Manchester United may have lost their dominance over the Premier League but they are still top of the table when it comes to social media.
A league table based on Twitter conversations throughout the campaign put United ahead of actual champions Chelsea, with Arsenal third and Liverpool fourth. Stoke came bottom.
However, Arsenal are the club with most followers (5.8 million) ahead of Chelsea (5.6m) and United (5.1m).
Gerrard’s pledge
Departing Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has vowed to return to the club because he feels he has a contribution to make in the future.
The 34-year-old is currently enjoying a post-season break before he begins a new challenge in Major League Soccer with Los Angeles Galaxy this summer. But after 710 appearances in a 17-year professional career Gerrard has his sights set on going back.
“I’ve been a supporter all my life and that will continue,” he wrote in the Liverpool Echo.
“I hope to get the opportunity to come back and serve Liverpool again one day. I feel that I can make a contribution in some role in the future.”
Valencia kicks into UN campaign
Spanish club Valencia have scored a new first for a professional sports club by teaming up with the UN gender equality organisation in its global campaign to engage men and boys in the fight for women’s rights.
Valencia players will don jerseys with UN Women’s logo in support of gender equality.
The club will introduce the new jerseys during an event in Ohio, on May 27.
Special matches and initiatives will take place over the next four years in Spain and across the globe as part of the collaboration.
Valencia are the only club in the Spanish league to have a female chairwoman, Lay Hoon Chan.
Lerner to stand down as Villa owner
Aston Villa’s American owner Randy Lerner will stand down as club chairman whether or not he manages to sell the club.
In an interview, he said he should have moved aside some years ago and that he took responsibility for the team’s poor performances over the last few seasons.
Lerner, 53, has been trying to sell the club he bought in 2006 for some time and is looking for between £150-200 million.
“Plan A remains to find a buyer or Plan B (is) find a new chairman,” he said.
“The club’s performance over the last five or so years has left quite a lot to be desired and that falls squarely on my shoulders.
“Happily, we’ve not been relegated but I haven’t got it nearly right enough.”
Eddie Howe wins managers’ award
Eddie Howe, who is in charge of Championship winners Bournemouth, was named the League Managers’ Association (LMA) manager of the year.
Howe took the accolade after leading his club this season to promotion to the top flight for the first time in their 116-year history.
“I can’t believe it. I’m so surprised and so grateful,” Howe said.
“You need good people around you so I’m grateful to my staff.”
Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho won the Premier League manager of the year prize. The other LMA award winners were Bristol City’s Steve Cotterill (League One) and Gareth Ainsworth of Wycombe Wanderers (League Two).
Double award success for Sanchez
Alexis Sanchez’s impressive first year at Arsenal has been recognised by two different supporters’ awards.
Sanchez has netted 16 goals and provided eight more in his first Premier League season – form which has been recognised by fans.
The Chile international was named as PFA Fans’ Player of the Season, beating Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero to the accolade.
Sanchez soon had another trophy to add to his cabinet after being announced as Player of the Year at the inaugural Facebook Football Awards.
More than one million votes were cast across the globe, with the Arsenal forward taking the award ahead of Hazard and Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.
Dick Advocaat quits Sunderland
Dick Advocaat has quit as Sunderland’s head coach after guiding them to Premier League safety, the north-east club said yesterday.
The 67-year-old Dutchman has decided not to continue in the role, telling the club that he no longer wished to continue a career in management.
“At certain moments in your life you have to make a decision and I am almost 68 years old now.
“A number of clubs contacted me but the decision was always Sunderland or nobody,” Advocaat said in a statement on the Sunderland website.
“We gave everything in our time there and achieved what we set out to. Sunderland has been one of the highlights of my career.”