Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Tel Aviv sacked coach YOSSI ABUKSIS following a run of "five straight matches without a win" (L'EQUIPE, 2/17). ... Football legend ZINEDINE ZIDANE "will coach" one of Real Madrid's youth teams next season (MARCA, 2/15). ... League Championship club Blackpool is set to confirm former England captain PAUL INCE as manager on Monday. The former England captain and ManU, Liverpool and Inter Milan midfielder "has been in talks with Blackpool for several days" and "sat in the directors' box at Portman Road to see Michael Chopra's 50th-minute strike seal the points for Ipswich" (LONDON TIMES, 2/16). ... FIFA exec board member CHUCK BLAZER announced that "he will not seek re-election." Set to leave his office in May, Blazer said via statement that, “It is time for new faces with new energy to take over the responsibility of FIFA’s leadership.” The 67-year-old will leave "having served five terms" (PRO SOCCER TALK, 2/16).
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