First honours to Atletico as extra-time goals beat Real in UEFA Super Cup
August 16 – Is this the season where the red and white half of Madrid gets the better of their more globally successful, if not illustrious, rivals?
Performance
Deadline scramble as Chelsea agree record €80m for Spanish keeper Arrizabalaga
August 9 – The world record fee for a goalkeeper has been smashed yet again with Chelsea signing Spain’s Kepa Arrizabalaga for €80 million as the summer transfer window in the UK prepares to slam shut.
US medic calls for restriction on heading the ball in professional game
August 8 – A leading authority on brain injuries has added his voice to growing calls, especially in the United States, for headers to be restricted in the professional game and to be banned for those under the age of 18.
Cameroon go Dutch with Seedorf and Kluivert
August 6 – Dutch legend Clarence Seedorf has been appointed the new coach of Cameroon with his compatriot and former international teammate Patrick Kluivert named his assistant. The Dutch duo will lead Cameroon as the defending African champions battle to retain the right to host the 2019 African Cup of Nations.
Butcher quits Philippines job before a ball is kicked
August 3 – Former England captain Terry Butcher has quit as Philippines head coach after just 50 days before he had taken charge of a single match.
Inter Milan add 7th Chinese academy with Hong Kong launch
August 1 – Inter Milan has launched another of its Inter Academy projects in China, this time in Hong Kong, taking the number of Chinese academies to seven.
FIFPro says World Cup stars are being called back into Euro club action too early
July 31 – The international players’ union FIFPro says that at least 15 players who performed at the World Cup have taken part in UEFA club competitions less than four weeks after returning from Russia – not nearly enough time, it says, to recuperate properly.
Cameroon poised to bring in Sven-Goran Eriksson for national team job
July 31 – Cameroon have confirmed that discussions are under way with former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson to take over as coach of the Indomitable Lions.
Klopp still feeling the pain over Ramos(ifications)
July 30 – It was more than two months ago but the painful wounds of defeat are still hurting Juergen Klopp.
Mexican FA fails to convince Osorio to continue national team job
July 30 – Juan Carlos Osorio, who led Mexico to the last 16 of the World Cup, has quit after three years in charge.
Hot work. Bayer Leverkusen’s Bellarabi given medical all-clear
July 26 – Bayer Leverkusen winger Karim Bellarabi has been discharged from hospital after collapsing from exhaustion in a pre-season friendly.
Leonardo back at AC Milan as club battles for stability and a return to former glories
July 26 – AC Milan, cleared to play in the Europa League this season having initially been banned, and under new administrative leadership off the field, have brought former player and manager Leonardo back to the club as general manager.
Napoli owner de Laurentiis tells Chelsea and Sarri to back-off stealing his team
July 23 – New Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has been accused of trying to “dismantle” former club Napoli by the Italian club’s president Aurelio de Laurentiis.
Klopp picks through the bones of an increasingly crowded international calendar
July 20 – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says the gruelling demands of international football are getting so serious that clubs will soon be “collecting the bones” of overworked players.
Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola returns as Sarri’s assistant
July 19 – Former Chelsea and Italy striker Gianfranco Zola, who made 312 league and cup appearances for the club, has returned as assistant to new manager Maurizio Sarri.