BRAZIL WORLD CUP 2014

Manchester City Academy

Manchester City FC have submitted planning application for a proposed youth development and first team training centre.
The Club has today submitted a planning application following a six-week period of public consultation with local residents, fans and other interested parties, for a proposed youth development and first team Academy in the Openshaw West area of East Manchester.
The Club’s exhibition, which showcases the proposals and was a central component to the public consultation, attracted in excess of 7000 visitors online and in person and revealed a 97% approval rating from respondents. Opinions of the residents of East Manchester helped to shape the Club's planning application, the completion of which is expected towards the end of the year.
The proposed development of up to 80 acres of brown field land diagonally opposite to the Etihad Stadium and acquired by the Club over the past two years, would, should planning permission be granted, form part of the Etihad Campus as announced in early July this year.
The Club is pleased to release new visual images of the proposed facility, which form part of the application submitted to Manchester City Council and which are available for public viewing from today.

Key elements of the planning submission are as follows:

FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT
Manchester City has entered a new phase in the long term strategy set out by the Club’s owner three years ago.  At the heart of this strategy is the focus on the recruitment and development of young players and whilst the Club already has a strong pedigree of nurturing young talent,  the limits of what can be achieved with the existing facilities has been reached.
A comprehensive study by the Club of more than 30 elite sports development centres around the world over the past two years, has provided the blueprint for the plans submitted today.  The potential realisation of these plans, together with the Club’s Academy Development Plan - an 18-month research program into youth development best practice - would  signify the single most important investment in the Club to date.
The building of such a facility and the roll out of the Academy Development Plan would not only provide the Club with a competitive edge in terms of recruitment of players of all ages, but would also more than meet the requirements for a grade 1 Academy as set out by the Premier League's new Elite Player Performance Plan.
All aspects of the Club’s youth development, first team training and operations functions would be brought into the one location in the heart of East Manchester and would include:
-A home for up to 400 young players who will train and study alongside senior players, with a clear development pathway to the first team
-One half size and 11 full size youth development pitches
-One half size and 4 full size first team pitches
-On site sleeping accommodation and classroom facility for 40 young players to allow them to train and study in a safe and secure environment
-A carefully planned first team building with changing rooms, gym, refectory and injury and rehab centre
-A 7,000 capacity stadium for youth matches
-Staff offices and a dedicated media centre 
-A bridge linking the site to the Etihad Stadium and the rest of the Etihad Campus

REGENERATION - ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT
Subject to approval, the Club’s proposals would also build on the legacy of the Commonwealth Games in this priority area of the UK in terms of regeneration needs.
Around 160 construction jobs would be created during the project, 70% of them for local people.  Permanent employment at a range of levels for up to 90 people is also likely with up to 80% of positions being made available for local residents. The Club is also committed to local sourcing of materials, equipment and services for the operation and construction of the proposed site.
The remediation of up to 80 acres of land alone would improve the local environment, which would be further enhanced by the planting several hundred new trees and almost a mile of yew and beech hedging around the perimeter of the site and all construction operations would be conducted under the highest possible environmental standards with low carbon, low water and low waste measures being employed to minimise impact on the environment and encourage local bio diversity.
Improved transport links - with the advent of two Metrolink tram stations due in 2012- together with the construction of a landmark pedestrian footbridge will bring further regenerative benefits to the area.
COMMUNITY
Manchester City Football Club’s strong commitment to its community began at its inception in 1880 and that commitment is still at the heart of the organisation. The award winning City in the Community scheme touches 200,000 lives a year, a figure which would rise significantly should the above proposals be endorsed.   
The plans would enable the Club to widen its community reach, together with partners Etihad Airways, as it expands its programs around Football, Health and Activity, Community Cohesion and Skills and Enterprise.
The Club has already provided additional football facilities to be used by more than 10,000 local young people a year at the Football and Tennis Centre adjacent to the Etihad Campus and use of the proposed 7,000 capacity stadium and certain pitches on the site would increase that figure substantially.
Significantly, Manchester City Football Club has also dedicated up to 5.5 acres of the 80 acre site to further community use, which, led by Manchester City Council and reflecting local feedback, could include the building of an education facility and a Sports Institute.
Manchester City Football Club will also make a financial contribution towards proposed leisure facilities in the area which could include the creation of a swimming pool and potential future educational facilities.
Brian Marwood, Chief Football Operations Officer of Manchester City Football Club, said:  “We are delighted that so many people have taken part in our public consultation, visiting the exhibition and responding so positively to our proposals.
"The feedback we have received points to a wide recognition by both local residents and fans of the significant regenerative and economic benefits of these proposals for the East Manchester area , which should not be underestimated.
"It is important to also make clear that the development and recruitment of youth talent is at the heart of our long term strategy of building a successful and sustainable football club for the future.  The opportunity to build a world class facility supported by a well researched youth development plan would be a significant step in the realisation of that strategy.”
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: "The Etihad Stadium and Campus are at the heart of the regeneration of the wider East Manchester area and these plans will help accelerate that positive transformation.
"We welcome the principle of this proposed development which reflects not only the needs and priorities of the football club, but recognises and reflects the community's priorities too. It's another welcome demonstration of the club's commitment to the area and a boost for East Manchester and the city as a whole.
"This would not just be about creating another world-class sporting facility in the area, it will also create jobs and other opportunities for local residents. It's one of the earliest manifestations of how the partnership between Manchester City Football Club, the Council and New East Manchester will deliver significant community and economic benefits in the years ahead.
"It is also very significant that the club are setting aside land for community use. This will enable us to bring forward complementary proposals for additional community facilities which could include a new swimming pool and leisure hub."
The planning application can now be viewed online at Manchester City Council’s website or at the Council offices.  The Club’s consultation exhibition with updated information and imagery reflecting the planning application is open to visitors Monday to Saturday 9am - 5.30pm, Sunday and Bank Holidays, 11am - 5pm (closed match days).

Cristiano Ronaldo x Nike CR7 Collection

Nike debuted the full Cristiano Ronaldo CR7 Collection, featuring both performance and lifestyle products created for Cristiano. The new CR Mercurial Vapor Superfly III signature boot highlights the collection, utilizing Flywire technology and an adaptive traction system for lightweight and responsive performance. In addition, the CR7 Collection features a special CR7 Nike5 Street Gato in White / Blue / Solar Red.

Other items include a Dri-FIT training top and shorts, shin guards, backpack and match ball, along with lifestyle items including a Solar Red GS polo, blue AW77 hoody, grey M65 jacket and three striped organic cotton tees.

The collection is available this holiday season at select Nike Sportswear retailers.

5 Tackle Horor Sepakbola Dunia

Namanya sepakbola, ada kalanya permainan berlangsung keras. Saking kerasnya, muncul tackle horor yang bikin siapapun prihatin. Yang terbaru adalah partai Liverpool vs Manchester United, di mana bek Jamie Carragher menghajar keras kaki kanan gelandang energik Portugal, Nani. Seperti apa tackle menyeramkan ini? Berikut 5 tackle horor dalam sejarah sepakbola dunia:

1. Harald Schumacer vs Patrick Battiston pada Piala Dunia 1982.
Jerman dan Prancis mengalami pertandingan seru dengan skor waktu normal 3-3 pada Piala Dunia 1982. Pertandingan yang dimenangkan Jerman lewat adu penalti itu dikenang orang banyak, terutama ketika penjaga gawang Jerman, Harald Schumacher, meninju Battiston hingga mengalami kerusakan tulang belakang.

Harald Schumacer vs Patrick Battiston

2. Andoni Goikoetxea terhadap Maradona di Liga Spanyol musim 1983.
Buruk sekali adalah kata yang tepat menggambarkan tekel keras Goikoetxea kepada Diego Maradona yang mengakibatkannya harus absen selama 106 hari. Goikoetxea kemudian dikenal dengan julukan Tukang jagal dari Bilbao. Dalam jangka panjang, hal ini masih tetap terlihat menyakitkan dan membuat Maradona gagal untuk membawa Barcelona bersinar.

Andoni Goikoetxea

3. Roy Keane terhadap Alf Inge Haaland di Liga Inggris musim 2001.
Ini lebih dari sekedar cerita horor, ketika Roy Keane menceritakan aksi balas dendamnya kepada gelandang tengah Manchester City yang pernah mencederainya 4 tahun sebelumnya. Dalam buku autobiografinya, Keane mengaku jika dirinya sengaja ingin melukai Haaland dan peristiwa ini diingat sebagai salah satu pelanggaran terberat dalam sejarah sepakbola Inggris.

Roy Keane vs Alf Inge Haaland

4. Martin Taylor vs Eduardo di Liga Inggris musim 2008
Masih dalam sepakbola Inggris, pelanggaran Martin Taylor kepada Eduardo di musim 2008 ini sungguh menghebohkan. “Pemain ini seharusnya tidak bisa bermain sepakbola lagi,” reaksi Arsene Wenger, pelatih Arsenal, kala itu. Pelanggaran itu mengubur karir Eduardo cukup panjang dalam sepakbola dan berdampak parah pada harapan Arsenal guna memenangkan kompetisi musim itu.

Martin Taylor vs Eduardo

5. Jamie Carragher vs Nani di Liga Inggris 2011
Nani, pemain paling kreatif Manchester United musim ini, harus mengalami cedera parah  akibat pelanggaran keras yang dilakukan Jamie Carragher kepadanya tepat sebelum turun minum dalam partai yang digelar di awal Maret lalu. Nani akhirnya harus ditandu ke luar lapangan. Wasit Phil Dowd dinilai ceroboh dengan hanya memberi kartu kuning kepada Carragher. (**)

Jamie Carragher vs Nani

5 Pemain Terakhir yang Memenangi Penghargaan Gelar Pemain Terbaik Liga Inggris versi PFA

UNIKNYA.COM]: Pemain Terbaik Liga Inggris versi Asosiasi Pesepakbola Profesional (PFA), adalah ajang penghargaan tahunan yang diberikan kepada pemain Liga Inggris yang berpenampilan paling baik sepanjang  tahun kompetisi. Pemenang penghargaan yang pertama kali diselenggarakan tahun 1973  ini, ditentukan oleh suara anggota serikat buruh dan PFA sendiri. Penghargaan pertama jatuh ke tangan Norman Hunter yang bermain untuk Leed United, sedangkan jawara tahun 2011 jatuh ke pemain Totenham Hotspurs, Gareth Bale. Berikut adalah 5 pemain terakhir yang berhasil mendapatkan penghargaan paling bergengsi di Liga Inggris ini:

1. Gareth Bale (Totenham Hotspurs/Wales), tahun 2011
Bale adalah pemain Wales keempat yang berhasil menjadi pemain terbaik setelah Ian Rush, Mark Hughes dan Ryan Giggs. Winger yang mencuri perhatian benua eropa di Liga Champion musim ini berhasil mengalahkan Charlie Adam, Samir Nasri, Scott Parker, Carlos Tevez, Rafael van der Vaart dan Nemanja Vidic. Dengan penghargaan ini bisa dipastikan harga pemain yang mulai memperkuat Wales saat berumur 16 tahun 315 hari ini akan melonjak sangat tajam.

Gareth Bale, PFA Best Player 2011

2. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United/Inggris), tahun 2010
Di musim kompetisi 2009/2010, ketajaman Wayne Rooney mencapai puncaknya. Ia mampu mencetak 34 gol di setiap kompetisi, sebelum akhirnya cedera parah menimpanya. Cederanya Rooney berimbas pada gagalnya Manchester United mempertahankan gelar. Dan yang paling buruk adalah hancurnya penampilan tim nasional Inggris di Piala Dunia 2010. Meskipun demikian,PFA tetap mengganjar Rooney sebagai Pemain Terbaik Liga Inggris tahun 2010 dengan mengalahkan Didier Drogba, Carlos Tevez dan Cesc Fabregas.

Wayne Rooney, PFA Best Player 2010

3. Ryan Giggs (Manchester United/Inggris), tahun 2009
Setelah 18 tahun berkiprah di Liga Inggris, akhirnya pada tahun kompetisi 2008/2009, Ryan Giggs memperoleh gelar Pemain Terbaik Liga Inggris. Pemain yang berjulukan Penyihir dari Wales ini mengalahkan Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Edwin van der Sar, Cristiano Ronaldo,dan Steven Gerrard. Kontribusi Giggs sepanjang musim kompetisi berhasil membawa Manchester United menjuarai Liga Inggris.

Ryan Giggs, PFA Best Player 2009

4. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United/Inggris), tahun 2007 dan 2008
Winger lincah yang saat itu bermain di Manchester United ini adalah pemain kedua yang merebut gelar Pemain Terbaik Liga Inggris dalam dua musim berturut-turut (2006/2007 dan 2007/2008). Tidak hanya menyamai prestasi Thierry Henry dalam menyabet gelar secara beruntun, Ronaldo juga menyamai Andy Gray sebagai pemegang Pemain Muda Terbaik dan Pemain Terbaik sekaligus di tahun (2006/2007). Gemilangnya penampilan CR7 membawa Manchester United menjuarai Liga Champion tahun 2008.

Cristiano Ronaldo, PFA Best Player 2007 and 2008

5. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool/Inggris), tahun 2006
Setelah berhasil membawa Liverpool menjuarai Liga Champion di tahun 2005, kiprah gemilang Steven Gerrard berlanjut di kompetisi tingkat lokal. Skipper Liverpool ini berhasil membawa timnya menjuarai Piala FA di tahun 2005/2006. Atas prestasinya, pemain bernomor punggung 8 ini dinobatkan sebagai Pemain Terbaik Liga Inggris tahun 2006.

Steven Gerrard, PFA Best Player 2006

5 Bintang Manchester United yang Dibuang Fergie

Kiprah Alex Ferguson menangani Manchester United sudah memasuki 25 tahun pada 6 November 2011. Sudah banyak gelar yang dihasilkan. Selain itu banyak juga bintang lapangan hijau dari MU yang lahir sejak ditangani pelatih asal Skotlandia tersebut. Tapi selain melahirkan bintang, dengan kepemimpinannya yang keras, banyak bintang yang memutuskan hengkang dari “Iblis Merah”. Beberapa bintang Old Trafford yang memutuskan bergantu kostum tersebut dituangkan uniknya.com di bawah ini.

1. Paul Ince

Mengawali karier sepakbola seniornya bersama West Ham United. Namun pada musim 1989, Ince menerima pinangan Manchester United, lantaran Fergie menilai sosoknya sangat dibutuhkan. Hingga akhirnya Ince dipercaya menjadi kapten tim. Peringai Ince yang keras melahirkan pribadi egois dan arogan di mata Fergie. Perseteruan pemain bernama Paul Emerson Carlyle Ince dengan Fergie terjadi pada 1994. Tepatnya ketika MU dipermalukan Barcelona 0-4 di ajang Piala Champions. Sosok Ince dianggap biang buruknya penampilan “Iblis Merah”, hingga akhirnya Fergie memilih menjual Ince pada 1995 ke Inter Milan.

Paul Ince (Sumber: logspot.com)

2. Jaap Stam

Pertama berkostum MU pada musim 1998 yang didatangkan Fergie dari PSV Eindhoven. Namun pemain bernama lengkap Jakob Stam ini dipaksa hengkang oleh Fergie dari Old Trafford pada musim 2001 yang akhirnya berlabuh di klub Seri A Liga Italia, Lazio. Perselisihannya dengan Fergie berawal dari tulisan Stam dalam otobiografinya yang berjudul “Head to Head”. Stam menulis bahwa saat mendatangkannya ke MU, Fergie melakukan pendekatan ilegal. Namun Fergie akhirnya mengakui menjual Stam adalah satu kesalahan besar yang pernah dilakukan.

Jaap Stam (Sumber: logspot.com)

3. David Beckham

Selain peramu andal bagi MU, Fergie juga dianggap piawai melahirkan bintang. Salah satunya dengan lahirnya David Beckham. Hingga pendukung MU menganggap, Beckham adalah anak emas paling sukses yang dilahirkan Fergie. Namun dengan segala kebintangannya, Fergie tak segan-segan melepas suami Victoria ini dari Old Trafford lantarna perselisihan keduanya terus meruncing. Puncaknya terjadi saat MU kalah dari Arsenal 0-2 di Theather of Dream di ajang Piala FA, Februari 2003. Adu argumen, Fergie dan Becks terjadi di ruang ganti pemain. Dengan emosi, Fergie menendang sepatu dan mendarat di pelipis Becks. Setelah kejadian tersebut Becks hengkang dan berganti kostum Real Madrid.

David Beckham (Sumber: logspot.com)

4. Roy Keane

Inilah kapten tim MU yang memiliki pribadi hampir sama dengan Ince. Bengal dan sulit diatur. Emosinya di lapangan sering meluap tak terkontrol. Sebenarnya hubungan Keane dengan Fergie tetap baik-baik saja. Hanya saja sikap suka mengkritik rekan satu tim yang membuat Fergie harus rela membuang Keane demi keutuhan tim. Pada musim 2005, Fergie dengan berat hati melepas Keane ke klub Skotlandia, Celtic.

Roy Keane (Sumber: bleacherreport.com, unikya.com)

5. Ruud van Nistelrooy

Dianggap sebagai salah satu striker terbaik MU tidak menyelamatkan karier Ruud van Nistelrooy. Sikap sering berselisih dengan rekan satu tim yang membuat Fergie kurang berkenan dengan kehadiran Nistelrooy. Puncaknya ketika striker asal Belanda tersebut marah lantaran dibangkucadangankan Fergie pada final Piala Carling 2006. Ditambah perselisihannya dengan Critiano Ronaldo, Fergie akhirnya membuang Nistelrooy untuk ikut jejak Beckham ke Real Madrid.(**)

Ruud van Nistelrooy (Sumber: footballinfo.org,uniknya.com)