STEPHEN KENNY LEAVES ROLE AS IRELAND MANAGER AFTER CONTRACT IS NOT RENEWED

Stephen Kenny’s contract as manager of the Republic of Ireland will not be renewed, the Football Association of Ireland has announced.

His departure comes following Ireland’s disappointing Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, where the team missed out on a spot in next year’s finals in Germany.

Their qualification run came to a close on Saturday after being beaten 1-0 by the Netherlands in Amsterdam and as a result finished fourth in the Group B standings having won only two of their eight games.

Kenny’s final game in charge saw Ireland draw 1-1 with New Zealand in a friendly in Dublin on Tuesday, with the FAI deciding that his contract would not be renewed following the conclusion of the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

They added that “now is the right time for change” ahead of friendly matches taking place in March and June 2024 and confirmed that the recruitment process for a new head coach is now under way.

Speaking about the decision, FAI CEO Jonathan Hill said: “Over the period of his tenure, Stephen and his staff have worked tirelessly to create the right environment to support the development of our senior men’s team, and we are hugely grateful for that considerable contribution.

“Stephen has also overseen an important period of transition for our senior men’s national team and has given debuts to a significant number of new and younger players and this will serve as a solid platform for whoever now takes this group of players forward.”

FAI President Gerry McAnaney added: “The Board and all at the FAI would like to sincerely thank Stephen and his staff for their hard work, professionalism and unwavering dedication to the team, the fans, and to Irish football. We wish Stephen every success for the future.”

Kenny has been at the helm since 2020, replacing Mick McCarthy and has overseen plenty of changes within the squad, but only recorded six wins out of 29 competitive matches during his reign.

His contract expired following the New Zealand draw and admitted post-match he did not expect to continue as Ireland manager.

“Of course, it would be a dream to carry on and manage the team, of course it would, but my instinct is that’s not going to happen,” Kenny said.

“That’s my own instinct and the evidence suggests that probably won’t happen, so I respect that as well.”

Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/stephen-kenny-leaves-role-as-ireland-manager-after-contract-is-not-renewed-38604159

 

CROWD TROUBLE AT MARACANA MARS FAMOUS ARGENTINA VICTORY AGAINST BRAZIL

 World champions Argentina’s 1-0 win over Brazil was marred by crowd trouble at the Maracana Stadium.

Kick-off was delayed by half an hour in Rio de Janeiro after rival fans and police clashed, with both sets of players trying to calm the situation down before eventually returning to the dressing room before the game could commence.

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was filmed trying to climb the hoarding to stop a police officer wielding a baton before being pulled away by team-mates.

Once the order was restored, Nicolas Otamendi’s second-half header gave Argentina an historic World Cup qualifying victory, with Joelinton sent off for the hosts.

Lionel Messi said on Argentina’s X feed: “This group continues to achieve historic things. Although today was not the most important, it is something very nice.

“We needed this victory after the defeat against Uruguay.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game, similar to the one in the Copa America final. They pressed a lot, they went to look for us high up and it was difficult for us to have long possessions. These games are defined by details.”

It was Brazil’s first-ever home defeat in a World Cup qualifier and their third in a row after previous losses to Uruguay and Colombia, with their path to the 2026 World Cup looking decidedly shaky.

Read more

Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/crowd-trouble-at-maracana-mars-famous-argentina-victory-against-brazil-38600641

MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYERS COMPLAIN ABOUT ERIK TEN HAG’S INTENSE TRAINING METHODS

 Erik ten Hag is thought to have increased the intensity of Manchester United’s training in pre-season in attempt to achieve more with his current crop of players.

A poor start to the season has raised questions but it would be naïve to overlooked the amount of injuries Ten Hag has had to deal with this season, which is something I touched on in a recent column for BBC Sport. That said, you could also raise questions about the injuries themselves and how many could be deemed avoidable but we aren’t fitness experts.

According to The Guardian, however, a section of United players believe the team’s poor start to the season is down to Ten Hag overworking the squad in pre-season.

I would be slow to take the player’s word for it because we’ve had similar complaints about previous managers, so it just looks like they’re incapable of taking responsibility for their poor performances. They are now complaining of beginning the campaign feeling as tired as when they finished the previous one

Read more

Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/manchester-united-players-complain-about-erik-ten-hags-intense-training-methods-38600549

More Stories / Latest News finished the previous one.

FOOTBALL TRANSFER RUMOURS: GRIEZMANN DECIDES ON MAN UTD; BARCELONA EYE LO CELSO

90min rounds up the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip circulating around the world...

Antoine Griezmann will not be joining Mancester United and remains fully focused on playing for Atletico Madrid. (Fabrizio Romano)

Chelsea hope to make Romelu Lukaku's loan deal at Roma a permanent arrangement next summer. (Standard)

Bayern Munich want to sign Takehiro Tomiyasu next summer but are aware of Arsenal's desire to keep hold of the 25-year-old. (Sky Germany)

Bayern may be more successful in their pursuit of Joao Palhinha, with Fulham ready to sanction a deal worth less than their original £56m asking price. (Sky Germany)

Kylian Mbappe says his Paris Saint-Germain future will be resolved "one day" as Real Madrid continue to be linked with a free transfer. (Telefoot)

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has ruled out selling Raphael Varane until the summer transfer window. (The Sun)

Liverpool are unlikely to sign teenager Gabriel Moscardo from Corinthians as they wish to sign a more experienced midfielder. Fluminense's Andre Trindade remains shortlisted alongside a number of other players. (CaughtOffside)

Thomas Muller has ruled out retiring from football in 2024, when his current Bayern Munich contract expires. (BILD)

Barcelona may move for Tottenham's out of favour midfielder Giovani Lo Celso as they look to plug the gap left by Gavi's long-term knee injury. (Mundo Deportivo)

Juventus and Brazil centre-back Gleison Bremer is keen to test himself in the Premier League. (Telegraph)

Read more

Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/football-transfer-rumours-griezmann-decides-on-man-utd-barcelona-eye-lo-celso-38600975

BRAZIL VS ARGENTINA: LIONEL MESSI ACCUSES BRAZILIAN POLICE OF BRUTALITY AFTER FANS BLOODIED IN VIOLENT SCENES

 AFP via Getty Images

Alex Young @alexwsyoung

Lionel Messi has accused Brazilian police of brutality after clashes with fans before kick-off of Tuesday evening's World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina at Maracana Stadium on Tuesday

Both sets of fans started fighting during the national anthems, prompting police to attack the visiting Argentina fans with batons. Some Argentina fans responded by ripping up and throwing seats at the officers as other fans panicked and came onto the pitch to escape the fighting.

Police were also seen punching supporters and once Argentina fans with a bloodied face needed to be taken from the stadium on a stretcher.

Argentina captain Messi led a contingent of players to the stands in an attempt to defuse the situation, before leaving the pitch and returning to the dressing room.

Read more

Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/brazil-vs-argentina-lionel-messi-accuses-brazilian-police-of-brutality-after-fans-bloodied-in-violent-scenes-38600585

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WHEN IS EURO 2024 DRAW? DATE, START TIME, CONFIRMED POTS AND QUALIFIED TEAMS

 Automatic Euro 2024 qualification now at an end as the draw for the finals now moves into view.

England are already in the hat despite a frustrating draw with North Macedonia that followed a dour win over Malta as Gareth Southgate looks to finalise his squad for next summer.

Germany will host the Euros and have therefore already qualified while giants such as France, Portugal and Spain have also booked their flights.

The Netherlands have also now qualified after beating the Republic of Ireland in Amsterdam. with Italy following after a goalless draw with Ukraine on Monday. Sweden and Norway are both out - meaning no major tournament again for Erling Haaland.

Romania are also qualified after their 2-1 comeback win over Israel on Saturday, so too Switzerland despite their draw with Kosovo. Croatia have also qualified.

Of the home nations, Scotland have made it but both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland have failed to reach Euro 2024 via their qualification groups, while Wales will be relying on the play-offs after their draw with Turkey.

Read more

Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/when-is-euro-2024-draw-date-start-time-confirmed-pots-and-qualified-teams-38600704

 also qualified.

BARCELONA MANAGER XAVI HERNANDEZ PUSHING FOR PREFERRED MIDFIELD OPTION TO REPLACE GAVI AFTER ACL INJURY

 Barcelona are working out the best course of action following a serious injury to one of their star midfielders Gavi, which will keep him out for the rest of the season. The Blaugrana can sign a replacement free of their salary limit restrictions until the end of the season for up to 80% of Gavi’s wages, and already, several names have been mentioned.

The likes of Guido Rodriguez at Real Betis and Thiago Alcantara, players whose contracts are expiring at the end of the season, are emerging as potential candidates for a move in the January transfer window.

Yet according to multiple reports, including from Sport, manager Xavi Hernandez already has a preferred option in mind. Following a training session on Tuesday, he held a meeting with Sporting Director Deco to discuss their options, and Xavi was both in favour of making an addition, and keen to return to one of their summer targets.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso remained at Spurs in order to see how things would go under Ange Postecoglou, but has once again found himself very much on the outside looking in. So far, he has played just 83 minutes.

Strong on the ball, capable of playing deeper or in the final third, Lo Celso has the ability to threat a pass through a defence too. However the latest from North London is that Lo Celso will not be allowed to leave in January – the feeling is that he will be given more game time to address Spurs’ own injury crisis over the coming month before January.

If they are not open to a deal, there will be little Barcelona can do but move onto their next target. The Blaugrana will not be able to negotiate a major fee for Lo Celso, and so any move is highly dependent on the Argentine international being surplus to requirements

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/barcelona-manager-xavi-hernandez-pushing-for-preferred-midfield-option-to-replace-gavi-after-acl-injury-38600869