Football news

The Hungarian Football Association said yesterday it had appointed former Netherlands midfielder Erwin Koeman as coach.

The 46-year-old Koeman, who will take up the job on May 1, replaces Peter Varhidi who took over in December 2006 and failed to earn his side qualification for Euro 2008.

Erwin Koeman, the older brother of former Netherlands defender Ronald Koeman, started his managerial career at RKC Waalwijk in 2004. He later moved to Feyenoord but resigned in May last year.

Hungary will face a tough qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup, in a group with Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Malta and Albania.

Adriano targets Inter return

Inter striker Adriano, on loan to Sao Paulo, has confirmed he will return to the San Siro next season to show coach Roberto Mancini he is back to his best.

"I will return soon to convince Mancini. I have nothing against him but I would have expected him to help me more in my worst moments," the Brazilian told Gazzetta dello Sport.

Lyon at odds with federation

French champions Olympique Lyon are threatening to forsake their Cup semi-final against Ligue 2 Sedan because the game has been scheduled on May 7, three days before they face third-placed Nancy in the penultimate Ligue 1 round.

"The lack of fairness is blatant... if the Federation was to maintain their decision, Olympique Lyon would be ready to skip the semi-final, either by abstaining or by fielding their B team," the club said in a statement.

Riise promises to bounce back

Liverpool's John Arne Riise believes he will come back stronger after a scoring a shock injury-time own goal in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday.

"I've learned that it's the way you hit back that matters," Riise told yesterday's Norwegian daily Verdens Gang. "Mentally, I am the best. I've got my head back in place after a heavy night."

Substitute Riise headed a Salomon Kalou cross into his own goal deep into stoppage time at Anfield. "It was a swerving cross, the ball was wet, and it slid right off my forehead," he said of his own goal.

'Milan don't need Ronaldinho'

Piersilvio Berlusconi does not agree with his father's intention to bring Ronaldinho to San Siro.

"I wouldn't take Ronaldinho. Speaking as a fan, Milan do not need a player like him at the moment," said the Mediaset vice-president.

Berlusconi Jr has been touted as a future president of Milan and has his own ideas on how the club should be managed, balking at the price of the unsettled Barcelona forward.

Milan are rumoured to have made an offer of a combined £20m bid for both Ronaldinho and his Italian team-mate Gianluca Zambrotta.

Park to be used 'sparingly'

South Korea have promised they will not overwork Manchester United's Park Ji-sung at this year's Beijing Olympics soccer tournament.

"Of course we need to think about the possibilities of overworking Park," South Korea coach Park Sung-hwa told reporters.

"But by May the leagues will be over in Europe so there should not be too much of a problem in him joining the team."

South Korea have been drawn alongside Cameroon, Honduras and Italy in Group D.

De Rossi with Roma for life?

Daniele De Rossi is close to sealing a deal with Roma for life according to sources close to the club.

The 24-year-old, who was born in Ostia just outside of Rome, is expected to succeed Francesco Totti as captain of the team once the latter retires.

Il Romanista, Roma's daily newspaper, yesterday reported that De Rossi will put pen to paper on a deal said to be worth £3.2m a season, excluding bonuses and other incentives.

Nedved set for new Juve deal

Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved is set to agree a new deal with Juventus according to reports in Italy.

The midfielder's agent Mino Raiola has reportedly met with the Bianconeri directors to discuss a one-year extension to his current contract.

Nedved had been expected to retire at the end of this season but it looks like he has changed his mind. Juventus have been eager to tie down their veteran stars in recent months, also prolonging the contracts of both captain Alessandro Del Piero and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Ibrahimovic may need surgery

Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic may need an operation to fully recover from his troublesome knee injury, his Swedish doctor said.

The 26-year-old has been in Sweden this week for therapy on an injury that has plagued him all season. "I spoke with his therapist. He said that the situation is improving every day," Professor Hakan Alfredson said.

However, the specialist warned that should Ibrahimovic's progress stall he would recommend surgery to clean the area around the tendon.