Sporting briefs

Fernanez: Former France midfielder Luis Fernandez was appointed coach of struggling Ligue 2 club Stade Reims, French sports daily L'Equipe reported. Six-times French champions Stade Reims were European Cup finalists in 1956 and 1959. Fernandez coached Paris St Germain, Athletic Bilbao, Espanyol and Real Betis.

Japan: National team coach Takeshi Okada has set Japan an ambitious semi-final target for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, assuming the Blue Samurai qualify. "We will seriously aim to finish in the top four at the World Cup," Okada said."Some people may laugh it off but I think it is possible."

Player of the Year: India captain Baichung Bhutia has been named the Player of the Year by the national federation, after helping the team qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup finals in Qatar. The 32-year-old striker won the player of the tournament award in the AFC Challenge Cup in August which the hosts won to earn direct qualification.

Ricketts: The Los Angeles Galaxy signed Jamaican international goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts in a bid to beef up the most porous defence in Major League Soccer. Ricketts, 31, will join the team pending receipt of his visa and international clearance.

Paunovic: Former Serbia and Atletico Madrid midfielder Veljko Paunovic announced his retirement after being hampered by a string of injuries. "I have decided to hang up my boots because I suffered with injuries in the first half of the season and there is no point in carrying on," the 31-year-old said.