Alte Campionate Externe

Topal hangs up his boots



Veteran Turkish footballer Mehmet Topal announced his retirement from football on Tuesday.

During his career, the 36-year-old midfielder represented all of Turkish football's "big 3" - Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas.

Topal won 3 Super Lig titles, one with Galatasaray in 2008, another with Fenerbahce in 2014 and the last one with Istanbul Basaksehir in 2020.

In doing so, Topal became the first and only football player in history to win the championship with 3 different teams.

He started his playing career at Yeni Malatyaspor in 2000 before being signed up by TFF 1. Lig side Canakkale Dardanelspor in 2002.

After an impressive performance at Dardanelspor, he was snapped up by Galatasaray in 2006 at the age of 20.

He then moved to Valencia in 2010, playing 59 matches over 2 seasons.

The experienced football player, nicknamed "Spider", returned to Turkey in 2012 and wore the Fenerbahce jersey for 7 years, playing in 298 matches and scoring 24 times.

He joined Basaksehir in 2019, where he won his last Turkish title. After 2 seasons there, he signed a one-year deal with Besiktas, making 10 appearances.

Topal also represented the Turkish national team between 2008 and 2018, making 81 international appearances.

Bergwijn vs PSV (1-0)
https://streamable.com/x1lkwx

Til vs Ajax (1-1)
https://streamable.com/dk013q

Til vs Ajax (1-2)
https://streamable.com/ab2hx7

Antony vs PSV (2-2)
https://streamable.com/stj9rd

Gakpo vs Ajax (2-3)
https://streamable.com/gxmc9v

Til vs Ajax (2-4)
https://streamable.com/2dcnzy

Kudus vs PSV (3-4)
https://streamable.com/j21frn

Simons vs Ajax (3-5)
https://streamable.com/5l2l3l

Taremi vs Tondela (1-0)
https://streamable.com/n6jqnq

Evanilson vs Tondela (2-0)
https://streamable.com/ztp8v3

Taremi vs Tondela (3-0)
https://streamable.com/y36snu

Roma sell Veretout to Marseille

AS Roma have officially sold Jordan Veretout to Olympique Marseille in a deal believed to be worth €11 million plus €4,5 million in bonuses, as the Ligue 1 side announced him with an animated sci-fi video.

The 29-year-old was not part of coach Jose Mourinho's plans and had also been linked with both AC Milan and Juventus in recent weeks.

He opted for a return to France, having been in Serie A since coming to Fiorentina from Aston Villa in 2017.

Roma had purchased Veretout from the Viola for €18,5 million in 2019, initially on loan and then permanently.

Dortmund seal Modeste signing



Borussia Dortmund have officially announced the signing of Anthony Modeste from FC Koln.

The 34-year-old striker has signed a one-year deal with "Die Schwarzgelben".

"After our analysis of last season, we made a conscious decision to recruit a classic centre-forward who could bolster our offensive game by offering physicality, a strong aerial presence and a goal threat", said BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl.

With new signing Sebastien Haller ruled out for months due to testicular cancer, Modeste will bolster BVB's options in attack.

Grillitsch agrees Ajax move

Florian Grillitsch finally appears to have found a new club, with De Telegraaf reporting that the 27-year-old has reached an agreement with Ajax.

The Austrian international has been looking for a new employer since he left Hoffenheim at the end of last season.

The former Werder Bremen midfielder will join Ajax on a one-year deal which includes an option for another season.

Grillitsch has made a total of 178 appearances in the Bundesliga, racking up 6 goals and 14 assists.




https://soccercatch.com/shows/155011...ighlights-show

Harit officially rejoins Marseille on loan

Olympique Marseille have announced the return of Schalke midfielder Amine Harit on a season-long loan. The 25-year-old scored 9 goals in 34 appearances last year on loan at the French club.

If everything goes to plan, Harit is likely to sign a permanent deal after the season due to a favorable purchase option included in the contract.

Schalke were desperate to get the Moroccan international off their books due to his hefty salary. The winless newly-promoted side sit 16th in the Bundesliga table heading into matchday 5.




https://soccercatch.com/shows/901807...ighlights-show

Higuain announces retirement

Inter Miami and former Argentina international forward Gonzalo Higuain announced his retirement on Monday, concluding a 17-year career that saw him play for some of the world's biggest clubs including Real Madrid, Juventus and AC Milan.

Higuain, 34-year-old, will play out the rest of the season with Miami, which is currently in the play-off positions in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference with 2 games left to play.

After initially struggling with Miami this campaign, Higuain has enjoyed a revival down the stretch, scoring 10 goals in his last 11 league appearances, giving him 14 goals and 3 assists on the season. But despite regaining his form for the Herons, a tearful Higuain told a press conference on Monday morning that he was calling time on his career at the end of the 2022 MLS campaign.

Higuain began his professional career with Argentine giants River Plate in 2005 after progressing through the club's youth system. He went on to score 15 goals in 41 league and cup appearances.

In 2006, Higuain was transferred to Real Madrid for a fee of $16 million, and after a slow start proved to be a prolific scorer for Los Merengues, scoring 121 goals in 264 appearances in all competitions. He was also part of 3 La Liga title-winning teams as well as a Copa del Rey winner in 2011.

Higuain departed after 7 seasons in Madrid, moving to Napoli in the summer of 2013 for $53 million. He continued his goalscoring ways, tallying 91 goals in 146 appearances over 3 seasons.

In the summer of 2016, Juventus activated a release clause in Higuain's contract, allowing them to acquire the Argentine for just under $100 million, a Serie A record at the time.

After an impressive initial season that saw him score 32 goals, Higuain's production soon dropped off, leading the Bianconeri to loan him out to be both AC Milan and Chelsea during the 2018-2019 campaign.

After one final season with Juventus in 2019-2020, in which he helped the club to a third Serie A title during his tenure there, Higuain moved to Inter Miami, where he has scored 27 goals and added 14 assists in 65 league appearances.

At international level, Higuain was a consistent presence with Argentina's national team, scoring 31 goals in 75 appearances.

But despite his goalscoring exploits, Higuain fell just short of winning some of the sport's biggest trophies.

He was part of the Juventus side that lost the 2017 UEFA Champions League Final, 4-1 to Real Madrid, as well as the Argentina side that fell to Germany in the 2014 World Cup Final, a match that saw Higuain spurn several chances, including a one-on-one with Germany 'keeper Manuel Neuer.

He was also part of the two Argentine sides that lost the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals, both on penalties to Chile.

But Higuain will still go down as one of the better forwards of his generation, having scored over 300 goals at club level.

Goretzka vs Dortmund (0-1)
https://streamin.me/v/d827375b

Sane vs Dortmund (0-2)
https://streamin.me/v/09e0d906

Moukoko vs Bayern (1-2)
https://streamin.me/v/7454280e

Modeste vs Bayern (2-2)
https://streamin.me/v/4b8766c9

Van Bronckhorst sacked by Rangers

Giovanni van Bronckhorst's has been sacked by Glasgow Rangers after one year in charge at Ibrox Park.

Rangers are 9 points behind leaders Celtic in the Scottish Premiership and also endured a sobering Champions League campaign which saw the club lose all 6 group stage matches, a run which included a 7-1 hammering by Liverpool at home.

It is understood no decision has been made on the future of Rangers' backroom team.

However, like previous managerial changes at Ibrox, it is expected those who arrived with the Dutchman will depart.

Van Bronckhorst's sacking was perhaps inevitable after Rangers' draw at St. Mirren 2 weeks ago.

Van Bronckhorst - who signed a 3-and-a-half-year deal to replace Steven Gerrard last November - becomes one of the shortest-serving permanent managers in the club's history, with only Pedro Caixinha and Paul Le Guen departing sooner.

World Cup winner Matuidi retires

Blaise Matuidi, a World Cup winner with France in 2018, said on Friday he is retiring, a year after he last played.

The 35-year-old, who started the World Cup Final win over Croatia in Russia 4 years ago, had been omitted from Inter Miami's squad for this season.

Matuidi won Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain and Serie A with Juventus after spending time with Saint-Etienne and Toulouse.

He made 84 international appearances, scoring 9 times before his final Les Bleus game in 2019.

He is the first member of France's 2018 squad to retire.

Bundesliga - Team of the Season so far


Ronnow (Union Berlin)



Gunter (Freiburg) - Bensebaini (Monchengladbach) - Upamecano (Bayern) - Frimpong (Leverkusen)



Bellingham (Dortmund) - Kimmich (Bayern)



Nkunku (Leipzig) - Musiala (Bayern) - Kolo Muani (Eintracht)



Choupo-Moting (Bayern)

Verratti signs new PSG deal

Marco Verratti has committed his future to Paris Saint-Germain after signing a new deal until 2026.

The Italian midfielder's previous contract was due to expire at the end of the 2023-2024 season, but the 30-year-old has committed for a further 2 years at the Parc des Princes.

Verratti joined PSG from Pescara in 2012 and has won 8 Ligue 1 titles, 6 Coupe de France trophies and 6 Coupe de la Ligues.

The announcement came just before Verratti made his 399th appearance for PSG against Strasbourg, and in his 10-and-a-half seasons in France he has 67 goal involvements (11 goals, 56 assists).




https://soccercatch.com/shows/243465...-season-review

Bayern set to sign Daley Blind

Bayern Munchen are set to sign Daley Blind on a free transfer, according to De Telegraaf and Sky Germany.

The 32-year-old Dutch veteran is understood to be on his way to Munchen, where he is expected to sign a contract until the end of the season.

Blind is joining Bayern for free, as he terminated his contract with Ajax prematurely just before the turn of the year.

The versatile defensive player could provide depth following the long-term injury to Lucas Hernandez.

Bale retires from football

Former Wales, Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has retired from professional football aged 33.

Bale, who spent last season at Los Angeles FC in MLS, was part of Wales' squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Bale has described the decision to quit international football as "by far the hardest of my career".

The Welshman won 5 Champions League titles and La Liga 3 times at Real Madrid and is considered one of Britain's greatest-ever football exports.




https://soccercatch.com/shows/926333187/ligue-1-show

Dortmund set to part ways with trio



Sport Bild reports that at least 3 players will leave Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season.

It has been decided that the expiring contracts of Raphael Guerreiro, Anthony Modeste and Felix Passlack will not be extended.

Passlack has made just 4 appearances this season, while Modeste has been disappointing following his summer switch from FC Koln.

Guerreiro is a regular starter, but has been linked with a move away from the club for a while.

The ties will take place around 8 February 2023.

Eustaquio vs Sporting (0-1)
https://streamable.com/o9os8v

Marcano vs Sporting (0-2)
https://streamable.com/gv0tpd

Ozil quits football

Ex-Arsenal star Mesut Ozil has reportedly quit football after his contract was terminated in Turkey for the second consecutive time.

Ozil currently plays for Istanbul Basaksehir, having only joined them in the summer of 2022.

The 34-year-old signed a one-year deal with the club, with the option for an additional year, after agreeing to rip up his contract at Super Lig rivals Fenerbahce.

Ozil had joined Fenerbahce in January 2021 after his contract at Arsenal was also terminated 6 months early but, after initial fanfare, things turned bitter for the ex-Germany international and he departed after his first full season.

He has only made 7 appearances for Basaksehir, but he is now ready to leave that club too, with the 2014 World Cup winner now ready to hang up his boots.

That's according to Turkish sports journalist Yakup Cinar, who says Ozil has told his team-mates he has decided to walk away from the game.

Ozil played in Basaksehir's 1-0 defeat to Kayserispor on Thursday, but did not turn up for training on Friday morning, with claims he wants the club to tear up his deal.

Ozil's retirement in relative obscurity in Turkey and possible transition into a career as a professional gamer would complete quite a fall from grace.

The midfielder was regarded as one of the finest creative players of his generation as he collected a host of trophies at Real Madrid and Arsenal, as well as the World Cup with Germany.

But he has had the tendency to burn bridges wherever he has gone.

He departed Real after winning a La Liga title, one Copa del Rey and one Spanish SuperCup to join the Gunners in 2013, with Ozil lifting 3 FA Cups and one Community Shield in north London.

The midfielder was one of Arsenal's most popular players, but a bust-up with manager Mikel Arteta saw his contract terminated after months of unrest behind the scenes, and the player shipped out to Turkey.

His move to the Super Lig hasn't worked out, with two terminated contracts an example of how the once-celebrated star saw out his career on a constant slide.

If the reports are correct, it means Ozil would be hanging up his boots with a record of 645 club appearances, scoring 114 goals and providing 221 assists.