Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso has confirmed he will retire at the end of the season.
The former Spain midfielder s 18th season as a professional will be his last, bringing down the curtain on a glittering career at club level and with his country.
Alonso was part of Spain s successful World Cup squad in 2010, as well as their Euro 2012-winning vintage, picking up 114 caps for La Roja.
The playmaker is also a two-time Champions League winner, having scored in Liverpool s incredible comeback to win the final in 2005 before helping Real Madrid to La Decima in 2014. Bayern are also set for a deep run in this season s competition, having thrashed Arsenal 10-2 on aggregate in the last 16.
Lived it. Loved it.
Farewell beautiful game.
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Arsenal s Aaron Ramsey was pleased to avoid another opening-day disappointment after his injury-time strike sunk 10-man Crystal Palace.
Arsene Wenger s team headed into Saturday s Premier League match on a high following their emphatic 3-0 win over Manchester City in last Sunday s Community Shield at Wembley.
But Palace, playing on the back of Tony Pulis shock departure as manager on Friday, absorbed early pressure before debutant Brede Hangeland headed them into 35th-minute lead at the Emirates Stadium.
It evoked uncomf
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ortable memories of Arsenal s 3-1 collapse at home to Aston Villa on the opening day of last season, although Laurent Koscielny eased fears by hauling Wenger s men level in first-half stoppage time.
Frustrations continued after…
Italy head coach Giampiero Ventura says Juventus have plenty to be proud of this season despite their Champions League final defeat on Saturday.
Massimiliano Allegri s side were beaten 4-1 by Real Madrid in Cardiff, making it two final defeats in three seasons and five in a row stretching back to 1997.
It also meant that Juve narrowly missed out on replicating the treble won by Inter in 2010, with the Old Lady having already claimed a domestic double of Serie A and Coppa Italia triumphs this year.
Club president Andrea Agnelli told his players they should be proud of their season and Ventura expects them to bounce back from their loss and challenge for the trophy again next season.
I don t think Italian football looks any less impressive, he told a media…
Besiktas JK have moved to confirm they are negotiating a deal with FC Porto for Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma.
The Black Eagles have so far recruited Dusko Tosic and Andres Beck, and they plan to make the Portugal international their third signing of the summer.
And with the Turkish giants confirming via their official website that talks were ongoing, chances are the transfer will be wrapped up in the coming days.
“With regard to the transfer of Ricardo Quaresma, the club (Besiktas) have already started negotiations with FC Porto,” a statement read.
Ricardo Quaresma returned to Porto in January 2014, joining on a free transfer from Al Ahli and he in turn produced some very good performances, scoring 10 goals and creating 7 more in 43 competit…
Liverpool announce their first profit for seven years in new financial results.
Liverpool returned to profit for the first time in seven years in the last financial year, new figures have revealed.
A statement released by the Premier League club on Tuesday confirmed they posted a small profit in the year ending May 31 2014 a stark contrast to a loss of around £50million reported 12 months previously while their revenue increased by 19 per cent to £255.6m.
This upturn in revenue has been primarily attributed to the rise in income from the Premier League s lucrative TV rights deal, with Liverpool moving back up to ninth from 12th in the Deloitte Football Money League.
Since Fenway Sports Group completed its takeover of Liverpool FC in October 2010, …
Spain are the best side at Euro 2024, so says La Roja head coach Luis de la Fuente.
Tournament debutants Georgia were no match for Spain on Sunday, as De la Fuente s team ran out 4-1 victors in Cologne.
Spain accumulated 3.25 expected goals (xG) and allowed just 0.25 going the other way in another emphatic performance in which their youngsters Lamine Yamal and Nico Willams dazzled.
La Roja will now face hosts Germany in an enthralling quarter-final tie, but De la Fuente says they must hold no fear.
We have a lot of confidence and a team with talent, quality and commitment.
Being convinced of your ability is very important. I don t want to offend anyone but we have the best team at this tournament.
35 Spain
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Verdict: England handicap -3
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Group F bottom-dwellers Malta play host to leaders England in a match that is expected to be a one-sided affair. The Three Lions are without a defeat so far in the World Cup qualifiers and are most certainly not expected to ruin their record with a match at lowly Maltese side.
Malta
Arguably one of the weakest sides in European football, Malta national team is yet to make it to the finals of any major international competition. The Group F minnows have found it too difficult to fight against the likes of Lithuania, Scotland, Slovenia and England, and are currently sitting rock bottom with six defeats from as many matches. Maltese conceded fifteen goals and scored only two during the qualifying process…
Dani Carvajal is facing a UEFA investigation after the defender was shown a yellow card late in Real Madrid s Champions League win over APOEL on Tuesday.
Carvajal delayed a throw-in during stoppage time at the end of Madrid s 6-0 demolition, with referee Artur Dias Soares showing the full-back the only yellow card of the game.
The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body now plans to investigate the incident to examine whether Carvajal was guilty of breaching Article 15 of its Disciplinary Regulations by receiving a yellow card on purpose .
Carvajal s booking, his third of this season s Champions League, means he would be ruled out of Madrid s matchday six clash with Borussia Dortmund through suspension, freeing him to return for the knockout rounds.
Bu…
Philippe Coutinho was a humble boy who had everything in terms of ability even at the age of 18, according to Rafael Benitez.
The Brazil star completed his protracted transfer to Barcelona on Saturday for a fee that could reportedly reach a club-record €160million.
Coutinho s blockbuster move to Camp Nou comes almost five years on from his transfer to Liverpool from Inter for a bargain price said to have been just €10m.
Benitez coached Coutinho for just a few months during his ill-fated spell with the Nerazzurri in 2010 but the Newcastle United boss admits it was clear then that they had a special talent.
It was a pleasant surprise to meet a player with the abilities of Philippe Coutinho, Benitez told Mundo Deportivo. We had the chance to have a bo…
New West Ham signing Nayef Aguerd has undergone surgery after sustaining an ankle injury in a pre-season friendly.
The Hammers spent a reported £30million to sign Aguerd from Rennes in June but he is now a doubt for the start of the new season after being forced off in the first half of last Tuesday s 3-1 loss to Rangers at Ibrox.
West Ham did not give a time frame for the Morocco defender s return to action, with David Moyes side entertaining Premier League champions Manchester City in their opening game of the season on August 7.
Aguerd was signed after playing a role in 19 clean sheets in Ligue 1 over the previous two seasons with Rennes. The only defenders with more were Wout Faes (20), Marquinhos (26), Sven Botman (28) and Jose Fonte (29).
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