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EDITOR PICKS

  • Watch: Carvajal's header delivers killer blow for Madrid in UCL final

  • An introduction to Top Soccer News on theScore ??

  • An introduction to Top Soccer News on theScore ??

  • Real Madrid beat Dortmund to win 15th European Cup

Soccer

Aubameyang keeps options open: Real Madrid not only club in the world

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang says he’ll “100 percent” stay at Borussia Dortmund beyond the current transfer window, but if his exit is engineered shortly after then, it wouldn’t necessarily be to Real Madrid – the outfit he’s dubbed his “dream club.”

“Yes, yes. That’s true but, you know, there is not only Real Madrid in this world,” he told football daily Bild, with translation from ESPN FC’s Stephan Uersfeld.

Aubameyang’s devastating pace and ferocious strike rate up top for Dortmund have unsurprisingly attracted a legion of admirers, with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain apparently eyeing the Gabon international, and, after four seasons at the Westfalenstadion, he could be open to offers.

“Nobody can foresee the future,” the 27-year-old said. “I love it at Dortmund, but I can’t say that I’ll stay for two more years, or five or 10. It’s possible that a club could reach an agreement with Dortmund in June and I’ll go.”

The 27-year-old has taken his goal-scoring form to the Africa Cup of Nations, scoring in each of Gabon’s group bouts on home soil so far, after already recording 16 strikes across 15 Bundesliga appearances this term.

Aubameyang responded to reports that Real Madrid’s manager, Zinedine Zidane, is seeking a different kind of player to him at the Santiago Bernabeu by supplementing his claims that he’s not clinging on hopes of moving to the Spanish capital.

“I don’t know if that’s true but, also, I am not interested in it,” he declared. “If Real want me, they will call me one day and, if not, no problem. I live my life and am optimistic about the future.”

He additionally played down any talk of him reuniting with his former Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and, to the delight of a BVB support that has seen its squad continually gutted by Bayern Munich in recent seasons, a shift to Bavaria is completely out of the question.

“I would never join Bayern,” he said. “That’s for sure. That would be too hard on the Dortmund fans. Whatever they’d offer me, I’d say no.”

NFL

New GM Chris Ballard's pedigree is exactly what Colts need

INDIANAPOLIS — New Colts general manager Chris Ballard arrives in Indianapolis with the type of knowledge in roster building that Colts owner Jim Irsay talked about last offseason.

Irsay, knowing the financial limitations the Colts were going to face after giving out new contracts to the likes of Andrew Luck, Dwayne Allen, Anthony Castonzo and T.Y. Hilton, said they were going to have to build their roster through the draft and develop those players.

Chris Ballard has been hired as the Colts’ new GM, replacing the fired Ryan Grigson. George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Ballard is coming from Kansas City where he was the team’s director of football operations and had success picking talented players.

Ballard, who worked his way up through the scouting ranks in the NFL, spent the past four years with the Kansas City Chiefs. And during that same span, all three of their first-round picks — offensive lineman Eric Fisher, linebacker Dee Ford and cornerback Marcus Peters — have played significant roles with the franchise. The Chiefs didn’t have a first-round pick in 2016. They also selected Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce in the third round of the 2013 draft and Pro Bowl return specialist Tyreek Hill in the fifth round of the 2016 draft.

Former Chicago director of college scouting Greg Gabriel worked with Ballard with the Bears and had high praise for the Colts’ new general manager.

When I came to Chicago in 2001, Chris Ballard was the first scout I hired. I’m so happy and proud that he is the Colts new GM. THE right guy

— Greg Gabriel (@greggabe) January 29, 2017

Within 3 years of hiring of Ballard I knew he was a future GM. “Got it” better than anyone I have ever been around. Unique talent

— Greg Gabriel (@greggabe) January 29, 2017

“I am extremely excited about Chris coming on as our general manager,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said through the team’s Twitter account. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and a ton of experience to the organization. I’m looking forward to rolling up our sleeves and going to work alongside of him.”

One of former Colts general manager Ryan Grigson’s biggest downfalls was his inability to draft well. His best draft was his first one in 2012 that featured Luck, Allan and Hilton. But things started to go downhill for him after that. The Colts didn’t have players from their 2013 draft on their active roster this past season.

Grigson traded away their 2014 first-round pick for running back Trent Richardson, who turned out to be a bust. Grigson skipped over the likes of defensive lineman Malcolm Brown and safety Landon Collins in 2015 to select receiver Phillip Dorsett, who hasn’t lived up to expectations so far. The Colts cut their third-round pick from 2015, cornerback D’Joun Smith, last season.

The Colts have to get younger on a defense that finished 30th in the NFL and had five starters who were 30 years old or older last season.

Ballard is a first-time general manager, but he has the knowledge of what it takes to build a roster. Now the Colts hope Ballard will do the same with theirs.

Soccer

Watch: Chapecoense scores emotional goal in 1st game since plane crash

As the whole world watches, Chapecoense continues to pick up the pieces and rebuild.

On Saturday, exactly 54 days after a plane crash killed most of Chapecoense’s squad, the Verdao played its first fixture since the tragedy, drawing Palmeiras 2-2 in a friendly at Arena Conda.

Of the 26 players named to Chapecoense’s squad, 22 were new faces, while the four others were footballers from last year’s squad who fortunately didn’t board LaMia Flight 2933. To fill the spots in the Verdao’s first team, footballers were brought in from other clubs and promoted from the youth team.

Before the friendly kicked off, the three players to survive the plane crash took the pitch and, in an emotional scene, lifted the Copa Sudamericana trophy. It was en route to the first leg of the final in Medellin, Colombia that the tragedy unfolded, and Atletico Nacional requested to CONMEBOL that Chapecoense be crowned champion of the tournament. South American football’s governing body obliged.

Neto is miraculously walking without crutches, Alan Ruschel required spine surgery, and Jackson Follman had part of his right leg amputated. The plane crash claimed the lives of 71 people, including 19 members of Chapecoense’s squad and 20 journalists joining the club for what was set to be the biggest match in its 43-year history.

Once the friendly got underway, Palmeiras, joined by a substantial number of travelling supporters, opened the scoring in the 11th minute. However, three minutes later, Chapecoense equalised, as Grolli scored the Verdao’s first goal since the plane crash, giving the club and its fans something to celebrate for the first time since Nov. 28.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLL DA CHAAAAAAAAAPEEEEEE!! GROLLI!!!!

— Chapecoense (@ChapecoenseReal) January 21, 2017

In the second half, it took Chapecoense all of 58 seconds to go ahead. Amaral, who coincidentally joined the Verdao on loan from Palmeiras, got his head to a cross and put another smile on the faces of supporters at Arena Conda.

Palmeiras produced an equaliser before the final whistle, but the most notable occurrence from the second half came in 71st minute, when the friendly was stopped so both teams and supporters could honour the 71 victims of the plane crash.

Chapecoense’s first competitive fixture is scheduled for Thursday, when the Verdao will take on Joinville in Santa Catarina, Brazil’s state championship.

NFL

Jets to hire Saints' Morton as OC, sources say

After a four-week search, the New York Jets are poised to hire Saints receivers coach John Morton as their new offensive coordinator, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Morton will replace Chan Gailey, who held the job for two years before announcing his retirement two days after the 2016 season ended.

Morton, 47, will be the Jets’ fifth coordinator in the past seven years, and the second under coach Todd Bowles. Morton and former Texans offensive coordinator George Godsey were the only known candidates.

Previously, Broncos running backs coach Eric Studesville interviewed for the job, but he decided to remain in Denver.

John Morton is credited with developing young Saints receivers Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead and Michael Thomas, who formed the most prolific receiving trio in the league with a combined 242 catches and 3,205 yards in 2016. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Bowles interviewed Morton before the Senior Bowl, where he met with Godsey. This was a difficult hire because of the circumstances. The Jets have no proven quarterback, only Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg, and Bowles could be entering a make-or-break season.

The Jets finished 26th in total offense and 30th in scoring this season.

Morton has no coordinator experience at the NFL level, but has spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach with the Raiders, 49ers and Saints.

His biggest coaching influences are Saints coach Sean Payton and Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who was the 49ers’ head coach while Morton worked as the receivers coach from 2011 to 2014.

Morton returned for a second stint with the Saints in 2015 and was credited with developing young receivers Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead and Michael Thomas.

Thomas, a second-round pick, finished with 92 catches, the second-most of any rookie receiver, behind only Anquan Boldin’s 101 in 2003 and just ahead of Odell Beckham Jr. (2014) and Eddie Royal (2008) with 91 each.

Thomas’ 1,137 yards ranked sixth among rookies in NFL history, and his nine touchdowns tied for 15th, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Thomas, Cooks and Snead formed the most prolific receiving trio in the league in 2016, combining for 242 catches and 3,205 yards.

Bowles still has two vacancies on his offensive staff, at quarterbacks and running backs coaches.

ESPN’s Mike Triplett contributed to this report.

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Soccer

  • Watch: Carvajal's header delivers killer blow for Madrid in UCL final

  • An introduction to Top Soccer News on theScore ??

  • An introduction to Top Soccer News on theScore ??

  • Real Madrid beat Dortmund to win 15th European Cup

  • Police arrest dozens of ticket-less fans at Wembley final

  • Dortmund boss Terzic lauds 'brilliant' Sancho after UCL defeat

  • Modric, Kroos among Madrid stars to make history with latest UCL triumph

  • Madrid's inevitability is a superpower no rival can match

  • Transfer window preview: 50 players who could move this summer

  • Vinicius Jr. named Champions League Player of the Season

“If you think about it, I've never held a job in my life. I went from being an NFL player to a coach to a broadcaster. I haven't worked a day in my life.”
-John Madden


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