Soccer

Portuguese soccer coach Jose Mourinho, center, poses for the media with supporters during his official presentation as Turkish's Fenerbahce new coach at Sukru Saracoglu stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, June 2, 2024. Mourinho has signed a two-year contract with Fenerbahce. (AP Photo)

Jose Mourinho set to earn over $11 million a year as coach of Fenerbahce in Turkey

Fenerbahce says new coach Jose Mourinho is set to earn 10.5 million euros a year in salary after he agreed on a two-year contract.

FILE - Argentina's soccer star Diego Maradona, left, and West German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher are holding their World Cup Soccer Ball awards while posing with two young soccer players during the Soccer Golden Shoe Award ceremony held in Paris, France, on Nov. 13, 1986. Diego Maradona's heirs filed a lawsuit to try to stop the auction of a trophy he was awarded after the 1986 World Cup won by Argentina. (AP Photo/Michael Lipchitz, File)

French court stops the sale of Maradona’s World Cup Golden Ball trophy amid ownership dispute

Turkey's Ozan Kabak is carried injured out of the pitch by medical staff during the international friendly soccer match between Italy and Turkey at the Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Turkey defender Ozan Kabak out of Euro 2024 after tearing knee ligament against Italy

FILE - Shakhtar's Heorhiy Sudakov plays the ball during the Champions League group F soccer match between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022. Ukrainian soccer star Heorhiy Sudakov is on course to achieve his dream of becoming one of the best players in Europe. His dream of returning home seems more distant. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)

Ukraine’s Sudakov heads to Euro 2024 with dreams of soccer glory and a hometown behind enemy lines

The UEFA Champions League trophy is on display before the training sessions ahead of the Champions League final soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium in London, Friday, May 31, 2024. The final will be played on Saturday June 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Champions League debutant Brest can’t use outdated stadium and wants to move games to Guingamp

President Emmanuel Macron meets French national football team ahead of Euro 2024

French President Emmanuel Macron paid a visit to the French soccer team at their training camp outside Paris on Monday. Macron spoke to star striker Kylian Mbappé about the player’s future ahead of a reported move to Real Madrid.

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Manchester City's Kyle Walker celebrates with the Premier League trophy after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Manchester City clinched the English Premier League on Sunday after beating West Ham in their last match of the season. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Man City vs. the Premier League in court, reports say

Manchester City is reportedly taking legal action against the English Premier League. It is reported an arbitration meeting will take place over the legality of the league’s rules regarding commercial revenues from entities linked to clubs’ ownership.

FILE - Tottenham's head coach Antonio Conte gives instructions from the sidelines during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, Oct. 23, 2022. Antonio Conte was confirmed as the new Napoli coach on Wednesday June 5, 2024, making him the team’s fifth manager in little more than a year for the deposed Serie A champion. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)

Napoli makes Antonio Conte its fifth manager in just over a year

Antonio Conte has been announced as the new Napoli coach. He becomes the team’s fifth manager in little more than a year following a season of turmoil for the deposed Serie A champion.

FILE - Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates at the end of the Euro 2024 group J qualifying soccer match between Portugal and Slovakia at the Dragao stadium in Porto, Portugal, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. The European Championship represents an opportunity for Cristiano Ronaldo to remind soccer fans that he is still a force in the game. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira, File)

Cristiano Ronaldo back in the global spotlight at Euro 2024 and out to show he’s still a force

The European Championship represents an opportunity for Cristiano Ronaldo to remind soccer fans that he is still a force in the game.

United States midfielder Lily Yohannes, left, and forward Sophia Smith, center, celebrate after the 3-0 win against South Korea of an international friendly soccer match in St. Paul, Minn., Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Teenager Lily Yohannes scores to help the US down South Korea 3-0 as the Olympics loom

Sixteen-year-old Lily Yohannes scored in her national team debut and the United States defeated South Korea 3-0 in an exhibition.

Tottenham's Son Heung-min, left, and Manchester City's Bernardo Silva challenge for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Tuesday, May 14, 2024.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Son’s South Koreans aim for a momentum shift in World Cup Asian qualifying

Son Heung-min and his South Korea teammates have had a tough 2024 so far but a win against Singapore will be enough to secure a spot in the last round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Real Madrid's Nacho holds the Champions League trophy at the Cibeles square during a trophy parade in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, June 2, 2024. Real Madrid won against Borussia Dortmund 2-0. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Viewing of Champions League final up 6% over last year’s among U.S. viewers

Real Madrid’s victory in the June 1 Champions League final had a combined English- and Spanish-language audience average of 3.62 million among U.S. viewers, a 6% increase over last year.

Italy coach Luciano Spalletti gestures during the international friendly soccer match between Italy and Turkey at the Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Defending Euro champ Italy draws 0-0 against Turkey, which loses Kabak to injury. Portugal wins 4-2

Italy stuttered to a 0-0 draw at home to Turkey in the first of two warmup matches before it begins the defense of its European Championship title next week.

Scotland national team manager Steve Clarke during a training session at Lesser Hampden, Glasgow, Britain, Sunday June 2, 2024. (Steve Welsh/PA via AP)

Scotland loses Liverpool teenager Ben Doak from Euro 2024 as injury list grows

Scotland has lost another attacking option for the European Championship as teenage Liverpool winger Ben Doak was ruled out injured.

Brazilian soccer player Endrick greets fans after playing his last match with Palmeiras at Allianz Parque stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Endrick says ‘I have to introduce myself’ as Brazilian teenager gets ready for life at Real Madrid

Brazil striker Endrick knows he will face tough competition to make an impression when he joins European champion Real Madrid for the upcoming season, especially after the signing of Kylian Mbappé.

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne applauds fans at the end of the English FA Cup final soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, May 25, 2024. Manchester United won 2-1. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

De Bruyne open to lucrative Saudi Arabia move when his Manchester City contract expires

Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne is talking with his family about possibly moving to Saudi Arabia as a free agent next year.

French soccer player Kylian Mbappe gestures at the national soccer team training center in Clairefontaine, west of Paris, Monday, June 3, 2024 ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool Photo via AP)

Real Madrid back in the ‘galacticos’ business with signing of Kylian Mbappé

A new “galactico” era could be in the making at Real Madrid after years in which the club didn’t make any high-profile signings.

French soccer player Kylian Mbappe is photographed at the national soccer team training center in Clairefontaine, west of Paris, Monday, June 3, 2024 ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool Photo via AP)

Mbappé declares his ‘immense pleasure’ at joining Real Madrid after unhappy end to PSG career

Kylian Mbappé has declared his “immense pleasure” at finally joining Real Madrid and feels his time at Paris Saint-Germain came to a sad end.

Watford to sell shares to fans to help fund transfers as it targets Premier League return

English soccer team Watford has offered fans the chance to buy shares in the club in a bid to help sign new players and return to the Premier League.

Real Madrid's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, June 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

AP Sports Week in Pictures: Real Madrid’s victory toss, rainy French Open and U.S. Women’s Open

The Associated Press photographers were there when Real Madrid’s players tossed coach Carlo Ancelotti in the air after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley stadium in London.

Giuseppe Marotta exits Palazzo Parigi after being appointed president of Inter Milan, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. New Inter Milan owner Oaktree has named CEO Giuseppe Marotta as club president as the American fund begins its era in charge in earnest. (Claudio Furlan/LaPresse via AP)

Marotta named new Inter Milan president as American fund Oaktree’s era begins in earnest

Inter Milan’s new American owner Oaktree appointed veteran director Giuseppe Marotta as the club’s president on Tuesday as the investment firm began its reign in earnest.

Georgia's fans celebrate the victory of their team in the Euro 2024 qualifying play-off soccer match between Georgia and Greece at the Boris Paichadze National Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Tamuna Kulumbegashvili)

Georgia and ‘Kvaradona’ will play their first European Championship as divisions deepen at home

The nation of Georgia has been racked by protests and political turmoil but there’s one cause that almost everyone supports: the national soccer team.

FILE - Germany's Joshua Kimmich, left, kicks the ball ahead of France's Kylian Mbappe during an international friendly soccer match between France and Germany at the Groupama stadium in Decines, near Lyon, central France, Saturday, March 23, 2024. France boasts one of the European Championship’s strongest attacks but it could be offset by a vulnerable defense and a dearth of leadership. While France looks solid in midfield and has Kylian Mbappé with Antoine Griezmann in attack, the defense could be a weak point. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani, File)

A depleted leadership and new-look defense make Mbappe’s France vulnerable at Euros

France boasts one of the European Championship’s strongest attacks but it could be offset by a vulnerable defense and a dearth of leadership.

Australia's Steph Catley and China's Wang Yanwen, left, compete for the ball during the women's international soccer friendly between China and Australia at Stadium Australia, in Sydney, Monday, June 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Catley to lead Australian women’s soccer squad at the Paris Olympics in Sam Kerr’s absence

The Australian Olympic Committee has named an 18-player squad to compete at the Paris Games led by Steph Catley in the injury-enforced absence of captain Sam Kerr.

England's Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates scoring with Harry Kane, right, during an international friendly soccer match between England and Bosnia and Herzegovina at St. James Park in Newcastle, England, Monday, June 3, 2024. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Euro host Germany warms up in 0-0 draw with Ukraine. England, Croatia ease to 3-0 prep wins

Host Germany, England and Croatia kicked off the true buildup to the European Championship with their first warmup games.

French soccer player Kylian Mbappe is photographed at the national soccer team training center in Clairefontaine, west of Paris, Monday, June 3, 2024 ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool Photo via AP)

Kylian Mbappé finally joins Real Madrid in a union of soccer’s top player and club

Kylian Mbappé is finally a Real Madrid player. Real Madrid says it reached a deal with the France star for the next five seasons to bring together one of soccer’s top talents and its most successful club.

Atlanta United head coach Gonzalo Pineda Reyes watches during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Inter Miami Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Mired in disappointing season, Atlanta United fires coach Gonzalo Pineda

Atlanta United has fired coach Gonzalo Pineda, less than 24 hours after another loss dropped the team farther from playoff contention in Major League Soccer.

Manchester City's players Ruben Dias, left, Matheus Nunes, center, and Bernardo Silva celebrate with the Premier League trophy after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Manchester City clinched the English Premier League on Sunday after beating West Ham in their last match of the season. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Portugal calls up Manchester City’s Matheus Nunes for European Championship

Portugal has called up Manchester City midfielder Matheus Nunes for the European Championship to replace the injured Otávio.

FILE - Leicester's head coach Enzo Maresca applauds fans at the end of the English League Cup third round soccer match between Liverpool and Leicester City at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. There is unprecedented managerial upheaval in the English Premier League. Five of the top 11 teams potentially will have new coaches at the start of next season and another of them changed managers just three months ago. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)

Chelsea hires Enzo Maresca, a former assistant to Pep Guardiola, as head coach

Chelsea has hired Enzo Maresca as its new head coach. Maresca was a former assistant to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and takes over after leading Leicester back to the Premier League.

Bochum players celebrate after winning a Bundesliga soccer match against Fortuna Duesseldorf in Duesseldorf, Germany, Monday, May 27, 2024. (Marius Becker/dpa via AP)

Bochum appoints Peter Zeidler as new coach after narrowly surviving in Bundesliga

Bochum has hired Peter Zeidler as its new coach after only just surviving in the Bundesliga in a penalty shootout.

CORRECTS THE YEAR TO 135, NOT 1235 - FILE - Stands are under construction on the Champ-de-Mars in front of the Eiffel Tower, Monday, April 15, 2024 in Paris. La Dame de Fer (The Iron Lady) needs no introduction and is still going strong at 135 years old. Men's and women's volleyball players get to compete at the feet of the 330-meter tower and will be watched by nearly 13,000 fans at the temporary Eiffel Tower Stadium. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, File)

The most iconic venues of the Paris Olympics

There will be no shortage of iconic venues at the Paris Olympics. From the Palace of Versailles to the Place de La Concorde and of course, the Eiffel Tower, organizers have made sure the City of Light’s most famous landmarks will take center stage during the Olympics.

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, shakes hands with French soccer player Kylian Mbappe next to head coach Didier Deschamps as he arrives for lunch at the national soccer team training center in Clairefontaine, west of Paris, Monday, June 3, 2024 ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool Photo via AP)

Mbappé’s expected move to Real Madrid looks set to be announced. He tells Macron ‘yes, this evening’

Star striker Kylian Mbappé’s widely expected move to Real Madrid looked set to be announced later Monday.

FILE - Equatorial Guinea's Emilio Nsue, celebrates scoring his second goal during the African Cup of Nations Group A soccer match between Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Jan. 22, 2024. For the second time in two World Cups, FIFA ordered Equatorial Guinea to lose two qualifying games by default on Friday May 24, 2024 for fielding star player Emilio Nsue when he was ineligible. The second FIFA disciplinary case involving Nsue comes 11 years after the first, and just four months after he was the top scorer at the African Cup of Nations. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba, File)

FIFA ruling shows AFCON star Emilio Nsue was ineligible for entire career with Equatorial Guinea

The top scorer at the African Cup of Nations five months ago Emilio Nsue was ineligible to play for Equatorial Guinea throughout his entire 11-year international career.

FILE - Belgium's Amadou Onana, center, reacts during the Euro 2024 group F qualifying soccer match between Belgium and Estonia in Brussels, Belgium, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. For all its talent, Belgium's so-called golden generation of soccer players has never won a major title. With only a few members of that era still around, a new group of ambitious youngsters chaperoned by seasoned veterans will compete at the European Championship, looking to shed the country's underachiever reputation. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File)

Euro 2024: Belgium’s exciting new crop looks to succeed where the ‘golden generation’ failed

For all its talent, Belgium’s so-called golden generation of soccer players has never won a major title.

French President Emmanuel Macron greets PSG's Kylian Mbappe during the presentation ceremony after the French Cup final soccer match between Lyon and PSG at the Pierre Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve d'Ascq, northern France, Saturday, May 25, 2024. PSG won the match 2-1. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Mbappé not in France squad for Paris Olympics ahead of move to Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappé was left out of France’s provisional squad for the Paris Olympics though coach Thierry Henry says the list “can evolve.”

Italy coach Luciano Spalletti leads a training session of the Italian national soccer team in Coverciano, near Florence, Italy, Friday, May 31, 2024. (Marco Bucco/LaPresse via AP)

Italy’s defensive crisis deepens as injured Scalvini out of Euro 2024 squad. Gatti called up

Italy’s crisis in defense has deepened less than two weeks before the Azzurri kick off the defense of their European Championship title.