For the second year, Chelsea Football Club have announced that John Terry will leave at the end of the season after 22 years at the club. The ex England international who made his debut in 1998 thanked the club, fans and teammates for their support over the years.
‘After 22 years there is so much to say and so many people to thank at this great football club. From coaches, team-mates and staff to the fans who have given me so much support down the years, I can’t thank you enough. There will be opportunities for me to speak further about this over the coming weeks.
‘I will decide on my future in due course, but for now I am committed to helping the team achieve success this season.
‘The club and I have always had a fantastic relationship, which will continue beyond my playing days. We had some really positive talks but with everything taken into careful consideration I have decided it’s the right time for me to leave. I’ve always been conscious that I depart at the right time, in the right way, and I feel that the end of this season is the right time for the club and I. I feel I still have plenty to offer on the pitch but understand that opportunities here at Chelsea will be limited for me. I’m eager to carry on playing and so will be looking to continue with a new challenge. I will of course always be a Blue and am desperate to end my final season as a Chelsea player with more silverware.
‘Finally, words cannot describe the love I have for our football club and our amazing Chelsea fans. I would like to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for the unbelievable support you’ve shown me over the years. You mean the world to me and every trophy we’ve won during my time at the club we’ve won together. I will never forget the incredible journey we’ve been on. Thank you so much for everything.’
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said: ‘Everyone at Chelsea would like to place on record our thanks to John for all he has done for this football club. He has been an outstanding player, inspirational captain and has always demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the cause.
‘In that time, Chelsea has grown into one of the world’s top clubs and it is only right that John’s contribution is recognised. He will always be held in the highest regard by everybody at Stamford Bridge and we look forward to welcoming him back in the future.’
JThas scored 66 goals is the club’s third highest all-time appearance-maker and has captained Chelsea a record 578 times. He has won the Champions League, four Premier League titles, the Europa League, five FA Cups and three League Cups.
"I can't sleep anymore"- Dortmund's Roman Burki opens up about his struggles after terror incident on team bus
Dortmund goalkeeper, Roman Burki has opened up about his struggles after last week’s terror incident on his team bus saying he finds it difficult to sleep. Recall that 3 devices exploded near the team bus as they travelled to Signal Iduna Park for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Monaco. Burki found it appalling that his side were forced to play their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Monaco just 24 hours after the ugly incident
“I’m not able to sleep anymore.I’m afraid of every little noise. At the end of Monaco game all team was in tears. I’m very glad my parents are with me. I can talk about everything with them. I could not concentrate. After the game the emotions came right out. There were tears in every player. It’s good that we have such a tight schedule and I don’t just have to sit on the couch and always have to remember what happened. I haven’t been following the news of the incident, so as not to burden me even more.”
He however slammed the governing body for their insensitivity, “UEFA said it was only about money and not about humanity, and the next day, when I heard from any UEFA or FIFA spokesman that the game would have been canceled if someone had died.”
Didier Drogba signs with Phoenix Rising as player and executive.
Former Ivory Coast international, Didier Drogba has announced that he will both play and co-own for second division US club, Phoenix Rising.
The Chelsea legend announced the new deal on his Instagram saying, “Happy to announce I have signed with @PHXRisingFC and will be part of the ownership group hoping to take Phoenix to the MLS,” Drogba said on his official twitter account.
AC Milan sold for €740m to Chinese consortium
In what has been described as the biggest-ever East investment in a European club, Italian football club, AC Milan has been officially sold to a Chinese consortium, Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux for €740m.
Representatives from both groups met in the morning in a Milan law firm and signed the documents which hand over the ownership and management of the club to the consortium headed by businessman Yonghong Li.
Silvio Berlusconi whose 31-year ownership of the club has come to an end said, “I today leave, after more than thirty years, the ownership and the presidency of AC Milan I do it with grief and emotion. I will never forget all the emotions that AC Milan gave me and to all of us. My deepest thank you from the bottom of my heart goes to our fans. To the millions of supporters who filled the stadiums. Without all [the fans], our glorious AC Milan wouldn’t have existed and would not exist today. Together with [the fans], we won everything there was to win. I have in my eyes & in my heart, thousands of different moments. Although today I leave this position, I’ll forever be Milan’s 1st fan, the team my father taught me to love when I was a child. I wish the new management to achieve even more great results than we did.”
A statement read, “Fininvest has completed the sale of the entire stake owned in AC Milan – equal to 99.93 per cent – to Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux,” the statement confirmed.
“The closing is the last step of the purchase agreement signed on August 5, 2016 and renewed on March 24 by Fininvest CEO Danilo Pellegrino and David Han Li, as a representative of Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux.
“The terms of the agreement are the same as disclosed in August and reflect an aggregate evaluation of AC Milan equal to €740m, which includes the club’s indebtedness, equal to €220m as of June 30, 2016.
”A €90m refund for AC Milan’s running costs anticipated by Fininvest from July 1, 2016 hitherto adds up to the evaluation.
“The buyers also confirmed their commitment to undertake significant capital increases and liquidity injections aimed at strengthening AC Milan’s financial structure.”
The Serie A club have won eight league titles and five European Cups.
Dybala extends his contract with Juventus till 2022
Juventus star, Paulo Dybala has handed potential transfer suitors a blow by extending his contract with Juventus till 2022. The Argentinian, who was reportedly on Real Madrid and Barcelona’s radar, joined the Serie A champions in 2015. His new deal is understood to be worth more than £100,000-a-week. He will earn €7m per year, being 2nd best paid in Serie A behind Higuain
Speaking to TV3 this week, he said: “I am very happy at Juventus, the people love me a lot and I am going to give more happiness to the fans.”
Cristiano Ronaldo sets new UCL record
Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first player in history to score 100 goals in UEFA European competition. The Real Madrid legend recorded the new feat today after scoring the second goal during his aide’s UCL spell with Bayern Munich.
Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored 96 goals (15 for Manchester United, 81 for Real Madrid) in 141 appearances in the Champions League.
The Yobos celebrate their first child at 7! (Photos)
Ex Footballer, Joseph Yobo and his beautiful wife, Adaeze Yobo’s first son, Joey turned 7 yesterday and the family hung out to celebrate the lad’s birthday.
Sunday Oliseh reveals he was meters away from bomb explosion scene in Germany
Former Super Eagles player and coach, Sunday Oliseh has revealed he was some meters away from an explosion scene in Germany yesterday. Explosions were heard 13 kilometers from Westfalenstadion, aka Signal Iduna Park, and it hit a Borussia Dortmund team bus as they were preparing to face AS Monaco in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals yesterday, a defender Marc Bartra was injured in the process.
Thank God! I Was just 200 meters from the Dortmund stadium when D bombs struck Dortmund team Bus! Really Scary day but grateful to be safe!
— Sunday Oliseh (@SundayOOliseh) April 11, 2017
When quizzed further by irate and sympathetic fans, the Fortuna Sittard coach added.
We were +- 200 metres from D stadium AND NOT D Dortmund team bus when D bomb exploded! Thanks 4 your sympathy.Grateful 4 d players' safety
— Sunday Oliseh (@SundayOOliseh) April 12, 2017
One injured as explosion erupt near Borussia Dortmund bus in Germany
Explosions hit a Borussia Dortmund team bus as they were preparing to face AS Monaco in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals today. The blasts broke windows on the bus injuring former Barcelona defender Marc Bartra in the process.
According to reports, the team had left its hotel about 7 p.m. local time (1 p.m. ET) en route to the match, and between 40 and 50 people, including the trainer and medical support staff, were on the bus when three explosions were heard about 13 kilometers from Westfalenstadion, aka Signal Iduna Park, where the game was scheduled to be played., a spokesman revealed.
“Due to tonight’s incident, the UEFA Champions League match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco has been postponed until Wednesday at 18:45CET,” UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, said in a statement. “This decision was made after a meeting held at the BVB Stadion Dortmund between UEFA, representatives of the two clubs and local authorities.”
Source: CNN
Neymar banned for 3 games
Barcelona’s Neymar has been handed a 3-match ban for showing contempt at a match official during the Catalans’ game against to Malaga on Saturdayy.
After the Brazilian picked the second yellow card, he clapped sarcastically at the referee as his side were beaten 2-0 at La Rosaleda, unfortunately referee Jesus Gil Manzano included Neymar’s reaction to the fourth official in his post-game report and that earned him a hefty fine.
He will miss the second leg of the el-clasico.