Croatia coach Slaven Bilic said yesterday he will quit as national coach after Euro 2012 in Poland and the Ukraine.
“I will conclude my story (as Croatia coach) with the Euro. This is my last championship,” Bilic told journalists after he unveiled his 27-man squad.
Bilic refused to comment on reports that he was negotiating to take over at Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow.
“The main job is ahead of us. I don’t think about what will happen afterwards but only about this big, sacred goal,” the 43-year-old said in reference to Euro 2012.
Singapore’s Ng renews Gers bid
Singapore tycoon Bill Ng has renewed his bid for Rangers at half the price he originally offered after a “crazy” twist to the ownership saga, reports said yesterday.
Ng, who has supported the bankrupt Scottish club since boyhood, withdrew his £20 million offer last month in frustration at the bidding process.
But the Hougang United chairman is now back in the race after the preferred bidder, US tow-truck magnate Bill Miller, pulled out over concerns about the club’s financial position and anti-American vitriol from fans.
“It is really crazy,” Ng told Singapore’s Today newspaper.
“There were something like 20 missed calls from Scotland on my phone when I woke up.”
Rice to retire
Arsenal announced yesterday that long-serving assistant manager Pat Rice will retire from the Premier League club at the end of the season.
Rice, 63, has been associated with Arsenal for 44 years, having first joined the Gunners as a youth-team player in 1964 before going on to make 528 senior appearances over 14 seasons.
Wenger, paying tribute to Rice, told Arsenal’s website: “Pat is a true Arsenal legend and has committed almost his whole life to Arsenal, which shows huge loyalty and devotion to this club.”
The Arsenal manager also announced that Steve Bould will be his assistant next season.
QPR no pushovers, Lescott warns
Joleon Lescott is relishing Manchester City’s biggest game for 44 years but insists it is nonsense to suggest they already have the title in the bag.
A win against strugglers QPR at home on Sunday will see the top-flight title go to City – although as long as City match Manchester United’s result at Sunderland the trophy will still be theirs.
The England defender told the club’s website: “I’ve heard a few things have been said about how we will approach the game and that we think all we have to do is turn up – but that’s nonsense.
“Every team we play represents a different challenge and we will go out there with the right attitude and try to get the job done.”
Hernandez to miss Olympics
Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez will not play for Mexico at this summer’s London Olympics, his club announced yesterday.
Hernandez, who turns 24 on June 1, had initially been called up as one of Mexico’s three over-age players, but United have now agreed with the Mexican FA he will have the full summer off instead.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson told the club’s website: “His form last season was fantastic.
“He’s found the second year more difficult, but a lot of that is down to not having a summer break for three years and playing every summer for his country.”
Brazil backs beer sales at WCup
Brazil’s senate have approved the sale of beer during the 2014 World Cup matches, as demanded by FIFA, despite warnings from some opposition members.
The senate passed a package of measures demanded by FIFA that include selling beer in plastic cups legislation.
The bill also gives FIFA exclusive rights to pictures, sound and other forms of expression linked to the World Cup, with criminal and financial sanctions for any illegal reproduction.
It will also reserve one per cent of admission tickets for the handicapped and mandates that 300,000 tickets should be sold at discounted prices.
Bari fans arrested for threats
Supporters of Bari, currently playing in Serie B, were arrested yesterday for allegedly threatening the team’s players to lose matches in order to bet on the result, judicial sources said.
Roberto Sblendorio, Raffaele Lo Iacono and Alberto Savarese, the leaders of three supporters groups, are accused of having threatened the players to lose three games – Bari-Sampdoria, Bari-Cesena and Bari-Chievo – in Serie A during the 2010-11 season in order to win large sums of money on bets.
Bari lost all three matches.
On Tuesday, 22 clubs and 61 people, including 54 players, were referred for judicial investigation as part of the Calcioscommesse probe.