Chris Coleman has been appointed the new manager of the Welsh national team.

An odd fact associated to the appointment of Chris Coleman is that in March 1994 Wales played Norway in an friendly at Ninian Park. It was the solitary game in John Toshack's first spell as Welsh manager (a spell that lasted for little more than a few weeks).

Development Academy alumni Villyan Bijev was a Cal Odyssey player before he signed for Liverpool.

Villyan Bijev was a part of the Under-20 MNT camp that met in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., from Jan. 2-9. The former Cal Odyssey forward signed with Liverpool over the summer and is spending the 2011-12 season on loan with Fortuna Dusseldorf while he works to secure his British work permit.

Tottenham bid £5m for former Liverpool goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov

Tottenham have launched a £5million bid to sign former Liverpool goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has identified the Bulgaria international as the future No 1 successor to Brad Friedel.

Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov would swap his current situation with any Liverpool player in order to fulfil his dream of playing for the Reds.
The 32-year-old began his career in his native Bulgaria with CSKA Sofia before being granted a move to Celtic in the summer of 1999.
It was not until 2006 that Petrov finally realized his ambition of playing in the Barclays Premier League, when he move to Villa Park for £6.

There are lots of things which are either rigged, not taken seriously or both in football. FIFA qualifies in general. So too does the electoral process in Bulgaria. (The footballing variety, obviously.)

The Bulgarian Player of the Year is something of a travshamockery, given that it's Berba's year after year, and justifiably so.

There are lots of things which are either rigged, not taken seriously or both in football. FIFA qualifies in general. So too does the electoral process in Bulgaria. (The footballing variety, obviously.)

The Bulgarian Player of the Year is something of a travshamockery, given that it's Berba's year after year, and justifiably so.

Esta noticia esta dando la vuelta al mundo y es tan triste como sorpresiva.

El entrenador de la selección galesa de fútbol, Gary Speed, fue hallado muerto este domingo en su domicilio de Huntington, al noroeste de Inglaterra. Tanto la Asociación de Fútbol de Gales como la Policía apuntan a que Speed, de 42 años, se ahorcó.

Dear Michel,

You do allow me to call you Michel I hope? I have seen you play at least a dozen times when I was a kid in the Parc des Princes and your unforgettable goals against Bulgaria, Yougoslavia, and Spain to list just a few. I consider you as my favorite player of all times.

The transfer rumours have been a little quiet for international week at a time when actual news is a little thin on the ground. However, as should probably be expected, those senior players who are currently out of the starting XI are all being linked with moves away.

Jermain Defoe has struggled to command a starting place this season, despite striking up an instantly successful partnership with Emmanuel Adebayor.

By Alan Duffy

Luscious-locked footballing woman's crumpet, David "Because I'm worth it" Ginola is to sue his former France boss Gerard Houllier over offensive comments allegedly made by the former Liverpool manager in a new book, Coaches' Secrets.

Dimitar Berbatov has praised Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's man-management style despite the striker struggling to break into the first team this season.
Berbatov, 30, has started one league game and his future at Old Trafford is far from certain with a year remaining on his contract.

Stewart Downing has set his sights on establishing himself as a regular in the England side ahead of next summer's Euro 2012 finals.
Downing made his international debut in February 2005 and then remained on the fringes of the team for some time as competition for places was fierce.
He has become an increasingly important player since Fabio Capello took charge but recognizes that he will have to keep performing well for the rest of the season to book a place on the plane for Poland and Ukraine.

adidas has released a limited edition Team Great Britain London Olympics 2012 commemorative soccer jersey. The shirt is for supporters only and will not be used by Team GB for matches. The new kit celebrates the first Great Britain football team since a 1-0 Olympic qualifying loss to Bulgaria at Wembley in 1971.

Bolton defender Gary Cahill has spoken of his rollercoaster start to the season, explaining his past few months of dramatic ups and downs. After being highly sought after by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger over the summer, Cahill has since seen his Bolton side languish at the bottom of the table, while also experiencing some personal highs.

A number of Tottenham players were in action last night including Younes Kaboul, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Luka Modric. Pav was on the score sheet for Russia once again in their 6-0 rout of Andorra but elsewhere, one man stood out above all else.

Gareth Bale scored and starred in Wales' impressive 1-0 win in Bulgaria last night.

Wales and Liverpool star Craig Bellamy is at the centre of an investigation after he was called a "sheep-sh***er" by fans.
Bellamy was allegedly the victim of "inhuman, degrading and vile" taunts by rival fans during Liverpool's Carling Cup match at Brighton last month.
A complaint was lodged with the group ‘Let's Kick Racism Out'.

Another month has come and gone and so it's time for another WCR Monthly International RPI Rankings. With all of the matches in September, I was expecting a lot of movement. I guess there was quite a bit but nothing as significant as I had expected. The most movement occurred with clubs in UEFA.

UEFA to investigate Bulgaria racism claims

Allegations about the behaviour of both sets of supporters were made in the wake of England's 3-0 Euro 2012 qualifying win

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-10-05 11:17:57 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Speaking with Paddy Crerand in an interview for MUTV, Dimitar Berbatov has again reaffirmed his love for Manchester United.

"My mind was always set on joining Manchester United," he said. "How can you not go to United? I don't play for money. I play for glory and winning championships.

Michael Regan/Getty Images(Bleacher Report) There is not another striker in the world that is hotter than Wayne Rooney at the moment.
Three weeks ago, he scored a hat trick against Arsenal at Old Trafford in United's 8-2 victory. He followed that performance the next week on international duty, scoring a brace against Bulgaria.

Bolton Wanderers needed a break after their six defeats but once again Gary Cahill will be joining the England squad ahead of next Friday's Euro 2012 qualifier when England travel to Montenegro. If he takes his place in England's defence it will earn him his 6th cap.

Recently not only did Cahill play his part in two successive clean sheets for England he scored one of the three goals against Bulgaria.

Frank Lampard showed just why he remains an important part of the Blues title quest this season as he scored an impressive hat-trick in Chelsea's 5-1 drubbing of Bolton Wanderers.

One thing i really like about huge wins irrespective of the team is the headlines that come out of them.

England win two games, fall four places in FIFA rankings

Three Lions down to eighth despite wins over Bulgaria and Wales

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-09-21 09:02:58 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

The Mattheaus experiment is over. After clocking 150+ NT appearances for Germany, several unremarkable club managing stints and a failure with Hungary, Bulgaria has now fired Mattheaus.Lothar had only 1 win and 2 draws in 5 qualifying matches and has effectively eliminated Bulgaria from the Euro 2012 Tournament.

The Mattheaus experiment is over. After clocking 150+ NT appearances for Germany, several unremarkable club managing stints and a failure with Hungary, Bulgaria has now fired Mattheaus.Lothar had only 1 win and 2 draws in 5 qualifying matches and has effectively eliminated Bulgaria from the Euro 2012 Tournament.

On this week's roundup, Gadsby looks back at England's victories against Bulgaria and Wales, and forward to the next few months and a potential fixture with European and World Champions Spain.

If Capello struggles with English, how comes he was so good at sticking the verbal boot into Carroll?

A mate had a baby in 2007 who's grown into a bit of a football fan. When I saw him on Monday I couldn't shut him up about England's win in Bulgaria and his regret that Wayne Rooney wasn't still an Evertonian.

Alan Pardew went to see the Switzerland 3-1 win over Bulgaria in the European qualifying game earlier this week. Leon Best two great goals against Fulham One long term target Pardew could have been after is 23 year-old Bayer Leverkusen striker Eren Derdiyok, who Newcastle have been watching since he was a 19 year-old at the [.

While England huffed and puffed to beat wales Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri was scoring this brilliant hat-trick in his country's 3-1 win over Bulgaria.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish does not agree with Fabio Capello's criticism of Andy Carroll's fitness and insists he is pleased with his £35million man.
Carroll did not make the bench for the Euro 2012 qualifier in Bulgaria on Friday and, prior to Tuesday's win over Wales, England boss Capello voiced his concerns over the player's drinking habits.

Some greeted this past weekend's international break, which saw England brutalize Bulgaria but wiggle past Wales, as an unwelcome intrusion on the new Premier League season. We've often read about the tension players feel in prioritizing club or...
This is a content summary. Visit http://www.

Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish backs Andy Carroll after Capello criticism

• Fabio Capello questioned the £35m striker's drinking habits • Dalglish asks that Carroll be judged on performances Kenny Dalglish has dismissed criticism of Andy Carroll's lifestyle as "totally unfair" and insisted there is no concern at Liverpool over the striker's form or drinking habits.

Kenny Dalglish defends Andy Carroll over fitness criticism

• Liverpool manager pleased with striker's levels of fitness • Fabio Capello had suggested Carroll 'needs to be careful' The Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish, has defended Andy Carroll in the wake of criticism from the England coach, Fabio Capello.

Before yesterday's England match against Wales, there was much speculation over Fabio Capello's potential side and in particular, his plans to stop Tottenham's Gareth Bale. In the end there was only one significant change and that saw Spurs new boy Scott Parker dropped in favour of Frank Lampard who was pedestrian and ineffective throughout.

Alan Pardew was at Switzerland's St Jakob Park last night doing some scouting. Alan Pardew at Switzerland Bulgaria game last night Switzerland beat Bulgaria 3-1, and Alan would have seen Swiss 19 year-old, Xherdan Shaqiri, score a hat-trick as Switzerland came from behind to beat Bulgaria. The youngster plays for Basel, and has now scored [.

I never seem to learn from my mistakes when it comes to watching England. With the absence of club football I guess their matches fulfil my fix for the week, which is reflected in the media, who with pages to fill go a little bit England-crazy.
The problem is that the games – usually friendlies but also now competitive matches – prove to be turgid, frustrating let-downs.

1. Meh. If you want to look for a positive, it is the sort of match that England would usually draw. 2. After the Bulgaria match we concluded that Fabio Capello had solved the Lampard/Gerrard debate once and for all. Further research conducted last night supports those findings. 3. If Chris Smalling was able to [.

Darren Bent and Micah Richards have been ruled out of England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales on Tuesday and have returned to their clubs. Aston Villa striker Bent had not been able to train in the build-up to Friday's win over Bulgaria after picking up a groin problem and could not take part in training on Saturday.

England vs Wales Football Highlights 2011 1-0 Video 6 September is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

England vs Wales Football Highlights 2011 1-0 Video 6 September is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter England vs Wales Football 2011 Wembley Stadium, London- Euro 2012 qualifying- 6th September, 2011 Final score and result:- England v Wales 1-0 ( Ashley Young) England narrowly beat Wales 1-0 in European qualifying to [.

England manager Fabio Capello warned Andy Carroll over his lifestyle here on Monday, saying the Liverpool striker needed to drink less if he wanted to be a successful footballer.
Carroll, 22, became the most expensive English player in history earlier this year when he moved from Newcastle to Liverpool in a £35 million ($56.