Sports

The candidates for next Aston Villa boss

Published

2 years ago

October 21, 2022

Steven Gerrard and Aston Villa are out of the picture. As the club currently sits 17th in the Premier League standings, the Villans have ended their affiliation with the former England international.

Under Gerrard, Villa struggled to forge a distinct identity, despite the fact that their overzealous and frequently dangerous tackling injured a number of opposing sides. Now, chief executive officer Christian Purslow and the NSWE group are searching for a new manager to get the most out of a squad that received significant summer investment.

Here are the current contenders to succeed Gerrard in the Villa Park dugout – and don’t worry, there’ll be no shoddy jokes comparing a Premier League football club to a certain government in disarray. Truss us.

Pochettino is one of Villa’s main targets, though 90min understands the Argentine is holding out on a return to former club Tottenham.

It was in north London where Pochettino enhanced his reputation in England after a positive first impression with Southampton. He led Spurs to Premier League finishes of third, second and third as well as a run to the 2018/19 Champions League final.

His most recent spell at Paris Saint-Germain has damaged his reputation somewhat, but Poch loves a project and would provide the Villa faithful with fast, attacking football.

A more ambitious approach for Thomas Tuchel, out of work since leaving Chelsea, has also been floated.

The former Borussia Dortmund boss enjoyed league success with Paris Saint-Germain but could never make a title challenge in England with the Blues, though the Champions League triumph in 2021 still endears him to the fanbase.

Going from Stamford Bridge to Villa Park is such a short space of time is unlikely, but if Tuchel wants to get back into management, there are worse footballers to work with than Douglas Luiz and Philippe Coutinho.

Unai Emery’s management career is respected in many corners in England, but he never found his rhythm during his spell with Arsenal.

He reached the Europa League final with the Gunners – a competition he had already won three times with Sevilla and again later with Villarreal.

Emery brushed off Newcastle’s advances last year to remain in Spain and Villa would have to make a hugely attractive offer to persuade the Spaniard to relocated back to the United Kingdom.

Sources: 90min

Sports

Black Stars fitness coach Ricky Roy reportedly dead

Published

5 days ago

April 29, 2024

Majesty

He remained with the national squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the current Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. Roy rose to prominence as a member of the coaching staff for Division One League club Vision FC in February 2020, before joining the national squad.

Romeo Ricky Roy, the fitness coach for Ghana’s senior national team, has died.

According to Ghana Football Association president Kurt Edwin Simeon Okraku’s Facebook post, he died in Accra on Sunday, April 28, 2024.

Roy joined the Black Stars’ backroom staff in 2021, during Milovan Rajevac’s second spell as coach.

He remained with the national squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the current Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

Roy rose to prominence as a member of the coaching staff for Division One League club Vision FC in February 2020, before joining the national squad.

Sports

Veteran Sports Commentator Joe Lartey dies at 96

Published

7 days ago

April 27, 2024

Majesty

Joe Lartey was born on June 6, 1927, in Accra and attended Accra Academy. Lartey, often known as "Over to You," was a well-known broadcaster and SWAG's founding president. Lartey began his media career as a football commentator with the Ghana Broadcasting Cooperation (GBC) in 1961. He grew to be a popular figure in Ghana's sports community. He subsequently spent a decade at Radio Nigeria before returning to GBC in 1990. During his stint, he presented shows including Sports Digest on GTV.

The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has reported the death of Joe Lartey, a veteran Ghanaian football pundit and sports writer.

He passed away on Friday, April 26, 2024, at the age of 96.

Joe Lartey was born on June 6, 1927, in Accra and attended Accra Academy. Lartey, often known as “Over to You,” was a well-known broadcaster and SWAG’s founding president.

Lartey began his media career as a football commentator with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) in 1961.

He grew to be a popular figure in Ghana’s sports community.

He subsequently spent a decade at Radio Nigeria before returning to GBC in 1990. During his stint, he presented shows including Sports Digest on GTV.

In appreciation of his achievements in sports journalism, Lartey received the coveted “A Life in Sport” award from the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) during the AIPS Sport Media Awards ceremony in Doha, Qatar, in June 2022.

Lartey’s impact stretched well beyond Ghana, with numerous Ghanaian football analysts praising him for moulding their careers.

Fans and colleagues alike will remember him warmly for his pioneering work in sports broadcasting.

Sports

Xavi to stay as Barcelona’s coach until at least June 2025

Published

1 week ago

April 25, 2024

Majesty

Xavi took over as manager of Barcelona in November 2021, after leaving Qatari club Al Sadd, and led the team to the Spanish title in his first full season in charge in 2022–23. However, they are 11 points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid with six games remaining in the current season. Barcelona was eliminated from the Champions League last week after losing to Paris St. Germain in the quarterfinals.

Barcelona coach Xavi will stay with the club until at least the end of his contract in June 2025, having changed his mind about this being his final season.

The 44-year-old stated in January that he will stand down as manager this summer.

However, with president Joan Laporta desperate for him to stay, the former Barcelona and Spain midfielder has made a U-turn.

Xavi took over as manager of Barcelona in November 2021, after leaving Qatari club Al Sadd, and led the team to the Spanish title in his first full season in charge in 2022–23.

However, they are 11 points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid with six games remaining in the current season.

Barcelona were eliminated from the Champions League last week after losing to PSG in the quarterfinals.

Xavi, who won 25 honours during his brilliant playing career at Barcelona, said he felt “liberated” with the revelation that he would leave the position at the conclusion of the season.

When he announced his departure following the defeat to Villarreal, he felt he was not being safeguarded by the club and there was no clear direction.

However, the team’s fortunes have improved since Xavi felt comfortable taking a more casual attitude.

They went ten games undefeated in the league before falling 3-2 to Real Madrid on Sunday.

On Wednesday, there was a meeting at Laporta’s residence, and the club’s desire for him to stay was clear.

If Xavi is unable to strengthen the squad before the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, Barcelona will attempt to persuade one of the high-profile managers out of contract, including Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique, and Mikel Arteta.