Shakhtar Donetsk

Shakhtar Donetsk news

Crystal Palace FC v AZ Alkmaar - UEFA Conference League 2025/26 League Phase MD3

Turan tips Real Madrid and Barca target Smit for greatness

Shakhtar Donetsk head coach Arda Turan has heaped praise on AZ Alkmaar sensation Kees Smit, labelling the midfielder a "special" talent destined for the very top of the game. Despite his side securing a 3-0 victory in the Conference League quarter-finals, the Turkish manager was left awestruck by the youngster's ability to dictate the tempo of the match against his team.

FBL-WC-2026-TUR-ROU-QUALIFIERS

Football legend Lucescu dies aged 80

The football world is mourning the loss of Mircea Lucescu, one of the most decorated managers in history, who has died at the age of 80. The iconic Romanian coach passed away after suffering severe medical complications, leaving behind a monumental six-decade legacy. He won an astonishing 35 major trophies during a legendary career across Europe's top clubs and international football.

Wolverhampton Wanderers FC v Chelsea FC - Premier League

Mudryk's former club back Chelsea star despite doping ban

Mykhailo Mudryk’s career has been thrown into turmoil, but his old club Shakhtar Donetsk have come out swinging in his defence. The Ukrainian winger, slapped with a provisional suspension in December 2024 after testing positive for meldonium, now faces an official doping charge from The FA. Despite the storm, Shakhtar’s sporting director Dario Srna insists the 24-year-old is “completely innocent” and deserves full support.

Frequently asked questions

Initially founded as Sunderland and District Teachers A.F.C. in 1879, the club was renamed to Sunderland A.F.C. in October 1880. The club turned professional a decade later, when it joined The Football League ahead of the 1890-91 campaign.

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus (64% stake) and Juan Sartori (36% stake) are the co-owners of Sunderland. The former first acquired shares in February 2021, joining the latter who has been associated with the club since 2018.

Sunderland's home stadium is known as The Stadium of Light, which replaced the iconic Roker Park in 1997. Roker Park served as Sunderland's home ground for almost a century, from 1898 to 1997.

The Stadium of Light has a capacity of 49,000, making it England's ninth-largest football stadium.

Sunderland have won a total of nine trophies, which includes six top-flight titles as well as two FA Cups.

Sunderland have clinched the English top-flight title on six occasions. Their first win came in the 1891-92 season, while they haven't won a single league title since going all the way at the end of the 1935-36 campaign.

Former English goalkeeper Jimmy Montgomery holds the record for making the most appearances in Sunderland history. Montgomery made 627 appearances between 1960 and 1977 and was a part of the Sunderland team that won the 1973 FA Cup.

The Sunderland faithful will never forget the contributions of legendary striker Bobby Gurney, who churned out 228 goals in 390 appearances in what is a club record.

Charlie Hurley, Simon Mignolet, John O'Shea, Jordan Pickford, Jermain Defoe, Bobby Kerr, and Jimmy Montgomery are among the most prominent players to have donned the Sunderland shirt.

Bob Kyle, Roy Keane, and Sam Allardyce are among Sunderland's most famous managers.

Previously known as The Rokermen when they played at Roker Park, Sunderland are now officially nicknamed The Black Cats based on 10,000 votes cast by the supporters through the official magazine in 2000. The nickname originates from the names of battery guns which protected the mouth of the River Wear in the 18th century.