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Tag: Soccer

  • New Zealand v England scorecard

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    New Zealand v England – second ODI: live scorecard and commentary

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  • Champions League winner PSG made nearly $1 billion in club-record revenue last season

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    PARIS — Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain generated club-record revenue of 837 million euros ($976 million) last season.

    The figures released by the club on Tuesday include 175 million euros in matchday revenue and 367 million euros in commercial revenue, with six new partners joining the club.

    The figures encompass the men’s and women’s soccer teams as well as handball and judo teams. By comparison, revenue for the 2023-24 season was 806 million euros, which was the third highest in European soccer.

    PSG’s men’s team won the domestic double and clinched the Champions League for the first time by routing Inter Milan 5-0 in the final, giving the club’s Qatari investor QSI the trophy it craved after taking over the club in June 2011.

    The club was valued by Forbes at $4.6 billion in May, placing it seventh among the world’s most valuable soccer teams. Real Madrid led with $6.75 billion, followed by Manchester United ($6.6 billion) and Spanish champion Barcelona ($5.65 billion).

    However, low television revenue in Ligue 1 and the Parc des Princes stadium’s 48,000-capacity — considerably smaller than other leading clubs in Europe — were hampering further financial growth for PSG.

    The Parc des Princes was owned by Paris City Hall and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo does not want to sell the stadium to the club, which hoped to buy it and expand it rather than go elsewhere.

    “Our door is always open to expanding the Parc des Princes, which is owned by the City of Paris,” Hidalgo told Le Parisien newspaper in June. “Not to sell, but to expand.”

    Plans for a new and bigger stadium away from Parc des Princes with a minimum capacity of 60,000 were still being considered in Passy or Massy, both on the outskirts of the city.

    A decision on the new stadium was expected to be taken in autumn of next year. ___

    AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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  • Another 1 million World Cup tickets to go on sale; deadline to enter lottery is Friday

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    FIFA is set to sell 1 million more tickets to the 2026 World Cup during the second phase of the ticketing process that started Monday. Soccer fans must enter in a lottery by 11 a.m. Friday for a chance to be selected to purchase tickets in mid-November.

    Anyone can enter this second-phase ticket draw, but those who reside in the three North American host countries – Canada, Mexico and the United States – will have a dedicated time slots during which they can buy single-match tickets to games in their home countries before sales open up to lottery winners in the rest of the world.


    MORERoad closures planned on 5-mile stretch of I-76 for paving and bridge repairs


    FIFA’s first ticket lottery that took place in September drew criticism about the process and pricing.

    The World Cup takes place between June 11 and July 19, and Lincoln Financial Field will host six matches, including a knockout-round game on the Fourth of July.

    For anyone entering the lottery to purchase tickets, tournament organizers require you to create a FIFA ID. Fans who are selected in the draw will be notified at least 48 hours before their assigned time slot to buy tickets opens. In North America, ticket sales for lottery winner start Nov. 12 and last for 72 hours. 

    FIFA has already sold more than 1 million tickets during its first round of sales, which it called its presale phase.

    “We have already seen massive interest from around the world for this tournament, and especially from within the host countries as Canada, Mexico and the United States prepare to host the biggest FIFA World Cup yet,” Heimo Schirgi, FIFA World Cup 26 chief operating officer, said in a statement. “This second phase, with its host country domestic exclusivity time slot, will allow us to say thank you to these local fans, while ensuring global opportunity as well.” 

    FIFA has been criticized for dynamic pricing of tickets, which adjusts the cost according to demand, and the organization’s exclusive resale website. While some tickets were listed at $60, the Athletic reported that many fans waited for hours in digital queues during the first phase before finding that those tickets were scarce. 

    One group of fans from England, upset with the cost to attend matches, estimated that even buying the cheapest face-value tickets, it would still cost more than $3,000 to attend every England match, if the team made it to the final. That is more than double what it cost in Qatar in 2022, ESPN reported.

    Zohran Mamdani, a mayoral candidate in New York City, launched the “Game Over Greed” campaign, arguing that admission to the games is too expensive for most working class people living in the host cities. “What this means is the biggest sporting event in the world is happening in your backyard, and you’ll be priced out of it,” he said in a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, in September. 

    On its resale platform, FIFA charges sellers and buyers, each, 15% fees, and some tickets on the platform are already being sold for more than 10 times face value.

    This latest ticket lottery is the second of four phases in the ticketing process. The third begins after the team draw on Dec. 5, which is when teams will be assigned to groups for the tournament’s first stage. At that time, matchups will be confirmed, and fans can submit applications for specific games The remaining tickets will be available in the spring, first-come, first-served. 


    NOTE: Portions of this article and its headlines were edited after it was originally published.

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    Molly McVety

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  • Boston World Cup organizers concerned over state funding

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    With just over 200 days left until Boston takes the world stage as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, local organizers said Massachusetts has yet to deliver the funding they were expecting.

    The organizers are warning that it could mean scaling back major fan events and services.

    Boston Soccer 26 CEO Mike Loynd said the group is still waiting on $20 million included in Gov. Maura Healey’s supplemental spending proposal.

    President Donald Trump said he would consider moving the World Cup matches Boston is set to host next year, questioning the city’s safety.

    So far, the Massachusetts House of Representatives has earmarked only $10 million, while the state’s Senate has set aside $5 million to support public transit to the matches.

    “It certainly would be downscaled, if not very limited, if we didn’t have the funding from the state,” said Loynd.

    He said that he’s worked on a dozen major events, including the 1994 World Cup, and that the economic return for Massachusetts would far outweigh the cost.

    “Every dollar spent will be returned five-fold, at a minimum, if not tenfold,” Loynd said. “So for us, yeah, it’s about maximizing this opportunity.”

    President Donald Trump is threatening to move 2026 World Cup matches out of host city Boston, citing safety and the politics of Mayor Michelle Wu. Wu issued a brief statement on the tournament hours later.

    Healey said she’s continuing to press lawmakers to approve the funding.

    “I put forward a request for funding,” she said. “It’s currently with the Legislature now, and I’ll continue to have conversations with them about this.”

    Massachusetts House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz said the Legislature is mindful of the event’s potential, but must also balance other priorities.

    “We put on major events before. We put on World Cup games before. I think we know how to do it, and we’re going to do it right,” Michlewitz said. “We certainly have to make sure we’re taking care of our everyday residents and not just about issues that are one-time events.”

    The first batch of tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup are officially on sale, but getting them has not been easy.

    Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues has said the Senate’s $5 million allocation is meant to help support public transit to the matches — and that senators are open to providing more funding down the road.

    “As a longtime fan of European football, and the Portuguese National Team in particular, I am very excited to see Massachusetts host the 2026 World Cup, right here in our backyard,” he said in a statement to NBC10 Boston. “Earlier this year, the Senate proposed and secured $5 million to help support public transit associated with World Cup travel to Foxborough. I welcome future discussions about how the Commonwealth can continue to help the event be successful and look forward to having those conversations,” he said in a statement to NBC 10 Boston.

    Organizers said that without the full $20 million, cuts could include fewer promotional events, no backup shuttle buses to move fans to and from Foxborough in the event the MBTA trains fail, and a smaller fan fest planned for downtown Boston.

    Loynd said he expects to get reassurances from legislators this week.

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    Oscar Margain

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  • FIFA opens 2nd phase of World Cup ticket sales with slots for US, Canada, Mexico

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    FIFA began the process of selling another 1 million tickets for next year’s World Cup on Monday, with the opening of a new ticket draw marking the start of the tournament’s second phase of sales.

    This draw, which runs through 11 a.m. Eastern Friday, includes a domestic exclusivity time slot for residents of the three host countries — the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Fans from those countries, whose entries are selected out of this draw, will have the opportunity to buy single-match tickets for games taking place inside their home nation.

    The phase is open to all fans, regardless of which country they live.

    “We already have seen massive interest from around the world for this tournament, and especially from within the host countries as Canada, Mexico and the United States prepare to host the biggest FIFA World Cup yet,” said Heimo Schirgi, the tournament’s chief operating officer. “This second phase, with its host country domestic exclusivity time slot, will allow us to say ‘thank you’ to these local fans, while ensuring global opportunity as well.”

    Those fans from the U.S, Canada and Mexico who enter the draw before it closes Friday have a chance to receive, through what FIFA says is a randomized process, a time slot during which they can buy tickets starting on Nov. 12. Those slots will be issued through Nov. 15. Fans who win those chances will receive word at least 48 hours before their time slot opens.

    Residents of the three host countries — the U.S., Canada and Mexico, in that order — purchased more tickets than those from any other nation in the initial phase of ticketing. England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Argentina and France, in that order, rounded out the top 10.

    Once the domestic exclusivity time slot ends, more fans will be eligible to obtain a purchasing slot starting on Nov. 17. Additional tickets will be made available in subsequent phases, FIFA said.

    FIFA announced earlier this month that more than 1 million tickets have already been sold for next year’s World Cup, with people from 212 different countries and territories having already purchased. So far, 28 of the 48 spots for teams in the field have been filled.

    The start of ticket sales doesn’t take away from how there are unique questions for consumers heading into the tournament, particularly about how they’ll get visas, if necessary, to visit the U.S. as the country cracks down on immigration. An international friendly match between defending World Cup champion Argentina — featuring Lionel Messi — and Puerto Rico was moved from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, because of lagging ticket sales that some believe were in response to the immigration crackdown.

    Based on the listed stadium attendance figures, there are roughly 7.1 million seats to fill for the 104 matches for the tournament around 16 North American venues. It is unknown how many of those seats will be available for sale to the public.

    Ticket data has shown that the lowest-priced seats — set at $60 — were available for at least 40 matches. Almost all seats for the vast majority of matches were set at a much higher price. The opening match for the U.S., to be played at Inglewood, California, had prices ranging from $560 to $2,735 when sales opened. On the resale site, at least one ticket for that opening U.S. match on June 12 was listed for more than $60,000 earlier this month.

    Fans with the option to purchase could choose seats in one of four categories; Category 1 is what FIFA officials call the best seats, Category 4 is somewhere around the tops of stadiums. Ticket costs are expected to fluctuate as soccer’s biggest event utilizes dynamic pricing for the first time.

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    AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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  • FIFA Opens 2nd Phase of World Cup Ticket Sales With Exclusive Slots for US, Canada, Mexico

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    FIFA began the process of selling another 1 million tickets for next year’s World Cup on Monday, with the opening of a new ticket draw marking the start of the tournament’s second phase of sales.

    This draw, which runs through 11 a.m. Eastern Friday, includes a domestic exclusivity time slot for residents of the three host countries — the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Fans from those countries, whose entries are selected out of this draw, will have the opportunity to buy single-match tickets for games taking place inside their home nation.

    The phase is open to all fans, regardless of which country they live.

    “We already have seen massive interest from around the world for this tournament, and especially from within the host countries as Canada, Mexico and the United States prepare to host the biggest FIFA World Cup yet,” said Heimo Schirgi, the tournament’s chief operating officer. “This second phase, with its host country domestic exclusivity time slot, will allow us to say ‘thank you’ to these local fans, while ensuring global opportunity as well.”

    Those fans from the U.S, Canada and Mexico who enter the draw before it closes Friday have a chance to receive, through what FIFA says is a randomized process, a time slot during which they can buy tickets starting on Nov. 12. Those slots will be issued through Nov. 15. Fans who win those chances will receive word at least 48 hours before their time slot opens.

    Residents of the three host countries — the U.S., Canada and Mexico, in that order — purchased more tickets than those from any other nation in the initial phase of ticketing. England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Argentina and France, in that order, rounded out the top 10.

    Once the domestic exclusivity time slot ends, more fans will be eligible to obtain a purchasing slot starting on Nov. 17. Additional tickets will be made available in subsequent phases, FIFA said.

    FIFA announced earlier this month that more than 1 million tickets have already been sold for next year’s World Cup, with people from 212 different countries and territories having already purchased. So far, 28 of the 48 spots for teams in the field have been filled.

    The start of ticket sales doesn’t take away from how there are unique questions for consumers heading into the tournament, particularly about how they’ll get visas, if necessary, to visit the U.S. as the country cracks down on immigration. An international friendly match between defending World Cup champion Argentina — featuring Lionel Messi — and Puerto Rico was moved from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, because of lagging ticket sales that some believe were in response to the immigration crackdown.

    Based on the listed stadium attendance figures, there are roughly 7.1 million seats to fill for the 104 matches for the tournament around 16 North American venues. It is unknown how many of those seats will be available for sale to the public.

    Ticket data has shown that the lowest-priced seats — set at $60 — were available for at least 40 matches. Almost all seats for the vast majority of matches were set at a much higher price. The opening match for the U.S., to be played at Inglewood, California, had prices ranging from $560 to $2,735 when sales opened. On the resale site, at least one ticket for that opening U.S. match on June 12 was listed for more than $60,000 earlier this month.

    Fans with the option to purchase could choose seats in one of four categories; Category 1 is what FIFA officials call the best seats, Category 4 is somewhere around the tops of stadiums. Ticket costs are expected to fluctuate as soccer’s biggest event utilizes dynamic pricing for the first time.

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – Oct. 2025

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    Associated Press

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  • Juventus has fired coach Igor Tudor after three straight losses

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    TURIN, Italy — Slumping Juventus fired coach Igor Tudor on Monday following three straight losses and an eight-match winless run.

    Juventus hasn’t won since Sept. 13 and the announcement came a day after the team’s latest loss, a 1-0 defeat to Lazio — its fourth straight match without scoring a goal.

    That left Juventus eighth in Serie A, six points below joint leaders Napoli and Roma and three below fourth-place Inter Milan.

    Juventus also has just two points from its three Champions League matches.

    Juventus said that reserve team coach Massimo Brambilla will take temporary charge of the team, including for Wednesday home match against Udinese.

    “Juventus announces that it has today relieved Igor Tudor of his duties as head coach of the men’s first team, along with his staff consisting of Ivan Javorcic, Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci,” the Serie A team said in a brief statement.

    “The club thanks Igor Tudor and his entire staff for their professionalism and dedication over the past few months and wishes them all the best for their future careers.”

    Tudor was appointed in March to replace the fired Thiago Motta and initially given a contract until the end of the season — including the Club World Cup in the United States.

    It was confirmed in June that the 47-year-old was to stay on after guiding Juventus to fourth place and the final Champions League spot with five wins in nine games in Serie A.

    Tudor played for Juventus for nearly a decade from 1998-2007 and he previously coached Udinese, Hellas Verona and Lazio in Italy.

    The Croatian was also an assistant coach to Andrea Pirlo at Juventus in 2020-21. Pirlo and Tudor were fired at the end of the season.

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    AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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  • Some 4 years after fleeing Afghanistan, a group of refugees returns to international competition

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    Four years after players from the Afghanistan women’s national team fled their homeland amid the Taliban’s takeover, a number of the teammates are representing their country again in a soccer tournament. Only this time as refugees.

    The tournament represents a first major step in the fight to be officially recognized as a national team on the global stage. Collectively they call themselves Afghan Women United.

    “It’s really exciting to see each other, hug each other and finally share and play together,” said captain Fatima Haidari, who lives in Italy. “As an athlete I say, you will face challenges and difficulties in your life, but you always can overcome and never give up. Never give up.”

    FIFA, soccer’s international governing body, is staging a four-team friendly tournament in Morocco that includes the refugee team along with Chad, Libya and Tunisia. The event dubbed FIFA Unites: Women’s Series 2025, started Sunday.

    The tournament comes after years of lobbying by players, former captain and activist Khalida Popal, and human rights groups, to facilitate the team’s return to competition.

    “With all the challenges that we have been through, all the barriers that we faced, finally, after four years and some months, the girls are playing football as the Afghan team,” Popal said, “but with no title.”

    “I’m glad the girls are playing. Is it enough? No. But it’s a good start.”

    The tournament was originally set for Dubai, and was to include Chad, Libya and the host United Arab Emirates. In Australia, where some members of the team have settled, there were media reports that the players were unable to obtain visas. FIFA didn’t give a reason for the move.

    The Afghan women’s national team played its last official competitive game in 2018. The Taliban regime’s return to power in 2021 shut down all women’s sports.

    But even before the demise of the team, the Afghan soccer federation was under investigation for misconduct involving the women’s program, including allegations of rape and physical abuse. Keramuddin Keram, the federation president, was banned for life by FIFA.

    The players fled Afghanistan as the Taliban took over, fearing persecution. Some have spoken out about the harrowing ordeal, burning their kits to avoid detection and scrambling to get out.

    “We faced challenges or difficulties that I don’t even want to remember because it was really bitter,” Haidari said. “It is about leaving your homeland and all your friends, family and all the people that you know. What makes me sad is there are still some girls and women that are not playing, but they hope to be on the international pitch like us, like we are here now. We want to be their voice.”

    While many ended up in Australia, there are Afghan players spread across Europe and some in the United States. FIFA held identification camps in Australia and England, calling in 70 players before whittling the roster down to 23 for the tournament, coach Pauline Hamill said.

    “We want to show what we can do in the future, we want to show our potential. And then it’s about, from this starting point, how we then move forward,” Hamill said. “So to get back on the pitch for these players is a big win. They’ve been waiting a long time. And this tournament … gives us the perfect chance to play matches together and then be really excited about the future.”

    While the Afghan federation has obligations under FIFA statutes to avoid discrimination, it hasn’t been suspended from international soccer despite failing to acknowledge the women’s team.

    Players and their advocates have fought for official recognition. In May the FIFA Council approved the Strategy for Action for Afghan Women’s Football. But the team cannot yet represent Afghanistan in Women’s World Cup qualifying or Asian championships.

    While the tournament in Morocco is a first step, the goal is to become independent of FIFA, Popal said. But she wanted to emphasize that players are grateful to the organization for making this important move.

    Popal said the players are seeking meaningful recognition as a national team and an independent national soccer federation “to actually govern the teams, to make sure girls are not silenced.”

    “Our players have been fighting for that right for so long,” Popal said. “Of course, there’s not governance in this initiative and the pilot, but we would love to have it in the future.”

    Afghan Women United fell 6-1 in its first match to Chad on Sunday in Casablanca, with Manozh Noori scoring the lone goal for the refugee team.

    For the players, the games are not about wins and losses. They’re making a statement.

    “I feel safe. I feel free as a girl, as a woman, to have a normal life, to play, to dream,” Haidari said. “Actually that’s why, not only in my dreams, but I carry the dreams of all girls and women in Afghanistan that want to play.”

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    AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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  • El Clásico: Real Madrid vs Barcelona Lineups, Odds, Start Time, TV Channel, How to Watch, Mbappé, Yamal

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    One of the most highly anticipated matches of the year is upon us as superstars Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé go head-to-head in El Clásico as Real Madrid faces Barcelona.

    El Clásico: Real Madrid vs Barcelona

    Real Madrid and Barcelona renew their iconic rivalry at the Santiago Bernabéu in what could be a decisive clash in the La Liga title race. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have been in impressive form, led by the brilliance of Jude Bellingham, who has quickly become their talisman with goals from midfield and a commanding presence in big matches. Vinícius Júnior’s pace and flair on the left flank will test Barcelona’s defense, while Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde provide control and energy in the middle of the park. Madrid will look to set the tempo early and feed off the home crowd’s energy.

    Barcelona, meanwhile, comes into the contest eager to reassert itself after some inconsistent performances. Xavi’s men have shown resilience and flashes of their trademark passing rhythm, but they’ll need Robert Lewandowski firing and Lamine Yamal’s creativity to trouble Madrid’s back line. The return of key players from injury could give Barça a boost, especially in midfield, where Pedri and Gavi’s composure will be crucial. With pride, momentum, and top spot on the line, this Clásico promises tension, drama, and moments of individual brilliance from both sides.

    Date, Start Time, TV Channel, Live Stream

    • Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025
    • Time: 11:15 AM ET
    • TV Channel: ESPN Select / ESPN Deportes / ESPN2
    • Stream: Fubo (try for free) / ESPN Select (watch now)

    Live stream Real Madrid vs Barcelona for free with Fubo: Start your subscription now!

    Live stream Real Madrid vs Barcelona with ESPN Select: Start your subscription now!

    Potential Lineups

    Real Madrid: Courtois; Valverde, Militao, Asencio, Carreras; Guler, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Mastantuono, Mbappe, Vinicius

    Barcelona: Szczesny; E Garcia, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Fermin, Rashford; Ferran

    Betting Odds

    Real Madrid: -105

    Barcelona: +225

    Draw: +310

    Total: 3.5

    Spread: Real Madrid -0.5

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  • Australia wins toss and opts to bowl vs. South Africa in Women’s Cricket World Cup

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    INDORE, India — Tahlia McGrath won the toss and Australia opted to bowl against South Africa in a Women’s Cricket World Cup match Saturday that will determine the semifinals lineup.

    The winner will finish as table-toppers and face co-hosts India in the second semifinal in Navi Mumbai on Thursday. The losing side will play four-time champion England in the first semifinal in Guwahati.

    South Africa has never beaten Australia in the tournament’s history.

    Defending champion Australia is still without skipper Alyssa Healy, who has a calf injury.

    The seven-time champions currently sit atop the table with 11 points, and South Africa trails by a point.

    Australia is on an unbeaten 13-match streak in the tournament, stretching back to the previous edition in 2022.

    This is the final game of the tournament at the Holkar Stadium. The pitch should be batting-friendly again, with evening dew potentially aiding the chasing side further.

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    South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Sinalo Jafta, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba

    Australia: Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath (captain), Georgia Wareham, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt

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    AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

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  • LAFC signs Ryan Hollingshead to contract extension

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    Whoever replaces Steve Cherundolo as head coach of the Los Angeles Football Club next season will get to work with a group of players who understand and appreciate one another.

    Following consecutive offseasons that featured significant roster turnover, the 2026 team (and beyond) should look a lot like it does heading into the start of the MLS Cup playoffs on Wednesday.

    A key member of the group that lifted an MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield and U.S. Open Cup since 2022, defender Ryan Hollingshead will remain with LAFC through 2027, the club announced Friday.

    “We’re thrilled to have come to terms with Ryan on another extension,” LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington said in a statement. “Ryan is a valued veteran and fully earned this extension through his consistency and team-first attitude. He leads by example, raises the standard every day, and delivers in big moments.”

    Opting against exercising his impending free agency, Hollingshead’s second new contract with LAFC represents the club’s fourth contract extension since mid-September.

    The 34-year-old native of Granite Bay, Calif., a UCLA Bruin from 2009-2012, joins Sergi Palencia, Timothy Tillman and Nathan Ordaz among the players who recently agreed to stay with the Black & Gold for the foreseeable future.

    One of the league’s top scorers along the back line, Hollingshead is tied for the second-most goals by a defensive player in MLS history (31) and leads all active defenders. He added a pair to his tally during the 2025 regular season to go with three assists in 31 appearances, giving him four straight years with 30 or more MLS games and at least 22 starts. In all competitions through 173 games with LAFC, Hollingshead has 20 goals and 13 assists.

    A nominee for the 2025 Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, Hollingshead was named MLS Works Humanitarian of the Year in 2017 with FC Dallas, where he played eight seasons before being traded to LAFC.

    “Our locker rooms for four straight years have just been unbeatable,” Hollingshead said in August. “The way the group competes together, the way the group fights for each other, it’s been something really special. I’m just grateful to be a part of it. You know in this sport and sports in general that this doesn’t last forever.”

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    Josh Gross

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  • Next Stop, Athens: Rafa Benitez Hired to Coach Greek Club Panathinaikos

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    ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has been hired to coach Panathinaikos on a deal that Greek media reported to be the country’s highest-ever salary for a coach.

    The struggling Athens club, which enters the weekend in seventh place in the 14-team Greek Super League, announced Friday that the well-traveled Spaniard signed a contract that reportedly extends to 2027.

    Local media reported the deal is worth close to 4 million euros ($4.6 million) per season and includes an option to extend for an additional season.

    The 65-year-old Benitez, who has also coached Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Newcastle, was fired by Celta Vigo in March 2024 after his team had won just five league games.

    Benitez had been fired by Premier League club Everton after 200 days in early 2022 after failing to overcome his successful association with arch rival Liverpool.

    Under Benitez, Liverpool famously won the Champions League title in 2005 in the “Miracle of Istanbul,” reached the 2007 final, and won the FA Cup in 2006.

    Benitez was Chelsea’s interim manager when the Blues won the Europa League title in 2013. He led Napoli to victory in the Italian Cup in 2014.

    Real Madrid fired Benitez in January 2016 after seven months on the job.

    Panathinaikos had fired Rui Vitoria last month. Christos Kontis was serving as interim coach. The team lost 3-1 at Feyenoord on Thursday in the Europa League.

    Benitez’s first game in charge will be on Sunday when Panathinaikos hosts last-place Asteras Tripolis.

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – Oct. 2025

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    Associated Press

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  • MNUFC prepares for playoff run at Allianz Field against Seattle

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    MLS playoffs are officially underway, and the Minnesota United FC have a shot at a decent post-season run. The begin the best of 3 first round against the Seattle Sounders at Allianz Field on Monday, October 27 with a 8 p.m. kickoff. 

    The United are more motivated than ever after a disappointing loss in their last game of the regular season against the LA Galaxy last weekend.
    Part of their confidence going forward is having forward Kelvin Yeboah back from injury.

    He was active at practice in Blaine on Wednesday ahead of the playoffs, and says he’s feeling hopeful.

    “I deeply believe we can go all the way,” said Yeboah.

    Yeboah carries more weight in the playoffs with his strong striker counterpart, Tani Oluwaseyi, leaving in a historic transfer to Villareal CF earlier this year.

    “This playoffs I think they will need me, and I will do my best and give my 100% and help the team the best that I can,” said Yeboah.

    In a 4-5 seeded match up, the United, seed 4, face the Seattle Sounders, seed 5, in the first round of the playoffs. Seattle is a team they swept 2-0 in the regular season, including a game on the road.

    “We do take some confidence from the games that we’ve had so far. It was a really big away performance, a really defining away performance, when we went [to Seattle] and won,” said Eric Ramsey, Head Coach of the MNUFC.

    “It’s going to be difficult, but we’re up for the challenge,” said Julian Gressel, MNUFC midfielder.

    Gressel has a lot of optimism heading into Monday.

    “We could be on vacation right now, we could be done. So we’ll get a chance to play, had a good season, get to have a home game first playoff game, I think the mood is good,” said Gressel.

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    Marielle Mohs

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  • Major League Soccer announces 2025 award finalists

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    (Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

    Major League Soccer announced the finalists for its 2025 year-end awards on Thursday.

    Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, who won last year’s Landon Donovan MLS MVP and whose three-year contract extension through 2028 was announced Thursday, is one of five finalists for the award again along with Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC), Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Evander (FC Cincinnati) and Sam Surridge (Nashville SC).

    Messi led MLS in goals (29) and assists (19) this season. The other four finalists round out the top five goal-scorers, but Dreyer and Evander are the only two that are also in the top five for assists.

    The three finalists for Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year are the Philadelphia Union’s Bradley Carnell, Vancouver Whitecaps’ Jesper Sorensen and San Diego’s Mikey Varas.

    Dreyer, who signed with expansion side San Diego and had 19 goals and 19 assists to lead the squad to the top seed in the Western Conference, is also one of three finalists for MLS Newcomer of the Year, alongside Son Heung-Min (LAFC) and Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire).

    The MLS Young Player of the Year finalists (born on or after Jan. 1, 2003) are Orlando City’s Alex Freeman, Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna and the Seattle Sounders’ Obed Vargas.

    The three finalists for MLS Defender of the Year are a pair of Philadelphia teammates in Jakob Glesnes and Kai Wagner as well as Tristan Blackmon of Vancouver.

    MLS Goalkeeper of the Year finalists are Matt Freese of New York City FC, Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United) and Yohei Takaoka (Vancouver), who led the league with 13 clean sheets.

    The finalists for MLS Comeback Player of the Year are Houston Dynamo’s Lawrence Ennali, Nick Hagglund of Cincinnati and Toronto FC’s Richie Laryea.

    Finally, the three finalists for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honors an MLS player who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community during the 2025 season, are Ryan Hollingshead (LAFC), Luna (RSL) and Brad Stuver (Austin FC).

    The winners for these awards will be announced throughout the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, which began Wednesday night with Chicago beating Orlando and Portland beating Salt Lake in the wild-card matches.

    MLS Goal of the Year and Save of the Year will be decided by an online vote and announced on Oct. 27.

    The MLS Best XI will also be revealed at a later date.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Lionel Messi and Inter Miami finally complete his new contract. He’ll remain with the club in 2026

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    FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi has finally agreed to a new contract with Inter Miami, a deal that required several months to complete and ensures that the sport’s biggest icon will be with the Major League Soccer club for its planned move into a new stadium next year.

    The deal was announced Thursday, one day before Inter Miami’s playoff opener against Nashville. Messi’s team — the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference — will play host to Game 1 of that best-of-three series on Friday night.

    Terms were not immediately revealed, though Inter Miami had been pushing for a deal that would last into 2027 or 2028 — and the notion of Messi playing two or three more seasons would certainly serve as a boost to ticket sales at the stadium the team has been building near Miami International Airport. The team has been selling ticket packages and taking deposits on seats in the new park for more than a year, all with the assumption that Messi would remain part of the franchise.

    Messi’s decision to stay in Miami is big for both the club and for MLS. He was the league’s MVP last season and is the overwhelming choice to win the award again this year, which would make him only the second two-time winner in league history and the first to win it in back-to-back years. Preki won the MVP award in 1997 and 2003.

    “To enjoy him, watching him enjoy doing the things he is doing, he’s very, very competitive and he tries to translate that to the team,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said Thursday. “The best way to help him is trying to do the right things … he has to be comfortable on the pitch. He’s comfortable when things are working in the right way.

    “With him, when we do things the right way, we’ll have many chances to have success.”

    ___

    AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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  • La Liga Boss Says Canceled Miami Game Is a Missed Opportunity for Spanish Soccer; Fan Group Happy

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    MADRID (AP) — Spanish league president Javier Tebas says “narrow-minded” views have cost Spanish soccer a great chance to project itself globally after the planned regular-season game between Barcelona and Villarreal in the United States was called off.

    But a European fan group praised the decision, and the Spanish government called for more transparency in any future negotiations to try to play a league game abroad.

    The Dec. 20 game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami was called off on Tuesday amid growing opposition from players, fans and some clubs. The league cited the “uncertainty that has arisen in Spain over the past few weeks.”

    Game promoter Relevent said it informed La Liga of the need to “postpone the planned match” because there was “insufficient time to properly execute an event of this scale” and that it would be “irresponsible to begin selling tickets without a confirmed match in place.”


    A lost opportunity or an ill-conceived project?

    “Spanish soccer has lost an opportunity to advance, project itself globally and strengthen its future,” Tebas said on X on Wednesday. “The defense of ‘tradition’ is invoked from a narrow-minded and provincial perspective.”

    UEFA’s officially recognized fan liaison group Football Supporters Europe celebrated that “La Liga’s tired idea to export a game to Miami has once again collapsed.”

    “Common sense and the rules of the game have prevailed. This is a seismic victory for European football and everyone who believes the game belongs at the heart of our communities,” the group said in a statement. “La Liga’s defeat sends a clear message to the world of football: such ill-conceived projects are doomed to fail. These attempts to destabilize the foundation of the game must stop now.”

    The group called for Italy’s Serie A to also scrap its plans to have AC Milan and Como play in Australia in February.

    Spain’s top sports authority called for more dialogue between everyone involved before trying to promote such initiatives. Sports Council president José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes on Wednesday called for “absolute transparency” and “adequate regulations” before future attempts can be made.

    After a few failed attempts, the league had finally succeeded in getting approval from soccer bodies such as UEFA and the Spanish federation to stage its first regular-season game abroad, but opposition had grown recently in Spain.

    Players stood still for a few seconds after kickoff during the weekend league matches in a protest that was censored or not fully broadcast for television audiences, drawing even more criticism against La Liga.

    Tebas aimed an apparent blow at Real Madrid, the club that had most loudly opposed the game by claiming it altered the fairness of the league because it allowed Barcelona to play an away game against Villarreal on a neutral site.

    “The ‘integrity of the competition’ is invoked by those who have been questioning that same integrity for years, pressuring referees and leaders, constructing distorted narratives, or using political and media pressure as a sporting tool,” he said, without naming Real Madrid.

    Barcelona and Villarreal were on board with playing the game abroad. The Catalan club on Tuesday also talked about a “missed opportunity” for Spanish soccer.

    Villarreal did not immediately release a statement. Coach Marcelino García Toral on Tuesday was annoyed that the announcement was made during the team’s Champions League match against Manchester City.

    Tebas thanked Barcelona and Villarreal “for their commitment and generosity in being part of a project that only sought the growth of our competition. They weren’t thinking about themselves, they were thinking about everyone.”

    Tebas said Spanish soccer “deserves to look to the future with ambition, not fear.”

    “We will keep trying,” he said. “This time, we came very close.”

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • Maccabi Tel Aviv declines tickets for Aston Villa game, citing safety concerns

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    TEL AVIV, Israel — TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Maccabi Tel Aviv has announced it will decline any tickets offered for a Europa League game against Aston Villa next month regardless of growing calls for the English city of Birmingham to reverse a ban imposed on the Israeli club’s fans.

    West Midlands Police last week deemed the Nov. 6 match at Villa Park to be high risk and cited violence and hate crimes that took place when Maccabi Tel Aviv played at Ajax in Amsterdam last season.

    The subsequent ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans for the Villa game attracted widespread criticism, including from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who said it was the wrong decision.

    In a statement posted on social media late Monday, Maccabi Tel Aviv acknowledged the efforts to overturn the ban but added: “The wellbeing and safety of our fans is paramount and from hard lessons learned, we have taken the decision to decline any allocation offered on behalf of away fans and our decision should be understood in that context.”

    Behind the scenes, the British government has been seeking to resolve the row, which comes at a time of heightened worries about antisemitism in Britain following a deadly attack on a Manchester synagogue earlier this month and calls from Palestinians and their supporters for a sports boycott of Israel over its conduct of the war against Hamas in Gaza.

    Maccabi’s decision came despite the British government pledging to give police extra resources so that the game could be played safely with both teams’ fans present.

    The U.K. government said in a statement Tuesday that it was “deeply saddened” by the team’s decision.

    “It is completely unacceptable that this game has been weaponized to stoke violence and fear by those who seek to divide us,” it said. “We will never tolerate antisemitism or extremism on our streets.”

    Bans for traveling fans are not unheard of in European soccer, but are typically based on a history of violence between fans of rival clubs. There is no history of violence between Aston Villa and Maccabi fans.

    However, Maccabi fans have been increasingly in the spotlight over the past year or so, partly linked to the war in Gaza. Most notably, Maccabi fans clashed violently with city residents in Amsterdam last season when the team visited for a Europa League game against Ajax.

    Dozens were arrested and five people were treated in a hospital following the night of violence which was condemned as antisemitic by authorities and which also saw some supporters of the Israeli team chanting anti-Arab slogans.

    In Italy last week there was a heavy police presence, including snipers on the roof of the stadium, for a World Cup qualifier between Italian and Israeli national teams after authorities placed the game in the highest risk category.

    And last Sunday, dozens of people were injured after rioting soccer fans at a domestic league derby game in Tel Aviv threw flares and smoke grenades. The game at the Bloomfield Stadium between city rivals Hapoel and Maccabi was eventually abandoned out of concern for public safety, police said.

    The Nov. 6 encounter at Villa Park is set to be Maccabi’s first away match in the Europa League, European soccer’s second-tier competition, since pro-Palestinian protests took place at the stadium in Thessaloniki, Greece, when the club played PAOK on Sept. 24. About 120 Maccabi fans traveled to Greece for that game and were held behind a police cordon before entering the venue.

    European soccer’s governing body UEFA was weighing a vote to suspend Israeli teams from its competitions before that was overtaken this month by the ceasefire in Gaza.

    In the club statement, Maccabi Tel Aviv said soccer should bring people together, not divide them.

    “We have been instrumental in bringing forward footballing talent from around the world irrespective of race or creed. Our first team squad consists of Muslims, Christian and Jewish players and our fan base also crosses the ethnic and religious divide,” the statement said, adding that the club had been “working tirelessly to stamp out racism within the more extreme elements of our fan base.”

    The statement said there were critics who sought to “malign” Maccabi fans.

    “We hope that circumstances will change and look forward to being able to play in Birmingham in a sporting environment in the near future,” the club said.

    ___

    AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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  • Maccabi Tel Aviv Declines Tickets for Aston Villa Game, Citing Safety Concerns

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    TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Maccabi Tel Aviv has announced it will decline any tickets offered for a Europa League game against Aston Villa next month regardless of growing calls for the English city of Birmingham to reverse a ban it imposed on the Israeli club’s fans.

    West Midlands Police last week deemed the Nov. 6 match at Villa Park to be high risk and cited violence and hate crimes that took place when Maccabi Tel Aviv played at Ajax in Amsterdam last season.

    The ban subsequently imposed on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans for the Villa game attracted widespread criticism, including from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who said it was the wrong decision.

    In a statement posted on social media late Monday, Maccabi Tel Aviv acknowledged the efforts to overturn the ban but added: “The wellbeing and safety of our fans is paramount and from hard lessons learned, we have taken the decision to decline any allocation offered on behalf of away fans and our decision should be understood in that context.”

    Behind the scenes, the British government has been seeking to resolve the row, which comes at a time of heightened worries about antisemitism in Britain following a deadly attack on a Manchester synagogue earlier this month and calls from Palestinians and their supporters for a sports boycott of Israel over its conduct of the war against Hamas in Gaza.

    Bans for traveling fans are not unheard of in European soccer, but are typically based on a history of violence between fans of rival clubs. There is no history of violence between Aston Villa and Maccabi fans.

    However, Maccabi fans have been increasingly in the spotlight over the past year or so, partly linked to the war in Gaza. Most notably, Maccabi fans clashed violently with city residents in Amsterdam last season when the team visited for a Europa League game against Ajax.

    Dozens were arrested and five people were treated in a hospital following the night of violence which was condemned as antisemitic by authorities and which also saw some supporters of the Israeli team chanting anti-Arab slogans.

    In Italy last week there was a heavy police presence, including snipers on the roof of the stadium, for a World Cup qualifier between Italian and Israeli national teams after authorities placed the game in the highest risk category.

    And last Sunday, dozens of people were injured after rioting soccer fans at a domestic league derby game in Tel Aviv threw flares and smoke grenades. The game at the Bloomfield Stadium between city rivals Hapoel and Maccabi was eventually abandoned out of concern for public safety, police said.

    The Nov. 6 encounter at Villa Park is set to be Maccabi’s first away match in the Europa League, European soccer’s second-tier competition, since pro-Palestinian protests took place at the stadium in Thessaloniki, Greece, when the club played PAOK on Sept. 24. About 120 Maccabi fans traveled to Greece for that game and were held behind a police cordon before entering the venue.

    In the club statement, Maccabi Tel Aviv said soccer should bring people together, not divide them.

    “We have been instrumental in bringing forward footballing talent from around the world irrespective of race or creed. Our first team squad consists of Muslims, Christian and Jewish players and our fan base also crosses the ethnic and religious divide,” the statement said, adding that the club had been “working tirelessly to stamp out racism within the more extreme elements of our fan base.”

    The statement said there were critics who sought to “malign” Maccabi fans.

    “We hope that circumstances will change and look forward to being able to play in Birmingham in a sporting environment in the near future,” the club said.

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – Oct. 2025

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  • ‘He was very proud, but never said it’: One of the greatest soccer managers alive on how his dad motivated him to work harder | Fortune

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    The extraordinary success achieved by some of the world’s greatest leaders often traces back to formative, and sometimes complicated, childhood environments. For Jurgen Klopp, one of the most celebrated soccer managers of the modern era, the drive that fueled his relentless career was rooted in the silent pride and unwavering expectations of his father.

    The former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool manager announced his retirement from coaching in January 2024, taking up a new role working for the sports drink-turned soccer empire Red Bull GmbH as its Head of Global Soccer. Widely regarded as one of the greatest managers alive, his credentials include league titles in both Germany and England with the aforementioned clubs as well as a Champions League title — something like European soccer’s Super Bowl — with Liverpool. This was extra significant because Klopp helped restore Liverpool to the summit of the English game, a status the formerly dominant club had lost since the late 1980s, when Manchester United’s legendary manager Alex Ferguson swore to knock them off their “perch.” His 10-year rivalry with another modern managerial great, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, saw the flowering of a new Golden Age for the English Premier League.

    Klopp appeared on the Diary of a CEO podcast to talk about his coaching style, why he ended up at Liverpool instead of Manchester United, and if he was really done coaching. But much of the discussion centered on the influences that made him the way he is. Reflecting on his upbringing, Klopp said his father “loved me to bits and he loved me, he was very proud but never, never said it.” This dynamic created an intense pressure that shaped the manager’s famed competitive spirit.

    ‘Afraid that I might not be ambitious enough’

    Klopp is something of a folk hero in both England and Germany for his coaching exploits, as he has a history of dragon-slaying — he led Borussia Dortmund to an unlikely league title in 2010-11, unseating the dominant Bayern Munich, before replicating the trick later with Liverpool. In 2020, Klopp’s childhood coach Ulrich Rath told the BBC that Klopp’s father, Norbert, “had a big influence on him, he shaped him.” Nodding to Klopp’s exuberant, competitive spirit, Rath added: “When Jurgen is jumping up and down, I can see Norbert in him. But when he closes the door behind him at home, he finds peace and quiet and collects his strength. That’s his mother.”

    Klopp told a similar story to Bartlett, saying his childhood home was defined by a critical mix of influences. He said he had a “very confident dad,” paired with a “very caring mom, who was “just happy that I was there.” Klopp also described his mother as “very caring” and “loved people.” His father, who was a travelling salesman and former amateur goalkeeper, carried definite expectations, Klopp added. He was “a bit afraid that I might be not ambitious enough” and wanted his son to be a sportsman, excelling in everything from football and tennis to skiing.

    Klopp described being constantly challenged by his father, who was tough because “he wanted to bring the best out of me,” he said. Klopp told Bartlett his father would race him on ski slopes and in sprints, “never letting you win.” The manager admitted it “was not nice in a way” to experience this relentless competition.

    The power of sheer will

    This relentless pursuit of excellence, instilled by his father’s high standards, forged a foundational belief that sheer will could overcome natural talent. The manager admitted that initially he was “absolutely useless in most of the things,” and even his “teammates were better than me” at football. He realized he could only compete by being a “warrior on the pitch” from the first minute until the last — alluding to his favorite phrase for how he liked his teams to play, “like a heavy metal band.” This compensatory effort, spurred by the need to meet expectations, made him the competitive person he is today. He explained that his aggressive nature during his playing days stemmed from knowing “I’m not good enough” and trying to “squeeze everything out on from an aggressive point of view.”

    The resulting character became a blend of both parental influences: the confidence and ambition from his father, and the empathy and love for people from his mother. This combination became central to his leadership philosophy. He noted that his ability to speak publicly and confidently, necessary for a leader, is “probably from him,” while his “love for people unintentionally, that’s from my mom.”

    As a manager, this combination translated into a bespoke leadership style where he treated players “50% of the time completely the same, and 50% what he needs.” He stressed that effective leadership is not about what the coach wants to shout, but understanding “what they need to hear to deal with their situation.” By combining high expectations — telling his players, for example, “if you would believe as much in yourself as I do that will be a start” — with patience and support, he created an environment where players felt seen as individuals.

    Sometimes, though, the two sides of Klopp’s coaching personality left hurt feelings, even broken hearts behind. Numerous beloved members of Klopp’s great Liverpool team, including Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have described sudden ruptures in communications with Klopp as he ruthlessly moved them out of the club after previously showering them with support, belief and affection. In 2023, Firmino described how things changed that year as he was given no explanation as to why a new contract wasn’t forthcoming, and his playing time was shrinking. “The boss was avoiding me,” Firmino wrote in his 2023 autobiography. Still, Firmino insisted that Klopp was the best manager he ever played under.

    These dynamics took a toll on Klopp as well. His departure from Liverpool shocked the soccer world at the time, as he was in the prime of his career at 56 years old, and Klopp spoke openly of the burnout that prompted his decision. Several years later, he’s loving life. He told CBS News earlier this month while visiting Red Bull’s operations in New Jersey that after a 25-year stint in coaching he was relishing stepping away from his own self-imposed standards. “We go on holiday when we want and not when we are allowed to,” he told CBS.

    Klopp also described how his body gave out as soon as he wasn’t coaching full-time, almost as if the psychic toll of his heavy-metal football was manifesting physically. “I was not ill for 24 years or whatever,” he said, but after just two weeks out of the Liverpool job, he described catching a cold “like I’ve never been ill before in my life. Two weeks, couldn’t lift my head … my body needed two weeks or whatever.” Still, when pushed by Diary of a CEO host Steven Bartlett, Klopp admitted it was “theoretically possible” that he could return to coaching one day, surely setting Liverpool hearts astir.

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    Nick Lichtenberg

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  • Steph Curry exclusive: Golden State Warriors superstar opens up on free agency in 2027 and preparing for the 2025/26 season

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    Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry speaks exclusively to Sky Sports to discuss 2027 free agency

    Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry has opened up on his plans for free agency in 2027 after admitting situations change “really fast” in the NBA.

    The prospect of Curry, a two-time league MVP and 11-time All-Star, playing for any franchise other than The Dubs is a strange one.

    After being drafted with the seventh overall pick in 2009, Curry has gone on to revolutionise the game of basketball, helping himself to four championships, one finals MVP and the NBA record for most three-pointers made with 4,058 to add to his overall tally of 25,386 points.

    All while wearing No 30 for the Warriors.

    • 4 x NBA champion
    • 2 x NBA MVP
    • 2022 NBA Finals MVP
    • 11 x NBA All-Star
    • 2 x NBA All-Star MVP
    • 11 x All-NBA Team selection
    • 2024 NBA Clutch Player of the Year
    • 2 x NBA Three-Point Content champion
    • Most three-pointers made in NBA history

    Curry signed a one-year extension with the team in 2024, worth a reported £47.5m ($62.6m) and ending growing speculation around his future in the process, keeping him in San Francisco until 2027.

    Two years from now, when that deal expires, the greatest shooter of all time will be 39.

    After averaging just under 25 points, six assists, and over four rebounds in his 16th season, as well as longevity being more prominent than ever in the league, it is clear to see that his time in the NBA is far from over.

    But could the next chapter in his illustrious career lie away from Chase Center? Do not rule it out.

    “What I have learned about this league is that things change really fast,” Curry told Sky Sports while discussing Underrated Golf, a programme set up by the point guard to break down barriers to entry and increase diversity in the game of golf.

    Underrated Golf is an initiative led by Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry to create a pathway into the sport for young athletes from underrepresented communities.

    The programme aims to break down barriers in the game of golf to give prospects a level playing field, in a bid to create a more inclusive and accessible environment for young golfers.

    “What you might feel like in two years from now could be totally different. I try to stay in the moment as much as possible; it’s not the glitziest answer but it allows me to enjoy what is happening now.

    “I do want to play for only one team, let’s keep that pretty clear. Being at the Warriors has been unbelievable and I feel blessed to have only played for one franchise and to have accomplished what we have.

    “So if I could have the best of both worlds and continue to be championship relevant over the next couple of years, that would be great but this league is wild. You kind of just stay in the moment.”

    Despite a decision on his future looming as we approach 2027, Curry’s full focus remains on securing more success with the team he holds so dear to his heart in the upcoming 2025/26 season.

    The arrival of six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler in February has shown early signs of promise after the Warriors reached the Western Conference semi-finals last time out, only to be denied the opportunity to show their title-winning credentials following a Grade 1 hamstring strain for Curry in game one against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

    A 4-1 defeat in the series would follow but heading into 2025/26, the roster has been bolstered by a new two-year deal for Jonathan Kuminga, as well as the arrival of 2024 NBA champion Al Horford,to run alongside long-term teammate Draymond Green in the frontcourt.

    Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler (left) Stephen Curry (centre) and forward Draymond Green (right)

    Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler (left) Stephen Curry (centre) and forward Draymond Green (right)

    With Curry now back to full fitness and fresh depth surrounding him, the intentions from the Warriors have been clear from pre-season.

    The Dubs are 3-1 in games Curry has featured in, beating the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers twice, with attention now turning to the season opener against the Lakers on October 21, live on Sky Sports.

    When asked what aspects of the game still motivate a player who has already achieved so much in the sport as we approach a new 82-game season, Curry added: “I talk about championships, and that drive – it allows every part of the journey to matter.

    “Even in the off-season, how you prepare for the year, come in and try and build chemistry with your teammates and how you get through the emotional rollercoaster of an 82-game season.

    “All of that is built into being at your peak come playoff time in April.

    Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry during the pre-season game against the Los Angeles Clippers

    Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry during the pre-season game against the Los Angeles Clippers

    “Individual accolades take care of themselves. When you win, everybody is rewarded. As long as I’m taking care of championship motivation, everything else takes care of itself. Whether you win or not, you just lay it all out there.

    “We have a brand new team again. We’ll all try and stay healthy and try and get to the finish line. That’s our goal.”

    The Warriors have won seven championships in total across their 78-year history, with Curry leading them to more than half of that total.

    If the franchise is to add an eighth banner to the rafters in 2026, their point guard will be the man to lead them there.

    His powers at the highest level are showing no signs are waning, with the 37-year-old looking to replicate the successes of the likes of LeBron James and Kevin Durant by “redefining” what it is to be playing at a high level towards the latter stages of their respective careers.

    “I feel like I’ve got some good basketball ahead of me. I’m trying to redefine what it is to be playing at a high level at this age,” said Curry when the question of his timeline leading the roster was posed.

    “I still love the work that goes into it and playing the game; hopefully, that will carry me. I don’t want to put any limits on it.”

    Watch the Golden State Warriors against the Los Angeles Lakers live on Sky Sports + on October 21, tip-off 3am UK time.

    SUPER 6 RETURNS – £1,000,000 ‘TIL IT’S WON!

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