Watford appoint Ivic as head coach

Hamburger SV are a big step closer to the final of the 2009 UEFA Cup, beating Werder Bremen 0-1 in the opening leg of the semi finals.

The only goal of the match came after 28 minutes. Polish-born Piotr Trochowski stood at the far post to head home from a Guy Demel cross. Keeper Tim Wiese got his fingers to it but the header was too powerful to be parried.

In the second half, Bremen applied more pressure on their opponent in the hunt for an equaliser. However, Martin Jol s men held on to their narrow but possibly vital lead.

Based on the performance in the second half, Bremen were the slightly better side in this game and will be highly disappointed with the defeat.

The second leg will be played in Hamburg on May 7th.

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Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh has made it clear that he won t be staying at the Emirates for much longer.

The Moroccan has had a pretty disappointing start to his career in England and has started just one Premier League game for the Gunners over the last two season.

He has spent the second part of the current campaign on loan at West Ham, but could only make three league appearances there.

The player is, therefore, looking to leave the Gunners at the end of the season and admits a return to Bordeaux could be on the cards.

I am always nostalgic. I spent so many good times here, he told reporters in France. Everyone knows that Bordeaux is a club that is in my heart. If I find an agreement with Bordeaux, why not.

It was at Bordeaux that the pl…

West Ham have had a bid for Borussia Dortmund s Andriy Yarmolenko accepted, have reported.

The report says the bid amounts to £17.5million (around €20million) and that the next step now is for the 28-year-old winger to undergo a medical at the Hammers pre-season training base in Switzerland.

Yarmolenko spent 11 seasons with Dynamo Kiev. In 2017/18, he made 10 more appearances for his boyhood club before he moved to Dortmund and made further 26, scoring six goals for the German team along the way. His stint at the Signal Iduna Park has seen him struggle for form and battle with injuries, and he is now ready for a fresh start in England.

West Ham have also with Corinthians about signing Fabian Balbuena, and are very close to agreeing a contract with Jack Wil…

India s wealthiest man Mukesh Ambani denied Tuesday a British newspaper report that he was in a race to take over Liverpool football club.

But another Indian businessman reportedly in the running for the Merseyside club appeared more circumspect.

The Times of London reported that Ambani, the world s seventh-richest man, was one of two tycoons from the subcontinent competing to purchase a stake in Liverpool.

The paper said Ambani s Reliance Industries and Sahara Group chairman Subrata Roy had each tendered similar bids to pay off Liverpool s 237 million pound (370 million dollar) debts in return for a 51 percent stake in the club.

There is no truth to the report. We deny it completely, Reliance spokeswoman Sudeep Purkayastha told AFP.

Ambani is w…

My team-mates have been a pleasure to play alongside. The amazing fans have given me incredible support and backing.

I have very much enjoyed my time, and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to play for such a great club and in such an incredible city.

NYCFC head coach Patrick Vieira added: Everybody talks about Frank s goal-scoring record from midfield but I can tell you after a year of working with him, he brings so much more to a team than just goals.

What Frank has brought to the locker room is something just as important – his experience, his elite mentality and his mentorship for the younger members of our squad have helped us greatly this year.

It is clear that Frank has embraced playing in this league and for this club. I am grat…

Alexia Putellas has backed the 15 players who are refusing to play for Spain women s national team boss Jorge Vilda, after the federation doubled down on its support for the coach.

Ballon d Or winner and Barcelona superstar Putellas effectively joined the rebellion on Friday, posting a statement from the disenchanted group.

Spain s football federation, the RFEF, was accused in the statement of using an infantilising tone when responding to what the players consider a serious matter.

The players said it was with regret that they had taken their extreme stance, but that it was decided upon with a view to be able to achieve maximum professional and personal success again .

Putellas is injured and not in contention for current Spain squads, with reports …

Russian newspaper that Zenit are lining up a January bid for Juventus forward Mirko Vucinic.

The Montenegrin looks set to quit Turin in the winter transfer window having lost his place in the starting line-up this season.

And despite his move to Inter falling through, Vucinic is set to be offered a new escape route from his club as Zenit are keen on adding him to their ranks.

It is no secret the Russian giants are on the lookout for a new striker and they have been alerted by the latest developments in Turin.

Zenit boss Luciano Spalletti knows the striker well having worked with him at AS Roma, and he is prepared to pull all the stops to lure him to St Petersburg.

Mirko Vucinic joined Juventus from AS Roma in the summer of 2011 and has since man…

Former England captain David Beckham has been chosen as the winner of the UEFA President s Award for 2018.

The 43-year-old has been recognised for his contribution to football and his tireless humanitarian efforts . He will receive the trophy in Monaco later in the year.

The President s Award recognises outstanding achievements, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities, said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.

I have chosen David Beckham as the recipient of this year s award because he has been a global ambassador for football, promoting the game and all its values in every corner of the planet.

His tireless humanitarian efforts, which have helped the lives of many children around the world, should also be celebrated. Beckham is a true f…

World Cup favourites Brazil clash with their former colonial masters Portugal in their final Group G match on Friday, with the five-time champions already qualified for the round of 16.

Brazil have racked up a 2-1 win over North Korea and a 3-1 victory over Ivory Coast to sit pretty on six points. A draw would see them top the group.

Portugal, on a run of 17 matches without defeat, drew 0-0 with the Ivorians before routing North Korea 7-0 to put them in second spot in the group and needing only a draw to advance to the next round.

Even if they were to lose against Brazil, Portugal s goal difference is such that Ivory Coast, with one point, would have to win handsomely, and then some, to be close to threatening them for second spot.

Brazil are going all …

Giuseppe Rossi is hoping to return from his knee injury in time to play for Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia final against Napoli next month.

Vincenzo Montella s side have been without the striker since he suffered ligament damage to his right knee in a Serie A clash with Livorno in January.

Rossi s career has been hampered by knee problems, as he tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in 2011 during his time at Villarreal and only returned to action last May almost four months after his move to Fiorentina.

The Italy international, who scored 14 Serie A goals in 18 appearances before his latest injury, has spent time in the United States as part of his rehabilitation process, and is hopeful of making a return in time for the final on May 2.

I am working day afte…