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Leicester City now want an “unbelievable” 4-2-3-1 manager, who is also wanted by Southampton, to replace Ruud van Nistelrooy, according to Sky Sports.

Leicester's relegation piles pressure on Van Nistelrooy

The Foxes’ relegation to the Championship from the Premier League was confirmed on Sunday afternoon, in what has been a disastrous season for the club. They have just 18 points to their name after 33 games, winning just four games in total.

Leicester City eye move for new 40 y/o manager who has same agent as Vardy

He’s been in the Championship before.

ByCharlie Smith Apr 9, 2025

The club chiefs hoped that Van Nistelrooy’s arrival would springboard the club into staying away from the drop zone, but just three wins in 17 games have not been enough to keep them in the Premier League.

That means the Foxes now have to prepare for life back in the Championship, and according to Sky Sports, Van Nistelrooy is expected to meet with Leicester’s hierarchy this week to discuss his future.

The Dutchman is expected to remain in charge for the remainder of the Premier League campaign, but there are doubts as to whether he will stay going into the summer, as both sides are unsure about continuing the relationship going into the Championship.

Another concern for Leicester is that sacking van Nistelrooy before the end of June would cause problems for them meeting PSR obligations, as the Dutchman is under contract until 2027, and therefore, he would need to be paid off.

Leicester want a 4-2-3-1 boss who is also wanted by Southampton

So while the club chiefs weigh up what to do with van Nistelrooy, according to Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett, Leicester are now interested in appointing Danny Rohl as their new manager after drawing up a managerial shortlist.

Dorsett reports that the Foxes have already drawn up a list of candidates to possibly replace Van Nistelrooy, and Rohl is one name that is under consideration. As well as Rohl, Leicester are also interested in former England interim manager Lee Carsley and ex-Southampton boss Russell Martin.

Rohl, who has been dubbed “unbelievable” by player Josh Windass, is a manager who continues to impress in the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday, as finances and ownership at the club are making his job difficult. However, the German has managed to guide the Owls to mid-table in the second tier, 10 points above the relegation zone and 10 points adrift of the top six.

Games

87

Won

34

Drawn

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Lost

36

The 35-year-old, whose preferred formation as manager is 4-2-3-1, will not be an easy man to get for the Foxes, as Southampton have made Rohl a top target in their search for a new boss.

Sheffield Wednesday is Rohl’s first job as a manager in England, but the work he’s done in guiding the club away from relegation last season and what he’s achieved in this campaign have now made him a highly rated coach in the second tier.

India’s on-field performance deserves scrutiny, but they were dictated by the decisions they made off the field

Alagappan Muthu05-Jan-20252:12

Was India’s batting approach justified?

There was a team whose two key batters were not producing the runs that they were used to. They came under fire from the outside. They had a fast bowler go down with injury. They were the ones celebrating with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Sunday afternoon.At about 4.30pm in Sydney, Scott Boland, with a well-earned drink – it looked like coffee even if he has been the toast of the town – walked over to the SCG square, which was now cordoned off. His wife and their two daughters were with him. They grabbed on to the rope and started jiggling it. Australia were deserving winners in this series against India after victory in Sydney, but it is remarkable how much their problems mirrored India’s after the first Test in Perth and how they now seem so far away.They had a batter averaging 16.85 in his last eight innings make two single-digit scores in his first appearance of the series. Marnus Labuschagne recovered. Rohit Sharma couldn’t. They had a world-beater go through a lean period. Steven Smith recovered. Virat Kohli couldn’t. It helps being part of a winning unit when you are out of form. Pat Cummins spoke about how the loss in Perth didn’t really prompt Australia into any kind of soul searching.Related

• India and Australia will have to make tough selection calls to future-proof their Test sides

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• Bumrah misses out 'on the spiciest wicket of the series'

• 'You can't be that soft' – Gambhir on intimidation accusation

“Thought we had a bad week, but thought our game plans, methods, [and] selection, all that was pretty much where we wanted it to be,” he said. “But maybe our execution was a little bit off. I think you can very easily panic in those situations, [and] change a lot. I think it’s more important to realise we’re still number one in the world. We’re a very good team. Stay strong.”India’s on-field performance deserves scrutiny, but they were dictated by the decisions they made off the field. They came to Australia with their souls wrenched out of place. Their first ever whitewash at home in a series of three or more Tests – against New Zealand – had raised doubts about their batters’ ability to cope with conditions where run-scoring is difficult.It forced them to look at their bowlers differently. They went into the first two Tests against Australia with only two specialist quicks. The other two – Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana – were picked for the runs they could provide down the order.The irony is that when those runs actually came – in the first innings in Melbourne – India were unable to make the most of it. The cushion they have afforded non-performing batters on this tour directly affected their chances of victory, and might also have put their biggest asset on ice for a while. Jasprit Bumrah’s back injury is still being assessed by the medical staff. India coach Gautam Gambhir was not willing to let the seniors off the hook for how it all turned out.All eight of Virat Kohli’s dismissals were to balls outside the off stump•Getty Images”Not a lot of people are playing for the first time in Australia. There are quite a lot of others [who are]; probably two of them in the top eight,” he said after India’s loss in Sydney. “[Other than] Nitish and Yashasvi [Jaiswal], all the other guys have had the experience of Australia. So I’m not going to say that it is only because some of the young guys [that we lost], but I think there are a lot of experienced players as well.”It may also be useful to remember that four of the five Tests were played in conditions that Smith said required luck, and that it is a win as a top-order player if you can face 50 balls. He doesn’t have the 10,000th run yet, but he’s a decent enough authority to speak about these things.”A bit [of the batters’ struggle] could be because of the wickets,” Gambhir admitted. “Then, again, it’s not only the case in Australia. We’ve had the same issues at home as well. So I think everything boils down to the temperament. Everything boils down to how much you want to sometimes play those tough moments.”How much you want to grind in Test cricket. Because Test cricket is all about playing the session. Sometimes see off the spell as well. And that is why it’s the beauty of sport. So I feel that that is one issue where we need to probably look after. That how can we convert those 20s, 30s or 40s into big 100s. Not only 100s, but big 100s, and set the game up for our bowlers. Because your bowling department will always be under pressure if you can’t put those first-innings runs on the board.”Jasprit Bumrah was shouldering a very heavy workload, and in the end, it resulted in an injury•Getty ImagesThere is one other bit that no losing team will ever admit. The opposition was better equipped. Boland’s success is testament to what happens when specialists are trusted to do their jobs; how it has a knock-on effect. Australia didn’t need a lot of runs from their out-of-form batters because their in-form bowlers were knocking India out over and over again.”Yeah, it’s been tough,” Gambhir said reflecting on his time as coach, a time which includes six losses in ten Tests. “Absolutely, no doubt about it. It’s been really tough. And obviously, these weren’t the results what we were expecting in the last eight test matches.”But that is what sport is all about. All I can expect from that dressing room is to keep fighting. And all we all can do – not only as players, but as a support staff – [is] to be honest, and keep fighting and keep doing the right things what is good for Indian cricket. As simple as it can get. But more importantly, it’s a result-orientated sport. And we all play for results. And it hasn’t gone our way. As simple as it can be.”India contributed heavily to this Border-Gavaskar Trophy series being incredibly entertaining, sometimes to the point of going overboard. They played it all with their hackles raised. Right from the send-off to Travis Head in Adelaide, they have felt like they have been behind enemy lines, some portion of their effort siphoned away towards things like a hostile crowd, or a 19-year-old wind-up artist. It has added to the theatre, but could it also have been a sign that they lost a little bit of their composure? Jaiswal had the audacity to block Mitchell Starc and tell him “You’re coming on too slow.” Starc said nothing. He just took him out in the next few innings.India could have seized this series on the fourth day in Melbourne when they had Australia at 91 for 6•AFP/Getty ImagesGambhir said it wasn’t like India didn’t have their moments, and he’s right. Rohit accepted his poor form and withdrew himself from selection. That was good. Rohit, in a previous, desperate search for form, bumped their best-performing batter, KL Rahul, off a position he seemed to have earned after initially letting him have it. That was less good. Bumrah was close to becoming the highest wicket-taker in a series in Australia. That was good. He was getting up there because he was shouldering a very heavy workload, and in the end, it resulted in an injury. That was less good.Reddy scored one of the most memorable MCG hundreds. That was good. He bowled only 44 of India’s 620.2 overs in the series. That was less good. Kohli spent hours and hours in the nets trying to work out a viable way of dealing with balls outside the off stump. That was good. All eight of his dismissals were to balls outside the off stump. That was less good.India could have seized this series on a riveting fourth day in Melbourne when they had Australia at 91 for 6. That was good. They let them off the hook, allowing two 50-run partnerships for the last four wickets. That was less good.Everything good they did kept being overshadowed by something less good. So in the end, it is almost tempting to wonder: did the team that played the best cricket win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, or did the one that made the most mistakes lose?

Their batting is sorely lacking, but their strong suit, bowling, has not looked as good as it might have

Ian Chappell01-Jan-2023South Africa are a flawed batting team and recent comments by captain Dean Elgar regarding a dangerous Gabba pitch and lack of matches against tough opponents have tried to camouflage that.No team – no matter how good their bowling attack – can overcome a string of mediocre Test totals poorly compiled. No number of games against tough opponents is going to help a batting team that is technically deficient and limited in their shot-making ability.Also, while South Africa’s bowling attack possesses real ability, their wicket-taking capability could be drastically improved. And they are handicapped by their side’s poor batting. A team that is repeatedly provided with low scores and has to regularly be back bowling after yet another failure by their batting side finds its strength sapping and morale dropping.Related

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South Africa's bowlers may need to help themselves to have enough runs

Rabada calls for 'patience and understanding' with SA's inexperienced batting line-up

There is also the matter of captaincy. Anrich Nortje aside, the rest of the attack could have performed better in Australia with improved leadership. Elgar, like many of his fellow international leaders, is not well versed in captaincy on Australian pitches. The bowlers must first understand that producing the odd really good ball interspersed with some deliveries that can be despatched won’t win much in Australia. Bowlers have to keep producing good deliveries to talented batters and their demeanour has to alert opponents to their wicket-taking desire.I’ve often said about the great Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee that you had to overcome his great ability first and then you had to deal with his iron will. That is how good bowlers operate. There have been times when I have felt the South Africans lacked that required iron will.It’s also worth remembering the practical words of talented Australian batter Mark Waugh: “Hit the top of off with the occasional bouncer used to work.” That age-old cricket proverb still applies.Then there are field placings for the current bowlers when considering the improvement and extra thickness of bats. It always pays to start with a packed slip cordon, as edges off the new ball continue to be a high-percentage way to rid yourself of good top-order batters. And when those players survive the early period and start to punish the bowling, a captain has to be agile in his thinking. Sending slip fielders to places like point and square leg is more likely to result in catches than giving good batters easy singles by moving men prematurely into the deep. There comes a time when a batter is well set and deep fielders have to be considered but the fielding team is already in trouble by the time that happens.If the captaincy relates to the cricket being played, it’s generally good. If, however, it doesn’t relate to the actual play, you’re right to assume it’s poor.On the subject of starting, why isn’t Nortje taking the new ball along with Kagiso Rabada? The best chance of taking wickets is at the start of a player’s innings. The most likely wicket-takers, if they are good, are the faster bowlers and it’s imperative they get the new ball. Nortje is a far better bowling proposition than an out-of-form and much slower Lungi Ngidi.Keshav Maharaj has potential as a spinner but if he’s used as a containing bowler, that’s a mistake. Most of the time a captain has to seek wickets at both ends. Bowlers are wicket-takers; otherwise they shouldn’t be in a Test side. Having a player operate as a holding bowler means his ability is diminished.Taking 20 wickets to win a Test is the hardest thing in the game but it’s also among the most rewarding. The job of batters is to score runs quickly enough to allow their bowlers the time to collect those 20 wickets.The South African batters aren’t anywhere near doing their job. However, the better South African bowlers could improve their performance if they were provided with more inspiring leadership and competitive field placings.

Left-arm spinner demonstrates maturity beyond his years in his seven-wicket haul

Andrew Fidel Fernando24-Jan-2021Remember that one guy? That great Sri Lanka fingerspinner? Body like an overfull water balloon, heart as big as the ocean? Well, let’s not mention him here, because there’s a new left-arm spinner, and at 24, Lasith Embuldeniya is just making his way. There’s already been talk of large shoes needing to be filled and mantles begging to be taken up. But these are unfair expectations, right? Even if the old man Embuldeniya’s cricketing hero. And no matter how much about this young bowler there is to like.Maybe they will be different kinds of left-arm operators, anyway. Embuldeniya has a high release point, puts a lot of revolutions on the ball, gets more loop than most, and because of his height (and maybe a touch of overspin), good bounce on top of all that. That is the Embuldeniya elevator pitch. But there’s more to him, such as an air of maturity beyond his years, and a stubborn doughtiness. These sound like profoundly unsexy virtues, but then Embuldeniya bowls slow left-arm, so he’s already chosen the unsexiest path in cricketing life.He seems to have really leaned into that whole thing, too. Have you ever seen him properly celebrate a wicket? No? That’s because he doesn’t, really. He’s dismissed both England openers for single figures in each of the three innings England have batted this series; Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley out for 4, 2, 0, 9, 8 and 5. He’s only in his tenth Test, so it’s a thing of mild wonder that Embuldeniya seems to have picked up not just one, but two bunnies.Related

• Sri Lanka's batsmen, and the voice of unreason

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• Flower pleased with application despite 'giving them three wickets'

But upon getting the wicket of Crawley on Saturday evening, Embuldeniya just walked, neutral-faced, to his teammates. A dad of two pushing a trolley loaded with rice, dhal and milk powder through the supermarket. Shirt buttons done up all the way to the top.It is the almost-impeccable lines, plus the drift he gets, and the turn off the surface that have got him his seven wickets so far in this innings. None of the remaining Sri Lanka bowlers – not even the vastly more experienced Dilruwan Perera – have bowled as well to batsmen who have just arrived as Embuldeniya. Five of his victims never made it to 15.Virtually everyone who has faced him has played and missed liberally since Embuldeniya gets dramatic, fast turn, even when he pitches on the straight, in a way that no other spinner in this game has quite managed. Aside from Joe Root and Jos Buttler, both of whom have rocking reverse-sweeps (and as such, are the only batsmen dismissed by other means) no England batsman has been comfortable. To the lefties lower down in England’s batting order, he’s had the off-side rough to work with.Embuldeniya’s wicket celebrations are notably low-key•SLCIt seems almost cruel to say on a day in which he was almost Sri Lanka’s single wicket-taking threat, but there are things Embuldeniya could work on. Five of his dismissals were catches to slip off the outside edge (four of those victims were right-handers). But what if he learned to better disguise his slider, which he bowls infrequently anyway, and made that more of a threat? For his idol – that guy we decided we weren’t going to mention – the straighter ball was essentially the poison-tipped dagger in his armoury; the weapon so many underestimated, but still wound up succumbing to. On tracks that turn as substantially as this, balls that float under the radar on to pads and into stumps are a subtle magic.Embuldeniya might learn, too, that there are times in his career in which he is going to be doubted. He had taken a five-wicket haul in the 2019 tour of South Africa, where his contributions were instrumental to that surreal series win, and yet he was overlooked for both Tests there over the last month, with the team’s management picking legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga instead. Why? Because wristspinners have mad X-factor, right? Whatever Embuldeniya makes of his career from here, he’s never going to have said about him.It probably doesn’t help that in true slow left-arm style, he comes to press conferences after his most successful haul ever, and gives answers like this: “Thanks for your question. I’ve done a lot of spot bowling and that’s how I’ve improved little by little. In the match I bowled line and length and made small, small variations. There was help from the wicket. I landed the ball on the same spot and hoped the wicket would do the rest.”Buttoned-up to the point of being adorable. But, you know, not sexy. Though he’s already looking up to, and swimming in the considerable wake of, someone who showed that he doesn’t need to be.

Xavi Simons’ start to life at Tottenham has been fairly slow, already raising some concerns about the club’s hefty investment in the Dutchman.

Thomas Frank dealt Xavi Simons concern at Tottenham

The 22-year-old struggled to influence the game once again during Spurs’ 2-1 loss to Aston Villa at home in the Premier League on Sunday.

Since his high-profile move from RB Leipzig in the summer, which could end up costing the club a whopping £125 million in total when factoring in wages over a potential seven-year deal (Paul O’Keefe), expectations have been sky-high for Simons to inject creativity and flair.

Appearances

25

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2,157

Goals

10

Assists

7

Bookings

5

Shots at goal per 90 minutes

2

Passing accuracy

82.9%

Average match rating

7.32

via WhoScored

However, his performances so far have largely fallen short of those hopes, with many fans and pundits noting Simons’ inability to make his mark in the way those at the club envisioned.

One of the most glaring concerns has been Simons’ output — or rather, the lack of it.

Despite being touted as a dynamic playmaker to replace the injured James Maddison, capable of unlocking defenses with clever passes and incisive dribbling, he has struggled to consistently make an impact in the final third.

So far, Simons has registered just one goal contribution, which came during his Premier League debut, and even that was an in-swinging cross from a corner for Pape Sarr to head home against struggling West Ham.

Part of the problem may be attributed to the pressure of living up to his big-money price tag at a club with high expectations.

The weight of that can sometimes hamper a young player’s confidence, especially in a league known for its intensity and competitiveness. Moreover, adapting to a completely new environment, manager and tactical setup takes time, and the Netherlands international’s early struggles could be a reflection of this adjustment period.

Interestingly, Thomas Frank has been told by some members of the media that Simons isn’t a playmaker at all, but this is hardly reflective of the numbers during his time at Leipzig.

The former PSG sensation, who was also a member of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy during his time as a youth player, racked up 11 goals and eight assists in 33 total appearances for Leipzig last season — even despite missing a good portion of 24/25 with an ankle problem.

Simons did deliver a good portion of those numbers in a CAM role, including a match-winning performance against Borussia Dortmund and brace at home to Werder Bremen, but he impressed out on the left too during his final Bundesliga matches for Leipzig.

Frank could have some experimenting to do, and Lucas Bergvall could be deployed in a more advanced midfield role with the Dane playing centrally, Simons out wide and Mohammed Kudus on the right.

In the meantime, though, Simons is attracting criticism from on-lookers.

Gabriel Agbonlahor gives scathing Xavi Simons verdict after Tottenham loss

Following Spurs’ disappointing loss to Villa, pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor gave a scathing verdict about Simons when debating who would get into a team combining both sides’ best players.

Despite his challenges, it’s worth noting that Simons is still young and has shown flashes of his talent in glimpses during games.

His technical ability, vision and dribbling are evident when he finds space, and Tottenham’s coaching staff will be keen to work closely with him to help unlock his potential.

Meanwhile, Frank has already leaped to the player’s defence — insisting he needs more time to bed in.

Celtic are now reportedly plotting a 2026 move to sign a Manchester City ace, who Pep Guardiola called “world-class”.

Celtic targeting Premier League goalkeeper

There’s a lot of work for Wilfried Nancy to do in the transfer window and that work may well include signing a new goalkeeper next summer. As things stand, current No.1 Kasper Schmeichel is set to leave Celtic as a free agent at the end of his contract next summer, handing the Bhoys the task of finding a replacement.

The former Leicester City man has been an excellent servant since replacing Joe Hart in 2024, but looks destined to bow out of Scotland at 39 years old.

Related Celtic star with 'high ceiling' could be biggest winner of Nancy's arrival

This promising young Celtic talent could be the biggest winner of Wilfried Nancy’s arrival at the club.

Posts ByDan Emery Dec 6, 2025

Celtic may also have no choice but to target attacking reinforcements in the January transfer window, amid reports that Daizen Maeda could leave the club. The Japan international has plenty of admirers in the Premier League and could yet deal the Bhoys an undeniable blow this winter.

Speaking about the January transfer window and potential additions after arriving, new manager Nancy told reporters: “Each organisation, the idea is to improve.

“I’m going to have to assess the team. I know them as a team because I’ve watched many games. Now it’s about knowing them as a person. After that we’ll see what is the best for the team. I like to take my time. I know that I don’t have a lot of time.

“It’s not a secret I want to play in a certain way. Proactivity, try to put [pressure] on the opposition, try to attack the ball as soon as possible and after that also be disgusting to play against when we defend – because we’re going to have moments when we’ve got to suffer.”

With that said, it could be a busy 2026 for those at Celtic Park and one that includes the arrival of Man City’s Stefan Ortega, according to reports.

Celtic plotting Ortega move

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Celtic are now plotting a move to sign Ortega when his current Man City contract expires next summer. The 33-year-old could come straight in for Schmeichel as the Bhoys turn to English football for yet another shot-stopper.

Whilst Ortega has dropped down the pecking order at the Etihad, Guardiola hasn’t held back from praising the experienced goalkeeper in the past – telling reporters just last year: “Ortega is a world-class goalkeeper. An exceptional, exceptional goalkeeper.”

For Celtic, the move makes perfect sense. Their move for Hart worked out for all involved, so too did their move for Schmeichel. Now, it looks like they’re ready to follow the blueprint by signing Ortega.

After reporting the news, O’Rourke told Football Insider: “Ortega would be a good fit, you would think, especially if he does become a free agent in the summer.

“He’s basically just fallen totally out of favour at Man City, with Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford ahead of him, and Marcus Bettinelli has been travelling with the squad.

“If Celtic are looking a new goalkeeper come the summer when Schmeichel’s contract is up, Ortega could be a really good pick up on a free transfer.

Liverpool agree terms to sign "aggressive" Celtic teenager in first Nancy exit

Blake Snell unsurprisingly had a number of teams interested in him when he entered free agency after the 2024 season. What was surprising was that none of those teams were the San Francisco Giants, who Snell played for in 2024.

“The Giants didn’t even talk to me. It was surprising—I thought they really liked me," Snell said, via Susan Slusser of the .

Snell said that he didn't even hear back from Giants manager Bob Melvin, his manager on both the San Diego Padres and Giants, despite their close relationship.

“I know Bob loves me, and I’m really close with Logan and Chappy," Snell said, via Slusser. "So I was shocked. I thought they’d come after me right away. I really liked it there. I was happy there. But they never even said anything to me.

“I texted Bob and he didn’t reply, and Bob always replies to me, so I kind of had a feeling," he added. "But it was weird, especially with all the other teams that were interested in me. … There were a lot of teams after me. I just thought it was weird the Giants weren’t one.”

Snell did have a strong season with the Giants, too, particularly during the second half of the year. The two-time Cy Young award winner posted a 1.23 ERA over his final 14 starts of the season, and also recorded a no-hitter on Aug. 2 against the Cincinnati Reds. Overall, he finished the 2024 season with a 5-3 record, 3.12 ERA and 145 strikeouts over 20 starts.

Still, the Giants opted not to pursue bringing Snell back, and he instead signed a five-year, $182 million contract with the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Though Snell might have felt snubbed by the Giants not pursuing him, he has sounded excited about joining the Dodgers.

"It was really easy, just because me and [partner] Haeley wanted to live here," Snell said of the Dodgers in December, via ESPN's Alden Gonzalez. "It's something we've been talking about for a while. And when you look at the team, you look at what they've built, what they're doing, it's just something you want to be a part of."

U.S. Soccer has appointed Dan Helfrich, former Chair and CEO of Deloitte Consulting LLP, as its next Chief Operating Officer, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Helfrich will report to CEO and Secretary General JT Batson and oversee the federation’s day-to-day operations. His hiring comes shortly after his retirement from Deloitte in December 2025.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Experienced leader

  In announcing the hire, U.S. Soccer said Helfrich will oversee implementation of the federation’s strategic plan, known as In Service to Soccer, using the sort of operational rigor he applied at Deloitte. Helfrich arrives with nearly three decades of leadership experience guiding large, complex organizations – most recently leading a consulting practice of roughly 85,000 people and $20 billion in revenue – and will bring that scale to the federation’s commercial, competition and development operations.

   “U.S. Soccer has more than doubled in the last few years – and we know there is more work to do to reach our ambitious goals,” Batson said in a press release. “Dan brings a rare combination of deep operational expertise, curiosity, and a lifelong passion for the game. His leadership and commitment to excellence will help us move faster, work smarter, and continue building the foundation for soccer’s next chapter in the U.S.” 

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• Helfrich outlines vision for growth

  Following his appointment as U.S. Soccer’s new Chief Operating Officer, Helfrich spoke about embracing the opportunity to help guide the federation during a transformative era for the sport in the United States. Emphasizing his lifelong connection to soccer, Helfrich described the moment as the right time to commit fully to the game’s nationwide development, outlining a mission centered on strengthening all 27 national teams.

   “Soccer has been a defining part of my life for more than 40 years, as a player, fan, broadcaster, volunteer, and parent,” Helfrich said in a press release. “And now is the right time for me to focus my career here during this pivotal time for the sport in our country. I’m inspired by U.S. Soccer’s mission and excited to partner with JT, our staff, and our members to strengthen the game and ensure soccer is accessible to everyone, everywhere, for generations to come.

  “This means delivering results on the field through our 27 national teams while also making sure every player, coach, referee, and fan feels a deep connection to U.S. Soccer and their role in achieving our shared mission.” 

• Deep roots in soccer

  Prior to becoming Deloitte Consulting Chair and CEO, Helfrich held key executive roles, including Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer and leader of Deloitte’s Government and Public Services practice.

  Beyond his corporate career, he actively supports youth development through board and advisory roles with organizations such as Grassroots Soccer, Street Soccer USA, and the Positive Coaching Alliance. He has also captained Georgetown’s men’s soccer team and earned Academic All-American honors. Since 2005, Helfrich has also contributed as a play-by-play broadcaster for Georgetown Soccer, calling over 250 matches.

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• What comes next for Helfrich and U.S. Soccer

  Helfrich will relocate to Atlanta and begin integrating with U.S. Soccer’s executive team in January, charged with converting strategic plans into measurable programs and outcomes. Early priorities are likely to include operational readiness for post-World Cup growth, rolling out Next Gen Committee recommendations where applicable, and strengthening systems that support player pathways and competition delivery.

After getting back to winning ways against Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership, Celtic and Martin O’Neill have now been handed some positive injury news on Kieran Tierney.

The Bhoys were in ruthless form as they dispatched Falkirk in comfortable fashion, welcoming veteran manager O’Neill back to the dugout in style. Given that shock league leaders Hearts also dropped points in a 2-2 draw, there’s no denying that it was the perfect evening at Celtic Park.

Things haven’t quite taken a turn for the better off the pitch, however, and Celtic have already been dealt their first blow on the hunt for their next manager. According to Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, the Hoops’ pursuit of Ange Postecoglou is now unlikely to progress.

The Australian, who was recently sacked by Nottingham Forest after just 39 days in charge, had been linked with a return to Celtic before reports shut those rumours down.

With their former manager off the table for now, Parkhead chiefs have been left to choose from the remaining names on their shortlist, which reportedly includes Craig Bellamy and Kieran McKenna.

McKenna would be a particularly interesting choice despite how his Ipswich Town side have struggled as of late. He famously took the Tractor Boys to back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League, before suffering instant relegation last season. Now, a big move could finally be calling.

In the meantime, it remains O’Neill’s job to steady the ship and potentially take Celtic into the Scottish League Cup final with Tierney’s injury return only helping that cause.

Kieran Tierney set to return for Celtic vs Rangers

As revealed by O’Neill, Tierney is in line to return for Celtic vs Rangers this weekend after missing out on his side’s 4-0 thrashing of Falkirk. The left-back is no stranger to injury problems, but does not face a period on the sidelines this time around ahead of a crucial cup clash.

The return of the former Arsenal defender should provide O’Neill with an instant boost. His experience, alone, proves crucial in moments like these and in the Old Firm derby, of course.

Despite how Celtic have struggled this season, Tierney has enjoyed some much-needed consistency. The Scot has started seven of 10 Scottish Premiership games to begin putting his injury history behind him.

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Dubbed “unique” by Rodgers in his very first Celtic spell, Tierney now has the chance to make his mark the second time around as an experienced member of O’Neill’s squad. And that could start against Rangers in the Scottish League Cup this weekend.

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MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo entrou em campo no domingo (8), contra o Fluminense, no Maracanã, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, e confirmou um tabu histórico, que não acontecia desde 1962. O Alvinegro fechou a temporada com 100% de aproveitamento contra o Tricolor.

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Naquele ano, o clássico “vovô” aconteceu três vezes. Duas vezes no Campeonato Carioca e uma vez no torneio Rio-São Paulo. No Interestadual, a partida terminou em 1 a 0. Pelo Carioca, os resultados foram 1 a 0 e 2 a 0.

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Nesta temporada, o cenário foi idêntico. As duas primeiras vitórias do Glorioso foram por 1 a 0, uma pelo Carioca e outra pelo Brasileirão. Agora, pelo segundo turno do nacional, o Botafogo confirmou pela terceira vez na história o feito no confronto. Com gols de Junior Santos e Tiquinho Soares, o time bateu o Fluminense por 2 a 0 a garantiu 100% de aproveitamento com o finalista da Libertadores.

A primeira vez que o time conseguiu terminar um ano vencendo todos os jogos contra o Fluminense foi em 1910. Naquele ano, com apenas dois confrontos, o Botafogo goleou o Tricolor por 6 a 1 pelo Carioca e, três meses depois – também pelo Carioca – bateu novamente o rival, desta vez por 3 a 1.

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Com a vitória, o Glorioso agora abriu nove pontos de vantagem para o segundo colocado e começa com o pé direito a trajetória de Lúcio Flávio. O time agora terá a semana livre para treinar com o novo comandante por conta da Data Fifa. A próxima partida é só na quarta-feira (18), contra o América-MG, fora de casa.