Chelsea have appointed former Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow as their new head of global commercial activities. The 50-year-old will lead the Blues’ attempt to expand their brand around the world.
Purslow joined Liverpool in June 2009 with the aim of bringing more revenue to the club although his role changed when then owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks decided to sell the club.
The businessman then helped the sale process to the group led by current Reds owner John W. Henry before stepping down from his role in October the following year.
Bayern eye Kuszczak
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are engaged in talks to sign former Manchester United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak.
The 32-year-old free agent is wanted by Pep Guardiola after reserve keeper Pepe Reina suffered an injury while third choice Thomas Starke is also facing an operation on his elbow.
Bayern were keen on Victor Valdes but the 32-year-old has opted to speak to Manchester United where his fitness and recovery from posterior knee ligament surgery is being assessed over the next few days.
Valdes trained with United’s first team at Carrington on Friday and could complete a shock move to Old Trafford next month.
Real Madrid to appeal Zidane ban
Real Madrid will appeal a three-month suspension slapped on assistant B team coach Zinedine Zidane for not having the correct licence, the club said.
The former Real and France midfielder was sanctioned by the Spanish football federation for allegedly acting as head coach of third tier Real Madrid Castilla even while Santiago Sanchez, who was also banned for three months, nominally held the post.
Real expressed their “absolute disagreement with the decision” and said they would “pursue every available legal avenue so that this decision is overturned”.
“Not least because Zinedine Zidane has been authorised by the French football federation (FFF) to work as a head coach in the category Real Madrid Castilla currently play in,” they added.
Wallace steps down as Rangers chief
Graham Wallace has resigned as Rangers’ chief executive just two days after failing to stop Mike Ashley grabbing power at Ibrox.
The League One champions confirmed former Manchester City executive Wallace’s departure in a statement to the Stock Exchange yesterday.
In a separate statement made to the AIM – a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange – Rangers also announced they had ac-cepted Ashley’s £2m loan offer, effectively handing control to the Newcastle United owner.
Van Gaal blasts Van Persie
Manchester United striker Robin van Persie was labelled “stupid” by his manager Louis van Gaal after removing his shirt as he celebrated his last-gasp equaliser against Chelsea.
Van Persie, whose form had been questioned ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash at Old Trafford, secured a 1-1 draw for his side by slamming home in the 94th minute.
Lost in the euphoria of the moment, he promptly whipped off his shirt and flung it in the air in celebration – earning a booking from referee Phil Dowd and a ticking off from Van Gaal.
“He did a stupid reaction after the goal,” Van Gaal said.
“You can be excited but you don’t have to pull your shirt off because then you have a yellow card. It is not so smart.”
Ferrero apologises after comments
Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero has apologised for calling Inter’s Indonesian owner Erick Thohir “that Filipino”.
Speaking on television show Stadio Sprint, Ferrero said he told Massimo Moratti, Thohir’s predecessor as Inter president who stepped down as honorary president in the week, to “kick out that Filipino”, in reference to Thohir.
When told by the presenter that Thohir was in fact from Indonesia, Ferrero added: “He has insulted an emblem of Italian football”.
Ferrero issued an apology in a statement on Samp’s official website.
“I did not mean to disrespect Mr Thohir. I wanted to commend Massimo Moratti and what he has given to Inter for 20 years,” Ferrero said.
Wambach fires US women to title
Abby Wambach scored four goals as the United States hammered Costa Rica 6-0 in Chester, Pennsylvania on Sunday to win the CONCACAF Women’s Championship for the fifth time.
The 34-year-old forward scored a first-half hat-trick and added another after the break with Carli Lloyd and Sydney Leroux also on target to complete the rout.
The Americans had already accomplished their primary goal of qualifying for the 2015 Women’s World Cup, but they added one last impressive performance to end the tournament.
In the third place play-off, Mexico defeated Trinidad and Tobago 4-2 with two goals in extra time to also qualify for next year’s World Cup in Canada.