Former Arsenal and France midfielder Abou Diaby confirmed his retirement on Monday after a career riddled by injuries.
Diaby, 32, last played competitively in August 2016, when he lined up for Marseille in Ligue 1.
However, injury woes disrupted and cut short his career, which included nine and a half seasons at Arsenal – the club he arrived at from Auxerre in January 2006.
I put an end to my professional career, Diaby told RMC Sport.
It was time. For a number of years, it has been difficult for me to come back. I had a lot of physical problems.
Thanks for the memories,
We re all wishing you the very best following your retirement
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal)
He added: I decided to stop simply because the body was no…
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The opening fixture of the 2017/2018 Premier League campaign will see Community Shield winners Arsenal take on 2015/2016 champions Leicester City. Both sides will be hoping for a bright start to the new season, meaning we should witness an entertaining match at the Emirates.
Arsenal
An impressive run of 20 successive top 4 finishes in English Premier League came to an end last season as the Gunners ended the campaign in fifth place, thus missing out on this year’s Champions League. And with key men Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil having entered the final year of their respective contracts, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger doesn’t have a lot of time to persuade the duo to stay and try to get the team…
Romelu Lukaku was named Europa League player of the season on Friday even though it was the Belgian s own goal that decided the 2019-20 final.
The Inter striker was out of luck in the Cologne showpiece against Sevilla when he deflected in an overhead kick from Diego Carlos in the 74th minute, giving the Spanish side a 3-2 win.
The former Manchester United man netted seven goals including a penalty in the final in five starts and one substitute appearance over the course of the competition.
Lukaku told uefa.com: I want to congratulate Sevilla personally. They won the competition so I congratulate them on having a great tournament.
I want to thank Antonio Conte and his staff and everyone at the club the board, the president for their trust and for …
Chelsea have signed 16-year-old goalkeeper Sami Tlemcani, Ligue 2 side Paris have announced.
France youth international Tlemcani spent just over two years with Paris and began training with the first team when he was 15.
It is a new spotlight for the development of the capital club, who allowed the young Sami Tlemcani to join one of the biggest European clubs in recent years, a Paris statement read.
He becomes the second keeper to arrive at Stamford Bridge since the end of the 2019-20 season, with Edouard Mendy having been signed from Ligue 1 side Rennes.
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Substitute Mateo Joseph netted a late equaliser to earn Leeds a 2-2 draw at Watford – but that was not enough to lift his side back to the top of the Championship table.
Mid-table Watford led twice before half-time thanks to goals from Vakoun Bayo and Emmanuel Dennis either side of a fine Leeds reply from Crysencio Summerville.
Leeds were in danger of suffering a first league loss of 2024 until 20-year-old Spaniard Mateo came off the bench and scored seconds later.
Leeds ended Good Friday in second spot however as Ipswich, 1-0 winners at Blackburn earlier in the day, are a point ahead.
Watford started brightly but their appeals for a penalty in the 12th minute when Ethan Ampadu appeared to catch Yasir Asprilla on a foot were rejected by referee David We…
Former Netherlands and Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar’s condition remains stable but “still concerning” after suffering bleeding around his brain.
The 52-year-old was admitted to intensive care on Friday and his family have expressed their gratitude for the messages of support they have received.
Edwin van der Sar will remain in intensive care for the time being. His condition is stable but still concerning. Ajax shares this information on behalf of Annemarie van der Sar, Edwin s wife.
The Van der Sar family, along with Ajax, is grateful and deeply touched by the many…
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax)
“Edwin van der Sar will remain in intensive care for the time being,” said a statement by Ajax, where the Dutchman was chief ex…
Didier Drogba has set his sights on winning the Premier League for a fourth time after rejoining Chelsea.
The veteran striker is back at Stamford Bridge after a two-year absence, which saw him represent Shanghai Shenhua and Galatasaray.
Having linked up once again with Jose Mourinho, Drogba is focused on ensuring Chelsea claim their first domestic title since 2010.
I m not coming here to break records, I just want to win trophies, the 36-year-old Ivorian told the club s official website.
Five years is a long time not to win the Premier League, so I want to win it.
To lift the Premier League trophy is a fantastic feeling and we haven t experienced it for a few years it s too long for a club like ours.
Drogba initially joined Chelsea in …
Southampton failed to regain top spot in the Championship after losing 2-0 at home to Leicester City on Monday.
They made a nightmare start trailing 2-0 inside 26 minutes with David Nugent and Matt Mills finding the net.
It was Southampton s second successive home defeat and they remain three points behind leaders West Ham and just one ahead of third-placed Cardiff.
It was a welcome return to St Mary s for Leicester boss Nigel Pearson, who was Southampton manager for three months in 2008,as his team won for only the second time in eight league games.
Saints were dealt a blow ahead of the game, with Adam Lallana missing out due to a groin problem.
Ex-Portsmouth striker Nugent gave the visitors a 15th minute lead, cutting in from the left past Dan …
Antonio Conte feels Belgium deserve to be among the favourites win Euro 2016 as Gianluigi Buffon seeks to leave the tournament and perhaps his international career with no regrets.
So often among the leading contenders for major international silverware in the past, the Azzurri will play the unfamiliar role of the less-fancied team when they clash with a talented Belgium side in Lyon on Monday.
Conte, who will coach two of Belgium s stars Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard when he takes over at Chelsea after the competition, was effusive in his praise of Marc Wilmots squad.
Both now and for the future, they ve got some top players with great quality and great ability, he said.
So congratulations to them. You just have to look not only at the starting XI…
Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng has revealed he turned down an offer to join FC Barcelona before the start of the 2014/15 season.
The Germany international, who is under contract at the Allianz Arena until the summer of 2018, believes he is already in the right place to win more silverware.
I don t know the details of how much Barcelona offered for me, but it is true that I received an offer, Boateng, 26, told Bild.
When a club like Barca shows an interest, that is of course a huge honour. At the time I was already preparing for the new season with Bayern.
These days you don t have to leave Bayern to join Barcelona if you want to win the Champions League.
Since joining Bayern from Manchester City for €13.5 million in July …