Galante back in Serie A with Livorno

AS Livorno Calcio

SBV Vitesse have extended the contract of midfield player Stijn Schaars. He had been under contract until 30 June 2005, but Vitesse have now activated the two-year option which secures him to the club until 2007. Less good news for the club surrounds captain Ruud Knol who might be missing until the winter break. The 23-year-old central defender is suffering more problems with his right knee and has been ordered to rest. The same injury sidelined him for 18 months before his return in January.

Cezary Kucharski, the former Legia Warszawa star who played for Poland in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, has signed for GKS Górnik Leczna who lie at the foot of the Polish Ekstraklasa. Kucharski spent last season at Greek club Iraklis FC, scoring three goals in 15 games. At Górnik he has joined forces with coach Boguslaw Kaczmarek who was also in charge of Stomil Olsztyn when Kucharski returned to Polish football in 1999 after leaving Real Sporting de Gijón. His record in the Ekstraklasa stands at 85 goals in 223 matches.