Mark Pitman

Cristiano Ronaldo will play out the final years of his professional footballing career in the footballing backwaters of the Saudi Pro League, having signed a highly-lucrative deal with Al-Nassr. The move completes a year that will only be remembered…

The creative brilliance of Kevin De Bruyne was conspicuous by its absence at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, but the Manchester City superstar was back to his absolute brilliant best on Thursday as the catalyst in the 3-2 win over Liverpool in the…

The 2022 FIFA World Cup will forever be remembered and defined by Lionel Messi. From the moments of individual brilliance to the iconic trophy-lifting images, the tournament played out like a Hollywood movie for the Argentine genius. Messi cemented…

Gareth Bale will bring his toxic relationship with Real Madrid to an end on Saturday evening, releasing the emotional and mental shackles of living within a broken personal and professional association that has delivered success and irreparable…

Jose Mourinho will turn 60 next January. But there is a familiar glint in his eye as he prepares to lead AS Roma to the UEFA Europa Conference League Final on Wednesday evening. The once dark hair may now be grey, and there be more lines across his…

Zinedine Zidane is reportedly close to becoming the next manager of PSG. The Ligue 1 giants are looking to cut their losses on current boss Mauricio Pochettino and salvage their investment in Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. Pochettino has…

Steven Gerrard will take his place in the dugout at Anfield for the first time on Saturday. It will be one of the most significant matches of his managerial career. For now, he will take up a position opposite the man currently occupying the role…

Gareth Bale should have been making his 100th appearance for Wales on Friday evening as his side resume their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. They play in a difficult fixture against Group E rivals the Czech Republic in Prague. However,…

Jose Mourinho will take charge of his 1,000th competitive game as a club manager on Sunday when AS Roma host Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico. Boasting a perfect record of four wins from four competitive games on his return to Serie A, Mourinho is…

There could be no better fitting protagonist than Jose Mourinho to continue the story of Rome into the present day. The history of the Eternal City offers a unique insight into a bygone age where anarchy and unrest underpinned a continuous greed and…

Manchester United announced on Thursday that an agreement in principle to sign Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund is now in place. The prodigious 21-year old is expected to complete his move to Old Trafford following Euro 2020. 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘂𝗽.We…

England manager Gareth Southgate has earned the right to make big decisions when it comes to his team selection. Defying popular opinion has been the cornerstone of the success that his side have achieved in reaching the last eight of Euro…

Luka Modric will be remembered as one of the greatest players of his generation. In 2018, he upset the Ballon d'Or monopoly enjoyed by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo by becoming only the third different player in over a decade to receive the…

Spain manager Luis Enrique cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines on Monday as his transitional side were unable to find a way through a resolute Swedish defense in their Euro 2020 opener in Seville. Whistles from the volatile home crowd greeted…

It was fitting that the most exciting and entertaining match of Euro 2020 so far took place at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, with the Netherlands edging a five-goal thriller against Ukraine on Sunday night. Denzel Dumfries headed home the…

Christian Eriksen is a talent of his generation. A centurion for his country and a veteran of over 500 club games for Ajax, Tottenham Hotspur and Internazionale. A sporting idol to millions of fans, it is easy to forget he also lives a normal…

Italy will mark their return to the finals of a major tournament by opening their EURO 2020 campaign in Rome on Friday night against Turkey. It has been a long road to redemption for the Azzurri, who failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.…

Pep Guardiola will stand on the touchline at the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday evening for the first time in 10 years. Finally, the trophy he has been under pressure to regain for the last decade is within touching distance, and keeping…

Cristiano Ronaldo won every major domestic honour with Manchester United and played a leading role in an era that culminated in UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Club Cup success. However, the Portuguese superstar turned 36 earlier this year,…

Juventus have dominated the Italian game for the last decade, winning nine consecutive Serie A titles since regaining their Scudetto crown in 2011-12. But their era of dominance now appears to be over, and Andrea Pirlo's first season as manager is…