2019 – The year in sport
2019 was another remarkable year of sport. From financial scandals in the FAI, South Africa’s World Cup triumph, Liverpool’s conquering of Europe and Shane Lowry’s Open Championship success Marking the Spot has been there through it all so here’s a look back at the major sporting stories of 2019.
January
- 1st- Michael van Gerwen claims his third World Darts Championship title defeating Michael Smith.
- 2nd – Chelsea announce the signing of Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund for €64m.
- 3rd – Man City reignite the Premier League title race with victory over Liverpool.
- 7th – Ferrari replace team principal Maurizio Arrivabene with Mattia Binotto.
- 8th – Padraig Harrington is named the captain of Team Europe for the 2020 Ryder Cup.
- 11th – Andy Murray announces his retirement from tennis through injury – a decision he will later reverse.
- 14th – Huddersfield Town part company with manager David Wagner.
- 19th – Mick Schumacher son of Michael, joins the Ferrari driver academy.
- 22nd – Concern grows after a small aircraft believed to be carrying Cardiff City’s new signing Emiliano Sala disappears.
- 23rd – FC Barcelona announce the signing of Ajax’s Frenkie De Jong for €75m.
- 24th – The search for the plane carrying Emiliano Sala is called off.
- 25th – AS Monaco sack manager Thierry Henry reappointing Leonardo Jardim – the man Henry had replaced in October.
- 26th – Naomi Osaka defeats Petra Kvitova to win the Australian Open.
- 27th – Novak Djokovic cruises to victory over Rafael Nadal to claim the Australian Open title.
- 28th – Roy Keane is named as a member of Martin O’Neill’s new coaching staff at Nottingham Forrest.
February
- 1st – Sauber announce they will compete as Alfa Romeo in the new Formula 1 season.
- 2nd – Ireland’s Six Nation’s defence gets off to a horrible start with a loss at home to England.
- 5th – Rescuers begin an operation to recover the body of Emiliano Sala from plane wreckage.
- 7th – British horse racing is suspended following an outbreak of equine influenza.
- 8th – 10 members of the Flamengo youth teams die in a fire at the club training ground.
- 9th – Ireland edge out Scotland in tight Six Nations clash.
- 12th – Former England goalkeeper Gordon Banks dies aged 81.
- 13th – Declan Rice declares for England.
- 18th – Championship side Leeds are fined £200,000 for spying on opponents.
- 20th – Steve Stricker is named the captain for Team USA at the 2020 Ryder Cup.
- 22nd – Chelsea are handed a transfer ban until the summer of 2020.
- 24th – Leicester City sack manager Claude Puel.
- 24th – Ireland scramble to victory over Italy in Rome.
- 24th –Manchester City retain the Carabao Cup with victory over Chelsea.
- 26th – Brendan Rodgers leaves Celtic to become the new Leicester manager.
- 28th – Fulham part company with manager Claudio Ranieri.
March
- 2nd – Barcelona defeat Real Madrid in El Clasico to move 12 points clear in La Liga.
- 5th – Germany drop the experienced trio of Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels and Thomas Muller.
- 6th – Manchester United produce a stunning comeback to knock PSG out of the Champions League.
- 7th – AS Roma sack manager Eusebio Di Francesco.
- 8th – Claudio Ranieri is named caretaker manager of AS Roma.
- 10th – Ireland record a bonus point win over France in the Six Nations.
- 11th – Real Madrid reappoint Zinedine Zidane as manager.
- 14th – The world of Formula 1 is stunned by the sudden passing of race director Charlie Whiting.
- 15th – Al Boum Photo wins the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
- 16th – Wales defeat Ireland to claim yet another Grand Slam.
- 17th – Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas wins the season opening Australian Grand Prix.
- 20th – Team Sky announces they will change their name to Team INEOS.
- 22nd – Jonathan Walters announces his retirement from football through injury.
- 23rd – Ireland begin their EURO 2020 qualifying campaign with a nervy win away to Gibraltar.
- 23rd – John Delaney steps down as CEO of the FAI.
- 26th – Conor McGregor announces his retirement from MMA for the second time.
- 26th – Ireland pick up their second win in EURO 2020 qualification defeating Georgia.
- 28th – Manchester United appoint Ole Gunnar Solskjær as permanent manager on a three year deal.
- 30th – Loss away to Crystal Palace sees Huddersfield Town relegate from the Premier League.
- 31st – Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton wins the Bahrain Grand Prix.
April
- 6th – Tiger Roll wins the Grand National for the second year in a row.
- 9th – Sport Ireland suspends funding to the FAI.
- 14th – Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton wins the Chinese Grand Prix.
- 14th – Tiger Woods turns back the clock to win the Masters for the fifth time.
- 18th – Rory Bests announces he will retire from Rugby after the World Cup.
- 20th – Juventus defeat Fiorentina to clinch the Serie A title.
- 27th – FC Barcelona beat Levante to retain their La Liga crown.
- 28th – Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas wins the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
May
- 1st – World Cup winning captain Iker Casillas suffers a heart attack during training with FC Porto.
- 7th – Liverpool produce a fine comeback at Anfield as Barcelona implode to reach the Champions League final.
- 8th – Tottenham defy belief to produce a stunning comeback away to Ajax to reach the Champions League final.
- 9th – Arsenal down Valencia to qualify for the Europa League final.
- 9th – A penalty shootout win over Frankfurt puts Chelsea into the Europa League decider.
- 11th – Saracens topple Leinster to win the Champions Cup.
- 11th – Primoz Roglic wins the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia.
- 12th – Lewis Hamilton completes a Mercedes’ one-two at the Spanish Grand Prix.
- 12th – Manchester City defeat Brighton to retain the Premier League.
- 13th – Brighton sack manager Chris Hughton.
- 14th – It is announced that the Dutch Grand Prix will return to the F1 calendar in 2020.
- 14th – Danielle De Rossi announces he will leave AS Roma after 18 years at the club.
- 17th – Massimiliano Allegri announces he will leave Juventus at the end of the season.
- 18th – Manchester City demolish Watford 6-0 to win the FA Cup.
- 19th – Vincent Kompany leaves Manchester City to become player manager at Anderlecht.
- 19th – Brooks Koepka holds his nerve to retain the USPGA Championship.
- 20th – Graham Potter is appointed as the new manager of Brighton.
- 21st – Three-time Formula 1 champion Niki Lauda passes away aged 70.
- 22nd – FIFA abandon plans for a 48 team World Cup in 2022.
- 26th – Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton wins the Monaco Grand Prix.
- 27th – Aston Villa defeat Derby to gain promotion to the Premier League.
- 28th – AC Milan part company with manager Gennaro Gattuso.
- 29th – Chelsea beat London rivals Arsenal to win the Europa League.
- 30th – Inter Milan sack manager Luciano Spalletti.
- 31st – Antonio Conte is appointed as the new manager of Inter Milan.
- 31st – Celtic appoint Neil Lennon as permanent manager following his successful spell as interim manager.
June
- 1st – Former Arsenal player José Antonio Reyes dies aged 35.
- 1st – Liverpool defeat Tottenham to win the Champions League.
- 2nd – Team Movistar’s Richard Carapaz wins the Giro d’Italia.
- 4th – Sevilla appoint Julen Lopetegui as their new manager.
- 7th – Real Madrid sign Eden Hazard from Chelsea.
- 7th – Ireland leave it late to draw away in Denmark in EURO 2020 qualifying.
- 9th – English finish third at the UEFA Nations League with a penalty shootout win over Switzerland.
- 9th – Portugal defeat the Netherlands to win the inaugural UEFA Nations League.
- 9th – Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel controversially loses the Canadian Grand Prix to Lewis Hamilton.
- 10th – Ireland are far from impressive with a 2-0 win over Gibraltar in EURO 2020 qualifying.
- 11th – AS Roma appoint Paulo Fonseca as their new manager.
- 12th – Chris Froome is ruled out of the Tour de France following a serious crash.
- 15th – The Copa America kicks off in Brazil.
- 16th – Juventus appoint Maurizio Sarri as their new manager with the Italian leaving his post at Chelsea.
- 17th – Gary Woodland wins the US Open at Pebble Beach.
- 18th – Michel Platani is detained for questioning relating to the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
- 19th – Luis Enrique stands down as manager of Spain for personal reasons.
- 21st – Fernando Torres announces his retirement from football.
- 21st – The Africa Cup of Nations begins in Egypt.
- 23rd – Lewis Hamilton wins the French Grand Prix.
- 24th – Rafa Benitez announces he will leave Newcastle at the end of his contract.
- 28th – AC Milan are banned from this season’s Europa League due to compliance issues with Financial Fair Play.
- 30th – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins a thrilling Austrian Grand Prix.
July
- 2nd – Tottenham sign Tanguy Ndombele for a club record fee of €62m.
- 3rd – Atletico Madrid sign Joao Felix from Benfica for €126m.
- 4th – Chelsea appoint former player Frank Lampard as manager.
- 4th – Arjen Robben announces his retirement from football aged 35.
- 6th – Mike Teunissen wins the opening stage as the Tour de France begins.
- 7th – USA defeat the Netherlands to retain the Women’s World Cup.
- 7th – Brazil defeat Peru to win the Copa America on home soil.
- 9th – McLaren announce they will retain Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris for the 2020 season.
- 12th – FC Barcelona sign Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid for €120m.
- 13th – Simona Halep defeats Serena Williams to win her first Wimbledon title.
- 13th – Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic is diagnosed with leukemia.
- 14th – Lewis Hamilton wins the British Grand Prix.
- 14th – Novak Djokovic claims his fifth Wimbledon title as he edges out Roger Federer in an epic final.
- 17th – Steve Bruce is named as the new manager of Newcastle United.
- 18th – Juventus sign Matthijs de Ligt from Ajax for €75m.
- 19th – Algeria defeat Senegal to win the Africa Cup of Nations.
- 21st – Shane Lowry wins the Open at Royal Portrush.
- 24th – Luke Rowe and Tony Martin are expelled from the Tour de France following a coming together on the road.
- 28th – Max Verstappen wins an unbelievable rain soaked Germany Grand Prix.
- 28th – Team INEOS’ Egan Bernal wins the Tour de France.
- 31st – It is announced that the women’s World Cup will be expanded to 32 teams.
August
- 1st- Arsenal sign Nicolas Pepe for a club record fee of €80m.
- 4th – Lewis Hamliton hunts down Max Verstappen to win the Hungarian Grand Prix.
- 4th – Manchester City defeat Liverpool to win the Community Shield.
- 5th – Manchester United sign Harry Maguire from Leicester City for £80m.
- 8th – Inter Milan sign Romelu Lukaku from Manchester United for €80m.
- 12th – Red Bull and Toro Rosso switch drivers with rookie Alexander Albon moving to the senior team as Pierre Gasly returns to the sister team.
- 14th – Liverpool defeat Chelsea to win the European SuperCup.
- 18th – Tipperary defeat Kilkenney 3-25 to 0-20 to win the All Ireland Hurling final.
- 19th – Philippe Coutinho joins Bayern Munich on loan from FC Barcelona.
- 21st – Franck Ribery joins Fiorentina on a free transfer.
- 24th – Team Astana win the opening team time trial as the Vuelta a Espana begins.
- 29th – Mercedes announce Valtteri Bottas will keep his seat at the team for the 2020 season.
- 29th – Renault announce Esteban Ocon will join the team in 2020 seeing Nico Hulkenberg exit.
- 29th – The daughter of Luis Enrique passes away aged nine after a battle with cancer.
- 30th – Sergio Perez renews his contract at Racing Point.
- 31st – Anthoine Hubert dies in a Formula 2 race at the Belgian Grand Prix.
September
- 1st – Ferrari’s Charles Leclec wins his first Grand Prix at a sombre Belgian Grand Prix.
- 2nd – Richard Carapaz announces he will join Team INEOS next season.
- 5th – David McGoldrick rescues a draw for Ireland at home against Switzerland in EURO 2020 qualifying.
- 6th – South African rugby legend Chester Williams dies aged 49.
- 7th – Watford sack Javi Gracia replacing him with Quique Sanchez Flores.
- 8th – Charles Leclerc delights the Ferrari tifosi with victory at the Italian Grand Prix.
- 14th – Dublin complete a historic five in a row defeating Kerry in the All Ireland Final replay.
- 15th – Jumbo-Visma’s Primoz Roglic wins the Vuelta a Espana.
- 19th – Hass retain their driver lineup of Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean for the 2020 season.
- 19th – Robert Kubica announces he will leave Williams at the end of the season.
- 20th – Hosts Japan kick off the Rugby World Cup with victory over Russia.
- 22nd – Ireland impress with victory over Scotland in their opening World Cup game.
- 22nd – Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel wins the Singapore Grand Prix.
- 23rd – Lionel Messi and Meghan Rapinoe win at the FIFA Best Awards.
- 28th – Ireland are stunned by hosts Japan at the Rugby World Cup.
- 29th – Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton wins the Russian Grand Prix.
- 29th – Mads Pedersen wins the UCI World Championships.
October
- 3rd – Ireland labour to victory over Russia.
- 10th – Super Typhoon Hagibis forces the cancellation of two Rugby World Cup games.
- 12th – Eliud Kipchoge makes history by running the first sub two-hour marathon.
- 12th – Ireland hit Samoa for seven tries to secure a quarter-final spot.
- 12th – Ireland slump to a disappointing 0-0 draw away to Georgia.
- 13th – Valtteri Bottas wins the Japanese Grand Prix as Mercedes clinch their sixth Constructor’s title.
- 15th – Ireland’s EURO 2020 campaign hits an iceberg as they lose away to Switzerland.
- 16th – Formula 1 announces plans for a race in Miami in 2021.
- 18th – El Clasico is postponed due to civil unrest in Catalonia.
- 19th – New Zealand annihilate Ireland in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
- 23rd – Renault are disqualified from the Japanese Grand Prix for the use of an illegal driver aid.
- 24th – Conor McGregor announces he will return to the UFC.
- 26th – England produce an upset defeating New Zealand to reach the Rugby World Cup Final.
- 27th – South Africa hold their never against Wales to reach the Rugby World Cup showpiece.
- 27th – Lewis Hamilton wins the Mexican Grand Prix.
- 30th – Derby County sack Richard Keogh for gross misconduct.
- 31st – Rassie Erasmus announces he will step down as coach of South Africa following the Rugby World Cup.
- 31st – Formula 1 and the FIA announce details for the 2021 season.
November
- 1st – New Zealand defeat Wales in the Rugby World Cup third place play-off.
- 2nd – South Africa stun England to win the Rugby World Cup.
- 3rd – Bayern Munich sack manager Niko Kovac.
- 3rd – Valtteri Bottas wins the US Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton claims his sixth Driver’s World Championship.
- 4th – Alfa Romeo retain Antonio Giovinazzi for the 2020 season.
- 12th – Red Bull and Toro Rosso retain their driver lineups for the 2020 season.
- 13th – Arsene Wenger takes up a new role at FIFA.
- 14th – Thierry Henry is appointed as manager at MLS side Montreal Impact.
- 17th – Max Verstappen claims victory for Red Bull at a thrilling Brazilian Grand Prix.
- 18th – Ireland can only draw with Denmark sending them into the playoffs for EURO 2020.
- 19th – Luis Enrique announces he will resume his position as manager of the Spanish national team.
- 19th – Tottenham Hotspur sack manager Mauricio Pochettino.
- 20th – Jose Mourinho is appointed as the new manager of Tottenham.
- 23rd – Flamengo produce a stunning comeback in the Copa Libertadores final to beat River Plate.
- 28th – Nicholas Latif will drive for Williams in the 2020 Formula 1 season.
- 28th – Conor McGregor will face Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone on 18 January.
- 29th – Arsenal sack manager Unai Emery.
- 30th – The EURO 2020 draw throws up some interesting ties.
December
- 1st – Watford sack manager Quique Sanchez Flores.
- 1st – Lewis Hamilton wins the final Grand Prix of the year in Abu Dhabi.
- 2nd – Lionel Messi wins a record sixth Ballon d’Or.
- 5th – Everton sack manager Marco Silva.
- 6th – Chelsea have their transfer ban reduced by CAS.
- 6th – Nigel Pearson is named the new manager of Watford.
- 9th – WADA bans Russia from the Olympic games and World Cup.
- 10th – Napoli sack manager Carlo Ancelotti.
- 11th – Gennaro Gattuso is appointed as the new manager of Napoli.
- 13th – Jurgen Klopp extends his contract with Liverpool through to 2024.
- 20th – Mikel Arteta is appointed as the new manager of Arsenal.
- 21st – Everton name Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager.
- 23rd – Charles Leclerc his Ferrari contract to 2024.
- 27th – Zlatan Ibrahimovic joins AC Milan on a free transfer.
- 28th – West Ham United sack manager Manuel Pellegrini.
- 29th – David Moyes is reappointed as manager of West Ham.
Throughout the year Marking The Spot publishes longer form articles that are related to current and historical sporting events. In case you missed these articles here they are:
- Celebrating the career of Michael Schumacher on his 50th birthday.
- Examining the eye opening insight provided by Sunderland ’till I die.
- The first in a new series exploring world football’s most exciting derbies.
- MarkingTheSpot’s Formula 1 season preview.
- Examining Barcelona’s failure in the Champions League.
- Looking back on Ajax’s magical run to the Champions League semi-finals.
- A tribute to the late Niki Lauda.
- Previewing the 2019 Copa America.
- Charting the meteoric rise of Charles Leclerc.
- The incredible story of Robert Kubica’s return to Formula 1.
2019 was a truly memorable year. In 2020 Marking The Spot will take you every step of the way as the world of sport weaves move wonderful stories.
Thank you for all your support in 2019 and I wish you all a Happy New Year.
