Tugay's farewell to Turkey

Latvia upset
Tugay said: "I think the time has come to make way for young and talented players in the national team." The 33-year-old, one of several players targeted for criticism after Turkey's failure to qualify for UEFA EURO 2004™, made 92 appearances for his country, scoring twice. He won his first cap in May 1990 in a friendly against the Republic of Ireland while his last came in November's qualifying play-off against Latvia.

Out until new year
BV Borussia Dortmund's Norwegian international defender André Bergdølmo has undergone knee surgery and will be out of action until after the winter break. Another player who will not return before the new year is Willem II forward Dmitri Shoukov. The 28-year-old Russian tore a groin muscle in the first half of Saturday's 3-0 defeat of NEC Nijmegen and will be absent for at least three weeks.

Saarenpää signs new deal
Former Swedish international Klebér Saarenpää has ended speculation about his future by signing a one-year extension to his contract with Danish side Aalborg BK. The 28-year-old defender's new deal will take him through to the end of 2004. Saarenpää has been blighted by injuries in the past 18 months and his new contract is based, to a large extent, on a pay-as-you-play rate. "He will have to play some matches in order to make money," said AaB sports director Lynge Jacobsen.