Brazilian teen superstar Neymar could not hide his joy when his name was called out as the winner of the FIFA Puskas award for the best goal scored in 2011. The 19 year old won the award after more than 1.5 million internet users and football experts voted in favour of his sublime solo effort against Fluminense

Speaking to the press after the ceremony, Neymar could not hide his joy and excitement at winning the prestigious award calling it the best goal he has ever scored.

El delantero del FC Barcelona Lionel Messi ha sido coronado en Zúrich como mejor futbolista del planeta por tercer año consecutivo, lo que le sitúa a la altura de los delanteros holandeses Johan Cruyff y Marco Van Basten y del centrocampista francés Michel Platini, los únicos que hasta hoy habían conquistado tres Balones de Oro.

09.01.2012 - De final anunciado, la celebración y entrega del Premio Balón de Oro (2011) coronó a Lionel Messi como el mejor jugador del mundo (por tercera vez consecutiva).
Con 55 goles en 57 partidos y 5 títulos con Barcelona (Liga de España , Champions League , Mundial de Clubes, Supercopa de España y Supercopa de Europa, el año de Messi volvió a romper récords y felicitaciones.

As if Lionel Messi needed any more evidence to prove that he is greatest player in the world.

Messi captured the Ballon d'Or for the third consecutive year, beating out Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi to add yet another item to his trophy case. The 24-year-old Barcelona maestro received 47.

The debate whether or not he's the greatest ever may never be resolved, but he is certainly well on his way to being the most decorated. The gentleman from Rosario won his third consecutive Ballon d'Or at the ripe old age of 24.

And he did it showing up in purple velvet.

El Balón de Oro (en francés, Ballon d'Or) era un premio individual que desde 1956 otorgaba anualmente la revista France Football al mejor jugador europeo y que jugaban en Europa. A partir de 1995 se amplió a todos los futbolistas que actuaban en torneos europeos y desde 2007 el Balón de Oro pasó a premiar al mejor jugador del planeta.

For transitional fossil Kenny Dalglish, it is surely time to evolve.
Last nights racist abuse of Tom Adeyemi is purely the fault of the Liverpool Football Club.
Dalglish and his players are heroes to some very very stupid people.
These neuronically moronic pick up mass hysterias that allow them to shroud their inate fear and weaknesses with the misplaced sense of hyper-power that is racism.

Luis Suárez case: 'It was key the FA produced an emphatic judgment'

The former Chelsea captain praises the Football Association for taking the chance to establish the boundaries of acceptability and send out a message of zero tolerance of racism Clearly this was an extremely complex and sensitive case, but it was key that the FA demonstrated it could organise an independent, transparent and fair process, and produce a clear and emphatic judgment.

The draw for the 2012 UEFA European Championship, to be held in Poland and Ukraine from 8th June – 1st July next year, has been made in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv this evening. Sixteen nations will contest this competition for the last time before the next tournament, to be held in France in 2016, will see an increase in the number of finals entrants to 24.

A medida que pasan los años, el rendimiento del delantero del Udinese se incrementa. Fanático de Maradona como todo napolitano que se precie, Totó se diplomó de "capocannoniere" al cumplir las tres décadas y se ganó un espacio en la selección italiana que jugó el último Mundial. Dueño de una marca de ropa, difícilmente se dedique a la dirección técnica cuando cuelgue los botines.

Guus Hiddink is unemployed. He likes Chelsea, a lot.

So, is a return to London in some capacity other than manager represent good business for the club and Roman Abramovich? Yes and no.

London calling?

Hiddink resigned his managerial post this week following a turbulent near two-year spell in charge of the Turkish national team.

Former A.C. Milan striker Marco van Basten believes that Robin van Persie should stay at Arsenal until the end of his career. Speaking to the Mirror, the 47-year old explained that football has changed since the ...

Despite links to Italy, Spain and Russia, as well as Manchester, Robin Van Persie has effortlessly continued with his astonishing form for Arsenal with another stunning performance, goal and pair of assists. In response to the speculation, fellow Dutch legend and former Netherlands manager Marco Van Basten told the Sunday Mirror, "'I still think Arsenal [.

Este martes 25 de Octubre se dio a conocer la primer lista de nomiados al mejor jugador o el premio mejor conocido como balón de oro 2011. En esta primera entrega para beneplacito de los aficionados mexicanos se encuentra Javier Chicharito Hernandez delantero estrella del Manchester United.
La lista definitiva con los 23 jugadores será publicada el 1 de Noviembre, donde se conocerá si el jugador mexicano figura entre los futbolistas más votados por la Comisión de Fútbol, que más adelante, el cinco de diciembre para ser exactos, nombrara a los tres finalistas que buscan el reconocimiento del mejor jugador que se otorgará el próximo nueve de enero del 2012.

• Kop That: Exclusive: U21s boss Pearce in new dig at Wenger http://t.co/IhmL2tQk 22:46:57, 2011-10-19
• Kop That: Rooney WILL go to Euro 2012 confirm FA http://t.co/oI5lufm5 22:46:54, 2011-10-19
• Kop That: FA to quiz Evra and Suarez over racism claims http://t.co/aWR6zw4E 22:46:50, 2011-10-19
• Kop That: Liverpool's Luis Suárez may be in clear due to lack of a United witness http://t.

Dean Ashton, Paul Lake, Marco van Basten and the players who retired too soon

Football can be cruel, as these players will testify

View the full story here: Talksport

A news article on 2011-10-19 15:21:21 from: Talksport

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

It was a goal that ran out of superlatives as quickly as it happened. Time was motionless. To a degree it was unexpected, though there was no shock factor. The date: Saturday 22, March, 2003. Manchester United were 1-0 up against Fulham at Old Trafford, the protagonist of the piece putting them ahead from the penalty spot; his second should have won goal of the season.

Probably one of the greatest ever volley's and it came in Euro'88 as Marco Van Basten hit a great volley into the top of the USSR net to help Holland to their one and only major international trophy to-date.

By Chris Wright

After missing the entire 1993/94 season with a chronic ankle injury, Milan leggenda Marco van Basten was coerced into ruling himself out Holland's '94 World Cup squad that summer and was eventually forced to admit defeat in his bid to recover following several surgeries officially announcing his retirement from the game (aged just 28) on August 17th, 1995 after spending another year in fruitless rehabilitation.

All blogs and football clip sites were broadcasting what it might be the furthest header goal we ever watched from Norwegian league, which was scored from around 55 meters.
Un but de la tête... du milieu de terrain ! by evidenceprod
This amazing goal brings to everyone memory Palermo famous goal in 2009 with Boca Juniors from around 40 meters, I think Palermo header was a more powerful and a difficult one.

Luis Suárez proves the difference as Liverpool overcome Wolves

• Suárez shows why he is an Anfield legend already • Liverpool bounce back from heavy defeat at Tottenham They were standing in the foyer before kick-off, two men who were absolutely assured of their place in the Anfield pantheon.

While the high lights of the game with San Marino flashed by, Marco van Basten started to talk faster and faster. The ex-team manager and former Top scorer even had a tilt in his voice when he said: "Sneijder is probably the best midfielder Holland has had, ever...."

The old crew [read more]

I would have imagined that Ronnie Whelan was watching the Euro 1988 final with his friends or family and reflecting back on his great year, great Euro, and most important, his great goal that would be undoubtedly win the memory of the world as 'goal of the tournament'.
Ronnie goal was against Soviet Union in the first round, and after Republic of Ireland defeated England 1-0, they almost did the same with Soviet Union, but the game ended 1-1 tie.

No pressure TorstenIN THE TUNNEL:A few days after suffering one of the most humiliating losses in the club's history (and there's a few to choose from) TFC continued its "Places De Ro Played Tour". Tonight it was the always difficult Robertson Stadium - home of Houston Dynamo.

Villas Boas- What can we expect? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Yet another season gone by, and the post-season review brings back moments from the seasons long gone. Arsenal, living up to their tag of chokers, relinquishing yet another strong position in the league inspite of showing flashes of absolute ingenuity, Chelsea losing steam in the December period, (not because of the Cup of African Nations though) and then firing their manager for avoidable and trivial errors and then the Big 4 similar to the 2009-2010 season, were given a real run for their money by hugely improved sides like Tottenham and Manchester City.

It's seems that it will only be a matter of days now until Chelsea reveal that Andre Villas Boas will be the new Chelsea manager after, according to reports, Guus Hiddink couldn't come to an agreement with Chelsea.
I posted yesterday about the Hiddink / Villas Boas possible link up as Director of Football and First Team Coach and it seems that this was partly right until Villas Boas "reportedly" threw a spanner in the works.

Nickspinkboots' Note: Kiran Vr from Inside Manchester United is back and this time he's here to tell you what the most important muscle in Ryan Giggs's body is. Take your minds out of the gutter, I don't mean THAT. I'm talking about the brain (although, it doesn't have muscles technically).

Staying? Going?As I am sure you've heard, Harry Redknapp has emerged as the shock favourite to fill the position left vacant by Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea.
Redknapp's odds to replace the former AC Milan manager have been slashed as owner Roman Abramovich goes in search of the man who he believes can bring him success in the Champions League.

Having already been heavily linked with a return to Chelsea, Guus Hiddink recently made a statement that pretty much makes the rumors of the Dutch coach's return grows stronger after stating that he would consider managing the Blues again should a concrete offer arrives.

The current Turkey national team coach revealed the news to the press during his team's preparation for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualification round, saying that for the time being he hasn't received anything official as just yet so he will focus in preparing his current team.

Should we expect to be painting a similar picture to the one below come August?

We keep hearing about the Dutch around these parts. Marco Van Basten is the man to helm the rebuilding project at Chelsea Football Club. Guus Hiddink will aid in the cause as director of football.

Harry Redknapp moved quickly to comment on reports linking him with the Chelsea post and insisted that he is happy at Tottenham.

Speaking on Sky Sports News Harry said: "Well I have got a great job at Tottenham, things are going well for me.

"I have had a couple of great years it couldn't have gone better for me there.

Who's bat-shit crazy enough to assume this nearly untenable position?

Charmer

King Carlo is no more. Sacked mere seconds after his post-match presser at Goodison via a face-to-face with the bean counter, Ancelotti now finds himself free to pursue various avenues, including a potential job in the Italian capital.

Having parted company with Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti after a disappointing season, Chelsea are once again searching for a new coach with Dutchman Guus Hiddink the bookies favourite to take over the reigns at Stamford Bridge. Rolly Pelovangu investigates...

A poisoned chalice or a great opportunity to manage at one of world football's richest clubs?

Who will be the new Chelsea boss? 1. Guus Hiddink Roman didn't want to lose him the first time around after a successful stint at the club. The Dutchman lost just one game during his temporary stint at Stamford Bridge. 2. Marco Van Basten Another Dutchman who has been repeatedly linked with the Chelsea job [.

After long absence, I am back now, with full basket of new stuff, with the new look of the blog. Today, I will start with videos and goals only. I will cover the past two weeks.
I will start with Sendoa wonderful goal for Hercules vs. Mallorca in a 2-2 tie.

But what would happen if the teams played each other? Both probably produced their greatest displays in beating Real Madrid 5-0, Barcelona earlier this season; AC Milan in the European Cup semifinal in 1989 (both, oddly, also drew 1-1 in the Bernabeu the same season). So let's take the lineups from those two games and pit them against each other.

A report in the Express today says that Chelsea are prepared to hire Marco Van Basten and Guss Hiddink to replace Carlo Ancelotti.

Hiddink has already turned down Roman Abramovich's overtures to become manager again of Chelsea as he would prefer to become Chelsea's director of football operations.

Over the course of the weekend a whole host of names are being linked with Chelsea and this "supposed" vacancy we are going to have as the press believe Carlo Ancelotti is to leave the club at the end of the season.
Harry Redknapp, Marco Van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Andre Villas Boas and even Pep Guardiola are being linked as possible replacements as Guus Hiddink ruled himself out and Jose Mourinho revealed that Manchester United will be his next job in England.

With the resignation of the club's board and supervisory board on Wednesday evening, club icon Johan Cruyff came one step closer to restructuring his beloved Ajax. The Amsterdam-born Cruyff is without doubt the Godenzonen's most illustrious player ever, yet the 63-year-old has had precious little to do with Ajax since leaving the position of head coach in 1988.

In keeping with the theme of introducing new 'segments' to the blog, I present to you the 'Rumor Roundup', wherein we'll try to tackle the nonsensical banter that floats across the wire as often as we can. This week, we look at comments given to Sports Illustrated by FIFA Agent Carrie Baird, regarding all things Chelsea.