Galatasaray have announced the appointment of Roberto Mancini as their new manager on a three-year contract.
Mancini, who was sacked by Manchester City in May, replaces Fatih Terim after the Turkey national team manager was relieved of his duties last week.
The Italian takes charge at the Turk Telecom Arena with Galatasaray in mid-table after claiming just one win from five games in the Super Lig so far this season to leave them eight points adrift of rivals and leaders Fenerbahce.
Galatasaray opened their UEFA Champions League campaign in similarly dismal fashion, losing 6-1 to Real Madrid in their first encounter.
Mancini who guided City to one Premier League title and one FA Cup crown during his time at the Etihad Stadium will hope to help his side bounce back…
Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala has withdrawn from the Germany squad with a back injury, the Bundesliga club have announced.
The 20-year-old had missed Bayern’s last two matches with a hamstring issue but returned to training earlier this week.
Germany face Japan and France in international friendlies on Saturday and next Tuesday respectively.
will not join up with the Germany national team as planned for their friendly matches against Japan and France due to a back complaint.
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN)
A statement from the club read: “Jamal Musiala will not join up with the Germany national team as planned for their friendly matches against Japan (September 9) and France (September 12) after the Bayern attacking midfielder w…
Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore believes he is now a better player than when he was last in the Premier League.
The American forward spent the 2009-10 season on loan at Hull City from Villarreal before eventually moving to AZ in Holland.
As Hull struggled in the English top flight, Altidore replicated those woes, netting only one Premier League goal in 28 appearances as the side were relegated.
His fortunes soon changed though as the 23-year-old made 63 appearances in all competitions for AZ, scoring 45 times, and Altidore feels he returns to England an improved player.
I think I just became a better player in Holland, than the one when I was at Hull, he told The Sunderland Echo.
On and off-the-ball and linking up with the players around me, I just got bet…
Kosovo have been authorised by FIFA to play international friendly matches, a ruling that also extends to club sides in the nation.
World football s governing body have considered the Balkan state s status since 2012 and, following the latest proposal from the Kosovan Football Association, have granted the country permission to play friendly fixtures.
Kosovo declared itself an independent state from Serbia in 2008, although the government of Serbia do still not recognise it as its own sovereign.
FIFA s ruling represents a breakthrough for Kosovo, but they will have adhere to certain conditions for fixtures to go ahead.
Any side representing the Kosovan FA will not be allowed to display national symbols such as flags or play national anthems, but will be permitted…
Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana scored crucial second-half goals as Liverpool moved into the Europa League final with a 3-1 aggregate victory over Villarreal.
Trailing from the first leg, Bruno s early own goal gave Jurgen Klopp s men an excellent start before Sturridge – who had been controversially left out in Spain – and Lallana netted the decisive strikes to seal a 3-0 win on the night at Anfield.
Villarreal produced very little as an attacking force throughout Thursday s second leg and then had defender Victor Ruiz sent off for a second yellow card.
Liverpool, who have won the competition three times, now go on to face record four-time champions and holders Sevilla in Basel on May 18 after Unai Emery s men defeated Shakhtar Donetsk in the other last…
Monaco will aim to keep their unbeaten run alive when they travel to face a Reims side that has lost just one of their last 10 home games.
Claudio Ranieri s men stormed to a 3-0 victory over Bastia in their last outing, Radamel Falcao taking his tally for the season to seven with a double against the Corsicans, while Emmanuel Riviere also got his name on the scoresheet.
The newly-promoted club have quickly adapted to life in Ligue 1 their sternest test coming in a 1-1 draw with champions PSG last Sunday but they will have to be at their best if they are to overcome a Reims team that is notoriously difficult to beat at the Stade Auguste Delaune.
Hubert Fournier s side secured home wins against PSG and Lyon last term, and will be confident of adding Monaco to their list …
Former Southampton and Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert has announced his retirement from playing professional football, according to the Mail Online.
The thirty-five most recently played for Cardiff City, racking up nineteen appearances for them last season and scoring four goals though he has been without a club since and decided to call time on a career that has spanned almost twenty years.
Having spent the majority of his career in the lower leagues, Lambert achieved promotion to the Premier League with Southampton in 2012 when he was also named the Championship’s Player of the Year.
He continued to impress in the top flight for the Saints with his form earning him full international recognition and a move to the team he supported as a child, Liverpool.…
Japan will be out to inflict further misery on Belgium when the sides meet in Brussels on Tuesday.
Marc Wilmots side were defeated for the first time in 2013 on Thursday, slipping to a 2-0 loss to Colombia courtesy of Radamel Falcao and Victor Ibarbo goals.
A stunning turnaround for the Belgians in recent years has seen them romp to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, leaping from 40th to fifth in the world rankings in the process.
But they will meet a Japan side in confident mood, having come from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in Genk on Friday.
Goals from Rafael van der Vaart and Arjen Robben looked to have condemned the Asian nation to a third consecutive defeat, but an experimental Japan side pulled level through Yuya Osako and Keisuke Honda. …
Vicente del Bosque has backed new Spain head coach Julen Lopetegui to get the team on track to challenge at the 2018 World Cup and beyond.
The former Porto boss was named as Del Bosque s successor on Tuesday, beating reported favourite Joaquin Caparros to the role, despite having been linked with the manager job at Wolves.
Del Bosque stepped down following Spain s defeat to Italy at Euro 2016, a result that compounded a disappointing final two years of his spell in charge following their dismal showing at the 2014 World Cup.
But the 65-year-old says Lopetegui, who claimed European Championship titles with the Spain Under-19 and U-20 sides, is a good choice to develop the senior side as they aim to reach the finals in Russia in two years time.
I m sure Ju…
Former-Holland international Ronald Koeman looks set to be the next Southampton boss
According to, Dutch brothers Erwin and Ronald Koeman are set to become the new managerial team at Southampton.
Ronald looks set to become Saints boss, while Erwin is set to take up the role as assistant boss.
Close
The deal is reportedly close to being completed and Sky claim that it could be done in the next couple of days.
The brother’s agents have confirmed that a deal is close for the pair.
Ronald Koeman’s agent Guido Albers told Voetbal International: “He wants to make a next step in his career at an ambitious club with possibilities. Southampton fits in that profile.
Pochettino made a solid base and Ronald is the ideal candidate to bu…