Soccer Shorts: Chelsea said yesterday that the signing of Henk ten Cate as their assistant manager from Dutch side Ajax is imminent.
"Chelsea . . . has reached agreement with Ajax for the release of Henk ten Cate," the Premier League side said in a statement. "We expect to finalise his contract with Chelsea FC in the next 24 hours as assistant first team coach."
Chelsea want to rebuild their backroom staff after the departure of Jose Mourinho last month. Israeli Avram Grant has since taken over from the Portuguese manager.
Italians rewarded
Five members of Italy's 2006 World Cup winning side have been named on the 30-strong shortlist for Fifa's 2007 World Player of the Year award. Last year's winner Fabio Cannavaro features once again alongside team-mates Gianluigi Buffon, Gennaro Gattuso, Alessandro Nesta and Andrea Pirlo.
England and France each have four nominations with Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and John Terry making up the English contingent.
Thierry Henry, twice a runner-up for the award, is joined by French colleagues Franck Ribery, Lilian Thuram and Patrick Vieira.
Ronaldinho's recent dip of form has not prevented the 2004 and 2005 award winner from making the list alongside fellow Brazilians Juninho and Kaka.
The winner will be announced at Fifa's World Player Gala in Zurich on December 17th.
FIFA WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES: Buffon(Italy), Cannavaro(Italy), Cech(Czech Republic), Ronaldo(Portugal), Deco(Portugal), Drogba(Ivory Coast), Essien(Ghana), Eto'o(Cameroon), Gattuso(Italy), Gerrard(England), Henry(France), Juninho(Brazil), Kaka(Brazil), Klose(Germany), Lahm(Germany), Lampard(England), Marquez(Mexico), Messi(Argentina), Nesta(Italy), Pirlo(Italy), Ribery(France), Riquelme(Argentina), Ronaldinho(Brazil), Rooney(England), Terry(England), Tevez(Argentina), Thuram(France), Torres(Spain), Van Nistelrooy(Netherlands), Vieira(France)
Hiddink staying put
Guus Hiddink will extend his contract as Russia coach through to 2010, the Dutchman said yesterday. The 60-year-old, who had been linked Chelsea in recent weeks, agreed the new deal after meeting Russian soccer chiefs on Monday.
Celtic in the dock
Dida's reaction to being taunted by a Celtic fan during last week's Champions League clash with AC Milan is unlikely to affect Uefa's judgment when the Parkhead club face a disciplinary hearing today.
Celtic must explain the security lapse which saw the supporter venture on to the pitch to celebrate Scott McDonald's late winning goal. Uefa opened proceedings against Celtic on charges of "lack of organisation and improper conduct of supporters".
Dida's over-the-top reaction has dominated much of the fallout from the incident, but in Celtic's case Uefa will just focus on the pitch invasion. The Scottish champions are likely to be just fined.
United deal denied
Sporting Lisbon have denied that Manchester United have first refusal on Miguel Veloso. The 21-year-old, who can play in central defence or midfield, is the latest young Sporting player to be linked with a move to Old Trafford.
United are very close to Sporting, having signed Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani from them in recent seasons. But a spokesman for the club has denied that Veloso - or any of his team-mates - have been promised to United.
In brief . . .
England international defender Micah Richards(19) claims he is on the brink of signing a new contract at Manchester City . . . Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosickyhas revealed he has seen a specialist in an attempt to solve his persistent hamstring injury problems . . . Arsenal's Danish-born striker Nicklas Bendtner(19) has admitted that if his first-team opportunities don't improve at the club, he may start to look for another employer . . . Sunderland captain Dean Whitehead(25) is back on the training pitch as he steps up his bid for a return from a knee injury that had kept him on the sidelines for two months . . . Blackburn Rovers have admitted they are as yet unable to put a time-scale on striker Roque Santa Cruz'sabsence with tendinitis . . . English Championship side Crystal Palace have called a press conference for this morning at which they are expected to unveil Neil Warnockas their new manager . . . Sheffield United's Dublin-born defender Derek Geary(27) is expected to be ruled out until the end of November following surgery for a cartilage problem . . . Richie Hart, the 29-year-old Caledonian Inverness Thistle midfielder, was yesterday suspended by his club after being convicted and fined for possession of Cocaine at a rock festival last June.
