David Beckham: From Hero to Zero

Aston Villa defender Kolo Toure is now the most capped Ivorian player in history after gaining his 119th international cap in an African Cup of Nations qualifying match against Lesotho.

The 34-year-old beat Didier Zokora's record of 118 caps and looks likely to keep that record, with Zokora's last international appearance for Les Elephants having passed months ago.


Toure, who has been a Villa player for two years initially on loan and later permanently, has voiced his delight at beating the record.

"Didier (Zokora) is a very good friend of mine but I feel happy to be able to beat his record. He is a legend here in the Ivory Coast and I'd like to think that I am the same now."

Fans of the Côte d'Ivoire national team would certainly agree, having supported Toure since his first international appearance against Niger in 2000.

It has been a roller-coaster career for Toure with many ups and downs, but it is safe to say that all his international career has been going is up.

Despite being 34 and Aston Villa's fourth-choice defender, he is still favored by Ivory Coast manager Arthur Kone.

"One thing is for sure, he will not stop at 119 caps," said Kone. "Kolo is a quality defender and he can still play for at least three years. That's my opinion, at least."

Aston Villa boss David Beckham has also extended his congratulations to one of his squad's oldest players.

"Kolo is a great lad and to see him with this new achievement is fantastic. He is definitely a national legend. No doubt he will build on this. I've read the Ivory Coast manager's comments and I have to agree - Kolo will not stop at 119 caps."

Awesome sponsorship deal and well done Kolo

Well done Kolo!

Great story Glenn

Thanks Alex!

Great to see Kolo beating that record

2013-03-28 00:33#87540 Blue : Great to see Kolo beating that record

Yep

Aston Villa have announced the appointments of former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes, as well as Villa club legend Nigel Spink as first team coaches. The two Englishmen will be joining the backroom staff effective immediately.


Scholes retired after the 2013-14 season and bizarrely, was not retained by United in a non-playing role as Red Devils fans had expected. Instead, the former England international went on to work at Sunderland, where he has remained for a year until receiving the offer to link back up with former teammates David Beckham and Ryan Giggs at Villa Park.


Former goalkeeper Spink, 57, has not been a professional player since 2002, but kept Aston Villa steady in his day. He was brought to Villa for just 4k from lower league side Chelmsford in 1977 at the young age of 18, but he was soon getting his big break as he gradually rose to the first-team in 1982. Spink made 361 league appearances for Villa altogether before leaving to join West Bromwich in 1996, but not before winning the European Super Cup and the Champions' League. Having had managerial and coaching positions at different sides like Forest Green, Wigan, and Sunderland, Spink left Bristol City after three years of coaching at the Robins when Aston Villa came along to offer him a return to the club.


Villa fans are said to be delighted with the new coaches, especially with one of them a club legend.

"Scholesy and Nigel will bring a lot to our coaching team," said Beckham. "While Nigel will bring us his vast experience in coaching, Scholesy has potential to become a top coach and perhaps even a top manager. Our players can only continue to improve with their appointments."

It is said that the hiring of the two was the decision of Beckham, with Villa chairman Randy Lerner not interfering at all.

Scholes for Oldham manager!

It has not been too bad of a month for Aston Villa but David Beckham knows improvements still has to be made if the team wants to go far in the Europa League and the Premier League.





Premier League
Aston Villa 2 - 1 Wigan
Nem
Delph

Swansea 2 - 2 Aston Villa
Fierro
Mattheus

Norwich 1 - 2 Aston Villa
Fierro
Mattheus


Capital One Cup Third Round
Swindon 2 - 5 Aston Villa
Lampard
Kaka
Vlaar
Nem
Fierro




Europa League
Leverkusen 3 - 2 Aston Villa
Walcott
Walcott

An Aston Villa youngster has won the Young Player of the Month award again and this time it is Mexican sensation Carlos Fierro after bagging in 2 goals in his first 3 Premier League appearances - a very bright start to life at Villa Park. Will Hughes also comes in 2nd place for the award.


Villa manager David Beckham has also placed runner-up for Manager of the Month.

Unlucky in the Europa league! I still think you'll qualify from the group stages.

2013-03-28 20:50#87680 SeniOyewumi : Unlucky in the Europa league! I still think you'll qualify from the group stages.

I'm 2nd now, just beat Bordeaux. We will see, soon

Aston Villa and David Beckham went unbeaten the entire month, even thrashing Chelsea 3-0 in the Capital One Cup and making their way up their Europa League group. The season ahead looks bright for the Villans.





Premier League
Aston Villa 2 - 0 Fulham
Campbell
Campbell

Burnley 1 - 3 Aston Villa
Vlaar
Nem
Callejon


Capital One Cup Fourth Round
Aston Villa 3 - 0 Chelsea
Mattheus
Mattheus
Mattheus




Europa League
Aston Villa 3 - 0 Girondins Bordeaux
Campbell
Campbell
Gardner

Sheriff 1 - 5 Aston Villa
Walcott
Blanco
Blanco
Walcott
Nem

Amid criticism from pundits and fans - discussing the size of the Aston Villa squad and how there was not enough places for up-and-coming stars and players that deserved to play, Villa manager David Beckham has hit out at these critics in an interview with Sky Sports.

"Competition is healthy," claimed the 40-year-old. "Everyone knows that their first-team spot isn't guaranteed. They could be in the first team today and only return to it again one month later. So everyone will be working to be consistent and everyone will be doing their best to play well for a first-team role. It only benefits."

The criticism came after both Daniel Montero and Jesus Blanco, young 18-year-old internationals who had joined Villa in the summer with 2 caps for Uruguay and 6 caps for Paraguay respectively, have now been forced to temporarily halt their budding careers for country because of their lack of first-team playing time at Villa Park.

Uruguay manager Gustavo Matosas said recently: "Daniel is a very good player but if he wants to stop playing in the youth levels then he must be turning out regularly for Aston Villa. Sitting on the bench and playing for the Reserves won't do any good to his international career."

Paraguay manager Gerardo Pelusso echoed the same words about Blanco.

Subsequently, both Montero and Blanco were not included in the squad for their countries' South American World Cup Qualifying matches.

However, it seems Beckham has no intention of stopping his 'healthy competition' regime to accommodate the two promising wonder kids.

Aston Villa played Sheriff Tiraspol in their fourth Europa League game, securing three points against the Moldovan side to jump 6 points ahead of Girondins Bordeaux to 2nd in the four-club table. With their third win in four games, the Villans are now looking likely to advance to the knockout rounds of the European competition.

However, the win was not all fun and games for David Beckham's side.

It was, instead, a thrilling 6-4 win as Aston Villa came back from 3-1 down, delivering a magnificent comeback.


Despite the win, Beckham has been enraged with goalkeeper of the day Mattia Perrin for conceding "4 stupid goals", as the English manager claims.

Indeed, most of the goals conceded by the Italian goalie were individual mistakes.

"He conceded 4 stupid goals," Beckham said angrily, talking to press in the post-match interview. "I gave him a chance to play and this is what he shows me. Then, fine. This will be the last 90 minutes he is going to play for Aston Villa."

Fans and the media are now expecting Perrin to be shipped out in January.

Mattia Perrin has a 7.0 rating despite conceding 4 goals. Maybe it was your defense's fault.