David Beckham next to Luis Figo at the world player of the year awards in 2001

There was never a time when he was among the world top 10, let alone the top two

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Independent Crossword

European Cup place for finishing second

England have been told they can enter two clubs in the European Cup from the 1997-98 season after Uefa decided to go ahead with controversial plans to expand their flagship competition.

Football: No place for Howe in England set-up

Glenn Hoddle will today, it is understood, sever the last remaining link between the previous England management and his own when he informs Don Howe that his services as a coach are no longer required.

Liverpool finally seal Berger deal

Football

Football: Liverpool in late bid for Poborsky

Flights from the North-west to Prague have never been so popular as Manchester United and Liverpool, long-time bitter rivals on the pitch, fight at the negotiating table for the signature of the pounds 3.4m-rated Karel Poborsky.

Donis decides on Blackburn

Football

Cantona threatens to quit

Football

Pilgrims progress

Darlington 0 Plymouth Argyle 1 (Mauge 65 )Attendance: 43,431

How have Brighton gone from this... ...to this?

A CLUB IN CRISIS: At noon today, the Seagulls may cease to exist, wound up amid wranglings that have consumed the South Coast club. Greg Wood, a lifelong supporter, traces Albion's troubles and unearths a few Goldstone gems

Searching for the secrets of Shankly

The legendary former Liverpool manager is the subject of two new biographies. Ken Jones reports

Dreams of Wembley for Bishop Sutton

Non-League notebook

Too ready to deceive in the name of victory

If there was a time when sports fans saw their heroes as fair- minded young people who would never dream of trying to hoodwink authority, somebody should tell us when this saintly perspective prevailed.

Prime time for Jarrett

World Athletics Championships: Jackson backs his friend to race out of the shadows and into a kingdom of his own; Norman Fox in Gothenburg meets the hurdler tipped to wear the crown

Football: Saunders set to link up with Liverpool old boys

Dean Saunders, Aston Villa's leading scorer last season, is today expected to join Galatasaray, the Turkish club for whom Graeme Souness has already signed Saunders' former Liverpool team-mates, Barry Venison and Mike Marsh.
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James Pembroke: The man who's eaten everywhere

The man who's eaten everywhere

Few people know more about restaurants than James Pembroke, who only spent five mealtimes at home during his entire childhood.
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

The young JFK praised 'superior' Nordic races during visits to Germany
Banned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof to attend Cannes Film Festival 2013, his first public appearance since prison

Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival

Mohammad Rasoulof to make his first public appearance since being imprisoned three years ago
Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

An exhibition explores images how photography has shaped astronomy
Eat Spam and carry on: Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating

Eat Spam and carry on

Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating
Facial hair: Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence

Facial hair

Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

Whether they're for everyday use or to make your dining table look just right, it's worth getting a stylish shaker...
Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Chief executive says trophies will come if a 'core' of suitable players is in place
Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

The Bayern Munich forward tells Tim Rich his side have to shed chokers' tag after two recent final defeats
Giro d'Italia: The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

As the Giro d'Italia tackles the brutal climb, Simon Usborne takes on the snow and switchbacks – and soon realises what the fuss is about
National archives: Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Newly unearthed papers reveal a shocking extra dimension to the constitutional crisis over monarch’s abdication
Sent down at the Old Bailey: A tour of the world's most famous court

Sent down at the Old Bailey

A tour of the world's most famous court
Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

The Hangover actor Zach Galifianakis’s date for his movie premieres isn’t arm candy  – it’s his 87-year-old friend who he saved from homelessness
British football scores an own goal

British football scores an own goal

Many managers barely survive a year in post. Martin Baker talks to experts who make a case for clubs using forensic business skills to find the best staff
James Lawton: Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again

James Lawton

Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again