Milan (AFP) – Italian club Spezia clinched promotion to Serie A for the first time in their 114-year history after coming out on top in a play-off behind closed doors followed by thousands of their fans outside the stadium. The team known as the 'Eagles' hail from the seaside town of La Spezia in Liguria, […]

Athens (AFP) – Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has been arrested on the Greek tourist island of Mykonos for an alleged assault and attacking police, state agency ANA reported Friday. United said in a brief statement they were "aware of an alleged incident involving Harry Maguire in Mykonos last night." "Contact has been made with […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain clash in the Champions League final on Sunday in Lisbon but on the other side of the globe they are also engaged in another high-stakes competition. China, the world's most populous country and second-biggest economy, is a battleground for major European football clubs as they chase the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Former Sweden star Henrik Larsson and ex-Hoffenheim boss Alfred Schreuder will join new coach Ronald Koeman's staff at Barcelona, the club announced on Friday. Larsson and Schreuder signed two-year deals. Koeman was appointed earlier this week as the replacement for Quique Setien, who was sacked in the wake of Barca's 8-2 defeat […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Former Real Madrid and Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez vowed improvements at Dalian Pro after their latest defeat left them rooted to the bottom of their group in the Chinese Super League. Pressure is building on Benitez, one of the best-paid coaches in world football on a reported £12 million ($15 million) a […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain's fortunes in the Champions League in recent years have been inextricably linked to those of Neymar, even before they bought the Brazilian for a world record fee, and if he maintains his recent form in Sunday's final it may make the difference against formidable Bayern Munich. At 28, Neymar is […]

Paris (AFP) – The new French Ligue 1 season starts on Friday, pressing ahead despite Paris Saint-Germain being in Lisbon for the Champions League final, as it looks to move on from the controversial decision to end the last campaign early because of the coronavirus pandemic. AFP Sport picks out some of the storylines to […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Hansi Flick can write himself into Bayern Munich folklore by lifting the Champions League trophy in Sunday's final to complete his 10-month odyssey from interim boss to treble-winning head coach in his first season. Flick leads out Bayern against Paris Saint-Germain in Lisbon having already secured the Bundesliga and German Cup. Yet […]

Cologne (Germany) (AFP) – Antonio Conte may not welcome comparisons with Jose Mourinho given the bad blood between the two, but for the first time since the Portuguese's departure, Conte has made Inter Milan a force to be reckoned with. Friday's Europa League final against Sevilla in Cologne will be the Nerazzurri's first European final […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Jonathan Klinsmann, the son of former Germany and United States national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann, has signed with Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy, the team announced Thursday. The 23-year-old goalkeeper joined following stints Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin from 2017-19 and then at Swiss side St. Gallen as well as US […]

Bilbao (Spain) (AFP) – Barcelona striker Asisat Oshoala has become one of African football's biggest women stars even though her family tried to prevent her playing. On Friday, the 25-year-old Nigerian will attempt to propel Barcelona toward a second straight Champions League final when they take on Atletico Madrid in a one-off quarter-final behind closed […]

Cologne (Germany) (AFP) – Inter Milan's progress to a first European final in a decade will not be cherished unless they beat Sevilla to win the Europa League on Friday, coach Antonio Conte has warned his players. The Italian giants have not won any silverware for nine years, but have made big strides in Conte's […]

Paris (AFP) – Ligue 1 returns on Friday with the threat of the coronavirus looming large over the start of a 2020-21 season that will get underway with a reduced line-up of matches. Three of the league's biggest clubs will not play on the opening weekend, with Paris Saint-Germain to contest the Champions League final […]

Paris (AFP) – The coronavirus-enforced postponement of the Ligue 1 season opener on Friday was necessary not only for the health of the players but also club doctors, the French football federation's medical chief said on Thursday. After four players at Marseille tested positive for COVID-19, the league was left with no option other than […]

Cologne (Germany) (AFP) – "No one wants it like we do," is how Sevilla's renowned sporting director Monchi explains how a club with modest resources is preparing for a sixth Europa League final in 14 years against Inter Milan on Friday. The Spaniards have won the previous five, making them the most successful side in […]