Milan (AFP) – Retired Italian great Andrea Pirlo revealed Tuesday he would love to be involved in the national team's coaching staff, declaring "the blue shirt has always been a second skin". The 38-year-old former Juventus and AC Milan star said he would like to follow many of his contemporaries into coaching. "We talked about […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Guangzhou Evergrande nullified the twin threat of Alexandre Pato and Anthony Modeste to earn a 0-0 draw at Chinese rivals Tianjin Quanjian in the Asian Champions League last 16 on Tuesday. Fabio Cannavaro's Guangzhou will return home for the second leg next Tuesday slight favourites to progress following a dreary game lacking […]

Brussels (AFP) – Leaders of North America's bid for the 2026 World Cup urged FIFA voters to ignore the "politics of the moment" on Tuesday as they promised to deliver a record-breaking multi-billion-dollar profit for the global football showpiece. In an address to the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) in Brussels, United States Soccer Federation […]

Milan (AFP) – Zenit Saint Petersburg manager Roberto Mancini has reached agreement to become the next Italy coach after accepting a pay cut to take the job, according to reports on Tuesday. Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the 53-year-old Italian has agreed a two-year deal worth two million euros ($2.3 million) a year which will […]

London (AFP) – Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is sitting up and talking to his family following emergency surgery for a brain haemorrhage, media reports said Tuesday. Widely considered to be the most successful manager in the history of British football, Ferguson, 76, won 38 trophies in more than 26 years in charge of […]

London (AFP) – Veteran French defender Laurent Koscielny is "devastated" at missing out on this year's World Cup finals after undergoing surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon, said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. The 32-year-old central defender is set to be sidelined for six months according to Wenger, bringing a sad end to his international career […]

Shanghai (AFP) – China's Chongqing Lifan denied making a big-money move for Andres Iniesta as Spanish media said the Barcelona captain could now be headed for Japan or Australia. Reports in China and Spain have linked Chongqing with the 33-year-old Spanish World Cup-winner, who is leaving Barcelona after two decades of phenomenal success. Chongqing said […]

Doha (AFP) – Boualem Khoukhi scored a brace as Qatar's Al Sadd edged Saudi giants Al Ahli 2-1 in the first leg of their AFC Champions League round of 16 tie at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on Monday. Qatar international Khoukhi was on target as early as in the third minute, coolly scoring from […]

Chicago (AFP) – Sporting Kansas City coach Peter Vermes, Major League Soccer's longest-tenured coach, has signed a contract extension that will keep him with the club through 2023, the team announced Monday. The 51-year-old American, a defender on the 1990 US World Cup squad, helped the club win the 2000 MLS Cup as a player […]

Paris (AFP) – Neymar will attend Tuesday's French Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and minnows Les Herbiers, PSG captain Thiago Silva said. "He is fully motivated but sad that he can't train with us. He will be there to support us tomorrow at the Stade de France and I think he'll be happy," Silva told […]

Piraeus (Greece) (AFP) – Olympiakos president Evangelos Marinakis blasted his players and coaching staff Sunday after the Piraeus club lost 3-0 at Giannina in the final game of the Greek Super League season. “You are not even worthy of toilet paper at our training centre. "Instead of wishing you a happy holiday I say go […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola both took time out from landmark moments in their own football careers to support Alex Ferguson as the legendary manager remained in intensive care after emergency surgery for a brain haemorrhage. Considered the most successful manager in the history of British football, Ferguson won 38 major trophies […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger said he is looking forward to a fresh start despite his sadness at bidding farewell to Arsenal after 22 years in charge as manager. Wenger was given a fitting send-off in his final home game at the Emirates on Sunday as Arsenal produced a devastating performance to thrash Burnley 5-0. […]

Paris (AFP) – Bertrand Traore continued his terrific goalscoring form as Lyon recorded their eighth straight victory in Ligue 1 by beating Troyes 3-0, while teenage forward Moussa Sylla hit a vital injury-time winner for Monaco in a 2-1 triumph at Caen on Sunday. Burkina Faso international Traore struck twice in seven first-half minutes in […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger took time out after his final home game of the Gunners to wish an old rival in former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson a quick recovery after the Scot underwent emergency surgery for a brain haemorrhage. Ferguson, 76, was rushed to hospital on Saturday for surgery, with United […]