Sofia clubs set the pace
Tuesday, 9 November 2004

By Stoyan Georgiev

Early pacesetters PFC CSKA Sofia have dropped their first points of the season in the last four weeks and find themselves level with PFC Levski Sofia.

Derby date
The most significant match of the campaign to date came on 17 October when the two capital clubs met. Home side CSKA took a two-goal lead but allowed Levski to battle back for a 2-2 draw. CSKA then lost another two points with a repeat scoreline at PFC Marek Dupnitza last Sunday, but this time required an equaliser of their own.

Ognyanov emergence
CSKA have been joined on 32 points by Levski after their 4-1 success against PFC Spartak Varna on Saturday. Leading the way for Levski is 16-year-old midfielder Mariyan Ognyanov, who has featured in the last two games and scored twice against Spartak Varna.

Up to third
Another team on the rise are PFC Slavia Sofia. After early defeats by Levski and CSKA, new Bulgarian internationals Blagoy Georgiev, Chavdar Yankov and Dimitar Rangelov have propelled the club to third place although there is still an eight-point gap to the leaders.

Kamburov class
Champions PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv are a further point adrift. However, one positive for them is the continued good form of Martin Kamburov, including a hat-trick in the 4-3 win against PFC Litex Lovech on 16 October. The club's sporting manager Hristo Bonev has left after a dispute with coach Eduard Eranosyan.

Mladenov departure
Cup holders Litex have seen their title ambitions dented by defeat in two crucial away games, that 4-3 defeat by Loko Plovdiv and then a 3-1 reverse at CSKA on 31 October. Those results led to the end of Stoicho Mladenov's reign after just four months at the helm.

All change
The managerial merry-go-round continued at PFC Naftex Burgas. With just one point separating the team from the relegation zone, Naftex parted with manager Francesco Schollio and joint-coach Claudio Maselli, with his partner Salvatore Bianchetti being moved into another position. Ognyan Radev has temporary charge of first-team matters.

Looking up
Finally, newcomers PFC Pirin Blagoevgrad, in eleventh, are also without a coach as Yordan Samokolvliiski resigned after the 4-1 home defeat by Loko Plovdiv on Saturday. Spartak Varna remain bottom despite a 1-0 home success against PFC Cherno More Varna on 30 October. The once-mighty PFC Lokomotiv Sofia are just two points better off, but have improved under Stefan Grozdanov.

Azerbaijan youngsters impress
Wednesday, 17 November 2004
By Erkin Ibragimov

Azerbaijan 0-0 Bulgaria
Azerbaijan coach Carlos Alberto Torres gave debuts to five players and his young side responded impressively with some fine attacking football in a goalless draw with Bulgaria in a friendly match at the Tofik Bakhramov stadium in Baku.

New faces
In the absence of several regulars, the Brazilian used the break from FIFA World Cup qualifiers to try out a number of untested youngsters. Rauf Mekhtiev, Daniel Akhtyamov and Elmar Bakhshiev all made their debuts in the starting XI, Ilgar Abdurahmanov and Vugar Guliyev were named among the substitutes, and 18-year-old Vugar Nadyrov and Zaur Gashymov, 23, were both picked for just the second time.

All change
However, the home team were without Jahangir Hasanzade, Makhmud and Gurban Gurbanov, Samir Aliyev, Aslan Kerimov and 22-year-old captain Rashad Sadygov, who has been in impressive form as sweeper this year. Stilian Petrov was missing for Bulgaria who named an otherwise full-strength side.

Ponomarev comes close
Azerbaijan had the best of the early exchanges. Kyamal Guliyev and Makhir Shukurov were full of confidence on the wings, while the tall Akhtyamov worried the Bulgaria defence and his strike partner Zaur Ramazanov threatened with his darting runs. Azerbaijan's best chance came on 29 minutes when Anatoliy Ponomarev's shot from a cleverly taken corner was cleared off the goalline.

'Fair result'
Bulgaria seized the momentum after the break, and Valeri Bozhinov and Dimitar Berbatov both looked dangerous in front of Mekhtiev's goal, but Azerbaijan were able to hold on for the draw. "Both teams played well, and I think the result is fair," Torres said.

Next up
Azerbaijan, bottom of World Cup qualifying Group 6, return to competitive action against Poland in Warsaw on 26 March, while Bulgaria, second in Group 8, take on section leaders Sweden the same day.

A teraz nam to Wawo wszystko przetłumacz.

Frankowski shoots way to top
Monday, 29 November 2004
The race for the 2004/05 ESM Golden Shoe is firmly under way with last season's winner Thierry Henry in prolific mood once again.

 

Thierry Henry has been among the goals


Strong challenge
With the halfway stage of the season approaching, Wisla Kraków striker Tomasz Frankowski and Rosenborg BK forward Frode Johnsen are setting the pace although the latter's season has now concluded. Frankowski, however, has scored 19 goals in just 13 Polish league games to date and could provide a strong challenge.

Closing in
Henry drew a blank at the weekend when Arsenal FC went down 2-1 at Liverpool FC but still has eleven goals to his name. Because, in the ESM standings, goals in the Premiership are multiplied by two, as opposed to 1.5 in the Ekstraklasa, Henry would need to score four more to overtake Frankowski. Marek Mintál, the 1. FC Nürnberg forward, would require a Bundesliga hat-trick to do the same, provided of course Frankowski did not add to his tally.


Pos

Name Club (Country) Gls Val Pts
1 Tomasz Frankowski Wisla Kraków (POL) 19 1.5 28.5
1 Frode Johnsen Rosenborg BK (NOR) 19 1.5 28.5
3 Vjateslav Zahovaiko FC Flora (EST) 28 1 28
4 Aleksandr Kerzhakov FC Zenit St. Peterburg (RUS) 18. 1.5 27
5 Andrei Kariaka FC Krylya Sovetov Samara 17 1.5 25.5
6 Jason Byrne Shelbourne FC (IRL) 25 1 25
7 Marek Mintál 1. FC Nürnberg (GER) 12 2 24
8 Martin Kamburov PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv (BUL) 15 1.5 22.5
8 Aleksandr Panov FC Torpedo Moskva (RUS) 15 1.5 22.5
8 Dmitri Sytchev FC Lokomotiv Moskva (RUS) 15 1.5 22.5
8 Alexander Ødegaard Sogndal IL (NOR)  15 1.5 22.5
8 Christian Mayrleb SV Pasching (AUT) 15 1.5 22.5
13 Thierry Henry Arsenal FC (ENG) 11 2 22
13 Vincenzo Montello AS Roma (ITA) 11 2 22
13 Arsen Tlehugov FC Kairat Almaty (KZK) 22 1 22
13 Ulugbek Bakayev FC Tobol Kostanay (KZK) 22 1 22
17 Galust Petrosian FC Pyunik (ARM) 21 1 21
17 Arild Sundgot  Lillestrøm SK (NOR) 14 1.5 21
17 Olivier Occean Odd Grenland (NOR) 14 1.5 21
17 Sigurd Rushfeldt FK Austria Wien (AUT) 14 1.5 21
17 Aleksandr Katasonov FHK Liepajas Metalurgs (LAT)  21 1 21
17 Edgar Manucharian FC Pyunik (ARM) 21 1 21
23 Delron Buckley DSC Arminia Bielefeld (GER) 10 2 20
23 Samuel Eto'o FC Barcelona (ESP) 10 2 20





Last updated: 29 November 2004

Only the leading five countries (Spain, Italy, Germany, France and England) on the UEFA Ranking have two as their multiplier. This is to emphasise the difference in international performance level between clubs from those countries and those from the other countries.

A player cannot first play in a summer league (eg Norway) and then in a winter league (eg Spain) and combine the points total for each season.

Figures from Voetbal International

Contenders await youth draws
Tuesday, 30 November 2004
The draws for the qualifying rounds of the 2005/06 UEFA European Under-17 and Under-19 Championships take place in Nyon this afternoon, with 51 member associations awaiting the results.

Hosts qualify
The draws take place in the house of European football from 16.30CET, where a number of Europe's top youth coaches will be interested observers. Luxembourg will host the U17 finals in summer 2006, while Poland will be the venue for the U19 event the same year, and both these teams therefore qualify automatically for the final tournament.

Elite round
Of the remaining 51 sides in each competition, three qualify automatically for the Elite round, based on the rankings in UEFA's coefficient tables. England, Spain and France – winners of the event last summer – progress directly to the Elite round of the U17 event in 2005/06, with Spain – holders of the trophy after their victory against Turkey in Nyon last July – joined by England and the Czech Republic in the Elite round for the U19 tournament.

Two pots
The other 48 associations will be grouped into two pots. Pot A will include 24 teams, those which are ranked from 4 to 27 inclusive, while the member associations ranked from 28 to 51 by UEFA will be drawn from pot B. The teams will then be drawn into 12 groups of four, with the 12 group winners and runners-up as well as the best third-ranked team overall all progressing to the Elite round. The draw will be covered in full on uefa.com.

Hopefuls discover first opponents
Tuesday, 30 November 2004
A number of intriguing encounters are in the offing following the draw for the qualifying round of the 2005/06 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Luxembourg, which took place at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon on Tuesday afternoon.

 

Lithuania are drawn out by Jean-Pierre Escalettes


Twelve groups
Of the 51 competing member associations, 48 will take part in the first stage of the competition, with the top three sides in UEFA's coefficient rankings - England, Spain and France - progressing automatically to the Elite round, leaving the remaining sides to be divided into 12 pools of four. The top two sides in each group and best third-placed side overall go through to Elite round.

Illustrious names
The draw was hosted by UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh, assisted by Jim Boyce, chairman of the UEFA Youth and Amateur Football Committee, Jean-Pierre Escalettes, vice-chairman of the same organisation, and Lausanne-Sports' Swiss Under-20 international midfield player Richemond Rak.

 

Richemond Rak mixes the balls during the draw


Fair Play award
Before the draw started, Escalettes collected the Fair Play award from the 2004/05 European Championship on behalf of the French Football Federation following the exemplary behaviour of the hosts, and eventual winners, at the finals in the Loire region.

Tough tests
The 12 pools threw up a number of potentially exciting propositions, with Northern Ireland – who qualified for the finals in France – facing Serbia and Montenegro, Malta and Lithuania in Group 1. Ukraine, who also reached the 2004 final tournament, face a stern task to progress from Group 2, which also includes Italy, Latvia and the Republic of Ireland.

 

The U17 draw result is shown on the big screen 


Regional affair
Another team who reached the finals in May, Austria, are drawn with Belgium, Georgia and Bulgaria in Group 3, while Group 4 is a distinctly local encounter with Israel, Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia all involved.

Two favourites
The 2003 winners, Portugal, will be confident of progressing from Group 5 along with Germany, although San Marino and the Faroe Islands will be seeking to spring a surprise. Iceland, the Czech Republic, Andorra and Sweden make up Group 6, while Finland and Greece face off against Slovakia and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Group 7.

No room for error
Moldova, Poland, Liechtenstein and Norway will contest a tough-looking Group 8, while Turkey will be seeking to repeat their fine form at youth level in recent years against Croatia, Romania and F.Y.R. Macedonia in Group 9.

Hopes high
Hungary and Scotland, who were ranked in the first pot for the draw, must overcome Albania and Cyprus to qualify from Group 10, while the Netherlands and Denmark, Group 11's top two, play Slovenia and Belarus. Finally, Wales, Switzerland, Kazakhstan and Estonia make up Group 12.

'My big chance'
"It's a great honour for me to be involved in this draw," said Rak. "I was chosen because I have an exemplary record at my club, and I am here as their representative. I have already played for Switzerland's U20 side against Croatia, Italy and Germany, we have qualified for next year's [FIFA] World Youth Cup in the Netherlands and I hope to be involved in that of course. It's a great opportunity for me, it's my big chance."

2005/06 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifying round:

Pos Gr 1 Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 4
1 Northern Ireland Italy Belgium Israel
2 Serbia & Montenegro Ukraine Austria Russia
3 Malta Latvia Georgia Azerbaijan
4 Lithuania Republic of Ireland Bulgaria Armenia



Pos Gr 5 Gr 6 Gr 7 Gr 8
1 Portugal Iceland Finland Moldova
2 Germany Czech Republic Greece Poland
3 San Marino Andorra Slovakia Liechtenstein
4 Faroe Islands Sweden Bosnia-Herzegovina Norway




Pos

Gr 9 Gr 10 Gr 11 Gr 12
1 Turkey Hungary Netherlands Wales
2 Croatia Scotland Denmark Switzerland
3 Romania Albania Slovenia Kazakhstan
4 F.Y.R. Macedonia Cyprus Belarus Estonia





Spain, England and France enter in Elite round along with top two from each group and the best third-placed team. The winners of each second-stage group, to be drawn after first round, then join hosts Luxembourg at the final tournament.

De Kuip beckons for Bandalovski
Friday, 3 December 2004
PFC Litex Lovech defender Ivan Bandalovski has agreed an 18-month contract with Feyenoord, with the possibility of an extension when the inital deal expires.

Medical tests
The 18-year-old had medical tests at the club yesterday and will join Ruud Gullit's side after the winter break after emerging as a major star in the first half of the season in Bulgaria. No transfer fee has been revealed although reports in the Bulgarian press suggest an initial fee of €600,000 with Litex also receiving 30 per cent of the fee if Bandalovski moves on from Feyenoord.

Notable scout
The transfer is the first fruit of Feyenoord's relationship with former Bulgaria forward Andrey Zhelyazkov, a favourite at De Kuip in the 1980s. Zhelyazkov was the first Bulgarian to win a league title in a foreign league when he tok the 1983/84 Dutch title with Feyenoord and is now helping the club as a scout in eastern Europe, with a particular focus on Bulgaria.

International debut
Bandalovski, who started his career as a trainee at Bulgarian giants PFC Levski Sofia, is the captain of his country's Under-19 team and recently made his debut for the U21s. He has made just ten appearances in the Bulgarian A PFG, but having played in three UEFA Cup games earlier this season, he will not be eligible to play in Europe for Feyenoord until next season. The transfer will not be formalised until the window reopens in January.

Adriano enters top ten
Monday, 6 December 2004
FC Internazionale Milano forward Adriano has made his move into the top ten of the ESM Golden Shoe rankings, jumping 18 places with a weekend hat-trick.

Henry double
Adriano struck three times in Inter's 5-0 victory against FC Messina Peloro on Saturday while the same day saw last season's winner Thierry Henry score twice in Arsenal FC's 3-0 win against Birmingham City FC. Both men are now in fifth place in the standings with their 13 goals apiece translating into 26 points, level with 1. FC Nürnberg striker Marek Mintal who scored once in his side's 2-2 draw with FC Bayern München.

Eto'o closing
Close behind the trio, who are all now within striking distance of Wisla Kraków's Tomasz Frankowski in top spot, is FC Barcelona hit-man Samuel Eto'o. The Cameroonian international scored twice in Barça's 4-0 win at Málaga CF to make it 12 goals for the season.


Pos

Name Club (Country) Gls Val Pts
1 Tomasz Frankowski Wisla Kraków (POL) 19 1.5 28.5
1 Frode Johnsen Rosenborg BK (NOR) 19 1.5 28.5
3 Vjateslav Zahovaiko FC Flora (EST) 28 1 28
4 Aleksandr Kerzhakov FC Zenit St. Peterburg (RUS) 18. 1.5 27
5 Adriano FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) 13 2 26
5 Thierry Henry Arsenal FC (ENG) 13 2 26
5 Marek Mintál 1. FC Nürnberg (GER) 13 2 26
8 Andrei Kariaka FC Krylya Sovetov Samara (RUS) 17 1.5 25.5
9 Jason Byrne Shelbourne FC (IRL) 25 1 25
10 Samuel Eto'o FC Barcelona (ESP) 12 2 24
11 Martin Kamburov PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv (BUL) 15 1.5 22.5
11 Aleksandr Panov FC Torpedo Moskva (RUS) 15 1.5 22.5
11 Dmitri Sytchev FC Lokomotiv Moskva (RUS) 15 1.5 22.5
11 Alexander Ødegaard Sogndal IL (NOR)  15 1.5 22.5
11 Christian Mayrleb SV Pasching (AUT) 15 1.5 22.5
11 John Hartson Celtic FC (SCO) 15 1.5 22.5
17 Vincenzo Montella AS Roma (ITA) 11 2 22
17 Arsen Tlehugov FC Kairat Almaty (KZK) 22 1 22
17 Ulugbek Bakayev FC Tobol Kostanay (KZK) 22 1 22
20 Galust Petrosian FC Pyunik (ARM) 21 1 21
20 Arild Sundgot  Lillestrøm SK (NOR) 14 1.5 21
20 Olivier Occean Odd Grenland (NOR) 14 1.5 21
20 Sigurd Rushfeldt FK Austria Wien (AUT) 14 1.5 21
20 Aleksandr Katasonov FHK Liepajas Metalurgs (LAT)  21 1 21
20 Edgar Manucharian FC Pyunik (ARM) 21 1 21





Last updated: 6 December 2004

Only the leading five countries (Spain, Italy, Germany, France and England) on the UEFA Ranking have two as their multiplier. This is to emphasise the difference in international performance level between clubs from those countries and those from the other countries.

A player cannot first play in a summer league (eg Norway) and then in a winter league (eg Spain) and combine the points total for each season.

Figures from Voetbal International

Montella enters Christmas top ten
Monday, 20 December 2004
Vincenzo Montella moved into the top ten of the ESM Golden Shoe standings this weekend as holder Thierry Henry was all but confirmed as the Christmas leader.

Henry ahead
Montella struck in AS Roma's emphatic 5-1 win against Parma FC on Sunday to join Samuel Eto'o on 24 points. Henry did not score for Arsenal FC against Portsmouth FC, but will only be deprived of his current outright lead before Christmas if Eto'o strikes a hat-trick in FC Barcelona's meeting with UD Levante on Tuesday. Henry will then be able to respond in England's busy holiday programme of four matches in a fortnight.

Tekke climb continues
Meanwhile, Trabzonspor's Fatih Tekke has continued his surge up the rankings. Having moved up from 53rd to 21st place a week ago with a hat-trick against Samsunspor, he opened the scoring on Saturday in a 1-1 draw with Istanbulspor and now lies in joint-12th.
Pos

Name Club (Country) Gls Val Pts
1 Thierry Henry Arsenal FC (ENG) 15 2 30
2 Tomasz Frankowski Wisla Kraków (POL) 19 1.5 28.5
2 Frode Johnsen Rosenborg BK (NOR) 19 1.5 28.5
4 Adriano FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) 14 2 28
4 Vjateslav Zahovaiko FC Flora (EST) 28 1 28
6 Aleksandr Kerzhakov FC Zenit St. Peterburg (RUS) 18. 1.5 27
7 Marek Mintál 1. FC Nürnberg (GER) 13 2 26
8 Andrei Kariaka FC Krylya Sovetov Samara (RUS) 17 1.5 25.5
9 Jason Byrne Shelbourne FC (IRL) 25 1 25
10 Samuel Eto'o FC Barcelona (ESP) 12 2 24
10 Vincenzo Montella AS Roma (ITA) 12 2 24
12 Fatih Tekke Trabzonspor (TUR) 15 1.5 22.5
12 Martin Kamburov PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv (BUL) 15 1.5 22.5
12 Aleksandr Panov FC Torpedo Moskva (RUS) 15 1.5 22.5
12 Dmitri Sytchev FC Lokomotiv Moskva (RUS) 15 1.5 22.5
12 Alexander Ødegaard Sogndal IL (NOR)  15 1.5 22.5
12 Christian Mayrleb SV Pasching (AUT) 15 1.5 22.5
12 John Hartson Celtic FC (SCO) 15 1.5 22.5
19 Andriy Shevchenko AC Milan (ITA) 11 2 22
19 Arsen Tlehugov FC Kairat Almaty (KZK) 22 1 22
19 Ulugbek Bakayev FC Tobol Kostanay (KZK) 22 1 22
22 Galust Petrosian FC Pyunik (ARM) 21 1 21
22 Arild Sundgot  Lillestrøm SK (NOR) 14 1.5 21
22 Olivier Occean Odd Grenland (NOR) 14 1.5 21
22 Sigurd Rushfeldt FK Austria Wien (AUT) 14 1.5 21
22 Aleksandr Katasonov FHK Liepajas Metalurgs (LAT)  21 1 21
22 Edgar Manucharian FC Pyunik (ARM) 21 1 21





Last updated: 20 December 2004

Only the leading five countries (Spain, Italy, Germany, France and England) on the UEFA Ranking have two as their multiplier. This is to emphasise the difference in international performance level between clubs from those countries and those from the other countries.

A player cannot first play in a summer league (eg Norway) and then in a winter league (eg Spain) and combine the points total for each season.

Figures from Voetbal International

Vingada accepts Académica post
Thursday, 23 December 2004
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."

Marsaxlokk FC striker Jamie Pace has been recalled to the Malta squad for Wednesday's friendly against an Andalucia XI in Seville. The 27-year-old striker has been out of the squad since October 2003, and is among the new faces in the squad along with defenders Alex Muscat and Kenneth Spiteri, and midfield player Cleavan Frendo, promoted from the under-21 side along with forward Trevor Cilia. Luke Dimech, Stefan Giglio, Claude Mattocks, Kevin Sammut, Antoine Zahra I and Michael Mifsud are all rested while defender Ian Ciantar is injured.

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.

Ivankov not leaving Levski
Tuesday, 28 December 2004
Bulgaria goalkeeper Dimitar Ivankov has pledged his future to the Premier League high-fliers PFC Levski Sofia. The 29-year-old international has signed a one-year extension to his existing deal that will keep him at the club until 30 June 2006. Levski are joint-top of the table, level on 39 points with PFC CSKA Sofia although with an inferior goal difference.

Turkish side Gençlerbirligi SK, who are ninth in the Superleague, have appointed former Trabzonspor coach Ziya Dogan to lead them in the second half of the season. Dogan has agreed an 18-month contract and has already stated his ambition to win the title next season. He added: “For this purpose, we have to build a squad that can compete.” Dogan left Trabzonspor in November after a poor run of results.

Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven have loaned two youngsters to second division sides. The 19-year-old striker Tim Janssen has signed a contract with FC Zwolle for the rest of the season, although is then likely to return to Eindhoven. The 23-year-old defender Leon Hese has agreed an 18-month contract with Helmond Sport, having just recovered from a serious knee injury. Hese’s contract with PSV had been due to expire next summer.

1. FC Kaiserslautern have parted company with midfielder Thomas Drescher after the player and club agreed to terminate his contract. Drescher, who was under contract in Kaiserslautern until the summer of 2006, will leave the top flight to join SV Wacker Burghausen, where he has signed a contract that will tie him to the 2. Bundesliga side until the summer of 2007.

Rangers FC have completed signing of Bojan Djordjic from Manchester United FC on a six-month contract. The 22-year-old Belgrade-born Swedish winger has agreed the initial deal with an option of a further two years if the move to Scotland works out. "This is a big opportunity and I am delighted with the move," said Djordic. "I always wanted to represent a big club at first-team level." Djordjic moved to Old Trafford in 1999 but made just two appearances for United and had been on loan with Sheffield Wednesday FC, AGF Århus and FK Crvena Zvezda before coming to Ibrox.

Norwegian side Vålerenga IF, who will compete in qualifying for the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League, have signed the 21-year-old midfielder Christian Grindheim from FK Haugesund. Grindheim had interested most of the clubs in the Tippeligaen, and had looked likely to join Viking FK before the clubs failed to agree a price. Vålerenga stepped in and secured the player's services for a fee of €430,000.

In-form nations to face off
Wednesday, 29 December 2004
Bulgaria will welcome Serbia and Montenegro to Sofia for a friendly on 9 February, with an under-21 encounter between the nations the day before.

Promising campaigns
The match will be an important chance for both sides to return to action with their respective FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns going well. Bulgaria, unbeaten under Hristo Stoitchkov and fresh from a 2-1 win against Spanish province Valenciana on Tuesday, are second in Group 8 and are at home to leaders Sweden on 26 March.

'Interesting match'
Four days later Serbia and Montenegro, holding first place in Group 7, recommence their campaign with the visit of Spain. Serbo-Montenegrin coach Ilija Petkovic said: "I am very glad to be playing against our neighbours. It is definitely a strong and interesting match."