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Russell Martin’s days as Glasgow Rangers manager are surely numbered.

To date, the shortest-serving permanent head coach in the Ibrox club’s 153-year history is Pedro Caixinha, who took charge of just 26 games in 2017.

For Martin to reach that mark, he would still need to be in charge by the time the Light Blues face Braga in the Europa League on 27 November which, right now, feels frankly fanciful.

On Saturday, the Gers were beaten 2-0 by Heart of Midlothian at Ibrox, meaning they’ve failed to win their opening five league fixtures for only the second time in their entire history, also doing so in 1978, currently sat tenth in the Premiership table.

Thus, supporters are already wondering who will replace Martin as manager, hoping the 49ers make this decision sooner rather than later, but should they go for a more left-field candidate, one praised for the “outstanding” job he did at his previous club, rather than the obvious options?

Leading candidates to become Rangers manager

According to reports, the two front-runners to become the new Rangers manager are Steven Gerrard and Sean Dyche.

Gerrard has been out of work since being sacked by Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq in January, having won only 19 of 55 matches in charge.

His time as Aston Villa boss didn’t go particularly well either, but the Liverpool legend did enjoy a very successful time at Ibrox.

In 192 matches as Rangers boss, Gerrard collected 124 wins, leading them to memorable European victories over Porto, Feyenoord, Braga, Galatasaray and others, historically guiding the club to their sole top-flight title since 2011, crucially denying Celtic ten-in-a-row.

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Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

Other candidate, Dyche, meantime was sacked by Everton in January, but is best known for his work at Burnley, leading them to two promotions, six successive seasons in the top division and a maiden European campaign since 1967.

The Englishman is vastly experienced, having managed 332 Premier League games; for comparison, Martin has overseen just 16, winning only one.

Dyche would represent the archetypal safe pair of hands appointment, while re-hiring Gerrard would suggest the new owners are simply looking to the past to rediscover former glories, so they should instead target an up-and-coming young coach.

Rangers' dream Russell Martin replacement

When searching through the current out-of-work managers, one name leaps off the page and that is Danny Röhl.

Reports emerged over the summer that he was on the Gers’ shortlist, but it’s unknown if any contact was made.

After an unremarkable playing career, appearing for lower league German clubs FSV Zwickau, Sachsen Leipzig and Eilenburg, he retired at the age of 21 to focus on becoming a coach.

Well, this has certainly paid off because, after joining RB Leipzig in 2010, he worked as a youth coach and a video analyst before being appointed assistant manager in 2016, following die Roten’s promotion to the Bundesliga, working alongside Ralph Hasenhüttl.

After that, he went with Hasenhüttl to Southampton, before moving on to Bayern Munich, learning under Niko Kovač and then Hansi Flick at the Rekordmeister, subsequently working under Flick again with the German national team for two years.

However, after Flick was sacked as die Mannschaft boss in 2023, he took his first head coach role, appointed Sheffield Wednesday manager, thereby becoming the youngest permanent boss in EFL history at the age of just 34.

Well, Röhl would oversee 89 games in charge at Hillsborough, very much beloved by supporters, with Philip Buckingham of the Athletic describing the job he did in charge of the Owls as “outstanding”, suggesting that numerous big clubs should “covet” his signature.

The table below documents his statistics from his time in Yorkshire.

While finishing 20th and then 12th may not appear spectacular, worth noting that, in his first season, when the German arrived in October, Sheffield Wednesday had failed to win any of their first 13 EFL Championship fixtures, losing ten of them, collecting 14 points from their final six matches to pull off a great escape.

Meantime, last season’s mid-table finish looks even more impressive given that owner Dejphon Chansiri is essentially running the club into the ground, with players and other staff repeatedly not being paid on time, if at all, hence why Röhl walked out over the summer.

Rangers themselves have already benefited from the crisis at Hillsborough, signing star winger Djeidi Gassama for around £3m, when it is clear to everyone he is worth more than that.

Thus, Röhl has already proven that he is capable of managing a crisis club, as well as coming in and having an instant impact mid-season, all things Rangers need right now, so the 49ers should be bold and appoint the 36-year-old as soon as possible.

49ers can axe Martin at Rangers by bringing 5-time trophy winner to Ibrox

As pressure continues to mount on Rangers manager Russell Martin, the 49ers should use their contacts to appoint a trophy-winning manager at Ibrox.

By
Ben Gray

Sep 9, 2025

Leroy Sane has experienced a mixed start to life at Galatasaray after joining in a free transfer from Bayern Munich in the summer. Former player Alparslan Erdem, who spent two years at the Turkish heavyweights, has cited former Chelsea and Ajax attacker Hakim Ziyech's example as a cautionary tale, urging the German winger to "get his head straight first."

• Sane struggling at Galatasaray

  Sane left Bayern Munich over the summer and arrived in Turkey by signing for defending champions Galatasaray. However, he has been underwhelming in his first two months for his new team. His inconsistency has held him back from nailing down a permanent place in head coach Okan Buruk's starting line-up. The 29-year-old had not been in the starting XI for the last two games and even spent the entire 90 minutes on the bench during the 1-0 victory against Liverpool in the Champions League.

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  Alparsan Erdem warns Sane of repeating Ziyech mistake

  According to former Galatasaray player Erdem, Sane's slow start in Istanbul can be attributed to his physical condition.

  "I think he wasn't fit enough and needs to get his head straight first," he said in a podcast "Gala have now won in the Champions League against Liverpool without Sane. He didn't even play for a minute, which says something." 

  He then drew a comparison with Ziyech, adding that the Moroccan was "perhaps not quite as big a name as Sane, but he wasn't fit enough either. [Buruk] let him play five, six, seven, eight games and very quickly they let him go. It just didn't work out."

• Sane 'underestimated' Galatasaray

  Ziyech initially moved to Galatasaray on loan from Chelsea in 2023 before joining them on a free transfer. Six months later, however, the contract was terminated by mutual agreement, after which the ex-Ajax man moved to Al-Duhail in Qatar. Since the summer, the once highly sought-after attacking player has even been without a club.

  Erdem can well imagine that Sane could face a similarly tough time. "I think Sane has underestimated that a little," Erdem added. "He may think he can get by at Gala without giving 100 per cent, but football isn't like that. No matter where you play, if you're not 100 per cent fit, it can happen very quickly and you're suddenly in the second division. He has to be careful there."

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• Oktoberbest fiasco made Sane more popular among Galatasaray fans

  Meanwhile, Sane also made negative headlines off the pitch with a scuffle at the Oktoberfest. However, this did not cause him any further trouble. Quite the contrary. In fact, it seems to have earned him brownie points with the fans.

  On social media, Sane, who had recently been viewed critically, was even celebrated by Gala supporters for confronting the young men at the event in Munich after they insulted the Turkish club while mocking him. On his return to his long-time adopted home, Sane had a drink with some former Bayern Munich teammates before getting into a brief scuffle. "Of course, I should have reacted more calmly in that moment and ignored it – I'll take that on board," he admitted afterwards.

  Nevertheless, Sane completed a special training session of his own volition, reports. According to the report, the winger returned to the training ground in Istanbul immediately after his trip to Munich, even though the Gala team had actually been given time off. After consulting with the club, he completed three full sessions in order to recommend himself for the tasks ahead after the international break with Gala coach Buruk. Sane himself seems to know that he still has some catching up to do in terms of fitness.

There are plenty of reasons why Rangers have endured a miserable season so far.

Most would blame under-fire manager Russell Martin, who has won just five of 15 matches in charge across all competitions to date, while others cite poor squad building and underwhelming recruitment.

It may not be the primary reason, but the departure of Václav Černý has to be a key factor.

The Czechia international spent last season on loan in Glasgow from Wolfsburg, joining Beşiktaş on a permanent deal this summer instead of returning, but he made quite the impression during his year in Govan.

Černý scored 18 goals in 52 appearances for Rangers, of which six came in the Europa League, a key figure as the Light Blues reached the quarter-finals, on target against Steaua Bucharest, Nice and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise before netting twice during the famous 3-1 victory over Fenerbahçe in İstanbul.

Thus, he was always going to be a near-impossible figure to replace, but has Martin unearthed the new Černý, a man who will be key to Rangers’ hopes in this season’s Europa League?

Oliver Antman's impact at Rangers

Ahead of Thursday night’s clash with Sturm Graz at Liebenauer Stadium, Oliver Antman is expected to start on the right-wing, chosen over Mikey Moore.

The Finnish international was introduced at half-time of last Thursday’s 1-0 defeat to Genk, following Mohamed Diomandé’s red card, before starting Sunday’s hard-fought, last gasp 2-1 victory over Livingston, assisting James Tavernier’s opener at Almondvale.

The Finnish international was an exciting signing right from the off, having registered six goals and 16 assists for Go Ahead Eagles last season, helping them win the KNVB Beker for the very first time, the Eredivisie club’s first major silverware since 1933.

Less than 24 hours after arriving in Glasgow for around £3.5m, he was the star of the show as Rangers demolished Viktoria Plzeň 3-0 in a Champions League qualifier as the team put in, by some distance, their best performance under Martin.

However, soon after, he lost his place in the starting lineup to Spurs loanee Moore, but is seemingly the first choice once again.

However, is the winger on the opposite side even more exciting?

Rangers' new Václav Černý

In a season of few positives for Rangers, the form of Djeidi Gassama is certainly something worth being excited about.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

If Černý’s calling card last season was scoring goals in Europe, well the 22-year-old certainly took up that mantle from day one.

During the summer, after arriving from Sheffield Wednesday for a reported fee of £2.2m, the Frenchman scored four times in Rangers’ first three Champions League qualifiers, on target home and away as they dumped out Panathinaikos, before a double to down Viktoria Plzeň at Ibrox, the second of which completed a free-flowing team move, set up by Antman.

Speaking on BBC Sportscene after full time, former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday labelled Gassama an “electric winger”, adding that he is “direct, quick and a constant threat, [causing] defenders a lot of problems”, while manager Martin praised his “intensity” and goal threat, noting that is something the pair had worked on in training.

So, let’s outline Gassama’s statistics so far this season.

As the table documents, despite having not scored since Champions League qualifying in August, Gassama has been key to Rangers as an attacking unit, ranked first for goals, shots and shots on target as well as chances created and dribbling metrics.

The Frenchman has already shown that he is capable of linking up with Antman while, alongside Bojan Miovski, they should form a frightening front three at both domestic and Europa League level, looking to fire the Gers to victory in Austria.

Martin must drop Aasgaard to start "powerful" star in new Rangers formation

Russell Martin should drop Thelo Aasgaard from the starting XI to try out this new formation.

By
Dan Emery

Oct 2, 2025

Ajax’s fall from grace in both domestic and European competition has taken another grim turn, with Remko Pasveer claiming the club still hasn’t recovered from the loss of Jordan Henderson. The goalkeeper has claimed that the ex-Liverpool captain’s leadership “held everything together” and his departure to Brentford has left a void the Dutch giants can’t seem to fill.

• Ajax spiralling

  Ajax’s Champions League campaign went from bad to worse after suffering a humiliating 5-1 defeat against Chelsea. The result has piled further pressure on head coach John Heitinga, who is already facing a furious fanbase following earlier losses to Olympique Marseille and Inter Milan. With the Dutch giants languishing in fourth place in the Eredivisie, nine points behind leaders Feyenoord, frustration over the team’s lack of direction has reached breaking point.

  In the aftermath of the Stamford Bridge rout, veteran goalkeeper Pasveer acknowledged supporters’ anger and admitted the team has been far from its best. He described the defeat as “unfortunate,” pointing to a red card and two conceded penalties that derailed any hope of a comeback. When pressed to explain Ajax’s ongoing struggles, the 41-year-old didn’t hesitate to single out the impact of Henderson’s departure.

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  A leadership void

  “We’re playing a little differently, and in Jordan Henderson, we’ve lost a clear leader,” Pasveer told reporters after the Chelsea defeat.

  “He held everything together, and you definitely miss that. Because a player like that is important for a team with so many young players. You do miss a bit more direction now.”

  Pasveer’s words echo the sentiment among Ajax fans, many of whom believe the club has failed to replace Henderson’s influence both on and off the pitch. However, Ajax chief Alex Kroes has defended the decision to allow the England international to leave the club for Brentford, stating that Ajax were undergoing a major restructuring aimed at cutting costs after missing out on the Eredivisie title.

  “It’s very simple. We made an agreement with Jordan when he was able to leave in January,” Kroes explained. “He gave his all to help us reach the Champions League, and then had until July 14 to leave on a free transfer. That was a good agreement for both sides.

  “At the beginning of July, there was still nothing, so I called his agent and pointed out the approaching date. He informed me that Jordan would very likely leave, but he didn’t yet know which club. In the end, it was Brentford.

  “I understand people have different opinions about that. But they don’t know the details, and we don’t have to share them."

• Henderson returns to England

  Henderson’s stint at Ajax may have been brief, but it left a significant impression on the club. The former Liverpool captain joined the Dutch giants in January 2024 from Al-Ettifaq on a free transfer, immediately becoming club captain and injecting a sense of professionalism and leadership into a youthful dressing room. Over 57 appearances, he scored once and provided nine assists, helping Ajax stabilise their form and qualify for the Champions League last season.

  The relationship came to an end just 18 months later. In July 2025, Henderson and Ajax mutually agreed to terminate his contract so that he could pursue a move to Brentford. Since then, the former Liverpool captain has played a major part with the Bees under Keith Andrews. He has featured in eight Premier League matches, starting in seven of those, and has contributed two assists so far.

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  What comes next?

  Ajax’s path to recovery will depend heavily on how quickly they can regain composure and rediscover a sense of identity. Heitinga faces mounting pressure to steady the ship, with the board expected to evaluate his position if results fail to improve in the coming weeks. For now, their Champions League campaign hangs by a thread, and qualification for the knockout rounds looks increasingly unlikely. As for Henderson, his career in England has regained momentum, with the midfielder thriving at Brentford and drawing praise for his professionalism and work ethic.

Nottingham Forest are at the beginning of life under Ange Postecoglou, but results haven’t gone to plan since the Australian boss arrived at the City Ground.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s departure paved the way for Postecoglou to enter the hotseat in the East Midlands, though it is fair to say his tenure has yielded mixed reviews as he awaits a first victory in charge.

Back-to-back defeats against Arsenal and Swansea City were followed by consecutive draws against Burnley and Real Betis, before Forest endured a frustrating loss against Sunderland last weekend despite creating a host of chances.

Urging patience, Postecoglou shared frustration at his side not being able to dispose of the Black Cats, albeit he did acknowledge his side were more than a match for their opponents in terms of their performance.

He stated: “Frustrating. Disappointing. It’s another game we have allowed to get away from us, where really we should be very comfortably overcoming (Sunderland). I didn’t think there was anything in it (free-kick decision). Irrespective, even if the referee has made an absolute high howler, we can still deal with the free-kick better. What we did after that is more of a concern to me than the decision.”

While Nottingham Forest’s frustration at the officials was reflected by Neco Williams, they do have plenty to build on; it isn’t as if they’ve been blown away by their opposition in any of their last four matches, excluding their defeat at Arsenal.

Either way, people will already begin to form judgements, with many still fresh from memories of Postecoglou’s rollercoaster season with Tottenham Hotspur last term, ending the year with the Europa League trophy and a 17th-placed Premier League finish.

Tim Howard launches scathing Postecoglou verdict

Speaking to Premier League Productions, former United States and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard has hit out at Postecoglou, claiming his methods lack pragmatism even if they are easy on the eye.

He stated: “I’m so sick and tired of these coaches saying, ‘This is the way I play, and I’ll lose my job, but I’ll play this way.’ No, you have to be pragmatic. You have to dig in. Yes, they use the football well and yes, they play well. But did you see that (Sunderland) performance? They were willing to dig in, every single one of them. That’s how you get results, and it shows.”

Collymore believes Nottingham Forest star is "finally" living up to the hype

One Nottingham Forest star found himself at the centre of Stan Collymore’s praise.

By
Tom Cunningham

Sep 25, 2025

Truthfully, there are two contexts to view Nottingham Forest’s situation in. On one hand, they have been unlucky not to claim more from their first five matches under Postecoglou, but a soft underbelly has no place in a side trying to claim Premier League points.

The Australian is known for his firebrand style of football, so fans will have to be encouraged by the flashes of what they’ve seen – particularly in Seville – and simply buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Arsene Wenger described Real Madrid's 2-1 win over Barcelona as "men against boys," as the former Arsenal manager heaped praise on Xabi Alonso. Madrid were the dominant force in the Clasico clash at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the win taking Alonso's men five points clear of their fierce rivals at the top of La Liga.

• Wenger praises Alonso's 'stronger' Madrid

  Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham struck for the capital club to cancel out Fermin Lopez's strike as Alonso's side sealed a vital three points in the first Clasico of the season. It could have been worse for the visitors, given Madrid had a penalty overturned in the early stages of the game and had a spot kick saved by Wojciech Szczesny in the second half.

  Wenger provided a blunt assessment of the gap between the two rivals, praising Real Madrid's tactical and physical superiority under Alonso. He contrasted Los Blancos' clinical attack with an impotent Barcelona, who held 52 per cent possession but managed only six shots on target from 13 attempts, compared to Madrid's nine on target from 21 shots.

  "El Clasico was a bit like a duel between men and boys. Real Madrid's defence was much stronger than Barcelona's," Wenger stated. "In attack, Madrid always looked capable of scoring, while Barcelona seemed ineffective. They had a lot of possession, but never really seemed capable of scoring. I give credit to Xabi Alonso. He balanced the team well to end up being superior. They defended well, pressed their opponents and created dangerous chances, scoring two goals and missing a penalty. They clearly played a good game and, for me, they deserved to win this match against a Barça that showed very little up front."

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  Alonso: 'The win was deserved and even a short one'

  Alonso backed Wenger's assessment, stating his team was "very motivated" and that the result was crucial beyond the league table.

  “It was a deserved win — and even a short one," Alonso said. "We created chances, had the penalty… and this helps us recover that sense of being a competitive team in big games."

  The manager emphasised the importance of the victory for the squad's confidence. “It’s important. You yourselves are saying it. It’s not just the three points," Alonso explained. "We know that it’s still October and it’s early… But we wanted good feelings and that’s how it was. I’m very happy for the boys. They needed this feeling of winning a big game. The motivation was complete."

  He also highlighted the atmosphere in the stadium: "I saw both the team and the stadium enjoying the moment. It was important for the fans to see that their team can compete and win big games."

• Vinicius substitution exposes potential rift

  Despite the dominant performance, the match featured a moment of high tension when Vinícius Jr was substituted in the 72nd minute. The Brazilian winger was seen ranting as he walked past Alonso, initially storming down the tunnel before returning to the dugout.

  The outburst comes amid a delicate contractual situation. Vinícius will have only one year left on his contract at the end of the season, and negotiations for a new deal have reportedly stalled. Reports in Spain suggest the relationship between the player and club is fractured, with speculation that Madrid could be willing to sell the star if a substantial offer is made.

  Alonso moved quickly to defuse the controversy in his press conference, insisting the matter would be handled internally and refusing to let it overshadow the victory.

  "In what was a great game, Vini also contributed a lot," he said, adding: "When the time comes, we’ll talk about it in the dressing room."

  Alonso also dismissed post-match scuffles, which involved Dani Carvajal and Lamine Yamal, as "natural tension" and "healthy banter" typical of a Clasico.

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  Alonso praises Bellingham's connection and tactical discipline

  The manager was particularly pleased with his tactical setup, which saw Madrid press high and defend in organised, compact lines. He gave specific praise to Jude Bellingham, who scored the decisive second goal after assisting Kylian Mbappe for the first.

  "He’s had three very good games," Alonso said of the Englishman. "Jude is all about feeling, communicating, and connecting. That’s why he’s had some very good games. He connects with everything — the ball, the fans, and his teammates."

Shohei Ohtani is not messing around in his pursuit to become the first member of Major League Baseball's 50-50 club.

On Tuesday night, Ohtani hit his 48th home run of the season and he thoroughly punished the baseball. The blast came with Ohtani's Los Angeles Dodgers trailing the Miami Marlins 4–0 in the top of the third inning. On a 1-1 pitch, Darren McCaughan threw an 82 mph sweeper to the soon-to-be National League MVP.

That was a mistake.

Ohtani absolutely demolished the ball, launching it into the upper deck at LoanDepot Park. It flew 402 feet out to right field and left the bat at 105.3 mph. An absolute laser.

Footage is below, but beware it could be disturbing if you're protective of baseballs.

It was hit so hard Ohtani even admired his work afterwards. As he should have.

That home run gave Ohtani 48 on the season to go along with 48 stolen bases. It would be incredibly surprising if he didn't hit the 50-50 mark by the end of the season with 12 games left to go.

Chelsea have now opened talks to sign a “powerful” new forward who’s scored 15 goals this season, joining the likes of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain in the race for his signature.

Blues open talks to sign new forward amid resurgent form

After a slow start to the campaign, there were a few questions asked about Enzo Maresca’s position as manager, but the Italian’s side have since returned to form, winning their last three matches on the spin in all competitions.

Most recently, the Blues picked up a 3-0 victory on the road against Nottingham Forest, which cost Ange Postecoglou his job, and Pedro Neto put in a very impressive display, chipping in with a goal and an assist, while also completing three dribbles.

Alejandro Garnacho’s performance, on the other hand, wasn’t quite as eye-catching, with the 21-year-old still yet to get off the mark in front of goal since arriving from Manchester United, and Jamie Gittens hasn’t exactly hit the ground running either.

The former Borussia Dortmund man is without a goal or an assist in his opening eight games this season, with the Englishman’s form likely to be a concern for Maresca.

That’s the risk clubs take when they decide to sign up-and-coming talents, rather than ready-made top players, and it is certainly a questionable approach from the west Londoners, who have the capabilities to attract some of the best wingers in the world.

However, according to a report from TEAMtalk, Chelsea have joined the race for a new youngster, having opened agent talks over a deal for Vasco da Gama starlet Rayan Vitor, who certainly isn’t short of potential suitors.

Barcelona, PSG, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are also named as interested parties, with the 19-year-old emerging as one of the best young talents to come out of Brazil in recent times, but a deal would be relatively expensive.

The teenager has a £35m release clause in his contract, although the Blues may be able to hash out a deal for closer to the £26m – £29m mark.

Chelsea now in pole position to sign £80m "key target" ahead of PSG and Liverpool

The Blues are looking to complete a statement deal.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Oct 18, 2025

"Powerful" Vitor could be a future star

Jamie Carragher has previously made it clear exactly what he thinks of Chelsea’s recruitment policy, saying: “The club hides behind a prolonged transitional period that keeps being extended, focusing on signing the same type of young players in every transfer window.”

In truth, the young Brazilian would probably fall into that category, but that’s not to say he wouldn’t be a long-term success at Stamford Bridge, having shown signs he could go on to become a future star.

The Vasco da Gama star has 15 goals to his name in 2025, and he has received plaudits from scout Ben Mattinson.

That said, having signed Garnacho, Gittens and Estevao in recent times, it would be a questionable decision to bring in yet another young winger, and signing a centre-back should be a priority, given that Maresca is light on options at the back.

Lucas Paqueta has been sanctioned by the Football Association (FA) for "two proven breaches" following their investigation into alleged spot-fixing. The West Ham United and Brazil midfielder was cleared of four spot-fixing charges by an independent commission in July – almost two years after English football's governing body launched their investigation.

• Paqueta was cleared of four spot-fixing charges in July

  The FA began their investigation in August 2023 and Paqueta was charged in May 2024 for allegedly getting booked deliberately "for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market".

  The four charges against the 28-year-old related to a Premier League game against Leicester City on 12 November 2022, alongside 2023 fixtures against Aston Villa on 12 March, Leeds United on 21 May and Bournemouth on 12 August.

  Former Lyon midfielder Paqueta was faced with the prospect of a lifetime ban if found guilty. However, the regulatory commission found the four charges to be "not proven" following the hearing.

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  Brazil midfielder thanked West Ham after he was cleared

  After the verdict in July, Paqueta said: ”Since the first day of this investigation, I have maintained my innocence against these extremely serious accusations.

  "I can't say anything more at this time, but I would like to express how grateful I am to God and how eager I am to return to playing football with a smile on my face.

  "To my wife who never let go of my hand, to West Ham United, to the fans who always cheered me on, and to my family, friends and the legal team who have supported me – thank you for everything.”

• Paqueta has now been sanctioned by FA for 'two breaches'

  But Paqueta has now been sanctioned for "failing to comply with a requirement to answer questions and provide information to The FA’s investigation into breaches of the Rules". 

  Paqueta had denied the two charges, however both breaches of FA Rule F3 were found proven following a hearing. The regulatory commission has imposed a reprimand and a warning over Paqueta’s future conduct.

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• West Ham say they are pleased the case 'is finally closed'

  Following the news, West Ham said they were pleased the investigation "is now finally closed".

  A statement on the club's official website reads: "West Ham United acknowledges the statement published by the Football Association today, confirming that Lucas Paqueta has received a warning as to his future conduct, following two proven breaches of FA rule F3, after he was cleared of misconduct charges made against him for alleged breaches of FA rule E5.

  "West Ham United and Lucas Paqueta are pleased that this matter is now finally closed. The Club will be making no further comment."

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper just spearheaded the franchise's NL East title and has hopes of bringing a World Series title to the city of Philadelphia.

In 541 plate appearances this season, Harper is batting .287 with 30 home runs and 87 RBI and remains a force in the middle of the order for the Phillies.

But that doesn't mean that he hasn't contemplated what he will do once his playing career is done. In fact, he has two distinct ways that he wants to remain involved in baseball once he eventually retires. Harper discussed those options with 's Tom Verducci.

"I talk to Scott [Boras, his agent] a lot and I tell him, ‘I want to coach after I’m done, but I want to go to college.’ That’s my dream,” he says. “I want to do it really bad. Scott always gives me crap. He's like, ‘You’re going to be a Hall of Famer … [and] you're going to go back and coach college kids?’

“I just want to put the baseball [playing] version of myself behind me and put my coach’s cap on. I want to do it that way at a college. I would never want to do it at the Major League level."

But just because Harper doesn't want to manage in the major leagues, doesn't mean he wouldn't want to be involved in the professional game entirely once his playing days are done. In fact, he could see himself owning a major league team someday.

“I could be an owner on the Major League level. I would love to do that. I’d rather own and do that. I would like to be an owner/president. I would like to do what [Phillies president of baseball operations Dave] Dombrowski does, but ownership-wise. So, I'd like to be [like Derek] Jeter [was with the Miami Marlins].“That's like my biggest dream. But coaching college would be great. Yeah, I think that would be awesome to work with kids at that age. It’s just a different vibe. Kind of different mindset, too. You know, I don’t want to lie to kids, either. Kids get lied to so much at the college level nowadays, too.

Harper turns 32 in mid-October, and has plenty of baseball left in front of him. But once he's done, expect him to stay involved the game that he loves so much.