Maradona: Honduras said yesterday that they want former Argentina captain Diego Maradona to coach their national side. Maradona, who has had only two brief coaching experiences, was visiting the Central American nation yesterday where he was due to meet directors of the Honduran federation. Maradona briefly coached Argentine provincial club Deportivo Mandiyu in 1994 and the more prestigious Racing Club the following year. He enjoyed little success in either post.
Wise: Leeds United manager Dennis Wise wasted little time in making his mark at Elland Road, changing the club's captain in his second day in charge. With Wise looking to move Leeds away from the division two relegation zone, he appointed midfielder Kevin Nicholls as skipper in place of experienced defender Paul Butler. Injuries have restricted Nicholls to just four starts since he joined Leeds from Luton Town during the close season. But Wise believes the 27-year-old has the attributes to lead the team.
Lincoln: Schalke's Brazilian playmaker Lincoln will be out for at least two weeks after straining a muscle during a training session yesterday. Lincoln will miss tomorrow's trip to Stuttgart, the club said on its Web site. It was not yet clear if the 27-year-old would be fit for the match against Bayern Munich the weekend after.
Hertha hooligan: A man suspected of knocking out a linesman with a hard plastic cup and causing Wednesday's German Cup second round match between Stuttgarter Kickers and Hertha Berlin to be abandoned is a known hooligan, police said. Linesman Kai Voss was briefly knocked unconscious by the cup thrown from the Stuttgart fan area in the 86th minute of the tie and fell to the ground. He received treatment for several minutes before being led off to the dressing room. Referee Michael Weiner then ended the match four minutes early with Hertha leading 2-0.
Uruguay: Uruguay have included forwards Alvaro Recoba and Diego Forlan in a provisional squad for next month's friendly away to Georgia. The pair were among 22 foreign-based players named by coach Oscar Washington Tabarez for the match on Nov. 15.
Beckham: Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon remains confident that David Beckham will sign a contract renewal with the club despite reports the former England captain may leave the Primera Liga side. "I believe that Beckham will stay, I'm almost certain and I form part of the agreement," Calderon said. "It's normal that these things (rumours about Beckham's departure) happen. I believe David is happy at Real Madrid and we are happy with him and so it would be normal for us to continue together."
Banned: Universitario coach Jorge Amado Nunes was given a three-match touchline ban on Wednesday after being sent off for an incident involving a ball boy during a match at the weekend, local media said. The Paraguayan was dismissed for angrily hurling a ball at the boy during his side's 3-0 defeat away to Sport Ancash the previous weekend.
Koller: Monaco striker Jan Koller is out for up to two months after injuring the same right hamstring that sidelined him during the World Cup finals this summer, the Czech daily Sport reported. "Right away I knew it was bad," the paper quoted the 33-year-old Czech international record scorer as saying after he hurt his leg during Monaco's defeat on penalties to Stade de Reims in a French League Cup match on Tuesday. The 2.04-metre (6ft 7in) tall striker moved to Monaco on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund over the summer after recovering from a serious knee injury he incurred last September. He has since scored once in 11 appearances for his new club.