Caceres: Martin Caceres career at Juventus could be over after the defender ruptured an Achilles tendon. The 28-year-old Uruguayan, who is out of contract in the summer, could miss eight months of action after tests revealed he had torn the Achilles in his right leg during Wednesday’s victory over Genoa. And with no more opportunities to prove he deserves a new contract at the Juventus Stadium, the centre-back has probably played his last game for the reigning Serie A champions.

Holden: FormerBolton Wanderers midfielder Stuart Holden has retired from football after a long battle against injuries. The 30-year-old, who was born in Scotland, was part of the United States World Cup squad in South Africa in 2010. “It’s time to stop fighting my body. I have known for a while but I’ve struggled to admit to myself and others. The countless sleepless nights, the aches and the pains and the constant mental battles were all signs pointing to a new path,” Holden said.

Trio banned: Uruguay defender Alvaro Pereira’s hopes of making his Getafe debut at Malaga in La Liga today have been dashed by an eight-match ban imposed by the Argentine FA (AFA). Pereira is one of 15 players the AFA has sanctioned for their part in a brawl at the end of a friendly between Gimnasia and Estudiantes, the club he has left to join Getafe on loan until June.

Villa: Mervyn King, who headed the Bank of England as the country suffered one of its biggest-ever economic downturns, is about to take his turnaround skills to another ailing institution: soccer club Aston Villa. King will join the board of the Birmingham-based club which are owned by American Randy Lerner.

Troyes: Troyes have sacked coach Claude Robin with the team stranded at the bottom of Ligue 1. The club are currently nine points adrift of second-bottom Toulouse and 15 points off safety.