Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has interrupted his holidays to remind soccer fans what they have been missing in the month since the end of the season. The outspoken Portuguese, whose side are favourites for a fifth straight scudetto this term, has far from mellowed while lying on the beach. Here’s his latest amusing rant from the Gazzetta dello Sport about the discipline of different nationalities in soccer. “The Brazilians are the most difficult and ill-disciplined. If you organise a meet... Read Full Story

The Gold Cup has been an all North American show since it began in 1991. Either the United States or Mexico – and Canada once, have won every title. Could it be someone else’s time? Mexico comes in with another new coach, Javier Aguirre, and sitting uncomfortably fourth in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. The United States arrives as the two-time defending champion but having played two World Cup qualifiers and five games in the Confederations Cup over the past month. U.S. m... Read Full Story

Brazilian midfielder Ze Roberto has joined Hamburg on a two-year contract. The 34-year-old former Brazil international signed for Hamburg on Thursday, the club said. Ze Roberto was a free agent after turning down Bayern Munich’s offer of a one-year extension to his contract there. Ze Roberto played for Bayern between 2002-06 and again between 2007-09, winning four Bundesliga titles and four German Cups. “He is a technically outstanding player and brings incredible experience with... Read Full Story

LONDON (AFP) - Premier League champions Manchester United are set to sign out-of-favour England striker Michael Owen on a surprise free transfer deal, according to reports in the British press here Friday. The move could be tied up later in the day if Owen passes a medical. Owen’s contract with Newcastle, relegated from the English top-flight last season, lapsed on July 1. It seemed the only clubs interested in signing the 29-year-old former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker were Stoke... Read Full Story

‘Former Liverpool and Newcastle striker Michael Owen will have to take a 50% pay cut - to £50,000-a-week - and pass a stringent medical before making a shock move to Manchester United.’ - The Sun ‘Actually, Owen could be offered a basic wage of a paltry £20,000-a-week, with performance-related bonuses taking him close to the £110,000-a-week he earned at Newcastle.’ - Daily Mail ‘Chelsea are the only club to have submitted a formal bid, of about £40m, for Bayern ... Read Full Story

Rumors have surfaced with Manchester United being the latest club to be linked to striker Michael Owen, but the club have refused be drawn into the speculation. The former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker, who is out of contract after his deal with Newcastle United expired in June, did not return for pre-season training with Newcastle. The 29 year-old forward scored 10 goals in all competitions last season, although an ankle injury and groin operation severely disrupted his season. Any deal... Read Full Story

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Landon Donovan has issued the Los Angeles Galaxy an ultimatum - have English superstar David Beckham clean up his act or risk the departure of Donovan, the club’s all-time top active scorer. “Let’s say he does stay here for three more years. I’m not going to spend the next three years of my life doing it this way. This is (expletive) miserable,” Donovan said in passages from a forthcoming book put on Sports Illustrated’s website. US nat... Read Full Story

UEFA President Michel Platini has once again criticized the ‘excessive transfer fees’ that currently seem to dominate football. In an interview with French sports paper l’Equipe, Platini commented on the series of high-profile transfers to Spanish giants Real Madrid. Cristiano Ronaldo was signed for 94 million Euros, Kaka for 65 million and Benzema is said to cost 35 million. Raul Albion in addition, was purchased for 15 million Euros. “I think something is not right.... Read Full Story

LONDON (AFP) - New West Bromwich Albion boss Roberto di Matteo promised Baggies fans on Thursday he would stay true to the club’s traditions of attacking football. The 39-year-old former Italy midfielder, who made his name as a manager in the English lower leagues with MK Dons, has arrived at the Hawthorns following the club’s relegation from the English Premier League last season. Di Matteo, who has replaced Tony Mowbray after he left to take over the reins at Scottish giants Ce... Read Full Story

UEFA’s Executive Committee has approved new guidelines that are meant for match officials to properly deal with racist incidents in stadiums. The new ‘zero tolerance’ policy consists of several steps, the first being that a referee may stop a game and ask for a public announcement to be made asking the public to stop this racist behaviour. If the racism continues after the match has restarted, the referee will suspend the match once more for a period of up to ten minutes. A... Read Full Story