60 m. ago ‘I kept a shotgun next to the bed’: when a Racing Santander duo stood up to Franco

Fifty years on Aitor Aguirre and Sergio Manzanera still share a connection after their protest against executions in Spain in 1975Amid the clatter of studs and the shouts of encouragement, the players of Racing Santander filed out of the home dressing room and into the tunnel to face their opponents. All of them, that was, except two. The broad-shouldered centre-forward Aitor Aguirre and the winger Sergio Manzanera lingered furtively.“We said that if we could do something to damage this military regime, we should,” recalls Aguirre on the terrace of the restaurant he ran for many years after his retirement. “But it had to be subtle, or they wouldn’t let us out on the field. So, we slipped into the toilets with a pair of bootlaces. I tied one onto Sergio, and he tied one onto me, so they looked like armbands.” Continue reading...

Politics

1 hour ago Brendan Rodgers in talks to take over at Saudi Pro League club Al

Rodgers left Celtic for second time in OctoberMartin O’Neill says patience needed with Wilfried NancyBrendan Rodgers is in talks over a managerial return at Saudi Arabian side Al-Qadsiah.Rodgers resigned from Celtic in October, a move that proved the trigger for a stinging attack from the club’s main shareholder Dermot Desmond. The 52-year-old is yet to address Desmond’s sentiment but is known to have been attractive to Saudi clubs for some time. He turned down a move to the kingdom after leaving Leicester in 2023. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Harry Kane’s penalty rescues Bayern as Mainz defy the odds with heroic point

Urs Fischer’s side are certain to begin 2026 bottom of the table but denied rampaging leaders victory at home Sometimes the numbers really don’t say it all. Mainz were on the wrong end of many of them as Sunday evening drew in, as you would expect for a visit of almost any team to the Allianz Arena, never mind a struggler. They had the lowest share of possession of any Bundesliga team in a game since the statistics were first recorded – 15%. When they did have the ball, fewer than 60% of their passes were actually completed. Are you sure you can face looking at the xG after that? Mainz logged a respectable 1.07, but Bayern Munich’s was a staggering 4.72.And yet, even if the most deflating statistical confirmation of all is that Mainz are certain to begin 2026 bottom of the table (even with a game still to play before Christmas), they have every right to feel good about themselves, even after conceding a late penalty equaliser to the inevitable Harry Kane. In Urs Fischer’s debut afte...

Events

2 h. ago Manchester United will not listen to offers for Kobbie Mainoo in January

England midfielder yet to start a Premier League game this seasonUnited hierarchy do not want to lose 20-year-old academy graduateManchester United intend to reject any bids to buy Kobbie Mainoo in January because the hierarchy believe the midfielder could have a bright future at the club.Ruben Amorim is open to the 20-year-old going on loan after not naming him in a Premier League starting XI all season. The view within the hierarchy is that Mainoo’s youth and potential mean his ceiling remains high and that he could convince Amorim – or a future United head coach – he is worth a regular place. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago WSL talking points: Shaw hits century for City as Williamson returns

Khadija Shaw becomes first women to score 100 goals for City while United come from behind against SpursLeah Williamson returned to competitive action for the first time in 139 days on Saturday as she made a return from a knee injury late in Arsenal’s 3-1 victory against Everton. The England captain was brought on to replace Steph Catley as an 82nd-minute substitute at Goodison Park, drawing a roaring reception from the 1,200 travelling supporters. It was the 28-year-old’s first match since July’s Euros final against Spain in Basel. Arsenal are managing Williamson’s return carefully but she could feature again against the Belgian side Leuven in the Champions League on Wednesday. TG Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Inter go top as Serie A rejects slow and steady in favour of emotional ride

Cristian Chivu’s side are yet to draw a game this season while Milan continue to drop points against the minnows“The reality is different to the narrative,” declared Cristian Chivu in his press conference just before a 2-1 win away to Genoa sent Inter top of the table. Fresh off back-to-back Champions League defeats, albeit in controversial circumstances, and having lost four Serie A games in the first 14 rounds, his approach to criticism was bullish. “Despite what people say, in my view we are having a great season. We started under a magnifying glass, because people said we were failures and we were finished, but we are still up there.”Looking at the standings, it is rather hard to disagree with him. Inter are the sole leaders, the first time all campaign they have been in this position. Even with those setbacks against Atlético Madrid and Liverpool, they remain in a strong position to secure a top-eight Champions League spot and will participate in the Supercoppa Italiana in Riya...

Politics

4 h. ago How the Guardian ranked the 100 best male footballers in the world 2025

Didi Hamann, Romário and Dunga were part of our 219-strong voting panel to decide who should make our list this yearIf someone, back in 1994, had said that at one point in my life I would work on a project selecting the world’s best footballers together with Romário, I would not have believed them.That summer I was living in Rosersberg, seeing Sweden make their way to a World Cup semi-final, watching the late games at the local Blå Laguna pizza restaurant. Tommy Svensson’s team finally came unstuck against a Brazil side not only containing the wonderful Romário, but also Bebeto, Dunga, Jorginho and Raí. Brazil went on to win the World Cup, beating Italy on penalties in the final. Continue reading...

Politics

8 h. ago ‘Even bankers aren’t taking that much’: Bosman at 30 and what the future holds for transfers

Revolution is still being sought three decades after the landmark ruling with a Dutch lawyer calling for a collective bargaining agreement for playersOn 15 December 1995, judges at the European court of justice (CJEU) took two minutes to bring an end to a legal process that had lasted five years. The Bosman rule, as it was known, was to stand, the judges said. European football clubs were no longer allowed to demand transfer fees for players whose contracts had expired, with governing bodies stopped from capping the number of Europeans in any team. The man whose dogged legal pursuit had brought about these changes, Jean‑Marc Bosman, emerged from a crowd of cameras and well‑wishers to give his verdict. “I have got to the top of the mountain and I am now very tired,” he said.For Bosman himself, it was downhill from there. “In the past I got a lot of promises but never received anything,” he told the Observer in 2015, claiming he “earned nothing” from the changes that ensued. He went b...

Politics

9 h. ago What to Stream: 'Emily in Paris,' iHeartRadio Jingle Ball, 'Him,' Peter Criss and Riz Ahmed

Marlon Wayans starring in the Jordan Peele-produced football thriller “Him” and the iHeartRadio Z100’s Jingle Ball 2025 featuring Conan Gray, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll and Olivia Dean are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you

Politics

15 h. ago European football: Real Madrid relieve pressure on Xabi Alonso with crucial win at Alavés

Rodrygo keeps Real within four points of Barça at topInter win 2-1 at Genoa, as Milan draw and Napoli loseRodrygo secured a crucial 2-1 victory for Real Madrid at Alavés in La Liga, ending a dismal run of form and keeping them within four points of the leaders, Barcelona.Real, under pressure after two successive defeats in all competitions, broke the deadlock through Kylian Mbappé’s stunning first-half strike. However, a resilient Alavés levelled in the 68th minute through Carlos Vicente. The visitors restored their lead eight minutes later, courtesy of a counterattack led by Vinícius Júnior, whose assist was converted by Rodrygo. Continue reading...

Events

16 h. ago Ruben Amorim would be ‘really pleased’ if Kobbie Mainoo considers loan move

‘I will be pleased I just want my players happy’United host Bournemouth in league on MondayRuben Amorim has said he would be “really pleased” if Kobbie Mainoo decided to speak to him about a loan move away from Manchester United.Amorim has not started Mainoo in any of United’s 15 Premier League games, with the midfielder’s only start coming in the Carabao Cup defeat at Grimsby. In light of that, Amorim was asked in the buildup to Monday’s visit of Bournemouth if the 20-year-old had spoken to him regarding a temporary move. Continue reading...

Politics

17 h. ago NFL roundup: Mahomes tears ACL as Chiefs miss playoff for first time since 2014

Bills overcome 21-0 deficit to beat PatriotsMyles Garrett closes in on sack recordThe Los Angeles Chargers eliminated the Kansas City Chiefs from playoff contention when Derwin James picked off a pass by Gardner Minshew – who had just taken over for the injured Patrick Mahomes – in the closing seconds to preserve victory over the reigning AFC champions. Continue reading...

Politics

19 h. ago European football: Inter make no mistake and go top after rivals falter

2-1 win at Genoa lifts Inter as Milan draw and Napoli loseHarry Kane rescues a draw for Bayern against MainzInter moved to the top of Serie A with a 2-1 victory at Genoa thanks to first-half goals from Yann Bisseck and Lautaro Martínez. The result put Inter on 33 points, one ahead of their city rivals Milan and two ahead of Napoli, both of whom failed to win earlier in the day. Genoa are 16th with 14 points.Inter’s match was preceded by unrest outside the stadium as supporters of both teams clashed, with several vehicles set on fire before police restored order. The incident did not delay kick-off. Continue reading...

Politics

20 h. ago Guardiola impressed with fighting spirit as City’s title push gathers momentum

Head coach praises ‘real leader’ Dias as defence holds firmWin at Selhurst Park extends Manchester City’s run to fivePep Guardiola has warned that Manchester City are growing in resilience after Erling Haaland and Phil Foden secured the side’s fifth win in succession and maintained pressure on the Premier League leaders Arsenal.City gained revenge for their FA Cup final defeat by Crystal Palace in May with a ruthless 3-0 win at Selhurst Park after they saw off Real Madrid in the Champions League in midweek. It means they have won all five matches since enduring successive defeats against Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen at the end of November and are back to within two points of Arsenal. Continue reading...

Politics

20 h. ago Nick Woltemade own goal ushers in pantomime season on Wearside | Barry Glendenning

German striker was given a sarcastic ovation by the Sunderland fans after his inadvertent match winnerOn numerous occasions during the 75 minutes he spent on the pitch during the Wear-Tyne derby, Nick Woltemade cut an extremely isolated, peripheral and forlorn figure in the opposition box. A bad afternoon for Newcastle’s German striker got significantly worse shortly after half-time when he cut an even more isolated, peripheral and forlorn figure in his own team’s box after inadvertently heading a Nordi Mukiele cross past Aaron Ramsdale from six yards out.Woltemade’s embarrassing own goal proved to be the unwitting match-winner in a contest that had until that point been high on full-blooded aggression but low on moments of real quality. As he made way for Yoane Wissa, it was no surprise the Sunderland fans granted the visibly deflated 23-year-old a sarcastic ovation. A fan favourite on Tyneside until the 46th minute of this match, Woltemade has now pulled off the unlikely feat of w...

Politics

20 h. ago Eddie Howe vows Sunderland defeat will not define Newcastle’s season

Woltemade own goal settles Wear-Tyne derby‘Our performance was not what it needed to be’Eddie Howe vowed that he would not allow Newcastle’s defeat in the Wear‑Tyne derby at Sunderland on Sunday to define his side’s season.“It’s a horrible feeling, it’s very painful,” said Howe, whose inconsistent team were sunk by Nick Woltemade’s spectacular second-half headed own goal. By way of exacerbating his distress, Sunderland’s players rubbed salt in visiting wounds by posing for a celebratory group picture on the pitch at the end. That was a riposte to the events of January 2024 when Howe’s assistant, Jason Tindall, ordered Newcastle’s players to pose for a similar photograph after a 3-0 FA Cup win at the Stadium of Light. Continue reading...

Events

21 h. ago Frank warns Tottenham ‘not a quick fix’ after ‘very bad performance’ at Forest

Manager says it will take time to turn club aroundSpence reaction to substitution will be investigatedThomas Frank said Tottenham’s 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest offered a sobering reminder his side remain a “work in progress” and amid increasing scrutiny the head coach reiterated improving Spurs’s fortunes is “not a quick fix”, saying: “If no one gets the time, no one can turn this around.”Spurs have been hit and miss since Frank took charge in June and are in mid-table in the Premier League after a run of one win in seven top-flight matches, though still only six points off fourth-placed Chelsea. Spurs registered a single shot on target at the City Ground, where Callum Hudson-Odoi scored twice and Ibrahim Sangaré sealed victory with a stunning first-time strike. Continue reading...

Events

22 h. ago European football: Ekkelenkamp’s stunner for Udinese hits Napoli off course

Champions miss chance to go top as Milan drop pointsReal Sociedad sack Sergio Francisco after Girona defeatNapoli missed the opportunity to move top of Serie A after suffering a deserved 1-0 defeat at Udinese. The visitors had a chance to take first place after Milan earlier drew with Sassuolo but Napoli struggled against an aggressive Udinese, who had two goals disallowed.Napoli are second with 31 points, one point behind Milan and a point ahead of third-placed Inter, who play at Genoa later on Sunday. Bologna host Juventus in the night match. Udinese are 10th with 21 points. Continue reading...

Events

22 h. ago Woltemade’s bizarre own goal hands Sunderland derby spoils over Newcastle

Eddie Howe is not the first, and is unlikely to be the last, manager outwitted by Régis Le Bris this season but few are likely to find the experience quite as painful.Losing this most febrile of local derbies is a big deal and in past seasons prompted Ruud Gullit and, later, Alan Pardew swiftly stepping down form their posts as Newcastle manager. Howe has far too much credit in the bank to even contemplate such a notion, but a reverse sealed by Nick Woltemade’s spectacular headed own goal was still intensely chastening for a coach whose side never really got going. Continue reading...

Politics

22 h. ago Morgan Rogers’ brilliance completes Aston Villa fightback to sink West Ham

When can Aston Villa dare to dream? Their standards dropped and their legs looked heavy but their hunger knows no bounds at the moment.Villa were pushed to the limit by a determined West Ham, who led twice and will feel they did enough to claim a vital win in their battle against relegation, and still Unai Emery’s side managed to strain for a response before emerging victorious for the 15th time in 17 games thanks to Morgan Rogers leading a stunning second-half turnaround. Continue reading...

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