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      Jose Mourinho was my PE teacher, loads of the kids hated him but even then he proved he was a tactical mastermind

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      JOSE MOURINHO has always been a Marmite character – just ask his former PE students. The Special One continues to divide opinion, nearly 20 years on from leading Porto to Champions League glory.
      Jose Mourinho was a PE teacher before his football coaching career took offCredit: Empics
      Armenio Anjos was one of his students at Zeca Afonso Secondary SchoolCredit: Joshua Jones / SunSport
      The future manager still had the same incredible intensity and demands at the schoolCredit: PA:Press Association
      But his my-way-or-the-highway methods and demand for respect were not reserved for just elite-level footballers.
      Armenio Anjos, 50, can testify to that.
      Anjos attended the school Escola Secundaria Zeca Afonso in Alhos-Vedros just outside Lisbon when Mourinho spent a year teaching PE in his early 20s between the end of his brief playing career and the beginning of his managerial career.
      Mourinho, 60, was not even the school’s football team manager but he still made quite the impression on his pupil – producing one of his very first tactical masterstrokes. 
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      Anjos told SunSport: “Jose Mourinho was my PE teacher for one year before he went to Sporting. 
      “He was 23 or 24, I was 14 or 15. I didn’t expect Mourinho to be what he is now.
      “He was the same. It’s one thing I love about him: Mourinho has never changed. He is always in your face. Whatever he thinks about you, he will tell you.
      “I love him. I have never stopped loving him, even at school. I was not the only one. There was a lot of people like me who loved him but a lot of people hated him. It’s like now.
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      “Even at that time, a lot of my schoolmates said, ‘This guy is too rude for me.’
      “In Portugal, if you don’t pass, you repeat the year so some of the girls were older.

      “Mourinho was always good looking and he was driving a Renault 18 which was a very nice, popular car.”
      Anjos continued: “He wasn’t the manager but he told me to go in goal.
      “I went in goal and I was good and then I was the goalkeeper for the school team. 
      “He taught me everything. Basketball, volleyball. 
      “We always think PE is a subject we don’t need to work hard in. It’s just running about and kicking the ball. Not with him. 
      “He said, ‘I went to uni like your English teacher, Portuguese teacher, maths teacher. You have to respect me the same way.
      “You need to learn from me, I’m not here wasting my time.’ Everyone was in shock. 
      “In the breaks between lessons, usually the teachers went to the staff room but he was outside with us, seeing what we were doing, talking to us. He was really motivating.”
      I will do more for Mourinho than I would for my kidsArmenio Anjos
      As he has done with many in the nearly four decades since, Mourinho left a lasting impression on Anjos.
      The former student has always tracked his old teacher’s career – from getting his big break as Sir Bobby Robson’s translator at Sporting in 1992 then to Porto and Barcelona, where his pragmatic football ideology dovetailed with Robson’s attacking style. 
      Mourinho stayed on at the Nou Camp under Louis van Gaal, who gave him the chance to develop his management skills.
      Then in September 2000, Mourinho was appointed Benfica’s first-team boss, resigning just three months later before shining at Uniao de Leiria which saw him land the Porto job in January 2002.
      He promised to make the club league champions in his first full season and delivered – alongside the Taca de Portugal and Uefa Cup – and backed it up with the Premeira Liga and Champions League double in 2003-04.
      From there it was Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and now Roma – collecting 20 trophies along the way including three Premier League crowns at Stamford Bridge. 
      Anjos reunited with Mourinho just once since he became famous when he flew from England to Lisbon for a book-signing session. 
      But he has been cheering him on every step of the way – even while on family holidays.
      He worked as Sir Bobby Robson’s translator at Sporting, Porto and BarcelonaCredit: Reuters
      Mourinho stayed on at Barcelona under Louis van GaalCredit: Reuters
      Mourinho carries the Uefa Cup after leading Porto to glory in his first full seasonCredit: Lusa
      He secured a memorable Champions League triumph with Porto in 2004Credit: Empics
      Mourinho won three Premier League titles with ChelseaCredit: AFP – Getty
      Anjos – who dreams of watching Mourinho’s Roma in the Stadio Olimpico this season – said: “Just to show you how much I love him, Real Madrid’s first game in the 2012-13 season was home to Valencia. 
      “I was on holiday in the Algarve. On the Saturday afternoon, I told my wife we were going to watch Real Madrid tomorrow. 
      “She said, ‘What? It’s 40C and you want to drive from here to Madrid just to watch Mourinho?’ 
      “I said, ‘Wherever he goes, I am going.’ I bought tickets for seven people, we had a seven-seater car. It took eight hours. We got there ten minutes after kick-off because I was looking for parking. 
      “We went in, watched the game, it was a draw. Then we drove back for another eight hours.
      “Then after Real Madrid lost in the 2013 Champions League semi-finals against Borussia Dortmund, Mourinho was on his knees. 
      “I felt so sorry for him and felt I had to support him so the Sunday after I flew to Madrid, went to Santiago Bernabeu, paid £300 for a ticket to see Real Madrid beat Sevilla then took the plane back.
      “I was there to watch Mourinho, I don’t care about Madrid. For that man, I will do more than I would for my kids.” 
      ANJ BALL
      Anjos was inspired by Mourinho to quit basketball after six years and get into football, initially as a player and now as a coach.
      After moving to England 17 years ago, he now manages Barking FC’s Under-18s and invited compatriot Fabio Paim to speak to his players about the importance of work ethic to make it as a footballer.
      Paim revealed to SunSport he earned £6,500 per week aged 13 and was better than Sporting pal Cristiano Ronaldo but his career fizzled out into obscurity due to the pitfalls of money and fame before he ended up watching his old friend from prison.
      And Anjos, nicknamed Dos, likes to channel his inner Jose with his players – including replicating the iconic kneeslide celebration. 
      Wearing his ‘Special 1’ Roma top under his Barking training kit, he added: “Mourinho is the greatest manager ever. He is amazing. I love him, I just love him so much.
      “The way he talked so passionately made me have a go at football.
      Read more on The Sun
      “I show the boys a lot of videos and most of them are Mourinho. I do speeches like him. 
      “I did a kneeslide once. We went to play in Kent last season and we were down 1-0 then in the last second, one of our guys scored from outside the box – that was my moment.”
      Anjos dreams of seeing his hero at the Stadio Olimpico this seasonCredit: Joshua Jones / SunSport
      Anjos, far right, is the Barking FC Under-18s coachCredit: Joshua Jones / SunSport
      Anjos even replicated the famous kneeslide after a dramatic late goal for his sideCredit: Pixel 8
      Mourinho’s Real Madrid were dumped out of the 2012-13 Champions League by Borussia DortmundCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      Mourinho’s love affair with European competitions continued with Conference League glory at RomaCredit: Getty More

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      Sergio Ramos booed entire match by Atletico fans for breaking football etiquette… but fans are all sick of tradition

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      SERGIO RAMOS was booed throughout Sevilla’s clash with Atletico Madrid after stepping on their badge when coming out to warm up.The Real Madrid legend, 37, returned to the Spanish capital on Saturday as his Sevilla side lost 1-0 thanks to a second half Marcos Llorente strike.
      Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos returned to Atletico Madrid on SaturdayCredit: Getty
      Ramos ran out in front of the Atletico fans with his Sevilla team-matesCredit: X
      He infuriated Atletico supporters by stepping on their club badgeCredit: X
      And Ramos was given a hostile welcome as he ran out onto the Wanda Metropolitano pitch.
      The Spaniard emerged from the tunnel and ran over the Atletico badge etched into the grass.
      This enraged the home support as they proceeded to jeer him during the game.
      But fans on social media were quick to dismiss the notion that stepping on a club crest is a disrespectful act.
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      One said: “But you put a logo on the ground too, it’s illogical to complain about that.”
      Another added: “Stop putting it on the ground in s***ty places…”
      A third replied: “Stop your bulls**t, it’s just a Real player who hurt them so much.”
      While a fourth responded: “Fed up with crying in football.”
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      Ramos famously scored a 90th-minute equaliser in the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in 2014.
      He headed Los Blancos level, before they went on to win 4-1 in extra time.
      Ramos won five LaLiga titles and four Champions Leagues during his hugely successful 16-year stint at Real Madrid.
      He returned to Sevilla in the summer after 18 years away, but the club are struggling down in 15th place in the table. More

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      Sir Alex Ferguson gave me hairdryer treatment after Chelsea clash – I never messed with him again

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      TOM CLEVERLEY has opened up on what it was like to work under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.The legendary Scot has a staggering trophy collection from his time at the club, including two Champions Leagues and 13 Premier League titles.
      Sir Alex Ferguson had a famous hair-trigger temperament with his playersCredit: Getty
      Former Man Utd star Tom Cleverley has revealed an argument he had with FergusonCredit: Getty
      That haul was the result of many things, including a furious temper that he wasn’t afraid of showing his players.
      Former Red Devils midfielder Cleverley was one star who was on the receiving end of the infamous “hairdryer treatment”.
      The now-retired 34-year-old revealed he butted heads with the manager over a poor performance against Chelsea when he was playing out on the left wing.
      However, he then confessed it was the last time he ever stepped out of line.
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      Cleverley exclusively told Labdrokes Fanzone: “Sir Alex Ferguson just had an unbelievable aura about him, you know?
      “He managed to become someone in my life who you just did not want to let down.
      “You’d run through brick walls for him, you’d want to catch his eye, you wanted to impress him… that’s the kind of figure he was. 
      “Once I got a telling off – to put it lightly – in an cup game at Stamford Bridge.
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      “I was playing out of position; he put me on the left-hand side and I sort of hinted at that and got a right old hammering from him.
      “I was struggling to get into the game and I put it down to the fact he was playing me out of position.
      “Put it this way, it was the last time I ever did that because he was absolutely right in his response, which was that I was lucky to be playing at all! 
      “I just feel incredibly lucky that I played for him as many times as I did, and one of the things I’m very proud of is that I played in his last game in charge, which is definitely one to tell the grandkids.”
      Cleverley would help Ferguson lift his final title in 2013, the season after the dramatic final day whicj saw Manchester City crowned champions for the first time in Premier League history.
      But he revealed what Ferguson said to the team to help them push on to win the league the following year.
      Cleverley won the title in Ferguson’s last seasonCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      He said: “The manager reminded us – after they were crowned champions – the one thing he’d been telling us all season, that we had to continue to be ruthless.
      “Even when games were done at two or three nil up, you had to be ruthless and finish teams off because one of these years, the league will come down to goal difference.
      “That’s what he said, and he was right, like he was with most things.
      “I was naive, back then. I was, what, 21? 22? I was so naive, I just thought that our club will be back. It was normal the club challenged for three or four trophies every year…
      “Little did I know there was just one more to come, in the immediate season after, and that we’d still be waiting to this day for another.
      “There was a real desire in that summer. A bad taste in the mouth. That drove us on to be so consistent in that following season. The signing of Robin van Persie took us to the next level.
      I just feel incredibly lucky that I played for him as many times as I did, and one of the things I’m very proud of is that I played in his last game in charge, which is definitely one to tell the grandkids.Tom CleverleyLadbrokes Fanzone
      “Not to mention the form of [Wayne] Rooney, [Rio] Ferdinand… you know, Michael Carrick was unbelievable that year. Everyone was consistent that season.
      “We didn’t play the greatest title-winning football you’ve ever seen, but games that should’ve been draws, we turned into wins through our desire, and through what happened to us the year before.
      “Robin’s left foot, of course, played a huge part in us turning those draws into wins!”
      After winning the league with games to spare, Man Utd headed away to West Brom for Ferguson’s final game.
      And despite taking a comfortable early lead, the game went on to end 5-5 thanks to a Romelu Lukaku hat-trick.
      However, Ferguson was not actually too upset with the result, with Cleverley saying “he was actually quite pleased”.
      Cleverley revealed Ferguson was actually happy drawing 5-5 in his last game in footballCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Cleverley added: “I can’t take any credit for it, but I think I came off the pitch when we were pretty comfortably ahead against West Brom on that final day of the season, Sir Alex Ferguson’s final game in charge.
      “I thought it was a good send off for the gaffer, but things didn’t end up that way. Listen, he wasn’t too angry about it, afterwards.
      “I think he was actually quite pleased, he’d never been involved in a 5-5 and there it came, in his last game.
      “What I do remember from that day was just all of the players lining up behind him, and letting him go over to the travelling fans and have a proper send off.
      “It’s a memory that will always stay with me until the day I die, really.”
      Read more on The Sun
      Several loan transfers to Aston Villa and Everton would follow for Cleverley in subsequent years.
      He eventually left Man Utd permanently in 2015, continuing his top flight career with Everton and later Watford, before he retired at the Hornets last summer. More

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      Fans wowed by ‘simply the best’ Kate Abdo as she speaks fluent German on TV before Joshua vs Wallin fight

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      FANS have been left stunned after seeing Kate Abdo speak fluent German for the blockbuster “Day of Reckoning”.Presenter Kate has shot to fame due to her hilarious rapport with CBS Sport’s Champions League crew; Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards.
      Fans were left stunned after seeing Kate Abdo speak fluent German
      Kate was presenting boxing coverage for DAZN Germany
      Kate has shot to fame on presenting the Champions League on CBS SportsCredit: Getty
      But the 42-year-old is also as talented as they come.
      And her broadcasting experience across a number of countries, including England, Germany, Spain and France, have seen her master multiple languages.
      However, this did not stop fans from being surprised to see her speaking fluent German.
      Kate was showing off her linguistic skills while working as a presenter on DAZN Germany.
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      Taking to the comments under DAZN’s post, one fan said: “As if she can speak German too.”
      A second said: “Kate Abdo, simply fluent German, the best.”
      Another said: “I love Kate.”
      While a fourth added: “Simply a linguistic talent, mega woman.”
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      In an earlier post to her Instagram story Kate also appeared to confirm she is dating Malik Scott.
      Kate shared a photo of Scott, who is the trainer of Deontay Wilder, to her Instagram story.
      She captioned the post: “The man I love to see win is about to get another W on the biggest night in boxing.”
      During CBS’ coverage of the Champions League Carragher teased Kate about her relationship.
      It came after he said: “You went to Alabama, how’d it go? What happened?”
      Abdo replied: “I had a great time.”
      To which Carragher then asked: “Are we going to meet Malik?”
      And Abdo responded: “You can meet Malik.”
      However, things did not go to plan as Wilder suffered a crushing decision defeat to Joseph Parker.

      🥊ANTHONY JOSHUA VS OTTO WALLIN: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF THRILLING SAUDI CLASH🥊 More

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      Man City WILL wear gold 2023 Fifa World Champions badge on shirts despite Liverpool being banned after 2019 victory

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      MANCHESTER CITY will be allowed to wear the 2023 FIFA World Champions badge on all three kits this season following their Club World Cup victory.Pep Guardiola’s side cruised to a 4-0 win over Fluminense in the Club World Cup final on Friday.
      Man City won the Club World Cup on FridayCredit: Getty
      They will now be allowed to wear the Club World Cup badge on their shirtsCredit: Getty
      As a result they added a fifth trophy to this year’s impressive haul, having already won the treble and UEFA Super Cup.
      And the Cityzens will now be able to show off their latest achievement with a special badge.
      Club World Cup champions are allowed to wear a gold badge on their shirts until the next winner is crowned.
      Man City will be doing so with immediate effect, meaning they will complete a small kit change ahead of next Wednesday’s Premier League clash with Everton.
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      However, Liverpool were banned from making the change after they won the Club World Cup back in 2019.
      The Reds defeated Flamengo 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Roberto Firmino.
      But they had to wait until the following season to wear the badge.
      Premier League rules at the time stated that kit changes could not be made during the season.
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      However, the ruling was later changed and Chelsea were given permission to wear the badge immediately after winning the competition in 2021.
      Following City’s 4-0 win over Fluminense, Guardiola admitted that it was time to “close the chapter”.
      He said: “We had the feeling we would close the chapter, we won all the titles, there’s nothing else to win.
      “I had a feeling the job was done, it was over.
      “Enzo [Maresca] helped us to win the treble, Mikel [Arteta] in my staff, all the players from day one. Vincent [Kompany] to Kyle [Walker] as captains, all the players helped us to achieve something incredible to be here and to play this tournament.
      “Now it’s Christmas time, buy another book and start to write it again. The last eight years, it’s over.” More

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      Arsenal and Liverpool only two of Prem’s Big Six NOT to reject new Super League plot as football descends into war again

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      FOOTBALL was thrust into an all-out Super League scrap last night.Judges decided Uefa CANNOT punish any breakaway rebels.
      Stan Kroenke’s Arsenal are yet to come out against the reformed Super LeagueCredit: PA
      John W Henry’s Liverpool were part of the original ‘Dirty Dozen’ and have also stayed silentCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      The shock ruling opened up a second attempt to form a new competition.
      Last night Arsenal and Liverpool were the only Big Six outfits yet to reject a second version of the scheme, which is loathed by fans.
      And the Government warned they will try to ban clubs from joining it under new laws.
      Nearly three years after the initial plot collapsed in 48 hours, European Court of Justice yesterday ruled that Uefa “abused a dominant position” when it threatened sanctions against the breakaway clubs.
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      Judges in the Luxembourg court insisted it was not ruling on the merits of the Super League concept but only Uefa’s attempt to “unlawfully” block its development.
      The shock decision opened the door to a second attempt to form a new competition — led by Real Madrid and Barcelona.
      Within hours, Super League’s PR firm A22 unveiled a new 64-team competition split into three tiers and effectively ring-fencing Europe’s elite teams at the top of the pile.
      It was met for anger and derision from fans — but is sure to tempt owners of European giants.
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      A22 boss Bernd Reichart hailed: “Under our plan, clubs that almost never play each other would compete regularly on the European stage.
      “It will guarantee fantastic, exciting matches through the entire year, not just part of the year.
      “We are now talking about an open, accessible, meritocratic league system in Europe side by side with domestic leagues, late mid-week leaving the national leagues untouched.
      “If we convince clubs and convince their fans, why wouldn’t fans not join?”
      We will not try to stop them. They can create whatever they want. I hope they start their fantastic competition as soon as possible, with two clubs. Football is not for sale.Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin
      Fifa, Uefa, the Premier League and the influential European Club Association all joined the furious backlash, insisting that protecting the current system was essential for the good of the game.
      Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin conceded he had lost the sanctions threat and could not ban rebel players from playing in the Euros or World Cup.
      But he mocked: “I watched the so-called presentation and didn’t know whether to be shocked or amused.
      “It’s close to Christmas, they saw a box under the tree and started to celebrate, but then when they opened the box they realised there was not much inside.
      “We will not try to stop them. They can create whatever they want. I hope they start their fantastic competition as soon as possible, with two clubs. Football is not for sale.”
      ‘European Zombie League’
      Fifa president Gianni Infantino appeared to agree with Ceferin but added: “With the greatest respect for the European Court of Justice, today’s judgement does not change anything, really.”
      Manchester United, one of the Big Six to initially sign up to the £3bn scheme in 2021, came out in support of the status quo, joined by Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich.
      United said: “Our position has not changed. We remain fully committed to participation in Uefa competitions, and to positive cooperation with Uefa, the Premier League, and fellow clubs through the ECA on the continued development of the European game.”
      It took some five hours for Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham to follow suit with similar statements.
      Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid were among those to rule themselves out of A22’s plan.
      But none of Arsenal, Liverpool or Newcastle made ANY comment.
      Meanwhile, Real Madrid and Barcelona were crowing at the victory and Napoli owner Aurelio de Laurentis — omitted from the original ‘Dirty Dozen’ rebels — signalled he was ready to sign up to any new plan.
      Arsenal fans protested against the initial plot three years agoCredit: Alamy
      The original breakaway plot was stopped by furious fans across the continentCredit: Getty
      Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said: “European club football is not and will never be a monopoly again.
      “The Europe of freedoms has triumphed again and football and its fans have also triumphed.”
      That feeling of “triumph” was not shared by the fans. The Football Supporters Federation blasted the “European Zombie League” and added: “There is no place for an ill-conceived breakaway.
      “Supporters, players and clubs have already made clear they don’t want a stitched-up competition.”
      In its response the Prem pointed out the judgement “does not endorse the so-called Super League” and promised to “continue to reject any such concept”.
      The Government added its new Independent Regulator would have the power to block any English clubs from joining the rebels.
      Read more on The Sun
      It said: “The attempt to create a breakaway competition was a defining moment in English football and was universally condemned by fans, clubs and the Government.
      “We will shortly be bringing forward legislation that will stop clubs from joining any similar breakaway competitions in the future.” More

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      Man Utd and Bayern Munich lead European Super League revolt as just two teams in favour of breakaway competition

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      EUROPEAN giants Manchester United and Bayern Munich have both publicly backed away from a revived European Super League.The project kicked back into life after the European Court of Justice determined that Fifa and Uefa acted AGAINST competition law when blocking the formation of a Super League two years ago.
      Bernd Reinchart is the head of A22, the company tasked with making the European Super League a realityCredit: AP
      Manchester United, along with the other traditional big six Premier League clubs had all publicly pledged to join the European Super League in April 2021.
      But their fans, along with fans of Arsenal and Chelsea managed to kibosh the project through massive protests during the covid pandemic.
      That led to most of the original founders of the league backing out of the plan but for Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus.
      Juventus then withdrew from the project in July 2023.
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      Manchester United have announced that this time, they will play no part in attempting to break away from Uefa and released a statement today saying that their “position had not changed” regarding not being a part of a European Super League.
      It read: “We remain fully committed to participation in UEFA competitions, and to positive cooperation with UEFA, the Premier League, and fellow clubs through the ECA on the continued development of the European game.”
      Bayern were never part of the original founding members of the breakaway competition and have reaffirmed their opposition to it.
      Bayern’s CEO, Jan Christian Dreesen, said in a statement: “We have taken note of the judgement of the European Court of Justice.
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      Bayern CEO, Jan Christian Dreesen has publicly condemned the idea of a Super LeagueCredit: Getty – Contributor
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      “However, this does not change FC Bayern’s and the ECA’s position that such a competition would be an attack on the importance of the national leagues and the structure of European football.
      “The Bundesliga is the foundation of FC Bayern, just as all national leagues are the foundation of other European football clubs. It is therefore our duty and our deep conviction to strengthen them, not to weaken them.”
      The club also reaffirmed their commitment to the Uefa project and the Champions League.
      PSG chief Nasser El-Khelaifi also firmly rejected the ECA’s court ruling and the club said in a tweet: “Paris Saint-Germain rejects wholly and completely any so-called Super League project, which has been the case since day one and will always remain the case.”
      Other clubs such as Sevilla, Roma and Atletico have also made public statements denouncing the project.
      As of now, only Real Madrid and Barcelona remain committed to the European Super League, with the clubs never withdrawing from the original 2021 project. More

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      What is A22 Sports Management?

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      A22 SPORTS MANAGEMENT has risen to the fore after plans to resurrect the European Super League are back on.The sports marketing company’s mission is to “sponsor and assist” in the “creation of the European Super League”.
      A22 has been created to push through a new European Super League after the first plan attracted widespread protests from football fansCredit: Getty
      But what is A22 and how has it become such a prominent player in the future of football?
      We have you covered here.
      What is A22 Sports Management?
      The Madrid-based company was specifically created in September 2022 with the aim of pushing through legislation for the ESL in the aftermath of the failed attempt in 2021.
      The firm was created in tandem by Euro powerhouses Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus who were the loudest proponents of the breakaway league.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL

      Juventus have since officially left the project after they were threatened with expulsion from the Champions League, although are still believed to be supportive of it.
      After he was appointed, CEO Bernd Reichart claimed the European Super league would be “relaunched within three years”.
      The firm took meetings with various bodies and released a manifesto in February 2023, with changed plans.
      While reception to the idea has been muted, especially in England and Germany, a major court ruling has once again opened the door to a new-look ESL.
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      The European Court of Justice has overturned the previous ruling – which blocked the formation of the ESL – and stated that Fifa and Uefa acted against competition law.
      Reichart, a former senior executive for German broadcaster RTL, described the ruling as an “historic day for football” that ends “Uefa’s monopoly over European club football”.
      However, despite the news, A22 appears to face a long fight to push through their changes, with numerous clubs quickly moving to reject the proposals.
      How will A22 Sports Management’s New European Super League look?
      The latest European Super league plans will see a THREE-tier competition, complete with promotion and relegation, with 64 teams in total.
      The first two tiers – dubbed the Star League and the Gold League – are made up of 16 teams each.

      The remaining 32 teams will compete in the Blue League.
      A22’s plans state that participation will be based SOLELY on sporting merit, with no permanent members.
      Promotion and relegation will be decided annually, while promotion into the Blue League is based upon domestic league performance.
      There will be groups of eight teams, playing home and away, making a minimum of 14 games per season.
      After the group stage there is then a knockout stage to determine champions, promotion and relegation.
      The plans state that there will be no additional calendar days to those that already exist, while midweek fixtures will not clash with current domestic calendars.
      What have clubs said about the new European Super League?
      While it is clear that Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus are supportive of the plans, there was concern from other fans about the stance of their clubs.
      However, many have moved to assure fans that they do NOT approve of A22’s second draft for the European Super League.
      At the time of writing, the following clubs have already released formal statements to say they do not support the new plans:

      Manchester United
      Bayern Munich
      Borussia Dortmund
      Paris Saint-Germain
      Atletico Madrid
      Sevilla
      Real Sociedad
      Monaco
      Roma
      Inter
      Feyenoord

      Other clubs may, or may not, release their own statements in due course.
      The Premier League also released a statement: “Today’s ruling does not endorse the Super League — and the Premier League continues to REJECT any such concept.
      “Supporters are of vital importance to the game and they have time and again made clear their opposition to a ‘breakaway’ competition that severs the link between domestic and European football.
      Read more on The Sun
      “The Premier League reiterates its commitment to the clear principles of open competition that underpin the success of domestic and international club competitions.
      “Football thrives on the competitiveness created by promotion and relegation, the annual merit-based qualification from domestic leagues and cups to international club competitions and the longstanding rivalries and rituals that come with weekends being reserved for domestic football.” More