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MW
LONG READS & OPINION

Marcus Wren

Marcus writes the longer pieces and the column. Twenty years of byline; the desk's last stop on a story that needs a steadier voice.

37 articles on file
FILED BY WREN
Arsenal and PSG meet in Budapest with contrasting paths to glory
FOOTBALL

Arsenal and PSG meet in Budapest with contrasting paths to glory

Two domestic champions, one European final — but the routes each side took to get there could not be more different.

28 May
Bonmati returns to Spain squad for England qualifier
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Bonmati returns to Spain squad for England qualifier

*The Barcelona midfielder is back from a broken leg for a fixture that could define Spain's World Cup qualification path.*

28 May
Premier League's European dominance driven by financial gulf
FOOTBALL

Premier League's European dominance driven by financial gulf

*Crystal Palace's Conference League win and Aston Villa's Europa triumph expose a widening financial chasm between English football and the

28 May
Steve Clarke signs four-year Scotland deal through to 2030
FOOTBALL

Steve Clarke signs four-year Scotland deal through to 2030

*The Scotland head coach has committed to another four years in charge, extending his tenure through two major tournaments.*

28 May
Coleman: Israel fixture burden should not fall on players
FOOTBALL

Coleman: Israel fixture burden should not fall on players

*Republic of Ireland's senior defender says footballers should not be answering questions that governing bodies failed to resolve.*

28 May
Crystal Palace are Conference League champions
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Crystal Palace are Conference League champions

A Jean-Philippe Mateta goal settled the final in Leipzig and delivered Palace's first European trophy.

28 May
Arsenal's six selection puzzles before the Budapest final
FOOTBALL

Arsenal's six selection puzzles before the Budapest final

With five places considered settled, Mikel Arteta faces genuine dilemmas across attack, midfield and defence for Saturday's Champions League

28 May
The Freshness Gap: Why PSG Arrive at Budapest in Better Shape
UEFA

The Freshness Gap: Why PSG Arrive at Budapest in Better Shape

A measurable difference in accumulated minutes could prove significant when Arsenal and PSG meet in Saturday's Champions League final.

28 May
Fernandez poised to leave Chelsea with £120m price tag set
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Fernandez poised to leave Chelsea with £120m price tag set

The Argentine midfielder is said to want a fresh challenge after Chelsea's difficult season ended without European football.

28 May
Arsenal face PSG in Budapest with history in their hands
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Arsenal face PSG in Budapest with history in their hands

Saturday's Champions League final against PSG offers Arsenal a chance to end three decades without a European trophy.

28 May
Nasri withdraws from Champions League final punditry role
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Nasri withdraws from Champions League final punditry role

The former Arsenal and Marseille midfielder will not appear on Canal+ for Saturday's Budapest final after abuse from PSG supporters.

28 May
Bosnia and Herzegovina: World Cup 2026 team guide
WORLD CUP 2026

Bosnia and Herzegovina: World Cup 2026 team guide

*Sergej Barbarez has taken a nation to only their second World Cup, built on improbable playoff victories, a generation of diaspora players,

28 May
Rangers move to secure Curtis amid busy summer rebuild
SCOTTISH PREM

Rangers move to secure Curtis amid busy summer rebuild

Ibrox's offer to teenage winger Findlay Curtis headlines a flurry of Scottish transfer activity as Rangers reshape their squad.

28 May
Arsenal face PSG in Budapest with history on the line
FOOTBALL

Arsenal face PSG in Budapest with history on the line

The Gunners carry Premier League title momentum into Saturday's Champions League final, though preparation time heavily favours the holders.

28 May
Crystal Palace win Conference League to complete historic year
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Crystal Palace win Conference League to complete historic year

Jean-Philippe Mateta's second-half goal settled a tight final in Leipzig as Oliver Glasner departed with a third trophy in twelve months.

27 May
Conference League final halted by crowd medical emergency
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Conference League final halted by crowd medical emergency

Crystal Palace's showpiece evening in Leipzig was interrupted in the first half after a medical emergency in the stands.

27 May
England's Florida warm-up faces 50,000 empty seats over price concerns
FOOTBALL

England's Florida warm-up faces 50,000 empty seats over price concerns

*Ticket sales for the Three Lions' pre-tournament fixture against New Zealand in Tampa have stalled badly, with tens of thousands of seats s

27 May
Arsenal face PSG in Budapest seeking first European crown
FOOTBALL

Arsenal face PSG in Budapest seeking first European crown

*Twenty years after the Stade de France, Arsenal stand one match from the Champions League title they have never won.*

27 May
Attorneys General open investigation into FIFA World Cup ticketing
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Attorneys General open investigation into FIFA World Cup ticketing

*New York and New Jersey have subpoenaed FIFA over pricing practices and alleged seat misrepresentation at the 2026 World Cup.*

27 May
O'Neill signs four-year extension as Northern Ireland manager
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O'Neill signs four-year extension as Northern Ireland manager

*Michael O'Neill has committed his future to Northern Ireland, turning down an approach from Blackburn Rovers to sign a new four-year deal.*

27 May
Barcelona and Bayern Munich pursue Newcastle's Anthony Gordon
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Barcelona and Bayern Munich pursue Newcastle's Anthony Gordon

The Newcastle United winger has attracted concrete interest from two of European football's biggest clubs, with an £80m valuation reported.

27 May
West Ham confirm Nuno will stay on after relegation
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West Ham confirm Nuno will stay on after relegation

*The club have backed their head coach to lead an immediate promotion push after Sunday's drop to the Championship.*

27 May
Arrests and expulsions in Leipzig ahead of Conference League final
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Arrests and expulsions in Leipzig ahead of Conference League final

*Disorder between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano supporters has prompted police intervention on the eve of Wednesday's final.*

27 May
Palace and Rayo meet in Leipzig for Conference League glory
FOOTBALL

Palace and Rayo meet in Leipzig for Conference League glory

*Crystal Palace face Rayo Vallecano in the UEFA Conference League final, with history on offer for both clubs and a farewell looming at Selh

27 May
Palace and Rayo Vallecano meet in Leipzig for Conference League final
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Palace and Rayo Vallecano meet in Leipzig for Conference League final

*Crystal Palace prepare for the biggest match in their history as they face Rayo Vallecano in Wednesday's Europa Conference League final in

27 May
Ndiaye stands firm on Senegal's claim to Afcon glory
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Ndiaye stands firm on Senegal's claim to Afcon glory

The Everton forward insists his country remain Africa's champions despite an ongoing legal dispute over the 2025 title.

22 May
Pep Guardiola to leave Manchester City after a decade
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Pep Guardiola to leave Manchester City after a decade

*The Spaniard will manage his final match at the Etihad on Sunday, with his successor already identified.*

22 May
Michael Carrick appointed Manchester United manager on two-year deal
FOOTBALL

Michael Carrick appointed Manchester United manager on two-year deal

*The former midfielder takes permanent charge after guiding the club to third place and Champions League qualification.*

22 May
Rhian Wilkinson commits to Wales until 2029
WELSH FOOTBALL

Rhian Wilkinson commits to Wales until 2029

*The Wales women's head coach has signed a two-year extension, securing her position through to the end of the decade.*

22 May
FA opens investigation into Southampton over spying scandal
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FA opens investigation into Southampton over spying scandal

*Southampton face Football Association scrutiny after the EFL expelled them from the Championship playoff final over a spying scandal involv

21 May
Emery claims record fifth Europa League title with Villa
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Emery claims record fifth Europa League title with Villa

*A 3-0 victory over Freiburg in Istanbul delivers Aston Villa their first trophy in 30 years and confirms their manager's unique mastery of

20 May
UEFA to end minnow mismatches with two-tier qualifying
UEFA

UEFA to end minnow mismatches with two-tier qualifying

*European qualifying for major tournaments is to be restructured, separating stronger nations from the smallest footballing states.*

20 May
Hearts write to SFA and SPFL over Celtic Park pitch invasion
SCOTTISH PREM

Hearts write to SFA and SPFL over Celtic Park pitch invasion

*Hearts have formally escalated their concerns about the handling of last Saturday's title decider after a pitch invasion cut the match shor

20 May
Villa's Istanbul date carries weight beyond the trophy itself
FOOTBALL

Villa's Istanbul date carries weight beyond the trophy itself

*Aston Villa face the Europa League final on Wednesday, with consequences for English football stretching well beyond Birmingham.*

20 May
McClaren takes head of football role at Rotherham
LEAGUE ONE

McClaren takes head of football role at Rotherham

The former England manager steps into a newly-created position at a club adjusting to life in League Two.

20 May
Arsenal crowned Premier League champions after 22-year wait
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Arsenal crowned Premier League champions after 22-year wait

*Mikel Arteta's side clinch the title as Manchester City drop points at Bournemouth, ending two decades of near-misses.*

20 May
Chelsea hold Spurs to leave relegation fight unresolved
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Chelsea hold Spurs to leave relegation fight unresolved

*A bad-tempered London derby ends 2-1, leaving Tottenham and West Ham both facing the drop on the final day.*

20 May