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Every football story that matters. Breaking news. In-depth analysis. 🔗 https://www.nytimes.com/athletic
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theathleticfc.bsky.social
Javi Gracia returns to Watford, in another change of head coach under Gino Pozzo...
theathleticfc.bsky.social
Manchester United’s 2024-25 financial results show they were loss-making for a sixth year in a row.

But, that only tells part of the story.

📈 Largest transfer debt in world?
📉 Wage bill at lowest since 2020
💸 Player sales improving

@cweatherspoon.bsky.social

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...
theathleticfc.bsky.social
Thomas Tuchel signed his contract as England head coach one year ago today. He faced six major issues:

@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social on the answers Tuchel has found and the problems he still needs to solve ahead of the World Cup ⤵️
Inside Thomas Tuchel’s year with England: How has he answered the six big questions?
We are already halfway through Tuchel's England contract and the outlines of his World Cup team are beginning to emerge
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by The Athletic | Football
jacobtanswell.bsky.social
Chad Williams is an exceptional man with exceptional courage. The most inspirational, strong-minded person you can meet. He is an #AVFC podcaster, fan, fundraiser, a Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) campaigner and legend. This is his story @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...
The inspiring Aston Villa fan with a debilitating condition and the podcast that ‘gives me a purpose’
Chad Williams, who has muscle-wasting condition Duchenne muscular dystrophy, runs the Villa4Ever podcast that he says is 'like therapy'
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by The Athletic | Football
oliverkay.bsky.social
"This boy will go to Real Madrid if we don't get in quick..."

Loved doing this with Dave Worthington, going through his old scouting reports from Bolton, Chelsea, Hull, Sunderland, West Ham, Leicester, Everton — recommending Benzema to #CFC, young Rodri to #EFC etc

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
Reading a football scout’s notebooks: Spotting Rodri and Benzema, and why data needs context
Dave Worthington's carefully-compiled notes were an invaluable resource for several Premier League clubs
www.nytimes.com
theathleticfc.bsky.social
Jordan Henderson has revealed he felt unable to watch Liverpool games on television after leaving the club in 2023.

“It felt like a breakup,” he explained.

More from @jackpittbrooke.bsky.social ⤵️

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
Jordan Henderson.
theathleticfc.bsky.social
Barcelona inflict Bayern Munich's first defeat of the 2025-26 season in some style.

Claudia Pina’s late brace means the side have scored seven or more goals for the third time in seven matches this campaign.
theathleticfc.bsky.social
Arsenal’s Champions League defence begins in defeat.

Melchie Dumornay’s first-half brace earns all three points for the French side, who extend their unbeaten run in the group stage of the competition to 18 matches.
theathleticfc.bsky.social
⚽️ Alexia Putellas
⚽️ Ewa Pajor
⚽️ Esmee Brugts
⚽️ Salma Paralluelo

A barnstorming first-half display from Barcelona means last season’s finalists have made an electric start to the 2025-26 Champions League.

They lead Bayern Munich 4-1 at half-time.
Ewa Pajor.
theathleticfc.bsky.social
Arsenal's defence of the Champions League has not got off to the start they would have wanted.

In a repeat of last season's semi-final, Alessia Russo gave the side the lead early on over Lyon, but a quickfire brace from Melchie Dumornay has the French side 2-1 up at the break.
theathleticfc.bsky.social
Former England captain Steven Gerrard has described sometimes “hating” international duty and claimed star players being “egotistical losers” damaged the side’s chances of success.

📝 @colinmillar.bsky.social

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
theathleticfc.bsky.social
Inter Miami are in advanced talks to sign left-back Sergio Reguilon on a free transfer.

Reguilon has been a free agent since his contract with Tottenham Hotspur expired in July.

✍️ @paultenorio.bsky.social, Mario Cortegana and more

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...
Sergio Reguilon.
theathleticfc.bsky.social
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 La Liga
🏆 Champions League
🏆 European Championship

Jordi Alba has announced he will retire at the end of the MLS season.
theathleticfc.bsky.social
Chelsea and England playmaker Cole Palmer has successfully trademarked the term ‘Cold Palmer’.

Palmer’s application, submitted to the UK government’s Intellectual Property Office in November, was approved on Friday.

More from @tburrows16.bsky.social ⬇️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
theathleticfc.bsky.social
▪️ Why has UEFA approved European league games going overseas?
▪️ Who will benefit?
▪️ Will the Premier League go abroad?
▪️ How do other European leagues see it?

We explain yesterday’s UEFA’s landmark decision and what the implications could be.
UEFA has approved European league games being staged abroad. So what now?
Explaining UEFA's decision yesterday and how the world game views the prospect of playing league games overseas
www.nytimes.com
theathleticfc.bsky.social
Ashleigh Plumptre said she “deeply hurt” people when she became the first player to move from the Women’s Super League to the Saudi Women’s Premier League, but that Saudi life is “like a peace bubble”.
Ashleigh Plumptre says life in Saudi Arabia ‘like a peace bubble’ but move from WSL ‘deeply hurt people’
"It does not mean I condone certain things, even if the move means I am associated with certain things," the Nigeria international said.
www.nytimes.com
theathleticfc.bsky.social
😐 UEFA ‘regrettably’ approves La Liga, Serie A games abroad
📈 World Cup ticket prices spike on day one
💭 Do Liverpool have a Salah problem?
🏟️ Why old Wembley, a 'cathedral of football', had to go

The latest TAFC Newsletter ⬇️
Get ready for a La Liga game in Miami. Plus: World Cup ticket prices rise after a day
Today in TAFC: UEFA opens the door to La Liga and Serie A matches being played abroad. Plus: World Cup ticket price hikes on day one
www.nytimes.com
theathleticfc.bsky.social
Manchester City's John Stones has revealed he considered retiring last season due to persistent injuries.

The 31-year-old defender made only 11 Premier League appearances in the 2024-25 campaign as he struggled with foot and hamstring problems.
Manchester City’s John Stones considered retiring after injury-hit 2024-25 season
The 31-year-old has made 283 City appearances but only played 11 times in the top flight last season.
www.nytimes.com
theathleticfc.bsky.social
When the transfer window closed at the start of September, we ranked all 155 Premier League summer signings.

But a lot can change in just over a month, so we have assessed all of their performances and re-ranked them, this time based on their impact so far.

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
theathleticfc.bsky.social
Harry Kane says he is less keen on returning to the Premier League than he was when he signed for Bayern Munich.

More from @jackpittbrooke.bsky.social ⤵️

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
theathleticfc.bsky.social
Brooklyn Earick has confirmed to the London Stock Exchange that he “does not intend to make a firm offer” to buy Tottenham Hotspur.

Earick’s statement brings an end to 11 days of speculation over a possible move to buy Tottenham.

More from @jackpittbrooke.bsky.social ⤵️
Brooklyn Earick ‘does not intend to make a firm offer’ to buy Tottenham Hotspur
Earick’s statement, released on Monday evening, brings an end to 11 days of speculation over a possible move to buy Tottenham.
www.nytimes.com
theathleticfc.bsky.social
UEFA has approved a landmark move to allow Italian and Spanish domestic league matches to be staged abroad while reiterating its “clear opposition” to the plans, which it has granted “on an exceptional basis amid regulatory gaps at global level”.

✍️ @colinmillar.bsky.social

🔗 bit.ly/3IZCRNJ
theathleticfc.bsky.social
Saturday saw a crucial victory for Manchester United and Benjamin Sesko's first goal at Old Trafford.

Is the Slovenian starting to come to the fore for Ruben Amorim's side?

𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐬 🎧: pod.fo/e/337f94