Month: December 2024

Walter Samuel is likely to comprise part of Stefano Pioli s backroom staff at San Siro after Inter confirmed the return of their former defender.

Pioli is currently assisted by Giacomo Murelli and Davide Lucarelli at Inter s Appiano base, and it is believed that Samuel will join in a liaison role between the coaching staff and first-team squad.

As Roberto Mancini s second tenure disintegrated and Frank de Boer s failed to get off the ground, Samuel s appointment is likely in response to reports that Inter s squad has become increasingly cliqued in recent years.

The presence of Samuel, who won the treble under Jose Mourinho in 2010 and played over 200 games for the Nerazzurri, could forge a strong bond between coaches and players.

Inter posted on Twitter: …

Arsenal are set to make a fresh attempt to sign Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas, according to the Metro.

The Spain international, who made his six hundred and ninety-fourth appearance for Real in their 1-0 Champions League win over Liverpool on Tuesday evening, has long been linked with a move away for the Bernabeu after being used sparingly in the eighteen months prior to this campaign.

He has missed just one of Real’s ten league games so far this season, but could make way with the European Champions set to add another goalkeeper when the transfer window reopens in January.

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with a move for the 33 year old, who captained Spain to success in the 2008 and 2012 European Championships, and the 2010 Wor…

Erik Janza s strike saw Slovenia hit back against Denmark to secure a 1-1 draw in the opening Group C game at Euro 2024.

Janza hammered home via a deflection in the 77th minute to restore parity, cancelling out Christian Eriksen s well-taken opener.

Slovenia s equaliser came moments after Benjamin Sesko, who is reportedly catching the eye of some of Europe s biggest clubs, had struck the woodwork with a fierce long-range attempt.

That was one of just two shots Sesko managed all game, with Denmark having largely managed to keep the striker under wraps.

The Danes were fantastic all-round in the first half, with Eriksen pulling the strings in midfield and brilliantly putting them ahead when he latched onto Jonas Wind s deft touch in the 17th minute.

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Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have officially confirmed last week that Niko Kovac will take over from Jupp Heynckes at the end of the season.

The experienced Bayern Munich mastermind plans to retire at the end of the current campaign – all over again – after returning to help out his beloved club as an interim solution following Carlo Ancelotti’s sacking.

Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic confirmed on Friday that current Eintracht Frankfurt boss Niko Kovac had signed a three-year contract with the Bavarian behemoths after they triggered a reported €2.2 million release clause.

As a club that would only sign a German-speaking tactician, Bayern Munich did not have a huge pool of coaches to choose from and many believe that somewhat stu…

AC Milan moved on from their humiliation against Benevento to snap a six-game winless run with a much-needed 2-1 victory at Bologna on Sunday.

Beaten at home by Serie A s bottom side last time out, the Rossoneri bounced back to stay three points clear of eighth-placed Sampdoria in their bid for a Europa League qualifying spot.

First-half goals from Hakan Calhanoglu and Giacomo Bonaventura ultimately proved just enough for Milan, but the manner of victory will not have entirely satisfied Gennaro Gattuso, who accused his players of lacking soul following the rock bottom defeat to Benevento.

It looked as though they might suffer similar disappointment when Sebastien De Maio pulled one back for Bologna with 16 minutes remaining, the hosts having twice had goals chalk…

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have contested two of the past three Champions League finals and the capital clubs are once again primed to progress to the semi-finals on Tuesday.

Diego Simeone s Atletico hold a 1-0 lead over Premier League champions Leicester City after Antoine Griezmann was unsurprisingly their match-winner at the Vicente Calderon last week – earning and dispatching a controversial first-half penalty.

A contrasting spot-kick, with Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal blazing wastefully over, gave Real Madrid a sniff of turning around their match at the Allianz Arena.

It was a chance that Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed emphatically as a second-half brace secured a 2-1 win and brought up 100 goals in European competition for the four-time Ballon d…

Romelu Lukaku ended a nine-match goal drought with a double as a depleted Manchester United beat Crystal Palace 3-1 to secure a club-record eighth successive away victory across all competitions.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was without a host of first-team regulars due to injuries, but Lukaku stepped up having been given a rare opportunity to lead the line, his pair of goals playing a part in downing a spirited Palace side.

United just about shaded an even first half and went into the break ahead thanks to a fine Luke Shaw-inspired Lukaku goal in the 33rd minute.

Lukaku got his second of the day just after the break and, although Joel Ward pulled one back in the 66th minute, Ashley Young struck late on to end the hosts hopes and keep United just a point behind fourth-pl…

Paris Saint-Germain beat Saint-Etienne 4-0 at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard courtesy of doubles from Edinson Cavani and Lucas Moura to keep their slim chances of retaining the Ligue 1 title alive.

Cavani opened the scoring early on with a sublime header, with Lucas making it two shortly before the break, and both attackers struck again after the interval to seal the win.

Sunday s victory keeps PSG in title race mathematically, but the reigning champions will need a miracle if they are to overhaul Monaco, who downed Lille.

Unai Emery s men are trailing the league leaders by three points ahead of their final game against Caen, but Monaco still have a game in hand and a far superior goal difference.

Monaco will be crowned champions if they get at least a dr…

Newcastle United head coach Steve McClaren admits he was too young to take the England job, one he feels nearly killed him.

McClaren was appointed the manager of the national team in 2006, but lasted just 16 months as England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 under his guidance.

Then in his mid-40s, McClaren said that experience had made him stronger  as had stints abroad in charge of Twente and Wolfsburg.

Maybe I was too young at the time for England and I hold my hands up to that, the 54-year-old said.

On reflection, I definitely hold my hands up to that. But the England job didn t kill me  well it nearly did  so it must have made me stronger.

I think subsequently moving abroad and coaching in different leagues not so much hardens as mature…

Zlatan Ibrahimovic moved a step closer to his 500th career goal in LA Galaxy s derby draw, while Atlanta United star Josef Martinez made history in MLS.

Former Sweden captain Ibrahimovic took his tally to 499 as the Galaxy drew 1-1 against city rivals Los Angeles FC on Friday.

In a career including spells with Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Barcelona, Inter and Juventus, Ibrahimovic opened the scoring after 15 minutes at Stubhub Center.

The 36-year-old appeared to poke the ball over the line but the referee did not award the goal, until a video review overturned the decision.

Goal Post Cam was invented for Zlatan. // Heineken

— Major League Soccer (@MLS)

However, the Galaxy were unable to hold on to the lead as the…