Johannesburg (AFP) – Star goalkeeper Mohamed el Shenawy will captain Egyptian giants Al Ahly on Friday when they attempt to reverse the recent trend of underdogs winning the annual CAF Super Cup match. Champions League title-holders Ahly are favoured to lift the trophy at the expense of Confederation Cup winners Renaissance Berkane of Morocco in […]

Madrid (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane has resigned as Real Madrid manager with immediate effect, the Spanish club said Thursday just days after they were beaten to the La Liga title by Atletico Madrid. The Frenchman's departure comes at the end of a disappointing campaign for the 13-time European champions, who also lost to Chelsea in […]

Madrid (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane has resigned as Real Madrid manager with immediate effect, the Spanish club said Thursday, just days after they were beaten to the La Liga title by Atletico Madrid. "It is now time to respect his decision and show our appreciation for his professionalism, dedication and passion all these years," Real […]

London (AFP) – Marcus Rashford says he was racially abused on social media following Manchester United's defeat in the Europa League final. The 23-year-old, who has previously been a victim of online attacks, said he had received "at least 70 racial slurs" following United's penalty shootout loss to Villarreal in Gdansk on Wednesday. United, who […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Off the football pitch it is a total mismatch: China's 1.4 billion population versus Guam's 170,000. But the two collide in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday with the US island territory's squad — which includes high-school and college players — trying to cut their Chinese hosts down to size. Guam will […]

Tokyo (AFP) – A goalkeeper boycotting Myanmar's World Cup qualifiers has urged his teammates to "stand with the people" and raise the anti-junta three-finger salute in protest at the country's military coup. Kyaw Zin Htet, who opted out of the games in Japan to take a stand against the coup, said his teammates should make […]

Gdansk (Poland) (AFP) – Manchester United's gut-wrenching defeat on penalties by Villarreal in the Europa League final re-emphasised the magnitude of the rebuilding task for coach and club hero Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford. Exactly 22 years to the day since the Norwegian struck his famous winner for United in the Champions League final against […]

Paris (AFP) – Whatever happens in Saturday's Champions League final against Manchester City, Chelsea's Thomas Tuchel can already claim a small bit of history by becoming the first coach to make it to the showpiece game in European club football in successive seasons with different clubs. Tuchel's impact on Chelsea, at least up until the […]

London (AFP) – A decade on from when he last lifted the Champions League trophy, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is once again in the final and is looking to back up his claim to being the greatest coach football has ever seen. Victory over Chelsea in Porto would take Guardiola level with Zinedine Zidane, […]

Madrid (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane has resigned as Real Madrid manager with immediate effect, according to media reports, just days after the club were beaten to the La Liga title by Atletico Madrid. The Frenchman's reported departure comes at the end of a disappointing campaign for the 13-time European champions, who also lost to Chelsea […]

Gdansk (Poland) (AFP) – Villarreal midfielder Francis Coquelin hailed his side's "special" maiden major trophy, secured in stunning fashion with victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final on Wednesday. Playing their first ever major European final, Unai Emery's men clinched a memorable triumph 11-10 on penalties in Gdansk. "It feels really good. It's […]

Gdansk (Poland) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said "one kick" was the difference after his side slumped to a surprise Europa League final defeat by Villarreal on Wednesday. The Premier League giants remain without a major trophy in four years after losing 11-10 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Gdansk, with […]

Gdansk (Poland) (AFP) – Villarreal midfielder Francis Coquelin hailed his side's "special" maiden major trophy, secured in stunning fashion with victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final on Wednesday. Playing their first ever major European final, Unai Emery's men clinched a memorable triumph 11-10 on penalties in Gdansk. "It feels really good. It's […]

Gdansk (Poland) (AFP) – Villarreal defeated Manchester United 11-10 on penalties to win their first major trophy after a 1-1 draw in the Europa League final as goalkeeper David de Gea missed the decisive spot-kick in a remarkable shootout. Gerard Moreno gave Villarreal the lead 29 minutes into the Spanish club's first European final, but […]

Milan (AFP) – Antonio Conte parted company with Inter Milan on Wednesday just days after lifting their first Serie A title in 11 years amid clashes with the club's cash-strapped Chinese owners on the way forward. The ambitious Italian refused Suning's planned cost cutting which would have prevented him building the team he wanted to […]