Clarke confirmed as ‘FA’ chairman
Rooney would be great for MLS: Timbers owner
LONDON, Aug 24, (AFP): Greg Clarke has been confirmed as the new chairman of the English Football Association, the governing body said on Wednesday.
Clarke takes over as the permanent successor to Greg Dyke after being approved by the FA Board on July 22.
The 48-year-old’s appointment was formally ratified by a full meeting of the FA Council at Wembley Stadium and his first day with the governing body will be Sept 2.
The following day Clarke will accompany FA chief executive Martin Glenn to Slovakia with new England boss Sam Allardyce and his squad ahead of the opening 2018 World Cup qualifier in Trnava.
Clarke spent six years as chairman
SOCCER
of the English Football League — the three divisions below the Premier League — before stepping down earlier this year.
He also had a spell as Leicester chairman and a distinguished business career with senior roles at Cable & Wireless, Bupa, the Met Office and FTSE 250 company Redefine International.
Clarke’s appointment means former Manchester United chief executive David Gill, returns to his role of FA vice-chairman having operated as acting chairman during the interim period following Dyke’s departure.
“I’m delighted to be confirmed at the next Chairman of The FA and I’m relishing the challenge,” Clarke said in an FA statement.
“My experience as a Council member for The FA has given me an insight into the excellent work this organisation undertakes at every level of the game.
“It’s an honour for me to be joining at such a pivotal point in its recent history and I’d like to thank the Board and the Council for their continued support.
“The FA has the ability to have the most positive effect on football in this country, from the grassroots game all the way through to the men’s and women’s senior England teams.
“I’m looking forward to continuing that good work and playing my part in representing an FA that we can all be proud of.”
LONDON, Aug 24, (Agencies): German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said on Wednesday that Manchester United would be his “last club in Europe” and vowed to fight for his place in the team.
Schweinsteiger, 32, has been frozen out by new United manager Jose Mourinho and is yet to make a competitive appearance this season.
But with the close of the transfer window just a week away, he told fans in a statement posted on Twitter that he has no desire to leave Old Trafford.
“MUFC will be my last club in Europe,” Schweinsteiger wrote.
“I respect other clubs, but Manchester United was the only one which could make me leave Bayern Munich. I will be ready, if the team needs me.
“This is all I can say about the current situation. I want to thank the fans for the amazing support over the recent weeks.”
Schweinsteiger came through the youth ranks at Bayern Munich and spent 13 years as a firstteam player there, winning eight Bundesliga titles, seven German Cups and the 2012-13 Champions League.
He joined United for a reported fee of 14.4 million pounds ($19.1 million, 16.9 million euros) a year ago and made 31 appearances last season, scoring one goal.
Schweinsteiger
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney would be a “great signing” for Major League Soccer, Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson has said, adding that the 30-year-old still has plenty to offer.
Former England midfielders Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, Italy’s Andrea Pirlo, Spain striker David Villa and Brazilian Kaka are among the big-name players who have joined the MLS in recent years.
The veteran former Chelsea and Barcelona forward Eidur Gudjohnsen signed up Wednesday for the third edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) as the marquee player for FC Pune City.
The much-travelled Icelander, a two-time winner of the English Premier League with Chelsea and a Champions League winner with Barcelona, said he still has an appetite for the game at age 37.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has confirmed the club are trying to sign striker Wilfried Bony from Premier League rivals Manchester City.
The Hammers have been seeking to bring in another forward all summer, a search that has been intensified by injuries to £20 million ($26.44 million) record signing Andre Ayew and Andy Carroll.
“We have a couple of players we are going to try and do a deal (for),” said Bilic, who has also been linked with a move for Juventus striker Simon Zaza by the British media.