Sports

Birmingham sack Wayne Rooney few months after appointment

Published

4 months ago

January 2, 2024

Trends Admin

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney has been sacked as manager of Birmingham City.

Birmingham City Football Club disclosed this in a statement released on Tuesday and posted on its official website.

The club said Rooney was sacked following his failure to meet expectations.

The statement read, “Birmingham City has today parted company with Manager, Wayne Rooney, and First Team Coach, Carl Robinson.

“Despite their best efforts, results have not met the expectations that were made clear at the outset. Therefore, the Board feels that a change in management is in the best interests of the Football Club.

“The Club’s Board and management are fully aligned and will continue to drive transformation and take bold steps to rebuild Birmingham City into the organisation its fans and community deserve.

“The Board would like to place on record their sincere thanks to Wayne and Carl for all of their efforts.”

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer, Garry Cook, said, “We are committed to doing what is necessary to bring success to St. Andrew’s.

“Unfortunately, Wayne’s time with us did not go as planned and we have decided to move in a different direction.

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“The search for a successor begins with immediate effect and we will update supporters when we have further news.”

The cloud, however, disclosed that the Professional Development Coach, Steve Spooner, “will assume responsibility for Men’s First Team matters on an interim basis. The remaining coaching staff will be required to continue with their duties to assist Spooner.”

The Manchester United and England all-time scorer was named as Blues boss back in October, replacing John Eustace as boss.

Since then, Rooney won just two of his 15 Championship matches at the helm, with the club slipping from sixth to 20th in the table.

Rooney, 38, was appointed when Birmingham were in a promotion play-off spot, having collected 18 points from their opening 11 Championship matches.

Pressure had been building on Rooney with Leeds supporters singing ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ during the 3-0 defeat at Elland Road on Sunday.

Now the Manchester United and England legend has been dismissed, with official confirmation expected later on Tuesday.

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In October, Rooney was handed a three-year deal by Birmingham, following the takeover of the club by American-based Shelby Companies Limited.

Co-owner and chairman Tom Wagner said at the time of his appointment, “Wayne is a born winner.

“We believe, with the support of his coaching staff, the club, and our supporters, he will take Blues forward on the next stage of our journey.

“His playing philosophy will help to realise the ambitions we have set for Birmingham City.

“Wayne has been preparing for an opportunity like this since he embarked on his coaching education whilst still a player at Manchester United.

“He and his staff have the full support of the board and everyone at the football club.”

But Rooney, who has previously managed Derby and DC United, has lasted less than three months.

He won only two of his 15 games in charge, conceding 30 goals in the process, as Birmingham have plunged down the table.

Birmingham sack Wayne Rooney few months after appointment

Sports

Diego Maradona’s golden ball trophy for auction in Paris

Published

11 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Trends Admin

Diego Maradona’s golden ball trophy for auction in Paris

Diego Maradona’s Golden Ball trophy, which he earned as the best player in the 1986 World Cup, will be auctioned in France in June, according to the Aguttes auction house.

This is the first Golden Ball to be auctioned, and while the value has yet to be determined, the auction house anticipates it to earn millions on June 6.

Maradona, who died in 2020, won the award after leading Argentina to World Cup victory in Mexico, scoring five goals at the finals where he captained his country and played every minute of the tournament.

That tournament is probably best remembered for Maradona’s two goals against England in the quarter-finals.

Maradona out jumped England keeper Peter Shilton as he thumped in the first goal with a raised fist, which he later dubbed as being scored by the “Hand of God”.

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The second was an incredible mazy slalom run from his own half, when he dribbled past five English outfield players, and was voted as the “Goal of the Century”.

The jersey he wore that day, along with the ball from the match, have both previously been sold at auction.

After his display against England, Maradona went on to score the two goals which defeated Belgium in the semi-final and Argentina won a thrilling final 3-2 against West Germany.

The Golden Ball award was introduced at the 1982 World Cup, and its list of winners include Italy’s Paolo Rossi, Romario and Ronaldo of Brazil, Zinedine Zidane of France, while Argentine great Lionel Messi is the only player to have won the accolade twice.

Maradona’s award had disappeared before resurfacing among several trophy lots in an auction room.

Recently it was entrusted to Aguttes, which carried out an investigation into its provenance and managed to authenticate it as Maradona’s Adidas Golden Ball trophy.

Diego Maradona’s golden ball trophy for auction in Paris

Sports

Dortmund whip PSG 2-0 aggregate to reach Champions League final

Published

12 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Trends Admin

Dortmund whip PSG 2-0 aggregate to reach Champions League final

Borussia Dortmund produced a fine away performance to beat Paris St-Germain and reach their first Champions League final since 2013.

Dortmund held a 1-0 advantage following the first leg and doubled their lead when Mats Hummels was left unmarked five yards out to head in from Julian Brandt’s left-wing corner.

That goal came just after PSG’s Warren Zaire-Emery wasted a glorious chance as he volleyed against the post from close range early in the second half.

PSG hit the upright twice in the opening match in Germany and, after falling 2-0 behind on aggregate, again struck the post through Nuno Mendes.

The hosts thought they had been given a penalty and a potential lifeline when Italian referee Daniele Orsato pointed to the spot, only to instantly change his mind and rule that Hummels’ foul on Ousmane Dembele had been just outside the area.

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PSG have never been European champions, losing in the 2020 final, and Dortmund produced an excellent defensive display to frustrate the French title winners.

Kylian Mbappe, in his last European match for PSG before joining Real Madrid in the summer, had an effort deflected on to the crossbar, before Vitinha fired against the bar too – the sixth time overall his side had hit the frame of the goal in the tie.

The final will be at Wembley on Saturday, 1 June (20:00 BST) and could be an all-German affair, just as it was in May 2013 when Bayern Munich beat Dortmund 2-1 in London.

Bayern and Real are in the second 2024 semi-final and the first leg ended 2-2 in Germany, with the second leg in Spain on Wednesday (20:00 BST).

Dortmund are aiming to become European champions for the second time in their history after they defeated Juventus 3-1 in the 1997 final.

Dortmund whip PSG 2-0 aggregate to reach Champions League final

Sports

Olise scores twice as Crystal Palace trash Manchester United

Published

1 day ago

May 7, 2024

Trends Admin

Olise scores twice as Crystal Palace trash Manchester United

A Michael Olise masterclass helped Crystal Palace complete a first ever Premier League double over Manchester United and inflict further misery on Erik ten Hag’s team with a 4-0 drubbing in south London.

Olise has been linked with a summer switch to Old Trafford and run amok at Selhurst Park with a dazzling display, scoring twice to move on to nine goals in 12 league starts this season.

Two sparkling efforts by Olise in the 12th and 66th minutes bookended this latest superb result for Oliver Glasner’s side, with Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell also on target to make it four wins in five for Palace.

It was another sorry display for Ten Hag, though, with Jonny Evans and Casemiro given a torrid night.

Injury-hit United have won only two of their last 10 league matches and could be set for a lowest ever Premier League finish.

United had dropped to eighth after wins for Newcastle and Chelsea at the weekend, while the club’s injury list increased with Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes not available for this clash.

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Evans was fit enough to start, but he endured a nervy opening and had to block an early Olise shot after his own poor clearance before Palace wanted a penalty when Evans challenged Mitchell in the area.

Referee Jarred Gillett, who was wearing a small camera for this fixture to help provide insight into the demands of top-level officiating, ignored the appeals.

However, Ten Hag’s side did not heed the warning of how dangerous Olise can be as he broke the deadlock in the 12th minute.

Olise skipped away from Christian Eriksen and left Casemiro sprawled on the floor by the centre circle before he drilled a shot into the bottom corner, having been given the freedom of Selhurst Park by United’s backpedalling defence

It was a wonderful effort from Olise, but one to forgot for the visitors and a sign of things to come.

Two more Olise efforts were repelled, one accidentally by his team-mate Mateta before Andre Onana saved after another fine Palace move.

A brief response occurred from United with a free-kick by Eriksen deflected over and they had the ball in the net through a Casemiro header after 27 minutes, but it was ruled out as Rasmus Hojlund had barged into Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

It looked the correct decision, although Ten Hag appeared bemused when in discussion with fourth official Graham Scott on the touchline.

Five minutes before half-time and United’s bank holiday trip to the capital went from bad to worse.

Eberechi Eze and Chris Richards combined and the latter passed into Mateta, who sped away from Evans far too easily and unleashed a powerful strike into the roof of the net for his eighth goal in nine appearances.

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United had to wait until the 51st minute to have their first shot on target, but Antony’s 22-yard curler was routine for Henderson.

Casemiro had another goal ruled out 60 seconds later when he knocked in the rebound after heading against a post. The makeshift centre-back had drifted offside before Eriksen’s free-kick.

Those fleeting forays for United only momentarily interrupted the Olise show as his skill should have resulted in a third for Palace, but Eze curled wide.

Mitchell was next to go close as Onana thwarted his near-post effort before Will Hughes had a half-volley clawed away.

United’s respite did not last long as a perfectly-weighted chipped pass by Adam Wharton found Joachim Andersen, who teed up Mitchell for a 58th-minute tap-in.

Not long after Hojlund had calls for a spot-kick turned down, Olise made it 4-0 with 24 minutes left.

Daniel Munoz was too strong for Casemiro and teed up Olise, who brilliantly curled beyond Onana from 16 yards before he celebrated with Glasner.

There would be no hat-trick for Olise as he was replaced in the 85th minute and United avoided further embarrassment in stoppage time when Odsonne Edouard hit a post on a night to remember for Palace.