Lars Ricken, youth team coordinator at Borussia Dortmund since 2008, has now officially retired from football. The 32-year-old, who had been playing for BVB since 1990, had been in the reserves squad until now. My new job is fun, but it also demands total commitment , Ricken explained his decision.

Ricken had started playing football at TuS Eving-Lindenhorst before he joined Borussia from TSC Eintracht Dortmund in 1990. Aged just 17, he was called up to the first team by then-coach Ottmar Hitzfeld and went on to play 301 Bundesliga (49 goals) and 74 European games (14 goals) for BVB.

His goal in the 1997 Champions League final against Juventus has gone down into BVB folklore. Ricken had come on after 70 minutes and scored the decisive 3-1 just seconds later. The midfiel…

Harry Kane feels Tottenham have shown a steelier resolve under Antonio Conte, with the England captain suggesting his side are ready to handle high-pressure situations .

The striker became the all-time record goalscorer for a single club in the Premier League this weekend with his 185th goal, which fired Spurs to a 1-0 win over Wolves.

Conte replaced Nuno Espirito Santo last season and ultimately guided Tottenham to Champions League qualification, at the expense of north London rivals Arsenal.

Under the Italian, Tottenham arguably look the best they have been since the Mauricio Pochettino era, and Kane certainly believes they can show their mettle this term in the hunt for success.

We ve definitely strengthened, he said, as reported by The Evening Stand…

Arsenal have withdrawn from their US tour following a number of positive COVID tests among the planned party which was set to depart on Thursday.

The Gunners were due to participate in the Florida Cup with games against Inter on July 25 and Everton or Millonarios on July 28 in Orlando.

Arsenal said in a statement that the difficult decision was based on ensuring the health and wellbeing of the club s players and staff.

We fully understand what a disappointment this is for our supporters in America who were looking forward to seeing us compete in the Florida Cup as part of our pre-season build up, the statement said.

Our apologies also go to the organisers of the Florida Cup who had done a fantastic job making the preparations and our partners who had …

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not come out of international retirement to play at the World Cup, the Swedish Football Association says.

The 36-year-old ended his Sweden career after Euro 2016 but there have been suggestions he could make a shock return in time for this year s finals in Russia.

Ibrahimovic, now of LA Galaxy, said he would definitely be at the tournament in some capacity during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

However, it appears he will not be part of head coach Janne Anderson s playing squad.

A statement released by the Swedish FA on Facebook confirmed: Sweden s greatest goalscorer of all time for the national team will NOT play at the World Cup.

Speaking last week, Anderson said he had not spoken to Ibrahimovic about a return but i…

Aaron Wan-Bissaka thanked Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson for his faith and trust after completing a reported £50million move to Manchester United.

United confirmed the capture of the 21-year-old on Saturday following lengthy negotiations with Palace.

Wan-Bissaka made his Eagles debut against Tottenham in February 2018, making a further six appearances during the final months of that campaign.

Hodgson saw enough to make the England Under-21 international his first choice right-back for the 2018-19 season and he did not disappoint, swiftly establishing himself as one of the most promising defenders in the Premier League.

Following his switch to Old Trafford, Wan-Bissaka saluted Hodgson for giving him an opportunity in the senior ranks.

I wou…

Alex Iwobi has revealed Arsenal were close to releasing him during his time with the club s youth academy.

The Nigeria international joined the Arsenal academy at the tender age of nine and made his first-team debut in a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday in October 2015.

Iwobi has since developed into an important member of Arsene Wenger s team, but he has made it clear things could very well have panned out differently.

I was almost released at 14, again at 16 and just about got a professional contract after that, the 20-year-old forward told Standard Sport.

Especially at 14, I thought I was very close to not making it. It was stressful as I was going through school, trying to balance that and make sure I was still signed for Arsenal. It …

Philipp Lahm hailed Bastian Schweinsteiger as an outstanding footballer and sensational guy following the Germany captain s retirement from international football.

Schweinsteiger called time on his Germany career on Friday after 12 years and 120 caps.

The Manchester United midfielder took over the armband from former Bayern Munich team-mate Lahm following Germany s 2014 World Cup triumph, but, after they failed to win the European Championship in France, Schweinsteiger opted to walk away.

But Lahm believes Schweinsteiger can look back at this international career with plenty of pride.

It is his decision. I have great respect for him and his 120 caps, he is a world champion, Lahm told reporters. We had a great time in the national team as well.

…

Luiz Adriano s record-equalling display in Belarus on Tuesday has been overshadowed by his claims of racist chanting from BATE supporters.

Shakhtar Donetsk were thumping 7-0 winners at BATE in UEFA Champions League Group H action.

Luiz Adriano scored five of those goals matching the feat set by Barcelona s Lionel Messi in 2012 but the achievement has been soured by the Brazilian s allegations of racism at Borisov Arena.

I heard rude abuse … racist ones [chants], the striker was quoted as saying on Shakhtar s official website.

Supporters behaved improperly and that is why I am disappointed and feel resentment. It was an ugly act from their side.

Luiz Adriano also scored the fastest four-goal haul 17 minutes in Champions League history, surpass…

Ciro Immobile is hoping his loan switch to Sevilla will turn into a permanent move.

The Italy international scored 22 Serie A goals for Torino in 2013-14, form that earned him a transfer to Borussia Dortmund, who were attempting to replace Robert Lewandowski after his transfer to Bayern Munich.

But Immobile failed to fire in the Bundesliga, making just nine league starts and scoring three times in 2014-15.

Immobile s season-long loan move was announced on Sunday before being officially presented as a Sevilla player 24 hours later.

For me it is an important year, because last year was not good, Immobile said.

It is beautiful to play in the Champions League and a new championship, I hope to do well.

I am very happy because Sevilla are …

Xherdan Shaqiri is buying a new house, which Stoke City manager Mark Hughes says is proof he is not on the brink of joining Roma.

The Switzerland international is shining in his second season with the club after joining from Inter in a £12 million deal in July 2015 and he netted two excellent goals in a 2-0 win at Hull City last time out.

Shaqiri s fine form has led to reports in Italy that Roma could be set to swoop in January, while the winger s brother and agent, Erdin, fuelled the speculation earlier this month by saying,  never say never .

But Hughes has vowed not to sell the former Bayern Munich player and thinks he is settled at Stoke.

I ve heard the speculation, but that is all it is – speculation, Hughes told The Mirror.

There was a…