Eight things we're excited for this season: Mourinho returns to Real Madrid; Turkey’s star-studded title race | OneFootball

Football is officially back, and there's a whole lot to be excited about in the 2026/27 campaign.

Arsenal aim to end 92-year hoodoo

Arsenal ended a 22-year wait for Premier League title success last season, as Mikel Arteta finally got his Gunners over the line.

The North Londoners have been the Premier League's most consistent side in recent seasons, but now must attempt to do something they haven't achieved since 1935.

It's been 92 years since Arsenal last defended a title, with even Arsene Wenger's famous double winners and Invincibles falling short. Can Arsenal go to the well again?

Basque brains battle it out in the Premier League.

It's an incredible quirk that four of the leading managers in thePremier League all hail from the same, small, Spanish region.

Mikel Arteta,Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola all spent time with amateur Basque club Antiguoko, retaining close relationships as their careers progressed, and now find themselves in charge of rival Premier League giants.

A fourth Basque-born coach,Unai Emery, was raised around 14 miles away and will hope his side can again upset the established order. There's something in the Spanish water.

Jose Mourinho back at Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho might have thought his time at world football's giant clubs was done after a steady decline of his stock in recent years, but the Special One is back in the big time.

Real Madrid made the call to their former coach this summer, with Mourinho leaving Benfica for a Bernabéu return.

He inherits a Real Madrid side without a trophy in two seasons, but with an all-star cast of talent that includes Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham. With some impressive summer signings, Mourinho has all the tools needed to succeed.

Coventry City back in the big time

Coventry City are back in the Premier League after 25 years away, with Frank Lampard leading the Sky Blues to the Championship title.

Since dropping out of the top division in 2001, Coventry have entered administration, dropped all the way to the fourth tier, become homeless, before rising back up the pyramid.

It's been some journey for Coventry's fanbase, who can now look forward to the big time once again.

Como in the Champions League

Only seven years ago, Como were in the fourth tier of Italian football. This season, they'll be making theirChampions League debut. The city of the rich and famous now has a football team to be proud of, led by Cesc Fabregas and bankrolled by big investors.

Como finished above Juventus and AC Milan to secure Champions League football this season, with this the first-ever edition of the competition to feature neither of those Italian giants.

Turkish Süper Lig title tussle

TheTurkish Süper Lig has become a go-to destination for big names this summer, with favourable tax rules allowing Turkish teams to tempt talent to the division.

Mohamed Salah, Dusan Vlahovic and Romelu Lukaku have all arrived, with none of those high-profile players joining four-in-a-row champions Galatasaray. Turkey could be the title race to watch this season.

The Galacticos of London City Lionesses

If there's any side that's made noise over the summer, it's London City Lionesses. The only Women's Super League side not affiliated to a professional men's team has embarked on the most bonkers recruitment drive in football.

American businesswoman Michelle Kang has funded the capital club's ambitious plan, which saw big-name arrivals help them to sixth in the WSL last season. This time around, the title is the aim.

Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexis Putellas has been signed from an all-conquering Barcelona team, while former England number one Mary Earps will guard the goal. They're not the only new faces, for a side that means business.

Rangers' Heart transplant

One Scottish Premiership title in 15 years is a meagre total forRangers, who slipped to the unthinkable low of third place last season. In response, the Glasgow giants raided Hearts for manager Derek McInnes and top-scorer Lawrence Shankland, who had been just minutes from pipping Celtic to the title and ending a 65-year title wait before an agonising collapse.

Shankland scored 72 goals in 135 league goals for Hearts, and the boyhood Rangers fan will be determined to make his mark at Ibrox.

For McInnes, it's a step up from underdog tale to huge expectation. Scotland have slipped in UEFA's coefficient, meaning only one side now makes the Champions League. Rangers have to close the gap to Celtic.