Former England and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole retires Chelsea's Joe Cole celebrates winning the Premier League title at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton, UK April 30, 2005 – PHOTO: REUTERS LONDON (REUTERS) - Former England and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has announced his retirement from football on Tuesday, bringing the curtain down on a 20-year professional career. Cole, who turned 37 last week, made 716 appearances and scored 104 goals for seven clubs and completed his career with Tampa Bay Rowdies in the second-tier United Soccer League. “After 20 years as a professional, the time has come for me to hang up my boots,” Cole, who came through West Ham United’s youth system, said in a statement. “It has been a dream come true. All of it. “Whatever is next, I hope the next two decades are as special as my last 20 years as a professional have been.” Cole made his debut at West Ham aged 17 and became club captain four years later, being … [Read more...] about Former England and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole retires
2003 world cup final
August 6-12: 19th National External Affairs Conference convenes in Hanoi
19th National External Affairs Conference convenes in Hanoi The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and heads of Vietnamese representative missions abroad are ready to work alongside domestic cities and provinces in fostering external relations with other countries, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Pham Binh Minh, at the 19th National External Affairs Conference. The biennial event took place in Hanoi on August 12, under the theme “Activeness and creativeness for effective integration and sustainable development”, and was organised ahead the 30th Diplomatic Conference, scheduled for August 12 – 17, bringing together 500 delegates from ministries, state agencies and departments of external affairs of 63 cities and provinces nationwide alongside the heads of Vietnam’s diplomatic missions overseas. Vietnam’s growth potential is strong: Moody’s Vietnam continues to retain its comparative advantage in the export of labour-intensive goods,such as … [Read more...] about August 6-12: 19th National External Affairs Conference convenes in Hanoi
Juve’s Ronaldo to face old club United in Champions League
Juve's Ronaldo to face old club United in Champions LeagueThe Saigon Times Daily General view during the draw as Cristiano Ronaldo is shown on the big screen having won the UEFA Champions League Forward of the Season award at Grimaldi Forum, Monaco August 30, 2018 – PHOTO: REUTERS MONACO (REUTERS) - Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo will face his former club Manchester United after the two European giants were drawn together in the Champions League group stage on Thursday. Last season’s runners-up Liverpool, big-spending French league champions Paris St Germain and Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli were thrown together in the pick of the groups while holders Real Madrid must face last season’s semi-finalists AS Roma. Inter Milan, back in the competition after a six-season absence, were pitted against Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur. The Champions League has been altered this season, with more places given to teams from the bigger leagues — Spain, … [Read more...] about Juve’s Ronaldo to face old club United in Champions League
Wenger, still in ‘shock’, sets deadline for future plans
Arsene Wenger admits he is still in shock after the curtain finally came down on his 22-year-reign as Arsenal manager and told The Guardian he will decide by the start of the World Cup as to do next. Arsene Wenger says he wants to stay in football but has not decided whether he wants to keep coaching and "to continue to suffer as much." AFP/GLYN KIRK The 68-year-old Frenchman - whose trophy-laden reign at the Gunners came to an end without any silverware in his final season and failed to secure Champions League football for next term - said he hadn't discounted taking on a different role. Wenger - who is to attend the World Cup in Russia as a pundit for Qatari-owned TV channel Bein Sports - stood down a year before his contract was due to end amid increasing discontent both among the fans and the board. "It's just too soon to know what I will do next," he told The Guardian in an interview conducted in Paris this week shortly after he had taken charge of his 1,235th and final … [Read more...] about Wenger, still in ‘shock’, sets deadline for future plans
Serbia defeat punctures Nigeria World Cup hype
Viet Nam News Football ABUJA — Nigeria’s 2-0 loss to fellow World Cup qualifiers Serbia in London this week served as a ’reality check’ to inflated World Cup hopes, according to team spokesman Toyin Ibitoye. Wins in recent friendlies over top-10 teams Argentina and Poland had boosted hopes of Nigeria’s 180 million people that this young side are capable of going beyond the country’s best performance of a last-16 finish in 1994, 1998 and 2014. "We hope to learn from this and correct our mistakes because this team have the ingredients of a great team and what is crucial now is how they react after this setback," Ibitoye said. "The loss to Serbia was a reality check." Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick has in the past talked up the team’s potential to make history by becoming the first African side to win the World Cup this year. But the defeat by Serbia has brought the Super Eagles back down to earth with less than … [Read more...] about Serbia defeat punctures Nigeria World Cup hype