Penantian 114 tahun Spezia berakhir

KELAB Itali, Spezia berjaya menempah tempat beraksi di Serie A buat kali pertama selepas 114 tahun menunggu apabila berjaya memenangi aksi playoff yang diadakan secara tertutup tapi ribuan penyokong mereka berkumpul di luar stadium.

Pasukan yang dikenali sebagai 'Eagles' berasal dari bandar tepi laut di La Spezia di Liguria, bahagian tenggara Genoa.

Serie A sekarang ini bakal menampilkan tiga kelab dari Liguria, Spezia, Sampdoria dan Genoa.

"Tahniah Spezia, anda mencipta sejarah, sekarang nikmati keseronokan. Jumpa anda nanti," jelas jurulatih Sampdoria, Cludio Ranieri di Twitter.

Walaupun tumpas 1-0 pada aksi kedua di tempat sendiri ketika berdepan Frosinone dan menyaksikan kedudukan agregat terikat 1-1, Spezia layak ke Serie A berdasarkan kedudukan lebih baik berbanding lawan di Serie B.

Mereka menamatkan saingan liga di tangga ketiga, manakala Frosinone yang dilatih pemain antarabangsa Itali, Alessandro Nesta di kedudukan kelapan.

Spezia akan menyertai Benevento dan Crotone ke saingan utama, manakala Leece, Brescia dan SPAL tersingkir ke Serie B menjelang musim baru yang bermula 19 September depan

Jose Mourinho spearheads top managers summit in absence of Sir Alex Ferguson along with old rivals Arsene Wenger and Rafa Benitez

• Jose Mourinho was one of 12 elite managers at UEFA summit where talks are held to improve the game
• The Nyon event at UEFA HQ was attended by Mourinho's old managerial rivals including Rafa Benitez
• Despite not having a club, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was also present in Switzerland
• But his successor at the Emirates Stadium Unai Emery failed to attend, despite being invited

Jose Mourinho has been calling for respect in the last couple of weeks so it is probably little surprise to see him spearhead a list of Europe's elite coaches in a forum hosted by UEFA. Mourinho was furious with a journalist during a post-match press conference following Manchester United's dismal 3-0 Premier League defeat by Tottenham Hotspur last month, calling for more 'respect' after ranting that he had won more Premier League titles than all the managers in the top flight put together.  But joined by old rivals Arsene Wenger and Rafael Benitez, the United boss was part of a group of managers discussing the major issues in the game

Jose Mourinho has been calling for respect in the last couple of weeks so it is probably little surprise to see him now spearhead a list of Europe's elite coaches in a forum hosted by UEFA.

Mourinho was furious with a journalist during a post-match press conference following Manchester United's dismal 3-0 Premier League defeat by Tottenham Hotspur last month, calling for more 'respect' after ranting that he had won more Premier League titles than all the managers in the top flight put together. 

But joined by old rivals Arsene Wenger and Rafael Benitez, the United boss was part of 12 managers discussing the major issues in the game.

Wenger (centre) shares a discussion along with UEFA preseident Aleksander Ceferin (left) and Thomas Tuche

The coaches forum in Nyon at UEFA's HQ on Tuesday was held with the purpose of to discuss and make proposals to the governing body that may be of overall benefit to the European game.

Managers can be invited to attend the event but must fit the criteria of having taken charge of 100 Champions League matches, been part of last season's last-16 or been in charge of one of last season's final four in the Europa League.

Mourinho's relationship with Wenger has been sour since the Portuguese came to the Premier League in 2004, hitting a low in the last few years when he called the former Arsenal boss a specialist in failure.

Simeone (left), Ancelotti (centre left) and Benitez (centre right) all arrive in Nyon ready to attend the UEFA forum

The two had previously battled for the title while Mourinho was at Chelsea, who also developed a rivalry with Benitez during the Spaniard's time as Liverpool boss as their respective sides repeatedly clashed in the Champions League.

But the trio put their differences to one side at the annual event now in its 20th year

Among those invited to this year's event was Unai Emery but despite being confirmed to appear at the summit he was nowhere to be seen in the group photo that featured his Emirates predecessor.

Wenger is without a club after leaving the Gunners following 22 years at the club but he looked in high spirits at the event, sharing discussions along with Borussia Dortmund chief Thomas Tuchel and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.

The meeting, that ran between 1pm and 5.50pm BST, started with all the coaches sending their best wishes to Sir Alex Ferguson, who is a UEFA Coaching ambassador.

The former Manchester United boss is on the mend following recent emergency surgery after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Helping discuss talks with the managers from UEFA was the president Ceferin as well as competitions director Giorgio Marchetti and chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti.

Also on the agenda for the managers was the subject of transfer windows, with  the coaches wanting the European summer transfer window to close on the same day across the continent before their league seasons start. 

Though trading in most European leagues ended on August 31, English clubs could not buy players after August 9 and the Italian deadline was August 17.

English leagues switched this year aiming to avoid disrupting team plans after leagues kicked off.

Marchetti says the coaches were in agreement that: 'There should be one window ending at the same time and that window should not overlap with competitions.'

A FIFA panel is currently drafting recommendations about changes to the transfer market and trading periods. 

EPL : RANIERI dipecat?

• Former Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri has released a heartfelt statement 
• Premier League title-winning boss has thanked the club and its supporters 
• Ranieri hopes fans will 'smile every day' thinking about what they achieved  
• 65-year-old leaves the club one point above the Premier League relegation zone

Former Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri said his 'dream died' after being sacked nine months after leading them to an extraordinary Premier League title.

The Midlands club announced on Thursday night that they had parted company with the Italian owing to a 'painful but necessary' decision in a bid to avoid relegation, less than 24 hours after the first leg of the Champions League last 16 defeat by Sevilla.

Ranieri, who was told he would be leaving with immediate effect on his return from Spain by director of football Jon Rudkin, has released a statement in which he expressed his sadness at the end of a 'wonderful journey' with the club he will always love.

Claudio Ranieri arrives at his house on Friday afternoon after being sacked by Leicester City

The 65-year-old said: 'Yesterday my dream died. After the euphoria of last season and being crowned Premier League champions all I dreamt of was staying with Leicester City, the club I love, for always.

'Sadly this was not to be. I wish to thank my wife Rosanna and all my family for their never ending support during my time at Leicester. My thanks go to Paolo and Andrea who accompanied me on this wonderful journey. To Steve Kutner and Franco Granello for bringing me the opportunity to become a champion.

'I have to thank Leicester City Football Club. The adventure was amazing and will live with me forever. Thank you to all the journalists and the media who came with us and enjoyed reporting on the greatest story in football. 

'My heartfelt thanks to everybody at the club, all the players, the staff, everybody who was there and was part of what we achieved. But mostly to the supporters. You took me into your hearts from day one and loved me. I love you too. 

Ranieri was happy to smile for a selfie outside his home despite his sadness at leaving the club

'No one can ever take away what we together have achieved, and I hope you think about it and smile every day the way I always will. 

'It was a time of wonderfulness and happiness that I will never forget. It's been a pleasure and an honour to be a champions with all of you. Claudio Ranieri.' 

The Italian signed a new four-year contract at the King Power Stadium only last August, meaning he can expect to be compensated in the region of £3million.

Ranieri, who was honoured as coach of the year by FIFA, has received widespread sympathy for being dismissed just 298 days after the club were crowned champions of England, but he was criticised for the club's free-fall towards a relegation battle.

Leicester chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and son Aiyawatt (right) opted to sack Ranieri
 

eicester's achievement in the 2015-16 season will remain one of the greatest in British sport

Retired John Bird, 75, from Leicester, said: 'It is very sad but whatever happens they can't take away what we had last year.

'Something had to be done but it's such a savage way of doing it.

'Can anybody else come to a team like Leicester and do what Ranieri did?

'It will never happen again.'

Claudio Ranieri helped Leicester to the Premier League last season but was sacked this term

Paul Camm, 46, an NHS worker, from Leeds, said: 'It's a bit of a shock after all he did last season.

'I think it would have been better to let him go at the end of the season.'

Steve Murray, 63, a council worker from Leicester said: 'He should never have been sacked, at least not until the end of the season.

'I think it is an incredibly harsh decision.'

 

Tony Bailey, 51, a council worker from Leicester, said: 'It is not just the wrong time to sack him, but he is also the wrong person to blame.

'It is the players who are to blame.

'Since the success of last year they think they won't be able to do it again.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4257376/Claudio-Ranieri-s-statement-Leicester-City-sacking.html#v-7314593592442074493
 

UCL : Sevilla earn narrow lead against Leicester

Goals from Pablo Sarabia and Joaquín Correa, who had earlier missed a penalty, gave Sevilla victory against Leicester, whose hopes were revived by Jamie Vardy's late reply.

"We know the onus will be on us." Marc Albrighton says #UCL qualification lies firmly in #lcfc’s hands

Key player: Steven N'Zonzi (Sevilla)

To find time amid a noisy maelstrom of movement is quite an art. N'Zonzi has the balance, vision and confidence to do this, to seemingly make time stand still, and this ability was only too apparent in a first half completely controlled by Sevilla. Leicester fans will remember N'Zonzi from his Stoke City days but he showed here he has found another level, always picking the right pass and always at the right speed, often in tandem with Nasri. He is enjoying a fine season and after two man-of-the-match showings in the group phase, he was as influential as anybody in a white shirt tonight.

CLAUDIO: "Kasper was fantastic, saving the penalty and supporting his defenders, but everybody was good. We know the tie is open."

CLAUDIO: "We knew they have high quality, but we showed our big heart. We believed, we never gave up. I'm very satisfied."

EPL Results : Spurs menang bergaya, Ranieri gembira dgn kemenangan Leicester

Ranieri -Leicester

 

Sherwood-aston villa sacked