Besiktas sign Michael Fink

Besiktas have secured the services of German defensive midfielder Michael Fink from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt. The 27-year-old moves for a fee of €1.2m having put pen to paper on a three-year contract. He played for Frankfurt since 2006 and had a particularly good last season in which he scored 4 goals. Fink links up with compatriot Fabian Ernst, who joined Besiktas from Schalke in the January transfer window.

Swiss Super League : Basel : 10.6.09
Thorsten Fink takes coaching job at Basel

Basel have appointed former Bayern Munich midfielder Thorsten Fink as their new coach. The 41-year-old German replaces Christian Gross, who was fired last month after Basel failed to retain their league title and missed out on a place in the UEFA Champions League. Fink has signed a three-year-deal. Fink was dismissed last April from his post as the trainer of Ingolstadt. He also worked with Giovanni Trappatoni as an assistant trainer in summer 2007 with Red Bull Salzburg.

» transfersSpanish Primera Liga : Real Madrid : 9.6.09
Kaka joins Real Madrid for €68m

Real Madrid have signed Brazilian playmaker Kaka from Milan. The reported fee of €68m would make Kaka’s move the second biggest transfer ever with Zinedine Zidane’s €73m switch from Juventus to Madrid in 2001 still holding the all-time record. Kaka, the 2007 FIFA world player of the year, has agreed a contract running until 2015. The 27-year-old is the first step in Real Madrid president Florentino Perez’s plan to return the Spanish side to the glory days of their “galactico” era.

» transfersMLS : San Jose Earthquakes : 9.6.09
Quakes trade Garcia, Weaver

Toronto have acquired defender Nick Garcia and the rights to Canadian forward Ali Gerba from San Jose. The Earthquakes get Toronto’s third round pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft and undisclosed financial considerations. To make room on the roster for Garcia, goalkeeper Greg Sutton was released. Garcia, 30, played every minute in San Jose’s first 12 games this season.

Meanwhile, the San Jose Earthquakes acquired forward Chris Wondolowski from the Houston Dynamo in exchange for forward Cam Weaver. San Jose also received a conditional pick in the 2010 draft. Weaver, who signed with the Quakes in February after two years in Norway, has just one goal in nine appearances for San Jose.

Italian Serie A : Lazio : 9.6.09
Delio Rossi leaves Lazio

Delio Rossi has stepped down as coach of Lazio after deciding he did not have the full backing of the Rome club. Rossi, 48, took over at the cash-strapped side in 2005 and guided them to a third-placed finish in 2007 and UEFA Champions League football the following season. They also lifted the Italian Cup last month but finished 10th in Serie A. Club president Claudio Lotito is believed to be lining up Walter Zenga to succeed Rossi in a bid to improve league performances.

Spanish Primera Liga : Espanyol : 9.6.09
Pochettino agrees new deal

Espanyol have agreed a three-year contract extension with coach Mauricio Pochettino. The former Argentine international took over at the Catalan club from Jose Manuel Esnal “Mane” in January and spectacularly lifted them out of the relegation zone, finishing in 10th place. Aged just 36, Pochettino is one of the youngest coaches in the Primera Division. Espanyol will also be moving in to their new stadium in August, after 10 years of playing at the Montjuic Olympic ground.

French Ligue 1 : 9.6.09
Guyot to coach promoted Boulogne

Ligue 1 newcomers Boulogne have appointed Laurent Guyot as their new coach on a two-year deal. Guyot, 39, a former director of Nantes’ youth academy, replaces Philippe Montanier, who left the club last week to take charge of Valenciennes. Montanier lifted Boulogne up from the amateur leagues into the top flight in just five years. They finished third in the French second division last season, behind Lens and Montpellier.

Portuguese Super Liga : Benfica : 9.6.09
Coach Flores set for Benfica exit

Quique Sanchez Flores is set to stand down as Benfica coach after a disappointing season in which they could only finish third in the Portuguese top flight. The Spaniard had a contract that ran through until the end of next season, but according to media reports he accepted to leave early in return for a financial payoff. Favourite to take over is Braga coach Jorge Jesus.