Cologne: Struggling German side Cologne appointed Grasshoppers' Hans-Peter Latour as their new coach yesterday to help them in their battle against relegation. Latour, 58, has agreed a contract until June 2007, Cologne said. He replaces Uwe Rapolder who was sacked after a 12th consecutive league match without a win. Cologne, who boast one of Germany's most promising young strikers, Lukas Podolski, last won a Bundesliga match in September and went out in the first round of the German Cup to second division Kickers Offenbach in August. At mid-season, they stand third from bottom in the German league.
Essay Writing: Hertha Berlin's sporting director Dieter Hoeness has defended the plan for his players to write essays or at least draft ideas on how to help the team improve. "It's a good thing when players are asked to think about their jobs in their free time," Hoeness said. "Whether someone writes a five-page essay or nothing at all, we are taking note of everything. What's important is the players do some thinking about the situation we're in." Hertha went into the German mid-winter break in fifth place in the Bundesliga, 18 points adrift of leaders Bayern Munich. The season resumes on January 27.
Cicinho: Real Madrid signing Cicinho did not make his debut in last night's King's Cup match against Athletic Bilbao because the club was yet to receive his transfer documents from the Brazilian Football Federation. Real's website said that the paperwork had not been completed in time because the offices of the federation had been closed over the Christmas break. The Brazil right back joined Real on a five-year deal from Sao Paulo on December 23 for a reported fee of around 4 million euros and had been included in the squad that travelled to Bilbao on Monday.
West Ham: Israel striker Yaniv Katan joined West Ham United for a £100,000 from Maccabi Haifa yesterday, the London club said. The 24-year-old, who has 13 caps, is manager Alan Pardew's first signing in the January transfer window and has agreed a four-year contract.
Matthaeus: Fresh doubt was cast on the future of Hungary coach Lothar Matthaeus after two members of the national football association (HFA) resigned yesterday. An HFA official who declined to be named said the resignations of Attila Horvath and Ferenc Nemes meant the committee was now down to seven members, below the legal limit of eight. "The HFA has neither a presidency, a president nor a national coach now," the official said. At a meeting last month, the association postponed a decision on the future of former midfielder Matthaeus, who won 150 caps for Germany. His contract as Hungary coach expired on Dec. 31.
Manchester City: Espanyol have agreed to loan midfielder Albert Riera to Manchester City until the end of the season. Sporting director Cristobal Parralo said that the Premier League side had an option to buy the 23-year-old at the end of the season for five million euros.
Spanish Cup: Last 16, first legs - Zamora vs Barcelona 1-3; A. Bilbao vs R. Madrid 0-1.