Former Leeds United manager David O'Leary has made the stunning claim that he was "one of the chosen ones" recommended by Sir Alex Ferguson to take the reins at Old Trafford. The revelation comes over two decades after Ferguson famously performed a U-turn on his initial plans to retire at the end of the 2001-02 season.
Barcelona have stepped up their search for a new talisman to lead the line next season, identifying Chelsea's Joao Pedro as a priority target to replace Robert Lewandowski. The Catalan giants are preparing for life without their veteran Polish striker, who is reportedly closing in on a lucrative move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.
Former Liverpool and Senegal striker El Hadji Diouf has been handed a one-year suspended prison sentence following a legal dispute over unpaid child support. The 45-year-old was found guilty of failing to meet financial obligations to his ex-wife, Valerie Bishop, dating back to March 2024.
Real Madrid's pursuit of a sensational reunion with Jose Mourinho may not be straightforward, with the true cost of prising the Portuguese manager away from Benfica now coming to light. The presence of a specific break clause in the manager's current contract means Benfica will be entitled to a hefty compensation fee should he depart for the Santiago Bernabeu.
Roberto Martinez has dismissed any suggestion that Cristiano Ronaldo's move to the Saudi Pro League has diminished his effectiveness on the international stage. Following a scouting mission to Riyadh, the Portugal head coach expressed his admiration for the veteran striker’s enduring hunger and physical condition as he prepares for another World Cup.
Chelsea and Roc Nation Sports International have entered a new strategic partnership in an effort to boost the Premier League club's growth, specifically in the United States. The partnership comes just weeks after Roc Nation announced that the organization had partnered with another club, Polish side KS Cracovia.
The Premier League has officially unveiled the eight-man shortlist for the 2025-26 Player of the Season award, including England World Cup squad hopeful Morgan Gibbs-White. Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Arsenal talisman Declan Rice are also in the running for the prestigious prize as the campaign nears its conclusion.
Michael Carrick has earned a surprise nomination for the Premier League Manager of the Season award following his extraordinary transformation of Manchester United since January. The former United midfielder has been recognised alongside established figures like Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta, despite only managing 15 Premier League games this term.
Paris Saint-Germain have officially extended their dominance over French football, securing their 14th Ligue 1 title following a professional 2-0 victory against RC Lens. While winning has become the norm at the Parc des Princes, head coach Luis Enrique insists that the 2025-26 campaign provided unique challenges that made the final celebrations even sweeter.
Massimiliano Allegri is reportedly prepared to quit AC Milan at the end of the season following a complete breakdown in his relationship with club advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Despite returning to the San Siro with high ambitions in 2025, the veteran coach is said to be exhausted by internal boardroom friction and the team's alarming decline in form.
Arne Slot has provided a definitive update on Harvey Elliott's future at Anfield following a frustrating loan spell at Aston Villa. The Liverpool manager confirmed that the young midfielder will rejoin the first-team squad for pre-season training after failing to secure regular minutes under Unai Emery.
Hansi Flick has lauded the burgeoning talent within Barcelona's youth ranks following a surprising 1-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Deportivo Alaves. Although the result officially ends the newly-crowned La Liga champions' ambitions of reaching a historic 100-point milestone, the German coach remained upbeat regarding the development of his squad's fringe players.
Ousmane Dembele has spoken out regarding his chances of securing back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards after Paris Saint-Germain officially clinched the 2025-26 Ligue 1 title on Wednesday night. The 28-year-old provided an assist in a 2-0 win over Lens to ensure Luis Enrique's side remained the dominant force in French football.
Arne Slot has insisted he expects to remain in the Liverpool dugout next season despite a disappointing campaign that has seen the Reds struggle to defend their Premier League crown. The Dutchman has faced mounting pressure from sections of the Anfield faithful as his side battles to secure a place in the Champions League.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has dismissed suggestions that the appointment of Xabi Alonso as head coach was an error, despite his tenure ending prematurely in January. Speaking during an extensive television interview, the Los Blancos chief also addressed the contract situation of Vinicius Junior, insisting there is no immediate urgency to extend the Brazilian's current deal.
Bayern Munich have made a significant breakthrough in their pursuit of Anthony Gordon after reportedly agreeing on personal terms with the Newcastle United winger. But the Bavarian giants will face a hurdle with Gordon's high price tag, and will try to persuade the Premier League club to lower their asking price.
Arne Slot has provided a significant fitness update ahead of Liverpool’s crucial Premier League encounter away at Aston Villa on Friday night. While talismanic forward Mohamed Salah is prepared to make his return following a two-match injury absence, the Reds may be forced to navigate the fixture without influential playmaker Florian Wirtz due to a sudden illness.
Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Phil Foden after he inspired Manchester City to a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace, moving within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal. The England international was the architect of the win, providing two sublime assists on his first league start since March to ensure the title race goes to the wire.
Inter have secured their first domestic double in 16 years following a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Lazio in the Coppa Italia final at the Stadio Olimpico. Captain Lautaro Martinez led the celebrations, praising the transformative impact of head coach Cristian Chivu in guiding the Nerazzurri back to the pinnacle of Italian football this season.
Santos head coach Cuca has backed Neymar to secure a place in Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad following his influential display in a 2-0 Copa do Brasil victory over Coritiba. The manager believes the veteran forward's evolving playing style and tactical intelligence make him an essential asset for Carlo Ancelotti as the Selecao prepare for the summer tournament.
Florentino Perez has launched a passionate defence of Kylian Mbappe, labelling the Frenchman as Real Madrid's "best player" despite a turbulent campaign at the Santiago Bernabeu. The club president addressed the fallout of a season that has once again seen Los Blancos fail to secure major silverware, pointing to a gruelling fixture schedule as the primary cause for their slump.
FIFA has confirmed that global superstars Shakira, Madonna, and BTS will headline the first-ever halftime show during the 2026 World Cup final. This historic musical event at MetLife Stadium aims to blend elite sport with world-class entertainment to support global education initiatives for children.
Hearts manager Derek McInnes has launched a scathing attack on the decision to award Celtic a last-gasp penalty against Motherwell, branding the call "disgusting". The controversial spot-kick, converted by Kelechi Iheanacho, ensures a winner-takes-all showdown for the Scottish Premiership title this Saturday.
Transfers in women's football have gone crazy in the last 18 months. It was in January of last year that Naomi Girma became the first million-dollar player in the sport and yet she is now already only the sixth most-expensive women's player of all time, with seven-figure fees suddenly becoming more and more frequent as the game grows.
Lionel Messi inspired Inter Miami to a dramatic comeback victory against FC Cincinnati, yet he was controversially denied a 61st career hat-trick by Major League Soccer officials. Despite seemingly finding the net three times during the match, a technical ruling regarding a late deflection saw the league credit the decisive third strike as an own goal instead.
Laura Hilven has confirmed her separation from Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard following months of speculation regarding the state of their marriage. In a poignant social media statement, Hilven revealed that the couple, who have been together for nearly 13 years and married since 2019, reached the difficult decision to part ways amicably to ensure the healthiest future for their family.
Red Bull New York academy product Julian Hall became the youngest player in MLS history to score a hat trick at 18 years and 50 days old, passing Ricardo Pepi’s previous mark of 18 years and 196 days. Hall now has nine goals and two assists this season, emerging as a major bright spot for a Red Bulls team that has found new life under first-year head coach Michael Bradley.
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