Arsenal Owner STAN KROENKE has "purchased a prestigious French vineyard that has been family-run for two centuries, in a move that has stunned the close-knit Burgundy wine world." American billionaire Kroenke "bought a majority share" in Bonneau du Martray (London TELEGRAPH, 1/5). ... Former England women's football Manager MARTIN REAGAN has died aged 92. He coached the national side from '79-90, taking charge of 96 matches (BBC, 1/7). ... Former Japan football player HIDETOSHI NAKATA has been appointed as a member of the Int'l FA Board that "discusses and decides proposed alterations to the game's laws." The 39-year-old, whose "exploits in the Italian Serie A paved the way for many of his countrymen to move to Europe's top leagues, is named as one of the nine members for the Football Advisory Panel" representing the Asia FA (KYODO, 1/7). ... Chelsea Manager ANTONIO CONTE said that he "intends to retire from management after 10 years." Conte will be 48 this July, and "played down the possibility of carrying on well into his 60s," like ALEX FERGUSON or ARSÈNE WENGER. But he admitted that like most managers, "football is our life," and that "it would be a hard life to give up." The issue was provoked by the words of Man City Manager PEP GUARDIOLA this week, when he said that he was “arriving at the end” of his coaching career and that the “process of my goodbye has already started” (TELEGRAPH, 1/7). ... POLLY POWRIE, half of "one of the most successful teams in New Zealand sailing history," has retired from Olympic yachting. Powrie and JO ALEH, "colloquially known as Team Jolly," first teamed up in the women's 470 in '09 and established an "impressive record in their time together," winning Gold at the 2012 London Olympics and backing that up with Silver at the Rio Games. Powrie, 29, recently decided she did not "want to commit to another Olympic campaign" (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 1/6).
