SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2014 West Brom name Mel as new coach

LONDON: Pepe Mel, the charismatic Clarke was sacked on Dec 14 follow- West Brom with 14 years of coaching me relax and between pages I might Spaniard who led Real Betis to seventh ing a sequence of one victory in 10 experience in Spanish football. think of a way to stop (Real Madrid for- place in La Liga last season and writes league games. “I’m delighted to wel- ward) Cristiano Ronaldo.” mystery novels in his spare time, was come Pepe to the club,” said Albion’s BETIS AXE Albion said Downing would remain named manager of English Premier sporting and technical director He led Betis into this season’s in charge for today’s league game at League strugglers West Bromwich Richard Garlick. Europa League but was sacked at the Southampton while Mel observes his Albion on Thursday. “(Mel) has signed “His appointment concludes an start of last month with the club bot- new team from the stands. Mel’s first an 18-month contract and takes over extensive recruitment process during tom of La Liga. Mel took charge at game at the helm will be the home the reins from Keith Downing who which we have cast the net far and Betis in 2010 and helped them win match with Everton on Jan 20. “The took charge of the team in a caretaker wide to identify the most suitable promotion back to the top flight in his board is extremely grateful to Keith, capacity five games ago,” the club said candidate to take the club forward. first season. He has also had stints at the coaching staff and players for their in a statement. “Pepe was a strong contender from Tenerife, Getafe and Rayo Vallecano efforts over the past month which The 50-year-old, one of the most the outset due to his impressive and bade a tearful farewell at a news have yielded six points from four respected coaches in La Liga, will be achievements and emerged as our conference after Betis announced his unbeaten league games,” said Garlick. supported by Downing and his num- number one candidate,” said Garlick. exit. Mel has an unusual way of wind- “Keith will have an important role to ber two Dean Kiely who will remain “He is a forward-thinking coach ing down from the demands of top- play in supporting Pepe as he coaches with the club as assistant coach and whose teams are renowned for play- notch football. “What I most love in England for the first time.” West goalkeeping coach respectively. ing an attractive and positive style of about writing novels is the process of Brom are 14th in the table, four points Downing took charge after Scot Steve football.” The balding Mel arrives at preparing for it,” he once said. “It helps above the relegation zone. — Reuters

Today’s matchs on TV Yaya Toure grabs African Footballer of Year award ENGLISH Hull City v Chelsea 15:45 beIN SPORTS 1 : Manchester City star Yaya Toure on Thursday won a beIN SPORTS HD 1 third straight African Footballer of the year award. The 31- year-old Ivory Coast international also won in 2011 and 2012. Tottenham v Crystal Palace 18:00 ’s was second and of beIN SPORTS 1 Ivory Coast finished third. “I thank my family for their support beIN SPORTS HD1 and also congratulate John Obi Mikel, who also deserved this award,” said Toure, who was a key player for both club and Cardiff City v West Ham 18:00 country last year. Egyptian legend beat beIN SPORTS 1 compatriot and from Nigeria to beIN SPORTS HD1 win the best Player based in Africa. It was a fitting send-off gift for the 35-year-old Al Ahly star, who has announced his retire- Man United v Swansea 20:30 ment from the game. beIN SPORTS 1 Ahly were also rewarded as the Club of the Year ahead of CS Sfaxien of Tunisia and South Africa’s Orlando Pirates after beIN SPORTS HD1 they won an eighth CAF Champions League trophy. Nigeria ITALIAN LEAGUE scooped several awards to underline a very successful year with coach voted Africa’s best coach, while the AS Livorno v Parma 20:00 Super Eagles were the best national team after they won a beIN SPORTS 3 third Africa cup of Nations in February and qualified for a fifth beIN SPORTS HD 3 World Cup. The country’s Under-17 team were picked as the beIN SPORTS HD 14 National Youth Team and , who was voted LAGOS: Manchester City Yaya Toure speaks after being the MVP of the 2013 Under-17 FIFA World Cup, received the declared winner of CAF African Footballer of the Year Award in Lagos on Bologna v Lazio 22:45 Most Promising Talent award. — AFP January 9, 2014. — AFP beIN SPORTS 3 beIN SPORTS HD 3

SPANISH LEAGUE Athletic de Bilbao v Almeria 18:00 Chelsea eye top spot beIN SPORTS 2 beIN SPORTS HD 2 : Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea will looking increasingly uncertain-his last the moment I do not really want to talk Celta de Vigo v Valencia 20:00 attempt to increase the pressure on their appearance came in the League Cup quarter- because there are so many games and you beIN SPORTS 6 Premier League title rivals by moving to the final defeat by Sunderland-the Senegal for- must be focused,” he said. Mourinho began beIN SPORTS HD 6 head of the table with victory at Hull City ward’s departure would almost certainly trig- his second spell as Chelsea manager with an today. Three points at the KC Stadium will ger a move for a replacement. Atletico opening-day 2-0 victory over Steve Bruce’s Atletico de Madrid v Barcelona 22:00 take the Blues ahead of second-placed Madrid’s is one of the high-pro- Hull side at Stamford Bridge. But City defend- beIN SPORTS 2 Manchester City who travel to Newcastle 24 file names linked to have been linked with a er Curtis Davies said the Tigers feared no one hours later, while current leaders Arsenal visit move to Chelsea. at the KC Stadium. beIN SPORTS HD 2 struggling Aston Villa on Monday. Meanwhile, Costa’s current team-mate Hull have the sixth-best home record in So Chelsea’s time, if any, at the summit Thibaut Courtois has again questioned his the Premier League, winning half of their 10 Elche v Sevilla 0:00 may be brief but victory on Humberside Chelsea future. The young goalkeeper is mid- games, including a 3-1 victory over Liverpool beIN SPORTS 2 would maintain a pleasing run. Last week- way his third season-long loan at the Spanish in December. “We’re confident we can beat beIN SPORTS HD 2 end’s FA Cup win at Derby County marked a club where his performances have drawn anyone at the KC,” said Davies. “We know we fourth successive success for a side who’ve widespread praise, prompting Mourinho to have to be right on our game and, maybe a FRENCH LEAGUE conceded just one goal in their last five out- describe the Belgian as the best young keep- side like Chelsea have to be slightly off it. AC Ajaccio v PSG 19:00 ings. And while Mourinho continues to have er in the world. But Mourinho has also spoken “We’re not going to kid ourselves that if both beIN SPORTS 5 concerns about the lack of goals from his for- of his current number one Petr Cech as the of us are at 100 percent, that we’re going to beIN SPORTS HD 5 wards, the contribution from midfield has best in the business. And that has prompted outplay Chelsea and win. “If we’re at our masked the deficiencies up front. growing frustration on the part of Courtois, game and we do the right things in terms of Olympique Lyonnais v Sochaux 22:00 The Portuguese manager has claimed the who has made it clear he now wants his long frustrating them, then maybe we can nick a beIN SPORTS 8 club will not bring in a new striker during the term future resolved. goal and keep a clean sheet to win the game.” beIN SPORTS HD 8 January transfer window to supplement his “About my future, I cannot wait much Davies added Hull’s defeat at Stamford Bridge current trio of Samuel Eto’o, Fernando Torres longer. I need to make a decision with taught them a valuable lesson about the and Demba Ba. But with Ba’s Chelsea future Chelsea as soon as possible, in March, but at demands of the Premier League. — AFP