Former Belgian FA (KBVB) CEO STEVEN MARTENS will become FIFA’s technical director. Martens will be tasked to "stimulate the game and its growth on a global level" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 3/28). ... TVNZ Dir of Content JEFF LATCH "resigned ahead of a planned restructuring." Latch will leave in July after 23 years at the broadcaster. He was appointed director of content in '06 under former CEO RICK ELLIS (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 3/27).
COACHES/MANAGERS: FACUNDO SAVA was named the new coach of Argentine first division side Tigre, replacing PEDRO TROGLIO. Sava signed a two-year contract and his first game will be against San Lorenzo (CLARÍN, 3/27). ... PABLO ALFARO was named the new coach of Spanish second division side Mirandés. He replaces JAVIER ÁLVAREZ DE LOS MOZOS. The club is currently in last place in the league (EP, 3/28). ... UAE national football team coach MAHDI ALI announced his resignation "immediately after losing to the Socceroos in Sydney, effectively ending his country's chances of sealing direct qualification to the 2018 World Cup in Russia." Speculation "was rife leading into the match that Ali was facing the sack" after the UAE FA was "unhappy" with its 2-0 loss to Japan last week (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 3/28). ... Former defender JONATHAN WOODGATE returned to Premier League side Middlesbrough as first-team coach, the club said on Tuesday. Woodgate, who was a youth-team player with Middlesbrough "before spells at Leeds United, Newcastle United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur," will join head coach STEVE AGNEW's staff (REUTERS, 3/28).
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