Soccer

Bill Connelly, ESPN Staff WriterJan 31, 2024, 09:11 AM ET Close Bill Connelly is a staff writer for ESPN.com. Open Extended Reactions Now is when the rubber meets the road. After a January loaded with (often delightful) cup ties, endless transfer rumors (most of which went nowhere), and lots of cold rain, February raises the

Jan 31, 2024, 04:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions The 2024 winter transfer window has entered its final hours as the clock ticks down to Thursday’s deadline. The Premier League is set to close for business at 11 p.m. GMT / 6 p.m. ET (find out when other leagues close here), and there are still

Open Extended Reactions NOTTINGHAM — Tuesday’s 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest underlined the fine margins Arsenal will live and die by in this Premier League title race. The Gunners are almost certain to end the January transfer window without the attacking addition many called for at its outset, a judgement call informed heavily by financial

Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentJan 30, 2024, 10:36 AM ET Close Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Open Extended Reactions Rodolfo Borrell was hired as Austin FC sporting director in the summer of 2023. Kara Hawley/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK In 2018, Rodolfo Borrell’s vision of what he could accomplish

Sam Marsden Moises Llorens Jan 30, 2024, 08:36 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Outgoing Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández said his work at the club has never been sufficiently valued and that it will be “impossible” for his successor to enjoy the job. Xavi, 44, announced after Saturday’s 5-3 defeat to Villarreal that he will leave

Malcolm scored a late header to give Al Hilal a 4-3 win over Inter Miami CF and Lionel Messi in a club friendly in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday. Al Hilal raced out to a 2-0 win with a clinical finish from Aleksandar Mitrovic and a second goal by Abdullah Al-Hamddan, who capitalized on a poor

Gabriele Marcotti, Senior Writer, ESPN FCJan 29, 2024, 11:12 AM ET Open Extended Reactions It was another wild and fun weekend across European soccer, with eye-opening results in Spain‘s LaLiga, the German Bundesliga and England‘s FA Cup among others, so let’s review. Barcelona were left reeling by a 5-3 home defeat to Villarreal and the

Graham Hunter, Spain writerJan 29, 2024, 05:00 AM ET Close Graham Hunter is a Barcelona-based freelance writer for ESPN.com who specializes in La Liga and the Spanish national team. Open Extended Reactions Three important football coaches announced their impending departures across the past few days: Sven-Göran Eriksson, Jürgen Klopp and Xavi Hernández. The former two

Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal missed his penalty in the shootout as Congo DR claimed an epic 8-7 victory following a tense 1-1 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash in San Pedro on Sunday. Abou Gabal clipped the crossbar with his effort and then opposite number Lionel Mpasi scored against him as record

Open Extended Reactions LIVERPOOL, England — Jurgen Klopp made one thing crystal clear on Friday when announcing his decision to stand down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season: from now until his final day in the job, it has to be business as usual at Anfield. That Klopp got his wish, on

Jan 28, 2024, 08:38 AM ET The FA Cup match between West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers at The Hawthorns on Sunday was suspended after supporters entered the pitch following disorder in the stands. Wolves scored in the 78th minute when Mateus Cunha put the visitors from the Premier League up 2-0, but before the

Jan 27, 2024, 05:58 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Maidstone United turned in the result of the entire tournament, downing Ipswich Town in a massive David vs. Goliath result in the FA Cup fourth round. Stephen Pond/Getty Images It was another fun day across European soccer, with talking points galore in the English FA Cup, Spain’s

Sam Marsden, Barcelona correspondentJan 27, 2024, 04:11 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season after Saturday’s 5-3 defeat to Villarreal at the Olympic Stadium. The loss came in the wake of a 4-1 loss to Real Madrid in the Spanish

Open Extended Reactions It’s the news that Liverpool and their supporters never wanted to hear, but Jurgen Klopp is stepping down as manager at the end of this season after 8½ years in charge at Anfield. The 56-year-old, who succeeded Brendan Rodgers in October 2015, has restored Liverpool to greatness during his time at the

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentJan 26, 2024, 06:39 PM ET Open Extended Reactions LONDON — There were times on Friday night when it looked like Manchester City were determined to extend their run of never scoring at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but eventually, after 88 minutes and 18 shots, Nathan Aké finally forced one in. As scrappy

Open Extended Reactions Jurgen Klopp has said he will not help Liverpool identify his successor at Anfield after confirming plans to step down from his post as manager at the end of this season. Klopp, 56, signed a four-year contract extension in 2022 that would have tied him to the club until the end of

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterJan 26, 2024, 05:51 AM ET Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions Jurgen Klopp has announced he will leave his position as Liverpool manager at the end

Jan 25, 2024, 06:37 AM ET A Spanish High Court judge proposed on Thursday that former football federation chief Luis Rubiales stand trial for kissing player Jenni Hermoso‘s lips after Spain‘s victory in the Women’s World Cup. The court said in a statement that the judge, Francisco de Jorge, also sought a trial for former