Thomas Tuchel has signed a two-year contract extension with Chelsea after guiding the club to Champions League glory.
The German replaced Frank Lampard in the Stamford Bridge dugout in January, also leading Chelsea to the FA Cup final and into the top four of the Premier League in his first four months in charge.
Tuchel signed an 18-month deal with the Blues at the time, but he has been rewarded for his successful start to life in west London with a contract that runs through to the end of 2023-24.
I cannot imagine a better occasion for a contract renewal. I am grateful for the experience and very happy to stay part of the Chelsea family, Tuchel told Chelsea s official website on Friday.
Contract extension to June 2024 for Thomas Tuchel.
— Ch…
Spain s decision to part ways with Luis Enrique following their World Cup exit was yet another mistake, according to former La Roja head coach Javier Clemente.
The former Barcelona boss departure was confirmed on Thursday, two days after the 2010 world champions were eliminated by Morocco on penalties in the last 16.
Luis Enrique s contract was due to expire at the conclusion of the finals, and the Royal Football Federation (RFEF) opted not to renew his deal and announced current Under-21 boss Luis de la Fuente is set to take over.
Former Spain boss Clemente feels Luis Enrique, who he coached at the World Cup in 1994 and 1998, should not be blamed after overseeing a second successive last-16 exit, having fallen at the same stage to host nation Russia four years a…
Real Madrid looked to be dealt a double blow on Sunday as Luka Modric and Gareth Bale both picked up injuries on international duty.
Croatia s Modric travelled to Wales hoping to secure their Euro 2020 qualification but was frustrated as Madrid team-mate Bale netted an equaliser in a 1-1 draw in Cardiff.
Neither side was able to force a winner, yet they each ended the match hindered by issues to their key men.
Modric was booked for wiping out Harry Wilson a minute from time but injured himself in the process and had to be helped from the pitch by Croatia s medical staff.
As Modric received treatment, Bale turned to the Wales physios as he appeared to indicate an issue with his calf.
While Modric was substituted, Bale played on through the eight mi…
Unai Emery has said he wants to keep Jhon Duran despite transfer speculation after scoring the winner in Aston Villa s 2-1 victory over West Ham.
Duran slotted home the winner in the 79th minute after Lucas Paqueta’s spot-kick had ruled out Amadou Onana s early opener.
It was Duran s sixth Premier League goal in just 616 minutes of action in the competition, meaning he has averaged a goal every 103 minutes. That rate has only been bettered by Erling Haaland among those who have scored more than five goals.
Duran s goal was all the more fitting given he was seemingly on the verge of joining the Hammers earlier this summer, with the Colombia international even gesturing with an irons celebration in a social media video.
But Duran has so far stayed at Vill…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ended his decorated playing career on this day in 2007.
The Manchester United striker, 34 at the time, had seen the final four years of his career ravaged by knee injuries.
“I would like to thank manager Sir Alex Ferguson, the coaching and medical staff and most of all the supporters,” Solskjaer said.
“They have been fantastic and were a real inspiration to me when I was out injured.”
He joined United from Molde for £1.5m in 1996 and the former Norway international made 366 appearances for United, scoring 126 goals.
He also won six Premier League titles, the FA Cup and, most famously, the 1999 Champions League.
Solskjaer came off the bench against Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp to score an injury-time winner to…
David Beckham is the key in selling England s struggling bid for the 2018 World Cup and he must be used at every opportunity, according to FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
Blatter met Beckham in Cape Town ahead of England s presentation of their bid credentials to the world s media and football s powerbrokers here this week.
The FIFA chief was quoted by Sky Sports as saying the Beckham-brand should be milked mercilessly as it could make the difference between success and failure.
They have to use him for everything, forever. If they don t they are not very intelligent, he said.
I ve been working in FIFA for 35 years and I know a good guy for big occasions.
He s one of the most important figures in football. He has a personal charisma that very few…
The return to 26-man squads for Euro 2024 moved a step closer on Monday after receiving the backing of the majority of coaches at a pre-tournament workshop, the PA news agency understands.
Teams have been preparing to return to 23-strong selections this summer after being allowed expanded groups to help cope with the knock-on impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
But England manager Gareth Southgate recently revealed some coaches had expressed an interest in increasing selections back to 26 players for this summer’s Euros.
That subject was discussed as part of a wider two-day workshop for finalists that began in Dusseldorf on Monday and PA understands the majority of coaches were in favour of a return to 26-strong squads.
The proposal will now go to UEFA�…
Roy Hodgson has praised the work of Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman in helping assemble the club’s sought-after young stars at Selhurst Park.
The club has seen the value of players bought for relatively modest sums rocket in recent seasons, with winger Michael Olise – an £8million buy from Reading two summers ago – the subject of an unsuccessful £35m bid from Chelsea this week.
Palace’s long stay in the Premier League has largely been built on shrewd work in the transfer market, plucking lesser-known young players from the Championship or overseas and giving them the chance to prove themselves in the top flight.
Michael Olise. Crystal Palace.
Four years
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC)
Eberechi Eze joined from Q…
Xabi Alonso believes Bayer Leverkusen passed their challenge to bounce back from defeat with flying colours after their 4-1 victory at Hoffenheim on Saturday.
Victor Boniface scored twice and set up Martin Terrier, with Florian Wirtz adding the other after Mergim Berisha had pulled one back for the hosts.
It was an important win for last season s domestic double-winners as they recovered from their loss to RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga before the international break.
It was an important test for us to not concede a second goal after going 2-0 up, said Alonso, whose team had taken a two-goal lead at home against Leipzig before eventually losing 3-2.
We reacted well and this time we controlled the game better and were more stable until the end. We know we …
Sven-Goran Eriksson feels England can win Euro 2012 and has also backed Harry Redknapp as the man to take over from manager Fabio Capello.
The Swede managed England for six years, taking them to the 2002 and 2006 editions of the World Cup as well as Euro 2004.
England were drawn in Group D for next year s finals with France, Sweden and the co-hosts Ukraine.
I think they have big possibilities of the semi-final or final. Why not win it? With a little bit of luck, not a lot of injuries and players not too tired, they have a chance, Eriksson told BBC Radio 5.
England face France in their first game and Eriksson believes that they will be the toughest test for Capello s men.
They (France) have changed everything since the last World Cup and things…