Barcelona president Joan Laporta said today he was still hopeful that Beckham will become a Barcelona player and stated the England captain would take on a big leadership role at the club if he joined.

Manchester City defender Richard Dunne looks set to win a recall for tomorrow’s Maine Road encounter with Barclaycard Premiership leaders Arsenal.

Michael Owen’s 10th goal of the season gave Barclaycard Premiership leaders Liverpool the advantage after the first 45 minutes against West Ham at Anfield today.

Three girls braved the cold and wet conditions to be the first in the queue to meet soccer hero Roy Keane at Eason’s Cork today.

Midfielder Rory Delap could return to the Southampton side for Wednesday’s Worthington Cup third round tie at Liverpool.

Robbie Keane is hoping Teddy Sheringham will help him continue to mature into one of the world’s top strikers.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has leapt to the defence of England skipper David Beckham following criticism of his two-footed lunge on Slovakia defender Martin Petras during Saturday’s European Championship qualifier in Bratislava.

Roy Keane has been booked in the 93rd minute for a foul on Guti.

Gary Neville has been replaced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with just five minutes to play against Real Madrid.

Paul Scholes will miss the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final clash after he was booked tonight.

Alex Ferguson says everyone should follow Roy Keane's example - and give the Republic of Ireland space to concentrate on their World Cup campaign.

David Beckham revived England’s World Cup hopes when he scored a 43rd-minute penalty for a half-time lead in the Group F match with Argentina.

David Beckham revived England’s World Cup hopes when he scored a 43rd-minute penalty for a half-time lead in the Group F match with Argentina.

Scotland is welcoming a host of VIPs to Glasgow for tonight’s European Champions League final at Hampden Park.

Football legend George Best is to speak publicly for the first time since his life-saving liver transplant in an interview with the BBC reported to be worth £40,000 (€63,560), it emerged today.

Venables made a double substitution at the break with Eirik Bakke on for Nick Barmby, forced out with a back problem, while Lucas Radebe replaced Dominic Matteo at the back due to a recurrence of the Leeds captain's knee injury.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has ended any possibility of Javier Sanchez Broto returning to Parkhead.

Celtic face an anxious wait this morning to find out how serious Stanislav Varga’s injury is after he was stretchered off during last night’s friendly against Fulham.

Roy Keane has attacked Ronaldinho's decision to snub a big-money move to Old Trafford this summer.