Football news

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has appealed for calm in the wake of Tuesday night's "humiliating" 4-0 Copa del Rey defeat to Segunda Division B side Alcorcon, insisting that new coach Manuel Pellegrini and his side need time to gel.

"There has to be calm and patience, even though the defeat in Alcorcon was humiliating. The history of Real Madrid is more than one game, which shouldn't be exaggerated or create unrest," said Perez.

"Of course it's not nice for a president to see his team like that (against Alcorcon), but we are Real Madrid. The same as knowing how to win, we have to know how to lose and recognise that Alcorcon were better than Real Madrid."

S. Africa to prepare in Brazil, Germany

World Cup hosts South Africa will hold training camps in Brazil and Germany to prepare for the 2010 tournament.

A total of four training camps have been planned for South Africa, with the side heading to Brazil in March and Germany in April. The arrangements had been made before the appointment of Carlos Alberto Parreira as coach last week but he would be allowed to give some input, the South African FA said.

South Africa's league will shut down in January for the first training camp, expected to be at altitude somewhere in the country. The season is also finishing early to allow Parreira time to work with the home-based players.

Spalletti has 'secret' Zenit deal

Luciano Spalletti has agreed a secret deal to take charge of Russian side Zenit St Petersburg in November, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The 50-year-old has been out of a job since August when he resigned as Roma coach after four years in charge. Spalletti has been linked with some of the biggest clubs in Europe from Milan and Zenit to Atletico and Real Madrid.

However, La Gazzetta reported that Spalletti has signed a two-year deal worth nearly £8m a season. Spalletti is expected to join the former UEFA Cup winners in time for the start of the next Russian championship.

Retired Vieri rejects Botafogo rumours

Christian Vieri has confirmed his decision to retire from professional football amid strong interest from Brazilian side Botafogo.

Last week, the 36-year-old told journalists he had decided to hang up his boots but on Wednesday Brazilian website Globoesporte posted a report suggesting that Vieri was considering an offer from Sao Paulo-based side Botafogo.

That sent the Italian media into a frenzy and journalists managed to track Vieri down to his box at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday.

"Yes, I have decided to stop," he said. "I would be leaving for somewhere new every day if you believed the press."

Pavlyuchenko looks at move

Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko's performances on the pitch are being affected by "psychological problems", his agent has claimed. Pavlyuchenko (picture) failed to impress in the 2-0 League Cup win over Everton on Tuesday.

Oleg Artemov, the Russian striker's agent, told the Sun: "His poor performance is not due to a lack of match practice but psychological problems.

"Of course, not getting into the starting line-up is not good for any player. But Roman is much more affected by the feeling that the manager doesn't trust him and prefers to use other forwards."

Artemov hinted Pavlyuchenko may have to leave the club in search of more regular football to avoid harming his international chances ahead of next summer's World Cup.

Baroni replaces Giampaolo at Siena

Siena have sacked Marco Giampaolo and named youth team coach Marco Baroni as their new manager, Serie A's bottom side said yesterday.

The Tuscan club suffered their seventh defeat of the campaign in Wednesday's 2-1 reverse at Bologna and have managed just one win. They host struggling Lazio on Sunday.

Giampaolo, the sixth managerial sacking in Serie A this term after just 10 games, threatened to leave in the close season after being disillusioned by the lack of buys and the departure of top players such as Houssine Kharja.

Hull chairman Duffen quits

Paul Duffen has resigned as chairman of Premier League strugglers Hull, the club confirmed yesterday.

A club statement said: "The club has received a letter of resignation from Paul Duffen, executive chairman of Hull City AFC and Superstadium Management Company Ltd, which has been accepted and is effective immediately."

There had been speculation over the future of both Duffen and manager Phil Brown in recent days, with the club taking the unusual step on Wednesday of denying reports that Brown had been sacked.

Hull are currently in the Premier League relegation zone, a point shy of safety, with only West Ham and bottom club Portsmouth below them in the table.