A tribute & respect to Sir Alex Ferguson in his 71st birthday.

        Sir Alex Ferguson turns 71 today is undoubtedly counted one of the best coaches of the world football since 1986 when he had taken the responsibility of EPL giant Manchester United. A tribute & respect to that great person in his 71st birthday.

           During his 25 years attachment as manager of Manchester United, he is the longest serving manager in their history after overtaking Sir Matt Busby's record on 19 December 2010. His tenure is also the longest of all the current League managers. During this time, Ferguson has won many awards and holds many records including winning Manager of the Year most times in British football history. In 2008, he became the third British manager to win the European Cup on more than one occasion, after Brian Clough and Bob Paisley.
            In 1983, Sir Alex Ferguson was felicitated in 1983 with an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), for his service to football. He also received the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1995 and the Knight Bachelor in 1999. In recognition to his achievements with the Manchester United FC, Sir Alex Ferguson was included into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
           Sir Alex Ferguson received a number of awards in 1999 for his very special contribution to the football, including, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award, BBC Sports Personality of the Year Team Award, World Soccer Magazine Coach of the Year, Mussabini Medal, International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) Club Coach of the Year and Onze d’Or Coach of the Year. Sir Alex Ferguson was conferred the Laureus World Sports Award for Team of the Year (2000) and BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.
           Reminding his immortal achievements & legacy with this great club Manchester United authority had established a bronze sculpture of Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford on 23^rd November 2012.
            Sir Alex Ferguson was born to Alexander and Elizabeth on December 31, 1941 in Glasgow, Scotland. He married Cathy and they have three sons Mark and twins, Darren and Jason. Of his sons, only Darren has followed his father’s profession and is the manager of the Peterborough United FC.
           In 1957 Ferguson started his footballing career at the age of 16 as a striker in Queen’s Park, scored 15 goals for them in 31 appearances. In 1960 he moved to St. Johnstone, scored 19 goals in 37 matches, in 1964 he moved to Dunfermline Athletic, scored 66 goals in 89 matches, between 1967 to 1969 he played for Scottish giant Rangers , scored 25 goals in 41 matches for them,  during 1969 to 1973 he played for Falkirk, scored 35 goals for them in 95 matches, he ended his career Ayr United where he stayed from 1973-1974 season, scored 9 goals  in 24 matches during his stay with them. He scored an overall of 170 goals in clubfootball in his 317 appearances.
              He played for the Switzerland national side in 1967, scored 9 goals for his country in his 7 appearances. He also worked in the Clyde shipyards as an apprentice tool-worker, where he became an active trade union shop steward later.
             Fergie started his coaching career in Scottish side East Strilingshire FC as a head coach in 1974, during 1974-1978 he worked in St. Mirren FC, in 1978 for a long 8 years tenure he took the responsibility of Aberdeen FC. In 1986 he was recruited as the coach of the Scotland national side. In the later stage of the same year November 6^th 1986 he moved to English side Manchester United.

               In his bold stewardship Manchester United becomes the most successful club of the history winning 37 titles during his tenure,  English Premier League- 12 times, FA Cup- 5 times, League Cup- 4 times. FA Community Shield- 10 times (once shared), UEFA Champions League- 2 times, UEFA Cup winners' cup- 1 time, UEFA Super Cup- 1 time, Intercontinental Cup- 1 time, FIFA Club World cup- 1 time.

Premier League (12): 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11
FA Cup (5): 1989-90, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2003-04

League Cup (4): 1991-92, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10

FA Charity/Community Shield (10): 1990 (shared), 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011

Champions League (2): 1998-99, 2007-08

Cup Winners' Cup (1): 1990-91

UEFA Super Cup (1): 1991

Intercontinental Cup (1): 1999

FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008

              In 1999 when Man U won the triple crown, the UEFA Champions League, EPL & Intercontinental trophy is counted one of the most successful year of  his career. 2008 is also a great year of his career while he won the UEFA Champions League second time alongwith the EPL.

            Man U & Alex Ferugson becomes synonyms since he is in Old Trafford, in his stewardship the Red Devils becomes the most dominant force in world football. The speculation about who follows Fergie has already had a trial run. After Manchester United had won the Champions League in 2008, beating Chelsea on penalties in Moscow, Ferguson announced that he would be stepping down as manager within the next three years. Right now he is in the search of an eligible person to handover the baton, most probably the man is going to be former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiolla, nowadays with whom he is discussing personally the future gameplan of Man U.

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Mohun Bagn banned by AIFF for upcoming two I-Leagues including this edition.

            Mohun Bagan club is convicted the guilty by AIFF’s one man commission  justice A.K. Ganguly’s report & suspended by the AIFF core committee for upcoming next two editions of I-league including this edition they played yet in the 22c clause of I-League act. All the matches of Mohun Bagan played yet would be counted as a null & void, AIFF will announce the new fixture soon.

           The incident had taken place in the 68^th match of I-League on 9^th December in the match against arch rival East Bengal at Salt Lake stadium while the Green & Maroon brigade refused to restart the match after half time regarding the heavy fan fury of Kolkata crowd which led one of their key player Rahim Nabi injured heavily by a missile pelted from the crowd.

             Justice Ganguly the former supreme court judge conducted the hearing between Green & Maroon officials & AIFF representatives on 24^th December at New Delhi & forwarded his entire report in a sealed envelope to the core committee of AIFF which comprises of four I-League clubs East Bengal, Shillong Lajong, Pune FC & Dempo SC,  few representatives of AIFF & co-opted member Suando Dhar the CEO of I-League & Kushal Das the honourabel AIFF general secretary.

              AIFF press release: The I-League Core Committee of All India Football Federation (AIFF) received the detailed Report dated 26th December 2012 of the Hon’ble Justice A. K. Ganguly relating to I-League Match No. 68 between Kingfisher East Bengal (KEB) and Mcdowell Mohun Bagan (MMB) played at Yuba Bharati Stadium, Salt Lake City Kolkata on 9 December 2012.

          Justice Ganguly in his report has concluded that the decision of MMB for not playing the match after the interval cannot be supported on the grounds of Force Majeure and accordingly MMB has breached Regulation 22 of the I-League Regulation 2012-2013.

             The I-League Core Committee endorsed the decision of Justice A.K. Ganguly that MMB was in breach of I-League regulations and therefore in terms of regulation 22(c) the mandatory and automatic impositions on MMB (i) of being considered to have withdrawn from the I-League Competition 2012-2013 (ii) to have all its matches in the I-League Competition 2012-2013 cancelled and considered null and void (all points, goals scored and goal against being taken away); (iii) being disqualified from taking part in the next two (2) editions of the I-League Competitions; (iv) to return to the I-League any financial stipends that had been paid to it by I-League throughout the Competition 2012-2013 or forfeit the right to the same, are hereby notified to have been imposed upon and effective with immediate effect.

               The I-League Core Committee also decided that in the subject matters of “quantification of the amount of compensation”, “extension of the suspension, if any” and “additional sanctions and fines, if any”, a meeting of the Committee be convened on 9th January, 2013 at New Delhi and M/s. United Mohun Bagan Football Team Private Limited be requested to place its view points in regard to the factors relating to “quantification of the amount of compensation”, “extension of the suspension, if any” and “additional sanctions and fines, if any”.

               Consequent to ‘Mcdowell Mohun Bagan’ being considered to have withdrawn from the I-League Competition 2012-2013 and having all its matches cancelled and considered null and void (all points, goals scored and goal against being taken away), the revised Fixture with re-structured Point Table will be published as soon as possible.

               Sunando Dhar, the CEO of I-League has been authorised to communicate the detailed decision of the Committee, as above, through letter to M/s. United Mohun Bagan Football Team Private Limited and forward a copy of the Report of the Hon’ble Justice A. K. Ganguly dated 26th December 2012.

The AIFF summoned Mohun Bagan in a meeting in Delhi on 9^th January 2013 regarding the suspension of involved players in this incident & about the financial penalty. So from here it can be expected that if Mohun Bagan officials appeal due to their suspension a way may come out in their fore.

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Corinthians bagged the FIFA World Club cup crown beating Chelsea 1-0 margin.

          Congrats Corinthians, bagged the FIFA World Club cup crown once again after 2000 beating European champion Chelsea 1-0 margin, Paulo Guerrero scores the solitary goal in the 68th minute of the match. After a gap of six years a Latin American side bagged this prestigious crown, lasttime it was won by a Latin American side in 2006 when Internacional won it beating Barcelona 1-0 margin. Now Corinthians share the record of winning most number FIFA World Club cup crown with Barcelona, both the sides won it twice.

            Chelsea started the game where the ended in the last year’s Champions league final, from the beginning they looked very determine to win that match while Corrithians basically depended on the counter attacks, Gary Cahill of Chelsea almost put his side ahead in the 10^th minute of the game, Corinthians custodian Cassio made a desperate attempt to deny Chelsea in this occasion, goalline technology which is introduced in this tournament for testing purposed could have been used during that. Emerson of Corinthians failed to convert from the handshaking distance in the  35^th minute, just after a few while Fernando Torres of Chelsea tested the opponent custodian in the dying moments of the first half. The first half remained goalless.

           In the second half we got a different Corinthians full of urge, repeatedly started to penetrate in the opponent box. Chelsea also started to utilise all their weapons, due to that they almost had their first goal while Vicor Moses took a sitter almost curled inside the net but the safe of the match by the safehands of Cassio once again denied Chelsea.

           Corinthians made the breakthrough on 69 minutes as the unmarked Paulo Guerrero headed home from close range after Danilo's shot had looped into the air off Cahill. Rafael Benitez the interim manager of Chelsea introduced Oscar in search of an equaliser and the golden chance arrived four minutes from time when the ball broke to the unmarked Torres six yards out, but the Spanish striker could only drill his shot at Cassio's legs.

           Due to an off the ball collision Gary Cahill of Chelsea got the marching order in the death.
            After swallowing the decisive goal Chelsea made few desperate attempts to equalize in the later stage of the game but unfortunately sometimes denied by the safehands of the opponent custodian sometimes by the post, the luck didn’t favour them at all while the Brazilian side highly favoured by luck guided them towards that major triumph.

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Chelsea is going to take Corinthians in the final of Club World Cup in Yokohama today.

         

           UEFA champions league champion EPL side Chelsea is going to take Brazilian giant, the Copa Libertadores winners Corinthians in the Club World Cup final in Yokohama today.

         Chelsea have beaten the Mexican side Monterrey by 3-1 margin in the first semifinal while their Brazilian counterpart Corinthians managed to beat the Egyptian giant Al-Ahly by  1-0 margin in the second semifinal.

         In the history of Champions league Chelsea is the only side to be knocked out from the group stage after winning the tournament in the very previous year. Chlesea interim boss Rafael Benitez is very much desperate to bag this crown atleast after their early exit from the Champions league, he is banking        heavily on his experienced campaigners on the likes of David Luiz, Fernando Torres &  Frank Lampard.

          Eventually Corinthians is the champion of the inaugural version of the World Club Cup 2000. We have seen last year another Brazilian giant Santosh yielded against the Spanish giant Barcelona in the final of the same tournament so this time Corinthians will start cautiously against their opponent in the final.

         Corinthians coach Tite known for his ultra defensive formation, expected he will do the same in the final like previous matches, he will bank on the safehands of the custodian Cassio & midfielder Paulino.

         More than 25000 fans from Brazil have already started for Yokohama to shout for their side in the final, which will make the job more difficult for the English side Chelsea.

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