La Liga president Javier Tebas has weighed in on the growing speculation regarding Jose Mourinho’s potential return to Real Madrid. The Portuguese tactician, currently in charge at Benfica, is being heavily linked with a second stint at the Santiago Bernabeu as Los Blancos look to rebuild after a difficult campaign.
Leeds United have reignited their pursuit of Sporting CP midfielder Hidemasa Morita as they begin planning for a second consecutive season in the Premier League. The Japan international is reportedly open to a move to Elland Road once the club’s top-flight status is mathematically confirmed, having opted to remain in Portugal last summer.
Benfica have set their sights on Fulham manager Marco Silva as the primary candidate to succeed Jose Mourinho at Estadio da Luz. This potential move creates a significant hurdle for Chelsea, who have also shortlisted the Portuguese tactician as they seek a permanent successor to Liam Rosenior ahead of a crucial summer rebuild.
Jose Mourinho is once again at the centre of a whirlwind of speculation as Real Madrid president Florentino Perez reportedly eyes a sensational move to bring the Portuguese tactician back to the Bernabeu. However, Benfica midfielder Richard Rios is hopeful that the ex-Chelsea boss will stay put, having learned a lot from him during his first season back in charge at the Estadio da Luz.
Jose Mourinho has directly responded to the growing speculation linking him with a sensational return to Real Madrid as a replacement for Alvaro Arbeloa. The legendary Portuguese coach, currently in charge of Benfica, also took a moment to reflect on his emotional tenure at Roma, describing the Italian capital as the standout environment of his illustrious career.
Asian heavyweights Japan are the most successful side in AFC Asian Cup history, winning the title four times (1992, 2000, 2004, and 2011).
How many teams are in the Asian Cup?
At present, 24 teams participate in the AFC Asian Cup, an increase from the 16 teams that featured from 2004 to 2015. Fun fact: during the inaugural edition in 1956, just four teams took part in the tournament.
Who has made the most Asian Cup appearances ever?
Yasuhito Endo, a cult hero from Japan, leads the all-time appearance maker list with 21 Asian Cup games to his name. The midfielder feature in four consecutive editions between 2004 and 2015.
Who is the all-time top scorer of the Asian Cup?
Ali Daei, who held the record for scoring the most international goals before Cristiano Ronaldo leapfrogged him in 2021, has found the net a record 14 times in Asian Cup history, three times more than any other player.
Who is the oldest player ever in the Asian Cup and how old was he?
Indian footballing icon Sunil Chhetri is the oldest player to ever feature in the AFC Asian Cup, achieving the feat in the 2023 edition (played in 2024) at the age of 39 years and 173 days.
Who is the youngest player ever in the Asian Cup and how old was he?
Talal Haji, aged 16 years and 131 days, became the youngest player to ever play in the tournament when he featured for Saudi Arabia in a group stage game against Thailand at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
Which famous players have played in the Asian Cup?
Ali Daei, Sunil Chhetri, Tim Cahill, Mark Schwarzer, Son Heung-min, Keisuke Honda, Shunsuke Nakamura, Sardar Azmoun, and Park Ji-sung are some of the biggest stars to have participated in the AFC Asian Cup.
Which famous managers have managed in the Asian Cup?
Carlos Quieroz, Carlos Alberto Parreira, Ange Postecoglou, Zico, and Alberto Zaccheroni are among the AFC Asian Cup's most famous managers in history.