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European football leagues (La Liga, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, Serie A, etc.) 2023-24 Discussion Thread

FC Bayern and Thomas Tuchel to end their working relationship in the summer

FC Bayern Munich and head coach Thomas Tuchel have jointly decided to end their working relationship, which was originally set to run until 30 June 2025, on 30 June 2024. This is the outcome of a constructive discussion between CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen and Thomas Tuchel.

FC Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen: "In a good, open discussion, we came to the decision to end our working relationship by mutual agreement in the summer. Our goal is to pursue a new footballing direction with a new head coach for the 2024/25 season. Until then, every individual at the club is expressly called upon to achieve the maximum possible in the Champions League and Bundesliga. I also explicitly hold the team accountable in this regard. In the Champions League in particular, after losing 1-0 in the first leg at Lazio, we are convinced we will reach the quarter-finals at a packed Allianz Arena with our fans behind us."

Thomas Tuchel: "We have agreed that we will end our working relationship at the end of this season. Until then, I will of course continue to do everything I can with my coaching staff to achieve maximum success."

Thomas Tuchel succeeded Julian Nagelsmann as head coach of FC Bayern in March 2023. Just over two months later, he celebrated winning the Bundesliga with the club.

SOURCE: https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2024/02/fc-bayern-and-thomas-tuchel-to-end-their-working-relationship
 
Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez scored his 100th and 101st Serie A goals as the league leaders thrashed Lecce.
 

Serie A Points Table (26-02-2024)​

lu8sej1.png
 
Bundesliga boss says rejection of investor deal ‘bad for the league’

Bundesliga boss Hans-Joachim Watzke said Tuesday the rejection of a planned investor deal, shelved after widespread fan protests, was “bad for the league.”

Last week the German Football Leagues (DFL) which runs the Bundesliga abandoned a planned billion-euro investment deal, which had previously been approved by the necessary two-thirds majority of clubs, due largely to fan protests resulting in long delays at matches.

Fans had littered pitches with everything from tennis balls to chocolate coins in opposition to the plan to swap a portion of the league’s future media revenues for an upfront cash injection.

DFL chairman Watzke told AFP and other journalists on Tuesday that fans “in Germany have a problem with investors.”

“Germans are traditional, perhaps even a bit old-fashioned.

“In Germany, investor is perhaps not the best word.”

German football has a notable commitment to fan control and involvement via a “50+1” rule which restricts the degree of influence an external investor can have over a club.

The rule remains enduringly popular among German fans, many of whom value it more than domestic or international competitiveness.

The DFL had promised the new deal would include supporter-friendly protections against changes in kick-off times or moving competitive fixtures abroad.


 
Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund are monitoring AC Milan's Italy Under-17 forward Francesco Camarda, who is set to turn down the offer of a professional contract at the Serie A club when he turns 16 next week.
 
Lecce have sacked manager Roberto D'Aversa after he headbutted Verona striker Thomas Henry following Sunday's 1-0 loss in Serie A.

D'Aversa, 48, and Henry both received red cards for their part in the incident which took place as tempers flared after the final whistle.

The Lecce boss admitted his actions were "inexcusable" when speaking after the game at Stadio Via del Mare.

Lecce announced D'Aversa had been "relieved of his duties" on Monday.

The club put his dismissal down to "the events that occurred at the end of the Lecce-Verona match".

Sunday's loss saw Lecce drop to 15th in Italy's top flight, two places below Verona, with just a one-point cushion to the relegation zone.

Lecce have won just one of their last 12 league fixtures, losing nine during that stretch.

They appointed D'Aversa to replace Marco Baroni last summer.

D'Aversa previously spent time in charge of Virtus Lanciano, Parma and Sampdoria.

www.bbc.com

Lecce sack manager D'Aversa for headbutting Henry

Serie A club Lecce sack manager Roberto D'Aversa after he headbutted Verona striker Thomas Henry following Sunday's 1-0 loss.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
Rafael Benitez Gone
=====
Rafael Benitez's spell at Celta Vigo was his first in Spanish football since leaving Real Madrid in January 2016
Celta Vigo have sacked manager Rafael Benitez after less than nine months.

Former Liverpool and Chelsea boss Benitez, 63, joined the La Liga side on 23 June last year and departs after winning just five of his 28 league matches in charge of Celta.

He leaves the club 17th in the Spanish top flight, sitting outside of the relegation zone by just two points.

It was Benitez's first managerial role since being sacked by Premier League side Everton in January 2022.

In 33 games in all competitions, Celta managed just nine wins, three of which were against lower-division sides in the Copa del Rey. His final game with Celta was a 4-0 defeat to another of his former clubs, Real Madrid, on Sunday.

A club statement read: "Rafa Benitez and his staff leave RC Celta after eight months of absolute dedication and total commitment, but in which the team has not obtained the results expected by the club.

"The club would like to express to Rafa Benitez and his assistants its most sincere gratitude for the honesty and professionalism they have shown since their arrival and the tireless work they have done. RC Celta would also like to wish them the best of luck and success in the future."

Celta Vigo are next in La Liga action on Sunday at Sevilla, kicking off at 13:00 GMT.

Benitez won the 2005 Champions League and 2006 FA Cup with Liverpool and the 2013 Europa League during his interim spell at Chelsea.

He guided Newcastle to promotion from the Championship in the 2016-17 season, and has also managed

Source: BBC
 
Maurizio Sarri's Lazio have lost 12 of their 28 Serie A matches this season
====
Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri has resigned after a fifth defeat in six games in all competitions.

Monday's 2-1 home defeat by Udinese left Lazio ninth in Serie A, seven points off the final European qualification place.

They were knocked out the Champions League last week by Bayern Munich.

Sarri, 65, joined Lazio in 2021 and led them to second place in Serie A last season, their best league finish since they won the title in 1999-2000.

Assistant manager Giovanni Martusciello has been placed in interim charge.

Lazio travel to third-bottom Frosinone on Saturday. They face Juventus in the semi-finals of the Italian Cup over two legs next month.

Sarri spent one season at Chelsea in 2018-19, when he won the Europa League, finished third in the Premier League and reached the Carabao Cup final.

Before joining Chelsea he led hometown club Napoli to two second-place finishes in three years and was named Serie A manager of the year in 2016-17.

He won the title with Juventus in 2019-20.

Source: BBC
 
Anthony Gordon and Jarrad Branthwaite have received their first England call-ups and Ivan Toney has been recalled for the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium this month.

Forward Gordon, 23, has scored 10 goals in all competitions for Newcastle this season, while 21-year-old defender Branthwaite has impressed for struggling Everton.

Brentford striker Toney, 28, features for the first time since completing an eight-month ban for breaching FA betting rules in January.

Uncapped Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, 26, has also been named in the 25-man squad.

England play Brazil on 23 March and Belgium on 26 March - both at Wembley - their final games before manager Gareth Southgate names his squad for Euro 2024.

Defender Joe Gomez, who has not played for England since 2020, has been included after impressing for Liverpool at left-back, centre-back and right-back this season.

Former Liverpool team-mate Jordan Henderson, now at Ajax, has been selected, but midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who is on loan at West Ham from Manchester City, misses out.

Chelsea forward Cole Palmer features, while Blues team-mate Raheem Sterling has been overlooked again.

Meanwhile, Southgate said he received a call from Arsenal sporting director Edu last week to say in-form defender Ben White did not want to be considered for selection.

White 'made himself unavailable' - Southgate

Source: BBC
 

Trabzonspor fans ran on to the field and attacked Fenerbahce players after Sunday's Super Lig match.​

Fenerbahce players were met with violence as they celebrated their 3-2 victory at Papara Park in Trabzon.

Fenerbahce's Bright Osayi-Samuel and Michy Batshuayi both tried to intervene as security services entered the field.

"It is never acceptable for violence to take place on football pitches - above all, sport is gentlemanship," Turkey's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.

"An investigation has been initiated immediately to identify the spectators who entered the pitch and to investigate the incidents that took place at the end of the match," he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Yerlikaya said on Monday that 12 fans had been arrested.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino said the incidents were "absolutely unacceptable".

"I have said it before, and I will say it again - without exception, in football, all players have to be safe and secure to play the game which brings such joy to so many people all over the world," he said.

"I call on the relevant authorities to ensure that this is respected at all levels and for the perpetrators of the shocking events in Trabzon to be held accountable for their actions."

Tensions started to rise in the 87th minute when objects were thrown on to the field after Batshuayi scored what proved to be the winner for the visitors.

Nigeria winger Osayi-Samuel, who used to play for Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers, knocked one pitch invader to the ground while former Chelsea forward Batshuayi aimed a kick at another as the players were swarmed by opposition fans.

The Turkish Football Federation called the events "unacceptable" and said in a statement that "the necessary criminal sanctions will be imposed on those responsible for these incidents".

Trabzonspor coach Abdullah Avci said: "We are going through a period that Turkish football is now completely fed by chaos, where tensions are constantly high, and where we cannot use the healing power of football."

Fenerbahce manager Ismail Kartal added: "I don't understand why this place is so tense. Don't we have the right to celebrate? We need to overcome these things. We need to be tolerant towards each other and have common sense."

It is the latest in a series of controversial incidents in the Turkish league during the 2023-24 season.

In December, referee Halil Umut Meler was struck by MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca, leading to a suspension in Super Lig fixtures.

Fenerbahce sit second in the Super Lig, two points behind leaders Galatasaray and 30 clear of Trabzonspor in third.

Source: BBC
 
International football star Dani Alves can be conditionally released from jail after he paid bail of €1m (£853,000).

Alves was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison last month, after a court found him guilty of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022.

On Monday, the court in Spain gave the former Barcelona and Brazil footballer permission to leave jail pending his appeal, after he made the stated bail.

The 40-year-old has been held in pre-trial detention since January 2023.

"We hereby inform you that the deposit of Daniel Alves' bail has been registered in the accounts of the 21st section of the Barcelona Court," said a statement.

BBC
 
Celtic's Brendan Rodgers has been given a one-match touchline ban with another suspended, which means he will not miss the forthcoming Old Firm derby.

The Celtic manager complained of "incompetence" and "really poor officiating" in a 2-0 loss away to Hearts earlier this month.

Celtic said "we will accept the panel's decision" after Thurday's hearing and will not be appealing against the ban.

"Clearly, we are disappointed with the outcome," the club added.

"The manager appeared at the hearing today and his defence was presented robustly and thoroughly.

"Like many other clubs, we will continue to press for the highest standards in relation to the VAR process in Scottish football."

During his BBC interview at Tynecastle, Rodgers twice mentioned video assistant referee John Beaton by name, saying VAR interventions meant the game was "refereed outside the field".

VAR reviews during the Scottish Premiership match led to Yang Hyun-jun's yellow card being upgraded to red and Tomoki Iwata conceding a penalty.

Celtic later had their appeal against winger Yang's dismissal rejected.

Source: BBC
 

Fenerbahce: Turkish side to vote on whether to withdraw from Super Lig​

Fenerbahce members will decide on Tuesday whether the club will withdraw from the Turkish Super Lig.

In March, the 19-time title winners said they would consider withdrawing from the league after their players were attacked by Trabzonspor fans.

Fenerbahce won the game 3-2 and Trabzonspor fans entered the pitch, attacking security forces and players.

At Tuesday's extraordinary general assembly meeting, members will vote on whether the club should withdraw.

The Turkish Football Federation reported three of Fenerbahce's players and two club officials to the country's Professional Football Disciplinary Board for their involvement in the fights.

Tensions started to rise when former Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi scored an 87th-minute winner, with objects thrown onto the pitch.

Nigeria winger Bright Osayi-Samuel, who used to play for Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers, knocked one pitch invader to the ground while Batshuayi aimed a kick at another.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino said the incidents were "absolutely unacceptable".

The Turkish Football Federation called the events "unacceptable" and said in a statement that "the necessary criminal sanctions will be imposed on those responsible for these incidents".

A day later, Turkey's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said 12 fans had been arrested.

Fenerbahce are second in Super Lig after 30 games - two points behind leaders Galatasaray - and are scheduled to host Adana Demirspor on Wednesday.

Source: BBC
 

La Liga Result (01-04-2024)​

Villarreal 1-2 Atlético Madrid
 
Ajax chief executive Alex Kroes has been suspended by the Dutch club's supervisory board over allegations of insider trading.

In a statement, the club board alleges Kroes bought more than 17,000 shares in the club a week before his appointment was announced on 2 August.

The board said it sought external legal advice which "indicates that he likely engaged in insider trading".

Ajax say they intend to sack the 50-year-old Dutchman.

Kroes, who has only been in the job for two weeks, said he would seek a judgement on his acquisitions by Dutch financial watchdog AFM and did not accept the board's decision.

He said he had purchased club shares in stages from April 2022 to July 2023, stopping once his appointment at Ajax was confirmed "to avoid any misunderstandings".

Kroes added he purchased the shares "out of confidence in the club. Not to make quick money" and had "provided full disclosure" to the supervisory board about his assets.

"I believe that you radiate confidence to your fellow shareholders and stakeholders if you buy shares yourself and therefore also run financial risks yourself," he said.

"The AFM can then independently assess whether or not I have acted contrary

Source: BBC
 

Fenerbahce: Turkish side vote against withdrawal from Super Lig​

Fenerbahce members have voted against a proposal to withdraw from the Turkish Super Lig.

In March, the 19-time title winners said they would consider withdrawing from the league after their players were attacked by Trabzonspor fans.

Fenerbahce won the game 3-2 and Trabzonspor fans entered the pitch, attacking security forces and players.

"In all our meetings, the least preferred option was to withdraw from the league," said chairman Ali Koc.

"The reason why this option is not wanted is that people think we would have to deal in the lower league with the same things we deal with here.

"We are taking this option off the table until the general assembly at the end of the season."

Tensions started to rise when former Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi scored an 87th-minute winner, with objects thrown on to the pitch.

Nigeria winger Bright Osayi-Samuel, who used to play for Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers, knocked one pitch invader to the ground while Batshuayi aimed a kick at another.

The Turkish Football Federation reported three of Fenerbahce's players and two club officials to the country's Professional Football Disciplinary Board for their involvement in the fights.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino said the incidents were "absolutely unacceptable".

The Turkish Football Federation called the events "unacceptable" and said in a statement that "the necessary criminal sanctions will be imposed on those responsible for these incidents".

A day later, Turkey's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said 12 fans had been arrested.

Fenerbahce are second in Super Lig after 30 games - two points behind leaders Galatasaray - and are scheduled to host Adana Demirspor on Wednesday.

Source: BBC
 

Bayer Leverkusen moved within touching distance of a first Bundesliga title by beating 10-man Union Berlin.​

Florian Wirtz's penalty gave Xabi Alonso's side a ninth successive win to stretch their lead over Bayern Munich to 16 points with six games remaining.

Bayern gave their title rivals a helping hand by letting a 2-0 lead slip to lose 3-2 at mid-table Heidenheim.

Leverkusen can end their long wait to be crowned German champions by winning at home to Werder Bremen next weekend.

Source: BBC
 
The number of games Trabzonspor will have to play without fans has been reduced from six matches to four following an appeal.

A six-match fan ban had been imposed on the Turkish Super Lig club after their supporters stormed the pitch and fought with Fenerbahce players on 17 March.

Source: BBC
 
Bayern Munich kept Bayer Leverkusen's Bundesliga title celebrations on hold for at least one more day as the defending champions earned victory over relegation-threatened Cologne.

Source: SKY
 
Roma defender Evan Ndicka has been discharged from hospital after collapsing during his side's Serie A match at Udinese on Sunday.

Roma said the 24-year-old Ivory Coast international had suffered chest pains on the pitch but hospital tests showed he did not suffer a heart attack.

Source: BBC
 
Former midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger says he was banned from first-team training by manager Jose Mourinho during his time at Manchester United.

Schweinsteiger, 39, made 31 appearances under Louis van Gaal in 2015-16.

He played only four games under Mourinho the following season before joining MLS club Chicago Fire in 2017.

"I was very sad because United was the second club of my heart," Schweinsteiger told the Overlap.

"I gave a lot when I played as well, so that's why I was sad, but I'm not the type of person to go running to the media. It's more important for me to focus on football and behave the way I did."

Former Germany international Schweinsteiger missed the final 11 games of the 2015-16 season because of injury and received treatment in Germany before Euro 2016.

United appointed Mourinho as Van Gaal's successor in May 2016.

Schweinsteiger played six games at the Euros as Germany reached the semi-finals and missed the start of United's pre-season in the USA.

"When I arrived on the first day, I trained with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and thought it was great, a player who has the vision and is amazing to play with," Schweinsteiger said.

"The next day, on my birthday, when I walked into (United's training ground) Carrington, (football director) John Murtough was there and said that I wasn't allowed to walk into the dressing room - the coach had said so.

"I had to ask him to bring me my cleats and training gear. I asked him who I was training with, and he said there was the under-16 team, so I went and trained with the under-16s."

Schweinsteiger's first appearance of that season came in November 2016 in the Carabao Cup against West Ham. He made a further three appearances across the FA Cup and Europa League prior to moving to the MLS.

"The first time someone apologised was when I decided to leave Manchester United for America," Schweinsteiger said.

"I asked Jose if I could do that and he apologised for the way he treated me in the beginning. He had to let me go because he could not do something against me again."

Schweinsteiger retired in 2019 after three seasons with Chicago.

Source: BBC
 

AC Milan 1-2 Inter Milan - MATCH REPORT​

Inter Milan sealed their 20th Italian title by beating arch-rivals and nearest challengers AC Milan in a historic Derby della Madonnina.

Francesco Acerbi was unmarked to head in Benjamin Pavard's flick-on from a corner to give Inter the lead.

Marcus Thuram latched onto a long ball and was given too much time to cut in before smashing their second into the bottom corner at the San Siro.

England's Fikayo Tomori headed in from close range to give Milan brief hope.

There were three red cards in injury time as tempers boiled over. Milan's Theo Hernandez and Inter's Denzel Dumfries were sent off for their part in a brawl and the hosts ended with nine men as captain Davide Calabria was sent off for violent conduct.

Inter players and coaches ran on to the pitch to celebrate at the final whistle at the ground both sides share, although Milan were the home side for this fixture.

The second-placed Rossoneri are now 17 points behind Inter with five games to go.

Inter could have won by more with Lautaro Martinez missing a sitter and Hakan Calhanoglu's drive being tipped over by Mike Maignan.

This was the first time the Serie A title has ever been won in the 116 years of the Milan derby.

Source: BBC
 
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Mbappe and Dembele star as PSG edge closer to title

Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe both scored twice as Paris St-Germain moved one step closer to the Ligue 1 title.

PSG must however wait to confirm their third consecutive title after Monaco beat Lille 1-0 in a later fixture thanks to a Youssouf Fofana goal.

PSG's win was effectively sealed halfway through the first half as Dembele opened the scoring on 19 minutes before Mbappe netted with a clever flick just three minutes later.

Mbappe found Dembele for his second of the game, producing sublime skill by nutmegging Nathaniel Adjei and crossing into the box before doubling his own tally in stoppage time.

The France captain's strikes made him the first French player to reach the 25-goal mark in four consecutive seasons in one of Europe's top five leagues.

Lorient's consolation came as Bamba Dieng headed in Benjamin Mendy's pinpoint cross midway through the second half.

PSG could have finished the day with the title assured, but Monaco's win in the later fixture delayed their celebrations. They can instead win Ligue 1 for a 12th time on Saturday, in front of their home fans against Le Havre.

BBC
 
Leverkusen 2-0 down to stuttgart at home equalise in 6th min of injury time 2-2
 
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Paris Saint-Germain were confirmed as Ligue 1 champions on Sunday without playing after closest challengers Monaco lost 3-2 away to Lyon.

PSG have just won a record-extending 12th Ligue 1 title and Kylian Mbappe has won his seventh.
 

Rangnick talks ongoing over Bayern Munich job​

Negotiations between Bayern Munich and Austria boss Ralf Rangnick are ongoing over him becoming their new manager.

Rangnick, 65, confirmed last week he had been contacted about the job by the Bundesliga club.

Bayern want Rangnick to replace current manager Thomas Tuchel, who will leave at the end of the season.

It is believed Bayern think Rangnick can rebuild success at the club after Bayer Leverkusen halted their run of 11 consecutive Bundesliga titles this season.

Rangnick is currently preparing to lead Austria at the upcoming European Championship in Germany.

Bayern are not in discussions with any other manager and a decision is expected to be made by the end of the week.

Rangnick is believed to be interested in the role because it is an opportunity to reshape things during a time of confusion at the club.

Last week, he indicated any decision he makes will not be driven by money.

"That doesn't matter to me at all," said Rangnick.

"For me it's about other things: can I make a difference? Is there a chance of developing a team and being successful?

"My focus is on the Austrian national team. We are completely focused on the European Championship."

Rangnick had a six-month stint as Manchester United interim manager during the 2021-22 season, as well as spells in charge of Ulm, Stuttgart, Hannover, Hoffenheim, Schalke and RB Leipzig.

Source: BBC
 
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