Cardiff placed under transfer embargo by Football League

The first day at a new job is always nerve racking but Steven Gerrard looked excited as he began the next stage of his career with Liverpool on Wednesday.

After coming through the youth ranks at Anfield, Gerrard became a Liverpool legend during his 17-years as a professional with the Reds.

Gerrard bid an emotional farewell at the end of the 2014-15 season and spent 18 months in MLS with LA Galaxy, before it was announced last week that he would return to Liverpool as a full-time academy coach.

The Reds revealed Gerrard would serve as a coach at the youth complex in Kirkby, operating in a wide-ranging role in the professional development phase of young players .

Working closely with academy director Alex Inglethorpe, it will be the first step on the manage…

Former Milan head coach Marco Giampaolo has been named the new Torino boss on a two-year deal.

Toro parted company with Moreno Longo following the 1-1 draw with Bologna on August 2 that concluded their Serie A campaign.

Longo, who replaced Walter Mazzarri in February, managed three wins and four draws in 16 league games to help Torino finish five points above the relegation zone.

The club confirmed the arrival of Giampaolo on Friday.

It is the 53-year-old s first coaching job since he left Milan last October just four months on from his arrival.

Giampaolo was dismissed after losing four of the first six league games of 2019-20.

He was the first Rossoneri coach to endure such a start since Italo Galbiati in 1982.

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Luka Modric insists friend and team-mate Gareth Bale fits in well at Real Madrid and enjoys being at the club.

Rumours linking the Wales international with a move to the Chinese Super League have resurfaced as the January transfer window draws nearer.

He almost left for Jiangsu Suning during the close season, only for Madrid to reportedly cancel the deal at the last minute.

Zinedine Zidane tried to force him out amid suggestions Bale has failed to embrace Spanish culture but, speaking ahead of Wednesday s LaLiga game against Leganes, the head coach claimed his winger is still happy at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Star midfielder Modric, who swapped Tottenham for Madrid a year before Bale, holds the same view.

Gareth and I are very similar. We are shy …

Real Madrid have reached a verbal agreement with Alphonso Davies over a proposed transfer from Bayern Munich, according to . The Spanish giants are now expected to push for it to happen either this summer, when his contract enters its final year, or in 2025, when it expires.

The talks between Real and Davies camp have been going on for quite a while now, and the La Liga leaders, represented by chief scout Juni Calafat and director general Jose Angel Sanchez, have asked the Canada international not to sign a new contract with Bayern in order to make striking a deal easier, despite the Bavarians attempts to convince him to sign.

For their part, Bayern wish to avoid a scenario where they would lose Davies for free. They re still trying to convince him to sign a new contrac…

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Knowing that a single point will be enough to extend on their La Liga status, Valencia will travel to the Estadio Benito Villamarin on Sunday night when they meet Real Betis.

Real Betis

Starting with the hosts, making an immediate return to winning ways last weekend, Real Betis have continued to impress many across Spain this season. Breezing their way to another European finish with time to spare, Manuel Pellegrini’s men will be looking to sign off their La Liga adventure with another statement on Sunday night. Last seen picking up an action-packed 2-1 win away at Girona, the former West Ham boss should find the mood in his camp at a continued high. Along with opening May with a 1-0 win away at Athletic Bilbao, Los Verdiblancos have…

Bournemouth have announced the signing of defender Adam Smith from Tottenham on a three-and-a-half-year deal.

Smith has joined the Championship outfit for an undisclosed fee as he seeks regular first-team football.

The 22-year-old – who has made just two appearances for Tottenham – has spent seven stints out on loan, including a season-long switch to Bournemouth in the 2010-11 season.

It s great to be back, Smith told Bournemouth s official website.

My loan spell here a few years ago was successful and I ve worked with (manager) Eddie Howe before, so it just feels right.

This is what I need because hopefully I will get some games to improve myself and help the club move up the table.

I ve had seven loans and I was looking to stay at one club for a…

With one sumptuous swing of his right foot against Liechtenstein on Friday, David Villa moved to within one goal of Raul s all-time goalscoring record for Spain.

Villa s 25-yard strike in the 4-0 rout was his 43rd in Spain s colours and, having already inspired his country to victory at Euro 2008 and the World Cup, a goal in the friendly with Argentina on Tuesday will further strengthen his claim to the mantle of Spain s greatest ever striker.

The Barcelona new boy could even have drawn level with Raul in Vaduz after hitting the crossbar in the last minute, but he says he is not preoccupied by his pursuit of the record.

It will come, said Villa. It s a shame (not to score) because it was the final minutes but the goals will arrive. I hope that I stay in the nat…

Massimiliano Allegri insists he is not worried by Juventus poor record in major European finals ahead of facing Real Madrid in a Champions League showdown in Cardiff on Saturday.

Juve have won only two of their eight final appearances in the premier continental showpiece, losing their last four most recently against Barcelona in 2015.

But Allegri feels not enough has been made of the achievement in reaching the final and does not want to worry about such negative thoughts.

It s an important match and we must simply do what we ve produced all season long, he told a news conference.

Negativity is infectious. When I took over there was an air of negativity which was frightening and I can sense a touch of that now too when I hear people talking about the …

Manchester United and Manchester City were the major contributing clubs as Premier League teams set a new record for revenues in the 2015-16 season, earning a total of £3.6billion.

The report from business advisory firm Deloitte showed combined revenues were up by nine per cent from figures in 2014-15, but clubs recorded collective pre-tax losses of £110million, while operating profits were stable at £0.5billion.

United s return to the Champions League, coupled with City reaching the semi-finals of the competition, were among the main reasons for Premier League clubs setting record revenues, while wage costs were highlighted as one of the biggest driving factors in the return to an overall loss after two years in the black.

Dan Jones, partner and head of the S…

Ross Barkley was once regarded as a potential Everton legend in the making. It is the old story of a young kid breaking through at his boyhood club and living the dream. However, Barkley’s dream turned rather sour at Everton.

The midfielder had undoubted potential. However, his career seemed to stall in his early 20’s. His decision-making was atrocious and the Everton fans let him know about it.

The manner of his exit left a bitter taste

Everton fans have had to accept in recent years that they will have to sell their best players. The Toffees are not unique in that sense, as every club will sell virtually every player at the right price.

Barkley chose to run down his contract rather than sign a renewal with the Toffees, which was his prerogative. However, …