Ex-Mourinho understudy Karanka unveiled as Middlesbrough boss

The former Real Madrid assistant coach replaces Tony
Mowbray as the Championship side's manager, having agreed
a two-and-a-half year contract at the Riverside Stadium
Middlesbrough have appointed former Real Madrid assistant
coach Aitor Karanka as their new manager.
The former right-hand man to Jose Mourinho will begin work
at the Riverside Stadium immediately after agreeing a two-
and-a-half year deal at the club.
Karanka, who was Mourinho's No.2 in Spain, is
Middlesbrough's first-ever foreign coach and is excited to be
working at a club recommended to him by the Portuguese.
"It's a very important day for me - it's my new job," he
enthused to reporters.
"I think it's the best thing in the world because I find a club
like a family, with a big stadium, big supporters.
"It's my time. I have worked with Jose Mourinho and he was
a great influence, I learned a lot from him. He's a person who
has helped me for months I always speak with him and he
told me to come here."
Middlesbrough's chief executive, Neil Bausor, told the club's
official website: "We are delighted that Aitor has decided to
further his coaching career with Middlesbrough as our head
coach.
"He brings with him some fantastic experience as a player and
as a talented young coach. We are all excited about working
with him."
Karanka played for Athletic Bilbao, Real Madrid and Colorado
Rapids in a career spanning 15 years before becoming
Madrid's assistant in 2010.

Enyeama extends clean slates to eleven matches in Ligue 1

The Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper has remained unbeaten in goal for his French league outfit following another impressive showing at Guingamp Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama continued his inspiring run in the French club, Lille on Saturday night as they forced hosts Guingamp to a goalless draw at a rain soaked Stade du Roudourou. It was the former Maccabi Tel Aviv safest pair of hand’s 13th league appearance for René Girard's side as he thwarted clear-cut chances by the hosts to secure maximum points against his injury-depleted team. One of his biggest highlight of the night was a brilliant save in the 60th minute off Mustapha Yatabaré's header following a cross whipped by Reynald Lemaître from the left hand side of Lille’s defence before blocking Fatih Atik's attempt to break the deadlock. Last weekend, Enyeama had kept out Radamel Falcao and his team-mates time and again when his club hosted AS Monaco in a week 12 encounter. The last time he conceded a goal was against Nice which they lost 2-0 at home in a week 5 encounter. Lille are currently second with 27 points on the French league table. PSG keeper Salvatore Sirigu holds the record in the French Ligue 1 for the longest time without conceding a goal. His record lasted from November 17, 2012 to February 8, 2013.

Italy announce squad for Nigeria friendly

Coach Cesare Prandelli has named his 28-man team that will
confront Nigeria in an international friendly billed for Fulham's
Craven Cottage stadium, London on November 18.
The Europeans will play Germany in Milan on November 15
before engaging Keshi's men who will also take on the Walia
Antelopes in a crunch World Cup qualifying play-offs in
Calabar on Saturday, November 16.
THE FULL SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Federico Marchetti
(Lazio), Salvatore Sirigu (PSG/FRA).
Defenders: Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Federico Balzaretti (AS
Roma), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Christian Maggio
(Napoli), Angelo Ogbonna (Juventus), Manuel Pasqual
(Fiorentina), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter), Domenico Criscito
(Zenit St Petersbourg/RUS).
Midfielders: Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (AS
Roma), Alessandro Diamanti (Bologna), Alessandro Florenzi
(Roma), Emanuele Giaccherini (Sunderland/ENG), Claudio
Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (AC Milan), Thiago
Motta (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Marco Parolo (Parma),
Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Andrea Poli (AC Milan).
Strikers: Mario Balotelli (AC Milan), Alessio Cerci (Torino),
Alberto Gilardino (Genoa), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Pablo
Osvaldo (Southampton/ENG), Giuseppe Rossi (Fiorentina).

Netherlands can win the World Cup, insists Robben

Arjen Robben insists the Netherlands have the ability to win
the 2014 World Cup and will be going to Brazil next summer
determined to lift the trophy.
The Oranje were runners-up in the 2010 tournament after
Andres Iniesta's goal won the final for Spain in South Africa,
but Bayern Munich ace Robben is fully confident his side can
go one better this time around.
"Our final goal is to become world champions in Brazil," the
29-year-old told reporters.
"It's a realistic target and we won't go there with the attitude
to just see how far we can get.
"We must survive the group stage and if we progress, the
world title is our dream."
Louis van Gaal's side find themselves in a rich vein of form
after going unbeaten for 15 games stretching back over a year,
but Robben has warned their run will be put to the test in
upcoming friendlies against Colombia and Japan.
"These matches are not about getting points, but they're
important," he stressed.
"These are two countries you can end up playing against in
Brazil. Most people talk about Colombia, because they're that
high on the Fifa ranking, but maybe Japan is even an more
difficult opponent.
"I know a lot of players from the Bundesliga. Besides that,
[Keisuke] Honda and [Shinji] Kagawa are very good players."
Robin van Persie's withdrawal from the squad means Robben
is set to start the friendlies in Genk and Amsterdam as
captain, and the former Chelsea winger admits he will be
proud to take on the armband.
"It's an honour to be captain of your country," he added. "It's
the most beautiful thing.
"I don't feel extra pressure, maybe a bit of positive pressure. I
know what people are expecting from me. I won't change
because of the captaincy. I will stay myself."

Neymar, Ibrahimovic listed for best goal honour

Barcelona attacker Neymar and PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic are among the 10 nominees up for Fifa’s Puskas award for the best goal of the year, Goal reports.

As part of the lead up to the annual Ballon d’Or ceremony, 10 of the top strikes over the past 12 months are available for football fans to choose from, with the options to be whittled down to the three most popular on December 9.

Neymar gets the nod for his strike against Japan for Brazil at this summer’s Confederations Cup and he could become the first player to win the award twice.

Sweden forward Ibrahimovic is also on the list for his outrageous overhead kick from over 25 yards out against England in a friendly last November.

The only major European league on the list is Serie A, which has two entrants: Antonio Di Natale for an acute volley in Udinese’s clash with Chievo in April, and Bologna’s Panagiotis Kone with his acrobatic, twisting volley against Napoli.

Mikel, Moses, others hit Calabar

Mikel, Moses, others hit Calabar


Mikel Obi, Shola Ameobi, Bright Dike, John Ogu, and James Okwuosa are some of the Super Eagles players that had arrived in Calabar by noon on Tuesday for the World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia’s Walya Antelopes. The match is billed for the U.J. Esuene Stadium on Saturday.

A close associate of Mikel spoke with The PUNCH soon after the Chelsea midfielder arrived at the Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel where the Eagles are accommodated.

He said, “Yes he’s (Mikel) in town now. We just arrived at the hotel just a while ago.”

Chippa United of South Africa central defender, Okwuosa, was however the first player amongst those based outside Nigeria to arrive in Calabar. But by midday Victor Moses had joined the first set. The Liverpool attacker got in just ahead of Godfrey Oboabona and Nnamdi Oduamadi. Elderson Echejile joined his mates while they were already at training at the stadium, Eagles managers confirmed.

It is hoped that Wednesday training would record a full house of all the players called-up for the game. Officials of the Nigeria Football Federation have largely blamed flight problems as the major cause for the delay for the players heading to Calabar from Lagos and Abuja. But The PUNCH check with a Calabar-based travel agent showed that it is little better getting a seat on flights this period compared to the period Eagles played against Kenya when only one airline was flying into the city as a result of problems in the Nigerian aviation industry.

And as Stephen Keshi prepares the Eagles for the last battle on the way to Brazil 2014, Ethiopian striker Getaneh Kebede has returned to the national team. The 21-year-old Bidvest Wits of South Africa player missed the first leg in Addis Ababa, which ended in victory to Nigeria, because of a knee injury. The return of the fast attacker is seen as a boost to Wayla Antelopes.

Under coach Sewinet Bishaw the player is standing as the joint top scorer. BBC correspondent in Addis Ababa confirmed that striker Saladin Seid and midfielder Shimels Bekele are also in the squad to face Nigeria. Getaneh trained on Monday along with his team-mates, who are mostly home-based players. The Ethiopians are expected to arrive in Nigeria on Thursday although they seem not too keen giving the Nigerian FA a very definite schedule.

The Eagles had defeated the Ethiopians 2-1 in the first leg of the play-offs in Addis Ababa last month. The Ethiopians need at least a 2-0 margin win over Nigeria in Calabar to secure  the ticket to Brazil while a simple draw is all the Nigerians need to book a place for the 2014 World Cup finals.