Sports

Barcelona confirmed the return of Xavi Hernandez as coach on Saturday, adding that the legendary midfielder was expected back in the city this weekend to take up his new role. The Spaniard left Camp Nou to play for Al Sadd in 2015, after making 767 appearances for the Catalan club, which included winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues. “It’s time to come home. Welcome, Xavi,” Barca tweeted. “It wasn’t goodbye, it was see you later,” it wrote, along with a video montage of the player’s departure in 2015. Barcelona said in a statement it had reached an…

Ronald Koeman: Barcelona sack head coach after Rayo Vallecano loss Ronald Koeman has been sacked as head coach of Barcelona after just 14 months in charge at the Nou Camp. Barca have picked up just 15 points from 10 games in La Liga and have already lost twice in the group stage of this season's Champions League. They are ninth in La Liga, six points adrift of leaders Sevilla after losing at Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday. The loss was Barca's third in their last four games and it followed defeat in Sunday's Clasico to Real Madrid. In a statement, the…

Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce sacked following Saudi takeover Newcastle United have confirmed that Steve Bruce has left the club by “mutual consent”, drawing an end to the protracted saga of the head coach’s future. A change of manager was considered inevitable ever since the £305m Saudi-backed takeover of the club was completed, with Bruce mocked by home supporters during Newcastle’s 3-2 defeat by Tottenham last weekend. Bruce had kept Newcastle in the Premier League for two seasons but much of his tenure has been mired in hostility, with divisions deepening in recent weeks. He will be due around £6m…

Dominant Chelsea Outclass Tottenham To Go Top Of Premier League Table Chelsea stretched their unbeaten Premier League run to five games as Thomas Tuchel's team deservedly beat Tottenham. After managing no shots on target in the first half, Thomas Tuchel's side looked like a different team after the break and scored three second-half goals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Blues opened the scoring four minutes after the re-start, when Thiago Silva headed past Hugo Lloris from Marcos Alonso's corner. Half-time substitute N'Golo Kante added a second with his first goal in 49 league appearances, though his long-range effort took…

Nigeria Professional Football League club, Enyimba FC, have officially announced the appointment of former Super Eagles winger, Finidi George as their new head coach. The confirmation of the former Ajax and Real Betis winger as the new gaffer for the People’s Elephant was contained in an official statement released on Wednesday. George signed a two-year contract with the eight-time Nigerian champions and replaces Fatai Osho whose contract expired at the end of August. George, a legend of the Nigeria’s men’s senior national team, made 62 appearances for the Super Eagles in an illustrious playing career that lasted 15 years. He…

The three-time African champions grabbed a crucial win on the road as they stretched their dominance in Group C Victor Osimhen's strike and Kenny Rocha Santos' own goal helped Nigeria come from behind to beat Cape Verde 2-1 in their 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifying game. Two defensive blunders from the hosts secured maximum points for the Super Eagles as they clinched back-to-back wins in the Group C. It was a memorable outing for Ahmed Musa who made his 100th appearance for the Super Eagles while Malmo's Innocent Bonke and Bolgona's Kingsley Michael were handed starting debuts, in the absence…

Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has named his starting line-up for Friday’s (today) 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture against Liberia, THE WHISPERER reports. Rohr opted for Sparta Rotterdam’s Maduka Okoye in goal with Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun and Jamilu Collins the four defenders. Leicester City star Wilfred Ndidi, Joe Aribo and Alex Iwobi will operate from the midfield. Victor Osimhen lead team’s attack and will supported by Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon. Super Eagles Line-up Maduka Okoye Ola Aina Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong, Jamilu Collins Wilfred Ndidi, Joe Aribo, Alex Iwobi Moses Simon , Kelechi Iheanacho,…

According to reports in the media, two-time CAF Champions League winner Enyimba FC have appointed ex-Nigerian international George Finidi as the team’s Technical Adviser. Finidi will replace coach Fatai Osho who led the Aba Elephants to a second-place finish in the recently concluded 2020-21 season of the Nigeria Professional Football League. Enyimba, having won more Champions League titles and more NPFL honours than every other Nigerian team, will look to count on the expertise of a man who was among the first Nigerian players to achieve success in Europe. Finidi was a key member of the Ajax team that won…

Manchester United have confirmed they have reached an agreement to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus. United said the deal for the 36-year-old five-time Ballon d'Or winner was subject to personal terms, visa and a medical. Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 games in his first spell at Old Trafford before leaving for Real Madrid in 2009. "Everyone at the club looks forward to welcoming Cristiano back to Manchester," said a United statement.

Chelsea midfielders Jorginho and N'Golo Kante and Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne make up Uefa's three-man shortlist for men's player of the year. Chelsea's Emma Hayes is on the shortlist for the women's coach of the year award, along with ex-Barcelona boss Lluis Cortes and Sweden's Peter Gerhardsson. The men's coach of the year nominees are Manchester City's Pep Guardiola, Chelsea's Thomas Tuchel and Italy boss Roberto Mancini. The three candidates for the women's player of the year are Barcelona's Champions League-winning trio Jenni Hermoso, Lieke Martens and Alexia Putellas. It is the first time in the 11-year history of…