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Brazilian left-back Roberto Carlos signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Russian minnows Anzhi Makhachkala earlier this week and the former Brazil international and Real Madrid star is looking forward to his Russian adventure.

"I learned from Anzhi's interest from my agents. I had offers from many clubs throughout the world, but the offer from Anzhi was the most appealing," Roberto Carlos was quoted as saying by uefa.com.

"The conversation with the club's president also convinced me and I made the decision very quickly. I would like to thank Anzhi for their interest. I could tell immediately that I was dealing with serious people. I liked their project.

"I am going to a strong league which is similar to the Brazilian one. There are many interesting teams in Russia and the competition is very strong. It is a new challenge and a new experience for me. Hopefully I can do my best and win trophies with my new club."

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Labels: Adventure, Ahead, Anzhi, Carlos, excited, Goalcom, Makhachkala, Roberto

SAO PAULO (AP)—Corinthians says veteran left back Roberto Carlos has signed for Russian club Anzhi.

The Brazilian club says he will be paid $9 million a year.

Corinthians did not release further details of the transfer, but local media reported that the player agreed to a two-year contract with the Russian club, with an option for another year.

The27-year-old Carlos said he left Corinthians because he and his family received threats from fans after the team’s elimination from the Copa Libertadores on Feb. 2. His contract was to expire at the end of the year.

The former Brazil and Real Madrid left back played 64 matches for Corinthians, scoring five goals.

Labels: Carlos, Corinthians, moving, Roberto, Russian

The club’s board made a “unanimous” decision to relieve the Italian of his duties and place him on ‘gardening leave’ after their 3-0 defeat at Manchester City, which completed a run of 13 defeats in the club’s last 18 matches.

Di Matteo’s departure – with West Brom outside the relegation zone by virtue of goal difference alone – prompted rumours that Sam Allardyce or Martin O’Neill might return to management.

However, former Newcastle manager Chris Hughton was established as the bookmakers’ early favourite. Brighton manager Gus Poyet — a former team-mate of Di Matteo’s and currently fourth in the League Managers Association’s performance table — and St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes are also understood to be in the frame.

Close friends of Di Matteo said he was irritated not to have been able to make proper reinforcements last month and in a statement released through the LMA, the 40 year-old explained that he was shocked by the club’s decision.

“I was extremely surprised and disappointed to be relieved of my duties,” he said. “Winning promotion to the Premier League with West Brom last season was without doubt one of the highlights of my career and certainly my managerial career.

“Playing in this league is tough and we have had to compete against some fantastic sides, but we have shown that we can compete with the best. Apart from the first week of the season, the club has not been in the bottom three. I am disappointed that I don’t now have the chance to lead the team through this crucial period and keep them in the league.’’

Richard Bevan, chief executive of LMA, added: “Roberto represents yet another victim of the ‘hire and fire’ mentality that pervades in our game.”

Di Matteo’s dismissal was also met with surprise by supporters, not only because West Brom have not been known as a sacking club – as chairman Jeremy Peace was at pains to point out, they have had just four managers in 11 years — but because of the relative progress made by the side. Despite their 6-0 opening-day defeat at Chelsea, the team enjoyed a strong start to the season, making a brief appearance in the top four.

Di Matteo was praised for his commitment to attacking football, yet Peace said in a statement that the board had lost confidence in his ability to pull the club out of its tailspin.

“Our poor sequence of results stretches back more than three months and there has been little sign of it coming to an end,” he said. “If this run continues much longer, achieving our goal of retaining our Premier League status will become increasingly difficult. That is why we felt compelled to act now.”

Control has temporarily been handed to first-team coach Michael Appleton but the club hope to have a new head coach installed in time for a crucial home match against West Ham this weekend, and certainly before the following Sunday’s home fixture against Wolves.

Although Allardyce, O’Neill and Martin Jol have been mentioned as possible replacements, the club have stressed that any appointee would be required to fit into the club’s “existing set-up” and work under sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth.

Labels: after, defeats, disastrous, Matteo, Results, Roberto, Telegraphcouk

The former Chelsea midfielder helped the club to promotion at the end of last season, but recent form has prompted the board at The Hawthorns to act.

The 3-0 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday left West Brom two points outside the relegation places, with 13 losses in their last 18 matches.

"This has been a tough decision," said West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace on the club's official website.

"But we, as a board, believe it is the right one to give the club the best possible chance of remaining in the Premier League."

Di Matteo is the fourth Premier League manager to lose his job this season, following the dismissals of Roy Hodgson by Liverpool, Sam Allardyce at Blackburn Rovers and Chris Hughton at Newcastle.

First team coach Michael Appleton will take over as West Brom's caretaker manager.

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Labels: Matteo, Roberto