Struggling Ingolstadt appointed Bundesliga newcomer Maik Walpurgis as their new head coach following the departure of Markus Kauczinski last week.
The 43-year-old Walpurgis, who has coached only third division clubs or lower, signed a contract until 2018 and pledged to keep the Bavarian club, currently in 17th place and without a win, in the top division.
“The Bundesliga has always been my goal so that is why this is a special day for me,” Walpurgis said in a statement.
“I am looking forward to this challenge and am fully convinced we will remain in the Bundesliga at the end of the season.”
Bentancur to join Juventus in June
Juventus will activate a €10m clause in Rodrigo Bentancur’s contract to sign him next June, Boca Juniors supremo Daniel Angelici told reporters yesterday.
The Italy champions had secured an option on the 19-year-old when they agreed to let Carlos Tevez join the Buenos Aires club last year.
“I will be meeting Juventus officials in Milan soon,” Angelici was quoted as saying.
“We have to talk because they have an option to buy Bentancur and they want to exercise it.”
Juve rivals Milan had also tried to sign Bentancur in summer but their €15m bid was rejected.
Dramatic win for Mexico over US
Rafael Marquez headed in a late winner to secure Mexico’s dramatic 2-1 victory over the US in a CONCACAF World Cup qualifier in Ohio late Friday.
With emotions running high, ‘El Tri’ delivered a brutal knockout punch to the Americans as Marquez directed a header into goal off a corner on 89 minutes to deflate the hosts who had dominated during a feisty second half.
The showdown took on extra meaning just days after the US elected Donald Trump as President. Trump has threatened to build a wall along the border between the two countries in a proposed crackdown on illegal immigration.
Inter striker Gabigol set to go on loan
Serie A clubs Empoli and Pescara are showing interest in taking Gabriel Barbosa, better known as Gabigol, on loan from Inter in the January transfer window.
The striker moved to Italy from Santos in August for €29.5m, but he has failed to start a single match and spent most of his time on the subs’ bench so far.
With new coach Stefano Pioli unlikely to bank too much on Gabigol, Inter are considering a loan spell.
Pescara look the most likely destination for the unsettled striker as they have strong ties with Inter, having already concluded similar loan deals for Gianluca Caprari and Rey Manaj in the off-season.
Chelsea mulling new Costa contract
Reports in the UK media yesterday said that Chelsea are set to offer a new contract to striker Diego Costa.
The Daily Mirror said the London club will reward Costa, 28, after his superb start to the season, but also to ward off interest from Atletico Madrid.
Costa’s former club have been linked with a move for Costa throughout the last 12 months, after his disappointing 2015/16 with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.
At present, Costa is the Premier League’s top scorer, scoring nine goals and assisting three in 11 games.
Sanchez del Amo is new Real Betis coach
Real Betis have sacked Gustavo Poyet after less than four months in charge and replaced him with former Deportivo coach Victor Sanchez del Amo, the Spanish club announced yesterday.
Betis took 11 points from 11 games under the Uruguayan and are 14th in La Liga, two points above the relegation zone.
A former midfielder for Real Madrid and Deportivo among other clubs, Sanchez del Amo worked as an assistant coach at Getafe, Sevilla and Olympiakos Piraeus before taking charge of Deportivo in 2015, helping them avoid relegation.
He was sacked at the end of his second season after a poor campaign as the team finished 15th in the standings.
Anya says players are behind Strachan
Ikechi Anya insists Gordon Strachan has the backing of the Scotland players following the 3-0 defeat by England at Wembley
The pressure piled on the Scots’ boss after dropping to second bottom of Group F with four points from four games and prospects of reaching the 2018 World Cup in Russia now looking rather bleak.
Asked if it was fair that questions would be asked of the manager, the 28-year-old Derby County player said: “Not really... I don’t think so.
“He has our full backing. He is an unbelievable manager to work with. It is a bit unfair, it is the players that are on the pitch.
“We are four points away from second place, we have four home games and we have a good record at Hampden.”