OLE Gunnar Solskjaer has pulled out of the running to be Aston Villa’s next manager, the Birmingham Mail understands. The 39-year-old Norwegian was the bookies’ clear favourite to succeed sacked Alex McLeish, but he has opted to stay at Molde for personal reasons. Solskjaer spoke to Villa chairman Randy Lerner and chief excecutive Paul Faulkner following a whirlwind trip to Birmingham last Friday. But after meeting his Molde bosses for discussions in Oslo this afternoon, Solskjaer informed Villa that he no longer wants to be considered for their vacancy. The former Manchester United striker only returned to his native country in 2010 and is believed to be reluctant to uproot his wife and three young children with a move back to England. Villa have insisted ... Continue reading →

When the nights began to pull in around San Vendemiano, Gino Del Piero couldn’t bring himself to call out to his son Alessandro and tell him that it was time to pick up his ball and come inside. Once darkness fell, he would instead open up the garage, turn on the light, get into his FIAT 127 and park it outside. A space was left for the boy to practice in until bedtime when he’d head up to the room he shared with his brother Stefano and go to sleep under a poster of Michel Platini. Alessandro was encouraged to keep playing football for as long as he wanted. Decades later the enthusiasm he has for the game remains undiminished. It seems as though he ... Continue reading →