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| Vicente del Bosque handed two-year contract extension as Spain coach • Del Bosque led Spain to perfect record in World Cup qualifying• Federation chief says coach has kept team at 'highest level'The Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has been handed a two-year contract extension as reward for guiding the European champions to a place in next year's World Cup. The former Real Madrid coach, whose team won all 10 of their qualifying games, succeeded Luis Aragonés following Spain's Euro 2008 triumph and his deal now runs to 2012.Del Bosque, who celebrates his 59th birthday today, was described as "a great coach" by the Spanish Football Federation president Angel Villar at a dinner with Spanish sports media last night. "What is normal in this instance is that you always renew your coach's contract when you qualify for the World Cup," said Villar. "But the board have decided that we have to continue with him for two more years whatever happens."Del Bosque knew how to take our national team to the highest level. He inherited a brilliant side and he knew how to keep them there. We have qualified brilliantly for the World Cup in South Africa, we are leaders of the world rankings and we have won all the matches apart from that against the United States in the Confederations Cup in a match we didn't give value to and in which we finished third."Villar also revealed that the decision to keep their coach until the European Championship in Ukraine and Poland was unanimous.As well as leading his team to a 100% record in qualifying, Del Bosque became the first national coach in history to win his first 10 matches. Spain are one of the favourites for next summer's World Cup but Villar has cautioned against over-confidence."There is a lot of excitement, we have a great national team and we are all hopeful that it can be a great World Cup," he said. "But words are one thing, facts are another. We're going there with hope."SpainWorld Cup 2010guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce barking mad following draw with Everton Maroune Fellaini's late equaliser cancels out Sunderland at Stadium of Light. telegraph.co.uk |
Bolton delighted to appoint 'inspirational' Owen Coyle as new manager Bolton have confirmed Owen Coyle as successor to Gary Megson after reaching an agreement with Burnley. telegraph.co.uk |
Liverpool on the up as Rafa Benítez and Fernando Torres go down with FA Cup fever Liverpool face Reading tonight gripped by the magic of the cup. It's not hard to understand why, says the Bung... telegraph.co.uk |
Robinho, Rooney and Ricardo's earrings Another Football Weekly, and it's a show as packed as Cristiano Ronaldo's Armani underpants (more on him later).James Richardson is joined in the pod by Sean Ingle, Barry Glendenning and Barney Ronay,and they begin by analysing a mixed weekend for Manchester United and Manchester City ahead of the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final. City's Robinho appears to be heading back to Brazil, and - with a little help from Fernando Duarte - we discuss whether this is a case of good riddance to bad rubbish, or has British football's most expensive import just been badly managed? Meanwhile, after United's Wayne Rooney hit all four goals in the victory against Hull, we wonder if he really is world class, or just surrounded by an average bunch of teammates?From there, we move on to the FA Cup. Arsenal were humbled away to Stoke City, but with four important games coming up in the Premier League haven't Wenger's men got bigger fish to fry, or was this their best chance at silverware?Also in the podcast, we look back on the Milan derby, and Sid Lowe rounds up all the news from La Liga, where Ronaldo scored twice and was sent off for the second time in his Real Madrid career. Dr Sid can't shed any light on the Robert Snodgrass-Barcelona affair though - can you?Finally, Jonathan Wilson reports from the Africa Cup of Nations, where he's encountered some racist dogs, but, more importantly, it seems Algeria - England's opponents in the group stages of the World Cup - look like they're quite good after all.Post your comments on the blog below, and find us on iTunes, Facebook, and Twitter.By the way, 15 years ago today, this happened. Feel old?James RichardsonBen GreenBarney RonayBarry GlendenningSean IngleJonathan WilsonFernando DuarteSid Lowe guardian.co.uk |