Bundesliga side Hamburg has appointed JENS TODT as its new sporting director. The 47-year-old sporting director and former Germany int’l, who joined from second division side Karlsruher SC, "penned a two-year deal," which will keep him in Hamburg until Jan. '19 (GLOBAL TIMES, 1/7). ... La Liga side Valencia's crisis "seems to have no end, and each day it seems to get worse." On Saturday, Sporting Dir JESÚS GARCÍA PITARCH resigned, just days after Manager CESARE PRANDELLI's resignation. JOSÉ RAMÓN ALEXANKO "will take over the role on an interim basis" (EL PERIÓDICO, 1/7).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Iran football coach CARLOS QUEIROZ resigned "citing a lack of support" from the Iranian FA amid a "club vs. country row." The former Real Madrid and Portugal coach took Iran to its fourth World Cup in '14 and the team is currently first in its qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup. Iran is ranked No. 29 in the world by FIFA, the highest in Asia, and was unbeaten in '16 (AP, 1/8). ... League Two side Crewe Alexandra sacked STEVE DAVIS "after more than five years as manager" and replaced him with DAVID ARTELL. Davis, 51, was "the fourth longest-serving boss in the top four divisions of English football," having been appointed in Nov. '11. Artell, 36, is a former Crewe club captain and has been playing for Northern Premier League side Droylsden this season (BBC, 1/8). ... GONG LUMING ended his run as head coach of China's men's national basketball team. On Friday, Luming formally stepped down as China's coach. The early candidates to succeed Gong are American BRIAN GOORJIAN, Greek ILIAS ZOUROS and Croatian NEVEN SPAHIJA (FIBA). ... League One side Chesterfield has sacked Manager DANNY WILSON and assistant CHRIS MORGAN following Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Bradford City. Wilson, 57, took charge on Dec. 24, 2015, “but after winning only six” of its 26 league games this campaign the club is in the relegation zone. Left back RITCHIE HUMPHREYS has been named caretaker manager (BBC, 1/8).
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