Spurs striker Kanoute joins Sevilla

(Adds quotes from Sevilla sporting director)

MADRID, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Sevilla have signed Mali striker Frederic Kanoute on a four-year contract from Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of 6.5 million euros ($8 million), the Primera Liga club said on Wednesday.

Spurs said on their website the 27-year-old had agreed personal terms with Sevilla and would sign for the Spaniards subject to a successful medical.

Sevilla said they would present the player to the media at their Sanchez Pizjuan stadium at 0800 GMT on Thursday.

Kanoute, who joined Spurs in August 2003 from West Ham United, will compete with Argentine striker Javier Saviola and Brazilian forward Luis Fabiano for a place in the Sevilla attack.

The three players will attempt to fill the gap left by leading striker Julio Baptista, who signed for Real Madrid last month for a fee of up to 24.5 million euros.

Sevilla, who finished sixth last season to earn a place in the UEFA Cup for the second year in succession, said Kanoute was signed at the request of the club's technical staff and new coach Juande Ramos.

"He's going to bring us the sort of skills we thought the team needed," said Sevilla sporting director Ramon "Monchi" Rodriguez.

"He's tall, good in the air, skilful and strong and can play up front or just behind the lead striker. With the players we've signed we've now got a great attack and the coach will have plenty to choose from."

Kanoute began his career at Olympique Lyon and went on to becom an Under-21 international for France, although he later changed his allegiance to Mali for whom he played at the 2004 African Nations Cup.

The lanky striker moved to West Ham in 2000 but had an unsettled period at Upton Park blighted by injury and a lack of first team football.

He made the short trip across London to join Spurs after West Ham were relegated in 2003 and scored 21 goals in 72 appearances while at White Hart Lane.

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Villarreal defender Armando Sa set to move to Espanyol

MADRID, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Villarreal defender Armando Sa is set to join Espanyol on a two-year deal, the two Primera Liga sides said on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old Mozambique international joined Villarreal from Benfica at the start of last season and played 20 league games for the Mediterranean side.

However, coach Manuel Pellegrini made it clear that he was surplus to requirements following the recent signing of Dutch international fullback Jan Kromkamp.

Espanyol, who finished fifth in the league last season to earn a place in the UEFA Cup, have made six other signings in the close season including Argentine youth international Pablo Zabaleta and Real Madrid midfielder Juanfran.
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　新浪体育讯　8月18日，前意大利国门卢卡-马切吉亚尼宣布，由于无法找到一支新的球队效力，他决定结束自己的职业球员生涯。

　　马切吉亚尼生于1966年6月2日，今年39岁，上赛季他在意甲切沃队效力，在赛季结束后自由离队。在夏天的时候，马切吉亚尼试图为自己寻找新东家，但未能如愿，这使得他最终作出了告别绿茵场的决定。

　　“夏天的时候，曾经有一段时间，罗马队和我看起来将要达成一份协议，但最终什么都没有发生。”马切吉亚尼透露说，他职业生涯的巅峰时期是在拉齐奥度过的，凭借出色表现入选过意大利国家队。在1994年的美国世界杯上，由于主力门将帕柳卡在首场比赛中吃到红牌，马切吉亚尼曾短暂的接替主力国门位置。

　　在谈到自己挂靴的决定时，马切吉亚尼说，自己其实已经考虑了很久，即使退役，也不会离开足球圈。“我已经想了很长一段时间，现在我决定退出。我将继续学习，争取成为一名守门员教练。”-------------------------------
Benfica defender Miguel joins Valencia

LISBON, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Benfica defender Miguel Monteiro has joined Valencia of Spain on a five-year contract, the Lisbon club said on Thursday.

The 25-year-old international, who cancelled an extension of his contract to 2008 with the Portuguese champions, will complete the move after medical tests.

Benfica did not reveal the transfer fee, which has been put at eight million euros ($9.78 million) in Portuguese media reports.

Valencia have undergone a major overhaul following their disappointing seventh-place finish last season, with former player Quique Sanchez Flores taking over from Antonio Lopez as coach and a host of top-class new players joining the club.

Miguel is the fifth newcomer after Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert, Brazilian midfielder Edu, Spain centre-forward David Villa and Uruguay winger Mario Regueiro.
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Promoted Alaves sack coach after a month

(Adds background on Monfort, corrects spelling of surname)

MADRID, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Alaves have sacked coach Rafael Monfort just a week before the start of the Spanish season and a little over a month after he took charge of the promoted team.

Monfort, who was appointed to the post on July 6, will be replaced by former coach Chuchi Cos who steered the club to a return to the top flight last season.

A former Espanyol youth team coach, Monfort was in charge for just six pre-season friendly matches with a record of four wins, one draw and one defeat.

Alaves shot to fame when they reached the final of the UEFA Cup in a fairytale debut European campaign in 2001, losing 5-4 to Liverpool on the golden goal rule.

They were relegated two seasons later, but are now back in the Primera Liga after claiming the final promotion place in the second division.

The Basque side are controlled by the outspoken Ukrainian-born American entrepreneur Dimitry Piterman who took charge in July 2004 after buying a majority shareholding in the club.

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Czech striker Baros joins Aston Villa

(adds details, more quotes)

LONDON, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Czech Republic striker Milan Baros joined Aston Villa from European champions Liverpool for 6.5 million pounds ($11.69 million) on Tuesday.

"Of course, I am very pleased to join Villa. It is not easy to leave Liverpool but Villa are also a big club, so I am happy to come here," Baros told the Villa website.

"Hopefully, my best years are still to come. I am still young and very ambitious. I want to achieve things here with Aston Villa.

Baros said Villa manager David O'Leary and midfielder Patrik Berger, a fellow Czech, had influenced his decision to move clubs.

"I spoke to David O'Leary at length and he was a big factor in my deciding to come here," he said.

"It was a big decision for me, but if the manager wants you it is easier. I used to play alongside Patrik Berger at Liverpool and also with the Czech Republic and he said many good things about Villa.

"I think there are some quality players here and hopefully we can qualify to play in Europe next season."

Baros joined Liverpool from Banik Ostrava for 3.6 million pounds ($6.48 million) in December 2001 and was under contract with the club until 2007.

He has scored 25 goals in 40 appearances for the Czech Republic, including five at Euro 2004 in Portugal where he was the tournament's top scorer.

Baros will make his Villa debut at home to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday. O'Leary's side have lost one and drawn one of their first two games of the season.

原版新闻大放送(三)

Israel coach Grant quits after World Cup failure

(adds quotes, detail, byline)

By Ori Lewis

TEL AVIV, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Israel coach Avraham Grant has resigned after failing to steer the country to the World Cup finals in Germany next year, the Israeli FA said on Wednesday.

Israel finished third in European zone Group Four behind France and Switzerland despite being unbeaten in their 10 World Cup qualifying matches after four wins and six draws.

The 50-year-old Grant had a one-hour meeting with Israeli FA chairman Itzhak Menahem where he handed in his notice. He said he was not prepared to continue with the uncertainty of whether he would be offered a third two-year term in the job.

"Enough. I am tired of the demonic dance (in the media over whether I will be offered a third term). I will not continue to coach the national team," Grant said in a statement to Israel's Channel 5.

Menahem said he was surprised by Grant's announcement but refused to answer repeated questions from reporters wanting to know whether he was disappointed with the coach's decision.

"The timing surprised me. On Monday I was due to name my candidate for the next two years...and we were due to announce whether Grant would continue. Now I will present his letter to the IFA secretariat," Menahem said.

Israel's veteran captain Avi Nimni expressed disappointment and said he was unlikely to continue his international career following Grant's departure.

"After all that has happened I am not surprised, it is a little disappointing for me and other players...he should be appreciated for bringing the respect which we have earned from our rivals in Europe. We must now look ahead to a new future," Nimni said.

Talk of a replacement for Grant and Menahem's refusal to silence those voices were the reason for Grant's decision. He said he would be willing to stay until his contract expires next June.

Media reports in Israel have said that Grant has been linked with a move abroad or possibly to a high-paying position with Betar Jerusalem who have recently been acquired by big-spending Russian tycoon Arakdy Gaidamak.

The prime candidate to take over from Grant is Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Dror Kashtan whose defensive and counter-attacking style led his club to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup in 2001.

A Hapoel official said on Wednesday that Kashtan would be expected to honour his contract which ends in June.

Grant got the Israel job only after Kashtan could not agree personal terms with the IFA in 2002 and has held the post since May that year when he left Maccabi Haifa to replace Dane Richard Moeller Nielsen.

Moeller Nielsen quit after Israel just missed out on a playoff place in Euro 2004 qualifying.

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Troussier named as Morocco's national coach

(Updates with appointment, adds byline, changes dateline)

By Michel Debono

RABAT, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Frenchman Philippe Troussier has been confirmed as the new coach of Morocco's national team.

A spokesman at the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said on Wednesday that Troussier had signed a five-year deal through to the 2010 World Cup finals worth 50,000 euros ($60,330) a month plus bonuses.

The 50-year-old Frenchman will have the title of General Manager and National Coach. Earlier this week, the FRMF appointed French-Moroccan Nasser Larguet as technical manager of the squad.

Troussier replaces Badou Zaki who resigned earlier this month after Morocco failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.

The move represents something of a home-coming for Troussier, nicknamed the "white witchdoctor" for his successes working in African soccer, coaching in Ivory Coast, Nigeria and South Africa as well as Japan, Qatar and his native France.

He also coached South Africa and Japan at the 1998 and 2002 World Cup tournaments respectively.

Troussier had a brief spell working in Morocco in the mid-1990s, taking the second division outfit FUS Rabat to the Throne Cup title in 1995 and has always kept a home in the country.

He will take charge of a side made up mainly of French-based professionals who were unlucky to miss out on a World Cup place and will be looking to make amends in the African Nations Cup in Egypt next year.
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Real Madrid sack coach Luxemburgo

(Adds quotes, paras 3-5)

By Simon Baskett

MADRID, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Real Madrid coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo was sacked on Sunday just over 11 months after taking charge of the nine-times European champions.

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The 53-year-old Brazilian, who was Real's fifth coach in the space of two and a half years, was dismissed following an emergency board meeting at the club's Bernabeu stadium.

"The Real Madrid board has decided that Vanderlei Luxemburgo will not continue as coach of the first team," club vice-president Emilio Butragueno told a news conference.

"It wasn't an easy decision, but the board considered that we had reached a point where we needed a change.

"The team were not living up to expectations and that worried both us and the fans and that was the fundamental reason for our decision, which was unanimous."

The announcement came a day after Real's lacklustre 1-0 win at home to Getafe, but the detonating factor was a humiliating 3-0 home defeat by arch-rivals Barcelona two weeks ago.

Butragueno said Luxemburgo's four Brazilian assistants would also be dismissed and that reserve team coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro would take over on a caretaker basis.

He added that a decision on a definitive replacement would be made in the next few weeks.

Juventus boss Fabio Capello, who led Real to the league title in 1997, former Celta Vigo and Porto coach Victor Fernandez, England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and Liverpool's Rafael Benitez have all been mooted as possible long-term replacements for Luxemburgo.