The Special One is back on familiar ground! Jose Mourinho, who is set to take charge of Benfica on a two-year deal, will find himself on English soil twice within the next month as the Champions League league phase unfolds. With trips to both Stamford Bridge and St James’ Park on the horizon, Mourinho is set for an early reunion with his former hunting ground..
Former Bayern Munich and Juventus attacker Douglas Costa has an arrest warrant issued against him due to unresolved child support payments amounting to over €78,000. His contract with Sydney was terminated after mutual agreement after Costa has been forbidden from leaving his native country Brazil and went on to apologise to the club's fans in his statement.
Harry Kane has been warned off a future career in NFL, with the England international told that “monsters” will be waiting to “hit” him in a different form of football. The Bayern Munich striker has been advised to focus on playing soccer until his 40, allowing him to score “a million goals” and retire in peace without having to put his body on the line again.
Atletico Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente expressed his frustration after his two goals were not enough in the 3-2 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League. He admitted that Atletico must tighten up defensively, stressing that their poor defending ultimately cost them the game after Virgil van Dijk netted a last-gasp winner for Arne Slot's team in at Anfield.
The Liverpool fan who went viral for winding up Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, to the point that the Argentine ended up being shown a red card for clashing with the home support at Anfield, insists that nothing racist or overly antagonistic was said during a dramatic Champions League fixture on Merseyside that saw the hosts claim a 92nd-minute winner.
Barcelona will kick off their Champions League campaign against Newcastle at St James’ Park on Thursday with injuries clouding preparations. Lamine Yamal is ruled out, but coach Hansi Flick is placing his faith in Marcus Rashford to step up. With Frenkie de Jong and Gavi’s fitness also under scrutiny, the Blaugrana enter the competition looking to improve on last season’s heartbreak.
A Champions League thriller at Anfield between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid on Wednesday was overshadowed by ugly touchline scenes involving Diego Simeone and his staff. Fan footage circulating online appears to show an Atletico backroom member spitting towards supporters after the Argentine coach was sent off late on. Calls are now growing for UEFA to step in and hand down a serious punishment.
Peter Schmeichel admits that Antony was “never good enough for Manchester United” but the Red Devils legend has questioned why Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund were allowed to leave Old Trafford. The Scotland international midfielder and Danish striker are now team-mates again in Italy at Napoli after surprisingly being deemed surplus to requirements.
Luis Enrique has discovered a new tactical perspective by watching Paris Saint-Germain matches from the stands, first against Lens and then in the Champions League win over Atalanta. The Spaniard adopted the change after taking inspiration from rugby coaches and argues the vantage point offers clearer insights. However, he insists he will ditch this approach and not “play with fire” in Sunday’s heated clash with Marseille.
Cardiff City legend Sol Bamba has been honoured with a new mural in Grangetown, unveiled less than a year after his tragic death at the age of 39. His widow, Chloe, delivered a heartfelt tribute at the ceremony, admitting she will “never be OK” with how her husband was taken but expressing gratitude for the love and support shown by the community.
Jose Mourinho is heading home, with the Portuguese tactician returning to his roots at Benfica on a two-year contract. The self-anointed ‘Special One’ has been out of work since seeing his spell at Turkish giants Fenerbahce brought to an abrupt halt. It has not taken long for a new position to be found, with the enigmatic 62-year-old linking up with a club that he knows well.
Scottish side Rangers have earmarked Davide Ancelotti as a potential replacement if current manager Russell Martin is dismissed. Ancelotti, however, is also under pressure at his current club Botafogo after failing to protect a three-goal lead in his side's latest slip up in the Brazilian top-flight.
Harry Kane admits to being in the form of his life, with the Bayern Munich superstar feeling better than ever. That is because goals have continued to flow at a remarkable rate for the England international, with his stunning tally at the start of the 2025-26 campaign being taken into double figures with a brace against Chelsea in the Champions League.
Manchester United's downfall under Ruben Amorim looks no closer to halting with the Red Devils enduring their worst start in 33 years. Fans of the 20-time Premier League champions are urging the club to re-sign former coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after showing proof that the Norwegian manager was sacked prematurely in 2021.
In the third episode of The Black Stars Podcast, we examine how diaspora players impact Ghana's football ambitions and the broader issues of identity, preparation and infrastructure that influence their decisions.
Heung-Min Son is loving life in the United States after bidding farewell to Tottenham, with the South Korean superstar netting his first MLS hat-trick for LAFC. After 10 years in north London, the 33-year-old forward now finds himself in California. He has made an immediate impact there, with another match ball being added to his collection against Real Salt Lake.
Jose Mourinho has provided his response to sacked Benfica ex-head coach Bruno Lage, after he wished the 'Special One' "best of luck" following his dismissal. Mourinho has been linked with the Benfica role after he was relieved of his duties at Super Lig side Fenerbahce, with the former Man Utd and Real Madrid boss eyeing an immediate return to the dugout.
Hansi Flick admits he is aware of the physical size and strength of Newcastle United ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League opener at St James’ Park on Thursday night. The German coach praised Eddie Howe’s work in transforming the Magpies into a dynamic and physical side, while stressing the need for his own players to adapt quickly in what he expects will be one of the toughest atmospheres in Europe.
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone was sent off for his involvement in an altercation with Liverpool fans after his side fell to a 3-2 loss in the dying minutes of the Champions League clash. The Argentine admitted that his reaction was not justifiable, even though he claimed to have been on the receiving end of insults throughout the match at Anfield.
Jamie Carragher has hailed Harry Kane as the “best striker England have ever had”, with the Bayern Munich superstar putting on another finishing masterclass in the Champions League. The former Tottenham Hotspur frontman has been told that he would have smashed Alan Shearer’s all-time Premier League goals record had he chosen to remain in his homeland.
Manuel Neuer claims Bayern Munich's 3-1 win against Chelsea in the Champions League opener was more than just a win, but rather a "crowning achievement" for the team. The Bayern goalkeeper believes they have improved as a squad and the result is a testament to it. The 39-year-old also completed his 100th Champions League victory with a win over the Premier League side.
Ange Postecoglou was left “frustrated” after seeing Nottingham Forest exit the Carabao Cup in dramatic fashion at Swansea, with complacent players being blamed for an embarrassing defeat in South Wales. The Reds led a second-round contest heading into stoppage-time, but suffered a stunning late collapse that ultimately left them on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline.
Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany was pleased with his side's clinical performance in the win over Chelsea in the Champions League opener on Wednesday. The Bavarian giants ran out 3-1 winners, thanks to Harry Kane's heroics. The victory also brought up a significant landmark for the evergreen Manuel Neuer in Europe's most prestigious competition.
When it was revealed that Leah Williamson would miss the start of the new Women's Super League season, most assumed Lotte Wubben-Moy or Laia Codina would take her place in the heart of Arsenal's defence. Wubben-Moy came into the campaign fresh off the back of a new contract and a role in England's Euro 2025 triumph, while Codina's status as a key starter in Spain's World Cup win in 2023 tells you the level she can reach. And yet, both have been usurped by 18-year-old Katie Reid.
Phil Parkinson has been told when he could “lose his job” at Wrexham, with there already talk of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney preparing to wield the axe. Speculation regarding a change in the dugout at SToK Racecourse has surfaced following a slow start to the 2025-26 campaign that sees the Red Dragons perched just outside the Championship relegation zone.
Harry Kane was left delighted with Bayern Munich's impressive 3-1 win against Chelsea in the opening fixture of the Champions League. The reigning Bundesliga champions opened their campaign by convincingly defeating the Club World Cup winners at Allianz Arena, with the England international scoring two goals.
Marcus Rashford has wasted no time settling into life at Barcelona, with the Manchester United loanee choosing a rap anthem for his traditional initiation song in front of new team-mates. The forward, who became the first Englishman to represent Barca since Gary Lineker, took centre stage by performing Dave and Central Cee’s hit ‘Sprinter’ upon arrival in Catalonia.
Jamie Vardy is embracing a new challenge in Serie A, with it revealed that the ex-England international is living in a £2 million villa on Lake Garda while Italian lessons are teaching him “colourful swear words”. The veteran frontman has stepped out of his comfort zone after reaching the end of his contract at Leicester City and becoming a free agent.