A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Keane in star role after been made captain of the Galaxy
MLS: LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena has confirmed Robbie Keane, rather than Lance Donovan, will captain the MLS champions for the coming season.
“Robbie Keane will be our captain to start the season, and he will be our captain this season,” he said as he and the players made a charity-related appearance at a local museum yesterday.
“He’s a fabulous choice as captain,” said the former US coach. “He’s a quality player, he’s a quality leader, so Robbie’s prepared to lead this team.”
Keane has been a considerable success in LA since signing for the club in August 2011 and defender Todd Dunivant welcomed the decision: “He leads by example first and foremost. He’s a bit of a jokester, and he’s one of the guys – or, as he would say, he’s one of the ‘lads’.
“He’s a guy that’s passionate, and that shows on the field. It makes everybody better because he holds a certain standard that you have to meet, and if you’re not, he’ll let you know about it. He’s the guy who’s gonna let you know when things are good, and he’s definitely going to let you know when things are bad,” continued the 32 year-old American.
“He’s a guy who easily leads by example and tends to use his mouth as well. Usually when he gets overly fired up, you tend to not understand a word he says, so you can kind of just nod and get away with it.”
Galaxy kick off their new season this weekend with a home game against Chicago Fire.
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Callaghan believes defender Lopez will make an impression
Bohemians manager Aaron Callaghan has tipped young defender Roberto Lopez to play a key role in the club's campaign this year with the 20-year-old set to be a mainstay in the side's new look defence.
"He is a fantastic athlete and a good player," said Callaghan at the announcement of Karmann Volkswagon's sponsorship of the club for the coming season when asked how he would cope with the loss of Evan McMillan and Kevin Feely.
"He is probably one of the fittest guys you will see in the League of Ireland this year (while) his attitude and his playing ability are second to none."
The young Dubliner is excited, he says about being asked to take on more responsibility and determined to make his mark.
"I want to make an impression this year," he says.
"I've been at the club three or four years, so I want to make a statement this season.
"I think that excuse of being young is out the window, he adds regarding the team as a whole.
"We're good players, we know that. We need to go out there with the right mindset, saying that we can compete in this league and show everyone that we are not just there to make up the numbers."
Bohemians are the fifth club to receive backing from a company or dealership related to the Volkswagon group.
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Rangers fined but retain Premier titles
Oldco Rangers have been handed a fine of £250,000 (€289,000) following an investigation into undisclosed payments to players, but the club will not be stripped of any titles.
A Scottish Premier League-appointed independent commission – chaired by Lord Nimmo Smith – imposed the fine after finding the Ibrox side guilty of failing to make proper disclosure of side-letter arrangements during 2000 to 2011.
However, the club avoided the most severe sanction of losing up to five SPL titles won during the period investigated after the commission ruled Rangers "did not gain any unfair competitive advantage".
The three-man commission were unanimous in their decision.
Beckham says Ronaldo will be 'inspired'
David Beckham has warned Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo's first return to Old Trafford in opposition next week will "inspire" the Portuguese as he seeks to ensure Real Madrid's progress into the Champions League quarter-finals at his former club's expense.
Real remain very much alive in the last-16 tie following the 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu.
"It will be an exciting game, and a special night for Cristiano going back to Manchester," said Beckham, who started his first game for Paris Saint-Germain in Wednesday's 2-0 French Cup success over Marseille.
"United has a special place in his heart. The fans love him and it will be a great occasion. I am sure it will inspire him."
McMillen helps UCD retain title in tense decider
UCD 1 UCC 0
UCD striker David McMillen helped UCD retain the cup with the only goal of a tense Irish Universities decider against UCC in Belfast yesterday and then followed this up by firing a late penalty kick well over the cross bar.
McMillen's goal on 70 minutes turned out to be just enough to help them retain the cup and set up a three-in-row bid when the competition in its centenary year will be hosted by UCD next year.
The winning strike came after McMillen latched on to a wayward pass just outside the penalty area and he went past a couple of defenders to beat goalkeeper Michael Dorgan with a low drive that seemed to take a slight deflection on its way in.
The UCD man could have put the result beyond any doubt in the closing minutes after Andrew Neville handled a Michael Whelan drive in the box but McMillen blazed over. UCD's Cillian Morrison and player-of-the-tournament Robbie Benson went close with first-half efforts while UCC front men Simon Holland and Josh O'Shea were kept under control by Dave O'Connor and Tomas Boyle.
UCD: McGinley: Langtry, Boyle, O'Connor, Wright; Whelan, Benson, Hanley, Belhout; Morrison ( O'Brolchain, 53 mins), McMillen.Subs not used: McLaughlin, Dent, Murray, Leahy, Kelly, McDonald.
UCC: Dorgan; Gannon, O'Brien, Neville, Barry; O'Callaghan (Connolly, half-time), Mahon, O'Donovan, Kilcommons (Lawless, 66 mins); O'Shea, Holland. Subs not used: Hill, Murphy, McNamara, Mylod, Price.
Referee: S Taylor (Belfast).
