Madrid (AFP) – Villarreal announced on Thursday that former Arsenal and Sevilla boss Unai Emery is taking over as the La Liga club's coach from the sacked Javi Calleja. The 48-year-old Emery was dismissed by Arsenal last November with the Gunners on a seven-match winless streak, their worst run since 1992. He led Sevilla to […]

London (AFP) – Leeds United defended the club's decision for the players to parade the Championship trophy in an open-top bus at Elland Road after thousands of fans ignored pleas not to gather at the stadium. Marcelo Bielsa's side had already sealed promotion back to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years […]

Suzhou (China) (AFP) – Some players have brought their own pillows and one even has a box of Lego as the much-delayed Chinese Super League prepares to launch on Saturday in a tightly controlled environment to thwart the coronavirus. Hundreds of players will spend about 70 days in two sealed-off hotels as China's top-tier football […]

Suzhou (China) (AFP) – The Chinese Super League has made headlines in recent years by attracting foreign players and coaches on vast wages. Ahead of the new season which kicks off on Saturday, five months late because of coronavirus, AFP Sport picks out the players to watch: – Paulinho (Guangzhou Evergrande/BRA) – The Brazilian international […]

New York (AFP) – New York City FC said Wednesday the team will investigate claims of sexual harassment made against former striker David Villa, the Spanish World Cup-winner and ex-Barcelona star. Allegations against Villa were made on social media by an intern at the Major League Soccer team. Villa has denied the allegations, describing them […]

London (AFP) – British lawmakers called for a reset of English football finances following the coronavirus pandemic, proposing an end to parachute payments and salary caps for the lower leagues. The Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS) warned of the dire financial situation facing many English Football League (EFL) clubs and called on […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes his side will need to keep improving to hold off the chasing pack next season after lifting the Premier League trophy. The Reds clinched the title last month, but finally got their hands on the silverware after a 5-3 win over Chelsea on Wednesday. Chelsea have already […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said having the opportunity to lift the Premier League trophy at Anfield meant the world to him despite having to do so in an empty stadium with fans shut out due to coronavirus. The Reds sealed a first top-flight title for 30 years last month, but had to […]

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan's goalless draw against Fiorentina on Wednesday left Juventus needing just one more win to claim a ninth consecutive Serie A title. Juve are six points clear of second-placed Atalanta and can claim their 36th 'Scudetto' on Thursday with a win at struggling Udinese. Antonio Conte's Inter are third, one point […]

London (AFP) – Slaven Bilic hailed West Bromwich Albion's promotion to the Premier League as one of the proudest moments of his career after a 2-2 draw against QPR sent them up on a dramatic final day of the Championship season. Bilic's side will join Championship title winners Leeds in the top-flight next season after […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy on the famous Kop end at Anfield after a thrilling 5-3 win over Chelsea on Wednesday, that keeps the Blues waiting to seal their place in next season's Champions League. Despite pleas for fans to stay away on the night Liverpool finally got their hands on […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer urged his Manchester United stars to seize a "fantastic opportunity" to qualify for the Champions League after Mason Greenwood rescued a 1-1 draw against West Ham on Wednesday. Solskjaer's side fell behind to Michail Antonio's penalty in the first half at Old Trafford. But teenage forward Greenwood […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool set up their trophy presentation as Premier League champions with a thrilling 5-3 win over Chelsea to deny the Blues sealing their place in next season's Champions League. Sweet first half strikes from Naby Keita, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Georginio Wijnaldum ensured a night to remember for Jurgen Klopp's men was accompanied […]

London (AFP) – West Bromwich Albion clinched promotion to the Premier League with a 2-2 draw against QPR as rivals Brentford faltered on a dramatic final day of the Championship season. Slaven Bilic's side will join Championship title winners Leeds in the top-flight next season after a nail-biting Wednesday night at the Hawthorns. With third-placed […]

Milan (AFP) – Gianluca Caprari and Dejan Kulusevski ended a miserable run for Parma with the goals strikes in a 2-1 Serie A win over Napoli on Wednesday, in a match in which all three goals were scored from the penalty spot. A run of six defeats and one draw in Parma's previous seven matches […]