… The Spaniard's breakthrough as a boss came in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, where he masterminded an unprecedented unbeaten domestic double in the 2023/24 season. …
… Forest By AFP August 17, 2026 11:06 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest runs with the ball during the pre-season friendly match between Nottingham Forest and Bayer Leverkusen …
… "The best version has to be on Sunday and that's the intention, that we have the best performance and the best way to start the season by lifting the first trophy." Arteta gave little away on reports the Gunners are looking to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah after f …
… On Tuesday, Marseille announced the departure of another Argentine player, defender Facundo Medina, to Bayer Leverkusen after just one season with the club. …
… (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) Audio By Vocalize Juventus signed Bosnian teenager Kerim Alajbegovic on a five-year deal from Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday and brought back French striker Randal Kolo Muani for a second spell at the club. …
… mbnails-m', container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails', placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' }); "I know Maxence from my time in the Bundesliga," said former Liverpool star Alonso, who rose to prominence as one of Europe's brightest coaches at Bayer Leverkusen …
… The 2002 Champions League final between Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid was locked at 1-1 near half-time when Roberto Carlos's less-than-perfect cross found Zidane. …
… Subscribe to our newsletterZidane's greatest goal may well have come with his less favoured foot -- his left.The 2002 Champions League final between Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid was locked at 1-1 near half-time when Roberto Carlos's less-than-perfect cross found Zidane. …
… uad with the right balance between quality and mentality."But I think that we are starting the new season with good energy, that's going to be important." The former Liverpool and Spain midfielder rose to prominence as one of Europe's brightest coaches by guiding Bayer Leverkusen …
Germany World Cup exit reveals structural failures, says Leverkusen boss By AFP July 15, 2026 10:45 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize Germany's continued World Cup failures are a result of s …
Andoni Iraola, who left Bournemouth to become Liverpool manager in the close-season, will return to the Vitality Stadium this weekend knowing he cannot let sentiment interfere with Liverpool's bid for only a second Premier League win of the season. Iraola told reporters he looks forward to reuniting with the players and staff he worked with during three years at Bournemouth, but says he must prioritize a "ruthless" victory.
Andoni Iraola, who left Bournemouth to become Liverpool manager in the close-season, will return to the Vitality Stadium this weekend knowing he cannot let sentiment interfere with Liverpool's bid for only a second Premier League win of the season. Iraola told reporters he looks forward to reuniting with the players and staff he worked with during three years at Bournemouth, but says he must prioritize a "ruthless" victory.
Clearlake Capital, led by Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano, acquired the stakes of American billionaires Todd Boehly and Mark Walter to take full control of Chelsea. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said the club's ambition was "very clear" following the ownership change.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso acknowledged his team's prolific attacking form — joint-top scorers in the Premier League with eight goals in three matches — but said they need to improve defensively after conceding seven goals in the same period.
Newly promoted SV Elversberg, from a village of 13,000 with no train station, became the smallest in German league history to host a top-flight side. The minnows have won two from two this season, including a 3-2 win over 2023-24 double winners Bayer Leverkusen, before hosting defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on Sunday.
Morgan Rogers said Xabi Alonso has transformed Chelsea into an "exciting" force after their 6-3 win over Leeds in the League Cup third round. Chelsea have scored 16 goals in Alonso's first five matches in charge.
Liverpool announced the signing of France winger Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain on August 31, 2026, for a reported fee of €125 million plus €20 million in easily achievable bonuses (£124 million total), making him the club's second-most expensive signing after Alexander Isak.
Chelsea won 4-3 against Brighton on Sunday to extend manager Xabi Alonso's perfect start, which now includes two successive Premier League wins and one League Cup victory. Romeo Lavia scored Chelsea's opening goal, with Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro also finding the net, while Cole Palmer and an own goal contributed to the high-scoring result.
Bayern Munich, fresh off winning the double and scoring 122 Bundesliga goals in 2025-26, aim for the treble in the new season while rivals have undergone a reboot to close the gap. Kane, Olise and Diaz led Bayern's record-breaking campaign, which saw them lose just one of 40 domestic matches.
Mikel Arteta has confirmed Arsenal want to sign a defender and are active in the transfer market, with the Premier League champions reportedly close to sealing a deal for Aston Villa centre-back Ezri Konsa after improving their offer to around £50 million. Konsa would join the defence alongside Gabriel Magalhaes with William Saliba and Jurrien Timber sidelined by injury.
Arsenal have agreed to sign England defender Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa in a deal worth at least £50 million, after Gunners boss Mikel Arteta returned with an improved offer following an earlier rejected bid. Konsa, 28, recently featured for England at the World Cup and will undergo a medical before completing his move.
Nine Premier League clubs will have new managers when the season starts Friday, marking the most managerial turnover before the start of an English top-flight campaign since 1946/47. Enzo Maresca, Andoni Iraola, and Xabi Alonso face particular scrutiny in high-profile roles at Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
Coventry signed Nigeria striker Taiwo Awoniyi from Nottingham Forest for a reported £9 million, with Awoniyi set to join Frank Lampard's side ahead of their Premier League opener against Arsenal. Coventry return to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years after winning the Championship last season.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised incoming Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca, expecting him to do an "unbelievable job" after Pep Guardiola's departure. The two clubs meet in the Community Shield in Cardiff on Sunday in Maresca's first major test in the role.
Manchester City have signed Argentina international goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli from Marseille on a two-year deal. The 34-year-old will serve as City's number-two goalkeeper behind Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Juventus signed 18-year-old Bosnian winger Kerim Alajbegovic on a five-year deal from Bayer Leverkusen for 30 million euros and completed a permanent move for French striker Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain after a successful loan spell.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has praised new signing Maxence Lacroix, saying the French international has a winner's mentality and strong personality that will boost their defensive line. Lacroix joined from Crystal Palace for a reported £52 million on a six-year contract.
French football icon Zinedine Zidane was appointed head coach of the France national team on Tuesday, tasked with delivering the 2030 World Cup as coach, just as he won it as a player in 1998.
French football icon Zinedine Zidane has been appointed coach of France with the goal of winning the 2030 World Cup, mirroring his success as a player when he helped France win the 1998 World Cup at home. AFP Sport reviews key moments from Zidane's illustrious playing career, including his international debut at age 22 when he scored twice against the Czech Republic and his pivotal role in France's 1998 World Cup victory.
New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said Monday there is "good energy" at the club as he prepares for his first competitive fixture against Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday. Alonso, who officially began the job on July 1, has made pre-season signings including Morgan Rogers and says the squad has "great quality" and "great talent."
Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro attributed Germany's World Cup exit to structural, political and cultural problems, citing insufficient youth development investment and bureaucratic delays in infrastructure projects. Carro noted fewer players are coming through to the top level despite Germany's outstanding individual talent.
Jose Mourinho has been appointed as Real Madrid's new coach on a three-season contract running until 2029, replacing Alvaro Arbeloa. He said he is on a "mission" to create the right culture at the club, after Los Blancos failed to win a major trophy in the last two seasons.
South Africa drew 1-1 with the Czech Republic in a World Cup Group A match in Atlanta, with Teboho Mokoena's penalty equalizing Michal Sadilek's early Czech goal. Both teams moved to one point, trailing Mexico and South Korea, and will need to win their final group fixtures to advance to the knockout stages.
South Africa drew 1–1 with the Czech Republic in a World Cup Group A match on Thursday, with Teboho Mokoena's penalty equalizing Michal Sadilek's early goal. Both teams remain in contention for the knockout stages but will almost certainly need to win their final group fixture to advance.
Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign 22-year-old Spain forward Victor Munoz from Osasuna for a reported fee of £34.5 million on a six-year contract. Munoz, who scored seven goals and produced five assists in 36 appearances last season, will become the first signing for new Reds boss Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool sacked manager Arne Slot on Saturday after the club finished fifth in the Premier League, 25 points behind champions Arsenal, despite spending nearly £450 million on new players. Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is reportedly lined up to take over at Anfield.
Chelsea's interim manager Calum McFarlane acknowledged the team's poor discipline—eight red cards in the Premier League this season—as a key factor in their failure to secure European qualification after finishing 10th. Wesley Fofana was sent off for a second yellow card in Chelsea's final match, a 2-1 defeat at Sunderland.
La Liga concludes this weekend with Barcelona already champions under Hansi Flick, but several matters remain unresolved. Several high-profile players, including Antoine Griezmann, Robert Lewandowski, and Dani Carvajal, are bidding farewell to their clubs.
Pep Guardiola, who has managed Manchester City for 10 seasons and won six Premier League titles, the Champions League, and a historic Treble, may leave the club at season's end as an independent commission continues to investigate more than 100 charges of alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules. Manchester City has denied wrongdoing throughout the case.
Real Madrid announced that captain Dani Carvajal, a 34-year-old Spain international who played 450 times for the club and won 27 trophies including six Champions Leagues, will leave at the end of the season. Carvajal came through Real Madrid's La Fabrica academy, left for Bayer Leverkusen in 2012, and was bought back the following summer.
Chelsea appointed Xabi Alonso as manager on a four-year contract beginning July 1, 2026, following his seven-month tenure at Real Madrid and previous success guiding Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten German league and cup double in 2023/24.