jose - soccer

For three weeks, Girondins de Bordeaux and Olympique de Marseille have known that the Ligue 1 trophy would reside either in the Stade Chaban Delmas or the Stade Velodrome for the coming 12 months. The surprisingly Lyon-free conclusion to the end of the season culminated on Saturday evening, with Bordeaux in need of only a point to claim the title for the first time in a decade. Any slip up, though, could allow OM to their first success since 1992.

Les Girondins, who travelled to relegation threatened Caen, had been involved in a similar scenario last season, however, the boot was on the other foot - Laurent Blanc’s men needed Auxerre to upset Lyon. An early OL blitz little over 12 months ago left Bordeaux’s hopes shattered as early as the first quarter of an hour.

Coming off the back of an 11 match winning run in all competitions, Bordeaux’s confidence was burgeoning. However, the remarkable streak of success has been achieved through tenacity and mental strength rather than overwhelming brilliance, although Yoann Gourcuff had sprinkled a little magic over the course of their remarkable sequence, and they were still scoreless at half-time in the Stade Michel d’Ornano. Marseille, playing at home to Stade Rennais, still had hope.

But Erik Gerets’ outfit were also embroiled in a deadlock after 45 minutes. Three minutes into the second half, news filtered through in Provence that Yoan Gouffran - not to be mistaken for Gourcuff - had given Bordeaux the lead. It would now take a miraculous turnaround to reignite Marseille’s hopes. OM did their part, firing four past Rennes as they gave a remarkable second half showing, ending the Bretons’ lingering European hopes.

Meanwhile in Normandy, Bordeaux repelled their increasingly offensively minded hosts, keeping the clean sheet that they so craved and showcased the remarkable resilience that has seen the Aquitaine club finish the season so powerfully.

Blanc summed up Bordeaux’s remarkable success, stating to the press after the game, “You know me, I'm someone who is quite reserved but it's true that I'm going to celebrate this after the match and on Sunday. These moments are so rare and so precious that they have to be savoured.

“It's the perfect recompense for two years of hard work from the players and the coaching staff, who have been fantastic.

“Everybody – even myself – expected Lyon to be champions. Then it was Marseille's turn. It was only late in the day that people realised Bordeaux were on an exceptional run. You have to stop your players from feeling under pressure, and I admit that it is easier to do that at Bordeaux than at some other clubs I could mention.”

Thousands upon thousands of jubilant Bordeaux fans gathered in Place des Quinconces this afternoon to celebrate the club’s title win and to witness their favourites lift the trophy for the first time – the prize was in Marseille on Saturday evening, presumably to allow the victorious side to lift the award in front of their own fans rather than because of any expectation that OM would actually win the crown.

It was therefore literally a case of so near yet so far away for les Phoceens and, understandably, their reactions were somewhat contrasting. “The club wanted to finish first or second and that goal has been achieved. Unfortunately my goal wasn't achieved,” Gerets explained, showing his phenomenal instinct to be the best. “That leaves me with regrets but there were so many satisfying things on a human level here. It was a very special experience.

“I would also like to apologise to the supporters for not being champions. The present I wanted to give these people who've supported me over the last two years was the title, so I'm sorry. I'm sorry to be leaving the club as well.”

Gerets’ efforts at Marseille were commendable and are certainly not deserving of the apologies he gave to the club’s fans, who hold him in such high regard. OM won 12 of their last 16 Ligue 1 fixtures, losing only once in that time frame – championship form. But such a haul of points was insufficient to keep pace with the fast finishing Bordeaux, whose 11 consecutive Ligue 1 successes is a truly historic effort – the best in the league’s history. Les Girondins’ ability to play nearly a third of the season only recording victories is a feat worthy of great respect.

(Robin Bairner, Goal.com)

Cristiano Ronaldo beat off competition from Lionel Messi, Xavi, as well as Fernando Torres, and last year’s winner Kaka, to win the FIFA World Player of the Year Award with a total of 935 vote points. In second place was Barcelona star Lionel Messi with 678, while Liverpool striker Fernando Torres finished third with 203. AC Milan star Kaka was not far behind in fourth with 183, while Barcelona's Xavi ended up fifth with 155.

The number 7 of Manchester United was designated best football player of the year for 2008 by FIFA this Monday, the second athlete from the Sporting Clube de Portugal school in Lisbon, after Luís Figo, to win this prize. With 23 years and a long time to grow, Cristiano Ronaldo has the world at his feet. At 23 years of age, Cristiano Ronaldo won the Golden Boot with 42 goals scored in the last season for Manchester United, being Europe's best scorer and best player now the world. He also won the championship of the Premier League in England, and the Champions’ League. He followed this up this term by lifting the Club World Cup in Japan. "The last season for me was the best in the world. And he is a very intelligent player who decides games. When you think he’ll be on the left, then he appears on the right. When you expect him to kick from the left, then there’s a kick from the right."

Ronaldo caps off a clean sweep of the major awards, having also picked up the prestigious Ballon d'Or (European Footballer of the Year) at the end of 2008. The 23-year-old becomes the first English-based player to be named FIFA World Player of the Year, and only the second Portuguese, following in the footsteps of Luis Figo, who triumphed in 2001.

There is no question as to who was the most effective footballer of 2008; like him or not, Cristiano Ronaldo had an on-field effect quite unlike anybody else in the calendar year. The 23-year-old inspired his club side to the Premier League title, Champions League and World Championship and picked up all the individual trinkets and accolades along the way. An exceptional 42 goals in the 2007-08 season stood Ronaldo in phenomenal stead and some murmurs even suggested that the Portuguese forward had overtaken George Best in the affections of the United faithful.

Despite his success and talent, a player of his calibre has never cut such a polemic figure. His detractors often overlook or undersell his achievements and instead point to his posturing, diving, complaining and selfishness as indicators of an overinflated ego and a delusional halfwit foolish enough to believe his own hype, and then some.

The truth probably lies somewhere in between, but our team have given their perception of the best and worst that could come from his winning of yet another award: the FIFA World Player of the Year.

(source: goal.com, etc.)

Manchester United has thrashed Chelsea 3-0 at Old Trafford as the English Premier League champion moved an ominous step closer to leader Liverpool. Nemanja Vidic headed United in front in first-half stoppage time and Wayne Rooney doubled its advantage on the hour with a close-range volley. Dimitar Berbatov completed the rout in the 87th minute to lift United into third place. Alex Ferguson's side is now just five points behind Liverpool and one behind a Chelsea side which was desperately lacking any spark and wilted alarmingly.

United has two games in hand of both its main title rivals. "(Chelsea) had a lot of good possession and they are a threat when they get possession.. .but I don't think they really got a clear-cut chance," Ferguson told Sky Sports. "We said before that we still had all the main teams at home and we really need to win those games. "Janauary is a big month for us with eight games but we've got the squad to cope."

United faces Wigan Athletic on Thursday morning (AEDT) and Bolton Wanderers next weekend. Should it win both, it will be top of the league before Liverpool faces Everton next Tuesday. Defeat was Chelsea's first on the road in the league this season and continued manager Luiz Felipe Scolari's poor record against the top sides since taking over at Stamford Bridge. "This has done big damage to us," the Brazilian said. "We came here to win and now we need to think about what happened with some players." Wigan won for the sixth time in seven league matches when Maynor Figueroa's late header earned a 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, which is third from bottom.

United was dealt a blow before kick-off when central defender Rio Ferdinand was ruled out with a recurrence of a back injury that will require a visit to a specialist next week. However his absence was hardly noticed as keeper Edwin van der Sar barely had a save to make as United made it eight league games without conceding a goal. A yellow card for Frank Lampard after a foul that left Cristiano Ronaldo in a heap set the tone for a messy opening to a match that could be a pivotal point in the season.

United appealed for a penalty when Ashley Cole appeared to block a cross with his arm, but it took it half an hour to force Petr Cech into a save from a Berbatov shot. United began to ratchet up the pressure on the Chelsea goal just before the interval. John Terry was forced into one desperate block from a Park Ji-sung shot before Ronaldo had a headed goal disallowed after referee Howard Webb ordered a crafty United corner to be re-taken - much to the fury of Rooney.

Chelsea failed to learn its lesson and as Giggs delivered the ball again in stoppage time, Berbatov got a slight touch and Serbian defender Vidic crept in at the far post to nod the ball past Cech. The goal knocked the stuffing out of Chelsea and despite Scolari sending on Nicolas Anelka to partner Didier Drogba up front after the break, it was United which moved up a gear. A sweet movement on the hour mark saw Ronaldo's back heel release Patrice Evra and his pacey cross was met first time by Rooney to double United's lead. United could have scored on numerous occasions as Chelsea wilted before Berbatov supplied the final flourish, connecting with a Ronaldo free kick.

(source: www.abc.net.au)