Wayne Rooney has been fired as Birmingham City manager after a run of nine defeats in 15 games left the team on the brink of the EFL Championship relegation zone. Birmingham’s American owners, Knighthead Capital Management, led by company co-founder Tom Wagner, removed Rooney from his post on Tuesday following a 3-0 defeat at Leeds United on New Year’s Day. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) In a…
It’s that time again when I chuck out 30 wishes for the new year. Wishes that, mostly, don’t come true, though sometimes we do get forward progress. Heck, this is my 11th year doing this, and you’ll see it’s more about hope than about predictions. But hey, we love this sport, right? And hope is a big part of love. Gab’s wishes from: 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020…
LIVERPOOL, England — Before jetting out to Ivory Coast for up to six weeks of Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt, Mohamed Salah signed off with two goals and an assist as Liverpool beat Newcastle United 4-2 at Anfield, moving three points clear at the top of the Premier League table. The 31-year-old would have waved farewell with a hat trick had his first-half penalty kick not been saved…
Mikel Arteta has branded Arsenal’s “painful” 2-1 defeat at Fulham as their “worst performance of the season.” Bukayo Saka opened the scoring on five minutes, but goals from Raúl Jiménez and Bobby De Cordova-Reid condemned the Gunners to a second consecutive Premier League defeat, which leaves them fourth in the table. – Stream on ESPN+: Arsenal vs Liverpool, Sunday 1/7, 4:20 p.m ET, ESPN+ Arsenal face Liverpool in the FA…
FIFA has temporarily suspended its new agent regulations (FFAR) worldwide until the European Court of Justice gives its decision following injunctions against implementing some of the new rules, world football’s governing body said on Saturday. Agents have been at loggerheads with FIFA after they lost an appeal in July to block new regulations that would cap their transfer commissions and introduce exams that agents must pass to secure a licence.…
France’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has joined MLS club LAFC from Tottenham Hotspur, both clubs said Saturday. Lloris, 37, whose contract with Spurs was due to expire in June, has signed a one-year deal with an option to extend for 2025 and 2026 after an 11-year stay in London. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) ESPN reported this week that there was unlikely to be any transfer…
Video Assistant Referee causes controversy every week in the Premier League, but how are decisions made, and are they correct? After each weekend, we take a look at the major incidents to examine and explain the process in terms of VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game. – How VAR decisions have affected every Prem club in 2023-24 – VAR in the Premier League: Ultimate guide In this Christmas…
The January transfer window opens soon throughout Europe, and there are moves in the works and plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals! Real Madrid are preparing to make a fresh approach to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé in January, according to The Athletic. Just days remain before the 25-year-old will enter the final…
Football fans in Spain were left stunned on Thursday by sports daily Mundo Deportivo’s sensational report that Real Madrid have pulled out of the race to sign long-term transfer target Kylian Mbappé, with the Paris Saint-Germain star now in line to join their bitter LaLiga rivals Barcelona in the summer instead. The story, under the headline “Radical turn: Mbappé gets closer to Barça,” will have been hard for Madrid supporters…