Italian football has been plunged into fresh chaos following the sensational resignations of Paolo Maldini and Leonardo just 16 days into their tenure. The high-profile duo decided to walk away from the FIGC project after the federation blocked their chosen candidate for the national team job, Andrea Pirlo.
Former Arsenal academy director Per Mertesacker has spoken out about his new challenge after being confirmed as the incoming sporting managing director of the German Football Association (DFB). The 2014 World Cup winner is set to play a pivotal role in the nation's footballing future, joining the setup at the same time as legendary manager Jurgen Klopp.
The arrival of Jurgen Klopp as Germany’s new national team head coach has sparked a wave of optimism across the country not seen in many years. Former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes the presence of the charismatic coach alone is enough to transform the national mood, though he insists significant tactical hurdles still lie ahead for the squad.
Andrea Pirlo is set to be named the new Italy head coach early next week after agreeing terms on a four-year contract. The former World Cup winner emerged as the primary candidate for the national team job after Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola declined the federation's initial approaches, paving the way for his return to the Azzurri set-up.
Pep Guardiola has declined an offer to become the head coach of the Italy national team following discussions with technical director Paolo Maldini. The former Manchester City manager opted to stick to his plan of taking an extended break from management rather than taking charge of the Azzurri ahead of their upcoming campaigns.
The Zinedine Zidane era of the French national team is finally ready to begin following years of intense speculation regarding the legendary midfielder's future. The French Football Federation (FFF) has confirmed that a major announcement is imminent as they prepare to move on from long-serving manager Didier Deschamps after a disappointing end to the 2018 World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly set to announce his retirement from international football after one final appearance for Portugal. The forward is expected to bid farewell to the national team in a Nations League match against Wales, concluding a record-breaking career where he became the most capped player and greatest goalscorer in international football history.
UEFA are preparing to radically overhaul the international football calendar from the 2028-29 season, replacing traditional qualifying stages with a Swiss-style league format. Mirroring the newly updated Champions League structure, European nations will play fewer double-headers and face a wider variety of opponents in a tiered system designed to heighten competition and eliminate repetitive fixtures.
England have been handed a brutal draw on their return to the top table of Nations League football. The Three Lions will take on Spain, Croatia, and Czechia in what could be seen as a Group of Death for Thomas Tuchel's men, who will first attempt to win the World Cup this summer.
Cristiano Ronaldo has continued to honour the late Diogo Jota after sending his family and his Portuguese team-mates a special gift to commemorate their 2025 Nations League triumph. The Liverpool forward and his brother, Andre Silva, died in a car crash in Spain in July, leaving the footballing community in mourning. And although Jota is gone, Ronaldo is helping to keep his memory very much alive.
The Ballon d'Or. Love it or loathe it, it's the award every footballer in the world dreams of one day winning. And now, after a memorable 2024-25 campaign, the winner of the 2025 Golden Ball has been announced: Ousmane Dembele.
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.jpeg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
