There is no easy way to sack a Premier League manager and Manchester United have found that out the hard way with their firing of Louis Van Gaal.

Jose Mourinho was closing in on becoming Manchester United’s new manager yesterday despite club great Eric Cantona saying incoming Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola would have been a better pick.

France’s World Cup winner Marcel Desailly is worried about security for Euro 2016 after the deadly attacks on Paris last November.

When England fans sang about “30 years of hurt” at Euro ’96 they had high hopes of ending the pain with a first trophy since the 1966 World Cup but 20 years on from that agonising near miss there is precious little optimism in the air.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has warned his team not to underestimate the attacking strength of city rivals Atletico Madrid ahead of the Champions League final.

Cristiano Ronaldo played down fears over his fitness ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League final against Atletico Madrid on Saturday after the three-time World Player of the Year limped off towards the end of training yesterday.

Reigning Asian Tour number one Anirban Lahiri of India earned his place at next month’s US Open, the year’s second Major, by virtue of being in the top-60 of the Official World Golf Ranking as of Monday.

Masters champion Danny Willett insists he will not risk the health of his family in pursuit of Olympic glory in Rio de Janeiro in August.

Honda-powered McLaren have not won a grand prix since 2012 while Mercedes, with triple champion Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, have been victorious 36 of 43 since the start of the V6 turbo hybrid era.

One winning streak ended with a bang for Nico Rosberg in Spain but Monaco’s tight, metal-fenced streets could see the continuation of another remarkable run for the Formula One championship leader on Sunday.

England head coach Eddie Jones has warned Australia to be prepared for an “enormous scrap” when the teams clash next month in a three-test series Down Under.

Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk moved closer to a history-making Giro d’Italia triumph yesterday after stretching his lead over Esteban Chaves and Vincenzo Nibali in a thrilling 16th stage won by Alejandro Valverde.