Martin O’Neill has agreed to become the permanent manager of Celtic on an initial one-year deal following successful talks with majority shareholder Dermot Desmond.
The 74-year-old has given the green light to remain at Parkhead after guiding the club to a spectacular domestic double last season.
The decision follows extensive discussions with Desmond, who had also spoken to former striker Robbie Keane regarding the managerial vacancy.
However, the potential appointment of the Republic of Ireland legend drew significant criticism from various supporter groups.
A remarkable return to Parkhead
The veteran coach initially stepped in on an interim basis following the unexpected departure of Brendan Rodgers.
He later returned to replace Wilfried Nancy until the end of the campaign, culminating in a dramatic final-day Scottish Premiership title triumph.
That monumental season was capped off by lifting the Scottish Cup at Hampden Park earlier this month.
Overcoming initial reluctance
Following that cup final victory, the former Leicester City boss had cast doubt on his long-term future in Glasgow.
He previously stated he felt the Hoops could be “looking at somebody younger” as they searched for a permanent successor.
Instead, the experienced tactician will now attempt to defend Celtic’s domestic crown while preparing for another gruelling campaign.
Bayern Munich are exploring a surprise summer transfer for Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha as the German club look to bolster their attacking options.
The Bundesliga giants have identified the highly-rated forward as a primary target for the upcoming transfer window.
Interest from the Bavarian side comes at a transitional period for the Merseyside outfit, who recently appointed Andoni Iraola as their new manager.
Rebuilding the Anfield attack
Iraola is already facing a significant squad rebuild following the high-profile summer departures of Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate.
The Reds are determined to strengthen their frontline rather than sanction further exits.
To fill the substantial void left by Salah, the six-time European champions are actively pursuing RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande.
Positive discussions have reportedly taken place regarding the Leipzig attacker, placing the Premier League club at the front of the queue for his signature.
Bayern seek to capitalise
Despite Liverpool’s reluctance to lose more attacking talent, Bayern remain keen to test their resolve over Ngumoha.
The German heavyweights are eager to refresh their own forward line ahead of the new campaign.
It remains to be seen whether the Anfield hierarchy will entertain any bids for the promising winger during this period of significant squad upheaval.
Incoming manager Xabi Alonso has visited Chelsea’s Cobham training ground this week to begin preparations alongside his coaching staff ahead of officially taking charge on 1 July.
The Spaniard was appointed as the permanent successor to Liam Rosenior and is already familiarising himself with his new surroundings.
It is understood the former midfielder held discussions with current backroom members regarding the upcoming pre-season campaign.
Dialogue with the sporting directors concerning recruitment and potential summer transfers has also been ongoing for several weeks.
Assembling the backroom team
The highly sought-after tactician was accompanied on his initial reconnaissance by his core coaching entourage.
Alberto Encinas, Sebastian Parrilla, Benat Labaien and Ismael Camenforte Lopez all toured the Surrey base.
They will integrate with the existing staff structure independently employed by the West London club.
This setup includes head of goalkeeping Ben Roberts and specialist set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva.
Restoring former glories
Calum McFarlane, who previously served as caretaker head coach, will remain part of the setup working under the new regime.
The Blues have endured a highly frustrating domestic campaign and are relying on their new boss to revitalise an underperforming squad.
McFarlane insists the latest managerial arrival possesses the requisite pedigree to succeed at Stamford Bridge.
“[He is] very talented, massive pedigree. Yeah, really excited for the club,” stated McFarlane.
“We’re all looking forward to working with them.”
“It’s a massive club. I think we’ve got really exciting players coming to play here.”
“Even though it’s a disappointing season, they are showing at times this year the kind of quality that we have.”
Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter will represent the United States at the World Cup, completing a remarkable rise two years after his father Gregg was sacked as national team manager.
The dynamic midfielder is set to feature when the Americans open their tournament against Paraguay on Friday night.
His inclusion follows a breakout 2025 season in Major League Soccer, culminating in an All-Star appearance and runs to both the Concacaf Champions Cup and MLS Cup finals.
A family legacy redefined
During the 2022 tournament in Qatar, the combative player travelled solely as a fan to support his father from the stands.
Gregg Berhalter managed the national side during that campaign but was dismissed in 2024 following a disappointing tournament exit.
The managerial change ultimately removed any conflict of interest, allowing the former Columbus Crew prospect to be judged purely on his own merit without external pressure.
“It’s pretty ridiculous,”
The Vancouver playmaker said regarding the surreal conversations he now shares with his father, who also represented the US in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.
“It’s pretty funny — sometimes we’ll have moments where we’re like, ‘I can’t believe we’re talking about this right now.’ I feel super fortunate to have a dad who understands.”
From fringe player to MLS star
The journey to the highest level of international football has been a slow burn for the American talent.
His club career appeared stalled just a few years ago following an underwhelming loan spell at Austin FC.
He was subsequently traded to the Whitecaps for a mere $50,000 in guaranteed allocation money, which represents the lowest permitted fee in the North American top flight.
However, an intensified focus on attacking under the guidance of head coach Jesper Sørensen saw his output and confidence explode.
“I think he was always a powerful force for us,”
Vancouver teammate Thomas Müller told reporters last month, praising his colleague’s relentless energy and dangerous set-piece delivery.
“From one to 90, every minute he is on the pitch, he gives everything. Overall, he is a very important player for us, not only on the field but also in the locker room.”
AC Milan winger Rafael Leao has issued a public plea for a transfer to the Premier League or La Liga following a frustrating domestic season in Italy.
The Portugal international, who helped secure the Serie A title in 2022, is actively seeking a move away from the San Siro despite having two years remaining on his contract.
Arsenal and Manchester United are both reportedly monitoring the situation as the electric forward puts himself in the shop window ahead of the World Cup.
Turkish giants Galatasaray have already submitted a considerable offer, but the player has his heart set on a switch to England or Spain.
Seeking a new challenge
The prolific attacker believes his dynamic playing style is perfectly suited to the intense demands of English or Spanish top-flight football.
“I need a new challenge,” Leao said.
“I already won two trophies in Italy and have been there for a while.”
“The league is evolving, but for my style of football, I think the Premier League or La Liga would make more of my talent, as a player.”
Frustrations under Allegri
The Rossoneri endured a difficult campaign, faltering to a fifth-place finish and consequently missing out on Champions League qualification.
The Portuguese star blamed this underperformance on the tactical philosophy of recently sacked manager Massimiliano Allegri.
He also revealed that he played through the pain barrier with a severe groin inflammation for up to five months.
“It was a difficult season,” he added.
“I played while injured for 4-5 months with a groin inflammation, in a position that was not suited to me.”
“The tactical system did not help me. I felt that I could make the difference, but the way the team played didn’t put me in a condition to do that. At the end of the day, it wore me down.”
World Cup showcase
Any potential transfer is likely to be delayed until after Portugal conclude their upcoming World Cup campaign.
However, the highly-rated forward made his ambitions for the immediate future crystal clear.
“If a Premier League opportunity were to come along, I would be very happy,” he explained.
“Playing in that kind of a league really gets the best out of a player.”
Former chairman Daniel Levy has agreed to sell a 24.99 per cent stake in Tottenham Hotspur to American tech billionaire Brooklyn Earick in a deal expected to be worth hundreds of millions of pounds.
The 63-year-old stepped down from his leadership role last September after running the North London club for a quarter of a century.
He has now signed a formal sale and purchase agreement with Eight Sports Capital to transfer a significant portion of his holding.
Boyhood fan brings vast wealth
Earick is an engineer-turned-entrepreneur who previously worked for Nasa and grew up supporting the Lilywhites.
The American has raised more than £25bn in funds throughout his career, drawing substantial investment from sovereign wealth funds.
He currently operates as the chief executive of Redacted RnD, a prominent venture capital company based in Singapore.
Commitment to continued growth
Eight Sports Capital itself is a sports investment firm owned by Triller, a network previously involved in high-profile pay-per-view boxing events.
A spokesperson for Eight Sports Capital Limited stated: “We are delighted to have signed this agreement to acquire a significant stake in ENIC.”
“We look forward to working with the club’s shareholders, management, staff, players and fans to support Tottenham Hotspur’s continued growth and success.”
Ownership structure and recent struggles
Despite this major boardroom transaction, ENIC will remain the majority owners of the Premier League side.
The Lewis family continues to hold a 70.12 per cent share, currently represented by Vivienne Lewis and her son-in-law Nick Beucher.
Peter Charrington took over as chairman following Levy’s high-profile departure last year.
This off-field restructure follows a deeply turbulent period on the pitch for Spurs.
Promises of fresh investment
They finished 17th for the second consecutive season, only narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day of the recent league campaign.
Following their survival, the hierarchy released a statement insisting the club was not for outright sale and promised crucial funding for the playing squad.
While the exact financial figures of this new agreement remain undisclosed, the outgoing executive will retain approximately four per cent of ENIC.
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has promised a full explanation once the independent commission’s ruling on the club’s alleged financial breaches is published.
The Premier League champions are awaiting a verdict following a 12-week disciplinary hearing that concluded in December 2024.
City were initially charged in 2023 with breaking financial regulations over a nine-year period spanning from 2009 to 2018.
The club strongly denies all allegations, which reportedly total up to 130 separate breaches of top-flight rules.
Awaiting the verdict
Speaking during an end-of-season interview, the 48-year-old executive maintained his long-standing silence on the ongoing legal proceedings.
“Let me be as consistent as I’ve always been – until we have a ruling, I can’t say much,” stated Al Mubarak.
“Once we have a ruling, believe me, we’re going to have a wonderful sit-down together and I’ll say everything I’ve wanted to say for the last three years.”
The Abu Dhabi-backed outfit has enjoyed an era of unprecedented domestic dominance during the contested timeframe, raising the stakes of the impending judgment.
No intention to sell
This protracted legal battle arrives during a significant transitional phase for the Etihad side.
Legendary manager Pep Guardiola has just departed following a trophy-laden decade that yielded 20 major honours, including a historic Champions League title.
Despite this major boardroom uncertainty and the loss of their transformative head coach, leadership insists owner Sheikh Mansour remains fully committed to the project.
“There’s no intention to sell,” Al Mubarak confirmed.
“There’s only intention to keep growing this because the view here is that this will only grow and this is a beautiful business to own.”
Jose Mourinho will return as Real Madrid manager for the 2026-27 season if Florentino Perez wins the club’s presidential election on Sunday.
Perez’s campaign team made the official announcement late on Wednesday evening via a short social media video.
The brief clip featured the Portuguese tactician smiling in a Real Madrid shirt and saying “yes” to confirm the agreement.
Rebuilding a struggling superpower
Real Madrid have endured a difficult period on the pitch, failing to win a major trophy in their last two campaigns.
Recent managers Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa have all been unable to extract the maximum from a star-studded squad.
Perez believes the two-time Champions League-winning manager is the ideal candidate to oversee a new era at the Bernabeu.
The presidential incumbent highlighted the world-class talent currently available in the Spanish capital, including Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.
“A good coach, with these players, is going to make another very important era in Real Madrid history.”
Election battle heats up
The confirmation of the former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss arrives just days before club members cast their deciding votes.
Perez is facing fierce competition from businessman Enrique Riquelme for the club presidency.
Riquelme was appearing live on Spanish television to pledge the signing of striker Erling Haaland when news of the managerial appointment broke.
The rival candidate admitted the move caught him by surprise but acknowledged the veteran tactician’s pedigree.
Should Perez secure re-election this weekend, the self-styled ‘Special One’ will officially begin his second stint in the Spanish capital.