Latest news with #MatsHummels
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Roma turn to Genoa's Vasquez as defensive reinforcement
Roma are on the look-out for an additional central defender. After Mats Hummels' retirement and the imminent departure of the likes of Marash Kumbulla and Mario Hermoso – who are unlikely to stay – Roma want to bring in a new centreback to Gasperini's orders. Advertisement According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the latest idea at Trigoria is that of Genoa defender Johan Vasquez. The Mexican international proved a pivotal presence in Genoa's backline this year, making 37 appearances for the Rossoblu with 3 goals to his name.
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Baller League Finals format and rules explained
Ballers League reaches its climax as we approach the final at the O2 Arena in London on June 12, 2025. The top four teams from the season will face off to determine the winner — here's everything you need to know about the Baller League finals. 3 3 What is Baller League? Baller League is a dynamic, influencer-led six-a-side indoor football competition that originated in Germany in 2024. It has rapidly expanded to the UK — and will soon have a franchise in the US. The league was created by entrepreneur Felix Starck, along with the support of professional footballers Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski. The aim was to blend traditional football with entertainment and appeal to a younger, more digital-savvy audience. Twelve teams play in six-a-side matches, with the top four advancing to the final play-off in June to be crowned the champion. Starck said: " Baller League is a brand new way to consume football. "We're redefining how the game is played by bringing an exhilarating and authentic approach to football, and one that will appeal to current fans along with future generations. "Baller League is all about forward-thinking, aggressive, hyper-exciting football. "We're about creating a version of the game that's impossible to ignore — thrilling, bold and packed with excitement." How does the Final Four work? The four teams with the most points after 11 matches qualify for the Baller League Final Four. Ruben Dias and Maya Jama's romantic debut at Baller League match There will be two semi-finals to determine the final, with the team who placed first in the league stage playing fourth, while second plays third. In the event two teams are tied after 11 matches, the order will be first decided by goal difference, then goals scored, followed by the result between the two sides in question. If, after these three stipulations, the two sides are still level, a shootout will determine who progresses. In the event of a draw in the Final Four after the regular 30 minutes, a penalty shootout is held in which each team initially provides three takers. Baller League is all about forward-thinking, aggressive, hyper-exciting football Baller League CEO Felix Starck If the shootout ends level, it will become sudden death until a winner is established. Who is involved in Baller League? YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI is the president of the UK version. Among the football legends and celebrities managing teams this season, John Terry is in charge of 26ers, while Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker and Micah Richards jointly manage Deportrio. Clint 419 is the manager of FC Rules the World, and Miniminter (Simon Minter from the Sidemen) leads M7 FC. MVPs United is managed by Alisha Lehmann and Maya Jama, and the trio of Arsenal Invincibles — Jens Lehmann, Robert Pirès and Freddie Ljungberg — manage N5 FC. Brit Award-winning artist Dave (Santan Dave) is at the helm of Santan FC, with YouTuber Sharky managing SDS FC. Luís Figo leads Trebol FC, and Tobi Brown (TBJZL from the Sidemen) manages VZN FC. 3 Wembley Rangers is managed by Ian Wright and Chloe Kelly, while Yanited is under the guidance of YouTuber Angry Ginge Who has qualified for the Baller League Final Four? Just four teams remain from the 12 that started on Matchday 1 back in March. Deportrio topped the standings on goal difference after 11 rounds of action-packed fixtures. MVP United narrowly missed out on top spot by one goal, but they have secured their place in the final four. Yanited and SDS FC complete the sides competing for Baller League glory on the night of Thursday, June 12, 2025 — with fans set to be treated to even more thrilling action at the O2 Arena. Organisers have confirmed a Legends vs Creators match has been booked in with some blockbuster names taking part. Baller League Final Four fixtures As they finished top of the standings, Deportrio will face the lowest-ranked side in the Final Four, which is SDS FC. The team that is victorious will face the winner of MVPs United vs Yanited in the grand finale.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dortmund not planning to sign Hummels for Club World Cup
Former Borussia Dortmund player Mats Hummels waves to the spectators at his official farewell match at Signal Iduna Park. Christoph Reichwein/dpa Borussia Dortmund are not planning to sign their former defender Mats Hummels for the Club World Cup this summer in the United States, sporting director Sebastian Kehl said. Kehl told Sunday's Doppelpass TV show that Hummels' return is "currently not planned." Advertisement He has confidence in the team, "which has performed so well in recent weeks" and secured Champions League qualification in the final Bundesliga matchday on Saturday. However, Kehl didn't rule out bringing Hummels back in the event of injuries. "Mats has been a super important player for Borussia Dortmund. We know that, theoretically, we can rely on him," Kehl said. Hummels is currently at Roma, but said he will end his professional career this summer. The defender played for Dortmund from 2008 to 2026 and returned for a second stint from 2019 to 2024. After the 2023-24 season, Dortmund didn't offer him a contract extension. Recently, there's been speculation that Dortmund were considering the signing of Hummels as a standby player for the Club World Cup in June and July.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Report: No Dortmund return for Hummels at Club World Cup
Former Borussia Dortmund player Mats Hummels waves to the spectators at his official farewell match at Signal Iduna Park. Christoph Reichwein/dpa Former Germany defender Mats Hummels will not return to Borussia Dortmund for the Club World Cup, the Sport Bild weekly reported on Wednesday. Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke had recently named Hummels "the first option" for the June 14-July 13 tournament in the United States if they were in need of another defender. Advertisement But the report said that Dortmund don't need Hummels for the event because their defence has shown more stability lately, and Hummels was only getting limited playing time at his current club Roma. The 2014 World Cup winner Hummels has said he will end his playing career after the season. He played for Dortmund over two terms 2008-2016 and 2019-2024, and was also team captain. Watzke has named Hummels "one of the greatest players Borussia Dortmund has had". He said Humnmels would get a big farewell there, likely at a pre-season game against Athletic Bilbao in August. Sport Bild said that Hummels could eventually return to Dortmund in a different capacity.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'A new era of football' - the stories behind the Baller League players
Love it or hate it, you can't avoid the debut season of the Baller League UK. Social media has been full of action and talk about the six-a-side tournament - set up in Germany by entrepreneur Felix Starck alongside footballers Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski - and which is now in its first season in the United Kingdom. The UK version of the competition is fronted by influencer KSI, the teams are managed by celebrities and the games are live streamed on Twitch. Rather than the players on the pitch, many of whom are free agents, semi-pros or former professionals, most of the attention is directed towards the multi-millionaire managers on the touchline. Angry Ginge, Maya Jama and Chunkz are the stars of Baller League. They attract the crowds. They sell the product. "Baller League - a new era of football" reads Starck's LinkedIn bio. Influencers are the draw for now, but his real goal is to futureproof football by making it more entertaining. The key is in the "hero storytelling", said Starck in an interview with Business of Sport. So what about the stories of the natural "heroes" playing on the Baller League pitch? A first look at Baller League - fast-paced & full of flair What is Baller League? Why are KSI, Lineker & Terry involved? Marvin Sordell is a name most football fans will recognise, He starred as a youngster for Watford, appeared for Bolton and Burnley in the Premier League, and featured in Stuart Pearce's Team GB squad at the London 2012 Olympics. But, after a 10-year career, Sordell retired from the professional game aged 28 back in 2019, citing the impact on his mental health. The pressure of the professional football industry was not worth the toll it was having on him. Instead of stepping away from football completely, Sordell runs a video production company focused on combining entertainment, art and sport, and a marketing agency which helps brands connect with the worlds of sport, music and entertainment. Already working in the intersection between sport and entertainment, the 34-year-old didn't hesitate to join Baller League when the opportunity arose - and now plays for Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards' Deportrio FC side. "Football has been something I've loved since I was a kid," says Sordell. "I was willing to hold on to that love that I have for the game and I knew that wasn't going to stay from being a professional. It just wasn't working, it just wasn't right. "I was potentially doing some work with them (Baller League) through my marketing agency. We had quite a few conversations before it was even announced and then in one of the meetings they asked if I'd be interested in playing." Without any trepidation, he jumped at the chance to have fun on a football pitch again. Sordell had already been playing at different levels and in different formats of the game since he retired from professional football in 2019. From five-a-side games with mates to semi-pro matches with Kettering Town, he was more than ready to roll back the years in Baller League. Despite the cameras broadcasting the action for Sky Sports, Sordell feels none of the pressure he did as a pro. The big talking points after matches usually surround the antics of the celebrities rather than the actual gameplay, allowing many of the players to enjoy their football under the radar. Timelines are filled with videos of ex-England defender Richards dancing, John Terry clashing with former referee Mark Clattenburg on the touchline or Troy Deeney receiving a red card for an unnecessary foul. "From my perspective, I get to go on Monday, play football and catch up with loads of people I know from the world of football," adds Sordell. "I don't feel like there's the same level of pressure or scrutiny as players in the professional level get because people are there to be entertained. " A lot of people have reached out to me who are interested in getting involved. I'm interested to see how the affiliation between people watching and clubs develop in terms of growing fanbases. It has the potential to be something quite big." Sordell on how he overcame his darkest days Remy Mitchell always dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. From the age of nine to 18, he progressed through the ranks as a goalkeeper at Arsenal's academy, but was released without the offer of a contract. He joined Swansea shortly after but, without a senior appearance, Mitchell was again released last summer and has since played non-league football while studying for a degree in business and football management. The 21-year-old is currently a free agent, but in goal for YouTuber and Sidemen member Tobi "TBJZL" Brown's team VZN FC. "I'm quite a big fan of a lot of the managers there," says Mitchell. "I've always watched them and it's quite a cool experience to see them all in person. I've watched [TBJZL] since I was 10 and it's quite cool to be coached by him every week." It's a familiar tale for many players who choose to chase the dream of going pro. It's a precarious path with no guarantees. Only 0.012% of boys playing organised youth football in the UK will ever play a minute of Premier League football. Lasse Lehmann, director of Operations and Sports UK for Baller League, reached out to Mitchell directly to offer him a chance to play ahead of former players, such as his idol Ian Wright. "It's the biggest crowd I've ever played in front of, 6,000 people," adds Londoner Mitchell. "And then there's hundreds of thousands of people watching on YouTube, Sky Sports and Twitch. "I think if you think about it (the media attention) too much, you'll get a bit inside your head and get pretty nervous. I just try to enjoy it as much as I can." Baller League is essentially fulfilling its promise - entertaining football that doesn't take itself too seriously. Mitchell, says: "It does put you in a good spotlight and I've had a lot of good things out of it, like I'm sponsored by a glove brand. "The football is a lot of fun so I'm happy to keep doing that. I don't know how it will work next season. There are a lot of unanswered questions but nothing bad has come out of it." Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast Get football news sent straight to your phone
