Mayra Ramirez turned in a stellar performance to propel Chelsea to the WSL title in Emma Hayes final match in charge as the Blues thrashed Manchester United 6-0.
Earlier in May, Hayes – who is ending a 12-year stint in charge of the Blues to become the United States coach – had all but given up on claiming a fifth straight WSL crown.
Yet Chelsea s 8-0 victory over Bristol City two weeks ago, combined with Manchester City s defeat to Arsenal, opened the door, and after beating Tottenham in midweek, the Blues knew a win, while maintaining their positive goal difference, would be enough.
And they made sure there was no room for error with an incredible first-half display inspired by Ramirez, who scored twice and set up goals for Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Sjoek…
Republic of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny has called on his players to produce the performance of their lives after their Euro 2024 qualification hopes were left dangling by a thread.
A 2-0 Group B defeat in Paris on Thursday evening means Ireland have taken just three points from their first four games, and realistically they need to beat the Netherlands in Dublin on Sunday to stand any chance of progressing.
Speaking in the bowels of the Parc des Princes after an energy-sapping night at the hands of the mesmeric Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele, Kenny said: “We’ve just got to get ready for Sunday now.
The best fans in the world, of that there s no doubt
Thank you for your support and safe journey home
— Ireland Football …
Wigan Athletic F.C. manager Owen Coyle has revealed the Latics have yet to receive any offers for highly-rated midfielder James McCarthy, understands.
Former Latics boss Roberto Martinez, who has already signed three former Wigan players Antolín Alcaraz, Arouna Koné and Joel Robles this summer, is reportedly keen on bringing McCarthy to Goodison Park.
In turn, McCarthy, who joined Wigan from Hamilton Academical F.C. for a fee believed to be in the region of £1.2 million in July 2009, has been linked with a £15 million move to Everton in recent weeks (Liverpool Echo).
I ve not had any inquiries, let alone offers, for any of my players, said Coyle.
But ultimately good players attract attention and there s no getting away from …
Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis will be out to pile more misery on former club Stoke City when the two sides meet on Saturday.
Pulis parted company with Stoke in May, bringing to an end a second stint at the Britannia Stadium that lasted seven years and saw the 56-year-old lead the Staffordshire club to promotion in 2008 before firmly establishing them as a stable Premier League club.
The Welshman, who was replaced at Stoke by Mark Hughes, took over at Selhurst Park in November following Ian Holloway s exit and has quickly enhanced Palace s survival hopes.
Palace sit bottom of the Premier League as Stoke prepare to head to the capital, but know that a win over Hughes men could see them move out of the bottom three.
It is a prospect that looked unthinkable back …
Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa says former coach Jose Mourinho taught him to be braver.
The 33-year-old is preparing for his final game at the Santiago Bernabeu as Madrid host Valencia in La Liga on Sunday.
Arbeloa, a 56-time Spain international, has regularly been involved in wars of words with Barcelona defender Gerard Pique.
The full-back said it was Mourinho, who coached Madrid from 2010-13, who helped him speak his mind.
Surely the treatment of the press towards me has been very different, but Mou has helped me not only in football, but personally, Arbeloa told Marca.
He helped me not be afraid to say what you think, not to be afraid to defend your club. That is a legacy that Jose left on me and for what I will always be grateful.
…
West Ham United are set to offer Carlton Cole a short-term contract,.
The striker was originally released by the Hammers after seven years with the club at the end of last season.
However, with Sam Allardyce short in numbers up-front, the 29 year old is to return to Upton Park for the remainder of the season – once he has proven his fitness.
The former Chelsea man, who has also had spells on loan with Charlton Athletic, Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanders, is then likely to play in a couple of behind-closed-doors games before being considered for the first team.
Cole has scored 59 goals in 237 appearances for the London club, while internationally he won seven full England caps between 2009 and 2010.
West Ham, who travel to Hull City t…
Tite has been appointed as the new coach of Brazil, the Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF) has announced.
Tite replaces Dunga at the Brazil helm after the former Internacional boss was dismissed for failing to guide the five-time World Cup winners into the quarter-finals of the Copa America Centenario in the United States.
The 55-year-old arrives following a third spell in charge of Corinthians, returning from a sabbatical to guide them to the Campeonato Brasileiro title in 2015.
It was his second stint in charge of the Sao Paulo giants that saw his stock rise, however, with the domestic championship in 2011 followed by Copa Libertadores and Club World Cup glory in 2012.
Tite was not in the dugout for Corinthians 1-0 defeat at home to Fluminense…
Fluminense have confirmed the return of midfielder Dario Conca from Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande.
Conca went on loan to the Brazilian side from River Plate in 2008 before moving permanently in 2009 and spending two more years in Rio.
After switching to the Chinese Super League champions, he helped Evergrande to three back-to-back titles and an AFC Champions League trophy.
The 30-year-old has signed a pre-contract agreement with Fluminense and will be tasked with improving the club s fortunes once he becomes eligible to play in 2014, with Dorival Junior s men currently 16th in Serie A.
Thank you, president; thank you to everyone who took part in this negotiation, Conca told the club s official website.
Also I must thank the fans for all this affection…
Besiktas have announced they are in talks with Barcelona over the signing of Adriano Correia.
The Turkish champions are keen to sign a new left-back following the departure of Ismail Koybasi to Fenerbahce and they have earmarked Adriano as the perfect replacement.
The 31-year-old has been deemed surplus to requirements at Barcelona after the signing of Lucas Digne and Besiktas are keen to lure him to Istanbul.
Adriano Correia’nın Transferi İçin Görüşmelere Başlandı
— Beşiktaş JK (@Besiktas)
Besiktas have started negotiations with Barcelona and Adriano Correia over the transfer of the player, a brief statement to the Turkish stock market reads.
Adriano joined Barcelona from Sevilla in July 2010 and has since made close to 2…
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari insisted Portugal have the team to advance from Group G despite losing 4-0 to Germany.
Portugal s FIFA World Cup campaign took a battering on Monday with a Thomas Muller hat-trick and Mats Hummels header handing Germany victory in Salvador.
At the past four World Cups ,only 8.6 per cent of teams that lost their opening game qualified for the round of 16 but Scolari, who coached Portugal from 2003 to 2008, believes his former team could manage it.
Portugal must put this defeat behind them and get a win in their next game and then win again in the third game to go through, Scolari said.
Portugal have the team to come through.
Scolari, who is leading Brazil at this year s World Cup finals, reminded Portugal that he had led the…