Simunic: Veteran Croatian international defender Josip Simunic signed for Hoffenheim yesterday from fellow Bundesliga rivals Hertha Berlin. The 31-year-old Australian-born star will cost Hoffenheim €7 million and is to sign a three-year contract.

Vigo quits: Xerez coach Esteban Vigo is leaving the Primera Liga newcomers after failing to agree a new contract. "They made me an offer, I made a counter-offer, but there was no dialogue. If there is no dialogue it is difficult to reach an agreement," Vigo said. Vigo steered Xerez into the top flight for the first time last month.

Mears: Burnley have signed Derby defender Tyrone Mears. The 26-year-old has agreed to a three-year deal joining Burnley after a spell on loan to Marseille last season. "We are delighted to get Tyrone," Clarets boss Owen Coyle said. "He is a player with real pace and we have been looking for that in the full-back areas."

Daly: Greek first division club Aris Salonica announced that they had handed a two-year contract to 19-year-old Irish striker Ian Daly. No financial details were revealed. Daly has played for Manchester City junior teams and has been a member of both the under-17 and under-19 Irish national teams.

Straka sacked: Incoming Czech Football Federation head Ivan Hasek sacked Frantisek Straka as national coach yesterday only a month after the latter's appointment on a temporary basis. "I thanked him for his work and told him we would not be keeping him in his post," Hasek told reporters. Straka, who replaced Petr Rada, also fired on the back of poor World Cup qualifying form, had arrived on a short-term contract which expired yesterday. His only match in charge was a 1-0 friendly win over Malta on June 5.

Melo: Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo agreed yesterday to extend his contract with Fiorentina until 2013. However, a Fiorentina statement said an unspecified escape clause would be inserted into the deal. Melo has been linked with Arsenal and Inter in recent media reports. The 25-year-old had several disciplinary problems in his first season in Serie A last term but has become a regular for Brazil.

Di Matteo: Former Italy and Chelsea midfielder Roberto Di Matteo was appointed coach of West Bromwich Albion yesterday, the Championship club said. Di Matteo has signed a 12-month rolling contract to move from League One side Milton Keynes Dons, where he had been coach since July 2008.

Rugby League: Australian rugby league's record point-scorer Hazem El Masri announced his retirement yesterday, ending a stellar career which earned him the nickname "El Magic" for his nerveless goal-kicking. The 33-year-old, also the National Rugby League's (NRL) highest-profile Muslim player, said he would bow out at the end of the season after guiding the Canterbury Bulldogs back to the top of the ladder. El Masri claimed the NRL points record earlier this year and currently has 2,318 points.

Student Games: The 25th World Student Games open today in Serbia. Around 10,000 athletes, coaches and other officials from 140 countries have been descending on Belgrade for the 12-day event, according to organisers. The largest delegations, with around 500 members each, are from China, Russia and the United States. Security will be provided by around 6,000 police officers and organisers will be helped by more than 10,000 volunteers.

Cricket: Former England captain Michael Vaughan announced his retirement from all professional cricket with immediate effect yesterday. Vaughan, England's most successful Test captain, has not played for his country since tearfully resigning the captaincy in August during the home series loss to South Africa. Speculation about the 34-year-old's future intensified after Vaughan failed to win a place in England's squad for the Ashes series against Australia which starts next week in Cardiff.

Davis Cup: World no.6 Andy Roddick and no.17 James Blake will represent the US in their Davis Cup quarter-final in Croatia next month, captain Patrick McEnroe said. The world's top-ranked doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan will also be in the US line-up for the July 10-12 tie on an indoor clay court at the Zatika Sports Hall in Porec. The tie will be the third Davis Cup meeting between the two countries, with Croatia leading the series, 2-0.