SOCCER NEWS:THE FAI has confirmed that the contract of Seán McCaffrey, manager of the under-17 and under-19 national teams, will not be renewed when it expires at the end of this year, writes Emmet Malone.
McCaffrey has been in charge of the two teams for almost seven years and led them to some success in a number of invitation tournaments as well as bringing the younger group to the European Championship finals in 2008.
John Morling is now to assume control of the Under-17s in addition to the Under-16s, however, with Niall Harrison taking on the Under-15s.
There have been rumours that Noel King would be given the Under-19s, in addition to the Under-21s which he recently took over from Don Givens, but the association’s Director of High Performance, Wim Koevermans, said yesterday that the post of Under-18/19 coach would be advertised and an appointment made by the end of next month.
Inter look short of options
Inter Milan’s Serie A title defence began with a frustrating 0-0 draw at Bologna last night when scant options on the bench again undermined Rafa Benitez’s new side.
The European champions have decided to stick with the players who secured an Italian treble last term, but the lack of a replacement for sold forward Mario Balotelli could haunt Inter.
Ibrahimovic completes Milan move
Zlatan Ibrahimovic completed his medical yesterday to seal his loan move to AC Milan from Barcelona.
The 28-year-old, who watched Sunday’s 4-0 win over Lecce in Milan’s Serie A opener, left their training ground after the tests to join the Sweden squad for their upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers.
His move, which Milan hope will catapult them back above his former club and perennial champions Inter Milan, is initially a season-loan with the Rossoneri then paying €24 million to secure his services permanently.
Yesterday, 1,137 Milan fans bought Serie A season tickets.
Begovic denies “strike” claims
STOKE goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has denied claims that he went on strike in an effort to engineer a move away from the Britannia Stadium.
Potters’ boss Tony Pulis claimed that the Bosnian refused to play in last week’s Carling Cup tie against Shrewsbury as rumours of interest from Chelsea and Manchester City gathered pace.
“I never refused to play. I’d never do such a thing to turn down a chance to play a first-team game,” said Begovic. Pulis signed Begovic from Portsmouth last season in an attempt to provide Thomas Sorensen with competition for the number one jersey at Stoke.
Mascherano’s four-year deal
JAVIER Mascherano has completed his move from Liverpool to Barcelona after signing a four-year contract.
Mascherano completed his move to the Catalan giants after putting pen to paper on his contract at the Nou Camp office of new club president Sandro Rosell. The contract has a buy-out clause of €90 million.
Mascherano will wear the number 14 shirt with Barca, which was previously the number worn by Thierry Henry prior to the Frenchman’s departure this summer. He has passed his medical.
The 26-year-old Mascherano will reportedly cost Barca €22 million.
In brief . . .
LUIS Fabianohas agreed a two-year contact extension with Sevilla. The 29-year-old Brazil international, whose previous deal was due to run out in June 2011, has regularly been the subject of transfer speculation. Fabio Daprelahas left West Ham for Brescia. The Serie A newcomers have signed the 19-year-old Switzerland under-21 defender on a five-year contract. Twenty-five-year-old German player, Marcel Schuon– formerly with Bundesliga second division club VfL Osnabrueck – has been banned for two years and nine months for appearing willing to help fix matches. West Brom have bulked up their squad ahead of today's transfer deadline by signing former Wigan player Paul Scharneron a two-year contract. Hannover have completed the signing of American winger DaMarcus Beasleyfollowing his exit from Rangers. Real Madrid playmaker Cristiano Ronaldowill be sidelined for around three weeks due to an ankle injury.
