Football news: Nakamura returns home to Japan after failing to impress in Spain

SHUNSUKE Nakamura will return to Japan for the first time in eight years after a deal was completed between Spanish club Espanyol and Yokohama F Marinos.

The 31-year-old midfielder has struggled to impress in Spain since joining the Primera Liga side on a free transfer from Celtic last summer and Marinos president Akira Kaetsu flew to Barcelona on Thursday to finalise negotiations.

"CD Espanyol and Yokohama Marinos have reached an agreement for the transfer of Shunsuke Nakamura, who will join the Japanese side in the coming days," read a short statement on Espanyol's official website.

Details of the deal have not been disclosed but Japanese media have reported that Marinos will pay around ?1.5million for the Japan international, who is keen to increase his playing opportunities ahead of this summer's World Cup.

Nigeria opt for Lagerback

NIGERIA have appointed former Sweden coach Lars Lagerback as the man to lead them to the 2010 World Cup finals.

Lagerback saw off competition from compatriot Sven-Goran Eriksson for the role, while another former England boss, Glenn Hoddle, was also in pole position until Lagerback was interviewed by the Nigerian Football Federation on Friday.

NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire admitted Lagerback had pipped Hoddle and former Senegal coach Bruno Metsu to the job.

He said: "Previously Bruno Metsu was ahead, Glenn Hoddle took over on Wednesday but in the end it was Lagerback, who (was interviewed] last, who won it. He has now signed a five-month contract to take Nigeria to the World Cup."

Lagerback succeeds Shaibu Amodu as coach of the Super Eagles after they finished third at the African Nations Cup last month. The Swede will watch Nigeria's friendly against DR Congo on Wednesday and will be based in Nigeria from next month until the World Cup finals in South Africa. Lagerback has huge experience of international coaching. He was co-coach of Sweden at Euro 2000 alongside Tommy Soderberg and led the team outright from the summer of 2004 until 2009, when he resigned following their failure to qualify for the World Cup.

Bairn on loan at Fifers

FALKIRK midfielder Stewart Murdoch has joined East Fife on a month's loan. The 19-year-old has made three substitute appearances for the Bairns this season, the last in the goalless Clydesdale Bank Premier League draw with Motherwell a month ago.

Murdoch broke into the Falkirk first-team squad after graduating from the club's academy last summer.

Messi the media darling

LIONEL Messi and Barcelona are football's most valuable media brands, according to a new study by a Spanish university.

The University of Navarra's Economics, Sport and Intangibles Research Group calculated "media value" by monitoring internet presence and the volume of press articles and gave Argentina forward Messi the top ranking for players of 21.6 points.

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo was second with 19.6 points and Manchester United's Wayne Rooney third with 13.6. Barca topped the clubs' ranking with 96.6 points with Real jumping to second on 83 and Manchester United third on 65.4.