Bologna have named Roberto Donadoni as their new coach hours after sacking Delio Rossi, who departed the club yesterday.
Bologna lost 1-0 at home to 10-man Inter on Tuesday, their eighth loss of the campaign, which saw the Rossoblu drop to 18th in the standings with only six points from 10 matches.
That led to Rossi’s departure yesterday afternoon.
The club wasted little time in bringing in a replacement as Donadoni agreed a two-year deal.
Donadoni had been out of a job since leaving Parma at the end of last season.
Beckham school
David Beckham is considering a proposal to build a sports high school at a new soccer stadium in Miami as part of his quest to bring a Major League Soccer team to the city.
Beckham’s investment group is discussing a proposal by Miami’s public education authority under which “Beckham High” would be part of the stadium development on a 10.5-acre city-owned site in the Little Havana neighbourhood.
Beckham’s Miami Beckham United would gain use of the land and an exemption from county property taxes, and it would pay the city $850,000 a year over 60 years for a total of $51 million.
The deal would also allow Miami’s public school system to use the stadium for graduation ceremonies and other events.
Robles’s cup heroics not enough
Joel Robles’s League Cup heroics may have sent Everton into the last eight for just the second time in 28 years, but he will be relegated to Tim Howard’s back-up again this weekend.
Goalkeeper Robles produced a fine save from Lewis Grabban’s header in the last minute to deny the Canaries a 2-1 win in normal time before he saved Wes Hoolahan’s spot-kick in the shoot-out that Everton won 4-3.
Asked if Howard would lose his starting berth, Everton manager Roberto Martinez replied: “No, that’s very clear.
“Joel has been playing in this competition and I trust him 100 per cent – the same way Tim Howard is an influential member of our squad. Nothing changes.”
Benteke injured
Liverpool striker Christian Benteke was ruled out of last night's League Cup game against Bournemouth with a knee injury and is a major doubt for Saturday’s league clash at Chelsea.
The news comes as a blow to manager Juergen Klopp, who is already without the services of Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings. The German’s only other attacking option is 20-year-old Divock Origi.
Benteke returned to competitive action against Rubin Kazan in the Europa League last week, having spent a month out with a hamstring injury.
Wambach calls time on her career
Former World Player of the Year Abby Wambach, the leading international scorer of all time who is renowned for her heading prowess, announced that she would end her stellar career in December.
The 35-year-old American, who has racked up 184 goals for her country in 252 appearances, will bow out after representing the United States on Dec. 16 against China in New Orleans.
That match will be the last of the US national team’s 10-game ‘Victory Tour’ to celebrate their triumph at this year’s Women’s World Cup, where Wambach was finally able to add World Cup honours to the Olympic gold medals she won in 2004 and 2012.
Mascherano handed two-match ban
Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano has received a two-match suspension following his red card in Sunday’s La Liga clash with Eibar for verbally abusing a linesman, the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) said yesterday.
The Catalan side were worried the Argentine would miss El Clasico against Real Madrid on Nov. 21 if he had been hit with a four-match ban since Barca’s squad is already stretched.
Referee Carlos Del Cerro Grande said Mascherano was dismissed for directing an insult, common in Argentina, towards the linesman but Barca appealed saying it was said in passing.
The suspension means the defender will miss Barcelona’s league matches against Getafe and Villarreal.
Raul not eyeing coaching return
Real Madrid great Raul has no plans to make a quick return to the game as a coach following his decision to leave New York Cosmos and hang up his boots at the end of the season.
The Spaniard announced this month that he was going to call time on a 21-year playing career that will always be defined by his exploits at Real where he won three Champions League trophies and six La Liga titles.
“I don’t feel like a coach and it is not something that I am thinking of becoming in the next few years,” the 38-year-old Raul said.
“Along with this, in order to be a coach you have to train to be-come one and I haven’t even started. I would like to coach a successful team though.”