio to join the Andalucians from Santos in December, the Primera Liga side said on Monday.

The 23-year-old will stay in Brazil till December 29, when he becomes a free agent, and will then join Malaga on a three and a half year contract.

Malaga, who kick off the new Primera Liga season at promoted Celta Vigo on Sunday, finished 10th last season
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Portsmouth complete signing of Danish defender Priske
 
LONDON, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Portsmouth have completed the signing of Danish international defender Brian Priske from Belgian side Racing Genk, the Premier League club said on Monday.

The 28-year-old has signed a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee reported to be in the region of 750,000 euros ($917,200).

Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie told the club's website: "Brian is a versatile defender, who is a right back for his country and centre back for his club.

"I think he showed people his capabilities in the win over England."

Priske, who had also been negotiating with French Ligue 1 side Sochaux, played for Denmark in their 4-1 victory over England in a friendly in Copenhagen last week.

The Dane had one year remaining on his Genk contract and, if international clearance is received in time, could make his debut for Portsmouth on Tuesday when they host Aston Villa.
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Chelsea's Jarosik joins Birmingham on loan
 
LONDON, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Midfielder Jiri Jarosik has joined Birmingham City on loan from champions Chelsea, with a view to making the deal permanent at the end of the season.

The 27-year-old Czech international made 20 appearances for Chelsea after transferring from CSKA Moscow in January.

"At his best I think he's an attacking midfield player who likes to get on the end of crosses and it's his versatility that really appeals," Birmingham manager Steve Bruce told Birmingham's website.
 
Jarosik has been pushed down the Chelsea pecking order by the arrival of Michael Essien from Olympique Lyon and Shaun Wright-Phillips from Manchester City.

He will be in the Birmingham squad for Tuesday's Premier League match at home to Middlesbrough.

Jarosik takes over the position vacated by former England and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Darren Anderton, who on Monday completed a free transfer to second division Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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Strasbourg midfielder Bassila joins Sunderland
 
PARIS, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Racing Strasbourg midfielder Christian Bassila has joined Sunderland on a two-year deal, sports daily L'Equipe's website reported on Monday.

It will be his second spell in the English Premier League, having played for West Ham United in 2001.

Bassila, 27, started his professional career at Olympique Lyon.
 
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 Zetti resigns after four games at Brazil's Ponte Preta
 
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Ponte Preta boss Zetti has resigned after only four matches in charge, becoming the 21st coaching victim since the Brazilian championship started in April.

"Zetti is no longer part of the technical commission," said a statement on the team's website on Tuesday. "He resigned this morning."

The former Brazil goalkeeper, who had a short stint at Sao Caetano earlier this year, lost all four games in charge after replacing Oswaldo Alvarez, who left to coach Japanese club Tokyo Verde.

Ponte, who led the table for nearly one month, have now slumped to eighth place in the competition.

The club said assistant coach Nene Santana would take over on an interim basis.
 
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Babunski to coach Macedonia for two World Cup qualifiers
 
SKOPJE, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Former Macedonia international Boban Babunski was appointed as his country's coach for their two remaining World Cup qualifiers, the Macedonian Football Association (MFA) said on Thursday.

The 37-year-old will be in charge for the matches away to Finland on September 7 and the Netherlands on October 12 after Serb coach Slobodan Santrac resigned two days ago citing his wife's health problems.

A new coach will be named to lead the side in the European championship qualifiers, which begin after the World Cup, the MFA said.

Under Santrac, who had been in charge since March, the Macedonian side had a disappointing spell of just one win and three defeats.

Macedonia are fifth in European zone Group One after 10 games and cannot qualify for next year's finals in Germany.

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Deportivo's Luque to join Newcastle for 14 million euros
 
MADRID, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Deportivo Coruna have agreed to sell Spain striker Albert Luque to Newcastle United for 14 million euros ($17.18 million).

Primera Liga Deportivo said the transfer was finalised late on Thursday and that the player had been given permission to travel to Newcastle on Friday to undergo a medical.

Depor president Augusto Cesar Lendoiro said the deal had been closed "on (financial) conditions very different to those that had originally been offered".
 
The 27-year-old Luque will sign a five-year contract with his new club, according to Spanish media reports.

Newcastle's decision to sign Luque seems to signal an end to their bid to sign Michael Owen from Real Madrid.

The English Premier League club had agreed a club-record fee of 15 million pounds ($27 million) with Real to sign the England striker.

But Owen appeared reluctant to move on a permanent basis, preferring to hold out for a possible move to his former club Liverpool.

Newcastle's signing of Luque marks an end to their search for a strike partner for Alan Shearer.

The Tyneside club, who are managed by former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder Graeme Souness, have only one point from their opening three league games and are yet to score this season.

Luque joined Deportivo from Real Mallorca in 2002 for 15 million euros.

He has always been a regular in Depor's first team and was the Galician side's top scorer with 11 goals last season.
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