Robert Lewandowski posted his farewell to Bayern Munich fans on Saturday, amid confirmation of his high-profile transfer to Barcelona.
The Poland international is set to sign a four-year contract with Barcelona, ending months of speculation over his future at Sabener Strasse.
The two-time European Golden Shoe winner had been adamant on his desire to leave Bayern following protracted negotiations to extend his contract past the end of the upcoming season.
With the 33-year-old set to join the Barcelona squad on their tour in the United States, he extended his gratitude to Bayern, where he won the Bundesliga title in each of his eight seasons, along with a Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup.
“I would like to thank my teammates, staff members, club management and everyone who has always supported me and made it possible for us to win trophies for FC Bayern,” Lewandowski posted on Instagram.
“I am proud of what we have achieved together. Above all, I would like to thank the fans because it is you who make FC Bayern the special club that it is. I’m privileged to have spent eight wonderful years with this club and its fans and it will remain in my heart forever.”
Scoring 344 goals for Bayern in 375 matches across all competitions, Lewandowski is Barcelona’s fourth off-season signing despite the club’s much-publicised financial difficulties, joining Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen and Raphinha.
Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen has taken to social media to thank Brentford after his six-month spell with the Bees came to an end.
The Denmark international made his sensational return to football after joining the west London club on deadline day in January following the mutual termination of his contract at Inter.
After suffering a horrific cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 last summer, Eriksen looked like his old self in west London and played a crucial role in helping Brentford finish 13th in their maiden Premier League season.
90min long reported that Brentford were hopeful of keeping Eriksen for longer than his initial six-month contract, though faced significant competition from former club Tottenham and Man Utd.
Spurs cooled their interest in June and the 30-year-old has since signed for Man Utd.
Taking to social media, Eriksen thanked the Bees for an unforgettable experience.
“Thank you everyone at Brentford. It’s been a pleasure playing for you all!” Eriksen wrote on his Instagram story.
“Just being around the training ground, stadium, or anywhere around Brentford has been something I will never forget. See you all very soon.”
Eriksen could make his Man Utd debut at Brentford on the second weekend of the new Premier League season.
In the meantime, he will remain in England and will not join up with Erik ten Hag’s squad for the rest of their tour of Australia and Asia.
Romelu Lukaku admitted during the unveiling of Inter’s new playing strip that it was a mistake to leave the club and head back to Chelsea.
Lukaku, 29, had a superb run with Inter after arriving at the club from Manchester United ahead of the 2019-20 season, scoring a combined 64 goals from 95 club appearances across two seasons.
His stellar play in Italy caught the attention of his former club from Stamford Bridge, who opted to bring him back for a club-record fee of £97.5million.
The Belgian’s return to the Premier League was disappointing, regularly finding himself out of Chelsea’s best XI even when healthy, finishing with just eight goals in 26 league games, prompting a £7m loan move back to the Serie A to try and recoup some of Chelsea’s sunk cost.
During the kit unveiling, Lukaku was asked what the toughest challenge of his career has been, and he made it clear how he felt about his second stint with Chelsea.
“The one right now,” he responded. “You know, I left, it was a mistake.
“What we do in the locker room and on the pitch, the relationships we have with each other, that’s really important… it’s also right for people to see that our team is really united.
“Inter have given me the opportunity to play at a higher level in my career. I am really happy to wear this jersey, we hope to continue to grow like in the past years. We have to continue like this if we want to reach the goal.”
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel may also share Lukaku’s belief that he does not have a future with the London club, telling Sky Sports “I don’t know if it’s very likely” that he ever returns to Stamford Bridge after his loan.
“Given the fact he’s just on loan, of course there’s a chance,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s very likely, but it’s not on me to give an outlook on that.”
He added: “We decided together with the owners that we’d let (Lukaku) go. It was his wish to go, he had the possibility, we let him go.
“We brought now Raheem Sterling, which gives us a lot of flexibility, a lot of mobility, a lot of attacking options at the front, even if we don’t recruit more players.”
From Leigh Sports Village – Netherlands secured their first win of Euro 2022 after edging a five-goal thriller against Portugal, with Danielle van de Donk scoring a spectacular winner after the Portuguese had come from 2-0 down back to 2-2 for the second game in a row.
Damaris Egurrola and Stefanie van der Gragt both netted from corners for a lead that should have been comfortable for the Dutch. But goals from Carole Costa and Diana Silva either side of half-time threatened to make things uncomfortable until the winner eventually came.
Portugal showed in the second half against Switzerland that they aren’t here to make up the numbers and made a bright start. They even had the ball in the net early through Ana Borges, only for the celebrations to fall flat when an offside flag ruled it out.
But football is cruel and it was only moments later when Egurrola met Sherida Spitse’s corner. Netherlands could have quickly doubled their lead but Ines Pereira spectacularly parried the ball over from Lineth Beerensteyn after she beat the Portuguese defence for pace through the middle.
While Portugal were competing in open play, set-pieces were their downfall. They were unable to clear another corner and Van der Gragt was willing to stick her head where it hurts to double the lead. That knocked the stuffing out of Portugal, allowing the Dutch to take some control.
Only a goal-line clearance denied Netherlands a third corner goal, with Costa in the right place at the right time to stop Van der Gragt getting her second.
A third goal would have killed the contest, but already a hero for keeping Portugal in it, Costa stepped up to convert from the penalty spot almost immediately to make it 2-1. It needed a VAR check, but Diana Silva was tripped by Dominique Janssen.
The momentum carried into the second half. Daphne van Domselaar’s fingertips preserved the Dutch lead, but only briefly when Diana Silva met Costa’s cross from the right. That hard work to get back level threatened to be undone when Jill Roord put the ball in the net, but once again VAR intervened in Portugal’s favour to identify an offside that was missed in real time.
Netherlands arguably needed a moment of magic to stem the growing Portuguese tide and they got it when Van de Donk picked out the far top corner from outside the penalty area. Pereira dived but couldn’t get near it as the ball rippled the back of the net.
Portugal were still going for it right until the very end, but Netherlands held off the late fight.
Stefanie van der Gragt caught a boot in the face when she scored / Harriet Lander/GettyImages
GK: Daphne van Domselaar – 6/10 – Perhaps moved too early on the penalty. Made an outstanding save immediately before Portugal got their second.
RB: Lynn Wilms – 5/10 – Had a much better time of it than Olislagers on the other side, but didn’t face the same intense threat.
CB: Stefanie van der Gragt – 6/10 – Took a whack for her trouble when she bravely doubled her team’s lead. Disappointed to concede twice.
CB: Dominique Janssen – 5/10 – Made enough contact with Diana Silva to bring her down – VAR ensured she couldn’t get away with it.
LB: Marisa Olislagers – 4/10 – Given a really hard time by Jessica Silva. Beaten too many times. Withdrawn with almost half an hour left.
CM: Sherida Spitse (c) – 7/10 – A combative force in open play, but it was her corners that caused Portugal the most problems.
CM: Jill Roord – 6/10 – Pushed really high up to the point where she was often a second striker. Netted but it was disallowed.
CM: Damaris Egurrola – 8/10 – Scored the early opener with her head and was strong in the air generally. Passed it well.
RF: Danielle van de Donk – 8/10 – Showed a lot of positional versatility and maturity. Covered at right-back in play too, while her goal was incredible.
ST: Lineth Beerensteyn – 6/10 – Her pace through the middle was an obvious threat in the first half. Portugal dealt with it better after that.
LF: Lieke Martens – 6/10 – Got the assist for Van de Donk, albeit a simple lay-off, but too much on the periphery for a meaningful impact overall.
SUB: Kerstin Casparij (63′ for Olislagers) – 5/10
SUB: Victoria Pelova (70′ for Egurrola) – 6/10
SUB: Esmee Brugts (83′ for for Martens) – N/A
Carole Costa was big at both ends of the pitch for Portugal / DANIEL MIHAILESCU/GettyImages
GK: Ines Pereira – 6/10 – Alert to the danger of Beerensteyn’s pace and was quick to rush off her line a few times. Unlucky to concede this many.
RB: Catarina Amado – 7/10 – Admirably coped with the threat of Martens. Even started to get forward more in the second half.
CB: Diana Gomes – 6/10 – Got more of a handle on Beerensteyn as the game progressed. Not commanding enough for those first half corners.
CB: Carole Costa – 8/10 – Cleared off the line to keep Portugal in it at 2-0, moments before halving the deficit with a composed penalty. She then assisted the equaliser at 2-2.
LB: Joana Marchao – 5/10 – Didn’t have to face a typical winger in Van de Donk. Came off disappointingly early.
CM: Andreia Norton – 7/10 – Portugal’s best midfielder for the second game running. The one most likely to make bursts forward.
CM: Dolores Silva (c) – 6/10 – Put in a solid shift.
CM: Tatiana Pinto – 6/10 – Didn’t see loads of the ball but worked hard to give those in front or her a platform.
RF: Jessica Silva – 8/10 – Impressed again, putting the Dutch defence under pressure. Her marker was subbed off with nearly half an hour left.
ST: Diana Silva – 8/10 – Won the penalty after she was upended following a darting run. Scored the second Portuguese goal herself.
LF: Ana Borges – 5/10 – Struggled to have as much attacking impact as the two Silvas. Ended up at left-back when Nazareth came on.
SUB: Fatima Pinto ( 65′ for Do. Silva) – 6/10
SUB: Kika Nazareth (65′ for Marchao) – 6/10
SUB: Vanessa Marques (86′ for T. Pinto) – N/A
SUB: Carolina Mendes (86′ for Di. Silva) – N/A
For more from Jamie Spencer, follow him on Twitter and Facebook!
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 12, 2022) – D.C. United announced today that Wayne Rooney has been named as the club’s new Head Coach. Rooney, who previously played and captained the Major League Soccer (MLS) club for two years from 2018 to 2019, will return to D.C. United following a two-year stay as the Manager of Derby County while they competed in the English Championship. Interim Head Coach Chad Ashton will remain in charge of the team until Wayne Rooney has received his Work Visa.
Rooney joined D.C. United in June 2018 as a Designated Player. During his time with the Black-and-Red, Rooney appeared in 48 matches, scored 23 goals and assisted 15 others. He was voted MLS Best XI in 2018, an All-Star in 2019, and was an MLS MVP finalist in 2018.
“Wayne is a soccer legend and one of the most exciting and dynamic up-and-coming managers in our sport. He’s already proven in his young coaching career that he knows how to lead a group through adversity,” said Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan Co-Chairmen of D.C. United. “He has an understanding of our league and what it takes to be successful in Major League Soccer thanks to his two-year stay with us as a player. The passion he showed while wearing Black-and-Red electrified our city and our club and we are so excited to welcome him back as our Head Coach.”
The 36-year-old was appointed as the full-time Manager of Derby County in January 2021 following a successful stint as Interim Player-Manager where he navigated the club from the bottom of the English Championship table to safety, avoiding relegation by three points. Prior to his first full season in charge of Derby County, the club were given a 21-point deduction by the Football Association for admitting to breaches of Profitability and Sustainability. Despite this disadvantage, Rooney guided the club to a record of 14-13-19, totaling 55 points, which would have been enough to secure safety in the Championship for another season if not for the point reduction. Rooney resigned as Manager of Derby County on June 24, 2022.
As a professional, Rooney’s playing career began in the English Premier League on August 17, 2002 when he made his senior debut for Everton FC and assisted a goal helping the Toffees to a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. At 18 years old after two seasons with Everton, Rooney joined Manchester United in a record transfer deal ($35 million) where he played 13 seasons and scored 208 Premier League goals in 491 appearances, which is good for second best all-time, only behind Alan Shearer (260). During his time in Manchester, Rooney captured 16 major trophies, including five Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League in 2008, and the FA Cup in 2006. On the international stage, Rooney holds the record for the most-capped field player in England history (120) and is also the all-time leader in goals for The Three Lions (53). He appeared in three World Cups (2006, 2010, and 2014), as well as three UEFA European Championships (2004, 2012, and 2016), and captained his country 24 times across all competitions.
“Wayne is a winner and a competitor. His work ethic and what he demands of himself and his players is second to none,” said Dave Kasper, President of Soccer Operations for D.C. United. “Wayne’s approach to the game and the style of soccer he wants to play fits within our philosophy and we believe he is the right person to lead our club moving forward.”
Rooney will join the club and assume the role of head coach pending the receipt of his Work Visa. His coaching staff will be announced at a later date.
Jack Wilshere has been named Arsenal’s new Under-18 head coach.
The former England international announced his retirement from playing on Friday and soon emerged as the standout candidate to replace Dan Micciche, who recently joined Crawley Town.
Wilshere is joined on the coaching staff by Mehmet Ali, who takes over as the new head coach of the Under-21 side having joined as an assistant in January.
Wilshere said: “It’s a huge honour to have this role. It’s no secret that I love this club. I love what we stand for and a big part of my life was spent in this academy, some of the best days of my life. This is a big opportunity for me and I’m ready. I’m hungry and can’t wait to help these young players thrive and be the best they can be on and off the pitch.
“It’s a special feeling to be part of the Arsenal family. It never left me, and even though I moved on for a few years, my heart was always still at Arsenal. I can’t wait to get started and help these young players thrive with a great team around me.”
Winger eager for more playing time at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea and Manchester City have reached an agreement for Raheem Sterling, BBC Sport says.
The Blues will pay a total of £50 million including add-ons and the England international will commit to a five-year contract with an option to extend for another season.
The Indian Super League (ISL) is the biggest footballing league in India with arguably the best players in the country plying their trade in the competition. While there have been a number of top attacking players representing various clubs, the league has also given us some top defenders in it’s history.
Here, we take a look at the five best defensive records in ISL history.
Mumbai City FC were brilliant in the 2016 season as they not only topped the table after the league stage, but also put on scintillating displays on the pitch.
A key reason for their brilliance was their defence, with Lucian Goian, Anwar Ali, Sehnaj Singh and L Ralte conceding just eight goals in the 14-game regular season – with a ratio of just 0.69 goals conceded per game.
Despite topping the league table, they failed to make it to the finals after being beaten by eventual winners, ATK FC in the semifinals.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is said to have been blown away by just how good Darwin Nunez was in the Reds’ Champions League quarter-final against Benfica last season.
Nunez signed for Liverpool last month in a deal that could set them back €100m if all conditional clauses are met, which would make him the club’s record signing.
The 23-year-old’s second and final season at Benfica prompted Liverpool to follow up on their long-term interest, with the Uruguayan scoring 34 goals in 41 games in all competitions and winning Liga Portugal’s Player of the Year award.
But it was Nunez’s showings against Liverpool in the Champions League in which he scored home and away that convinced Klopp that the forward was the real deal, according to Fabrizio Romano.
“This Darwin Nunez story started a long time ago,” Romano said on his YouTube channel.
“It’s true that Darwin had a fantastic impact against Liverpool in the Champions League games and Jurgen Klopp is a big fan of checking players in the real games in the face-to-face games, with his own Liverpool and he was really surprised by the impact of this fantastic striker.
“In the Liverpool scouting department, they have been big fans of Darwin Nunez [for a] long time. They consider him the new [Edinson] Cavani.”
Nunez was wanted by a host of Premier League clubs, but Liverpool won the race for his signature after submitting their mammoth bid of an initial €75m.
Franck Kessie revealed he is excited to get to work at Barcelona, after the Spanish club confirmed his signing earlier this week.
On Monday, the Blaugrana announced the signings of both Kessie and Andreas Christensen, with their contracts expiring at Milan and Chelsea respectively this off-season.
It has nevertheless been a busy period for Barcelona as they look to balance their books, with reports linking Frenkie de Jong and Ousmane Dembele to moves away in the event they do not lower their wages.
After helping the Rossoneri secure the Serie A title last season, Kessie insists he is looking forward to working under Xavi, despite uncertainty over where he will actually play in midfield.
“When Xavi calls you, you see that all your efforts have been worth it,” he said upon arriving in Barcelona. “I can’t wait to start working with him and my colleagues.
“It is a great opportunity. Barca is a great team, and I am very happy. I really want to start and give my best. I am a player who works hard on a day-to-day basis to end up winning things.
“Where I play, the coach will decide. He will know where I can best help the team.”
The 25-year-old played in a variety of positions under Stefano Pioli in Milan, even spending parts of last season as an attacking midfielder.
He was a dependable figure last season as well, only missing three league games, with the exception of international duty during January’s African Cup of Nations.
The Ivorian also revealed he hopes to emulate the feats of his compatriot and “idol” Yaya Toure, who won his lone Champions League with Barcelona in 2009.
“My idol is Yaya Toure,” Kessie said. “He is a great player and an Ivorian, like me. I have been lucky enough to play with him and I want to have a career as good as his.”
