

Rory Smith
Posts

Neymar Is Still a Singular Star, but He Has More Help on Brazil
As Brazil begins its quest for a sixth World Cup, the team’s resources run deep — though Neymar still shoulders much of the load.

The World Cup Is a Feeling, One That Money Can’t Buy
The tournament is, at heart, a feeling, and FIFA and Qatar may be forgetting that no amount of spending is a substitute.

Welcome to Wrexham: It’s the Future
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds seem sincere about their investment, emotionally and financially, in a Welsh soccer team. But they are not mere observers in...

The Hollywood Merger That Could Reshape Soccer’s Transfer Market
As two behemoths join forces against boutique agencies in the fight for control and commissions, some fear profits could come before players.

At Ajax, the Future Is Always Now
Ajax sold the bulk of its Champions League-ready squad over the summer and never looked back. It can’t afford to.

In Premier League, Crisis Is a Constant
Change at Chelsea. A loss at Liverpool. Chaos is part and parcel of the Premier League story line. But it doesn’t have to be that...

Many Sports Events Are Canceled Out of Respect For the Queen
After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the British government left the decision over whether to postpone or cancel events up to individual sports organizations.

Chelsea Fires Thomas Tuchel
Six days after spending more in a single transfer window than any club in history, Chelsea fired its coach, Thomas Tuchel.

Real Madrid a Great Test for Celtic’s Champions League Model
Under its well-traveled Australian coach, the Scottish champion has become a gateway to Europe for Japanese players, and a model for clubs trying to punch...

Money to Burn: Lessons From the Premier League’s Transfer Window
English teams awash in cash broke records for players and prices this summer, proving again that they operate on a plane apart from their rivals.