Former Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who helped bring a host of world stars to the club including David Beckham, Thursday announced he hopes to return to the post in elections next month.

The hugely successful businessman said he made the decision as a result of the “serious events” at the reigning Spanish champions in recent months.

Former president Ramon Calderon resigned on January 16 over allegations he rigged voting at the club’s last general assembly in December, which approved its financial accounts.

A judge last week placed Calderon and 13 others, including caretaker president Vicente Boluda, under judicial investigation, the first step to formal charges, for suspected corruption and fraud.

“We have experienced three years of convulsion and improper behaviour at the greatest sports institution in the world,” Perez told a news conference.

“This club has always been characterised by fairness and generosity. It is a sad period that we must overcome.”

Perez promised a “a spectacular sports plan” for the club.

“We have to compete with Chelsea, with Manchester United, with Barcelona, we want to lead European football again,” he said.

Perez led Real from 2000 to 2006, when it earned the nickname “Los Galacticos”, winning the Primera Liga twice and European Champions League with such stars as Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Beckham.

The newspaper El Pais said Tuesday that 2008 World Footballer of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United have both signed agreements with Real regarding the Portuguese winger’s transfer to the Spanish side at the end of this season.

It said Perez has already discussed the payment of 80 million euros (109 million dollars) with Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes.

Real´s ´Galactico´ President in Comeback Bid … read more »

Barcelona stayed on course for an historic treble by crushing Athletic Bilbao 4-1 at the Mestalla Stadium on Wednesday to lift the Kings Cup for the first time in over a decade.

Gaizka Toquero headed Bilbao into a ninth-minute lead, but Yaya Toure equalised with a great solo goal and then Barca blitzed their rivals with three goals from Lionel Messi, Bojan Krkic and Xavi in 12 minutes to lift the cup for the first time since 1998.

It was coach Pep Guardiola’s first trophy as a manager and Barcelona’s first piece of silverware in two seasons although the Spanish league title could soon follow with only a point needed at Real Mallorca on Sunday to secure a 19th championship.

“We hope it’s an historic week and we will go for the second title this weekend,” said defender Gerard Pique.

“We just want to enjoy this win first and then concentrate on trying to win more titles.”

The final part of the treble – which no Spanish team has ever achieved – is the Champions League final against Manchester United on May 27.

For Bilbao, who have won the cup 23 times, it was bitter disappointment in their first final since 1985.

Barcelona were without Andres Iniesta and Thierry Henry through injury so the talented Bojan, 18, started the final.

Four-Star Barca Crush Bilbao to Lift Kings Cup … read more »

Lazio beat Sampdoria 6-5 on penalties following a 1-1 draw to win the Italian Cup at the Stadio Olimpico here on Wednesday and qualify for next season’s Europa League.

Lazio goalkeeper Nestor Muslera saved two penalties in the shoot-out, which went to sudden death after both teams missed one each of their first five.

Frenchman Ousmane Dabo scored the winning penalty after Hugo Campagnaro had seen his shot saved. Argentine forward Mauro Zarate had given Lazio a fourth minute lead but Giampaolo Pazzini equalised just past the half hour mark.

Lazio were off to a flying start when Zarate lashed a wonder strike past Luca Castellazzi from outside the area on four minutes. Lazio were in the ascendancy for the first half hour and should have doubled their advantage on 28 minutes.

Castellazzi spilled a long range strike from Aleksandar Kolarov and Macedonia forward Goran Pandev was there to mop up the loose ball but Castellazzi redeemed himself by crucially making a close-range block.

The importance of that save was evident three minutes later as Sampdoria equalised through Pazzini. Antonio Cassano sent a deep cross over from the left to Lithuanian Marius Stankevicius at the back post and his header across goal was diverted in by Pazzini.

Sampdoria came close on the stroke of half-time but Muslera tipped over Cassano’s fierce free-kick.

On the hour, it was Lazio who threatened again but the late arriving Pasquale Foggia couldn’t control his volley from Pandev’s cross.

Both sides then failed to create anything significant for the remaining half hour and even less so in the 30 minutes of extra-time.

Penalties would separate the sides and Muslera made a good start saving from Cassano.

Lazio’s advantage was wiped out when Tommaso Rocchi hit the post and saw the ball run across the face of goal and away to safety.

But then in sudden death Muslera saved from Campagnaro and Dabo stepped up to stroke home the ball and claim the cup.

German giants Bayern Munich confirmed on Wednesday that Dutch coach Louis van Gaal will take over as head coach on July 1 having signed a two-year contract to replace the fired Jurgen Klinsmann.

Having led AZ Alkmaar to the Dutch title this season, the 57-year-old has signed a deal with the Bundesliga champions, ending weeks of speculation over whether or not he would succeed Klinsmann, who was fired on April 27.

“We are happy to have signed an experienced and successful football coach for Bayern Munich such as Louis van Gaal,” said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in a statement.

Having steered Ajax to the Champions League title in 1995, the fiery Van Gaal has a wealth of experience having led the giants from Amsterdam to consecutive Dutch titles between 1994, 1995 and 1996.

In 1998 and 1999, he also won La Liga with Barcelona before taking charge of the Dutch national side in 2000, but failure to lead them to the World Cup finals in 2002 meant he was replaced by Dick Advocaat.

Then followed brief spells at Ajax and Barcelona, before he joined AZ in 2005 which culminated in Alkmaar winning the Dutch title on April 19 this year just after their decisive 28-game undefeated run was brought to an end.

Not lacking in self-confidence, Van Gaal boldly stated: “I am the best” after winning the Dutch title and Bayern’s bosses seem to agree.

The Dutchman inherits a squad who are still bidding for the Bundesliga title and are level on points with leaders Wolfsburg with two games league remaining having beaten neighbours Bayern Leverkusen 3-0 on Tuesday.

He replaces Klinsmann who was sacked as Bayern coach after only ten months in charge following a poor run of results.

Bayern Name Van Gaal to Replace Sacked Klinsmann … read more »

Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski admits confidence is returning to the defending Bundesliga champions after coach Jurgen Klinsmann was sacked last month.

Ex-Germany boss Klinsmann was axed on April 27 with five games remaining after his side were beaten 1-0 by Schalke 04 to leave them third in the league table while Jupp Heynckes took over as caretaker coach.

While a replacement is sought for Klinsmann, Bayern have moved up to second in the table and level with leaders Wolfsburg with two games remaining as Podolski, 23, has scored two goals in his last two games.

Bayern picked up their 19th league win of the season on Tuesday night in the 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen and Munich are on course to retain their crown if they can win their last two games as Podolski says the improvement is obvious.

“We?ve come on well as a team in the last few games,” said Podolski, who will leave Bayern at the end of the season to play for Cologne having spent most of the last two seasons on the bench.

“We?re well-organised, training is good, and you can see the results out on the park.

“Jupp Heynckes has restored my belief, I?m confident about starting matches, and I think I?ve repaid his faith when I?ve played,” added Podolski voted the best young player at the last World Cup.

And having taken over from Michael Rensing between the posts, Bayern’s former Leverkusen goalkeeper Hans-Joerg Butt says his experience in Munich has been an eye-opener where success is both expected and demanded.

“There?s a completely different mindset here at Bayern,” said the former Leverkusen goalkeeper who has three caps for Germany.

“The entire club is geared towards success, trophies are all that count here.

“You?re expected to win the league and every match, you?re not allowed slip-ups.

“In Leverkusen we often looked good and played brilliantly against big-name opponents, but we ran into trouble and lost to the smaller clubs.”

With two games left, Bayern have a tough run in with a trip to Hoffenheim on Saturday before the final game of the season on May 23 against title rivals at Munich’s Allianz Arena.

Wolfsburg are at mid-table sides Hanover and Werder Bremen for their remaining games and remain top by virtue of a two-point goal difference, while third-placed Hertha are at home to Schalke 04 and bottom side Karlsruhe.