Argentine first division side River Plate has hired ENZO FRANCESCOLI as sporting director. Francescoli said that he "will be an intermediary between the squad and the officials." Francescoli, who played for the club during two stints in the '80s and '90s, "was officially introduced in a press conference at River's museum" (BUENOS AIRES HERALD, 12/28). ... Argentine first division side Argentinos Juniors hired CLAUDIO BORGHI as its coach, "signing him to a contract that will run through June '15." The club "confirmed the hire via Twitter" (EMOL, 12/29). ... Peruvian football side Sport Huancayo hired Argentine coach DANIEL CÓRDOBA for the '14 season and announced that JUAN CHUMPITAZ "will be an assistant on Córdoba's staff" (LA REPUBLICA, 12/28). ... La Liga side Valencia announced on Thursday that it hired JUAN ANTONIO PIZZI as its new manager. Pizzi arrived in Valencia "fresh from winning the Torneo Clausura" with Argentine first division side San Lorenzo (FORBES, 12/26). ... Spanish second division side Deportivo de La Coruña President AUGUSTO CÉSAR LENDOIRO "has stepped down" after 25 years at the helm, officially withdrawing his candidacy for re-election when the new board of directors will be named this coming January. Lendoiro "has held the position as club president" since '88 (INSIDE SPANISH FOOTBALL, 12/26). ... The Sri Lanka Cricket Exec Committee extended the tenure of Sri Lanka Team Manager MICHAEL DE ZOYSA until '15. His service period "is to end following the T20 World Cup tournament" which will be held in Bangladesh in '14 (SRI LANKA MIRROR, 12/25). ... EPL side Cardiff City has confirmed that Manager MALKY MACKAY has been "relieved of his duties" following a 3-0 defeat to Southampton on Thursday. Mackay’s future had been in serious doubt following the ultimatum he was issued by club Owner VINCENT TAN ordering him to "resign or face being sacked," and it was "a surprise to see the Scot walk out still in charge of the Bluebirds when Saints visited the Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday." A statement read, "A new first team manager will be appointed and announced in due course" (London INDEPENDENT, 12/27). ... Talent agency William Morris Endeavor "has tapped" former Microsoft CFO PETER KLEIN as its new CFO. Klein, who served as Microsoft's CFO from '09 to June of this year, "will also have financial oversight of IMG Worldwide," the sports agency and marketing concern that WME is acquiring for about $2.3B (L.A. TIMES, 12/23). ... Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee VP LIN HUNG-DAO "was elected president of the organization Saturday." Lin will replace THOMAS TSAI "to lead the national Olympic committee." He was "scheduled to assume office" Tuesday (CNA, 12/28).
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