Football News - Guus, Big Phil & Steve
Hiddink Returns
Former South Korean coach Guus Hiddink may be set to return to the helm of the team he guided to the semi-finals of the World Cup when his contract expires with Dutch club PSV Eindhoven in 2004. A spokesperson for the Korean FA said: 'Before Guus Hiddink left Korea he said he might come back in the future. For that reason we are having discussions.' Hiddink will return in an advisory capacity for the September 9 friendly with North Korea in Seoul and is assured a hero's welcome as the two Koreas meet for the first time since 1993 when the South won 3-0.Scolari Quits As Brazil Coach
Luiz Felipe Scolari, who lead Brazil to their fifth World Cup in Korea/Japan has resigned as coach in order to fulfill a dream of coaching in Europe and spend more time with his family. Known as 'Big Phil', the outspoken and pragmatic coach transformed the national side, which had struggled throughout qualifying for the tournament.'I want to say that any club which hires me will become winners,' he told a news conference announcing his decision. 'And if they are already winners, then they will win even more.'
Ronaldo Staying Put For Now
Despite speculation that the Brazilian striker is unhappy in Italy with
Inter Milan, Ronaldo will not be moving to Spanish giants Real Madrid, according
to his agent Alexandre Martins. Inter, who paid Barcelona US$27.9 million
for the 25 year-old in 1997, have placed a US$100 million price-tag on the
player. Ronaldo has arrived back in Milan but has trained apart from the
rest of the squad and refused to take part in a team photo session, saying
he had not been informed in advance.
World Cup Powers Asian Advertising
Advertising expenditure increased substantially across the Asian region due to the impetus of Asia's first World Cup. US$526 million was spent on television commercials alone in South Korea with World Cup sponsor Samsung electronics spending US$66 million in the second quarter in an attempt to cash in on the World cup boom. India and China both posted 33% rises in advertising expenditure, with cable television in India and Hong Kong seeing 58% and 29% increases.Across Asia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand all experienced double-digit growth in advertising revenues with The Philippines at 7%.
Adidas Scores Big
Buoyant Asian demand helped World Cup sponsor Adidas-Salomon post a 10% rise in sales in the June quarter to over US$1.5 billion. The world's second largest sportswear manufacturer boosted income to US22.24 million. Adidas sponsored 10 teams - including host Japan - and produced the tournament's new ball the Fevernova. Overall sales of football-related products increased by 85 percent.World Cup Doping Tests: All Negative
FIFA announced that the 256 urine tests and 256 blood tests conducted during the World Cup for the presence of illegal stimulants all proved negative. Further tests were also conducted at teams training camps before the competition and were all clean. The Korea/Japan World Cup saw the introduction of blood testing for competing players.Aussie Bid for 2014 Labelled 'Stunt'
The surprise bid for the 2014 World Cup launched by the two Labor state premiers of New South Wales and Victoria has been called a 'Sunday political stunt' by Australia's Liberal Prime Minister John Howard, who warned that Soccer Australia - the country's football association - is in need of serious financial restructuring. Soccer Australia is on course for losses in excess of US$1.6 million over the last two years.Australia failed to qualify for the lucrative 2003 Confederations Cup after losing to New Zealand amid legal disputes between Soccer Australia and its marketing partner International Entertainment Corporation and a public row between coach Frank Farina and Soccer Australia chairman Ian Knop over who was responsible for the loss.
The Australian government promises to launch an inquiry into troubled Soccer Australia, which could clear the way toward an Australian bid to host the 2014 World Cup.
Peter Velappan, general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation, is lobbying strongly for the 2014 competition to return to Asia - in China. 'I think it's time for the World Cup to come back to Asia because we have done so much for the World Cup, so much for football and so much for FIFA,' he added.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter has given his blessing for the Oceania group winners to qualify directly for the 2006 World Cup, despite opposition from Asian representatives. An extra spot has become available as the World Cup winners no longer automatically qualify and Blatter believes this an 'elementary basic right for this region.' At present Oceania is the only one of FIFA's six regional confederations that is not guaranteed a presence at the 32-nation World Cup finals.
Perryman Sacked at Reysol
Steve Perryman has been
sacked as coach of perennial underachievers J.League Kashiwa Reysol after
a run of six consecutive defeats for the club following the World Cup
break. The 50 year-old ex-Spurs and England midfielder, who enjoyed success
in Japan with his previous club Shimizu S-Pulse, winning the 1999 J.League
division one second stage and the 2000 Asian Cup Winners Cup said:' Kashiwa
are the fifth team I have managed and the first to sack me. Losing six
games in succession is also a first for me as a manager and it is a shame
that I could not make the team a cohesive unit. This is a sad day for
me.' Perryman is to be replaced by Brazilian coach Marco Aurelio Moreira
who moves from Belo Horizonte to join up with his former striker Edilson
in Chiba.
Schumacher Signs For Modena
Five-time Formula one world-racing champion Michael Schumacher has signed for Italian club Modena in a public relations coup for newly promoted Serie A side. The German driver is not expected to see much playing time but will train with the squad and appear in occasional friendlies. The Ferrari legend played last season with Swiss amateur side Echichens, whose coach said: 'Michael has great talent. He has a fantastic feeling for the ball and was one of our key players.'China, Korea, Japan Club Championship Tabled
Three of Asia's representatives at the 2002 World Cup have laid plans for a club championship to take place in Japan from February 16-22 in 2003. The three nations will rotate the annual championship with the next tournament to be held in China followed by South Korea.China's international Qu Bo may be on his way from Qingdao Yizhong to English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in a US$3 million transfer subject to the London club gaining a work permit for the 21 year-old striker who has played 19 times for his country.
The player who wants to be called 'Kevin' while in England was realistic about his chances: 'At home, I also spent a lot of time on the bench,' he said. 'So that will not concern me. I would rather sit on Spurs' bench rather than at home. I believe I can squeeze into the first team through my efforts.'
