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General Sports News

Chelsea appoint Ancelotti

Author: Rose Young
Date: 01/06/2009

Chelsea have announced the appointment of former AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager on a three-year contract.

Ancelotti only left the Rossoneri on Sunday and initially refused to confirm that he was heading to Stamford Bridge to succeed Guus Hiddink.

However, statement on Chelsea's official website read: "Carlo was the outstanding candidate for the job.

"He has proved over a long period his ability to build teams that challenged for and have been successful in major domestic and European competitions."

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has again dismissed continuing rumours linking midfielder Xabi Alonso with a summer transfer to Real Madrid.

The 27-year-old is reported to be one of Real's top targets following the return of Florentino Perez as president of the Santiago Bernabeu club.

Benitez told the club's official website: "The situation is clear, we do not want to sell our best players and that includes Xabi.

"There is no agreement with Real and we want him to be part of our plans going forward."

Portsmouth's executive chairman Peter Storrie has denied reports suggesting that his club have opened talks with former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

With the Fratton Park club about to be taken over by Sulaiman Al-Fahim, Paul Hart's position as manager has been called into question.

However, Storrie has played down talk of Eriksson being a leading contender if a change is made.

Stoke City chairman Peter Coates has dismissed suggestions that his club could sign Paul Scholes from Manchester United.

Scholes, 34, was reported to have been offered a player-coach role by the Potters. However, Coates claims any reports of a move for the veteran United midfielder are pure speculation.

In rugby league, St Helens stalwart Sean Long will end his long association with the club at the end of this season after agreeing a two-year contract with Hull.

The 32-year-old former Great Britain international had grown disillusioned after only being offered a 12-month deal by Saints.

In rugby union, Leigh Halfpenny is expected to team up with the rest of the British & Irish Lions squad this week after making good progress from a thigh strain.

The 20-year-old has been receiving physiotherapy on the problem over the last few days and will fly to South Africa if he comes through a final kicking session with his club side, Cardiff Blues.

In cricket, Sussex batsman Chris Nash has escaped serious injury after being rushed to hospital following a collision with team-mate Dwayne Smith.

The 26-year-old suffered what looked like a broken leg at the time of the incident during the Twenty20 Cup clash with Kent, but subsequent X-rays showed up no break and only deep tissue damage.

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