Former Milan, Japan Coach Zaccheroni in 'Serious' Condition after Fall

The Italian has a fine CV, but has failed to impress since being appointed UAE coach late last year. (AFP)
The Italian has a fine CV, but has failed to impress since being appointed UAE coach late last year. (AFP)
TT
20

Former Milan, Japan Coach Zaccheroni in 'Serious' Condition after Fall

The Italian has a fine CV, but has failed to impress since being appointed UAE coach late last year. (AFP)
The Italian has a fine CV, but has failed to impress since being appointed UAE coach late last year. (AFP)

Former AC Milan and Japan national team coach Alberto Zaccheroni was in a "serious" condition on Saturday following a fall at his home, Italian media reported.

The 69-year-old is in intensive care at a hospital in Cesena with a head injury, said AFP.

Zaccheroni led Milan to the Serie A title in 1999 before going on to coach top-flight rivals Inter Milan and Juventus.

He took Japan to the Asian Cup title in 2011 and qualified them for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where they were eliminated in the first round.

One of his former clubs Udinese on Saturday wished him a "speedy recovery".

"All of Udinese send their best wishes to Alberto Zaccheroni and his loved ones at this difficult time. We're right behind you, coach!" the club tweeted.



Barcelona Returns to Top of La Liga with 1-0 Win over Rayo Vallecano

Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Rayo Vallecano - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - February 17, 2025 FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Albert Gea
Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Rayo Vallecano - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - February 17, 2025 FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Albert Gea
TT
20

Barcelona Returns to Top of La Liga with 1-0 Win over Rayo Vallecano

Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Rayo Vallecano - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - February 17, 2025 FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Albert Gea
Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Rayo Vallecano - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - February 17, 2025 FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Albert Gea

Barcelona returned to the top of the Spanish league on goal difference on Monday after Robert Lewandowski's first-half penalty secured a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano.
The Catalan club took advantage of weekend slip-ups by Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid to move onto 51 points, the same as Madrid and a point clear of Atlético, The Associated Press reported.
Madrid drew 1-1 at Osasuna on Saturday and Atletico was held by the same score at home by Celta Vigo.
Barcelona took the lead after 27 minutes when Pathe Ciss brought down Íñigo Martínez in the box, and a penalty was awarded after a video review. Lewandowski sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.
Both sides had chances to score after that.
Augusto Batalla saved well from Lamine Yamal, who was playing the 100th game of his career, while at the other end Jorge De Frutos had the ball in the net for Rayo only to see it ruled out for offside.
De Frutos was always dangerous for Rayo but as the game went on the home side took control as it extended its unbeaten run to 12 matches.
The defeat ended Rayo nine-game unbeaten streak that stretched back to Dec 7.