Borussia Dortmund have hired Juergen Klopp as Thomas Doll's replacement as coach after the former German international midfielder resigned at the end of the season.
Klopp spent 18 years as a player and coach at second division Mainz but left the post at the end of the last campaign after the club failed to win promotion to the Bundesliga.
The 40-year-old would take charge of the 1997 Champions League winners on a two-year contract through June 2010, club officials said.
Dortmund, the only Bundesliga club listed on the stock exchange, finished 13th in the league last season but qualified for the UEFA Cup by reaching the German Cup final.
England to 'benefit' from Euro exit
Missing Euro 2008 may end up being a good thing for England as it meant they appointed Fabio Capello as manager, former coach Sven Goran Eriksson has said.
"It's a shame for England but it's better like that as Capello always wins and he'll do really well with the national team too," the Manchester City boss told Gazzetta dello Sport, adding that Italian teams were unlucky in this year's Champions League.
"Inter and Roma played better, they gave more of a show than Manchester United and Chelsea."
Arsenal get Vela green light
Arsenal have been granted a work permit for Carlos Vela. The 19-year-old Mexican striker, who has three full caps, has been on loan this season at Osasuna, scoring three goals in 32 appearances.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who says Vela will be involved with the first team next season, has likened the youngster to Croatia frontman Eduardo.
Vela joined Arsenal after winning the golden boot as top scorer at the 2005 FIFA U-17 championship. He joined Arsenal on a five-year deal for a fee that could rise to over £2m.
Ferguson slams Real
Alex Ferguson told Real Madrid that Manchester United would not be bullied into selling Cristiano Ronaldo.
His comments came as Ronaldo spoke to reporters in Lisbon to deny media speculation he had agreed to join Real.
"Real Madrid are not the only club interested in Ronaldo, but other clubs are not saying so," Ferguson told reporters.
"Do you not think we've not had interest from big clubs around Europe about our best players? Of course, we have. But they don't get into the nonsense Real get into."
Anelka tired of waiting in the wings
Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka is unhappy at being used as a winger by coach Avram Grant and wants to play centre forward next season.
Anelka, who missed a penalty in the Champions League final shoot-out against Man. United, was quoted as saying he was not interested in playing as a wide man.
"When I came (to Chelsea), I was told I would play in a 4-4-2 system," Anelka said. "I didn't come here to play on the right or on the left. In England, I need to prove my worth as a centre forward."
Henry ponders future
France striker Thierry Henry has admitted that the prospect of retiring from international soccer after next month's Euro 2008 tournament has crossed his mind.
"I have thought about retiring after Euro 2008," Henry, 30, said. "I'm not going to say I'm not thinking about it. I'm 31 and I'm a striker."
Despite enduring a frustrating first season at Barcelona, Henry said he expected to stay at the Nou Camp but could not be certain.
"Will I stay at Barca next season?" Henry asked. "I have three years left in my contract so, for the moment, I'm a Barca player."
Redknapp wins damages from police
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp won 1,000 pounds damages from the City of London Police yesterday when the High Court ruled that a search warrant issued against him during a corruption inquiry was unlawful.
The court was told that police searched the home of Redknapp and his wife Sandra on England's south coast last November at dawn.
Lord Justice Latham and Mr Justice Underhill were also told that photographers from The Sun were present both at the six a.m. search and when Redknapp left Chichester police station after being bailed later on the same day.