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The German boss is one of the most exciting personalities in England and has a salary to match

Jurgen Klopp is known for his charismatic personality and his tactical nous has helped him enjoy success at Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool.

The German manager enjoyed a respectable, but not outstanding, playing career in his native country before moving into coaching and it is in that realm that he has become a star.

Since then, he has become an attractive partner for a variety of brands, who are keen to latch on to his infectious, smiling persona.

But just how much is the Liverpool boss earning and what is his net worth? Goal takes a look.

What is Jurgen Klopp's net worth? How much does Jurgen Klopp earn? What sponsorship deals does Jurgen Klopp have? What charity work does Jurgen Kopp do? What cars does Jurgen Klopp drive?

What is Jurgen Klopp's net worth?

Net worth: £20 million (approx.)
Source of wealth: Football contracts, endorsement deals & investments
Date of Birth: June 16, 1967
Country of birth: Germany

Klopp's net worth is understood to be in the region of £20 million to £40 million ($25m - $50m), with reports varying regarding the exact figure.

Financial magazine Spear's estimates that Klopp's net worth is £21 million ($26m) - a figure that has grown considerably since he helped Liverpool win the Champions League in 2019.

The website Celebrity Net Worth puts Klopp's net worth at a significantly higher footing of $50 million (£40m).

Klopp's wealth has been accrued through football, naturally, but also via off-field interests, such as endorsement deals.

How much does Jurgen Klopp earn?

Klopp is believed to be earning roughly £10 million ($12m) a year at Liverpool.

That figure means he has benefited from a hefty pay rise since leaving Dortmund, where he earned an estimated £4 million ($5m) a year.

On top of that, Klopp signed a new five-year contract with the club in December 2019 which will keep him at Anfield until the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

Timeframe Earnings
Per second £0.31
Per minute £19
Per hour £1,141
Per day £27,397
Per week £192,307
Per month £833,333
Per year £10m

What sponsorship deals does Jurgen Klopp have?

Klopp is a brand ambassador for New Balance, the company that manufactures Liverpool's kits, and you'll rarely see him without his trademark cap-and-coat look on the sidelines and in interviews.

In addition to the deal with the kit manufacturer, Klopp also has sponsorship deals with German beer Warsteiner, car manufacturers Opel, electronics giants Philips and TV network Sky Deutschland.

Klopp promotes the German beer company's non-alcoholic beverage, designed as the perfect refreshment for sports, meetings or to enjoy between meals.

"I am a German football coach and one of the ambassadors of our national sport, just like Warsteiner beer is one of the best ambassadors for the German beer tradition," he said about the beer. 

"My grandparents owned a small brewery and I do enjoy a good beer."

What charity work does Jurgen Klopp do?

Klopp is a noted philanthropist and once donated £4,000 to a cancer charity in 2018. The Reds coach donated the money to Liverpool sporting director Mike Edwards’ Men In Lycra Just Giving page as the Anfield sporting director was preparing to run a half marathon in aid of Prostate Cancer UK.

"I have this helping syndrome. I really care about people," Klopp said at the time.

The German manager also participated in James Milner's 2018 charity match in Scotland. Named 'A Match For Cancer', the friendly was co-sponsored by the James Milner Foundation and featured Liverpool players on one team and Brendan Rodgers managing the other. The likes of Dirk Kuyt, Robbie Keane and Luis Garcia all featured.

“The people saw a lot of big names, still in a good shape," the German manager said after the game. "That they all came over here and did what they did is really nice. It was for something really good and that’s why we were all here.

“I really respect a lot what 'Millie' is doing with his foundation. It’s great. The gala is once a year and I was there three times. It’s a fantastic event and everybody is so generous. He invests a lot of time and money and all the people on the night invest a lot of money. It’s all for a really good project, I like that a lot."

Klopp is also invested in the club's charity events and fundraisers, a frequent visitor to Alder Hey hospital and participates in LFC Foundation events raising money for those who have cystic fibrosis.

He also is a participant of Juan Mata's Common Goal initiative, in which he donates 1 per cent of his salary to charity.

What cars does Jurgen Klopp drive?

Unlike his colleagues on the pitch, the German drives a rather modest Opel Insignia (priced at around £18,000) and has even appeared in a series of commercials for the car .

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Original author: Goal
  119 Hits

'I felt a yard off at times, but I'm just grateful to be back' - Loftus-Cheek vows to regain 'sharpness' after Chelsea return

The English midfielder says "it felt amazing" to be back in action at the weekend, and he is now determined to rediscover his best form

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has admitted that he "felt a yard off" the pace during Chelsea's win over Aston Villa on Sunday, but has vowed to regain his mental and physical "sharpness" after returning from injury.

Loftus-Cheek was handed his first start of the season as Chelsea earned a 2-1 victory at Villa Park in their first game back following the coronavirus-enforced break.

The 24-year-old had to watch on from the sidelines for the Blues' previous 29 fixtures due to an Achilles injury, which has kept him out of action since May 2019.

The England international had just begun to establish himself as a vital member of the squad before his progress was halted, but he is now on the comeback trail under the stewardship of Frank Lampard.

Loftus-Cheek played 55 minutes on the right-hand side of midfield against Villa before being substituted for Christian Pulisic, and struggled to affect the game in any meaningful way.

However, the talented playmaker says he was "just grateful to be back", and that his "smell for the game" will soon be rediscovered if he continues to take in regular minutes.

"Honestly it felt amazing after so long without playing, 13 months since my last competitive game," Loftus-Cheek told Chelsea's official website. "To get on the pitch, even though there were no fans and it felt slightly different, it was amazing to feel that competitive spirit again.

"I’m just being grateful to be playing. I started against Aston Villa and I didn’t play as well as I wanted to play, but I just came off the pitch thinking I can’t be angry about that. I’ve just been out for 13 months.

"I did feel a yard off at times, physically and mentally, the feel of the game, how you would when you’re sharp and playing every week. I couldn’t say I felt like that. It’s hard to explain. You don’t have that smell for the game but it will come back the more I play.

"I wasn’t too hard on myself, I’m just happy to play and grateful to be back on the pitch. Slowly as I play more that sharpness will get better, and physically I will feel much better as well."

The Chelsea midfielder added on his desire to win back a spot in the middle of the park as he gets back up to speed: "I want to do as much as I can for the team.

"I played on the wing at the weekend, but I’ve played in midfield most of my career. Wherever I play I hope to bring what I can bring, my power and my strength, and try and get as many goals as possible.

"That’s what I did last season, getting in the box and trying to get goals, and using physicality in the middle of the park. I can’t wait to feel that power back and get my strength and speed to where it was last season."

Lampard's men are now looking ahead to a crunch showdown against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, and Loftus-Cheek is hopeful the Blues can still make home advantage count in the continued absence of supporters.

"The mood in the dressing room is really good, really bubbly and excited for it, especially coming off the back of a win," he said. "We’re obviously coming up against a really good team, and they can pose a threat, but we can pose a threat as well. We’ve got a really good team.

"They’re coming to our ground and even though our fans aren’t there, we are used to being at Stamford Bridge. Hopefully, that has an impact. As a team, we are looking to win, as always, and we’re really excited."

  412 Hits

'14 more title chances’ - Alexander-Arnold hints at long Liverpool stay

A product of the Reds’ academy system has suggested that he will look to see out his career as a one-club man, while chasing down “every trophy”

Trent Alexander-Arnold has suggested that he will look to spend his entire playing career as a one-club man at Liverpool, with the Anfield academy graduate eyeing up another “14 more chances” of Premier League title glory with the Reds.

The Merseyside native is approaching the end of his third full season as a regular first-teamer. Despite still only being 21 years of age, Alexander-Arnold is already up to 127 appearances for Liverpool and has Champions League and Club World Cup winners’ medal to his name.

He is about to add an English top-flight crown to that collection, as Jurgen Klopp’s side close in on a long-awaited domestic triumph, and the hope is that they will be many more to come.

Alexander-Arnold intends to play a leading role in the pursuit of more silverware, with the England international right-back hinting at a lengthy stay on the Reds’ books.

He told MR PORTER: “I want every trophy and as many of them as possible. I remember Alex Inglethorpe breaking it down into a thought process that I’ve never stopped thinking about since.

“It was when I was around 18 and he asked me ‘When do you retire? Maybe when you’re around 34 or 35.’ That’s 17 years. So, you’ve only got 17 attempts to win the Premier League, 17 attempts to win the Champions League or any other trophy.

“As much you think that’s a long time, the reality is you get only 17 tries and there will be failure, which is natural and will reduce that number.”

Alexander-Arnold, who made his Liverpool debut in October 2016, added on his ambition: “I’ve been in the senior team fully for three seasons. The first try ended in a Champions League final defeat. The second, we missed the title by one point, but became champions of Europe.

“This season, we’re about to win the Premier League. So, I’m already thinking I’ve only got 14 more chances.

“Even though you can play hundreds of games, the fact is you only get a few attempts at silverware. I really pour everything into each season and focus on the here and now.

“It doesn’t help to think about the future and winning five or six trophies or whatever because you’re then losing sight of the opportunity in front of you to do something special.

“I know that if you get into that relentless habit, with a great team, a great manager and a great support structure, the chances will automatically be maximised.”

Alexander-Arnold caught the eye once again on his most recent outing, which has put Liverpool on the brink of title glory, with a spectacular free-kick recorded in a 4-0 mauling of Crystal Palace.

Original author: Chris Burton
  644 Hits

Borussia Dortmund reveal Reyna contract plan as they seek to keep U.S. teen sensation long term

The Bundesliga giants are understandably keen to keep the exciting 17-year-old on their books and will be putting an offer to the youngster
Original author: Chris Burton
  389 Hits

Nyamweya: Western Stima and Co. should transform to community clubs after sponsorship debacle

KPLC announced their exit from sponsoring the teams and the FKF Presidential Candidate has proposed ways to help the teams stay afloat

Veteran administrator Sam Nyamweya has requested the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) to consider allowing three clubs initially sponsored by the company to be sponsored by other investors.

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Western Stima and two National Super League sides, Coast Stima and Nairobi Stima were initially under the KPLC before they pulled out.

"We the football stakeholders were taken aback by the announcement by Kenya Power and Lighting Company of withdrawing sponsorship from three of its football teams participating in the Kenyan Premier League and the second-tier League the National Superleague, citing adverse business environment owing to the Covid-19 pandemic," the Football Kenya Federation Presidential candidate said in a letter addressed to company's Managing Director and CEO Bernard Ngugi and obtained by Goal.

"It is without a doubt that the KPLC has consistently and over the years supported football through the innovative Charity Cup and by sponsoring their own Company branded football teams.

"The withdrawal of a trusted partner like Kenya Power and Lighting Company is devastating to the football ecosystem and the consequences far-reaching.

"The immediate casualties being Western Stima FC a top Kenyan Premier League club which has been consistent and posted good results over the years in the Kenyan Premier League, the other casualties are the National Superleague sides Nairobi Stima who finished fourth and their sister club Coast Stima which finished seventh on the Log in the National Super League 2019/2020 League season."

Nyamweya has gone ahead to propose ways in which the three clubs can get another sponsor to continue taking part in their respective leagues in future.

"I propose that Kenya Power and lighting company consider reverting Coast Stima Football club to its original status as a community club based in Mombasa and revert to its previous name Coast United FC. 


"The County Government of Mombasa through His Excellency Governor Ali Joho considers sponsoring Coast United which, for all intents and purposes, represents the football face of the Coastal Community and specifically that of Mombasa without prejudice to Bandari FC and Modern Coast Rangers equally teams from Mombasa County.

The County of Nairobi has been challenged to adopt Nairobi Stima and rebrand it to Nairobi County FC as well. However, Nyamweya proposes something else on the Kisumu based side.

"Western Stima FC, whose name connotes close association with western region Counties, though in practice Western Stima is a Kisumu based team, considers relocating to the North Rift Region and be adopted, sponsored and rebranded by either Uasin Gishu County Government, Trans Nzoia County Government, Nandi County or Elgeyo Marakwet County Government.  

"The rationale for the relocation of Western Stima to the North Rift region is three-fold, one the North Rift Region has not had a team in the top tier league for a while, two there is enormous talent in the North Rift Region that can be harnessed to make the team a powerhouse in Kenyan football, three Kakamega County is sponsoring Kakamega Homeboyz and Kisumu County is Sponsoring Kisumu All-stars and it will be highly unlikely for the two Counties to sponsor an additional team and more so a top tier team whose budget is quite high."

The administrator believes this is the only way for the clubs to continue existing after the departure of KPLC.

"It is my considered opinion that if my proposal is well received and accepted it will cushion the players from loss of income and a platform to showcase their talents, the same will trigger a football renaissance in the proposed Counties and the enormous investment by Kenya Power and Lighting Company will be safeguarded and secured." 

 

Original author: Seth Willis
  452 Hits

Traore and Jimenez solid partnership continues in Wolves victory over Bournemouth

The Mexican forward and Spanish-Malian winger combined once again to give the West Midlands outfit all three points

Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez combined for the 10th time in the Premier League this season as Wolverhampton Wanderers eased to a 1-0 win over Bournemouth at the Molineux on Wednesday.

Wolves have been in superb form this season largely thanks to this duo whose chemistry keeps going stronger each passing game.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men had claimed a 2-0 win at West Ham United in the resumption of Premier League fixtures last weekend. It was not an easy one though as they had to wait until the 73rd to get their first goal courtesy of Jimenez from a Traore assist followed by Pedro Neto netting the second from a Matt Doherty assist.

Traore started in attack this time alongside Jimenez and Diogo Jota and they had to wait until the 60th minute for the goal to come, Traore’s well-drilled cross on the right flank finding Jimenez who fired a powerful header home.

The involvement between Traore and Jimenez made it the 10th time this season both combined for a goal, which is the highest in the Premier League, ahead of Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne (six), Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino (five) and Norwich City’s Teemu Pukki and Todd Cantwell (five).

Traore has now been involved in 19 goals this term in all competitions (six goals, 12 assists) while Jimenez has almost double that tally as the club’s leading marksman with 34 (24 goals, 10 assists).

The Mexican forward and Catalonia-born winger of Malian descent have also been heavily involved in fixtures with a joint 91 apperances in a campaign that sees Wolves still involved in the Europa League with a 1-1 first leg result at Olympiacos in the round of 16.

Traore has also had the reputation being fouled a lot by the opposition which has led to 21 cards been dished out, three more ahead of Crystal Palace and Ivory Coast forward Wilfried Zaha with 18.

Wolves are neck on neck with fifth-placed Manchester United in the standings on 49 points, just two points shy of fourth-placed Chelsea who later play Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday night.

Original author: Kunle Fayiga
  373 Hits

Kane is a complete player but Martial can be Man Utd's permanent No.9, says Yorke

The former Red Devil does not think his old club need to bring in the Tottenham striker due to the continued presence of the in-form Frenchman

Dwight Yorke thinks, although rumoured Manchester United target Harry Kane is a "complete player", current first-choice forward Anthony Martial is capable of serving as the club's permanent No.9.

United are reportedly weighing up a big-money move for Tottenham talisman Kane in the summer window. The England captain has left the door open for a potential transfer in order to fulfil his silverware ambitions, and Old Trafford has been mooted as his most likely next destination.

The Red Devils decided against signing a replacement for Romelu Lukaku when he joined Inter last year, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer instead placing his trust in Martial to lead the line.

The Frenchman has not yet proven he can deliver the goods on a consistent basis, but a superb hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Sheffield United on Wednesday served as a stark reminder of his potential through the middle.

Yorke has suggested his old club will have no need for Kane if Martial builds on his latest performance to nail down a coveted spot in Solskjaer's line up.

The ex-United marksman told Talksport: “Martial’s hat-trick last night and the way he scored the three goals shows he’s an accomplished finisher.

“The fact is: when you play for United you’re scrutinised if you’re inconsistent and singled out for criticism if you don’t perform. We’ve got to remember these are young players and are very new into the Man United way of life.

“United are always linked with quality players and Harry Kane is at the top of the tree in terms of a No.9, he’s a complete player - but what we’ve seen is that United have invested a lot in young players and the No.9 position is a tricky position to play, it’s a specialist position, Ally [McCoist] will vouch for that.

“So if someone like Harry Kane wants to join our football club that can only be a huge plus, but for now we have a lot of talent in the young squad and they just need game time."

Yorke continued: “To be a No.9 you need to play there week-in, week-out; not one week on the left, then on the right and then you come back into the centre.

“The best goalscorers in the history of the Premier League, Alan Shearer for instance, he only played in one position and he wasn’t interested in anywhere else.

“The likes of Robbie Fowler, Andy Cole, Sergio Aguero, they only played in one position and that’s why they were the best, and Harry Kane is in that bracket too.

“Martial has been at the club for a few years now and his preferred position is playing as a centre-forward, and he got his opportunity and he really made it count. So I think he’s ready to go.”

  373 Hits

Man Utd and Chelsea-linked Rice told to ‘sort his life out’ by West Ham icon McAvennie ahead of ‘big-money’ move

The Hammers legend concedes that a star of the present could leave the club in the next window, with England ambitions set to see his head turned

Declan Rice has been told he needs to “sort his life out” when it comes to an important decision on his future, with West Ham legend Frank McAvennie conceding that the Manchester United and Chelsea-linked star could form part of a “big money” transfer in the next window.

Speculation is building again when it comes to a possible move away from east London for the versatile England international.

A switch to Old Trafford for the talented 21-year-old has been mooted for some time, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer putting performers who tick home-grown boxes at the top of his wish list.

Stamford Bridge has, however, been billed as an alternative landing spot for Rice – who spent several years within Chelsea’s academy system before being forced to chase a professional dream elsewhere.

Those at West Ham are understandably reluctant to part with a prized asset, but their hand may be forced if a tempting offer is tabled.

McAvennie expects interest to be shown when the market re-opens, with Rice’s potential for further development clear for all to see.

The Hammers hero is, however, eager to see a definitive call made as quickly as possible, so that everyone knows where they stand, with player and club having previous when it comes to causing confusion.

McAvennie told Football Insider: “I hope Declan Rice sorts his life out. There are a lot of rumours about him going and I am not sure if he will stay this summer.

“Look what he did to Ireland. He could not make up his mind.

“I do not think he will be a stalwart for England over the next few years because they have got a lot of players coming through.

“Yes, Declan is playing every week but he might think that he has to go to a big club and shine to cement his place in the England side, but if he goes they will be getting big money for him.”

It has been suggested that a bid of over £50 million ($62m) from one of his many suitors will be required in order to prise Rice from West Ham’s clutches, with some reports suggesting that his asking price may rise as far as £100m ($124m).

Original author: Chris Burton
  458 Hits

Peterson: Bidvest Wits goalkeeper addresses Orlando Pirates rumours

The 25-year-old’s unwillingness to relocate to Venda has fuelled rumours linking him with the Buccaneers

Bidvest Wits goalkeeper Brandon Peterson says he is not ready to relocate to Limpopo following the sale of the Braamfontein outfit to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.

The former Ajax Cape Town goalkeeper has been strongly linked with Orlando Pirates, who are reportedly interested in a number of Wits players including captain Thulani Hlatshwayo.

Although he has cited family reasons for his unpreparedness to move out of Gauteng, that stance appears to be fuelling the Bucs rumours.

With most Wits players on the move in the next transfer window, Peterson has however said that he has not been in talks with any club.

“As things stand, I am still a Wits player. I haven't had any discussions with any club. My agent [Lance Davids] is still busy binding things for me. I am from Cape Town and it was already difficult to come to Gauteng,” said Peterson as per Sowetan Live.

“My wife is pregnant and she's due in August... she's already relocated from Cape Town to here [Gauteng]. It's my second child now. I don't think it'd be a nice thing for us to move to Venda.

“My focus is still on Wits. I am happy we'll be returning soon. We will keep on fighting to make sure we have good memories of the club's last season.”

Peterson arrived at Wits from Ajax at the start of the current season and has managed five clean sheets in 11 appearances and conceded eight goals.

Pirates’ rumoured interest in the goalkeeper comes as they have been in the hunt for a gloveman for next season and have been linked with Peterson’s Wits teammate Ricardo Goss who has however chosen Mamelodi Sundowns.

Maritzburg United goalkeeper Richard Ofori has for the better part of the season been talked to be a target of Pirates.

The arrival of a new goalkeeper at the Buccaneers is likely to see the departure of one between Sandilands, Frenchman Joris Delle and Siyabonga Mpontshane who form the Pirates goalkeeping department.

Original author: Michael Madyira
  619 Hits

‘Man Utd still need a No 9 despite Martial hat-trick’ – Owen believes Frenchman is better out wide

The former Red Devils striker admits now is “the right time to be playing centre-forward” at OId Trafford given the creative options acquired
Original author: Chris Burton
  332 Hits

Copa Lib knockouts begin with COVID-19 dominating storylines

The Premier League leaders travel to the current champions next Thursday after local chiefs said the Citizens' home ground could stage the fixture

Liverpool's trip to Manchester City next week will take place at the Etihad Stadium after council officials decided there was no need to move the game.

The July 2 fixture had been earmarked as one that was being considered for being moved to a neutral venue, as Liverpool close in on the Premier League title.

Concerns that Liverpool fans could gather in large numbers, at a time when the coronavirus pandemic remains a threat to public health, had led to suggestions some games could be moved.

Greater Manchester Police has been carrying out risk assessments of Premier League games in the area, and the visit of Liverpool has now been cleared by Manchester City Council.

Councillor Luthfur Rahman, an executive member for skills, culture and leisure, said: “The council's safety advisory group [SAG] for the Etihad Stadium met this morning to review the upcoming fixture between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC.

"Following the most recent round of Premier League fixtures, which have all taken place behind closed doors, the SAG has signalled it has no objections to the above fixture taking place at the Etihad Stadium as planned at 8.15pm, Thursday July 2.

"As with all other Premier League matches this fixture will take place behind closed doors, with no fans present."

Liverpool have moved to the brink of becoming English champions for the first time since 1990 after a 4-0 home win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday left them needing a maximum of two points from their remaining seven games.

There is a possibility of the title being secured before Liverpool head to Manchester, with City needing to win at Chelsea this Thursday to delay celebrations on Merseyside.

Jurgen Klopp's side would make certain of the title with a draw at City, given Pep Guardiola's team are the only side that can mathematically catch Liverpool.

After making the best-ever start to a season by a club in Europe’s top five leagues in 2019-20, Liverpool were on a relentless march towards the Premier League title, but Jurgen Klopp's side were struck a cruel blow by the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020, with real concerns that the Premier League could be cancelled early.

Luckily for the Reds and their supporters, who are hoping to end decades of disappointment, the Premier League restarted in June after three months of no games, meaning the fight continues for silverware.

  98 Hits

KNVB block lucrative sex toy sponsor for Eredivisie side FC Emmen

The former Blues winger is delighted to see a Spanish defender influencing proceedings at both ends of the field for Frank Lampard’s side

After delivering two assists to the Chelsea cause in their battling 2-1 victory over Aston Villa, Blues legend Pat Nevin has joked that the Spaniard is having “difficulty in remembering where a right full-back is supposed to play”.

Frank Lampard’s top-four hopefuls required inspiration from somewhere after falling behind against relegation-threatened opponents at Villa Park.

The unlikely source of Azpilicueta was to help turn the tide in their favour, with the club’s long-serving captain stepping up to lead by example.

It was the direct result of his efforts that led to Christian Pulisic and Olivier Giroud completing a come-from-behind triumph for Chelsea in the west Midlands.

Azpilicueta – who is affectionately known as ‘Dave’ by those at Stamford Bridge - has always been a reliable option for the Blues across his eight years in English football, but is better known for his defensive steel than attacking flair.

The versatile 30-year-old has, however, shown that he is capable of making important contributions at both ends of the field, with some more creative options being overshadowed on a Premier League stage.

“Cesar Azpilicueta has great difficulty in remembering where a right full-back is supposed to play! And I mean that in the most positive way possible,” Nevin told Chelsea’s official website when reflecting on a welcome win over Villa that has kept the Blues in a Champions League hunt.

“Dave was brilliant throughout, with a whole bunch of quality crosses, and he spent more time positioned as a right winger than he did as a right full-back.

“My thinking before the game was that he would have his hands and head full keeping Jack Grealish quiet, but he decided he would be even more creative than one of the Premier League’s most exciting and creative players.

“If you are playing number 10 and you get two assists, one from the right wing and one from the left wing in open play, you would be very happy, but doing that from right-back was amazing.

“I did some analysis just before the shutdown saying I thought he was becoming one of our most dangerous attackers and it got a few raised eyebrows in response. It doesn’t seem in the slightest bit weird now. He even had a near-post header at Villa Park that was unlucky to miss.”

Chelsea will be hoping that Azpilicueta can put in another talismanic performance in their next outing, with the Blues preparing to play host to Manchester City on Thursday.

Original author: Chris Burton
  94 Hits

Neymar Handed 3-Game Ban & Alvaro Gonzalez Under Investigation by LFP Following Racism Claims

The Ligue 1 champions have lost several young prospects in recent years, but they have persuaded the 18-year-old defender to stay in Paris

PSG have agreed a deal for another young academy talent to sign his first professional contract with the club, after Thierno Balde signed a three-year deal, Goal understands.

The 18-year-old defender follows team-mate Kenny Nagera in signing with the Ligue 1 champions, with the deal set to be officially confirmed by the club in the coming days.

Discussions between PSG and Balde have lasted several weeks, with the French side determined not to let another young talent slip through their fingers.

Central defender Balde has impressed senior staff in his journey through the academy levels at PSG, and this season appeared four times in the UEFA Youth League - the junior level equivalent of the Champions League - although they went out at the group stage after finishing behind Real Madrid and Club Brugge.

He also helped them to the quarter-finals of the Coupe Gambardella - the cup competition for French Under-19 club teams - before the competition was curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, he helped the side to third place in the Championnat National U19 League, behind Le Havre and Amiens.

Balde joins 18-year-old striker Nagera in signing his first professional terms with PSG, as the Parisians attempt to protect their best young assets from transfer interest domestically and from around Europe.

Their decisions to remain at PSG are a major boost for the club, who have recently lost defender Tanguy Kouassi on a free transfer to Bayern Munich, while midfielder Adil Aouchiche also looks likely to depart this summer.

With Ligue 1 curtailed and the club handed the domestic title once more, Thomas Tuchel's side only have their currently unscheduled Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue finals to complete on the domestic front, while they await confirmation of who they will face in the Champions League quarter-finals in Lisbon during a condensed mini-tournament style finale.

The decision to cancel the rest of the French top-flight campaign - one of only a few European nations to do so because of Covid-19 - ensured that PSG retained their crown and a place in the Champions League once again next term.

Tuchel's men were 12 points clear of second-place Marseille with a game in hand when the action was stopped, and were subsequently named champions for a third successive season on a points-per-game basis.

 

  96 Hits

USMNT wonderkid Musah at perfect club for his development, says Valencia legend Angulo

The former Spurs midfielder thinks the England international could be the "missing piece" in the current Red Devils squad

Manchester United will win the title again if they sign Harry Kane, according to Jamie O'Hara, who says Old Trafford is the ideal destination for the Tottenham star to fulfil his trophy ambitions.

Kane has proved himself as one of the top strikers in European football since bursting onto the scene at Tottenham in 2014. The 26-year-old has hit a staggering 182 goals in 280 appearances for Spurs, with his latest effort coming in a 2-0 win over West Ham on Tuesday.

The England international has missed a large portion of the 2019-20 season through injury, and his second-half strike against the Hammers was his first of 2020.

Despite his struggles for fitness, Kane has been Tottenham's top scorer once again, netting 18 in all competitions, but he is still waiting to pick up the first major piece of silverware of his career.

The prolific centre-forward admitted in March that he would not hesitate to leave Spurs if he feels as though no progress is being made on the elite stage, and United are reportedly among those keeping a close eye on his situation.

The Red Devils have yet to bring in a natural replacement for Romelu Lukaku up front, with Anthony Martial currently filling that role impressively, and O'Hara thinks Kane could be the man to help bring back the glory days at Old Trafford.

“Listen, I would love to see him stay at Spurs,” the former Tottenham midfielder told Talksport. “But they have to match his ambition.

“He wants to win trophies and Man United, for me, are still the biggest club in the world. Even though they are not where they were, they are still the biggest club in the world, and I think the missing piece in that United team, even though Martial is a fantastic player, if they did sign someone like Harry Kane then you are talking about a team that wins the title again.”

Martial hit a superb hat-trick during United's 3-0 win against Sheffield United on Wednesday, taking his tally for the season to 19 in the process.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was effusive in his praise of a prized asset post-match, but O'Hara is not certain the Frenchman can be a permanent number nine for the Red Devils.

“I think Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hit the nail on the head really when he said he is capable of doing that, and he is," O'Hara added. “I mean, he can be a world-class player, he showed yesterday how good he was with his finishing in and around the box.

“For me, the jury is still out on him in terms of whether he can be the number nine at Man United who is going to go on and be a legend and win them trophies.

“Personally, I don’t think that is him, I don’t think he is quite at that level. When you talk of the players they have had over the years; Rooney, Tevez, Van Nistelrooy, Van Persie, I just don’t know if Martial does it enough on a weekly basis to win them a title.”

  94 Hits

UEFA's confusing Champions League changes will -- once again -- benefit only big clubs

Qatar had adopted an array of preventive measures ever since the infection was detected among its workers...

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), the organisation responsible for delivering the infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has confirmed the first death due to Covid-19 among its workforce engaged in various World Cup-related projects.

The victim was a 51-year-old specialist engineer who was employed by one of SC's contractors who had been working in the projects since 2019.

"Sadly, on June 11, 2020, a 51-year-old specialist engineer employed by the contractor Conspel, tragically died after contracting COVID-19," a statement from SC read.

"He had worked on Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy projects since October 2019 and had no underlying health issues. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends."

The Coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc throughout the world and SC confirmed the first cases of the infection among its workforce back in April. Along with the announcement, the SC had also laid down the list of preventive measures they had taken to ensure the spread is contained.

Various mitigation measures had been adopted by the SC including distribution of masks and sanitisers across all the World Cup project sites. The SC established quarantine and isolation facilities in all the sites. A process to check and monitor the body temperature of workers twice a day was implemented.

This is in addition to various awareness classes and campaigns run to ensure the workers are well abreast of the issue and know how to safeguard themselves.

SC also initiated a risk assessment review of their existing caterers' kitchen facilities and suggested upgrades to a few and identified those that needed replacement to maintain hygiene in order to mitigate the crisis.

The organisers have also mentioned that the work at the World Cup sites had slowed down due to the pandemic and the preventive measures it had undertaken. But since 80 per cent of the work had alerady been completed they don't expect any slowdown in terms of completing the projects. The work is on time.

Just two weeks back, SC had unveiled the Education Cuty stadium after a digital launch.

 

Original author: Goal
  94 Hits

Yes, it is definitely too early for Steven Gerrard to replace Jurgen Klopp

The ex-Reds striker believes those at Anfield should be considering a move for a familiar face, with added creativity still required in their ranks

Liverpool fans would welcome Philippe Coutinho back to the club with open arms, says Emile Heskey, with the Brazilian playmaker still considered to be a “wizard” despite his struggles at Barcelona.

A 2018 transfer to Camp Nou has not played out as hoped for the South American schemer.

Coutinho chased the dream when leaving Merseyside for Catalunya, but a spell with La Liga giants has quickly become a nightmare – with a season-long loan at Bayern Munich failing to wake him from his slumber.

Another switch is now being mooted for the 28-year-old, with the Premier League considered his most likely destination. Plenty of teams in England are being linked with moves to land a player who starred during a productive five-year stint at Anfield.

Liverpool are yet to show their hand, with many suggesting that the Reds have moved on and have no need to build bridges with a player who forced his way through the exit.

Heskey, though, feels that Coutinho could still offer plenty to a side that has lacked a creative No.10 in his absence, with fond memories still held of his 54 goals and 45 assists for the Reds.

"What he did when he was with the Reds was phenomenal," former Liverpool striker Heskey told Sky Sports. "He's a phenomenal player and everything good Liverpool did at that time went through him

"So I think he would be welcomed back with open arms at Liverpool and the fans would absolutely love to have him back - but are you getting that same player back?

"Generally you don't but ask any Liverpool fan, they would love to have Coutinho back and that wizard playing in the midfield there."

Heskey added: "When you look at Philippe Coutinho, a lot of the good stuff went through him. He was the main player at Liverpool and he felt that way.

"When he went to Barcelona where you have Lionel Messi in the side and then you become a secondary or sometimes third or fourth in line then it can dent your confidence a bit, especially when you've come from a team where the focus is all on you.

"You've got to adapt your game and sometimes players can't adapt that and then going to Bayern, it could possibly be the same. They've got players in there that are established and know what they want to do and he's got to fit into that and sometimes that's hard."

Original author: Chris Burton
  97 Hits

Daniel Levy & Fabio Paratici have different opinions on new Tottenham manager

The internet giant is offering access to live games from England's top flight, including clashes involving Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal

The Premier League is broadcast to supporters worldwide and Amazon Prime has joined the list of platforms showing matches in the United Kingdom.

The live-streaming service, which has already dipped its toe into the drama of English football with documentaries about Manchester City and Steven Gerrard, secured a three-year UK broadcast deal until 2022.

Goal brings you everything you need to know about Amazon Prime's Premier League offering.

Contents

Which 2019-20 Premier League matches will be on Amazon Prime? How much does it cost to watch Premier League on Amazon Prime?

Which 2019-20 Premier League matches will be on Amazon Prime?

Amazon Prime was initially set to broadcast a total of 20 Premier League matches a season for the next three seasons.

However, the streaming service's offering was increased slightly following the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, with a four games made available to watch for free.

Those free games will also be made available to watch on Twitch, according to a report in Deadline.

You can see the full list of 2019-20 Premier League games on Amazon Prime below.

Tuesday December 3, 2019

Wednesday December 4, 2019

Thursday December 5, 2019

Sheffield Utd vs Newcastle (7:30pm GMT) Arsenal vs Brighton (8:15pm GMT)

Thursday December 26, 2019 (Boxing Day)

Tottenham vs Brighton (12:30 GMT) Bournemouth vs Arsenal (3pm GMT) Aston Villa vs Norwich (3pm GMT) Chelsea vs Southampton (3pm GMT) Crystal Palace vs West Ham (3pm GMT) Everton vs Burnley (3pm GMT) Sheffield Utd vs Watford (3pm GMT) Man Utd vs Newcastle (5:30pm GMT) Leicester vs Liverpool (8pm GMT)

Friday December 27, 2019

Wolves vs Man City (7:45pm GMT)

Monday July June 29, 2020

Crystal Palace vs Burnley (8pm BST)*

Thursday July 9, 2020

Everton vs Southampton (6pm BST)*

Saturday July 11, 2020

*Available to watch for free

As well as the above selection of live matches, Amazon Prime also offers users the chance to see game highlights each week.

You can also stay up to date on the latest games being broadcast live in the UK on our dedicated page.

Return to top

How much does it cost to watch Premier League on Amazon Prime?

A yearly subscription to Amazon Prime costs £79 a year or £7.99 a month, similar to other streaming services such as Netflix. There is a 30-day free trial on offer for new members too.

Once you subscribe, the aforementioned Premier League matches can be watched on any smart TV, mobile device or via an Amazon Fire Stick.

Of course, a subscription will not only grant access to live games and highlights, but the full range of Amazon Prime programmes, including the aforementioned documentaries and others including 'Take the Ball, Pass the Ball', which focuses on the Guardiola-era Barcelona team, and the Zlatan Ibrahimovic study, 'Becoming Zlatan'.

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Original author: Ryan Kelly
  92 Hits

Real Madrid all messed up after Shakhtar loss - Kroos

The tactician says a good instructor must be an enthusiast and a fanatic at the same time which could be missing nowadays

Asaph Mwebaze has explained why most of the current Ugandan coaches are not the best compared to the previous ones.

Mwebaze, who has been in charge of Maroons FC, Onduaparaka FC and Nyamityobora FC before, says in the recent past, coaches were led by passion something which is not the case with modern tacticians. 

“The best coaches in Uganda are those that actually got that education first before the advent of Caf courses,” Mwebaze said as was quoted by Sports Nation .

“It was first a calling and then passion took over. Lately, there are so many overly educated football coaches but have failed to master the art of the game.

“To understand football, you must be an enthusiast and a fanatic at the same time.

“Most of our peers talk a good game especially on social media and in the press but it is difficult to see when you watch the games.”

Mwebaze pointed out exactly what he thinks is wrong with the current crop of coaches who are in charge of most league clubs in the country.

“We all cannot play like Barcelona but can play like Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Stoke City or even Bright Stars under coach Kajoba Fred,” added the tactician.

“Many coaches don’t understand football as a structural building but as a makeshift tent! Every team must be built with a foundation to do specifically something in order to attain the end goal.

“But this is not what we see nowadays, we see a lot of copy and paste which may not be relevant to the topics of each football team.”

Mwebaze feels the best place for any aspiring coach is to get the necessary experience from lower league sides.

“Every coach wants to start their careers in the top-flight league because they have the qualifications as per association rules. The experience that is needed in the Premier League can only be gotten in the lower divisions and the challenges in there,” he concluded.

“There in the lower leagues, you can experiment and control the outcome easily with less pressure if the aim of coaching was to get better and achieve more.

“But unfortunately, most coaches’ CVs read like the cream of the Uganda football league but without any tangible results to show.

“The fundamentals of coaching can be learned in district leagues, regional leagues and maybe to a very small extent in the [Fufa] Big League.

“So, any coach that hasn’t coached in those leagues will, by and large, fail the ultimate test in the Premier League.”

During the 2019/20 season, a number of top-tier clubs, including eventual champions Vipers SC, sacked and hired new coaches for what they termed poor results.

Original author: Kiplagat Sang
  90 Hits

Man Utd & Chelsea-linked Rice no longer available for 'bargain' £100m, insists West Ham boss Moyes

Real Madrid may have moved above the Blaugrana in the standings, but the Chilean midfielder believes the reigning champions are in fine fettle

Barcelona's squad are in "perfect condition" for the end-of-season run-in and to pip Real Madrid to La Liga glory, according to Arturo Vidal.

Spain's top-flight resumed this month with defending champions Barca two points clear of Madrid, but that advantage was wiped out by the Blaugrana's stalemate with Sevilla last Friday.

Zinedine Zidane's side have won four out of four since the restart and are now top due to their superior head-to-head record against Barca, who are bidding to win a third title in a row.

Quique Setien's men won their last outing at home to Athletic club to put pressure on Madrid, but the Blancos maintained their advantage by beating Mallorca 2-0 Wednesday.

However, Vidal is optimistic Barca can handle the rigours of a hectic schedule that will see them play seven league games in the space of three weeks, with a view to picking up a third successive domestic crown.

"As the games are closer together we need to use the time as best we can to ensure we go into the next game in the best possible shape," he told FOX Sports.

"But I think we are in perfect condition to be champions.

"The great atmosphere among the team is an important factor. We have all become close friends and that helps on the field. It's very important because it really shows. I'm happy."

Barca's season will not end when their La Liga campaign concludes at Deportivo Alaves on the weekend of July 18-19.

Setien's side are still in the Champions League and have the second leg of their last-16 tie with Napoli to play in August, having drawn 1-1 in Italy back in February.

The quarter-finals and semi-finals are now one-legged games that will take place in Lisbon, the City which will also host the final, and Vidal is excited about the way the Champions League will finish.

"I like the format," he added.

"If we can beat Napoli it's going to be very odd because of how and where it's happening, in August and over single legs.

"But all-or-nothing games are the ones I like the best. I want to be important in those games."

Original author: Liam Blackburn
  99 Hits

Unlock the speed of Salah and Son this Christmas with the adidas X Ghosted

With a Colombia international finding himself frozen out in Spain, a fellow countryman wonders why he agreed to return to Santiago Bernabeu

James Rodriguez’s current situation at Real Madrid is a result of “bad decisions”, says fellow Colombian Faustino Asprilla, with the talented playmaker told he should have stayed at Bayern Munich.

The 2019-20 campaign has been another frustrating one for James at Santiago Bernabeu.

He has been restricted to just 14 appearances across all competitions, with Zinedine Zidane opting to favour other creative options.

More was expected from James when he returned to Spain in the summer of 2019, with a spark in his game having been rekindled during a productive two-year loan spell at Bayern.

Asprilla believes his compatriot should have been pushing to make that move permanent.

For the former Parma and Newcastle star, happiness can only be found when playing regularly.

James is being denied those opportunities at present, despite starting a 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad, and has been advised to give greater thought to big decisions on his future.

Asprilla told Blu Radio: "It seemed very strange to me that James decided not to stay at Bayern Munich.

"These are the consequences of bad decisions. What is one's happiness?

"The happiness of a footballer is playing. They valued him more there.

"Cities have lots to do with families and players' decisions because, for example, lots of players would like to play for Manchester City, but the city is not what they expect and they get bored.

"I went to Newcastle. Where could be stranger? Impossible.

"I didn't get bored because I was happy where I was playing football.

"I've been in great cities, like Newcastle, where the sun didn't shine, where it snowed, then rained... a very strange thing."

James’ contract with Real is set to run for another 12 months, but interest in his services is expected to be shown in the next transfer window.

A move to the Premier League has been mooted on a regular basis in the past, with Asprilla having previously stated that he feels a fellow countryman should be exploring options in England.

He has said: Manchester United would be a good place for James. It’s been a while since they have been winning trophies and they are thinking about strengthening the team for next season.

“They’ve got good players – like Juan Mata, who plays in a similar style to James, although he’s a little more dynamic and attacking but I think James could easily fit into that side.”

Original author: Chris Burton
  96 Hits

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