Football in 2014: 10 memorable moments

Paul Wilson on the best, worst and most controversial moments in football this year

How sport dominated social media in 2014

If you were on Facebook or Twitter this year you will have heard a lot about the World Cup and the Champions League – while watching people douse themselves in ice-cold water

Premier League referees will use vanishing spray in new season

The Premier League has given the go-ahead for referees to use vanishing spray in the 2014-15 season

Premier League: Chelsea players ran and played the most at the World Cup

Toby Moses: Premier League stars played a combined total of more than 16 days of football during their summer break, covering 2489.9km of Brazilian turf in the search for glory. It’s not much of a holiday

Premier League unlikely to introduce free-kick spray this season

The Premier League is considering whether to introduce the disappearing spray used at the World Cup to mark out free-kicks

What you missed during the World Cup: transfers, kits … scoring keepers

Nick Ames: From the deals that may have passed under the radar to a Twitter tirade at Exeter City, via early-season European action

Louis van Gaal: I want to make my Manchester United team like Holland

Louis van Gaal will officially arrive at Manchester United on Wednesday and says he wants the club to ‘sing from the same hymn sheet’ like his Holland squad

World Cup 2014: 11 things the tournament taught us

Brazil 2014’s lessons: Argentina don’t care what you think; Van Gaal likes a gamble; the science of penalties; and diving is good

Football transfer rumours: Wesley Sneijder to Manchester United?

Paul Pogba to Chelsea? | Enner Valencia to West Ham? | Micah Richards to Newcastle?

Louis van Gaal to officially join Manchester United after Holland exit

The Holland coach will officially join up with his new club next week after Saturday’s World Cup third-place play-off against Brazil

How come ‘best league in the world’ has hardly featured at Brazil 2014?

Barney Ronay: The Premier League’s loudly hyped performers are thin on the ground when it comes to handing out the baubles at the World Cup

Arturo Vidal a £40m target for Louis van Gaal at Manchester United

The Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal is wanted by the new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, who is not likely to be put off by the £40m asking price