German national team coach JOACHIM LÖW has "emerged as a candidate to be Arsenal's next manager." Löw is "on the list of coaches discussed by Arsenal’s hierarchy as options" should ARSÉNE WENGER decide to leave when his contract expires next year (SUNDAY TIMES, 4/21). ... Real Madrid President FLORENTINO PÉREZ addressed the club's offseason plans and how coach JOSE MOURINHO's decision to stay with the club will affect Real Madrid's strategy regarding its roster. An informal poll of the squad by Pérez recently showed that 15 players said it would be better if Mourinho did not return for another year. Five senior players even expressed interest in being traded if there is not a coaching change (EL PAIS, 4/19). ... Pakistan cricketer DANISH KANERIA "will try to resume his cricket career when he challenges a life ban for spot-fixing in London on Monday" (AFP, 4/21). ... Organizers said that POPE FRANCIS "may meet with footballers during his trip to Brazil for this year's global Catholic youth festival in Rio de Janeiro, which 2 million young people are expected to attend" (AFP, 4/20). ... Chinese tennis player LI NA, the first Asian woman to win a Grand Slam title, "was named on Thursday among Time magazine's most influential people in the world," along with NBA player LEBRON JAMES and Italian football player MARIO BALOTELLI.
The 31-year-old Chinese "will also be featured on the cover of its international editions, becoming the second Chinese sports icon to enjoy the honor," after retired basketball player YAO MING (CHINA DAILY, 4/19). ... South African batsman AHMED AMLA "has retired from all forms of cricket" (PAKISTAN TODAY, 4/19). ... Broadcaster RAY HADLEY has launched "a stunning attack" on National Rugby League CEO DAVE SMITH labeling the former banker a "dunce" and suggesting Smith goes "back to banking and do it sometime sooner rather than later." Hadley Sunday night "called through to Radio 2GB's Continuous Call Team on his day off to vent his outrage" in the wake of Sunday's record-low City-Country crowd of 4,635 (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 4/22).
