FIFA Updates

WELLINGTON, July 13 (Reuters) – Ricki Herbert will continue
as New Zealand national team coach after taking them to their
first World Cup finals in 28 years.

The 49-year-old would guide the All Whites through the
qualifying rounds for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil in
conjunction with his regular coaching job at Wellington Phoenix
in Australia’s top-flight A-League, he told reporters on
Tuesday.

“New Zealand Football are happy to continue on with the
partnership with Wellington Phoenix and the national team and
I’ve agreed to continue on for the next period for the World
Cup,” Herbert told New Zealand television.

Herbert, whose team won many admirers in South Africa after
bowing out at the group stage undefeated with draws against
champions Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia, had committed to both
posts for three years after turning down offers from overseas.

He was among the lowest-paid managers at the World Cup, his
annual salary of NZ$50,000 ($36,000) a quarter of his club pay,
according to one New Zealand newspaper.

The 78th-ranked All Whites’ appearance in South Africa
after a long qualification drought has seen soccer explode in
the traditionally rugby-dominated nation.

Herbert, who took over the New Zealand job in 2005, said
one factor in his decision to stay on was out of concern that
too much change could stall that momentum, as had happened
after the side’s only other World Cup appearance in 1982.

“I’m certainly looking forward to building the brand even
more,” said Herbert, a defender in the 1982 squad. “(I’ve) got
a strong memory in my mind when there was a whole raft of
changes at the top and then of course, the major collapse.

“Again, it was part of my decision… to take what we’ve
created needs to continue.”

($1=1.404 New Zealand Dollar)
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by John
O’Brien; To comment on this story email
sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

LONDON, June 10 (Reuters) - Former manager Gianfranco Zola
has settled all outstanding issues with West Ham United over his
sacking last month.

The Premier League team also said on Thursday that assistant
manager Steve Clarke had left the club by mutual consent. 

"West Ham United would like to thank Gianfranco Zola for his
efforts during his time at the club," read a statement on their
website (www.whufc.com). 

"We would like to thank both him and the LMA (League
Managers Association) for their professionalism in reaching a
satisfactory settlement and wish Gianfranco well for the
future." 

Zola, who was succeeded as manager by Avram Grant last week,
referred his sacking to the LMA after he left the club following
a turbulent season in which the Londoners finished one place
above the relegation zone.

"I am looking forward to finding a new challenge in the game
and returning to management as soon as possible," Zola said in
the same statement.     

The Italian arrived at Upton Park in September 2008 and
enjoyed initial success, guiding the club to a ninth-place
finish in his first season.

A poor start to the following campaign, however, left him on
shaky ground especially after the club's takeover by David Gold
and David Sullivan in January.

Clarke arrived from Chelsea in September 2008 to work
alongside former Stamford Bridge team mate Zola.

"West Ham United would like to thank Steve for all his hard
work and commitment and wish him well for the future," said the
club.

(Reporting by Toby Davis, editing by Tony Jimenez)

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain has agreed terms on a new deal that will keep him at the Bernabeu until 2016, ending speculation of a possible summer move away from the club.

Following the arrival of Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, who reportedly sees the Argentine forward as central to his plans, Higuain’s father and agent, Jorge Higuain met with Madrid officials, including Jorge Valdano to thrash out terms on a new deal.

The 22-year-old’s current deal is set to expire in 2013 but AS reports that he will put pen to paper on the three year extension within the next few days. It is understood to be worth somewhere in the region of €3 million per year.

The agreement ends talk of Higuain departing this summer, with Premier League big spenders Manchester City among those reportedly keen on securing his signature.

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