..::Football III::..

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This Real Madrid team will define an era - Capello

Real Madrid will "define an era" and are the favourites to win the Champions League this season, according to their ex-coach Fabio Capello.

The Spanish giants won the Champions League, Copa del Rey, Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup in 2014 and sit top of La Liga at the winter break.

Capello believes his former team will continue to improve in 2015 and heaped praise upon coach Carlo Ancelotti, who he feels has built a team with few weaknesses.

"They are going to define an era," the current Russia boss told Marca at the Globe Soccer Conference in Dubai.

"They have a great defence, a midfield that can play football as well as put in the miles and a frontline that scores goals for fun.
"Carlo has done a great job. There is no better strategy than instilling calm and not talking about others. The players come first.

"This team and Pep Guardiola's Barcelona are not comparable. Barcelona had six or seven home-grown players while Real have built a great team thanks to Florentino Perez and signing well. It is a different style."

When asked to pick a favourite to win the Champions League this season, Capello replied: "Real Madrid, followed by Chelsea and Bayern Munich."

 

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Redknapp: QPR need another striker

QPR boss Harry Redknapp claimed a lack of striking options was the main reason for Sunday's disappointing goalless draw with Crystal Palace.

Under the stewardship of caretaker manager Keith Millen for the third time after Neil Warnock's sacking, Palace denied a lacklustre Rangers their fourth consecutive Premier League victory at Loftus Road.

And Redknapp blamed the result on his limited attacking options, with Charlie Austin and Bobby Zamora QPR's only strikers."It was a hard day and I couldn’t sit here and say we deserved to win because we never did," he said.

"We didn’t have enough up top today, they kept Charlie and Bobby quiet and defended really well.

"Of course we need another striker in. You need four strikers at the club to be able to change and freshen up."I've only got two, and it's not enough. So it's going to be hard, because there's not going to be many good strikers available in January."

Both sides struggled to impose themselves in a scrappy encounter, though Palace did have the better of the action in the opening half.

The hosts regrouped after the interval, however, and went close to taking the lead through two audacious efforts from the impressive Leroy Fer, while Steven Caulker saw a header cleared off the line.

A point lifts QPR into 15th place, and Redknapp conceded that a share of the spoils was fair."It was a tough game today," he added. "It was difficult. You always felt with their pace that they only had to turn the ball forward and they'd be dangerous.

"Palace have been a good team this year – they've got pace and are strong in midfield and when I saw them earlier in the season I didn't think they'd be a struggling team.

"All the teams down the bottom are decent teams, Burnley, Leicester, Palace – they're all good teams – so I was very surprised about Neil going, he'd done a good job I thought."

 

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Wenger hails 'committed' Arsenal


Arsene Wenger hailed Arsenal's committed display in the 2-1 Premier League victory at West Ham on Sunday.

The visitors took the lead against the run of play after 41 minutes when Santi Cazorla found the net from the penalty spot after being fouled in the box by Winston Reid.

Danny Welbeck slid in to add a second three minutes later before Cheikhou Kouyate headed West Ham's only goal nine minutes into the second half.

West Ham had earlier seen ex-Arsenal midfielder Alex Song's long-range strike controversially ruled out for offside, and the home side looked dangerous for large spells.However, Wenger believes his players were fully deserving of the three points that see them climb above West Ham into fifth."We deserved to win the game," he said. "It was a typical committed, direct game where we needed to be solid in the air, take our chances on the break.

"Unfortunately when they came back to 2-1, we had five or six chances on counter-attacks that we couldn't take, but overall everybody did the job very well, from the keeper to up front.

"We couldn't finish the game off - it's down to the quality of their goalkeeper. It's down to sometimes missing our chances, sometimes as well maybe there was a player in a better position."Overall we created a lot of chances."

Wenger went on to praise his side's fighting spirit, adding: "It was more fight than a creative game but you need to have that in England as well, especially when we played two days ago with 10 men for 40 minutes."When I looked at how much we gave physically [against QPR on Boxing Day], I was worried.

"We knew before the game that we had to dig deep to win because we were a bit jaded but we did that."Cazorla assumed penalty-taking duties from Alexis Sanchez after the latter missed a spot-kick in Friday's 2-1 victory over QPR.

"He [Cazorla] was the right number on the list but Alexis acknowledged it," explained Wenger. "Everybody has missed penalties. Anybody can miss."

 

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Fightback against Manchester City delights Dyche

Sean Dyche was pleased with Burnley's attitude in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Manchester City.

Burnley came from 2-0 down to take a surprise point from the Etihad Stadium thanks to second-half goals from George Boyd and Ashley Barnes.

While Dyche's men will go into 2015 in the relegation zone, the point against the champions could prove key in helping stave off an instant return to the Championship. Dyche was delighted to end City's nine-match winning run, but reserved particular praise for his team's character and belief.

Asked whether he was happy with the turnaround after the break, he told reporters: "I was delighted with the first half if I'm honest.

"You're coming to a tough place with some fantastic quality players and seeing behind the scoreline is often what we have to do."But we got in at half-time, I felt, intact with the way we were playing. I reminded the players of that and we put down a marker with the first goal.

"We built on [the first half] not only with the early goal but the relentlessness nature of the performance. I thought the quality was high, the endeavour was high and the organisation."You can go 2-1 here and the game doesn't look any different. These players can dominate games, particularly here, and I didn't think they did second half."I was pleased with the goal but the follow-on from the goal and the mentality after that, it shows great signs.

"There are no guarantees going forward but it's fair to say there are obvious markers being laid down about how the team are performing at this level."

Burnley's memorable draw follows just two days on from their narrow 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, with Dyche opting to name an unchanged XI. However, he dismissed suggestions that his side's fitness was particularly noteworthy."It's incredible people are making that point, when I used to play if the team was playing well it played," he added.

"I don't overthink it, there's no excuses from us. If we think they're ready to play they'll play.

"I think we're seven games less than last year, we're not in European competition, so they're ready to play. I never question the physicality of the group."I know the stats, I know how it works and the players are ready to deliver."

 

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Dante: Brazil's 7-1 defeat will never happen again

Germany's 7-1 win over Brazil at the World Cup will never happen again, according to defender Dante.

The Selecao were demolished on home turf by Joachim Low's men at the semi-final stage of the competition as Die Mannschaft went on to win the tournament.

Dante, one of the Brazil players who started the game, insists that his side will never suffer such an incredible capitulation again.


"That will happen once and never again," he told Rede Bahia.

"Everything went wrong for us, everything went right for Germany. What happened in that game was down to our complete lack of control and it can't happen again."

The centre-back has not featured for Brazil since the World Cup, with new coach Dunga preferring Miranda and David Luiz at the heart of the backline.

Dante continued: "I've accomplished a lot with the Selecao. Of course if I were to be called up again I would be happy, but I'm realistic and I have my feet on the ground.

"I see the Brazil team today is undergoing a big overhaul with new players, so they have to try things."

Dante looked back on 2014 with pride, having won the Bundesliga in record time with Bayern Munich as well as the DFB-Pokal.

"It was a very good year, I won everything again with Bayern, except the Champions League," he said.

"It was a year in which I realised some dreams and the year I was called to the World Cup."

 

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Torres has lost his way, but Simeone will fix him - Capello

Fabio Capello believes Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone is the man who can finally turn Fernando Torres' form around.

The striker, who has agreed to join AC Milan on a permanent deal from Chelsea in January, has been struggling to hit the net regularly since the 2010-11 season, following three-and-a-half incredible years with Liverpool.

The Spain international is expected to join Atletico Madrid as part of a swap deal that will see Alessio Cerci join Milan in the winter transfer window and Capello feels a return to his boyhood club is in Torres' best interests.

"Torres has got it all, but has lost his way a bit and is struggling to score goals," Capello told Marca at the Globe Soccer Conference in Dubai.

"He has lost the confidence he had at Liverpool and during his first stint at Atletico.
"Simeone is going to make Torres come good. It is not only to do with systems: it is a confidence thing.

"Torres has become a bit subdued but is going to rediscover what he has lost thanks to Cholo, who is going to reinvigorate him."

The 30-year-old has scored one goal in 10 Serie A appearances for Milan since his move from Chelsea in the summer.

 

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Van Gaal frustrated with wasteful Man Utd finishing

Louis van Gaal was left to rue some poor finishing from Manchester United which meant they had to settle for a goalless draw at Tottenham on Sunday.

United dominated the first half at White Hart Lane, but a combination of a lack of composure in front of goal and fine saves from Hugo Lloris ensured they were unable to find the net.

Tottenham raised their game after the break, but neither side could find the elusive opening goal and claimed a point apiece from their final Premier League game of
the year.United are now unbeaten in nine games and will head into their New Year's Day clash at Stoke City in third place, but manager Van Gaal was left to ponder what might have been.

He said: "When you play against a top-six club at White Hart Lane and you create six to eight chances, and open chances, then you have to finish that.

"If you don't reward yourself, then normally the opponent win. You need a little fortune, because Tottenham could also score in the second half. "You could see in the second half it was not football anymore, it was a struggle for life. Tottenham won the second balls and that's why they were more dominating than Manchester in the second half.

"They created three chances, but we also created three chances; Juan Mata, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao."Van Gaal believes United's failure to beat Aston Villa, in their previous away game, and Tottenham will make it very difficult for them to win the title.

He added: "I said in the dressing room, when you cannot win such type of matches that you are the better team, against Aston Villa and now against Tottenham, then it is very difficult to be the champion at the end of the season."

 

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Yesterday match 1ke finishing nam anthimaiaparade​

 

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Fabregas: The referee had a really bad game

Cesc Fabregas hit out at referee Anthony Taylor after he was booked for diving during Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Southampton on Sunday.

The Spain midfielder appeared to be fouled by debutant Matt Targett in the area and appealed for a penalty but was instead punished for simulation, much to his obvious disgust.

And he later slammed Taylor’s performance at St Mary’s, insisting that there was "definitely contact" before he went down.

"I don’t think the referee had the best game of his life," he told Sky Sports. "I don’t know if he will be able to sleep well tonight or not, he had a really bad game.

"But, we’re all human, I’m sure this will happen as it happens to everyone. We have a bad day at the office and that’s it. We have to talk about football and the football we played today was good."

Fabregas set up Eden Hazard for his superb equaliser during the clash, taking his assists tally to 13 for the season, but he insists he pays little attention to such statistics.

"I don’t care about assists or goals, I just want Chelsea to win and today we didn’t do it so I’m going home upset," he added.

 

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Liverpool 4-1 Swansea City: Lallana scores twice as Reds climb to eighth

Two goals from Adam Lallana inspired Liverpool to a comfortable 4-1 victory over Swansea City at Anfield on Monday evening.

Alberto Moreno handed Brendan Rodgers’ side a half-time lead with a goal before the break, while Lukasz Fabianski gifted the hosts with a second when his attempted clearance hit Lallana and looped into the net.

Gylfi Sigurdsson pulled a goal back one minute later but Lallana’s superb individual effort restored Liverpool’s two-goal advantage before Jonjo Shelvey headed Jordan Henderson’s cross into his own net.

Liverpool head into 2015 with just one defeat in their last 10 games in all competitions and move above Swansea into eighth place.

Simon Mignolet was recalled to the starting line-up to replace the injured Brad Jones and captain Steven Gerrard dropped to the bench as Rodgers made four changes to the side that won at Burnley on Boxing Day.

Wayne Routledge replaced the injured Jefferson Montero in one of three changes to the Swansea team following the home victory over Aston Villa.

Swansea were allowing Moreno too much space on the left in the opening stages and the Spaniard whipped in a cross that Raheem Sterling met with a first-time strike that brought a fine reflex save out of Fabianski, with Lallana firing over the crossbar on the follow-up.

Liverpool appeared to have lost their way in the first half after a promising start, but Moreno put them in front after 33 minutes.

The former Sevilla man was left unmarked inside Swansea's box and had the simple task of turning in Henderson's ball in from the right to round off a slick passing move.

Shelvey was fortunate not to get sent off before half-time after his swinging arm caught Emre Can in the face.

After the restart, the game’s tempo increased and Liverpool doubled their lead after Fabianski’s indecisiveness on the ball allowed Lallana to close down and deflected the attempted clearance into Swansea’s net.

Liverpool were guilty of switching off after scoring once again as Mamadou Sakho beat Wilfried Bony in the air, but could only head the ball into the path of Sigurdsson and he fired home from close range just a minute after Lallana’s goal.

Sterling came close to restoring Liverpool's two-goal advantage soon after when his strike came back off the post after Henderson picked him out with a superb cross from the right flank.

Lallana was fortunate with his first goal, but there was nothing lucky about his second as Philippe Coutinho laid the ball off to the midfielder with a deft flick and he dribbled through Swansea’s defence before finishing with his left foot.

Liverpool were out of sight in the 69th minute when Shelvey got his head on Henderson's corner but could only watch as the ball looped just inside the far post.

Sterling was lucky to get away with swinging an arm at Federico Fernandez after the ball had gone out of play, while substitute Bafetimbi Gomis' strike rattled the crossbar but Liverpool were able to coast to victory and end the year on a high note.

 

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Liverpool la 2014 year 1ka finish karapu widiyanam hodai​

 

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Martino: I taught Messi nothing at Barcelona

Argentina boss Gerardo Martino has admitted he taught Lionel Messi absolutely nothing during his season in charge at Barcelona.

The coach took charge at Camp Nou for the 2013-14 season, but failed to win a major trophy after Atletico Madrid secured La Liga glory at their expense on the final day of the campaign.

Martino has previously acknowledged he made major mistakes during his time at the helm, but has now gone further by admitting to Argentine newspaper Clarin that he contributed very little to the progression of a star-studded Barca squad.

When asked what he had been able to teach his international captain Messi during their time together at Barcelona, Martino said: "Nothing. Nothing at all. Not to him or to Barca."I didn't make any mark on Barcelona, it was a blip in my career in terms of what I did as a coach.

"It would be logical to use the term failure. I went to a team that always won and didn't win anything while I was there. The Supercopa is next to nothing for Barcelona.

"All I learned in Barcelona was about being surrounded by stars, by the best in the world."I made some monumental mistakes with Barcelona. What were they? I will tell you in another life."

The 52-year-old said he was simply being honest about his lack of success during his stint under the spotlight in Catalunya.He continued: "I am just telling you what I feel. If you want me to lie, I will say it was a great time."

Martino, who replaced Alejandro Sabella as national team coach after Argentina lost the World Cup final to Germany, has won three and lost two of his first five matches in charge.

 

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West Brom sack Alan Irvine

West Brom have confirmed Alan Irvine has been sacked as the club's manager.

The 56-year-old leaves the Hawthorns after just six months in charge with the club currently 16th in the Premier League, one point clear of the relegation zone.

Irvine was able to guide West Brom to four wins in the Premier League but leaves the club following a run of three straight defeats.

West Brom have also announced that assistant head coach Rob Kelly, along with Keith Downing, will take charge of the team for Thursday's fixture against West Ham and expect to name Irvine's permanent successor by the weekend.

"We appointed Alan in the summer convinced that we had taken on one of the foremost coaches in the UK and nothing that has happened since then has altered our view,” said West Brom’s technical director Terry Burton.

"The individual progress of our players such as Craig Dawson and Saido Berahino are testament to that.

"But sadly that simply has not translated into results and they remain the ultimate currency of Alan’s position.

"Securing a sixth season in the Premier League is the over-riding target and sometimes unpleasant decisions have to be taken to serve that imperative.

"Alan has impressed everyone with his manner, dedication and diligence but he knows that results have simply not been good enough.

"We place on record our gratitude for his efforts and hold nothing but good wishes for his future endeavours. This was a decision taken with regret but sadly driven by necessity."

 

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Mancini confirms Podolski interest

Roberto Mancini has admitted Inter are interested in signing Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski.

The Germany attacker has been heavily linked to a move away from the Emirates Stadium, having made just seven Premier League appearances this term.

Reports have circulated in Italy that the Nerazzurri are interested in the former Bayern Munich player and Mancini confirmed his side are looking at him after being asked about his transfer targets.

"Podolski is a good player," the coach told Sport Mediaset.

"He is part of a list of players that we are following, so we will see what will come of it."

The 50-year-old also said his side have an interest in signing former Real Madrid player Lassana Diarra, who is currently locked in a legal battle with Lokomotiv Moscow in a bid to be declared a free agent.

"He is very good, but he has an ongoing dispute and we have to see how it is solved," said Mancini.

Alessio Cerci looks set to join Inter's fierce rivals AC Milan from Atletico Madrid as part of an exchange that will see Fernando Torres go the other way.

Cerci was also a player being tracked by Inter but Mancini says he is not angry with the former Torino star.

The coach added: "I am not angry with Cerci. We had never started any negotiations, he was just one of many we were following."

 

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Liverpool getting back to their best - Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers believes Liverpool are starting to show signs of getting back to their attacking best following Monday’s 4-1 win over Swansea City.

Liverpool have struggled to reach the heights of last season's title challenge following the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona and Daniel Sturridge's injury problems.

But last season’s runners-up were able to end the year on a high as Adam Lallana’s double, along with Alberto Moreno’s strike and Jonjo Shelvey’s own goal, sealed a 4-1 victory for Brendan Rodgers’ men at Anfield.

"For me it was about getting back to performing well and getting ideas that will help the players play how we want to play," the Liverpool boss told BBC Sport.

"We were convincing. We have to keep that intensity and work-rate. It was a great performance against a very good side.

"I felt for the big part of the game we dominated. We gave away a poor goal and it goes to 2-1 and they almost score again straight after so that is a frustration.

"But, apart from that spell, the work-rate was outstanding and we were really exciting going forward."

Liverpool leapfrogged Swansea into eighth following Monday's win and Rodgers is excited by the prospect of seeing his side flourish in 2015.

He added: "We know the work we need to put in but the players are starting to work together.

"We are a young side looking to settle in and play a type of football we find creative and exciting."

 

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Newcastle give Pardew permission to speak to Crystal Palace

Newcastle United have confirmed that Alan Pardew has been given permission to hold talks with Crystal Palace.

Palace, who sacked Neil Warnock following the club's 3-1 defeat at home to Southampton on Boxing Day, have made an offer of over €3 million in compensation to Newcastle and are closing in on an agreement with Pardew.

A statement released by Newcastle United on Monday evening read: "Newcastle United can confirm that Crystal Palace have made a formal approach requesting permission to speak to Alan Pardew in relation to their vacant managerial position.

"Crystal Palace have offered compensation at a level whereby Alan has now been permitted to speak to them.

"As a result of this development on Monday, Alan will not be at training on Tuesday. Training will be the responsibility of assistant manager John Carver."

Keith Millen was Palace's caretaker boss in Sunday's goalless draw at QPR, meanwhile Pardew, in what is likely to be his last game in charge at St James' Park, guided Newcastle to a 3-2 win over Everton.

Palace currently sit 18th in the Premier League but are level on points with 17th-placed Hull, who have a better goal difference.

 

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Liverpool can finish in top four, says Lallana

Adam Lallana is confident Liverpool can secure a top four finish after they ended 2014 on a high by beating Swansea City at Anfield.

Two goals from the former Southampton star helped inspire Brendan Rodgers's side to a 4-1 victory on Monday night, a result that moved them up into eighth place, five points behind Southampton in fourth.

And despite an indifferent first half of the season, Lallana has seen enough in Liverpool's recent performances to suggest that they are capable of claiming a Champions League spot.

He told Sky Sports: "Of course there is [a belief Liverpool can get top four]. Especially because we're finding performances now and we've had a couple of good results.

"We'll take it game by game but that's our target, to finish in the top four. It's where the fans want us to be playing and the players themselves."

 

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Ronaldo: Hopefully the Ballon d'Or is next

Cristiano Ronaldo hopes picking up Best Player of the Year at the Globe Soccer Awards will lead to him winning the Ballon d'Or in January.

Ronaldo has enjoyed arguably the greatest year of his career, breaking the record for the number of goals in a single Champions League season as he led Real Madrid to their 10th European title, while maintaining his better than a goal-per-game ratio across five prolific years in Spain.

Ronaldo is hotly tipped to follow up his latest accolade by beating Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer to the Fifa Ballon d’Or to win it for the second year in a row, and third time overall.

The Portuguese attacker is hoping that his success at the awards ceremony in Dubai will be replicated in Zurich when the winner is announced on January 12.

He said: "I hope that it can be a good signal but I’m not worried about that. The people who vote know what they have to do.

"I just feel happy it’s one more trophy for my dedication and hard work. I want to say thank you to the people at Real Madrid, - the players, the coach - we had a fantastic season, we won four trophies and we are one of the best teams in the world.“La Decima was a special moment as Real Madrid have looked forward to winning it.

"To win this award is one of the great pleasures, I am very proud."Former Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United star Ronaldo is adamant there is no added pressure on his shoulders despite his standing in the game.

“No, no pressure,” he added. “I don’t have pressure because things come naturally to me. I don’t have to show anything to anyone. I am happy, I do what I like, to play football, to score goals, to make assists and help show we [Real Madrid] are one of the best teams in the world.”

The Globe Soccer Awards, an event that has been streamed live on Goal, has a number of other categories promoting the very best football has had to offer across a hugely successful year.

 

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Valencia & Benfica agree Enzo Perez deal

Valencia have reached an agreement with Benfica that will see Enzo Perez join the Spanish club.

The 28-year-old midfielder has been linked with a move to several sides in recent months but Los Che were the frontrunners to secure his signature.

The Argentine has spent three-and-a-half years at the Portuguese giants, in which time he won the league once along with three other domestic trophies and reached the Europa League final twice. Perez was also part of the Argentina team which reached the final of the World Cup in Brazil.

Valencia have confirmed that a deal has been struck and will be completed on January 2 if the player passes a medical, with the fee reported to be worth around €25 million.

"Valencia Club de Futbol and SL Benfica have reached an agreement for the transfer of Enzo Nicolas Perez, on a permanent deal that will be made official on January 2nd, 2015," a statement on their official website read. "The move is subject to the player passing a medical.

"The Argentinian international will arrive at Manises-Valencia airport at 11.25pm local time and will undergo a medical tomorrow under the supervision of the Valencia Club de Fútbol medical team."

Perez has scored one goal and picked up three assists in 11 league games for Benfica.

 

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Mourinho is the best coach ever - Mendes

Super agent Jorge Mendes has hailed Jose Mourinho as the "best coach ever".
Mendes, who represents the Chelsea boss, believes his fellow Portuguese edges out former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in the all-time reckoning.

Mourinho is now in his second spell at Stamford Bridge with his side top of the Premier League heading into 2015. He moved back to west London after three years at Real Madrid, during which time the club won one La Liga crown to add to the domestic league titles Mourinho has also won with Porto), Inter and Chelsea.He also guided Portuguese and Italian sides to Champions League success.

"Jose is the best coach in the world. In fact he is the best coach ever," Mendes said."He is only 52-years-old. Nobody else, in my opinion, has won so many trophies in such a period of time.

"The closest is Sir Alex Ferguson, who is a great example for everybody in football. He is like a father, not just for me but for Jose and for Cristiano [Ronaldo] as well."

Mendes collected the Agent of the Year prize at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai for the fifth consecutive year.