Manchester United Boss Accepts Chelsea’s Offer
Chelsea, the English Premier League team whose owner, Russian oil tycoon Roman Abramovich, has spent more than $160 million on players since taking over the club July 1, captured another glittering prize Monday.
Peter Kenyon, the chief executive at league champion Manchester United, announced that he was leaving the Red Devils to accept a similar position with Chelsea.
“We’ve worked closely with Peter now for six years, so it was a bolt out of the blue for everyone,” said David Gill, United’s managing director, who took over as chief executive. “But decisions are made and the club moves on.”
Kenyon, 49, joined United in 1997 with instructions to build the team’s name, and hence its marketing possibilities, outside Britain. He will have the same task at Chelsea, which lags behind such teams as Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus in international recognition.
Parreira Pleased
Brazil Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira pronounced himself satisfied with the world champions’ 2-1 victory over Colombia in the team’s first qualifying match for the 2006 World Cup.
“We started well in a qualifying marathon that we know is going to be extremely difficult,” he said after Sunday’s game in Barranquilla, Colombia.
“I’m glad the team was able to impose its rhythm from the start. It was a well deserved victory.”
Colombia Coach Francisco Maturana was much more effusive in his praise.
“It was a game where we found ourselves playing against a team that is far superior to us, we admit that,” he said. “They have a virtuoso in each position and, what’s more, they’re mature enough to control the rhythm of the game.
“I believe we are capable of building a great team. The magnitude of our rivals may have shattered our dreams, but there’s only one Brazil.”
Brazil’s next qualifying game -- its second of 18 -- is at home on Wednesday against Ecuador.
Deisler Injured
Midfielder Sebastian Deisler, the player being counted upon to lift Germany out of its international doldrums, suffered a right thigh injury in training Monday and appears likely to miss the team’s Euro 2004 qualifying match against Scotland on Wednesday.
Germany is coming off a 0-0 tie against Iceland.
A Costly Game
Hong Kong spent $4.47 million to get Real Madrid to play there during its four-match summer tour of Asia, government officials revealed Monday.
The former British colony had guaranteed up to $1.28 million in losses, but the government said it had to pay only $105,470 because revenue from sponsors and television made up the rest.
The game -- in which Ronaldo, David Beckham and the rest of Real’s star-studded lineup beat a Hong Kong-China team, 4-2 -- was watched live on TV by 3.2 million fans in Hong Kong and drew the highest rating in the territory.
Quick Passes
Midfielder Emmanuel Petit, a World Cup winner with France in 1998 and a European champion in 2000, told the sports daily L’Equipe that he was retiring from international competition at 32.
Goals by Alvaro Saborio and Steven Bryce earned Costa Rica a 2-0 victory over China in an international friendly in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Sunday night. China plays the New York/New Jersey MetroStars tonight.
Times wire services contributed to this report.
