France forward Olivier Giroud will join American Major League Soccer (MLS) side Los Angeles FC in the close season, after three years at AC Milan. Giroud, 37, has signed on for LAFC until 2025, with an option to extend it through to 2026, the MLS club said.
The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker helped Milan win the Serie A title in his first season at the club, scoring 11 league goals. He has 131 caps for France, scoring 57 goals and was part of their World Cup winning squad in 2018.
“His championship ambition and his qualities as a man and as a player directly align with ours as a club,” Los Angeles co-president and general manager John Thorrington said in a statement. Giroud has made 33 appearances for second-placed Milan this season and scored 14 goals. Milan visit Torino on Saturday and finish the campaign hosting Salernitana on May 26.
Marsch named as new Canada coach
Former Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch was named as Canada’s new head coach on Monday as the team prepares for next month’s Copa America in the United States. The 50-year-old American has been without a job since being fired by Leeds in February last year with the club struggling near the foot of the English Premier League.
Marsch had been touted as a possible United States head coach last year with World Cup coach Gregg Berhalter’s status in limbo. Berhalter was eventually re-appointed to the role, while Marsch would go on to be linked with other jobs including the vacant South Korea coaching position.
However Marsch, who also coached New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig earlier in his career, will now aim to build on the steady improvement shown by Canada under predecessor John Herdman. Herdman, who led Canada to the 2022 World Cup, departed last year to take over as coach of Toronto FC.
Canada Soccer said in a statement on Monday that Marsch would now take the helm immediately on a contract that runs through to the end of the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Marsch’s first games in charge will be friendlies against the Netherlands on June 6 and France on June 9.
Barcelona reclaim second spot with 2-0 win over Real Sociedad
Barcelona reclaimed second place in LaLiga with a 2-0 home win over Real Sociedad on Monday courtesy of a Lamine Yamal first-half strike and a late Raphinha penalty.
Xavi Hernandez’s side leapfrogged Girona to move on to 76 points, one clear of their Catalan rivals who dropped points in Friday’s 2-2 draw at Alaves. Real Madrid have already secured the league title, sitting on 90 points with three games left.
Yamal put Barcelona ahead in the 40th minute when he coolly slotted home from Ilkay Gundogan’s pass after a quick breakaway for his fifth LaLiga goal this season. Raphinha’s penalty in stoppage time sealed victory for the hosts after a VAR review for handball, leaving the Basque side in seventh place with 54 points, one behind Real Betis in the last Europa League spot.
Emirates Stadium to become home for Arsenal’s women
Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium will become the main home for the women’s team from next season as a result of an “extraordinary” explosion of interest, the club said. Arsenal announced plans for 11 games to be played at the ground in the 2024/25 campaign – eight Women’s Super League (WSL) and three Champions League games, if qualification for the group stages is secured.
Home legs in any Champions League knockout ties would also be staged at the Emirates. Remaining fixtures, including all domestic cup matches, will take place at Arsenal’s Meadow Park ground, in London’s commuter belt. Six WSL games played at the Emirates this season were watched by an average crowd of just over 52,000, which included two sell-outs and three WSL attendance records.
Olivier Giroud
