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2. Bundesliga

2. Bundesliga news

Kennet Eichhorn NXGN GFX

Why Man Utd & more want Hertha's teenage Kroos regen

Hertha Berlin fans haven't had much to cheer about in recent years. Their decade-long stay in the Bundesliga ended after the team slumped to an 18th-placed finish in the 2022-23 season, just four years on from Lars Windhorst's €224 million minority takeover that came with the billionaire's promise to build a "true ‘big-city club’, like those in London or Madrid."

Fortuna Düsseldorf v FC Schalke 04 - 2. Bundesliga

Ex-Liverpool star Karius 'belongs in top league' amid Schalke heroics

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius has been told he is simply too good for the second division, with Schalke sporting director Frank Baumann admitting the stopper "belongs in the top league." However, the German giants are desperate to extend his stay at the Veltins-Arena, confirming plans to sit down for contract talks while acknowledging that the player's family situation and the club's promotion battle will ultimately decide his future.

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German club turns to AI for new signings and director

Following their relegation from the Bundesliga, Bochum are turning to artificial intelligence to rebuild their sporting structure, from signing players to selecting their next sporting director. With instability at the management level and a need to modernise recruitment, the club are reportedly in talks with AI platform Plaier to overhaul how they scout, evaluate and develop football talent.

Frequently asked questions

Spain are the most successful side in the European Championship, having lifted the coveted title four times. Their first-ever title came in 1964. After a long wait of 44 years, La Roja won the trophy in 2008 and successfully defended it in 2012 under the-then boss Vicente del Bosque. They won the most recent edition in 2024 and set a record of winning every single game en route to glory.

There are 24 teams in the European Championships ever since the expansion in 2016. Initially there were only four teams in the Euros, before that number was doubled to eight in 1980, and then to 16 countries in 1996.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo has made 30 appearances in the European Championship, having featured in six consecutive editions. He won the tournament in 2016.

No player has scored more goals in the European Championship than the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo. The 39-year-old has scored 14 goals in 30 games in total, five more than any other player.

Portugal centre-back Pepe was aged 41 years and 130 days when his team took on France in the quarter-final of the 2024 edition, thus becoming the oldest player to ever feature in the European Championship.

Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal has been creating a host of records since breaking out at Barcelona in 2023. He was a crucial contributor in Spain's EURO 2024 victory, and also became the youngest player ever to feature in the European Championship finals, making his debut in the tournament at the age of 16 years and 338 days.

Paolo Maldini, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, Manuel Neuer, Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas, Eden Hazard, Michel Platini, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Gareth Bale are some of the most prominent names to have represented their nations at the European Championship.

Roberto Mancini, Ronald Koeman, Guus Hiddink, Dino Zoff, Antonio Conte, Andriy Shevchenko, Luis Enrique, Miguel Munoz, Kevin Keegan, Frank Rijkaard, Arrigo Sacchi, Julian Nagelsmann, etc are some of the most famous managers to have managed in the European Championship.