Koeman unveiled by PSV
Friday, May 12, 2006
Article summary
News round-up: The Ronald Koeman era begins in earnest at PSV Eindoven, while clubs in France and England sign up strikers of promise.
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PSV Eindhoven
French high-fliers LOSC Lille Métropole have handed a new three-year contract to Belgian Under-21 international forward Kevin Mirallas. The 18-year-old has played 14 Ligue 1 games this season, including eleven as a substitute, after making his debut last term. Lille are third in the table going into the last round of matches.
Everton FC have signed 17-year-old striker Scott Spencer from third-division Oldham Athletic FC for an undisclosed fee. Spencer has put pen to paper on a three-year contract with the Premiership club. "It is a dream come true," he said.
Helsingborgs IF's indifferent start to the Swedish Allsvenskan season has cost coach Peter Swärdh his job. "We believe Swärdh has had a strong squad to work with, but results have been poor and a change was needed," said Helsingborg chairman Sten-Inge Fredin. Swärdh's replacement will be Hans Eklund, a former player with the club who steps up from his duties with the youth team. "In Eklund, we have someone with a strong winning mentality," Fredin added. Helsingborg lie ninth in the 14-team Allsvenskan with two wins from eight games.
The Swedish Allsvenskan's bottom side Örgryte IS finally have reason for cheer after their financial plan for the season was accepted by the country's Elite Licensing committee. There were fears Örgryte could have their licence withdrawn as they finished the 2005 campaign with total debts of around €5m. However, the club have been boosted by a €2.7m investment from three private companies.
Dutch UEFA Cup qualifiers FC Groningen have signed Serbo-Montenegrin midfielder Goran Lovré from RSC Anderlecht. The 24-year-old, an FK Partizan youth product, rejected the offer of a new deal at the Belgian club to put pen to paper on a two-year contract with Groningen. Lovré played 45 league games for Anderlecht over four seasons, scoring five goals.
Real Madrid CF have named a date for presidential elections following their general meeting yesterday. Acting chairman Luis Gómez Montejano, who took over when Fernando Martín was voted out on 26 April, has announced that the elections will be held on 2 July with campaigning to start after the club's final match of the season on Tuesday.
Sevilla FC are recovering from a night of celebration after bringing the UEFA Cup back home. A delayed flight meant the team touched down at 21.30CET and the party was in full swing until 03.00CET. Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca - who scored two of Sevilla's goals in their 4-0 win against Middlesbrough FC - has donated the €10,000 he collected as man of the match to Seville's Hospital de San Juan de Dios.
DSC Arminia Bielefeld have signed midfielder Thorben Marx on a three-year contract from Bundesliga rivals Hertha BSC Berlin. The 24-year-old has been limited to six league appearances this term.
The 1. FSV Mainz 05 striker Benjamin Auer will leave the club when his contract expires this summer. The 25-year-old, formerly with VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach, has scored nine goals in 28 games this season.
Armenia have named Samvel Darbinyan as their caretaker coach following the recent departure of national team boss Henk Wisman. Darbinyan, who has won league championships with FC Yerevan and FC Pyunik, was previously in charge of Armenian top-flight side FC Kilikia. Football Federation of Armenia president Ruben Hayrapetyan hopes to appoint a foreigner in the long term.
FC Lokomotiv Vitebsk have sacked coach Sergei Yasinski after the newly promoted club suffered their first defeat of the season in Belarus's Premier League. Lokomotiv lost 2-1 at home to FC Naftan Novopolotsk, yet still have six points from five games. Yuri Kovba has taken over as caretaker coach.