Former West Brom manager Ron Atkinson has urged the Baggies to look to Sam Allardyce to retain Premier League status.
West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace unexpectedly sacked Roberto Di Matteo on Sunday, sparking contrasting reactions amongst the club s fans, and furious debate as to who should succeed him.
Atkinson has now waded into the debate, suggesting Allardyce should get the nod ahead of other contenders Derek McInnes, Roy Hodgson and Chris Hughton.
If I were the chairman, that would be my first thought. Go to Big Sam and ask him to come in until the end of the season to keep the team up they can review things after that, Atkinson told the Wolverhampton Express and Star.
But the immediate aim is survival. They need someone with the drive, the experie…
Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas described the last two years as a dream for Spanish football fans after so many years without a major tournament win.
Speaking in Nuremberg after being presented with his Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the Real Madrid shot-stopper said Spain s victories in Euro 2008 and this year s World Cup were just reward for long-suffering fans.
Casillas, 29, conceded just two goals in South Africa and remarkably went through the tournament s knockout stages without being beaten, as Spain clinched their first ever World Cup triumph.
It s a unique feeling that you cannot describe because it is too many years following this dream, the dream of all Spanish football fans, Casillas said.
I thi…
Pep Guardiola says he began the talks that led to him being appointed as Manchester City manager from the 2016-17 season in the middle of last year.
The Premier League club announced this week that Guardiola would take charge at the Etihad Stadium with Manuel Pellegrini stepping down at the end of this term.
City revealed preliminary negotiations were held with the 45-year-old in 2012, during Roberto Mancini s tenure in Manchester and Guardiola s one-year sabbatical from football between his celebrated posts at Barcelona and Bayern.
In December, Guardiola declared he would leave Bayern when his contract expires at the end of the season but, speaking at a news conference for the first time since news of his new job broke, the Spaniard revealed discussions wi…
Swansea City boss Garry Monk is anticipating a tough test when Premier League newcomers Burnley visit the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.
Monk s men sprung the surprise of the opening weekend, winning 2-1 at Old Trafford to ensure Louis van Gaal s reign at Manchester United began with a whimper.
This weekend s clash in south Wales represents an altogether different challenge, as Swansea take on a Burnley outfit who marked their return to the Premier League with a 3-1 home reverse at the hands of Chelsea on Monday.
Many have tipped Sean Dyche s men to struggle this season, but Monk sees similarities between Burnley and the Swansea side that began life in the top flight in 2011-12.
We realise how tough it is going to be, he said. Burnley are a hard-working si…
“When the offer of Bayern came, I didn’t have to think for a second. Bayern is the best club in the world for me”.
Those are the words of Benjamin Pavard, who revealed during a recent interview that it was easy for him to reject other clubs in favour of a move to Bayern Munich. The German giants were after the World Cup winner for a while, before finally landing their man in January. However, they’ll have to wait before they can fully utilise his services, as he won’t officially complete his transition over from fellow German side Stuttgart until the summer.
The defender has been with Stuttgart since back in 2016, when he made the jump over from Lille. In that time he has been able to establish himself as one of the best young defenders in world football today…
Cristiano Ronaldo s professionalism and humility set him apart from any other player in world football, according to former Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Scolari gave Ronaldo his international debut in 2003 and has watched as the forward has gone on to become Portugal s leading goalscorer and second highest appearance maker.
While international honours have yet to grace Ronaldo s career, at club level he has thrived with Manchester United and now Real Madrid.
His exploits in the Spanish capital have seen him win two Ballons d Or, the Liga title and the Champions League in 2013-14.
A second European crown is in his reach this weekend when Madrid take on Atletico in Milan, but all the success does not go to the 31-year-old s head, making him a special…