AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has already congratulated his star Brazilian striker Kaka for what appears to be his anticipated collection of the European Footballer of the Year award. . . . more . . .
A reform of the European Champions League for the period 2009/12 was agreed by the UEFA executive committee on Friday night. . . . more . . .
Everton boss David Moyes has revealed he would like to manage his native Scotland one day but only when he is older. . . . more . . .
Roy Hodgson has resigned as national football team coach, the Football Association of Finland said Friday. . . . more . . .
Rangers winger DaMarcus Beasley will undergo surgery on his injured knee in the United States and is facing several months on the sidelines, manager Walter Smith confirmed Friday. . . . more . . .
South Africa have ditched star striker Benni McCarthy for the 2008 African Nations Cup in Ghana. . . . more . . .
Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to unleash Wayne Rooney on Fulham on Monday following the Manchester United striker's rapid recovery from an ankle injury. . . . more . . .
Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson admitted Friday that he could "understand the clamour" for Jose Mourinho to become England's next manager. . . . more . . .
David Beckham proved his superstar status Friday as he trained in front of more than 15,000 screaming school children ahead of a weekend friendly between his Los Angeles Galaxy team and the Wellington Phoenix. . . . more . . .
The Japan Football Association said Friday it has picked Takeshi Okada, who coached Japan at their first World Cup in 1998, to return to the job to replace the ailing Ivica Osim. . . . more . . .
Dutchman Dick Advocaat has apologised for reneging on a coaching contract and leaving Australia without a national coach two months out from qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup, reports said Friday. . . . more . . .
England star David Beckham will be the star attraction next February when top US, Japanese and Australian football clubs meet here in the debut of a new tournament, the Pan-Pacific Championship. . . . more . . .
Tottenham Hotspur and Bolton gave their fans a UEFA Cup night to remember Thursday as Bayern Munich were held to a draw by Portuguese minnows Sporting Braga. . . . more . . .
Germany great Franz Beckenbauer and UEFA President Michel Platini are just two of the leading football figures who have already been consulted by Football Association (FA) chief executive Brian Barwick as he tries to find a successor to Steve McClaren as England coach. . . . more . . .
Ben Bamfuchile said Thursday he had quit as coach of shock 2008 African Nations Cup qualifiers Namibia. . . . more . . .
Zheng Zhi, the China captain, may still be struggling to get to grips with the English language but the midfielder insists communication on the field is proving less of a problem as he gets used to life with Charlton Athletic. . . . more . . .
Holders Celtic and their arch-rivals Rangers will begin their Scottish Cup campaigns at home to lower league opposition following the fourth round draw here Thursday. . . . more . . .
Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon on Thursday ruled out a recruitment drive over the winter break despite their shock 3-2 loss to Werder Bremen in Champions League action. . . . more . . .
Middlesbrough midfielder Julio Arca looks set for a Premier League return after three months out with a medial ligament injury but Egyptian striker Mido faces an extended stay on the sidelines. . . . more . . .
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan hailed his side's 2-1 Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk as their best ever win - and match winner Massimo Donati as a hero. . . . more . . .
Football superstar David Beckham landed in a rugby stronghold Thursday but it was hardly enemy territory as hundreds of fans gave him a rapturous welcome in New Zealand's capital. . . . more . . .
Rafa Benitez resisted the temptation to gloat after Liverpool's 4-1 win over Porto gave a substantial boost to his power struggle with the club's American owners. . . . more . . .
Indian IT firms used to selling their services to banks and manufacturers are now looking to the world of sport for new business, after a breakthrough deal with football's governing body FIFA. . . . more . . .
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp insisted Thursday he was not the focus of a police probe into corruption in English football as he hit out against his arrest. . . . more . . .
Werder Bremen upset nine-time titleholders Real Madrid 3-2 to leave Champions League Group C too close to call with one match remaining. . . . more . . .
A late goal from Brazilian forward Bobo threw Besiktas a lifeline on Wednesday as the Turkish giants earned a valuable 2-1 victory over Marseille. . . . more . . .
Premier League strugglers Derby County on Wednesday named former Wigan coach Paul Jewell as their new manager. . . . more . . .
Massimo Donati was Celtic's Champions League hero as his injury time strike secured a 2-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. . . . more . . .
Fernando Torres kept Liverpool's Champions League rescue mission on course and did Rafa Benitez a favour in the process as his double strike inspired a 4-1 win over FC Porto on Wednesday. . . . more . . .
AC Milan secured qualification to the Champions League knock-out stages after a battling 1-1 draw against Benfica here on Wednesday. . . . more . . .
Chelsea produced a dominant performance to outclass Norwegian champions Rosenborg 4-0 on Wednesday and guarantee they will top Group B and reach the knockout phase of the Champions League for the sixth straight time. . . . more . . .
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) on Wednesday gave their full backing to national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, congratulating the Brazilian for leading them to a fourth consecutive European championship finals. . . . more . . .
Away supporters have been barred from the potentially volatile Sicilian derby between Catania and Palermo this weekend. . . . more . . .
British police questioned Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp and four others Wednesday as part of an investigation into alleged corruption, the English Premier League club said. . . . more . . .
Louis van Gaal has reiterated his desire to become the new England manager and pointed Wednesday to a release clause in his contract as coach of AZ Alkmaar should the FA come knocking. . . . more . . .
Lyon captain Juninho believes his side can get the Champions League victory they need when they travel to Ibrox Park on December 12 to meet Rangers in the battle for second spot in Group E. . . . more . . .
Alex McLeish was confirmed as the new manager of Birmingham City at a news conference held by the Engish Premier League club on Wednesday, just a day after he'd resigned his post as Scotland coach. . . . more . . .
Saudi Arabian goal-machine Yasser Al Qahtani, nicknamed "The Sniper", was Wednesday named Asian player of the year and said he wanted to move to Europe, with Middlesbrough leading the chase. . . . more . . .
Premier League strugglers Derby County on Wednesday named former Wigan coach Paul Jewell as their new manager. . . . more . . .
South Korea's football governing body has shortlisted three candidates, including former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier, to coach the national team, a news report said Wednesday. . . . more . . .
Sir Alex Ferguson admitted Cristiano Ronaldo's last-gasp winner against Sporting Lisbon will allow him to let his Manchester United stars put their feet up. . . . more . . .
Alex McLeish left Scotland searching for their third manager of the year after he resigned from his post. . . . more . . .
Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is willing to consider the vacant position as manager of England's national team, he told The Sun tabloid in an early edition of its Wednesday paper. . . . more . . .
Roma breezed into the Champions' League knockout phase and ended the UEFA Cup hopes of Dynamo Kiev after thrashing the Ukrainian champions 4-1 in their group F clash here on Tuesday. . . . more . . .
Barcelona secured qualification for the knockout phase of the Champions League Tuesday as group E winners after French champions Lyon twice came from behind to level 2-2 with the Spanish giants. . . . more . . .
Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo hit a stoppage-time stunner that clinched a 2-1 win over Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday and ensured his side will finish top of Champions League Group F. . . . more . . .
Rangers lost 3-2 to battling VfB Stuttgart here on Tuesday but can still reach the Champions League knockout phase if they draw with Lyon in their final group game. . . . more . . .
Sevilla gained revenge for their humiliating 3-0 defeat by Arsenal in the opening game of this season's Champions League when they turned the tables with a 3-1 win here on Tuesday. . . . more . . .
Inter Milan secured top spot in group G and a place in the Champions League knock-out phase with a 3-0 victory over Fenerbahce at the San Siro here on Tuesday. . . . more . . .
Porto midfielder Ricardo Quaresma believes his team experience of winning away to Turkish giants Besiktas will help his side cope with the challenge of the Anfield crowd when they face Liverpool in the Champions League here on Wednesday. . . . more . . .
Chelsea have been charged with failing to control their players after Michael Essien was sent-off during their 2-0 Premier League win away to Derby last weekend. . . . more . . .
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez attempted to calm the speculation surrounding his future ahead of the key Champions League clash with Porto, as goalkeeper Jose Reina threw his backing behind his boss. . . . more . . .
Benni McCarthy is available for Blackburn Rovers's Premier League match with Aston Villa at Ewood Park despite being injured last weekend. . . . more . . .
France international striker David Trezeguet said he will stay at Italian giants Juventus for the rest of his career, Gazetta dello Sport reported on Tuesday. . . . more . . .
Alex McLeish resigned Tuesday as coach of the Scotland national football team, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) said in a statement. . . . more . . .
David Moyes became Tuesday the second Premiership manager in two days, after Sir Alex Ferguson, to be charged by the Football Association regarding comments criticising the performance of referee Mark Clattenburg. . . . more . . .
David Beckham scored off one of his signature free-kicks and received a yellow card as under-prepared LA Galaxy were hammered 5-3 by Sydney FC in their exhibition match here Tuesday. . . . more . . .
Europe's top football official, former Juventus midfield star Michel Platini, has been told by England's Premier League to "mind his own business." . . . more . . .
The Japan Football Association said Tuesday it had entered talks with former national coach Takeshi Okada to return to the job to replace Ivica Osim, who suffered a stroke. . . . more . . .
The Scottish Football Association (SFA) have rejected an official approach, believed to have come from Birmingham, to talk to national team manager Alex McLeish. . . . more . . .
Inter Milan, Barcelona, AS Roma and Rangers are on the brink of qualifying in Tuesday's Champions League group matches though Arsenal and Manchester United have already reached the knockout stages. . . . more . . .
Bayern Munich have shown how bad performances on the football pitch do not necessarily impact on a club's commercial success - as long as the cash registers keep pinging and the fans buy the shirts. . . . more . . .
Barcelona defender Carles Puyol has warned Lyon that the Catalan giants will not settle for anything less than a win in their Champions League group E clash here on Tuesday. . . . more . . .
Birmingham City are set to ask permission from the Scottish Football Association to talk to Scotland manager Alex McLeish about becoming their new boss, according to British media. . . . more . . .
Serie A club Udinese are to try out a fan passport - called a PassaSport - later this season in a bid to curb crowd violence. . . . more . . .
A 'Celtic Cup' featuring Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland could kick off in 2009 after the four federations agreed "in principle" to the idea on Monday. . . . more . . .
A tragedy which led to the death of seven fans at the Fonte Nova stadium has drawn attention to the urgent need for venues be improved before football's 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil. . . . more . . .
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been charged by the Football Association (FA) after letting fly at referee Mark Clattenburg during the Red Devils' 1-0 Premier League defeat away to Bolton. . . . more . . .
Steve Bruce rounded on his former club Birmingham City when giving his first news conference as Wigan Athletic manager at the JJB Stadium here Monday. . . . more . . .
Sir Alex Ferguson has challenged his Manchester United players to make their final Champions League Group F clash against Roma meaningless next month by cementing top spot with victory against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday. . . . more . . .
Villarreal's Argentina international midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme has agreed a nine-million-euro deal with his club to move to Boca Juniors in his home country, the Spanish first division club said on Monday. . . . more . . .
Bayern Munich coach Uli Hoeness said Monday that he would not stand in the way of French defender Willy Sagnol leaving the club if the player insisted. . . . more . . .
Former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Ince has emerged as a bookies favourite to take over from Billy Davies as manager of English Premier League basement club Derby County. . . . more . . .
Japan and South Korea might be smiling but it was a less than happy affair for Australia and China when the Asian qualifying draw was made for the 2010 World Cup here. . . . more . . .
Ryan Giggs believes Manchester United's Champions League victory against Dynamo Kiev proves they can cope with the injury problems that threaten to derail their season. . . . more . . .
David Beckham says he is eager to help England qualify for the 2010 World Cup and claim his 100th international cap. . . . more . . .
Asia's football chief Mohamed bin Hammam has urged just one Asian bid to maximise the confederation's chances of hosting the 2018 World Cup. . . . more . . .
Blackburn face a nervous wait to see if Benni McCarthy faces a spell on the sidelines after the South Africa striker needed stitches for a knee gash during his side's 2-2 draw at Fulham. . . . more . . .
Croatia coach Slaven Bilic has admitted he would rather have avoided facing an England squad bent on revenge in the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup. . . . more . . .
The future of Paris St Germain coach Paul Le Guen could become a big talking point in the French first division this week after Nice added to the club's growing list of defeats. . . . more . . .
Roma's hopes of securing qualification to the Champions League knock-out stages have been hit by a triple injury blow. . . . more . . .
Hamburg continued their impressive early season form to consolidate their third place in the Bundesliga with a 2-0 home win over struggling Rostock on Sunday. . . . more . . .
Villarreal missed the chance to knock Real Madrid off the top of the Spanish championship following a 1-1 draw with Almeria on Sunday. . . . more . . .
Blackburn defender Stephen Warnock scored a late equaliser to give Mark Hughes's side a 2-2 draw against Fulham on Sunday. . . . more . . .
AC Milan scraped a 2-1 victory at Cagliari on Sunday as a stunning Andrea Pirlo free-kick five minutes from time stole the points. . . . more . . .
Robert Green rescued West Ham as he saved Jermain Defoe's stoppage time penalty to preserve a 1-1 draw against Tottenham on Sunday. . . . more . . .
England paid the price for their failure to reach Euro 2008 on Sunday when they were drawn with Croatia again in one of the toughest qualifying groups for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. . . . more . . .
Barcelona's Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o resumed team training Sunday after three months out injured, the club announced. . . . more . . .
Michael Owen admits England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 because the players have been unable to cope with the fear factor. . . . more . . .
Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez will stay with the Premier League champions beyond his current loan deal, according to Sir Alex Ferguson. . . . more . . .
David James has slammed sacked England coach Steve McClaren for his disastrous handling of the team's goalkeepers. . . . more . . .
A shattered England will be praying for a lucky break at the preliminary draw for the World Cup on Sunday after missing out on being among the top European seeds. . . . more . . .
FIFA President Sepp Blatter has vowed to press ahead with proposals to introduce a cap on the number of foreign players in club sides, despite opposition from leading clubs and the European Union (EU). . . . more . . .
Sepp Blatter defended Sunday the decision to bring the football World Cup to Africa for the first time, saying any organisational problems would be overcome and downplaying fears over crime. . . . more . . .
English superstar David Beckham says he is close to full fitness for LA Galaxy's exhibition match with Sydney FC here on Tuesday and hopes to play the whole 90 minutes. . . . more . . .
Sacked England coach Steve McClaren said his successor will benefit from his failure in the high-profile job. . . . more . . .
Arsene Wenger praised William Gallas's predatory instincts after the France defender opened up Arsenal's lead at the top of the Premier League. . . . more . . .
Liverpool's comfortable 3-0 victory at Newcastle has done nothing to alter manager Rafa Benitez's desire to bring in new players during the Premier League's transfer window in January. . . . more . . .
Chelsea coach Avram Grant expects to have Didier Drogba available for this week's Champions League away game against Rosenborg, after the Ivory Coast striker was forced to sit out Saturday's comfortable and controversial 2-0 victory over Derby County at Pride Park. . . . more . . .
Sir Alex Ferguson faces an appointment with the English Football Assocation after being sent to the stands during his team's fiery 1-0 defeat to Bolton at the Reebok Stadium. . . . more . . .
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan believes his side's 3-0 win at home to Aberdeen has set them up perfectly for their crucial Champions League game on Wednesday. . . . more . . .
Ten-men Real Madrid allowed Barcelona to make up ground in the title race after stumbling to a 1-1 draw at Real Murcia on Saturday. . . . more . . .
Sacked England coach Steve McClaren said his successor will benefit from his failure in the high-profile job. . . . more . . .
French champions Lyon bounced back from their humbling defeat to Marseille last time out with a commanding 2-0 win away to Rennes on Saturday. . . . more . . .
Back-up strikers Julio Cruz and David Suazo tore Atalanta apart as champions Inter Milan stretched their lead at the top of the Serie A table to three points with a narrow 2-1 victory on Saturday. . . . more . . .
John Terry returned to banish some of his England frustrations as Chelsea strode to a 2-0 victory over Derby at Pride Park on Saturday, which was marred by Michael Essien's late red card. . . . more . . .
William Gallas was Arsenal's inspiration as Arsene Wenger's side extended their lead at the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Wigan on Saturday. . . . more . . .
Sir Alex Ferguson watched the second-half from the stands as Nicolas Anelka condemned Manchester United to a 1-0 defeat at Bolton on Saturday. . . . more . . .
Tim Cahill confirmed his return to full fitness by joining Ayegbeni Yakubu in scoring a brace for a rampant Everton in their 7-1 hammering of Sunderland here Saturday. . . . more . . .
Portsmouth continued their flying start to the season with a 2-0 defeat of Birmingham on Saturday, their first top flight win at St. . . . more . . .
Martin O'Neill received immediate evidence that he was right to snub England for Aston Villa as his side won 3-0 at Middlesbrough on Saturday. . . . more . . .
A stunning injury-time winner from Stephen Ireland gave Manchester City a 2-1 victory over luckless Reading in the Premier League on Saturday and preserved the home team's 100-percent record at Eastlands. . . . more . . .
Bayern Munich captain Oliver Kahn has slammed football's governing bodies UEFA and FIFA for the extra workload handed to players involved in the recent qualifiers. . . . more . . .
As the anticipation and speculation gathers surrounding who will be England's new manager, the list of contenders now contains an array of foreigners including two Germans, an Italian and a wily Portuguese. . . . more . . .
France midfielder Franck Ribery provided the inspiration as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich returned to winning ways with a 2-1 home win over VfL Wolfsburg. . . . more . . .
Rafa Benitez warned Liverpool's American owners they must back him in the transfer window after his side romped to a 3-0 win at Newcastle on Saturday. . . . more . . .
Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs drew 2-2 here Saturday as the highlight of the South African season focussed attention on Durban ahead of Sunday's World Cup draw. . . . more . . .
Celtic cruised to an easy 3-0 victory at home to Aberdeen to stay three points clear of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League on Saturday. . . . more . . .
Liverpool remain unbeaten in the Premier League after a 3-0 victory at Newcastle, whose manager Sam Allardyce is under increasing pressure after his team offered little resistance on the way to another alarming setback. . . . more . . .
Brazilian superstar Ronaldo will make his first appearance of the season for AC Milan by starting Sunday's match at Cagliari, coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed on Saturday. . . . more . . .
Ticket prices for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will range from 20 to 900 dollars, while 120,000 seats will be given away for free, organisers announced on Saturday. . . . more . . .
The recent wave of crowd violence in Italy has hit away fans hard with only four grounds open to visiting supporters during Saturday and Sunday's first division programme. . . . more . . .
Software group Satyam has become FIFA's first major sponsor from India after being appointed as their official IT services provider for the next seven years. . . . more . . .
Jurgen Klinsmann, who led Germany to the World Cup semi-finals in 2006, has hinted he might be interested in the vacant England manager's post if he gets certain conditions. . . . more . . .
The English Football Association are reportedly interested in German coach Bernd Schuster as the next England manager according to Spanish daily Marca on Saturday. . . . more . . .
Terry Venables reckons the job of England manager job may be more suited to a foreigner like Fabio Capello, the former England boss wrote in The Sun newspaper on Saturday. . . . more . . .
FIFA president Sepp Blatter urged South African construction workers on Saturday not to wreck the 2010 World Cup, saying the successful staging of the tournament lay in their hands. . . . more . . .
Unsettled Czech striker Milan Baros should know within the next two weeks whether he will quit French champions Lyon, his agent told Saturday's edition of the Czech daily Sport. . . . more . . .
Luiz Felipe Scolari insisted Friday that he intends to see out his contract as Portugal coach despite being linked with the vacant England manager's job. . . . more . . .
League One club Leeds have written to the Football Association (FA) requesting the matter of their 15-point deduction be referred to the High Court rather than FA arbitration. . . . more . . .
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he tried to buy much-travelled French international forward Nicolas Anelka several times. . . . more . . .
England captain John Terry admitted Friday that he would love to play for the national team under former manager Jose Mourinho. . . . more . . .
Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday met with 2002 World Cup winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari to discuss the setting up of a commission aimed at stemming the exodus of footballers to foreign clubs. . . . more . . .
Wigan have confirmed that Steve Bruce will take over as manager on Monday. . . . more . . .
Sir Alex Ferguson believes that the English Football Assocition (FA) were too quick to dispense with Steve McClaren's services. . . . more . . .
Italian veteran coach Fabio Capello has confirmed he is "very interested" in taking over as England manager following the sacking of Steve McClaren on Thursday. . . . more . . .
Cape Town is to stage the draw for the finals of the 2010 football World Cup in South Africa, tournament organisers said on Friday. . . . more . . .
Republic of Ireland international John O'Shea signed a three-year contract extension with Manchester United on Friday which will keep him at Old Trafford until 2012. . . . more . . .
Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson says he expects Asia will produce one of the world's next great footballers of the likes of Diego Maradona. . . . more . . .
CS Sfaxien of Tunisia captain Abdelkrim Nafti says Al-Merreikh of Sudan are wasting time turning up for the second leg of the African Confederation Cup final Saturday. . . . more . . .
Four months after uniting their war-ravaged country by winning the Asian Cup, the Iraqi football team is "in chaos" as they prepare for World Cup qualifying. . . . more . . .
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant England manager's position, according to reports Friday. . . . more . . .
Argentina remained top of the FIFA rankings for November, released by world football's ruling body on Friday, but Brazil and Italy have closed the gap on the top ranked team. . . . more . . .
Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson says he expects Asia will produce one of the world's next great footballers of the likes of Diego Maradona. . . . more . . .
David Beckham believes a foreign manager is likely to replace Steve McClaren as England coach. . . . more . . .
A Vietnamese appeals court has reduced or suspended the prison terms of six football referees and officials jailed in July for corruption and match-fixing, a court clerk said Friday. . . . more . . .
South Africa's ability to stage the world's most-widely watched sporting event will undergo intensive scrutiny on Sunday when it hosts the qualifying draw for the 2010 football World Cup. . . . more . . .
Italy's sports security watchdog on Thursday recommended the limitation of movement of fans from five Serie A clubs - Inter Milan, Napoli, Lazio, Juventus and Genoa - to fixtures on December 1 and 2. . . . more . . .
Peter Crouch has admitted England weren't good enough to qualify for Euro 2008. . . . more . . .
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Thursday he would favour the return of the Home Nations tournament after all four British sides failed to reach the 2008 European Championships. . . . more . . .
Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce insists he is not interested in succeeding Steve McClaren as England coach. . . . more . . .
Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington admits he is unsure of his future after his side's heroic effort to reach Euro 2008 ended in failure. . . . more . . .
David Beckham has vowed to continue his quest to win a century of caps for England under whoever succeeds Steve McClaren as head coach. . . . more . . .
Russia celebrated Thursday their qualification for the Euro 2008 finals, praising Croatia's glittering performance at Wembley and Russia manager Guus Hiddink. . . . more . . .
Steve McClaren admitted he could have no complaints after being sacked as England coach. . . . more . . .
Asian powerhouses Japan and South Korea will be joined by regional newcomers Australia at the Beijing Olympics football competition next year after coming through Wednesday's final qualifying round. . . . more . . .
Britain's newspapers savaged Steve McClaren on Thursday after the England manager failed to guide his team to the 2008 European Championships. . . . more . . .
Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is the favourite to be the next permanent England manager, bookmakers said Thursday. . . . more . . .