Bosnia have sacked coach Safet Susic after a poor start to their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign culminated in Sunday’s 3-0 defeat by Israel which left their chances of reaching the 24-nation tournament hanging by a thread.
“The Bosnian football association (NFSBIH) thanks Susic for the historic achievement of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup and it will never be forgotten,” the governing body’s general secretary Jasmin Bakovic said.
Susic was criticised for his tactics and team selection in Bosnia’s group stage exit from the June 12-July 13 tournament in Brazil and came under more pressure after a shock 2-1 home defeat by Cyprus in their opener.
Klinsmann hails role model Keane
US manager Jurgen Klinsmann has held up Ireland skipper Robbie Keane as a role model for the nation’s future professionals.
The 34-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy striker will be back on the other side of the Atlantic preparing for Sunday’s MLS play-offs showdown with the Seattle Sounders when his international team-mates run out to face the Americans in a friendly tonight.
However, Klinsmann admits he repeatedly uses Keane as an example of what it takes to succeed as a player at the highest level.
He said: “ Robbie Keane is a role model for all the American players growing up.
“He shows to the young players what it takes to become a professional, how much dedication you need.”
Turkish club impose fines for beards
A Turkish club have banned their players from growing beards after their chairman said they looked like students of Islamic vocational schools and set a bad example.
“I am 80 years old, and I shave every single day,” Genclerbirligi chairman Ilhan Cavcav said in explaining the reasoning for his club’s decision to start issuing a fine of 25,000 lira ($11,200) to any of their footballers with beards.
“Man, is this an imam-hatip school? You are a sportsman. You should be a model for the youth.”
Russian minister promises changes
Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko has promised widespread changes after Fabio Capello’s team went down 1-0 to Austria in Saturday’s Euro 2016 Group qualifier.
“No one could have been happy with the result against Austria or the way our team played,” Mutko told Sport Express.
“The level of football we are playing has seen us drop into the ‘middle’ tier of European nations and perhaps we are even falling below this,” he said.
“Now we need to weigh up the complexity of the situation. In the next few days we will announce the decisions we have come to. I am positive that these will be drastic in their character.”
Napoli future unclear for Benitez
Rafael Benitez has refused to confirm that he will be in charge of Napoli at the start of next season, but insisted that if he isn’t it won’t be down “to money or signings”.
The Spaniard’s contract expires at the end of the campaign and he is seemingly in no rush to sign a new deal.
“Experience tells me we have to work on the current project,” Benitez said. “I often speak with (sporting director) Riccardo Bigon, and I always say to (owner, Aurelio) De Laurentiis that he must ensure the future of the club regardless of myself.
“My family are away from me, my wife and two daughters live in Liverpool. It’s the first time I haven’t had them with me, it’s not easy.”
Schalke not keen on Schurrle, Podolski
Schalke’s director of sport Horst Heldt says his club are not interested in signing either Andre Schurrle or Lukas Podolski this winter.
Both Germany internationals are being linked with returns to the Bundesliga as neither are regular starters for their clubs Chelsea and Arsenal respectively.
Gelsenkirchen is not going to be a destination for either of them, though, with Heldt ruling his club out of the running.
“We’re not considering Andre Schurrle at all,” he said. “And the same goes for Xherdan Shaqiri and Lukas Podolski.”
Podolski has aired his frustration at not getting a regular game for Arsenal while on international duty for Germany, saying he will seek talks with the Gunners this winter.
However, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has ruled out a sale of the Germany international in January.
Hojbjerg eyes Bayern Munich exit
Bayern Munich midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg believes his future lies away from the Bavarian club, raising the likelihood of him leaving this winter.
The Dane is already a regular for his country, but Bayern coach Pep Guardiola currently prefers other options in his midfield, even though he has played a major role in the 19-year-old’s development.
“I think the time has come for me to go a different way,” Hojbjerg told Kicker magazine.
“I have learnt everything here – Bayern are the best school – but I feel ready now to take the leap.”