Sport

Cardiff City: Who could replace sacked manager Erol Bulut?

Published

3 hours ago

September 23, 2024

Cardiff City: Who could replace sacked manager Erol Bulut?

Cardiff are known to admire former Newport County manager and current Wales assistant James Rowberry, who previously worked under Neil Warnock, Neil Harris and Mick McCarthy during a lengthy coaching association with the Bluebirds.

It is thought the highly regarded 39-year-old was approached by Cardiff about returning in a coaching capacity over the summer before remaining in his role as head of elite coaching with the Football Association of Wales. Appointed to Craig Bellamy’s backroom staff only last month, it remains to be seen whether he wants to walk away from the international stage for a second crack at club management should the Bluebirds call.

Former Leeds number two Cameron Toshack is another who has had previous contact with the club, the son of club legend John and a former player himself having been the subject of interest in roles at second-tier clubs.

There have also been previous admiring glances at Freyr Alexandersson, manager of Cardiff’s Belgian ‘sister club’ KV Kortrijk.

The 41-year-old from Iceland was reported earlier this year to have had previous discussions with Cardiff’s management and had ambitions of working in British football, adding that he “would love to coach Cardiff”.

A former manager of the women’s national side in Iceland, as well as assistant with the men’s team, Alexandersson led Lyngby Boldklub to the top-flight and survival in Denmark, before saving Kortrijk from relegation having arrived with just 10 points on the board from the opening 20 games.

Cardiff owner Vincent Tan remains a significant shareholder at Kortrijk with several players having been loaned from south Wales to the Belgian team.

Closer to home, boyhood Bluebird Nathan Jones has made no secret of his desire to lead the club he served as an apprentice.

From Blaenrhondda, Jones has twice had successful spells at Luton Town either side of difficult tenures at Stoke in the Championship and Southampton in the Premier League. He is currently at League One Charlton who have made an impressive start to the new campaign and would certainly understand the desire of the club’s fanbase for a more front-foot approach to games after frustrations with the caution showed under Bulut.

Cardiff, though, are willing to consider their options as they look to both pull away from the foot of the Championship, and try and finally find the right fit for manager.

Source link

Sport

Where did it go wrong for Naismith & what's next for Hearts?

Published

5 mins ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

Where did it go wrong for Naismith & what's next for Hearts?

BBC Sport Scotland analyses the reasons behind Steven Naismith’s sacking and considers what might come next for Heart of Midlothian.

Source link

Football

WSL agrees new £45m sponsorship deal with Barclays

Published

22 mins ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

WSL agrees new £45m sponsorship deal with Barclays

A new three-year agreement has been reached with Barclays to remain the title sponsor of the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship.

The deal is understood to be in the region of £15m a year, including investment and marketing, double the previous arrangement which runs out at the end of this season.

It is the first major contract secured by the WSL’s new takeover company, Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL).

Barclays became the title sponsors in 2019 and the renewal is said to be the biggest deal in women’s domestic football.

There has been a continual increase in viewing figures and attendances across the WSL over the past few years.

WPLL chief executive Nikki Doucet said: “Barclays has been a leading light when it comes to supporting women’s football and they become a founding partner for WPLL as we embark on a transformational journey to grow the game.

“This record multi-year investment demonstrates long-term commitment and is important because it provides positive endorsement and increased support for what we are trying to accomplish.”

Barclays has also extended its partnership with the Premier League, agreeing a new four-year deal.

Source link

Sport

Australia: Tony Popovic named head coach after Graham Arnold exit

Published

48 mins ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

Australia: Tony Popovic named head coach after Graham Arnold exit

Former Crystal Palace defender Tony Popovic has been named Australia’s head coach following the resignation of Graham Arnold.

Arnold stepped down last Friday after six years in the role following a shock 1-0 home defeat against Bahrain and a draw against Indonesia in World Cup qualifying earlier in September.

Those results have left Australia fifth in the Asia standings, with only the top two teams automatically qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

The 51-year-old, who played 58 times for the Socceroos, has signed a two-year deal.

“It’s a role that comes with great responsibility, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity,” said Popovic.

“This is undoubtedly a very proud moment for myself and my family. To be entrusted with guiding our national team is a privilege I do not take lightly.”

Popovic spent five years with Crystal Palace before leaving in 2006.

He played for the Socceroos in the 2006 World Cup and has coached in Australia, Turkey and Greece since retiring in 2008.

Australia host China in Adelaide on 10 October in their next World Cup qualifier.

Source link

Sport

Weekly football quiz: Who manages Chelsea women?

Published

1 hour ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

Weekly football quiz: Who manages Chelsea women?

How closely have you been paying attention to what’s been going on over the past week in football?

Source link

Football

Mbappé

Published

1 hour ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

From Paris suburbs to the pinnacle of football, a look at a once-in-a-generation talent.

Source link

Sport

‘Mentally, physically and tactically, Arsenal show why they are a force’

Published

2 hours ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

'Mentally, physically and tactically, Arsenal show why they are a force'

It was hardly surprising that it was a set-piece that gave Arsenal the lead against City. Everyone knows how dangerous they are now, particularly at corners, but because they are so good at them, they are still very difficult to stop.

As a player, I always knew there would always be opportunities in these situations, if not for me then for one of my team-mates.

My old Newcastle boss Bobby Robson would tell us “there is always one dope who falls asleep” and we would try to pick out the opposition player who would be slow to react or forget his job.

That’s not what happened against City, though, whether for Arsenal’s first corner against them – when Gabriel escaped Jeremy Doku and headed over – or for the next one, where he got away from Kyle Walker and powered the ball into the net.

Instead, while everyone knew what Gabriel was doing and where he wanted to go, his sensational movement meant they could not stop him, and he was also only one part of Arsenal’s plan.

So many things had to happen, in a certain order and in the space of a couple of seconds, for the ball to end up in the net and I know from experience they are not easy to put together. You have to work extremely hard at all of them to make them work.

Firstly you need a precise delivery, which is what Bukayo Saka provided here, then you have to execute the block, with four Arsenal players coming in from the back post and standing in the middle of the goal, in front of Ederson, to impede him and to nudge other defenders out of the way too.

Gabriel has to time his run perfectly and come through all of that crowd and then, if he does get on the end of the cross, execute his finish correctly too. He didn’t quite manage it with his first go, but he made no mistake a few minutes later.

Source link