Sports
Graham Potter ‘is handed a contract worth £60MILLION’ after swapping Brighton for Chelsea… and Blues’ chiefs ‘want their new manager to help pick out a sporting director’ before the World Cup as part of off-pitch rebuild
Chelsea have given new coach Graham Potter a £60million contract upon his appointment on Thursday, and want him to help choose the club’s new sporting director.
According to a report in the Telegraph, the five-year deal is one of the longest given out in Chelsea history and is worth £12million a year – which could earn the former Brighton boss £60million if he stays the full term.
That contract is on top of the £15million the club paid to release the 47-year-old from his Seagulls deal.
Potter has taken five members of his staff from The Amex Stadium to West London including assistant Billy Reid, coaches Bjorn Hamberg and Bruno, and goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts.
While recruitment specialist Kyle Macaulay has also followed from the south coast and will have a say in all future Chelsea transfer activity. Potter will also help in the search for a new sporting director at the club.
The Blues want to find a ‘world class’ director, with the club talking to people with both Premier League experience and those who have worked on the continent.
Ideally, Chelsea would like to have the new person in place before the Premier League stops for the World Cup this November, allowing time ahead of any possible movement in the January transfer window.
New co-controlling owner Todd Boehly had placed himself in the role of sporting director in the summer. However, he now wants a permanent person in that role that would allow him to step back, and just offer support to the new full-time appointment, along with Behdad Eghbali.
Both Boehly and Eghbali are said to have been impressed with Potter’s ‘risk taking’ after starting his coaching career in Sweden with Ostersunds, before moving to Swansea and then his good work with Brighton in the Premier League – they were also attracted to Potter’s Masters in Emotional Intelligence, too.
The club wasted no time in getting Potter’s appointment secured. With the deal being agreed a little over 24 hours after the club had parted ways with Thomas Tuchel.
Chelsea also held talks with former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino on Wednesday, but decided on Potter, who played Premier League football for Southampton in the mid-90s, as the man to take the club forward.
Confirming his appointment Chelsea’s new American owner Boehly said.
“We are thrilled to bring Graham to Chelsea. He is a proven coach and an innovator in the Premier League who fits our vision for the club. Not only is he extremely talented on the pitch, he has skills and capabilities that extend beyond the pitch which will make Chelsea a more successful club.
He has had a major impact at his previous clubs and we look forward to his positive impact at Chelsea. We look forward to supporting him, his coaching team and the squad in realising their full potential in the coming months and years.”
Source: Mail Online
Sports
Harry Maguire accepts Isaac Adongo’s apologies
Harry Maguire, a Manchester United defender, has accepted Hon. Isaac Adongo’s apologies for dragging him through the dirt.
The Ghanaian politician previously rated the former Leicester City captain as the worst player recruited by the Red Devils.
Adongo was discussing the budget when he likened Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s economic management to Maguire’s on-field performances.
Mr Adongo, however, apologised to Maguire in Parliament on Tuesday, saying the Manchester United defender now performed better for his club than Dr Bawumia, whom he said had repeatedly supervised the country’s economic incompetence and had subsequently gone to the (IMF) for a bailout.
“I was very quick to compare my big brother Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to Harry Maguire. Mr. Speaker, I now apologize to Harry Maguire…Today Maguire has turned the corner; he is a transformational footballer. Maguire is now scoring goals for Manchester United.”
“Mr Speaker, Harry Maguire is now a key player for Manchester United. As for our Maguire, he is now roaming at the IMF with a cup in hand,” he stated.
Following the apology, Maguire stated on social media, “MP Issac Adongo apology accepted.” “Hope to see you at Old Trafford soon.”
Meanwhile, Everton will play Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday at Goodison Park.
Sports
Argentina’s World Cup-winning coach, Lionel Scaloni, has hinted that he may resign
Argentina’s World Cup-winning coach, Lionel Scaloni, has indicated that he is considering stepping down after five years in charge.
Scaloni made the stunning statement following Argentina’s 1-0 World Cup qualifying win against Brazil on Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro.
Before winning the World Cup in Qatar last year, the 45-year-old guided Argentina to the Copa America in 2021.
“Argentina needs a coach who has all the energy possible and who is well,” said Scaloni.
“I need to stop the ball and start thinking, I have a lot of things to think about during this time.
“It’s not goodbye or anything, but I need to think because the bar is very high and it’s complicated to keep going and it’s complicated to keep winning.
“These guys are making it difficult, so I need to think about it for a while. I will talk to the FA president and the players afterwards.”
Messi on fan-police clashes: “There could have been a tragedy.”
After a brief stint in command of Argentina’s under-20 team, Scaloni took over as manager in August 2018.
Argentina’s 2021 Copa America victory was their first major championship in 28 years, and it qualified them for the Finalissima against European champions Italy in June 2022, which they won 3-0 at Wembley.
Later that year, they won their third World Cup in Qatar, and first since 1986.
“We are sure and hope that Scaloni will continue,” said Argentina and Tottenham defender Cristian Romero.
“Let’s see now he will have time to think, he didn’t say anything in the dressing room about it. We will try to convince him.”
Argentina’s victory against Brazil on Tuesday was their first-ever away win over their rivals in World Cup qualification, and it took them two points clear at the top of the table.
The game at Rio’s Maracana stadium was delayed for 30 minutes due to a scuffle during the national anthems.
Sports
2026WCQ: Chris Hughton under pressure after Black Stars defeat in Comoros
Chris Hughton’s Black Stars suffered their first competitive loss as head coach, falling 1-0 to Comoros in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
Myziane Maolida’s first-half goal was enough to give the hosts their second straight victory over the Black Stars.
Ghana is now in fourth position, three points behind early group leaders Comoros, who have won both of their initial qualification games.
Following a tense, late win against Madagascar at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi last Friday, there was some hope that the Black Stars may capitalise on Mali’s slip-up against the Central African Republic to grab the group lead.
Ghana could have grabbed an early lead in Tuesday’s encounter when Inaki Williams set up Antoine Semenyo for a goal, but the Bournemouth striker hit the crossbar.