Former Real Madrid striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy got off the bench to score a brace in the span of
2 minutes for his new club Hamburg SV as they cruised to a 3-1 win over VfB Stuttgart on
Friday.
Van Nistelrooy who left Real in the winter transfer window was making only his second appearance
for the club and he did it in style.
Some coaches get their shot with a major club at a relatively tender age (in coaching years,
anyway). Barcelona's Pep Guardiola was 37 when he got the gig.
And there are those who get a crack at the big time without ever having played beyond amaetur
level, like Aston Villa's Gerard Houllier.
Thumbs up from Ganso but not for Manchester City
Santos players Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso could end up as part of the deal
that brings Robinho back to the Vila Belmiro. But midfielder Paulo Henrique has already said that
he's not keen on heading to northwest England.
It may seem like a bizarre question for some of you, but seriously, what did you and I do before
the Premier League existed? Depending on how long or new you've been following the league, your
answers will vary greatly. But based on the amount of attention we give to the Premier League and
everything that happens on and off the pitch with it, what did we do before it existed or before we
stated following it?
Burnley FC was first established in 1882. They shocked the world when they re-entered the
Premiership after 33 years to win four straight games in a row. The club was relegated in 1976 and
from 1985-1992 the team played in the lowest tier. Additionally, they are the one of three
franchises to win all top four professional divisions of English football.
A couple weeks ago during the waning stages of the 2010 NCAA basketball tournament I was talking my
buddy Suppe about Butler coach Brad Stevens. Never mind the fact at just 33-years-old he looked
more like an extra from the cast of "Community" rather than a Final Four hoops coach.My thought was
this, if Stevens somehow had pulled off one of the biggest upsets in American sports, leading
Butler
Ayr United's relegation (their 10th overall) to the third level of Scottish football comes as
the celebrate their centenary year and relegates them to that level for the fourth period and will
spend only their tenth season there next year.
The early history of football in Ayr is one filled with many teams, many mergers and a finished
with a team who can justifiably call themselves United, given the route to United went something
like:
- Ayr Thistle formed in 1872
- Ayr Academy formed in 1872
- Ayr Eglinton formed in 1875
- Ayr Academicals formed in 1876 as a merger of Ayr Academy and Ayr Eglinton
- Ayr formed in 1879 as a merger of Ayr Thistle and Ayr Academicals
- Ayr Parkhouse formed in 1886
- Ayr United formed in 1910 as a merger of Ayr and Ayr Parkhouse
Ayr United have spent 35 seasons in the top flight although haven't been there for 33 years
(since the 1977-78 season) - they've won the second level championship twice (old Division Two) and
the third level championship twice (new Division Two), made one domestic final (2001-02 League Cup
final) and have made the semi-finals of both domestic cups three times each.
German midfielder Michael Ballack faces a race against time following his injury against
Portsmouth in today's FA Cup final. Ballack, who captains his country, was the victim of a badly
timed tackle by Kevin-Prince Boateng that left the midfielder writhing in pain, and the ankle
injury could force him to miss out on next month's World Cup.
So they almost didn't make it, but in the end won the last two games to make sure they would be
part of the World Cup party. It all came down to the final match to get through though. They had to
win in Montevideo for the first time in 33 years to make sure they finished 4th in the South
American group.
It is indeed true.
Chelsea will allow Joe Cole and Michael Ballack, along with Juliano Belletti, to leave the club
when their respective contracts expire at the end of the month.
Initial thoughts:
Juliano Belletti's exodus was nothing more than a formality; he had made it clear
months ago that 2009-10 would be his last season at the club.
Andy Murray's improved form at Wimbledon has widely been attributed to the presence of his
girlfriend Kim Sears. Who are we to argue?
Wimbledon tickets Buy Here
Wimbledon enjoyed one of the most dramatic opening days in the tournament's history this year,
with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Nikolay Davydenko all being pushed to five sets before
eventually emerging victorious.
Today, Michael Ballack rejoined Bayer Leverkusen, the club that jump started his career.
The German international whose contract expired at Chelsea, was snapped up on a free and signed
a two-year contract. The midfielder had a a fruitful career when he left Bayer that included a
four-year stint with German giants Bayern Munich, and then a four-year stay with Chelsea.
Although Raul has 1 more year reamining with Real Madrid, his departure from the club seems all
but certain this summer. So what now for the 33-year old who has is a legend for Los Blancos?
Although Raul was linked with a move to Major League Soccer in the past, it seems that a
possible move to the Bundesliga may be an option as well.
Simons Hoists The Eredivisie Title High With PSV, But Will Be Lucky To Avoid Relegation This
Term With Nurnberg.
Belgian defensive midfielder Timmy Simons, who has been a stalwart at PSV for the last five
years, has completed a move to Nurnberg. Simons, who is a very versatile player that can play in
the midfield or in the back four, will add experience and steel in the spine of Nurnberg's XI.
This weekend marks the end of an era for Real Madrid. 2 of the first team's most senior players
have now left the ‘White House'. Raul is the current Captain of the team while Guti is the most
senior among the Vice Captains (the other ones being Casillas and Sergio Ramos – who took Michel
Salgado's place).
With Raul Gonzalez having already stated his departure from Madrid, Raul went on to finish his
deal with Schalke 04, as he went on to sign with the Bundesliga club earlier today. Having
acquired Raul on a free transfer from Madrid, the speculation of Raul going to the Germany has
finally come to an end as he went on to officially sign with the club earlier today.
The Blackpool management team is working hard to revamp the squad ahead of the new Premier
League season, but once again manager Ian Holloway has failed in his bid to land a new striker.
Sheffield Wednesday have reportedly rejected a £500,000 bid from Blackpool for striker Marcus
Tudgay, with boss Alan Irvine dismissing the bid as too low.
Koln Could Be Fighting For Their Bundesliga Lives This Season.
Manager Zvonimir Soldo will know that he's really up against the odds with Koln this season.
After a summer of changes, Koln will either be in a relegation dogfight or securing themselves a
place in the safety of mid-table.
Camoranesi Joins Stuttgart On Loan.
Juventus and Italy winger Mauro Camoranesi has today been snapped up by Stuttgart on a one-year
loan deal with the option to sign on for another season. Camoranesi's first-team place at Juventus
was filled by new signings Milos Krasic and Simone Pepe, so the experienced winger was forced to
move on to secure regular playing time.
It's been a while since I've seen a good comedy movie at the pictures. Blue Moon Rising
is a film made by Manchester City, documenting the 09-10 season under the Sheikh.
In the build up to the League Cup semi-final, for which Garry Cook famously claimed it wasn't "a
matter of if, but when" they beat Manchester United, the City chairman revealed just how much their
fans hate our banner.
Recently I read an article by Stan Collymore in which he had a jibe at match of the day, and I
have to say, I agree with him.
The former dogid Liverpool man, posted on his Twitter account that, 'I've watched it for 33 years
but, right now, in my opinion as a football fan, it's c**p, and like dinosaur football'.
Umbro has announced that they have signed a "worldwide kit deal" with the revived New York Cosmos,
tailoring a look based on the classic Cosmos uniforms worn during the club's Pelé-led heyday.
Pelé will appear on the cover of the November issue of FourFourTwo sporting the new jacket, with
an interview on the new Cosmos in the issue.
Seeing Kevin Davies name in an England squad may be a shock to some people, indeed it may be a
shock to Kev himself.
Is it some sort of madness by Capello? Is he really so desperate for strikers that he has to
select this Bolton Wanderers journeyman?
Well, yes.
At 33 years of age, Davies is hardly the future.
Bolton Wanderers target man, Kevin Davies gets and England call at the age of 33 years old.
We're surprised it took that long, as he's been harassing centre backs for a decade.
Image Source.
Many of us know that standing terraces are disappearing from English football grounds. Whether
it's new all-seater stands being built, or clubs moving to new grounds, terraces are becoming a
thing of the past in England. To illustrate how the terraces are vanishing, watch the above video
that begins in 1955 when the ‘new' Roots Hall was built by Southend.
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Na Na Na Na Samir!
The day started with Arsenal placed at the 3rd position, desperately hoping to move up the table.
It was facing a Fulham team which hadn't won a single game away from home this season. When the day
ended, Arsenal had won the game 2-1 and finished on top of the table! Read on to find out how.
Seeing as part of the CultFootball family is currently enveloped in all things Korean, it seems
as good a time as any to work up a little overview of the mother country's most important players
overseas (especially considering the conversation about the Reds that just happened over roast
gui). Let's break it down, list style:
Son Heung-Min Hamburger SV – An 18 yr old striker who has earned the
affectionate nickname "The Korean Müller" for a rash of goals in the Bundesliga preseason before
he picked up an injury that sat him out for a few months.
30 minutes into the Liverpool game last night I could barely believe the silence coming from
Anfield. So much so, when I first turned the TV on I genuinely believed my TV was on mute. The
first thing I thought to do was text my Liverpool mate and mock him for constantly claiming there
was always a great atmosphere there.
Ayr United's relegation (their 10th overall) to the third level of Scottish football comes as
the celebrate their centenary year and relegates them to that level for the fourth period and will
spend only their tenth season there next year.
The early history of football in Ayr is one filled with many teams, many mergers and a finished
with a team who can justifiably call themselves United, given the route to United went something
like:
- Ayr Thistle formed in 1872
- Ayr Academy formed in 1872
- Ayr Eglinton formed in 1875
- Ayr Academicals formed in 1876 as a merger of Ayr Academy and Ayr Eglinton
- Ayr formed in 1879 as a merger of Ayr Thistle and Ayr Academicals
- Ayr Parkhouse formed in 1886
- Ayr United formed in 1910 as a merger of Ayr and Ayr Parkhouse
Ayr United have spent 35 seasons in the top flight although haven't been there for 33 years
(since the 1977-78 season) - they've won the second level championship twice (old Division Two) and
the third level championship twice (new Division Two), made one domestic final (2001-02 League Cup
final) and have made the semi-finals of both domestic cups three times each.
