Top Stories

Mid-Day Ticker: Pardew given eight-year deal, FIFA sets World Cup kickoff times, and more

AlanPardew (ISIPhotos.com)

Alan Pardew is credited with having done one of the best managing jobs in Europe last year in helping guide Newcastle United to the brink of a UEFA Champions League place. Newcastle rewarded him for that success on Thursday by signing him to a new eight-year contract.

"If you look at clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have shown that stability gives you the best platform to achieve success and that is the model we wish to emulate here," Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias told the BBC.

Not only did Pardew receive an eight-year contract, but so did his coaching staff, which includes former Toronto FC head coach John Carver.

Here are some more stories to get you through this Thursday:

FIFA ANNOUNCES WORLD CUP 2014 START TIMES

The opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup will kick off on June 12th at 6pm Eastern Time.

The kick-off time was announced on Thursday as FIFA unveiled the start times for all of the matches of the 2014 World Cup.

Kickoff times for group stage matches will take place at times ranging from 2pm Eastern time to as late as 10pm Eastern time, with the final set for a 5pm Eastern Time kickoff on July 13th, 2014.

FIFA also confirmed on Thursday that the final draw for the 2014 World Cup will take place on December 6th, 2013, at the Costa do Sauipe in Bahia.

STATUE IN PARIS HONORS ZIDANE'S WORLD CUP HEADBUTT

Statues erected to honor soccer players are usually made to honor accomplishments, not failures, but a new bronze statue in Paris is bucking that trend and is instead honoring one of the most infamous moments in world soccer history.

A bronze statue of Zinedine's Zidane's infamous headbutt of Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup Final has been erected in front of the Pompidou Center in Paris. Titled simply "Headbutt", the statue has been met by mixed reviews and plenty of laughs.

———–

What do you think about Pardew getting an eight-year deal? Like the move for Newcastle, or think it's crazy for any manager to get an eight-year contract? Have you started making your plans for Brazil in 2014 yet? What statue honoring an infamous soccer moment would you like to see erected somewhere?

Share your thoughts below. 

Comments

  1. The statue is part of an exhibit, not an official commemoration, although that would be fairly French of them.

    Also, this 8 year deal is insane

    Reply
  2. Problem is, if Newcastle deems him a failure in a year, and fires him, they still have to buy out the rest of his contract, and that’s a lot of money.

    Reply
  3. this is like the US putting up a statue of T. Frings robbing us on the touchline. Or perhaps of the moment Bob Bradly told Rico Clark “lace up lad, you’re starting today!”

    Reply
  4. The 8 year deal is for PR.

    1) The percentage he sees it out (willing or unwillingly) is low.
    2) Presumably, if he continues to find success, it’ll be renegotiated down the line.
    3) If he’s wildly successful, there’s always the distinct possibility he moves on to a better post.

    Good PR move, however.

    Reply

Leave a Comment