Mourinho welcomes Benitez to Chelsea with Materazzi gift

 

Rafael Benitez takes charge of Chelsea for the first time on Sunday against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

And while Fernando Torres might be pleased to see his old Liverpool boss, others who have played under the Spaniard do not remember him quite so fondly.

Former Inter defender Marco Materazzi was "devastated" when Benitez replaced Jose Mourinho, who shared a joke with another former Nerazzurri star - City defender Maicon - at the new Chelsea boss' expense.

"Your friend Benitez is going to Chelsea," the Brazilian said to Mourinho, according to La Sexta.

The 49-year-old responded: "The fat one? Well then Materazzi should be his assistant."

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Omar Momani Interviews in 2012

  

As many people ask me on whom I am, here are the interviews that I had the privilege to make in this year, from Jordan to UK to Russia to Germany to Armenia:

1. رسومات كرتونية في الجول لمجلة شرفات, Cartoons in the Goal by Shorofat Magazine (Jordan) in Arabic:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.154120167991951.37386.133509446719690&type=3

2. Special Interests by Toonpool.com (Germany) in English:

http://blog.toonpool.com/interview/special-interest/

3. الرياضة بتضحّك  لعرمرم فيديو, Funny Sport by Aramram (Jordan) video in Arabic:

http://www.aramram.com/episode/1410

4. Satirical Soccer by Emel (UK) in English:

http://www.emel.com/article?id=98&a_id=2720

5. Не так страшен Месси, как его малюют! Мастер футбольной карикатуры Омар Момани подводит итоги футбольного года, by Sovsport.ru  (Russia) in Russian:

http://www.sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/529297

6. Omar Momani by TasmeemME.com (Jordan) in English:

http://www.tasmeemme.com/blog/?p=1205

7. Letter from Amman (Jordan) by Toonpool.com (Germany) in English:

http://blog.toonpool.com/letter-from-2/letter-from-amman-jordan/

8. Интервью Омара Момани для блога «Футбол карандашом» (Russia) in Russian:

http://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/dcmanhumour/366444.html 

9.Հանրահայտ ծաղրանկարիչ Օմար Մոմանին` իր, իր ծաղրանկարների, ֆուտբոլի և Հայաստանի մասին (Armenia) by Armfootball.com:

http://armfootball.com/arm/news/25906/hanrahayt-tsaxrankarich-omar-momanin-ir-ir-tsaxrankarneri-futboli-ev-hayastani-masin.html 

 

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Sir Alex immortalised in front of Manchester United legends past & present

 

After 26 barnstorming years at Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson was immortalised on Friday afternoon as a bronze statue of the Scot was unveiled at Old Trafford.

During the 70-year-old's reign at the club, United have scooped 12 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies and FA Cups - a feat which is unlikely to be repeated by a single manager in England.

Around 2,500 supporters, the first-team squad and former United players including Eric Cantona, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Peter Schmeichel, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Bobby Charlton were all in attendance to mark Friday's unveiling.

"It's a proud moment," Ferguson told MUTV.

"Normally people die before people see their statue. I'm outliving death!"

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Mursi The new Pharaoh

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Bale too hot for Spurs as he begins escape to Madrid

 

It looks like we'll have another never-ending transfer saga on our hands soon as Gareth Bale is primed to tell Tottenham that he wants to join Real Madrid.

Goal.com revealed on Friday morning that the Wales international feels that the time to leave White Hart Lane is next summer, but Jose Mourinho will have to part with £50 million in order to land the winger.

With Luka Modric having already left for the Bernabeu in August, will Andre Villas-Boas be able to keep hold of another prized asset when the Spanish club come calling again?

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a Debater

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Chelsea boss Benitez sat on ticking time-bomb at the Bridge

 

After Roberto Di Matteo's dismissal on Wednesday morning, Chelsea swiftly moved to appoint Rafa Benitez as interim manager to get the European champions back on track.

Despite winning the FA Cup and Champions League last season, the Italian was axed by Roman Abramovich after failing to win his last four Premier League matches and denting the club's chances of qualifying for the European competition's knockout stage following a 3-0 defeat to Juventus on Tuesday evening.

Benitez becomes Chelsea's ninth manager since Abramovich purchased the club in 2003, but if the Spaniard suffers an inconsistent campaign similar to his six-month reign at Inter in 2010, his time at Stamford Bridge could also be cut short.
 

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Job cut - Abramovich ends Di Matteo’s Chelsea reign

 

After a 3-0 defeat to Juventus left Chelsea's chances of securing qualification for the Champions League knockout stage, Roman Abramovich has called time on Roberto Di Matteo's reign at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian took charge after Andre Villas-Boas was axed in March and guided the club to FA Cup glory, as well as their first Champions League trophy since the Russian bought Chelsea in June 2003.

But after failing to register a win in the Premier League in four attempts, along with an inconsistent campaign in Europe which could the club eliminated at the group stage, Di Matteo was ousted from his role as Chelsea now search for their ninth manager in eight-and-a-half years.

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Bah Humbug - Ronaldo a 'Christmas wish' too far for Sir Alex Ferguson & Manchester United

 

He would be quite the stocking filler for Manchester United but even Sir Alex Ferguson admits the prospect of Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford is just a "Christmas wish".

Last week, Sir Alex claimed the door is always open for the Portuguese international to make his return to United, although the 70-year-old conceded the forward would be "unbuyable" from Real Madrid.

With Roberto Di Matteo possibly bolstering his Chelsea ranks with the perfect festive gift in the form of Atletico Madrid ace Falcao, Sir Alex may have to poke around the January sales to find ways of improving his side.

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Snoop Dogg eyes Hoops for Celtic takeover

 

Celtic caught the eye of a number of celebrities when they shocked the world by beating Barcelona in the Champions League.

Hoops fan Rod Stewart was reduced to tears of joy at Parkhead, while Elton John felt compelled to call manager Neil Lennon to congratulate him.

And their old friend Snoop Dogg was watching too. In fact the rapper, who recently changed his name to Snoop Lion, has suggested he's ready to invest in the Scottish Premier League side

"I see how passionate Celtic fans are about their team and I could see myself making an investment if any of the board wanted to sell," Snoop said, according to the Daily Record.

"I haven't really thought how much. I don't need to run a football club but enough of a percentage to get me on the board so I can be heard.

"I want to bring a bit of Snoop to things."

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