naijaXclusive: man utd

Showing posts with label man utd. Show all posts

Xclusive: Man United Defender Rio Ferdinand Retires From Internation Football

<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGPBh6iZN2jpHROOdwZvf3UvzfmoomyUBQnw6h2nS52cGtAu69fq0N3opQv4WVuXKXj90EsTX3t7o0Eda1KvLEfn20eIt7WT3w8xtBuO-MkOcIbQSq2j9YIBbMh0USsTY_7yqF48g5to/s640/Rio+Ferdinand+Wallpaper.jpg" width="640" />
Wow, After 16 years of playing for England, Manchester United defender Rio 
Ferdinand, has announced his retirement from International football to 
concentrate on his club career. Ferdinand started playing for England in
 1997. The footballer explained why he quit England in a statement 
released today:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">'After a great deal of thought, I have decided the time is right for me 
to retire from international football.</span><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> At the age of 34, I feel it is right
for me to stand aside and let the younger players come through, which 
allows me to concentrate on my club career. </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">'The team looks in great shape and 
there is an influx of young, talented players coming through the ranks 
which bodes well for the future.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5438533803477296299" name="more"></a></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">'I regard it as a great honour and a privilege to have represented my country at every level from Under 17s upwards. <span style="font-size: x-small;"></span>I have always been very proud to play for England. I would like to wish Roy and the team all the best for future tournaments.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">'A big thank you to all the fans, 
managers, coaching staff and players that I have worked alongside - the 
journey has been incredible.'</span>

Xclusive: Man United Defender Rio Ferdinand Retires From Internation Football

Wow, After 16 years of playing for England, Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, has announced his retirement from International foot...

7:00 am

Xclusive Sports: Sir Alex Ferguson Retires As Manchester United Manager

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHgVsdOvFKnEylUH5a4OqlNkn_AT_1ci7PDeG_EyiTwftHT_q_J1zY0XMyxF1jMlUFJZxHSAr4CkZkIk__uY7M_g4rPiDyt7OmL8NFqIzOJl4M518s9TLenbC8fP0U5igCr6tJqPbM9A/s1600/sir-alex-ferguson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHgVsdOvFKnEylUH5a4OqlNkn_AT_1ci7PDeG_EyiTwftHT_q_J1zY0XMyxF1jMlUFJZxHSAr4CkZkIk__uY7M_g4rPiDyt7OmL8NFqIzOJl4M518s9TLenbC8fP0U5igCr6tJqPbM9A/s640/sir-alex-ferguson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="introduction" id="story_continues_1" itemprop="description" style="text-align: center;">
    <i>Sir Alex Ferguson will step down as Manchester United manager at the end of the season after 26 years in charge. </i></div>
<div class="introduction" id="story_continues_1" itemprop="description" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The Scot, 71, has won 38 trophies since taking over 
from Ron Atkinson on 6 November 1986, including this season's Premier 
League title.<br />
<br />

His haul includes 13 titles, two Champions League crowns, five FA Cups and four League Cups.<br />
<br />

"The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about. It is the right time," Ferguson said.<br />
<br />

"It was important to me to leave an organisation in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so.<br />
<br />

"The quality of this league winning squad, and the 
balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the 
highest level whilst the structure of the youth set-up will ensure that 
the long-term future of the club remains a bright one.<br />
<br />
<div id="story_continues_2">
    Ferguson, who will take on the dual role 
of director and ambassador for United, praised the people he felt helped
 him build the club into one of the biggest in the world </div>
<div id="story_continues_2">
<br /></div>
"I must pay tribute to my family, their love and support has been essential," he added.<br />
<br />

"My wife Cathy has been the key figure throughout my 
career, providing a bedrock of both stability and encouragement. Words 
are not enough to express what this has meant to me.<br />
<br />

"As for my players and staff, past and present, I would
 like to thank them all for a staggering level of professional conduct 
and dedication that has helped to deliver so many memorable triumphs. 
Without their contribution the history of this great club would not be 
as rich.<br />
<br />

"In my early years, the backing of the board, and Sir 
Bobby Charlton in particular, gave me the confidence and time to build a
 football club, rather than just a football team.<br />
<br />

"Over the past decade, the Glazer family have provided 
me with the platform to manage Manchester United to the best of my 
ability and I have been extremely fortunate to have worked with a 
talented and trustworthy Chief Executive in David Gill. I am truly 
grateful to all of them.<br />
<br />

"To the fans, thank you. The support you have provided 
over the years has been truly humbling. It has been an honour and an 
enormous privilege to have had the opportunity to lead your club and I 
have treasured my time as manager of Manchester United."<br />
<br />

Ferguson is the most successful manager in the history of the British game and famously won a treble in 1999.<br />
<br />

He is undergoing a hip operation during the summer. 
<br />

Bookmakers have made Everton manager David Moyes odds-on favourite to take over at Old Trafford.<br />
<br />

The Scot is out of contract in the summer at Goodison Park having delayed talks on a new deal until the end of the season.<br />
<br />

Ferguson gave no indication he was thinking over his future when writing Sunday's programme notes against Chelsea.<br />
<br />

He said: "I certainly don't have any plans at the moment to walk away from what I believe will be something special."<br />
<br />

But rumours of his retirement filtered out after the 
club's end-of-season players versus coaches golf day at Dunham Massey, 
Greater Manchester on Tuesday afternoon.<br />
<h2>
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><u>Alex Ferguson's Man Utd trophies</u></span></b> </h2>
Premier League: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013.
<br />

FA Cup: 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004
<br />

League Cup: 1992, 2006, 2009, 2010
<br />

Champions League: 1999, 2008
<br />

Cup Winners Cup: 1991
<br />

Fifa Club World Cup: 2008
<br />

Uefa Super Cup: 1992
<br />

Inter-Continental Cup: 1999
<br />

FA Charity/Community Shield: 1990 (shared), 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011

Xclusive Sports: Sir Alex Ferguson Retires As Manchester United Manager

Sir Alex Ferguson will step down as Manchester United manager at the end of the season after 26 years in charge. The Scot, 71, ha...

9:55 am

Xclusive: Jay Z Spotted At The Emirates Stadium During Arsenal Vs Man U Match

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOd_t1E-O2OieocPbdPX9X9t8zrOv4mQtJ0NUYRe-dJUFDbi1pERAOvLC-sLu6KGn7CZBHiO8SKoMHu5AFByN515SptoW8MPeUMfOEqMqOtMUNLyaWgs6WdzRyDBaE8k1nEueDaTSbCiQ/s1600/Jay+Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOd_t1E-O2OieocPbdPX9X9t8zrOv4mQtJ0NUYRe-dJUFDbi1pERAOvLC-sLu6KGn7CZBHiO8SKoMHu5AFByN515SptoW8MPeUMfOEqMqOtMUNLyaWgs6WdzRyDBaE8k1nEueDaTSbCiQ/s1600/Jay+Z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Perhaps eager to <a data-rapid_p="2" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/confused-robin-van-persie-goes-towards-wrong-dressing-153607528.html" target="_blank">join the chorus of boos for Robin van Persie</a> upon his return to Emirates Stadium, Jay-Z was in attendance for <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_team noplay" data-rapid_p="3" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/fbgb/teams/ars" id="yui_3_8_1_21_1367268259617_123">Arsenal</a>'s 1-1 draw against <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_team noplay" data-rapid_p="4" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/fbgb/teams/man" id="yui_3_8_1_21_1367268259617_124">Manchester United</a> along with friend, collaborator and Coldplay lead singer <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_player" data-rapid_p="5" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/search?p=Chris+Martin">Chris Martin</a>.<br />

Jay-Z, a part owner of the NBA's <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_team noplay" data-rapid_p="6" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/bro" id="yui_3_8_1_21_1367268259617_125">Brooklyn Nets</a>
 until he recently started his own sports management agency, previously 
attended Man City's match against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in 2010 
as a guest of City. He later <a data-rapid_p="7" href="http://www.arsenal.com/usa/news/features/grammy-gunner" target="_blank">clarified his allegiances to Arsenal Magazine</a>:<br />

<blockquote>
“After that game the press started reporting that I was a <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_team noplay" data-rapid_p="8" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/fbgb/teams/mnc" id="yui_3_8_1_21_1367268259617_126">Manchester City</a> fan, I am really glad all that has been cleared up and that everybody in the UK knows that I am an Arsenal fan.<br />

“I will come to Emirates soon that's for sure. I love London as a 
city, it’s just finding time when I am over here for a few days to come 
and watch a game. I will find time soon, I will make sure of it.”<br />

</blockquote>
And three years later, he did.<br />

Jay also explained how he first became an Arsenal supporter.<br />

<blockquote>
“It was about five years ago now,” explains the ten-time Grammy Award winner. “When <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_player noplay" data-rapid_p="9" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mls/players/345849" id="yui_3_8_1_21_1367268259617_127">Thierry Henry</a>
 was at the club I saw him play and I just thought he was an amazing 
player, ever since then I have been a big fan of the club, following you
 guys and still today you play the beautiful football that Thierry did, I
 think he had a real long term effect on the team."<br />

“I love all sports, but what I really love is when people play sport 
in a beautiful way, and that's one thing Arsenal do for sure."<br />

</blockquote>
So now that Jay-Z has finally made it to the Emirates, he really 
should go watch Martin's favorite club, League Two side Exeter City.

Xclusive: Jay Z Spotted At The Emirates Stadium During Arsenal Vs Man U Match

Perhaps eager to join the chorus of boos for Robin van Persie upon his return to Emirates Stadium, Jay-Z was in attendance for Arsenal ...

1:58 pm

Xclusive Sports: Suares Banned For 10 Games Over Bite

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKartkLYA1Unr7PKmiu0XHRE5IDEbcVZ-CRX22oUVJuNVHyVZ5cf0yTMmLxpK9CR9DVCuy5iiicYeFUZIYUOPbymsKdf2sPS1_Y2dOEmCalJf7eLE-HxOVLdwBh-5STBD9K10DKoQzE4/s1600/Suarez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKartkLYA1Unr7PKmiu0XHRE5IDEbcVZ-CRX22oUVJuNVHyVZ5cf0yTMmLxpK9CR9DVCuy5iiicYeFUZIYUOPbymsKdf2sPS1_Y2dOEmCalJf7eLE-HxOVLdwBh-5STBD9K10DKoQzE4/s640/Suarez.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been banned for 10 games by the Football Association for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The incident happened during Sunday's <span style="color: #444444;">
    
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22141299" title="Liverpool v Chelsea report">2-2 draw between the sides.</a></span> <b><i></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div id="story_continues_2">
    The 26-year-old later 
    
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22242464" title="Luis Suarez apologises">apologised for biting the Chelsea defender</a>

and was fined by Liverpool on Monday.
</div>
The club, who have until Friday at 12:00 BST to appeal,
 said they were "shocked and disappointed" at the length of the 
suspension.<br />
<br />

Uruguay international Suarez had accepted the FA charge
 of violent conduct but claimed his ban should be three games, the 
standard punishment for violent conduct.<br />
<br />

<a class="external-link" href="http://www.thefa.com/News/governance/2013/apr/luis-suarez-violent-conduct-charge-liverpool-chelsea-ivanovic-ten-matches.aspx"><span class="text">An FA statement read:</span><span class="external-link-icon"> </span></a>

"A three-person independent regulatory commission today upheld the 
FA's claim that a suspension of three matches was clearly insufficient 
and the player will serve a further seven first-team matches in addition
 to the standard three. The suspension begins with immediate effect.<br />
<br />

"The Liverpool forward had accepted a charge of violent
 conduct but had denied the FA's claim that the standard three-match 
sanction was insufficient for the offence.<br />
<br />

"The incident was not seen by the match officials and has therefore been retrospectively reviewed.
<br />

"Suarez has until midday on Friday 26 April to appeal 
[against] the additional suspension, above the standard three matches."<br />
<br />

The ban covers their final four games of this season, and the first six games of 2013-14.<br />
<br />

Reds managing director Ian Ayre said: "Both the club 
and player are shocked and disappointed at the severity of today's 
independent regulatory commission decision.<br />
<br />

"We await the written reasons tomorrow before making any further comment."<br />
<br />

It is not the first time Suarez has been charged with such an offence. He was 
    
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/9225097.stm" title="Luis Suarez banned for biting">banned for seven games</a>

when he was at Ajax after biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal's shoulder during a match in November 2010.<br />
<br />

During his time at Liverpool, he was also given an 
eight-match ban and £40,000 fine by the FA for racially abusing 
Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra in December 2011.<br />
<br />
Suarez is on the six-man shortlist for the Professional Footballers' 
Association player of the year award and PFA chief executive Gordon 
Taylor earlier said: "It would be embarrassing if he is named player of 
the year but we have got to deal with it and make sure he is player of 
the year not just in a footballing sense but as a human being as well 
and we will be trying to do that." <br />
<h2>
Longest bans handed out by FA</h2>
<ul>
<li>     <strong>    9 months
</strong>
     - Manchester United's Eric Cantona for 'kung-fu' kicking a supporter in 1995
</li>
<li>     <strong>    9 months
</strong>
     - Chelsea keeper Mark Bosnich who tested positive for cocaine in 2003
</li>
<li>     <strong>    8 months
</strong>
     - Rio Ferdinand of Manchester United for missing a drugs test in 2003
</li>
<li>     <strong>    12 games 
</strong>
    - QPR's Joey Barton for two counts of violent conduct against Manchester City players in 2012
</li>
<li>     <strong>    11 games 
</strong>
    - Sheffield Wednesday's Paolo Di Canio for pushing referee Paul Alcock in 1998
</li>
<li>     <strong>    10 games
</strong>
     - Southampton's David Prutton for shoving referee Alan Wiley in 2005
</li>
<li>     <strong>    10 games - Luis Suarez for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in 2013
</strong>
</li>
<li>     <strong>    9 games 
</strong>
    - Paul Davis of Arsenal for punching Southampton's Glenn Cockerill in 1988 and breaking his jaw
</li>
<li>     <strong>    8 games 
</strong>
    - Luis Suarez for racially abusing Patrice Evra in 2011
</li>
<li>     <strong>    8 games 
</strong>
    - Man City's Ben Thatcher for elbowing Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes in 2006
</li>
<li>     <strong>    5 weeks
</strong>
     - Man Utd's Roy Keane for comments made in his autobiography in 2002<b><i> </i></b></li>
</ul>

Xclusive Sports: Suares Banned For 10 Games Over Bite

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been banned for 10 games by the Football Association for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic Th...

4:48 pm

Xclusive: Forbes’ Football Rich List: Real Madrid Is Now Richest Club In World, Knocks Man Utd Off

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZF_gWdglkoxkTFvr0sgVI9QNch2gtcE9rz2LqeNf35yTYlv5iJla6KNFIEcbSNO-ly7G-DFHFOQ8yu7YaTeqjsZEY_FaEJbcAVQ9KE7zU5Qq9x4M4nftRPkzK-CnAaEdcxwgZhbO0NY/s1600/Picture-263.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZF_gWdglkoxkTFvr0sgVI9QNch2gtcE9rz2LqeNf35yTYlv5iJla6KNFIEcbSNO-ly7G-DFHFOQ8yu7YaTeqjsZEY_FaEJbcAVQ9KE7zU5Qq9x4M4nftRPkzK-CnAaEdcxwgZhbO0NY/s1600/Picture-263.png" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Real Madrid </b>has been listed as the world’s most valuable football club in the latest list of Forbes’ football rich list.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; line-height: 19px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0.5em 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Manchester United</b> had held top spot since business analysts Forbes started compiling the list in 2004 but have been overtaken by Real.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; line-height: 19px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0.5em 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Barcelona</b> now in third place and Arsenal fourth ahead of <b>Bayern Munich</b> in fifth place.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; line-height: 19px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0.5em 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the list, Forbes 
values the Spanish giant at $3.3bn with Man Utd in second place on 
$3.17bn. Barcelona is third. $2.6bn. Forbes found that Arsenal was the 
fourth richest club, worth $1.33bn, followed by Bayern Munich ($1.31bn),
 AC Milan ($945m), Chelsea ($901m), Juventus ($694m), Manchester City 
($689m) and Liverpool ($651m).</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; line-height: 19px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0.5em 0px;">
<a href="http://africanspotlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Picture-245.png" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="Forbes' football rich list" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-141764" height="301" src="http://africanspotlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Picture-245.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(203, 205, 204); display: inline; float: left; height: auto; list-style: none; margin: 2px 8px 3px 3px; max-width: 100%; outline: none; padding: 4px;" width="636" /></span></a></div>

Xclusive: Forbes’ Football Rich List: Real Madrid Is Now Richest Club In World, Knocks Man Utd Off

Real Madrid has been listed as the world’s most valuable football club in the latest list of Forbes’ football rich list. Manchester U...

3:00 am

Xclusive: Demba Ba’s Strike Sends United Out Of FA Cup, Chelsea To Face City In Semi-Final

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUAicOGRr3YS7JfxkfOReFJWvVGSka9dLkYYcOKZtY9uqRrCHbHPMUS48JpLQ6-OI7OwZ0HZwm655q4NS2ioqBcP6TpBzWuCd6O0Uevir9h8O5M5gkCeTZEK4GPIFc13NvIHYPx1uvQM/s1600/Ba_Utd-420x376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUAicOGRr3YS7JfxkfOReFJWvVGSka9dLkYYcOKZtY9uqRrCHbHPMUS48JpLQ6-OI7OwZ0HZwm655q4NS2ioqBcP6TpBzWuCd6O0Uevir9h8O5M5gkCeTZEK4GPIFc13NvIHYPx1uvQM/s320/Ba_Utd-420x376.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Chelsea</b> sealed their place in the last four of the FA Cup, after a 1-0 victory over <b><span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD6">Manchester United</span></b> at Stamford Bridge.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Demba Ba</b> scored the only goal of the match in the 49th minute, connecting with a lofted Juan Mata’s pass at full stretch.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Javier Hernandez came 
close for the visitors, but saw his header tipped over the bar 
spectacularly by Petr Cech. Robin van Persie, on as a substitute, also 
wasted a glorious chance from six yards.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chelsea will now face City on the April 14 at Wembley. Wigan and Millwall play the second semi-final a day earlier.</span></div>
<br />

Xclusive: Demba Ba’s Strike Sends United Out Of FA Cup, Chelsea To Face City In Semi-Final

Chelsea sealed their place in the last four of the FA Cup, after a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. Demba Ba s...

6:22 pm