http://www.mail.com/int/subjects/2188-soccer.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.28/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/int/subjects/2188-soccer.html http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2104436-chelsea-players-ready-mourinho-return.html ST. LOUIS (AP) — Chelsea players seem pleased Jose Mourinho appears headed back for a second stint as manager, even after he failed with Real Madrid. Midfielder Juan Mata said Wednesday prior to the first of two U.S. friendlies against Manchester City that the 50-year-old Mourinho is among the best coaches in the game. "We don't know what's going to happe... Thu, 23 May 2013 03:15:21 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2104436-chelsea-players-ready-mourinho-return.html 2013-05-23T03:15:21Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2104010-pellegrini-to-leave-malaga-season.html MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini says he will leave the Spanish club at the end of the season despite having two years left on his contract. The 59-year-old Pellegrini says he is leaving because of "sporting reasons." The Chilean has been linked to the Manchester City post made vacant when Roberto Mancini was fired last week. Pellegrini... Wed, 22 May 2013 22:15:26 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2104010-pellegrini-to-leave-malaga-season.html 2013-05-22T22:15:26Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2103786-hamburg-parts-ways-with-sports-director-arnesen.html HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — Hamburger SV parted ways with sports director Frank Arnesen by "mutual agreement" with immediate effect Wednesday. The Bundesliga club announced both parties agreed to end their partnership after a majority of the club's board failed to back the Dane for a contract extension late Tuesday. Hamburg said on its website that the decisi... Wed, 22 May 2013 21:09:23 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2103786-hamburg-parts-ways-with-sports-director-arnesen.html 2013-05-22T21:09:23Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2103394-roma-lazio-delegations-meet-pope-francis.html VATICAN CITY (AP) — Players and officials from Roma and Lazio met with Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Wednesday in a peace initiative ahead of the Italian Cup final between the two bitter rivals. The occasion happened during the general audience and is four days before the match at Stadio Olimpico in Rome. "We decided to participate ... Wed, 22 May 2013 18:28:06 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2103394-roma-lazio-delegations-meet-pope-francis.html 2013-05-22T18:28:06Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2103408-animals-opt-dortmund-to-win-champions-league.html BERLIN (AP) — Not literally, but the animals have spoken: Borussia Dortmund will beat Bayern Munich in the first all-German Champions League final. Walter the orangutan at Dortmund zoo, a tapir in Leipzig zoo and a pair of otters in Aue favor Dortmund to beat Bayern at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Only Nelly the elephant in Hodenhagen demurred. Walter ini... Wed, 22 May 2013 17:58:41 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2103408-animals-opt-dortmund-to-win-champions-league.html 2013-05-22T17:58:41Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2103224-austria-picks-marko-arnautovic-despite-club-ban.html VIENNA (AP) — Austria midfielder Marko Arnautovic was selected Wednesday for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Sweden in June despite not playing club football since being banned by Werder Bremen in April for speeding. Arnautovic and teammate Eljero Elia missed the last four matches of the Bundesliga season after being caught going over the speed limit... Wed, 22 May 2013 17:17:32 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2103224-austria-picks-marko-arnautovic-despite-club-ban.html 2013-05-22T17:17:32Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2102690-bundesliga-ceo-rips-fifa-qatars-world-cup.html LONDON (AP) — The head of the Bundesliga criticized FIFA on Wednesday for awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, saying the decision "is not for the good of the game." Bundesliga chief executive Christian Seifert, speaking in London ahead of the all-German Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, said staging the tournament in th... Wed, 22 May 2013 16:58:34 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2102690-bundesliga-ceo-rips-fifa-qatars-world-cup.html 2013-05-22T16:58:34Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2102822-dortmunds-goetze-champions-league-final.html DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mario Goetze will miss Saturday's Champions League final against Bayern Munich after failing to recover from a hamstring injury, leaving the team without one of its best players. Dortmund confirmed Wednesday that Goetze will not be fit in time to face his future club at Wembley Stadium in London. It wo... Wed, 22 May 2013 15:03:01 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2102822-dortmunds-goetze-champions-league-final.html 2013-05-22T15:03:01Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2102330-romanian-club-rapid-banned-1-uefa-competition.html NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA banned Rapid Bucharest on Wednesday from one European club competition after it missed a deadline to pay debts. UEFA said the Romanian club is excluded from the next Champions League or Europa League it qualifies for within three seasons. Rapid, which was eliminated in the Europa League qualifying rounds last August, is curre... Wed, 22 May 2013 11:57:04 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2102330-romanian-club-rapid-banned-1-uefa-competition.html 2013-05-22T11:57:04Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2102350-badstuber-to-10-months-knee-surgery.html MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich defender Holger Badstuber will miss another 10 months after undergoing further surgery on the cruciate ligament tear in his right knee. The Bundesliga champion says Badstuber had an operation on Monday to remove the ligament ruptured in a recurrence of the injury sustained during Bayern's 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund last De... Wed, 22 May 2013 09:28:48 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2102350-badstuber-to-10-months-knee-surgery.html 2013-05-22T09:28:48Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2101272-pulis-leaves-stoke-manager-mutual-consent.html STOKE, England (AP) — Stoke says Tony Pulis has left as manager by mutual consent, ending his seven-year tenure at the Premier League club. By guiding Stoke to a 13th-place finish this season, Pulis secured the team's status in England's top division for a fifth straight year but he came under increasing fire for failing to change its direct and physical ... Tue, 21 May 2013 22:37:01 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2101272-pulis-leaves-stoke-manager-mutual-consent.html 2013-05-21T22:37:01Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2101392-juventus-delegation-meets-pope-francis-vatican.html VATICAN CITY (AP) — Juventus coach Antonio Conte and captain Gianluigi Buffon have led a club delegation to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican. Pope Francis is a football lover and an avid fan of Argentine team San Lorenzo, although he is also said to like Juventus because of his family's roots from the Piedmont region. Juventus president Andrea Agnelli was... Tue, 21 May 2013 22:28:30 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2101392-juventus-delegation-meets-pope-francis-vatican.html 2013-05-21T22:28:30Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2101046-hertha-berlin-extends-coach-jos-luhukays-contract.html BERLIN (AP) — Promoted Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin has extended coach Jos Luhukay's contract through to 2016. Hertha general manager Michael Preetz says the Dutchman is the club's "architect of success" and that his consistent methods and way of integrating players represent the future of the club. Luhukay, who joined Hertha from Augsburg last season, l... Tue, 21 May 2013 20:20:04 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2101046-hertha-berlin-extends-coach-jos-luhukays-contract.html 2013-05-21T20:20:04Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2099862-goetze-pulls-training-doubt-final.html DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mario Goetze pulled out of training on his comeback from a hamstring injury Tuesday, putting his participation in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in doubt. Goetze took part in individual jogging exercises in the morning before joining the team session in the afternoon, but he could onl... Tue, 21 May 2013 19:36:15 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2099862-goetze-pulls-training-doubt-final.html 2013-05-21T19:36:15Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2100456-japan-midfielder-hosogai-joins-hertha-berlin.html BERLIN (AP) — Japan midfielder Hajime Hosogai is leaving Bayer Leverkusen for promoted Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin. Hertha says on its website that the 26-year-old Hosogai signed a four-year deal. Both clubs agreed not to disclose the transfer fee. Hosogai, who has played 18 internationals for Japan, scored five goals in 98 games for J-League side Urawa... Tue, 21 May 2013 17:05:58 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2100456-japan-midfielder-hosogai-joins-hertha-berlin.html 2013-05-21T17:05:58Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2099804-chelsea-tops-ap-poll-winning-euro-title.html MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Chelsea surged to the top of the weekly Associated Press global football poll after winning the Europa League and qualifying for the Champions League for the 11th straight season. There was also a Chelsea player at the summit of the player rankings, with Fernando Torres sharing first place with Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery... Tue, 21 May 2013 16:12:06 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2099804-chelsea-tops-ap-poll-winning-euro-title.html 2013-05-21T16:12:06Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2100248-coach-frank-de-boer-extends-contract-with-ajax.html AMSTERDAM (AP) — Coach Frank de Boer has agreed to extend his contract with Ajax until 2017 after leading the Amsterdam club to its third straight Dutch league title. The club announced Tuesday it had reached a verbal agreement with De Boer to extend his contract that was to expire in June 2014. Financial terms were not disclosed. In less than three years... Tue, 21 May 2013 15:46:49 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2100248-coach-frank-de-boer-extends-contract-with-ajax.html 2013-05-21T15:46:49Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2084852-ap-global-football-10-quotebox.html LONDON (AP) — Quotes from voters in this week's AP Global football poll: Mike McGrath (The Sun/Wardles Agency) "Gareth Bale showed again what a player he is, rising to the occasion when Tottenham needed him by scoring the late winner against Sunderland with a spectacular goal. Unfortunately for the Wales winger, and his team, it was not good enough for Ch... Tue, 21 May 2013 13:48:46 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2084852-ap-global-football-10-quotebox.html 2013-05-21T13:48:46Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2099678-man-united-earns-epl-record-93m-broadcasters.html LONDON (AP) — Manchester United earned a record 60.8 million pounds ($92.7 million) in Premier League television revenue this season en route to a 20th English title. Deposed champion Manchester City, which finished 11 points behind United in second, received 58.1 million pounds ($88.6 million), according to figures released by the league on Tuesday. Even... Tue, 21 May 2013 13:43:51 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2099678-man-united-earns-epl-record-93m-broadcasters.html 2013-05-21T13:43:51Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2099962-rennes-hires-philippe-montanier-coach.html RENNES, France (AP) — French club Rennes has hired Real Sociedad's Philippe Montanier as its new coach for next season. Rennes had an inconsistent season and is in 11th place with one match remaining. Coach Frederic Antontetti had already announced his intention to leave the club at the end of the season. Rennes said on its website Tuesday that Montanier ... Tue, 21 May 2013 13:38:49 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2099962-rennes-hires-philippe-montanier-coach.html 2013-05-21T13:38:49Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2099900-napoli-chief-denies-benitez-talks-keen-dzeko.html MILAN (AP) — Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis denies meeting former Chelsea coach Rafael Benitez on Monday but admits he is interested in selling Edinson Cavani to sign Manchester City's Edin Dzeko. Napoli is in the hunt for a new manager after Walter Mazzarri announced his departure. De Laurentiis says on Tuesday, "I didn't go to London to meet wit... Tue, 21 May 2013 13:29:06 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2099900-napoli-chief-denies-benitez-talks-keen-dzeko.html 2013-05-21T13:29:06Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2099646-brighton-locker-room-vandalism.html BRIGHTON, England (AP) — Brighton has formally apologized to Crystal Palace after excrement was found on the floor of its fierce rival's changing room before the second leg of their second-tier League Championship playoff last week. Brighton chief executive Paul Barber says the club has "reviewed our internal procedures to guard against this ever happenin... Tue, 21 May 2013 09:55:54 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2099646-brighton-locker-room-vandalism.html 2013-05-21T09:55:54Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2098522-mallorca-beats-real-betis-1-0-spanish-league.html MADRID (AP) — Mallorca's hopes of avoiding relegation from the Spanish league were kept alive by a 1-0 win against Real Betis on Monday. With two rounds left, 19th-place Mallorca is three points behind 17th-place Deportivo La Coruna but with an inferior goal difference. Mallorca striker Tomer Hemed scored in the 21st minute from close to the penalty spot ... Mon, 20 May 2013 22:29:53 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2098522-mallorca-beats-real-betis-1-0-spanish-league.html 2013-05-20T22:29:53Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2098364-mourinho-to-leave-real-madrid-season.html MADRID (AP) — Jose Mourinho will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season after three years at the Spanish club, paving the way for his expected return to Chelsea. The Portuguese coach's final season at Madrid has been blighted by divisions and a lack of trophies, but he is free to leave three years early from his contract after the final match on June ... Mon, 20 May 2013 20:07:55 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2098364-mourinho-to-leave-real-madrid-season.html 2013-05-20T20:07:55Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2097936-italy-coach-calls-zero-tolerance-to-racism.html FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Italy must adopt a zero tolerance policy towards racism in football if it is to eradicate the problem from the sport, national team coach Cesare Prandelli said Monday. A number of Italian clubs have been punished for racist incidents recently. "It is a serious problem, a problem that is not only the national team's or Milan's but It... Mon, 20 May 2013 15:41:46 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2097936-italy-coach-calls-zero-tolerance-to-racism.html 2013-05-20T15:41:46Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2097850-allegri-to-meet-milan-wednesday-to-discuss-future.html MILAN (AP) — AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani will meet with Massimiliano Allegri on Wednesday to discuss the coach's future at the Serie A club. Allegri steered Milan to third spot and a place in the Champions League qualifiers, but his future remains uncertain, with speculation of a move to Roma after criticism from club owner and former Italian... Mon, 20 May 2013 14:27:10 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2097850-allegri-to-meet-milan-wednesday-to-discuss-future.html 2013-05-20T14:27:10Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2097818-milans-abbiati-signs-1-year-contract-extension.html MILAN (AP) — Veteran AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati has signed a one-year contract extension with the Serie A club. Abbiati's contract was set to expire next month but he agreed to a new deal tying him to the club until June 2014. Abbiati says "I've signed for a year and that's the club's policy, but I am happy to start another season with Milan wh... Mon, 20 May 2013 14:08:42 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2097818-milans-abbiati-signs-1-year-contract-extension.html 2013-05-20T14:08:42Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2097732-romania-orders-retrial-football-officials.html BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Bucharest's highest court has ordered a retrial in the case of eight Romanian football officials who were sentenced to prison for tax evasion and money laundering in connection with the transfer of 12 players over a six-year period. The court on Monday overturned "in totality" an appeals court sentencing in November when Rapid Bu... Mon, 20 May 2013 13:18:41 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2097732-romania-orders-retrial-football-officials.html 2013-05-20T13:18:41Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2097524-nicola-rizzoli-to-referee-champions-league-final.html LONDON (AP) — Nicola Rizzoli of Italy will referee the Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. The match at Wembley Stadium on Saturday will be the 41-year-old Rizzoli's highest-profile fixture since becoming an international referee in 2007. Rizzoli will be assisted by compatriots Renato Faverani and Andrea Stefani, while Gian... Mon, 20 May 2013 10:13:42 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2097524-nicola-rizzoli-to-referee-champions-league-final.html 2013-05-20T10:13:42Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2097476-defender-mats-hummels-mend-wembley.html DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund's central defender Mats Hummels is expected to recover from an ankle injury in time to play in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich. Hummels twisted his right ankle in the 2-1 home loss to Hoffenheim in the final round of the Bundesliga on Saturday. Team doctor Markus Braun says Hummels being on the f... Mon, 20 May 2013 09:15:27 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2097476-defender-mats-hummels-mend-wembley.html 2013-05-20T09:15:27Z