Newcomers Puel and Mazzarri pit wits on opening day Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Southampton manager Claude Puel begins his Premier League career by pitting his wits against Watford boss Walter Mazzarri in a battle of two newcomers to the English top-flight. Both men know they have a task on their hands to match the achievements of their predecessors as the two sides meet at St Mary’s on … [Read more...]

Russia names Cherchesov as new football coach Moscow (AFP) – Russia’s Football Union (RFU) on Thursday appointed ex-Legia Warsaw boss Stanislav Cherchesov as the country’s new national coach, handing him the daunting task of leading the team into the 2018 World Cup. Russian Cherchesov, 52, replaces CSKA Moscow coach Leonid Slutsky, who resigned from the position after Russia crashed out of Euro … [Read more...]

Fenerbahce ‘sack coach Pereira’ Istanbul (AFP) – Istanbul giants Fenerbahce have sacked Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira after just over one season in charge following the Turkish side’s exit in the qualifying stages of the Champions League, reports said Thursday. Fenerbahce’s board decided to part company with Pereira after the team’s defeat at the hands of Monaco in the third qualifying round of … [Read more...]

Swansea announce club-record £15.5 mn Borja move London (AFP) – Spanish striker Borja Baston has joined Swansea City from Atletico Madrid for a club-record fee of 15.5 million pounds ($20.1 million, 18 million euros), the Premier League side announced on Thursday. The 23-year-old signed a four-year contract after successfully undergoing a medical and will wear the number 10 shirt at the Liberty … [Read more...]

Villarreal part company with coach Marcelino Madrid (AFP) – Spanish Champions League hopefuls Villarreal have been rocked ahead of the start of the new season by the departure of coach Marcelino. “Marcelino Garcia Toral is no longer the coach of Villarreal,” the club announced in a statement published on their website on Wednesday evening. Marcelino, who leaves along with his assistant Ruben … [Read more...]

Crisis-hit Argentina and holders Mexico exit Olympic football Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Crisis-hit Argentine football suffered another blow Wednesday when they were dumped out of the Olympics at the group stages by Honduras, whilst 2012 gold medallists Mexico were also sent packing. Hosts Brazil hope to avoid the same fate as their eternal rivals later when they take on Denmark in Salvador needing … [Read more...]

‘Gabigol’ rescues Brazil from Olympic shame Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Brazil escaped a humiliating early exit from the Olympics despite another scoreless performance from Neymar as wonder kid Gabriel Barbosa struck twice in a 4-0 win over Denmark on Wednesday.  The in demand Barbosa, nicknamed ‘Gabigol’ for his prolific exploits for Santos, broke Brazil’s 200-minute goal drought after goalless … [Read more...]

Cahill signs for Australia’s Melbourne City football club Sydney (AFP) – Tim Cahill is returning to Australia to end his career playing in the A-League for Melbourne City, putting to rest speculation over the talismanic striker’s future. The 36-year-old, who is Australia’s top goalscorer, signed a two-year playing contract with the sister club of the English Premier League’s Manchester City … [Read more...]

Conte puts spotlight on Chelsea flops London (AFP) – As Antonio Conte gesticulated wildly on the touchline, the Chelsea manager felt his voice cracking and took a moment to register a sensation that spells bad news for his club’s underachieving stars. Possessing a menacing glare that suggests he isn’t to be trifled with, the no-nonsense Conte has swaggered into Stamford Bridge determined to … [Read more...]

Top 10 Premier League transfers for 2016-17 London (AFP) – Ahead of the new Premier League season, AFP Sport runs down the 10 biggest incoming transfers of the close season (all fees as reported by British media): Paul Pogba Juventus (ITA) to Manchester United, 89 million pounds ($116.4 million, 105 million euros) The close season’s most long-running transfer saga concluded with France … [Read more...]