Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – There is no easy way to sack a Premier League manager and Manchester United have found that out the hard way with their dismissal of Louis Van Gaal. Some are calling the manner of the Dutchman's departure from United a "public relations disaster" for England's most famous club as it […]

Madrid (AFP) – Hero of Real Madrid's Champions League triumph two years ago, defender Sergio Ramos compared his first final experience to losing his virginity ahead Saturday's clash with Atletico Madrid in a rematch of the 2014 final. Ramos broke Atletico's hearts with his stoppage time equaliser to deny Diego Simeone's men a first ever […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho was closing in on becoming Manchester United's new manager on Tuesday despite club great Eric Cantona saying incoming Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola would have been a better pick. Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes was in talks with United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, British media reported, less than 24 hours after […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – France's World Cup winner Marcel Desailly is worried about security for Euro 2016 after the deadly attacks on Paris last November. "Of course, there is a little fear," the 1998 World Cup winner and Euro 2000 champion told AFP. "Because of the level of security, we hope nothing will happen, […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho was on the verge of fulfilling his dream of managing Manchester United on Tuesday after Louis van Gaal's troubled two-year reign came to a bitter end. The path was clear for the former Chelsea manager to be confirmed as the new United boss after Van Gaal was sacked […]

Madrid (AFP) – Doubts over Cristiano Ronaldo's fitness for Real Madrid's Champions League final against Atletico Madrid on Saturday intensified after the three-time World Player of the Year limped off towards the end of training on Tuesday. Ronaldo has been dogged by a persistent thigh injury which forced him to miss three games last month. […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho is on the verge of fulfilling his dream of managing Manchester United after Louis van Gaal's troubled two-year reign at Old Trafford came to a bitter end. Van Gaal said he was "very disappointed" to be sacked on Monday just 48 hours after leading United to victory in the FA […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – England manager Roy Hodgson defended his decision to deploy Jamie Vardy in a wide role after the Leicester City striker struck the winner in a 2-1 success against Turkey. Vardy scored 24 goals from a central role to fire Leicester to Premier League glory this season, only to find himself […]

Berlin (AFP) – Switzerland striker Haris Seferovic threw down a marker for Euro 2016 on Monday by scoring the crucial goal in Eintracht Frankfurt's 1-0 play-off win at Nuremberg to keep them in the German league. After last Thursday's relegation play-off first-leg in Frankfurt finished in a 1-1 draw, Seferovic netted at Nuremberg's sold-out Grundig […]

London (AFP) – Louis van Gaal's sacking as Manchester United manager was finally confirmed on Monday as Jose Mourinho prepared to take charge at Old Trafford. Van Gaal had appeared certain to lose his job since reports leaked out after United's FA Cup final victory against Crystal Palace on Saturday that former Chelsea boss Mourinho […]

London (AFP) – The realisation that Louis van Gaal was not the manager Manchester United had hoped for seemed to dawn on him at roughly the same time as it did the club's supporters. Defending his record after a 2-1 home defeat by Norwich City back in December that exposed him to the full venom […]

Lyon (AFP) – Former Lyon coach Gerard Houllier is set to rejoin the French Ligue 1 runners-up as general manager, club president Jean-Michel Aulas said on Monday. The return of the 68-year-old Houllier, who coached the Rhone club to two Ligue 1 titles during his previous spell from 2005-07, depends on him passing a medical. […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany defender Mats Hummels has formally completed his transfer back to Bayern Munich from Borussia Dortmund by signing a five-year contract for the Bavarian giants on Monday. The 27-year-old Borussia Dortmund captain finally put pen to paper and his transfer has reportedly cost Bayern 38 million euros ($42.5m). Both clubs had confirmed […]

Lens (France) (AFP) – Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid on Monday completed the takeover of bankrupt French second division side Lens through a Luxembourg company. "We hope to bring in Atletico's expertise," said Ignacio Aguillo, a member of the Spanish side's board, told a press conference after a French commercial court approved the takeover. Atletico […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Portugal on Monday began preparations for Euro 2016 in Lisbon without talismanic captain Cristiano Ronaldo. The Real Madrid forward and club teammate Pepe will join the squad after the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid in Milan on Saturday. Fifteen of the 23 players named in Fernando Santos' squad were present at […]