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The Guardian
14 minutes ago
- The Guardian
The European Cup winner bringing women's football dream to Monaco
Women's football in France has always been an important marker point in Europe, mainly through Lyon's record-breaking Champions League success. The club have been pushed along domestically by Paris Saint-Germain but a shift is taking place, with Paris FC continuing to develop and Lens and Marseille promoted to the top division for the 2025-26 season. One place lacking a professional team in the women's pyramid is Monaco but that could change before long, and not necessarily through AS Monaco. Monaco United launch this season and although they will begin in the fifth tier, they are founded and coached by Marco Simone, a four-time Serie A winner and two-time Champions League winner as a player with Milan. 'I've coached men's teams around the world, starting here in Monaco with AS Monaco in 2011,' says Simone. 'I coached in Switzerland, Morocco, Thailand and France, but always men's teams. One year, I was studying and the only games I saw were women's games. I watched them in France, England, Germany, Spain and Italy, and I really enjoyed it. That led me to build this project.' Monaco United's creation was announced just under two months ago in a partnership with the Racing City Group, which was founded by Morris Pagniello and has a network of clubs. Simone, who won four Italy caps, became involved with the group in January when it partnered with AS Monaco's women's team. He had two spells as a player with the men's side before returning as the coach. 'I played here for five years, coached here, but the history of the place is incredible,' he says. 'The people think it is impossible to build another club because we are not a big country. It's not like London, where there are five or six teams in the top league alone – that's not possible here. 'The real target is the development of women's football, because when you see the top league here, you see Lyon, PSG, Montpellier, now Marseille too, the top clubs in France. But Monaco [United] is not in the top league, not the second league, not even the third league. I think it's not possible for Monaco to not be there one day. We are very far away because we start in the fifth division, but I do believe in a few years we can be in a professional league.' Open trials have allowed Simone to build a squad, and training and fixtures will take place at the Stade Didier Deschamps in Cap-d'Ail. Monaco United list the aim of also having a successful men's team and men's academy but describe women's football as being 'at the heart' of the club. 'It's important when you start to respect the time it will take, to arrive at the time one day to have a bigger budget, to think about professionalism, but the time we have for this project is very important,' Simone says. 'We are starting at zero … I know football isn't easy, but I know this team has the chance to become professional quicker than if this was the men's game, where the budgets and structures are much bigger. We don't have many pitches or stadiums in Monaco, the structures are not as simple, but we do have passion and enthusiasm, and we are ready for this.' On the squad, the 56-year-old says: 'We have 20 players. It's not been easy to scout. Some players we know locally, some through contacts, but through that and watching many, many videos, we have our squad.' As a player, Simone also won multiple domestic cups, two European Super Cups and a French First Division title in Monaco in 2000, as well as individual honours including the 1998 Ligue 1 player of the year and France Football's best foreign player in 1998 and 2000. That experience could be invaluable. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion 'Yes, but this is also my first experience of the women's game,' Simone says. 'I have the experience from my career. I played 10 years for AC Milan, I played for PSG, for Monaco, and I hope I can offer all my experience to the team, of how to win both games and leagues. I don't know everything about women's football but I hope my experience can help build the team. I'm positive, but I know the work is not simple.' He has wasted no time in utilising his status with some of his former clubs to arrange glamorous friendlies. On 27 August, Monaco United will face Milan, a club where Simone is in the Hall of Fame, in their first match and through the season he aims to give his squad a taste of top-level football in 'MUWFC challenge' fixtures fitted around the league matches. 'It's a big friendly game for us, the AC Milan game,' Simone says. 'We are the fifth division against AC Milan! For a new club, it's a big event, a big moment, but I want to give the visibility for the women's team. The league is not very strong, so we have arranged these friendlies against top European teams, and it will start with AC Milan … It's very special.' If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email This is an extract from our free weekly email, Moving the Goalposts. To get the full edition, visit this page and follow the instructions. Moving the Goalposts is back to its twice-weekly format, delivered to your inboxes every Tuesday and Thursday.
North Wales Chronicle
19 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Former Arsenal player Thomas Partey granted conditional bail
The Ghanaian midfielder, 32, has been charged with five counts of rape against two women, as well as a charge of sexual assault against a third woman. The alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022, when he was an Arsenal player. Partey stood with his arms behind his back in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, wearing a black zip-neck jumper. The footballer, who gave his address as Potters Bar, showed no reaction as the charges were read out and was not asked to enter any pleas. The alleged offences include incidents of anal rape, the court heard. His bail conditions include that he cannot contact any of the three women and must notify police of any permanent changes of address or international travel. It comes amid reports that Partey is set to join Spanish club Villarreal. As bail conditions were discussed in court, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said: 'I understand he's no longer employed in this country and playing in Spain now.' Partey is due to appear at the Old Bailey on September 2. He was charged four days after leaving Arsenal when his contract expired at the end of June. A spokeswoman for Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence said they were 'profoundly disappointed' in the north London club for their handling of the matter. Speaking outside court, Honor Barber told the PA news agency: 'We never wanted to be in a situation where the club that we love and the club that has values that we believe in was playing, week-in week-out, a player who is now facing court appearances on six counts of sexual violence. 'We protested outside almost every home game last season because we wanted to disrupt the wall of silence that the club has put up around this issue, and we did that because we want to support our club and feel happy and comfortable supporting our club.' Members of the group held a banner which read 'Arsenal said: 'We do the right thing' then did nothing'. Ms Barber said the group wanted Arsenal to publish their sexual violence policies, 'suspend anyone under investigation for sexual offences' and 'properly support the survivors'. The Metropolitan Police said it first received reports of an allegation of rape in February 2022. Partey's lawyer Jenny Wiltshire previously said he 'denies all the charges against him', adding he welcomed 'the opportunity to finally clear his name'. He joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 in a transfer worth around £45 million. The defensive midfielder signed for the Spanish club in 2012 and made 188 appearances, as well as going out on loan to Mallorca and Leganes. He played 35 games for the north London club in the Premier League last season, scoring four goals. Partey has also made more than 50 appearances for Ghana including at the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations. An Arsenal spokesperson previously said: 'The player's contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings the club is unable to comment on the case.'
Leader Live
33 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Former Arsenal player Thomas Partey granted conditional bail
The Ghanaian midfielder, 32, has been charged with five counts of rape against two women, as well as a charge of sexual assault against a third woman. The alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022, when he was an Arsenal player. Partey stood with his arms behind his back in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, wearing a black zip-neck jumper. The footballer, who gave his address as Potters Bar, showed no reaction as the charges were read out and was not asked to enter any pleas. The alleged offences include incidents of anal rape, the court heard. His bail conditions include that he cannot contact any of the three women and must notify police of any permanent changes of address or international travel. It comes amid reports that Partey is set to join Spanish club Villarreal. As bail conditions were discussed in court, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said: 'I understand he's no longer employed in this country and playing in Spain now.' Partey is due to appear at the Old Bailey on September 2. He was charged four days after leaving Arsenal when his contract expired at the end of June. A spokeswoman for Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence said they were 'profoundly disappointed' in the north London club for their handling of the matter. Speaking outside court, Honor Barber told the PA news agency: 'We never wanted to be in a situation where the club that we love and the club that has values that we believe in was playing, week-in week-out, a player who is now facing court appearances on six counts of sexual violence. 'We protested outside almost every home game last season because we wanted to disrupt the wall of silence that the club has put up around this issue, and we did that because we want to support our club and feel happy and comfortable supporting our club.' Members of the group held a banner which read 'Arsenal said: 'We do the right thing' then did nothing'. Ms Barber said the group wanted Arsenal to publish their sexual violence policies, 'suspend anyone under investigation for sexual offences' and 'properly support the survivors'. The Metropolitan Police said it first received reports of an allegation of rape in February 2022. Partey's lawyer Jenny Wiltshire previously said he 'denies all the charges against him', adding he welcomed 'the opportunity to finally clear his name'. He joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 in a transfer worth around £45 million. The defensive midfielder signed for the Spanish club in 2012 and made 188 appearances, as well as going out on loan to Mallorca and Leganes. He played 35 games for the north London club in the Premier League last season, scoring four goals. Partey has also made more than 50 appearances for Ghana including at the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations. An Arsenal spokesperson previously said: 'The player's contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings the club is unable to comment on the case.'
