Football news

Liam Brady has confirmed he has agreed to take up a role to help new Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni.

Trapattoni was keen to add Brady to his backroom team as he continues his plans for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

Brady had expressed his desire to retain his job as Arsenal's academy director if he was to assume a role with the Republic and the club has now agreed the former Ireland international can combine the jobs.

"The board of directors and Arsene Wenger are quite happy for me to do this and to keep my job at Arsenal," Brady said.

Torres is frightening - Gerrard

Steven Gerrard described free-scoring Fernando Torres as "frightening" after the Spanish forward hit a hat-trick in Liverpool's 4-0 win over West Ham on Wednesday.

Torres has become the first player to claim back-to-back hat-tricks at home for Liverpool since 1946, and only four players have managed such a feat.

"Fernando is frightening. From the opening home game of the season to Chelsea when he scored a cracker, he has been consistent all the way," said Gerrard. "He got off to a good start then and now he has hit 18 Premier League goals, the first person to do that here since Michael Owen."

Nugent attracts Stoke interest

Stoke manager Tony Pulis has confirmed his interest in Portsmouth striker David Nugent. The 22-year-old was set to join Championship side Ipswich on loan, but that deal failed to materialise.

"I don't know what's happened with Ipswich, but if we're going to do business then we'll do it with Portsmouth," Pulis told said.

"If there's an area that we need another player it is up front."

Figo to be offered new Inter deal

Inter president Massimo Moratti is hoping Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo will remain at the club next season.

The 35-year-old's current deal expires this summer and there have been rumours the former Portugal captain will hang up his boots at the end of the campaign. But Moratti said: "It's not certain that Figo will retire. I will certainly make him an offer to continue next season. I have been touched by his willingness to make himself useful and be crucial.

"Without putting pressure, I will offer him a contract extension."

Van Bommel happy at Bayern

Bayern Munich midfielder Mark van Bommel is considering ending his career in Germany with the Bavarians.

The Holland midfielder, who joined Bayern from Barcelona in the summer of 2006, told Dutch magazine Sportweek: "I am having a great time here at the moment, so I might end my career at this club. Time will tell."

"I promised Mr Van Raay that I would go to PSV if I return to Holland," said Van Bommel. "But he is no longer the chairman."

Benzema staying put

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has insisted striker Karim Benzema will not be leaving the club in the summer.

France international Benzema is attracting the attention of a host of leading teams thanks to his superb performances for his club this campaign.

Asked where Benzema will be playing in the 2008-09 season, Aulas said: "At Lyon. He is going to stay, he has confirmed that to me himself.

"We are going to keep Benzema next year so we can continue to progress."

Totti targets Golden Ball

Francesco Totti hopes that Roma's victory against Real Madrid will help him finally win the Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball). The Giallorossi beat the Spanish champions 2-1 on Wednesday night in Madrid and 4-2 on aggregate to progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Totti is optimistic that his performances in the European Cup will one day be rewarded. "I know this is a very important tournament if you want to win the Ballon d'Or. I hope the last few years of my professional career help me, in this sense," he said.

Mutu to star in reality show

Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu is about to become the star of a Romanian reality television programme. The Viola's top scorer, who is injured after damaging the ligaments in his left knee against Roma 10 days ago, has agreed to become the protagonist of 'The Phenomenon'.

The show, to be broadcast on Romanian TV station Kanal D, will follow the 29-year-old to give audiences an insight into a day in the life of Adrian Mutu. The former Chelsea and Juventus player will have a troupe of 12 cameramen recording his every move.

Sentenced for attempted bribery

A former Finnish coach and another man were given suspended sentences for trying to fix soccer matches and ordered to pay a total of €148,550 in compensation by a Finnish court yesterday.

Former Warkaus JK coach Pertti Nissinen and Ville-Veikko Lepisto were sentenced for offering bribes to the coach of Finnish club Jaro and players of FC Honka and Rakuunat between 2003 and 2005.

The court also said Nissinen decided not to use his best goalkeeper while coaching Warkaus in a third division match against Jyvaskyla JJK in 2004. He and Lepisto then bet on the outcome of the game, which JJK won 2-0.