Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: May 24, 2026, 8:39 AM ET

Pep Guardiola's Exit Reshapes English Football

Pep Guardiola confirmed he is leaving Manchester City after nearly a decade at the club, sending shockwaves through the Premier League exits Man City after nearly a decade. Guardiola insisted he will not advise the club on his successor, telling reporters that City cannot simply "copy and paste" his approach into the next managerial appointment refuses to advise on successor. In a separate interview, he named his biggest regret at City as not giving former England keeper Joe Hart the opportunity to prove himself cites Hart regret as biggest mistake. The departure has raised immediate questions about who can sustain the dominance City built under Guardiola, and a Sky Sports report suggests the incoming manager will need to 'be himself'. Former club captain Álvaro Arbeloa has also confirmed he will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season confirms Real Madrid exit, adding another high-profile farewell to the European calendar.

Barcelona Triumph in Women's Champions League

Barcelona secured a fourth UWCL title with a dominant 4-0 victory over OL Lyonnes, erasing the sting of last year's final defeat. The win marks the club's most convincing European showing in years and sets up a matchup that mirrors their 2024 final faces Lyon again in rematch preview. Across the continent, North Korea's Naegohyang FC won the Asian Women's Champions League with a 1-0 victory over Tokyo Verdy Beleza, while Barcelona's men suffered a 3-1 LaLiga loss to Valencia, with Robert Lewandowski scoring in his farewell appearance scores in farewell as Barcelona lose. The result was not enough to secure European qualification for Barcelona, who have been relegated a year after Champions League run in what has been a tumultuous season for the Catalan giants.

Transfer Market Heats Up

Manchester United are targeting two midfielders this summer, with Atalanta's Éderson emerging as a prime candidate. Sky Sports reports the club is close to completing a Tonali deal, while BBC Sport gossip suggests AC Milan are ready to let Rafael Leao leave for a cut-price fee with United also interested cut-price Leao draws Man Utd interest. Meanwhile, Jarrod Bowen is another name linked with a move to Old Trafford. Manchester United's summer plans have taken shape under new sporting direction, with manager Erik ten Hag reportedly not planning a break after recent turnaround. Across Serie A, AC Milan unveiled their new home kit for 2026-27 with Christian Pulisic front and centre as the club gears up for a Champions League push. In Spain, Real Madrid are reportedly keeping tabs on Haaland, while Portuguese star João Félix beat Ronaldo to win Saudi best player award, signalling his arrival as a force in the league.

Promotion and Relegation Drama

Hull City returned to the Premier League after Wembley glory, with Oli McBurnie scoring the Championship play-off final winner that secured promotion. The achievement was so improbable that Hull owner Acun Ilicali threatens legal action if Middlesbrough are reinstated should they advance past the tie. Middlesbrough made unwanted history by missing three promotion chances in the same season, becoming the first club to do so. Notts County and Salford City will clash at Wembley in a battle of the ages in the League Two play-off final, a fixture that has drawn comparisons to Hull's own fairy-tale run. In the Women's Super League, Charlton Athletic secured promotion by defeating penalties, with goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse saving four penalties to earn the title of star of the show. Leicester City were relegated from the WSL after a five-year stay, raising questions about the club's women's football future.

Celtic Double and Managerial Futures

Martin O'Neill led Celtic to a domestic double with Scottish Cup glory, and all signs point to Daizen Maeda leaving the club this summer after signing off with a goal in the final. Celtic won comfortably in the Hampden sunshine, and O'Neill's future is now a talking point after his unexpected double raises questions about staying at Celtic. Meanwhile, Marco Silva weighs his Fulham future as the summer transfer window approaches, while John Rankin has been appointed Airdrieonians head coach with what he described as a blank canvas.

Player Awards and Squad News

Bruno Fernandes won Premier League Player of the Season, capping another outstanding campaign for United. Mohamed Salah leaves Liverpool as a legend after nine years, having arrived in 2017 to shake off his "Chelsea flop" tag. Andy Robertson's nine-year Liverpool tenure ends as a legend. In the Premier League race, Arsenal redefined themselves as the best defensive team ever to clinch the title, with William Saliba targets more glory as catalyst. The final round of fixtures looms, and FPL strategists pick low-ownership players for final-week impact. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged TNT to make the Champions League final free-to-air, calling for wider access to the Arsenal-Paris St-Germain showdown. The 2026 World Cup is approaching, with the Iranian team moving their training camp to Mexico and Mauricio Pochettino set to announce his 26-man USMNT squad on Tuesday.