5/31/12

Football Genius: Fernando Torres

Fernando José Torres Sanz was born 20 March 1984, nicknamed El Niño. Torres started his career with Atlético Madrid, progressing through their youth system to the first team squad. He made his first team debut in 2001 and finished his time at the club having scored 75 goals in 174 La Liga appearances. He is a Spanish footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Spain national team as a striker.
In 2009, it was reported that Torres has a personal fortune of £14 million. He features in the video for "Ya Nada Volverá A Ser Como Antes" by Spanish pop rock group El Canto del Loco, whose singer, Dani Martín, shares a strong friendship with the footballer. He makes a cameo appearance in the 2005 comedy film Torrente 3: El protector. In 2009, he released an autobiography entitled Torres: El Niño: My Story.
Prior to his La Liga debut, Torres played two seasons in the Segunda División for Atlético Madrid, making 40 appearances and scoring seven goals. Torres is a Spanish international and made his debut for the country against Portugal in 2003. He has since participated in four major tournaments, UEFA Euro 2004, the 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Torres did not score at Euro 2004, but netted three at the 2006 World Cup. He scored twice at UEFA Euro 2008, including the winning goal for Spain in their 1–0 win over Germany in the Final. He won the 2010 World Cup with Spain, but did not score any goals during the tournament. He joined Premier League club Liverpool in 2007 after signing for a club record transfer fee. He marked his first season at Anfield by being Liverpool's first player since Robbie Fowler in the 1995–96 season to score more than 20 league goals in a season. Torres became the fastest player in Liverpool history to score 50 league goals after scoring against Aston Villa in December 2009. He left the club in January 2011 to join Chelsea for a record British transfer fee of £50 million, which also made him the most expensive Spanish player in history. 
He stated after the 2006 FIFA World Cup that he had turned down an offer to join Chelsea at the end of the 2005–06 season. Torres scored 14 league goals in the 2006–07 season. The English media reported that he was the main transfer target of Premier League Liverpool, but Cerezo stated "We've received no offer from Liverpool or any other club or player". However, a few days later, new reports suggested Atlético had agreed a deal with Liverpool for Torres; the fee was rumored to be £25 million with Luis García moving to Atlético in a separate transfer deal. On 30 June, Atlético announced a deal to sign Diego Forlán from Villarreal, in what was seen as a move to replace Torres before his departure became official. On 2 July, it was reported that Torres had cut short a vacation to fly back to Madrid to finalise the move to Liverpool. The following day, Torres passed a medical at Liverpool's Melwood training ground. He held a press conference in Madrid on 4 July to bid farewell to the Atlético fans, before completing his move to Liverpool on a six-year contract. The transfer fee was the highest in Liverpool's history. In March 2008, manager Rafael Benítez stated in an interview with The Times that Torres was acquired for around £20 million, although this figure takes into account García's move to Atlético. 
After progressing through the ranks, Torres won his first important youth title in 1998. Atlético sent an under-15 team to compete in the Nike Cup, in Spain and Europe, to play against youth teams from other clubs; Atlético won the tournament. He was later voted the best player in Europe for the age group. In 1999, at the age of 15, Torres signed his first professional contract with Atlético. He spent his first year playing in the youth team and moved onto the participating in the Honor Division when he was 16. The 2000–01 season had started badly, as Torres suffered from a cracked shinbone which kept him out until December. Torres trained with the first team to get prepared for pre-season, but eventually made his debut for the team on 27 May 2001, at Vicente Calderón, against CD Leganés. A week later, he scored his first goal for the club against Albacete Balompié and the season finished with Atlético narrowly missing out on promotion to La Liga. 
Atlético were promoted to La Liga at the end of the 2001–02 season, although Torres did not perform well in the season, as he netted only six times in 36 appearances in the Segunda División. Torres' first season in La Liga, 2002–03, was better, however, as he scored 13 goals in 29 appearances, with Atlético finishing in 11th place. In the 2003–04 season, his second in La Liga, Torres made further strides, scoring 19 league goals in 35 appearances, meaning he finished as joint third highest scorer in the league. At the age of 19, Torres was named Atlético's captain. Atlético narrowly missed out on qualification for the UEFA Cup, but by finishing in seventh place in the 2003–04 season, they qualified for the 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup, giving Torres a first taste of a competition at the European level. He scored two goals in the two fourth round matches against OFK Beograd, with one coming in each leg. Atlético reached the Final, but lost 3–1 on a penalty shoot-out to Villarreal CF following a 2–2 draw on aggregate. FA Premier League champions Chelsea were believed to be interested in signing Torres during the summer of 2005, but Atlético president Enrique Cerezo said that they had "no chance" of signing him. Cerezo later said in January 2006 that the club was willing to listen to offers for Torres, and Torres claimed Newcastle United of the FA Premier League had made a bid to sign him in March. 
Torres' parents are José and Flori, and he has two older siblings, Israel (born 1977) and Maria Paz (born 1976). He married Olalla Domínguez Liste, with whom he had been in a relationship since 2001, on 27 May 2009 in a private ceremony with just two guests at the local town hall in El Escorial, Madrid. They had been an item for eight years and are thought to have met in the Galician seaside town of Estorde, where Torres would go on family holidays each year to escape the Spanish capital. The couple have two children, a daughter, Nora, born on 8 July 2009 at the Hospital La Rosaleda, in Santiago de Compostela, and a son, born on 6 December 2010 at Liverpool Women's Hospital, with Torres missing the fixture against Aston Villa at Anfield.

Sport.es: “Arsenal interested in Cuenca”

Arsenal's interest in the forward of FC Barcelona, Isaac Cuenca Sport.es.

Portugal's Sports Director: “Ronaldo is a player who does not form”

Portugal's Sports Director, Carlos Godinho in conversation with the correspondent Sports.ru Arkady Zaitsev told the status of Euro-2012 will be the team leader Cristiano Ronaldo.

Petr Cech: “Euro-2012 Medal is a remarkable result for team Czech Republic”

Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech said that he wanted to to their club titles add medal Euro-2012.

Laurent Blanc: “I hope we will see improvements in the game's already met with Serbia”

France coach Laurent Blanc shared expectations of the friendly match against Serbia.

Kluivert could lead the Cyprus AEK

Former striker for AFC Ajax and Barcelona Patrick Kluivert could lead in Cyprus, AEK Voetbal International.

Juventus is going to renew the contract with Pepe

Juventus began talks with midfielder Simone Pepe to extend the player's contract with a club, Gazzetta dello Sport reports.

Jurgen Klinsmann: “Too respectful to the Brazilian national team”

United States national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has summed up the results of the friendly match against Brazil (1: 4).

Frank Lampard: “Not going to shy away from the national team after Euro-2012”

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard said he didn't intend to leave England after the European Championship.

El Mundo Deportivo: Barcelona offers a 2 year contract with Vilanova

Guide of FC Barcelona started negotiations with Tito Vilanova, who at the end of the season-2011/12 replaced Josep as head coach of the Catalan club.

Vicente Del Bosque: “Happy with the match against South Korea”

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque, shared his impressions from a friendly match with South Korea (4: 1).

Ronaldinho wants to leave the Flamengo

Flamengo striker Ronaldinho on Tuesday was scheduled to arrive in Rio de Janeiro and resume training, but this did not happen.

Nuri Sahin: “Next season will be my”

Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin has expressed a desire to continue his career in the Madrid Club.

Napoli began negotiations to renew contact with Mazzarri

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis intends to keep the team head coach Walter Mazzarri and began negotiations for a contract extension for another season.

Mesut Ozil: “We are proud that left Barca at nine points behind”

Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Ozil last season has summed up the results of.

Mark Van Bommel: “Dutch can play much better”

Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel stated that “Orange” is to work on a team interaction before Euro-2012.

Fernando Torres: “Spain can play with one pair, two or no forwards”

Spain striker Fernando Torres after the friendly match against South Korea (4: 1) described how a team can play in attack. 

Doctor: “Eric Abidal has the chance to pursue a career”

Doctor of Barcelona defender Eric Abidal-Juan Carlos Garcia Valdekasas talked about whether football to pursue a career. 
“The Transplanted liver can recover fully. Need time. Currently health Erika all good. The chance to pursue a career there. In this situation, much will depend on him”, - quoted Dr. Garcia TV3. 
To remind, 4/10/32 April, 32-year-old Frenchman suffered a liver transplant operation, and the last time he was on the 29 February, in a friendly match against Germany – France (1: 2).

David J Miller provide amateur and professional football insurance services

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Amos extended his contract with Manchester United

Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Amos signed a new contract until the year 2015, according to the Club's official website.

5/30/12

Football Genius: Paolo Maldini

Paolo Cesare Maldini was born 26 June 1968. He is an Italian former footballer who played as a left or central defender, being adept with either foot although naturally right footed. Maldini played at a world class level for his entire career spanning 2 and a half decades, and won the Best Defender trophy at the UEFA Club Football Awards at the age of 39. He came second to George Weah for the FIFA World Player of the Year Award in 1995, the closest a defender had ever reached to winning the award at the time. He was also the Milan and Italy captain for many years and was considered a leader amongst leaders by fellow footballers, leading to the nickname "Il Capitano" (the Captain). Paolo's father Cesare formerly played for and captained Milan, and is a successful national U-21 manager. 
He spent all 25 seasons of his career at Serie A club Milan, before retiring at the age of 41 in 2009, becoming a symbol and a legend of the club. During that period, he won the Champions League five times, as well as seven Serie A titles, one Coppa Italia, five Supercoppa Italiana, five European Super Cups, two Intercontinental Cups. He played for 14 years for the Italian national team, making his debut in 1988 before retiring in 2002 with 126 caps and four World Cup participations. The back four that included Maldini and fellow long-timers Franco Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta and Mauro Tassotti is widely considered one of European football's most formidable defensive quartets of the 1990s. Following Baresi's retirement, he would also form a formidable and successful partnership with Alessandro Nesta. 
Maldini made his league debut in the 1984–85 season on 20 January 1985, replacing the injured Sergio Battistini in a match against Udinese at the age of 16. It was his only league appearance of the campaign, but he was in the starting eleven the following season. The 1987–88 Scudetto marked Maldini's first trophy, and the first of seven league titles, with the club. He was also part of Milan's undefeated Serie A champion side in the 1991–92 season. In addition to winning his third Champions League and reaching the 1994 World Cup final, Maldini became the first defender ever to win World Soccer magazine's annual World Player of the Year Award. During his acceptance speech, Maldini called his milestone "a particular matter of pride because defenders generally receive so much less attention from fans and the media than goalscorers. We are more in the engine room rather than taking the glory." He then singled out Milan captain Franco Baresi as a player who "really [deserved] to receive the sort of award I have received." Maldini played his 600th Serie A match on 13 May 2007 in a 1–1 draw at Catania. On 25 September 2005, Maldini broke Dino Zoff's Serie A appearance record after playing his 571st league match against Treviso; seven days earlier, he had played his 800th game in all competitions for Milan. On 16 February 2008, Maldini reached 1,000 senior games with Milan and Italy when he entered as a substitute against Parma. 
Maldini announced his plans to retire at the end of the 2007–08 season, saying that he would do so with "no regrets." However, following Milan's elimination from the Champions League by Arsenal in March, Maldini stated that he would possibly delay his retirement for at least a further year. He signed an extension on June 6 that kept him at Milan for the 2008–09 season. On 18 April 2009, Maldini announced that he will be finally retiring at the end of the 2008–09 season. 
On 17 May, in the Friuli Stadium, Maldini played his 900th official match for Milan in a league game against Udinese. Maldini's last match in San Siro was on 24 May, in a game lost 3–2 against Roma. There was a small controversy when the Milan fans known as "Brigate Rossonere" protested against Maldini as he said goodbye. Maldini has participated in eight UEFA Champions League finals during the course of his career, which is bettered only by Francisco Gento, who also appeared in a Cup Winners' Cup final, bringing his total European finals to nine. Maldini has lifted the trophy five times, the latest coming in Milan's 2–1 victory over Liverpool in the 2007 Champions League final on 23 May 2007 in Athens. In an interview with ESPN that aired prior to the broadcast of the 2007 final, he labeled the 2005 Champions League final, a match that Milan lost on penalties to Liverpool after blowing a 3–0 half-time lead, the worst moment of his career, even though he had scored the fastest-ever goal in a European Clubs' Cup final just 51 seconds into the match, in the process also becoming the oldest player ever to score in a final. His last appearance for Milan, and his last game as an active player was on 31 May 2009, in the last match of the season, against Fiorentina, which Milan won 2–0. Milan retired his number 3 shirt, but it will be bequeathed to one of his sons if one makes the club's senior side. 
In 1986, Maldini was called up by his father Cesare to the Italian U-21 side, where he earned twelve caps and scored five goals in two years. He made his Azzurri debut at the age of nineteen on 31 March 1988, in a 1–1 friendly draw against Yugoslavia, and made one appearance for Italy at the 1988 Olympics. Maldini featured in all four of Italy's games at Euro 1988, and participated in his first World Cup in 1990, where Italy lost to Argentina in the semifinals on penalties. 
After Italy were eliminated in the 2002 World Cup round of sixteen, Maldini retired trophyless from international competition as Italy's most capped player. He scored seven international goals, all coming in home games. He spent over half of his 16 years as an international as team captain, wearing the armband a record 74 times. 
In February 2009, Italian head coach Marcello Lippi declared his support for a testimonial match for Maldini, stating that it would give him a chance to play for the Azzurri for a final time. Italian Football Federation offered him a place in the line-up in a friendly match against Northern Ireland. However, Maldini rejected the offer, saying that he wanted to part with football in an "official" match. Maldini's first international goal came in his 44th career match, in a 2–0 friendly win over Mexico on 20 January 1993. He captained Italy at the start of the 1994 World Cup, losing to Brazil in the final on penalties. He was named in the Team of the Tournament, 32 years after his father received the same honour at the 1962 World Cup. Euro 1996 would see Italy eliminated in the group stage, and the quarterfinals of the 1998 World Cup. Italy did reach the final of Euro 2000, but lost to France in extra time. 
Prior to his retirement, Maldini expressed that he would never be moving into a coaching career. He was offered a position that would have reunited him with his former manager, Carlo Ancelotti, by joining Chelsea as a coach having reportedly met with Ancelotti and with Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovich, to discuss such a possibility. On 30 June 2009, Ancelotti announced that Maldini had turned down his offer to become part of Chelsea's coaching staff. Maldini was primarily known for his positioning as a defender rather than his tackling. He made an average of one tackle every two games and positioned himself well so as to avoid making that tackle. 
In 2003, he lifted the European Cup/Champions League as club captain exactly 40 years after his father Cesare accomplished the same feat for the same side. The only other father-son pairs to have done so are Manuel Sanchis Martínez and Manuel Sanchís Hontiyuelo (won it with Real Madrid) and Carles and Sergio Busquets of FC Barcelona. 
Maldini has been married to Venezuelan former model Adriana Fossa since 1994. The couple have two sons, Christian (born 14 June 1996) and Daniel (born 11 October 2001), who both have already been signed by Maldini's former club Milan and currently play in the youth teams.

Wesley Sneijder: “We have reached the final of the World Championship”

Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder defended coach Bert van Marwijk, who has been criticized for overly defensive style of play.

Sport.es: Rooney hit the PSG area of interest

PSG interest in Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney, informs Sport.es. 

Sinisa Mihajlovic: “Will not tolerate that the player team Serbia sang the national anthem”

Coach Serbia Mihajlović commented on the situation, with payback of national team midfielder Adem Ljajic for refusing to perform the national anthem of the country. 

Ranieri officially headed the Monaco

Claudio Ranieri, became the new head coach of the Monaco, is reported by the official website of the French club.

Olivier Giroud: “We look forward to meeting with England at Euro-2012”

The French striker Olivier Giroud shared expectations of European Championship 2012.

Milan is willing to part with one of the three attackers

Milan ready to sell one of the three attackers - Robinho, Alexandre Pato, Antonio Cassano or midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng to have means to strengthen the whole, reports Goal.com.

Lucas Silva can move into a Real Madrid in 2013

Real plans to acquire midfielder Sao Paulo Lucas Silva in the off-season and send it back in the lease, according to Marca. 

Eden Hazard: “I learned something from Zervinho while playing with him”

Lille midfielder Eden Azar told in the game which players he draws inspiration.
“Many players are watching videos with the game other players. I am not ashamed to talk about it. Look for Messi and Ronaldo game, trying to find this inspiration. Great players always inspire. 
Best player of those with whom I appearances, was Zervinho. We have a different quality to it, but we both are trying to take the game. He has taught me something. Zervinho very cool opens for transfer. Yes, I said that I prefer game exercises. But these words are interpreted as if I am lazy and do not want to work. This is not true, I am always practicing seriously, as they have helped me to reach the current level”, - quoted Azar Sky Sports.

Claudio Ranieri: “In front of me is to return the Monaco in the elite of European football”

New head coach Monaco Claudio Ranieri commented on his assumption of Office.

Zeman may lead Roma

Head coach of Pescara Zdenek Zeman stated that negotiates with Roma.

Xabi Alonso: “England and France should not be ignored”

Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso spoke about what teams are able to fight for victory at the Euro-2012.

Vicente Del Bosque: “What happened in Italy, very bad for football”

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque has shared the view concerning the detention of Italian players who are suspected of having the Treaty matches.

Stramaccioni extended his contract with inter until 2015

The head coach of Inter Andrea Stramaccioni signed a new contract with the Milan Club. The agreement is up to 2015, reports the team's official website.

Mario Balotelli: “If I would face racism on Euro-2012, just go with box”

Striker of Manchester City Mario Balotelli described his reaction to possible racist incidents during Euro 2012.

Mesut Ozil: “We have time to correct mistakes in the match with Switzerland”

Real Madrid midfielder and Germany shared expectations of Mesut Ozil Mesut Championship 2012 year.

Mario Balotelli: “I can just kill someone throw me a banana”

Striker of Manchester City Mario Balotelli, described how would react if it will throw a banana during Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine. 

Lionel Messi: “I was really surprised Guardiola Care”

Barcelona striker Lionel Messi comment to former coach Josep Guardiola not to renew the contract with the Club.

Cristiano Ronaldo: “Understand that Portugal isn’t the favorite in Euro-2012”

Striker of Real Madrid and Portugal National Team, Cristiano Ronaldo shared expectations of Euro-2012.

Cesare Prandelli: “Remembering the year 2006 show that the difficulties of enduring experiences”

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli explained why has the Euro-2012 defender of Juventus Leonardo Bonucci, suspected of involvement in the scandal in Italian football, simply.

5/29/12

Rio Ferdinand: “The need to review the system of training of English coaches”

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand noted deficiencies in the training of English coaches. 

Luis Figo: “Miss those times when in Spain for the title fight multiple teams”

Former Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo said that he considered the main favourites Spain to Euro-2012, and also shared the view of the champions race in the example.