Soccer News round-up: Tottenham pulled off a coup yesterday when they announced that Jacques Santini will take over as their head coach after he has led France at Euro 2004. The appointment ends the club's nine-month search for a successor to Glenn Hoddle.
Santini's imminent arrival is a fillip for Spurs and completes their management team after Frank Arnesen joined as general manager. The Frenchman has agreed a three-year contract and, like several of his predecessors, has expressed a determination to restore Tottenham to former glories.
He was happy to succumb to the advances of the Spurs chairman Daniel Levy after becoming frustrated with the French federation. Santini's contract expires on June 30th and he was refused an extension because his employers wanted to see how the team fared at the European Championship.
Santini will be working for the first time outside France, where he enjoyed notable success with Lyon. He led them to the League Cup in 2001 and their first championship the following year before succeeding Roger Lemerre as France's coach after their disastrous 2002 World Cup.
"I am an ambitious man and it has always been a dream of mine to coach a big English club in the most exciting league in the world," Santini said. "Tottenham Hotspur are a very big club, with a wonderful history and great traditions.
"Daniel and Frank have outlined their vision and I share their ambitions. I am determined to help the club return to its place among the elite and look forward to joining after Euro 2004."
Santini will have at least £8 million available for transfers and Levy expects the club to be active in the market.
Meanwhile, Liverpool's attempt to attract significant investment from Thailand is on the brink of collapse after the country's prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, scrapped his proposed state lottery to raise the £56 million required and hinted he might cancel the deal altogether. Thaksin has seen opposition to the possible deal mount markedly over recent weeks and accepted criticisms that the lottery would encourage poor people to gamble.
"Taking money from the poor is not our aim," he said. "Our financial experts and the legal team are performing (the due diligence), but nothing is certain. If it is affordable to buy we will buy, if not we will not. At the moment I am not certain that we can buy (the stake) or not."
In transfer news, Birmingham City yesterday signed Turkey international Muzzy Izzet after he was released by relegated Leicester City last month. Izzet had signed a three-year contract and will join the club on July 1st.
