CSKA Sofia sacked Lyuboslav Penev as their coach, the team announced on its website on Wednesday.

Lyuboslav Penev will no longer coach CSKA Sofia after a joint session of CSKA s supervisory and management boards jointly decided to accept his resignation and release him and his whole coaching team from their jobs, the team announced.

Penev, who took over as CSKA coach in March 2009, has had a series of squabbles with management over his players poor discipline and performance in recent months.

The 43-year-old capped over 60 times and an integral member of the Atletico Madrid side that did the domestic double in the 1995/96 season offered to resign in November, but subsequently decided to stay.

Last month, a court banned him from accompanying the team to …

Wales manager Chris Coleman has urged Premier League managers to make their best players available for international duty.

The former Fulham boss wants his key assets, such as Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, to be at his disposal whenever they are fit.

However, Coleman fears that some managers see international fixtures as an opportunity to rest their players.

Ramsey has been named in the Wales squad for the FIFA World Cup qualifying double-header against Macedonia and Serbia in September, after missing the fixture with the Republic of Ireland on August 14 with an ankle injury.

Wales hopes of reaching the 2014 World Cup in Brazil hang by a thread, but a strong finish would see their seeding improved for future campaigns and Coleman wants his star players availab…

Barcelona legend Hristo Stoichkov feels Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli is the right man to replace Luis Enrique as the man in charge at Camp Nou.

Luis Enrique announced after Wednesday s 6-1 victory over Sporting Gijon that he will step down at the end of the season after three years as the Catalans head coach.

Ronald Koeman, Mauricio Pochettino and Ernesto Valverde are among those to have since been linked with the position, but Stoichkov believes Sampaoli is the perfect candidate following his successes with Chile and now Sevilla – who sit third in LaLiga and two points behind leaders Barca.

If the decision were mine, I would like Sampaoli to be Barcelona coach, Stoichkov was quoted as saying by Diario Ole.

What he did with Chile was not easy, and…

What will the future bring for James Rodriguez? / Image via Pinterest.com

 
Uncertain Times

As Real Madrid prepare to take Granada at early lunch time on Saturday, questions are not raised on whether Zinedine Zidane’s men will be able to record a HT/FT win they stand at to achieve, but rather on another issue.

An issue dealing with the uncertain future of the Colombian star James Rodriguez, who has endured mixed fortunes at Real Madrid under the guidance of Zinedine Zidane.

Rodriguez has been the subject of much transfer speculation lately with a number of clubs reportedly interested in securing the Real Madrid unsettled star’s signature. Chelsea, Juventus and Manchester United are lining up behind the Colombian midfielder, whose future remains in do…

Though Arsenal led the way for a large part of the season, they eventually lost the title race to defending champions Manchester City.

Erling Haaland, the new Premier League record goalscorer for a 38-match season, says it made the triumph even more special.

It s a marathon

Erling Haaland believes that because Manchester City weren t top for a huge part of the season it made their title winning season even better

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL)

…

Goals from Filip Kostic, Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik helped Juventus snap their month-long winless streak as they returned to Serie A action with a 3-0 victory over Bologna.

Heading into Sunday s encounter, Massimiliano Allegri s side had not won across all competitions since the end of August, to leave the head coach s future at the club in serious doubt.

But an assured display from the Bianconeri against Thiago Motta s embattled side has likely assuaged immediate fears at Allianz Stadium, while the scope of the Bologna boss task is becoming readily apparent.

Aside from an off-target Manuel Locatelli effort in the first minute, the early exchanges provided scant entertainment in Turin as both sides sought to settle into the game.

But it was Juvent…

that Southampton are considering a bid for Victor Wanyama’s brother- Inter Milan midfielder McDonald Mariga.

The Kenya international came close to signing for Manchester City in 2010, though the move fell through as the 26 year old failed to obtain a work permit.

He has spent much of the last the past three seasons on loan with Real Sociedad and Parma, making just 21 Serie A appearances for Inter since signing for them in February 2010.

His brother has impressed at St. Marys since signing from Celtic during the summer, helping them to fifth place in the Premier League.

The Saints travel to Stoke City on Saturday, where three points will see them climb back into the top four.

They are currently priced atand finish in the top four of the Pr…

Mesut Ozil is determined to upstage Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi, in whose honour he has been nicknamed, by leading Germany into the World Cup semi-finals.

The 21-year-old Ozil is a candidate to win the tournament s best young player award and aims to boss the midfield in Saturday s quarter-final clash when he squares up to the Barcelona star.

Ozil has been dubbed Messi by his German teammates, because of the way the Germany-born midfielder of Turkish parentage has terrorised defences since his debut in February 2009.

Yes, many in the team call me Messi, Ozil admitted to German daily Bild ahead of the match at Green Point Stadium.

That s my nickname. I want to beat Messi and we want to beat Argentina as a team. I am convinced that we will beat th…

Arsene Wenger is not likely to silence his doubters just by winning another FA Cup, former Arsenal star Alan Smith has warned.

The Gunners are favourites for this season s competition after the quarter-final draw handed them a home tie with Lincoln City should they get through Monday s fifth-round tie at the Imps fellow National League side Sutton United.

But Smith, who played for Arsenal between 1987 and 1995, does not believe a third FA Cup triumph in four years would alleviate the pressure on manager Wenger to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season.

He does not feel Arsenal s 2014 and 2015 successes in the competition have been enough to appease fans frustrated by their consistently poor performances in big games, such as this month s 5-1 …

Louis van Gaal s Manchester United sealed their progress to the next stage of the FA Cup with victory over Derby County on Friday evening

Manchester United booked their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup with victory over Championship promotion hopefuls Derby County on Friday evening.

The match provided a much needed distraction from their indifferent league form, and may just be enough to keep manager Louis van Gaal in his position after much speculation surrounding his future at Old Trafford.

Captain Wayne Rooney gave the hosts the lead in sublime style before George Thorne pulled the Rams level ahead of half time.
Comfortable

However, goals from Daley Blind and Juan Mata secured the victory for the eleven times winners and ensured their place in S…