Javier Aguirre has denied any involvement in the alleged La Liga match-fixing scandal from the time he was head coach at Real Zaragoza.
The Mexican was in charge of Zaragoza from November 2010 until December 2011, his tenure including a league match with Levante on the final day of the 2010-11 season.
Aguirre s side won the game 2-1 to secure their top flight status, but the game was subsequently flagged as one of nine to be investigated by the Spanish league.
However, the 56-year-old, who is now Japan s head coach, insists there was no fixing of the match and his summons to the investigation should not have any bearing on his current role.
I worked in Spain for 12 years and I have never done anything unethical or unprofessional, he said at the Japan F…
Monaco midfielder Joao Moutinho revealed he was minutes away from signing with Tottenham from Porto.
The Portugal international was set to link up with compatriot Andre Villas-Boas at White Hart Lane, a move heavily expected in August 2012.
However, Moutinho stayed at Porto – and less than a year later he joined Monaco in a deal reportedly worth €25million.
Ahead of facing Spurs in the Champions League on Wednesday, the 30-year-old said he was close to joining the club.
It’s true, I was a few minutes from signing for Spurs, Moutinho told UK newspapers.
Here I am at Monaco and the focus is on putting in a performance to help us through to the next stage of the Champions League.
Spurs might be slight favourites but this is a very eq…
Gian Piero Gasperini s Atalanta continues to go strong but how far can they really go this term?(Photo: viveremilano.biz)
Just how long is it going to last?
That is the question many Serie A observers must be asking themselves about Atalanta s resurgent form. La Dea have not lost a game since a shock 1-0 reversal to Palermo on September 21st. Currently in fifth spot, 25 of their 28 points were earned in just nine games. In fact, having won eight and drawn one, Atalanta are currently on the longest unbeaten run in the league.
Over that period, Gian Piero Gasperini s lads have conceded just five goals. It may not seem noteworthy, but Atalanta do not exactly boast the formidable back-line of reigning champions Juventus. Furthermore, they have faced some of the high…
Mohamed Salah’s agent has dismissed speculation linking the Liverpool forward with a move to Saudi Arabia as the 31-year-old “remains committed” to the club.
A report in the Middle East claimed talks were taking place between the Egypt international’s representatives and Al-Ittihad over a deal said to be worth over £155million over two years to the player.
Salah’s former team-mate Fabinho has already made the move to Al-Ittihad this summer in a £40m transfer.
If we considered leaving LFC this year, we wouldn’t have renewed the contract last summer. Mohamed remains committed to LFC.
— Ramy Abbas Issa (@RamyCol)
In that context the £60m fee being touted for Salah – who has scored 139 goals in 231 Premier League appearances – ap…
Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal will “give it a real go” as they look to win a first Premier League title since 2003.
The Gunners celebrated a 2-0 victory over Wolves on Saturday night as they bounced back from their Champions League exit to Bayern Munich and last week’s 2-0 league defeat to Aston Villa.
Arteta talked up the importance of the leaders’ final five Premier League matches, with Arsenal top on goal difference from Liverpool and one point ahead of Manchester City who have a game in hand.
Now playing: Mikel s pre-Chelsea press conference
Watch LIVE here
— Arsenal (@Arsenal)
Arsenal face Chelsea on Tuesday night, with the Blues going into the game on the back of an FA Cup semi-final exit to Manchester City on Saturday.<…
Lucas Hernandez will miss the rest of the World Cup, and likely the remainder of the season, after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
France were dealt a huge blow by injuries ahead of their campaign in Qatar, which began with a 4-1 rout of Australia on Tuesday.
Paul Pogba, N Golo Kante, Karim Benzema and Christopher Nkunku were all ruled out before the tournament started, and now Didier Deschamps has lost another key player.
Hernandez suffered the injury nine minutes into the win over Australia, as he went down clutching his right knee after being turned by Matthew Leckie in the build-up to Craig Goodwin s opening goal.
Deschamps and Hugo Lloris both conceded after the match that it did not look positive for the Bayern Munich defender, and F…
LA Galaxy midfielder David Beckham has revealed that he has been left out of the Team GB Olympic football squad.
The former England captain had been included in coach Stuart Pearce s 35-man shortlist, and was expected to be named in the final squad of 18 as one of three over-age players.
Craig Bellamy has already confirmed his place in Pearce s plans and fellow Welshman Ryan Giggs is also reportedly set to be involved.
Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole and Manchester City s Micah Richards have also been linked after both missed out on a place in England s squad for Euro 2012.
Everyone knows how much playing for my country has always meant to me, Beckham said in a statement.
So I would have been honoured to have been part of this unique Team GB squ…
UEFA vice-president Marios Lefkaritis believes Michel Platini should be allowed to stand for the FIFA presidency despite his implication in the corruption scandal that has rocked world football s governing body.
Platini has served as UEFA president since 2007 but was suspended for 90 days by FIFA after the Swiss attorney general opened a criminal investigation into an alleged disloyal payment made by outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter to Platini in 2011.
The payment is widely reported to be £1.35million relating to work the former France captain undertook for FIFA between 1999 and 2002.
Platini had previously announced his intention to stand as a candidate in next year s FIFA presidential election after Blatter laid down his mandate in June, six days after …
Veteran Dutch boss Dick Advocaat has decided to return to Sunderland and sign a one-year deal
Well the Premier League managerial merry-go-round is in full swing once again. Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers looks set for another turn, while Manchester City’s Manuel Pellegrini looks to have got on the ride the wrong way!
All On
It looks like Spanish boss Quique Flores is set to jump on the fun ride that is the Premier League.
The Spanish boss looks set to sign a two-year deal with the Hornets, replacing Slavisa Jokanovic, who seems to be demanding a refund. (Right that should be enough of the merry-go-round references!).
The 50-year-old Spaniard’s biggest claim to fame was helping Atletico Madrid win the Europa League in 2010 against Fulham. He h…
Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone insisted the defending champions will not give up on the LaLiga title following their 2-0 derby defeat to Real Madrid.
El Derbi honours went to Madrid, who accounted for city rivals Atletico thanks to goals from Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.
Benzema opened the scoring with a sublime finish in the 16th minute before Asensio doubled the lead approaching the hour-mark in the Spanish capital.
The result moved Madrid eight points clear at the summit and 13 points ahead of fourth-placed Atletico, who have a game in hand.
However, Simeone – a two-time LaLiga winner with Atletico – is refusing to concede the title race just yet.
FT at the Santiago Bernabéu.
— At…