(click pic for enlarged poster)
Other posters
Milan
Ancelotti
Dida
Gattuso
Maldini
Nesta
(acmilan.com)
Arsenal FC striker Thierry Henry has become the first Frenchman to win the ESM Golden Shoe award after scoring 30 goals in the 2003/04 English Premiership, a figure which gives him a total of 60 points in the final standings.
Henry confirmed
Henry had been the favourite to pick up the award after leading the table when most of the leagues around Europe finished at the end of May - and his position at the top of the table was confirmed this weekend when the Ukrainian league became the last championship of the 2003/04 European season to reach its conclusion.
Ailton in second
SV Werder Bremen striker Ailton finished second to Henry after scoring 28 goals in the Bundesliga while Djibril Cissé grabbed third place with 26 Ligue 1 goals for of AJ Auxerre. Both players are changing clubs this summer, Ailton joining FC Schalke 04 and Cissé going to Liverpool FC.
Makaay drop
Last season's winner Roy Makaay finished seventh this time around after moving from RC Deportivo La Coruña to FC Bayern München at the start of the 2003/04 season while AC Milan’s Andriy Shevchenko came highest of the Serie A contingent in fourth. Long-time leader Ara Hakobyan, of Armenian club FC Banants who play a calendar-year season, held on for joint ninth.
Final standings
Pos Name Club (Country) Gls Val Pts
1 Thierry Henry Arsenal FC (ENG) 30 2 60
2 Ailton SV Werder Bremen (GER) 28 2 56
3 Djibril Cissé AJ Auxerre (FRA) 26 2 52
4 Andriy Shevchenko AC Milan (ITA) 24 2 48
4 Ronaldo Real Madrid CF (ESP) 24 2 48
6 Mateja Kezman PSV Eindhoven (HOL) 31 1.5 46.5
7 Roy Makaay FC Bayern München (GER) 23 2 46
7 Alberto Gilardino Parma AC (ITA) 23 2 46
9 Ara Hakobyan FC Banants (ARM) 45 1 45
9 Henrik Larsson Celtic FC (SCO) 30 1.5 45
11 Alan Shearer Newcastle United FC (ENG) 22 2 44
12 Luigi Pieroni R. Excelsior Mouscron (BEL) 28 1.5 42
13 Roland Kollmann Grazer AK (AUT) 27 1.5 40.5
14 Julio Baptista Sevilla FC (ESP) 20 2 40
14 Ruud van Nistelrooij Manchester United FC (ENG) 20 2 40
14 Martin Max FC Hansa Rostock (GER) 20 2 40
14 Francesco Totti AS Roma (ITA) 20 2 40
14 Louis Saha Fulham FC/Manchester United FC (ENG) 20 2 40
19 Tor Henning Hamre FC Flora (EST) 39 1 39
20 Raúl Tamudo RCD Espanyol (ESP) 19 2 38
20 Fernando Torres Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP) 19 2 38
20 Alexander Frei Stade Rennais FC (FRA) 19 2 38
20 Salva Málaga CF (ESP) 19 2 38
20 Javier Chevanton US Lecce (ITA) 18 2 38
20 Mista Valencia CF (ESP) 19 2 38
Last updated: 20 June 2004
Only the leading five countries (Spain, Italy, Germany, France and England) on the UEFA Ranking have two as their multiplier. This is to emphasise the difference in international performance level between clubs from those countries and those from the other countries.
A player cannot first play in a summer league (eg Norway) and then in a winter league (eg Spain) and combine the points total for each season.
Figures from Voetbal International (uefa.com)
The official dates for Milan's pre-season games have been announced and the Rossoneri fans can look forward to an exciting summer warm-up as Paolo Maldini and his team-mates prepare for the 2004-05 season.
After gathering at Milanello on July 15 for an initial get together, the squad fly to America for a friendly against Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in New York on July 31. Two days later Carlo Ancelotti's men transfer to Philadelphia to face Champions League winner Jorge Mourinho and his new club Chelsea. The first competitive game of the pre-season takes place on August 21 in Tripoli, Lybia when the Rossoneri meet Lazio in the Italian Super Cup. Milan will further test their fitness in the Gamper Trophy against Barcelona in Spain on August 25. Three days later and it is the season curtain-raiser against Juventus for the Luigi Berlusconi trophy at the San Siro.
In the meantime the Rossoneri players will be enjoying a well-earned summer break before unveiling the new Milan as they set out to defend their Serie A title.
- 31 JULY, NEW YORK, MILAN-MANCHESTER UTD
- 2 AUGUST, PHILADELPHIA, MILAN-CHELSEA
- 21 AUGUST, TRIPOLI, MILAN-LAZIO FOR THE ITALIAN SUPER CUP
- 25 AUGUST, BARCELONA, BARCELONA-MILAN, GAMPER TROPHY
- 28 AUGUST, SAN SIRO, MILAN-JUVENTUS, LUIGI BERLUSCONI TROPHY (acmilan.com)
Euro 2004 brings together the best teams on the continent. However, some of Europe's finest players, including Filippo Inzaghi, Rio Ferdinand and Andrij Schevchenko, will not be showing off their skills in Portugal.
Shevchenko, arguably the player of the season in Serie A with champions AC Milan, will stay at home because Ukraine failed to qualify.
Barcelona's Rustu Recber is another of the "missing". He helped Turkey to a surprise place in the last four at the 2002 World Cup, conceding four goals in six matches.
The Turks were expected to cruise into Euro 2004 but were dumped out by surprise package Latvia, who will be competing at a major soccer tournament for the first time here.
Winger Ryan Giggs, one of the driving forces at Manchester United, is yet to play at a World Cup and European Championship for Wales, a country which nearly made it this time before losing to Russia.
Suspension is the reason for the absence of England defender Ferdinand and France striker Djibril Cisse from one of the big games of the group stage in the June 12-July 4 tournament.
Ferdinand is serving an eight-month ban for missing a dope test while Cisse was suspended for five matches, reduced to four on appeal in April, for violent conduct during an under-21 international.
England meet holders France in their opening Group B match in Lisbon on Sunday.
The central striker in the tournament's Absentees XI would be Cisse or Italy's Filippo Inzaghi, deemed not fit enough after his recent injury for coach Giovanni Trapattoni to risk.
Spain's Jose Antonio Reyes is one player who probably didn't expect to watch Euro 2004 on television.
Despite impressive performances for the national team and for Arsenal since his move to England, the former Sevilla forward is seen as one for the future, not the present, by coach Inaki Saez.
Not such a surprise is that Spanish midfielder Gaizka Mendieta is missing the tournament. So is Mista despite his contribution to Valencia's UEFA Cup final victory over Olympique Marseille.
Portugal would appear to be overloaded with top goalkeepers as they have omitted Porto's Vitor Baia whose safe pair of hands grasped the European Cup at the end of the season.
Germany's two most notable absentees are Borussia Dortmund defender Christoph Metzelder, one of the revelations of the 2002 World Cup who was ruled out with an Achilles injury, and Bayern Munich midfielder Sebastian Deisler.
Deisler, one of the most gifted and creative players Germany has to offer, was absent for over six months while recovering from depression and made his return to Bundesliga action late in the season. Coach Rudi Voeller ruled he was not yet fully fit.
Also unfit is Russia's veteran captain Viktor Onopko. In addition the Russians have lost fellow central defender Sergei Ignashevich, like Onopko with a knee injury.
Absentees XI (coached by Belgium's Aime Anthuenis): Rustu Recber; Christoph Metzelder, Rio Ferdinand, Viktor Onopko; Gaizka Mendieta, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Sebastian Deisler; Andrij Shevchenko, Filippo Inzaghi, Djibril Cisse. (reuters.co.uk)
Andrei Shevchenko claims he would not have signed a five-year contract extension if he had any doubts about staying with Milan. Chelsea have been repeatedly linked with a massive offer for the Ukrainian striker, but have been told in no uncertain terms by the Rossoneri that he is not for sale.
This was demonstrated by Shevchenko signing a five-year deal last month, but it has not stopped the rumour mill from suggesting a move to Stamford Bridge could still be on the cards.
It would appear as if Shevchenko is growing tired of the rumours, as he again stressed he has no plans to leave the San Siro.
"What more have I to do?" he said. "I have signed a five-year contract and I don't want to move from Milan. Milan is my home, my second home.
"Here I've started winning after a few disappointing years. In two seasons I became a European champion and I won a scudetto.
"My team-mates love me and I love them, the coach is good and in the group there is great confidence.
"I don't see reasons to be unhappy and to change.
"If I would have had doubts, I would not have signed the contract extension for five years." (planetfootball.com)
AC Milan have attempted to play down speculation over the future of star striker Andriy Shevchenko by insisting he is not for sale at any price.
Despite the Ukrainian recently extending his contract at San Siro, rumours linking him with a move to Chelsea have failed to subside.
Reports in the Italian press suggest Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has offered 50million euros (£33.2m) plus Argentinian striker Hernan Crespo for Shevchenko, but Milan are adamant their man is going nowhere.
"Shevchenko is not for sale," Milan sporting director Ariedo Braida said.
"It's not a question of money for one can offer 10 times what he is worth and it wouldn't make a difference.
"There can be clubs interested in our players but we don't sell our stars. When a player is not on the market that's the end of the story." (ukrainiansoccer.net)
Andriy Shevchenko, speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport talked about his attachment to the Rossoneri shirt. The striker said: 'I have started to win a lot after years of disappointments, in two seasons I have become champion of Europe and then Italy, I have also won two other cups. My team-mates want me to do well and I want them to do well, the coach is good and the group of players are in harmony: I don't see any reason in the world to break away from this. In a period where standard-bearers do not seem to exist anymore I believe it sends a signal that I have signed a contract that keeps me at the same club for ten years.' (acmilan.com)
It is finally time to say it, Milan deserve their holiday break and the Rossoneri squad can officially call a end to their 2003-04 season just a few hours after arriving back from Asia after their short tour. Paolo Maldini and his team-mates now have forty days or so to recharge their batteries and to reflect on what has been a hard season but one rich in satisfaction. Equally, at least for the moment, the Europeans do not have to join up with their national sides that are preparing for the upcoming European Championships.
However, the Brazilians in the squad will have to wait and see if their coach Carlos Parreira decides to bring them in for the Copa America where they would join up with Kaka and Cafu although Nelson Dida misses out. In any case, pre-season training will start again in the middle of July when the Rossoneri squad return to Milanello, but of course, an exception will be made with regards to those players involved in international duty.
In late July, the new-look Milan will head to the USA to play two prestigious games against Manchester United and Chelsea. Following that it is the TIM Trophy then the customary Luigi Berlusconi Trophy, the Italian Super Cup against Lazio and a trip to Barcelona for the Gamper Trophy. So, in just a few months time Milan will once again be back on the centre stage. (acmilan.com)
'The news that Chelsea have offered 50 million euro and Crespo for Shevchenko is complete fruit of fantasy and I do not understand how it came about. It has anoided me that I read that Milan are hestitating. I want to reassure our fans: Sheva will stay.' This is what the Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani had to say after leaving Coverciano where he had been to salute the Azzurri ahead of the European Championships as a member of the Italian football federation.
'When Abramovich came to Milan,' added Galliani, 'he asked for Shevchenko and we answered by saying that Milan does not sell its players and so he didn't make any further offer. It was the same discussion regarding Rui Costa.' (acmilan.com)
The whole Milan family are close to Andriy Shevchenko at this moment after the striker returned from international duty with Ukraine to be alongside his sister who is recovering from a heart operation. Everyone involved with Milan sends their best wishes to the Shevchenko family. (acmilan.com)
Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko have been included in the Top 11 of the 2003/04 season selected by the ESM (European Sports Magazines) Association. Sheva's 24 goals not only helped him to become the best scorer of the Italian Serie A, but were also the major key in AC Milan first league title win since 1999.
The ESM Top 11 of the season have been compiled on the basis of the appearances in the monthly issues of the Top 11 with Shevchenko being selected 4 times.
The ESM Top 11 of the season:
Timo Hildebrand (Germany, VfB Stuttgart, 2 appearances) - Paulo Ferreira (Portugal, FC Porto, 2), Roberto Ayala (Argentina, Valencia CF, 2), Walter Samuel (Argentina, AS Roma, 2), Roberto Carlos (Brazil, Real Madrid CF, 2) - Ludovic Giuly (France, AS Monaco, 4), Zinedine Zidane (France, Real Madrid CF, 4), Francesco Totti (Italy, AS Roma, 4), Ronaldinho (Brazil, FC Barcelona, 4) - Thierry Henry (France, Arsenal London FC, 5), Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine, AC Milan, 4).
The ESM members are:
A Bola (Portugal), Don Balon (Spain), Fanatik (Turkey), Foot-Magazine (Belgium), France Football (France), Kicker (Germany), La Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy), Sport-Express (Russia), Voetbal International (Netherlands), Tipsbladet (Denmark). (ukrainiansoccer.net)
According to Bloknin and H.Surkis press-conference:
- Will Shevchenko play?
- Blokhin: Andriy left yesterday training camp due to family circumstances.
- Surkis: I would like to add that Andriy's sister had a open heart surgery yesterday. Shevchenko infromed about that head coach and me and we regarded this with understanding. He's now in Milan and we wish them all the best. (ukrainiansoccer.net)
A long campaign had finally caught up with the Italian champions who are now officially on vacation until July 15. One player who will not be returning to Milanello is Fernando Redondo who played his final game in a red and black shirt and as always 'the Prince' showed his great class on the pitch. (acmilan.com)
'Tuttosport' focuses on Carlo Ancelotti's wish for next season. The coach said: 'I really would like to see [Andriy] Shevchenko and [Pippo] Inzaghi finally together for a long time because we haven't had this opportunity much. We made up for it with great team performances and alternative solutions, thanks to players like Kaka and [Jon Dahl] Tomasson, but now we hope Pippo will return quickly. Who knows what we could have clinched if we always had them both at our disposal...' (acmilan.com)