Football Blog (Page 216)

[ad_1] When Alexia Putellas won the 2021 Ballon d’Or Feminin, she was the first Spanish player to be presented with the iconic golden ball since Luis Suarez in 1961. Now, she has won it back-to-back. Putellas finished top of the 2022 standings ahead of Euro 2022 winner B*th Mead and WSL golden boot winner Sam Kerr, highlighting the incredibly stiff competition over the past season. In the end, it was a career-high 28 goals captaining a Barcelona team that won every single domestic game it played last season that saw her rise to the top again. Putellas has become a household name since Barça crushedRead More →

[ad_1] Wolverhampton Wanderers’ search for their next head coach continues and they have now added Dutchman Peter Bosz to their list of options, sources have confirmed to 90min. The 58-year-old has a very impressive CV having been in charge of Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon since 2017. He only left his role with Lyon earlier this month, being replaced by Laurent Blanc, but 90min has been told that he has spoken to Wolves about replacing Bruno Lage – who was sacked earlier this month. Former Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui rejected the job, while the club have also held talks with former boss NunoRead More →

[ad_1] D.C. United have added a new goalkeeper to their roster.  The team signed Luis Zamudio from their USL Championship affiliate Loudoun United FC through the 2024 season, with an option for 2025. During the 2022 campaign, he had seven shutouts and 103 saves across 27 starts in the second division. ”Luis has fully deserved this MLS contract after some excellent performances for Loudoun this year,” Stewart Mairs, Loudoun United’s general manager, said in a release. “He has made real progress and we’re proud of him for making this jump up to the D.C. United first team. “Loudoun United continues to be a great provingRead More →

[ad_1] Sadio Mane finished second in the 2022 Ballon d’Or, ranking behind only Karim Benzema in the 66th edition of the award. Mane enjoyed another prolific campaign with Liverpool throughout the 2021/22 season as they finished Premier League runners up and Champions League finalists, in what proved to be his last season at Anfield. The Senegal forward – who also lifted the Africa Cup of Nations at the beginning of the year – joined Bayern Munich in the summer after finishing up the 2021/22 campaign with 23 goals and five assists in all competitions. As well as placing second, Mane won the Socrates award onRead More →

[ad_1] Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been awarded the Yashin Trophy for his standout performances during the 2021/22 season. After largely failing to replicate performances of his Atletico Madrid and Chelsea days following his 2018 move to the Santiago Bernabeu, Courtois put in several top-notch displays as Real Madrid won La Liga and the Champions League last season. His crowning glory came in May’s Champions League final, keeping a clean sheet and producing a number of unbelievable saves as Los Blancos beat Liverpool 1-0 at the Stade de France. Courtois was named Player of the Match for his efforts. Courtois becomes the third winnerRead More →

[ad_1] It’s incredible that a gold sphere with a fairly romantic name means so much around the globe; the Ballon d’Or, despite the simplicity it comes down to, is the pinnacle of recognition throughout the beautiful game. Each year, the best footballers in the world gather and await the verdict of top journalists from the 100 nations ranked highest by FIFA to find out if they’ve received that aforementioned, remarkably weighted gold sphere. These days, we’re used to seeing players from gargantuan European clubs take to the stage during football’s most coveted ceremonial evening – indeed, this year’s favourite is talismanic Real Madrid and FranceRead More →

[ad_1] Chivas de Guadalajara confirmed Fernando Hierro will be the team’s new Sporting Director, replacing Ricardo Pelaez. The team parted ways with Pelaez after a disappointing 2022 Liga MX Apertura campaign, concluding the regular season in ninth before losing to Puebla in the playoffs reclassification match.  Hierro will now take over, arriving with plenty of time to make changes before the 2023 Clausura tournament kicks off on January 6. “Excited, is the word, with the new challenge, it will be a fantastic experience, there are different motivations and Chivas is one of them, we know what the club and identity means, it is different fromRead More →

[ad_1] The unprecedented 2022 World Cup in Qatar is fast approaching with domestic leagues across Europe poised to come to a standstill. The hosts get the tournament underway on 20 November as they take on Ecuador in Group A. England’s campaign, meanwhile, begins a day later against IR Iran. Despite enduring a pitiful UEFA Nations League campaign in 2022, the Three Lions head into the World Cup as one of the favourites to go all the way. Gareth Southgate has a myriad of luxuries at his disposal in what could be his last major tournament as England boss. The harmony within the national team squadRead More →

[ad_1] The 2022 Ballon d’Or ceremony is right around the corner with Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema emerging as the clear favourite to take home the award. The Frenchman enjoyed a stellar 2021/22 campaign which saw Los Blancos secure a memorable double under the tutelage of Carlo Ancelotti. Benzema was the heartbeat of the side, with his 27 La Liga goals and 15 Champions League strikes thrusting Real to glory in both competitions. The 34-year-old is the understandable favourite for the crown, but France Football have a knack of surprising the masses on awards night. Here are some instances in Ballon d’Or history when, perhaps,Read More →

[ad_1] Another slew of fixtures down, another not-at-all questionable team of the week. You’re welcome, football fans. Joining us today are three Liverpool players, the Premier League’s favourite example of nominative determinism and, er, Dominic Solanke. Strap in, folks. Here are 90min’s star performers from Gameweek 11. Save after save! 🧤#AvlChe pic.twitter.com/2fftV6hF0l — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 16, 2022 The Kepa Arrizabalaga redemption arc is officially GO. The £71.6 million signing (still the world record for a goalkeeper) has been a figure of ridicule for almost the entirety of his Chelsea career to date but has now made three starts out of three in theRead More →