Milan (AFP) – Italy's veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has eased some of his World Cup heartache by winning the Serie A Best Player of the Year award. "I'm happy and proud. I never thought I'd get this kind of trophy, and I'll hold on tight to it because I never won best youngster!" said the […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger has ruled out January departures for Arsenal pair Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil unless "something unbelievable" happens even as the clock ticks down on their contracts. The players are out of contract at the end of the season as both have so far refused to sign new deals at the […]

Medellín (Colombia) (AFP) – For Colombian policeman Marlon Lengua, Brazilian football club Chapecoense was once just a hated rival in the 2016 regional championships. But one night last year, the police lieutenant found himself up a mountain pulling Chapeco soccer player Helio Neto out of the wreckage of a crashed plane, saving his life. It […]

Moscow (AFP) – Football fans visiting Yekaterinburg in the Russian Urals for the 2018 World Cup are going to find out first hand what it feels to be on the outside looking. Because the area was originally too small to fit FIFA rules, officials built two temporary stands on empty plots of land nextdoor. Openings […]

Paris (AFP) – Claudio Ranieri admits he has "fantastic memories" of coaching Monaco as his Nantes side prepare to host the faltering reigning champions in a midweek round of games in Ligue 1. The Italian was appointed by Monaco in 2012 and lasted two seasons in the principalty, winning Ligue 2 and leading them to […]

London (AFP) – Petr Cech believes Arsenal could be in contention for the Premier League title come the end of the season despite trailing leaders Manchester City by 12 points going into Wednesday's match with Huddersfield. A win would probably still leave the Gunners well adrift of record-breaking City, with Pep Guardialo's unbeaten side hosting […]

Stoke-on-Trent (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp has pledged to keep rotating Liverpool during the Premier League's most hectic period after leaving out some of his biggest names against Chelsea and throwing away a 3-0 lead at Sevilla. Georginio Wijnaldum, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane were among those on the substitutes' bench for the 1-1 […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Raheem Sterling is looking to add to his best-ever goal-scoring tally as Manchester City attempt to improve on their own record-breaking Premier League start. Pep Guardiola's dazzling side host Southampton on Wednesday having already accumulated an unprecedented 37 points from their opening 13 games. Sterling was the key man in […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has challenged Eden Hazard to take a central role in his side's bid to close the gap on Manchester City when the champions face Swansea City on Wednesday. Forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at Liverpool on Saturday, Chelsea are lagging 11 points behind runaway leaders City. […]

Athens (AFP) – The former chief of the Greek Football Association was charged Monday, accused of paying a bonus to Euro 2004-winning coach Otto Rehhagel from money provided by UEFA for the reconstruction of a stadium. The Greek FA, then under Vassilis Gagatsis — now general manager of the Greek top flight — received a […]

Paris (AFP) – Chelsea's former technical director Michael Emenalo has joined Monaco just three weeks after leaving the Premier League champions, the Ligue 1 side announced on Monday. "AS Monaco is delighted to announce the appointment of Michael Emenalo as new sporting director," Monaco said in a statement. "He will take charge of all sport […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain will head to Qatar for a short training camp during the French league winter break in December, the club confirmed on Monday. The PSG squad will fly to Doha after their final Ligue 1 game of 2017 at home to Caen on December 20 and will stay there until December […]

Milan (AFP) – Fallen Italian giants AC Milan made combative former player Gennaro Gattuso their new boss on Monday after sacking Vincenzo Montella following a disappointing start to the season. The seven-time European champions released Montella after a goalless draw against Torino on Sunday left them seventh in Serie A, 18 points behind leaders Napoli. […]

Paris (AFP) – In the 2011 film "Moneyball", Brad Pitt plays Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane, who, as the head of a struggling baseball team, turns to data analysis of recruitment and training methods. Beane was a trailblazer with his unconventional data metrics that flew in the face of baseball wisdom, and sparked a […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea boss Antonio Conte fears Manchester City's "incredible" improvement this season could turn the Premier League race into a procession as the defending champions struggle to stay in touch. Conte's men rescued a late point at Liverpool on Saturday, with Willian's unexpected cross-shot finding the top corner to cancel out Mohamed Salah's […]