Over the course of the next two years, the former England international was able to engineer a turnaround in fortunes for the team, leading them to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals before their run to the final of the Euro 2020 tournament last year.
Chelsea striker Demba Ba struck twice on his debut as the FA Cup holders enjoyed a 5-1 drubbing of Southampton in the third round on Saturday and Robin van Persie's majestic last-gasp equaliser salvaged a 2-2 draw for Manchester United at West Ham.
Roberto Di Matteo gained his reward for steering Chelsea to Champions League and FA Cup glory last season when he was appointed manager on a permanent basis on Wednesday.
Former France striker Nicolas Anelka has joined West Bromwich Albion after passing a medical, the English Premier League club said on Thursday.
The Football Association said it would complain to world governing body FIFA after England players were racially abused by Croatia fans during their 4-1 victory in a World Cup qualifier in Zagreb on Wednesday.
Chelsea have apologised after some of the club's fans jeered and chanted during a minute's silence before Sunday's FA Cup semi-final to remember those who died in the Hillsborough tragedy.
Skipper John Terry and left back Ashley Cole are both available for Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley this weekend after recovering from injuries, stand-in manager Roberto Di Matteo said on Friday.
Here is a look at the life and career of former England captain David Beckham who announced his retirement on Thursday.
Wigan Athletic became the first team to be relegated from England's top flight in the same season as winning the FA Cup after they lost 4-1 at Arsenal, with Lukas Podolski scoring twice, in the Premier League on Tuesday.
For Arsenal, failure to defeat Wigan Athletic on Tuesday would leave their hopes of a 16th season in the Champions League in severe jeopardy; for Wigan Athletic, anything other than a win would quickly sour the taste of a memorable FA Cup final shock.
Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba has tweeted a picture of himself in his hospital bed two weeks after suffering a cardiac arrest during his side's FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur.
A student who mocked footballer Fabrice Muamba on Twitter after the Bolton Wanderers midfielder collapsed during a match was jailed on Tuesday for inciting racial hatred.
Soccer's top flight Premier League and the English Football League (EFL) had already announced they were postponing their next round of fixtures.
Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba remained in a critical condition after suffering a cardiac arrest during the FA Cup quarter-final at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, the hospital and club said in a joint statement on Sunday.
Rafa Benitez will continue to rotate his Chelsea players as they bid to deal with a fixture pile-up and rebound from two consecutive defeats, the club's interim manager said on Tuesday.
Here is a fact file on the former Manchester United captain
European champions Chelsea will be without England defenders Ashley Cole and Gary Cahill for their gruelling programme of five matches in 13 days.
Real Madrid agreed to take Ghana midfielder Michael Essien on loan from Chelsea for the rest of the season.
Liverpool are working closely with Merseyside police in an attempt to identify a man who appeared to have made racist gestures during their FA Cup fourth round victory over Manchester United at Anfield on Saturday.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's winner ensured that Jose Mourinho's reign at Manchester United got off to a winning start as the FA Cup holders beat champions Leicester City 2-1 in England's Community Shield season curtain-raiser at Wembley on Sunday. Ibrahimovic leapt above Leicester captain Wes Morgan in the 83rd minute to head Antonio Valencia's cross beyond Kasper Schmeichel, marking his official debut with a decisive contribution.
Ryan Giggs has the potential to manage Manchester United when Alex Ferguson eventually calls it a day, according to his former team mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Manchester United's England striker Wayne Rooney will be offered a new contract before his deal ends in 2015, the club's manager Alex Ferguson was quoted as saying by British media on Sunday.
Manchester United's Phil Jones will miss the Champions League last 16 second leg at home to Real Madrid after failing to recover from an ankle injury, manager Alex Ferguson said on the eve of Tuesday's match.
Manchester City celebrated their Premier League title on Sunday, beating Chelsea 1-0 with an early goal by Julian Alvarez in the team's home finale at a sun-drenched Etihad Stadium.
Wayne Rooney made history by equalling Bobby Charlton's Manchester United record and becoming the club's leading all-time goalscorer after netting his 249th goal (543 matches) during an FA Cup match against Reading on Saturday.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Michael Dawson will make his first appearance in more than four months against fourth division Cheltenham in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Leaders Manchester United moved closer to a 20th title and pushed Queens Park Rangers nearer to relegation when goals from Rafael and Ryan Giggs gave them a 2-0 win at the bottom side in the Premier League on Saturday.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger adopted a fresh approach on Friday to the persistent questions over his future, swapping tetchiness for humour as he stressed he was committed to getting the best out of his beleaguered side.
Former Liverpool and Everton defender Gary Ablett, the only player to win the FA Cup with both Merseyside clubs, has died at the age of 46 after a 16-month battle with cancer.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has ridden out periods of turbulence in what is certain to be eight successive trophyless seasons of domestic disappointment but the heat is back on when Bayern Munich visit in the Champions League on Tuesday.
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