Soccer Extreme : A few weeks ago, Nives Celzijus became known in the English speaking world because she wrote an autobiography and claimed that she and her husband once had sex on the pitch. Yesterday, it was for her brilliant idea that her husband should while he’s on loan in Germany, and now, she has a few more carefully calculated shocking statements to make.





The pair hit the headlines recently after an excited Nives admitted she and her husband had once romped in the centre circle of the Maksimir stadium, where England were later beaten 2-0 by Croatia in a Euro 2008 qualifer.

Although their little game of one on one had remained a secret for two years, Nives let the cat out of the bag on Serbian TV while promoting her book, The Naked Truth (Gola Istina).


The revelation caused outrage and as a result Drpic, 27, was booted out of his club Dinamo Zagreb, moving to Karlsruher SC of Germany's top division in the January transfer window.

Karlsruhe's new signing Dino Drpic (left)
in action against Hamburg's Jonathan Pitroipa.
Dino is the lucky man who is married to Nives!

And Nives hasn't wasted any time in sharing more intimate details with German newspaper Bild.

When asked, "What has been the best experience in your life?", she answers:

"That will remain my secret.

"But it has always been my greatest dream to have sex on the roof of Real's Santiago Bernabeu stadium in my favourite city, Madrid."

To read the full interview in Bild :

BILD: Were you given the name Celsius because you are so hot?
Nives: No, it is in memory of a great man, the Swedish physicist Anders Celsius [who invented the temperature scale].

BILD: You and Dino are known as the Balkan Beckhams. Are the Beckhams an inspiration for you?
Nives: Oh no. Dino (27) is much cooler and manlier. Dino is a real man, who has no problem showing his emotions. I find Beckham totally uninteresting. The van der Vaarts are a much better-looking couple.

BILD: Apparently not every part of Victoria Beckham is real. In contrast to you, or so your husband says…
Nives: You can see with the Beckhams that not everything is real. Dino is the type of guy who likes big breasts but hates silicone. I am lucky that Mother Nature didn't neglect me in that area.

BILD: Who is the best looking coach in the Bundesliga?
Nives: I don’t really follow the coaches, they are too old for me. I will only be able to name the best looking player at the end of the season when I have watched them all properly. The best looking player worldwide – after my Dino – is definitely Cristiano Ronaldo.

BILD: What has been the best experience in your life?
Nives: That will remain my secret. But it has always been my greatest dream to have sex on the roof of Real's Santiago Bernabeu stadium in my favourite city, Madrid.

BILD: Is sex before a game forbidden?
Nives: That subject is always problematic. But I am pretty sure that it doesn’t have any effects on Dino’s performance.

BILD: How do you always manage to look so relaxed and cool in photos?
Nives: I am always in a good mood. But I am more shy than it seems in photos.

BILD: What plans do you have?
Nives: I would love to have a career here in Germany. I don’t just want to be a housewife of a footballer. That would be too little for me.

Soccer Extreme : Andrei Arshavin doesn't trust British hair stylists to shave his locks - so he is flying in his personal groomer from his native Russia.
The Arsenal new boy doesn't appear to have the most sophisticated cut, but his wife Yulia has told the 27-year-old to bring over the guy who has been coifing his hair for the last two years in St Petersburg.




'We agreed that I'll fly over to London when necessary,' said stylist Denis Volkov. 'He's going to be very busy for the next couple of months and it's unlikely he'll have time to use my services in St Petersburg.'
Just out the shower-------------------------------Just out of bed--------------------Just seen a ghost----











Untroubled by the credit crunch crisis gripping both countries, Yulia insisted on Volkov's regular visits to Britain, according to Tvoi Den newspaper.

'Yulia superstitiously distrusts hairdressers in London and insisted that her husband paid for his personal stylist's trips to London for his hair cuts,' claimed the paper.

Volkov said: 'Naturally he'll have to fund my trips. But it's not a problem, he can afford it. Yulia first approached me when she found out that I was doing hair styles for Russia's leading figure skaters and former Miss Universe Oksana Fedorova.

'She told me I was someone she could trust to work on her husband's hair.

'Before Andrei left Russia I cut his hair shorter than normal so that he wouldn't need me too soon.

Volkov stressed: 'It's easy to work for him. So far he liked everything I did. I've changed his style from glamorous Vidal Sassoon to simple "streetwise guy" and I had no complaints from him or Yulia.'


Andrey Arshavin meets the fans

Soccer Extreme : The former football legend and current coach of the Argentina's national team Diego Maradona is likely to spend a year in jail after being involved in a seemingly hit-and-run incident in Buenos Aires three years ago.

Diego Maradona involved in a hit-and-run incident?

According to the Sun, the former football player, age 48, smashed his 4x4 into a phone booth and and due to the impact, glass shards stroke two pedestrians who happened to be nearby. Although the unlucky victims were visibly injured as they suffered severe cuts, witnesses say Maradona left immediately without giving his personal details or helping the victims.

One of the alleged victims says, "It came zig-zagging along, went up on the sidewalk, knocked over the phone booth, and the shattered glass injured us."

A witness at the scene added: "I saw Maradona and two other people leave walking."

Nevertheless, Argentina's national team's coach claimed that he wasn't driving the car at the moment of impact. The former footballer confessed that he was a passenger when his crash smashed into the phone booth.

Still, justice is not blind and a judge forced him to appear in court and now he faces a one-year in jail sentence. So far we have no details about what caused the crash. We do hope drug use was not involved in the matter. But perspectives are not bright as the driver apparently lost control of his vehicle and smashed into the phone booth. Why did he lose control, anyway?

Another clue that something fishy might have been going on is that the driver immediately left the scene of the accident without giving any details. If Maradona was "clean" why would he run away in such a cowardly manner?

Soccer Extreme : he head of the judicial committee of Italy Pierluigi Collina told about the contents of the discussion during the meeting of the FIFA Committee for consideration of amendments to the rules of football. In particular, the Northern Ireland Football Association has proposed to introduce the orange card.




Collina, gave his views on the proposal to have two officials behind the goal: "Platini likes the idea of the extra officials on the pitch and the Italian FA are ready to experiment but the decision remains with the head of referees (at UEFA)."

The bald pated former referee added: "There is also talk of an orange card, which could be used when a red card is too much and a yellow too little." He added that "There are certain situations where the red card is too harsh and yellow is too lenient."

The International Football Association Board is due to meet next weekend where the orange card idea is expected to be discussed.

Collina The Cleaner

Caricature ....

Soccer Extreme : "Kaka has made it pretty clear that he 'belongs to Jesus'," wrote Jamie Jones, with reference to the 2007 Champions League final we'll be bound. "But have any other players publicly displayed their religious views on the field?" he asked.




O yea, came the reply from many of the Knowledge brethren. First in line, like an eager Catholic queueing up to receive booze and biscuit from the priest, is Rob Davies. Rob resides in Walsall, and it seems he is not the only one. "The Brazilian striker Junior scored for my hometown club," he writes, "and celebrated by lifting up his top to reveal a T-shirt with the slogan 'Jesus lives in Walsall'." Not that Rob was particularly impressed. "Jesus must have lived in Derby as well, because that's where Junior went the season after."

While Mr Christ's exact address may remain a moot point, there is one thing we know for certain. And that's that he loves us. This is because, in addition to Kaka, we've also been told by numerous other Brazilian internationals. "Almost the entire 2002 Brazilian squad seemed to have similar slogans under their shirts when they won the World Cup," notes Mohammed Choudhary, he of the amazing X-ray eyes. Of course we jest: Mohammed is no doubt referring to the likes of Lucio and unused substitute Kaka cavorting about in their vests, but only half the team scrawled religious messages on captain Cafu's shirt before he lifted the trophy. "Lucio still does it at Bayern Munich," adds Rajan X, who may or may not be a distant relation of Malcolm.

Speaking of Muslims, and indeed Bayern, Paul Haynes reports how "Franck Ribéry raises his hands to Allah at the beginning of every match as he enters the playing area". As does, Mohammed Choudhary adds, Fredi Kanouté of Sevilla: "He has always been quite open about being a Muslim. Whenever he scored, he would open up his hands in supplication, like most Muslims do after their prayers. He tried to cover the 888.com advert on his Sevilla shirt because gambling is against his religion." Kanouté was even fined €3,000 by the Spanish Soccer Federation for celebrating a goal against Deportivo de La Coruña by lifting his shirt to reveal a T-shirt with the word 'Palestine' adorning it, plus other Arabic words. Article 120 of the rules and regulations in Spain prohibits players from displaying religious or political messages on the pitch.

Franck Ribéry (left) & Fredi Kanouté (right)




















Getting his message across on the field was something devout Christian Marvin Andrews was only too happy to do while at Rangers. "I don't remember any T-shirts," writes Ciaran Carey, "but he publicly declared having sought God's advice on transfer matters and also spurned an operation on a cruciate ligament injury, declaring his faith would see him through." Reinforcing his religious outlook, Andrews explained to Small Talk in 2007 why homosexuality "is against the word of God", adding that "the Bible said that it's an abomination to God; that God created a man to be with a woman or a woman to be with a man. Simple as that." The Knowledge also vaguely recalls listening to Andrews being interviewed on Radio Five Live in the immediate aftermath of Rangers' 2003 SPL win. Upon being asked for his reaction, Andrews sobbed uncontrollably for the best part of a minute, before screaming "I love God" for another 60 seconds or so. It was an improvement on "the boys done good", at least.

Soccer Xtreme : The 24-year old Spanish hotshot revealed his Dancing On Ice wish when he was asked in his homeland how he had settled down to life on Merseyside. Nando said he watched all the TV sport he could and his favourite gangster movies such as Goodfellas, The Godfather and Casino.





He added: “The television in England is very good and there is a lot that I enjoy to watch.

“There is a programme called Dancing On Ice where a celebrity and a skater perform together. It is very artistic and elegant to watch. The couples move very gracefully together.

“Sometimes the celebrity will fall over, which can be amusing.

“But it must be very difficult. One day perhaps you may see me on the programme, too.”

Madrid-born Nando’s Liverpool team-mates are well aware of his love for the Sunday night ITV1 show, which stars former Olympic ice dance champs Christopher Dean, 50, and Jayne Torvill, 51.

A club insider revealed how Torres makes arrangements to have it recorded if his football commitments get in the way.

But the source added: “He’s going to have to wait until his playing days are over before he hits the ice.

“Can you imagine Rafa’s face if he was told his £20m star player had injured himself doing a pirouette on the rink? It doesn’t bear thinking about.”

Soccer Extreme : Wayne Rooney, who often produces magic on the field, has confessed that he's mad about the magical world of Harry Potter. The Manchester United ace is, apparently, spellbound by the Hogwarts character.






When Wayne was asked to name his top book as part of a scheme to encourage young fans to read, the 23-year-old named the schoolboy wizard's first adventure Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, reports the Daily Star.



"The Harry Potter books are favourites with a lot of children, and the same goes for a lot of adults," he said.

"I'd encourage any child to read them, because they really get your imagination going," he added.

The striker also revealed that he loves football pal Jamie Carragher's autobiography.

"I find it interesting to read about how other sportsmen got to where they are today," he said.

Soccer Extreme : Furious LA Galaxy fans launched a scathing protest against David Beckham for attempting to engineer a permanent move to AC Milan. The MLS side took on Japan’s Oita Trinita in a friendly last night but large areas of Galaxy's 27,000-capacity Home Depot Centre were left empty as fans stayed away.

Scroll more ...

Crowd puller: No Beckham, no fans at the Home Depot Center in LA for the Galaxy's match against Oita Trinita

Some supporters who did turn up wore masks and donned t-shirts with the words "Let Beckham Go" scrawled on the front in a clear swipe at the 33-year-old's antics.

Last year, games featuring Beckham regularly sold out because of the star's huge appeal among American fans.

But the midfielder has been on loan at Italian giants Milan since January during the MLS off-season and Galaxy supporters snubbed their side’s return to action against Oita yesterday.

Getting shirty: LA Galaxy fans get their message across


Beckham has been in sensational form for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, scoring two goals and proving a smash hit with fans and teammates alike.

But his spell at the San Siro is due to end on March 9, when he is expected to return to LA.

However, his impressive performances have led to Milan attempting to extend his stay in Italy – and Beckham is determined to seal a long-term switch to Italy.

The game between Galaxy and Oita was a dull affair, with the Americans overcoming their opponents 2-0.

Edson Buddle gave the home side the lead in the 44th minute, blocking Yoshiaki Fujita's errant pass, before going on a breakaway and placing a shot beyond goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa.

And ex-Manchester United youth player Jovan Kirovski converted a penalty in the 53rd minute to seal the victory.

Meanwhile, Milan vice president Adriano Galliani insists talks over Beckham's move remain positive.

He said: "In the past few hours we have taken steps forward.

"We are more confident now."

Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi added: "I would like it if he stays with Milan because his passing is essential."

Soccer Extreme : Joining the likes of Jose Reyes and Julio Baptista in the hall of “I hate England” ranters, Spurs striker Roman Pavlyuchenko complained about different things are from the food to the women. Shockingly, weather wasn’t an issue for the Russian.





On food…

“I don’t like English dishes,” Pavlyuchenko told the Telegraph. “At the Spurs training ground, the food is modest. All they have there is a simple canteen,” he said.

“At the Spartak training camp, near Moscow, the choice and quality is better. But since my wife Larisa joined me in London it’s not a problem for me any more.”

“She is a good cook and now I eat at home. I’m back to my favourite borsch and vareniki - dumplings stuffed with cottage cheese - and from this point of view I now feel as if I never moved countries.”

On women…

“Russia, of course - there can’t be any comparison.”

On dumb commentators…

“I hear how all the English football commentators pronounce my last name - but I can’t even reproduce it,” he said.

“It sounds so distorted. I can’t even say it.”

Soccer Extreme : Fans attending English soccer club Arsenal's games could be able to watch replays of goals or contentious tackles on Sony's PlayStation Portable (PSP) devices by the end of next season.





The Premier League club's commercial director Adrian Ford said a Sony-developed application would allow fans to watch live streaming video of a game, along with data and statistics, and give the ability to watch near-instant replays.

The personalised system had been tested and could be rolled within 18 months, Ford said in an interview with Reuters TV.

Sony Europe's director of retail, transport and venues Eric Siereveld said personalised video was the next technological step for Arsenal's state-of-the-art Emirates Stadium, and it could even allow supporters to create in-game communities.
"This device will brings an extra dimension to the game with information and statistics," he told Reuters TV.

"But we think that the next generation of the software that runs it could actually link fans during the game with each other."

Ford said Arsenal fans were already used to watching pre-match entertainment and in-match statistics on hi-definition screens in the stadium in north London, which opened in 2006

"What we are trying to do is pump a variety of different entertainment on to those screens to help you arrive earlier and maybe stay later," he said, adding that the club had doubled revenue since the stadium move.

"There are a few rights issues that we have to overcome but on the basis that we do that, we think it's a product we can offer to our fans within the next 18 months or so," he said.

Soccer Extreme : Arsenal's comeback hero Eduardo Da Silva last night revealed he still has not received an apology from the man who shattered his ankle 12 months ago with an horrific tackle.

OPENING UP ... Eduardo reveals all during his
exclusive interview with The Sun

In an exclusive interview in today’s Sun, the Gunners striker, 25, speaks for the first time of the trauma and anguish he endured as he battled to recover from Birmingham defender Martin Taylor’s hideous challenge.

duardo made a spectacular first-team return on Monday, scoring two goals in Arsenal’s 4-0 FA Cup triumph over Cardiff.

But he still struggles to understand why Taylor never picked up the phone to say sorry.

Eduardo said: “Some friends told me he was saying he’d spoken to me — but he never did. I’ve never met him.

"And someone at Arsenal received an email from him when I played for the reserves at Barnet a short while back and it said he was pleased I was playing again.

“I have received lots of mail from other people. I’ve had around 25,000 emails — from Croatia, Brazil and England — wishing me a speedy recovery and I’ve had letters by the sackful.

"But he’s never sent anything directly to me.”

The Croatian star’s nightmare began last February when his leg and ankle were broken by Taylor’s red-card lunge during a league clash at St Andrew’s.

Taylor, 29, has always maintained he never set out to hurt Eduardo and says he was distraught at what happened.

Eduardo added: “I did not see the tackle coming, so there was no way I could ride the challenge because I was not expecting it. When I was tackled I heard a crack.

“All I can say was that I had the ball under control for what seemed like a long time.

“But I don’t want to talk about the incident. It’s probably best left alone now.” (The Sun)

Horror Picture

February 23, 2008,
Birmingham City vs Arsenal FC

Soccer Extreme : After speculation on the love life of Frank Lampard and the possible split from fiance Elen Rives I was sent to one of his houses in West London. There were a few photographers milling around, one from the Daily Mail, The Daily Star and The Sun, clearly a good tabloid gossip story




There had been Paparazzi agency photographers present, but after a couple of hours had decided that the Lampards were not at home home. Myself and the remaining Newspaper photographers decided that we would move to the opposite side of the road, away from the house. This would allow us to take photos in a civilised manner and not intimidate the household.








>> The Lampard front door had a heart shaped balloon tied to the front, this caused some confusion in the Mirror offices after they saw the photo.


Frank came out of the house after lunch but was holding one of his children, in the 1990's this would have made little difference but these days quite rightly the Daily Mirror would not publish such images.

Later on Frank's fiance Elen Rives left the house. She was on her own and the rest of the household remained inside.

We remained on the other side of the street and used longer lenses for the pictures. Thankfully there were no paparazzi agencies nearby, some of which would use wide angle lenses and go for the 'in you face' approach which rarely produces better images and tends to antagonise the subject. (Mirror)

Soccer Extreme : Milan are the most beloved Italian team in Europe and South America. The most famous team in Europe is again Milan with more than 21 million fans in the continent: almost 50% are women.



Milan are the most beloved Italian team in Europe and South America. Almost 50% of the entire Rossoneri fanbase is made up of women. The most famous Italian team in Europe is Milan with more 21 million fans in the continent, of which almost 50% are women.

This great result emerges from the second edition of the study "Football Top 20 2008/2009" realised by SPORT+MARKT and based on research done in 16 European countries*.

The ample distribution of Rossoneri fans in the continent "makes the Club an excellent platform for sponsorisation of international companies," comments Giorgio Brambilla, Director of Marketing & Sales of SPORT+MARKT Italia.

Moreover 45% of European fans outside of Italy who support an Italian team, support Milan.

A special data in this year's "Football Top 20" report (conducted in Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil) analyses the location of fans of the most important teams in South America. The final result is that AC Milan beat Manchester United and occupy the third position with 3.9 million fans, after Real Madrid and Barcelona, confirming they are also the most beloved team in South America.

The 16 countries in Europe which were researched were: United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey, Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Switzerland, Austria, Russia, Croatia.

Most Popular Clubs of Europe

1. FC Barcelona....................44,2 mio.
2. Real Madrid......................41 mio.
3. Manchester United..........37,6 mio
4. Chelsea FC........................25,6 mio.
5. Zenit St. Petersburg........23,9 mio.
6. Liverpool FC.....................23 mio.
7. Arsenal..............................21,3 mio.
8. AC Milan...........................21 mio.
9. Bayern Münih..................19,8 mio.
10. Juventus.........................17,5 mio.
11. CSKA Moskova...............11,1 mio.
12. Inter Milan.....................10,3 mio.
13. Olympique Lyon..............9,4 mio
14. Olympique Marsilya........9,4 mio.
15. Galatasaray.......................9 mio.
16. Spartak Moskova.............8,1 mio.
17. Fenerbahçe.......................7,3 mio
18. Wisla Krakow...................6,5 mio
19. Ajax...................................6,5 mio.
20. Dynamo Moskova...........5,7 mio.

Soccer Extreme : Raul Gonzalez broke Real Madrid's all-time scoring record on Sunday, surpassing the previous mark of 307 goals held by Alfredo di Stefano. Raul, as Gonzalez is known, scored twice in Madrid's 4-0 win over Sporting Gijon in the Spanish league to take his tally to 309 goals in official competitions in over 15 seasons with the club.




The 31-year-old Madrid captain went one better than Di Stefano by turning in Sergio Ramos' short cross with the inside of his left foot in the 15th minute. He then seized on a loose rebound inside the box in the 76th to complete the scoring at El Molinon stadium.

Raul needed 504 competitive matches compared to Di Stefano's 401 to set the mark. Raul has scored 216 league goals - fifth-best on the career list - and 11 in 18 games this season.

"He's always in the first line of battle," Madrid coach Juande Ramos said. "He's the one who lays himself on the line, the one who carries the weight of the team and you can only congratulate him."

Gonzalez also tops Spain's scoring list with 44 goals from 102 international matches, and is the career leader in UEFA competitions with 66 goals, including a leading mark of 64 in the Champions League.

Maldini, Del Piero, Fabregas
Hail Record-Breaker Raul

Paolo Maldini
AC Milan’s Paolo Maldini who himself last night took part in what should be his very last Milan derby, said: “Raul is an icon of Spanish and world football.

“He has won everything with Real Madrid and he has always been a reference point for all young forwards. He is a positive example of a football champion.

“His professionalism and his constant dedication in training is just one of the many characteristics of a true champion.

“Of all the goals he has scored and the successes he has had, surpassing Di Stefano’s record is, of course, one of his most important achievements and he has now rightly earned his place in the club’s history books.

“I congratulate him and I send him my best for the future, as I believe he still has a lot to give to Spanish and international football,” the 40-year-old affirmed.


Alessandro Del Piero
The Juventus captain, widely regarded as Italy’s version of Raul, believes that ‘El Siete’ will continue shattering more records.

“308 official goals is an historic, unique and incredible achievement and surely it is just another step for a great champion who has demonstrated, over the years, his great qualities,” he told EFE news agency.

“I am sure he will continue to show that for a long, long time,” he added.




Cesc Fabregas
The Arsenal captain and the future of Spanish football, was equally in awe of his countryman.

“For my generation and the younger generation of Spanish players, Raul has always been an example. His goals, his determination, his work ethic has always been at the same level for many years and he represents continuity,” he professed to EFE.

Cesc then went on to recall one of the striking memories he shared with Raul: “I remember this one moment very well during the 2006 World Cup [after Spain were eliminated by France].

“I could not bear being so helpless after losing and Raul, who had already changed after he was substituted, came to the pitch to console me. He was always there for us when we needed him.

“Raul is a reference to all football players around the globe. In every corner of the world, his image is synonymous to that of Real Madrid. I congratulate him for creating history by scoring so many goals,” he concluded.

In addition to his record 309 goals for Los Blancos, Raul is also Spain’s current leading scorer with 44 goals, the Champions League’s top marksman with 64, and the highest goalscorer in all UEFA official club competition with 66. And with 685 appearances for Madrid, he is closing in on Manuel Sanchis’ record of 712.