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Thomas Müller Jokes he's Missing Manuel Neuer as Vancouver Adventure Begins

New Vancouver Whitecaps player Thomas Müller walks with members of the Musqueam First Nation as they drum and sing to welcome him, after arriving from Germany at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia, on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
New Vancouver Whitecaps player Thomas Müller walks with members of the Musqueam First Nation as they drum and sing to welcome him, after arriving from Germany at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia, on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Thomas Müller Jokes he's Missing Manuel Neuer as Vancouver Adventure Begins

New Vancouver Whitecaps player Thomas Müller walks with members of the Musqueam First Nation as they drum and sing to welcome him, after arriving from Germany at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia, on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
New Vancouver Whitecaps player Thomas Müller walks with members of the Musqueam First Nation as they drum and sing to welcome him, after arriving from Germany at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia, on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Thomas Müller has a lot to adapt to with the Vancouver Whitecaps after 25 years at Bayern Munich.

First up, flying without an old friend.

Aboard the plane taking him to Canada and Major League Soccer, Müller joked it was the first time in 15 years he'd flown without Manuel Neuer, the goalkeeper who's been his longtime teammate for Bayern and the German national team.

“I’m on my flight to Vancouver. I’m looking for the GOAT. Can you help me? I cannot find him anywhere,” Müller said in a video on Instagram, according to The Associated Press.

“It’s my first flight without Manuel Neuer since maybe 15 years, I don’t know. I’m very excited to come to Vancouver to play for the Whitecaps. Fingers crossed for my first games. See you there.”

The 35-year-old forward admitted to feeling “a little bit nervous” in comments to German broadcaster Sky Sport. “It’s the first time in a very long time that I’m joining a new team.”

Müller joined Bayern's academy as a 10-year-old in 2000 and had spent his entire career with the German champion, winning a record 13 Bundesliga titles, two Champions Leagues and the World Cup with Germany in 2014.

At Vancouver International Airport, fans cheered as waved flags as Müller walked through sliding doors after clearing customs. He then joined fans at an airport restaurant to watch the Whitecaps face Canadian Premier League club Forge FC in the first leg of the Canadian Championship semifinals.

Müller's last game for Bayern was a quarterfinal loss to Paris Saint-Germain at the Club World Cup in Atlanta, after a months-long farewell from the club. Bayern announced in April it wouldn't be extending his contract. Müller said he understood “even if this did not reflect my personal wishes.”

The following weeks saw emotional scenes with teammates, club officials and fans as Müller hit personal milestones — passing his 500th Bundesliga game and 750th game in total for Bayern — and wrapped up yet another German title.

Vancouver said last week Müller will join the Whitecaps for the remainder of the season in an open roster spot, with a Designated Player option for 2026.

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Sports

Amorim Sacked by Man Utd after 14-Month Reign

Football - Premier League - Leeds United v Manchester United - Elland Road, Leeds, Britain - January 4, 2026 Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim reacts. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Leeds United v Manchester United - Elland Road, Leeds, Britain - January 4, 2026 Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim reacts. (Reuters)
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Amorim Sacked by Man Utd after 14-Month Reign

Football - Premier League - Leeds United v Manchester United - Elland Road, Leeds, Britain - January 4, 2026 Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim reacts. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Leeds United v Manchester United - Elland Road, Leeds, Britain - January 4, 2026 Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim reacts. (Reuters)

Ruben Amorim has been sacked as Manchester United manager 14 months after arriving at Old Trafford, the club announced on Monday.

United said in a statement that the Portuguese had left his role, with the club's leadership having "reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change".

The club added: "This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish.

"The club would like to thank Ruben for his contribution to the club and wishes him well for the future."

Current Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher will take charge of the team against Burnley on Wednesday.

United are currently sixth in the Premier League table after a 1-1 draw at Leeds on Sunday.

After that game, an irate Amorim stressed he was United's manager rather than just the coach during an eye-catching press conference in which he told the scouting department and director of football, Jason Wilcox, "to do their job".

The 40-year-old had alluded to frustration behind the scenes in the build-up to the match as the United boss refused to clarify his recent comments about the club's transfer plans.

He had looked downbeat when he sidestepped those questions but was more forthcoming when asked on Sunday if he still felt he had confidence from the board.

"Guys, to start with that -- and I noticed that you receive selective information about everything -- I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United," Amorim said. "And that is clear.

"I know that my name is not (Thomas) Tuchel, it's not (Antonio) Conte, it's not (Jose) Mourinho but I'm the manager of Manchester United.

"And it's going to be like this for 18 months or when the board decides to change, so that was my point.

"I want to finish with that. I'm not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy is coming here to replace me."

Amorim was appointed in November 2024 and led the team to the Europa League final in Bilbao in May, losing to Tottenham Hotspur, but they finished 15th in the Premier League last season.

His 14-month stint is the shortest reign of a permanent manager at United since David Moyes was sacked just eight months into his tenure in 2014.

United, 20-time English champions, have not won the Premier League since 2013, in Alex Ferguson's final season in charge.

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Bayern's Lennart Karl Calls Real Madrid his 'Dream Club'

Bayern's Lennart Karl, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Sporting CP in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Bayern's Lennart Karl, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Sporting CP in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
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Bayern's Lennart Karl Calls Real Madrid his 'Dream Club'

Bayern's Lennart Karl, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Sporting CP in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Bayern's Lennart Karl, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Sporting CP in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern Munich's latest young sensation is already thinking about a future elsewhere.

Lennart Karl, the 17-year-old midfielder who became Bayern's youngest Champions League scorer in October, prompted laughs, criticism and confusion Sunday with an admission he dreams of moving to Real Madrid.

During a question-and-answer session at a small-town fan gathering Sunday, the sort of visit that's a new year's tradition for the club's players, Karl was asked if he had a “dream club” other than Bayern.

“Bayern's a very, very big club in any case, and it's a dream to play there, but some day I'd definitely like to go to Real Madrid. That's my dream club, but that stays between us," Karl said, to laughter from the Bayern fans in the audience, in comments broadcast by Sky Sport in Germany.

“But obviously Bayern is something very, very special and it's lots and lots of fun at the club.”

While the fans in the audience seemed to take Karl's comments with good humor, the young midfielder faced criticism from Bayern supporters online questioning his loyalty to the club.

Karl came through Bayern's youth academy and made his first-team debut in a 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City at the Club World Cup in June before becoming a regular this season, with six goals in 22 games.

Sports

Rooney Says Rosenior Has Earned Opportunity to Lead Chelsea

Strasbourg's British head coach Liam Rosenior greets supporters at the end of the French L1 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and AJ Auxerre at the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg, eastern France on October 29, 2025. (AFP)
Strasbourg's British head coach Liam Rosenior greets supporters at the end of the French L1 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and AJ Auxerre at the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg, eastern France on October 29, 2025. (AFP)
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Rooney Says Rosenior Has Earned Opportunity to Lead Chelsea

Strasbourg's British head coach Liam Rosenior greets supporters at the end of the French L1 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and AJ Auxerre at the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg, eastern France on October 29, 2025. (AFP)
Strasbourg's British head coach Liam Rosenior greets supporters at the end of the French L1 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and AJ Auxerre at the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg, eastern France on October 29, 2025. (AFP)

Wayne Rooney has backed Liam Rosenior to take charge at Chelsea and said the Englishman has earned the opportunity after proving himself as a manager.

Rosenior, who was Rooney's assistant at Derby County and is currently in charge of Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, is the front-runner to replace Enzo Maresca ‌after the ‌Italian left Stamford ‌Bridge ⁠last week.

"Liam ‌was so important for me," the former Manchester United striker said on the BBC’s The Wayne Rooney Show.

"He was incredible in his coaching ability.

"I was more of the manager dealing ⁠with players and everything, but I learned a ‌lot from him from ‍that point ‍of view. He’s done a great ‍job as a whole," added Rooney.

Rosenior, 41, previously managed Hull City before joining Strasbourg in July 2024. He led the French club to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1.

"If he ⁠goes in there (Chelsea), he won’t disappoint," Rooney added.

"He’s been waiting for an opportunity like this.

"If you don’t take it now, then you’re never going to take it. He’s done his apprenticeship, he’s done his work to get to that job."

Chelsea, who are fifth in the Premier League, ‌will face Fulham on Wednesday.