Former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur coach ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS will take over Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg this week "after agreeing a two-season contract." The Portuguese will replace LUCIANO SPALLETTI, who was sacked this month (REUTERS, 3/18). ... Former New Zealand national rugby union team coach and Super Rugby side Wellington Hurricanes coach FRANK OLIVER "has died suddenly." Oliver, "who captained the All Blacks in four tests, was 65" (REUTERS, 3/17). ... Netherlands cricketer TIM GRUIJTERS has "accused team management of cheating by forcing him out on medical grounds" so that they could bring in TOM COOPER as a "last-minute replacement for the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh" (GLOBAL TIMES, 3/17). ... Frenchman DIDER OLLE-NICOLLE has been appointed coach of Benin's national football team, "replacing compatriot" MANUEL AMOROS. Olle-Nicolle has a "contract through to next year's Africa Cup of Nations" (BBC, 3/18).
IN BARCELONA: Former Barcelona VP MARC INGLA "published a letter expressing his support for the club's proposed renovations" to Camp Nou. Ingla said that the project "will make us stronger" and cited Chelsea, Paris St. Germain and Man City, among others, as "examples of remodeled stadiums contributing to increased revenue" (MUNDO DEPORTIVO, 3/18). ... Barcelona admitted that coach GERARDO MARTINO has a "clause in his contract allowing him to leave this summer but insists he will remain in charge next season." Last summer, Martino "signed a two-year deal that ties him to the club" until '15, but his position has "been questioned after some recent poor results." Spanish TV show Esport 3 "added to the speculation on Monday when claiming Martino had already told his assistant coaches that he was moving on at the end of the current campaign." Barcelona Media VP MANEL ARROYO confirmed that the "release clause did exist but said there were no plans to make a change." Arroyo: "The clause is there, for both him and for us, but I insist there is no intention to use it. ... He has not set down if he is going to continue, but it is taken as a given that we are all planning for the future together" (ESPN, 3/18).
