Dutch soccer legend Johan Cruyff has been named coach of Catalonia, the autonomous Spanish community’s soccer federation (FCF) said on Monday.
The 62-year-old Cruyff, who will not receive any payment, will be presented to the media on Nov. 9 and will also work with the federation on sporting and social projects, FCF president Jordi Casals said.
“It’s a role that has no remuneration and I thank him very much and I think Catalan soccer and Catalonia should feel proud,” Casals was quoted as saying in the Spanish media.
The FCF would also work with Cruyff’s charitable foundation as part of the deal, he said.
Catalonia is not recognized as a national team by soccer’s world governing body FIFA or its European equivalent UEFA but the regional team typically play a friendly against an international side in December each year.
They beat Colombia 2-1 at the Camp Nou last December with Barcelona players Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Bojan Krkic and Sergio Busquets in the squad.
Cruyff, who moved to the Catalan capital from Ajax Amsterdam to play for Barca in 1973 and led them to a European Cup triumph as coach in 1992, has not taken charge of a team since he quit Barca in 1996.
He has embraced Catalan culture since his move to Barcelona, where he still lives, and named his son Jordi (George) after Catalonia’s patron saint.
The former European Player of the Year last year agreed to help Ajax revamp their youth program but pulled out because of differences with then-coach Marco van Basten.
FCF president Casals said he did not think it was a problem that Cruyff does not speak fluent Catalan.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care