Person: David Villa

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

rugby

Letter from Fukuoka: Take me out the ball game (and I don't mean rugby)

It is not just sumo that occupies the hearts and minds of Japanese sports fans, as this year’s Rugby World Cup is proving on a rapidly increasing basis.

soccer

A public row with the team doctor and four other famous Mourinho meltdowns

Not many managers can claim to have sent a referee into early retirement but Mourinho was accused of precisely that in one of his first European adventures with Chelsea.

sport

Spain beat Italy 3-0

Isco scored twice as Spain beat Italy 3-0 at the Bernabeu to move clear at the top of World Cup qualifying Group G.

soccer

David Villa gets first Spain call-up in three years

soccer

Five memorable Champions League knockout-stage combacks

soccer

Is Martin O’Neill about to ask Tommy McNamara to choose sides?

Luis Suarez puts spirit in Barcelona's holy trinity

Real Madrid galactico Cristiano Ronaldo did not enjoy being asked last week if the clear friendship shared by Barcelona’s three big name attackers was key to their superb recent performances.

Mon, 22 Feb, 2016

Four romantic underdog title wins to inspire Leicester

Unfancied Leicester are five points clear at the top of the Premier League with 13 games left. Here are four more underdogs who upset the odds to secure league titles.

Mon, 08 Feb, 2016

Robbie Keane still shooting the lights out for LA Galaxy

It was near midnight on Sunday when Robbie Keane went silently into the record books.

Tue, 01 Dec, 2015

Corkman Alan Kelly 'honoured' to be named top soccer referee in America

Widely recognised as the best referee in Ireland for a number of years, Corkman Alan Kelly is now officially the top of his game in the USA.

Tue, 24 Nov, 2015

Midfield will be key battleground for Ireland against Bosnia

Stop Edin Dzeko and you stop Bosnia. That’s the theory anyway, but like a lot of football theories, it is, at best, only part of the story.

Tue, 10 Nov, 2015

Sean St Ledger: ‘I won’t ever close that door. It means too much’

Sean St Ledger still hasn’t given up hope of an international recall...

Wed, 07 Oct, 2015

Keane helps Galaxy to away win; Lampard suffers defeat on MLS debut

The LA Galaxy, in third in the MLS table, saw off bottom side Colorado Rapids with a 3-1 comeback win after Marcelo Sarvas had given the hosts the lead.

Sun, 02 Aug, 2015

Gerrard and Lampard set for MLS bow

Former England midfield duo Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard admitted they were raring to get their Major League Soccer debuts under their belts for the Los Angeles Galaxy and the New York City FC respectively this month.

Wed, 08 Jul, 2015

Andrea Pirlo relishing task ahead after move to MLS side New York City FC

Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo is relishing the challenge ahead after leaving Juventus for MLS side New York City FC.

Tue, 07 Jul, 2015

Keane steals show as Gerrard unveiled to Galaxy fans

On the day the LA Galaxy introduced new signing Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane stole the show with a hat-trick in a 4-0 MLS win over Toronto FC.

Mon, 06 Jul, 2015

New York’s newest noisy neighbours

The great players enjoy more space and more time than the mere mortals and that goal summed up what Villa can expect this year in this league.

Wed, 18 Mar, 2015

Lampard deal angers New York fans

Manchester City's deal to keep Frank Lampard until the end of the season has been condemned by supporters of New York City FC, their sister club in Major League Soccer who must now wait until mid-season to see their marquee signing.

Thu, 01 Jan, 2015

Premier League transfer window club-by-club: What they need and who they are looking for

The Premier League transfer window opens on Saturday morning and closes at 11pm on February 2.

Wed, 31 Dec, 2014

Cosmos thinking big as Raul looks the real deal

Tomorrow is Pele’s birthday — or maybe it was yesterday. Depends on where you fact check.

Wed, 22 Oct, 2014

La Roja holding out for a hero

Spain’s bid to return to the peak of international football begins in La Roja’s first Euro 2016 qualifier at home to Macedonia tonight.

Mon, 08 Sep, 2014

Lampard heading to City

Frank Lampard will join up with Manchester City next week as he begins a loan spell with the Premier League champions.

Sun, 03 Aug, 2014

Atletico keen on Hernandez

Javier Hernandez is unsure whether he will remain at Manchester United next year, but Atletico Madrid are willing to offer the Mexican an escape route from Old Trafford should he decide to leave.

Thu, 31 Jul, 2014

Everton keen to get Lukaku back

Striker Romelu Lukaku could be on his way back to Everton as he looks for a way out of Chelsea.

Fri, 25 Jul, 2014

Lampard signs for New York City

Frank Lampard has signed for New York City FC, the Major League Soccer franchise have announced.

Thu, 24 Jul, 2014

Mandzukic bound for Atletico

Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic is on the verge of joining Atletico Madrid from Bayern Munich, the German club have announced.

Wed, 09 Jul, 2014

Suarez pursuit might come back to bite Barca

The process of making Luis Suarez a Barcelona player has been managed very cleverly, but fitting another high-profile attacker into the blaugrana team could well prove much more difficult.

Fri, 04 Jul, 2014

Reality bites hard for La Roja

Spain’s previously all-conquering players have not reacted well to their shock early exit from this summer’s World Cup.

Wed, 25 Jun, 2014

Spain arrive home to little fanfare

Spain arrived in Madrid on Tuesday and unlike four years ago, after a triumphant World Cup in South Africa, there were few fans waiting for them at the Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas airport.

Tue, 24 Jun, 2014

Villa shows pain of leaving Spain career behind him

Record-breaking Spain striker David Villa stopped short of admitting his international career is now definitely over but conceded it would be difficult for him to play for his country again as he looks ahead to a new challenge in America.

Tue, 24 Jun, 2014

Del Bosque coy on future as Villa’s parting shot turns sour

Spain manager Vicente del Bosque will make a decision on his future in the next week but revealed when he substituted goalscorer David Villa in the 3-0 win over Australia, he was unaware it was his last international.

Tue, 24 Jun, 2014

Villa shows class one last time

AUSTRALIA 0 SPAIN 3

Mon, 23 Jun, 2014

La Roja must turn to next generation

Spain must trust in their philosophy but trust their youth to enact it

Fri, 20 Jun, 2014

Duff heads off Down Under

Damien Duff pictured has agreed a one-year deal to join Melbourne City on a free transfer.

Wed, 11 Jun, 2014

Villa agrees loan move to Melbourne City

A-League side Melbourne Heart have been renamed Melbourne City FC and will take Spain striker David Villa on loan from sister club New York City FC for a short spell later this year.

Thu, 05 Jun, 2014

Villa to retire from international scene after World Cup

Spain striker David Villa has announced he plans to retire from international football after the World Cup.

Wed, 04 Jun, 2014

Building new team around Villa puts New York on map

That’s what you call a statement of intent; New York City FC signing striker David Villa on Monday was an impactful moment.

Wed, 04 Jun, 2014

Lampard looking to bow out in style

Frank Lampard may not know where his club future lies but he accepts this summer’s World Cup is likely to bring the curtain down on his England career.

Wed, 04 Jun, 2014

Spain take gamble on Costa fitness; City duo out

Diego Costa and Fernando Torres have been included in Spain’s final squad for the World Cup, but Manchester City pair Alvaro Negredo and Jesus Navas were left out.

Sat, 31 May, 2014

Rising star Simeone leaves Tata in his wake

One thing was for sure going into Saturday’s all or nothing La Liga clash between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou. The fifth Argentinian coach in history was going to win the trophy.

Mon, 19 May, 2014

Atletico claim first La Liga title since 1996

Barcelona 1 Atletico Madrid 1

Sat, 17 May, 2014

It’s up for grabs at Camp Nou

LA LIGA

Sat, 17 May, 2014

Torres in, Soldado out for Spain

Uncapped duo Ander Iturraspe and Daniel Carvajal have both included in Spain’s 30-man provisional World Cup squad, along with Fernando Torres, but Real Madrid pair Alvaro Arbeloa and Isco have been omitted.

Tue, 13 May, 2014

Rivals face final-day shootout

Someone will finally have to claim this season’s La Liga trophy next Saturday when Atletico Madrid travel to Barcelona’s Camp Nou.

Mon, 12 May, 2014

Brave Atletico dump Barcelona out of the Champions League

Atletico Madrid 1 Barcelona 0 (Atletico Madrid win 2-1 on aggregate)

Wed, 09 Apr, 2014

Neymar strikes late for Barca to deny Atletico

Barcelona 1 Atletico Munich 1

Wed, 02 Apr, 2014

Mata and Torres absent from Spain squad

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has been left out of Spain’s squad for next Wednesday’s friendly against Italy.

Fri, 28 Feb, 2014

Minnows ‘Rock’ have mountain to climb

Sunday’s Euro 2016 qualifying draw may have been the first time most football fans in Ireland realised Gibraltar had an international team which actually played in qualifiers.

Mon, 24 Feb, 2014

Atletico threaten Big Two’s reign in Spain

Something most unusual is happening in Spain. There are signs that La Liga could turn into a genuine competition.

Tue, 11 Feb, 2014

Cerci stalls Roma’s stunning league start

European round-up

Mon, 04 Nov, 2013

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