From Cootehill to rubbing shoulders with Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Cavan's Senan Mullen has serious ambitions in Serie A
Before he was even a teenager, Senan Mullen faced the best in one sporting code and came out on top, being crowned a national boxing champion at the age of 12.
These days, there's a lot more meat on the bones, and Mullen truly is in with some heavyweights in a different arena. Three months ago, Mullen (20) was promoted from the youth team squad at Serie A side Torino to the first team for a league game at home to AC Milan.
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Irish Examiner
44 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Cesc Fabregas says he believes in ‘long-term' Como project amid links to Inter
Cesc Fabregas appeared to commit his future to Como amidst reports linking him with Inter Milan, stating he believes in the 'long-term project' at last season's Serie A newcomers. The former Arsenal and Spain midfielder guided the team to an impressive 10th-place finish in their first top-flight campaign for 21 years helped by a club-record six-match winning run between April and May. A first season in senior management for the 38-year-old ended with his reputation as a head coach significantly raised, reportedly catching the eye of Inter who are without a manager after Simone Inzaghi departed this week in the aftermath of Saturday's 5-0 Champions League final loss to Paris St Germain. Cesc Fabregas played for Chelsea and Arsenal in the Premier League (John Walton/PA) 'I really believe in the Como project,' Fabregas said at the SXSW event taking place in London, as reported by La Gazzetta della Sport. 'I started with this club because I was thinking about a long-term project. I don't want to finish my career at a club where there's a project for one or two years and then everything ends.' Fabregas, who is a minority shareholder of the club, joined Como as a player in 2022 and played out the final year of his career with the club in Serie B. After retiring the following summer, he joined the coaching staff, briefly taking charge of the first team as caretaker after boss Moreno Longo was sacked. Welsh coach Osian Roberts took charge for the remainder of the promotion-winning season while Fabregas completed his UEFA coaching qualifications, with the World Cup and Champions League-winner taking over last summer. 'I really believe in Como's long-term project,' he said. 'I arrived here as a player and I'm very, very happy because I get to work in the way that I want. We have the same goals and the same ambition. 'The President allows me to work the way I want, the way I see things. Fortunately, we share the same vision and have the same goal, which is to go as far as possible. 'We've become a really good team together, in a small town, in a small club but with big, very big ambitions for the future.' Inter meanwhile have signed Croatia international Petar Sucic from Dinamo Zagreb. The midfielder, who has seven international caps, played last season on loan at Bosnian side Zrinjski Mostar.
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Every leaked Premier League kit for next season including throwback Liverpool shirt and slick Man Utd away strip
IT'S that time of year again. With the 2024-25 season done and dusted, preparations are underway for next term. Advertisement 22 Arsenal are among the clubs to have launched their new home kit already Credit: Getty And one thing on every Premier League club's agenda is the roll out of thier new kits. Some have already been released, while others have been leaked on social media. SunSport has looked at some of the strips we can expect ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. ARSENAL The Gunners have Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL The traditional red strip has white detailing with a gothic A print blended into the body of the shirt. 22 Arsenal have already unveiled their home kit for next season Credit: Getty Unlike the Although the club's second and third kits are yet to be officially released, some fans have leaked them online. Advertisement Arsenal's rumoured away shirt bears similarities to the club's 2021-22 third strip. Most read in Football Exclusive CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS With a dark and light blue lightning-like pattern, the top has the Gunners' alternative cannon badge in white. There is also some red detailing down the sides and on the sleeves and neckline. Advertisement Rashford to Inter Milan? Man Utd Star Eyes Shock Serie A Move! Finally, the club's alleged new third shirt is a combination of the 2008-09 and 2009-10 third strips. The white shirt has maroon cannon and Adidas badge with gold detailing on the collar and sleeves. The iconic Adidas stripes along the shoulders are also maroon. 22 Arsenal's leaked 2025-26 away kit Advertisement 22 Arsenal's leaked 2025-26 third kit CHELSEA The new It is the traditional Blue colour synonymous with the club and includes a subtle print inspired by the architecture of London. The away kit also bears similarities to this season's. Advertisement Chelsea's new away strip is the same off-white colour but features eight thin blue and red stripes down the centre. It also includes red and black detailing on the sleeve cuffs. 22 Chelsea's new home shirt includes a subtle print inspired by the architecture of London 22 The 2025-26 Chelsea away kit Advertisement LIVERPOOL From the 2025-26 season, Adidas previously partnered with the Reds from 1985 to 1996 and 2006 to 2012. The new With three iconic Adidas stripes on the shoulders and a thin white line down each side, the shirt has a simple style that will likely be loved by the Premier League champions. Advertisement The club's new away shirt, meanwhile, is white with red detailing. In contrast to the home strip, the club badge is placed within a red crest. There is also a significant difference in the Liverpool badge on the third shirt. In a throwback to the 1980s, the third kit uses a retro club badge that was introduced 38 years ago. Advertisement The shield crest was implemented in 1987 and was used for five years until 1992, the year of Liverpool's 100th anniversary. It is now being used on the club's third shirt for the 2025-26 season. The new shirt is green with faint stripes down the front. It also uses the Adidas Originals logo. Advertisement 22 The new Liverpool home shirt 22 Liverpool's 2025-26 away shirt 22 Liverpool's new third shirt has a retro look MANCHESTER CITY Advertisement The Sky Blue shirt has elements of white - including a sash-like diagonal strip along the front. However, the alleged away and third kits are very unique. The white away shirt has outlines of City supporters doing the poznan, with a black and red diagonal strip covering the front. Etihad Airways, the club's sponsor, is positioned underneath the club badge as opposed to in the middle of the shirt. Advertisement Two proposed third shirts have also been leaked, the first being a bright orange with a black and gold strip. 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Advertisement 22 Newcastle's new home kit has been unveiled Credit: Instagram @nufc NOTTINGHAM FOREST The leaked It also has a collar, which has not featured on a Forest shirt since 2012. In addition, the club badge has also been placed in a shield, much like many of the other Adidas kits this season. Advertisement Meanwhile, the alleged away shirt is white with grey Adidas stripes on the shoulders. It also has a pattern blended into the body of the top. 22 Nottingham Forest's leaked home shirt 2025-26 22 Nottingham Forest's leaked away shirt 2025-26 Advertisement TOTTENHAM Europa League winners The new strip is fairly different to the style adapted by Spurs in recent years. With navy on the shoulders, the Lilywhite shirt also has elements of grey running down the sides. The Spurs badge is also positioned in the middle of the shirt, above the Nike logo. Advertisement Meanwhile, Tottenham's away kit has been leaked. 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The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Tijjani Reijnders is £46million Man City signing who worked in ALDI and is named after legendary winger
TIJJANI REIJNDERS is perfectly placed to lead Manchester City's £130million supermarket sweep. The versatile midfielder used to stack shelves in Aldi but is now the first signing of a huge summer for Pep Guardiola. 11 Tijjani Reijnders is joining Manchester City from AC Milan for £45m Credit: Getty 11 The midfielder used to work in Aldi Credit: instagram @tijjanireijnders 11 He is a midfielder who can do a bit of everything Credit: Getty Reijnders, 26, idolises Kevin De Bruyne and will now be tasked with filling the gaping void left by the Belgian superstar. When the Netherlands international joined Milan he was asked about his rise to the top and said: "I recently noticed an article 'from amateur to "But when I think about it, I like 'from Aldi to AC Milan' even better!" Aldi to Manchester City will have an even better ring to it for Guardiola's new midfield general. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL It is quite the challenge for the midfielder, though he arrives with some stellar references. Milan and Netherlands great Frank Rijkaard is convinced Reijnders is destined for the top. Speaking earlier this season, he said: "I hope that "I really like his style of play. He can cover all roles in the midfield and shows his generosity: he never holds back from a run for the team and always gives his best. Most read in Football CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "With the quality he has, he's excellent at creating dangerous chances for his teammates and setting up the play well." Reijnders can bring a bit of everything to a Kevin De Bruyne given emotional Etihad send off as Man City take huge leap towards return to Champions League The former AZ Alkmaar man made more interceptions than any other midfielder in Serie A this season as well as creating the most chances from open play. He may not have the craft of De Bruyne when it comes to creating chances - there are few, if any, who do - but Reijnders can also find the back of the net. Milan's maestro bagged 15 goals from midfield this term - two more than any other midfielder in the Italian top flight. Reijnders' path to the top has been carefully plotted, aided by his father and agent, Martin - a former player himself who was a team-mate of The family clearly planned a footballing career for their son from day one, naming him Tijjani after former Nigerian winger, Tijani Babangida. Younger brother Eliano also plays for his father's former side, Zwolle. Martin revealed after sealing Tijjani's move to Milan that the pair had decided to turn down Barcelona in order to join the Rossoneri. Barca were on the lookout for an heir to Sergio Busquets and Reijnders' father made the brave and bold decision to tell his son that he was not quite up to the task. 11 Reijnders' parents named their son after former Ajax and Nigeria winger Tijani Babangida Credit: Getty 11 His brother Eliano plays for Zwolle Credit: Alamy 11 Reijnders is hoping to fill the void left behind by Kevin De Bruyne Credit: instagram @tijjanireijnders He told Dutch outlet Algemeen Dagblad: "I immediately told Tijjani, 'You are not that type of player. Before you know it, you'll end up on the bench. And you'd become yet another player who fails abroad.'" There was Premier League interest two years ago, but Reijnders has rapidly developed in Milan and now feels prepared to take his biggest step yet. As well as carefully planning his progression, Reijnders has studied fellow players to add as much to his game as possible. Speaking to 'Especially the way he was scanning the pitch before he gets the ball so he always knows where the space is. "I try to do the same.' Before looking to add elements of De Bruyne to his game, City's new man carefully studied another Guardiola stalwart in Andres Iniesta. There are few deals which can be a sure thing, not every signing is as obvious as Erling Haaland. But in Reijnders, Manchester City look to have identified a player capable of grabbing hold of a game who is primed to slot straight into a Guardiola side. 11 Reijnders has an eye for goal Credit: Getty 11 He is married to Marina Credit: instagram @tijjanireijnders 11 They welcomed baby son Xavien in February 2024 Credit: instagram @tijjanireijnders 11 The family regularly post snaps on social media Credit: instagram @tijjanireijnders 11 Reijnders will provide a welcome boost for Pep Guardiola Credit: Getty
