Football latest: Crystal Palace announce Ronald de Boer as new manager

Valere Germain moves from Monaco to Marseille and Crystal Palace unveil their new manager ahead of the English Premier League season.

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, left, faces up to Blackburn Rovers' El-Hadji Diouf. AP Photo

Diouf criticises Gerrard

Controversial former Senegalese international El Hadji Diouf has reignited his long running feud with former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard by declaring the Englishman was a failure for his country.

Diouf, who spent an unsuccessful spell at Liverpool which prompted Gerrard to criticise him in his autobiography 10 years ago and sparked the war of words, told the BBC Gerrard was a very good player but for his club not his country.

The two-time African Footballer of the Year, who then spent further mediocre spells with other British clubs like Leeds United, Rangers and Bolton, said by comparison he is ‘Mr Senegal’

“I have no problem with him. He is a strong character and I am a strong character,” the 36-year-old said.

“‘Stevie G’ was a very good player. People like him in Liverpool, but he never did anything for his country.

“I am Mr El Hadji Diouf, Mr Senegal, but he is Mr Liverpool and Senegal is bigger than Liverpool and he has to know that,” added Diouf, who was a member of the Senegal side that reached the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals but also was banned by his own federation for five years in 2011 although that was later reduced.

Germasin moves to Marseille

Forward Valere Germain has joined Marseille from Monaco on a four-year deal, following in the footsteps of his father.

Germain, the son of former Marseille defender Bruno Germain, says he has fulfilled his “childhood dream” by joining the nine-time French champions.

Germain was born in Marseille but came through Monaco’s youth ranks. He won the French league title this season with the Principality side after scoring 10 goals in all competitions but was often used as a third option behind Radamel Falcao and Kylian Mbappe.

Crystal Palace announce De Boer as manager

Former Dutch international Frank de Boer is the new manager of English Premier League side Crystal Palace it was announced on Monday.

The 47-year-old – who guided Ajax to four successive league titles before a disappointing short spell at Serie A giants Inter Milan — signed a three-year contract.

He fills the vacuum left by Sam Allardyce who stepped down at the end of May shortly after steering Palace to safety.

Palace chairman Steve Parish hailed the hiring of de Boer — who is the only coach in Dutch history to manage a side to four consecutive titles — as a significant landmark appointment for the London club.

“It’s just about the worst kept secret in football,” he told a press conference.

“Fantastically exciting for this football club, an amazing milestone for us. I am excited to work with him and what we can achieve with the club.”

For de Boer — who along with twin brother Ronald were part of a sublimely-talented Dutch side that lost on penalties in the 1998 World Cup semi-finals to Brazil — is not aiming too high initially.

“The aim is to be a solid Premier League team, not to struggle with relegation. That is our main target, if we do more that’s nice,” he said.

Mourinho’s father dies

Felix Mourinho, the father of Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and a former Portugal goalkeeper, has died. He was 79.

Vitoria Setubal, where Felix Mourinho played and later worked as manager and club director, said he died Sunday. They did not give the cause of death.

Felix Mourinho helped Setubal to victory in the Portuguese Cup final in 1965, beating powerhouse Benfica 3-1. He made his only appearance for Portugal’s national team in 1972.

Jose Mourinho posted a black-and-white photograph of himself as a boy with his father on his Instagram account but made no public comment.

Felix Mourinho was to be buried Tuesday in Setubal, a city 40 kilometres south of Lisbon.

* Agencies

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