STARS IN EUROPE - IVORY COAST - YAYA TOURE

Coach Pellegrini pleased by Yaya Toure's form

23 Nov 2014
2014 AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR - SHORTLIST REVEALED

The five-man shortlist for the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2014 has been revealed.

13 Nov 2014
2014 African Footballer of the Year - BBC list to be named

On the morning of 10 November, the BBC will unveil the five names in the running for the 2014 prize. The public will then be able to vote online via the BBC Sport pages and via text.

9 Nov 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - Brazil - win World Cup for injured star Neymar - Thiago Silva

Brazil captain Thiago Silva called on his team-mates to win the World Cup for injured star Neymar after the forward was ruled out of the tournament.

The 22-year-old scored four goals in five matches before breaking a vertebra in his spine during the quarter-final win against Colombia.

5 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - ARGENTINA - KEY PLAYER - ‪LIONEL MESSI - PROFILE

Lionel Andrés Messi; born 24 June 1987, is an Argentine footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team. He serves as the captain of his country's national football team.

By the age of 21, Messi had received Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations. The following year, in 2009, he won his first Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards. 

1 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - USA - KEY PLAYER - ‪JERMAINE JONES - PROFILE

Jermaine Junior Jones, born 3 November 1981, is a German-American footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Turkish club Beşiktaş. He has previously played for Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen, Blackburn Rovers and Schalke 04. He was born in Germany and represented them at U21 and senior level.

1 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - GERMANY - KEY PLAYER - THOMAS MUELLER‬ - PROFILE

Müller's role can be described as an attacking all-rounder, a player able to play in a variety of forward positions. He can play in any of the attacking midfield roles but usually plays in the center for Bayern Munich, and on the right for Germany.

He has been used as an out-and-out striker on occasion. Müller has been praised for his maturity, pace, technique, awareness and positioning.

30 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - FRANCE - KEY PLAYER - ‪KARIM BENZEMA - PROFILE

He has been named French Player of the Year twice for his performances in 2011 and 2012. Benzema is a former French youth international and has represented his nation from under-17 level onwards. 

Benzema has earned over 65 caps and represented France at three major international tournaments; the 2008 and 2012 editions of the UEFA European Football Championship and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

30 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - MEXICO - KEY PLAYER - ‪Giovani dos Santos‬ - PROFILE

Giovani dos Santos‬ was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Giovani joined FC Barcelona's academy of La Masia at the age of eleven and played for Barcelona's Juvenil A category where he helped his team to make a comeback in the league and win the regional title. 

This title allowed them to participate in the Youth Copa del Rey, where they faced other regional champions, among them their historic arch-rivals, Real Madrid. 

29 Jun 2014

STARS IN EUROPE - IVORY COAST - JOSE MOURINHO SAYS CHELSEA WILL RETAIN DROGBA

DIDIER DROGBA CHELSEA

Striker Didier Drogba will have a role to play at Chelsea when he quits playing, says Blues boss Jose Mourinho.

The 36-year-old Drogba, in his second spell at the club, scored as Chelsea beat Tottenham 3:0 on Wednesday.

"The important thing is he is here and will finish his career with Chelsea," said Mourinho, whose team top the Premier League by six points.

Mourinho added: "It looks, for me, that he's going to stay doing other things when he finishes his career."

Drogba won 10 trophies in his first spell at Chelsea between 2004 and 2012, and scored 157 goals in 341 games. 

He rejoined the club at the start of the season after leaving Turkish side Galatasaray.

Since returning to Stamford Bridge, the Ivorian has netted five times and set up Eden Hazard's opener against Spurs.

The league leaders are now unbeaten in 23 games in all competitions, equalling a club record.

"It's remarkable," said Mourinho, when asked about Drogba's displays. 

"First of all, he's a team player. 

He's not selfish, not vain. 

He's a humble guy who plays for the team, fights for the team. 

He's fantastic.

"I was expecting exactly this.

I played against him at Real Madrid and I could feel the kind of potential he still has."

Mourinho also confirmed Gary Cahill suffered no lasting damage after the defender was substituted at half-time against Tottenham following an earlier clash of heads with Jan Vertonghen.

"No concussion, no need for special care," Mourinho said.

"He was just feeling maybe afraid of heading the ball."

5 Dec 2014
(BBC Sport UK)

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