The Soccerphile World Cup 2002 Archives Click here to go to the current Soccerphile.com

Football News - Fiorentina, Sanga & Best

5/8/02

AC Fiorentina

"Arrivaderci" it is to AC Fiorentina, as financial difficulties have forced the club to fold. A new club will take its place in Serie C1 or C2 this coming season. Italian Football League President Adriano Galliani announced: 'The old Fiorentina doesn't exist anymore and it is vital that a new club is born to represent Florence.' The Viola, who twice won the Italian championship and were competing in the Champions League only three seasons ago, went under with debts of over US$22 million. All the clubs assets are now up for sale and two of the playing staff Angelo di Livio and Alessandro Pierini could be heading for London with Premiership sides Fulham and West Ham.

Ronaldo to Madrid?

Brazilian striker Ronaldo, whose 8 goals paced Brazil to World Cup victory could be heading back to Spain. The 25 year-old player has not returned for pre-season training with Inter Milan and has told the Serie A club of his desire to move on. Ronaldo's agent has been in preliminary talks with European champions Real Madrid which could see Ronaldo moving to the Bernabeu for around US$47 million.

Australia Bids For 2014 World Cup

Soccer Australia tabled a bid to host the 2014 World Cup to coincide with a visit last week by FIFA President Sepp Blatter. Blatter warned that any bid would have to be supported by the federal government and cash-strapped Soccer Australia would need to have its financial affairs in order. Australia is expected to face a stiff challenge from China to host the 2014 event.

Ahn Jung-hwan Saga

The long-running contract dispute involving Korean striker Ahn Jung-hwan and his Italian club Perugia could be nearing a settlement. The player has agreed to return to Italy on condition he is transferred to another European club. Complicated legal wrangling between the player, his agent ePlayers and the Serie A club could lead to Ahn joining English Premiership side Chelsea.

European Big Leagues Get Under Way

European football got under way in France and Scotland over the weekend with the English Premiership due to kick off August 17 and Italy's Serie A planned to begin August 31, though the start in Italy may be delayed as several clubs chase TV deals to keep them afloat for next season.
In Scotland title favourites Celtic got off to a winning start beating Dunfermline 2-1 whereas Glasgow rivals Rangers were held to a 1-1 draw away to Kilmarnock.

In France, Olympique Marseille lost 0-2 at home to Nantes and Paris St. Germain struggled to beat Auxerre 1-0.
League football is already well under way in Russia, Sweden, Poland, Croatia and Hungary.

Kyoto Purple Sanga

Yes, it's a strange name we know, but this J.League team in Japan has reached the giddy heights of the world's headlines for winning seven matches in a row. What's the big deal? One of their players, Park Ji-Sung who helped South Korea do so well in the World Cup, is one of the stars of the team. He scored in the first minute against Urawa Red Diamonds and set up the impressive Daisuke Matsui for Kyoto's second. These are two players with the potential to make it into the Big Time overseas in the opinion of the Soccerphile scouts. Astute German coach Gert Engels has master-minded the team's purple patch which sees them presently fourth in the J.League after Sunday's 1-1 home draw with leaders Yokohama F Marinos.

England v Portugal Friendly

England take on Euro 2004 hosts Portugal September 7 at Villa Park in their first match following their World Cup quarterfinal exit to Brazil. England fans who bought tickets from the official England fanclub englandfans are guaranteed tickets for the match but the loyal England away support are far from happy regarding the new application procedure for England's upcoming European Championship qualifying campaign.

Beckenbauer Follows Trend

Trendy Franz 'Kaiser' Beckenbauer - the former German defender - has followed in the footsteps of fellow German sporting superstars Stefan Effenburg and Boris Becker by recently leaving his wife. The reason? He wants to spend more time with Noel Maximilian, the child he fathered two years ago by a former secretary. Whether he wants to spend more time with the secretary remains unclear at this point.

George Best

George Best hit a few bars both on and off the field and the 56 year-old former Manchester United legend of the 1960s unwent a 10 hour life-saving liver transplant last week after battling alcoholism for much of the last three decades. Best, recovering in intensive care, is expected to make a full recovery.

The Soccerphile World Cup 2002 Archives
Click here to go to the current Soccerphile.com