There is a common urban myth in soccer that La Liga has always been ruled by the two Madrid powers (Real, and Atleti) as well as Catalan club Barcelona. If you look back at the history of Spanish soccer, that is not the case. In fact, there have been many other clubs that have been powerful in Spain […]

With the upcoming release of two new investigative journalism pieces by HBO and CBS, don't be surprised if there'll be some nervous days ahead at the headquarters of the US Soccer Federation in Chicago, Illinois. First up is an interview with several US Women's National Team players, which will appear on CBS' 60 Minutes on Sunday […]

Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann have a late chance to enhance their cases for the Ballon d'Or as the best player in the world in 2016 when Real Madrid travel to Atletico Madrid on Saturday. Both are frontrunners along with Barcelona's Lionel Messi among a shortlist of 30 for the prize, but […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone believes his side can now count themselves as equals when facing Real Madrid in the last La Liga derby at Atletico's Vicente Calderon stadium on Saturday. Simeone has overseen a dramatic turnaround in Atletico's fortunes since taking over nearly five years ago, including ending a 14-year winless […]

Never in the history of the rivalry between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid have matches between the two sides been as fiercely contested as they are in this era. Of course, thoughts immediately turn to the two UEFA Champions League finals they’ve played out, which Real have won on both occasions in dramatic fashion, but […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Wayne Rooney received support from an unlikely source when Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola revealed Friday he too drank alcohol while on international duty. England captain Rooney publicly apologised after pictures taken in the early hours of the morning of him at a wedding party at the team hotel following […]

It was revealed on Thursday that the reigning Premier League right back of the year, Hector Bellerin, will be forced to sit the next month out of action due to an ankle injury. “Hector is out for four weeks,” claimed Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. “He got injured in the last 10 seconds against Spurs after […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Southgate is set to be interviewed for the full-time post of England manager on Monday, the BBC and several other British media organisations reported Friday. Southgate, 46, was placed in interim charge after Sam Allardyce left the role in September. His four games as caretaker boss yielded 2018 World Cup qualifying […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho claimed on Friday he is not shown the same respect as his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger, ahead of their Premier League showdown on Saturday. Mourinho, 53, has regularly clashed with Wenger, 67, over the course of his two spells as Chelsea manager and his current […]

Madrid (AFP) – Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos were named among Real Madrid's injury-ravaged 20-man squad for the last ever derby at Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon on Saturday. Real boss Zinedine Zidane will be without defender Pepe, the influential midfield duo of Casemiro and Toni Kroos, as well as striker Alvaro Morata. However, Zidane confirmed […]

Shanghai (AFP) – A Beijing conglomerate has won the rights to broadcast the English Premier League in China for three years, it said Friday, with reports putting the deal's value at $650 million. The contract would represent a huge uplift on the previous contract as Chinese money pours into football, including major investments in England, […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona boss Luis Enrique insists Lionel Messi will remain at the Catalan giants for many years to come, but was less explicit over his own future when quizzed on Friday. Barca boss Josep Maria Bartomeu claimed on Thursday that he remains confident Messi, 29, will end his career at the Camp Nou […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho refused to be drawn on the drinking controversy affecting his captain Wayne Rooney when asked to comment on the matter on Friday. Rooney, 31, apologised this week after being pictured looking the worse for wear as he mingled with guests at a wedding party at […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes "killer" striker Marcus Rashford will help Manchester United cope without suspended team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic when the Premier League giants meet at Old Trafford on Saturday. Teenage forward Rashford made a dramatic entrance into senior football in February, scoring twice in United's 3-2 win over Arsenal just after […]

Rome (AFP) – Gianni Infantino wants a radical shake-up to the Club World Cup, increasing the number of teams taking part in the annual event from seven to 32. The existing format brings together champions from each of the continental federations and is held in December with Japan the 2016 hosts. If Infantino's idea gains […]