The clock had just ticked a second or two past 10pm, and I was on my way back from the swimming pool as I would be on most Sunday nights. In a routine move, I reached into my pocket to check my phone for any missed calls or texts. I pulled it out, and as […]

London (AFP) – Crystal Palace's new manager Sam Allardyce described losing the England manager's job as "one of the darkest moments in my career" in a television interview broadcast on Saturday. Allardyce, 62, lasted just 67 days as England boss after he was axed for making indiscreet comments to undercover newspaper journalists, with Gareth Southgate […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg confirmed Saturday their World Cup-winning midfielder Julian Draxler will join Paris Saint-German during the January transfer window on a four-and-a-half year contract. "We have had intense and constructive discussions with Julian Draxler and his management as well as with Paris Saint-Germain in recent days and finally achieved a very […]

London (AFP) – Former Manchester United manager David Moyes says the club have abandoned their traditions ahead of his return to Old Trafford with Sunderland on Boxing Day. Moyes, 53, lasted just 10 months as United manager after succeeding his Scottish compatriot Alex Ferguson at the helm in May 2013. His two successors, Louis van […]

Beijing (AFP) – Beijing's dream of making China a football powerhouse depends on millions of children taking up the sport, but even coaches say tradition-minded parents view the game as a wasteful distraction from school. China's President Xi Jinping, an avowed fan of the game, has declared three goals for the country: to host, qualify, […]

London (AFP) – Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace appointed Sam Allardyce as their new boss on Friday in a swift return to the dugout for the former England manager. The former Bolton and West Ham manager's one-match reign in charge of the national side ended in September following a newspaper sting. "We are delighted to […]

Doha (AFP) – AC Milan celebrated wildly after beating Juventus to win the Italian Super Cup in a penalty shoot-out to win their first trophy since 2011 on Friday. Mario Pasilic blasted home the final spot kick to give AC Milan a 4-3 victory on penalties after a hard fought match was locked at 1-1 […]

Doha (AFP) – AC Milan beat Juventus to win the Italian Super Cup on Thursday in a penalty shootout, the first trophy the Rossoneri have won since 2011. Mario Pasilic blasted home the final spot kick to give AC Milan a 4-3 victory on penalties after a hard fought 1-1 deadlock at 90 minutes and […]

London (AFP) – Former England manager Sam Allardyce looks set to be named as the boss at Premier League club Crystal Palace after arriving at their training ground for talks on Friday. Speaking to Sky Sports News outside the club's Beckenham training base, Allardyce said he was there to "complete talks" and described Palace as […]

After watching thousands of soccer games and listening to soccer analysts in studios around the world, we've compiled our list of our top 10 favorite soccer studio analysts. When you think of soccer, who are the personalities in the studio that you tune in early to listen to, or to stick around for during half-time […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said on Friday he is willing to let midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin leave Old Trafford amid interest from Premier League rivals West Bromwich Albion. No deal can be officially completed until the new year, when the transfer window is open, and the two clubs will have […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Chelsea's Oscar said he was looking forward to joining his "new family" on Friday after Shanghai SIPG sealed terms on what will be China's fifth Asian-record signing in less than a year. The 25-year-old Brazil midfielder, snared for a reported £60 million (70.5 million euros), becomes just the latest top player in […]

Kuala Lumpur (AFP) – Asian title-holders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors could be banned from next year's AFC Champions League over a match-fixing scandal after a new eligibility body was unveiled on Friday. Jeonbuk, who lifted the Asian trophy in November, two months after they were punished for match-fixing in South Korea's K-League, face a possible one-year […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers admits he's not a fan of plastic pitches as the Scottish champions prepare to take on Hamilton. The runaway leaders play Hamilton on their FIFA-approved synthetic surface on Saturday as they bid to maintain their 14-point gap ahead of bitter rivals Rangers at the top of the Scottish […]

London (AFP) – The present Chelsea regime did not break any rules in keeping quiet about allegations of sex abuse suffered by former youth player Gary Johnson, the English Premier League said. "After careful consideration, the board has determined that no Premier League rules were broken by the club not reporting this matter to them […]