Xavi had a meeting with Barca’s president, Joan Laporta, on Wednesday, and they agreed to continue the current project. The news was officially announced during a press conference on Thursday.

“Today, I have the satisfaction of informing you that Xavi will continue as the coach of Barça,” said Laporta.

“I’m a huge Barça fan. I have a high level of trust with the president and the board of directors. The complicity and support of the players has also been key,” added Xavi.

Xavi initially announced his decision to leave the club at the end of the 2023-24 season in January after a disappointing 5-3 loss to Villarreal in La Liga. At the time, Xavi said he felt that the club needed a new voice while also adding that the pressure that comes with coaching Barca has started to wear him off.

Since then, Barcelona embarked on an impressive run that saw them go undefeated in 13 games in all competitions. The streak ended with a 4-1 loss in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals against Paris Saint-Germain. Barca followed that up with a 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico.

Xavi was hired as Barca’s head coach in the summer of 2021. He guided the club to the La Liga title and Supercopa trophy in 2022–23, after which he signed an extension that runs through the 2024-25 season with an option for one additional year.

The post Xavi Changes His Mind About Leaving Barcelona, Will Stay Until End of His Contract appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Hazard will walk away at the age of 32. He made the decision after failing to find a new club this past summer.

“You must listen to yourself and say stop at the right time,” Hazard wrote on Instagram. “After 16 years and more than 700 matches played, I have decided to end my career as a professional footballer. I was able to realize my dream, I have played and had fun on many pitches around the world.”

Hazard agreed to a mutual contract termination with Real Madrid back in early June. Since then, there have been rumors about him continuing his career in Saudi Arabia and Australia, but neither of the proposed moves materialized.

Eden Hazard rose to prominence with Ligue 1 side Lille, where he displayed impressive technique and control of the ball while shouldering the task of being the team’s main creative force on the pitch. After five years of playing professionally in Lille, a stint that included a Ligue 1 title in 2010-11, Hazard secured a move to Chelsea.

Hazard immediately made an impact in London and emerged as the team’s best player during two Premier League title-winning runs. He ended up scoring 110 goals and dishing 92 assists in 352 games with Chelsea before leaving to join Real.

Real expected Hazard to make the same impact at Santiago Bernabeu as he made during his previous stops, but that didn’t happen. Hazard never lived up to his €100 million transfer fee, struggling with injuries and lack of form. In four years in Spain, the Belgian made only 76 appearances in all competitions and scored seven goals.  

The post Former Chelsea and Real Madrid Star Eden Hazard Retires at the Age of 32 appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Onana initially retired from international soccer after a falling out with Cameroon’s head coach, Rigobert Song, during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, the relationship between the two seemed to have improved following an intervention by the country’s government and football association.

Onana agreed to represent his country again for the last game of the AFCON qualifiers in September and helped Cameroon book a place in the tournament. However, taking part in AFCON would require the 27-year-old player to miss a month of Premier League action, something he has been reluctant to do.

Reportedly, Onana wants to remain with Manchester because his time with the club didn’t start the way he envisioned. Since arriving in the Premier League in a £47 million move from Inter Milan, Onana has been error-prone and struggled to keep a clean sheet.

In 10 matches he played for United, Onana conceded 18 goals and managed to keep his goal intact only three times. But despite this, the club’s manager, Erik Ten Hag, isn’t losing confidence in his No. 1.

“We are happy with our goalkeeping group,” said Ten Hag earlier this week. “Andre was in one semifinal of the Champions League [with Ajax], he was in the final last season [with Inter], so he has capabilities to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world and he has shown that. We have already seen in games his great capabilities, also his personality. He will bounce back.”

The post Andre Onana to Miss AFCON to Focus on Manchester United appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Martinez started the game on the bench and made his way into the game in the 55th minute. He proceeded to score his first goal seven minutes later and added three more by the 89th minute. By doing so, he became the first player to score four goals as a substitute in a single Seria A match.

Martinez was on a hot scoring streak even before the Salernitana game, scoring five times in the previous six Seria A matches. He now has 10 goals in eight matches in all competitions this season.

“I scored four goals but the important thing is that Inter won the game,” said Martinez after the game. “It was crucial for us. We lost a game at San Siro that I don’t think we deserved but we conceded two goals from our errors, so we had to win today.”

Inter won their opening five matches of the 2022-23 season in the domestic league before suffering a surprising 1-2 loss to Sassuolo on Wednesday. The most recent win allowed them to jump over their crosstown rivals Milan and return to the top of Seria A standings.

The post Inter’s Lautaro Martinez Scores 4 Goals as a Substitute, Makes Seria A History appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Nagelsmann has signed a deal that runs until the end of 2024 EURO, which is being hosted by Germany.

“The target is next summer and the Euros, that is a great challenge for me,” Nagelsmann said during this introductory press conference. “We take it on with a lot of responsibility. A whole nation behind us, and we want to excite them with great football.”

German Football Federation (DFB) hired Flick, another former Bayern manager, with hopes he’ll improve the team’s performances after a disappointing outing at the 2020 EURO. However, Flick struggled to make a significant impact, managing only 12 out of 25 matches in charge and failing to lead Germany past the group stage at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He became the first head coach in Germany’s national football team history to be fired.

Nagelsmann is considered one of the most talented young managers in the game. After impressive stints with TSG Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig, he took over Bayern in 2021 and led them to a Bundesliga title in his first season. He was fired midway through the 2022-23 season following unconvincing performances in the domestic league. The 36-year-old was linked with Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain this summer but ended up missing out on both jobs.

The post Julian Nagelsmann Hired as Germany’s Head Coach for 2024 EURO appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Hoilett signed a deal that runs through the 2023 MLS season, according to Whitecaps’ official press release.

Hoilett last played with the English club Reading during the 2022-23 season, making 35 appearances and scoring one goal. The club was relegated from the Championship at the end of the campaign, after which the 33-year-old opted to leave despite being offered a new contract.

Whitecaps will benefit from Hoilett’s experience as well as his familiarity with the rest of the team. The club already has several other members of Canada’s national team on its roster, including midfielders Ali Ahmed and Russell Teibert and backs Richie Laryea and Sam Adekugbe.

“Junior brings a wealth of experience and leadership to our group,” Whitecaps FC sporting director Axel Schuster said in a statement announcing the move. “He has played a key role with Canada’s men’s national team over the years, having most recently helped Canada finish at the top of Concacaf qualifying for the World Cup and was the captain at the Gold Cup. We are very pleased to welcome Junior and his family to the club.”

Junior Hoilett spent the majority of his professional career in England, playing with Blackburn Rovers, Queens Park Rangers, and Cardiff City. He made 59 appearances on international level with Canada and has 15 goals to his name.

The post Vancouver Whitecaps Sign Canada International Midfielder Junior Hoilett appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The financial terms of Al Ittihad’s offer are still unknown, but it would be a two-year deal with a break clause, according to Romano.

Ramos has been a free agent since leaving Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain in June. He reportedly isn’t convinced about a move to Saudi Arabia just yet, considering he has other offers on the table.

Several clubs from Turkey have been pursuing the 37-year-old in recent weeks, with Besiktas offering him a two-year, €8 million deal. Besiktas’ cross-town rival Galatasaray also got involved with a €6 million bid, according to ESPN.

In case Ramos ends up choosing Saudi Arabia, he would join his former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema at Al Ittihad. The club also has several other high-profile players, including former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kanté and ex-Liverpool midfielder Fabinho.

Ramos spent the majority of his professional career with Real, playing for the club from 2005 to 2021. During that period, he helped the club win more than 20 trophies, including five La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions Leagues.

The post Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad Makes a Contract Offer to Sergio Ramos appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Balogun was unveiled as a Monaco player after inking a five-year deal with his new club.

Balogun was one of the best strikers in France last season, scoring 21 goals during a loan spell with Reims. The 22-year-old American returned to Arsenal this summer, but manager Mikel Arteta made it clear that he wasn’t guaranteed a spot in the starting 11 despite his good form.

A number of European clubs were interested in Balogun, with Seria A side Inter Milan having multiple bids rejected earlier this summer. After the bidding war became too rich for Inter, Monaco swooped in and completed the transfer in a swift fashion.

Folarin Balogun’s emergence as one of the most talented young attackers also caused several countries to try and secure his allegiance on the international level. He previously played for England and the United States at youth level while also being eligible to represent Nigeria.

After several months of consideration, Balogun opted for the United States men’s national soccer team and made his debut in June in the CONCACAF Nations League. He ended up scoring his first goal for USMNT during the competition, finding the net in the final win over Canada.

The post Monaco Acquires U.S. Striker Folarin Balogun from Arsenal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Herdman will replace Bob Bradley, who was ousted as Toronto FC head coach in June after managing only three wins in the first 17 games of the 2023 MLS season. 

“I am keen to start this new opportunity with Toronto FC. Personally, it’s the right time for me to step into a new challenge in my career, and the structure of a club environment is a context I’ve aspired to operate in,” said Herdman in a statement released by the club.

John Herdman started his coaching career in 2006, serving as a head coach for the New Zealand women’s soccer team. After five years on the job, he took over the Canada women’s soccer team and had a successful run, which included two bronze medals at the Summer Olympics, before transitioning to the men’s team in 2018.

As a head coach of the Canada men’s soccer team, Herdman led the country to an all-time high of No. 33 on FIFA rankings and the 2022 FIFA World Cup appearance. This was the first World Cup appearance for Canada in 36 years.

 “I’ve had a great relationship with John over the years and have always been impressed with his ability to get the most out of his teams,” said Toronto FC President Bill Manning in a statement. “John is more than just a coach. He’s a great leader and a culture builder. We look forward to John having the same positive impact with TFC as he has had with Canada Soccer.”

The post John Herdman Steps Down As Canada Head Coach, Takes Over Toronto FC appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Reportedly, the agreement gives PSV a $12 million option to make the move permanent next summer.

Dest, who was born in the Netherlands, started his professional career with PSV’s rivals Ajax. His impressive performances with Ajax led Barcelona to pay €21 million to get him to Camp Nou in 2020.

While Barca had high hopes for Dest, the player never really settled in Spain. He played 72 games for the Catalan club across two seasons before spending the 2022-23 campaign with Seria A side AC Milan. The 22-year-old player struggled to make an impact in Italy as well, playing only 14 games in all competitions.

A move to PSV will hopefully allow Dest to have a fresh start and resurrect his career. He will not only play in a league he is familiar with but also have several members of the United States men’s national team to help him out.

Before acquiring Dest, PSV also brought in U.S. midfielder Malik Tillman and USMNT striker Ricardo Pepi. This is largely thanks to sporting director Earnie Stewart, who previously served in the same role with the U.S. Soccer Federation.

The post USMNT’s Sergino Dest Joins Eredivisie Side PSV on Loan appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Xavi had a meeting with Barca’s president, Joan Laporta, on Wednesday, and they agreed to continue the current project. The news was officially announced during a press conference on Thursday.

“Today, I have the satisfaction of informing you that Xavi will continue as the coach of Barça,” said Laporta.

“I’m a huge Barça fan. I have a high level of trust with the president and the board of directors. The complicity and support of the players has also been key,” added Xavi.

Xavi initially announced his decision to leave the club at the end of the 2023-24 season in January after a disappointing 5-3 loss to Villarreal in La Liga. At the time, Xavi said he felt that the club needed a new voice while also adding that the pressure that comes with coaching Barca has started to wear him off.

Since then, Barcelona embarked on an impressive run that saw them go undefeated in 13 games in all competitions. The streak ended with a 4-1 loss in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals against Paris Saint-Germain. Barca followed that up with a 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico.

Xavi was hired as Barca’s head coach in the summer of 2021. He guided the club to the La Liga title and Supercopa trophy in 2022–23, after which he signed an extension that runs through the 2024-25 season with an option for one additional year.

The post Xavi Changes His Mind About Leaving Barcelona, Will Stay Until End of His Contract appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Hazard will walk away at the age of 32. He made the decision after failing to find a new club this past summer.

“You must listen to yourself and say stop at the right time,” Hazard wrote on Instagram. “After 16 years and more than 700 matches played, I have decided to end my career as a professional footballer. I was able to realize my dream, I have played and had fun on many pitches around the world.”

Hazard agreed to a mutual contract termination with Real Madrid back in early June. Since then, there have been rumors about him continuing his career in Saudi Arabia and Australia, but neither of the proposed moves materialized.

Eden Hazard rose to prominence with Ligue 1 side Lille, where he displayed impressive technique and control of the ball while shouldering the task of being the team’s main creative force on the pitch. After five years of playing professionally in Lille, a stint that included a Ligue 1 title in 2010-11, Hazard secured a move to Chelsea.

Hazard immediately made an impact in London and emerged as the team’s best player during two Premier League title-winning runs. He ended up scoring 110 goals and dishing 92 assists in 352 games with Chelsea before leaving to join Real.

Real expected Hazard to make the same impact at Santiago Bernabeu as he made during his previous stops, but that didn’t happen. Hazard never lived up to his €100 million transfer fee, struggling with injuries and lack of form. In four years in Spain, the Belgian made only 76 appearances in all competitions and scored seven goals.  

The post Former Chelsea and Real Madrid Star Eden Hazard Retires at the Age of 32 appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Onana initially retired from international soccer after a falling out with Cameroon’s head coach, Rigobert Song, during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, the relationship between the two seemed to have improved following an intervention by the country’s government and football association.

Onana agreed to represent his country again for the last game of the AFCON qualifiers in September and helped Cameroon book a place in the tournament. However, taking part in AFCON would require the 27-year-old player to miss a month of Premier League action, something he has been reluctant to do.

Reportedly, Onana wants to remain with Manchester because his time with the club didn’t start the way he envisioned. Since arriving in the Premier League in a £47 million move from Inter Milan, Onana has been error-prone and struggled to keep a clean sheet.

In 10 matches he played for United, Onana conceded 18 goals and managed to keep his goal intact only three times. But despite this, the club’s manager, Erik Ten Hag, isn’t losing confidence in his No. 1.

“We are happy with our goalkeeping group,” said Ten Hag earlier this week. “Andre was in one semifinal of the Champions League [with Ajax], he was in the final last season [with Inter], so he has capabilities to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world and he has shown that. We have already seen in games his great capabilities, also his personality. He will bounce back.”

The post Andre Onana to Miss AFCON to Focus on Manchester United appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Martinez started the game on the bench and made his way into the game in the 55th minute. He proceeded to score his first goal seven minutes later and added three more by the 89th minute. By doing so, he became the first player to score four goals as a substitute in a single Seria A match.

Martinez was on a hot scoring streak even before the Salernitana game, scoring five times in the previous six Seria A matches. He now has 10 goals in eight matches in all competitions this season.

“I scored four goals but the important thing is that Inter won the game,” said Martinez after the game. “It was crucial for us. We lost a game at San Siro that I don’t think we deserved but we conceded two goals from our errors, so we had to win today.”

Inter won their opening five matches of the 2022-23 season in the domestic league before suffering a surprising 1-2 loss to Sassuolo on Wednesday. The most recent win allowed them to jump over their crosstown rivals Milan and return to the top of Seria A standings.

The post Inter’s Lautaro Martinez Scores 4 Goals as a Substitute, Makes Seria A History appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Nagelsmann has signed a deal that runs until the end of 2024 EURO, which is being hosted by Germany.

“The target is next summer and the Euros, that is a great challenge for me,” Nagelsmann said during this introductory press conference. “We take it on with a lot of responsibility. A whole nation behind us, and we want to excite them with great football.”

German Football Federation (DFB) hired Flick, another former Bayern manager, with hopes he’ll improve the team’s performances after a disappointing outing at the 2020 EURO. However, Flick struggled to make a significant impact, managing only 12 out of 25 matches in charge and failing to lead Germany past the group stage at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He became the first head coach in Germany’s national football team history to be fired.

Nagelsmann is considered one of the most talented young managers in the game. After impressive stints with TSG Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig, he took over Bayern in 2021 and led them to a Bundesliga title in his first season. He was fired midway through the 2022-23 season following unconvincing performances in the domestic league. The 36-year-old was linked with Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain this summer but ended up missing out on both jobs.

The post Julian Nagelsmann Hired as Germany’s Head Coach for 2024 EURO appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Hoilett signed a deal that runs through the 2023 MLS season, according to Whitecaps’ official press release.

Hoilett last played with the English club Reading during the 2022-23 season, making 35 appearances and scoring one goal. The club was relegated from the Championship at the end of the campaign, after which the 33-year-old opted to leave despite being offered a new contract.

Whitecaps will benefit from Hoilett’s experience as well as his familiarity with the rest of the team. The club already has several other members of Canada’s national team on its roster, including midfielders Ali Ahmed and Russell Teibert and backs Richie Laryea and Sam Adekugbe.

“Junior brings a wealth of experience and leadership to our group,” Whitecaps FC sporting director Axel Schuster said in a statement announcing the move. “He has played a key role with Canada’s men’s national team over the years, having most recently helped Canada finish at the top of Concacaf qualifying for the World Cup and was the captain at the Gold Cup. We are very pleased to welcome Junior and his family to the club.”

Junior Hoilett spent the majority of his professional career in England, playing with Blackburn Rovers, Queens Park Rangers, and Cardiff City. He made 59 appearances on international level with Canada and has 15 goals to his name.

The post Vancouver Whitecaps Sign Canada International Midfielder Junior Hoilett appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The financial terms of Al Ittihad’s offer are still unknown, but it would be a two-year deal with a break clause, according to Romano.

Ramos has been a free agent since leaving Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain in June. He reportedly isn’t convinced about a move to Saudi Arabia just yet, considering he has other offers on the table.

Several clubs from Turkey have been pursuing the 37-year-old in recent weeks, with Besiktas offering him a two-year, €8 million deal. Besiktas’ cross-town rival Galatasaray also got involved with a €6 million bid, according to ESPN.

In case Ramos ends up choosing Saudi Arabia, he would join his former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema at Al Ittihad. The club also has several other high-profile players, including former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kanté and ex-Liverpool midfielder Fabinho.

Ramos spent the majority of his professional career with Real, playing for the club from 2005 to 2021. During that period, he helped the club win more than 20 trophies, including five La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions Leagues.

The post Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad Makes a Contract Offer to Sergio Ramos appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Balogun was unveiled as a Monaco player after inking a five-year deal with his new club.

Balogun was one of the best strikers in France last season, scoring 21 goals during a loan spell with Reims. The 22-year-old American returned to Arsenal this summer, but manager Mikel Arteta made it clear that he wasn’t guaranteed a spot in the starting 11 despite his good form.

A number of European clubs were interested in Balogun, with Seria A side Inter Milan having multiple bids rejected earlier this summer. After the bidding war became too rich for Inter, Monaco swooped in and completed the transfer in a swift fashion.

Folarin Balogun’s emergence as one of the most talented young attackers also caused several countries to try and secure his allegiance on the international level. He previously played for England and the United States at youth level while also being eligible to represent Nigeria.

After several months of consideration, Balogun opted for the United States men’s national soccer team and made his debut in June in the CONCACAF Nations League. He ended up scoring his first goal for USMNT during the competition, finding the net in the final win over Canada.

The post Monaco Acquires U.S. Striker Folarin Balogun from Arsenal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Herdman will replace Bob Bradley, who was ousted as Toronto FC head coach in June after managing only three wins in the first 17 games of the 2023 MLS season. 

“I am keen to start this new opportunity with Toronto FC. Personally, it’s the right time for me to step into a new challenge in my career, and the structure of a club environment is a context I’ve aspired to operate in,” said Herdman in a statement released by the club.

John Herdman started his coaching career in 2006, serving as a head coach for the New Zealand women’s soccer team. After five years on the job, he took over the Canada women’s soccer team and had a successful run, which included two bronze medals at the Summer Olympics, before transitioning to the men’s team in 2018.

As a head coach of the Canada men’s soccer team, Herdman led the country to an all-time high of No. 33 on FIFA rankings and the 2022 FIFA World Cup appearance. This was the first World Cup appearance for Canada in 36 years.

 “I’ve had a great relationship with John over the years and have always been impressed with his ability to get the most out of his teams,” said Toronto FC President Bill Manning in a statement. “John is more than just a coach. He’s a great leader and a culture builder. We look forward to John having the same positive impact with TFC as he has had with Canada Soccer.”

The post John Herdman Steps Down As Canada Head Coach, Takes Over Toronto FC appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Reportedly, the agreement gives PSV a $12 million option to make the move permanent next summer.

Dest, who was born in the Netherlands, started his professional career with PSV’s rivals Ajax. His impressive performances with Ajax led Barcelona to pay €21 million to get him to Camp Nou in 2020.

While Barca had high hopes for Dest, the player never really settled in Spain. He played 72 games for the Catalan club across two seasons before spending the 2022-23 campaign with Seria A side AC Milan. The 22-year-old player struggled to make an impact in Italy as well, playing only 14 games in all competitions.

A move to PSV will hopefully allow Dest to have a fresh start and resurrect his career. He will not only play in a league he is familiar with but also have several members of the United States men’s national team to help him out.

Before acquiring Dest, PSV also brought in U.S. midfielder Malik Tillman and USMNT striker Ricardo Pepi. This is largely thanks to sporting director Earnie Stewart, who previously served in the same role with the U.S. Soccer Federation.

The post USMNT’s Sergino Dest Joins Eredivisie Side PSV on Loan appeared first on yoursportspot.com.