Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has the right characteristics to become a strong manager , according to his former LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena.
Gerrard ended his playing career in 2016 following an 18-month stint with the Galaxy, having left Liverpool after 17 years in a tenure that included two FA Cup wins, UEFA Cup glory and the Champions League title.
The 114-time capped former England international returned to Liverpool to coach in their academy and was granted control of the Under-18 side for the 2017-18 season.
After one season at youth level, Gerrard has taken on an immense challenge at Ibrox, with Celtic having firmly established themselves as Scotland s dominant force since Rangers were relegated to the fourth tier after being liquidated in 2012.
Are…
Mourinho loves his second seasons
Souness Dig at Mourinho
It’s never a good thing to step on Jose Mourinho’s toes and former manager Graeme Souness could be forced to reassess his claim Portuguese tactician was not the right man for
Graeme Souness thinks Manchester United ‘felt compelled to get a big name’ after seeing Pep Guardiola join their neighbours and admits he was never convinced by the Red Devils’ choice to bring in Mourinho as Louis van Gaal’s successor.
Needless to say, the former Reds boss Souness’ words turned a couple of heads and went on to upset the Red Devils fans who pointed out that Jose Mourinho got a taste of the Community Shield glory, and got EFL Cup and Europa League success during his first year in charge at Old Trafford,…
Arsenal goalkeeper Emi Martinez has joined Getafe on a season-long loan.
Martinez, who moved to the Gunners from Independiente in 2010, kept three clean sheets in five appearances for the club last season.
And the 24-year-old will now look to impress for Getafe, who are back in LaLiga after securing an immediate return from the Segunda Division.
Getafe beat Tenerife in the promotion play-offs final to reach the top flight and will start their league campaign at Athletic Bilbao on August 20.
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After Jurgen Klopp announced he would be leaving Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season, focus at Signal Iduna Park returns to on-field matters with Saturday s visit of relegation-threatened Paderborn.
Klopp Dortmund s most successful coach with a points-per-game ratio of 1.9 and two Bundesliga titles is to call time on his seven-year tenure at the end of the season.
Dortmund, who have endured a rocky campaign domestically, now sit 10th thanks to a recent revival and Klopp s bid to finish with a flourish continues against lowly Paderborn.
Despite victory over Augsburg last time out, Andre Breitenreiter s men remain in the relegation mix-up, as do Hamburg who opted for another change of coach in midweek.
The league s bottom side have entruste…
Fernando Llorente has opened the door for a return to LaLiga as he continues to struggle for first-team opportunities at Tottenham.
Llorente has only had one season in his homeland since 2013, the 33-year-old having played in Italy with Juventus, before time with Swansea City and now Spurs.
The striker has only started 11 matches in all competitions for Tottenham since his move in 2017, Llorente finding himself playing second fiddle to Harry Kane in Mauricio Pochettino s plans.
And with his current deal set to expire in June, Llorente has hinted a return to Spain would be his preferred option.
Speaking to reporters after Tottenham s 2-1 Champions League win over PSV, he said: I ve been away from home for many years, I d love to go back to LaLiga.
According to Marca, talks have begun between Barcelona and Jordi Alba over the possibility of him signing a new contract with the club. Alba suggested that he hadn’t been contacted about a new contract although he may have been doing that in order to get Barca’s attention, with his current deal being set to expire in 2020.
The club have made his contract a top priority, as the 29 year old attempts to secure his long term future with a team that are easily one of the favourites to lift the Champions League trophy once again this season. Alba joined Barca back in 2012 from Valencia, and since then he’s been their star left back – enjoying multiple silverware successes in the process.
Barcelona will take on PSV Eindhoven in Europe tonight, as they attempt to move o…
Udinese have completed the loan signing of Stefano Okaka, who joins the Serie A side from Watford for the rest of the season.
Okaka has made only two substitute appearances in the Premier League this term, his last goal for Watford coming in August 2017.
And Udinese owned by the Pozzo family, like Watford will now have the 29-year-old available for the remainder of the 2018-19 campaign as they battle to avoid relegation.
Okaka has played for Serie A sides including Parma, Sampdoria and Roma in a nomadic career, also earning four Italy caps and scoring once for the Azzurri.
The striker s debut for Udinese, who are 15th in the table, could come against one of his former clubs, with Parma visiting Davide Nicola s side on January 19.
Okaka is strong …
Market: Monaco win
Odds: 8/11 @
Hoping to make an immediate return to winning ways on Sunday afternoon, Monaco will welcome Brest to the Stade Louis II.
Starting with the hosts, putting in what was a toothless performance last weekend as they eventually had to settle for a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Lille, Monaco will certainly be seeking an immediate response here. Nevertheless, while the French giants might have seen their three-match winning run come to an abrupt end last time out, Adi Hutter’s side have their sights set on securing a lucrative Champions League return this time around. Marking their return from October’s international break with a 2-1 victory against Metz, the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss has seen his side gain a reputation for their c…
Jorge Sampaoli accepted a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Spain took him by surprise, the Argentina coach saying his team had been slapped .
The joint-worst defeat in Argentina s history came with Sampaoli s men unravelling after the interval, Isco scoring a hat-trick at Atletico Madrid s Wanda Metropolitano.
Argentina without talisman Lionel Messi due to injury had beaten Italy 2-0 in Manchester on Friday but found Spain far too strong on Tuesday.
And Sampaoli conceded there is a lot of work to do to ensure Argentina do not suffer similar embarrassment at the World Cup in Russia.
We have to take charge of this game, these things cannot happen to us at the World Cup, Sampaoli said.
Spain have slapped us, we have to keep working.
They a…
Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores has confirmed the club are close to signing Mario Suarez from Fiorentina.
Reports in the British media have indicated the Premier League club are on the verge of bringing the former Atletico Madrid midfielder to Vicarage Road.
A fee of £4million is said to have been agreed with the Serie A side as Watford look to add more quality to a team that has impressed on their return to the Premier League.
Speaking after his side s late FA Cup fourth-round 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest, Flores said: There are little details [to be done] but Mario Suarez is very close to being in our squad.
I think it is practically done. There are little details but I consider him a player of Watford.
It [Suarez s signing] shows …