The joined actions of some of the most powerful figures in modern football unwittingly created an ever mightier alliance on April 18, 2021.
The announcement of a new European Super League united Manchester, with fans and players of United and City joining those invested in the fortunes of Liverpool and the three London giants of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham in opposition.
Although the reaction in Italy and Spain may not have been quite as damning, the protests that followed over the course of an extraordinary few days were enough to derail the plans.
A year on, Stats Perform looks back on one of the most controversial proposals in the sport s history and where it stands now.
What is/was the European Super League?
The past week has shown exactly …
Luka Modric was left with a bitter taste after Croatia had to settle for a 1-1 Euro 2020 draw with the Czech Republic to leave their qualification hopes in the balance.
The 2018 World Cup runners-up were beaten 1-0 by England in their first Group D game and trailed the Czech Republic by the same scoreline at half-time on Friday.
In-form striker Patrik Schick opened the scoring with a controversial penalty after Dejan Lovren appeared to accidentally catch him on the nose with his elbow, referee Carlos del Cerro Grande harshly pointing to the spot following a check on the pitchside monitor.
Ivan Perisic equalised with a rasping drive two minutes into the second half, but Croatia lacked the quality to conjure up a winner at Hampden Park.
Perisic became t…
Western Sydney s fairytale AFC Champions League campaign continues as they welcome Seoul to Parramatta for their semi-final second leg.
The Wanderers battled to a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Seoul, putting the A-League side in a good position ahead of Wednesday s clash.
Tony Popovic s side are looking to become just the second Australian team to reach the decider of Asia s premier club competition.
In contrast, South Korea have had a representative in the final in every year since Adelaide United were beaten by Japan s Gamba Osaka in 2008.
Seoul are two-time runners-up, including last year, but have struggled to find their best form in the K. League.
Choi Yong-soo s men are unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions, yet have battled for goals this…
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Looking to sign off 2022 with a flurry on the road, Manchester United will make the trip to Molineux on Saturday lunchtime when they meet Wolves.
Wolves
Starting with the hosts, managing to open Julen Lopetegui s tenure with a last-gasp 2-1 victory away at Everton earlier in the week, Wolves will be desperate to spring an upset here. However, while the Oranges might have drawn a line under their five-match Premier League winless run on Boxing Day, the former Sevilla boss finds his squad at the heart of a relegation scrap. Opening up Saturday s showdown at Molineux sat one-point adrift in the drop zone, Wolves have continued to show some extended issues this season. Along with recording just a pair of top-flight wins from their last 1…
Manchester City s Phil Foden has been named the 2021-22 Premier League Young Player of the Season.
The England international, who was awarded the gong last term after helping Pep Guardiola s side to the title, picks it up for a second time after another fine season.
Foden is the first man to win the award in successive campaigns, and is feted for a season that saw him establish himself as a mainstay of the City squad.
Only Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne have featured for more minutes among the team s midfielders than the 21-year-old, who beat off stern competition for the prize.
Back-to-back Young Player of the Season awards
Congratulations, Phil Foden! | |
— Premier League (@premierleague)
Arsenal duo Aaron…
Avram Grant will call time on his spell as Ghana head coach when his contract expires at the end of February, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has confirmed.
Ghana suffered a 2-0 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final loss to eventual winners Cameroon this month, having been beaten on penalties in the 2015 final.
His last game at the helm was Saturday s last-gasp 1-0 defeat to Burkina Faso in the third-place play-off.
The GFA confirmed its search for a successor could begin immediately and that Grant, though under contract until February 28, may seek new employment.
Grant took charge of the Black Stars – 2010 World Cup quarter-finalists – in December 2014.
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Bolivia took advantage of Lionel Messi s four-match ban and compounded Argentina s misery with a 2-0 win in Tuesday s World Cup qualifying clash in La Paz.
Messi was initially named in head coach Edgardo Bauza s line-up on Monday, but a suspension imposed by FIFA on the day of the game after the captain insulted a match official in last week s victory over Chile ruled him out of contention.
It proved a huge blow for an already much-depleted Argentina, whose absences included the banned Nicolas Otamendi, Lucas Biglia, Javier Mascherano and Gonzalo Higuain
The visitors never got going at an altitude of 3,600 metres and Bolivia deservedly took the lead in the 31st minute when Facundo Roncaglia s poor marking was capitalised upon by Juan Carlos Arce, who steered a he…
Serie A high-flyers Lazio are considering a move for Cagliari midfielder Albin Ekdal, .
The Biancocelesti will need to add more bodies to the squad if they secure Champions League qualification and signing a quality central midfielder is clearly the priority.
According to Il Corriere dello Sport, Lazio are casting admiring glances towards Cagliari hotshot Albin Ekdal, who is almost certain to leave Isolani if they get relegated to Serie B.
And with his current contract due to expire in June 2016, the Biancocelesti expect to sign him for a nominal fee.
Albin Ekdal arrived in Serie A back in 2008 as he joined Juventus, but he has spent last four years with Cagliari, making 107 league appearances for the Isolani.
The 25-year-old has developed into a…
West Ham United have completed the signing of Lukas Fabianski from Swansea City, according to the Mail Online.
The goalkeeper, who is currently with Poland at the World Cup finals in Russia played every minute for the Swans in the Premier League last season but was unable to help them avoid relegation to the Championship though he was named their Player of the Year.
He moved to the South Wales club from Arsenal in the summer of 2014 and went on to make one hundred and fifty appearances in all competitions.
He played seventy-eight times in a seven-year spell with the Gunners and helped them to success in the 2013/14 FA Cup, playing every minute of that campaign.
Internationally he has been capped forty-five times for his country but had to watch from …
Bayer Leverkusen are considering an appeal after being ordered to repay over €16million to Teldafax, their insolvent former sponsor.
The Cologne Regional Court ruled on Wednesday that the Bundesliga club must pay back in full the sponsorship payments they received from 2009 to 2011, plus interest.
Electricity provider Teldafax filed for bankruptcy in 2011 and the company s liquidator, Biner Bahr, alleged that Leverkusen had continued to accept sponsorship when they were aware of the company s financial problems.
A statement from Leverkusen expressed discontent at the court s ruling.
We are disappointed and surprised that our arguments and facts have not been considered, said managing director Michael Schade.
We will now wait for the verdict an…