Liverpool announce Milner signing

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has hailed the impact Paulo Bento has had since his appointment as Portugal manager.

The former Sporting Lisbon boss was named as Portugal s head coach in September 2010, and has since gone on to win 60 percent of his 20 games in charge, including a 4-0 win over Iberian rivals Spain.

And Martinez feels that his colleague deserves all the credit possible for his good work, following the team s qualification for the Euro 2012 semi-finals.

I am really impressed with Portugal, Martinez told UEFA.com.

I am fascinated how Paulo Bento has found the perfect, winning formula for Portugal. He deserves huge credit, it was a very astute tactical change to free (Cristiano) Ronaldo and allow all the good play.

Martinez complim…

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc still refuses to discuss the future of Salzburg star Erling Haaland amid reports he has visited Germany for transfer talks.

It was reported in Germany on Wednesday that striker Haaland went to Dortmund after first heading to RB Leipzig, the sister club of Salzburg, as speculation builds over a January transfer.

The 19-year-old, who scored eight goals in six games in the Champions League group stage, has also been linked with Serie A champions Juventus and Premier League sides such as Liverpool and Manchester United.

A move to the Bundesliga is considered the more likely if Haaland were to move in the next transfer window, with Dortmund eager to bolster their attack due to Paco Alcacer s injury problems, …

Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho believes Jurgen Klopp s long-term commitment to Liverpool can only be positive news for the Premier League.

Klopp inked a new deal tying him to the Reds until 2024, adding two years to his existing contract.

The German masterminded Liverpool s victory over Tottenham in last season s Champions League final and has guided the Reds to an eight-point advantage atop the Premier League this term.

Mourinho praised Klopp s talents and said his presence in English football was good for the game.

First of all, it means they are all happy, Mourinho told a news conference. He s happy; if not, he doesn t sign. They re happy; if not, they don t give him new contract.

Great news obviously for Liverpool fans, because they …

Claude Makelele has departed his position as technical director of Monaco by mutual consent, the Ligue 1 club have confirmed.

The former France international was appointed in January, following a disappointing six-month spell in charge of Bastia in 2014.

Monaco  who finished third in Ligue 1 in 2015-16, earning a place in the play-offs for next season s Champions League announced Makelele s departure on Monday.

AS Monaco and Claude Makelele announced today the completion of their co-operation by mutual agreement, a statement read.

The club would like to thank the former French international for the work undertaken since his arrival. AS Monaco can only wish the best for Claude in his future endeavors.

I thank the club and [vice president] V…

Paulo Wanchope will attempt to mark his first game in charge of Costa Rica on a permanent basis by ensuring Ramon Diaz s Paraguay reign starts with a friendly defeat at Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica on Thursday.

Former Derby County striker Wanchope was rewarded for a successful spell as caretaker coach when the Costa Rican Soccer Federation last month announced that he will stay on in the role.

Costa Rica are unbeaten in six games under Wanchope, who guided his country to victory in last year s Copa Centroamericana.

The Central American nation exceeded expectations to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup last year, suffering the heartbreak of a penalty shootout exit at the hands of the Netherlands.

Wanchope, who was assistant to Jorge Luis…

Folarin Balogun faces uncertain future, which isn t likely to be resolved until the summer, as he told journalist Matt Spiro.

The 21-year-old striker left Arsenal to join Stade Reims on loan for the season, and he has done very well in France, scoring 18 goals in 29 games in all competitions so far. The loan is obviously doing what it was intended to do help him develop through regular game time, but given the way things have been going in his absence in North London, he isn t likely to find the situation much different when he returns to the parent club. With Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah both doing their part in the Gunners charge towards the Premier League title, Balogun is likely to remain behind them in the pecking order under Mikel Arteta.

Jesus arrived last su…

A new name will be engraved on the African Footballer of the Year trophy next month after three stars were shortlisted on Wednesday for the 2008 award.

Arsenal and Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor is favoured to top a poll among Africa-based national coaches with midfielders Michael Essien of Chelsea and Ghana and Mohamed Aboutraika of Al-Ahly and Egypt the other contenders.

Long-term injury casualty Essien finished second and third in the previous two editions of the African Football Confederation-organised competition while Adebayor and Aboutraika have never featured among the top three.

The omission from the original list of struggling Chelsea striker Didier Drogba came as no surprise and saved the organisers potential embarrassment as the Ivorian said he had n…

Antonio Conte cannot wait to leave Chelsea due to transfers, according to former manager and team-mate Gianluca Vialli.

Conte s future was cast into further doubt following Sunday s shock 3-1 loss at home to Tottenham in the Premier League – a major blow to Chelsea s Champions League hopes.

The 48-year-old, who guided Chelsea to Premier League glory last season, has been critical of the team s transfer policy this term as the Blues struggle to reach the heights of 2016-17.

Conte can t wait to leave Chelsea, ex-Chelsea boss and former Juventus striker Vialli told Sky Sport Italia.

He can t stand that they sell or buy players without consulting him.

The truth is, Chelsea would like a manager who is more of a club man.

Conte has been li…

Everton have confirmed Duncan Ferguson will remain in charge for Saturday s Premier League clash with Arsenal at Goodison Park, as Carlo Ancelotti s appointment reportedly draws closer.

Ferguson has been in interim control since Marco Silva was dismissed on December 5 in the wake of a 5-2 hammering at the hands of Merseyside rivals Liverpool.

Fan favourite Ferguson led the Toffees to a 3-1 victory over Chelsea in his first match, before claiming a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford, though his winning run came to an end on Wednesday as Everton exited the EFL Cup with a 4-2 penalty shootout defeat to in-form Leicester City.

Ancelotti, who was sacked by Napoli on December 10, seems set to take over, with the ex-Real Madrid and Bayern Munich coach…

The Asian Football Confederation said its flagship club competition, the AFC Champions League, attracted more than one million spectators during the group stages a new record.

A total of 1,037,702 fans packed stadiums across Asia to watch 94 group phase encounters as 32 teams slugged it out to make the round of 16.

This year?s milestone overhauled the numbers achieved in the five previous editions of the competition.

The numbers show that Asian teams are popular in the continent and their game has attained the professionalism required in this modern era, said AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam.

I hope that the knockout stages of the competition will throw up interesting battles and the spectators will keep going to the stadiums to cheer their favourite t…