Ronaldo’s pose in underwear has helped open up dozens of export markets for Danish manufacturer JBS Textile Group and the company is hoping to build on that success with a range of shirts.
JBS teamed up with Ronaldo, the Real Madrid striker who ranks among the world’s best-paid soccer players, last year to launch a product line sold under the CR7 brand and conceived by New York-based fashion designer Richard Chai.
Now the 75-year-old Jutland company is branching out from its traditional underwear lines with a range of fitted shirts also promoted under the CR7 brand, taken from Ronaldo’s shirt number, and designed by Chai.
Veh steps down
VfB Stuttgart coach Armin Veh resigned yesterday, a day after the former Bundesliga champions were beaten 1-0 by Augsburg to remain anchored to the foot of the table.
Veh, who led Stuttgart to the league title in 2007, had returned this season, but after three straight losses without scoring a goal he decided to pull the plug on his second stint at the club.
“It was a difficult step to take because the club and team are close to my heart but I was convinced it was the right one,” Veh said in a club statement.
“The team is better than the position in the table but nine points from 12 games are too few.”
Real ‘down under’
Real Madrid will play exhibition matches with an English Premier League side and a Serie A club at the Melbourne Cricket Ground next year, organisers said.
The teams will play each other in three fixtures at the 100,000-seat MCG from July 18-24 as part of the International Champions Cup, a series of pre-season matches involving top European clubs.
The other teams will be named in coming weeks.
Manchester City, who own Melbourne City in Australia’s top-flight A-League, are expected to participate. Local media have speculated Inter will be the third.
Brandao sorry for headbutt incident
Bastia striker Brandao has apologised for the headbutt on Paris St Germain’s Thiago Motta that saw him suspended for six months.
The Brazilian clashed with Motta in the tunnel after his side’s 2-0 defeat at the Parc des Princes in August, with the incident captured on CCTV. An appeal against his ban was rejected last week, meaning Brandao remains out of action until February.
“I didn’t say anything before because I wanted to save my explanations for the hearing,” the 34-year-old told Canal Plus.
“I was insulted throughout the match. I don’t want to repeat what Motta said. I did not plan to hit him. My action was not premeditated. I regret my action.
“I regretted it straight away.”
Vermaelen may need surgery
Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen may need an operation to cure his thigh injury, sports director Andoni Zubi-zarreta said yesterday.
The Belgium centre-half is still waiting to make his competitive debut after joining from Arsenal in the close season and his signing is turning into something of an embarrassment for the board.
“We don’t know if Vermaelen is now going to need surgery, we are studying the situation,” Zubizarreta said.
Vermaelen sustained the in-jury playing against Russia at the World Cup in June.
Man. United fans top sound survey
Man. United fans can lay claim to being the loudest in the Premier League, although Jose Mourinho’s criticism spurred the Chelsea faithful on to give them a real run for their money last week.
Ever since Mourinho lamented the lack of atmosphere at Stamford Bridge three weeks ago, PA Sport has been recording the decibel levels at all Premier games.
When it was first used a fortnight ago, United’s fans rid themselves of the prawn sandwich-eating tag they have in some quarters to record a level of 84 decibels against Crystal Palace.
Chelsea’s fans went close to matching it against West Brom on Saturday, with those at Stamford Bridge returning a score of 83 decibels and answering Mourinho’s call.
Werder looking for new faces
Werder Bremen will be looking to strengthen their squad this winter, according to director of football Rouven Schroder.
A 2-0 defeat in the northern Germany derby to Hamburg on Sunday has left Bremen inside the relegation zone in the Bundesliga. And to avoid another season of struggle Schroder says the squad must be strengthened in January.
“We’re looking around intensively to see what we can do,” Schroder said.
“We’re busy holding lots of talks. We’ve got to get it right because we can’t just add players to the squad, they’ve got to be good enough to strengthen us too.
“We want to form a squad which can set about getting away from the bottom of the table.”