Jose Mourinho signs for Yahoo

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     OOJ - Jose Mourinho signs for Yahoo

Yahoo are proud to announce the biggest football deal of the year with Jose Mourinho, football’s very own Special One, signing up as a Global Football Ambassador for 2014.

Mourinho - a Champions League winner with both Porto and Inter, and two-time Premier League champion with Chelsea - is one of the most successful and respected managers in the history of football and Yahoo is the ONLY place you will be able to access his thoughts on the FIFA World Cup this summer as he has joined our team as an exclusive analyst for the tournament in Brazil.

Whether they are in front of their computers or on their smartphones and tablets, millions of football fans across the globe can enjoy Jose’s opinions on the biggest stories coming out of Brazil and his take on the tournament as it progresses.

[MOURINHO: WHY CAN'T ENGLAND WIN IN BRAZIL?]

Always opinionated and always unmissable, Mourinho will also be bringing us his unique commentary on a range of football issues across the calendar year–as well as giving you, the fans, a remarkable insight into his daily world via photos and videos.

So if you want to get exclusive insight from football’s most compelling and, sometimes, controversial mind, there’s only one place to be in 2014.

In an official launch event with broadcaster Mark Pougatch, Mourinho explained why he chose to sign with Yahoo.

“I decided because it is very prestigious and I want to connect myself at every area with prestige; so I was looking for prestige,” he said.

“At the same time if I want to communicate with people - and that is the objective, to share some of my ideas about football and especially about the World Cup - I want to share with many, many millions. 

[MOURINHO'S PRAISE FOR VARANE]

“I don’t want to share with a few thousand that buy a normal newspaper or a couple of million who follow a certain TV channel.  I share with many millions or I don’t share, so let’s share with many millions. 

“For sure some will disagree, for sure some will say how can this guy be a top manager, but for sure some will agree with me and for sure I think we can have some fun.”

Rosicky, Mertesacker sign new Arsenal deals

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     OOJ- Manager Arsene Wenger of Arsenal celebrates at the final whistle with Tomas Rosicky (L) and Per Mertesacker (C) (Getty Images)

Arsenal pair Tomas Rosicky and Per Mertesacker have signed new deals, the club have announced.

Germany international Mertesacker, 29, has established himself as a key member of Arsene Wenger's first-choice back-four, playing alongside Laurent Koscielny for much of the campaign.

Rosicky also continues to form an integral part of Wenger's title-challenging squad despite being 33 and the Gunners' boss is pleased to have both players staying at Emirates Stadium.

"We are delighted that Mertesacker and Rosicky have committed their futures to the club," he told Arsenal's official website.

"They are players of exceptional quality and experience, and have consistently proven themselves at the highest level. There is a great feeling of togetherness and belief in the group and this news will only help to strengthen this further."

Mertesacker, signed from Werder Bremen in 2011, has started all but two of Arsenal's Premier League fixtures so far this season and - with 95 Germany caps to his name - his experience has proved invaluable.

The defender said signing a new deal was a simple decision to make as he has a passion for the club.

"It was easy for me to commit myself to the club," he said.

"I have been here for two-and-a-half great years and feel I have great support from everyone at the club and the fans. I'm really looking forward to having more years coming up with this fantastic club. We have a great team here and we all want to do our best to win trophies.

"I have become a real Gunner...I am truly thankful to the club and all the supporters for the time I have had here so far. And today I am deeply proud to have extended my contract with Arsenal. I'm proud to be a Gunner."

With the club-record signing of Mertesacker's compatriot Mesut Ozil in the summer and the emergence of Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere in recent times, Rosicky was widely expected to be the man who missed out on playing for Arsenal on a regular basis.

But the Czech Republic star has featured 27 times across all competitions this season and is aiming to pick up his first Premier League crown with a club he joined over eight years ago.

"I'm very happy that I'm staying at the club," he said.

"I'm proud that I'm still here after a long time and that it still continues. I'm glad I'm here at Arsenal and we're all trying our best to win trophies for the club and our supporters.

"Ever since I arrived at Arsenal, I have always felt that I'm at the right place where I want to be. I still feel this way now and I'm proud that after such a long time I'm still here and will continue. One big factor is that I want to win the league with Arsenal."

Wenger's side currently sit third in the table and are four points adrift of leaders Chelsea having fallen to a 1-0 defeat at Stoke last weekend.

Puyol confirms he is to leave Barcelona

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   OOJ - Barcelona's Carles Puyol celebrates a goal against Almeria during their Spanish first division soccer match at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona March 2, 2014 (Reuters)

Carles Puyol has confirmed that he will leave Barcelona at the end of the season, and left open the possibility of retirement.

"I want to thank everyone at the club for everything they've done for me," the defender said at a press conference.

Murray reaches Acapulco semis despite another shaky start

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     OOJ - Andy Murray of Great Britain celebrates his win over Gilles Simon of France (AFP)

Andy Murray again recovered from a poor start before moving past Gilles Simon and into the semi-finals of the Acapulco International.

The second seed rallied back from a dismal opening set to post a 1-6 7-6(4) 6-2 win over the Frenchman, seeded sixth at the tournament in Mexico.

Murray had struggled in the opening set against his first-round opponent Pablo Andujar, losing the first five games of that match, and the Scot was again slow off the mark against Simon.

The world number seven managed just one game in the first set and was only marginally more successful in the second, falling behind 2-4 and then 3-5 as Simon closed in on victory.

But Murray dug deep into his reserves to break back and then claim the set on a tie-break.

The third finally saw Murray back to something resembling his best as he swept aside Simon to open up a 3-0 lead that he never looked back from.

Murray, in his first semi-final since undergoing back surgery last September, next plays either GrigorDimitrov or Ernests Gulbis for a place in the final.

Earlier, top seed and three times winner in Acapulco David Ferrer was forced to retire with a muscle strain in his match with Kevin Anderson.

The Spaniard had won the first set 6-2 before Anderson rallied in the second and the South African was leading 4-2 when Ferrer called a halt to proceedings.

Anderson will play Alexandr Dolgopolov for a place in the final after the Ukrainian beat Croat Ivo Karlovic 6-4 7-6(4).

Acapulco International results

Quarter-finals

2-Andy Murray (Britain) beat 6-Gilles Simon (France) 1-6 7-6(4) 6-2

5-Kevin Anderson (South Africa) beat 1-David Ferrer (Spain) 2-6 4-2 (Ferrer retired)

Alexandr Dolgopolov (Ukraine) beat Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) 6-4 7-6(4)