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…
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.…
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…
The summer transfer window is open! Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
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…
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…
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…
Manchester United’s Antony has admitted he’s still struggling to come to terms with his rise from a difficult upbringing in Brazil to Premier League footballer. The forward has been heavily criticised for his performances since moving to Old Trafford from Ajax for £85 million in 2022. And while the 24-year-old insists he’s not looking for excuses, he said the transition from growing up in a favela to life as a…
An ecstatic Luis de la Fuente, coach of Spain’s senior national team, said his country’s football should be more highly valued after the under-23 side’s triumph in the final of the Olympic tournament against France on Friday. De la Fuente led the under-23 team three years ago in their silver medal finish at the Tokyo Games before being named senior national team manager and winning the European Championship last month.…
Issa Hayatou, the long-time leader of African soccer who was made interim president of FIFA during its corruption crisis in 2015, died on Thursday. He was aged 77. FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in an Instagram post: “Saddened to hear of the passing of former CAF president, former FIFA president and interim, FIFA vice-president and FIFA Council member Issa Hayatou. A passionate sports fan, he dedicated his life to sports…