Chelsea have announced Michael Emenalo has stepped down from his position as technical director.

Emenalo first joined the club in 2007 and has played a key role behind the scenes in the development of Chelsea s first team and academy.

In the 10 years Emenalo has been involved with the club, Chelsea have won three Premier League titles, three FA Cups, the EFL Cup, Europa League and Champions League, playing a major part in the assembling of those successful squads.

He became technical director in 2011 and led the Blues scouting and transfer activities.

Emenalo said in a statement: This has been a very difficult decision to make, but one I believe is right for both myself and my family, and the club.

I have had the privilege to work alongside some…

Ollie Watkins told Cole Palmer he would set him up for a goal as they were waiting to come on for England.

The forward then scored the winning goal, assisted by Palmer, to seal a 2-1 win over the Netherlands and book their place in the Euro 2024 final.

The Three Lions had to come from behind once again after Xavi Simons early goal gave the Netherlands the lead, before Harry Kane levelled from the spot shortly after.

Asked about his goal, Watkins said he knew what to expect as soon as Palmer got the ball at his feet.

I ve been waiting for that moment for weeks, Watkins told ITV Sport after the game.

It s taken a lot of hard work to get to where I am today. Grateful I got the opportunity, and I grabbed it with both hands. I m delighted.

I…

FIFA is considering expanding the next Women s World Cup to 32 teams and doubling the prize money, president Gianni Infantino has said.

The FIFA Council, made up of 37 members, is due to vote on the host for the 2023 tournament next March.

There are already nine countries interested in bidding, including recent men s World Cup hosts Brazil and South Africa.

Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Colombia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea are also prospective hosts for the next women s tournament.

We will need to act more quickly if we want to have 32 teams already in 2023,  Infantino said.

We will discuss it as a matter of urgency and see if we can already decide to increase for 2023, in which case we should re-open the bidding process and allow …

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel insists he will not make a decision on his future with the Premier League outfit until after Euro 2016.

Skrtel, 31, is in France as part of the Slovakia squad competing in Group B alongside England, Wales and Russia. 

The centre-half is the second longest serving player in Liverpool s squad after joining the club in January 2008. 

However, all signs are pointing to an Anfield exit in the off-season, with Fenerbahce and Roma reportedly two of the clubs interested in the Slovakian. 

Skrtel said there was nothing decided on his future via a post on his official Instagram, before dodging questions in a news conference on Sunday. 

I m fully focused on the national team and the game [against England on Monday], he s…

Market: Seattle Sounders win

Odds: 2/3 @

Looking to extend on their stellar MLS purple patch, Seattle will welcome St. Louis to Lumen Field in the early hours of Thursday.

Starting with the hosts, while Seattle might have opened up the 2024 campaign in the midst of a public struggle, the Sounders have come roaring back in a sensational fashion. Last seen putting in another eye-catching performance as they secured a 1-0 victory away at Austin, Brian Schmetzer’s men are enjoying what has become a stellar purple patch. Extending on their US Open Cup adventure on July 10th as they claimed a 2-1 win away at USL outfit Sacramento Republic, the mood around Lumen Field appears to be at a red-hot high. Opening July with a 2-0 victory against New England, the Greens hav…

Luton chief executive Gary Sweet “could not be prouder” of manager Rob Edwards after leading the club into the Sky Bet Championship play-off final against Coventry in his first year in charge.

Edwards only joined Luton in November 2022 but has taken them within touching distance of the Premier League after the Hatters beat Sunderland 3-2 on aggregate in last week’s play-off semi-final.

Sweet lauded the 40-year-old former Watford manager’s conduct since replacing the hugely successful Nathan Jones, with Luton vying for a return to the top flight just nine years after playing in non league.

“I couldn’t be prouder of Rob, we couldn’t have had a better human being come in to carry on the great job Nathan did and the mantle he left,” Sweet said.

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Guus Hiddink feels leading Chelsea to Champions League qualification would outstrip his initial FA Cup-winning spell at Stamford Bridge.

Veteran Dutch coach Hiddink was called upon for a second mid-season salvage job at Stamford Bridge after Jose Mourinho s title defence veered hugely off course.

Chelsea were two places and a point above above the relegation zone following Mourinho s final defeat at Leicester City, with the top four 14 points away.

But the reigning champions are yet to lose a domestic match under Hiddink and the eight-point gap to Manchester City and Manchester United in fourth and fifth appears bridgeable, particularly in light of City s floundering league form.

A repeat of the FA Cup success from when Hiddink replaced Luiz Felipe Scola…

Andres Iniesta expects Manchester City to be challenging for Champions League glory under Pep Guardiola.

Iniesta remains a fulcrum of the era of success Guardiola set in motion in 2008-09 at Barcelona, where the Catalan giants beat Manchester United in the Champions League final to complete a sensational treble.

Guardiola had the better of his latest clash with United in the Premier League on Saturday, as City made it six wins from as many competitive fixtures under his stewardship in a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.

Next up are Borussia Monchengladbach in Champions League Group C – a section City also share with Barca and Celtic

When the group was drawn it was inevitable that much would be made about Pep returning to Barcelona again but that is not what…

Barcelona are interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, according to Fabrizio Romano. The well-known and well-respected journalist has claimed that La Liga giants Barcelona are dreaming of bringing Messi back next summer, but he has added that the Argentina international forward has not made a decision on his future yet and is fully focused on PSG for the time being.

Messi joined PSG on a free transfer in the summer of 2021 after leaving Barcelona. The Argentine did not have the best of seasons in 2021-22, but he is on fire at the moment. Messi has scored four goals and given seven assists in eight Ligue 1 matches and has scored one goal and provided one assist in two UFA Champions League games for PSG so far this s…

Serbian defender Neven Subotic is nearing a move away from Signal-Iduna Park, according to La Capitale.

The 27-year-old has endured a tough time over the last few years and he is widely expected to end an eight-and-a-half-year spell with the Millionaires in January.

Subotic has successfully returned from a lengthy stint on the sidelines, and he has now been offered an escape route from Borussia Dortmund.

Belgian giants Anderlecht are keen on bringing the experienced defender to Stade Constant Vanden Stock at the earliest opportunity.

Subotic desperately need regular playing time if he is to get his career back on track and a season or two at Anderlecht could benefit him greatly.

The former Serbia international had performed at a very high level e…