Nwankwo Kanu: 'For years African players have been exploited...'

"Kanu is not only about Nigeria, Kanu is big across Africa" – Portsmouth midfielder John Utaka.

Ronaldo opens door to Real as he ponders United future

Cristiano Ronaldo yesterday sparked what is likely to be a summer of feverish speculation over his future when he left the door open to a potential move to Spain, and Real Madrid in particular.

Inside Football

Ballack shows ruthless streak in free-kick row

Michael Ballack has revealed his reasons for refusing to back down in his extraordinary on-field row with his team-mate Didier Drogba during last month's League meeting with Manchester United – and said that Chelsea still suffer from a lack of popular appeal because of "envy" over Roman Abramovich's wealth.

Nwankwo Kanu: 'For years African players have been exploited...'

Portsmouth's Nigerian centre-forward knows better than most how badly treated footballers from his continent have been. He tells Jason Burt why he is establishing a foundation to help them do something about it

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The Champions League prize competition
The Champions League is fast approaching its conclusion and to coincide with the build-up to the all-English final we're giving you the chance to win some great prizes courtesy of Carlton Books

Keep your dignity Sven - and let Thaksin have it
'He will do the soul of football a mighty favour if he cuts the pleasantries and lets Thaksin have both barrels before he finally walks away'

Premier League or proper football? It's no contest
Mark Steel: 'Soon a season will end with commentators shrieking: "What an extraordinary year – who could ever have predicted West Ham would end up eleventh instead of ninth"'

How was it for you?
How did your lot do: Who was the best player? The worst? And who do you fancy in the summer? A club-by-club guide to the 2007-08 Premier League season by those who know: the fans

James Lawton: Sports Writer of the Year
"Grant's brief opening of a window into some of his deepest feelings, in the end told us more about a source of his perspective than any possible attempt to wrong foot his most dismissive critics."

Champions League Competition

Was it the silky skills of Lionel Messi or the combative displays by Didier Drogba that caught your eye this season? Or Cristiano Ronaldo's string of goals? Or Rio Ferdinand's leadership of Manchester United? We've all got an opinion on who lit up the field this year - and your judgement could help you win our Champions League competition.

Cardiff captain lauds 'miracle man' Ridsdale

There are one or two Leeds fans who may well respond "which leg?" when they hear the plea of their former midfielder Stephen McPhail, but the Cardiff City captain is unashamed in asking for the football world "to give Peter Ridsdale a break" – starting this Saturday at Wembley.

Pompey's players' players relates to Cardiff

Before Portsmouth's last game of the season at the weekend a trestle table was carefully carried out, sagging under the weight of enough player of the year awards to fill even a pair of mantelpieces.

Tributes paid to a true football man

Among the many tributes paid to the Celtic coach, Tommy Burns, who died yesterday, aged 51, after a fight against skin cancer, the unlikeliest of them gave a measure of the esteem in which he was held across Scotland’s entire footballing family. Rangers scarves were among those laid at Parkhead in his honour, some by fans en route home from Wednesday’s Uefa Cup final defeat. As one fan said: “I’m Rangers through and through, but Tommy was a football man, and he’ll be missed".