Today former Milan and Italy defender Alessandro Costacurta was named head coach of Serie B club Mantova. Costacurta got his coaching license immediately after retiring from the game in 2007. Last year he did a little learning experience with Milan as one of Carlo Ancelotti's assistants and this summer he was linked with some jobs (most notably Pisa), but he turned it down because he wanted a place that was closer to his home in Varese.

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Why? Its a simple question and you can read the article on ESPN's website. What exactly are Ajax trying to accomplish? Are they going to build a team around Huntelaar so now all of a sudden they are refusing to sell their top players? What is the plan Marco Van Basten? Huntelaar is a great talent, but 40 million Euros buys a lot of young talent to build a squad around, which seems to be the direction that they are going after watching their moves on the transfer market. Click to continue reading...

Historians have argued for centuries the exact date Miroslav Klose last scored a goal. It's been that long. The big man himself was starting to feel the pressure during the game against Berlin last Sunday. After missing another chance, he lost his cool and took a swing at the goal post. Fortunately for Klose he missed. Click to continue reading...

It's over and done with. No more transfers till the Winter window. Ajax found itself in a little dilemma when two sub top clubs from Europe dangled a carrot of the value of 40 Mio euros in Van Basten's face: Klaas Jan Huntelaar being the sacrifice for that. But, Ajax said, Click to continue reading...

JC made a lot of great great goals... If Van Basten's volley is the quintessential Oranje goal ever, this goal is Barcelona's most beautiful. Despite Romario, Stoichkov, Ronaldinho, Messi... JC made the best goal ever for Barca, against Atletico Madrid. The balance, the timing, the touch... And to be honest, Click to continue reading...

Raf welcomes Mark back... Mark happy to be back... Van Basten's joke-telling rules are still in place! Van Bommel tackles mate Nigel de Jong for Bayern Mark thanks Hiddink for the ass-whoopin' of Van Basten... Van Bommel: holding midfielder Van Persie scores the 1-0! Click to continue reading...

This indecisions bugging me
If you dont want me, set me free
Come on and let me know
Should I cool it or should I blow?
Should I stay or should I go now?

Aaaahhh the good ole Clash, you've gotta love them and never were more those words more appropriate then when looking at the many indecision regarding so many players across Europe. Click to continue reading...

Both Marco Van Basten and Paul Ince have begun new managerial jobs and so far have had different results. Van Basten is remaking Ajax into the club that we have all grown to know them as throughout their history. He is discarding veteran players that don't fit his vision and adding younger players that he can mold into what he hopes will be champions. Click to continue reading...

«Macché 25 milioni, Huntelaar costa anche meno di 20. E questo è un momento propizio per chi vuole prenderlo, perché Klaas non ha rinnovato. E...». E se volesse, la Roma potrebbe sferrare oggi stesso l'offensiva per la stella dell'Ajax. Paolo Alberto Faccini, campione con la Roma di Viola, è il procuratore italiano con più conoscenze dalle parti di Amsterdam e dintorni. Click to continue reading...

Yikes, look at Europe because here come A.C. Milan. As reported in Sports Illustrated, Ronaldinho will be joining the ever-growing contingent of Brazilians at A.C. Milan. Can you imagine Ronaldinho, Pato, Kaka, all together next season with the likes of Pirlo, Gattuso, etc.? Its a scary proposition for Serie A and those in the UEFA Cup. Click to continue reading...

Van Basten is back at Ajax! Ten year of mismanagement and no international prizes to speak of formed the run up to the infamous Coronel report. The date: May 24 1995. Every Ajax fan knows exactly where he or she was that night. It was a well-placed pointer by Patrick Kluivert Click to continue reading...

What can you say... We need at least three Best Oranje's Ever: we have Gullit, Bergkamp, Van Basten, Van Vossen, Rep, Rensenbrink, Moulijn, Keizer, Roy, Robben...IT"S NOT FAIR! But...we have to pick one. Best right winger in Best Oranje Ever... ( surveys) The center strikers... We never Click to continue reading...

Like a General, Maro van Basten ruled the EC. Oranje, his team, played wonderful football. San Marco would lead Holland to the title. Millions of fans knew this for sure. But...Van Basten knew better. He was happy with the results, but he also saw weak points. Russia brushed the contender aside: Click to continue reading...

The third of this amazing tournament's quarter-finals managed to live up to the high standards set by the previous two, as the impressive Russians, coached impeccably by the Dutch master, Guus Hiddink, overcame the Netherlands in a superb display of attacking football.
With the creative talents of Andrei Arshavin playing in a slightly withdrawn position and the tireless work of Pavlyuchenko up front, Hiddink's men always look more dangerous than Van Basten's team, who despite the majority of them having had eight days rest, looked tired and lethargic compared to the Russians. Click to continue reading...

Oranje will start in the same line up as it did against Italy and France. Khalid Boulahrouz will play as right back and Engelaar will play as holding midfielder. Arjen Robben was supposed to play but his groin injury has returned. Van Basten: "Arjen has trouble again. He won't be Click to continue reading...

I can't make any particular excuses for the lack of biting analysis and stunning insight into Euro 2008 on this site of late. Such as that was likely, obviously.

The simple fact is that it is, as I predicted before the tournament began, the first World Cup/European Championships I haven't watched avidly in two decades. Click to continue reading...

Van Basten: "Oi, oi... Romanian players! There is our goal!!" After Oranje's third victory on this EC, team manager Van Basten does not have a lot of criticism. "I don't have a lot to complain... As technical staff, we do what we always do. We didn't use any magic tricks or Click to continue reading...

Ruud! Ruud was just interviewed on ESPN about the Dutch team via a remote feed. Galaxy players train in the background. It's not a profound interview - he gets asked about his look back in the day and ruud jokingly calls it "porn star".
He also talks about the Galaxy this season, mentions difficulties of travel, altitude, heat and playing on turf. Click to continue reading...

Conspiracy theories abound as the Group of Death enters Matchday 3 with loads of intriguing fare...

What: European Championships, Group C
Who: Italy (3rd, 1pt) vs France (4th, 1pt)
When: Tuesday 17 June 2008, 20:45 CET
Where: Letzigrund Stadion, Zürich
U.S. TV: ESPN, 2:45 EDT
Preview
Giant Vieira model adds to glum Zurich mood
France/Italy - The Rivalry
Kevin McCarra: Italy and France torn between old and new
Faltering French look their age
David Pleat's Key Clashes


She won't be playing either. Click to continue reading...

A Nationale Nederlanden commercial, with the likes of Neeskens, Rijsbergen, Koeman, Van Basten and Van Nistelrooy in one fluid attack! Great stuff... Click to continue reading...

Qu'est-ce que vous voulez?

Campioni del mondo contro vice campioni del mondo.

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After the three "glamor friendles" against Argentina, Spain, and England, the US Men's National Team finally sets off on the long road leading to South Africa and the 2010 World Cup. Bob Bradley and Co. welcome Barbados to the Home Depot Center in Carson, California for the first leg of a home-and-away series. Click to continue reading...

I didn't know Euro 2008 games had promotional nights, but it turns out they do! Today was clearly Goalkeeper Day in Zurich, Switzerland. Gianluigi Buffon will be remembered for his brilliant save of a PK. But his rival, Bogdan Lobont, was equally as important in the game. Both 'keepers made wonderful saves to keep their teams in the game.

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Si han estado viendo los partidos de la Euro 2008, seguramente ya estarán maravillados por el futbol desenvuelto por Holanda, el equipo que mejor y más bonito ha jugado al futbol en este torneo hasta ahora.

A los italianos, campeones del mundo, los hicieron ver como unos niños de primaria jugando a la hora del recreo, con un toque de balón exacto y dos contragolpes vertiginosos. Click to continue reading...

Little has pleased me more than Kuyt's performance this past week. One goal and two assists so far (in 134 minutes), and he's been a standout for one of the top three teams (along with Spain and Portugal). It's not as if Holland has done it against lightweights, beating both the World Cup finalists by three goals. Click to continue reading...

Gli olandesi volanti

L'Olanda di Van Basten si qualifica matematicamente come prima del girone con una giornata di anticipo.

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Dutch coach looks mean, talks a language we don't understand... Van Basten has gone into "boot camp marine" mode, but he still talks in a charming whisper - he's clearly going for the "speak softly, carry big stick" approach to... Click to continue reading...

Although you never know with Van Basten and co. but it seems the Dutch team manager will play the same starting eleven as against Italy. Smart? To allow them to gel... To acknowledge their grand Italian performance? Laziness? Or foolish? France is a different team, with a different style and different type Click to continue reading...

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Marco van Basten took a measured and cautious approach at the team press conference yesterday in Switzerland. But Ruud looks relaxed and confident, wouldn't you say? And Edwin has a gleam in his eye that says "winner" to me. Hup, Holland, hup!

From the AP:

Dutch coach Marco van Basten said Wednesday his side's place in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals is far from assured despite their 3-0 demolition of world champions Italy.

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