Cuper takes over Betis

SEVILLA: Former Inter Milan and Valencia coach Hector Cuper took over at Real Betis on Monday. The Argentine coach led Valencia to two straight Champions League finals in 2000 and 2001 before heading to Inter Milan. In Italy, Cuper took Inter to the semi-finals of both the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. Cuper also coached Mallorca, reaching the 1999 Cup Winners Cup final and the 1997 Copa del Rey final. Betis finished in 16th place in the Spanish league last season, escaping relegation on the last day. — AP

Park out till January

TOKYO: Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson revealed that midfield dynamo Park Ji-sung will be out of action until January. The South Korean star injured his right knee in a Premier League match against Blackburn Rovers on April 1 and has not played since. He was operated on in late April by knee specialist Richard Steadman, who helped save the careers of Alan Shearer and Michael Owen. Park signed with United from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in 2005 after helping his national team reach the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup. — AFP