The appointment of Enzo Maresca as the new manager of Manchester City marks the beginning of a new era at the club. Following the departure of Pep Guardiola after a historic decade in charge, Maresca faces one of the biggest challenges in modern football.

After spending three years away from the Etihad Stadium, the Italian coach has returned on a three-year contract, tasked with maintaining the success and identity that Guardiola established during his remarkable reign.

Continuing the Guardiola Philosophy

One of the main reasons Manchester City selected Maresca is his deep understanding of Guardiola’s football philosophy. During City’s Treble-winning 2022-23 season, Maresca worked closely with Guardiola as his assistant and played an important role in tactical planning.

The 46-year-old has already made it clear that he does not intend to completely change the club’s identity.

“Probably the reason why I am here is because the club wants to maintain the same style of football and the same idea,” Maresca said after his appointment.

Fans can therefore expect City to continue playing possession-based football, dominating games through ball control, intelligent movement and tactical flexibility.

Tactical Innovation and Flexibility

Although Maresca has been heavily influenced by Guardiola, he is not simply a copy of his former mentor.

Those who worked with him during his previous spell at Manchester City describe him as a coach who is willing to experiment and develop new tactical ideas. During the Treble-winning campaign, Maresca was reportedly instrumental in the tactical adjustment that saw defender John Stones move into midfield, a strategy that proved crucial to City’s success.

His experiences under legendary managers such as Carlo Ancelotti and Marcello Lippi have also shaped his coaching philosophy, blending Italian tactical discipline with Spanish technical football.

Supporters should therefore expect a Manchester City side that remains familiar in style but with subtle tactical changes and innovations.

Strong Relationship with the Club’s Leadership

Maresca’s appointment was not a surprise within Manchester City’s hierarchy. Club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has publicly praised the Italian’s football philosophy and leadership qualities.

It is understood that outgoing sporting director Txiki Begiristain recommended Maresca as Guardiola’s long-term successor, while the former manager himself remained closely involved in discussions regarding the appointment.

This strong backing from the club’s leadership could prove vital as Maresca attempts to follow one of the greatest managers in football history.

Managing the Pressure of Following Guardiola

Perhaps Maresca’s biggest challenge will be managing expectations.

Guardiola won 20 major trophies during his decade at Manchester City, transforming the club into one of the most dominant teams in world football. Replacing such a successful manager inevitably brings enormous pressure.

However, Maresca appears to welcome that challenge.

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak believes that while many coaches would have been intimidated by the opportunity, Maresca sees it differently.

“He wants that challenge, he loves that challenge,” Khaldoon said.

Developing Young Players

Maresca’s previous spell as head coach of Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad demonstrated his ability to work with young players.

Former colleague Gareth Taylor praised Maresca’s willingness to think differently and evolve tactically, qualities that could benefit City’s next generation of academy graduates.

This could mean increased opportunities for talented young players to break into the first team while maintaining the club’s competitive standards.

A New Era Begins

While comparisons with Guardiola will be unavoidable, Manchester City’s decision-makers clearly believe that Maresca is the right person to lead the club into its next chapter.

His understanding of the club’s culture, his tactical knowledge, and his close relationship with Guardiola’s football philosophy make him a natural successor.

The challenge ahead is enormous, but if Maresca successfully combines continuity with innovation, Manchester City supporters could witness another successful era at the Etihad Stadium under their new Italian manager.

Les Mills, whose name became synonymous with one of the world’s leading fitness brands, has passed away peacefully at the age of 91.

A Kiwi icon, Mills created a fitness dynasty alongside his wife, Colleen. First through the Les Mills New Zealand chain of gyms and then through Les Mills International, the group training powerhouse started by their son Phillip and his partner Jackie, now supported by their children Diana Archer Mills and Les Mills Jnr.

Born in Auckland in 1934, Les lost his father aged 11, but found solace in fitness and physical culture. A talented athlete, he represented New Zealand at four Olympic Games, competing in the discus and shot put. 

He won Commonwealth Games gold, three silver medals and one bronze, later becoming an elite international coach and sports administrator.

In 1953, he married Colleen Maree – herself a world-class track and field athlete – and the pair embarked on several business ventures together before uniting their passion for sport and commerce to launch the Les Mills World of Fitness gym in Auckland in 1968.

This became a successful chain, built on the ethos that the purpose of a gym is to help people ‘fall in love with fitness’.

Later, he entered politics, serving three terms as Mayor of Auckland City in the 1990s, where he led reforms to strengthen communities and improve infrastructure, as well as regenerate the heart of the city and its waterfront with bold development projects. He also promoted and enhanced sporting opportunities in the city during what he called “eight fabulous years”.

After leaving politics, Les continued to coach athletes, help grow the family businesses and support charity initiatives. 

In 2002, he was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours, being appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to local government and sport. This followed an earlier 1973 Queen’s Birthday Honours appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to sport.

In 2022, together with Phillip and Jackie Mills, he was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.

Phillip Mills, founder and managing director of Les Mills International, says of his father: “He achieved a huge amount in his life and the common thread throughout – whether in fitness, politics or family life – was that he always wanted to help others.

“Dad was immensely strong, driven and always cared deeply for the less advantaged. He left a lasting impression on everyone he met, and his spirit lives on in gym workouts around the world, continuing to help people fall in love with fitness.”

Having lost Colleen in 2005, Les is survived by his children Phillip Mills and Donna Mills McArtney, daughter-in-law Jackie Mills, grandchildren Diana Archer Mills, Les Mills Jnr, Gabriel and Moana Mills McArtney and many great-grandchildren.

Listen to Les Mills in his own words here.

Liz Terry, editor of HCM, says: “Les Mills was one of the most influential figures in the history of fitness.

“An Olympian, Commonwealth champion, entrepreneur and civic leader, he transformed a single gym in Auckland into the foundation of what became one of the world’s most successful fitness brands.

“Today, Les Mills International delivers group exercise programmes to more than 20,000 clubs in over 100 countries, reaching millions of participants every week.

“Although the company that bears his name was founded and built by his son, Phillip and daugher-in-law Jackie, Les contributed the vision, values and competitive spirit that made it possible.

“His life traced the evolution of fitness from a niche pursuit to a global movement.

“He was one of New Zealand’s greatest field athletes. Standing 1.88 metres tall and weighing more than 120kg while in competition, he combined immense power with exceptional athleticism. 

“Les represented New Zealand at four Olympic Games – Rome in 1960, Tokyo in 1964, Mexico City in 1968 and Munich in 1972 – competing in the shot put and discus. He served twice as New Zealand’s flagbearer and also won five Commonwealth Games medals, including gold in the discus in Kingston in 1966.

“His wife, Colleen Mills, and their children Phillip and Donna, were also accomplished international athletes, creating one of New Zealand’s most remarkable sporting families. 

“In 1968, while still competing internationally, he opened a gym in central Auckland. At the time, the idea of ordinary people training with weights was far from mainstream. Gyms were associated with elite athletes and bodybuilders, rather than with the general public, but Les believed resistance training and structured exercise could improve the health and confidence of anyone.

“That conviction proved transformative. The club became a hub for innovation and grew into a chain of gyms bringing world-class fitness opportunities to New Zealand. 

“His entrepreneurial instincts were matched by a belief that physical activity could be a force for social change, and from 1990 to 1998 he served as Mayor of Auckland, bringing huge energy to public life.

“He oversaw a period of development that included major civic and infrastructure projects and the development of sports facilities and programmes.

“He was a man of formidable presence, deep integrity, relentless drive and great kindness and curiosity, who never stopped working to improve the world. He demanded excellence but inspired loyalty and affection in equal measure. 

“The global success of the Les Mills brands, from Bodypump to Bodycombat and from Les Mills Yoga to Les Mills Ceremony, rests on the foundations he laid: athletic credibility, innovation and a commitment to helping people live healthier lives.

“Few individuals have shaped the modern fitness industry as profoundly as Les Mills, who turned sporting discipline into a business philosophy, inspiring the company that bears his name.

“He leaves behind a legacy measured not only in medals and achievements, but also in the millions of people whose lives have been changed through exercise.”

RIP Leslie Roy Mills CNZM MBE 1 November 1934 – 29 June 2026

HCM will add more tributes as they are made. To make a contribution, please email [email protected].

Read more about Les Mills International in HCM here.

The tension in the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) Forbidden Door main event was palpable. Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland in the Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament final with a shot at the AEW World Championship on the line at All In.

Ospreay vowed to live up to his dream of competing at Wembley Stadium in London. Strickland was hoping to play the spoiler in order to get the AEW world title back around his waist. The match would be a bloody affair between two of the top stars in the company.

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Will Ospreay hits Swerve Strickland during a match at AEW Forbidden Door on June 28, 2026 (AEW)

Strickland knew what the gameplan was. He needed to slow Ospreay’s attack down to a snail’s pace and bring the match to him rather than trying to match the agility of his opponent. For the most part, he curtailed Ospreay’s attack. But as the match wore on, the hits got harder, both men were bleeding and one man had his hand raised in the end.

Both men gave it their all. With blood dripping down their faces, Osprey and Strickland stared each other down in the ring. Ospreay had The Death Riders cheering him on at ringside while Strickland had Prince Nana in his corner. It was coming down to the end.

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Swerve Strickland hits the House Call on Will Ospreay at AEW Forbidden Door on June 29, 2026. (AEW)

Strickland hit the House Call but the strength in Ospreay’s neck appeared to take the hit. With all his might, Osprey ramped back up and hit Strickland with a Hidden Blade and a lariat Hidden Blade but Strickland kicked out of the pin.

Ospreay hit a Paradigm Shift, a Death Rider and a Tiger Driver. Finally, he was able to get the pin on Strickland. Ospreay is going to All In.

The Death Riders were in shock as they joined Ospreay in celebration in the ring.

Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland compete in a wrestling match at AEW Forbidden Door in San Jose, Calif., on June 29, 2026. (Lee South/AEW)

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If All In was tomorrow, Ospreay would be facing MJF for the AEW World Championship on Aug. 30. There’s still a lot of time for that opponent to change but for now Ospreay has his sights set on MJF.

Carl Froch has revealed who he believes would have come out on top in a fantasy match-up between super-middleweight rivals Joe Calzaghe and Andre Ward.

Froch has history with both men for different reasons, having had plenty of bad blood with Calzaghe over the years despite never sharing the ring with the Welshman.

He did happen to face Ward though, suffering a points defeat to the American when they met in the final of the Super Six World Boxing Classic back in 2011.

Calzaghe and Ward are regarded as two of the best ever operators at 168lbs, and both have the distinct honour of having ended their professional careers unbeaten.

With that in mind, Froch was asked on his YouTube channel to break down a potential match-up between the two legends, with ‘The Cobra’ first explaining what he would want to see happen.

“That would have been one hell of an interesting fight. I’d have liked to have seen Joe Calzaghe set about Andre Ward and beat him on points. Slap him up and get him out of there because Ward’s style is annoying but effective.

“He’s very good at what he does. He knows how to win but he’s not a fan favourite. It’s not a good style to watch, he knows what to do to win but he ducks low below the waist, he holds on and gets his head on your chest. He ties you up.”

Despite what he wanted to see, Froch conceded that he thinks Ward would have actually been victorious.

“It would have been a great fight but I’ve probably got to say that Andre Ward doesn’t know how to lose. I think he would have beat Joe Calzaghe. It would have been one hell of a fight, it would have been close, but I pick Andre Ward to win that one.”

Ward had 32 professional fights in total, and he once named which fighter hit him the hardest in his career.

India’s campaign at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 ended with another group-stage exit, but Harmanpreet Kaur’s team still had something to take away from the tournament. Despite losing to Australia by six wickets in their final Group A match and missing out on the semifinals, India secured a place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games through the ICC’s qualification system.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday announced the qualification pathway for cricket’s return to the Olympics after 128 years. The men’s and women’s T20 competitions at Los Angeles 2028 will each feature six teams.

India qualified as the highest-placed eligible team from Asia at the Women’s T20 World Cup. Although Harmanpreet Kaur’s side did not reach the knockout stage, they finished ahead of every other Asian team in the tournament, which earned them the continent’s only automatic Olympic spot.

Six teams will compete in each of the men’s and women’s events.

“The ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 has confirmed the first participants for LA28, with Australia, Great Britain (via England), India and South Africa qualifying by virtue of being the highest-placed eligible finishers from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Those places were capped at one per continent,” ICC said in a release on Monday.

The fifth place in the competition, in both women and men category, could go to hosts USA, provided they move into the top 15 of the ICC T20I rankings at any point between June 30 and December 31, 2026. If the USA do not achieve that ranking, the place will go to the highest-ranked non-qualified team in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings as of March 1, 2027.

In the men’s competition, if the USA do not meet the required ranking criteria, the fifth automatic qualification place will be given to the next highest-ranked team from any continent that has not already qualified by December 31, 2026.

The sixth and final Olympic place in both the men’s and women’s events will be decided through the first ICC Olympics Qualifier, which will be held in 2027.

The ICC also explained how qualification will work for the West Indies. Since the West Indies represent multiple Caribbean nations as one ICC member and are not recognised as a single IOC National Olympic Committee (NOC), they cannot compete at the Olympic Games or earn a direct Olympic quota.

However, if the West Indies men’s or women’s team finish among the eight highest-ranked non-qualified teams by December 31, 2026, a separate Caribbean qualifying tournament will be held to decide which National Olympic Committee from the region will represent the Caribbean at the ICC Olympics Qualifier.

What’s the qualifying criteria for men’s category?

The USA are eligible for an automatic place as hosts, but only if they break into the top 15 of the ICC Men’s T20I rankings at any time between June 30 and December 31, 2026.

The remaining automatic places will go to the highest-ranked eligible teams from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania in the ICC Men’s T20I rankings on December 31, 2026, with only one team qualifying directly from each continent.

The sixth and final spot will be decided through the ICC Olympics Qualifier 2027, an eight-team tournament that will determine the last team to reach the Los Angeles Games.

Ryan Garcia has offered his prediction for a potential clash between Vergil Ortiz Jr and Jaron Ennis, following the latter’s seventh-round stoppage of Xander Zayas.

‘Boots’ became a two-weight unified champion on Saturday, dethroning Zayas with a star-making performance in New York.

Ennis was considered a clear pre-fight favourite but, even so, there was no shortage of world-class quality as he claimed the WBO and WBA titles at 154lbs.

Zayas, to his credit, enjoyed spells of success – particularly in round three – but was ultimately pulled out by his corner after suffering a third knockdown.

As a result, ‘Boots’ has now cemented himself as one of the leading operators at super-welterweight, along with fellow champions Sebastian Fundora and Josh Kelly.

Rather than collecting another world title, though, many are eager to see the 29-year-old face top contender Ortiz in an all-American showdown.

The pair have been on a collision course since their early professional days, leading them into deep negotiations for a clash this past April.

Talks collapsed, however, after Ortiz initiated legal proceedings against Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy, with the 28-year-old now finally looking set to return later this year.

Offering his thoughts on a possible Ennis fight, WBC champion Garcia wrote in a since-deleted social media post that Ortiz would win inside the distance.

“Vergil by stoppage. Book that fight.”

Given that Ortiz has not fought since his second-round finish over Erickson Lubin in November, the Texan is likely to afford himself a tune-up fight before challenging ‘Boots’.

Kirk Cousins experienced six productive seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, starting in 2018 with a free-agent contract and ending in 2023 with an Achilles tendon tear. The Las Vegas Raiders now employ him, and Cousins recently revealed that Las Vegas’s OTAs were the most productive he’s ever encountered.

While the comment wasn’t thoroughly insulting, it painted current Vikings skipper Kevin O’Connell in a negative light.

Kubiak Connection Puts Cousins’ Vikings Years Back under the Microscope

Cousins on Raiders OTAs

Cousins chatted with Rich Eisen last week, commenting on OTAs: “I told him after OTAs, ‘Coach, this is probably the most urgent and most productive OTAs I’ve ever been a part of.’ That starts with him as a head coach.”

“He created a sense of urgency from Day One, all the way through the 10-week program, and I thought we got a lot of work done. We’ve got a long ways to go, but we laid a good foundation.”

By implication, the statements made Cousins’s OTAs in Washington, Minnesota, and Atlanta look bad.

Well, What Type of Operations Are the Vikings Running?

It certainly isn’t bad or wrong for Cousins to compliment Kubiak for finely-tuned OTAs. In fact, for Las Vegas’s sake, it’s great.

But one must wonder: what is Kubiak, a first-time head coach and former Vikings offensive coordinator, doing that O’Connell and other coaches from Cousins’ past are not? Is he conducting a more serious schedule? Is it more relaxed and hence more enjoyable?

If anything, Cousins should be confused by Kubiak’s OTAs — they should be inferior to O’Connell’s because it’s Kubiak’s first crack at them. Yet, that isn’t the case. Kubiak already has the special sauce.

Cousins’s Outlook in Las Vegas

The Raiders signed Cousins for one central reason: to patch over rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza when he’s ready. Las Vegas used the first overall pick in the draft on Mendoza from Indiana. No matter what, he’ll be under center before too long.

However, the Raiders want to take the transition slowly. They believe in the benefit of watching and learning, meaning Cousins will probably take the first snaps on offense for Kubiak in September. He could even be the starter for most of 2026. Since Cousins left Minnesota in 2024 free agency, he’s encountered ups and downs, added by the Atlanta Falcons to be their QB1 solution but cast aside six weeks later after the shocking draft selection of Michael Penix Jr.

In Las Vegas, Cousins hopes to keep Mendoza on the bench for one season and maybe even author a playoff trip that has eluded him since 2022.

He’ll attempt the feat with a suspect group of playmakers, which include Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers at tight end — and that’s about it. The Raiders have one of the NFL’s worst wide receiving corps, featuring Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech, and Tre Tucker. Oofta.

Vikings OTAs Considered a Success in 2026

In Minnesota, OTAs are complete, and all attention has shifted to training camp in four weeks. The Vikings continue to promote and highlight their oft-advertised quarterback battle between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy, while also providing encouraging injury updates on rookies Caleb Banks and Christian Darrisaw. Both men are trending to be ready for training camp.

New Vikings playmakers also moved the needle, including veteran wideout Jauan Jennings — who is apparently a “dirtbag,” but in a good way, according to Murray — rookie running back Demond Claiborne and wide receiver Dillon Bell.

Las Vegas is expected to win six or seven games this season. Blogging Dirty‘s Jason Kandel spoke lowly of Cousins last weekend, noting, “Don’t let his 5-3 record as a starter in 2025 fool you. The four-time Pro Bowler couldn’t do anything. He was a statue in the pocket, and if the bar was ‘be a better fit for Zac Robinson’s offense than Penix’, that’s not a tough bar to clear.”

“Falcons Cousins was nothing like the guy we saw in Minnesota. And Raiders are primed to learn the same lesson the Falcons did. As a short-term bridge starter he’s okay, but Kubiak has made it clear they wouldn’t mind starting him for most of 2026. He’s a good mentor for Mendoza, but he leaves a lot to be desired as a placeholder given his signs of age.”

Cousins has always been a divisive creature.

Kandel concluded, “While the Raiders have some pieces in place, the fact of the matter is that Kirk Cousins isn’t all that great anymore. He’s slow, turnover-prone, and playing behind a bad offensive line. If an elite Falcons offense couldn’t save him, nothing will. He should embrace being a backup and slowly phase out.”

Cousins will turn 38 in August.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Miami football isn’t back yet, but it’s close

Plenty of discussion last winter was reserved for dissecting if the Miami Hurricanes were, in fact, back. For as the much of The U being back has been a topic, predating the 2025 Hurricanes’ run to the National Championship Game, what being back actually means can have vastly different definitions.

Surely, had Miami knocked off an unbeaten Indiana — and the Hurricanes came a Jamari Sharpe interception away from doing just that — it would have constituted The U being back. Right?

Well…

Miami’s run to the finale of last season’s College Football Playoff was remarkable; so, too, was it taking Indiana to the wire in a 27-21 classic, with the Hurricanes playing the Hoosiers closer than most of the national champions’ competition in the 2025 campaign.

That run was also unprecedented in the history of college football. Of course, there have been only two instances in which a team like Miami, which went 10-2 in the regular season and missed its own conference championship game, could win a national championship in such fashion.

The 2025 Hurricanes capitalized on the opportunities afforded them by a much different landscape than that which existed during the program’s roughly 20-year heyday, and that’s commendable. But it’s not comparable to that heyday, unofficially spanning from 1983 when the late legend Howard Schnellenberger coached The U to its first championship and ending on Ohio State’s improbable win in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.

Incredibly, as we head into the silver anniversary of Miami’s last national championship, it’s been almost as long since a Hurricanes team won a conference title. That came in 2003, the program’s final season in the Big East, when The U shared the crown with West Virginia (albeit having survived a 22-20 struggle with the Mountaineers in the head-to-head matchup).

For context, Miami’s conference championship drought is going on five years longer than the span between its first national championship and last.

As a program-first ACC title continued to elude Miami, with losses to Louisville and SMU instead landing Virginia and Duke in Charlotte, the Hurricanes’ 2025 postseason run isn’t in the same category as the 2001 title won in dominant fashion by arguably the most talented collegiate roster ever assembled.

It’s not the 1987 or 1991 crowns when Miami ran the table, nor is it 1983 and 1989 when the Hurricanes rallied from regular-season losses to in-state rivals to finish on top. But 2025 could be the foundation on which Miami is back.

Although none of the 2026 Hurricanes when Miami was Miami, the mystique never faded. Running back Mark Fletcher Jr., Offensive MVP of last year’s Cotton Bowl, offered commentary on Adam Breneman’s “Next Up” podcast to this end:

“’Ive seen how great Miami was, seen the great players that they’ve had, and I could help Miami at least a little closer to that, and I’ve got one more year to do it,” Fletcher said. “I would love to do that.”

Fletcher and wide receiver Malachi Toney, both products of South Florida (Fort Lauderdale and Miami’s Liberty City), provide the 2026 Hurricanes with one of the nation’s most potent skill-position combos. And while Miami has no ACC championship experience, its quarterback does.

Adding ACC Championship Game MVP and the conference’s passing yards leader a season ago, Darian Mensah, sets up the Hurricane offense nicely. A key transfer likewise provides the pillar for Miami’s 2026 title outlook on defense, with Damon Wilson II coming to Coral Gables off of a nine-sack season at Missouri.

There’s plenty to like about Miami’s chances of returning to past glory in 2026 — and doing so in a fashion that unambiguously declares the Hurricanes as being back by any definition.