Marchena: Former Spain defender Carlos Marchena has called time on a playing career during which he helped his country win Euro 2008 and a first World Cup in 2010 and collected major trophies with Valencia. A tough-tackling centre-back with a reputation as a master of the dark arts of soccer, Marchena began his career at Sevilla and after a brief stint with Portuguese side Benfica joined Valencia in 2001.

Prince Ali: The Iraq FA have pledged their support for Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein in next month’s FIFA presidential election, the Jordanian royal said yesterday. “The FA has endorsed Prince Ali in a letter to FIFA,” IFA president Abdul Khaliq Masood said in a statement published by Ali’s bid team. “We have decided that Iraq’s vote will go to Prince Ali because Prince Ali has always supported the development of football in Iraq, Jordan and our region.”

Courbis: Rolland Courbis has replaced Stade Rennes coach Philippe Montanier until the end of the season, the Ligue 1 club announced yesterday. “I have met with Philippe Montanier to tell him we were separating. The team will be coached by Rolland Courbis,” French media quoted club president Rene Ruello as saying. Courbis, 62, resigned as Montpellier coach in December after two years in charge of the former French champions.

Trotta: Serie A club Sassuolo have signed former Fulham and Brentford striker Marcello Trotta. The 23-year-old was briefly a trainee with Manchester City and scored 12 goals during a season on loan with Brentford before leaving Fulham for Avellino last January.

Kramaric: Leicester City have allowed Andrej Kramaric to join Hoffenheim on loan for the rest of the season. Much was expected of the 24-year-old when the club beat Chelsea to the striker’s signature last January, with the Foxes paying Rijeka £9.5m for his signature. However, Kramaric has struggled to find his feet at Leicester and now will spend the rest of the season with the side bottom of the Bundesliga table.

Results

Scottish Cup
Fourth round: East Kilbride vs Lothian Thistle 2-0.

Spanish Cup
Quarter-finals, first legs: Celta Vigo vs Atletico Madrid 0-0; Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona 1-2.

French Cup
Last 32: Chambly vs Lyon 0-2; Concarneau vs Troyes 1-3; Evian vs Monaco 1-3 aet; FC Mantes vs Nantes 0-1 aet; Trelissac vs Lille 1-1 (Trelissac win 4-2 pens); Boulogne vs Lorient 1-3 aet; Marseille vs Montpellier 2-0.

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