Former Real Madrid midfielder Ignacio Zoco, a key part of the team that dominated La Liga in the 1960s and the Spanish side that won the 1964 European Championship, died yesterday aged 76.
After starting out at Pamplona-based Osasuna in his native Navarra region, Zoco spent 12 seasons with Real, making 434 competitive appearances and helping the club win one European Cup, seven La Liga titles and two Spanish Cups.
He played 25 times for Spain between 1961 and 1969, including the 1964 Euro final in Madrid when the hosts beat the Soviet Union to win their maiden major championship.
Mourinho didn’t trust me – Schurrle
Andre Schurrle left Premier League champions Chelsea because he felt he had lost the trust of manager Jose Mourinho, the German midfielder said.
The World Cup winner was used mainly as a bit-part player during his time with the West London club, making 20 league starts in the 18 months he was there.
“My performances were good... but there was a time in my second season when I felt I didn’t have the manager’s trust any more, and did not play many matches from the start,” Schurrle, who scored 11 league goals for Chelsea, said.
“I don’t know why Mourinho didn’t trust me. I started a few games, was on the bench for a few, then started some more.”
Nantes apologise to PSG president
Nantes have apologised for an attack on the car carrying Paris St Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi as he left Saturday’s Ligue 1 game between the sides.
As Al-Khelaifi was driven out of the Stade de la Beaujoire after his side’s 4-1 win, a group of around 20 people obstructed his car and threw projectiles at it.
Initial reports blamed the Brigade Loire group of Nantes fans for the attack but the club were quick to defend the group even as they condemned the incident.
A club statement read: “FC Nantes regrets the stigmatising of the Brigade Loire, in the absence of witnesses or proof, incriminating one of the associations of the club.”
Grealish pledges future to England
Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish has chosen to pledge his international future to England, rather than the Republic of Ireland.
Grealish, who celebrated his 20th birthday this month, represented Ireland at youth level through his Irish-born grandparents before his displays at Villa under the guidance of Tim Sherwood caught the eye of England manager Roy Hodgson.
“Jack Grealish has made a decision over his international future and opted to play for England,” the club said on Twitter.
Goal against City silences critics – Kane
Scoring his first Premier League goal of the season will silence the critics who have tried to saddle him with a “one-season wonder” tag, Tottenham striker Harry Kane said.
The England international broke his season-long drought for his club when he clipped in a rebound after Christian Eriksen’s free-kick struck the crossbar in their 4-1 drubbing of Manchester City on Saturday.
“Maybe I shut up a few people who have been talking over the last few weeks,” Kane was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
“Only seven games (in the league) and a few people said ‘one-season wonder’. People can judge me at the end of the season and we will go from there. I have to stay focused but it is great to score.
Injured Dzeko out of Bosnia qualifiers
Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko has been ruled out of their final two Euro 2016 qualifiers at home to Wales on Oct. 10 and away to Cyprus three days later with a knee injury.
Dzeko, who is on loan at Roma from Manchester City, faces up to six weeks on the sidelines after twisting his knee in the 5-1 Serie A win over newcomers Carpi on Saturday.
“It was tough to learn last night that Dzeko is out and it is just as difficult to imagine our national team without him,” Bosnia coach Mehmed Bazdarevic said.
“That’s the situation, though, and we have to find the right solution in the present circumstances.”
Technical director Baldini leaves Spurs
Technical director Franco Baldini has left Tottenham Hotspur by “mutual consent”, according to a statement on the club’s website.
The 54-year-old joined Spurs in June 2013 after a stint as director of football at Italian side Roma and had left Tottenham to “spend time outside of club football”, the statement said.
Baldini was assistant to Fabio Capello between 2007 and 2012, when the latter was in charge of the England national team.
At Spurs, Baldini oversaw the departures of several prominent players, including the sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid for a reported world record fee of £85.3 million.