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Markus Weinzierl has committed his future to FC Augsburg by signing a new contract until 2017
Augsburg - FC Augsburg have extended the contract of head coach Markus Weinzierl and his foremost backroom staff until 2017.
The sought-after young coach has penned a new two-year extension to his previous deal, which was up for renewal in 2015.
His assistants Wolfgang Beller and Tobias Zellner and fitness coach Thomas Barth have also put pen to paper for the same period.
'Delighted'
“2013 was the most successful year in FC Augsburg’s history,” said club president Walther Seinsch. “Together, we’ve enjoyed great success, so we’re happy to be able to tie him down long-term.”
38-year-old Weinzierl joined Augsburg in the summer of 2012 from lower league outfit SSV Jahn Regensburg and has led the club up to eighth in the current standings.
Sporting director Horst Heldt said the 43-year-old's position was under review after Sunday's 0-0 draw with Nurnberg but he has now been given a vote of confidence
Under-pressure Schalke coach Jens Keller has been granted a stay of execution by the club's board.
It was thought that the 43-year-old trainer would be dismissed during the winter break, with Die Knappen currently seventh in the Bundesliga standings.
However, Schalke confirmed after a meeting on Monday that Keller will remain as coach.
"All topics were discussed constructively and openly, also with a clear analysis of what has to be improved," read a club statement.
"Jens Keller and his coaching team will work on this when the preparations for the second half of the season begin on January 3."
Keller took charge of Schalke in December 2012, having previously looked after the club's Under-17s, and penned a two-year contract extension in May of this year.
The coach has been relieved of his duties after three years at the club, with a poor start to the season proving his downfall
Hannover 96 have confirmed the sacking of head coach Mirko Slomka after making a poor start to the campaign.
Slomka had been in charge of the club since January 2010, saving them from the threat of relegation before later leading the club to Europa League football twice.
However, sporting director Dirk Dufner is adamant that the right outcome has been reached in a bid to halt an alarming slide down the table.
"It was no easy decision but we are convinced that we have to make a change," he declared via the club's official website.
Slomka had previously been the assistant coach of Hannover from 2001 to 2004 and also spent time with the club during his playing days.
But a haul of just six points from a possible 36 has seen the team steadily slide to 13th in the Bundesliga table – just four points above the relegation play-off places.
Despite deeming it necessary for a change of head coach, club president Martin Kind moved to praise Slomka for his achievements over the course of his three years in charge.
He said: "I have to personally thank Mirko Slomka.
"He saved Hannover 96 from relegation and led the club to the Europa League afterwards twice. This success will always have his name on it."
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar can reacquaint himself with the training ground apparatus after being given the green light to return to first-team affairs
Gelsenkirchen - Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has received an extra special Christmas present after being told he can return to training at FC Schalke 04 with his knee showing signs of a complete recovery.The Dutchman will fly out with the Royal Blues for their mid-season training camp in Qatar on 3 January.
Comeback on the horizon
Huntelaar's injury woes started in August when he tore ligaments in his right knee, ruling him out for several months. After completing the necessary physiotherapy and rehabilitation work, the Dutch forward and 2011/12 Bundesliga top goalscorer returned to action in mid-October only to suffer an immediate relapse and be ruled out once again.
He has spent the intervening time building up strength in his knee and, after an examination by renowned knee doctor Ulrich Boenisch in Augsburg, he has been given the all-clear to turn his back on the treatment room and get out onto the training field with his team mates. Schalke will be based in Qatar from 3-13 January in preparation for the second half of the season, which may now include Huntelaar.
Schalke star Kevin Prince Boateng is recovering in hospital after he was allegedly assaulted on Christmas Day in Germany.
German newspaper Bild claims the former Tottenham midfielder sustained injuries to his ribs, back and neck after he was attacked in a street in Kaarst, near Dusseldorf.
A police statement read: "On Wednesday, December 25, 2013, at around 12.45, an incident of physical assault took place in Kaarst.
"A 26-year-old man, a resident of Meerbusch, was physically attacked on the street by a currently unidentified man.
"There are indications that the motive for the crime is connected to the personal affairs of the 26-year-old.
"The man was mildly injured. Criminal investigators have begun their work."
Boateng, who also previously played for AC Milan, is understood to have headed home after the assault before admitting himself to hospital.
Real have a ´considerable interest´ in Gundogan, says agent
29 December 2013
Real Madrid have a "considerable interest" in signing Borussia Dortmund's Ilkay Gundogan, according to the midfielder's agent and father.
Gundogan has yet to renew his contract with Dortmund, which expires in June 2015.
And the 23-year-old's father Irfan - who also acts as his representative - revealed that Real are eager to take the Germany international to the Bernabeu, although he stressed that negotiations will not take place until the midfielder has recovered from a back injury that has kept Gundogan out of action since August.
"Madrid's interest in my son is considerable and they want to negotiate for him," Irfan Gundogan told AS.
"But at the moment we can't do anything until Ilkay has completely recovered from his back injury.
"When he is playing regular football we can begin talks."
Gundogan has made 84 appearances since joining Dortmund from Nuremberg in 2011, helping them to a Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in the 2011-12 campaign.
However, Gundogan has been restricted to just three appearances this season, although he is expected to make his return when Dortmund resume Bundesliga action on January 25.
The 54-year-old says the season would be deemed a failure if the club finished in the spot they currently occupy in the Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has warned coach Jurgen Klopp that a fourth place finish would be unacceptable this season.
BVB finished runners-up in the Bundesliga and the Champions League last term, but an injury curse that sees five key first team regulars on the sidelines at present, has had an alarming effect on their fortunes during this campaign.
Though the club qualified for the knockout stages of Europe thanks to a dramatic final game of group stage qualification, their league form has been decidedly inconsistent and Watzke is eyeing an improvement on their current position.
The 54-year-old told SZ: "At the moment fourth place is acceptable, but we would not be satisfied with a fourth place finish at Borussia Dortmund. That is not our objective.
"We want to qualify directly for the Champions League, ideally, as this is not out of our reach and of course I expect us to play better in the second half of the season."
Any hope of wrestling the Bundesliga title off Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich has seemingly evaporated, with the Bavarians already 12 points clear of Dortmund at the top of the table.
The Italian left his position with the Republic of Ireland in September and had hoped to return to the dugout with the Bundesliga side
Hannover chairman Martin Kind has revealed that he turned down an application from Giovanni Trapattoni to become the club's new coach.
Former Turkey international Tayfun Korkut was eventually appointed as Mirko Slomka's replacement at the HDI-Arena, but Kind admitted he had a long list of applicants for the position.
One of those came from former Bayern Munich and Stuttgart manager Trapattoni, and Kind expressed his honour at receiving an application from the Italian, who most recently coached the Republic of Ireland national team.
"We were offered every day a new coach," he told Bild. "I now have a giant folder with job applications. My personal highlight was Trapattoni.
"For us it is almost an honour that he is interested in the club."
Explaining his reasons behind opting for the inexperienced Korkut, Kind added: "We wanted a coach with a top perspective. I was impressed by his clear career planning primarily. He knows exactly what he wants."
Lewandowski not a guaranteed starter at Bayern, warns Elber
By Stefan Coerts28
Jan 3, 2014 12:41:00 PM
The Brazilian believes that the Dortmund attacker could face a tough task to secure regular first-team action at the Allianz Arena side
Former Bayern Munich striker Giovane Elber has warned Robert Lewandowski that he is not guaranteed a starting berth if he opts to leave Borussia Dortmund for the reigning Bundesliga champions.
The Poland international is widely expected to depart BVB for Bayern on a free transfer once his current deal expires at the end of the season, yet Elber has stressed that the 25-year-old could face a tough task to break into the starting XI at the Bavarians.
"A good player always fits in at Bayern, but the question remains how he will play. Bayern already have Mario Mandzukic, who also scores regularly. It remains to be seen where Lewandowski will fit in," Elber told TZ.
"It's always a risk for a striker to join Bayern. It's quite difficult when Pep Guardiola plays without a traditional No.9.
"Then again, Mandzukic also had a difficult start and then started scoring again for Bayern and got his best form back.
"The same thing can happen with Lewandowski."
The Pole has netted 11 goals in 17 Bundesliga appearances so far this term.
Reus 'not thinking at all' about potential Man United move
Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus says he is only thinking about life at the Bundesliga club despite being linked with Manchester United and Barcelona.
Eurosport – Thu, Jan 2, 2014 20:35 GMT
The 24-year-old is one of the hottest prospects in world football and has attracted the reported interest of both the Premier League and Liga champions.
It is likely that Dortmund would not even listen to bids under €50m for the attacking midfielder, although a €35m release clause will trigger into effect in Reus' contract in the summer of 2015.
"I have a valid contract with BVB and am happy to be here," Reus told Bild when asked if he would still be at Dortmund by the end of 2014.
"To be honest, I've read very little about interest (from United and Barcelona) and if I do hear of interest from time to time, I consider it an achievement."
When asked by the German paper if he could see himself triggering his release clause in the future like his former team-mate Mario Gotze who moved from Dortmund to rivals Bayern Munich, Reus said: "I can only say I do not think about it all. Anything other than Dortmund at this time is very far from my mind."
The Poland international will leave BVB for the reigning German champions once his contract expires next summer
Bayern Munich have announced the capture of Robert Lewandowski from Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer at the end of the season.
The 25-year-old forward had long been linked with a move to the Allianz Arena side and he has now signed a five-year deal with the Bavarians.
Clubs such as Real Madrid, Manchester United and Arsenal had also shown an interest in signing the prolific Poland international, but he will continue his career in the Bundesliga instead.
Lewandowski had been close to joining Bayern last summer, but the move eventually fell through as Dortmund vetoed a move to the Allianz Arena, accepting the fact that they would ultimately lose him for nothing.
Bavarians chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge described the Pole as among the best forwards on the planet and insists he will make the club even better when he joins in the summer.
"We are very pleased that we managed to complete this transfer," he told reporters. "Lewandowski is one of the world's best strikers. He is going to strengthen our team, he will give us another boost."
The attacker started his professional career at Znicz Pruszkow and also wore the jersey of Lech Poznan before joining Dortmund in the summer of 2010.
He has since developed into a key player at BVB, helping the Signal Iduna side to two Bundesliga titles, a DFB Pokal and the DFL-Supercup.
Lewandowski follows in the footsteps of Mario Gotze - who left Dortmund for Bayern ahead of the 2013-14 campaign - after the European champions agreed to meet the playmaker's €37 million buy-out clause.
Lewandowski won't force Manduzkic out - Rummenigge
Jan 4, 2014 11:57:00 PM
As well as claiming that the Croat striker remains part of Pep Guardiola's plans, the Bayern chief rejected reports linking them with David Luiz
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insists Mario Mandzukic has a future at the club despite them signing a deal with Robert Lewandowski on Saturday.
The striker, 27, who has scored of 10 Bundesliga goals this season, has been linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena in the summer, coinciding with Lewandowski's arrival from Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer.
However, Rummenigge has moved quickly to quash such speculation following confirmation of the contract with the Polish attacker, insisting that the Bavarians are in fact hoping to extend the Croat's current deal.
"We're very pleased with Mario," Rummenigge told Bayern's official website. "He made a significant contribution to us winning so many trophies last year.
"He's a great player who is thriving at Bayern. He has a contract with us until 30 June 2016, and I told his agent during the Club World Cup that we're willing to consider an early contract extension.
"It is by no means a topic of discussion that we want to sell Mario."
Chelsea defender David Luiz has been heavily linked with Pep Guardiola's squad, but Rummenigge claims that the reported interest has been invented as die Roten are not looking at bringing in the likes of the Brazil international this month.
"There's a lot of speculation at the moment, especially in England," the Bayern chief added. "We're being linked with David Luiz and a number of Spanish players.
"All I can say, very clearly, is bringing in these players is not of interest to us. We're not concerned about players we're being linked with joining next summer.
"There's nothing lined up, so we have nothing to hide. It's simply not an issue."
Bayern return to Bundesliga action, having lifted the Club Word Cup in December, on January 25 at Borussia Monchengladbach.
The 54-year-old says the club are working round the clock to find a replacement for the Poland international following confirmation he will join Bayern Munich next summer
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has revealed the club are working "flat out" to find a replacement for Robert Lewandowski after the forward signed a contract with Bayern Munich.
The Bavarians announced on Saturday that the forward would join the club on a five-year deal once his contract with BVB expires this summer.
Watzke, reacting to the news of Lewandowski's departure, said he was fully expecting the announcement and the club is now committed to identifying a suitable replacement.
"This is not surprising, it is a completely normal process," the 54-year-old was quoted in Bild am Sonntag.
"In recent weeks it had been clear that it would come to this. Our sports director Michael Zorc is working flat out to find an alternative."
Lewandowski, who is currently joint top scorer in the Bundesliga with 11 goals so far this season, had long been anticipated to move to the Allianz Arena and Watzke stressed that he had no concerns over the 25-year-old's commitment to the club for the remainder of the campaign.
"Between us and Robert there is no problem," Watzke stressed.
"I have not the slightest doubt that there will be any changes to his strong performances."
Bayern sit at the top of the table with 44 points, 12 ahead of fourth-placed Dortmund.
Madrid tabled 'immoral' Lewandowski offer, claims agent
By Stefan Coerts140
Jan 5, 2014 3:12:00 PM
The attacker's representative has revealed that the Santiago Bernabeu side were keen to lure him to La Liga
Robert Lewandowski's agent Maik Barthel has claimed that Real Madrid attempted to hijack Bayern Munich's move for the Borussia Dortmund striker.
The Poland international signed a five-year deal with the Bundesliga champions on Saturday to bring a protracted transfer saga to an end.
However, Barthel has revealed that Madrid were keen to sign Lewandowski, too, and were willing to go far for the 25-year-old.
"There was an immoral offer from Real Madrid," the striker's representative was quoted as saying by Spiegel Online.
Madrid were reportedly willing to offer Lewandowski an annual salary of €9.5 million plus an additional €10m signing fee, but Barthel has made it clear that they never considered breaking their promise to Bayern.
He added: "We listened to their offer out of respect for such a big club. But breaking our word never crossed our mind."
Lewandowski has been in sublime form for Dortmund this season, scoring 11 goals in 17 Bundesliga appearances.
Robben, Schweinsteiger, Badstuber head to Qatar with Bayern
5 January 2014
Injured trio Arjen Robben, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Holger Badstuber will form part of Bayern Munich's training camp in Qatar.
The newly crowned FIFA Club World Cup winners jetted out to Doha on Sunday to start a mid-season warm-weather training break.
And Robben (gashed knee), Schweinsteiger (ankle) and Badstuber (knee) are among the 27-player party set to be put through their paces in Asia as they continue their rehabilitation from spells on the sidelines.
Winger Robben was ruled out for six weeks at the start of December, while midfielder Schweinsteiger has been absent since undergoing ankle surgery in November.
Defender Badstuber is battling to get his career back on track after two cruciate knee ligament injuries, with the 24-year-old's last competitive appearance coming in a Bundesliga clash against Borussia Dortmund in December 2012.
Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer hinted that Schweinsteiger is closer to a possible first-team return than Robben.
"I'm hoping it'll be quick. After two or three days he might be able to manage parts of the squad sessions," Sammer told the club's official website.
On Robben, he added: "We'll take a very good look at how well he copes with the training load, but we can definitely say this: given the extent of the injury, his recovery is optimal."
Bayern face friendlies against Al-Merreikh on Thursday and Kuwait SC on January 13 before returning to Europe for an exhibition against Salzburg prior to resuming their Bundesliga title defence at Borussia Monchengladbach on January 24.
Robert Lewandowski has vowed to give his all for Borussia Dortmund after it was announced the striker would join Bayern Munich in July.
The Poland international has long been linked with a move to Pep Guardiola's charges, with a close-season deal failing to materialise.
But Bayern's long pursuit finally came to an end on Saturday when the Bundesliga champions announced Lewandowski would move to the Allianz Arena on July 1 upon the expiry of his Dortmund contract.
Lewandowski's decision is sure to have disappointed Dortmund supporters, who also saw star midfielder Mario Gotze join Bayern last July.
And the former Lech Poznan man says he understands his move will not be a popular one, but hopes the fans will continue to back him for the rest of his tenure.
"We still have half a year in which we have some goals that we want to achieve together," he said in a letter to supporters on the club's official website.
"Although there are some fans who not agree with my decision, I hope for your support.
"Anyway, I'll give everything for BVB."
Lewandowski has been a bright note in a poor season for Jurgen Klopp's men, who sit 12 points adrift of leaders Bayern in fourth.
He has 16 goals in 26 appearances across all competitions so far this campaign.
Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp thinks Robert Lewandowski lacked focus prior to his protracted move to Bayern Munich being confirmed.
Bayern ended months of speculation that Lewandowski will follow former Dortmund team-mate Mario Gotze to the Allianz Arena by announcing on Saturday that the striker will join on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Klopp has welcomed the end of the saga and is pragmatic about the 25-year-old's departure, explaining that he is not surprised to lose the Bundesliga's top scorer to the German and European champions.
And Klopp is also hopeful that Lewandowski will now finish with a flurry of goals and match-winning performances before leaving as Dortmund sit fourth, 12 points behind Bayern.
"Well I have spoke with Lewy just before end of last year and I knew it would happen in the early days of January," he said
"I also believe it's the best time to let it happen, otherwise there would have plenty of unnecessary rumours all the time. That doesn't bother us anyhow, so it's good the way it is.
"It wasn't a problem, I mean we could draw some scenarios or whatever, but seriously we knew for such a long time now that Robert would play for a different club after the summer.
"Other than that nothing will change. Since then I have noticed that he is showing less interest in us and had been straying away from our focus.
"He took the winter break to tackle these issues, it made sense and now he is focusing on Borussia Dortmund again. That's the way it is, he will be somewhere else from summer onwards.
"Until then we want to make this very important remaining half year with him as profitable as possible."
Klopp went on to say he is in no rush to find a replacement for the Poland striker.
He added: "I don't think it is useful to speak about this (replacing Lewandowski) now.
"The main question is what we can afford and who is available, and which player is at a stage of his career where he is willing to join us on our journey, the direction we want to go as a club.
"We have been searching for such a long time already for a replacement, it's not a surprise is it?"
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that he previously tried to sign Bayern Munich-bound striker Robert Lewandowski.
It was confirmed on Saturday that Borussia Dortmund forward Lewandowski will move to Bayern at the end of the season after agreeing a five-year contract with the German and European champions.
Wenger admitted he had made an approach for the Poland international, only to be informed that the 25-year-old had already decided on a switch to the Allianz Arena.
The Frenchman has hinted that he may now turn his attentions to Bayern striker Mandzukic, although he does not expect Pep Guardiola to part with the Croatia international in January.
"Yes we looked into Lewandowski but honestly he signed for Bayern one-and-a-half years ago, everyone knows that," Wenger said.
"They can only make it official now because he is in the last six months of his contract.
"We are like everyone, we look out there and see what is happening. If an opportunity turns up, you know as well that all the big players are at big clubs at the moment and they go for important targets.
"Unless you have a club in a desperate financial situation it will be difficult.
"If we find someone like (18-year-old Serge) Gnabry at that age when no one knows them, then maybe. But I just said many times we don't rule anything out.
"Lewandowski is at Dortmund until the end of the season and they (Bayern) will not sell Mandzukic now - maybe at the end of the season."
Jan Kirchhoff is looking forward to his loan spell with Schalke and admits he needed to get away from Bayern Munich.
The 23-year-old signed agreed an 18-month loan at the Veltins Arena last month after making seven substitute Bundesliga appearances for Bayern this term following his close-season arrival from Mainz.
Kirchhoff admitted he had become frustrated at a lack of first-team football under Pep Guardiola, and a loan move to Schalke represented a perfect opportunity to remedy that feeling.
The Gelsenkirchen outfit sit seventh in the German top flight after a solid first half of the season, and Kirchhoff is confident he can help them maintain their form.
"The situation in Munich was not easy for me," he told Schalke's official website.
"I learned a lot in half a year, but just did not play too much.
"I had reached a point where I said that I was no longer satisfied.
"I am very happy that the transfer worked. I am very grateful, and look forward to a new challenge at a great club."
Kirchhoff's first league game for his new club could come on January 26 when they return to Bundesliga action against Hamburg.
Dario Kresic (R) of PAOK is shown the yellow card during his Europa League round of 32, second leg soccer match against CSKA Mosocw at Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, February 22, 2011. REUTERS/Denis Sinyakov
(Reuters) - Mainz 05 have signed Croatian goalkeeper Dario Kresic on a free transfer from Lokomotiv Moscow, the Bundesliga club said in a statement on Monday.
Mainz, ninth in the Bundesliga at the halfway mark, said that the former Panionios and PAOK player would join their training camp in the Spanish resort of Marbella on Tuesday.
Kresic, 29, made his Croatia debut in a friendly against South Korea in September.
(Reporting by Brian Homewood; editing by Martyn Herman)
