As the old cliché goes, history repeats itself. And this could not be truer come every February for Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Whether at Barcelona or in the blue or red half of Milan, the ‘big' Swede's scoring record often leaves something to be desired at this time of the year. Goals, to be precise.

szólj hozzá: a3-2av

Today was a must win for Arsenal. Not just to reverse the perception of a club descending into a familiar and vicious cycle of self inflicted wounds and low self esteem. But to resurrect the career of a manager under fire.

A defeat would have tipped the scales between the two camps, the AKB and the ASG (Arsene Should Go) resting at a precarious 50-50 irrevocably in favour of the latter.

It's clear that Michel Telo's Brazilian hit song 'Ai Seu Te Pego' is still popular within the Italian football scene, or at least to Milan's 'Carioca' Club of Robinho, Thiago Silva and Pato.

During Milan's 3-0 defeat of Novaro last night, Robinho did the famous dance move after netting the second goal.

Call it luck or destiny, one thing is for sure Alexandre Pato's 100th minute winner for AC Milan against Novara in the Coppa Italia yesterday definitely left Milan VP Adriano Galliani red in the face.

After trying to sell Pato against his wishes to French club PSG in order to sign Man City want away striker Carlos Tevez failed, the 67 year old has taken a rather low key approach to the club's functions in the past couple of days.

Photo: Michael Long

Midfielder Sinead Farrelly has officially agreed to terms to return to the Philadelphia Independence for the 2012 season. Farrelly was a standout at the University of Virginia where she was a second team All-American and a Hermann Trophy finalist. The Havertown-native was Philadelphia's first pick (second overall) in last season's draft.

AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta has no plans to retire soon.The veteran Italian defender who is now 35 made the startling remarks during an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday.

Despite his numerous injuries over the years that have seen him missing lengthy spells of regular playing time, Nesta has no desire of quitting just yet.

Seattle Sounders FC signing Adam Johansson fills the hole at right back left open from the loss of James Riley, but Technical Director Chris Henderson sees him as adding more to the role rather than a like-for-like swap;

I think losing James Riley, a seasoned veteran in our league, it's tough to lose James.

There have been numerous reports lately linking Arsenal with the prolific young Swede John Guidetti, who is currently on loan at Feyenoord in Holland from Manchester City. The 19 year-old has burst upon the scene in the Eredvisie lately with 11 goals (in just 12 games), including a match-winning hat-trick against title contenders FC Twente [.

"I am ... the Swede, bro." -- My friend Jared.How does slang involve from basically an inside joke among friends to part of the cultural lexicon ... or at least to an entry on Urban Dictionary.com?Without delving too deep into that query -- you probably need somebody like the kids are listening to like that Little Wayne guy to say .

AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes that former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi will win the Ballon d'Or once again but argues that he feels stronger than all his colleagues without such an accolade.

Ibrahimovic has enjoyed an impressive return to form since moving to Milan from Barca in August 2010.

By Alan Duffy

Sunderland 1-2 Wigan Athletic Premier League 26th November 2011

Argentinian striker Franco Di Santo is enjoying his best spell so far in England, after struggling at Chelsea and Blackburn. The hitman netted his fourth of the current season at the Stadium of Light, double what he had managed in his three previous seasons combined.

Michael Ballack greeted his former side Chelsea to BayArena by leading Bayer Leverkusen to a shock 2-1 win that heaps tremendous pressure on Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas.

In a day of reunions, Ballack went the Zlatan Ibrahimovic way (the Swede scored in Milan's 3-2 loss to his former club Barca) by getting at the end of many good chances, only to be denied by Petr Cech throughout the night.

Reigning FIFA Player of the Year Lionel Messi has humbly stated that he is not the best player in the world, attributing his personal success to the brilliance of his Barcelona teammates and manager Pep Guardiola.

Messi, who is widely considered the best player in the world along with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, understands that the plethora of personal accolades he has claimed in recent years are certainly accomplishments to be proud of but insists that looking around the Barca dressing room keeps him grounded every day.

Liverpool are set to hand 15-year-old Swedish schoolboy Gustav Engvall a trial at the club.
The midfielder confirmed that he's set for the Anfield opportunity pre-Christmas, and is excited to make the trip from Färjestadens GOIF in Swedish 3rd division.
"I'm going over there and will train with them in December," he said on the trial with Liverpool.

As attention shifts to matchday 5 of the Champions League today, many will be waiting with bated breath for what could very well be the Match of the season. Italian giants AC Milan host defending Champions Barcelona at the San Siro tomorrow.

The first leg of this fixture ended in a 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp and Milan know that they can't take any chances with the champs this time round.

Dave: Bumped to front page for general awesomeness. Though I've disagreed with the author on this subject our conclusions are the same.

On several recent occasions in SounderAtHeart comment threads I have found myself buried in discussions over the relative passing abilities of Brad Evans and Erik Friberg.

AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is no stranger to controversy and judging by his recent remarks, the Swede is far from burying his hatchet with Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

Ibrahimovic was traded to Barcelona in the summer of 2009 after it became apparent that striker Samuel Eto'o had become surplus to requirements in the Catalan dressing room.

For Leicester City, might British be best? is a post from: Just Football

By David Cockcroft

An October managerial casualty seems to be the norm in today's game, yet the news of Sven Goran Eriksson heading out of the Leicester City exit door came as no little surprise to the football world.

Sven-Goran Eriksson sacked by Leicester City Telegraph.

Leicester City today dismissed, or "agreed by mutual consent to part ways" depending on which news source you trust, former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson after 12 months in charge and after something close to $20m of player purchases had been flushed down the sewer.

It's getting close to silly season again, the time for agents to make their money by getting players deals around the world. The rumors have started for potential incoming players this year. Rumors out of Sweden today are that Sporting KC and expansion side, Montreal, have shown interest in Swedish forward Jeffrey Aubynn currently with Malmo FF.

Milan coach Max Allegri has stated that star player Zlatan Ibrahimovic is keen to play again after using a bit of the old stick and carrot treatment on the Swede. Ibrahimovic had recently said, in as many words, that he was ‘over' the game and that he was looking forward to retirement. While we are [.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's reckless comments a day or so ago have sparked wild rumours that he may leave Milan sooner rather than later. The Swede effectively said that he is ‘over' playing football and does not have the desire to keep playing for much longer as it no longer inspires him. Why another club would be [.

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri is confident that AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not be leaving the Serie A champions any time soon. This news comes after the Swede openly hinted at an early retirement from the game.

Ibrahimovic who was largely responsible for Milan's Serie A triumph last season, openly stated in an interview last week that he was getting old and that football had become more of a routine job for him.

By Chris Wright

In which Snoopy Diddly Dogg (bedecked in a Cardiff City shirt as part of his #whensnoopsineurope Youtube campaign) sends out a personal request to Ian Neale a farmer from Newport, South Wales who is currently awaiting official confirmation that he has germinated the biggest world's biggest swede for help with his personal 'vegetation' in return for a couple of VIP tickets to his show in the Welsh capital.

Football obsessive Wenger would be perfect England boss Sven

"Reporters talk about (Harry) Redknapp as the people's choice and I'm quite sure if they could get Wenger, they would take him," says Swede

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-10-05 10:16:18 from: The Mirror

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

The first foreign manager of the England team was the Swede Sven Goran Eriksson, who is now in charge at Leicester City, and he was yesterday asked for his opinion over who should follow Fabio Capello in English football's most high-profile position. Many FA members have already stated that the next manager should be English, [.

Gazzetta dello Sport Ibra-force Milan Swede is super in the Champions League to beat Viktoria 2-0 He converts a penalty and sets up Cassano, whose goal is the 2,000th in the Berlusconi era This is how the Ranieri 'cure' works Four-man defence, new trequartista and front line. Stankovic ready for Saturday, Pazzini in doubt Cavani injured, so Pandev is ready Matador won't be at.

By Alan Duffy

Newcastle United 3-1 Blackburn Rovers Premier League September 24 2011

Blackburn Rovers failed to build on last week's 4-3 win against Arsenal, going down 3-1 to Newcastle at St James' Park.

The Magpies' summer signing Demba Ba was the star of the show, netting a hat-trick to keep Newcastle's unbeaten start to the league campaign in tact.

By Alan Duffy

Despite spending a fair amount of money on his Sunderland team, Steve Bruce has endured a rather rubbish start to the season. However, at home to Stoke on Sunday, the Black Cats finally marked their territory by weeing all over the Potters.

Not famed for his goalscoring ability, Titus Bramble opened the scoring while summer signings Craig Gardner and Seb Larsson also helped to give the Black Cats their first win of the new season.

Like him or hate him, you better respect Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swede has celebrated domestic silverware every single year since 2006 and tonight's Serie A opener will begin his quest for a sixth straight league title.

Ibrahimovic, who celebrated winning the Scudetto with AC Milan last year following three years of glory with city rivals Inter as well as a La Liga title won with reigning European champions Barcelona, is confident that Milan remains the team to beat in Italy.

Sepp Blatter's comments to a Brazilian magazine prove once and for all he is not fit to run football.
"We have bad losers in FIFA," the FIFA President told Estado de Sao Paolo. "This animosity comes from England," he went on. "Interesting is the timing of the accusations.

Samuel Eto'o may have only been an Inter player for two seasons, but the legacy he leaves behind will never be forgotten. "The Lion King" came to Inter in the summer of 2009, as somewhat of an afterthought in the blockbuster Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Barcelona deal. Many people questioned how the Nerazzurri were going to survive without the talent and skill of the Swede and if Eto'o would be able to.

Eyes on new-look Liverpool as Sunderland spoil the party is a post from: Just Football

by Nate Williams

Sebastian Larsson made a superb start for Sunderland to score on his debut and earn them a point at Liverpool.

It took only five minutes for the first penalty of the premiership season to be awarded after Kieran Richardson tripped Luis Suarez.

Why Sven Goran Eriksson really does have a chance of replacing Capello as England boss

When he said it a few days ago it sounded like arrant nonsense. After all, Sven Goran ­Eriksson's departure from the England job at his final press conference in Baden Baden five years ago saw most of the country glad to see the back of him.

The starting right midfielder for the Rapids All-Time Team is Anders Limpar.
How Acquired: Signed as a free agent from Swedish side AIK.
Years In Colorado: 1999 through 2000
How Departed: Left as a free agent, signed but never played for Swedish side Djurgardens IF before retiring
Our first international player in the All-Time team, Anders Limpar might be a bit of a surprise in this position.

So after playing on the west coast last weekend getting and getting pounded @altitude midweek, the Red Bulls returned home to face the second best team in MLS on Saturday. In the ensuing 90 minutes, the Red Bulls were lucky to get out of Harrison with hard fought 2-2 draw. But nevermind the result.

Abby WambachThe United States women's national soccer team gagged away the World Cup final yesterday. They choked. They didn't have enough fitness or form to finish off Japan.
Japan was a worthy winner--and not because of an earthquake, tsunami or radiation disasters. They wanted it more at the end.

Given that Leicester shipped six and four goals against Portsmouth and Norwich respectively prior to Sven's appointment last season, it's perhaps no surprise that the Swede has since ring fenced much of his not inconsiderable budget for shoring up the Foxes' defence. Sol Bamba, Ben Mee, Kyle Naughton and Patrick van Aanholt were each brought in by Eriksson last term as Leicester's new owners

Team USA Defeated by Sweden 2-1

Writer Jerrod Roh will provide coverage, analysis, and opinion for the 2011 Women's World Cup for IMSoccer News. He has attended the last 3 men's World Cups in South Korea, Germany, and South Africa as well as the 2003 Women's World Cup in the U.

We exchange three questions with Avery Raimondo of Once a Metro in order to get some insider perspective on New York Red Bulls as they travel to Toyota Park today, June 26th, to take on the Chicago Fire. Avery's answer to my first question is below and the other five questions in the exchange are after the break.