Swansea head coach Francesco Guidolin has signed a new two-year contract. The Italian joined the club in January when they were just two points above the relegation zone and has since guided them to 11th place in the Premier League.A board meeting was held at the Liberty Stadium on Wednesday to discuss the 60-year-olds future and it has now been confirmed Guidolin will remain in the role. The Italian members of Guidolins backroom staff - Gabriele Ambrosetti and Diego Bortoluzzi - have also been offered new contracts. Francesco Guidolin has signed a new two-year deal with Swansea Im pleased to confirm that we have reached an agreement with Francesco on a new two-year contract, chairman Huw Jenkins told Swanseas official website.Francesco fully deserves the chance to continue his good work into the new campaign. He was prepared to come into the club at such a difficult time and put himself in a pressure situation with the club fighting for survival.He has achieved the goal of securing top-flight football for this club with plenty to spare and has earned the right to start afresh next season.Its going to be another challenge for everyone, but we are looking forward to seeing how far he can take this squad of players over a full season. Swansea beat West Ham 4-1 at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday There has obviously been a lot of speculation over recent weeks about a possible change of manager, but the board has been impressed with the way he has quietly gone about the job of improving performances and results since January.Jenkins later spoke to Sky Sports News HQ, where he explained further why the board felt Guidolin should be offered a new deal.The timing was right to make sure things are settling down well to make sure we can plan and get things right for the new season, to get Francesco signed up and to move things on, said Jenkins.We felt the clubs he worked for [in the past] were similar to Swansea. We are a smaller club in the Premier League challenging big clubs and he has done that well in Italy.We are looking forward to him having the full preparation of pre-season, to get everything prepared in the right way, and we can all look forward to the season ahead.There was a lot of speculation in the press as to whether we were talking to other managers.We had discussions, and Francesco is aware of that, but the decision to go down this route is the right one for the club.Jenkins also confirmed US investors looking to buy the club had no input into Guidolins appointment. Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins said improved performances persuaded them to offer Guidolin a new contract Guidolin said he was honoured to be given a new deal.It is an important day for me, and I am honoured to be given the chance to continue managing this wonderful club, he told Swanseas website.I came into the club at a difficult time, and it was my first experience of the Premier League. Now, I have the possibility to start my work at the beginning of a new season; something Im excited about.I would like to thank my players first of all, plus the staff and our fans. It was very emotional for me to hear them sing my name after the game at West Ham, and Ive had nothing but good wishes from everyone Ive met on the streets of Swansea.The possibility for me to work with them and for them again is very important to me. Its an honour, and I am grateful to the chairman and the board for giving me this opportunity.Swansea host Manchester City in their final match of the season on Saturday, when they will look to finish their campaign with three victories in a row, following their 3-1 win over Liverpool and Saturdays 4-1 victory against West Ham. Also See: Guidolin unsure over future West Ham 1-4 Swansea QUIZ: Old football grounds Get a ￡10 free bet! Cheap Los Angeles Chargers Jerseys China . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. Cheap Detroit Lions Jerseys China . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. http://www.cheapfootballchina.com/cheap-new-york-jets-jerseys-china_715w.html . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL. Arizona Cardinals Kyler Murray Jersey . Parker had 26 points and eight assists and San Antonio beat Toronto 112-99 Monday night. "We won that game because of Tony Parkers aggressiveness," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "His juice; his aggression all night long. Arizona Cardinals Andy Isabella Jersey . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. ST. LOUIS -- Carlos Martinez pitched seven sharp innings, Jedd Gyorko hit his 29th homer, Brandon Moss homered to break out of a big slump and the St. Louis Cardinals stayed in the middle of the NL wild-card race.All that, but the most memorable moment in the Cardinals 7-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on a rainy Friday night was provided by Matt Holliday.Holliday launched a pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning in what could have been his final at-bat after 7 1/2 seasons in St. Louis.Holliday was given a standing ovation before he stepped into the batters box and was called out for a curtain call after he drove an 0-2 fastball into the right-field bullpen for his 20th homer.I still have chills, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. It was a great crowd and every one of them made that extremely special for him. It meant a great deal to him, probably more than what words can describe.Said longtime teammate Adam Wainwright: You cant make that stuff up.Everybody in the dugout was saying, man, it would be cool if he hit a home run. And he did it on an 0-2 pitch. You just dont see that.Holliday, out since Aug. 12 because of a thumb injury, was activated off the disabled list at his request Friday. The club informed him earlier this week that it is not planning to pick up the $17 million option on his contract for 2017, and instead will pay him the $1 million buyout.Holliday had left the clubhouse before the media was allowed in.The Cardinals began the day trailing San Francisco by one game for the second NL wild-card spot. The Giants played host to the Los Angeles Dodgers.It was special for me watching it as an outsider, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. The career for him is not over but what a reception from a baseball town.ddddddddddddHolliday became the sixth Cardinals player to reach 20 homers this season, tying an NL record. It was the first pinch-hit homer and RBI of Hollidays career and was the 17th overall by St. Louis this year, extending its major league mark.Martinez (16-9) gave up five singles, walked one and struck out nine in his career-high 31st start. John Jaso led off the second with a single and was the only runner to reach third base against Martinez, who left with a 3.04 ERA.Im been pleased with my starts all year, said Martinez, who said he dedicated the game to his friend Jose Fernandez, the Miami Marlins pitcher killed Sunday in a boating accident. I feel comfortable on the mound. Its not just a physical thing but being able to go out there and be comfortable.Tyler Glasnow (0-2) finished his rookie season with his most effective start, working five innings and giving up Gyorkos homer. Glasnow did not allow another Cardinal past second.The Cardinals took a 5-0 lead in the sixth with four runs off reliever Trevor Williams. Yadier Molina and Stephen Piscotty doubled in runs and Moss hit a two-run homer, his 28th.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: LF Starling Marte (back) was not in the lineup and is not expected to play in the final two games.UP NEXTPirates: RHP Chad Kuhl (5-4, 4.25 ERA) lasted two innings in his only start against the Cardinals, a 12-6 loss on Sept. 5.Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (7-7, 4.93) has allowed 10 earned runs in 5 2/3 innings over three relief appearances since returning from the DL. He was picked to start Saturdays game against the Pirates instead of struggling LHP Jaime Garcia. ' ' '