Ljungberg: Freddie Ljungberg has been named as Sweden's new captain, coach Lars Lagerback said yesterday. The attacking Arsenal midfielder will replace defender Olof Mellberg who stepped down as skipper on Monday, saying it was time for someone else to take over. FC Copenhagen's Tobias Linderoth will stand in for Ljungberg in next Wednesday's friendly against Germany, however, because Ljungberg is currently sidelined due to injury.
Charlton: Charlton signed Mali defender Djimi Traore from Liverpool for two million pounds and spent a further two million to bring Senegal midfielder Andy Faye from Newcastle. Both players have signed three-year contracts. Traore, a French-born 26-year-old, failed to secure a regular starting slot at Anfield while Faye, 29, has left Tyneside as Glenn Roeder begins his first full season in charge.
Barthez: Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, without a club since he left Marseille in May, said he was eager to carry on for one or two more seasons. The 35-year-old also said that he is not ready to halt his international career yet. Barthez was in contact with Ligue 1 side Toulouse during the close season break but it failed to lead to any deal.
Mertesacker: German international defender Per Mertesacker has agreed a four-year contract with Werder Bremen. The 21-year-old, who played for Hanover 96 for the past three seasons, performed nervously in some of his first matches for the national side but blossomed into one of the top central defenders at the World Cup. Bremen defender Frank Fahrenhorst will move to Hanover as part of the deal.
Cash shortage: A Romanian first division coach will reward his players with days off rather than win bonus payments because of the club's poor finances. Politehnica Iasi have started the season with successive league wins, leading coach Ionut Popa to say: "How could we pay them for so many wins? I plan to award my players with free Mondays instead." Romanian soccer has been dogged by severe cash shortages. Earlier this year, local tax authorities said first division clubs owed more than 30 million euros in accumulated debts over the last 16 years.
Matarrese: Italy's football clubs' association promoted vice-chairman Antonio Matarrese yesterday to head the body. Matarrese replaces Adriano Galliani, the Milan vice-president who was banned for nine months for his part in the recent match-fixing scandal. An official at Lega Calcio told Reuters that Matarrese had been elected with 26 votes out of 39 at a meeting of the association.