Former Juventus, Athletic Bilbao and Spain striker Fernando Llorente has retired from football at the age of 37.
Llorente – who has been without a club since the end of last season – made the announcement to Movistar Plus, confirming the end of an 18-year senior career.
When asked about continuing to play football, he replied No and suggested he will instead keep fit by playing padel.
Llorente began his career with Athletic, where he played for nine seasons for the first team, scoring 84 goals in 262 LaLiga games.
He then earned a move to Serie A giants Juventus, where he scored 16 in 34 league games in his first season, though was unable to repeat that form before he left on a free transfer back to Spain with Sevilla in 2015.
96 No player sc…
UEFA president Michel Platini on Wednesaday said he believed Ukraine were on track to co-host Euro 2012 with Poland as he began a two-day visit.
We believe in Ukraine we believe in the authorities, former France star Platini said as he arrived in the city of Lviv, one of four host cities in the country.
The city is having a new airport terminal and a new stadium built and local authorities insist that, despite several stadium construction delays, they will be ready in time.
Platini, who last month insisted discussions would be frank and serious, was later to visit the eastern industrial city of Donetsk, which last year saw an impressive new stadium erected, before going on to Kharkiv and the capital, Kiev.
The UEFA head was also due to hold talks with n…
Best Odds: 4/11
Bookmaker:
Looking to make a La Liga statement on Wednesday night, Atletico Madrid will welcome Espanyol to the Spanish capital.
Atletico Madrid
Starting with the hosts, while Atletico Madrid might have failed to mount any kind of title charge last season, Diego Simeone’s men have continued to build off of their summer flurry. Putting in a thumping performance over the weekend as they stormed their way to a 3-0 romp against Girona, the Spanish heavyweights will be smelling a golden opportunity on Wednesday night. Signing off their pre-season preparations with a 2-0 victory against Juventus, the mood around the Metropolitano should be at a real high. Pencilled in as a standout contender in midweek, Atletico have continued to gain a reputation f…
Retiring playmaker David Silva should be remembered as one of the best players to grace the Premier League, according to his former Manchester City team-mate Joleon Lescott.
Real Sociedad midfielder Silva announced his retirement at the age of 37 last Thursday, having suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season training.
Prior to joining La Real in 2020, Silva won four Premier League titles and seven domestic cups during a memorable spell at the Etihad Stadium, where he has since been honoured with a statue.
Silva – who also won the 2010 World Cup and two European Championship titles with Spain – led all Premier League players for assists (89) and chances created (768) during the decade between 2010 and 2020.
Having played alongside Silva between 20…
Best Odds: 1/2
Bookmaker:
Two camps who are looking to punch their respective EURO 24 ticket on Tuesday night, Ukraine will meet Iceland at the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw.
Ukraine
Starting with Ukraine, although they might have been left hugely frustrated on November 20th as they were forced to settle for a controversial 0-0 stalemate against Italy, Serhiy Rebrov’s men have continued to gain a string of plaudits. With only their goal difference stopping them from securing an automatic route out of Group C, the Yellows do find the mood in their camp at a continued high. Mounting a stunning late comeback away at Bosnia Herzegovina as they clinched a 2-1 victory, the former Al-Ahli boss has seen his squad suffer just a single defeat from any of their previous e…
As we officially enter a stacked winter schedule, the Premier League will certainly steal centre stage this weekend.
With a heavyweight schedule from across England’s elite, it will certainly be Tottenham’s trip to Manchester City that has most of the focus.
Likewise, on a Sunday schedule that includes both Aston Villa and Liverpool, we have taken an in-depth look at some of the best Premier League betting markets that are available.
Sunday, December 3rd
12:30 Liverpool vs Fulham
Although Liverpool might have come under plenty of scrutiny last season as they missed out on a top-four finish, Jurgen Klopp’s men have certainly come roaring back this time around. Putting in a routine Europa League performance earlier in the week as they breezed their way to…
England boss Roy Hodgson made wholesale changes to his team for the Three Lions 0-0 draw with Slovakia
England finished second in Group B, which has put them in the same side of the draw that features Germany, Slovakia, Italy, Spain, France and the Republic of Ireland.
Wales, who topped the group, have more favourable competition with Switzerland, Poland, Croatia, Portugal, Northern Ireland, Hungary and Belgium.
It’s led to criticism of England for not taking the group stages more seriously given how much easier their journey to the final could have been, so have they blown their chances of success given the task at hand?
England will have to beat stellar opposition to reach the final
England face Iceland in the last-16 of the European Champion…
Arne Slot is still learning about his Liverpool players day by day as they prepare for Saturday s Premier League clash with Wolves at Molineux.
The Reds suffered a shock 1-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest earlier this month, but they have otherwise impressed with four wins from five.
Add an away win at AC Milan in the Champions League into the mix and Slot has made a near seamless start since succeeding Jurgen Klopp.
The Dutchman has been pleased with the mentality of his players, who he is still getting to know in the early stages of his tenure.
Before the [Bournemouth] game I actually told the players that I am still learning from them day by day, he told the club website.
I had already seen their reaction to the defeat against Nottingham Fore…
Carlos Tevez intends to retire when his Boca Juniors contract expires at the end of 2019.
The former Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus striker rejoined Boca for a second time in January, cutting short his stay at Shanghai Shenhua – who reportedly made him the world s highest-paid player.
Tevez has scored just four goals since his return and was substituted as Guillermo Barros Schelotto s side clinched the Superliga title with a 2-2 draw at Gimnasia La Plata last week, with the end now in sight for the 34-year-old.
I think that when my contract ends at the end of next year I will [retire], he said on Canal 13.
Other times, I missed the club when I left, but this time it won t be the same. I won t go to another team and I ll retire with th…
Pep Guardiola insisted Rodri’s injury will not stop Manchester City in their quest for a record fourth consecutive Premier League title, having overcome similar situations in recent years.
Rodri, who played 50 times for City last season, was forced off injured in their enthralling 2-2 draw with Arsenal last weekend, with the club confirming the Spaniard had suffered serious knee ligament damage.
It again throws into question the Citizens ability to operate without their star midfielder, having seen their win percentage drop from 76% to 55.6% across the nine games he missed last year.
Ahead of facing Newcastle at St. James’ Park this weekend, Guardiola likened the situation to the one he experienced with Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, explaining his side …