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Portugal’s Pepe Announces Retirement, Closing a Decorated Career

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Portugal's Pepe Announces Retirement, Closing a Decorated Career

Portugal defender Pepe has announced his retirement from professional football, marking the end of a highly decorated career that spanned more than two decades. At 41, Pepe recently became the oldest player to participate in a European Championship finals, with his last match being Portugal’s penalty shootout defeat to France in the quarter-finals.

Throughout his illustrious career, Pepe earned 141 caps for Portugal, making him the third most-capped player in the country’s history, following Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho. His club career included successful stints at Real Madrid, Porto, Besiktas, and Maritimo.

In an emotional 33-minute video posted online on Thursday, Pepe expressed gratitude to everyone who supported him throughout his career. He reflected on his journey, saying, “I can’t help but thank all the presidents who bet and believed in me to be able to perform my work.”

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Pepe’s career highlights include winning the UEFA Euro 2016 with Portugal and securing three UEFA Champions League titles and three La Liga titles during his ten-year tenure at Real Madrid. His achievements have left an indelible mark on the sport, and he is widely regarded as one of the most successful defenders of his generation.

Pepe concluded his message with heartfelt thanks, stating, “To all the employees of all the clubs I’ve been to, who are the soul and essence of the clubs and the national team. And I want to thank everyone in the background. I want to leave a thank-you and a hug of gratitude for all of you.”

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Tiger Woods Accepts Five-Year Driving Ban After Reckless Driving Plea

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Golfing legend Tiger Woods has agreed to plead to a reckless driving charge as part of a deal with prosecutors, avoiding the original charge of driving under the influence following a rollover crash in Florida.

The 50-year-old accepted a five-year suspension of his driving licence and a $1,000 (£742) fine under the plea agreement reached with prosecutors in Martin County.

Woods was arrested following the March crash. He passed a breathalyser test but declined further testing for other substances.

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He initially pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence and refusing to submit to testing. Following the incident, Woods said he was seeking treatment and taking time to focus on his health.

Florida State Attorney Thomas Bakkedahl said he was satisfied with the resolution of the case and insisted Woods had been treated like any other defendant.

“No one was injured in the crash, although Woods was forced to crawl through the passenger door to escape the vehicle after it rolled over.

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Police body-camera footage released in April showed Woods in the aftermath of the crash. He appeared calm as he told officers: “I looked down at my phone, and all of a sudden, boom.”

Woods told police he had not consumed alcohol that day. He also acknowledged taking prescription medication earlier that morning, although the names of the medication were redacted from the footage.

Officers said they suspected his normal faculties had been impaired by an “unknown substance”. Authorities later reported finding two white pills in his pocket, which were identified as hydrocodone, an opioid commonly prescribed for pain.

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After the incident, Woods acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and said he was stepping away to seek treatment and focus on his wellbeing.

The crash was the second time Woods had been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

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Newcastle United Complete £51m Move for Lille Forward Fernandez-Pardo

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Newcastle United have signed 21-year-old forward Fernandez-Pardo from Lille for a reported £51m fee.

The Belgium international flew to Tyneside on Monday night to undergo a medical before completing his move and signing a long-term contract with the Premier League club.

Fernandez-Pardo said he was “very proud to be at such a big club” after speaking with Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle.

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“He really showed how much he wanted me to be here,” Fernandez-Pardo said.

The forward added that joining Newcastle made sense for his career development and that he had followed the club and was familiar with the atmosphere at St James’ Park.

“I’m still young, I’m still hungry, and that’s why I’m here,” he said. “I want to make that progress with Newcastle. I can’t wait to start the wonderful adventure here.”

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Fernandez-Pardo was omitted from Lille’s squad for their 2-2 draw with Paris St-Germain last week and was instructed to train away from the first team while his future was resolved.

Newcastle had been tracking the forward for some time, with interest dating back to former manager Eddie Howe’s tenure. His age and versatility across the frontline also made him an attractive target as the club looked to strengthen their squad.

Fernandez-Pardo enjoyed an impressive campaign in Europe’s major five leagues last season. Among players aged 21 and under, he ranked second for big chances with 21, fifth for touches in the opposition box with 184 and seventh for combined goals and assists with 13.

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Jaissle praised the youngster’s technical ability, explosiveness and willingness to take on defenders.

“Matias is a highly technical player with explosiveness in his game,” Jaissle said. “He can score and assist, he has courage, and he has the ability to take players on.”

The Newcastle boss added that the club was confident supporters would enjoy watching Fernandez-Pardo and said the coaching staff would work with him to further develop his game.

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“We are excited to see him in a Newcastle United shirt,” Jaissle said.

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Aaron Donald Comes Out of Retirement to Rejoin Los Angeles Rams

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NFL legend Aaron Donald has come out of retirement to rejoin the Los Angeles Rams on a reported one-year, $20m deal.

The 35-year-old announced his retirement in March 2024 after a remarkable 10-season career, all of which he spent with the Rams.

Donald, selected 13th overall by Los Angeles in the 2014 NFL Draft, confirmed his return on social media with the message: “We back,” alongside a video featuring highlights from his career.

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The defensive tackle played a key role in helping the Rams win Super Bowl LVI in 2022. He is also one of only three players in NFL history to win the Defensive Player of the Year award three times.

Donald finished his career with 117 sacks, including two in the Rams’ Super Bowl victory. He became the fastest defensive tackle in NFL history to reach 100 sacks and earned eight All-Pro selections during his career.

His return gives the Rams one of the most dominant defensive players of his generation as they look to strengthen their roster for the upcoming season.

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