London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho's increasingly tempestuous reign at Manchester United came to an end on Tuesday when the club sacked him after just two-and-a-half years in charge. The Portuguese 55-year-old's unhappiness at the club manifested itself even before the season started. Here AFP Sport picks out five quotes that chart the decline in relations […]

London (AFP) – A Tottenham fan was fined on Tuesday for throwing a banana skin at Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after a court ruled it was a targeted incident with a "racial element". Averof Panteli admitted hurling the item onto the pitch at the Emirates Stadium after the Gabon striker scored and celebrated in front […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Lionel Messi collected a record fifth Golden Shoe award on Tuesday for finishing last season as the top goalscorer in Europe. The striker scored 34 goals in 68 games for Barcelona, putting him ahead of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Tottenham's Harry Kane. Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won the award four times, hit […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho reportedly cried when he heard he had not been chosen as the heir to Alex Ferguson's throne at Manchester United. Once he finally landed his dream job he only lasted two-and-a-half years before leaving Old Trafford with his reputation seriously tarnished. The axe finally fell on the Portuguese on Tuesday, […]

London (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino insists he is focused on doing his best for Tottenham amid reports he is the leading candidate to replace Jose Mourinho at Manchester United. Tottenham manager Pochettino was installed as the bookmakers' favourite to take charge at Old Trafford after Mourinho was sacked by United on Tuesday. United are expected […]

London (AFP) – As Manchester United survey the wreckage of Jose Mourinho's reign, the troubled club's hierarchy would be wise to swallow their pride and copy the successful blueprint established by bitter rivals Manchester City. Mourinho was sacked by United on Tuesday as the Portuguese coach paid the price for the team's worst start to […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba quickly deleted a controversial social media post of him smiling after manager Jose Mourinho was sacked by the club on Tuesday. Mourinho was dismissed on Tuesday after United's worst start in 28 years left them trailing Premier League leaders Liverpool by 19 points. The volatile Mourinho's exit […]

London (AFP) – Gary Neville says Manchester United should target Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager after sacking Jose Mourinho, describing the Spurs boss as the "ideal candidate". Neville, who won multiple Premier League titles during his spell at Old Trafford under Alex Ferguson, said the departure of the Portuguese boss was a chance to […]

London (AFP) – Watching on at Anfield as Manchester United meekly surrendered 3-1 to Liverpool in what proved to be Jose Mourinho's last match in charge, Alex Ferguson was caught shaking his head at the sight of what the empire he built has become. For the fourth time since Ferguson retired in 2013 after nearly […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho reportedly cried when he heard he had not been chosen as the heir to Alex Ferguson's throne at Old Trafford.Five years on, having finally landed his dream job, Mourinho's United tenure also ended in tears. The axe finally fell on the Portuguese on Tuesday, an increasingly inevitable divorce as Mourinho […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United have sacked manager Jose Mourinho after their worst start to a season in almost 30 years, the club announced on Tuesday. The 55-year-old Portuguese's last match in charge was the 3-1 defeat by Premier League league leaders Liverpool on Sunday which left them 19 points behind their opponents. […]

Hong Kong (AFP) – Trailblazing France coach Corinne Diacre said women in football face a constant struggle for acceptance and are often regarded as "objects" despite rising visibility and media coverage of female players. Diacre made history when she became the first female coach of a French men's professional team in 2014, and she is […]

London (AFP) – Hugo Lloris has warned Arsenal that Tottenham are determined to avenge their recent north London derby despair when the rivals clash again in the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday. Mauricio Pochettino's side make the short trip the Emirates Stadium just over two weeks after crashing to a 4-2 defeat at the hands […]

London (AFP) – Former Italy international Gianluca Vialli and business partner Fausto Zanetton believe their innovative crowdfunding platform Tifosy can help arrest the growing feeling of estrangement between football clubs and supporters. The co-founders of the platform are targeting clubs outside the top 20-30 globally, raising capital through the issue of equity, or debt, in […]

Milan (AFP) – Duvan Zapata scored within the first minute as Atalanta piled the pressure on Lazio to boost their European hopes with a 1-0 win in Bergamo on Monday. Colombian striker Zapata pounced on a Lazio defensive error after just 57 seconds to fire in his fifth goal in three consecutive league games. Atalanta, […]