Category Other

Prem loans £20m to women’s game oversight org

The Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL), which was formerly known as NewCo and is taking over running the Women’s Super League (WSL) from the FA, has been granted a £20 million interest-free loan from the Premier League as the top two tiers of women’s football in England becomes independent for the first time. The announcement comes after last November’s news that that women’s football in England would be run by…

Arsenal to win the title, Arne Slot to thrive at Liverpool? Bold predictions for 2024-25

The 2024-25 European soccer season is finally here! After months of waiting — and with a brilliant summer of drama and excitement thanks to Euro 2024, the Copa America and the Olympics — we are back with a new club season on the continent, and there’s plenty to talk about. Who’s winning the Premier League? Can anyone topple Real Madrid in Europe? Will Bayern Munich reclaim their crown as the…

Mourinho: Europa League is Fenerbahce’s ‘level’

Fenerbahce coach José Mourinho has said the Europa League is “more adapted to our level” after the Turkish giants missed out on Champions League football for the 2024-25 season. Mourinho’s side drew 1-1 in extra-time with Lille on Tuesday and were consequently knocked out in the third qualifying round of Europe’s elite continental competition, losing 3-2 on aggregate. “I am experienced and realistic enough to say that in Champions league…

Etheridge looking forward to ‘fantastic’ ASEAN Club Championship with Buriram

After a hiatus of two decades, Southeast Asia’s leading football clubs will once again lock horns in official competition when the ASEAN Club Championship kicks off on Aug. 21. The tournament originally debuted in 2003 and was to be held biennially but was cancelled after its second edition due to several major obstacles, including clashes with the wider Asian Football Confederation calendar and a failure to gain traction with sponsors.…

Ahead of soccer’s longest-ever season, are players on verge of burning out?

Football is at a breaking point. If anyone doubts that, just ask Erling Haaland. Should all go to plan for the Manchester City forward during the 2024-25 campaign, his season will be 354 days long. Ready or not, the new football season will be the longest and most physically demanding ever. Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham — the game’s biggest stars — could each play over 70 games between now…

Rooney fires warning to sub-par Plymouth players

Wayne Rooney has warned Plymouth Argyle players they are playing for their future after a 4-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in their opening game of the season. Rooney, who was sacked by Birmingham City after 15 games last season, has previously coached D.C. United and Derby County. “I’ve told them after the game if I see a performance like that again from any player — whether they’ve been at the…

Ajax spoil Van Persie’s debut with Heerenveen

Robin van Persie’s coaching debut ended in defeat on Sunday as Heerenveen lost their opening game of the new season in the Netherlands at Ajax Amsterdam. A goal from Kristian Hlynsson was enough to send Heerenveen home without any points and leave the former Dutch international striker, who played at Arsenal and Manchester United, feeling they had missed out on an opportunity. “Based on the entire match, there might have…

USWNT’s Olympic gold medal win restore respect on world stage

Rumors of the United States women’s national team’s demise were greatly exaggerated. One year ago — nearly to the day — the USWNT had reached its nadir, crashing out of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in the round of 16 for the first time. The results and the mostly dire performances at the tournament sparked existential questions about the USWNT’s place in the women’s soccer’s world order. The Americans punctuated…