Former South Africa junior international Luke Fleurs, who played for the country’s most popular soccer club, Kaizer Chiefs, was killed in a carjacking in Johannesburg, police officials confirmed Thursday. Fleurs, 24, was shot in the chest at a gas station Wednesday night and the assailants drove off in his vehicle. “While waiting to be served by the attendant, he was confronted by two armed males,” police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela…
Manchester United heralded the second generation of a family dynasty this week as Darren Fletcher’s two sons, Jack and Tyler, both signed their first professional contracts with the club. Fletcher represented United more than 200 times during a 12-year career at Old Trafford, during which the dependable midfielder won five Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the Champions League among a raft of honours before also serving as a…
Top-tier Trabzonspor were ordered to play six games without fans as punishment by the Turkish Football Federation for violent clashes on the field after a Superlig game against Fenerbahce. The federation also fined Trabzonspor more than 3 million Turkish lira ($94,000) on Wednesday. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Turkish police detained 12 people on March 17 after the on-field clashes. Trabzonspor fans charged onto the pitch after…
Until the past decade, most English clubs did not have a director of football or its equivalent. This was long after they were a staple not just at every football club, but just about every professional team in every professional sport everywhere in the world. (For convenience, let’s call the gig director of football (DOF) in this column, though depending on where you are it might be head of recruitment,…
Georgia qualified for the Euros. Bayern Munich’s title streak all but ended (and they didn’t even steal the coach responsible for it). Manchester City did the opposite of seizing control of the Premier League race. We got ourselves a lopsided Champions League quarterfinal draw (and another “Dos a Cero” between the U.S. and Mexico). March was a lot, and it gave us a lot to keep track of as we…
The summer transfer window won’t reopen in Europe for a while yet, but there are plenty of moves in the works and gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals! Barcelona have mapped out a plan to sign Manchester City striker Erling Haaland in 2025, according to Mundo Deportivo. The Blaugrana see the 23-year-old as a future replacement…
Manchester United have made a formal approach to Southampton for director of football Jason Wilcox, a source has told ESPN. Wilcox is United’s top target to become their new technical director as part of the recruitment shake-up being led by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The club have made a formal offer of compensation for the former Blackburn Rovers…
The summer transfer window won’t reopen in Europe for a while yet, but there are plenty of moves in the works and gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals! Bayer Leverkusen wing-back Jeremie Frimpong is on the radar of Bayern Munich and Manchester United, according to Sky Sports Deutschland’s Florian Plettenberg. The clubs are said to be…
The celebrations were already emphatic after Stina Blackstenius calmly slotted home for Arsenal in the 115th minute of the Conti Cup final, sealing a 1-0 win against Chelsea. They became unequivocal once the final whistle had been blown at Molineux in Wolverhampton, England. You could see what it meant to Jonas Eidevall, the Gunners’ manager, along with his players and fans; elation and relief were written across their faces. Given…
Pep Guardiola said Manchester City are now “third” favourites to win the Premier League title after a 0-0 draw with Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday. The result leaves City third in the table, a point behind Arsenal in second and three points adrift of leaders Liverpool. With nine games remaining, the title is out of their hands and Guardiola said his team are now underdogs to claim the trophy…