MANCHESTER, England: Joe Thompson, a former Manchester United academy player who made more than 200 appearances for local club Rochdale, has died. He was 36.
Fifth-tier English club Rochdale announced that Thompson, who had been fighting cancer for a third time, died Thursday at home with family by his side.
“We first knew Joe primarily as a talented footballer, but we would soon grow to adore his loving, infectious personality,” Rochdale said in a statement on Friday.
“He faced every battle head-on, both on and off the pitch. His journey and indomitable spirit have been an inspiration for everyone who has been touched by his story. Above all of that, Joe was a loving husband to Chantelle and an incredible father to Thailula and Athena Rae.”
A midfielder, Thompson was first diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2013 while playing for Tranmere. The disease returned three years later.
Thompson announced he was cancer-free in 2017 and less than a year later entered himself “into Rochdale folklore,” the club said, by coming off the bench in the final game of the 2017-18 season to score in a 1-0 win that kept the team in the third tier.
He retired in 2019 and went on to become a motivational speaker and soccer pundit. He also held an ambassadorial role with United.
Last year, Thompson was diagnosed with cancer for a third time.
United posted a tribute to Thompson on its social media channels, saying he “epitomized our club’s values.”
Rochdale, located just north of Manchester, said its players would wear black armbands during Friday’s match at Altrincham in the National League.
Former Man United prospect Joe Thompson dies at 36 after third cancer diagnosis
https://arab.news/z6gsv
Former Man United prospect Joe Thompson dies at 36 after third cancer diagnosis
- Thompson died at home with his family by his side
- He retired in 2019 and went on to become a motivational speaker and soccer pundit
Sixth Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia underlines Kingdom’s growing maturity as football host
- 2024/25 Serie A champions Napoli are participating for the sixth time, with Coppa Italia winners Bologna making their Super Cup debut after lifting their first domestic cup in 51 years
- Two of the Super Cup’s most successful clubs, Milan rivals Inter and AC Milan – both eight-time winners – will also take part, after finishing runners-up in the Serie A and Coppa Italia respectively
RIYADH: The Italian Super Cup returns to Saudi Arabia this Thursday, December 18, a milestone that reflects more than the appeal of a stellar four-team tournament.
With the tournament set to take place at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, the 38th edition of the competition offers a clear illustration of how Saudi’s role as a football host has evolved from novelty to consistency.
2024/25 Serie A champions Napoli are participating for the sixth time, with Coppa Italia winners Bologna making their Super Cup debut after lifting their first domestic cup in 51 years.
Two of the Super Cup’s most successful clubs, Milan rivals Inter and AC Milan – both eight-time winners – will also take part, after finishing runners-up in the Serie A and Coppa Italia respectively.
While high-quality football is expected on the pitch, the tournament’s repeated return to the Kingdom points to a broader shift. When it was staged for the first time in 2018, the match was viewed largely as a one-off showcase.
61,235 fans packed the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah to witness a decisive Ronaldo strike that led Juventus to the title at the expense of AC Milan.
That fan presence has not gone unnoticed by clubs themselves. Speaking after Napoli’s arrival in Riyadh, head coach Antonio Conte highlighted how these fixtures are increasingly viewed as an opportunity to connect with supporters beyond Europe.
“Meeting Napoli fans in Riyadh was a great feeling,” Conte said. “Seeing that you have many fans across the world pushes you to do more for them and to continue growing as a club.”
Five editions later, the Super Cup is no longer seen as an experiment, but as part of a wider pattern in Saudi Arabia’s sporting calendar. Here, events aren’t just hosted once, but renewed and repeated.
The Italian Super Cup sits alongside other football events that have established long-term roots in the Kingdom, most notably the Spanish Super Cup, which has returned four times since 2020.
Beyond football, Saudi Arabia has also seen the regular returns of major international events such as the Dakar Rally, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, UFC Fight Night and the WTA Finals, reinforcing a hosting model built on delivery rather than spectacle alone.
At the same time, the calendar continues to expand. Recent additions such as LIV Golf, the Islamic Solidarity Games, as well as upcoming events in the form of the Olympic eSports Games, the WWE Royal Rumble and the AFC Asian Cup illustrate Saudi Arabia’s broadening portfolio.
What distinguishes the Italian Super Cup’s return to Saudi Arabia is not its scale, but its familiarity. While novelty is welcome, consistency is now defining Saudi Arabia’s presence on the global sports stage.
As Saudi Arabia continues to build toward future football milestones, the Super Cup’s sixth visit serves as a reminder that growth as a host is increasingly measured by consistency, reliability and the confidence of those who choose to return.
