Michael Theoklitos has described the past year as the best of his career after a nightmare stint at English club Norwich City last season.

Now playing for the Brisbane Roar in Australia s A-League, Theoklitos was the hero of a dramatic 4-2 grand final penalty shootout victory against the Central Coast Mariners on Sunday, making two saves to help the Roar clinch their first title.

It capped off a remarkable turnaround for the 2010-11 A-League Goalkeeper of the Year, who left hometown club the Melbourne Victory to join then-League One outfit Norwich last term.

Theoklitos debut for the East Anglian club was unforgettable for all the wrong reasons, as he conceded seven goals in a drubbing dished out by local rivals Colchester United on the opening day of the 2009-10…

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka took a swipe at his doubters as they celebrated promotion to the Premier League on Saturday.

A 1-1 home draw with Brighton and Hove Albion was enough to send Boro up behind champions Burnley, with Chris Hughton s side missing out on goal difference.

Karanka claims his detractors considered him crazy for targeting promotion when he took charge in November 2013, and could not hide his delight at ending Boro s seven-year exile from England s top flight.

I ve been coach for two-and-a-half years. I can t be more proud of this group of players, this crowd and this chairman. It s amazing, he told Sky Sports.

When I arrived here, some people said I was crazy when I said my aim was to take this club back to the Premier League. Tw…

West Brom have confirmed that out-of-contract pair Stephane Sessegnon and Victor Anichebe will leave the club.

Sessegnon and Anichebe were not offered new deals and depart The Hawthorns, although long-serving midfielder James Morrison is discussing a fresh contract.

After arriving in 2013, 31-year-old Sessegnon scored eight goals in 92 appearances.

Anichebe, who sent a farewell message to West Brom s supporters on Monday, was on the scoresheet nine times in 63 matches, while the 28-year-old managed just three Premier League starts this term.

The two lads worked really hard for me and were as good as gold, coach Tony Pulis said.

Everybody at the club wishes them all the best in their future careers.

Morrison, who has been at West Brom si…

Santiago Solari shared the credit for Real Madrid s record-breaking Club World Cup triumph with former head coach Zinedine Zidane.

Solari, the replacement for Zidane s short-lived successor Julen Lopetegui, led Madrid to their first title under his stewardship with a 4-1 win over Al Ain in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Victory means Madrid have won the tournament three years in a row and their fourth triumph in the competition moves them clear of rivals Barcelona as the Club World Cup s most successful team.

Solari, though, was quick to pile praise on Zidane, who surprisingly stood down in the wake of winning Madrid s third consecutive Champions League crown at the end of the 2017-18 season.

We are happy, these players deserve it, they have come here after a lo…

Germany head coach Joachim Low insists Brazil will be contenders for the 2018 World Cup in Russia despite the humiliation his team inflicted upon them in 2014.

Low s men are competing in the Confederations Cup in Russia, where they are set to defend their title as world champions next year.

Mario Gotze s extra-time strike sealed a 1-0 win over Argentina in the 2014 final, but the enduring image of the tournament in Brazil was their 7-1 evisceration of the hosts in the semi-final.

Brazil have subsequently dispensed with Luiz Felipe Scolari s successor Dunga, but became the first team to reach Russia 2018 thanks to a dominant performance in the ongoing CONMEBOL qualifiers.

Ahead of facing Cameroon in Sochi, Low said he expects Brazil s scars to have long si…

While no timetable was provided for Dembele s recovery, reports in the Spanish media suggest he could be sidelined for three to four months.

He took to social media on Tuesday to thank well-wishers and vowed to come back stronger from his latest injury lay-off.

Hi all, as you may have read or heard here and there, it is time for me to leave the France team, he posted on Instagram.

It s just a goodbye as they say! I will come back even stronger as I always have. The challenges make me grow.

The weeks we spent training and surpassing ourselves have united us like never before. This group is strong and I know it. We all know each other!

So I join you and become a supporter of Les Bleus!

We must follow through on what we have started and…

Leeds United are interested in signing Ryan Sessegnon from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window, according to . It has been reported that Leeds have made contact with Spurs about signing the 20-year-old, who can operate as a left-back or as a left-winger, and so have Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton.

Dutch giants Ajax and German club Hertha Berlin are also interested in the former Fulham youngster, according to the report, which has added that Scottish Premiership giants Celtic believe that they can convince the England Under-21 international to move to Celtic Park before the window closes this month.

Sessegnon joined Tottenham from Fulham in the summer of 2019 and was expected to be a success at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Howeve…

Napoli say they find it “astonishing” that Italy defender Francesco Acerbi was not sanctioned over allegations of racism against their player Juan Jesus.

Inter Milan’s Acerbi was implicated by his opponent in the closing stages of a 1-1 draw earlier this month, with Jesus briefly pausing the match to report the matter to the referee.

But Acerbi will face no further action after defender Jesus’ claims were dismissed by a Serie A sports judge due to a lack of evidence.

– I m with JJ

SSC Napoli statement:

— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli)

In a statement, Napoli said: “The principle of the greatest likelihood of an event, which exists in sports justice and which appears clear from the dynamics of the incident and the apol…

Manchester City have secured the long-term futures of key squad players Adam Johnson and Pablo Zabaleta.

Both have found themselves on the fringes of the starting line-up this season with just five Premier League starts between them, but manager Roberto Mancini is keen to maintain a strong squad with City competing in the Champions League this term.

Johnson joined City from Middlesbrough in January 2010, and has since gone on to win nine England caps, scoring two goals, and the 24-year-old believes he is in the right place to challenge for trophies and medals.

I wouldn t have signed if I didn t see a big future here, Johnson told the club s website.

This is such an exciting time to be at the club, things are moving so fast and there s been something ne…

Netherlands winger Dirk Kuyt said Louis van Gaal is destined for success, after leading the Dutch to the FIFA World Cup semi-finals.

Van Gaal s men were eliminated by Argentina 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out after normal and extra time had ended scoreless in Sao Paulo on Wednesday.

The 2010 finalists failed to match their effort from South Africa, as Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder had their spot kicks saved, sending the Argentines through to Sunday s final.

Kuyt said despite their failure, Van Gaal will take a winning culture to the Premier League as he prepares to join United for the 2014-15 season.

There was only one thing for this coach and he just wanted to win this cup. That is the type of coach he is, he just wants to win things, the Fenerbahce man said…