The Juventus player was left out of France's Euro 2008 squad and had an uneasy relationship with coach Raymond Domenech, who was told last week he could stay in the job.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Images from UEFA Europa League semi-finals played on Thursday.
Atletico de Kolkata gave the football-crazy city fans a night to remember in their 3-0 drubbing of Mumbai City FC as the inaugural Hero Indian Super League football tournament kicked off in spectacular fashion after a star-studded opening ceremony in Kolkata.
World soccer great Diego Armando Maradona, who died on Wednesday less than a month after his 60th birthday, was worshipped like a god for his genius with the ball, but his demons almost destroyed him.
David Beckham, already the world's most famous footballer, is expected to reach another career highlight on Wednesday by becoming only the fifth player to win 100 caps for England. Beckham, who turns 33 in May, is back in Fabio Capello's England squad after missing the Italian's first match in charge against Switzerland last month.
Chennaiyin FC's optimistic coach Marco Materazzi stressed on the need to click as a unit, implying that the departure of the mercurial Stiven Mendoza and Elano Blumer would not affect the defending champions in Indian Super League 3.
Ranieri left the Midlands club in February, just nine months after winning the Premier League title, with Leicester 17th in the standings and battling relegation. Vardy has since faced accusations of influencing the decision to sack the Italian.
Chelsea's David Luiz never really looked cut out for a role as a defensive rock in one of England's meanest rearguards.
FIFA's Task Force for Women's Football has called for a target of 30 percent women's participation in the governing body's leading structures and top jobs, FIFA said on Thursday.
The Russian Football Union (RFU) said on Tuesday it had ended its contract with national team coach Fabio Capello, three years before the country hosts the 2018 World Cup finals.
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Former Borussia Dortmund manager Juergen Klopp is expected at Anfield on Thursday as the German edges closer to becoming Brendan Rodgers' successor at Liverpool.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
The Italian is set to succeed Steve McLaren as the next England football manager.
Sevilla clinched a sixth Europa League title with a roller-coaster 3-2 win over Inter Milan after an overhead kick by defender Diego Carlos deflected by the Italian side's top scorer Romelu Lukaku settled a thrilling contest on Friday.
Nicolas Anelka could be a part of the Indian Super League football tournament as Mumbai City FC's negotiations with the former France and Chelsea striker are at an "advanced" stage.
Gianfranco Zola said he wanted to excite West Ham United's fans with attacking football as he prepared to be named manager of the east London club.
Pele agrees with England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson that Wayne Rooney has made a bigger impact on a major tournament than any young player since Pele himself.
Swansea City sacked manager Bob Bradley on Tuesday less than three months after the American took charge, with the January transfer window looming and the Premier League's second-bottom club desperate to get out of relegation trouble.
Materazzi guided Chennaiyin to the title in the second season as they dramatically came from behind to beat hosts FC Goa 3-2 in the final.
'It was difficult, but we wanted to show an honest portrayal.' 'I was not trying to tear him apart.'
Albania's football team were knocked out of the European Championship in the group stages but they were feted on their return home on Thursday as if they had won the tournament.
AS Monaco, beaten 2-0 at home in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Juventus, will have to make history in Tuesday's return if they are to end Ligue 1's long absence from the final.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Monday.
Policeman Filippo Reciti's death could be a turning point in Italy.
Mourinho's side failed to turn their domination into more goals and things got edgy late on when Saville's shot evaded Gazzaniga who seemed slow to get down.
France might be 'India's best friend' as the French president put it, but the fact remains that the share of France in India's foreign trade is today only 1.8 percent. Though Sarkozy declared that he would like at least 1,000 small and medium size companies to enter the Indian market, it is easier said than done.
Southgate's formation and tactics have been hailed as progressive and modern, there is also something traditionally English about the team's strengths.
Images from the UEFA Champions League matches played on Tuesday.
The 61-year-old Italian succeeds Steve McClaren, who was sacked last month after the team failed to qualify for Euro 2008.
Formula One driver Ralf Schumacher has hit out at Williams boss Frank Williams and threatened to leave the team.
'I'm very happy and I can say that 2016 was the best year of my career, the trophy shows that people aren't blind and watch the games.'
Regarded as the Oscar of sports, the nominations for 2018 Laureus World Sports Awards were finalised following a ballot by the world's sports media.
A round-up Wednesday's football news on and off the field.
Images from football action around European leagues played on Sunday
Carlos Tevez scored twice for Boca Juniors on Saturday but the main talking point from their 3-1 win over Argentinos Juniors in a stormy Argentine league game was his studs-up challenge that left defender Ezequiel Ham with a broken ankle.
World champions Italy have returned to the top of the rankings after leaping above Argentina and Brazil.
Their limp performance does not inspire confidence ahead of the visit of the all-powerful Serie A leaders and familiar foe Cristiano Ronaldo.
A tainted AC Milan side, 2005 winners Liverpool and last season's finalists Arsenal will top the bill when the Champions League final qualifying round gets underway this week.
Brian McDermott remains Leeds United manager but admits his future remains unclear after three days of upheaval at the Championship club.
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