Pierre Littbarski is expected to be given until the end of the season to prove he is a candidate for the Wolfsburg job full-time following the dismissal of Steve McClaren.
McClaren was shown the door after little over half of the season following last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Hannover, which left the 2009 Bundesliga champions just one point above the relegation zone.
Littbarski, who was appointed McClaren’s assistant in the summer, has been handed the reins in his place. He led his first training session yesterday morning, but other names are already being linked with the club.
Ralf Rangnick, Martin Jol, Huub Stevens and Lucien Favre are the first to emerge.
Sampdoria chief backs coach
Sampdoria president Riccardo Garrone has handed under-fire coach Domenico di Carlo a vote of confidence despite the team’s dismal form this year.
Samp have mustered just one win in their last eight league games, a run which has seen them slide down to 14th in the Serie A table, just five points above the relegation zone. They have also failed to score in their last five outings.
Despite that woeful record, Garrone has no intention of making a change.
He told Gazzetta dello Sport: “We have full confidence in Di Carlo.
“He may be criticised by others and they have a right to their own opinion but we are backing our coach and our staff in order for them to give their best.”
Schalke fans slate soulless signings
The chief fan club of Schalke 04 has told coach Felix Magath that his flood of signings is ruining the Bundesliga outfit and is selling out on its traditions.
“Give us our club back before we become too soulless, too cosmopolitan. Don’t sell our club’s soul,” said the 90,000-strong Schalker Fan-Verband fan club in an open letter to the Ruhr giants.
Since former Bayern Munich coach Magath joined Schalke in July 2009 the club have signed a staggering 40 players, and while they were runners-up in the league last season they are now stuck in mid-table.
I owe it to Cagliari, says Matri
On-loan Juventus striker Alessandro Matri has credited Cagliari after earning his first Italy call-up. The 26-year-old was included in Cesare Prandelli’s squad for today’s international friendly against Germany in Dortmund.
Matri, who scored two goals in Juve’s 3-1 win over Cagliari on Saturday, said: “I want to thank Cagliari because for three-and-a-half years they gave me confidence and playing continuity even when I was not at my best.
“Moreover, they allowed me to join a great club like Juventus.”
Matri joined Juve on loan from Cagliari last month having scored 11 goals for the Sardinian outfit this season.
Cech picked as top Czech player
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech became the Czech footballer of the year 2010 at a ceremony in Prague this week, winning the trophy for the third consecutive time.
“I’ll never grow tired of this, it’s a great honour,” said the 28-year-old Cech, with 78 appearances for the Czech national team, after being picked by players, coaches, officials and journalists.
Cech won ahead of Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky and Atletico Madrid defender Tomas Ujfalusi.
The ceremony was held two days before the 80th birthday of Czech midfielder Josef Masopust, the 1962 Ballon D’Or winner and playmaker of the Czechoslovakia team that made it to the final of the World Cup in Chile in the same year.
Inter’s Milito facing lay-off
Diego Milito is set to miss the Champions League last-16 clash against Bayern Munich on February 23 through injury. The Inter striker suffered a hamstring problem during Sunday’s 5-3 triumph over Roma and could be out of action for a month.
After an extremely successful 2009-10 campaign, in which Milito helped the Italian team to the treble, the 31-year-old has had a nightmare with injuries this season.
Milito could miss up to six Serie A games, starting with Sunday’s clash at Juventus, but Inter coach Leonardo has urged the striker not to rush his return.
“Diego has to be calm and not think about what has happened,” he said.
“He does not need to prove anything to anyone... he needs to relax and recover in the best possible way.”
Wilshere escapes FA sanction
Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere will not face any disciplinary action from the FA over his Twitter comments criticising referee Phil Dowd after Saturday’s 4-4 draw at Newcastle.
Wilshere used his Twitter page to hit out at Dowd’s handling of the Premier League clash, where Arsenal had raced into a 4-0 lead before having Abou Diaby sent off – which proved to be the catalyst for Newcastle’s amazing comeback.
Wilshere felt a later incident involving Kevin Nolan and Wojciech Szczesny was just as serious.
“Inconsistent refereeing needs to stop. It’s killing the game. If Diaby goes, what’s the difference between that and Nolan on our keeper?” Wilshere had posted on Twitter.