May 31 – A ‘production index’ developed by the CIES Football Observatory using InStat data shows that the top teams in the Big 5 European leagues all have similar performance data characteristics that correlate to their league positions.
By Samindra Kunti in Kiev
May 29 – Substitute Gareth Bale scored twice for Real Madrid to win the Champions League 3-1 win against much-fancied underdogs Liverpool. Mohamed Salah dislocated his shoulder and Loris Karius was the anti-hero, conceding two astounding goals that led Madrid to glory. Madrid’s win was historic in collecting a 13th European Cup. The victory may also have signified the end of an era.
By Andrew Warshaw
May 22 – No sooner has the English season finished than the merry-go round of managerial departures and sackings has begun – with two in particular illustrating the short-sighted attitude of top-flight chairman.
By Samindra Kunti
May 18 – Roberto Martinez has extended his contract with Belgium in a two-year deal. He will remain Belgium’s coach until Euro 2020.
May 18 – He’s done some novel things since hanging up his boots and now Diego Maradona has entered new territory again by signing a three-year contract to become chairman of the Belarusian side Dinamo Brest after the World Cup.
May 18 – Lionel Messi was the best player in European club football this season and Manchester City’s David Silva was the second best. Sergio Aguero was better than Mohamed Salah and they were both better than Harry Kane.
By Samindra Kunti in Lyon
May 16 – Hosts Lyon are on red alert as thousands of Marseille fans descend on the city ahead of the European Cup final with Atletico Madrid. Stringent security measures have been implemented to prevent any scuffles or violence. For the match itself football bookmaker Unibet has the odds stacked firmly in favour of Atletico.
May 11 – A report by the CIES Football Observatory provides insights into the global flows of football expatriates, revealing that the labour market of footballers is increasingly internationalised with player flow between countries still on the increase.
March 8 – Little more than a month before kickoff at the World Cup, where video assistant referees are being used for the first time in football’s showpiece competition, the system has come in for yet more criticism – not over the principle of implementation but over the technical process.
May 3 – Roma president James Pallotta says it will be an “absolute joke” if video assistant referees are not introduced in the Champions League after his side were cruelly knocked out by Liverpool 7-6 on aggregate in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
May 2 – Spain have the power to regain the World Cup title they lost to Germany in 2014, according to a ranking by the CIES Football Observatory that looks at the most likely Russia 2018 winners.
April 30 – Three weeks after being fired as Japan’s national coach, Vahid Halilhodzic says he still doesn’t know why he was ousted as he launched a passionate defence of his time of charge.
April 30 – Argentine legend Diego Maradona has left as coach of Al Fujairah by mutual consent after the club missed out on automatic promotion from the United Arab Emirates’ second division.
April 27 – Premier League Liverpool have announced a youth coaching project in Kunming, the capital city of SW China’s Yunnan province, that will initially provide coaching to a selection of schools.
April 21 – Liverpool’s Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah has been named England’s Player of the Year by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) – the first player from his country to receive the annual award.