Football news

Steaua Bucharest coach Marius Lacatus resigned yesterday, a day after his team lost 5-3 to Olympique Lyon in their Champions League Group F match.

"I prefer to sacrifice myself and leave, so that Steaua won't suffer after a string of poor results," Lacatus told reporters.

"When a team loses one match after another nobody other than the coach is responsible."

The Romanian team had led 2-0 after the first 10 minutes on Tuesday and were 3-2 up at half-time before Lyon turned things round with three second-half goals.

Steaua are bottom of Group F, with one point from three matches. Club owner Gigi Becali had told reporters after the Lyon defeat: "I am not firing Lacatus, I'll let him drown himself."

Sacked after testing positive for cocaine

Second division team 1860 Munich have sacked striker Berkant Goktan after he tested positive for cocaine, club manager Stefan Reuter said.

"This has to do with Berkant Goktan the person rather than the player," Reuter told the club's website (www.tsv1860.de). "We hope he can get his life back under control."

Goktan came through the Bayern Munich youth team and made one appearance for the club in the Champions League in September 1998. He went on to play for various Bundesliga clubs as well as Galatasaray and Besiktas in Turkey.

Maradona lacks experience - Valdano

Former Argentina forward Jorge Valdano has warned his country not to appoint Diego Maradona as national team coach, saying the 1986 World Cup captain's lack of experience would make it a risky move.

Valdano also said he regretted Alfio Basile's resignation as Argentina coach last Thursday following the previous night's World Cup qualifying defeat in Chile.

"Diego has no experience, apart from sporadic and short interventions," Valdano, Maradona's team-mate in the 1986 World Cup side, told the TyC cable sports channel.

Maradona had two brief stints as coach of Deportivo Mandiyu and then Racing Club in the mid-1990s.

Osim says return to coaching 'risky'

Former Japan coach Ivica Osim has made a full recovery from a life-threatening stroke but the 67-year-old believes a return to management would be risky.

Osim has been linked with a move to J-League club Consadole Sapporo less than a year after collapsing at his home and falling into a coma.

However the Bosnian, who arrived in Japan yesterday to consult physicians over his rehabilitation, said a return to coaching was still a long shot.

"I would like to coach again but the doctors probably wouldn't agree to it," he told reporters at Narita airport. "It would be a high risk for me and for my family."

Beckham discussing Milan loan move

David Beckham's agent is in talks with Milan over a loan deal for the Los Angeles Galaxy and England midfielder, Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani said yesterday.

"Will he arrive? I believe so, yes. He will stay here at Milan on loan for some months, we are talking about it with his agent," Galliani told Milan's official website (www.acmilan.com).

"We will keep him for some months and then he will leave. Beckham has chosen Milan. Our squad is ultra-competitive and it will stay like that but Beckham is something different and intriguing."

Media reports said Beckham would join in January during the US Major League Soccer close season in a bid to stay in England coach Fabio Capello's plans ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

Galaxy play their final fixture on Sunday against Dallas.

Sorensen fumes at Hutton challenge

Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen has hit out at Tottenham full-back Alan Hutton for the reckless challenge which he claims almost left him blind.

The Dane had to be substituted during the second half of his side's 2-1 victory over Spurs on Sunday, after a clash with Hutton left him with blood pouring out of a face wound.

The Scotland defender received a yellow card for his intervention but Sorensen is frustrated at what he feels was a preventable collision.

"It was a millimetre off me losing my sight," Sorensen said.

"I have been sewn up in the eye socket but it is miraculous there's no more damage. We are at a stage where it is not funny anymore.

"He could have avoided hitting me. He had no chance to reach the ball but he still threw himself into it, leading with his studs."

Guiza not keen on City

Fenerbahce's Spanish striker Dani Guiza has quashed rumours linking him with a move to Manchester City in January.

"Not once have I spoken with this club. I am very happy at Fenerbahce and I have no interest in leaving," Guiza, who scored in his side's 5-2 Champions League defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday, said.

He added: "At this moment I have no relation with my former agent Felix Moneo. He is not authorised to negotiate with another club in my name."