The shockwaves of the 2008-2009 season are being felt in some European leagues as the season ended in most nations on the weekend. Some major and minor moves have already been made, and if you don’t keep up with them now, you may not know who’s who when next season starts.

First of all, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan quit his job after the last game on Sunday as Celtic could only muster a draw at home to Hearts. This meant their quest for a fourth straight Scottish Premier league title was over and arch enemy and cross town rivals Rangers won the league. This move may prove that Strachan has some ulterior motives as it’s been rumoured he will take over at English Premier League team Sunderland as their manager Ricky Sbragia also quit after the last game, a 3-2 loss at home to Chelsea. But despite Sragbia appearing to be clueless by leaving his top league scorer Djibril Cisse on the bench again, Sunderland managed to stay up. And speaking of  Cisse, it’s no surprise that his contract won’t be renewed and he’ll be on the move soon.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood also quit after guiding the SPL club to a Europa League spot next season.





Up in Newcastle, it appears that interim manager Alan Shearer may be ready to sign a four year deal to take over the just-relegated Geordies. The contract appears to be way too long for a team with Newcastle’s recent problems, especially for an unproven manager. Start off with a two-year deal and see how it goes. What’s the rush?

Aston Villa will also try to resign Gareth Barry, who has a year to go on his contract with the Birmingham club.

In Holland, Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam grabbed manager Martin Jol from fifth-place German Bundesliga club SV Hamburg and signed him to a three-year contract.  Ajax manager Marco van Basten resigned after missing out on a Champions league spot.

In other Bundesliga news, Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez will sign with Bayern Munich in a deal that could make him the most expensive Bundesliga player ever. Both teams and Gomez said they have agreed to a deal that could be worth about €30m. If true, it would be the biggest in German league history. Werder Bremen just raked in some serious coin though as they sold Brazilian playmaker Diego to Juventus for €24.5m. Also, injured striker Vedad Ibisevic has extended his contract with Hoffenheim until 2013.

In France, where there’s still one game left in the season, former Brazilian midfielder Juninho will leave Olympique Lyon at the end of the season. He has won seven Ligue 1 titles with Lyon. The 34-year-old will be let go for free even though he had a year left on his contract. He is suspended for the last game so he’s already played his last match withn the team.

There’s also a game left in Italy, but AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti has said he will remain with the club if he’s asked to. It’s been widely rumoured that he’ll be heading over to Chelsea in England at the and of the season when interim manger Guus Hiddink leaves London and heads back to managing the Russian national team.

Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho signed an extension to stay with the team until 2012 after guiding them to the title this year.

In Greece, Olympiakos has hired former Newcastle player Temuri Ketsbaia is their new manager.

And in Russia, former CSKA Moscow manager Valery Gazzayev has been appointed hired to lead Dynamo Kiev.