'I’ve learnt from my mistakes. I take ownership of everything that’s happened to me' I sat down with Brandon Williams for a raw and revealing interview He opened up about his time at Manchester United, when things started to go wrong, his mental health struggles, and his message to younger players

Brandon Williams interview: ‘I was immature and stupid. I look back now and think what an idiot I was’

The former Manchester United defender speaks openly about his behaviour and the issues that have affected him, on and off the pitch

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'He is the new star of football in Mali' I spoke to those who know Mamadou Sangare best about his journey from Mali to becoming Brentford's club-record signing Really excited to see what he can do in the Premier League 🐝

Mamadou Sangare is Brentford’s record signing and a star in the making – ‘The sky’s the limit for him’ (Gift Article)

The Mali international midfielder is making a rapid rise through European football. Next stop? Premier League stardom in west London

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The World Cup is over, but football's packed calendar means proper downtime is becoming increasingly hard to come by So what are players actually entitled to when it comes to annual leave? And what do their contracts say?

How does annual leave work in football, and what are players entitled to? (Gift Article)

An increasingly packed calendar means it can be a challenge for players to get the time off they are legally entitled to

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The World Cup final is the only match of the tournament shown live on both the BBC and ITV – making it the broadcasters' only head-to-head battle Ahead of tomorrow's final, I spoke to leading industry figures about who has stood out and where each has excelled

The battle between the UK’s World Cup broadcasters: Have ITV narrowed the ratings gap to the BBC? (Gift Article)

ITV have enjoyed a strong tournament with the focus drawn to an impressive on-site studio, but the BBC have been pleased with their output

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Michael Olise has been one of the stars of this World Cup with 🇫🇷 Yet despite his rising profile, he has no official boot or brand sponsorship deals I spoke to experts about why he's taken that approach - and just how unusual it is www.nytimes.com/athletic/744...

Michael Olise, the World Cup star without a boot deal or brand sponsor (Gift Article)

The France forward is a rarity and is forgoing huge sums of money by not partnering with the likes of Nike or Adidas

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‘Michael’s Michael, he is unique’ Brendan Flanagan brought Michael Olise to Reading in 2016 Ten years on - and with Olise one of the stars of this World Cup - we watched last night’s game together + reflected on his rise www.nytimes.com/athletic/743...

Watching Michael Olise with the man who gave his football career another chance

Chelsea and Manchester City let him go — but Reading took a chance on the talented teenager

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'He aspires to be one of the best No 9s in world football' From the Wanstead Flats park pitches to scoring at a World Cup with the USA, I spoke to Folarin Balogun’s former coaches and team-mates to find out about his journey to the biggest stage www.nytimes.com/athletic/738...

The rise of Folarin Balogun, by team-mates and coaches who have worked with him (Gift Article)

The USMNT striker has made a major impact on the World Cup for the hosts, but his football journey began in England

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Hydration breaks have become one of the major talking points at the World Cup I looked at which broadcasters are using the breaks for advertising, the commercial opportunities they create, and whether they're here to stay www.nytimes.com/athletic/736...

How broadcasters are using hydration breaks – and might they be here to stay? (Gift Article)

TV companies around the world are taking different approaches. Some are making big money, others either are not or are unable to do so

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Very excited to see Michael Olise play in his first World Cup match tonight I spoke to his former school teachers, coaches and teammates about his pathway to the top, why it didn't work out at #CFC, his connection to France and what makes him so special www.nytimes.com/athletic/725...

The making of Michael Olise: The quiet kid who came alive on the pitch (Gift Article)

The Bayern Munich winger is one of Europe's best players. His talent has always been clear but his path to the top has had its challenges

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Just two months ago, Coca-Cola signed Cole Palmer as a 'football brand ambassador' A month later, he was left out of England's World Cup squad What does that mean for his partnership with Coca-Cola (and his other deals)? I spoke to industry experts to find out www.nytimes.com/athletic/735...

Cole Palmer, Coca-Cola and what happens when a World Cup brand deal falls flat (Gift Article)

The Chelsea forward's omission from Thomas Tuchel's squad left those companies who had signed him as a brand ambassador facing a dilemma

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Le Mans FC are back in Ligue 1 - after a 16 year absence They have secured successive promotions and count Djokovic, Massa, Magnussen and Courtois among their famous investors I spoke to their new ownership group + Massa about their plans #AllezLEMANSFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/731...

Le Mans FC: France’s big-name investor club who could be the next Como (Gift Article)

Successive promotions have restored Le Mans to Ligue 1 and the club have ambitious future plans, from youth development to infrastructure

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Éric Di Meco won the European Cup with Marseille in '93 He now plays in an Oasis tribute band Ahead of this year’s #UCL final, we spoke about that famous OM side, the match-fixing scandal, Euro ’96, meeting Noel Gallagher — and his favourite Oasis songs www.nytimes.com/athletic/731...

Meet the Champions League winner who now plays in an Oasis tribute band (Gift Article)

Éric Di Meco was a European Cup winner with Marseille in 1993 but his love of that decade stretches beyond football

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'If there’s a fairy tale in the league this season, it’s probably us' How Hull City - who only stayed up on goal difference last year before being hit by a transfer embargo - defied the odds Central to their revival has been popular head coach Sergej Jakirovic www.nytimes.com/athletic/730...

How Hull City defied the odds: a transfer ban, a charismatic coach who idolises Klopp… and a trip to Vegas (Gift Article)

After narrowly avoiding relegation last season and with recruitment options limited, Hull were expected to struggle again this season

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I spent four months in the company of Millwall captain Jake Cooper It was an eventful period that ended with a painful defeat in the playoffs this week This tells the story of that time, the twists and turns along the way, and what life looks like for an EFL player www.nytimes.com/athletic/727...

Inside the world of an EFL footballer: Chairman’s treat, dad mode and ‘the worst feeling in football’ (Gift Article)

The Athletic spent the past four months meeting Millwall captain Jake Cooper as his team pursued a place in the Premier League

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Frank Lampard interview ▪️ On misconception about British managers ▪️ Coventry promotion 'right at the top' of his career achievements ▪️ His personal point to prove after #CFC caretaker spell ▪️ Response to Steven Gerrard 'egotistical losers' remark (Free to read) www.nytimes.com/athletic/725...

Frank Lampard interview: Misconceptions of British managers, learning to be ‘tough’, challenges for Coventry (Gift Article)

Frank Lampard explains what he has learnt as promotion-winning Coventry manager and why the Premier League will be so challenging

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The making of Michael Olise, football's quiet genius Ahead of tonight’s semi final second leg, I spoke to Olise’s former school teachers, coaches and teammates about his rise to the top, why he was let go by #CFC + #MCFC and what makes him so special www.nytimes.com/athletic/725...

The making of Michael Olise: The quiet kid who came alive on the pitch

The Bayern Munich winger is one of Europe's best players. His talent has always been clear but his path to the top has had its challenges

nytimes.com

▪️ Penalty shootout heroics with a fractured hand ▪️ Keen chess player, board game collector + talented mathematician ▪️ A 'natural born leader' ▪️ Friendship with Kvaratskhelia Matvey Safonov, PSG's Russian goalkeeper trying to keep Bayern Munich quiet over two ties www.nytimes.com/athletic/722...

Matvey Safonov: PSG’s Russian goalkeeper, a ‘natural-born leader’ with talent for chess and maths

The goalkeeper moved from Russia in 2024, is now settled in the French capital and wants to prove himself against Europe's best

nytimes.com

A 1-1 draw at Blackburn on Friday night sealed promotion for Frank Lampard's team – this is how they fought their way back from League Two to the Premier League. 📝 @tburrows16.bsky.social 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

After 25 years, Coventry City have returned to the Premier League - sparking jubilant scenes in the away end at Ewood Park tonight A look at their remarkable journey back, the painful near misses - and Frank Lampard’s impact www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

How Coventry City and Frank Lampard ended 25 years of hurt and returned to the promised land

From downward spiral to the fourth tier, back up to the top flight, via Wembley ups and downs – this is the story of their return

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From a dire financial situation to Europe’s most profitable club I spoke to Lille's owners and president about how they did it: big focus on the academy, smart squad planning, finding 'raw diamonds' in the market + selling players for hefty profits www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

Lille were close to bankruptcy. This is how they became Europe’s most profitable club

Lille were Ligue 1 champions in 2021, but there were major underlying problems that needed addressing by the new owners

nytimes.com

Cardiff City have today lost their damages claim against French side FC Nantes - more than seven years after the tragic death of Emiliano Sala in a plane crash Cardiff had sought €120million in damages Story on what's been a long-running and bitter legal saga www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

Cardiff lose €120m damages claim against Nantes in Emiliano Sala case

The League One side were instead ordered to pay Nantes $480,000 in damages and legal fees.

nytimes.com

I interviewed brothers Mohamed and Al Hassan Toure, who are dreaming of representing Australia at the World Cup That would mark another incredible chapter in their life story that began when they born in a refugee camp in Guinea www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

Mohamed and Al Hassan Toure were born in a refugee camp. Now they are dreaming of the World Cup

Both players are in contention to make the Australia squad and could play against the United States this summer

nytimes.com

LFP have granted PSG their request to have big match vs RC Lens postponed - as it was in between their two games vs #LFC That match will now be on Wednesday May 13 LFP said decision taken to 'help France maintain its fifth place in the UEFA coefficient rankings' www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

PSG successful in request for free weekend between Liverpool Champions League games

PSG were also granted the weekend off between their two games against Chelsea in the previous round of the competition.

nytimes.com

'This might have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join arguably the biggest club in the world. And he’s earned the opportunity' Visited Norwich to chat to Ajay Tavares' youth coach about his rise, after his Barcelona move With @laiacervello.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

From Norwich to Barcelona: Ajay Tavares, the England Under-17s winger at La Masia

It is not exactly a path well travelled, but this move from East Anglia reflects an established youth policy at the Catalan club

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‘He wound his arm back and sucker-punched me in the back of the head’ After a series of recent incidents, I spoke to a number of people across amateur and non-league football in the UK about their ordeals - and what’s really happening www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Special report: Violence in amateur football – ‘I can’t comprehend why you would do that to someone’

Physical attacks against players on the pitch - often by opponents - can have serious consequences for the victims

nytimes.com

LFP confirm PSG have asked for big Ligue 1 match vs RC Lens to be postponed PSG currently scheduled to play Lens on April 11, in between their two #UCL matches vs #LFC Lens strongly against fixture being moved, but LFP have final say #LFC also play on April 11 www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

Paris Saint-Germain request Lens match postponement due to Liverpool tie

PSG are due to face second-place Lens in the week between their quarter-final legs in April.

nytimes.com

Paris Saint-Germain’s demolition of Chelsea over two legs suggests they’re peaking at the perfect time Their injury problems are easing, Barcola is in fine form, while Kvaratskhelia was a constant menace last night My piece on #PSG from Stamford Bridge www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

Have PSG rediscovered the form that led them to Champions League glory?

The holders dismantled Chelsea with ease and now have many of their injured players back as they head into the quarter-finals

nytimes.com

My interview with Paulo Fonseca - very engaging company ▪️ Lyon’s 13 straight wins ▪️ Navigating a nine-month ban ▪️ Why he deserved more time at AC Milan ▪️ Calling football 'pleasure' but sadness at how game's changed ▪️ Heartbreak over the war in Ukraine www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Paulo Fonseca: From a nine-month ban to rebuilding Lyon’s reputation – ‘Football is a pleasure’

The Portuguese coach is loving life in Ligue 1. After a nine-month suspension, he is spearheading Lyon's push for silverware

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Roberto De Zerbi is gone, but the drama continues at #OM Another 2-0 lead thrown away (with a 96th min equaliser). Protests during the game. And now Mehdi Benatia has departed too My piece on De Zerbi’s 18 months at a club lurching toward yet another crisis www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

Inside Roberto De Zerbi’s wild ride at Marseille – TV bust-ups, European highs and a 2.35am exit

The Italian's tumultuous reign contained big highs and crushing lows before ending on a sour note this week

nytimes.com

Timothée Chalamet, the football years 🧤 Playing in goal at Manhattan Kickers 🇫🇷 Summers at French football camp 💚 His love for AS Saint-Étienne ⚽️ Idolising Bafétimbi Gomis growing up (I spoke to the ex-France striker about that) 🥅 Facing Joe Gomez in pre-season match www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

Timothee Chalamet – the soccer years: ‘I’m sure his dream was to become a professional’

Timothee Chalamet has been nominated for this year's Academy Award for Best Actor - but before all that, there were his years on the pitch

nytimes.com