Football in Spain | GlobalPost

Tabarez mulls strategy, lineup for containing Iniesta and company

Agencia EFEJune 15, 2013 16:01

Recife, Brazil, Jun 15 (EFE).- The manager of Uruguay's national soccer team on Saturday continued to ponder his strategy and lineup for his team's opening Group B Confederations Cup match here against Spain. "We know that Spain's team is better than Uruguay's right now. Their recent titles speak to that, but soccer is the team sport that gives the weak the best chance against the strong," Oscar Washington Tabarez said. To illustrate his point, he pointed to Atletico Madrid's 2-1 upset last month of powerhouse Real Madrid in the final of Spain's Copa del Rey tournament.

Malaga hires Bernd Schuster to succeed Pellegrini

Agencia EFEJune 15, 2013 10:51

Malaga, Spain, Jun 14 (EFE).- Former German international Bernd Schuster will manage Malaga CF for the next five seasons, the Spanish club announced Friday. Schuster, who has played for and coached some of Spain's top teams, succeeds Chilean Manuel Pellegrini, who resigned last month and was named Friday as the new manager of Manchester United. Malaga directors said they are counting on the 53-year-old German "to develop a solid, long-term project."

Manchester City confirms Pellegrini as new manger

Agencia EFEJune 15, 2013 10:51

London, Jun 14 (EFE).- Manchester City announced Friday the signing of Manuel Pellegrini to a three-year contract as manager of the Premier League club. The 59-year-old Chilean had been seen as the leading candidate to replace Roberto Mancini, who was fired last month after the defending champion Citizens finished second in the Premier League and were upset by lowly Wigan in the FA Cup final. "I am delighted to accept this hugely exciting opportunity," Pellegrini said in a statement posted on Man City's Web site.

Football: No doubt over Messi innocence - Barcelona

Agence France-PresseJune 14, 2013 22:22

Barcelona threw their support behind Lionel Messi on Thursday, insisting they had no doubt that the superstar was innocent of tax avoidance. "We are all calm," Barcelona president Sandro Rosell told a news conference in this northeastern city. "His family have all of our support," he added. "We do not have the slightest doubt of Messi's complete innocence in this matter." Argentina star Messi and his father Jorge Horacio have been accused of defrauding the Spanish tax authorities of more than four million euros ($5 million, £3.4 million).

Football: Schuster lined up for Malaga - report

Agence France-PresseJune 14, 2013 22:18

Former Real Madrid boss Bernd Schuster will succeed Manuel Pellegrini as coach of Malaga, German sports news agency SID, an AFP subsidiary, said on Thursday. La Liga is familiar territory for the 53-year-old, who played for Barcelona, Real and Atletico Madrid, and as a coach guided Real to the 2008 league title. The former Germany international has been out of work since leaving Turkish side Besiktas in March, 2011. Outgoing Malaga manager Pellegrini said he has a verbal agreement to become the new boss of English giants Manchester City.

Football: Fans query Guardiola treble chances - survey

Agence France-PresseJune 14, 2013 22:16

German football fans are doubtful that newly appointed Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola can repeat the historic treble achieved by his predecessor Jupp Heynckes, according to a survey published on Thursday. Some 44 per cent of fans did not believe the former Barcelona coach would win the Bundesliga crown, Champions League and German Cup that Heynckes pulled off in his final season at the Allianz Arena, the survey by German sports news agency SID, an AFP subsidiary, suggested.

Football: Messi accused of cheating Spanish taxman

Agence France-PresseJune 12, 2013 16:31

Spanish financial crime prosecutors have filed a complaint accusing Barcelona superstar Leo Messi of tax fraud worth four million euros ($5 million), a judicial source said Wednesday. The complaint, which also includes the player's father Horacio Messi according to the Spanish press, "has been presented to the court," the source said on condition of anonymity. But it was not yet clear if the court would accept the complaint and allow the accusation to proceed, the source stressed. Barcelona FC were not immediately available to comment. dbh/djw/elc/bc

Football: Lionel Messi factfile

Agence France-PresseJune 12, 2013 15:31

Factfile on Lionel Messi, who was on Wednesday accused by Spanish financial crimes prosecutors, along with his father, of tax fraud worth more than four million euros ($5 million): Full name: Lionel Andres Messi Nationality: Argentinian Birthdate: June 24, 1987 - age 25 Birthplace: Rosario, Argentina Height: 1.69m (5ft 7in) Club: Barcelona (ESP) Major honours: Three Champions Leagues, six league titles in Spain, two Spanish Cups, two Super Cups, two Club World Cups, Olympic gold (2008), World Under-20 (2005)

Football: Messi, father deny tax accusations

Agence France-PresseJune 12, 2013 13:44

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi denied Wednesday stunning allegations that he and his father engaged in tax fraud worth more than four million euros ($5 million), expressing shock at the accusations. The 25-year-old Argentina international and four-time World Player of the year said he had just learned through the media of the allegations filed by the Spanish tax authorities. "We are surprised about this news, because we have never committed any infringement," he said in an English-language statement released on his Facebook account.

Football: Messi accused of cheating Spanish taxman

Agence France-PresseJune 12, 2013 12:33

Spanish financial crime prosecutors have filed a complaint accusing Barcelona superstar Leo Messi of tax fraud worth more than four million euros ($5 million), a judicial source said Wednesday. The filing reportedly includes the 25-year-old Argentinian international's father, Horacio Messi. The court in Catalonia, where Messi is resident, could yet refuse to let the complaint proceed, the source said.