Borussia Dortmund fans burned his shirts and called him “Judas,” but now Mario Götze is back after three years with Bayern Munich. Back in April, when rumors of a potential return first surfaced, Dortmund fans held up banners that read “Milan or Madrid. Just not Dortmund. Piss off Götze!” during a match against Werder Bremen.
Author: Brooks Peck
Spain’s new coach fainted on television while covering the 2006 World Cup
Spain announced that Julen Lopetegui will replace Vicente Del Bosque as manager of the national team. Lopetegui isn’t the highest profile Spanish coach out there, but he led the nation’s U-19s to a European Championship in 2012 and the U-21s to a European Championship in 2013 before taking charge of Porto for two years.
This is an impressive rise for the former goalkeeper, who became something of a meme in Spain when he passed out on television 10 years ago while covering the 2006 World Cup. And if that’s what happens to him just when he’s talking about the World Cup, I hope the team’s physios are at his side come 2018.
Minnesota United goalkeeper throws ball into his own net for bizarre own goal
Minnesota United goalkeeper Sammy Ndjock took the term “friendly” a little too far as his side hosted Bournemouth by literally throwing the ball into his net for an own goal.
Sam Allardyce wasn’t super invested in his last match as Sunderland manager
Prior to Sunderland’s preseason friendly against Hartlepool United, it was widely reported that their manager, Sam Allardyce, was certain to fulfill his dream of becoming manager of the England national team. All eyes were on Allardyce when he took his seat on the bench, but once the match began, Big Sam’s eyes weren’t on the pitch for very long.
A brief conversation with Wayne Rooney at a Man United partner event
Rooney: Is this an energy drink?
Bayern went all out to welcome Pep Guardiola back to Munich
Carlo Ancelotti’s first match in charge of Bayern at the Allianz Arena was also Pep Guardiola’s first match back at the Allianz Arena since leaving Bayern, well, two months ago. And to welcome their former boss back, the club put up this glorious banner.
Inter’s Stevan Jovetic scores with backheel nutmeg to beat Real Salt Lake
With the score even at 1-1 late in Inter’s friendly against Real Salt Lake, Steven Jovetic unleashed a finishing move that even the creators of Mortal Kombat would deem too cruel.
Jovetic, a man who has now proven himself to have absolutely no chill, executed a backheel nutmeg on the goalkeeper to give Inter a 2-1 win.
Again, this was just a friendly, but Jovetic is now the owner of Real Salt Lake and all the players are legally obligated to call him “Daddy.”
St. Pauli’s new tunnel has a “biker bar in hell” vibe
St. Pauli — the pirate club of Germany’s second division — begin a new kit deal with Under Armour this season and as a part of the new partnership, the American company has redecorated the players’ tunnel to the field at Millerntor-Stadion.
Belgium posts open call for national team manager applications
Belgium sacked Marc Wilmots after only making it as far as the Euro 2016 quarterfinals with their supposed golden generation before losing to Wales. However, they are apparently so devoid of ideas for a replacement that they have posted a job listing on the Belgian FA’s website along with an open call for applications.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic probably didn’t say he’ll be the “god of Manchester” (yet)
It’s very easy to make up believable Zlatan Ibrahimovic quotes. The ghostwriter of his book did it. I do it. And media outlets desperate for pageviews are all too eager to do little or no investigation into their veracity.