Sparta Rotterdam: Sparta Rotterdam have named Aad de Mos as their new coach following the sacking of Frans Adelaar. Adelaar was dismissed yesterday morning in the wake of Sparta's 4-1 defeat against Heerenveen on Saturday. The setback left the club just one point and one place above the relegation play-off places. De Mos has been charged with keeping them in the top flight and has agreed a deal initially until the end of the season. The 63-year-old resigned from Greek club Kavala on Friday after a dispute with the club owner.
Boateng: Hull City have received some good news after midfielder George Boateng was released from hospital following a sickening head injury at Stoke on Saturday. The veteran Dutchman was carried off on a stretcher and taken straight to hospital after being struck in the face by Stoke forward Tuncay Sanli's overhead kick. He was kept in hospital overnight for observation amid fears he had suffered a fractured jaw, but has now returned home after a series of scans and X-rays all came back clear.
Gobbi: Sampdoria are the favourites to capture Fiorentina midfielder Massimo Gobbi at the end of the season. The versatile player is available on a Bosman free transfer this summer. Despite late interest from Roma, it seems that the 29-year-old favours a move to Sampdoria next season.
Juventus: Juventus have a contractual nightmare to resolve before August as eight players over the age of 30 have deals which will expire in 2011. While some veterans remain untouchable, there are others who need to be sold while they are still attractive to other clubs. Alex Manninger, Fabio Cannavaro, Nicola Legrottaglie, Jonathan Zebina, Mauro Camoranesi, Hasan Salihamidzic, David Trezeguet and Alex Del Piero are the men who have less than 18 months left on their deals.
Ajax: Ajax defender Toby Alderweireld kept his side in the Dutch title race by lashing in a long-range winner deep into injury time away at ADO Den Haag yesterday. Alderweireld's venomous strike was too much for Ricky van den Bergh who had swapped his midfield position to go in goal with 15 minutes left after keeper Barry Ditewig had been sent off. Twente Enschede, 2-0 winners at VVV Venlo on Saturday, are top with 77 points with four matches remaining. Ajax are second on 73 points, one more than PSV Eindhoven who won 1-0 at Willem II Tilburg.
Pedersen: Palermo manager Delio Rossi is reportedly interested in signing Blackburn winger Morten Gamst Pedersen. Pedersen's contract at Rovers runs out at the end of this season, and although the Lancashire club have opened talks over an extension, other teams are preparing offers for the Norwegian stalwart.
Swimming: Japan's multi Olympic swimming gold medallist Kosuke Kitajima has passed his first major test in his quest for an unprecedented 'triple double' at the London Games in 2012. The 27-year-old, who won the men's 100 and 200 metres breaststroke at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, swims at this month's Japanese championships after flirting with retirement. Kitajima, making his first appearance at his country's nationals since 2008, completed a punishing high altitude training programme in Colorado before flying to Japan.
Basketball, NBA: The Toronto Raptors rallied for a 128-123 overtime victory over the slumping Philadelphia 76ers at the weekend to maintain their advantage for the final Eastern Conference play-off spot. Toronto's Chris Bosh, who had 28 points and 12 rebounds, and Jose Calderon played major roles in the win but not before Philadelphia had stormed back from a 17-point third-quarter deficit to take the lead with a minute to play in regulation.
Tennis: American Andy Roddick def-eated Czech Tomas Berdych 7-5 6-4 to win the Sony Ericsson Open yesterday. The victory was the 29th in Roddick's career and his second at Key Biscayne following his win in 2004.