International Football
Carlo Ancelotti Happy To Choose Real Madrid Over Brazil –
![Carlo Ancelotti Happy To Choose Real Madrid Over Brazil -](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Carlo-Ancelotti-Happy-To-Choose-Real-Madrid-Over-Brazil.jpg)
Carlo Ancelotti said that he wants to remain at Real Madrid beyond 2026 after the Italian inked a two-year contract extension at the Spanish La Liga giants last week.
The 64-year-old, whose previous contract was due to expire at the end of June, has been at Real since 2021, having previously managed the club from 2013 to 2015.
He has won one league title with Real, along with two Champions League trophies and two Club World Cups.
“My contract was up on June 30. The club has decided to do it now because they’re happy with our work,” Ancelotti told reporters on Jan 2 ahead of a home game against Mallorca.
“I don’t know if it will be my last spell as a coach. I don’t know what will happen once I finish here. I might still be here in 2026, depending on how successful I am.
“I’d like to be Madrid coach until 2026, and hopefully I can continue to be here in 2027 and 2028 because I want to stay here.”
Prior to signing the extension, Ancelotti had been linked with a move to Brazil’s national team, with ex-Brazilian Football Association (CBF) president Ednaldo Rodrigues having said he was the preferred candidate.
It had also been reported last July that he would become the first foreigner to coach Brazil in almost 60 years, taking over Tite who departed after the 2022 Qatar World Cup, but Ancelotti said staying at Real had always been his priority.
“I was proud (to be considered), everyone knows that I had contact with the president of the Brazilian federation but it was all dependent on my situation with Real Madrid and that was all clear,” he added.
“Ednaldo is not the president right now and everything has gone the way I wanted because I’m able to stay here. But I want to thank him for the affection and interest he showed towards me. Thinking about being the Brazil coach was exciting, but I don’t know if they will want me in 2026.
“I don’t know if they will be happy with this decision.”
Ancelotti has won the Champions League four times – including twice with AC Milan.
He has also won domestic league titles with Milan, in England with Chelsea, in Germany with Bayern Munich and in France with Paris Saint-Germain, becoming the first manager ever to win the championship in Europe’s top five leagues.
–AFP/Reuters
International Football
Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official
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Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.
They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.
“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.
The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.
While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.
Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.
-Reuters
International Football
FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money
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FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.
Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.
“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”
FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.
Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.
-Reuters
International Football
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint
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Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.
Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.
“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.
After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.
Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.
-Reuters
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