Zidane eager to coach sooner rather than later
MADRID: Zinedine Zidane has paved the way for a return to management by admitting he expects to take another coaching job soon.
The Frenchman said he believed change was needed for the team to ‘keep winning’ but, despite a disappointing final La Liga campaign, he left with his reputation sky-high.
Manchester United have been linked with a move for Zidane, with Jose Mourinho’s position at Old Trafford increasingly uncertain. “Surely I am going to return to coaching soon,” Zidane told Spanish broadcaster RTVE on Sunday. “Because I like it and (football) is what I have done my whole life.”
QUEIROZ STAYS IN CHARGE OF IRAN
TEHRAN: Carlos Queiroz will lead Iran into their first post-world Cup international when they meet Uzbekistan in Tashkent on Tuesday despite having failed to sign a new contract with Asia’s No 1 ranked nation.
“Unfortunately, until this moment, it was not possible to finalise this deal between the federation and myself,” Queiroz said on Monday. “There is an agreement, a gentleman’s agreement, but it was not possible to finish this deal’s formalities or from an official point of view.”
FRANCE, SPAIN DOMINATE FIFPRO LIST
PARIS: World champions France had eight players, one less than former holders Spain, in international players’ association FIFPro’s 55-name shortlist for its World XI of 2018 award.
Ten players out of last year’s World XI, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, were named on the list, with Real Madrid the best represented club with 11 players. England had three nominations in Tottenham pair Harry Kane and Kieran Trippier as well as Man City’s Kyle Walker. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane were the only two African nominees.
SCHULZ SCORES LATE WINNER FOR GERMANY
SINSHEIM, GERMANY: Nico Schulz enjoyed a dream international debut on Sunday as the Hoffenheim defender scored a late winner in front of his home crowd to give Germany a hard-fought 2-1 friendly win over Peru in Sinsheim.
Given his first cap for Germany in the stadium where he plays his club football, the 25-year-old Schulz put in a solid performance at left-back as the hosts came from behind to pick up their first win since crashing out of the World Cup in June.
“I am very happy for Nico, he put in a very engaged performance today,” coach Joachim Loew told RTL.
HIDDINK TO COACH CHINESE OLY TEAM
HONG KONG: Guus Hiddink has been tasked with ensuring China qualify for the finals of the 2020 Olympic Games football tournament after the former Real Madrid and Netherlands coach was handed the reins of the country’s under-21 team on Monday.
It said he had been tasked with leading the country through to the 2020 Asian Under 23 Championship, which serves as the continent’s final qualifiers for the Olympic Games.