Football news

Zenit St Petersburg's players  have each received a one million euro ($1.57 million) bonus for winning the UEFA Cup, Russian daily Sport-Express reported.

The payment consisted of 400,000 euros for the semi-final win over Bayern Munich and 600,000 for beating Rangers in the May 14 final in Manchester.

Zenit St Petersburg, backed by energy giant Gazprom, have one of the biggest budgets in Russian soccer.

Kaka undergoes knee surgery

Brazil and Milan playmaker Kaka underwent surgery on his left knee on Friday and is doubtful for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Argentina.

Brazil team doctor Jose Luis Runco said the arthroscopy operation had gone well but did not want to estimate how long the World Player of the Year would be out of action.

"The result was very positive but I don't want to make a prediction," Runco told reporters. "The certainty is that he's out of the friendlies. We'll think about the World Cup qualifiers later."

Brazil face Canada in a friendly on May 31 and Venezuela on June 6, both in the United States.

Trezeguet angry at Euro exit

Juventus striker David Trezeguet has spoken of his anger at being left out of France's Euro 2008 squad.

"What has happened to me is not acceptable, inexplicable. I have shown on the pitch that I deserve a place," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I hope for the World Cup in South Africa something will change, however."

Adriano for warm-up friendlies

Brazilian striker Adriano, recalled for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Argentina, has now also been included in the squad for the warm-up friendlies against Canada and Venezuela.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said that Adriano, on loan to Sao Paulo from Inter, would be in the squad to face Canada in Seattle on May 31 and Venezuela in Boston on June 6.

Adriano was freed for the two games after Sao Paulo were knocked out of the Libertadores Cup by Fluminense on Wednesday.

Coupet says he is leaving Lyon

France goalkeeper Gregory Coupet said the French Cup final against Paris St Germain yesterday was his last match for Olympique Lyon.

"Yes, it will be my last match (for Lyon)," Coupet told reporters before kick-off.

The 35-year-old Coupet, who has been at Lyon for more than 10 years, winning the last seven French titles with them, has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Lyon said in a statement on Friday they had received no offer from the London club.

Spain's Flores named Benfica coach

Spaniard Quique Sanchez Flores was appointed Benfica coach for next season and has signed a contract until 2010.

The 43-year-old was sacked by Valencia in October following the team's 3-0 defeat at Sevilla in the Primera Liga.

Flores takes over from compatriot Jose Antonio Camacho, who resigned in March after a run of poor results.

Benfica finished fourth in the Portuguese championship this season.

Maradona Jr launches book

Diego Maradona junior has revealed his anguish at being snubbed by his famous father in a book the 21-year-old released last week - Maradona My Father.

Speaking at the launching of his book Diego Jr said: "I believe this book will come to be read for a single fundamental reason. So that all the fathers in the world will understand how horrific it is to abandon their children."

Maradona junior, who plays beach soccer for the Italian national team under his mother's name (Sinagra), said the book is not an attack on his father.

Maradona junior met his father for the first time in 2003 at a golf tournament held in Rome.