Mario Balotelli gave away his Liverpool shirt at half-time against Real Madrid in a moment that symbolised the gaping gap between the two sides; and there will be now be inevitable speculation over whether he will ever get it back again.

Brian Carey reflects on the long football journey which has taken him from Cork City to Wolves as assistant to Dean Saunders.

New Wolves manager Dean Saunders will be unveiled to the media this afternoon although outgoing boss Stale Solbakken believes he should have been given more time to turn the club’s fortunes around.

In Barcelona they joke that if Catalonia wins independence at least Real Madrid will be able to win La Liga. Come next Saturday night even that might be beyond Jose Mourinho and his men.

In recent years, the moments at which successive Ireland managers have reached the point of no return have usually been accompanied by howls of rage and frustration from the stands.

John Toshack has had his contract as Macedonia boss terminated after just a year in charge.

You know you’ve arrived when they name a street after you.

Record goalscorer Ian Rush has rejected the suggestion striker Andy Carroll is not a Liverpool-type player and has backed the £35m signing to come good in time.

FEW clubs boast a tradition of potent partnerships quite like Liverpool.

ARMENIA stunned Slovakia with four second-half goals in Zilina to blow Ireland’s Euro 2012 qualifying Group B wide open.

RUSSIA, Ireland’s next Group B opponents, will go into Tuesday’s clash in Moscow in confident mood after beating John Toshack’s Macedonia in Moscow last night.

FORMER Wales boss John Toshack has taken over as manager of Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 qualifying rivals Macedonia.

Wales midfielder Andy King believes victory in tomorrow night’s Carling Nations Cup opener against the Republic of Ireland would be the perfect boost ahead of next month’s eagerly-anticipated meeting with England.

NEW Wales boss Gary Speed believes his players will be in a “no-lose”position when they resume their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign against England in March.

The Football Association of Wales have announced the appointment of Gary Speed as the new Wales manager.

The three-month search for a new Wales manager finally comes to an end today with the expected appointment of Gary Speed.

Gary Speed is poised to be confirmed as the new manager of Wales tomorrow.

Wales 0 Bulgaria 1

Captain Craig Bellamy is out of Wales’ Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland next month.

Brian Flynn has been confirmed as caretaker manager of Wales for the Euro 2012 qualifying matches against Bulgaria and Switzerland next month.

John Toshack today resigned as Wales manager.

Newport-born Stoke boss Tony Pulis would be honoured to manage Wales but admits it is too early in his career to consider it at the moment.

Wales manager John Toshack will clarify his position this afternoon after considerable speculation in recent days that he is poised to quit.

The Football Association of Wales have called a press conference for Thursday afternoon when manager John Toshack is expected to announce his resignation.

Eric Harrison has warned Ryan Giggs if he ends up being installed as new Wales manager he would have to end his stellar career at Manchester United.

John Toshack appears almost certain to step down as Wales boss after spending yesterday in talks at the Football Association of Wales’ headquarters in Cardiff.

JOHN TOSHACK’S six-year tenure in charge of Wales is poised to come to an end following the 1-0 defeat by Montenegro on Friday.

John Toshack will tender his resignation as Wales manager, it is understood.

John Toshack’s future as Wales manager is uncertain as unconfirmed reports began to circulate claiming he was willing to quit.

John Toshack believes his overhaul of the Wales side can bear fruit in the forthcoming Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.

Wales 5 Luxembourg 1

Croatia 2 Wales 0

Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy has surprisingly been named in the Wales squad for this month’s international friendly against Croatia.

England will kick off their Euro 2012 qualification campaign at home to Bulgaria on September 3.

Wales boss John Toshack refused to discuss captain Craig Bellamy’s international future after the 1-0 home defeat to Sweden.

FORMER Arsenal keeper Bob Wilson has called on football authorities to act in the wake of Aaron Ramsey’s horrific injury against Stoke on Saturday.

Liverpool will use Wednesday’s home match against Wigan to commemorate the 50th anniversary of legendary manager Bill Shankly taking over at the club.

Wales 3 Scotland 0

Liechtenstein 0 Wales 2

CRAIG BELLAMY’S international future is in doubt after his yellow card in Saturday’s meek defeat to Finland brought another deflating qualification campaign to a premature end.

Wales boss John Toshack blasted the "sloppy" goals his side conceded in this afternoon's 2-1 World Cup Qualifying Group Four defeat to Finland in Helsinki.

Wales 1 Russia 3

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Alex Ferguson claims Eduardo’s two-match European ban for diving will have got the “message across”.