Manchester United appointed Michael Carrick as their interim head coach, and the former Middlesbrough boss is said to have as good a chance as anyone at getting the job permanently

Jonathan Woodgate and Steve Holland have helped Michael Carrick become the favourite to be Manchester United‘s next permanent head coach.

Carrick is now said to lead the race for that job according to The i Paper, and stands as good a chance as any external candidate, having impressed since replacing Ruben Amorim. The interim staying on next season suggests Holland and Woodgate are due to remain in their coaching roles, too.

The i Paper claims sources say they, along with fellow coaches Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion, have the “perfect balance”. One source reportedly said they were surprised a Premier League rival did not hire Holland, highlighting his ability and know-how.

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A long-time assistant at Chelsea before joining the England set-up, Holland’s experience has reputedly helped Carrick’s younger coaches to operate cohesively. Woodgate is one of those, having worked only at Bournemouth and Middlesbrough previously.

However, learning to speak Spanish while playing for Real Madrid during his playing career is said to have proved vital. Tactical insights from the former England international have surprised some, while the former defender’s individual work with Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro has also been highlighted.

Carrick has spoken at length to the BBC about his coaches. He said, “There’s a really strong group, and it feels like we’ve been together a long time, but we didn’t all know each other.

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“I didn’t really know Steve personally an awful lot. I thought it would come together nicely and was balanced, and there’s a reason why I wanted to bring Steve in.

“Jonathan… I had him at Middlesbrough – loyal, gets me, knows me, pushes me, challenges me… really good relationship. Jonny [Evans] knew the club. He’s been here so long and has a really good relationship with the players as well… loves coaching, loves helping, cares a lot.

“And then with Travis… the club needs the academy. It’s a massive part of this football club. I think there’s a really good balance with the responsibility of the academy, young players and then Jonathan and Jonny – being two of the best centre-backs you could come across in the last 20-25 years – to pass their information on.

“Steve – with his experience in so many ways… Chelsea, with change of managers and different styles of managers and top, top players, and England. All the staff are able to cope being around the environment, and I think that’s so important.

Carrick confirmed they challenge him, adding: “I can’t be right the whole time – it’s impossible. That’s why we’ve got a group of six in our office.

“We’ve all got strong opinions, but I think we all filter it, and it’s important that we have a connection and understanding of what direction we want to go in. We have to push each other, for sure.”

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The 2026 NFL Draft is fast approaching with the combine set to begin in just a couple of days.

The Minnesota Vikings have a pretty wide open slate of options in this spring’s draft in terms of which position they could target with their first round pick, and here is a look at a few of the dream prospects they could target this spring.

RB Jeremiyah Love

It’s entirely unlikely that Jeremiyah Love will be on the board at No. 18, but hey, NFL Network’s Charles Davis just opened the door to the possibility that he could be.

Over the past few years since Dalvin Cook’s departure, the Vikings have struggled to find a consistent rushing attack. Love would instantly change that weakness to a strength. He was one of the most highly productive players in all of college football over the past two years, totaling 2,497 yards rushing and 35 touchdowns since 2024.

S Caleb Downs

One of the Vikings’ sneaky needs this offseason could be at safety, particularly if Harrison Smith decides to hang up his cleats. Josh Metellus wasn’t as impressive this season, and Theo Jackson never quite emerged enough to make fans feel entirely comfortable with him as a full-time starter.

Caleb Downs would fix that problem in a hurry with elite athletic ability. He can play a traditional free safety spot, he can step in as a slot corner, or he can go into the box and provide pressure on an opponent’s running game or quarterback.

Again, there is a decent chance that he isn’t on the board when the Vikings pick, but as a safety and with a pretty loaded group of edge rushers, maybe Downs tumbles a bit.

DT Caleb Banks

The Vikings didn’t get what they wanted out of their high-roller free agency acquisitions at the defensive tackle position last offseason, so now they might need to be aggressive once again to get a true disruptor in the middle of their defensive line.

Caleb Banks is a tank at 6’6″ and 330 pounds, and while his 2025 season was cut short due to injury, his tape in 2023 and 2024 showed he can make a difference both against the pass and against the run. He totaled seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2024.

CB Mansoor Delane

LSU has been a popular target for the Vikings in the draft during the 2020s, and cornerback is one of the most glaring needs on this roster right now, particularly for young depth. There are four cornerbacks on the active roster right now, and Byron Murphy is the only one under contract past 2026.

As a result, enter Mansoor Delane. Delane is a lockdown force on the boundary, and he allowed just 14 receptions on 35 targets in 2025 without giving up a single touchdown. He also added a pair of interceptions to his resume.

Once again, the concern will be that he won’t be on the board by the time the Vikings are on the clock at pick No. 18, but perhaps the Vikings get frisky and put together a trade to move up.

LB Sonny Styles

With Eric Wilson heading into free agency, would the Vikings dare take an off-ball linebacker in free agency? If so, Sonny Styles would be the guy. Styles is another player who very well could go in the top 10 if teams throw positional value out the window and for good reason.

Styles can do just about everything. He is an excellent run stopper at the second level of a defense, and he can also make an impact blitzing a quarterback. Toss in some quick feet that can drop back into coverage, and we have the making of a real difference maker at the linebacker position.

Josh Frey is a senior writer at both PurplePTSD.com and VikingsTerritory.com, with a fascination for the NFL Draft. To … More about Josh Frey

Benfica boss Jose Mourinho made a “huge mistake” in his post-match comments following alleged racist abuse of Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, according to Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany.

Brazil international Vinicius reported an instance of alleged racial abuse to referee Francois Letexier after scoring in Tuesday’s Champions League play-off tie against Benfica, with the Spanish club later pointing to winger Gianluca Prestianni as the subject of the complaint.

Prestianni denied making racist comments in a post on Instagram, while his club spoke of a “defamation campaign” against him.

Letexier activated anti-racism protocols, suspending play for 10 minutes, with UEFA initiating an investigation into the incident.

Mourinho was criticised for his post-match comments, saying that “something happens, always” in matches where Vinicius plays.

Former Manchester City defender and Burnley boss Kompany addressed the issue at a press conference on Friday morning ahead of Bayern’s Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt, and issued an impassioned defence of Vinicius, stressing his reaction “cannot be faked”.

“For me, even worse, is what happens after the game,” said Kompany, who recalled his own experiences of racism as a young player which included Real Betis fans “doing monkey chants” at him and former Anderlecht team-mate Cheick Tiote.

“After the game, you have the leader of an organisation, Jose Mourinho, who basically attacks the character of Vinicius Jr, by bringing in the type of celebration to discredit what Vinicius is doing in this moment.

“For me, in terms of leadership, it is a huge mistake. It is something we should not accept. I am very clear on that.

“The one thing you can’t do is dismiss a person and attack the character of a person who’s complaining about something he experienced and something that must be very painful to that person. There is something that needs to happen.”

Kompany added: “I know 100 people who have worked with Jose Mourinho. I have never heard a person say anything bad about Jose.

“I understand he is fighting for his team and his club. You cannot be a bad person and have all the ex-players you have had talk so positively about you.

“I don’t need to judge him as a person, but I know what I have heard and I understand maybe what he has done, but he has made a mistake.”

Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa told a press conference Vinicius remains “outraged” by the incident.

He said: “Vini Jr. has been upset, as have we all. Above all, he has been very outraged by what happened. It’s a racist act that has no place in sports or our society.

“We have a tremendous opportunity not to let it pass and to continue fighting against this scourge that is racism. What’s really important is to combat acts like the one we witnessed the other day.

“It’s an intolerable situation that we don’t want to see happen again. We will stand against it, especially when it involves a fellow professional. It’s an act that must not and should not happen. Nothing, absolutely nothing, justifies a racist act.”

The Brazilian Football Confederation has, meanwhile, written to UEFA and FIFA stressing the need to “identify and punish” anyone guilty of racially abusing Vinicius.

It has been reported that the UEFA probe, headed up by an ethics and disciplinary investigator, could take up to three weeks to conclude.

That means Vinicius and Prestianni could come face to face again in the second leg of the play-off at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, with the case still unresolved.

Benfica are back in domestic action against Primeira Liga bottom side AVS on Saturday, which Mourinho says is where his focus must be, while acknowledging in an interview with Benfica’s in-house BTV channel that the conversations over the fall-out from the incident “won’t end” there.

He added: “It hasn’t been easy to manage emotionally, everything that has happened and continues to happen.”

The quarterback situation in Minnesota is in a rough spot. There is a massive split among the fan base, and potentially the front office, too, regarding J.J. McCarthy. What we do know is that this is expected to be a very fluid offseason, as the Vikings are looking to bring in competition for the former Michigan Wolverine. One popular name is San Francisco 49ers backup Mac Jones, and a major media publication is buying in, too.

Bleacher Report posted an article about players who should be traded but won’t. In this article, they list Jones among those players. The reasoning is that he played well in starts this season while Brock Purdy missed multiple games due to injury, and that his value and potential trade capital may not be higher, but the 49ers have said they do not intend to trade the former Alabama quarterback.

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However, they do list the potential price as a second-round pick.

Mac Jones makes a ton of sense for the Minnesota Vikings. The offensive schemes in San Francisco and Minnesota are very similar, and as teams are trying to “find the next Sam Darnold”, Minnesota could do that with Jones. A second-round pick’s pricetag feels a bit hefty for Jones, especially if you bring him in as competition rather than the clear starter. It would look even worse if McCarthy had a stellar offseason and ended up winning the job.

If you’re Minnesota, do you make the call?

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: More folks think QB Mac Jones is a good fit for the Vikings

Anticipating the development of an inexperienced two-year-old proves challenging, even more so after an early-season stumble.

That said, Tommy Berry is full of hope for Incognito as the youngster aims to restart his Golden Slipper journey in the Silver Slipper (1100m) on Saturday at Rosehill.

The past market leader for the prestigious $5 million juvenile event struggled in his return via the Canonbury Stakes (1100m), with a gurgling noise detected post-race pointing to a likely displaced palate.

Michael Freedman, the trainer, has updated the gear including a tongue tie and bit for tongue control, and Berry reports positive developments leading to expectations of recovery.

“On his work on Tuesday morning, there will be no excuses and nowhere to hide for him Saturday because he couldn’t be going any better,” Berry said.

“It will be one or the other with him.

He’ll either come out and show us what he’s made of, and he’ll be right back in contention, or I don’t really want to think about the other option.

But they’re two-year-olds, and it’s week to week with them and how they perform.

I have been let down by plenty in the past, but I’d be very surprised if that’s the case with this guy.”

Having impressed with a Breeders’ Plate triumph in spring, Incognito entered the Canonbury as heavy favourite but was beaten by Hidrix, who lines up again Saturday.

Berry noted the breathing issue aside, his decision to press forward might have disrupted the horse’s rhythm, differing from his usual settling tactics he’ll employ here.

“Considering his price, we tried to ride him like a good thing, but by putting him into the race the way I did, he really got onto the chewy and took a good hold,” Berry explained.

“I think he’s panicked because I’ve asked him to really be there, which I had never done before. When he won, he was three pairs back and in all his trials he was in the second half and got into a lovely rhythm, breathed really well and finished off the way we know he can.

On Saturday, drawing well was very important, and he has, and that will give us the opportunity to ride him with cover and let him do things right.”

For the latest racing odds on Incognito’s Silver Slipper performance, visit trusted betting sites.

The United States women’s ice hockey team stood arm-in-arm, proudly singing the national anthem after stunning Canada 2-1 in a thrilling overtime victory to capture the gold medal at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics on Thursday.

“It’s the best part. The best f—ing part,” Team USA captain Hilary Knight, who was mic’d up by NBC’s broadcast for the moment, exclaimed as the arena announcer asked the crowd to stand for the national anthem. 

Team USA celebrates singing the anthem with the gold medal at the victory ceremony after the women’s ice hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada, 2-1 in overtime, on Day 13 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 19, 2026. (EyesWideOpen/Getty Images)

The gold medalists were joined by the American fans at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in belting out “The Star Spangled Banner.” 

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“When you only get to hear your national anthem one time, and it’s if you win, it’s unbelievable,” forward Taylor Heise told KSL-TV’s Sam Farnsworth of the moment. “Getting to hear that national anthem, and getting to be on [the podium] with your girls, and to celebrate that big win is huge.”

Knight stood by her declaration that this women’s ice hockey team is “America’s team.” 

“To find success on the world stage representing your country, I mean – and the anthem going, it’s just incredible,” she told KSL-TV.  

United States’ Kendall Coyne, left, and United States’ Hilary Knight celebrate after the victory ceremony for women’s ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 19, 2026. (Hassan Ammar/AP Photo)

HILARY KNIGHT MAKES OLYMPIC HISTORY WITH DRAMATIC GAME-TYING GOAL THAT SPARKED TEAM USA GOLD

Knight made history scoring the game-tying goal with 2:04 left in regulation to force overtime. The score marked her 15th goal and 33rd point of her Olympic career, both U.S. records. Megan Keller found the back of the net with a backhander 4:07 into overtime to secure the gold medal. 

“This team’s got so much resolve. Never quit. Always ready to fight and go to battle,” Knight said. “It’s just a testament to the preparation of our group and the love that we have in that room, and the way we found a way to get the job done at the end of the night.”

The focus now shifts to the men’s game as Team USA hopes to win another gold. They face Slovakia in the semifinals on Friday. 

Megan Keller (5) celebrates with a flag alongside Cayla Barnes (3) of Team United States after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime during the women’s gold medal match against Canada on Day 13 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 19, 2026. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

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“We were talking about it last night; we were talking about it again this morning,” Coach Mike Sullivan said of the women’s gold medal win. “It’s a great thrill. Those girls, what a terrific hockey team, and they’ll be an inspiration for the next generation of girls growing up in the United States. … We couldn’t be more proud of them.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Who were the big winners and losers?

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway is the undisputed king of the Milano Cortina Olympic Games. With five gold medals, the 29-year-old cross-country skier equaled the record of US speed skater Eric Heiden at the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid. With a total of 10 gold medals in his career, Klaebo is the most successful Winter Olympian in history.*

His fellow Norwegian, Jens Luraas Oftebro, celebrated three Olympic victories in the Nordic combined. With three gold medals, Franjo van Allmen of Switzerland was the outstanding alpine skier. Among the women, Federica Brignone sparked euphoria among the Italian hosts with her victories in the super G and giant slalom – as did two-time gold medalist Federica Lollobrigida in speed skating.

Some gold medal dreams were spectacularly shattered. Figure skating superstar Ilia Malinin of the United States, who took a lead into the free skate, fell twice and plummeted to eighth place.

A similar fate befell skier Atle Lie McGrath in the slalom. The Norwegian started the decisive second run in first place but crashed out due to an error. Devastated, he fled the slope for the adjacent woods.

How was the atmosphere?

Many athletes complained that while the Games in northern Italy were well-organized, they lacked the true Olympic spirit. They said the large distances between the competition venues made it impossible for a lot of them to follow other disciplines.

They also complained that in some sports, like alpine skiing, the spectators were too far away from the action.

“If this is what enjoying the Olympics is supposed to be like, I’m glad this was my last time,” lamented German skier Linus Strasser.

What were the biggest controversies?

Lindsey Vonn’s crash dominated the headlines on the first weekend of the Olympics. The 41-year-old had hoped to crown her illustrious career with a second Olympic gold medal in the downhill after 2010 – despite having a torn ACL, which she had suffered in her last race before the Games.

A few seconds into the race, she crashed, suffering a complex tibia fracture and was forced to undergo multiple surgeries.

The disqualification of Ukrainian Vladislav Heraskevych sparked discussion beyond the world of sports. The skeleton racer was excluded from the event because he insisted on wearing a helmet bearing images of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes killed in Russia’s full-scale war on his country.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarded this as a violation of the Olympic Charter, which prohibits political statements at competition venues. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the IOC’s ban on Heraskevych’s participation.

How did Germany fare?

The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) sent a record contingent of 185 athletes to Milano Cortina with the stated goal of finishing in the top three in the medals table – which it failed to achieve.

While Germany  dominated in luge and bobsleigh, there were some bitter disappointments, including in biathlon, Nordic combined, and men’s alpine skiing, where Germany failed to win a medal.

The results in ski jumping were also meager overall; apart from Philipp Raimund’s sensational gold, the team went home empty-handed. Germany’s men’s ice hockey team, featuring superstar Leon Draisaitl, fell to Slovakia in the quarterfinals.  

What can the IOC learn for the next Winter Games?

The problem of long distances between venues is also bound to come up at the 2030 Games in the French Alps; the events are to be spread across the city of Nice and several ski resorts in the Alps, some of which are more than a six-hour drive away from the Riviera.

To improve the atmosphere on the ski slopes, the IOC should at least ensure closer proximity between the athletes and spectators. The Olympic rule-makers would also be well advised to agree on a clear policy beforehand to prevent a repeat of the communications disaster that occurred in the Heraskevych case.

*As of February 20, 2026
This article was translated from German.