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Articles by Marcus Christenson
Jürgen Klopp reaches agreement to take over as Germany head coach
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South Africa World Cup midfielder Jayden Adams dies aged 25
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South Africa World Cup midfielder Jayden Adams dies aged 25
Jayden Adams, who played in South Africa's three group games at the World Cup, has died aged 25. The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder started the tournament opener, a 2-0 defeat by Mexico, and the 1-1 draw with Czechia, being substituted in both matches. He then came off the bench in the 1-0 win against South Korea, but took no part in the 1-0 last-32 defeat by Canada.
Jürgen Klopp reaches agreement to take over as Germany head coach
Jürgen Klopp has “reached an agreement on the key points” to become the next Germany head coach, the German football association (DFB) has said. The 59-year-old is expected to sign a contract until 2030 to succeed Julian Nagelsmann. A statement said: “The DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and DFB vice-president Hans-Joachim Watzke held their first in-depth talks with Jürgen Klopp yesterday in New York regarding his potential appointment as national team coach.
Jürgen Klopp reaches agreement to take over as Germany head coach
Marcus Christenson Sat, 11 July 2026 at 2:07 pm UTC 2 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Jürgen Klopp has worked as a pundit at the 2026 World Cup.Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP Jürgen Klopp has "reached an agreement on the key points" to become the next Germany head coach, the German football association (DFB) has said. The 59-year-old is expected to sign a contract until 2030 to succeed Julian Nagelsmann.
South Africa World Cup midfielder Jayden Adams dies aged 25
Marcus Christenson Sat, 11 July 2026 at 1:29 pm UTC 2 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Jayden Adams in action for South Africa against Mexico in the opening game of the World Cup.Photograph: Héctor Vivas/FIFA/Getty Images Jayden Adams, who played in South Africa's three group games at the World Cup, has died aged 25.
The 2026 World Cup team of the tournament so far (without the superstars)
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The 2026 World Cup team of the tournament so far (without the superstars)
Vozinha (Cape Verde, goalkeeper) A star was born, at 40, when a player whose highest-profile employers were Portugal's Gil Vicente, denied Spain's all-stars in that historic 0-0 draw . His Christian name being Josimar may well have pointed to him being a nascent World Cup cult hero.
Outrage in Austria after man ordered to pay female footballers €625 each for secretly filming dressing room
An aerial view of Altach’s home ground. Photograph: Getty Images A man has been given a seven-month suspended prison sentence and fined €1,200 (£1,046) after being found guilty of taking secret videos and photographs from the changing room, gym and showers of the Altach women’s football team. He was also told to pay the victims €625 each in compensation.
Bodø/Glimt bask in 'crazy' Champions League victory over shellshocked Inter
There was a moment after the final whistle at San Siro on Tuesday night when the head coaches, Bodø/Glimt's Kjetil Knutsen and Inter's Cristian Chivu, stood chatting, seemingly discussing some tactical element of the game that had just finished. Chivu appeared genuinely interested in what Knutsen had to say, smiling politely, but above all he looked utterly bemused. What the hell had just happened?
Outrage in Austria after man ordered to pay female footballers €625 each for secretly filming dressing room
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Outrage in Austria after man ordered to pay female footballers €625 each for secretly filming dressing room
A man has been given a seven-month suspended prison sentence and fined €1,200 (£1,046) after being found guilty of taking secret videos and photographs from the changing room, gym and showers of the Altach women’s football team. He was also told to pay the victims €625 each in compensation. The sentence was handed out in the regional court in Feldkirch, Austria, with the judge saying that it made a huge difference “if one looks at pictures or actually creates them oneself”.
Austrian football shaken after hidden cameras found in Altach women’s team’s changing room
A man who has been accused of having videos from secret cameras in the changing room and showers of the Altach women’s team is appearing in court next week in a case that has shaken football in Austria. About 30 women have been identified on the recordings, according to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Feldkirch, and some are considering a civil lawsuit against the accused. The team play in the top division in Austria.
‘It is hard to forgive’: former girlfriend of Norwegian Olympic biathlete responds to apology for affair
The former girlfriend of the Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid has responded to his public apology for having an affair, saying it “is hard to forgive” what he did. It was after Lægreid had won bronze in the individual 20km on Tuesday that he, unprompted, opened up on what he described as the “hardest week of my life,” saying: “Half a year ago I met the love of my life. The world’s most beautiful and nicest person.
Norwegian biathlete wins Winter Olympics bronze and then tells TV interview of affair
An emotional Sturla Holm Lægreid after winning bronze in the men’s 20km biathlon.
Norwegian biathlete wins Winter Olympics bronze and then tells TV interview of affair
The Norwegian Sturla Holm Lægreid broke down in tears after winning bronze in the men’s 20km biathlon, apologising for having an affair and saying: “It has been the worst week of my life.” Johan-Olav Botn won gold, with the Frenchman Éric Perrot in second, but it was Lægreid who stunned television viewers in Norway after opening up to the broadcaster NRK about his private life over the past six months. “There is something I want to share with someone who may not be watching today,” he said.
Leon Goretzka says Donald Trump ‘makes us feel not only German but European'
Marcus Christenson The Germany international Leon Goretzka has said Donald Trump's actions have left him feeling “not only German but also European”. The US president has recently threatened to take Greenland by force and called Europe “weak” and “decaying” . Goretzka, who hopes to make the Germany squad for the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico this summer, told Die Zeit : “Of course, I'm aware of the political debates.
The Premier League dominates Guardian's top 100 male footballers again – can anyone catch up?
Marcus Christenson Money talks in all walks of life – so football is no exception. In the 2025 summer transfer window Premier League clubs spent more on players than the top flights of Spain, Germany, France and Italy put together. According to Deloitte , the Premier League clubs shelled out more than £3bn on transfers – a record – and the division's net spend ended up at £1.2bn, a 114% increase on the previous summer. As a comparison Serie A had a net spend of €90m (£78.7m) and La Liga's was €40m.
See how every judge voted for the 100 best male footballers in 2025
Ousmane Dembélé has been voted the Guardian's best male footballer of the year for 2025 by a margin of 128 points ahead of Lamine Yamal. Considering our 219 judges handed out a total of 179,580 points (820 each) it shows how close this year's ranking was. Two-hundred and 16 members of the panel had Dembélé and Lamine Yamal on their voting slips but the main difference was that 101 of them had the Frenchman top while 33 had the 18-year-old Spaniard first.
See how every judge voted for the 100 best male footballers in 2025
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal missed out on the top spot in our poll by just 128 points. Photograph: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images Ousmane Dembélé has been voted the Guardian’s best male footballer of the year for 2025 by a margin of 128 points ahead of Lamine Yamal. Considering our 219 judges handed out a total of 179,580 points (820 each) it shows how close this year’s ranking was.
The Premier League dominates Guardian’s top 100 male footballers again - can anyone catch up?
Arsenal's Martín Zubimendi (left) and Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch were new entries on this year’s list, and they were joined by 17 teammates across both sides. Arsenal's Martín Zubimendi (left) and Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch were new entries on this year’s list, and they were joined by 17 teammates across both sides. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters Money talks in all walks of life – so football is no exception.
How the Guardian ranked the 100 best male footballers in the world 2025
If 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.
See how every judge voted in the 100 best female footballers for 2025
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See how every judge voted in the 100 best female footballers for 2025
Alessia Russo (left) and Mariona Caldentey, seen here celebrating a goal against Manchester City in October, both made the top three. Alessia Russo (left) and Mariona Caldentey, seen here celebrating a goal against Manchester City in October, both made the top three. Photograph: Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC/Getty Images Aitana Bonmatí has been voted the best female footballer in the world 2025 by the Guardian’s panel of experts.
what happened to Next Generation 2020?
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Wirtz, Durán and different career paths: what happened to Next Generation 2020?
Five years ago the Covid-19 pandemic was spreading, causing untold pain – mental and physical – that we are still feeling the effects of. Football, like every other aspect of life, was affected and stopped for a period of time. Players, coaches and staff had their lives turned upside down. Career paths were inevitably changed. What kind of an impact would a fit Trent Alexander-Arnold have had at Euro 2020 if it had been played that year?
Germany coach warns his players that they will ‘have to suffer’ against Spain
The Germany coach, Christian Wück, has said his players must “do a lot of chasing” and “suffer” in order to beat Spain in Zurich on Wednesday and reach the Euro 2025 final. Spain, the world champions, are clear favourites after winning all of their four games in Switzerland, scoring 16 goals. Germany lost 4-1 to Sweden in the group stage and had to go the distance against France in the quarter-final, winning on penalties despite having had Kathrin Hendrich sent off after 13 minutes.
Swedish media on Euro 2025 penalty heartbreak
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‘The nightmare that never ended’: Swedish media on Euro 2025 penalty heartbreak
Smilla Holmberg (centre) is comforted after her spot-kick proved to be the final one of a shootout where nine were either missed or saved. Smilla Holmberg (centre) is comforted after her spot-kick proved to be the final one of a shootout where nine were either missed or saved. Photograph: Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images Swedish media reacted with incredulity and indignation after the country’s women’s team lost the Euro 2025 quarter-final to England on penalties.
Switzerland confident in plan to shock Spain in Euros quarter-final
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‘We have a good feeling’: Switzerland confident in plan to shock Spain in Euros quarter-final
The Switzerland coach, Pia Sundhage, has said that she and her players watched clips from when the Swiss men’s team beat Spain in the 2010 World Cup for inspiration before the countries meet in the Euro 2025 quarter-finals in Berne on Friday. Gelson Fernandes scored the only goal of the game in Durban 15 years ago to produce the first shock of that tournament and Sundhage believes her team can repeat the upset.
Germany’s Klara Bühl: ‘You can see the sparkle in everyone’s eyes. We are ready’
Klara Bühl’s Germany have scored 26 goals in their six games this year. Photograph: Tim Wegner/The Guardian “Maybe I did the homework, but maybe I didn’t – the important thing was to get out on the pitch again.” Klara Bühl is describing her time at school when she would come home, eat, possibly do some schoolwork before heading out again. “Football was everything for me. We played at school and then next to the school there was a small astro pitch.
How did Djurgården end up in a European semi-final against Chelsea?
A visibly moved Bosse Andersson was trying to find the right words after Djurgården had beaten Rapid Vienna 4-1 away to reach the Conference League semi-finals. “I am just bloody proud,” the sporting director said in the end. “Real Betis, Fiorentina, Chelsea and … Djurgården in the semi-finals, that is unbelievable.” He is not wrong. Chelsea, Real Betis and Fiorentina are European heavyweights while Djurgården have two Swedish Allsvenskan titles in the past 20 years.
Norwegian club Brann win court ruling over fans’ right to sing ‘Uefa mafia’
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Norwegian club Brann win court ruling over fans’ right to sing ‘Uefa mafia’
The Norwegian club Brann have won a landmark freedom of expression case with the Court of Arbitration For Sport (Cas) ruling that Uefa should not have punished them for fans singing “Uefa mafia” or displaying banners with the same message at Women’s Champions League games. The European footballing body fined Brann on two separate occasions in 2024 with a third case pending.
Nadia Nadim and the pursuit of happiness in women’s football
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Nadia Nadim and the pursuit of happiness in women’s football
Nadia Nadim was not holding back. Having left Milan for the Swedish side Hammarby she hit out at the Italian club’s Dutch manager, Suzanne Bakker, in a forthright interview with Aftonbladet’s Amanda Zaza. “It was a shock to be introduced to her,” said the Afghanistan-born Denmark international, with the two clearly disagreeing on how things should be done.
See how every judge voted in the 100 best female footballers for 2024
See how every judge voted in the 100 best female footballers for 2024 This year we had 99 judges from around the world on the voting panel for the best 100 female footballers in the world in 2024. There was an extraordinary amount of knowledge in that group, including the current head coaches of Lyon, PSG, Eintracht Frankfurt and Ajax among others. For full transparency, we now publish the spreadsheet with all the votes on it for our readers to see.
Manchester United’s Amorim chase boosted as Sporting line up replacement
Manchester United’s hopes of appointing Rúben Amorim as their manager have increased with Sporting agreeing a deal with João Pereira to take over from the 39-year-old. The Premier League club entered talks with Amorim’s representatives after sacking Erik ten Hag on Monday, with a three-year deal worth about £6.5m a season on the table. Amorim has a release clause of £8.3m for “a big club” and double that for a lesser club.
Gianluca Busio, Gio Reyna and the rest of Next Generation 2019: how have they got on?
Gianluca Busio, Gio Reyna and the rest of Next Generation 2019: how have they got on? Career paths are rarely straightforward, whether in football or any other area of life. Circumstances often change. Injuries and illnesses happen, there are often changes in leadership which have an impact on the individual while personal lives also play a part. Career paths are therefore very difficult to predict.
‘A small boy in a big jacket’ - how Sven-Göran Eriksson made his mark
It was the autumn of 1980 and IFK Gothenburg had just been eliminated by Twente in the first round of the Uefa Cup when the board asked their young manager what was required to make progress in Europe. “I need three new players,” said a 32-year-old Sven-Göran Eriksson. “A goalkeeper, a left-back and a forward.” The club could not afford the signings but such was the belief in Eriksson that several board members remortgaged their houses to free up the money. It was a huge gamble.
Euro 2024 power rankings: how the teams in the last eight shaped up
They had to come through one hell of a battle against Germany, losing Pedri to injury after eight minutes, but in the end the players stood there, arms aloft, having made the semis thanks to Mikel Merino’s late headed goal. Dani Olmo had said beforehand that the game felt like a final and afterwards it was difficult to comprehend that Spain were not even in the final yet.
Euro 2024 power rankings: how the teams in the last eight shaped up
Marcus Christenson 7 July 2024 at 11:45 am·6-min read 1) Spain (–) They had to come through one hell of a battle against Germany, losing Pedri to injury after eight minutes, but in the end the players stood there, arms aloft, having made the semis thanks to Mikel Merino’s late headed goal. Dani Olmo had said beforehand that the game felt like a final and afterwards it was difficult to comprehend that Spain were not even in the final yet.
‘It’s my routine’: Ivan Toney vows to stick with no-look penalty at Euros
Marcus Christenson 7 July 2024 at 7:17 am·2-min read Ivan Toney has said he will carry on with his “no-look” penalties at the Euros after scoring his spot-kick against Switzerland. The Brentford striker was one of five England players to score in the shootout but the only one to do so without looking at the ball when he kicked it. “I never look at the ball,” the Brentford striker said. “Considering it is my routine I just think it is what I do but some people may see it as crazy.
‘It’s my routine’: Ivan Toney vows to stick with no-look penalty at Euros
Ivan Toney has said he will carry on with his “no-look” penalties at the Euros after scoring his spot-kick against Switzerland. The Brentford striker was one of five England players to score in the shootout but the only one to do so without looking at the ball when he kicked it. “I never look at the ball,” the Brentford striker said. “Considering it is my routine I just think it is what I do but some people may see it as crazy. But it is just my routine and I’ll stick to it.
Chelsea Women boost forward line with signing of Sandy Baltimore from PSG
Chelsea have signed the Paris St-Germain forward Sandy Baltimore on a four-year contract as the new head coach, Sonia Bompastor, continues her overhaul of the squad. The former Lyon coach replaced Emma Hayes this summer and Baltimore becomes her second signing following that of the Barcelona midfielder Julia Bartel. Lucy Bronze is expected to join in the coming days.
Euro 2024 power rankings: how the teams in the last 16 shaped up
1) Spain (–) (Left to right) Turkey’s Mert Gunok pulled off an stunning late save against Austria; Cody Gakpo was superb against Romania; Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji has been one of the best defenders; Jude Bellingham kept England in the tournament against Slovakia. Composite: AFP, Shutterstock, Getty Images A dominant 4-1 win against Georgia in the last 16 means Spain stay top of our rankings. They fell behind in the first half but the end result never felt in doubt.
Euro 2024 power rankings: verdicts on the 24 teams after the group stage
1) Spain Spain’s Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams; Kylian Mbappé of France in his mask; Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka (left to right). Composite: Getty Images; DPPI/Shutterstock; Firo Sportphoto/Getty Images Three games, three wins, five goals scored and none conceded. Spain were not among the favourites before the tournament started, but they are now.
Sam Kerr gives Chelsea big boost by signing two-year contract extension
Marcus Christenson 13 June 2024 at 3:20 am·2-min read Sam Kerr has signed a contract extension at Chelsea with the new deal keeping her at the club until 2026. The Australia forward’s contract was running out this summer and there had been speculation that she would leave west London after four-and-a-half years. The news will be a significant boost to the new manager, Sonia Bompastor, who is replacing Emma Hayes this summer.
Bruno Fernandes calls for rule change on yellow cards for removing shirt
Bruno Fernandes has said the rule that earns a player a yellow card for taking off their shirt when celebrating a goal “has to change” after the Manchester United winger Amad Diallo was sent off for a second caution after scoring a dramatic late winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup.
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