Athletic Club coach Marcelo Bielsa has ended speculation surrounding his immediate future by agreeing terms on a one-year contract extension that runs until June 2013.
The 56-year-old took the hot seat at San Mamés a year ago and enjoyed an impressive start to his reign, guiding Athletic to a runners-up spot in both the UEFA Europa League and the Copa del Rey, while overseeing a tenth-placed Liga finish.
“Athletic Club and the coach Marcelo Bielsa have agreed to extend the contractual relationship between the two parties until June 30, 2013,” Athletic said in a statement on their website. Read more...(170 words, 1 image, estimated 41 secs reading time)
Spain rounded off their preparations for the UEFA EURO 2012 with a harder than expected 1-0 victory over China on Sunday.
Manchester City striker David Silva grabbed the winning goal with six minutes remaining as a well-organised Chinese side proved difficult to break down.
With several Spanish players looking to press claims for a place in Vicente Del Bosque’s side for their EURO 2012 opener against Italy next Sunday, it was Santi Cazorla, Fernando Torres and Silva who most caught the eye. Read more...(428 words, 1 image, estimated 1:43 mins reading time)
Barelona’s Cesc Fabregas appears to have shaken off his hamstring injury in time to feature in Spain‘s Euro 2012 Group C opener against Italy on June 10, coach Vicente del Bosque said on Saturday.
“They did some tests yesterday and the doctors saw that he (Fabregas) is in reasonably good shape,” Del Bosque told a news conference in Seville previewing Spain’s final warm-up match against China on Sunday.
“He will rejoin the rest of his team mates in training at some point and, possibly, be ready for the 10th,” he added. Read more...(260 words, 1 image, estimated 1:02 mins reading time)
Barcelona forward Pedro has been rewarded for his two goals in the Copa del Rey final on Friday by being included in Spain‘s 23-man squad for the European Championships.
Sevilla‘s Alvaro Negredo was also selected among manager Vicente del Bosque’s strikers, meaning there was no place for Roberto Soldado or Adrian Lopez despite the latter’s goalscoring debut against Serbia on Saturday.
Atletico Madrid‘s Juanfran is included thanks in part to an injury suffered by Andoni Iraola in the cup final and Cesc Fabregas also makes it despite being ruled out for just over a week with a hamstring strain. Read more...(350 words, 1 image, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)
In his last press conference as the manager of FC Barcelona, Guardiola said that he’s happy and that he has the feeling that “with time people will say that these players played great football and that it was enjoyable”
Barcelona’s victory over Athletic meant that Guardiola won his fourth title of the year, and 14th during his time as Barça’s boss. The manager, who was very calm, explained during his last press conference that he’s leaving “happy,” especially because he Read more...(389 words, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)
Valencia have moved to strengthen their squad by completing the signing of full-back João Pereira from Sporting Lisbon for a fee of €3.7m.
“Sporting reached an agreement with Valencia for the transfer of Joao Pereira for a set fee of 3.7 million euros and a variable fee of 526,000 euros, depending on whether Valencia participates in the Champions League group phase or not,” Sporting wrote in a statement published by Portuguese regulator CMVM.
The 28-year-old defender took a break from Portugal’s UEFA EURO 2012 preparations in order to sign a three-year deal with the Liga side. Read more...(230 words, 1 image, estimated 55 secs reading time)
Barcelona provided Pep Guardiola with the perfect sendoff by routing Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the Copa del Rey final on Friday night, the club’s 14th trophy in four seasons under its most successful coach.
Pedro Rodriguez scored in the third and 25th minutes, and Lionel Messi ended his record-setting season with his 73rd goal in the 20th minute. The Catalan club demonstrated the virtues the marked Guardiola’s four seasons in charge – quick-touching passing, intricate combinations and clinical finishing.
Barcelona’s record 26th domestic cup gave the bittersweet season some shine as its fourth title of the season made up some for its failure to repeat as Champions League and Spanish league winners. Read more...(434 words, 1 image, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)
Tonight brings down the curtain on the Spanish football season as Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona will meet in the Copa del Rey Final in Madrid, in what will be Pep Guardiola’s last game in charge of Barca.
But if Guardiola is going to leave with another winners medal, he is going to have to do it with a injury riddled squad. Without Alves, Puyol, Villa, Abidal or Fontàs, Barca have problems at the back. Read more...(351 words, 1 image, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)
When Pep Guardiola announce that he was leaving Barcelona, the reason he have was that he was burnt out and needed a year away from the game to spend time with his family and recharge his batteries. Well that might not be the case anymore.
Speaking to the media ahead of the King’s Cup final against Athletic Bilbao in Madrid Guardiola said:
“For the next month I have to charge my batteries,” he said. ‘I will rest and I will wait. I will be ready, if one club wants me, if they seduce me, I will train again.” Read more...(260 words, 1 image, estimated 1:02 mins reading time)
Here is a look at the top La Liga players available on Bosman transfers this summer.
With the financial crisis that is engulfing La Liga, many teams will be working on a shoestring transfer budget this summer. The good news, though, is that there are plenty of bargains to be had as every club in La Liga, bar Real Madrid and Barcelona, will be releasing players for free this summer.
Who do you think are the best players available on a Bosman this summer? Read more...(803 words, 1 image, estimated 3:13 mins reading time)
Athletic Club coach Marcelo Bielsa has ended speculation surrounding his immediate future by agreeing terms on a one-year contract extension that runs until June 2013.
