England

Ah, Arsene. Just when they started to say you were through you go and pull this one off. Why did we ever doubt you?

They had to work damn hard for it, but Arsenal came through the victors in the 2014 FA Cup Final. A thrilling game ended 3-2 to the Gunners, despite a valiant display from underdogs Hull City. In fact, early on it was David taking it to Goliath, with Hull starting far more assured. Arsenal were perhaps nervous given the pressure on them to win this game, and the Tigers made them pay for their wooden start. Some early possession led to some dangerous set pieces and within 10 minutes, Hull were on top 2-0 thanks to scrappy goals from centre-backs James Chester and Curtis Davies. But Santi Cazorla struck back soon after with a beautiful free kick and Arsenal were well on top by half time. Eventually the pressure tolled when Koscielny slipped a loose ball past the Hull keeper McGregor and in injury time Aaron Ramsey buried the winner with a sharp finish. It was Arsenal’s first trophy in almost nine years and the team and their fans lapped up every second of it. A quarter of a million Gunners came out in force for the bus-top victory parade the next day.

Manchester United have a new manager. Louis Van Gaal was obviously going to be the man, but that cat was officially let out of the bag when it was confirmed this morning. Ryan Giggs will be his assistant, supposedly as an apprenticeship to take over in the long run. That means that Giggs has confirmed his retirement as a player effective immediately, after an incredible 963 appearances in almost 24 years. A true legend. One of the absolute greats of the modern era.

Spain

The final game of the season decided it all. Atletico Madrid travelled to Barcelona needing a win or a draw to wrap up La Liga. Diego Costa was declared fit to start for the visitors, but he would only last 15 minutes and soon after Arda Turan was forced off too. Things were already a little dicey then, and got worse when Alexi Sanchez blasted a shot past the best defence in Spain for the opening goal. 1-0 up at half time, Barcelona were 45 minutes away from being champions of Spain again. Atletico are a resilient team though. They know how to get blood from a stone. Just after the break Diego Godin headed home a corner and things were level. Both teams went out in search of a winner though there were no more goals. Atletico holding off a desperate late flurry from Barca to be crowned Los Championes de Espana for the first time since 1995/96. They’re also the first non-Clasico team to win since Valencia in 2003/04.

“Madrid is Red and White,” declared Atletico manager Diego Simeone.

Curiously, they had to celebrate without the trophy since the head of the Spanish football association was “away traveling”, and so was unable to present the trophy and obviously nobody else can do it because it’s such an important task. It’s not like it’s about the players and fans or anything. God forbid he should miss his moment in the sun. Instead the official presentation will take place at the beginning of next season.

And Barcelona have joined their former Champions League final opponents in appointing a new manager. Failing in that final game of the season was too much for Gerardo Martino, who resigned following the disappointment. Luis Enrique will take over having left Celta Vigo. He is a former Barca player and will be hoping to bring back the success that has eluded the Catalans this season after they failed to win any silverware for the first time in 6 seasons. His reign has gotten off to the perfect start with Lionel Messi agreeing to an extension that will both keep him at Barca until 2018 and also make him the highest paid player in the world. Only fair, really.

Germany

For the second year in a row Bayern Munich have completed the domestic double. They overcame Borussia Dortmund 2-0 after extra time to take home the German Cup. Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller scored the goals, following a cagey and scoreless 90 minutes. There was controversy involved, as Dortmund were certain that they’d scored the opener just after the hour mark, and replays more than suggesting that Dante’s clearance was made from beyond the line. Goal line technology and blah blah blah. All that pales in comparison to the major scandal of the night, and that was the sight of a GHOST wandering onto the pitch! Well, ghost or reflection in the camera, you make up your own mind:

Elsewhere Hamburger SV remains the only team never to have played in every season of the Bundesliga after a 1-1 draw saw them survive in their promotion/relegation playoff second leg. 

France

Think of all the pre-season tours that get taken to Asia. For obvious reasons, Asia is a huge market for some of the biggest European football clubs and Paris Saint-Germain are going to set up an academy in New Delhi. While the usual spin was put on the venture, some of it fair enough - that the academy will benefit the community, all the stuff, it's pretty clear the PSG are keen to take their brand in to a market which loves European football. India is kind of an unknown quantity however and PSG will be keen to make their jerseys the most worn in India so it's a pretty smart step.

In other news, Bordeaux have stepped up their interest in Zinedine Zidane to come in as coach. Zidane has emerged as a wanted man an Bordeaux look to be at the front of the que. Monaco are also in a wee coaching situation of their own with French media reporting that current boss Claudio Ranieri will be ousted by Leonadro Jardim. Ranieri appears to be the only person who is sure that he will stay at Monaco ... awks. Monaco have signed the one and only Dimitar Berbatov for another year though.

Italy

The main news out of Italy is that Juventus have displayed some common sense an re-signed Antonio Conte as coach. They also look set to sign perhaps their best player Andrea Pirlo with Pirlo keen to ink a 2 year deal. This will see the graceful player through to the ripe ol' age of 36. Besides that, there's not much drama out of Italy.