Alex Pastoor has quit as coach of AZ Alkmaar after just two days in charge in another twist to the saga around Marco van Basten and his stress-related health issues.
Pastoor, who was Van Basten’s assistant at the club, swapped roles on Tuesday when the former European Footballer of the Year said he could no longer continue as head coach but would stay on as assistant.
“In the last days we have had several discussions with Alex,” technical director Earnest Stewart said.
“After the decision to make Marco van Basten assistant coach, we had the intention to promote Alex to head coach. We made him an improved offer but he did not agree to it.”
Ronaldinho misses penalty on debut
Ronaldinho missed a penalty on his debut for Mexican side Queretaro who lost 1-0 at home to UANL in the Copa MX, frustrating a packed crowd who had turned out to watch the 34-year-old Brazilian.
The former World Player of the Year, clearly short of match fitness, fired his effort over the bar in the 61st minute.
Ronaldinho signed for the White Roosters earlier this month, making Queretaro an unlikely stop on a career that has already taken him to Gremio, Flamengo and Atletico Mineiro in his homeland, Paris St Germain, Barcelona and Milan.
Magath loses Fulham job after poor start
Felix Magath was replaced as Fulham manager yesterday after what he himself described as a catastrophic start to life in the English Championship.
Fulham announced the departure on their website after Magath’s side threw away a 3-2 lead to lose 5-3 at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
The club said Kit Symons had been named caretaker manager.
Magath, 61, who took over at Fulham in February when they were bottom of the Premier League, leaves them bottom of the English second tier with one point from their opening seven matches.
Wilkins targeting Asian Cup success
Winning the 2015 Asian Cup should be the target for Jordan an ambitious head coach Ray Wilkins said after he signed his contract on Wednesday to take charge of the West Asians.
“We have to go a couple better, it’s either the semi-finals or the final, we’re here to actually win,” former England midfielder Wilkins told reporters.
“I think where we come from, in England we are having a winning mentality and in the clubs I have been the winning mentality has been very strong, therefore I want to come here and succeed, I do not want to lose.”
Solskjaer steps down at Cardiff
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has stepped down as manager of Cardiff, the Championship club have confirmed.
Solskjaer spent Wednesday in London holding talks with club officials after Tuesday night’s 1-0 home defeat to Middlesbrough had left them in 17th place in the league.
Solskjaer, in a statement on the club website, paid tribute to owner Vincent Tan for allowing him to manage Cardiff.
“I want to thank Vincent for giving me the opportunity to manage Cardiff City,” Solskjaer said.
“He has my full respect and I really wish him all the best in his pursuit of making this football club successful.”
Hungary sack Pinter, appoint Dardai
Hungary named former international midfielder Pal Dardai as interim coach yesterday in place of Attila Pinter, who was in charge for only one competitive game.
The Hungarian Football Association (HFA) sacked Pinter after eight months and five matches in the job.
“Pinter did not disappoint us, he is a good coach,” HFA president Sandor Csanyi told reporters.
“Dardai has a great character, has vast experience from Germany, and we believe he is capable of forging unity with the squad for the upcoming three fixtures.”
Pinter, 48, led Hungary to only one win as they started their Euro 2016 qualifiers with a 2-1 defeat by Northern Ireland last week.
Wenger misery at not signing duo
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has rued missing out on signing Didier Drogba and Cristiano Ronaldo earlier in his career.
“I would have loved to have managed Didier Drogba, for two reasons,” Wenger said, in a sponsor question and answer session.
“One, I missed him when he played at Le Mans in France, not even in the top league. I knew there was a good player there and I missed him.
“And secondly, because he hurt us so much in big games that all this pain would not have happened.”
Asked his biggest near miss in the transfer market, Wenger said: “My biggest regret, I was so close to signing Cristiano Ronaldo.”