Football news

England international Rio Ferdinand has signed a new five-year contract with Manchester United, the Premier League club announced yesterday.

"I am delighted Rio has signed a new contract.

"Rio's contribution this season has been a major factor in our outstanding defensive performance," manager Alex Ferguson told the club website ( www.manutd.com ).

"It is a great honour to be part of this trophy-winning team and to share in the success, which I am sure will continue for many seasons to come," added Ferdinand.

United won the Premier League title on Sunday and face Chelsea in the Champions League final in Moscow next Wednesday.

Ferdinand joins fellow defender Wes Brown in committing himself to the club, with his new deal keeping him at Old Trafford until 2013.

Former Celtic coach Burns dies of cancer

Former Celtic manager Tommy Burns has died after battling cancer, the club announced on their website yesterday. He was 51.

"It is with great sadness that Celtic confirmed this morning that Tommy Burns has passed away," the club said.

"Tommy, a true Celtic legend and wonderful man, will be sadly missed by us all."

Burns was first treated for skin cancer in 2006, however, it returned two years later and he took leave as a first team coach this season to fight the illness. Burns, who played for Celtic from 1974 until 1989, won eight caps for Scotland.

Celebrating Zenit players ask where the champagne is

Jubilant Zenit St Petersburg players hoping to celebrate winning their first UEFA Cup on Wednesday night with champagne in their dressing room had to make do with the less glamorous option of beer.

Even the traditional national tipple of vodka was off the drinks menu for the Russian team, who beat Rangers 2-0 thanks to goals from midfielders Igor Denisov and Konstantin Zyrianov.

Real prepared to stump up cash to get Ronaldo

Real Madrid would have no problem stumping up the cash for Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo if the Portuguese player wanted to leave the club, director Miguel Angel Arroyo was quoted as saying in the Spanish media yesterday.

"Madrid has got the necessary financial liquidity to be able to face up to a signing of the magnitude of Cristiano Ronaldo," Arroyo said.

Spanish media report that Real would be prepared to pay over €70 million for the 23-year-old.

Hull book Wembley play-off date with Bristol City

Hull City routed Watford 4-1 in their Championship (second division) play-off on Wednesday to book a date in the Wembley final against Bristol City and the chance of playing in the Premier League for the first time in their history next season.

Hull, who won 6-1 on aggregate, face Bristol City on May 24 in the single richest game in world soccer worth about €60 million to the winners in extra TV revenue, gate receipts and sponsorship.

Bristol City, who were last in the top flight 28 years ago, booked their ticket to the play-off final on Tuesday with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time win over visiting side Crystal Palace to wrap up a 4-2 aggregate victory.

Benfica appoint Rui Costa sporting director

Benfica's former playmaker Rui Costa has been appointed the club's sporting director, club president Luis Filipe Vieira has said.

The 36-year-old former Milan midfielder, who retired as a player on Sunday, faces the tough task of finding a new coach to replace Spaniard Jose Antonio Camacho, who resigned in March.

Costa travelled last week with Vieira to England for talks with Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson but media reports said the Swede declined an invitation to return.

Serie B clubs threaten boycott

The chairmen of clubs in Italy's second division Serie B have threatened to boycott the start of next season because of a row over television rights.

"There is too much disappointment over the television rights deals this year which have left us outside of everything, plus the agreement with Serie A that penalises B," a statement said.