Ali Rampling

“They've broken Chelsea.” “A masterpiece torn apart.” Inside CFCW “mess”: Green's exit, club's “disgraceful” email to players, leadership interference from men' side, recruitment failings, staff division + more @reallycerys @charlotteharpur @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/70343…

🚩EXCL: Real Madrid's Bernabéu Stadium is set to host another NFL game in 2026 -with more planned for the near future. Decision expected to be announced in the coming days and is not influenced by the neighbors' complaints about noise. @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/69956…

What’s it like being a football manager? I spent a month with Bristol City’s Gerhard Struber to find out. 🍱 Canteen mutiny 🤝 Half-time handshakes 🏃‍♂️ Run Forrest 👖 Blue jeans 🧳 Living out of a suitcase 🧑‍✈️ Flying lessons 💔 Home alone 🍎 Pint of Natch nytimes.com/athletic/69711…

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester United sack Ruben Amorim as head coach. 40yo Portuguese informed of decision & goes with immediate effect after 14 months following breakdown in relations. Darren Fletcher expected to take over #MUFC on interim basis @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/65942…

🚨 EXCL: Enzo Maresca high among candidates Manchester City considering in case Pep Guardiola exits next summer. #MCFC advancing contingency work for possibility of manager change - 45yo #CFC coach prominent alongside other potential options @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/68967…

What does it take to make a #Lioness? Downsizing houses, bank loans, hours of driving, juggling jobs, so tired that you sleep in meetings. Thank you to the families for speaking so openly & trusting @TheAthleticFC @KatieWhyatt @SJohnsonSport nytimes.com/athletic/65064…

Ronnie Gibbons was the Fulham Ladies captain. She says she was twice shut in a room with Mohamed Al Fayed, the owner of her football club, at Harrods and he sexually abused her. “I was used.” This is her story: nytimes.com/athletic/58515… With @David_Ornstein for @TheAthleticFC

The door to Maddy Cusack’s bedroom almost always remains closed these days. It’s a year since her death and maybe we should talk about Maddy, the person - not just Maddy, the story.  Please read (no paywall via link) @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/57607…

Topless Englishmen are singing about Scotland getting battered. Everywhere you look people are drinking. Music is blaring. It's 2pm. Welcome to Benidorm on Euros final day, home to surely the biggest concentration of England and Spain fans anywhere outside of Berlin. @TimSpiers

Arsenal interested in signing #Lioness Keira Walsh from Barcelona. Walsh has 1 yr left on her contract. The WSL club may be interested but whether a fee or contract can be agreed is another matter. @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/55647…

🚨 For the first time ever, a players union has filed a criminal complaint against a football club over alleged 'bullying and harassment' of players. Comes amid @FIFPRO warnings of 'widespread' behaviour across sport and renewed awareness @TheAthleticFC theathletic.com/5293731/2024/0…

Chelsea make contract offer to Lyon head coach Sonia Bompastor to replace Emma Hayes who leaves for the #USWNT at end of season. Nothing finalised yet and negotiations ongoing. Bompastor’s contract with Lyon expires in 2025. @TheAthleticFC theathletic.com/5274644/2024/0…

Former Forest Green Rovers head coach Troy Deeney threatened to punch a match official in the face before calling him a “weasel” during December’s loss to Swindon Town. The former Watford striker received a four-game touchline ban and £1,500 fine this month following two FA charges relating to alleged improper, abusive, insulting and threatening language and behaviour. In the written reasons released following two FA independent regulatory commission hearings, it was alleged Deeney said to fourth official Andrew Hickman: “if you weren’t a referee, I would punch your f****** head in". After being dismissed from the technical area, it was alleged Deeney then called Hickman “a f****** weasel”. More from @AliRampling 🔗 theathletic.com/5231521/?utm_m…

Emma Hayes says “the time is right” for her to leave Chelsea after it was confirmed on Saturday she would be departing the club at the end of the season following 12 years in charge. 📝 @charlotteharpur and @alirampling ➡️ theathletic.com/5051874/?sourc…

⚽️11,000 players aged 8-18 are released from academies every year. ⚽️In 1999, #LCFC ‘s Wes Morgan was one of those kids. Here is how Morgan and the @premierleague are helping those young players on @TheAthleticFC : 👇🏾 theathletic.com/4886152/2023/1…

In Saudi Arabia, women's rights are heavily restricted by men. In this special report, Charlotte Harpur and others ask whether a country hoping to recruit the game's biggest names can really be a major player in women's football. Saudi Arabia, women's football's next frontier?

An incredible, exclusive look behind the curtain of a WSL referees’ feedback session AND an inside view on some of those controversial card calls🕵️‍♀️🔥 ⁦@charlotteharpur⁩ | ⁦@TheAthleticFC⁩ theathletic.com/4945171/2023/1…

Editors looking for good coverage on Man Utd Women this season from someone who knows the team inside out, please consider hiring me ✍️ 🗣️ #MUWomen

Spain came together with Sweden on the halfway line to collectively display the banner. The world champions also received a standing ovation from the home crowd at Gamla Ullevi as they ran out to warm up. More from @Laia_Cervello and @AliRampling theathletic.com/4889738/?sourc…

A club who once relied on supporters giving blood to survive are about to play against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu. @stujames75 explains the remarkable story of Union Berlin and why The Athletic is joining them for their first Champions League adventure.