Could Bayern Munich star Franck Ribéry be trading the Bundesliga for the Hyundai A-League?
Well, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, Western Sydney Wanderers boss Markus Babbel has used his extensive contacts in Germany in an attempt to woo Ribery Down Under.
The Herald say that Babbel and the Wanderers are intent on signing a high-profile marquee to launch the club’s new era at Bankwest Stadium.
But although Ribery is likely to leave Bayern at the end of the season, Babbel admits signing the eight-time Bundesliga champion would be a long shot.
“Of course I was in touch with [Franck],” Babbel said.
“I said ‘OK, if you want to earn a lot of money then you have to go to Qatar or somewhere. But if you want to be a rock star, then you have to come to Australia’.
“I can’t wait the next 100 years. If there’s a chance there [to sign Ribéry], you have to try it. But the chance to get someone like that is maybe one per cent.”
RUN TO THE FINALS: Jets surging as race for the top-six heats up
INS AND OUTS: Golec returns to Gosford on Saturday Night
THE BEST A MAN CAN GET: Gillett to referee final Hyundai A-League match on Friday Night
YOUNG FOOTBALLER: Young Caltex Socceroos star nominated for NAB Young Footballer of the Year award
Janjetovic returns to Suncorp to face demons
It has been nearly two months since Western Sydney Wanderers goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic stumbled into infamy against the Brisbane Roar.
Leading 2-1 away from home in the 95th minute, the ball was rolling past the Wanderers keeper in what appeared to be one of the last kicks of the game.
However, Janjetovic questionably chose to try and control it and inexplicably knocked the ball out for a corner, with the resulting stoppage leading to a last-gasp equaliser from Adam Taggart.
It was a harrowing moment for the experienced glove man, but Markus Babbel did not reach for the hair dryer treatment.
And Janjetovic has bounced back admirably since the incident, shining in the club’s three match unbeaten streak.
“It was a silly thing that happened. I let the team down, I let the coaching staff down – everyone,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“[Babbel] was the first one to come up to me in the change room. He said ‘just keep going on the next one now, stand tall.’ That gave me confidence as well, the way he felt and saw things.
“He knows me better than a lot of the people that have their opinions, because we’re together 24-7, we see each other a lot, we talk.
“I did cop some stick and that’s normal. If you make a mistake like that, it’s bound to come around – people are going to comment and give their thoughts and opinions and what you should have done, what you could have done better, whatever.
“You cop those things on the chin and you move on. If you can’t move on from something like that, if you can’t put it in the bag and forget about it, then I don’t think you’re made to play professional sport.”
Sitting eighth on the ladder, Western Sydney return to Suncorp to face the ninth-placed Roar on Friday night.
And although there’s little but pride to play for for both sides, Janjetovic hopes a clean sheet will go some way toward redemption.
“We’d love to go up there and get a result and to redeem myself from last time,” he said.
“It’s been up and down, the whole season for us. But now we’re getting the results we deserve and the boys are working extremely hard as well. If we just keep doing the right things, we’ll come away with the win.”
https://players.brightcove.net/5472387882001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5993745702001
Divine intervention for Brisbane Roar?
Brisbane Roar may have found more than just a new coach to take the helm if this story is to be believed.
‘God’, otherwise known as Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler – is being reported by the Sydney Morning Herald as a candidate to take the reins at the Queenslanders.
As reported by the Herald, Fowler has seriously impressed Roar power brokers throughout the interview process, with his knowledge of the team and the competition a highlight.
The man who formerly held the record for the quickest Premier League hat-trick (now second to Sadio Mané) sees Brisbane as the perfect place to progress his coaching career.
Interestingly enough, Brisbane’s next opponent, the Wanderers, are coached by Fowler’s former Liverpool teammate Markus Babbel.
The appointment is by no means certain with other candidates being heavily considered for the role, like former Welsh international Carl Robinson.
