Giggsy wins Golden Foot award

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs paid tribute to his boss Sir Alex Ferguson after picking up the prestigious Golden Foot award for 2011.

Giggs was named the winner after a record number of votes were cast on the competition's website and he flew in to Monaco to attend Monday night's Golden Foot award ceremony.

Giggs received the award from Prince Albert II of Monaco, and then said he had been "fortunate to play for the greatest manager" in football.

"He's hard but fair. He demands a lot from his players as he does from himself," Giggs was quoted by ManUtd.com as saying.

"He is the best manager and it's great to have had him there throughout my career."

A permanent mould of Giggs' footprints will now be place on Monte Carlo's 'Champions Promenade' along with that of previous winners which include legends Roberto Baggio as well as Ronaldo from Brazil.

"It's a great honour to win such an award and to have my footprints alongside some of the greatest football players is a real privilege," Giggs said.

"I have been fortunate to play alongside great players, play for the greatest manager and play for the best club in the world. At the moment I am still enjoying my football so I have not thought about what I will do when I finish, but if it all finished tomorrow I could say that I have had a fantastic career and wouldn't swap it with anybody."

According to the Golden Foot website, the annual award honours footballers aged 29 or over who "stand out for their sport results (both as single players and with their team), for their personality and for the esteem of the public and football experts."

Previous winners include Francesco Totti (2010), Ronaldinho (2009), Roberto Carlos (2008), Alessandro Del Piero (2007), Ronaldo (2006), Andriy Shevchenko (2005), Pavel Nedved (2004) and Roberto Baggio (2003).

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Todays’s Transfer Gossips

1)      Real Madrid ready to sign Carlos Tevez from Manchester City, But the English big-spenders seeking atleast £35m. 

2)     Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish keeping a close eye on Borussia Dortmund play-maker Shinji Kagawa. 

3)     Arsenal to make a January loan move for Juve striker  Amauri , to provide back-up for Skipper Robin Van Persie. 

4)     Russian big spenders Anzhi Makhachkala are lining up bids for Arsenal’s Robin van Persie, Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka and Santos wonder-kid Neymar, according to player-coach Roberto Carlos. 

5)     PSG interested in Arsenal striker  Marouane Chamakh. 

6)     The agent of Inter midfielder Sulley Muntari has confirmed that the Ghana international is interested in a move to Napoli. 

7)     Manchester United and Chelsea lining up a bid for young American international Brek Shea.

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Mallorca part ways with coach Nadal

Miguel Angel Nadal is to leave his position on the Real Mallorca coaching staff, the La Liga outfit have confirmed.

The former Spain international took over interim charge for the 2-2 draw with Osasuna on October 1 before the club revealed Joaquin Caparros as Michael Laudrup's successor.

"First-team coach Miguel Angel Nadal is to leave his position on the RCD Mallorca coaching staff," read a club statement.

"Nadal informed the manager Joaquin Caparros of his decision this morning, along with the president Jaume Cladera and the vice-president Llorenc Serra Ferrer.

"Nadal had decided to postpone his decision for a few days to facilitate Joaquin Caparros' settling-in period as manager.

"Miguel Angel Nadal said his goodbyes to the first-team squad in the dressing room before the week's first training session."

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Top European Teams look to book Euro '12 spots

Portugal and France will both hope to avoid the playoff stage by winning their final Euro 2012 qualifiers on Tuesday evening.

France are currently top of Group D, but have a crucial clash against Bosnia-Herzegovina, who are just a point behind them. A draw, though, will be enough for Laurent Blanc's men to guarantee their place in next summer's championship in Poland and Ukraine.

Portugal and Denmark also play in another top-of-the-table clash in Group H where a draw would be enough for Carlos Queiroz’s boys to advance due to their better head-to-head record.

Tuesday night EURO 2012 Qualifiers

Group A

Germany vs Belgium

Kazakhstan vs Austria

Turkey vs Azerbaijan

Group B

Republic of Ireland vs Armenia

Russia vs Andorra

Macedonia vs Slovakia

Group C

Italy vs Northern Ireland

Slovenia vs Serbia

Group D

Albania vs Romania

France vs Bosnia-Herzegovina

Group E

Sweden vs Holland

Hungary vs Finland

Moldova vs San Marino

Group F

Croatia vs Latvia

Georgia vs Greece

Malta vs Israel

Group G

Switzerland vs Montenegro

Bulgaria vs Wales

Group H

Denmark vs Portugal

Norway vs Cyprus

Group I

Spain vs Scotland

Lithuania vs Czech Republic          

 

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UEFA to discuss Wayne Rooney red card on Thursday

UEFA will meet on Thursday to discuss England ace Wayne Rooney's red card against Montenegro as the striker awaits his fate.

The 25 year-old was sent off by referee Wolfgang Stark in Friday's draw with Montenegro after grumpily kicking out at defender Miodrag Dzudovic.

The Manchester United star is facing at least a one-match suspension and as a result will be banned for the Three Lions' opening game of next summer's Euro 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine.

UEFA could decide to increase the suspension to as many as three matches, but England remain optimistic it will only be a one-game ban after referee Stark admitted Rooney's acceptance of his red card could work in his favour.

Rooney, who will not be selected from the start for England's friendly games with World cup winners’ Spain and runners’ Holland prior to the Euro 2012 finals, will now nervously wait to learn his fate following Thursday's meeting at UEFA headquarters in Nyon.

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