Glasgow Rangers are in a difficult position after an incredibly disappointing start to the 2025/26 campaign in the Scottish Premiership and in Europe.

The Light Blues failed to qualify for the Champions League, losing 9-1 on aggregate in their play-off clash, and have lost their first two games in the league phase of the Europa League.

As you can see in the graphic above, Rangers have only won five of their 17 matches in all competitions this season, conceding 24 goals in the process.

That led the club to dismiss their head coach heading into the October international break, as they sit eighth in the Premiership with one win in seven league matches.

The club’s incredibly poor start to the season on paper makes it hard to argue that the sacking of Russell Martin was unjustified, as he did not pick up enough results to buy patience from supporters or the board.

It is now down to the Ibrox chiefs, though, to find a new manager or head coach who can step in and do a better job than the former Scotland international did in Glasgow.

The latest on the Rangers manager search at Ibrox

Former professional scout Mick Brown has told Football Insider that Steven Gerrard is “in the box seat” to be the next Rangers manager during the international break.

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Brown told Football Insider: “Right now, it probably does seem like it’s Gerrard’s job to lose, really. He’s been the outstanding candidate.

“We’ll see how things develop over the next few days, but Gerrard is in the box seat right now. If those talks are successful, it could mean something pretty quickly happening with Gerrard returning to Ibrox.”

Meanwhile, the Daily Record claims that the English head coach is due to hold talks with the club in London this week to discuss a possible return to Ibrox.

That report adds, though, that Gerrard’s camp has made it clear that they are exploratory talks, and that nothing is advanced or close to being agreed at this moment in time.

Matches

38

12

Wins

32

8

Draws

6

3

Defeats

0

1

Points

102

27

Points per game

2.68

2.25

League position

1st (Champions)

1st

As you can see in the table above, the manager’s last 50 league games in charge of the club during his first spell were almost immaculate, with 40 wins and only one loss.

His return to Ibrox would surely be met with excitement, given that he won the title in the 2020/21 campaign, and it could get the stadium rocking again if they are able to agree a deal with the former Aston Villa boss.

Gerrard, though, is not walking into a favourable environment, as evidenced by one win in seven league games, and he could have some big decisions to make in his first few weeks at the club, and then in the January transfer window.

Rangers made a host of changes to their squad during the summer transfer window, as shown in the graphic below, but not many of their new signings have hit the ground running.

In fact, two signings who may become two of the first victims of the change in manager at Ibrox could be Joe Rothwell and Max Aarons, who may find themselves disposable by January.

Why Rangers must ditch this Ibrox duo

Former Rangers centre-forward Kris Boyd heaped criticism on both Rothwell and Aarons, as well as the recruitment in general, in August because they both came from English clubs.

Boyd said: “He (Martin) has brought a few players in, but I think he needs to be very, very careful. He keeps going back to the English market as well, inflated, overrated for me, especially when you go down the leagues.

“There is a long list of Rangers players who have arrived from the Championship or below who have failed here. And I am afraid to say, at this moment in time, Max Aarons and Joe Rothwell seem to be falling more towards the Kieran Dowell, Ben Davies, Todd Cantwell, Tom Lawrence category than what they do with the likes of Connor Goldson and James Tavernier.”

As Boyd outlined in his comments, Rangers have had plenty of failures arrive at Ibrox from the English market, including Tom Lawrence, who signed for Perth Glory this week after moving on from Glasgow on a free transfer in the summer.

Appearances

23

18

Goals

2

4

Assists

3

2

Dribbles completed per game

0.6

0.5

Ground duel success rate

48%

46%

Aerial duel success rate

57%

15%

As you can see in the table above, the Wales international did not provide consistent quality at the top end of the pitch as an attacking midfielder in his last two seasons at Ibrox.

Aarons and Rothwell, as Boyd explained, are on course to follow in Lawrence’s footsteps because they have both endured underwhelming starts to their careers at Ibrox.

The Bournemouth loanee, who was sent off against Club Brugge in the Champions League, did score the winning goal against Livingston last month in the Premiership.

However, he has also been an unused substitute in four of the last six games and the appointment of Gerrard is unlikely to change his fortunes, given that James Tavernier, the captain, played 168 times for the manager in his first spell at Ibrox, per Transfermarkt.

Rothwell, meanwhile, could suffer the same fate as Aarons, despite signing on a permanent deal from Bournemouth in the summer, because he has failed to impress thus far.

Gerrard liked to have mobility in his midfield with the likes of Glen Kamara and Joe Aribo in the 2020/21 title-winning season, and Rothwell does not fit into that midfield mould, as he has won just 1.4 ground duels per game, per Sofascore, which shows that he rarely gets across the pitch to compete in duels.

This means that the central midfielder could find himself further down the pecking order and considering his future at the club when the January transfer window opens, whilst Aarons may have to consider whether or not the loan is worth completing if he is behind Tavernier.

New Rangers manager could lose Ibrox star as soon as January window opens

Another potential blow for the Gers.

ByTom Cunningham Oct 10, 2025

Therefore, Aarons and Rothwell could be the first Ibrox victims of a change in manager if Gerrard walks through the door, because they have started poorly at Rangers and both may not be frontline options in the English tactician’s 4-3-3 set-up, due to his preferences in his first spell.

Maxwell finishes with 149 ODIs and two ODI World Cup titles after conceding his body could not handle ODI cricket any more

Alex Malcolm02-Jun-2025

Glenn Maxwell pulled off the unimaginable against Afghanistan in 2023•Getty Images

Glenn Maxwell, the architect of arguably the greatest ODI innings ever played, has announced his retirement from the 50-over international format effective immediately but he will remain available for T20 internationals and looks set to continue until next year’s T20 World Cup.Maxwell, 36, joins fellow two-time ODI World Cup winner Steven Smith in ODI retirement after Australia’s semi-final exit from the Champions Trophy earlier this year. Maxwell has not formally retired from Test cricket yet but is unlikely to be selected to play red-ball cricket again.Related

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Glenn Maxwell vs the world

Maxwell announced his retirement in a long-form interview on the on Monday and revealed that the physical toll of ODI cricket had become too much on the back of his broken leg in 2022, having pulled up sore after matches during the recent Champions Trophy.”I felt like I was letting the team down a little bit with how body was reacting to the conditions,” Maxwell said. “I had a good chat with [Australia chair of selectors] George Bailey and I asked him what his thoughts were going forward.”We talked about the 2027 World Cup and I said to him ‘I don’t think I am going to make that, it’s time to start planning for people in my position to have a crack at it and make the position their own’. Hopefully they get enough of a lead-in to hang onto that role.”I always said I wasn’t going to hand my position over if I felt like I was still good enough to play. I didn’t want to just hold on for a couple of series and almost play for selfish reasons.”They are moving in such a clear direction so this give them the best look at what the line-up is leading into that next World Cup. I know how important that planning is.”Maxwell bows out with an extraordinary record in ODI cricket although his raw numbers of 3990 runs at 33.81 and 77 wickets at 47.32 from 149 games do not do him justice.By his own admission Maxwell was promoted to Australia’s ODI team well before he was ready, having played in just 14 List A games for Victoria before making his ODI debut in 2012. But in just his sixth game for his state he made the fastest 50 in Australian domestic one-day cricket in 2011, off just 19 balls. It was a record that stood until 2023 when Jake Fraser-McGurk broke it on the way to the fastest List A century of all-time.But it was a portent of things to come for his ODI career. Besides Andre Russell, no player in the history of ODI cricket has a higher strike-rate than Maxwell’s 126.70, and of the players with more than 2000 runs no one strikes at better than 117.05.Maxwell maintained that strike-rate whilst averaging 33.81 as a finisher and scored four centuries including his stunning 201 not out against Afghanistan in Mumbai during the 2023 World Cup, which was the first double century by an Australian in an ODI and the first by any player in a chase. It was also the first double-century by any non-opener and he did it from No. 6 after Australia had slumped to 91 for 7 chasing 292.”I’m extremely fortunate that I was able to have my moment,” Maxwell said of his greatest innings. “Everything that you’ve worked hard for, the peak of your powers, being able to put it in front of the world to see and it’s almost like saying, this is the best of me, you can either take it or leave it, but this is all I’ve got.”Maxwell earlier posted the fastest ODI World Cup century, off just 40 balls, against Netherlands in Delhi in the same tournament. He also owns the fourth fastest ODI World Cup century off 51 balls which he made in the 2015 World Cup against Sri Lanka in Sydney.Maxwell’s other ODI century came in a successful chase at Old Trafford against England in the Covid affected 2020 series when he and Alex Carey combined to pull off a remarkable pursuit of 303 after Australia has slumped to 73 for 5.”I think that was probably one of my favorite memories,” Maxwell said. “Being out there with Alex Carey, he had had a bit of a tough start to his innings, but once he started to get the get the ball in the middle about a few times, it was great fun out there. And to be a part of his first one-day hundred out there, and to play a huge role in winning that series with everything that went on over the [previous] few months, not playing cricket for a long time, and having everyone in a bio-secure bubble and doing quarantine non-stop, it just made it all worth it.”Beyond his centuries he played a multitude of other vital innings at key times in ODI cricket. In his second last ODI innings he made 32 not out off 15 balls as Australia chased a Champions Trophy record of 352. He made an unbeaten 44 in the 2015 World Cup quarter-final against Pakistan after taking two key wickets with the ball.Two-time ODI World Cup winners – Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Steven Smith, Josh Hazlewood, David Warner, and Mitchell Marsh – strike a pose with the trophy•ICC/Getty Images

His bowling contributions for Australia are far greater than his numbers suggest. He played as Australia’s lone spinner in the 2015 World Cup win, taking six wickets at 36.33 and an economy rate of 5.70, and the second spinner in the 2023 triumph. He conceded just 4.81 per over in the 2023 World Cup in India in 68.3 overs across the tournament and bowled a key spell in Australia’s vital first win of the campaign against Sri Lanka and took the key wicket in the final to halt a charging Rohit Sharma inside the powerplay and help set Australia on course for victory. He also famously bowled a double-wicket maiden in the final over of an ODI against Pakistan in 2014 to win the game when defending just two runs.Maxwell will also be remembered as one of the best all-round fielders for Australia having been positioned in key positions in the ring and the outfield throughout his career.”Glenn will be known as one of the one-day game’s most dynamic players, who had key roles in two ODI World Cup victories,” Bailey said. “His level of natural talent and skill is remarkable. His energy in the field, under-rated ability with the ball and longevity has been superb. What else stands out is his passion for and commitment to playing for Australia.”Fortunately, he still has much to offer Australia in the T20 format. All things going well he will be pivotal in the next 12 months as we build toward the World Cup early next year.”Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said Australia was indebted to Maxwell for what he achieved in the format.”Congratulations to Glenn on what has been one of the most exciting and influential one day international careers in the format’s history,” Greenberg said. “Glenn’s ballistic batting has lit up the cricket world and been one of the cornerstones of Australia’s continued success in the 50 over game, including his heroic role in the 2023 World Cup triumph.”As with other greats of the game, crowds have flocked to grounds just to watch Glenn bat and children have been inspired to pick up a bat after seeing him put opposition attacks to the sword with a breathtaking array of shots.”Australian cricket is indebted to Glenn for his ODI exploits and excited that he will now focus on our quest to win the ICC T20 World Cup next year.”Maxwell is currently recovering from a broken finger he suffered during the IPL but is expected to be fit for the start of Major League Cricket in the United States in less than a fortnight and looks set to be part of Australia’s T20I squad for the five-match tour of the Caribbean which starts on July 20 following the three-Test series.

The last year or so has been pretty depressing for West Ham United, but the squad does have some real talent in it.

Summer signings Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa could develop into regular starters; Lucas Paqueta’s quality is undeniable, and El Hadji Malick Diouf looks like one of the best left-backs in the Premier League.

However, the crown jewel in Nuno Espírito Santo’s current side is undoubtedly Jarrod Bowen, who continues to be a difference-maker for the Hammers.

Yet, there is another player in the squad who could, under the new management, develop into a Bowen-style star for West Ham.

Bowen's West Ham rise

When West Ham signed Bowen from Hull City in January 2020, there was some excitement over the move, as there is for most attacking additions, but it didn’t feel like it was going to be a particularly important signing at the time.

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That opinion wasn’t really changed by the end of that season either, as while he didn’t do poorly, a return of one goal and four assists in 13 games wasn’t much to write home about.

Things started to pick up slightly the following season, as the promising winger produced 14 goal involvements in 40 games, but it was over the next two years that he began to establish himself as one of the best in the league.

For example, the 28-year-old ended the 21/22 season with a tally of 31 goal involvements and his first England cap, and then 22/23 delivered his defining moment as a Hammer.

That moment, of course, was the Conference League winning goal against Fiorentina, which not only brought the club their first European trophy but also cemented his legacy as a legend.

Since then, the former Hull gem has continued to perform and, as things stand, has made 246 appearances for the club, totalling 19611 minutes, in which he’s scored 77 goals and provided 52 assists.

That works out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.90 games, or every 152.02 minutes.

Bowen’s West Ham Record

Appearances

246

Starts

221

Minutes

19611′

Goals

77

Assists

52

Goal Involvements per Match

0.52

Minutes per Goal Involvement

152.02′

Points per Game

1.45

All Stats via Transfermarkt

So, if Nuno can help develop another of West Ham’s attackers into a Bowen-type player this season, the club could end up having a memorable campaign.

The West Ham star who could become a Bowen-type player

Unfortunately, with West Ham’s attack not being particularly threatening at the moment, there is only really one player who could be developed into a Bowen-type star: Crysencio Summerville.

Now, the first thing to say is that no, the former Leeds United star is not as good a player as the Englishman, and is unlikely to become so in the next couple of seasons.

However, that does not mean he cannot become a player in his mould, or in other words, a winger who can provide a genuine threat from out wide, be that through goals, assists or their overall play.

Fortunately, the Dutchman is already starting to show positive signs this season, so getting that bit more out of him, like he did with his wingers at Nottingham Forest, shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for Nuno.

For example, while the 23-year-old was fairly anonymous away to Arsenal last weekend, he was brilliant away to Everton the week before.

In fact, the “unstoppable” Rotterdam-born dynamo, as dubbed by Statman Dave, was so good that he was named the Man of the Match, despite not scoring the equalising goal.

In his 77 minutes of action, he completed three of his five dribbles, more than anyone else on the night, won five of eight ground duels, amassed a combined expected goal and assists figure of 0.67, took 55 touches, played one key pass and won two fouls.

Finally, while the right-footed game-changer hasn’t been much of a goal threat in East London, he has it in his locker, as in his final campaign with Leeds, he racked up a tally of 21 goals and ten assists in 41 games.

Ultimately, Summerville is obviously not as good a player as Bowen and likely won’t be, but with more coaching, he could easily become someone West Ham can rely on in a similar way.

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Posts 2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 10, 2025

Thomas Frank reportedly "doesn't fancy" £60 million ($80m) Tottenham signing, Dominic Solanke, and will start a hunt for a fresh face when the transfer market reopens in January. After being a regular under former boss Ange Postecoglou last season, scoring 16 goals in 45 appearances, the 28-year-old now finds himself sidelined and seemingly unwanted.

Injury nightmare and painful setback for Solanke

Solanke’s campaign has been defined by frustration and injury setbacks. The striker missed most of pre-season with an ankle problem. He has played just 49 minutes of football this campaign, and hasn’t featured since Tottenham’s 2-0 win over Manchester City on August 23. Ultimately, he had to undergo surgery on September 30 to repair the troublesome ankle. 

After going under the knife, the striker shared an update on Instagram, which read: "Hi everyone, quick update about my current situation. The last few months have been very frustrating as I’ve tried everything possible to push through my ankle issue before taking the option of surgery. None of this managed to solve the problem, so we had to go ahead with minor surgery which I underwent this morning. It was all successful, so hopefully I’ll be back on the pitch in the very near future! Thank you for all your love and messages."

Though Solanke has recently returned to light training, Frank is cautious about accelerating his recovery. Speaking before Spurs’ victory over Everton, the Tottenham boss said: "Dominic, positive, he's taking steps in the right direction every day, was on the grass again today, on his own, but has now a sustainable amount of pitch sessions in him on his own, so he's progressing forward."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTransfer headache looms for Tottenham

According to however, Tottenham are expected to explore the market for a new frontman in January. They are wary, though, that finding a top-quality replacement in the winter is quite a challenge.  They are ready to splash out on a proven goal-scorer this winter, but if their efforts bear no success, Frank may be forced to work with what he has.

While Solanke works on his comeback, Randal Kolo Muani is quietly emerging as Tottenham’s potential solution. The French striker, brought in on loan from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day, is already starting to make an impression. Frank handed him a starting role against Everton and is expected to give him more chances as the season unfolds. Though there’s no obligation to buy the 25-year-old at the end of his loan, Spurs are likely to reopen discussions with PSG if he continues to do well.

Frank has also shown his faith in Richarlison, and the Brazilian is grateful to his new manager for backing him. "It was very important (Frank said he would start). Since I got here, every time the transfer window opens, my name is circled as one who could leave – going back to Brazil or wherever. But I’ve always been focused on Tottenham and I’ve never had a conversation about leaving. I’m in a good moment. I hope to continue working hard and getting the opportunity to give my best."

Solanke’s Tottenham dream turning sour

It’s a bitter blow for Solanke, who was prepared to give his best to have a shot at stardom after failing to impress at Chelsea and Liverpool. He showed his class during his stint at Bournemouth, where he netted an impressive 77 goals before earning his big-money move to north London last summer. At 26, that transfer was supposed to be the moment he fulfilled his potential on the big stage. Now, just two years later, he finds himself in an uncertain position as he continues to be out injured, out of form, and possibly out of Frank’s plans.

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Getty Images SportCrunch period ahead for Frank and Spurs

Tottenham’s upcoming schedule leaves no room for complacency. Frank’s men face a brutal run of fixtures heading into November, starting with an EFL Cup fourth-round showdown against Newcastle on Wednesday. A London derby against Chelsea follows at the weekend, before a crucial Champions League clash with Copenhagen on November 4. Then, just four days later, Spurs meet a resurgent Manchester United side on November 8. Meanwhile, as Solanke continues his rehab, the message from the club is clear: that he’ll have to fight for his place all over again. There is a massive challenge ahead for the English frontman.

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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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.

Gassama Rangers record
Stat	Gassama	Rangers rank
Goals	4	1st
Assists	1	4th
Minutes	1,059	3rd
Shots	15	1st
Shots on target	5	1st
Shot-creating actions	4	1st
Progressive carries	8	1st
Successful take-ons	9	1st
Average Sofascore rating	6.87	6th
Stats via Transfermarkt, Sofascore & FBref

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.

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Dan Emery

Oct 2, 2025

Whilst many opt for either the Saudi Pro League or the MLS these days, there remains a select few players who have decided to drop down divisions to complete some of the most unexpected moves away from the Premier League.

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We’ve seen players go from Liverpool to the Isthmian League and even watched on as Paul Konchesky joined Billericay Town as a player before becoming the assistant manager there alongside Jamie O’Hara. So, it’s not always the sunny beaches of Miami that come calling. Ocassionally, it’s a cloudy away day at Southend.

Andy Carroll has also made some interesting moves over the years. The 36-year-old has reiterated time and time again that he simply wants to play football rather than chase a higher paycheck. He revealed that “it’s never been a question of money” when asked about his move to fourth-tier French side Girondins Bordeaux.

Now playing at Dagenham & Redbridge in the National League South, the former Newcastle United striker has stayed true to that verdict and has since watched on as others have followed in his path.

Perhaps in the most unexpected move yet, however, one former Liverpool player has now been spotted playing for a United Arab Emirates third division side, having only been a Premier League midfielder two years ago.

Shelvey opens up about shock third-division move

Jonjo Shelvey didn’t quite get the memo of moving to the likes of Saudi Arabia and the UAE for the chance to earn a life-defining amount, did he? In fact, he’s done the complete opposite. The former Liverpool midfielder has made the move – playing for Arabian Falcons in the third division – but revealed that his “brother earns more” working in a London hotel.

To put into context the difference in his earnings from 2023 to now, Shelvey reportedly brought in around £75,000-a-week at Nottingham Forest. Based on his verdict about the current pay in the UAE third division, it would take him around four years to earn that amount these days.

That said, like Carroll, it’s not about the money from Shelvey. He’s enjoyed the highs of his career, from Anfield to St James’ Park, and is now enjoying the quiet life whilst still playing the game he loves.

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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• Getty Images Sport
  

  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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• Getty Images Sport
  

  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.

It was San Francisco Unicorns’ fourth win in four games, and Texas Super Kings’ first defeat in MLC 2025

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jun-2025Faf du Plessis slammed a 51-ball 100, but he had to do it alone, pretty much, for Texas Super Kings. That was the difference between Super Kings and San Francisco Unicorns on the day, since Unicorns had two men doing it, doing it at well over a-run-a-ball, and doing it for long enough. The quick half-centuries Matthew Short and Finn Allen hit were not only enough to take Unicorns over the line in a chase of 199, but get there with 23 balls in hand. The win kept them at the top of the MLC 2025 table with four wins in four, with Super Kings one spot below after their first loss.Super Kings were asked to bat, and du Plessis had two big partnerships for the first two wickets, but he had to contribute exactly 100 runs to those, which added up to 166. In the first stand, of 97, Devon Conway was unusually slow, scoring 23 in 23. In the second, worth 69, Saiteja Mukkamalla did better than Conway had, contributing 38 to du Plessis’ 30, though they went at roughly the same strike rate.To make matters worse for Super Kings, Mukkamalla, du Plessis and Marcus Stoinis fell in an eight-ball spell to Xavier Bartlett and Haris Rauf, and that derailed them at a point when they looked good to top 200.Faf du Plessis did most of the scoring for Texas Super Kings while he was around•Sportzpics for MLCDu Plessis, though, was supreme in getting his first fifty-plus score since April 29, when he hit 62 in 45 balls for Delhi Capitals against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025. There were six fours and seven sixes in his innings as he scored at a strike rate of exactly 200 before being dismissed.But even if Super Kings had crossed 200, it’s unlikely Allen and Short would have cared.Allen barely got any of the strike in the first three overs as Short sped off the blocks, getting to 33 in 16 balls even as Allen was 1 off 2. After that, though, it was a different story. Over four, five and six went for 10, 23 and 15, and Unicorns were 83 for no loss after the powerplay and Allen was 34 off 16 to Short’s 46 off 21.The runs kept coming, and the half-centuries too, as the two took the total to 117 before being separated when Short holed out off Daryl Mitchell for a 29-ball 61. Allen was on 52 at that point in the ninth over, and batted on to score 78 in 35. When he was dismissed, by the impressive Adam Milne, Unicorns were just 30 runs away with 7.4 overs to go. Jake Fraser-McGurk took care of most of those with a 25-ball 37.

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Em diversas ocasiões, o futebol é injusto e o time menos organizado consegue sair vencedor. Não foi o que aconteceu na Arena Castelão, onde o Corinthians foi eliminado de maneira justa e merecida pelo Fortaleza e fecha mais um melancólico capítulo na temporada.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansChegada do Corinthians ao hotel após eliminação na Sul-Americana tem protesto com confusãoCorinthians04/10/2023CorinthiansDuílio assume culpa por eliminação do Corinthians na Sul-Americana e fala em mau planejamentoCorinthians04/10/2023Fora de CampoProvocou! Ao som de música do Fortaleza, ex-goleiro Marcos ironiza eliminação do Corinthians da Sul-AmericanaFora de Campo04/10/2023

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Com um futebol paupérrimo, poucos conseguem explicar como o Timão foi semifinalista em duas competições tendo quatro técnicos na temporada. É a receita perfeita para o desastre, e ao menos o presidente Duílio Monteiro Alves teve hombridade e reconheceu que as constantes trocas no comando técnico atrapalharam o clube na temporada.

Mas como o texto fala sobre justiça, não é possível isentar totalmente os jogadores pelo fracasso na Sul-Americana, já que a postura dos atletas em campo também contribuiu com a queda na competição. A passividade na marcação e a falta de concentração, especialmente no início do segundo tempo, minaram qualquer chance que a equipe tinha de ir à final.

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Quem tem menos culpa no cartório é Mano Menezes, que pegou um time desorganizado e está tentando apagar um enorme incêndio, mas grandes mudanças não acontecem da noite para o dia. Assim como na derrota diante do São Paulo, foi possível observar pequenas melhorias coletivas, principalmente na compactação defensiva, mas ainda é pouco para um clube tão grande como o Corinthians.

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O Timão viveu a temporada no limite e em diversos momentos contou com o acaso para esconder os reais problemas do clube. Quando se deparou com uma equipe mais organizada, sucumbiu. Quem paga o preço pelos sucessivos erros de administração é o torcedor, que se iludiu mais uma vez com a equipe e viu os rivais sorrindo por mais um ano.

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يعد خورخي مينديز هو وكيل اللاعبين الأشهر والأكثر طلباً في العالم، ويتميز باحترافية فائقة وقدرة على تواصل دائم مع لاعبيه وأنديتهم عبر الهاتف.

وأصبح خورخي مينديز الوكيل الرئيسي في برشلونة حيث يمثل خمسة لاعبين ويعد لامين يامال أحدهم وكذلك أليخاندرو بالدي ومارك كاسادو وأنسو فاتي المعار.

وسئل خورخي مينديز عن وضع لامين يامال الحالي والضجة الإعلامية المحيطة به مؤخراً خاصة قبل وبعد الكلاسيكو ودافع عنه في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية: “لا أفهم سبب كل الضجة حوله”.

وأضاف: “لامين في الثامنة عشرة من عمره، وكما قال لابورتا، ما يجب علينا فعله هو دعمه ومساعدته قدر الإمكان لأنه إضافة قيمة للنادي، لامين يامال هو اللاعب الذي يتحدث عنه الجميع حول العالم، هناك إجماع على أنه لاعب رائع للحاضر والمستقبل، إن وجود الجميع يراقبك مسؤولية كبيرة وضغط كبير، إنه يتعامل مع الأمر بشكل ممتاز، وعلينا مواصلة دعمه، إحدى طرق تحقيق ذلك هي التركيز على عمله”.

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وواصل: “لامين يعرف تماماً ما عليه فعله داخل وخارج الملعب وهذا ما يفعله، التركيز على العمل بهدوء، وعدم التحدث كثيراً، إنه شاب ذكي ومجتهد للغاية، لديه مشكلة بدنية بسيطة يتابعها مع النادي لمعالجتها على أفضل وجه ممكن أثناء استمراره في اللعب وهذا هو الأهم، أن يتعافى بشكل جيد ويساهم بأقصى قدر ممكن في الفريق، أفضل ما يفعله لامين هو ترك أدائه في الملعب يتحدث، إنه يفعل ذلك بشكل فريد، كما رأينا في مباراة كلوب بروج، يبدع في كل مباراة ويقوم بتحفة فنية واحدة على الأقل وهو أمر لا يمكن تحقيقه إلا لمن يقدر له الوصول للقمة”.

واختتم مينديز تصريحاته عن مقارنة لامين يامال بلاعبين آخرين وتحدث عن قدوته: “لامين فريد من نوعه، لا يجب مقارنته بأي لاعب وكما يقول دائماً عليه أن يشق طريقه الخاص ويؤدي بشكل جيد للغاية ولكن من الواضح أن لاعبين مثل ميسي ورونالدو قدوة للجميع بسبب احترافيتهم التي أداروا بها مسيرته وتقدمهم ومازالوا يؤدون بشكل عالي، كان إنيستا مثالاً آخر للاعبين الشباب، يجب على لامين الاستمرار في التطور ليصبح أفضل لاعب في العقدين القادمين”.