David Beckham believes Wayne Rooney will prove an inspirational England captain to his team-mates.
Rooney was permanent England skipper for the first time in Wednesday night’s win over Norway and leads Roy Hodgson’s team into Euro 2016 qualification in Switzerland on Monday.
“Young players will look up to Wayne for inspiration,” Beckham, England captain on 59 occasions, said.
“People want to see that passion; you fight for every ball and celebrate every goal you score, or every goal you set up… that’s what Wayne’s all about.”
Courtois close to new Chelsea deal
Thibaut Courtois has revealed he is close to signing a new contract with Chelsea after ousting Petr Cech as Jose Mourinho’s first-choice goalkeeper.
After three seasons at Atletico Madrid, the 22-year-old Belgium keeper has returned to Stamford Bridge and taken the place Cech has occupied for a decade.
Courtois has two years remaining on the contract he signed when moving from Genk in July 2011, with an extension close.
“It’s not yet signed,” Courtois said.
“At present, I am with the national team so it is difficult, but when I am back at Chelsea I will probably sign the new deal.”
Ibra proud of record
Zlatan Ibrahimovic spoke of his delight after becoming Sweden’s all-time record goalscorer.
The Paris St Germain striker netted both goals in Thursday’s 2-0 friendly win over Estonia to take his international tally to 50 and break Sven Rydell’s record which has stood since 1932.
Ibrahimovic, whose second goal against Estonia was a typically audacious back-heeled flick at the front post, said of breaking the record: “It feels unbelievable. It’s something I’ve been waiting a long time and now I’m finally there.
“I’m glad it’s done. It means a lot to me and my whole family, and everyone around me.”
Basingstoke Town bid for Ronaldinho
Conference South side Basingstoke Town have made an ambitious bid to sign Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho.
The 34-year-old former Barcelona and Milan playmaker, capped almost 100 times by his country, is a free agent after leaving Atletico Mineiro.
And representatives from Basingstoke, in the sixth tier of English football, have put an offer to his brother, and agent, Roberto de Assis Moreira.
“We’ve put an offer to his brother, who is his agent, and look forward hearing back from him,” Basingstoke’s marketing director Simon Hood said.
Basingtoke are currently bidding to get promoted to the Vanarama Conference.
Verratti to get Paris SG increase
French champions Paris SG want to keep Marco Verratti at their club and reports this week said they were prepared to renew his contract which would include an increase in his salary.
Verratti, 21, has been regularly linked with a move back to the Serie A ever since leaving Pescara in 2012. Other big clubs are also following his paths but PSG are not ready to let the Italian midfielder go.
He signed a new contract this summer, running up to 2018, but Sky Sport Italia reported an agreement for a further year has been reached in exchange for an annual salary of around €4m.
RST to take part in Gers share offer
A major Rangers fans group says it will take part in the club’s upcoming £4m share issue.
The Rangers Supporters Trust (RST) says it does not want to see its current 0.86 per cent stake in the club diluted when the offer closes on September 12.
The crisis-hit Ibrox outfit have warned that should existing shareholders not take up the 19.8m new shares being put up for sale then the “future of the company will be uncertain”.
It comes after season-ticket sales dropped to 23,000 – down from 38,000 last season.
But now the RST has followed rival supporter group Rangers First by announcing it will take part in the share offer.
South Korea hire German Stielike
South Korea have hired former Germany international Uli Stielike as the new national team coach, the Korea Football Association (KFA) announced yesterday, tasking him with restoring the Asian side’s reputation and qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
The 59-year-old, who played 42 times for West Germany and coached Switzerland and Ivory Coast, would arrive on Monday in time to attend Korea’s friendly with Uruguay.
The news comes just ahead of the Korean traditional Thanksgiving holiday and will be well received by football fans in the country, who were concerned that the search for a successor to Hong Myung-bo was dragging on.
Hong resigned in July following South Korea’s first-round exit at the World Cup in Brazil.