NO MORE "UEFA CUP" IT WILL BE EUROPA LEAGUE

The UEFA Executive Committee has approved the change of name for the UEFA Cup to the UEFA Europa League from 2009/10.

The new name heralds major changes to the competition, which will have a new 48-team group stage with centralised marketing of broadcast rights, a presenting sponsor and an official matchball in addition to centralised sponsorship from the knockout stage and a new logo and visual identity. UEFA President Michel Platini said: "These changes will improve this historic competition, which is very important for UEFA and for European football as it gives more fans, players and clubs the thrill of European club football. I am convinced the new format will give the UEFA Europa League a successful new impetus."

The changes to the name, logo and brand identity of the competition are the next logical step following the decision to alter the format of the UEFA Cup and create a true group stage, with both home and away matches. That decision was taken by the UEFA Executive Committee in Lucerne, Switzerland, back in December 2007. The change of name better represents the format of the competition and with the enhancements to the logo and brand, the changes are such that from the 2009/10 season the UEFA Cup will effectively become a new competition.

The new name and logo will help underline the tournament's special character and unique sporting appeal. The fresh format will encourage teams from emerging countries or lesser-known sides to challenge the old order, and the new identity will seek to reflect that. UEFA's ambition in making all these changes is to rejuvenate the competition in the light of the new European football landscape, which has shifted significantly with the continued success of the UEFA Champions League, so that the UEFA Europa League can establish itself as a major competition.

"First and foremost, [the decision] is about timing," UEFA General Secretary David Taylor told uefa.com. "We've got a new competition and a new format for 2009-12, with centralisation of the group stage and with the group stage being much more similar to the UEFA Champions League format – whereby teams will play home and away. We have an opportunity to change the marketing [of the competition].

Source: UEFA

TUGAY MIGHT BE OLD, BUT HE IS STILL GOOD!..

Blackburn manager Paul Ince may be intent on taking the club to the next level with new ideas but he still has time for some wise old heads.

Tugay, 38, and Robbie Fowler, 33, had much to do with the 1-0 victory against Everton in the Carling Cup.

Martin Olsson's 10th-minute goal was enough to secure a place in the fourth-round draw, which takes place on Saturday.

Olsson was set up by Fowler, who decided to quit Cardiff and try his luck again in the top flight.

While the former Liverpool striker showed some nice touches and good vision on his debut, it was Tugay's classy performance which tilted the game in Blackburn's favour.

Disappointed Everton manager David Moyes admitted as much - and Ince lauded the veteran Turkish playmaker.

The Blackburn boss explained: "Tugay may be the grandad of our side but he is still a fantastic player.

"You never lose that passing ability and his brings composure to the team. The older you get you want to play every day and Tugay is no different.

"He still has the enthusiasm of 10 years ago but we have to be careful with him. It is horses for courses."

Ince is beginning to make his mark at the club after succeeding Mark Hughes in the summer, when the Welshman departed for Manchester City.

The former England midfielder was promoted to the Premier League after turning around the fortunes of League Two sides Macclesfield and then MK Dons.

Blackburn have stopped shipping goals and will face troubled Newcastle on Saturday in good heart after two victories in four days.

Ince said: "I do not get carried away with victories, defeats or draws.

"We conceded too many goals in a couple of games but we put matters right on the training ground and that was pleasing.

"We are trying to build something here and we showed against Everton there is spirit not just among the team but among the squad as well."

Midfielder Keith Andrews will come into contention for the Newcastle match - he was ineligible for the Carling Cup tie.

The Blackburn boss, speaking to Sky Sports News said - 'The two old men were different class. Robbie was champing at the bit and keen to prove a point, I played him in a slightly deeper role and he did ever so well. He never lost a ball and had a couple of chances. He made a difference and showed a lot of lovely touches. He is a natural goalscorer and you do not lose it. The signs are good." 'Tugay may be the grandad of our side but he is still a fantastic player.

'You never lose that passing ability and his brings composure to the team. The older you get you want to play every day and Tugay is no different.


Source:Wires

GIRAY BULAK SIGNS WITH KONYASPOR!.....

Turkcell Super League Team Konyaspor signed former Trabzonspor and Vestel Manisaspor coach Giray Bulak . Giray Bulak will be at the helm against Galatasaray this coming Sunday in Istanbul.Giray Bulak has coached Konyaspor in the past too.

AHMET TURGUT

FORTIS TURKISH CUP ROUND 2, MATCHES.....

FORTIS TURKISH CUP ROUND 2, MATCHES.....
Round 2
Alanyaspor 2- 1 Genclerbirliği
İskenderun 1- 5 KayseriSPOR
Istanbulspor 0-1 Ankaraspor
Beykozykoz 0- 1 Altay

ALANYASPOR,KAYSERISPOR ,ANKARASPOR AND ALTAY TEAMS ADVANCED TO THE THIRD ROUND IN THE FORTIS TURKISH CUP.

20:00 LOCAL(1:00 ET TIME) MATCHES TODAY....
CAYKUR Rize - Gaziantepspor
Eskisehirspor - Diyarbakır
Konyaspor - Güngören Belediye
Malatyaspor - Hacettepe
Manisaspor - Kocaelispor
MKE Ankaragücü - Giresunspor
Samsunspor - Antalyaspor
Trabzonspor - Karabükspor
Bursaspor - Belediye Vanspor
İstanbul BB - Tokatspor

THURSDAY
Denizlispor - Sakaryaspor
Gaziantep BB - Kayseri Erciyes

Source:www.turkishsoccer.com

Zico to coach Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor

Brazil great Zico has reached a deal to coach Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor for one year.

Zico, who was without a club since leaving Turkey's Fenerbahce this year, was on his way to Uzbekistan on Monday.

"There is a verbal agreement with club directors and I'm traveling to sign the contract," Zico said in a statement on his Web site.

Zico will replace Mirdjalal Kasimov, who accepted an offer to coach Uzbekistan's national team.

Zico spokesman Bruno Neves told The Associated Press that there was a possibility Zico will also be a technical consultant to Kasimov.


Zico will join countrymen Rivaldo and Luizao at Bunyodkor. Rivaldo, who helped Brazil win the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, was crucial in convincing Zico to accept the offer, Neves said.

"Zico is going mainly because of the influence of Rivaldo," Neves said.

Zico played in the 1978, 1982 and 1986 World Cups, and was Brazil's technical coordinator at the 1998 tournament in France.

He failed to reach an agreement with Fenerbahce after leading the club to the quarterfinals of the European Champions League this year. His name had been linked to possible moves to England's Newcastle and Manchester City, among other clubs.

Bunyodkor will host Iran's Saipa on Wednesday in the second leg of the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League. The teams drew 2-2 in the first leg in Iran.

Source:AP

UEFA CUP ROUND-UP FOR TURKISH TEAMS!.

NOT BAD RESULTS FOR TURKISH TEAMS!....

BESIKTAS WINS AT HOME, GALATASARAY OUTSTANDING IN AWAY MATCH, AND KAYSERISPOR GOES DOWN AT HOME AGAINST PSG!

Besiktas 1- 0 FC Metalist
Bellinzona 3-4 Galatasaray
Kayserispor 1-2 PSG

Besiktas entered their contest with FC Metalist Kharkiv as favourites and duly ground out a 1-0 win.

Filip Holosko grabbed the only goal of the game on 58 minutes to ensure the Turkish outfit head to the Ukraine in a fortnight with their noses in front.

BEST MATCH OF THE UEFA CUP NIGHT!...

The game of the night came in Switzerland as Bellinzona and Galatasaray played out a 4-3 thriller.

Mauro Lustrinelli gave the Swiss side the lead just after the half-hour mark, but Harry Kewell responded for the Turks on 39 minutes.

Gurkan Sermete restored Bellinzona's advantage two minutes after the break, before Milan Baros restored parity five minutes later.

Shkelzen Gashi was then dismissed for Galatasaray on the hour, but Baros notched his second of the game with eight minutes remaining.

That appeared to be the end of the scoring as the game headed into injury-timer, but Cassio Lincoln grabbed a fourth for Galatasaray and Jacopo La Rocca notched another for the hosts.


PSG won 2-1 away, defeating Kayserispor.
Mateja Kezman opened the scoring on five minutes, but Delio Toledo looked to have drawn the game with a late 87th minute equaliser. But Peguy Luyindula then gave the visitors the win two minutes later.

A BAD START FOR ARAGONES'S FENERBAHCE!...

Luis Aragones' worries at Fenerbahce grew a little deeper on Wednesday night as they began their Champions League Group G campaign with a 3-1 loss at Porto.
The former Spain coach arrived in Turkey this summer with high hopes, but a stuttering start to the league campaign was compounded at the Stadium of Light as they came off distinctly second best to the hosts.

Porto led through early goals from Leonardo Lopez and Lucho Gonzalez, and although Daniel Guiza got one back against the run of play, Fener rarely threatened an equaliser before Lino capped the win at the death.

Fener have endured a disappointing start to the season in domestic competition, winning only one and draw two in the Turkcell Super League, and Aragones will have seen little early on to ease his concerns as Porto dominated the game from the start.

Lopez and Nelson Benitez had both gone close before Lopez opened the scoring in the 11th minute, latching on to Jose Raul Meireles' pass to fire beyond Volkan Demirel.

Porto then almost immediately doubled their lead as Argentinian midfielder Lucho Gonzalez met Cristian Rodriguez's pass to lash the ball home.

Porto had several chances to further extend their lead as Lopez and Meireles each missed a pair of openings, so it was clearly against the run of play when Fener got back into the game through Guiza's 30th minute goal.

Alex De Souza's header was blocked by Helton in the Porto goal but the ball fell to Guiza and the Spaniard tucked it away.

Late in the first half, Fener were handed a chance to tie the game when Cristian Sapunaru brought down Ugur Boral but Helton held Gokhan Gonul's free-kick.

Aragones brought off Sahin at half-time to replace him with another Spaniard, Josico, and the early signs were encouraging as Emre tried his luck with a long-range effort.

However, Porto were soon on the attack against as Mario Gonzalez went just wide with a shot from the edge of the area before Lucho Gonzalez was also off-target.

Just after the hour mark, Claudio Maldonado had another chance to tie the scores for Fener, but Helton held his shot.

Porto re-established control of the game, doing their best to frustrate the visitors as the clock wound down.

The next chance for either team did not come until the 86th minute as Alex blazed a shot over the crossbar from the edge of the area.

Porto responded as Demirel did well to parry Lucho Gonzalez's shot to safety moments later.

With the game moving into injury time, Fener poured forward in search of an equaliser, but they left the door open at the back and Lino nipped in to take advantage with a shot from the edge of the area that found the net.