Rocking Tannadice can propel Utd to another famous Euro night
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
27 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Lennon Miller transfer is Motherwell 'pinnacle' as academy boss knows Phil O'Donnell would be proud
David Clarkson is now in charge of the academy that he and his uncle Phil came through and is inspired by Lennon's journey to Udinese Growing up idolising a homegrown hero who would soon break the local transfer record was always going to do it for David Clarkson. Coming through the same Motherwell youth system to launch a successful career himself just rubber stamped it. A love for the club that he admits - now he's in charge of that hugely successful academy - can be TOO strong at times. As a kid Clarkson marvelled as his uncle Phil O'Donnell worked his magic in the claret and amber. He would later have the thrill of sharing a pitch and dressing room with the man who became Motherwell's record sale at £1.75m to Celtic in 1994. It would, of course, come to an end in the most tragic of circumstances. The memory of that awful afternoon in late December 2007 will never leave Clarkson who scored twice in a 5-3 win over Dundee United before his uncle collapsed in the closing stages of the game. But, at the same time, the 39-year-old insists it's the memory of Uncle Phil the player and mentor that drives him to be the absolute best he can now that he heads the production line of talent from which they both emerged. Which means this week has been proud and poignant in equal measure. Watching the development of another local lad from talented school kid to first team captain to record breaking £4.75m sale and all by the age of 18 has been something special. Lennon Miller 's journey from a few miles down the road in Wishaw to Serie A with Udinese is what drives Clarkson more than anything these days. O'Donnell would be proud, for sure. In fact it's the memory of watching Uncle Phil in his prime that Clarkson admits fired his belly to be the best he can - and continues to do so. Clarkson spoke to the MailSport just two days after Miller finalised his life-changing switch to Italy. And he admits everything - from watching O'Donnell's meteoric rise, to his own breakthrough and £800,000 move to Bristol City and now Miller's astronomical transfer - means he is in what can only be described as his perfect job. He said: 'It's brilliant. The connections are all there. 'Sometimes it's hard because you almost love the club too much. 'I want Motherwell to succeed so badly and it's trying to balance that love and realising there's a job to do. 'Watching Phil when I was growing up, I was lucky. I grew up surrounded by it. Seeing him win the 1991 Scottish Cup Final and get his big move to Celtic. 'Now I'm grown up I realise these are the bits that made me - fired my belly first to get to that stage and then keep being the best I can be. 'I'm so lucky to be in the position I'm in now. The opportunity Motherwell gave me as a player and now as a staff member is special. 'These are the things now that I take real pride in and take joy in. There's nothing better than seeing a young boy get opportunities and take that next step like Lennon and Max Johnston before him. 'I just want to keep pushing every day to try and make things better and gets the young boys through as safely as I can and as many as I can. 'Yeah, I would think Phil would be proud of what Lennon has achieved and what the club has done with Lennon. He was the same as a young player. 'When he came back to the club later in his career, he had these same feelings, always there to help the young boys. 'He would probably be coaching at some capacity now, helping the young generation coming through and being a mentor the way he was as a player. 'I always think of him. It's never easy to go back to that moment in 2007. It's obviously something that everybody has memories of. No doubt everyone when you speak to them will tell you exactly where they were. 'From my point of view now, I'm just lucky I'm in the role that I'm in and, you know, embrace it every day. 'And I think he would be proud to see the players coming through.' Miller has gone. There's the best part of £5m in the bank with add-ons potentially to follow. Now it's about producing the next talents. Motherwell can never be accused of failing to give youngsters a chance. Before Miller there was Johnston, Allan Campbell and Dean Cornelius in the last few years. Currently Ewan Wilson, Luca Ross, Dylan Wells and Matty Connolly have all made the step up. Going back further James McFadden, Jamie Murphy, Stevie Hammell, Lee McCulloch, Stevie Pearson, Keith Lasley, have all come through the system. But it's Miller who has brought in the big bucks. And Clarkson reckons he is worth every penny. Speaking as he and head of academy coaching Richard Foster prepared the next generation of stars for Wednesday's KDM Evolution Cup clash with Hamilton, he said: 'I'm delighted for Lennon. 'From knowing him at 11, the goal was always to see him progress into the first team and hopefully move on to bigger and better things. 'That path has been there for him and he's worked hard, he's committed himself and he's developed and progressed. 'I couldn't make my own bed at 18 never mind make a move to Italy! 'But the game's changed, the culture's changed and I think it's great that Scottish players already have moved at different ages. 'McTominay, Gilmour, Max Johnston, these guys are paving the way for Scottish players to go and have that shot at playing abroad 'Lennon can deal with it no problem. He knew exactly the pathway he wanted. He's played over 100 games and done it rather than moving at 14, 15 or 16. 'That shows a good maturity, even at that young age, to focus on that and believe in the path that he set out for himself.' Clarkson has been in his current role since January 2023 but returned to the Well academy as a coach in 2018. He said: 'This is the pinnacle so far for the people in the academy. 'But I always go back to this - it comes down to Lennon. 'We just facilitate and try and help and try and progress him. When you've got a kid so talented, along with his mentality and his approach to it. 'He's so down to earth. He was always chipping in with the gear. Even when he went first team. 'I used to take my son, Joshua, into training and Lennon would be up there chatting to him. 'That meant so much to the wee man, he was buzzing saying 'dad Lennon was talking to me!' 'That was Lennon recognising a kid coming in for a day and taking time to go and say hello. 'I can always remember Lennon's dad Lee saying that's what he did when he was younger, taking him in at Aberdeen where he'd be volleying balls round the players' lounge as a four year old! 'So it's great that he can give back and understand the wee bits, how much they can matter to people. 'It shows maturity beyond his years. It's been brilliant having Lennon. 'He is a real role model for any young player in an academy, especially at ours.' Meanwhile, Clarkson admits he gets frustrated hearing accusations that Scottish clubs aren't doing enough to bring through young talent. In the last five years alone Motherwell have produced two record sales in Lennon Miller and David Turnbull while Max Johnston and Allan Campbell have gone on to become full internationals. The Well Academy has also produced James McFadden, Jamie Murphy, Stevie Hammell, Lee McCulloch and Stevie Pearson in the last two decades. So the academy chief Clarkson, who himself came through the Fir Park ranks under Terry Butcher in 2002, takes great pride in the work going on in Lanarkshire. And he admits the secret to Well's success is simply having the guts to give youngsters their opportunity. He said: 'It's frustrating, really frustrating, when I hear people say Scotland's not producing young players. 'People need to individualise it. We've had Max Johnston, Lennon Miller, David Turnbull, Allan Campbell, Jamie Murphy, we've had all sorts of players in recent years. 'Let us as a club get on with our business. By the way, Lennon's brilliant just now, but that doesn't mean next year there's another one coming through. 'It could be two, it could be three years, but we need to keep pushing for it. As a club we give these players opportunities. 'How do we try and get more opportunities for young players, especially in the Scottish system? I can only go by my experiences and what we do as a club and an academy, and I can't fault the opportunities that we've given players. 'Sometimes you're limited with options and you need to play young boys. 'When I was coming through, the club was going through a tough time and the manager had no option but to give opportunities to young players. 'It's changed a bit now. But I think managers are challenged with the results and there's always been a challenge but the managers are always under pressure week to week to be getting results and that can hamper the young boys' opportunity because they maybe feel they want more experience, they want different types of players in there. 'But you never know until you get the opportunity.' 'Somebody asked me recently 'but do you think these boys are ready?' 'I said, they're never ready. Do you know what I mean? 'They just need to be given opportunities and then they'll find out if they're read maybe within sis, seven or eight weeks. 'But giving opportunities to start with is the big step for them and for clubs.'
Daily Mail
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Chris Hemsworth shows off his ripped physique during intense workout after celebrating his birthday in Ibiza without wife Elsa Pataky
is back to focusing on his fitness after his star-studded birthday bash in Ibiza. The Aussie actor, who rang in his 42nd birthday last week on a yacht off the popular Spanish Island, took to Instagram on Sunday to show off his boxing skills. In the clip, Chris' huge muscles and strong build were on display while wearing an all-black ensemble during the workout. The video showed the Thor star being coached by fellow Aussie personal trainer Luke Zocchi, who is also an ambassador for Chris' fitness program Centr. 'Pick on someone your own size @zocobodypro,' he captioned the post. The pair exchanged some banter and laughs as they went at it in the ring, with Chris clearly in his happy place as he showed off his strength. It comes after Chris celebrated his birthday in Spain surrounded by a slew of big-named friends last week. The actor appeared to be having the time of his life as he enjoyed a lunch at celebrity hotspot Casa Jondal and a cruise on a luxury boat with a star-studded guest list, including brothers Liam and Luke Hemsworth, Matt Damon, pop sensation Rita Ora and her husband, director Taika Waititi, and Patrick and Pia Whitesell. But there was one very important person who was missing from the celebrations - his wife Elsa Pataky. She stayed on the other side of the world in Australia, and was last seen shopping for groceries at a local Coles supermarket in Byron Bay after returning home from her native Spain. The mother-of-three, 49, looked somewhat downcast while running her errands as she ferried a box of goods from the shops to her car and took what appeared to be a tense phone call. She was makeup-free for the short trip and dressed down in a jumper and baggy jeans. Although Elsa did not accompany her husband at the celebration, she did share a sweet birthday tribute to him on social media. Alongside a throwback photo of her embracing Chris, Elsa wrote some heartfelt words: 'Happy Birthday to my Rocky Balboa. You're the best of the best.' Chris and Elsa spent most of the European summer apart. Elsa was in her native Spain for weeks, filming her new TV series, Matices. Meanwhile, Chris was travelling, even attending the final day of Wimbledon without his wife . Chris also enjoyed a beachside escape in Hossegor, France, with his longtime personal trainer and best mate Luke, while Elsa enjoyed her own holiday in her native Spain. They later reunited in July for the Thor star's new National Geographic series, Limitless: Live Better Now, with twin sons, Tristan and Sasha, 11, and Chris' brother Liam Hemsworth in London. The couple tied the knot during the Christmas holidays in 2010. The Hemsworths have made Byron Bay their home in recent years, after relocating from Los Angeles to Australia nine years ago.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Rodrigo Muniz's last-gasp strike rescues point for Fulham at Brighton
A season opener with rustiness abounding was heading Brighton's way. Then came echoes of last season, when 22 points were conceded from winning positions. Once Matt O'Riley had slotted a penalty after Sander Berge's ill-judged challenge, Fulham had to wait for the 95th minute for a genuine chance. Volleyed wide by an aghast Kenny Tete it would not be the last, Rodrigo Muniz smashing in a Harry Wilson corner to equalise. The ball had been allowed to travel to the second-half sub on the back post. Muniz, one of many strikers linked with Newcastle, and this week linked with Atalanta and Champions League football, chested down to crash home. The delighted away fans implored the Brazilian to stay. 'He's very strong,' said Marco Silva, the Fulham manager. 'Rodrigo created something with the fans that is not easy to do.' For transfer devotees, the other major news had been Carlos Baleba starting in Brighton's midfield; the expectation is he stays, give or take a steeple-high offer Tony Bloom cannot refuse. Within an aggressive midfield battle, Baleba's quality was often a cut above. His defensive work was missed once subbed off in the second half. 'Good against the ball, he needs to be better in possession,' was Fabian Hürzeler's verdict. 'We are very pleased he is a Brighton player, we want to go with him to the next step, he can be very important for us this season.' While the Premier League's upper class lavish huge sums, there was just one new signing in either of these two members of the squeezed middle's starting teams. Maxim De Cuyper, the left-back signed via Brighton's regular Belgian trade route, completed the 90. 'Very mature,' said Hürzeler of the new man. For Fulham where only the reserve goalkeeper, Benjamin Lecomte, was a new face, novelty was offered by Josh King, 18, showing high promise. 'A very good performance,' said Silva. 'He's a top talent player, I didn't have any reservations on picking him.' The teenager showed off impressive ball-carrying chops while both teams were otherwise rushed in attempting to create opportunities. The best chance of the first half came when O'Riley whipped the ball for Kaoru Mitoma to head over, the type of chance a centre-forward like Danny Welbeck, on the bench, might gobble up. Georgino Rutter was playing the role vacated by João Pedro's sale, with O'Riley assuming penalty duties. On the sidelines, Silva kept his usual morose vigil while Hürzeler anxiously split his time between bench and technical area. Hürzeler is 32 but is a young man in a hurry, his summer pursuits including Spanish lessons. 'For sure it feels painful,' he said, happy enough with his team's performance until those fateful final seconds. 'It's really important to take the positives away. We played well and defended good. We should score the second goal and I think the game would be over. That's football.' Silva is in the final year of his Fulham contract with barely concealed irritation at the 'passive', to use his word, lack of arrivals, but was happy enough with the team he fights on with. 'I think it's a fair result,' he said. 'The only difference before we came back again was the penalty.' Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Brighton broke the deadlock after Rutter was allowed far too much space to surge into the box; Berge was unduly clumsy. O'Riley swept low and left, Bernd Leno offered no answer to a player linked with Juventus. As Brighton increasingly looked to the counter, Silva was in the process of throwing on three changes, including Muniz, when Yankuba Minteh blazed over a chance, created by Mitoma's speed, that might have clinched victory. That hastened Brighton's changes, Baleba off for Diego Gómez. The Paraguayan showed considerable attacking prowess while struggling to meet the defensive detail. James Milner, who hits 40 in January, also arrived, and was unable to stem the Fulham flow. Silva threw on Emile Smith Rowe for King, departing to an ovation. It was Smith Rowe who forced the corner from which his team equalised. As 90 minutes arrived, another sub, Brajan Gruda, blew the latest decent Brighton chance, caught in two minds, a familiar moment they would come to regret.
