Trevor Steven: One-off Erling Haaland is my Premier League player of the year May 30, 2023 Erling Haaland is ungainly but has to be my Premier League player of the year and could score 60 next season, says Trevor Steven. We saw brilliant performers at many clubs in the Premier League season that just finished and, before getting onto my player of the season, I’d like to give honourable mentions to [...]
Sheffield Wednesday back in the Championship with 123rd-minute goal May 29, 2023 A 123rd-minute goal by Josh Windass saw Sheffield Wednesday beat Barnsley in the League One play-off final and return to the English Championship after two seasons in the third tier. The outstanding diving header, in what was the last touch of the game, saw Windass replicate his father’s feat of scoring a promotion-winning goal 15 [...]
Trevor Steven: Why Pep Guardiola is my Premier League manager of the season May 29, 2023 Trevor Steven on why Pep Guardiola pips Ten Hag, Emery, De Zerbi, Howe, Arteta and O’Neil to his Premier League manager of the year award. So many different storylines emerged during the Premier League season that finished on Sunday, one of the most volatile campaigns that I can remember. Some big clubs and managers badly [...]
Chelsea confirm former Tottenham Hotspur boss as new manager on two-year contract May 29, 2023 Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentinian, who has also managed Southampton and Espanyol, has agreed a two-year contract which will start on 1 July. “Chelsea Football Club is pleased to confirm Mauricio Pochettino will become head coach of the men’s team from the beginning [...]
What is the cost of relegation from the Premier League? May 27, 2023 The cost of relegation from the Premier League has been called “the biggest financial jeopardy in world football” and this weekend Everton, Leicester City and Leeds United will be locked in a battle to avoid it. Two of those three teams will drop out of the richest domestic competition in the sport and into the [...]
Women’s Super League permutations: Who needs what in title race and relegation fight? May 26, 2023 The curtain falls on English top flight football this weekend, beginning on Saturday when a Women’s Super League title race between Chelsea and Manchester United goes to the wire. Relegation will also be decided on the final day of the season, with Reading hoping to pull off a miracle and send Leicester down instead. And [...]
LaLiga attempts to keep sponsors onside amid Vinicius racism controversy May 25, 2023 Under-fire LaLiga president Javier Tebas has approached sponsors in a bid to prevent them fleeing amid the Vinicius racism crisis engulfing Spanish football. Tebas has been criticised for his handling of racism in the stands and the Real Madrid star’s claim that LaLiga “belongs to racists” after repeated episodes of discrimination. LaLiga’s main sponsor is [...]
Parachute payments uncertainty clouds the future of football’s richest game May 25, 2023 When Luton Town and Coventry City collide in Saturday’s Championship Play-Off Final there will be more than just glory at stake; both teams stand to make a minimum of £170m if they achieve promotion to the Premier League. It is a prize that has earned the traditional end-of-season fixture the tag of football’s richest game. [...]
Tottenham Hotspur SNUBBED by manager of Feyenoord May 25, 2023 Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur have been snubbed by the manager of Feyenoord as the club look to find a new permanent boss. Spurs sacked Antonio Conte in March and have since replaced the Italian with two interim managers – Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason. The north London club are on the lookout and have [...]
Ed Warner: Football should offer players amnesty in wake of Ivan Toney betting ban May 25, 2023 This week Ed Warner examines what Ivan Toney’s betting ban means for football, the eye-watering cost of tickets for the Paris 2024 Olympics, and a nuanced take on the trans debate in sport. If you stick a betting company logo on a young man’s shirt, beam his image around the world for 90 minutes every [...]