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From the Observer archive, 1 October 1972: some advice for George Best from Elizabeth Taylor

Movie star Elizabeth Taylor reveals that she is fascinated by football – or at least the brightest talent in the British game Next Saturday, if you find yourself sitting next to a black-haired beautiful woman with violet eyes who's giving Charlie George a volley, don't chat her up. She's…

Chelsea's Jose Mourinho slams referee for red card and brands Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen 'a disgrace' after draw

Jose Mourinho risked disciplinary charges yesterday when he branded Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen " a disgrace" and accused referee Mike Dean of making a "huge mistake" after the sending-off of Fernando Torres as Chelsea recovered to have the better of a 1-1 draw here.

After Paolo Di Canio fiasco, what now for once proud Sunderland?

At 8.30am on 13 July, the colliery bands of Durham began their march towards the city's market place. The miners' banners went with them, signposts to the past, a visible display of pride in the region's history. From there followed a slow march towards the County Hotel on Old Elvet. The bands…

'Kevin Ball is exactly the kind of manager that my old team needs,' says Jordan Henderson

However mixed a reaction he may receive from his former fans at Sunderland today, Jordan Henderson knows there will be a warm welcome from the club's temporary manager. It will be mutual. Kevin Ball, who has been tasked with calming the waters after the storm-tossed era of Paolo Di Canio, was…

Tony Pulis sacking stopped Stoke City players walking out

When Stoke City's striker Kenwyne Jones talks about "sky football" he is not alluding to the company which will televise this afternoon's game at home to Norwich City. The reference is among a stream of disparaging ones about what he calls "the old regime" at the club and the direct style of play…

Real Madrid 0-1 Atlético Madrid | La Liga match report

Gareth Bale was introduced to the Santiago Bernabéu on a mission to rescue Real Madrid but he was unable to prevent them losing a league match to their city rivals Atlético for the first time this century. This was not how the Welshman would have dreamed it: six days ago he was forced to…

Manuel Pellegrini not intimidated by Bayern Munich in Guardiola hands

• Manager dismisses claims German football is ahead of English • Manchester City out to make Champions League mark Manuel Pellegrini needs no reminding of the strength of German football – his Málaga team were cruelly eliminated by the eventual finalists Borussia Dortmund in…

Bale's home debut ends in Real loss

Gareth Bale's Real Madrid home debut ends in a 1-0 defeat as Atletico win the Madrid derby for the first time in 23 games.

Saturday Sundae: Morgan Amalfitano leads a merry dance at Old Trafford

• Morgan Amalfitano lays it on thick against Manchester United • Leyton Orient fall just short of making it nine wins out of nine MAN OF THE DAY West Brom's Saido Berahino . If you're going to score your first ever Premier League goal somewhere, it may as well be the winner at Old…