Allsopp signs with DC United

Allsopp signs with DC United
Former Socceroos and Melbourne Victory striker Danny Allsopp is heading to the US after signing with Major League Soccer outfit DC United, dashing hopes of an A-League return.

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European Football – Kaka Signs with Real Madrid

After days of speculation, it was revealed yesterday that Kaka signed a £59 million deal with the Real Madrid, leaving AC Milan, the club that gave him plenty of support. Kaka is leaving the club stating that he is trying to help them on their financial difficulties since his transfer has beaten the record of £46.7 million that Real Madrid paid back in 2001 for Zinedine Zidane. The transfer was confirmed late on Monday after the doctors from Real flew to the camp where Brazil’s national team is training for the World Cup qualifier against Paraguay, to run a physical and medical test to the Brazilian player confirming that the player was on good shape and proceeded to consolidate the transfer. Kaka rejected a £100 million transfer to the Premier League club Chelsea at the beginning of the year; in that occasion he said that he rejected the deal because he wanted to stay with the AC Milan and he didn’t want to leave them in the middle of the season. In addition he was emotionally compromised with the team and fans that were begging him to stay. Kaka added that this deal between him and Real Madrid is completely different from the one he could had with Chelsea in that moment. He said that he is doing everything to help the club from the financial crisis they are having in this moment and that even though he didn’t want to leave from the AC Milan, he is doing it for a good cause and also that the team that Real is trying to build and the football project that they have in mind right now will be good for him to maintain his career in the best level. “I can officially say I’m a Real Madrid player. My professional link with AC Milan finishes now, but my sentimental link will never end. Real Madrid intends to build a great team, with historic players such as Raul and Casillas. We will make history again, both in Spain and Europe. I guess the sport project is very good.” The AC Milan directives and players have already thanked Kaka for all of the six years that he had spent with the club, and for all the good things that he gave to the club, victories included. They also wished the best for him in this new journey and thanked him also for the professionalism and commitment that he always had with the club. The new president for the Real Madrid, Florentino Perez, has stated that he wants to build a solid and great team as the one Real had back in 2000 when players like Zidane, Luis Figo, Ronaldo and David Beckham where part of them. The speculation says that Perez is managing names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, David Villa and Franck Ribery to complete the new era of the club. Kaka joined Milan back in 2003 and played a very significant role for the team in various tournaments. The club actually launch Kaka’s career in European football, and he is very grateful for that. The contract that he signed with the Real Madrid is for 5 years and will end up in 2014.

David Beckham Signs Deal With Sharpie

David Beckham, whose autograph is among the most sought-after in the world, will become Sharpie’s global ambassador in a fully integrated global marketing campaign that rolls out initially in the United States in early March and in the UK from May.

Sharpie, a flagship brand of Newell Rubbermaid, will leverage Beckham’s status as an international sports star to increase awareness of Sharpie not only as the preferred autograph marker, but also its many creative uses.

“Like the Sharpie brand, David embodies individuality and creative expression,” said Sharpie global business unit president Howard Heckes. “He is the rare athlete who transcends nationality and sport to command worldwide attention, making him the perfect ambassador for Sharpie marker users who are as passionate about the bold mark of a Sharpie as they are about the colours, variety and almost limitless uses of the product.”

Heckes says the deal will feature Beckham in a global marketing campaign in key regions around the world, including Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific.

“I have always enjoyed signing autographs for people, especially since I used to love getting my heroes’ signatures when I was younger,” said David Beckham. “I love to use Sharpie markers, so it’s a natural choice for me to partner with them.”

Complete details of the Sharpie-Beckham campaign, which will also include print and online advertising, promotional and in-store support, will be announced in May.

Sharpie has a long history of sports sponsorships in the United States. Among the top-name athletes Sharpie has previously partnered with are NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt Jr., Pro Football wide receiver Terrell Owens, Pro Football Hall of Famers Steve Young and Howie Long, and legendary golfers Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. Many athletes use Sharpie markers to sign autographs because they leave a bold, permanent mark.

For further information on how you can have your Sharpie pen branded for business or promotional use, contact Stuart Warne on 01273 632592, email b2b.sales@newellco.com or visit www.newellcocgpp.com.

About Sharpie®

For more than 40 years, Sharpie has been the popular brand of permanent marker associated with the autograph experience. Newell Rubbermaid Office Products Group, maker of Sharpie® markers, is a worldwide leader in the manufacturing and marketing of writing instruments, art products and office organization and technology products, including such well known brands as Paper Mate®, Sharpie®, DYMO® Parker®, Waterman®, EXPO®, uni-ball®, and Rolodex®, among others. Sharpie® markers launched in the UK in 2007. The Sharpie range comprises 12 bold colours plus the new metallic silver and seven types of nib including Sharpie Retractable, Sharpie Fine Point, Sharpie Mini, Sharpie Twin Tip, Sharpie Professional, Sharpie Flipchart and Sharpie CD/DVD Marker. For a range of Sharpie stockists please visit http://www.sharpiebuddy.co.uk.