"Vicente del Bosque is a lovely man." Rarely has anyone been quite so damned with faint praise; never has a human strength been so readily and immediately presented as a professional weakness, a quality presumed to be a defect. Del Bosque is indeed a lovely man, a good man -- impeccably polite, overwhelmingly decent. Loyal, humble, kindly, he is like a favorite uncle with a bushy 'tache, a portly belly and the warmest of handshakes. But by extension, by definition, he is not much of a coach. After all, nice guys come last.
Craig Levein has left Dundee United to take charge of the struggling Scottish national side.
Such is the level of pressure heaped on football managers, it is unsurprising that now and then they might say or do something that gets them into trouble with someone.
If no news is good news, then it's tempting to conclude that good news is no news at all. Not when it's this familiar, anyway, because when it's this familiar, the extraordinary becomes ordinary.
Spain's 1-0 win over Germany in the Euro 2008 final in June gave the Spaniards their first European championship since 1964 (and second major trophy in their country's history).
New Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has named Barcelona teen sensation Bojan Krkic in his squad for next week's friendly against Denmark, the nation's first match since winning Euro 2008.
European Champions Spain have appointed former Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque to replace Luis Aragones as head of the national side.
Real Mallorca striker Daniel Guiza, the top scorer in the Spanish Primera Liga last season, has signed a four-year contract with Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
Spain's Euro 2008-winning coach Luis Aragones has been introduced to the media after signing a two-year deal to become coach of Turkish champions Fenerbahce.
VIENNA, Austria -- Dr. Monkey-Be-Gone. Or How Spain Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Its Own Distinct Brand of Soccer.
Spanish fans celebrate their first victory in the Euro Cup Championship in 44 years. CNN's Al Goodman reports.
A first-half goal from Liverpool striker Fernando Torres proved enough to give Spain a 1-0 victory over Germany in the Euro 2008 final in Vienna, ending their 44-year wait for a major tournament success.
Germany captain Michael Ballack is a doubt for Sunday's Euro 2008 final against Spain because of a calf injury.
Germany midfielder Torsten Frings insists he is fit and raring to go for Sunday's Euro 2008 final against Spain in Vienna after recovering from a rib injury.
Superb Spain stormed into their first European Championship final in 24 years by rolling over Russia 3-0 in Vienna to set up a final against Germany on Sunday.
CNN's Al Goodman reports on Spains victory over Russia in the Euro 2008 semifinal.
Brazilian coach Zico is leaving Turkish club Fenerbahce, after failing to reach an agreement over a new contract.
Spain beat world champions Italy 4-2 on penalties to reach the semifinals of Euro 2008 after Sunday's match in Vienna had ended scoreless.
After a lackluster 2-1 win over Peru last Saturday, Spanish national-team coach Luis Aragonés is likely to make several changes when his troops face the U.S. in their final pre-European Championship warm-up on Wednesday in Santander (live on espn360.com at 4 p.m. ET; on delay on ESPN2 at 5:30 p.m.).
Vicente del Bosque will replace Luis Aragones as coach of Spain when the incumbent steps down after this year's Euro 2008 tournament.
Spain coach Luis Aragones has handed 17-year-old Barcelona striker Bojan Krkic his first full call-up for the February 6 friendly against France.
David Silva hit two goals to inspire Spain to a 3-2 comeback victory over European champions Greece in a friendly in Thessaloniki on Wednesday.
Spain called off a planned training session ahead of Wednesday's friendly international against Greece for fear of injury because of the state of the pitch in the Toumba stadium in Thessaloniki.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has pulled out of the Spain squad for this week's friendly against European champions Greece after sustaining an injury during training on Monday.
Spain coach Luis Aragones has been cleared of racist conduct by a Spanish court after his derogatory remarks about France striker Thierry Henry in October 2004.
Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton has been named in England's squad for the first time for the friendly ainternational against Spain at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Liverpool's Luis Garcia and Barcelona's Andres Iniesta have withdrawn from the Spain squad to play Romania in a friendly in Cadiz on Wednesday.
Real Madrid star Raul has again been left on the sidelines and there is no place for Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres in Spain's squad for next Wednesday's friendly against Romania.
After two morale-sapping defeats in Euro 2008 qualifiers, Spain salvaged some measure of pride with an impressive 2-1 win at home to Argentina in a friendly international on Wednesday.
Sweden maintained their perfect start to their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign with a comprehensive 2-0 defeat of Spain in Group F in Stockholm on Saturday.
Spain coach Luis Aragones has given Raul hope of an immediate recall to the national team after controversially dropping the Real Madrid striker for upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Spain captain Raul's international future appears in doubt after he was dropped from their squad for the key Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden on Saturday next week.
Spanish national team coach Luis Aragones has come under heavy fire, with his country's media calling for his resignation, after Spain's humiliating 3-2 defeat against Northern Ireland in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Belfast on Wednesday.
Eidur Gudjohnsen has become Iceland's joint top-scorer, netting in a 3-0 demolition of Northern Ireland in their Euro 2008 Group F qualifier in Belfast.
Uncapped midfielder Borja Oubina has kept his place in the Spain squad for their opening Euro 2008 qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Northern Ireland.
Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna and Valencia keeper Santiago Canizares have been dropped from Spain's squad for Tuesday's friendly against Iceland in Reykjavik.
Deportivo Coruna's Juan Carlos Valeron has been given the all-clear by team doctors after six months out with a knee injury.
Spain coach Luis Aragones will continue in his post until Euro 2008.
Two late goals from Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane gave France a 3-1 win over Spain and a place in the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Hanover on Tuesday.
Spain captain Raul and young midfielder Cesc Fabregas will be in the team for the second round clash with France, coach Luis Aragones has said.
Defender Juanito's 36th minute goal ensured that Spain moved into the last 16 as winners of Group H with a 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in Kaiserslautern.
Spain captain Raul appears certain to start on the bench in their opening Group H match against Ukraine on Wednesday.
Spain captain Raul Gonzalez will make his first start for his country in three internationals in Saturday's World Cup warm up with Egypt.
Liverpool striker Fernando Morientes has been left out of the Spain squad for the World Cup finals after coach Luis Aragones preferred to bolster his side's defense.
Spain coach Luis Aragones has included Barcelona midfielder Xavi in his 27-man squad for a World Cup get-together on May 8.
Spain midfielder Xavi returned to the Barcelona squad on Friday, five months after suffering a serious knee injury.
Spainupdated: Fri Apr 21 2006 12:04:00
Group H | World ranking: 5
Arsenal youngster Francesc Fabregas was rewarded for his outstanding display in his side's historic 1-0 win over Real Madrid this week with a call up to the Spanish squad for a friendly international against Ivory Coast next week.
Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi will be out for around six months after knee surgery that may threaten his participation in next year's World Cup finals.
Spain qualified for an eighth straight World Cup finals Wednesday with a 1-1 draw against Slovakia in Bratislava in the second leg of their playoff.
Luis Garcia scored a hat-trick as Spain virtually clinched their place in next summer's World Cup finals in Germany by trouncing luckless Slovakia 5-1 in the first leg of their qualifying playoff in Madrid.
Real Betis midfielder Alberto Rivera has won his first Spain call-up for their World Cup playoff against Slovakia next week.
Spain will play Slovakia, Switzerland will face Turkey and Norway will meet the Czech Republic in the play-offs to determine the last three European qualifiers for the World Cup finals.
Spain coach Luis Aragones said Saturday's uninspiring 2-1 friendly win over Canada would not affect the outcome of this week's World Cup qualifier against Serbia and Montenegro.
Spain coach Luis Aragones criticized his players in the aftermath of their shock 1-1 home draw against lowly Bosnia-Herzegovina in World Cup qualifying.
A devastating second-half strike from substitute Albert Luque gave Spain a narrow 1-0 home win over Lithuania.
Uncapped Villarreal goalkeeper Pepe Reina has been named in a 27-strong Spain squad for a team-building session next Monday.
The Spanish Football Federation's Appeals Committee has decided to uphold the 3,000 euro fine given to Spain national coach Luis Aragones.
Spain coach Luis Aragones believes he has been unfairly treated after a Spanish football federation decision to fine him over a comment about Arsenal star Thierry Henry and remarks about Britain's colonial past.
Spain national team coach Luis Aragones has been fined $3,964 by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for making racist comments about Thierry Henry.
Espanyol midfielder Ivan de la Pena has been given a long-awaited squad call-up by Spain coach Luis Aragones for next week's World Cup Group Seven qualifier with San Marino.
Two Albacete fans have been fined 6,000 euros each and banned from football stadiums for five months after racially abusing Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o.
Spain's anti-violence commission has demanded the Spanish Football Federation open disciplinary procedures against national coach Luis Aragones.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter spelt out his determination to stamp out racism in the game when he said on Sunday that he would even have backed England players if they had walked off in the face of a torrent of racist abuse in a friendly against Spain.
The Spanish football federation is facing disciplinary action from UEFA and FIFA after the racist abuse directed at several black England players during Wednesday night's friendly in the Bernabeu.
England will complain to FIFA about racist abuse directed at their black players during an U-21 friendly international in Spain.
Spain coach Luis Aragones angrily defended himself against allegations of racism on Tuesday, a day before his team face England at the Bernabeu.
Valencia midfielder Miguel Angel Angulo has earned his first Spain call-up for next week's friendly against England.
Spain will hope to overcome an unconvincing start to their World Cup qualifying campaign with a confident performance against Group Seven leaders Lithuania.
Spain coach Luis Aragones has called up midfielders Fran Yeste and Xavi and dropped Real Madrid's Ivan Helguera and Fernando Morientes for his side's World Cup qualifiers against Belgium and Lithuania.
Spain launch their World Cup qualifying campaign away to Bosnia on Wednesday and new coach Luis Aragones is concerned about the task that awaits his side.
Spanish coach Luis Aragones accused Scotland of playing too hard after his side were held to a 1-1 draw in Friday's abandoned friendly.
Spain coach Luis Aragones kept faith with the squad that beat Venezuela last week when he named the same 22 players for next month's friendly against Scotland and a World Cup qualifier in Bosnia.
Real Mallorca boss Luis Aragones was named as the replacement for Inaki Saez as the new coach of the Spanish national side on Thursday.
Real Mallorca boss Luis Aragones has thrown his hat into the ring as a possible candidate to succeed Inaki Saez as Spain coach.
Real Mallorca captain Javier Olaizola is likely to miss the rest of the season because of a knee ligament injury.
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