Saturday, 18 December. European champions Inter Milan win the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup after beating African champions TP Mazembe 3-0 in the Final at Abu Dhabi's Zayed Sports City Stadium thanks to goals from Goran Pandev (13), Samuel Eto'o (17) and Jonathan Biabiany (85). During the trophy presentation Inter was awarded the FIFA Fairplay Award and the Golden Ball and Best Player award went to Eto'o while the Silver Ball went to Mazembe's Dioko Kaluyituka and the Bronze Ball went to Internacional's Andrés D'Alessandro. Third place went to South American champions Internacional, who beat Asian champions Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 4-2 earlier before the Final.
The results of yesterday's 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) awards in Zürich, Switzerland: Ballon d'Or Men's - Lionel Messi (Argentina) Women's - Marta (Brazil)
Coach of the Year Men's - José Mourinho (Portugal/ Real Madrid) Women's - Silvia Neid (Germany/ Germany women's national squad)
FIFA/ FIFPro World XI Goalkeeper
Iker Casillas (Spain)
Friday, 28 January. Japan wins the 2011 AFC Asian Cup for the record 4th time after beating Australia 1-0 in the Final in Doha, the Qatari capital, courtesy of substitute Tadanari Lee's 109th-minute volley during the 2nd period of extra-time when the game ended scoreless. During the trophy presentation the Top Goalscorer award went to South Korea's Gu Ja-Cheol with 5 goals while Japan's Keisuke Honda was awarded the Most Valuable Player and finally the Fair Play award went to 3rd place winners South Korea, with Park Ji-Sung receiving that award. Nippon Banzai! (Long Live Japan!)
Sunday, 27 February. Birmingham City ended its 48-year wait by winning the Carling Cup for the 2nd time after a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the Final at Wembley Stadium. Serbia forward Nikola Žigić scored first for the Blues in the 28th minute while Robin van Persie equalized for the Gunners in the 39th minute and Obafemi Martins broke the deadlock by scoring Birmingham's winning goal in the 89th minute therefore handing the Cup to the 1963 winners.
Sorry guys, Liverpool didn't make it to the Final after being knocked out from the 3rd Round by League Two's Northampton, who won 4-2 on penalties following a 2-2 draw. Maybe the Reds will regain the Carling Cup next year (Who knows?).
Wednesday, 20 April. Real Madrid wins the Copa del Rey for the 18th time after a 1-0 win over Barcelona in the Final in Valencia. Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo helped Los Galácticos to victory by scoring the only goal in the 103rd minute during extra-time after the game ended goalless and Real forward Ángel di María was yellow-carded for the 2nd time during the 120th minute, minutes before the referee blew his final whistle.
:roll: You forgot the most interesting thing about this cup win....
Those jubilant scenes got all too much for defender Sergio Ramos who, as he balanced the giant 15kg piece of silverware on his head, somehow let loose his grip and dropped the cup beneath the wheels of the bus.
World Cup winner Ramos later claimed the trophy was 'ok', but television pictures showed emergency services gathering up the broken pieces and returning them to the team on board. The cup was then absent from the traditional celebration spot of the Plaza de Cibeles in central Madrid.
Yeah, that's funny, rocky.
On Saturday, 21 May, Schalke 04 wins the German Cup for the 5th time after demolishing Div. 2 side Duisburg 5-0 in the Final in Berlin, courtesy of goals from Julian Draxler (18), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (22, 70), Benedikt Höwedes (42) and José Manuel Jurado (55). The game was the last for Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who will be joining Bayern Munich in July.
Saturday, 14 May. Manchester City wins the FA Cup for the 5th time following a 1-0 win over Stoke City in the Final at Wembley courtesy of Ivorian star Yaya Touré's solo goal in the 75th minute.
Wednesday, 11 May. Defending Spanish champions Barcelona clinched its 21st league title after a 1-1 draw with Levante, which finished 14th in the La Liga. The champions took the lead after Malian midfielder Seydou Keita headed in Xavi's cross in the 27th minute.
And on Saturday, 28 May, Barcelona won the UEFA Champions League for the 4th time after beating English champions Manchester United 3-1 in the Final at London's Wembley Stadium. Pedro Rodríguez put the Blaugrana (Catalan for Blue-Reds) ahead in the 27th minute then Wayne Rooney equalized for the Red Devils in the 34th minute. Argentine star Lionel Messi scored Barcelona's 2nd goal in the 54th minute while David Villa's 69th minute goal seals victory for Josep Guardiola's side. Enhorabona Barça! (Congratulations Barça!)
Wednesday, 18 May. Porto, Portuguese champs and winners of both the Portuguese Cup and the then-UEFA Cup in 2003, wins the UEFA Europa League for the 2nd time after defeating fellow Portuguese side Braga 1-0 in the Final in Dublin, the Irish capital.
Sunday, 22 May. Manchester United wins the Premier League title for the record 19th time after a 4-2 win at home over Blackpool.
To Liverpool fans out there, don't despair because who knows that maybe your beloved team will regain its league title next season to equal the Red Devils' number of titles.
Also on Saturday, 14 May, Borussia Dortmund ended its 9-year wait by winning the Bundesliga title for the 7th time following a 3-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt at home and after that defeat Frankfurt was relegated to the 2nd Bundesliga.
Sunday, 24 July. Uruguay ended its 16-year wait by winning the Copa América for the 15th time after defeating Paraguay 3-0 in the Final in Buenos Aires. Luis Suárez put Uruguay in the lead in the 11th minute then followed by Diego Forlán, who added 2 more goals in the 41st and 89th minutes. During the trophy presentation several players have been awarded; Suárez was awarded the Best Player of the Tournament while the Best Young Player of the Tournament goes to his teammate Sebastián Coates and finally Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar was awarded the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament. ¡Arriba la Celeste! (Come on Sky Blues!)
Something I forgot last month, just one day before the Copa América Final....
Saturday, 23 July. German Cup winners Schalke 04 bagged another title, this time the German Super Cup, after beating German champions Borussia Dortmund 4-3 on penalties following a goalless draw in Gelsenkirchen.
Sunday, 7 August. English champions Manchester United win the FA Community Shield after beating FA Cup winners Manchester City 3-2 at Wembley Arena. Joleon Lescott put City ahead in the 38th minute while Bosnian striker Edin Džeko scored City's 2nd goal in the 45th minute, making the score 2-0 during half-time. Chris Smalling then scored for United in the 52nd minute while his teammate Nani equalized during the 58th minute. As the game went into extra time Nani again scored the 3rd and winning goal for United and therefore helped the English champions to win the Community Shield.
Wednesday, 17 August. Spanish champs Barcelona win the Spanish Super Cup after beating Copa del Rey holders Real Madrid 3-2 (5-4 on aggregate) at home. During injury time chaos broke up between both Barcelona and Real players following Marcelo's tackle on former Arsenal man Cesc Fàbregas, now making his debut with Barcelona. Marcelo was later red-carded alongside his German teammate Mesut Özil and Barcelona's David Villa for being involved in the brawl although both players had been substituted earlier. As the brawl continues Real coach José Mourinho moves toward Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova and poked his eye from behind not long before the incident ended and the match got underway.
