Month: July 2024

MANCHESTER: Ruud van Nilsteroy now gets a second chance to help Manchester United win the Premier League again.

When he left the Old Trafford club with 150 goals in 219 appearances, Van Nilsteroy helped United win the 2002-03 Premier League, 2003-04 FA Cup and 2005-06 League Cup.

After 18 years, Van Nilsterooy returned to Old Trafford to help hone United’s existing attacking prowess as he once did for Alex Ferguson’s side.

The former PSV Eindhoven manager rejected offers to fill the same position at several clubs including Burnley.

He instead chose to return to United and redeem his reputation after parting ways in unpleasant ways.

“My wife suggested that I send Ferguson a message to see if he would like to talk, and he said: ‘Okay, call me on this date and time.’

“I then contacted him and apologized for what had happened,” said Van Nilsteroy.

In the League Cup final at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, Man United beat Wigan 4-0, but it led to a move for the Dutch striker.

Ferguson opted to pair Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha up front, and after the final substitute was introduced, Van Nilsterooy realized he would not be in action, and vented his anger at the United manager.

Ferguson was shocked by Van Nilsteroy’s actions and the striker was sold to Real Madrid at the end of the season for 10.2 million pounds.

LONDON: The English Football Association (FA) is reportedly exploring the option of appointing an interim manager to take over for Gareth Southgate in order to allow the governing body to continue to ‘woo’ Pep Guardiola as the next England manager.

Although it has not yet been confirmed, the international media understand that Guardiola is expected to end his glorious tenure at Manchester City at the end of next season after winning 15 major trophies including the club’s maiden title in the Champions League.

His name is on the list along with several other candidates to replace Southgate who resigned as England manager on Tuesday after almost eight years at the helm of the national team.

In an international media report, the FA is ready to wait for Guardiola and although they have no intention of delaying the permanent appointment, the manager from Spain ‘represents the most suitable candidate’ so they are willing to appoint an interim manager.

Southgate’s contract with England is due to expire in December and speculation is rife as to whether the Three Lions manager will remain in his role.

Southgate’s resignation as manager of the Three Lions was confirmed last Tuesday after losing 2-1 in the Euro 2024 final at the hands of Spain.

A number of managers have also been linked with Southgate’s job, including England women’s manager Sarina Wiegaman, Graham Potter, Eddie Howe and England under-21 manager Lee Carsley.

Previously, Guardiola had expressed his desire to step into international management.

“A national team, yes. The next step will be to the national team, if there is an opportunity. A national team is the next step,” said Guardiola in an interview in 2021.

“I want to train (the team) for the European Championship, the Copa America or the World Cup.”

GELSENKIRCHEN: England player Jude Bellingham is not only proud to have scored an acrobatic equalizer at the last minute to save his team from being eliminated in the last 16 of Euro 2024 at the hands of Slovakia, but also silenced the critics of The Three Lions.

England looked unable to match Slovakia, who took the lead through Ivan Schranz in the 25th minute, but Bellingham’s goal in the last minute of stoppage time took the game into extra time – which was opened by Harry Kane’s winner for 2-1.

“In international football, in the knockout stages, it’s the worst feeling because you’re 30 seconds away from being sent home and have to listen to all the nonsense, it feels like you’re letting everyone down.

“But in 30 seconds, one kick can change everything. It’s a feeling I never wanted and never wanted to be in. But when it happened, it felt great.

“Playing for England is a wonderful feeling but also brings pressure. People talk rubbish and it’s wonderful when you give your best performance, it shuts them up.

“It is difficult to come to press conferences and interviews as footballers because we are always judged.

“For me, playing football and being on the pitch, scoring a goal, celebrating it is my way of releasing pressure, it might be a message to some people,” said Bellingham who was also named man of the match.