Douglas & Ventisei to co-captain Scotland at U20 Championship
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BBC News
21 minutes ago
- BBC News
What might veteran Vardy bring Celtic?
Rumours over a reunion between veteran striker Jamie Vardy and Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers have been swirling in the past are crying out for a proven goalscorer and Vardy is still looking for a club after leaving Leicester City at the end of last was a glorious 13-year association, which featured two promotions, an FA Cup winners medal and the unforgettable Premier League triumph in scored 200 goals in 500 appearances for Leicester, terrorising defences and winding up opposition fans in equal 38, the former England striker is not the force he once was, but what might he bring to Celtic and what could the Scottish Premiership side offer him? Goals, big moments & banter Above all else, Vardy has a track record of scoring goals at the top reached double figures seven times in the Premier League and showed he still has the knack last term, netting nine times as Leicester were relegated."He wasn't the best trainer, he saved his energy for the games," former teammate Robert Huth said of him. "At times he was really poor in training, which is funny with how amazing he was on the pitch."When you look back, he scored pretty much any goal possible. He is very flexible in terms of his approach to the game and scoring goals. He was the ultimate team-mate. He would chase lost causes."Another of Vardy's title-winning colleagues says there is no doubt about where the striker stands in Leicester City circles."He is obviously the greatest ever Leicester player," Marc Albrighton told BBC Sport. "Everything he's achieved will never be forgotten by the Leicester fans and the club."It will take some getting used to not having him around the club." What could Celtic move offer Vardy? Vardy need only look at other players to have moved to Scotland in the swansong of their successful Premier League winner Joe Hart and another of Vardy's former Leicester team-mates, Kasper Schmeichel, have both contributed to Celtic's domestic dominance in recent years. Across Glasgow, Jermaine Defoe featured in Rangers' most recent title success."There is nowhere else on the planet that I'd want to play football," Hart told Premier Sports after his final game for Celtic. "I'm truly blessed to walk out with a big smile on my face. I'm just lucky I've been able to piggy-back on it."The hunger still burns bright for 26-cap England international Vardy despite his advancing years."This isn't retirement," Vardy said when he announced he was leaving Leicester. "I want to keep playing and doing what I enjoy doing most, scoring goals. "I may be 38 but I've still got the desire and ambition to achieve so much more."Could Celtic provide a home for such aspirations?
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Champions League: Tavernier on bench & Meghoma debuts as Rangers host Club Brugge
Update: Date: 19:27 BST Title: What happened during the pre-season friendly? Content: Rangers v Club Brugge (20:00) Rangers played Club Brugge in a pre-season friendly in early July, but Russell Martin said neither side can take much from that 2-2 draw when asked yesterday. Goals from Hugo Vetlesen and Ludovit Reis gave the Belgian side a 2-0 half-time lead at Ibrox before Mohamed Diomande and Findlay Curtis secured a draw for the hosts after the break. Update: Date: 19:24 BST Title: 'No magic bullet' for Rangers Content: Rangers v Club Brugge (20:00) Tom EnglishBBC Sport Scotland chief sports writer on BBC Sportsound The fans are thoroughly unconvinced about Russell Martin. The ones who didn't want him in the first place are convinced that he's the wrong choice but who do they want? Who was the golden boy? Who was the one who was going to fix everything? There is no magic bullet there. Martin is not lacking in confidence. He's not lacking in vision. It's difficult when you've seen really unimpressive draws domestically but this is the start. They have to start somewhere and this is where they're at. It's flawed for sure but did anyone think that he was going to walk in here, sign a bunch of players and everything was going to click immediately? Update: Date: 19:22 BST Title: 'It's all good, Mum' - Martin Content: Rangers v Club Brugge (20:00) Russell Martin has told his mother and others not to "worry" about him and insists he's "enjoying" being Rangers head coach, despite his inconsistent start to life in the Ibrox dugout. "A lot of people message me, who read message boards and stuff, concerned about me and they just don't have to be," Martin said yesterday. "I keep telling my mum, 'don't worry about it'. It's all good. I'm enjoying it. I'm really enjoying it." Update: Date: 19:18 BST Title: 'A few surprises, but still strong' Content: Rangers v Club Brugge (20:00) Billy DoddsFormer Rangers striker on BBC Radio Scotland A few surprises in the team, but still strong. James Tavernier will be gutted especially after playing such a big part by coming off the bench and showing professionalism, scoring goals.. Lyall Cameron sits on the bench. Thelo Aasgaard doesn't make it after being put to press yesterday. It's still strong. Cyriel Dessers would have helped them tonight because this team will sit deep. Dessers would have suited this game. Update: Date: 19:16 BST Title: Uefa Coefficient: How does it affect European qualification? Content: Ask Me Anything Ask Me Anything It is a big couple of weeks for Scottish football as far as qualification for future European competitions is concerned. Going into the 2025-26 season, Scotland were the 11th-best ranked nation, giving them two Champions League qualification places. For the 2026-27 campaign, Scotland have dropped to 14th, which still gives them two Champions League qualifying places. As things stand, Scotland will enter the 2027-28 season in 17th, significantly effecting their places in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. The performances of Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen and Hibernian, both across the final round of qualifying and if they reach the league phase, will ultimately determine how qualification for the 27-28 campaign will work. Read all about it in our explainer here Update: Date: 19:12 BST Title: Palace-linked Tzolis starts for visitors Content: Rangers v Club Brugge (20:00) Arguably Club Brugge's star man, Greece international winger Christos Tzolis has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace, but starts for the visitors tonight. Along with Tzolis down the left, Carlos Forbs caused havoc down the right in the last round against Salzburg and got on the scoresheet in the 3-2 home win. Veteran midfielder and captain Hans Vanaken has come up with big moments in the Champions League regularly for Brugge and is good for a goal and an assist from midfield. Christos Tzolis scored against Scotland for Greece earlier this year Update: Date: 19:08 BST Title: Meghoma starts as Martin makes seven changes Content: Rangers v Club Brugge (20:00) Russell Martin has made seven changes to the side that started the 4-2 League Cup win over Alloa on Saturday. Liam Kelly, Emmanuel Fernandez, Oscar Cortes, Joe Rothwell, Bailey Rice, Kieran Dowell, Nadim Bajrami, and Mikey Moore drop out. Jack Butland, John Souttar, Mohamed Diomande, Oliver Antman, Djeidi Gassama, Jayden Meghoma - who only signed on loan from Brentford yesterday - and Nicolas Raskin all start. Jayden Meghoma gets his first start for Rangers after signing on loan from Brentford Update: Date: 19:04 BST Title: LINE-UPS from Ibrox Content: Rangers v Club Brugge (20:00) Rangers: Butland, Aarons, Souttar, Djiga, Meghoma, Diomande, Raskin, Rothwell, Antman, Gassama, Danilo. Substitutes: Kelly, Tavernier, Barron, Aasgaard, Cameron, Dowell, Igamane, Fernandez, Moore, Gentles, Curtis, Hutton. Club Brugge: Mignolet, Sabbe, Spileers, Mechele, Seys, Onyedika, Forbs, Tzolis, Stankovic, Vanaken, Vermant. Substitutes: Jackers, Ordonez, Reis, Tresoldi, Vetlesen, Sandra, Meijer, Nilsson, Siquet, L. Audoor, Diakhon, Campbell. Update: Date: 19:01 BST Title: Post Content: Rangers v Club Brugge (20:00) Hello, good evening and welcome. Rangers are one step away from the Champions League proper for the first time since the 2022-23 season. Russell Martin's side welcome Club Brugge to Ibrox for the first leg of their play-off, with the riches and allure of Europe's premier club competition up for grabs. Let's get stuck in...
Times
2 hours ago
- Times
Celtic Boys Club abuse survivors honoured with Hampden memorial
A memorial to survivors of the Celtic Boys Club scandal and all other young players who suffered sexual abuse has been installed at the national stadium. An independent review, which reported its findings in 2021, recommended that a permanent monument be created so the issue could no longer be forgotten or swept under the carpet. In response the Scottish FA commissioned artist Kevin Hunter to create a painting which has now been unveiled at Hampden. The report included harrowing testimony from dozens of men who suffered sexual and physical abuse by coaches and medical staff they trusted to protect them. Hunter said tears flowed when the painting was officially installed at a ceremony attended by members of the survivors group, Adult Voices, on Monday. His work, called Time, is meant to illustrate the innocence of young players. 'I drew inspiration from my own memories of playing football as a child, supplemented by research into old photographs of children playing games in front of tenements,' he said. 'I also gathered personal stories by speaking with my father and other members of older generations about their own childhood. There were moments where I doubted I could create something worthy of the brief. 'But when I finally submitted the painting the feedback I received was more than just a relief, it was a validation of the entire difficult journey.' He added: 'The most moving part, however, was receiving personal messages from group members. It was not something I ever expected and it made me feel honoured.' Malcolm Rodger waived his right to anonymity and gave evidence that he was abused separately by Barry Bennell, a former Manchester City scout, and Jim McCafferty, a former coach with Celtic Boys Club. Both men died in prison after being convicted of a series of offences against young players. He said: 'I was asked by the Scottish FA to think of a method of respectfully commemorating a period in Scottish footballing history that had had such a devastating impact upon so many, myself included. 'This brilliant painting reflects any town in Scotland at any time in history. It gives everyone the opportunity to reflect, understand and look forward with peace and contentment.' An agreement was reached this year that will result in Celtic FC paying millions of pounds in compensation to former players from its feeder club. The payments are being made to about 30 men who used to play for Celtic Boys Club and joined a class action lawsuit that was eventually settled out of court. The independent review called on Celtic and other Scottish clubs to issue unequivocal public apologies to those affected by non-recent child sex abuse. Other teams implicated in the scandal include Rangers, Hibernian, Motherwell, Partick Thistle and a host of non-league clubs. Ian Maxwell, the Scottish FA's chief executive, insisted 'great strides' had been made in strengthening child protection measures in the years since the report was published. 'Scottish football is forever indebted to the strength and courage of those who spoke out,' he said. 'We have ensured the wishes of the Adult Voices group were considered at every juncture throughout the completion of this memorial.' Maxwell previously issued a public apology for the 'abhorrent' abuse suffered by young people under its care in the past. However, Thompsons Solicitors Scotland, which represents dozens of survivors, insisted the Scottish FA had fallen short in honouring those affected. 'They have had many opportunities over recent years to acknowledge the abuse suffered and to ensure that compensation was suitably paid to those who were abused,' Laura Connor, a partner in the legal firm, said. 'They refused to do so, hid behind lawyers and legal frameworks and instead are now unveiling a painting. 'I can only hope those who have suffered are not further adversely affected by this bewildering decision.'
