For John McArdle, the Victoria Handicap represents a pathway to a winter campaign rich in wet-track suits for El Rocko, with an enhanced performance anticipated from the free-rolling gelding on Saturday.
Second start this preparation comes for the seven-year-old Fastnet Rock progeny in the Group 3 1400-metre feature at Caulfield.
The rain-loving miler unplaced last at Caulfield first-up March 21 in the 1200-metre event on a Good surface, yet McArdle explained that the race didn’t unfold ideally for him.
“He needed the run and blew out on the dry track, but he looked as though he was going to hold his gallop and then he got bumped pretty hard,” McArdle said.
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“For a horse as big as he is he’s a bit of a coward and when he got the bump he put the cue in the rack.
“He’ll head towards the Victoria Handicap and then probably back up the week later in the Vase.”
El Rocko secured the Sale Cup and third in the Seymour Cup at 1600m last time out, across 17 starts spanning February 1 to November 23’s Kilmore Cup.
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Aim of the gelding’s opening runs this prep is to forge fitness levels that prepare El Rocko for wet opportunities through winter.
McArdle indicated post-Caulfield, El Rocko might target the Group 3 Cummings Stakes (1600m) Morphettville May 9 or New South Wales races after The Championships.
“If it rains somewhere, he’ll go there,” McArdle said.
“We give him a few runs to get him fit then just take him where there’s rain.”
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El Rocko is nominated among 29 for the Victoria Handicap, topped by Group 1 winners Here To Shock and Desert Lightning as likely foes.
Caulfield’s Saturday Group 3 action includes the Victoria Handicap and the Easter Cup (2000m), with 28 entries like Bankers Choice, Immediacy, Plymouth, Benagil and Chris Waller’s New Zealand runner Doctor Askar.
For the best Victoria Handicap value, visit trusted betting sites and racing odds.
Rhea Ripley shared a heartfelt reaction to a personal moment with Bianca Belair at WWE WrestleMania 42. Ripley won a major title match at the biggest show of the year over the weekend.
Bianca Belair returned during Night 1 of WrestleMania 42 to make a huge announcement. The former champion made a surprise appearance at The Show of Shows to announce that she was pregnant.
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Belair and the 29-year-old then had a heartfelt backstage interaction after her appearance, and the two stars shared a hug. Ripley reacted to her backstage moment with Belair today on her Instagram story with a heart emoji, and you can check it out in the image below.
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Ripley shared a heartfelt message today (Source: Rhea Ripley on Instagram)
Bianca Belair has not competed in a match since WWE WrestleMania 41. She has missed over a year of action due to a hand injury suffered in the Triple Threat match against IYO SKY and Ripley last year on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
Rhea Ripley won the Women’s Elimination Chamber match to earn a title match against Jade Cargill at WrestleMania 42. Ripley defeated The Storm at the PLE to become the new WWE Women’s Champion.
Rhea Ripley opens up about using social media as a WWE Superstar
WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley recently discussed how difficult it was to use social media as a public figure.
Speaking on Pod Meets World, The Eradicator opened up about the negativity she experiences on social media. Ripley stated that she needed to delete Twitter because all she sees are negative comments about herself when she uses the social media app.
“It’s really hard going on to Twitter. I need to delete that. It’s really hard going on and trying to make it a work environment. But then because it is a work environment, I get all these things coming up on my ‘For You’ page. As soon as I click on the app, it’s just negativity towards me,” she said.
Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY had a brief reign as Women’s Tag Team Champions earlier this year. SKY was not booked for a match at WrestleMania but did get involved in Ripley’s match against Cargill at WWE WrestleMania.
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B-Fab and Michin both attacked the challenger, but Sky made the save. Ripley connected with Riptide on Cargill to become champion, and it will be interesting to see what the promotion has planned for her title reign moving forward.
Manchester United are reportedly tracking a Real Madrid star as they draw up a shortlist to replace Casemiro, who will depart Old Trafford this summer
Aurelien Tchouameni features prominently on Manchester United’s shortlist of candidates to replace Casemiro.
It has long been reported that United’s priority this summer is to revamp their midfield, and the Telegraph is reporting the France international is being eyed as a replacement for Casemiro, who will leave the club when his contract expires in the summer. However, the report also claims that the midfielder’s future at the Santiago Bernabeu could hinge on whether Rodri leaves Manchester City this summer.
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Rodri, whose contract expires at the end of next season, threw his City future into doubt last month when he said, “You can’t turn down the best clubs in the world” after being asked about the prospect of joining Real. But since then, Pep Guardiola has claimed that the Spain international will sign a new deal with City, though he also wouldn’t stand in the midfielder’s way if the La Liga giants came calling.
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Tchouameni is contracted until 2028, but reports from Spain in recent weeks have indicated that Real are also willing to listen to offers for his club and international team-mate, Eduardo Camavinga, as an alternative route to raise funds.
The 26-year-old, who has won the Champions League and La Liga during his four years at Madrid, recently opened up on his struggles at the Santiago Bernabeu over the past couple of seasons.
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He said: “I was made a scapegoat. In the first 10-20 minutes, the stadium was booing every time I touched the ball.
“That situation either destroys you, or you think, “That’s just how it is,’ let’s see what I can control, and the only thing I can control is my performance.
“The level of pressure at Real Madrid is something different. People are going to talk about everything you do, whether it’s good or bad.”
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The report from the Telegraph also claims that United want to sign at least two midfielders this summer, but could even look to bring in a third should Manuel Ugarte leave.
Both City and United are also monitoring Elliot Anderson’s progress before a potential summer move for the £100million-rated Nottingham Forest star.
Since joining Forest from Newcastle United in the summer of 2024, the 23-year-old has established himself as one of the best young midfielders in the Premier League.
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are also believed to be keen on signing Anderson this summer, but a two-way battle between City and United is expected to take place.
But as recently reported, Guardiola’s side are believed to be right at the front of the queue to sign Anderson, who is expected to leave the City Ground this summer, regardless of whether Forest avoid relegation or not.
Adam Wharton has also been linked with a move to United after impressing for Crystal Palace.
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
Will Wade’s second tenure as LSU’s coach is off to an inauspicious beginning as the Tigers enter his fourth week on the job without a single public commitment for their 2026-27 roster. LSU is the only high-major team that did not have a player in the fold as of Monday, which leaves Wade and his staff with significant work to do at a point when many of the sport’s top free agents have already announced their destinations.
Though Wade and McNeil have a preexisting relationship from this past season at NC State, North Carolina has also been in contact with McNeil, who has not ruled out a return to NC State.
It’s no surprise to see that Wade isn’t stocking up on former NC State players after he was critical of the Wolfpack’s 2025-26 roster amid a 20-14 campaign defined by late-season struggles and a First Four exit from the NCAA Tournament. But it is surprising to see the Tigers without a single commitment as Wade approaches one month on the job.
Acquiring talent has never been a problem for Wade, who is now in his sixth head coaching tenure at just 43 years old. This roster construction will be different though. It will require a high-wire act to assemble a competitive team from the narrowing amount of top-level talent ahead of Tuesday’s deadline for players to enter the transfer portal.
Here are the updated progress reports for all the high-major coaches in new jobs.
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A lot of work left
LSU (Will Wade)
We are talking about Will Wade here. Typically, talent acquisition would be the least of your worries with Wade at the helm. But so far, it’s been quiet in terms of actual commitments. It will be interesting to see what Wade has up his sleeve in the weeks ahead.
Early grade: F
Georgia Tech (Scott Cross)
Troy transfer Victor Valdes is following Cross to Georgia Tech after leading the Trojans in scoring (14.8) and assists (4.2) last season. The 6-7 guard is the only proven transfer in the fold thus far. But the Yellow Jackets also landed a commitment from Kayden Allen, the No. 50 prospect in the Class of 2026. The New York wing is one of Georgia Tech’s 10 highest-ranked commits of the 247Sports era and is the type of player Cross couldn’t land at Troy. Those are nice pieces, but there is still work to do if the Yellow Jackets are going to get out of the ACC cellar in Cross’ first year.
Early grade: C
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NC State (Justin Gainey)
A couple of important backcourt pieces are on the way as highly productive mid-major transfers Preston Edmead (Hofstra) and Christian Hammond (Santa Clara) enter after playing key roles on NCAA Tournament teams. The rest of the Wolfpack roster is a work in progress, but Gainey and his staff have been working the portal aggressively. If Wolfpack fans need a lift, just go check out how Will Wade’s roster build is going at LSU.
Early grade: C
North Carolina (Michael Malone)
All eyes are on Henri Veesaar, the star big man who might be a preseason All-American if he returns to college basketball. If Veessaar stays with the Tar Heels, this grade will quickly rise. Keeping the 7-footer and potentially adding a high-octane guard like Utah transfer Terrence Brown Jr. would constitute major positive developments for a UNC roster construction that thus far is highlighted by the addition of Virginia Tech transfer Neoklis Avdalas, a big-bodied point guard with NBA upside.
Early grade: B-
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Getting there
Providence (Bryan Hodgson)
In our first edition of first-year coach progress reports, I sang Hodgson’s praises for his strong early work and then noted that Providence “still needs some size and another knockdown perimeter shooter.” Well, since then, the Friars have checked both boxes. The addition of Buffalo transfer Ryan Sabol — one of the nation’s premier 3-point shooters — supplied the shooter while the commitment of Northwestern transfer center Arrinten Page brought the size. This roster is officially rounding into form.
Early grade: A
Cincinnati (Jerrod Calhoun)
Cincinnati could still use a natural point guard and some proven rim protection. But Calhoun has already landed three top-200 transfers in Wake Forest shooting guard Myles Colvin (No. 76), George Mason big Riley Allenspach (No. 114) and Towson scoring forward Tyler Tejada (No. 163). All three bring unique skill sets and comprise a strong backbone for Calhoun’s first squad. There are just a couple pieces left to fill.
Early grade: B
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Syracuse (Gerry McNamara)
Syracuse‘s backcourt is coming together nicely. The offensive firepower of transfers Aiden Tobiason (Temple) and Gavin Doty (Siena) brings promise, and McNeese transfer Garwey Dual will bring plenty of defense. Hiring Carmelo Anthony’s former Syracuse teammate surely didn’t hurt with the Orange’s case to retain Kiyan Anthony. The rising sophomore was a top-40 prospect in last year’s freshman class and still has untapped potential after an uneven debut campaign.
Early grade: B
Boston College (Luke Murray)
Boston College‘s rebuild has taken shape over the past several days. Most notably, Murray landed the No. 100 ranked transfer in Money Williams from Montana. The strong-bodied guard is a bucket-getter, but he’s got the ability to create for others and should have little problem transitioning to the ACC after three standout seasons in the Big Sky. This won’t be an easy turnaround for Murray to execute, but landing a player like Williams was a smart use of BC’s resources. Slovenian wing Zak Smreakar is also a fascinating pickup worth keeping an eye on after he joined the likes of A.J. Dybantsa, Christian Anderson Jr., Mikel Brown Jr. and Hannes Steinbach on last year’s FIBA U19 all-tournament team.
Early grade: B+
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Arizona State (Randy Bennett)
If No. 9 ranked transfer Paulius Murauskas opted to follow Bennett from Saint Mary’s to Arizona State, it would simplify this roster build in a significant way. But Murauskas is highly coveted and, understandably, exploring other potential options. In the meantime, transfers additions Joel Foxwell (Portland) and Emmanuel Innocenti (Gonzaga) will give the longtime Saint Mary’s coach a WCC flavor on his first roster. Foxwell led the WCC in assists, and Innocenti is a top-200 transfer who will bring experience and versatility on the wing.
Grade: C+
Almost done
We have a pretty good idea of what these teams will look like in the 2026-27 season.
Nored is not relying exclusively on the transfer portal as he seeks to revitalize his alma mater. He’s got a couple of potential starters returning in point guard Jalen Jackson and big man Drayton Jones. From a traditional recruiting perspective, four-star prospect and former LSU commit Herly Brutus committed to the Bulldogs last week. Then, there’s the commitment of 6-6 Serbian forward Asim Djulovic, who is putting up impressive stats as a 20-year-old in the Adriatic League. Last but not least, Nored’s portal haul includes:
Eduardo Klafke, a two-year role player at Ole Miss who is a career 44.6% 3-point shooter.
Samis Calderon, a toolsy 6-8 forward who appeared in 16 games as a reserve during his freshman season at Kansas.
Treyson Anderson, a stretch big who averaged 10.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.9 blocks for a North Dakota State team that won the Summit League.
Jordan Ellerbee: coming off a standout freshman season at FGCU in which he averaged 13.1 points while showing promise as a pick-and-roll scorer
It’s a well-balanced roster with players from a variety of sources and archetypes, but to this point, it lacks the high-end pop that is likely needed for a big Year 1 breakthrough.
Early grade: B
Creighton (Alan Huss)
The internal handoff from Greg McDermott to Huss has led to more retention than what you get during a normal coaching change. Rotation-caliber pieces Jasen Green, Austin Swartz, Isaac Traudt, Hudson Greer and Jackson McAndrew are all returning. There are plenty of high-major programs not undergoing a coaching change that don’t have that much retention. As for additions, the Bluejays have made some nice ones.
Providence transfer Oswin Erhunmwunse will bring the rim protection that Creighton sorely missed this past season following the departure of program staple Ryan Kalkbrenner. South Florida flamethrower Wes Enis will help replace the 3-point shooting of Josh Dix. Meanwhile, San Diego State transfer BJ Davis is a veteran floor general and strong perimeter defender. Between Huss’ coaching acumen and the quality of this roster, look for Creighton to get back in the NCAA Tournament picture next season.
Early grade: A-
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Kansas State (Casey Alexander)
Kansas State’s midseason firing of Jerome Tang and March 13 hiring of Alexander from Belmont gave the Wildcats a jump start on roster assembly. In terms of numbers, the Wildcats are nearing the finish line.
In terms of the actual talent that will be required to field a competitive team in the Big 12, there’s still a long way to go. Barring a seismic addition, this team will likely hope to follow the 2024-25 Vanderbilt model. Here is what that looks like: an unfamiliar coach takes over a struggling program, puts together a seemingly underwhelming roster and then proceeds to surge past lackluster preseason expectations. It’s a narrow path.
Matt Fitzpatrick had faced American fans cheering against him before: several times at the Ryder Cup (he’s played in four of them) and once in a 2023 playoff versus Jordan Spieth at the RBC Heritage.
This was again the setting on Sunday, at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, S.C., as the 31-year-old Englishman dueled with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
And, just like three years ago, Fitzpatrick had the last laugh against an American fan favorite.
Despite the home crowd cheering heavily for Scheffler — and “USA!” chants on the property — Fitzpatrick beat Scheffler with a birdie on the first playoff hole to win for the second time in the last month. When Fitzpatrick rolled in his birdie putt on the first playoff hole, the par-4 18th, the crowd went eerily quiet.
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But Fitzpatrick had little issue with the home crowd cheering against him.
“It didn’t get out of line in terms of no one was shouting on backswings or anything like that, which was great. I’m all for it,” Fitzpatrick said. “They’re supporting Scottie; that’s great. You want golf to have an atmosphere in my opinion. I grew up watching football. I’m paid so much money to be out there in front of those crowds, having them chanting at you every week, it’s great feeling.
“However, there’s no better feeling than coming out on top against that — there isn’t a better feeling. To describe it in my terms, it’s kind of winning away against your biggest rival. Nothing to do with Scottie or the players; it’s the fans that have sort of spurred me on there. It was nice to obviously win, but it never crossed the line. It was just loud. Just loud.”
Fitzpatrick started the day with a three-shot lead over Scheffler, who was the next closest competitor. But after Fitzpatrick made birdies on 1 and 3 he made par on the next 14. Scheffler made a late charge with birdies on 15 and 16, and they stepped to the signature 18th hole with Fitzpatrick leading by one. Both players missed the green with their approach, but Scheffler got up and down while Fitzpatrick could not, forcing the playoff.
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Back in the 18th fairway in the playoff, Fitzpatrick stuck a 4-iron to 13 feet away. Scheffler missed the green with his approach, and Fitzpatrick rolled in the birdie to win.
“I pulled it a little bit,” Fitzpatrick said. “We had the commentary booth in the background, that was like our target, so that was probably right half of the green, right edge maybe. But it was such a great number for 4-iron.”
It was just the latest victory in what’s been a strong spring for Fitzpatrick, who has moved up to No. 3 in the world behind only Scheffler and McIlroy. Fitzpatrick was the runner-up at the Players Championship last month, and he followed that with a win at the Valspar. He tied for 18th at the Masters.
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Fitzpatrick had the last laugh on the course — stealing the victory away from Scheffler and the American-dominated crowd — but also had the last jab in his winner’s press conference. He was asked if it was strange it became USA vs. Europe even in a non-Ryder Cup year.
“No. Americans are incredibly patriotic, and I think that was amazing,” he said. He added with a wry smile, “I guess the only issue is they just have shorter memories because we won in October.”
De Vera was a late call-up to Saturday’s matchday squad after the late withdrawal of Carys Cox, so there was little time for nerves.
“Being in Cardiff Arms, knowing that my family’s there, knowing that my friends are there, I would be doing a real disservice to myself if I put too much pressure and not enjoy it,” she said.
“The spectacle of the first cap was probably something that I needed to remind myself, it was a real achievement and I’m really grateful to be given that opportunity.”
De Vera is hopeful of being involved again on Saturday when Wales travel to Ashton Gate to take on world champions England.
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“To be trusted with that opportunity on Saturday, to really go for it, has given me a lot of confidence,” she said.
“I’m so excited because although the score didn’t reflect, it was a harsh score, I feel that we are on an upwards trajectory together as seniors, Under-20s and 18s.”
Mumbai Indians’ emphatic 99-run win over Gujarat Titans was defined by Tilak Varma’s brilliance, but skipper Hardik Pandya made it clear that a key tactical call with the ball also played a decisive role. One of the biggest talking points was the decision to hand the new ball to Jasprit Bumrah, a move that paid off instantly as he struck with the very first delivery to remove Sai Sudharsan. It was also a significant moment for Bumrah personally, as this was his first wicket of the season, coming in his sixth match. Addressing the long-standing question around why Bumrah does not usually bowl the first over, Hardik offered a clear explanation. “I’ve seen a lot of people go, why Jassie has never bowled. But if you see, it’s been 138 [151] appearances and I think 8 or 9 times Jasprit has bowled the first over. So I don’t think it’s a Hardik Pandya problem.” He emphasised that Bumrah’s role is defined by impact rather than convention. “It’s just that Jasprit Bumrah is so special that you use him wherever it’s required for the team, not when you start. But yeah, today was something we realized, that we really want to make an impact with the new ball, and no one’s better than him.” That early breakthrough set the tone for MI’s dominance, as GT never recovered from the blow and were eventually bowled out for 100. Hardik also highlighted how crucial the win was for the group, especially given their struggles this season and the challenge of playing in Ahmedabad. “It’s always challenging to go away and win. Ahmedabad has been something which is very tough for us as the Mumbai Indians. And yeah, we just played good cricket. It feels very special because it was much needed.” The MI captain was equally vocal about the turning point with the bat, revealing how his message to Tilak Varma during the strategic break was simple and direct. “I realized the kind of talent Tilak has, he really does not need to worry about a lot. The only message I kept telling him was that you’re gonna just watch the ball and hit the ball irrespective of what. I genuinely believe the kind of ball striking from his bat is something really special.” Hardik admitted the intensity of the moment, saying, “A couple of times I went so loud that I kind of got dizzy. But it was much needed for the group, for Tilak, and for Mumbai Indians.” He reserved special praise for the younger players who stepped up in a must-win game. “Really amazing by the youngsters. Mumbai Indians needed that as a group. The debutant Krish, coming and bowling right areas, showing the right intent. Ashwani coming and bowling, really amazing, taking 4-fers. He changed the momentum for us. Special mention to Naman as well.” For Hardik, this was more than just a win. It felt like a shift in momentum.
John Korir defended his men’s title at the 2026 Boston Marathon as the Kenyan shattered the course record to become only the fifth man to dip under two hours and two minutes over the distance.
Korir was second at the half-way stage in 1:01:50, seven seconds behind Lemi Berhanu, but the defending champion made a push for the lead after 20 miles and grabbed control of the elite men’s race, surging clear of his rivals to eventually clock a time of 02:01:52 – more than a minute better than the previous best in Boston. Only Kelvin Kiptum, Eliud Kipchoge, Kenenisa Bekele and Sisay Lemma have ever run quicker.
In the women’s race, Sharon Lokedi again proved untouchable as the Kenyan defended her title. Lokedi finished fast to power away from a bunched field and win by a distance, though outside of the course record time set in 2025.
(Reuters)
Earlier, Great Britain’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper won the women’s wheelchair race in 1:30:51, beating out Catherine Debrunner by over two minutes to add a second title to her breakthrough success in 2024. The great Marcel Hug, meanwhile, won the men’s wheelchair race, dominating the field to win by more than six minutes in 1:16:06 in a ninth triumph in the city.
Marcel Hug and Eden Rainbow-Cooper claimed the wheelchair titles (Reuters)
Here are the results for the elite races at the 130th edition of the Boston Marathon:
Odell Beckham Jr. worked out for the New York Giants on Monday, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the workout and subsequent physical had not been made public.
NFL Network was first to report Beckham working out for the Giants as the wide receiver and the team he began his NFL career with is exploring a potential reunion.
Beckham, now 33, did not play in the league last year. He suited up for nine games with the Miami Dolphins in 2024, making nine catches for 55 yards.
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Drafted 12th by the Giants in 2014, Beckham spent his first five professional seasons with them before getting traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2019. The top draft pick New York received for Beckham was used on defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who was traded over the weekend to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Beckham’s return would provide some much-needed depth, given the uncertainty around No. 1 wideout Malik Nabers, who may not be ready for the season opener after tearing the ACL in his right knee on Sept. 28.
Leicester are on the verge of back-to-back relegations from the Premier League to League One.
The Foxes celebrated their memorable top-flight title win just 10 years ago, but will drop to the third tier if they fail to beat Hull on Tuesday evening.
Here, the Press Association takes look at a rollercoaster last decade for the midlands club.
2015-16
Leicester were crowned Premier League champions under Claudio Ranieri – after finishing 10 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal – to guarantee their spot in the Champions League for the first time.
2016-17
Leicester soon crashed back down to earth and sacked Ranieri in February 2017, while they made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League before finishing a lowly 14th in the English top flight.
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2017-18
Following a run of just one win from their opening eight matches, new boss Craig Shakespeare departed and Claude Puel was put in charge as they achieved a ninth-placed finish.
2018-19
Leicester were 12th when they sacked Puel, but Brendan Rodgers’ appointment helped them finish ninth in a season which would be remembered for a helicopter crash that killed Foxes owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others on October 27.
2019-20
City completed their best season since winning the league as they finished fifth and went on an 11-game unbeaten run in all competitions, defeating Southampton 9-0 along the way – which still stands as the joint-highest margin of victory in Premier League history.
2020-21
Leicester hit new highs and lifted the FA Cup for the first time with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea. But it could have been a season of much more for the club, whose Europa League journey ended in the last-16 phase and they missed out on a top-four finish.
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2021-22
Leicester defeated Manchester City to win the Community Shield and they reached a first-ever continental semi-final in the Conference League but their European dream came to an end against Jose Mourinho’s eventual winners, Roma.
2022-23
The 2022-23 season is where Leicester’s real decline started as they suffered relegation from the top flight after a run of five defeats in six games dropped them into the relegation zone and saw Rodgers depart. Dean Smith’s appointment did little to save them from the Championship.
2023-24
Leicester’s stay in the second tier was short-lived and they secured promotion straight back to the Premier League by lifting the Championship trophy for a record eighth time as Jamie Vardy bagged 20 goals.
2024-25
Their season in the top flight was a massive disappointment and the Leicester fans never warmed to new boss Steve Cooper, who was sacked after just 12 games to be replaced by Ruud van Nistelrooy. But the Foxes suffered 15 defeats from 16 league games and were relegated in 18th place.
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2025-26
Leicester had an encouraging start under Marti Cifuentes but things soon unravelled and the manager departed in January to be replaced by Gary Rowett. The following month they were deducted six points before a run of one win from 18 matches left them on the verge of League One, just 10 years after winning the Premier League.
Manchester United have a huge decision to make over Michael Carrick at the end of the season with both Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra now having their say
Manchester United icons Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra have backed Michael Carrick for the permanent head coach role at Old Trafford. Evra has also accused United’s owners of turning the club into Chelsea amid their high turnover of managers since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
The Reds are yet to confirm who will lead them into next season, with several big-name managers linked since Ruben Amorim was sacked in January. Luis Enrique, Carlo Ancelotti and Thomas Tuchel have been among those mooted for the hot seat at M16.
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And some of his former teammates have told Rio Ferdinand on the Rio Presents podcast that the ex-Middlesbrough boss should be given the job on a permanent basis.
Giggs, who made a club record 963 appearances for United, has explained why Carrick’s work should not be minimised. The 52-year-old also pointed out how the appointments to his coaching staff have been a huge help.
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He said: “The hardest thing to do as a manager is win games. He’s winning games. It’s hard at this time of the season to really stamp your own philosophy, your own principles of play. We all know you need a pre-season. You might need a couple of pre-seasons to bring in your own players and identify how you want to play.
“I think there’s a lot to be said about him being a brilliant footballer, great bloke, but actually he’s a football guy as well, you’ve seen that on the pitch, he’s a clever guy. Even the staff that he’s got in, I thought it was a great move, getting a bit of experience. People who know the club and the players will respect.
“You’ve got obviously Johnny [Evans] who’s been in the dressing room recently, Steve Holland, someone who’s looking out from in, and just brings a little bit of experience and maybe something different that people within the club don’t see.”
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When asked about his own experience of being an interim manager at the club in 2014 after David Moyes was sacked, he added: “I think every manager that goes into a role now is like an interim because you don’t get time. I think 20 or 30 years ago, you’re looking at the long-term, you’re buying players in.
“You can’t do that anymore, you’ve got to look at the short term and long term, and I think Michael will do that. I think another sign of a good manager is the team that he leaves behind.
“Ruben Amorim took a lot of stick for the way that he played. I didn’t enjoy watching it, but actually, I think some of his signings have been good, and I think we’re now seeing that now, so, even though his legacy probably isn’t great with results and performances, actually, he’s left the club in a pretty good place.”
Evra, meanwhile, believes talk of Carrick taking over on a permanent basis should be shelved until the end of the season, but struggles to see why anyone else would get the job over him.
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The 44-year-old said: “I don’t know why they think too much about the future. The present is for Carra [Carrick] to get the top four spots. That’s the goal.
“We keep saying experience or whatever, but look at [Mikel] Arteta and Arsenal. They gave him five years, and he still didn’t win. We try with big names like [Jose] Mourinho and [Louis] van Gaal. We try with [Ruben] Amorim.
“So that’s why, for me, saying Carra should get the job, this is not the question of the day. This is not the question of the moment. Carra is doing a good job, so let’s be behind him. Then at the end of the season, if he doesn’t qualify, then I will understand if some people say, ‘OK, we need a new manager,’ but I don’t know if he will work.
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“Personally, I couldn’t believe with the first game against City and the way we played, it doesn’t matter about the result. I was like, ‘wow, all the players are passionate.’ So why don’t we have someone from the house? He knows the club. He’s really calm.”
Evra then compared the turnover of managers at United in recent years to that of Chelsea.
He added: “We will have to start from zero. I just feel we’ve become like Chelsea. This is not United.
“Normally we need consistency and we we try with Amorim and to be honest, I was in shock. Yes, the results weren’t there, but I was thinking, ‘they will give him more time.’ Then they bring in Carra and he is doing miracles.”
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