Malmo: Former Aalborg and Midtjylland manager Allan Kuhn is to take over as coach of Malmo FF, the Swedish club said. He will replace Age Hareide who left in December to become coach of Denmark’s national team. The 47-year-old Kuhn led Aalborg to third place in their Champions League group in 2008 and was assistant coach when they won two Danish league titles.
Kirchhoff: Premier League strugglers Sunderland have signed defender Jan Kirchhoff from Bayern Munich for an undisclosed fee. The towering centre-back, 25, began his career at Mainz before joining Bayern in 2013. He also played on loan at Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga. “Jan has a very good pedigree and even though he is still relatively young he has experience of football at the highest level,” manager Sam Allardyce said.
Curtis: Swansea have appointed Alan Curtis as their manager until the end of the season. The 61-year-old has been in caretaker charge since Swansea sacked Garry Monk on December 9 after a run of only one win in 12 games. Curtis’s first game in full-time charge will be tomorrow’s FA Cup third-round tie at Oxford.
Sako: Manager Alan Pardew will have Bakary Sako available for selection as Crystal Palace take on Southampton in the third round of the FA Cup today. Forward Sako has been out with a hamstring injury since November. Midfielder Yohan Cabaye is also back after serving a one-match suspension but Yannick Bolasie and Kwesi Appiah are still absent.
Released: A suspended Gua-temalan judge who was arrested last month as part of a US investigation into corruption in FIFA won the right to be released from jail on a $4 million bond. Hector Trujillo, 62, was secretary general of the Guatemalan soccer federation until his Dec. 4 arrest. On Thursday, US Magistrate Judge Robert Levy in Brooklyn approved the bond package for Trujillo under which he will be subject to home confinement.
Joe Cole: Former England international Joe Cole, 34, has made his loan move to Coventry City permanent after signing on a free transfer from Aston Villa. Cole has joined until the end of the season after impressing in his seven appearances for Coventry since moving on loan in October.
Scottish Cup: Third round – St Mirren vs Partick 1-2.