Vingada accepts Académica post

Nelo Vingada has been unveiled as the new coach of relegation-threatened Portuguese side A. Académica de Coimbra, replacing João Carlos Pereira who left the club by mutual consent on Wednesday. Vingada has signed a contract until the end of the season with the option for a further season, having guided Zamalek to the Egyptian league title in his last coaching post. "It's a great challenge," said Vingada, whose only previously head coaching role in Portugal was with CS Marítimo, although he has worked as assistant coach to the national team, SL Benfica and Académica. "Our goal is to escape from relegation, and to do that we will need the help of everybody: players, club and supporters."

Malta

Odense BK have awarded joint coaches Troels Bech and Klavs Rasmussen new contracts until 1 July 2006. The pair took charge of the Danish Superleague club earlier this year after Uffe Pedersen stepped down for personal reasons and have subsequently guided the club to fourth place in the Danish top flight. "Troels and Klavs possess the qualities we would like our coaches to have," said OB director Kim Brink.

Also in Denmark, Tobias Grahn is joining club AGF Århus on a three-year contract, valid from new year. The 24-year-old Swedish midfield player, who has previously represented Norway's Vålerenga IF and Danish outfit Lyngby BK, joined AGF on loan and helped his new club to six place in the Danish top flight at the winter break.

Bulgarian Premier League leaders PFC CSKA Sofia have signed Brazilian Tiago Silva from PFC Litex Lovech. The 25-year-old midfield player has agreed a three-year deal and, when he joins his new team in early 2005, will be reunited with former Litex coach Ferario Spasov, now in charge of CSKA. "This signing is a Christmas gift for our fans," said CSKA's technical director Stefan Ormandzhiev. "We were looking for a player of such high quality. We are glad to have him."

Albanian international Fatmir Vata has signed a new contract with DSC Arminia Bielefeld, tying him to the club until 2007. The 33-year-old midfield player joined Arminia in 2001 and featured 16 times in the first half of the current Bundesliga season, scoring three goals.

UEFA Cup contenders FC Sochaux-Montbéliard have been eliminated from the French League Cup on penalties by SM Caen, who had goalkeeper Vincent Planté to thank with two shoot-out saves after a goalless 120 minutes of action. AJ Auxerre, another UEFA Cup hopeful, were pushed all the way by FC Nantes Atlantique but Benoît Cheyrou’s late winner gave Auxerre a 2-1 victory. Fittingly, Auxerre will meet Caen in the quarter-finals, while RC Lens will play AS Saint-Etienne. The other two ties will see Ligue 2 sides Clermont FA and Montpellier Hérault SC away at RC Strasbourg and at home against AS Monaco FC respectively.