Leigh Genesis sign Matt Jansen

Another player from the top of English football fallen on heard times.

The signing of Jansen is a huge statement of intent from Genesis boss Garry Filtcroft, who spoke of his great respect for his former Blackburn team mate and the huge boost it would give the "not only the supporters, but the whole town" as he looks to build a successful side that it is hoped will draw the crowds in to the Leigh Sports Village Stadium.

Jansen, currently based in the Cheshire village of Alderley Edge, only a short drive from Leigh, began his career with hometown club Carlisle United, turning down a chance to sign for Manchester United in favour of a £1million transfer to Crystal Palace in February 1998.

An impressive ten goals in twenty three league games for the relegated Eagles attracted the attention of Blackburn Rovers, who paid £4.1million for his services in January 1999.

Ater Rovers were relegated from the Premier League, Jansen played a huge part in their return to the top flight in 2000/2001, finishing as second top goalscorer in the league, behind only Fulham's Louis Saha, after scoring 23 goals.

Having been capped six times for England Under 21's, Jansen was a stomach illness away from representing the full England side, having to withdraw from the squad for a friendly with Paraguay in April 2002 after a season that saw him score the first goal in Rovers' 2-1 League Cup Final victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Millennium Stadium.

Unfortunately, the summer of 2002 was one that would change Jansen's life, suffering an almost-fatal motorcycle accident in Rome that left Jansen in a coma for six days and a fight to regain full fitness. It is clearly an incident that still affects Jansen, and played a big part in his growing disillusionment with professional football as his bid to regain fitness took in a loan spell with Coventry City, and further appearances with Blackburn.

Jansen's seven year stay at Ewood Park came to an end in January 2006 when he joined neighbours Bolton Wanderers, where he made six appearances before being released in the summer of 2006.

Jansen spent the following years training with various clubs, spending a lengthy period with Bolton Wanderers, along with Carlisle and Huddersfield Town.

Most recently, Jansen teamed up again with former manager Sam Allardyce and again train with Blackburn, leading to a move to Blue Square Premier side Wrexham, for whom he scored one goal in three appearances towards the end of last season. Jansen the chance to remain with Dean Saunders' side, but instead chose a move to Leigh ahead of staying at the Racecourse Ground.

Leigh boss Flitcroft believes that the potential impact of Jansen's arrival is "immense", both on and off the field, while undoubtedly playing a huge part in attracting any further signings.

From Jansen's point of view, it is an opportunity to begin to enjoy playing football again, whilst also furthering his coaching ambitions, a sentiment echoed by the re-signing of goalkeeper Stephen Drench, who turned down offers from other clubs to stay with Genesis, such was his enjoyment of his five appearances for the club towards the end of last season.

Jansen is a player that, as far as Flitcroft is concerned, "still has the ability to play in the Football League" and as such represents a huge coup for the club, though Jansen insists he didn't take much persuading after viewing a set up that he believes is on a par with many Championship clubs, "if not better".

Although the full list of the club's pre-season fixtures has yet to be confirmed, one of Jansen's first chances to impress his new club comes against Bolton Wanderers at the Leigh Sports Village Stadium on Tuesday 21st July.

Scolari joins Bunyodkor

More crazyness from the world of Uzbek football, from Worldsoccer.com.

Former Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has been named coach of Bunyodkor, the Uzbek champions have confirmed.

The 60-year-old World Cup winning coach, who was sacked by the Premier League club in February, has agreed an 18-month contract with the Uzbek side.

Scolari succeeds fellow Brazilian Zico, who led Bunyodkor to the league and cup double and Asian Champions League semi-finals last year before quitting in December to join CSKA Moscow.

“Uzbek football now creates its own success story, especially Bunyodkor with its remarkable dynamism and prospects for the past four years,” said Scolari.

“I know that I am in the right place at the right time and in the right team.”

Denilson To Play In V-League

Following on from a crazy story I blogged about a couple of months ago about former World Class footballers moving to small leagues and clubs, here is another.

Former Brazilian international Denilson, once the world's most expensive footballer, has agreed to play for a mid-table Vietnamese side, newspapers reported on Tuesday.
A member of Brazil's 2002 World Cup winning team, Denilson, 31, will join Hai Phong Cement for the second half of the professional V-League season that begins this month, Thanh Nien newspaper said.

It said Denilson had his first practice session with the team on Monday.

African, European and Asian players have become common on Vietnamese football teams but a World Cup winner of Denilson's stature is a rarity for the country.

Neither Thanh Nien nor other newspapers said how much Denilson will be paid, and club officials could not be reached by AFP.

'I don't know anything about Vietnamese football,' Denilson told Thanh Nien, adding that football is the same everywhere.

He said a Brazilian friend introduced him to the country.

'I come to Vietnamese football with my passion,' he said, expressing a hope to play in the communist country for a long time.

Hai Phong Cement (Xi Mang Hai Phong) are currently sixth of 14 teams in the V-League.

Denilson was capped 68 times and became the world's most expensive player when he moved to Spanish side Real Betis from Sao Paulo in 1998 for 21.5 million pounds. He also played in the 1998 World Cup final, which Brazil lost to France.