ASTON VILLA and Birmingham City go head-to-head in the first ‘Second City’ derby of the season.
And it could not be tighter between the two, with the hosts leading in the Championship by just a three goal difference swing.
Real Madrid lost their first match under Santiago Solari as they were convincingly defeated 3-0 by Eibar.
Real Madrid lurched back into crisis after a fully deserved 3-0 defeat at Eibar in Santi Solari's first match as the club's new full-time coach.
Eibar unsurprisingly went ahead midway through the first half when midfielder Gonzalo Escalante finished off a counterattack, with their dominance further emphasised after the break when Sergi Enrich and Kike Garcia both netted, as the Basques enjoyed their first ever La Liga victory over Madrid.
The result could have been even worse for a Real Madrid side...
Ivorian soccer great Didier Drogba is calling it a career.
Drogba confirmed on the BBC World Service’s Sportshour program that he is hanging up his cleats for good.
“After 20 years, I have decided to put an end to my playing career,” Drogba said on the show.
The 40-year-old began his professional career with French club Le Mans, but he’s best known for his time in the Premier League with Chelsea.
Over two stints with the English giant, Drogba scored 164 goals across 381 appearances for the Blues, helping them capture four Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League crown during his time spent with them.
In addition to his accomplishments with Chelsea, Drogba also enjoyed an excellent international career with his native Ivory Coast that saw him finish his career as the African nation’s all-time leading goal-scorer with 65 markers in 105 caps.
The twilight of Drogba’s career was played out in North America when he played a couple seasons for the Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer and then the last two years of his career for the United Soccer League’s Phoenix Rising, a team he also co-owns.
LISBON, Portugal — A Portuguese official says Spain has made no approach about the possibility of presenting a three-way bid to host the 2030 World Cup with Morocco.
Education Minister Tiago Brandao Rodrigues, who oversees sports, says he has "no formal knowledge of any official announcement about a three-way bid."
He also says he believes FIFA does not allow joint bids from separate confederations — in this case, UEFA and the Confederation of African Football.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez supposedly conveyed the bid offer to Moroccan counterpart Saad Eddine El Othmani during a brief visit to the north African country.
Bids to host the 2030 World Cup are being considered by countries in South America and England.
Where is the rationale for Rooney's cap against USA?
Where is the rationale for Rooney's cap against USA?
Alvaro Morata has revealed that a chat with his wife helped persuade him not to leave Chelsea this summer.
The Spaniard endured a tough debut season in west London following a 60million move from Real Madrid.
Read more on Tribal Football
LONDON — Premier League clubs have agreed to give departing chairman Richard Scudamore 5 million pounds ($6 million) over three years despite a public backlash.
The Football Supporters’ Federation had urged clubs not to give Scudamore the money after news of the planned payment leaked. But the league says "the payments are in recognition of the outstanding work Richard has carried out over the last 19 years."
In a statement after a meeting of the 20 clubs on Thursday, the league said Scudamore will "remain available in an advisory capacity," and justified the payments as being a "vital" part of "a comprehensive set of non-compete clauses."
Every season, Chelsea searches the transfer market for new additions to their already impressive group of stars whilst neglecting the players brought up within their youth system, some of whom are quite capable of adding depth and value to the first-team set-up.
On that note, here's a look at some of the best players Chelsea have sent out on loan primarily based on how they've performed this season:
Read more on Tribal Football
Zimbabwe are set to miss out on Arsenal starlet Reiss Nelson, whose exploits at Hoffenheim have impressed England coach Gareth Southgate.
The post Warriors target impresses England coach appeared first on The Standard.
LIVERPOOL have strongly denied reports John Henry is looking to sell the club.
Claims emerged in America overnight suggesting the billionaire tycoon was looking to find a way out of football.
Liverpool have dismissed claims John Henry wants to sell up at LiverpoolGetty Images - Getty
The New York Post suggested representatives of Henry had starting to the process of trying to find a buyer with an asking price of £1.5billion.
But Liverpool insist there is absolutely no truth in the reports, and maintain Henry is committed to the future at Anfield.
A club spokesman said: “Ican completely dismiss this unfounded speculation.
“To repeat once again, the club is not for sale, including any ‘quiet process’ or anything of that nature.”
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VANCOUVER – While it might have been the worst kept secret in Canadian soccer, the Vancouver Whitecaps made it official Wednesday by naming Marc Dos Santos as its new coach.
Dos Santos, 41, replaces Carl Robinson who was let go in late September, and joins Vancouver after being an assistant coach for LAFC this season.
A native of Montreal, Dos Santos becomes the sixth coach of the Whitecaps, but the first Canadian-born to handle the duties since the club entered Major League Soccer in 2011. A highly successful coach at lower levels, Dos Santos said accepting the job in Vancouver was a no-brainer.
“Number one… it’s a Canadian club,” Dos Santos answered when asked why he decided to take on the role. “I have a passion towards this country. It’s the country that gave me an opportunity to start my career.”
He later added: “It’s a club that has a dream of continuing to build players through their academy. Working on that vertical integration was very appealing to me also.”
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Prior to his time in MLS, Dos Santos worked his way up the professional coaching ranks with great success in Canada and the United States, as well as in South America. It began for him by coaching his hometown Montreal Impact to a USL First Division title in 2009. Six years later, he led the Ottawa Fury to an appearance in the NASL Fall Season Final.
In between those Canadian stops, he was on the sidelines for youth squads of some of the best professional clubs in Brazil, including powerhouse Palmeiras. Dos Santos’ most recent success came two years ago when he led the now-defunct San Francisco Deltas to a NASL Soccer Bowl title. That same season he also won the league’s Coach of the Year award.
“Marc is a confident, driven leader who has proven himself as a winner at every level he has been tested,” Whitecaps co-owner Jeff Mallett stated. “Bringing in Marc positions the club to meet our goals of competing with the best in the league and to win trophies for Vancouver’s loyal supporters.”
What should not be over-looked is the invaluable experience Dos Santos has gained the last two years by working alongside some of the best coaches in North America. This season, he assisted former U.S. national coach Bob Bradley in building a club from scratch and turning LAFC into the most successful expansion teams in MLS history.
He also worked closely with long-time Sporting Kansas City boss Peter Vermes in 2016 when he coached their USL affiliate Swope Park Rangers. Sporting KC has a reputation of being one of the best teams in MLS when it comes to retaining players and developing homegrown talent.
“With Peter in Kansas City, I learned a lot about how that vertical integration works between the first team and reserve team,” Dos Santos explained. “With Bob, he gave me a lot of courage in how I was looking at the game and to move forward as a coach. I feel blessed to have worked with him.”
While he has not spoken with all of his new players, Dos Santos did meet with a few of them working out at the training centre Wednesday, including Canadian internationals Russell Teibert and Doneil Henry. Even though he was focused on winning with LAFC at the time, Dos Santos is fully aware of how many Whitecaps players sounded off publically at the end of the season.
Claims of divisions within the locker room and criticisms of individuals being more concerned about themselves rather than the team made headlines across the league. Dos Santos knows having a strong culture throughout the squad will be a top priority.
“Wherever I’ve been, it’s been a concern for me to develop a culture in the locker room that is a winning one,” said Dos Santos, who is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. “There are things that have happened in the past here that were very good and others that were not so good. I’m here to change that and try to bring it to another level.”
Regardless of which members of the current squad will return next season, the hope amongst fans is that Dos Santos will urge Whitecaps ownership to spend big money on new players to fill Designated Player spots. Kei Kamara, who led the team with 14 goals, was the highest paid player on the roster, at $1 million US. Dos Santos wouldn’t say one way or the other if the club will be a big spender this off-season. His main task is to get the most out of the players he will have at his disposal.
“In my career, I’ve always focused on maximizing what I have. You can waste a lot of energy talking about what others have,” Dos Santos said. “I prefer spending time on what we have. From that point of view, you build strong foundations. Then it could allow you, one day, to go after a player like that.”
When the land upon which the Harare BMX Club track stood for 31 years was sold in 2016, the future of the sport in the city was clouded in uncertainty. […]
The post Harare BMX revels in new track appeared first on The Standard.
LONDON — Manchester City threatened to destroy UEFA with legal action when European soccer’s governing body pursued punishment against the Abu Dhabi-owned club for overspending on players and hiding costs, according to documents cited by a group of media outlets on Friday. City did not dispute the authenticity of the European Investigative Collaborations documents, primarily […]
The post Man City’s threats to UEFA revealed in leaked documents appeared first on Inquirer Sports.
The Premier League continues this weekend with Matchday 11, and Sportsnet will have live coverage of five games.
Saturday, November 3
• Bournemouth vs. Manchester United, 8:00 a.m. ET (Sportsnet)
• West Ham United vs. Burnley, 10:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet)
• Cardiff City vs. Leicester City, 10:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet ONE)
• Wolves vs. Tottenham, 3:30 p.m. ET (Sportsnet ONE)
Sunday, November 4
• Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace, 10:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet World)
Here’s what you need to know ahead of this weekend.
MARQUEE MATCHCardiff City vs. Leicester City: Emotions will be running high when the Foxes pay a visit to Wales on Saturday – it’ll be Leicester’s first game since club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four other people were killed when his helicopter crashed last Saturday.
Leicester was scheduled to play an English League Cup match on Tuesday, but that was cancelled. Saturday’s match in Cardiff takes place on the same day that funeral proceedings for Srivaddhanaprabha begin in his native Thailand.
Leicester manager Claude Puel called this “one of the hardest weeks in the history of this football club,” so it’ll be interesting to see how the players deal with all when they take to the pitch to play Cardiff.
PLAYER TO WATCHRoberto Firmino, Liverpool: Firmino has been a key figure for Liverpool so far this season, scoring two goals and tallying two assists in 10 Premier League appearances. The Brazilian has scored and assisted on a goal in each of his last three Premier League appearances against Arsenal. He can make it four in a row when the Reds visit the Gunners on Saturday.
Bournemouth has kept a clean sheet in their last three Premier League matches. They can make it four in a row in the top flight for the first time in franchise history on Saturday when they host the Red Devils.
EVERTON vs. BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBIONBrighton could become the first club to win four successive Premier League matches by a 1-0 scoreline since Leicester City did it in April 2016.
NEWCASTLE UNITED vs. WATFORDNewcastle is winless in their 10 Premier League matches so far. The Magpies have never before failed to win any of their opening 11 fixtures in a top-flight campaign.
WEST HAM UNITED vs. BURNLEYThe Hammers have dropped more points (right) from winning positions than any other Premier League side this season.
WOLVES vs. TOTTENHAMHarry Kane has scored 25 Premier League goals against promoted sides since the start of 2014-15, six more than any other player.
MANCHESTER CITY vs. SOUTHAMPTONManchester City’s Ederson can become the first goalkeeper to record clean sheets in seven consecutive Premier League starts since Edwin van der Sar went on a run of 14 games for Manchester United in 2008-09.
CHELSEA vs. CRYSTAL PALACEMaurizio Sarri is unbeaten in his first 10 Premier League matches as coach of Chelsea. He can match the record held by Frank Clark, who took charge of 11 games without a loss while in charge of Nottingham Forest at the start of the 1994-95 season.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN vs. FULHAMThis will be the first top-flight meeting between these sides since April 1952 when Fulham earned a 1-0 win at Craven Cottage.
THE BIG QUESTIONEvery week, Sportsnet’s soccer panel will debate The Big Question. Have your say by voting in the poll below:
HE SAID IT“The result is not important, but our desire, our actions to give our best on the pitch to honour our chairman is the most important thing.” – Leicester manager Claude Puel, on Saturday’s visit to Cardiff City.
“He plays off the shoulder, comes short, and gets it in to his feet, a little bit like Jermain Defoe. He can be a good finisher when he’s on it.”
The post Tinashe Chakwana: The next ‘Jermain Defoe’? appeared first on The Standard.
Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly admits he learned plenty during his time with Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri.
Koulibaly also spoke of his time with Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez and current coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Read more on Tribal FootballThe ex-Valencia star is on hot form for Borussia Dortmund.
The ex-Valencia star is on hot form for Borussia Dortmund.
Just two competitive appearances for England-born Zimbabwe Warriors defender Tendayi Darikwa and he is already a cult-hero among local football fans.
The post Darikwa desires to speak Shona appeared first on The Standard.
ROME — Gabriele Gravina has been elected president of the Italian soccer federation.
The 65-year-old Gravina, a former Serie C president, was the only candidate and received 97.2 per cent of the votes at an election assembly on Monday.
Gravina says "Gabriele is one of you, someone who wants to change and relaunch Italian soccer. We will change orientation and direction."
The FIGC has been without a president since Carlo Tavecchio resigned in November after Italy’s World Cup playoff loss to Sweden.
Roberto Fabbricini was appointed emergency leader at the beginning of the year after a failed election to find a replacement.
THE PREMIER LEAGUE would be all but powerless if Saudi Arabia decides to invest in Manchester United.
Critics of the oil-rich nation’s government, which is currently embroiled in the scandal of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi, are horrified at the idea of the Saudi royals buying into English football.
Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman is believed to be ready to bid to own Manchester UnitedEPA
But the Premier League would ultimately have to follow the lead of the British government.
And despite the present situation, it is very unlikely the authorities would block Saudi investment in football or, indeed, any other business sector.
For all the tough talking by the UK, America and other western nations about Khashoggi, they all need good relations with Saudi Arabia to meet political and economic goals.
English football has an owners and directors test which Premier League and Football League apply to their member clubs in addition to UK company law.
Could Manchester United fans finally get what most of them have wanted, and see the Glazers exit Old Trafford?AFP - Getty
But blocking an individual or entity who would otherwise be permitted to invest in UK-based company would open up the leagues to legal action.
The Khashoggi case means any progress with the Saudi interest in United will have to be kept under wraps for the sake of appearances, but nothing more.
The biggest obstacle is the attitude of the Glazer family to selling all or some of their stake in United.
The club, as usual, denied it was for sale in the wake of SunSport’s story about Saudi interest led by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.
The Saudi regime are currently embroiled in the scandal of missing journalist Jamal KhashoggiAP:Associated Press
Journalist Jamal Khashoggi has been missing ever since he visited the Saudi consulate in IstanbulGetty
But City sources indicate that, on more than one occasion in the recent past, bankers were made aware that the Glazers were prepared to consider welcoming co-investors.
If the Saudis want to take on Middle East rivals Qatar and the UAE on the football pitch, as sources claim, they will ultimately want control of United.
They might be willing to have a minority stake and commercial tie-ups initially, but not in the long term.
And the Glazers would need a very good reason to give up their cash cow completely.
Although the Premier League’s domestic media rights are no longer rising in value, overseas revenue is still going up and United’s huge commercial operation has room for more growth yet.
On the other hand, the capacity to increase United’s revenues from last season’s record £590m is not limitless and some Glazer family members are more interested in football – as opposed to pure money – than others.
The possibility of a windfall payment, which would clear the debt the Glazers put on the club to buy it in the first place and leave about £500m for each of the six Glazer children, could tempt one or more of them to sell.
The four major institutional investors in Manchester United plc, which is floated on the New York Stock Exchange, could also put pressure on the Glazers if they believed a buyer was ready to pounce.
Baron Capital Group Inc, Lindsell Train Limited, Lansdowne Partners Limited and Jupiter Asset Management Limited own more than 73 per cent of the publicly-available “A”shares between them.
In theory, they could ask the Glazers to listen to an offer from Saudi Arabia or elsewhere.
If the family refused to play ball, their co-investors could threaten to sell large volumes of shares, driving down the price and therefore the overall value of the club.
But the six Glazer children own over 98 per cent of the “B”shares between them.
Each B share has 10 times the voting rights of an “A” share, so the family has a very firm grip on the world’s biggest and richest football club.
If the Glazers gave Saudi investment in United or a takeover the green light, the UK government and English football would probably be unwilling and unable to stop it.
UNITED States-based former Warriors forward Patrick Daka may not have featured for any global football giants during his playing career, but a fortnight ago he had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to […]
The post Daka revels in Arsenal Academy visit appeared first on The Standard.
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Robert Lewandowski's 100th international cap for Poland was spoiled by a come-from-behind 3-2 win by Portugal. Portugal's Bernardo Silva scored a fine individual goal as their new-look side recovered to win 3-2 away to Poland in the UEFA Nations League with an impressive performance on Thursday.
Andre Silva's strike and a Kamil Glik own goal put the European champions ahead by half-time, after Krzysztof Piatek had given Poland an early lead, and Bernardo Silva then got in the act early in the second half of the League A Group 3 game.
Poland substitute Jakub Blaszczykowski, making his 103rd appearance to become...
