FC Bayern Munich

A day after thrashing local club Roma 7-1, Bayern Munich staff and players Wednesday paid a visit to the Bishop of Rome, otherwise known as Pope Francis.
      

Bayern Munich's last-minute victory over Manchester City may have left fans delighted with a winning Champions League Group E start but highlighted their need to improve their finishing after missing a string of clear chances.

Thomas Mueller spectacularly stole the limelight from World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo on June 16 with a hat-trick in a stunning 4-0 demolition of 10-man Portugal at the World Cup.

Bayern Munich star Mueller marked his 50th international appearance in style with a 12th-minute penalty and a first-half injury time strike.

 Liverpool says it has agreed a deal in principle with Bayer Leverkusen to sign midfielder Emre Can.
     
A German youth international, the 20-year-old former Bayern Munich player had a big part in Leverkusen's fourth-place finish last season in the Bundesliga, scoring three goals in 29 league appearances.
     

Manchester United have confirmed that Louis van Gaal will be their new manager in the next season.

The 62-year-old Dutchman will take over the club after the World Cup, where he is coaching the Netherlands, Manchester United wrote on their official website.

The two teams viewed as favorites for winning the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, will play each other in the semifinal.

The draw for the semifinal stage took place on Friday noon in Nyon, Switzerland. Nine-time European champions Real Madrid were awarded the heavy task of challenging the reigning Champions League trophy holder Bayern Munich.

By Karolos Grohmann

Former Werder Bremen and Greece coach Otto Rehhagel became the fourth German manager to be honoured with a lifetime achievement award by the country's football association (DFB) on Thursday.

Tuesday night turned special for the young Bulgarian footballer Todor Nedelev as he made his Bundesliga debut for Mainz 05.

His team lost 3:1 to last place Eintracht Braunschweig, but the former Botev Plovdiv midfielder will cherish his first 15 minutes on the pitch, as he went in for Julian Koch in the 75th minute.

Uli Hoeness has resigned from his position as President of Bayern Munich football club, after being sentenced to 3.5 years in jail for tax evasion.

The 62-year-old former World Cup winner will not appeal Thrusday's verdict, and has accepted his guilt, Euronews reports.

Uli Hoeness, President of German and European football champions Bayern Munich, has been sentenced to 3.5 years in jail for tax evasion.

Hoeness was initially charged with concealing EUR 3.5 M worth of taxes, but later admitted to a much larger sum of EUR 15 M. The final equation amounted to EUR 27.2 M that he owes, according to the BBC.