Osasuna

[Pat Murphy]

City/Province: Pamplona, Navarre (Basque Region)
Stadium: Estadio Reyno de Navarra
Capacity: 19,800
Club Founded: 1920
Manager: José Ángel Ziganda
Nickname: Los Rojillos

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Jose Angel Ziganda has signed a new deal to stay as Osasuna coach for next season.

Club officials had said Ziganda's future would not be discussed until the end of the season, with Osasuna still not mathematically safe from relegation.

However, Osasuna president Patxi Izco has taken the decision to announce news of Ziganda's contract early, insisting that he has complete faith in the coach.

"We closed the accord during a dinner of two hours," Izco told the Spanish press.

"We have always had confidence in him, even during the worst moments.

"Really we hope that Ziganda will stay with Osasuna for many years."

Ziganda, who led Osasuna to the semi-finals of the Uefa Cup this season, is determined to stay focused on the immediate future.

"I am satisfied with my work but still it is too soon to speak about the next campaign," he said.

"Now the key is to close out quickly the points we need to stay in La Liga."

Source: Skysports

[Pat Murphy]

He's recovered well considering almost as soon as he took over he lost the CL qualifiers. Did well to get an average team to the UEFA Cup Semi's but unfortunately they only gave him a 12 month extension.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Swiss international midfielder Xavier Margairaz has announced he will leave FC Zurich and join Osasuna.

Margairaz confirmed his departure from the Swiss champions after helping them to back-to-back league titles.

Osasuna have been keen on the 23-year-old for some time and have finally landed their man on a three-year contract.

Margairaz is understood to have rejected offers from England and Germany in favour of a move to the Estadio Reyno de Navarra.

Meanwhile, Osasuna defender Cesar Cruchaga has been ruled out of the final two games of the season through injury.

Source: Skysports

[Pat Murphy]

Arsenal's Carlos Vela Moves To Osasuna On Loan

Arsenal's Mexican wunderkind is on his way to Pamplona on a loan deal. The forward, ineligible to play in England without a work permit, spent last season in Spain and will hope to replicate his success in the top division...

18 year old forward Carlos Vela has joined Osasuna on loan, strengthening the Pamplonan club's front line ahead of what is set to be a tough season.

Despite his tender years, Vela has played one season of first team football in Spain already. After almost joining Celta Vigo in La Liga - before this move was halted by Celta's overabundance of non-EU players - he instead went to Salamanca in La Segunda.

Carlos enjoyed a fruitful season with the Charros, netting 8 times in 31 appearances (28 starts, 3 as substitute) and contributing a wealth of assists. Now, the teenager will get the chance to test his abilities at the highest level.

Vela is highly-rated by the Arsenal management, who signed him from Guadalajara after his barnstorming displays in the World U-17 championships in 2005, and is set to be the latest in a long line of youngsters to emerge from the club's pro youth setup.

However, due to being Mexican, he cannot yet play in England without a work permit, which he does not have.

Arsene Wenger mulled over the possibility of keeping the player at the Gunners this season and starting the lengthy application process for such a permit, but instead decided on a second loan deal.

This has the joint effect of giving Vela more first team action whilst also speeding along his chance to get an EU passport, for which players spending a long time in Spain are eligible.

Once he receives this document - and this could happen as early as January - he'd be eligible to play for any club in the Union, including Arsenal.

At 18, Vela will become one of the youngest players in the Osasuna first team. Already dubbed "the next Henry", it remains to be seen how he'll deal with football at the Bernabeu and the Nou Camp.

from Goal.com

Goal.com - Transfer Zone - Arsenal's Carlos Vela Moves To Osasuna On Loan

I watched a bit of him at the U-20 World Cup. He looks like an excellent player but at that tournament he didn't score a single goal and was dubbed the unluckiest player there. Portillo - Vela could be a good partnership next season.

[Super Pibe #7]

3 - 2

_____________________________________________Javi Venta(21 O.G) ________________Rossi(20) _______________________________________________Dady________________________Godin(36)
____________________________________________Javi Garcia(79)

Awesome win for osasuna. Rossi is looking amazing for Villarreal, 5 goals now in 7 games. I would have never thought that he would be the one to replace forlan.

Villarreal conceded two very poor goals. The first 2 goals they let the ball run across the box till the far post, on the first occasion javi venta tried to clear, but he knocked it into his own goal. On the second occasion the free kick was able to go to the far post and dady had an easy tap in.

After 4 goals in the first half, the second half was pretty quiet. Villarreal had a lot of possession, but weren’t able to make enough chances.

Then out of nowhere a weird real Madrid youngster called javi Garcia scored a screamer, he is a fvcking defensive midfielder, he shouldn’t be scoring goals, I think it has to do with doping

Josexto and Ricardo both got sent off in the 90th minute mark but didn’t really matter at that point.

Big loss for Villarreal, they could’ve stayed ahead of Barcelona and only 1 point behind real Madrid if they won. But now they are in third position and 4 points behind the leaders Madrid.

[Super Pibe #7]

1 -2
Portillo(75)______________________Angel(30)
______________________________Valdo(33)

Espanyol continue their good run of form with this win. Espanyol really killed this game in the first half and should’ve scored 3/4 goals. Tamudo and luis Garcia caused osasuna so much problems throughout the match and tamudo should’ve scored early into the game after a one on one chance with Ricardo who saved his shot.

Arsenal fans will be pleased to hear this. Carlos vela came on for javi Garcia and looked immense. He added an extra spark to the osasuna frontline and really should’ve ended the game with at least one goal. He put in a great cross for portillo who headed it into the goal comfortably and then got into a one on one situation with kameni who was able to save his shot.

[kyan]

Osasuna Sign Iranian Star Masoud Shojaei

Spanish club Osasuna announced the signing of Iran midfielder Masoud Shojaei earlier today. The 24 year-old joins fellow Iranian international Javad Nekounam at the club.

Shojaei who is an attacking midfielder has made 15 appearances for Iran’s senior side. He comes to the La Liga club as a free agent since his contract with the UAE side Al Sharjah had expired.

According to the club’s official website, Shojaei signed a three year contract with a six million Euro clause for the first 18 months and three millions there after.

“We have been involved in a dialogue with Osasuna for a year, and an initial agreement was reached about two weeks ago, and the final agreement was signed today”, said Shojaei’s agent Mahmoudreza Fazeli.

“We provided Osasuna with tapes of Shojaei’s recent performances with the Iran national team. They also consulted midfielder Javad Nekounam before making their final decision.”

Club officials announced that Shojaei will be officially introduced to the club and the fans in July prior to the start of their preseason training.

Goal.com - Transfer Zone - Osasuna Sign Iranian Star Masoud Shojaei

Awesome, I haven't seen him play much but he's one of the few players that have looked good in qualifying, pretty good dribbler and crosser but needs to improve his stamina and decision making.

Osasuna are now officially my team in Spain

[Pat Murphy]

Osasuna is quite an interesting team to pick too. They'll need to strengthen quite a lot tho to be safe from a relegation battle next season.

[Pat Murphy]

Goal.com - Valencia - Osasuna Loan Sunny From Valencia

They've started signing already as they have got Sunny from Valencia on loan. I think this is a great signing, Sunny is supposed to be the next big thing for Valencia but he didn't get the minutes last season.

[Pennywise]

Osasuna, is in my opinion, a shame for La Liga, and its the only club I want relegate and never come back.

Much because of their ugly supporters. They've always been bad behaved and Osasuna have always got many dirty players.

[kyan]

The two Iranians got Osasuna an impressive point tonight v Villarreal

With the Pamplona outfit trailing to a Marcus Senna strike, Shojaei came off the bench on the hour to replace Kiki Sola and make his league debut alongside compatriot Nekounam.

Nekounam spent much of last season injured on the sidelines.

Just nine minutes after his introduction to La Liga, Shojaei was brought down in the penalty area by Diego Godin.

Nekounam stepped up to blast the spot kick past Diego Lopez and in to the bottom left corner of the Villarreal net.

With mixed fortunes in the Bundesliga for Iran's legionnaires, the news will be welcome for Iran boss Ali Daei ahead of next weekend's World Cup qualifier in Saudi Arabia.

Goal.com - Asia - Good Day For Iran In Spain