Dermot Corrigan

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Simon Johnson |Dermot Corrigan

Chelsea won the Conference League on Wednesday night by beating Real Betis 4-1. A fast-paced start to the game was capped by Betis taking the lead. Isco had the ball on the edge of the Chelsea box before playing it out wide to Abde Ezzalzouli. Ezzalzouli then moved the ball onto his left foot before firing into the back of the Chelsea net. Despite that setback in the ninth minute, Chelsea went into half-time just one goal behind. And after a better start to the second-half, they levelled the game.

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Dermot Corrigan |Colin Millar

Former striker Ronaldo has agreed to sell his stake in Spanish club Real Valladolid but the deal has yet to be confirmed by the Spanish government's CSD authority. Ignite, a consortium headed by businessman Gabriel Solares and comprised of investors from the United States and Mexico, has agreed to buy Ronaldo's majority stake in the club, who were relegated from La Liga this season.

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Dermot Corrigan |Thom Harris

Rarely has a winter loan move worked out as well for both player and club as Antony's switch from Manchester United to Real Betis in January. The Brazilian's most important contribution (so far) for Betis came in their Conference League semi-finals against Fiorentina, when the 25-year-old was outstanding in both legs. In the first game at Betis' Benito Villamarin stadium, Antony hit a bouncing ball into the top corner to give his side a 2-1 advantage to take to Italy.

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Dermot Corrigan

Xabi Alonso's appointment as Real Madrid's new first-team head coach makes so much sense due to his deep connection at the Bernabeu. The 43-year-old former midfielder is returning to a club he knows well. As a Madrid player from 2009-14, he made 236 appearances and helped the Spanish side win the Champions League, La Liga and two Copas del Rey.

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Dermot Corrigan

When Manchester United face Tottenham in Wednesday's Europa League final in Bilbao, the two English teams should feel quite at home. Football culture in the Basque city in northern Spain has always had a close connection to England, former Athletic Club player and coach Javier Clemente tells The Athletic. "Bilbao has always liked English football, that was the style Athletic looked to," says Clemente, now 75. "Very physical, really committed, very brave, lots of battling, lots of team spirit.