Spanish National Football Coach Education Centre (CENAFE) President MIGUEL ÁNGEL GALÁN "announced his candidacy" for the presidency of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). Although current RFEF President ÁNGEL MARÍA VILLAR's tenure "does not end until Feb. '16, Galán wants to begin working to make a strong candidacy with guarantees." Galán said, "It is not a fantasy that I could unseat Villar. I am the ideal person at this time, I have 36 years, excitement, a desire to work for Spanish football and the experience necessary to save modest football" (EFE, 12/29). ... Japanese figure skater TATSUKI MACHIDA revealed that he will "retire from competition." The 24-year-old Machida was a silver medalist at the 2014 World Championships and "finished fifth at Sochi Winter Olympic Games" (CHINA DAILY, 12/29). ... Zambian footballer STOPPILA SUNZU has left
Ligue 2 side FC Sochaux-Montbéliard for Chinese Super League club Shanghai Greenland Shenhua. He signed a three-year deal reportedly worth approximately $3M. Sunzu "becomes the fourth Zambian player to move" to the Chinese Super League
after former Zambia captain CHRISTOPHER KATONGO, ISAAC CHANSA and JAMES CHAMANGA, who plays for Liaoning Whowin (ALL AFRICA, 12/27). ... Former footballer GEORGE WEAH "has won a landslide victory in Liberia's senate elections, in polls disrupted by the Ebola outbreak." Weah got 78% of the vote for the Montserrado county seat, "which includes the capital Monrovia" (BBC, 12/27). ... Australian cricketer JAMES PATTINSON is "set to make his long-awaited return to domestic cricket on Tuesday night." Pattinson has "been named in the Melbourne Renegades' 13-man squad to take on the Sydney Thunder at Etihad Stadium" (NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA, 12/29). ... RAHUL MAYER "has become the first Malaysian to graduate from the prestigious McLaren Performance Academy" in Woking, U.K. The 17-year-old was among those from the '14 intake who "attained qualification as a professional racing driver last week" (THE STAR, 12/29). ... Atlético Madrid has confirmed that FERNANDO TORRES is to "re-join the club on an 18-month loan deal from AC Milan, subject to a medical." Chelsea announced on Saturday that Torres, 30, would make his "loan move to Milan permanent on Jan. 5, but he is to be immediately loaned" to Atlético (ESPN, 12/29). ... Rugby player JONNY WILKINSON is "set to receive a knighthood in the Queen's New Year Honours next week." Wilkinson, 35, "inspired England to World Cup glory in Sydney" in '03. He is also being recognized for his "extensive charity work in Britain, including for the NSPCC, and in France, where he played for Toulon for five years" (London DAILY MIRROR, 12/27).
HAMILTON AWARDED: Mercedes F1 driver LEWIS HAMILTON is the Polish press agency's Sportsman of the Year. Hamilton "secured the prize with 82 points," in front of German goalkeeper MANUEL NEUER's 81 and NOVAK DJOKOVIC coming in with 74 points. CRISTIANO RONALDO was fourth with 72 points (MOTORSPORT, 12/29).
SCHUMACHER'S 'LONG FIGHT': MICHAEL SCHUMACHER faces a "long fight" on the road to full recovery, his manager has said, one year after the F1 champion suffered "severe head injuries in a skiing accident." SABINE KEHM said, "It's going to be a long time." Her comments came after former driver PHILLIPE STREIFF said that Schumacher was "beginning to communicate with his eyes." The claim was dismissed by Kehm and Schumacher's doctor (BBC, 12/29).
