David Beckham says he will retire from professional football at the end of the season. The 38-year-old Beckham, who recently won a league title in a fourth country with Paris Saint-Germain, has become a global superstar since starting his career at Manchester United. Beckham says "I'm thankful to PSG for giving me the opportunity to continue but I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level." Beckham also played for Real Madrid and the Los Angeles Galaxy, winning titles with both those clubs as well as with United. On the international stage, Beckham holds the England record for making 115 appearances as an outfield player for the national team. More»

Ferguson, 71, will step down from the club at the end of the season, following the match against West Bromwich Albion, and will become a Manchester United director and ambassador. Announcing his decision to retire, Sir Alex said: "The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about and one that I have not taken lightly. It is the right time. "It was important to me to leave an organization in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so. The quality of this league winning squad, and the balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest level whilst the structure of the youth set-up will ensure that the long-term future of the club remains a bright one. "Our training facilities are amongst the finest in global sport and our home Old Trafford is rightfully regarded as one of the leading venues in the world. "Going forward, I am delighted to take on the roles of both director and ambassador for the club. With these activities, along with my many other interests, I am looking forward to the future. More»

Lionel Messi netted two goals within 15 minutes of coming on as a substitute to give Barcelona a 4-2 comeback win over Real Betis on Sunday and push his team to the brink of the Spanish league title. After his teammates had rallied back twice to level at 2-2, Messi went on in the 56th and four minutes later curled in a free kick to extend his record scoring streak to 21 straight league appearances. The Argentina forward struck again in the 71st by polishing off a superb passing combination with Andres Iniesta and fellow goalscorer Alexis Sanchez to reach the 60-goal mark in all competitions for the second straight season. Barcelona leads by 11 points with four rounds to go and would clinch its 22nd domestic crown if defending champion Real Madrid drops points against Malaga on Wednesday. More»

Ahly coach Hossam El-Badry has blamed fatigue for the team's dull display in Thursday's 1-0 Egyptian Premier League victory over Wadi Degla. The Red Devils needed a glancing header from forward El-Sayed Hamdi on the stroke of halftime to claim all three points after a mediocre display behind closed doors. "We were affected by a state of fatigue. I hoped we would have some rest following the Bizertin trip," El-Badry said after the game, referring to Ahly's goalless draw with the Tunisian side in the first leg of the African Champions League round of 16 on Sunday. "I preferred to rest some players such as (left back) Ahmed Shedid and (central defender) Mohamed Naguib in an attempt to overcome this problem," he added. Ahly, who recovered from a slow start to the season, are on top of Group A in the league's new format with 21 points, two ahead of second-placed ENPPI who played a game more. The Cairo giants, Egypt and Africa's most successful club of all time, are eyeing an eighth successive league title. More»

English football legend Gary Lineker lamented the poor showing by Spanish giants and four-time European Champions Barcelona after their humiliating 4-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday. "It seems that it's Barcelona who need [Pep] Guardiola, not Bayern Munich. Bayern are doing very well," the former Barcelona and Tottenham midfielder told Al Jazeera's sports channel after the game. The Catalans presented one of their poorest-ever displays in Munich, where they were totally outclassed by Bayern Munich who have put a foot in the Wembley final. Bayern announced earlier this year that former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola would succeed current boss Jupp Heynckes, who is set to retire at the end of the season. Guardiola has been on vacation since last summer after spending four successful years with the Catalans, leading them to 14 titles including two Champions League trophies in 2009 and 2011. More»

Cesc Fabregas scored late to give Barcelona a hard-fought 1-0 win over Levante, while Real Madrid beat Real Betis 3-1 on Saturday as both Spanish powerhouses prepared for the Champions League semifinals. With top-scorer Lionel Messi out trying to heal his right hamstring in time for Tuesday's first leg at Bayern Munich, Barcelona's attack lacked the pace and creativity to break through Levante's disciplined defense until Fabregas struck six minutes from time. The victory kept Barcelona well on pace to reclaim the Spanish league title with a 13-point lead and six rounds to play. "It was important to win this game, even though some people want to think that the league is no longer interesting,'' Fabregas told Spanish sports daily AS. "We know how much we have worked to win it, and we are going to keep fighting until the end.'' More»

Ahly coach Hossam El-Badry has ruled out the possibility of leaving the Red Devils, saying that reports suggesting as much are "completely false." El-Badry met with Ahly's board on Sunday and said he would take two weeks off after Ahly's African encounter against Kenyan side Tusker, set to be played this weekend in Alexandria. "All reports which suggested that I would leave the club are completely false," the coach told the club's official website on Sunday. "There is no problem with the club's board and I am really happy at the club." "I will take two weeks of holiday for personal reasons," he added. Meanwhile Ahly's football director Hady Khashaba confirmed on Sunday that the club's management accepted El-Badry's request to take two weeks holiday, adding that assistant coach Mohamed Youssef will take charge during this period, which includes Ahly's clash against Ghazl El-Mahalla in the Egyptian league. More»

Youngster Mohamed Ibrahim scored a superb goal and laid on another in a two-minute second-half spell to help Zamalek to a 2-0 victory over challengers Ismaily that extended their flying Egyptian Premier League start to eight consecutive wins. The 21-year-old, who played in Egypt's 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe in a World Cup qualifier earlier this week, set up Ahmed Gaafar for Zamalek's opener two minutes past the hour mark before finding the net himself with a piledriver two minutes later. Ibrahim took his league tally to three goals, one behind leading scorer Bassem Morsi of Petrojet. Group B runaway leaders Zamalek have maximum 24 points from eight matches, six clear of second-placed Ismaily who had to do without several key players, including midfielder Amr El-Sulaya, due to injuries. More»

Egyptian Premier League games will continue as scheduled despite Saturday’s riots that saw angry protesters torch two buildings, including the Egyptian Football Association headquarters, the EFA announced. Stuttering Ahly will face Group A leaders ENPPI on Sunday evening, just one day after a verdict in the Port Said trial sparked riots in Cairo. Ahly’s hardcore supporters vented their anger at the acquittals of seven security officials by setting the EFA premises and a police social club on fire, prompting the EFA board of directors to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the possibility of halting domestic football activity. However, they eventually decided to stick to the league schedule, citing “huge losses” Egyptian football will suffer if the premier domestic competition is delayed or cancelled. Ahly will be looking to make up for a stunning 3-0 defeat by Harras El-Hodoud when they face an in-form ENPPI side who top Group A with 12 points, three ahead of Sunday’s opponents who have a game in hand. More»

NPPI reached the top of Group A in the Egyptian league on Wednesday following to a 4-0 win over Haras El-Hodood in Cairo. Forward Ahmed Omran opened the scoring for the hosts two minutes before the break, before Ivorian striker Vincent De Foneye doubled the lead for the petroleum side in the 53rd minute of the game. Defender Ossama Ragab converted a penalty in the 67th minute, while defensive midfielder Mohamed Shaaban scored the fourth in the 76th minute. It was a heavy defeat for the military team who thrashed Cairo giants Ahly 3-0 a week ago. ENPPI will have a tough mission next Sunday when they will meet Ahly on the seventh match day. ENPPI now lead Group A with 12 points, three points ahead of Haras El-Hodood and Ahly who both have 9 points. More»