When the Chelsea manager introduced himself to English football as the "special one" last June he met with scepticism, even mockery.
The defender failed to attend a drugs test at his club Manchester United last month.
The 39-year-old former international striker will replace Dick Advocaat, who resigned days after the Netherlands lost 2-1 in the Euro 2004 semi-final to hosts Portugal.
The Kolkata giants will leave on July 28 to participate in Leicester City's 120th anniversary celebrations.
With five goals to his name, and none to challenge him, the Czech Republic's striker is on course towards claiming the golden boot award.
Greece pipped Spain by virtue of having scored more goals.
FIFA presidential hopeful Luis Figo will travel to the Caribbean this week hoping to tempt voters in the CONCACAF region with a plan to distribute more funds, $2.5 billion (1.7 billion pounds) over four years, to national associations.
Megan Rapinoe earlier won the women's Ballon d'Or after leading the United States to a record-extending fourth World Cup title in France this year as they retained the trophy.
After the 7-1 rout by Portugal, Georgy Yartsev said he would take a week to decide whether he wants to continue as Russia's football coach.
Jezreel Pannikot reveals life lessons the stars of the 2018 World Cup taught us.
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo collected a record fourth Golden Shoe award as Europe's top scorer on Tuesday for his 48-goal haul in La Liga last season.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field.
25-year-old Pablo Carral grabbed David Beckham's wayward penalty in England's Euro 2004 quarter-final against Portugal.
The ball landed in the hands of a 25-year-old Spaniard who said he was taking it home to Galicia.
The teenage striker scored twice in a 4-2 victory over Croatia.\n\n
The treatment will prevent the England captain from training for two days.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi, Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo are the three final contenders for the 2013 Ballon d'Or award.
A lot has changed for France goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris and defender Bacary Sagna since they were part of the team that left the 2010 World Cup in South Africa in disgrace.
'It was surprising and I think that even though there were motives and reasons behind the decision, the players had no say in it and it was not the right time'
Meet the men who shall face off against FIFA president Sepp Blatter
Norway goalkeeper Oda Maria Bogstad was told she would have to self-isolate for 14 days after returning from Portugal due to fears about the spread of the coronavirus. Bogstad flew from Oslo to Bergen and with the Norwegian FA also cancelling all football activity until at least April 15 to try to contain the virus, she decided not to stick around.
The football fever reaches sky-high with all eyes on Euro 2016. Tournament host France will play the opener against Romania, which will be aired in India post mid-night on June 11. As the UEFA braces for the 15th edition of the European continental championship, the tournament organisers have revealed the all time XI to play in Euro's history.
Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni had hoped Paolo Maldini could be persuaded to come back.
More than one billion television viewers watched last year's World Cup soccer final between Germany and Argentina in Brazil although audience figures for the tournament were slightly down because of adverse kickoff times, according to a FIFA report.
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is confident the team's results will not suffer from a one-year transfer ban imposed by FIFA for breaking rules regarding the signing of under-age foreign players.
Rediff.com takes you through a photographic journey of all the exciting sporting moments that unfolded over the last seven days.
New coach Julen Lopetegui has been tasked with rebuilding the side following the Portugal forward's departure and the early signs are good, with Real already looking more of a unit than a collection of individuals.
Pablo Carral, who claimed the ball that the England captain kicked into the stands, said he'll pay for the round if he meets Beckham in a bar.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Juventus strolled to a 3-0 home win over bottom side Crotone in the Italian Serie A on Monday, with the victory taking the champions up to third in the standings.
Russia was among 14 countries which signed a convention between the Council of Europe and European soccer body UEFA on Sunday aimed at stopping a repeat of fan violence which has marred Euro 2016.
Belgium will boast the most valuable squad at Euro 2016, with their 23 players worth over 50 million pounds ($72.54 million) more than world champions Germany, according to a study. Marc Wilmots's squad are worth 318.9 million pounds, according to an analysis by bookmakers Profit Accumulator, which looked at the most recent transfer fees paid for the 23 players representing each nation at the tournament in France. That puts Belgium well ahead of the next most valuable squads from Germany (264.5 million), England (189.7m) and France (183m). Belgium's squad have an average transfer fee of 13.9 million pounds, with Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne topping the list having joined the English club for 55 million.
West Indies star batsman Chris Gayle has equated himself with football superstars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo in his recently-released autobiography 'Six Machine'.
Morocco winger Nordin Amrabat has been discharged from hospital but he will not play in the side's next World Cup Group B clash against Portugal on Wednesday after suffering concussion in the 1-0 loss to Iran, officials said.
Analysis of the eight groups for the 2018 FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia.
FIFA presidential candidate Luis Figo will hope to convince delegates at this week's Asian Football Confederation Congress that a vote for him would boost the region's chances of more places in future World Cup finals.
While Africa, Asia and North America will not be represented, dashing any hope of a revolutionary breakthrough in the eventual destination of the trophy, at least one of this year's finalists will not have reached the title decider for half a century, if at all.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann appear among the 55 nominees for the FIFPro 2016 World 11 released on Friday but England forward Wayne Rooney failed to make the shortlist for the first time. Portugal captain Ronaldo, led his country to victory at Euro 2016, while France forward Griezmann was the top player at the tournament. It is the first time that 25-year-old Griezmann has made the cut, but England captain Rooney is absent for the first time in the competition's 12-year history, after England crashed out of Euro 2016 to lowly Iceland.
With 11 million likes, Beyonce's maternity shoot pic tops the list of most-liked pics of 2017.
