Football news

Lothar Matthaeus will leave as coach of Maccabi Netanya at the end of next month after one season in charge.

Matthaeus, who captained West Germany to the World Cup in 1990 and won a record 150 caps, had signed a two-year contract with the Israeli outfit but agreed to end it a year early.

Netanya said club owner Daniel Jammer told Matthaeus that "because of a lack of infrastructure and facilities I am unable to upgrade the club next season" and so the coach had asked to leave.

Matthaeus has previously coached Rapid Vienna, Partizan Belgrade, Hungary, Brazilian side Atletico Paranaense and Austria's FC Salzburg.

Nakamura injury worry for Celtic

Shunsuke Nakamura has suffered a groin injury that has left him doubtful for Celtic's crucial Scottish Premier League clash with Aberdeen at Pittodrie tomorrow.

The Japan playmaker has been left in pain with an abductor problem after twisting the muscle during training in Spain this week.

Celtic play Aberdeen with only a one-point advantage over Rangers and Nakamura is determined to play his part.

"Obviously, we have a very important game coming up so I hope I'll be okay to play," he said. "We know that they are a difficult opponent but it's a game we really need to win."

Nakamura, 30, is hoping to help Celtic to a fourth consecutive SPL title in what many expect to be his farewell season at Parkhead.

Berlusconi wants emerging coach

Milan will go in search of an emerging coach rather than an established name if Carlo Ancelotti leaves at the end of the season, owner Silvio Berlusconi said.

Despite his constant denials, Ancelotti has long been linked with Chelsea given that their interim coach Guus Hiddink will return to managing Russia at the end of May.

Berlusconi has fond memories of the success Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello managed at the San Siro in the 1980s and 90s when they were inexperienced coaches.

"I believe the agreement with Ancelotti is this: 'we will sit around a table at the end of the season to discuss the future'," Berlusconi said.

"If he leaves I would take the route of an emerging coach like we did in the times of Sacchi and Capello."

Beckenbauer drops Rijkaard hint

As the quest to replace Juergen Klinsmann continues, Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer said Frank Rijkaard is a possible candidate as future coach of the German giants.

Klinsmann was sacked on Monday with Jupp Heynckes taking over as caretaker coach.

Rijkaard, 46, is without a club having been sacked by Barcelona at the end of last season. Luiz Felipe Scolari, Roberto Mancini, Bernd Schuster and Martin Jol have also all been touted as likely candidates.

"One solution would be Rijkaard, he doesn't have a contract at the moment," Beckenbauer said.

"It is still a little early to talk about this, but, of course, one must think about possibilities."

Tiredness could ruin Barca's bid

Tiredness could ruin Barcelona's pursuit of treble success this season and offer Real Madrid hope of catching their arch-rivals to win the Primera Liga, former Real coach Fabio Capello has said.

The teams meet at the Bernabeu tomorrow, with Barca, who led by 12 points at one stage, now four points ahead of Real with five matches to play.

Pep Guardiola's side are still gunning for Champions League glory and also have a King's Cup final against Athletic Bilbao only two weeks away.

"There are too many finals and semi-finals. This is dangerous for a team," Capello said.

"Although everyone says Barca have a squad of 20-something players, the truth is there are very few who can really make a difference."

Ribery hints at Bayern exit

It would be hard for Franck Ribery to stay at Bayern Munich if they fail to qualify for next season's Champions League, the France midfielder said.

"It would be difficult for me to stay if we do not reach this goal," he said.

"It is why the club must, at all cost, finish at least in second place."

Bayern, whose coach Juergen Klinsmann was fired and replaced by Jupp Heynckes earlier this week, are third in the Bundesliga standings, three points adrift of leaders Wolfsburg.

"We want to win the league," said Ribery.

"It is still possible, but the priority of the club and of the coach is to make sure we finish at least in second place to qualify directly for the Champions League."

Roma's Doni out for three months

Roma's challenge for a top four Serie A finish and Champions League football has been hit after goalkeeper Doni was ruled out for three months with a knee injury.

Roma released a statement claiming the Brazilian needs an operation on the cartilage in his right knee, a process that usually requires three months of recuperation.

If Doni is out for a longer period, it is possible Roma will move for a new goalkeeper, as they have been linked with Palermo's Marco Amelia.