Football news

Long-serving Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has stepped down after recent ill health, ending a family link to the north London club dating back to the 1920s.

Hill-Wood, who became chairman in 1982, will be replaced by businessman Chips Keswick.

American Stan Kroenke, the club’s majority shareholder, paid tribute to Hill-Wood who joined the board in 1962.

“Peter has been a wonderful custodian of this club,” he said .

“He has been a member of the Arsenal board for 51 years and his vision and steadfastness have been central to the successes of this great club.”

Menezes handed Flamengo reins

Mano Menezes has been named the new coach of Flamengo, his first job since being fired by Brazil in November.

The 51-year-old will replace Jorginho, who was sacked after only 14 matches, becoming the third coach this year at the club.

“I’m very proud,” Menezes wrote on his Twitter account.

Menezes was in charge of Brazil for just over two years but was surprisingly fired just when he seemed to have found his ideal team after several months of experimenting.

Wigan select Coyle as new coach

FA Cup holders Wigan Athletic, who were relegated from the Premier League two days after winning their first major trophy, are set to appoint Owen Coyle, the former boss of rivals Bolton Wanderers, as their manager.

“In principle we have agreed a deal,” Wigan owner Dave Whelan said yesterday after concluding his search for a replacement for Spaniard Roberto Martinez, who left to manage Everton.

“People will remember him from getting promotion at Burnley. He had a tough time at Bolton, some of our fans will remember that too,” he added.

“He has a belief in Wigan Athletic and I can feel that.”

Malaga hand job to Schuster

Malaga have agreed to appoint former Real Madrid boss Bernd Schuster as their new coach, the club said yesterday.

Schuster, 53, comes in to replace Manuel Pellegrini, who said he was leaving the Spanish club last month to take over as the new coach at Manchester City.

Local media have reported that Schuster’s appointment was being held up until the club finally agreed the ending of their agreement with Pellegrini.

Malaga said that they would present Schuster, who has agreed a five-year contract, as their new coach next week.

Schuster had spells with Xerez, Levante and Getafe before he took over at Real Madrid as Fabio Capello’s replacement in 2007.

Contract story false – Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has offered another hint that his future lies away from Real Madrid by insisting that reports he has signed a new contract with the club are “false”.

Real Madrid president Floren-tino Perez has made re-signing the Portugal international his number one priority and said he hopes Ronaldo retires with the club.

But with some reports circulating that a deal was close, the 28-year-old, who has been reluctant to enter talks, took to Twitter to say this was not the case.

“All the news about my renewal with Real Madrid are false,” Ronaldo said.

Samuel keen to repay faith

Walter Samuel is hoping to repay Inter’s faith in him after signing a new one-year deal.

The 35-year-old Argentinean was the second veteran Inter defender to commit himself to the Nerazzurri after Javier Zanetti also signed a 12-month deal on Wednesday.

“I’m very happy to have renewed my contract for another year,” he told the club’s official website.

The centre-half is now determined to help Inter’s cause as they bid to put last season’s disastrous ninth-place finish in Serie A behind them.

“Along with my team-mates, I hope I can give Inter a positive year and repay the club for the faith they’ve shown, since they still believe in me,” he added.

Laudrup to stay at Swansea – agent

Michael Laudrup’s agent Bayram Tutumlu has stressed there is “no problem” between the Dane and Swansea.

It emerged this week that the Welsh outfit had severed ties with Tutumlu following a dispute over transfer policy and there has been doubt over whether or not Laudrup will remain as manager.

Tutumlu claims there is only an issue between himself and Swans chairman Huw Jenkins.

“There is no problem with Michael Laudrup and Swansea City,” said Tutumlu, quoted by the BBC. “He is staying.

“It is my problem, my problem with Huw Jenkins.”