Zdenek Zeman will make his return to management by taking over as Cagliari coach, new owner Tommaso Giulini announced yesterday.
Giulini became the owner when previous president Massimo Cellino, who is now in charge of Leeds United, agreed to sell him the club after a proposed deal with an American investment fund collapsed.
Zeman had been rumoured to be the new Cagliari boss for days and has a one-year deal with the Sardinian club after snubbing the advances of Serie B side Bologna.
“Zeman was our top candidate right from the beginning. His type of football has always fascinated me and I’m sure that he will make his mark on Cagliari,” Giulini said.
Uruguay slay 44-year-old dragon
Uruguay’s 2-1 win over England on Thursday was their first World Cup victory over European opponents for 44 years.
The Uruguayans overcame England thanks to a brace from Luis Suarez but it was a long time coming. The last Europeans they beat at a World Cup were the Soviet Union, 1-0 after extra-time in Mexico in 1970.
The last time they won against a European side in regulation time was in 1966 when they beat France 2-1.
Hull City unveil new club crest
Hull unveiled a new club crest yesterday, with the design not incorporating the team name.
The fresh logo features the tiger’s head which has been depicted on four of the club’s seven previous badges, but does not have the club’s name on it.
That is sure to spark debate among supporters who earlier this year successfully lobbied against a name change.
Chairman Assem Allam wanted to rebrand the club from Hull City AFC to Hull Tigers, citing the word city as “common” and claiming the club would be more marketable on the continent if known as ‘Tigers’.
His wish was not granted by the FA but the club continues to use the name Hull City Tigers in statements and commercial operations.
West Brom sign defender Lescott
West Brom have announced the signing of Joleon Lescott on a two-year contract.
The England defender joins the Baggies as a free agent from July 1 after ending his five-year spell at Manchester City.
The 31-year-old won two Premier League titles at the Etihad and takes a wealth of experience with him to the midlands.
The Baggies said in a statement that Lescott’s deal has the option of a further year.
He becomes the first signing of new head coach Alan Irvine – the Scot who worked closely with Lescott at Everton.
Dyke: Hodgson will stay in charge
Roy Hodgson will remain as England manager until the end of Euro 2016, FA chairman Greg Dyke has said.
Hodgson, who has two years left on his contract, said following the Uruguay defeat that he would not resign, and yesterday Dyke gave him his full backing.
“We’re supportive of Roy Hodgson, we’ve asked him to stay as manager,” Dyke said.
When asked by Sky Sports News if he felt Hodgson would remain in his job until the end of his contract at the 2016 European Championships, Dyke added: “That is the view of myself, of everybody else here (in Brazil) and of others in the FA.”
Roma say Benatia valued at €40m
Mehdi Benatia could be on his way out of the Serie A this summer with the likes of Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Manchester City showing interest in the Roma central defender.
However, the capital club have made it official that they will not consider offers for the 27-year-old Benatia of less than €40 million.
The Moroccan blasted Roma over a ‘disrespectful’ offer of a new contract earlier this week, fuelling speculation that a transfer has now become a reality.
Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Benatia has already in-formed club officials that he wants to leave with Roma saying they will only let him go for a fee of €40 million.
Die tears for WCup occasion not dad
Ivory Coast midfielder Serey Die said he broke down in tears on Thursday over the emotion of representing his country at a World Cup as false internet rumours swirled that his father had died before kick-off.
Die was crying as the anthems played before they faced Colombia in Brasilia, with rumours circulating on Twitter that his father, who died in 2004, had passed away two hours before the Group C match.
A sombre Die said the emotion of the occasion had got to him.
“I was going to play for my country,” he said when asked about the tears.
“(But) it’s true that I thought about my father, who died in 2004,” he added.