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In an attempt to ensure that South Africa remain in Morocco, the Belgian came up with what looked like a strange matchday plan, and also his team formation was not what he used to deploy. He made four changes to the squad that faced Cameroon and got eliminated. In the end, the strategy failed as Bafana saw their journey come to an end and the Indomitable Lions progressed to the last eight.

Manchester United have finally put Ruben Amorim out of his misery. On Monday morning, the 20-time champions of England announced that the Portuguese had "departed his role as head coach" and that the decision had been "reluctantly" made to "give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish". Of course, the table doesn't make for particularly poor reading for United.

Ruben Amorim was sacked by Man United on Monday morning following a disappointing draw with Leeds, but it may have been the Portuguese boss's behaviour leading up to it which prompted his untimely exit from the Old Trafford hot seat, rather than results alone. Amorim sensationally fell out with United chiefs and caused tactical confusion within the squad before the decision to relieve him of his duties.

In a bid to create space for probably more new signings, the Soweto giants have confirmed the permanent exit of the star. Signed after impressing in his former Premier Soccer League side, the 25-year-old found it hard to settle and become a key player for the MTN8 champions. Faced with stiff competition, he had limited involvement in the ongoing season, as the club is focused on winning more local trophies after the CAF Champions League elimination.

Celtic have wasted little time in sacking manager Wilfried Nancy, just eight games into his time in Glasgow, having been hired in December 2025 as the permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers. Martin O'Neill had served as interim boss following Rodgers' dismissal and was remarkably at the helm for longer than Nancy. The last nail in the Frenchman's coffin was a 3-1 Old Firm defeat to Rangers at Parkhead on Saturday.

The Buccaneers confirmed their first signing of January after securing the signature of the New Zealand international midfielder from Stellenbosch FC. The Soweto giants are beefing up their squad as they try to maintain top spot in the Premier Soccer League, as well as winning the Nedbank Cup in a season they could finish with a quadruple after claiming the MTN8 and Carling Knockout.

Cole Campbell has agreed a six-month loan to Hoffenheim after struggling to establish himself in the first team for Borussia Dortmund, the club announced Monday morning. The deal includes an option to buy for up to $11.7 million should the club opt to make it permanent at the end of the season. Campbell has played just 16 senior minutes this season for the German giants.

Edu Gaspar is reportedly fighting to save his job at Nottingham Forest just months into his lucrative £3 million-a-year contract, with the former Arsenal director coming under intense scrutiny from ruthless owner Evangelos Marinakis. The Brazilian’s position is said to be hanging by a thread following a catastrophic breakdown in relations with former boss Nuno Espirito Santo and a disastrous transfer strategy that has left the club staring down the barrel of relegation.

Sporting KC are nearing an agreement with former Chicago Fire and Young Boys manager Raphael Wicky, according to the Athletic. The Swiss manager, who has previously played and coached in MLS, is set to replace long-time manager Peter Vermes, who parted ways with the club after a winless start to last season. He is the first major appointment from new CSO David Lee.

Manchester City are reportedly mulling over a January move for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi as Pep Guardiola sees injury problems mount at the Etihad Stadium. The Blues are considering dipping into the winter transfer market for reinforcements after two more senior stars picked up knocks in a draw with Chelsea that has rocked their Premier League title aspirations.

Manchester United reportedly made the decision to sack Ruben Amorim ahead of the 1-1 draw with Leeds that proved to be his final game at the helm. It is claimed that the Portuguese “blew up” in a meeting with director of football Jason Wilcox prior to the clash at Elland Road taking place, with that outburst ultimately sealing his fate.

Wrexham have officially confirmed the return of club legend Paul Mullin after his season-long loan spell at Wigan Athletic was cut short. The 31-year-old striker, who became a global icon during the club’s rise under Hollywood ownership, is available for selection immediately as Phil Parkinson looks to bolster his attacking options for the crucial run-in.

Real Madrid have devised a fresh strategy to lure Rodri away from Manchester City, with the Spanish giants looking to capitalise on the midfielder's stalling contract talks. Los Blancos view the Ballon d'Or winner as the ultimate target to complete their midfield evolution at the Santiago Bernabeu, and startling reports from Spain suggest a blockbuster transfer offensive could be launched.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has reportedly emerged as Manchester United’s “top target” to replace Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils find themselves in the market for a new manager after taking the decision to relieve Portuguese tactician Amorim of his duties. Glasner has impressed in the Premier League at Selhurst Park and is on the radar of those at Old Trafford, although an interim appointment is expected to see out the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign.

Real Madrid have been offered the chance to sign Crystal Palace sensation Adam Wharton, but Los Blancos will face fierce competition for his signature. Premier League giants Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are all tracking the midfielder, who will reportedly cost at least €70 million and is demanding a huge salary to leave Selhurst Park.

The jig is up for Ruben Amorim. After 14 unforgettable months as head coach, he has been sacked by Manchester United. He broke many records for the wrong reasons, lost a European final to Tottenham and was dumped out of the Carabao Cup by fourth-tier side Grimsby Town. Yet it is only now that those upstairs at Old Trafford have decided to pull the trigger.

Ruben Amorim was fighting a losing battle with his own emotions long before the official announcement of his sacking by Manchester United on Monday morning. According to body language expert Darren Stanton, the Portuguese tactician exhibited clear signs of feeling "thrown under the bus" by the club hierarchy during his final, explosive press conference.

Alejandro Garnacho has publicly revelled in Ruben Amorim’s sacking by Manchester United. The Portuguese tactician has been relieved of his duties at Old Trafford as a forgettable 14-month tenure is brought to a close. Garnacho was among those to be frozen out of the Red Devils fold by Amorim, leading to him leaving for Chelsea, and the Argentina international appears to have taken great delight in seeing his former boss dismissed.

It was a mic drop moment that came out of the blue and yet seemed to have been brewing for a long time. Ruben Amorim was getting through a potentially difficult press conference after drawing at Leeds with little fuss, giving the assembled journalists little to feed on. But then came the bombshell moment which has led to him ultimately being sacked just 14 months after taking over at Old Trafford.

Declan Rice has launched a passionate defence of teammate Viktor Gyokeres, insisting the Arsenal striker remains "one of the best in the world" despite a dry spell in front of goal. The England midfielder believes critics are overlooking the £64 million signing's immense tactical contribution, sending a stark warning to Premier League rivals that the goals will soon flow once again.

The 24-year-old has been with the club since his early days in the game, coming through the ranks to represent the senior team and become a key player for the Cape Winelands region. Initially, the South Africa international had been linked with a move to the Soweto giants, but he has been convinced to stay.

Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane admits that Enzo Maresca’s sudden sacking on New Year’s Day caused “shock” in the Blues’ dressing room. Everyone at Stamford Bridge has, however, realigned their focus as it remains important to avoid any distractions. Senior stars in west London, such as captain Reece James, are being credited with “dragging the group together”.

The 33-year-old has opted to step down to lower-division football after carving out a career in the Premier Soccer League over the years, including playing for the Buccaneers. With his vast experience, he is expected to add leadership and quality as the Citizens push for a return to the top-flight league. His signing could be City’s clearest statement of their intent to reclaim PSL status.

GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave their comfort zones in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.

Ruben Amorim’s forgettable reign as Manchester United manager is over, with the Portuguese lasting just 14 months and 63 games in the most demanding of Premier League posts. Having faced uncomfortable questions across a difficult tenure at Old Trafford, the reasons for the 40-year-old’s sudden departure at the start of 2026 have been revealed.

Chelsea have fuelled speculation regarding a potential reintegration for Mykhailo Mudryk after publicly celebrating the winger’s 25th birthday on social media. The public acknowledgement stands in stark contrast to the club’s treatment of Raheem Sterling just weeks earlier, suggesting that the Ukrainian may still have a future at Stamford Bridge under the incoming management.

The Bundesliga may still be on a winter break, but there was plenty of other action across Europe as 2026 got off to a cracking start for some of the continent's elite teams. In England, Arsenal took another big step towards a first Premier League title since 2004 by moving six points clear thanks to a 3-2 win at Bournemouth, while reigning champions Barcelona continue to lead the way in Spain after beating city rivals Espanyol thanks to late goals from Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski.

Thiago Silva has completed a sensational return to European football, signing a short-term deal with Porto at the age of 41. The Brazilian icon, who recently departed Fluminense following a mutual termination of his contract, touched down in the Invicta city on Sunday to finalise a move that sees him reunite with the club where his career almost ended tragically two decades ago.

Arsenal have completed their first signing of the January transfer window as Renee Slegers' side bid to get back on track in the Women's Super League. The Gunners are eight points behind Manchester City ahead of the league's resumption this weekend and have added depth in defence as they aim to close that gap, signing a highly-rated Sweden international who suffered heartbreak at the hands of England's Lionesses at the 2025 European Championship.