Sports Briefs

Schumacher family asks for privacy

GLAND, Switzerland (AP):

Michael Schumacher's family has asked for understanding as it continues to keep details of his health private ahead of the seven-time Formula One champion's 50th birthday.

In a statement published on Facebook on Wednesday, one day before his birthday, the family says: "You can be sure that he is in the very best of hands and that we are doing everything humanly possible to help him. Please understand if we are following Michael's wishes and keeping such a sensitive subject as health, as it has always been, in privacy."

No details on Schumacher's current health were given. The former F1 champion suffered serious head injuries in an accident while he was skiing with his teenage son Mick in the French Alps at Meribel on December 29, 2013.

Schumacher hit the right side of his head on a rock, splitting open the helmet. Doctors worked to remove blood clots from his brain, but some were left because they were too deeply embedded. Schumacher's condition stabilised after he was placed in a drug-induced coma, from which he later emerged.

LA Galaxy hire new coach

CARSON, California (AP):

Guillermo Barros Schelotto has been named the LA Galaxy's new head coach.

The five-time MLS champions announced the move yesterday.

Schelotto had been the head coach of Boca Juniors since March 2016, winning two championships in Argentina's top division. He also played a decade with Boca Juniors before spending four seasons with MLS' Columbus Crew from 2007-10, scoring 38 goals and earning the league MVP award in 2008.

Schelotto replaces Dominic Kinnear, who finished out last season as the Galaxy's interim coach in place of Sigi Schmid. The Galaxy missed the play-offs for the second consecutive year despite a stellar debut season by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.