Tirana (AFP) – Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri is not the only Italian coach to have brought unprecedented success to an unfancied football team: Gianni de Biasi has become a national hero in Albania. The canny 59-year-old steered the Balkan country to Euro 2016, their first major tournament, a feat that prompted Albania's president to […]

Milan (AFP) – Gonzalo Higuain's 33rd strike of the season maintained Napoli's bid to secure Champions League football as evergreen striker Luca Toni bid farewell to the game with a cheeky 'Panenka' in Verona's shock 2-1 win over 10-man Juventus. Roma, looking for a third consecutive runners-up spot after Juventus clinched a record-equalling fifth consecutive […]

Lausanne (AFP) – The international sports tribunal will on Monday rule on Michel Platini's final appeal against a six-year ban imposed by FIFA and decide whether he can return as UEFA president. Platini was banned for "conflict of interest" over a suspect two million Swiss franc ($2 million) payment authorised by former FIFA leader Sepp […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Robbie Keane returned from knee surgery to score two goals and Steven Gerrard added another in a 4-2 win over New England that made the Los Angeles Galaxy the first team to win 300 Major League Soccer matches. Ireland forward Keane, sidelined since surgery on his ailing right knee in March, […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Outgoing Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini strived to put on a brave face after his team's chances of Champions League qualification were compromised by a 2-2 draw with Arsenal. Sunday's result at the Etihad Stadium means that City can only finish in the top four if Manchester United drop points […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic manager Ronny Deila says his side's Scottish Premiership title is every bit as special as the rest after his side clinched their 47th top flight championship with a 3-2 win over nearest challengers Aberdeen. A double from Patrick Roberts and a Mikael Lustig strike seemingly put Celtic in an insurmountable position […]

London (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham must start dreaming about bigger goals than finishing above Arsenal if they want to win the Premier League next season. Despite losing 2-1 against Southampton on Sunday, Pochettino's side are still on course to end the season ahead of hated neighbours Arsenal for the first time in 21 […]

Milan (AFP) – Verona striker Luca Toni says he will cherish memories of his final Serie A game "forever" after a fairytale swansong saw him score a cheeky 'Panenka' spot-kick in 2-1 win over champions Juventus on Sunday. "It will be a match I remember forever. It was my last, but it came at the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane insists he believes his side can snatch the La Liga title away from Barcelona in a dramatic final day showdown on Saturday. Barca hold a one-point lead over Real and will retain their title with victory at Granada next weekend after thrashing Espanyol 5-0 on Sunday. However, […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manuel Pellegrini could not conceal his disappointment after his final home game as Manchester City manager ended in a damaging 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday. The result means that City's hopes of finishing in the Premier League's top four and qualifying for the Champions League are no longer in […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was voted France's Ligue 1 player of the year for a record third time on Sunday. Ibrahimovic won the award, voted for by his peers, ahead of PSG team-mate Angel Di Maria, Nice forward Hatem Ben Arfa and Marseille midfielder Lassana Diarra after scoring 35 goals in […]

Berlin (AFP) – Just seven years after being founded, RB Leipzig, sponsored by energy drinks giants Red Bull, will play in the Bundesliga next season after their second division promotion was confirmed Sunday. Goals by Sweden's Emil Forsberg and Marcel Halstenberg sealed their 2-0 win at home to Karlsruhe, in front of 42,559 fans, which […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Goals from Joe Allen and Roberto Firmino helped Liverpool earn three points against Watford in an underwhelming 2-0 win at Anfield on Sunday. Neither set of fans will take home warm memories of this match as it was classic end-of-season stuff between two teams with few domestic ambitions left this term. Reds […]

London (AFP) – Steven Davis added to Tottenham's misery in the aftermath of their failed Premier League title challenge as the Southampton midfielder's double sealed a 2-1 win on Sunday. Mauricio Pochettino's side had gifted the crown to Leicester after squandering the lead in successive draws against West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea and their gloom […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona are one win away from retaining their La Liga title after Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar all scored as they thrashed Espanyol 5-0 in the Catalan derby on Sunday. Real Madrid moved into second place, a point behind Barca with one game remaining, as they racked up an 11th straight […]