Philip Buckingham

England

Football News Reporter at The Athletic

Football news reporter for @TheAthleticFC. Views are my own. Email: [email protected]

Articles

Sunderland have been remodelled and revived

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Philip Buckingham

Regis Le Bris is a quiet, understated figurehead but an hour and a half after guiding Sunderland to Premier League promotion he found the words to unwittingly capture the beauty of a journey that had ended at Wembley. "To create this connection, this memory, for the fans and for us, we needed to live the tough moments," said Sunderland's head coach.
Sheffield United 1 Sunderland 2

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Philip Buckingham |Tim Spiers

Tommy Watson said he's looking forward to meeting Sunderland "in the big time" after scoring the goal that won the Championship play-off final in his final game for the North East club before joining Brighton & Hove Albion. In a remarkable turnaround, Sunderland trailed until the 76th minute before Eliezer Mayenda equalised after Tyrese Campbell had put Sheffield United ahead in the 25th minute.
Liverpool 30, Arsenal 29, Ipswich 10

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Philip Buckingham

Liverpool's coronation finally arrives tomorrow evening as they get the opportunity to reclaim the Premier League trophy they have spent the past five years chasing. The ticker tape and the medals, all to commemorate a 20th English title being added to Anfield's champions wall.
A club rebooted, renewed and one game from a Premier League return

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Michael Walker |Philip Buckingham

It was heading towards midnight as a packed Tyne & Wear Metro train pulled away from the station at the Stadium of Light. The smiling faces crammed in were soon staring at mobile phone footage of the moment they had all just witnessed live: the stooping header from Dan Ballard in the last seconds of extra-time in the Championship play-off semi-final against Coventry City that takes Sunderland to Wembley on Saturday.
Gary Lineker, the culture wars and why his BBC exit became a sad inevitability

2 weeks ago | bvmsports.com | Philip Buckingham

The proposed separation had once felt fitting. Forty summers after Gary Lineker had become a national goalscoring hero with England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, the 2026 finals in the same country - as well as the U.S. and Canada - were to be his farewell to the BBC.
Gary Lineker, the culture wars and why his BBC exit became a sad inevitability

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Philip Buckingham

The proposed separation had once felt fitting. Forty summers after Gary Lineker had become a national goalscoring hero with England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, the 2026 finals in the same country - as well as co-hosts the U.S. and Canada - were to be his farewell to the BBC.
Premier League set to introduce rule allowing only captains to speak to referees

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Philip Buckingham |Ali Rampling

The Premier League is set to introduce the rule which only permits captains to talk to referees about key decisions in the 2025-26 season. The rule was introduced by UEFA for the 2024 European Championship and has been utilised in UEFA competitions this season. Introducing the initiative ahead of Euro 2024, it was hoped it would breed "trust" between players and officials and prevent referees from being "mobbed".
Cristiano Ronaldo named world's highest paid athlete for third year running

3 weeks ago | bvmsports.com | Philip Buckingham

Cristiano Ronaldo's footballing powers might be waning at the grand old age of 40 but he remains the highest-paid sportsperson on the planet, according to new figures. Forbes magazine has published its annual report on the income of the world's biggest athletes and, for a third year in a row, Ronaldo has topped the list. The Portugal international, now playing for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, is estimated to have brought in $275m (£207m) during the 12-month period under assessment.
Hull sack Ruben Selles despite Championship survival

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Philip Buckingham

Hull City have sacked their third manager in 12 months after parting company with Ruben Selles on Thursday. Selles only arrived at the MKM Stadium in December to fill the vacancy left by Tim Walter and eventually steered the club away from Championship relegation on the season's final day. The 41-year-old had a contract running until the summer of 2027 but Hull's owner, Acun Ilicali, has opted to fire the Spaniard.
Cristiano Ronaldo named world's highest paid athlete for third year running

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Philip Buckingham

Cristiano Ronaldo's footballing powers might be waning at the grand old age of 40 but he remains the highest-paid sportsperson on the planet, according to new figures. Forbes magazine has published its annual report on the income of the world's biggest athletes and, for a third year in a row, Ronaldo has topped the list. The Portugal international, now playing for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, is estimated to have brought in $275m (£207m) during the 12-month period under assessment.