Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti says he has “never had a problem” with the club and does not want to “make a big deal” out of his impending departure for the Brazil national team. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed the 65-year-old’s appointment as...

Real Madrid want Xabi Alonso in place as their new manager in time for the start of next month’s Club World Cup. Sources say the plan is for Alonso, 43, to travel to Madrid on 1 June to prepare the team for their first game of the inaugural Fifa tournament on 18 June against Saudi […]

German referee Felix Zwayer, who once served a ban for alleged involvement in a match-fixing plot, will take charge of next week’s all-English Europa League final between Tottenham and Manchester United. Zwayer, now 43, was given a six-month suspension in 2006 after he was investigated for ta...

After a heartbreaking defeat by Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-finals, there was a very real possibility of Barcelona’s season falling apart. In recent seasons, perhaps it would. Downgrading a potential treble to a solitary cup triumph would have been on brand not so long ago, given ...

Brentford manager Thomas Frank says his team are “dreaming” of Europe after Kevin Schade’s first-half goal at Ipswich Town earned the Bees a fourth consecutive Premier League victory. Schade, who scored twice in last weekend’s 4-3 win over Manchester United, steered a looping...

Carlo Ancelotti has called Xabi Alonso “one of the best in the world” amid rumours the Spaniard will replace him as Real Madrid manager. On Friday, Bayer Leverkusen head coach Alonso said he would be leaving the German club at the end of this season. Alonso is set to be announced as th...

In what has been the worst kept secret in the footballing world, Xabi Alonso has finally told his Bayer Leverkusen players he will be leaving the German club at the end of the season. He will be soon be announced as the new head coach of Real Madrid – once the departure of current boss Carlo...

Barcelona and Real Madrid go head-to-head on Sunday in a late-season El Clasico with huge ramifications for the title race. Madrid need a win to strengthen hope of giving Carlo Ancelotti a farewell trophy. Barca will hope this is the final Clasico at their temporary Olympic Stadium home – with...

When Lazio travelled to Bodo/Glimt for their Europa League quarter-final first leg last month they were greeted by a blizzard and a stadium covered in a blanket of snow. Tractors with ploughs cleared the pitch so the game could be played, but the Italians still found the freezing conditions and arti...

When Paris St-Germain and Inter Milan step out at the Allianz Arena in Munich on 31 May, it will mark the first Champions League final in 21 years without a Premier League, Bundesliga or La Liga club involved. At least one English, German or Spanish club has appeared in the Champions League final si...