Developing women-specific football boots might be the way forward when it comes to reducing the number of ACL injuries suffered by female players.
That is the hope of the European Club Association (ECA), which has backed research into the development of boots made specifically for women.
Several star players have suffered serious knee injuries in recent years, with Beth Mead and fellow Arsenal stars Leah Williamson and Vivianne Miedema among the big names set to miss this year s Women s World Cup due to ACL problems.
Two-time Ballon d Or winner Alexia Putellas, meanwhile, missed last year s Women s Euros after sustaining an ACL tear in her left leg.
Claire Bloomfield, the head of women s football at the ECA, is hopeful new research can help mitigate the i…
Jamal Musiala scored his 10th goal of the season as ruthless Bayern Munich thrashed Mainz 6-2 in a pulsating Bundesliga contest to go top of the table.
It had been 57 days since Julian Nagelsmann s side were last at the summit, but they moved above Union Berlin with a sixth consecutive win on Saturday.
First-half goals from Serge Gnabry, the hugely impressive Musiala and Sadio Mane put them in command at the Allianz Arena, the Senegal forward finishing from the rebound after Robin Zentner saved his penalty.
Silvan Widmer pulled one back on the stroke of half-time just after Sven Ulreich kept out a Jonathan Burkardt spot-kick, but goals from Leon Goretzka and Mathys Tel put Bayern out of sight.
Marcus Ingvartsen capitalised on a terrible mistake from Ulrei…
Swansea winger Nathan Dyer has signed a new three-year contract with the English Premier League newcomers.
Dyer, 23, joined Swansea from Southampton in 2009 and has impressed at the club, winning the fans player of the year in their promotion campaign last season.
Dyer s contract was set to expire at the end of the season, but he wasted no time in signing a deal that sees him join the likes of captain Garry Monk, defenders Ashley Williams and Angel Rangel and midfielder Joe Allen as long-term players.
I m really pleased, Dyer said.
We ve just won promotion to the Premier League and I want to be part of things. It s a great club so I m happy to be here. Talks went well and it was nice and easy to sign a contract. I can learn my trade here and keep impro…
Kaka has credited Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho with playing a leading role in his return to form and fitness.
Brazil international Kaka is starting to show signs of his prior form after being plagued by injuries during his first two seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu.
He was linked with a move away from the Spanish capital in the close season, but opted to stay in Madrid and continue to try and justify the reported 68.5 million-euro fee Real paid to prise him away from AC Milan in June 2009.
And the 29-year-old attacking midfielder, who has made eight appearances and scored two goals in all competitions this season, has thanked Mourinho for the faith he showed.
I can only say good things about Mourinho, Kaka told Real Madrid TV.
He had everyth…
Louis van Gaal has told Manchester United to be prepared for the challenge of a Norwich City side fighting for their Premier League lives.
Alex Neil s men were surprise 2-1 winners at Old Trafford in December but have won only four and lost 12 of their 18 subsequent matches to leave them second bottom – two points adrift of fourth-bottom Newcastle United but with a game in hand.
United have a battle on their own hands to finish in the top four and will aim to increase the pressure on Manchester City ahead of their fourth-placed rivals crunch clash with Arsenal, who are third, on Sunday.
It is always difficult to fight against a team that fights for maintaining their position in the Premier League, Van Gaal told a news conference ahead of Saturday s encounter a…
Benfica star Enzo Perez has said in no uncertain terms that he is prepared to join Valencia at the earliest opportunity.
Los Che have been hot on the trail of the 28-year-old footballer for over a year now and everything suggests they will finally close the deal in the January transfer window.
Enzo Perez is well aware of the heavy interest in his services from the La Liga side and he admits he would love to join the Mestalla outfit.
“Of course I would go to Valencia, it is a very important club in Europe,” the midfielder told Canal Siete in Argentina.
Enzo Perez joined Benfica from Estudiantes in the summer of 2011, although he was then loaned back to the Argentine side for six months.
The central midfielder nailed down a regular starting ber…
Spanish heavyweights Valencia are said to be sitting in a pole position to sign the highly-rated Eibar midfielder Joan Jordan.
Super Deporte is reporting that Los Che are making the necessary preparations for a summer assault on the 24-year-old who’s been in fantastic form this season for Eibar.
The Spanish international made 21 La Liga appearances during which time he scored three goals and provided four assists.
Jordan is a highly skilled technician who has got a great eye for a pass and is a danger from set pieces. He enjoys playing long balls and is no stranger to firing shots from the distance.
Valencia are expected to bolster their ranks during the summer transfer window and are believed to have identified Jordan as one of their top targets. Sevi…
Antonio Conte wants to emulate the work of Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham and build a good foundation at Chelsea.
Since the appointment of Pochettino ahead of the 2014-15 season, Spurs have developed into the most consistent side in the Premier League and were serious title challengers in the previous two campaigns.
Much has been made of Tottenham s lack of activity in the transfer window, but the spine of the team – goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, centre-back pairing Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, Eric Dier, Dele Alli and Harry Kane – has been retained with minimal fuss.
Conte believes Chelsea need to replace some key losses from the past campaigns in order to match the strength running through the heart of Pochettino s side.
I think Tottenham a…
Chelsea are still considering a swoop for Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana amid serious doubts in the quality of Kepa Arrizabalaga, according to .
Kepa arrived to Stamford Bridge from Athletic Bilbao in 2018 for €80 million, a world-record fee for a goalkeeper. However, his two-year stint with Chelsea so far has been strewn with high-profile errors, and following the Londoners disappointing 3-0 defeat at the hands of Sheffield United on Saturday, questions have arisen signaling a strong doubt whether the issue is just a temporary blip in form, or a long-term problem with his quality.
Chelsea have already done business with Ajax this year, having secured the services of winger Hakim Ziyech who has now joined their team training. They ve also been in regular contact with Ona…
Everton are interested in signing Zeki Celik from Lille in the summer transfer window, according to . It has been reported that the Premier League side are in talks with the French outfit for the 23-year-old right-back, who is valued at €20 million (£18 million).
However, according to the report, Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in the Turkey international defender. Spurs head coach Jose Mourinho rated the youngster highly and wants to bring him to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.
Celik has been on the books of Lille since 2018 and is one of the better players in Ligue 1. The right-back provided two assists in 23 Ligue 1 matches, and played six times in the Champions League for Lille this past season, according to . With both Tottenham and Everton needing …