Robin van Persie wants to continue Arne Slot's legacy at Feyenoord, while revealing the lessons Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger taught him.
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Van Persie becomes Feyenoord boss
Aims to continue Slot's legacy
Reveals Wenger & Ferguson lessons
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WHAT HAPPENED?
After becoming Feyenoord head coach, former Netherlands striker Van Persie says he is "happy" to continue the legacy left by Slot – who departed for Liverpool last summer. He also revealed that his ex-Arsenal boss Wenger and former United manager Ferguson passed on some salient advice that he will use in the dugout going forward.
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WHAT ROBIN VAN PERSIE SAID
He told : âWe should all be very proud that Arne has worked here at Feyenoord for three years. He did a really great job, absolutely raised the level, and if you see how he is doing now at Liverpool that is really something we are proud of. I am happy to continue the work with his legacy. I wonât suffer from it, on the contrary, I see it as a plus because a number of players who worked under Arne know the patterns I like to see.
âThe best coaches I have had, like Wenger and Ferguson, kept everything as simple as possible. Football is not simple. There is an incredible amount involved. But the trick in management and training a style of play, is to constantly make everything simpler. This is something I have learnt from them.â
Van Persie added: âI have had a good talk with the players and I know what I want to achieve. I was lucky that after Arsene Wenger I also got to work with Sir Alex Ferguson. I really learned from Sir Alex. One of his best pieces of advice was that everything you say to your players, you have to keep your word. He was great at that.
âIf he promised something, he kept it. I strive for that too. If you say something, it has to mean something for your players and staff. Iâve had the opportunity to work under fantastic managers. Arsene was great at giving confidence and chances to players. I try to include that in my own approach and make it part of my man-management skills.â
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Van Persie has been fortunate enough to work with some of the best managers of all time in Ferguson and Wenger. He made a positive start to life as a manager with Heerenveen and now the Dutchman has a bigger test at Feyenoord. This may be a sink or swim moment for the former striker as many ex-footballers have shown that good players do not necessarily make good coaches.
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WHAT NEXT?
Van Persie's first game in charge of Feyenoord is at home to NEC on Saturday night in Eredivisie action.
Batter to stay with club at least until end of 2024 after contract extension
ESPNcricinfo staff24-Nov-2021Stevie Eskinazi has committed his long-term future to Middlesex with a contract extension that will keep him at the club until at least the end of 2024.Eskinazi, 27, joined Middlesex in 2013, and has gone on to make 136 appearances across formats, with 5,699 runs including seven first-class centuries, two List-A hundreds and one T20 century.He signed a one-year extension earlier this summer, despite enduring a rocky period in the early part of the season, when his axing from Middlesex’s under-performing Championship side led him to size up a loan dealBut, with Middlesex undergoing a coaching rejig, following the departure of Stuart Law and the appointment of Alan Coleman as head of men’s performance, Eskinazi has been reassured that he is considered an integral part of the team’s rebuild.”I am incredibly proud to have played for this great club for even one season, so to be signing on for what will take me to my 12th season at Lord’s is very surreal,” Eskinazi said. “I never take for granted the opportunity that I have as a Middlesex player and have never been more positive about the club’s future than I am now.”I look forward to helping Middlesex achieve its goals on and off the field over the next few years and to being a leader in what is going to be a very exciting transition period. The club’s values of hard work, determination and respect align closely with mine and I look forward to embodying them with a fantastic group of teammates and support staff.”Responding to the news, Coleman added: “I am absolutely delighted that Eski has committed his long-term future to the club. He is one of our most accomplished batsmen, works incredibly hard at his game, and for a number of seasons now has proven what an exceptionally talented player he is.”In red-ball cricket he is capable of batting for long periods, occupying the crease and compiling big innings, whilst in white-ball cricket he has established himself as one of the leading domestic top-order batters in the game in recent years. He has the ability to work the ball around the ground to all parts and be explosive when the situation calls for it. He will be a key part of our team achieving success in the coming seasons.”Eski is a hugely important part of the Middlesex dressing room, and I am really looking forward to continuing to work closely with him over the next few years.”Sussex’s promising young fast bowler, Henry Crocombe, has also signed a deal that will keep him at Hove until the end of 2024.Crocombe, 20, made his debut for the club in 2020, and claimed 20 wickets in nine matches in this summer’s County Championship.”Henry has already come on leaps and bounds over the last two seasons,” Ian Salisbury, the head coach, said. “He showed great resilience last summer as our one bowler that was fit for every single game and his performance prompted nearly every opposition coach to comment that he had something special.”We’re looking forward to nurturing his talent in the years to come.”
Al-Nassr have branded claims that Jhon Duran lives 600 miles away and commutes to Saudi Arabia from Bahrain as âobnoxiously funny fake newsâ.
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Big-money addition to Saudi Pro League
Has joined all-time great Ronaldo in Riyadh
Reports of daily commute quickly rubbished
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The Colombia international striker has become another big-money addition for the Riyadh-based outfit, with a âŹ77 million (ÂŁ65m/$80m) transfer completed from Premier League side Aston Villa. Duran is now working alongside five-time Ballon dâOr winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
He is looking to make the most of opportunities to learn from the Portuguese GOAT, but has faced accusations of basing himself outside of Saudi Arabia due to Islamic law that discourages unmarried couples from living together â as he has taken on a new challenge alongside his girlfriend.
WHAT AL-NASSR SAID
It has been claimed that Duran will be taking an 80-minute flight to training on a daily basis, before then returning to his new home in neighbouring Bahrain. Al-Nassr have responded to those reports by saying: âWe all heard about whatâs called âfake newsâ, but this is an obnoxiously funny fake news! We are happy that our club matters this much. Jhon loves Riyadh and his house is near the club and the stadium. He is our new family member.â
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WHAT NEXT?
Duran is said to have signed a contract with Al-Nassr that is worth close to ÂŁ17m ($21m) per year, which works out at around ÂŁ1,900 an hour. He could afford to live wherever he wants, with a private jet always on hand, but would appear to have set up camp close to his new Saudi Pro League employers.
Amid Sunderland’s excellent start to the Championship season, one in-form Black Cats star has made a transfer admission regarding a transfer clause in his current deal.
Sunderland transfer news
New manager Regis Le Bris has got off to an almost perfect start at the Stadium of Light, with his side sitting top of the Championship just one season after they found themselves sitting mid-table and flirting with relegation. With every game, the Frenchman looks more and more like a manager who was worth the wait, given how long it took Sunderland’s hierarchy to find their permanent replacement for Michael Beale.
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Against Derby County in midweek, it was once again business as usual, as Sunderland reclaimed their Championship top spot in a 2-0 win which featured a stunning first strike of the season from Jobe Bellingham.
It’s the type of routine victory that Sunderland will hope to see a repeat of against Leeds United in what would be quite the statement of intent from those at the Stadium of Light. They’ve already been handed a positive boost on the transfer front to take into Saturday’s clash too.
As relayed by the Sunderland Echo, Wilson Isidor now wants to complete a permanent move to Sunderland, which would see the Black Cats trigger their option to buy the ÂŁ8,500-a-week forward from Zenit St. Petersburg at the end of the season.
Isidor told reporters after scoring the opening goal against Derby in midweek: “I am on loan but with an optional buy. But no, for me, I want to continue with Sunderland and write the club into my career and my history.”
The ball is now very much in Sunderland’s court, who could yet welcome their striker, who is beginning to find his goalscoring touch, on a permanent basis come the end of the season.
"Quality" Isidor has found his goalscoring touch
As if things couldn’t get any better for Le Bris and Sunderland, their summer signing is beginning to show just how clinical he can be when given the chance, with goals in back-to-back games to his name. Still just 24 years old, it would be a major blow for Sunderland if Isidor was to enjoy an excellent season before heading straight back to Zenit. Given his desire to stay put, the Black Cats should match his ambition and secure his long-term future at the club next summer.
Having fired into form, the Frenchman has earned plenty of praise as of late, including from Sunderland reporter Ethan Todd, who dubbed Isidor’s finishing as “quality” and runs off the ball “fantastic”.
With their biggest test yet awaiting, Sunderland could now round off an excellent week with victory over early promotion rivals Leeds this weekend.
Captain Tom Haines and Ben Brown scored maiden List A centuries as Sussex ended their Royal London Cup campaign by beating Middlesex by three runs in a thriller at Hove.Haines made 123 and Brown 105 as they shared a stand of 219 for the second wicket, the county’s fourth-highest partnership in one-day matches, out of a total of 333 for 4 after Haines had won the toss.With Travis Head and David Wiese adding 54 off 21 balls at the end, Sussex finished with their second-highest List A total in matches at Hove after plundering 130 off the last ten overs.Middlesex, who needed to win to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages, were in a decent position on 145 for 1 in the 28th over, but Sussex’s four slow bowlers maintained pressure and wickets began to fall, including opener Max Holden who top scored with 94.But left-hander Jack Davies made a rapid 51 off 37 balls and even when he departed in the 46th over Martin Andersson kept his side in the hunt. Middlesex took 23 off the penultimate over from Danny Ibrahim and when Andersson hit Wiese for six off the first ball of the final over they needed eight off five balls and were favourites.But Wiese held his nerve. He had Josh De Caires caught in the deep and conceded singles off the last three deliveries to see his side home. They swapped places with Middlesex to finish seventh in Group 2.Haines and Brown had earlier come together in the eighth over after Middlesex captain James Harris held a catch off his own bowling to dismiss Ali Orr for 13.It was the last success Middlesex enjoyed for 36 overs as Haines and Brown built their partnership in ideal batting conditions. The only chance either of them offered came when Haines was dropped on 117. He struck 11 fours and four sixes with only De Caires going for less than five runs an over.Haines made 123 from 131 deliveries before he was caught at deep mid-wicket off a mis-timed pull and Brown also departed to a standing ovation when he holed out to deep extra cover, his runs coming off 109 balls with eight fours. Head and Wiese then thrashed 54 from just 21 balls, 46 of which came in boundaries, Wiese making 33 off 11 and Head 46 from 20.Middlesex made a solid start with Holden sharing 65 with Steve Eskinazi (28) and 80 with Varun Chopra (45), but the required rate had climbed to nine an over by the time skipper Peter Handscomb was lbw sweeping James Coles for 16.Holden moved to 94 from 95 balls with 12 fours when Head took a sharp return catch to end a fine innings. The Australian off-spinner finished with 2 for 35 while Wiese and Will Beer also picked up two wickets.
Wayne Rooney is being tipped to move back to Manchester United and become Rasmus Hojlund's striking coach.
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Rooney backed to return to Man UtdCould help Hojlund improveRed Devils linked with Gyokeres transferFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! đ˘đąGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
Former United striker Teddy Sheringham feels that heading back to Old Trafford would be a perfect move for Rooney, who lost his job as Plymouth Argyle boss on New Year's Eve. Sheringham backed the 39-year-old to be a perfect striking coach for the Red Devils who can spark an improvement in the club's current set of forwards, which includes Denmark international Rasmus Hojlund.
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Speaking to , who offer the latest Premier League odds, Sheringham said: "Would Wayne Rooney be a good striking coach? Without a doubt. I think it is a very important role nowadays. There are set-piece coaches, back four coaches, striker coaches and Wayne's been one of the top players in the country.
"Could he help Rasmus Hojlund? Of course. He's an experienced player that's played for his country a hundred times and scored goals at the top level. So any advice from him you would have to listen to."
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Sporting CP star Victor Gyokeres is being strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford in the summer, and Sheringham believes the Swedish striker's arrival would hurt Hojlund's standing in the United squad: "Man Utd signing Viktor Gyokeres would be harsh on Rasmus Hojlund. Hojlund has been feeding off scraps for the last 18 months and I think he's done very well to find himself on the score sheet in the amount of times that he has. Gyokeres might be a slight step up but when you go out and spend the money they did on Hojlund instead of going for Harry Kane at the time, they obviously think he's a good player."
Hojlund may only have six months left to prove himself as United's first choice No.9, though Sheringham added on Gyokeres' credentials: "He's still learning his trade and he's still a young man. Gyokeres is proven in Portugal but the Premier League is a different game, especially when it comes to stepping up week in and week out. His confidence is high in Portugal but it would take time to adapt for him and bringing him in would also harm Hojlundâs prospects."
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WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?
The Red Devils will aim to build on their spirited performance at Anfield last weekend and hope to get back to winning ways on Sunday as they take on Arsenal in an FA Cup third-round clash.
In search of their first Premier League victory, Ipswich Town have been handed a welcome boost on the injury front, with one player now in line to make his first appearance of the season.
Ipswich injury news
It was always going to be a tough start for Kieran McKenna's side, whose first two games came up against Liverpool and champions Manchester City in which they at least showed glimpses of their quality. Handing Arne Slot a difficult first-half, before they were eventually brushed aside by Liverpool's quality, the Tractor Boys then took a shock early lead against City only to ultimately suffer the same fate.
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What would have disappointed McKenna after those tough tests is his side's 1-1 draw at home against Fulham. In a game that Ipswich should be winning if they want to avoid Premier League relegation at the first time of asking, they couldn't find a way to retake the lead against Marco Silva's side having initially opened the scoring through Liam Delap's sensational first goal for the club.
Arguably in need of more firepower alongside Delap, those at Portman Road have at least been handed a major boost on that front. As confirmed by McKenna, George Hirst is in line to make his first Premier League appearance for Ipswich up against Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend, returning to the squad for the first time since his injury against Fortuna Dusseldorf in pre-season.
McKenna told the press via the East Anglian Daily Times: "Wes Burns and George Hirst both trained with the group this week, while Harry Clarke (Achilles surgery in May) joined in with the group for a little bit today for the first time."
When quizzed on whether Burns and Hirst could play a part against Brighton, the Ipswich boss went on to say: "It's not impossible. They've trained with the group pretty much all week and are both ahead of schedule really.
"Both are feeling really good. Of course we'll make the right judgement not just for this weekend and won't take any unnecessary risks. But both, as it stands today, are available to be involved with the squad."
"Important" Hirst adds physical element to Ipswich attack
Whilst Hirst isn't the striker that will score over 15 goals a season, what he does provide is a crucial presence when leading the line; a presence that Ipswich have otherwise lacked so far this season. Earning a reported £28,000-a-week, the 25-year-old will have the chance to more than prove his worth once again upon his return from injury.
McKenna praised his role at Ipswich last season, saying via the East Anglian Daily Times: "The role he does leading the line for us is a unique balance, really. There’s not many strikers who are 6’3 but can also stretch the game and run behind like he can.
“He’s really worked hard to improve his build-up, back to play, holding off defenders and dropping to connect with the midfield. He’s got an important role in set plays and he’s got an important role in this team. He’s really developed as a player."
The England quick, who underwent elbow surgery last week, insists he is placing no timeframe on his recovery
ESPNcricinfo staff27-May-2021Jofra Archer says he is “quite prepared” to miss England’s five-Test series against India in August and September in a bid to be ready for his twin targets of the T20 World Cup and the Ashes next winter, after undergoing what he described as a “career-defining” elbow operation on Friday.Archer, who has been managing his elbow problem ever since being diagnosed with a stress fracture on the tour of South Africa in January 2020, was forced to withdraw from this year’s IPL after playing through the pain during England’s tour of India, and required a cortisone injection to get him through the five-match T20I series in March.The ECB confirmed that he had undergone Friday’s operation, after Archer had failed to come through his return to bowling for Sussex earlier this month. He bowled 29.2 overs in his comeback for Sussex’s 2nd XI, but only managed 18 overs in his County Championship return against Kent two weeks ago.He will now undergo “an intensive rehabilitation period”, according to the ECB, with a review in approximately four weeks to determine his readiness for bowling. That puts him in a race against time to be fit for the first Test against India, at Trent Bridge on August 4, but Archer insists he himself is placing no timeframe on his recovery.
“The way I am looking at things is that I would rather miss a few weeks of a year so that I have a few more years in my career.”Jofra Archer
“One thing I am determined about post-elbow operation is not to rush my comeback,” Archer wrote in his column in the Daily Mail, “because my primary focus is to be playing for England in the Twenty20 World Cup and Ashes later this year.”Those are my targets. If I come back before then and manage to play in the home Test series against India — then fine, so be it. If I don’t, I am quite prepared to sit out the summer.”The way I am looking at things is that I would rather miss a few weeks of a year so that I have a few more years in my career.”While England would dearly love to have their strike bowler available for the Tests against India, the timing of his operation shows that the ECB also recognise where Archer’s priorities should lie. As the MVP at the 2020 IPL in the UAE, his skills in T20 cricket are second-to-none, and his fitness would be a major asset for a side that hopes to add the 20-over World Cup to the 50-over crown that he was instrumental in winning two years ago.And then there’s the Ashes in Australia in December and January, where England know from past experience the importance of having an arsenal of 90mph bowlers at their disposal. However, Archer is aware that the delicacy of the operation on his elbow demands a cautious return to action.”I just want to get this injury sorted once and for all and that’s why I’m not looking that far ahead or at dates for a return to action,” he wrote. “Because if I don’t get this right, I won’t play any cricket. Period.”I am not going to do myself any good by coming back before I’m fully fit, so I will take my time and do what is best for me and my life.”Related
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Archer confirmed that the bandages were already off in the wake of the operation, but that everything was still “very fresh” and that he remained sore after the procedure.”Surgery was always the last option and we wanted to exercise every possible strategy before we went down that route,” he added. “It was the last thing on the list. It is not always a fix and in four weeks we will find out how things have gone.”I must retain faith that this now sorts out the issue for good, although there’s always room for another surgery if needs be. At the age of 26, I am still pretty young.”However, my attitude right now is that the less thought I put into things like that, the better. I just want to throw myself into the rehab.”I remain committed to playing all three formats for England and to winning big series. But it has been quite a while since I bowled completely pain-free.”
No immediate impact on IPL participants, but quarantine periods may affect future engagements
George Dobell19-Apr-2021The ECB are confident they will be able to fulfil their home international fixture programme despite India being added to the ‘red list’ of countries from which most travel to the UK has been banned due to fears of a new Covid variant.Under new regulations, most people who have been in India in the last 10 days will be banned from entering the UK from 4am on Friday. British or Irish residents, or those with residence rights within the UK, will be obliged to serve a 10-day quarantine period. There is, at present, no dispensation available to allow sportspeople to train out of their rooms while they serve that quarantine period.There is a concern that a new variant of the virus, which appears to be relatively prevalent in India, could spread more easily and prove more resistant to vaccinations. The UK’s Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has cancelled a visit to India which was scheduled to take place next week.India are scheduled to play in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand in June and a five-Test series against England starting in August. Pakistan, which is also on the red list, are also scheduled to play ODI and T20I series in England in the coming months, while India’s women’s team is also scheduled to play a series in June.But although the ECB are likely to require dispensation from the UK government to stage such tours, they are optimistic that all games will be given the go-ahead.Having fulfilled their full home schedule in 2020, the ECB feel they have the experience and capability to combat the demands of the situation. Crucially, they also believe they gained the confidence of the UK government by demonstrating their ability to build an effective bio-bubble and stage matches without compromising safety. England were able to host series against West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland and Australia in 2020 with players of all sides obliged to abide by strict protocols, including serving quarantine periods.”We are currently discussing with Government the impact of countries being on the ‘red list’,” an ECB spokesperson said. “By working collaboratively we demonstrated how we can stage international cricket safely in the middle of a pandemic and hope to be able to do so again this year.”Related
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It is unlikely the news will have much of an impact on England’s players involved in the IPL. While some may be alarmed at infection rates in India – new cases have risen to over 200,000 a day and only the USA has reported more deaths from the virus – the players are already living in bio-bubbles and playing in empty stadiums.It could, however, lengthen the process by which players can appear elsewhere, having been involved in the IPL. That could make it difficult for players at the IPL to be available for the Test series between New Zealand and England which starts on June 2. New Zealand players involved in the tournament include their captain, Kane Williamson, while England players involved include Jos Buttler. The IPL final takes place on May 30.The ICC are also confident that the World Test Championship final, due to be played at the Ageas Bowl near Southampton in June, will go ahead as planned, although they may need the UK government to grant dispensation for the event, and for the hotel at the ground to be considered an approved quarantine centre.”We are currently discussing with the UK Government the impact of countries being on the ‘red list’,” an ICC spokesman told ESPNcricinfo. “The ECB and other Members have demonstrated how we can stage international cricket safely in the middle of a pandemic and we are confident that we can continue to do that and that the World Test Championship Final will go ahead as planned in June in the UK.”
Mauricio Pochettino was filmed at Wembley alongside Emma Hayes and Sarina Wiegman as the USMNT boss travelled back to England to support USWNT.
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Pochettino is back in London Headed to Wembley to watch the USWNTHayes to battle for supremacy against WiegmanFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! đ˘đąWHAT HAPPENED?
THE USMNT manager crossed the Atlantic to visit a familiar venue in London. Pochettino was a regular visitor to Wembley during his Tottenham stint as the Lilly-Whites played their home matches there between 2017 and 2019, while the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was being built.
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Pochettino was seen having a chat with USWNT manager, Hayes, and Lionesses boss Wiegman near the touchline. The trio was seen engrossed in chatter and probably in some light banter as the cameras panned to them.
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR POCHETTINO?
Pochettino has had a bright start to his life as USMNT manager by winning three of his first four games at the helm. His next challenge is against Panama in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Nations League in March 2025, before he shifts his focus to preparing for the 2026 World Cup.