Former England boss Roy Hodgson emerges as Claudio Ranieri’s potential replacement at Leicester City February 28, 2017 Former England manager Roy Hodgson has emerged as the possible long-term replacement for axed Premier League title-winning boss Claudio Ranieri at Leicester City. Bookmakers slashed odds on the much-travelled Hodgson resuming his club management career in the Midlands and becoming the permanent successor to Ranieri, who was sacked last week. Hodgson, who will be 70 [...]
“It would be euphoric” – Everton chiefs make emotional play to lure Wayne Rooney back to Merseyside February 28, 2017 Everton have launched an unabashed charm offensive to lure Wayne Rooney back to Goodison Park, with manager Ronald Koeman insisting the England striker can play at the top level for three more years. Rooney looks increasingly likely to leave Manchester United in the summer, 13 years after his £26m arrival, having seen his role diminish [...]
UEFA Champions League auction: BT and Sky prepare bids but could others come to the party? February 28, 2017 BT and Sky will go head-to-head in a near billion pound battle over the UK television rights for European Champions League football. A tender process kicks off with bids needing to be in tomorrow to secure the rights that also include the Europa League and will run for three years starting from the 2018/19 season. BT Sport is the incumbent provider [...]
Jurgen Klopp must go back to the drawing board to fix soft touch Liverpool, whose season is heading for almighty failure February 28, 2017 Jurgen Klopp seemed clueless as to the reasons behind his team’s slump when he was interviewed on Monday night, moments after Liverpool had been comprehensively beaten 3-1 by Leicester. It was the latest setback in a dramatic decline in results since the turn of the year. Having won 17 of their first 23 games of [...]
Next Liverpool CEO Peter Moore signals new direction for the club – six things you need to know February 28, 2017 As their team nursed the wounds of a bruising 3-1 defeat to Leicester City on Monday night, Liverpool made an announcement that could have much further-reaching implications than a disappointing loss in the league. The club revealed that from June its new chief executive will be Peter Moore, currently chief competition officer at video game giants Electronic [...]
Leicester City 3, Liverpool 1: Ranieri-less Foxes summon spirit of 2016 as Klopp slams Reds February 27, 2017 Leicester caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare insisted the strength of criticism his players received following the sacking of Claudio Ranieri provoked the retaliation witnessed in victory against Liverpool. Goal-shy Foxes forward Jamie Vardy rediscovered his Premier League scoring touch after seven barren matches by netting twice, either side of a Danny Drinkwater stunner, while Philippe Coutinho [...]
Zlatan Ibrahimovic gives no guarantees over Manchester United future but claims his decision does not hinge on Champions League qualification February 27, 2017 Manchester United’s talismanic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has refused to confirm whether he will commit his future to the club and remain at Old Trafford next season. The 35-year-old scored twice as United beat Southampton 3-2 on Sunday to lift the EFL Cup and seal the first major silverware of the Jose Mourinho era. It was the [...]
Manchester United 3, Southampton 2: Jose Mourinho relieved to win first Old Trafford trophy but now wants more February 26, 2017 Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho revelled in the burden of winning his first Old Trafford trophy being lifted after his side sealed a late victory over plucky Southampton in the EFL Cup final. Talismanic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted the winner after Manolo Gabbiadini’s double had dragged Southampton level following strikes from the Swedish hitman and Jesse [...]
Tottenham Hotspur 4, Stoke City 0: Redemption for Dele Alli as Harry Kane nets 23-minute treble in Potters trouncing February 26, 2017 Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli admitted he owed his teammates a productive afternoon after a Harry Kane-inspired Spurs demolished Stoke to cut Chelsea’s lead at the Premier League summit. Alli, who was shown a straight red card in the first half of Tottenham’s midweek Europa League demise at the hands of Gent, netted Tottenham’s fourth goal [...]
Leicester City brand value plummets after sacking manager Claudio Ranieri February 25, 2017 Achieving a "sporting miracle" by overturning 5,000-1 odds to win last year's Premier League earned Leicester City a place in the hearts of millions around the globe. A team of unheralded players, a likeable manager written off by the pundits in Claudio Ranieri and their underdog status earned the Foxes a unique brand image compared to the monied elites [...]