Posts Tagged ‘Boots’

Thierry Dusautoir: Wants to play at the 2015 World Cup

France captain Thierry Dusautoir is targeting carrying on playing until after the 2015 World Cup.

The 30-year-old, named the IRB Player of the Year for 2011, led his side to the brink of success in New Zealand – scoring a try in the agonising 9-8 final defeat to the hosts.

However Dusautoir, who will look to upset the Grand Slam ambitions of Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, has no plans to hang up his boots just yet.

Dusautoir told L’Equipe: “I know at what age I want to stop and how long I still want to play. One thing is for sure, I will not go on until 38-year-old.

“I would like to go on one year after next WC. But we will first see if I am able to remain in French team until that date. But there is nothing for sure and that is fine.

“I still have big desire to win matches, titles and experience magic moments.”

Andre Ooijer: Will hang up his boots at the end of the season

Former Blackburn defender Andre Ooijer will hang up his boots at Ajax in the summer following a professional career spanning 18 years.

The 37-year-old came through the youth ranks in Amsterdam before leaving as a teenager for FC Volendam in 1994.

He spent time at Roda and PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie, as well as Rovers in the Premier League, before returning to his boyhood club in 2010.

Ooijer confirmed on Tuesday he will retire at the end of the season and hopes he can end his career on a high note as Ajax push for the title.

“In recent months I’ve hinted several times that I felt I could not afford another season,” he told Ajax’s official website.

“My role has changed in recent years. This weekend I wanted to talk with some people and think carefully about the decision and this morning I have finally announced it.

Proud

“I am proud that I re-joined the club where it started for me.

“I do not want to look back. The next nine games are very important to Ajax and, of course, I want to say goodbye to football in a great way.

“That chance is there and I’ll continue to do everything I can to contribute. I’ll look back at another time.”

Ajax coach Frank de Boer added: “It was no surprise to us, because we speak regularly and even though Andre had not completely severed the tie, he has intended to stop for some time.

“It is the result of his age and his position at Ajax.

“We did not really consider him for next season, although we will certainly miss him.”

Ryan Nelsen: Expected to sign a contract at White Hart Lane for an initial six-months

Ryan Nelsen’s determination to end his playing career on a high was the driving factor behind his move from Blackburn Rovers to Tottenham Hotspur.

The New Zealand captain, who has played only once this season due to a knee injury, emerged as a late target for Spurs in the closing minutes of Tuesday’s January transfer deadline.

Nelsen has since been released from his contract at Blackburn and is now awaiting clearance before signing a six-month contract at White Hart Lane with an option to extend the deal to a year.

The 34-year-old had already been offered a coaching role in America, but the chance to join Premier League title-chasing Spurs and challenge for silverware was too good to turn down after seven years at Blackburn.

“”It feels like you’re going back to the first day of school, so yeah, everyone will be looking at you and judging you so I better clean my boots and comb my hair… it’ll be fun.”Ryan Nelsen Quotes of the week

“Medals, trophies are things you strive for. Blackburn got to five semis and never made a final, so it’s very exciting,” Nelsen told New Zealand’s 3News.

Challenge

The centre-back is expected to sign a deal with Spurs on Thursday after undergoing a medical with Harry Redknapp’s club.

“Yeah, it’s different,” said Nelsen. “(It) feels like you’re going back to the first day of school, so yeah, everyone will be looking at you and judging you so I better clean my boots and comb my hair… it’ll be fun.”

Despite being signed as a replacement for Sebastien Bassong, who joined Wolves on loan, Nelsen faces a battle for a first-team place at Tottenham.

Ledley King, Younes Kaboul and Michael Dawson are all established at Spurs, while William Gallas is currently on the treatment table, but the club’s new arrival is relishing the challenge.

“I kind of like when the odds are stacked against you, so we’ll see. We’ll get out there and give it everything,” said Nelsen.

Excited

Meanwhile, Blackburn manager Steve Kean has wished Nelsen all the best in his new career at Tottenham.

The Rovers boss said: “He had an offer to become a player-coach at an American club, a situation that he was very excited about.

“It was over a two-year period and then right at the very last minute Tottenham came in and offered him a short-term contract until the end of the season.

“I don’t know if the opportunity in America will still be there, I would imagine so, so he’s decided to take a short-term contract.

“He was a fabulous servant for the club and we wish him all the best, because it’s going to be another chapter in his career.”

Frank Clark: Has enjoyed successful spells at the City Ground as a player and manager

Frank Clark has returned to Nottingham Forest and will succeed Nigel Doughty as the club’s chairman with immediate effect.

Clark was hotly-tipped to take the City Ground post once it became apparent that the role was to become available.

Doughty initially claimed that he planned to step aside at the end of the season, but he has agreed to vacant the position early.

Clark is now free to take in a third spell with the Reds.

He represented the club with distinction during his playing days, earning league and European Cup winners’ medals.

Success

After hanging up his boots, he went on to enjoy a successful spell as the club’s manager.

Selected to succeed the legendary Brian Clough in 1993, he guided Forest to promotion in his first season in charge.

He then secured a third place finish in the Premier League and led the Reds to the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup.

Since retiring from management, Clark has been vice-chairman of the League Managers Association for more than a decade.

His first task upon returning to Forest will be to help the club appoint a new manager, with numerous names in the frame to replace Steve McClaren.

Ferguson: Would like to stay in football once he hangs up his boots

Barry Ferguson has revealed that he is planning on going into management when the time comes to hang up his boots.

The Blackpool midfielder has no plans to retire any time soon, but he is already preparing for life off the field.

At 33 years of age he appreciates that he is coming towards the end of his career, but admits he would like to remain part of the game.

“I’m already certain what I want to do after I’ve finished playing,” the Scot told the Blackpool Gazette.

“I’ve made that decision already and I want to move into management. For now, I want to play as long as I can, I feel as fit as I’ve ever been.

“But once I’ve stopped playing, it (management) is something I’ll definitely go into because football has been my life since I was eight years old. I wouldn’t know what else to do with myself.”

McCarthy: Says Neil Warnock should be respected for his terrific managerial record

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has praised his former team-mate Neil Warnock ahead of their meeting this weekend.

Warnock’s QPR travel to the Midlands following a 0-0 draw with Newcastle on Monday night.

The two managers were together at Barnsley for a spell in the late 1970s despite there being 10 years between their ages.

Warnock claims that McCarthy used to clean his boots when the Wolves manager was an apprentice at Oakwell, but says he does not admit it.

There are just three points between the two clubs in the Premier League, with the Molineux outfit falling to their first defeat of the season against Tottenham last weekend.

QPR have won once this season – an impressive 1-0 success against Everton last month.

McCarthy, who kept his side in the top flight on the last day of last season, says he has always admired Warnock’s managerial ability.

Respect

He told the club’s official website: “He (Warnock) is somebody who gets the best out of his team whenever you play against him.

“I respect what Warny has done in the game with his teams.

“You go through what he has done through the leagues with Notts County, he has got promoted with Sheffield United, promoted with QPR – there are not any managers who have done it with two different teams from the Championship to the Premier League.

“His record is terrific. He has that way and players stick with him, he gets the best out of them.

“Wherever he has been his teams are always competitive, and they will be here.”

Gillot: Has fired a warning shot to his Bordeaux players that they either shape up or get out

Bordeaux coach Francis Gillot has warned his side that if they do not start performing soon, they will leave.

The French outfit have just one win under their belt in Ligue 1 and crashed out of the League Cup following a 3-1 defeat to Saint-Etienne on Wednesday.

Gillot, who arrived at the club in the summer from Sochaux, said some of the players needed to change their attitude or leave the club.

Infuriated

“There is a comfortable state of mind at Bordeaux, and it has infuriated me,” he told French newspaper L’Equipe.

“Rather than playing with ballet shoes they will have to wear stud boots.

“We can hardly find motivated players. On Wednesday only three or four players were equal to the situation.

“I am disappointed with some players and it is quite worrying. Nowadays, Bordeaux will fight to survive. We can’t force ourselves, and being professional, it is unacceptable.

“We will change the state of mind. If we can’t make the players change, we will make them leave.”

Henderson: Has enjoyed an impressive start to his Millwall career and has been backed to replace Morison

Millwall’s highly-rated winger James Henry has backed new striker Darius Henderson to fill the boots of summer departure Steve Morison.

Wales international Morison scored 17 times for the Lions last season before sealing a switch to Premier League new boys Norwich.

Henderson, signed from Sheffield United, has been given the job of replacing the former Stevenage man at The Den and has notched twice in as many games so far.

And former Reading wide-man Henry believes that his new team-mate is more than capable of scoring 20-plus goals this season.

Brilliant

“Darius has come in and done brilliant, so I’m sure that he will do really well for us this season,” Henry told skysports.com.

“He has started the season in great form, as have most of the lads to be fair and long may it continue.

“We’ve also got John Marquis and Josh McQuoid who can come in and score goals as well, so hopefully everyone can chip in from all over the pitch.”

The Lions narrowly missed out on the play-offs in their first season back in the Championship last term and Henry is determined to go one further this time round.

He added: “For me personally, it definitely gives me extra determination to succeed this year because like every player I want to play at the top level.

“Every new season brings the possibility of realising that aim, so we’ve just got to forget last season, even though it was a great achievement to finish ninth in our first year back in the Championship, and focus on emulating that this year.”