Mic'd Up: The former West Ham and Newcastle shot-stopper talked pressure of management ahead of an FA Cup slate, and why it was fair to let Wilfried Nancy go at Celtic

Wesley Fofana has been slammed as a "habitual offender" after being fined for his tenth driving offence. The Blues defender has been injury-prone throughout his time in west London, but has managed to rack up an almost unbelievable haul of issues on the road, both during his time in west London and beforehand.

Here’s how you can secure tickets to one of the biggest football derbies on the planet

Rui Faria, the long-time assistant coach to Jose Mourinho, has posted a scathing critique of modern football club structures just days after Manchester United sacked Ruben Amorim. In a social media post featuring a Manchester United background, Faria argued that managers are now powerless scapegoats for business-oriented hierarchies.

Virgil van Dijk has defended his Liverpool team-mates from any questions of their reaction to a show of disrespect from Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli. The Gunners winger sparked uproar in the Reds camp when attempting to drag injured Conor Bradley off the field towards the end of a Premier League fixture at Emirates Stadium. An unsightly melee was sparked that featured players from both teams.

Roy Keane has sensationally accused Sir Alex Ferguson of "hanging on like a bad smell" at Manchester United. The legendary Scot retired from management in 2013 on the back of leading the Red Devils to a 13th Premier League title. He remains a regular presence at Old Trafford, with Darren Fletcher admitting that he spoke to his fellow countryman before agreeing to take charge of United on an interim basis following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim.

West Ham United officials have been left furious with manager Nuno Espirito Santo following his conduct after the damaging defeat to Nottingham Forest. The Hammers hierarchy are rapidly losing faith in the Portuguese coach, with his decision to embrace and smile with opposition players immediately after the final whistle causing dismay as the club stares down the barrel of relegation.

Michael Owen has explained to GOAL why he can see Mohamed Salah sticking around at Liverpool, with Premier League heavyweights and an Egyptian superstar appearing to have "kissed and made up". Owen believes that the Reds may have overseen a "stroke of genius" that brings a revitalised performer back into their ranks for the second half of the season.

Former Barcelona star Gaizka Mendieta says that Sergio Ramos could be an interesting transfer option for Wrexham after leaving Liga MX club Monterrey. The 39-year-old, who won four Champions League titles and five La Liga crowns during his 16 years at the Santiago Bernabeu, is now available as a free agent, with Mendieta explaining why he could be tempted to north Wales.

A female reporter has claimed former Chelsea star Diego Costa once coughed in her face during an interview at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Helene Hendriks was on media duties for Liverpool's Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid in March 2020, and the striker was playing for the Spanish club at the time. After the knockout fixture took place, Costa allegedly did something the 45-year-old will never forget.

Jude Bellingham has passionately defended Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, insisting the squad is with the coach "to the death" while dismissing reports of dressing room fractures as "invented" nonsense. The England star claims the club's current situation is "no disaster" and believes external criticism has been "blown out of proportion" despite recent stumbles.

Real Madrid are set to intensify their efforts to sign Nico Schlotterbeck from Borussia Dortmund after suffering a major blow in their pursuit of Dayot Upamecano. The Bayern Munich defender was identified as the club's primary target but is now on the verge of signing a new deal in Bavaria, forcing Los Blancos to pivot towards the German international who could cost upwards of €50 million.

Jude Bellingham and Aitana Bonmati are locking horns with Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi and Trinity Rodman as adidas launches the Predator vs F50 battle and invites fans and players around the world to “choose one”. Two iconic boot designs are being reimagined for 2026, with superstar performers from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Miami and the USWNT already picking their sides.

Jude Bellingham has hit back at critics regarding his goal output this season, insisting his deeper role is necessary to accommodate Kylian Mbappe’s prolific nature at Real Madrid. The England midfielder also offered staunch support for teammate Vinicius Jr, describing the Brazilian as 'electric' despite his struggles under coach Xabi Alonso.

Barcelona and Real Madrid have been warned off a move for Harry Kane, who has a £57 million ($77m) release clause in his contract at Bayern Munich, as they would be spending “dead money”. Michael Owen has explained to GOAL why the England international striker “gave away his aces too cheaply” when leaving Tottenham and the Premier League in 2023.

Former Barcelona manager Quique Setien has revealed that the Catalan giants took nearly four years to finally settle his unpaid wages following his dismissal in 2020. The 67-year-old opened up on the staggering delay while also dropping a bombshell regarding a separate, ongoing legal battle with another La Liga club that has left him waiting for a settlement for almost three years.

New Year's Eve is almost upon us, meaning 2025 is about to be consigned to the past - but how will it be remembered by the football world? It was certainly an unforgettable year for some players, coaches and clubs. Paris Saint-Germain, for example, finally got their hands on the trophy they craved above all others, the Champions League, thus vindicating a sensible change in recruitment strategy by the club's owners, who went from signing superstars to investing millions in youth.

John Terry is set to part with some of the most emotionally charged items of his storied Chelsea career, including the infamous “tear-stained” shirt from the 2008 Champions League final defeat to Manchester United. The former Blues captain will auction the memorabilia at a charity sale, with proceeds supporting causes close to his heart through his foundation.

An almost perfect 2025 for Ousmane Dembele was completed on Sunday, as the Paris Saint-Germain forward was crowned 'Best Male Player' at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai. This was the latest in a series of personal accolades for the Ballon d'Or winner, who inspired PSG to winning the Champions League for the first time ever last season. Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal also picked up a pair of awards on the night.

The Christmas period is upon us, which means we are somehow already more or less at the midway point of the 2025-26 football season. As many of Europe's leading leagues pause for the winter break, it's time to take stock and reflect on four scintillating months of action. It's also the opportune moment to assess those players who completed transfers across the continent in the summer, now that they have a decent sample size of games under their belts.

With the halfway stage of the season upon us, the time has come to shine a spotlight on the players who have made the biggest impact across Europe's major leagues. But first, let's run through the lay of the land.

With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly now disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players beginning the campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued with inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he was among a crowded field of contenders as the 2026 race got going.

Kylian Mbappe has been told that Paris Saint-Germain would not have won the Champions League had he stuck around in France, with it “fantasy” to believe that European success could ever have been savoured with the France international, Lionel Messi and Neymar lining up in the same starting XI. World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf has explained to GOAL why that is the case.

GOAL U.S. writers take a look at some of the biggest storylines in European soccer, including Mo Salah's future, Vinicius Jr's exit rumors, and the Premier League title race

Jamie Vardy continues to age like a fine wine, with the Premier League title-winning former England striker reaching 150 career goals across Europe’s top five divisions. He has achieved that feat at 38 years of age and while on the books of Serie A outfit Cremonese. Few can claim to have matched the legendary ex-Leicester frontman, with only Cristiano Ronaldo sitting above him on a notable chart.

How to watch the Serie A match between AC Milan and Genoa, as well as kick-off time and team news.

Some of the greatest goalscorers in football history have plied their trade in Europe, but only a select few have won the Golden Shoe

Kylian Mbappe's European Golden shoe defence is being challenged by the likes of Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.

Mario Balotelli is set to complete a transfer to the 14th club of his career as he closes in on a switch to Al-Ittifaq FC of Dubai. The former Manchester City and Liverpool striker has been a free agent since he left Italian side Genoa over the summer. Balotelli signed for the Serie A outfit on a season-long deal last October but did not stay there long.

Chelsea are set to be disappointed in their pursuit of AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, as the Italian giants edge closer to tying their captain down to a new contract. Maignan was a transfer target for the Blues last summer and they were expected to renew their interest this year given the Frenchman would be available on a free transfer. However, Milan are now in advanced talks to keep the highly-rated stopper at San Siro.

Former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has opened up on his feud with Andre Onana after infamously calling the Cameroonian one of the Red Devils' "worst-ever goalkeepers". The two traded barbs in the lead-up to United's Europa League quarter-final clash with Lyon last season, before the Premier League side won a dramatic knockout tie. Now, the ex-Chelsea ace has revisited that thorny issue.

United States international Weston McKennie will reportedly not renew his Juventus contract amid rumours of a Major League Soccer return. The 27-year-old's future has been up in the air for years now, ever since he had an underwhelming loan spell at Leeds United in 2023. The midfielder has spent more than five years at the Italian giants but his spell there may be drawing to a close.