OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has reportedly rejected the chance to return to management.

The Norweigian has been out of work since being sacked by Manchester United in 2021.

2

2

Advertisement

Solskjaer, 51, earned the full time job at Old Trafford after a stint as interim manager in 2018.

However, despite a promising start, he was axed after two and a half seasons.

Solskjaer has now been offered the chance to take over the Denmark national team.

Tipsbladet reported that he was approached over the vacant role following Kasper Hjulmand’s exit.

However, it is believed that Solskjaer rejected the chance to have an interview with the Danish FA.

Had he accepted the position, then he would have had the opportunity to coach current Red Devils Rasmus Hojlund and Christian Eriksen.

The report claims that it is because he is already in “negotiations with a major club” over the head coach role.

Solskjaer has recently admitted that he would accept a role back at Old Trafford if the opportunity arose.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS

He told media: “If the family [United] asks, I would say yes every day of the week.

“It feels wrong to talk about jobs that other people have now, but I would say yes, of course.”

The Red Devils currently have Erik ten Hag in the dugout, although he faces an uncertain future.

The Dutchman has come under pressure from fans and the Old Trafford hierarchy due to the terrible start to the season.

Ten Hag was the full-time replacement for Solskjaer after Ralf Rangnick‘s interim spell ended in the summer after the 2020/21 season.

In their latest Nations League fixture Northern Ireland will take on Belarus in Hungary on Saturday, the neutral venue the result of Uefa restrictions on the hosts. Fifty years ago, it was Northern Ireland playing in homes away from home with no international football staged in Belfast between October 1971 and April 1975. BBC Sport NI looks back on the side’s nomadic years.

Sammy McIlroy still vividly remembers what it was like to see George Best in the flesh for the first time.

While the two would later become Manchester United and Northern Ireland team-mates, for a 13-year-old to watch the soon-to-be Ballon d’Or winner against Scotland at Windsor Park in October 1967 was “absolutely mesmerising”.

“To this day I can still see things George did with the ball,” remembers the midfielder who went on to win 88 Northern Ireland caps before managing his country.

“I’ll never forget it. The crowd, the atmosphere, it was electric.

“I’d never seen anything like that, a player with the ball tied to his boots. It just made me want to go back home and get the ball out on the street.”

It would be a rare privilege soon denied to the people of Northern Ireland.

By the time of McIlroy’s own international debut against Spain in a Euro ’72 qualifier just five years later, Northern Ireland were the “home” team in a game staged at Hull City’s Boothferry Park, an arrangement enabled by Terry Neill being the player-manager of both sides.

The early 1970s provided the bloodiest years of the Troubles, the name given colloquially to the decades-long sectarian conflict in the country and, after a 1-1 draw against the USSR in October 1971, Northern Ireland was deemed unsafe to host international football.

“To be honest, I was devastated it wasn’t in Belfast,” says McIlroy of the 1-1 draw with Spain, the first of 18 consecutive fixtures played outside of Northern Ireland.

“I was delighted to play, to make my debut for Northern Ireland, it just took the gloss off it that it wasn’t in Belfast in front of my home fans. That was very, very sad.”

During the following years Northern Ireland would play in front of a small mix of expats and curious locals, using Goodison Park, Highfield Road, Hillsborough and Craven Cottage just to fulfil their World Cup ’74 qualifying fixtures, as well as those in the British Home Nations Championship.

By Kostas Lianos, Digital Sports Reporter

IT was back in 2019 when Greece legend Vasilis Torosidis – the heir to Euro 2004 hero Giourkas Seitaridis – retired from international duty after 101 caps.

A giant void was left behind at right-back, many talented players tried to step up – and none of them could fill those big boots.

But, soon enough, I started to hear whispers about a Premier League ace with Greek heritage who’s a starter week-in and week-out…

That was none other than George Baldock, born in Buckingham on March 9, 1993, to English parents but qualified for Greece through his grandmother.

And what a season he was having. The right-back starred for Sheffield United as they surprised the Prem in the 2019-20 campaign – their first in 12 years – by finishing in the top half of the table.

Baldock was among their standout players as he registered a staggering 3,420 minutes played – the joint highest along with the likes of Declan Rice and Virgil van Dijk.

The defender was keen to make the big step to the international stage with his grandmother’s homeland – and it didn’t take long until he shook hands with the Greek football federation (EPO) chiefs.

However, a long and arduous paperwork slog stood in the way – with the then Sheffield United star claiming Covid-19 and Brexit slowed things down.

Greece finally got the right-back they were begging for for years as Baldock made his debut on June 2, 2022 in a Nations League clash at Northern Ireland as a late substitute.

It didn’t take long until the English-born ace owned the right flank at the back and impressive performances followed.

Perhaps none compare to the Euro 2024 qualifier against France in June 2023 when Baldock did the unthinkable and kept Kylian Mbappe quiet for 104 MINUTES, despite being injured and playing through “unimaginable” pain.

I still remember speaking to then-Greece manager Gus Poyet about his player’s stunning performance, and I will never forget the big smile the Chelsea legend had on his face.

Poyet reminded me of a proud father as he took me through the injury hell the full-back endured before squaring up against perhaps the world’s best player for his country.

A beaming Poyet told me: “Against the Republic of Ireland [three days beforehand] – and now that it is finished I can say it – after 20 minutes he had a very bad twist in his ankle, very bad. He was very close to come out. I asked him, ‘Can you hold until half-time?’

“At half-time his ankle was very, very swollen. He asked for a strapping and he asked me for five minutes. Give me five minutes and we’ll let you know. And he had an unbelievable second half running up and down and being outstanding.

“You don’t imagine the ankle after the game. You don’t imagine the ankle the day after, after the flight to France. Black and blue – swollen. And a day-and-a-half later you need to play against Mbappe.

“Ninety per cent of people will think, no chance. And I keep talking to him, individually. And he keeps saying to me, ‘Coach I’m gonna be there no worries’.

“And he didn’t play 20 minutes, he didn’t play 60 minutes, he played 104 minutes because the referee gave 14 minutes of injury time against Mbappe.”

It’s easy to understand how loyal Baldock was to every team he ever played for during his 15-year career, just by looking at his stats.

The Greek ace started his career at MK Dons in 2009 where he amassed a staggering 125 appearances throughout an eight-year stint that also saw him playing on loan for Northampton Town, Tamworth, IBV and Oxford United.

The defender joined Sheffield United in 2017 and registered a whopping 219 appearances in seven years that also saw him helping his team achieve two Premier League promotions.

Baldock’s work ethic and commitment was no different in Greece as he proudly stated two years ago: “To play for the national side is a great honour and a lot of pride involved for me and my family.

“Representing my country through my late grandmother, it’s a very proud moment for me and my family. I love the country and I will fight for every success”

Baldock never played for England at any level, but he always competed like a lion and he proved it on Sunday in his last ever match when he started for Panathinaikos, whom he joined in the summer, against eternal rivals Olympiacos in perhaps the most intense derby in Europe.

He served his team with honour as he helped them pick up a valuable point in a goalless draw against their in-form foes, who had just played their best game of the season with a 3-0 win over Braga in the Europa League a few days earlier.

He only managed 12 caps for Greece before his sudden and tragic death at the age of 31 on Wednesday in Athens.

But his fighting spirit and charisma at right-back with the white and blue, as well as his remarkable run in the Premier League and the Championship, show that he is leaving a legacy behind for many Greek and English fans to look up to.

Katie McCabe says Arsenal are “envious” of Women’s Super League title rivals Chelsea because of their continued success in the top flight.

The Gunners take on the seven-time champions at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

“It always hurts [seeing Chelsea lift title]. You want that to be you. You are in a team sport to be lifting trophies with your team-mates,” said McCabe.

“Of course you are envious of them being successful. What we can do is focus on ourselves and put one foot in front of the other. Hopefully, by the end of the season, that will be us.”

Arsenal sit sixth in the WSL with five points, one point behind Chelsea in second, who have also played one game fewer.

Chelsea’s league match against Manchester United was set to be played on Sunday, 6 October but was postponed because of a conflict with the Blues’ European schedule.

It means Sonia Bompastor’s side had a weekend off before playing in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Saturday’s match will be Arsenal’s third in seven days.

But McCabe said Arsenal “relish” competing in all competitions and have the squad depth to tackle such a busy schedule.

“You want to be playing a lot of games,” the Republic of Ireland captain said.

“Of course five games in 15 days is a lot but that is the beauty of playing in a big squad as well, the strength in depth that we have. If the manager needs to rotate we know anyone can come in and do a good job.

“It is a challenge that we look at and relish rather than shying away from it.”

Arsenal have indeed strengthened in recent seasons, signing big names such as England striker Alessia Russo and Spanish World Cup winner Mariona Caldentey, as well as keeping hold of experienced players like McCabe.

But the Gunners have not lifted the WSL title in five years and have finished third in the last two seasons, meaning they have had to jump extra hurdles in order to qualify for the Champions League group stages.

Jonas Eidevall’s side came through two rounds of qualifying this season to reach the group stage, where they will meet Bayern Munich, Juventus and Valerenga.

“We have always been looking to build each season, and we did that in the window, but most importantly kept the same core group of the squad that has been there for a long time and understand the ins and outs of the club,” added McCabe.

Despite Chelsea’s dominance when it comes to lifting the league title, Arsenal did beat them in last year’s League Cup final and secured an impressive 4-1 WSL victory over the Blues at the Emirates.

“We take those moments as positives and bring it in and really instil that winning mentality into the team,” said McCabe.

“We already did it last year, so it’s not a new thing for us. It is about controlling ourselves, controlling our game plan and what we want to do in the game and applying it. And going in with the right attitude of course.”

ARSENAL suffered a major blow as Bukayo Saka was forced off with injury just six minutes into the second half of England’s clash with Greece this evening.

After feeling an issue, the winger limped off and was replaced by Noni Madueke.

6

6

Advertisement

6

Prior to Saka being replaced, Greece had just taken the lead via Vangelis Pavlidis.

It appeared that the Arsenal talisman, 23, sustained his injury in the build-up to Greece’s goal.

As Greek stars celebrated going in front, Saka sat down on the turf.

He was subsequently treated by physios, before limping off.

Anthony Gordon looked to console his Three Lions team-mate as he made his way off for Madueke.

Saka was one of several attacking players included in caretaker boss Lee Carsley‘s starting line-up.

Also in the XI were Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Gordon – with Carsley opting not to start a traditional No9.

Prior to half-time, Saka received a yellow card.

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

6

6

Advertisement

The Gunners winger committed a cynical foul as Greece looked to counter, and was punished accordingly.

Saka isn’t the first Arsenal player to suffer an injury on international duty this season.

Last month, Gunners skipper Martin Odegaard went off in tears after sustaining an ankle issue while playing for Norway against Austria.

He has since missed games against Tottenham, Manchester City, Leicester and Southampton – as well as Champions League match-ups with Atalanta and Paris Saint-Germain.

Odegaard, 25, recently shared footage of himself stepping up his recovery.

But his return date is not yet known.

6