Schalke will part ways with sports director Horst Heldt after the final match of the season on Saturday, with his replacement Christian Heidel arriving from Mainz a day later.
Heldt, who has held the post since 2010, and Schalke agreed to a “seamless transition”.
“This seamless transition is something we jointly worked on for months,” said Schalke boss Clemens Toennies.
Heidel, a long-time sports director at Mainz, will receive a four-year deal. Schalke have had a disappointing season and could miss out altogether on European football next season.
Mahrez honoured
Riyad Mahrez was voted Leicester City’s player of the season by the club’s supporters.
Mahrez racked up 17 league goals and 11 assists to help the Foxes win the English Premier League title.
He picked the 3-2 come-from-behind win over Aston Villa in September and February’s 3-1 away victory over Manchester City as his favourite games of the season.
The Algerian said: “It’s good to be voted for from the fans. I’m very happy. We just know we’ve done something crazy – something unbelievable.”
Benzema returns to boost R. Madrid
Karim Benzema is returning to full fitness at just the right time for Real Madrid, who will play Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final on May 28.
Coach Zinedine Zidane was relieved to see the striker come back from a hamstring problem and score in Sunday’s 3-2 triumph over Valencia, a result that kept Real just a point behind Barcelona with one game to go in the race for the league title.
“He’s not been at 100 per cent for a while. We’ve seen that it wasn’t easy for him physically,” Zidane said.
“(Against Valencia) he coped with it well and without any problems. We’ve got two games left. He’s getting better every day and he’s not feeling any discomfort from his last injury.”
Paco Jemez keen to stay at troubled Rayo
Paco Jemez declared his intention to remain in charge of Rayo Vallecano for a fifth straight season, even if the strugglers fail to defend their La Liga status this weekend.
To avoid the drop, Rayo need to beat already-relegated Levante on Sunday and for Sporting Gijon and Getafe to lose.
“I sense that we are more in the second division as we don’t depend on ourselves,” said Jemez, a former player at the club.
“I’ve been linked to many clubs but I haven’t met anyone nor have I signed anything. If there is an opportunity to continue, I will, whether it’s in the top division or the second division.”
Oscar keen to prove his worth
Brazilian Oscar says he deserves a second chance at Chelsea under incoming manager Antonio Conte, after a poor campaign at Stamford Bridge.
The 24-year-old has failed to build on promising form last term during Chelsea’s Premier League winning season, and has found the net only three times this season.
“It’s been very difficult for me. I’m coming from two or three seasons of doing well, but I was one of those players who got injured at the start of the season,” Oscar said.
“(The new manager’s arrival) is great for the players. Obviously you have to prove yourself. It will be a breath of fresh air to the team and everyone’s excited to prove their worth to be here.”
Monthly awards
Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri has been named the Premier League manager of the month for April, while Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has won the award for the players.
Ranieri guided his team to three victories and a draw during the month. This was the third award this season for Ranieri.
Aguero scored in all of City’s five games in April, including a stunning hat-trick in the win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on April 16.
Suarez on course for another landmark
Luis Suarez could become Bar-celona’s highest scoring Uru-guayan in Saturday’s match at Granada, having equalled in only two seasons what compatriot Ramon Alberto Villaverde Vaz-quez aggregated in his decade-long stint with the club.
The 29-year-old’s brace against Espanyol in Barca’s 5-0 triumph last Sunday saw him reach 81 goals for the Catalans to equal the record of Villaverde Vazquez who had joined the club in 1954 and played 10 seasons, scoring 81 goals in 224 games.
In only his second season at Barca, Suarez has struck 50 goals in all competitions this time to help the team remain in contention for a double, overtaking his previous record of 49 for Ajax in the 2009-2010 campaign.