Ernesto Valverde telah mengumumkan bahwa ia akan meninggalkan Athletic Club pada akhir musim ini, menandai berakhirnya masa jabatannya yang luar biasa bersama klub Basque tersebut, yang mencakup tiga periode berbeda sebagai pelatih dan enam musim sebagai pemain. Pria berusia 60 tahun itu mengumumkan hal tersebut dalam sebuah video singkat, di mana ia juga menegaskan bahwa ia akan tetap memimpin tim hingga akhir musim.
Pelatih tim nasional Inggris, Thomas Tuchel, mengejutkan banyak pihak dengan skuad XXL untuk pemusatan latihan pada bulan Maret. Namun, tidak ada tempat bagi seorang bintang Real Madrid.
Dengan duopoli Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo yang tampaknya mulai memudar, persaingan untuk meraih Ballon d'Or belum pernah terasa seketat ini selama hampir 20 tahun terakhir; kini, banyak pemain yang memulai setiap musim dengan keyakinan bahwa mereka memiliki peluang untuk merebut penghargaan individu paling bergengsi di dunia sepak bola. Ousmane Dembele berhasil bangkit dari karier yang diwarnai ketidakstabilan untuk memenangkan Golden Ball pada tahun 2025, dan ia menjadi salah satu dari sekian banyak pesaing saat perebutan gelar tahun 2026 dimulai.
Atlético Madrid sedang menjajaki kemungkinan untuk mendatangkan bintang Marseille, Mason Greenwood, pada bursa transfer musim panas ini, seiring persiapan mereka untuk melakukan perombakan besar-besaran pada lini serang. Diego Simeone dilaporkan sangat tertarik pada penyerang tersebut, yang sebelumnya tampil gemilang di La Liga selama masa peminjamannya bersama Getafe.
Current title holders Real Madrid are miles ahead of any other club in Europe's most prestigious competition, having gone all the way whopping 15 times – more than twice the number of titles lifted by any other club.
How many teams are in the Champions League?
The newest format, introduced ahead of the 2024-25 season, features 36 teams, four more than in the previous format. The competition was known as the European Cup at the time of its inception in 1955 before being rebranded to the UEFA Champions League ahead of the 1992-93 season. In its inaugural edition in 1955-56, only 16 teams contested.
Who has made the most Champions League appearances ever?
Cristiano Ronaldo sits at the top of the appearance-making charts, having played in 183 Champions League games, representing Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.
Who is the all-time top scorer of the Champions League?
No surprises here! It's Mr. Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo, who is the leading goalscorer in the Champions League with an astonishing 141 goals to his name!
Who has the most assists in the history of the Champions League?
Cristiano Ronaldo is not just a prolific goalscorer, but also has a keen eye for his team-mates as his record 42 assists in the Champions League prove.
Who is the oldest player ever in the Champions League and how old was he?
Former Italian goalkeeper Marco Ballotta holds the distinction of being the oldest player ever in the Champions League. Playing for Lazio against Real Madrid in the 2007-08 season, Ballotta was aged 43 years and 252 days.
Who is the youngest player ever in the Champions League and how old was he?
Borussia Dortmund prodigy Youssoufa Moukoko is the youngest player ever to feature in a Champions League game. He set the record on December 8 2020, in Dortmund's group stage fixture against Zenit St. Petersburg, aged 16 years and 18 days.
Which famous players have played in the Champions League?
Gianluigi Buffon, Raul, Robert Lewandowski, Ronaldinho, Clarence Seedorf, Arjen Robben, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos, Zinedine Zidane, Paolo Maldini, Lionel Messi, and Mo Salah, to name a few, are some of the greatest and most famous footballing faces to have graced the Champions League over the decades.
Which famous managers have managed in the Champions League?
Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp, Carlo Ancelotti, Rafael Benitez, Frank Rijkaard, Unai Emery, Thomas Tuchel, Zinedine Zidane, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Arsene Wenger are some of the most famous managers to have coached a club in the Champions League.