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Business Standard
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
India football coach announcement on Aug 1; here are top contenders
Indian football is poised for a crucial turning point as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) prepares to announce its new men's head coach on August 1, 2025. This high-stakes decision comes at a time when the national team is searching for a revival after recent setbacks and sliding rankings. With major Asian qualifiers around the corner and fans eager for fresh direction, the appointment has drawn attention not just for the names involved but for what it could mean for the immediate future of Indian football. The AIFF's executive committee is set to make a call from a shortlist featuring both established local faces and experienced international names, reflecting a spirited search for leadership that blends technical acumen with cultural understanding. Who will lead Indian football? The AIFF's executive committee is meeting on August 1 with a single focus: appointing the next head coach for the men's senior national team. The decision comes after Spaniard Manolo Marquez parted ways with the team following a disappointing campaign and a drop to 132 in the FIFA rankings. With time ticking toward the September FIFA international window and crucial Asian Cup qualifiers in October, the need for stability and inspiration at the helm has never felt more urgent. The front-runners: Homegrown talent and familiar faces Topping the official shortlist is Khalid Jamil, the Jamshedpur FC coach widely regarded for his historic I-League title win with Aizawl FC and his deep connections with Indian football at every level. Jamil, named AIFF Coach of the Year for two consecutive seasons, is known for his pragmatic approach and an ability to maximise results under tight budgets. His understanding of local players and the broader Indian football ecosystem is seen as a major asset, especially at a time when the AIFF faces financial constraints—making his appointment a practical, yet ambitious, choice. Stephen Constantine, another strong candidate, brings significant international pedigree and a deep sense of familiarity, having led India in two separate stints, guiding them to AFC Asian Cup qualification and SAFF Championships. Constantine's calm authority and experience navigating South Asian football's unique challenges could offer much-needed continuity and confidence as India prepares for a rebuilding phase. The third name under serious consideration is Stefan Tarkovic, former Slovakia and Kyrgyzstan national coach, rounding out a shortlist that balances homegrown promise with global experience. Tarkovic's international exposure and track record in Asian football add intrigue, though he is perceived as more of a wildcard compared to Jamil and Constantine. What's at stake: Beyond a name This coaching appointment is not just about who stands on the touchline. The AIFF has made it clear that building synergy with local players, understanding Indian football's unique challenges, and managing relationships with the media, stakeholders, and fans are all critical factors in their decision. With the national team currently struggling and key qualifiers on the horizon, the new coach will need to blend tactical innovation with a strong local connection, and hit the ground running. The road ahead India's football faithful now wait with bated breath as August 1 approaches. Whether the AIFF chooses the steady hand of a proven local in Jamil, the international know-how of Constantine, or takes a calculated gamble with Tarkovic, its decision will shape not just immediate fortunes but also set the tone for a new era in Indian football. One thing is clear: the stakes have never been higher, and the opportunity for real transformation is firmly within reach.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Expert roots for Knicks to sign sharpshooting West forward
An insider is rooting for the New York Knicks to ink a still-unsigned free agent sharpshooting Western Conference forward to a new contract. The Knicks have been relatively steady during the offseason in terms of on-court changes. Instead, the big transition was ownership's decision to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau and install another former two-time Coach of the Year, ex-Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown. After a stint as an assistant coach on the Golden State Warriors, Brown has demonstrated far more offensive flexibility than Thibodeau generally did, and could help open up New York's offense a bit. Under Thibodeau, two-time All-NBA Second Team point guard Jalen Brunson has been leaned on heavily as the club's offensive fulcrum. With a possibly more egalitarian approach from Brown, five-time All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns — and maybe even All-Defensive Team wing Mikal Bridges — could get far more touches. The Knicks did add two solid rotation pieces in free agency this summer, without losing anyone. New signings Guerschon Yabusele, a power forward, and combo guard Jordan Clarkson should be able to contribute right away. Michael Pina of The Ringer proposes that New York consider adding a little more shooting help on the perimeter. Pina advocates for several contenders — including the Knicks, the Golden State Warriors and the Miami Heat — to consider bringing aboard free agent L.A. Clippers forward Amir Coffey. "Coffey is 28 years old and 6-foot-7 and can't be left alone behind the arc," Pina writes. "He's consistent, understands his limitations, and was the longest-tenured Clipper other than Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac before the club decided to go in a different direction." Pina notes that the Clippers do have an opening on their standard 15-man roster for Coffey, but bringing him in would move L.A. into the league's first luxury tax apron. "Bottom line: This is a dependable NBA rotation player. Why don't the Golden State Warriors sign him? Or the New York Knicks? Or the Miami Heat?" Pina wonders. "A good team should sign him." Across 72 contests for a pretty good 50-32 Clippers squad, Coffey averaged 9.7 points on .471/.409/.891 shooting splits, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists a night. The fact that he's remained unsigned this long is a bit surprising. MORE NEWS:Knicks predicted to sign 6-foot-9 veteran big, former Karl-Anthony Towns teammate
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
New York Giants' Brian Daboll named one of NFL coaches under most pressure in 2025
There are quite a few NFL head coaches who will be under the gun this season. On average, there are six to eight vacancies every offseason that need to be filled due to coaches being fired. Last January, the New York Giants, after completing a deflating 3-14 season, decided they didn't want to be in the market for a new head coach and general manager. Co-owner John Mara decided to keep both head coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen despite losing 25 of their last 34 games. "I had a conversation with (partner) Steve Tisch, and we spoke some more over the weekend. We came to the decision that staying with both of them is the best course of action for us right now. I think in Brian's case, he was the Coach of the Year two years ago. That didn't disappear all of a sudden. I still believe he can do that again," Mara said. "In Joe's case, I thought we had an outstanding draft class this year. I thought we had a really good free agency period. I really like the staff that he's put together and built. I think that they're the right two guys to lead us going forward. I understand, believe me, that that's not going to be the most popular decision in Giant land. But we believe it's the right decision for us going forward." Schoen appears to have had another strong draft and has fortified the quarterback position with veterans Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and rookie Jaxson Dart. The Giants' offense will likely be better in 2025. For a team that lost eight games by one score or less in 2024, the upgraded offense should lead to more wins. That doesn't mean that the pressure is off Daboll, however. Mara did say that he was "running out of patience" and that if he were in the same position this year that he'd take the heat for it. In a recent breakdown focusing on the players, coaches, and GMs under the most pressure this year, ESPN's Bill Barnwell listed Daboll as a candidate for the hot seat. Two years ago, a pair of first-time head coaches in the NFC led their teams to unexpected playoff berths, but they've gone in different directions since. While Daboll and Kevin O'Connell unsurprisingly took a step back in their second season, O'Connell's Vikings returned back to the playoffs in his third season with a 14-win campaign, all while cycling through a series of different quarterbacks because of injuries. The Giants decided to entrench around quarterback Daniel Jones, but they went 9-25 over the past two seasons, including a 3-13 mark with Jones before they cut him late last season. Did that unexpected run to the 2022 divisional round raise expectations too quickly? Daboll didn't suddenly forget how to scheme open throwing lanes or create conflicts for defenders with the quarterback run game. He was never able to coax the same level of play out of Jones, though, who didn't always have the sort of help a quarterback would want. The move to sign Drew Lock as a potential replacement delivered predictably unsatisfying results. Did the Giants get fooled by hiring a guy who was adjacent to Josh Allen -- he previously was the Bills' offensive coordinator -- then falling further in love with him because Jones posted a career-low outlier of an interception rate (1.1%) in 2022? The clock is ticking on Daboll's chances of proving he wasn't a one-year mirage in New York. The Giants finally overhauled their quarterback room, flirting with Matthew Stafford before signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. They used their first-round pick on Jaxson Dart, who represents the long-term prospect they presumably expected to draft in 2023 before Jones' career season in 2022 sent them in another direction. If Dart shows promise, Daboll will be able to make the case that his continued employment is the best thing for his quarterback's future. If not? He should be in demand as an offensive coordinator elsewhere, but his time in New York will likely come to an end. Mara once warned that Daboll could go from "Bono to Bozo" real quick, and flatlining again in 2025 would almost certainly result in the coach's firing.
Ottawa Citizen
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Sudbury Wolves' new player personnel director eyes OHL championship
Article content Dave Gray is a new addition, but certainly not a new face for the Sudbury Wolves and their staff. Article content A retired firefighter from Oshawa with 27 years of experience in the OHL as a scout and director of player personnel, Gray has become well-acquainted with Sudbury general manager Rob Papineau and newly named head scout Jason Spencer in rinks across the province these last several years. Article content Article content And the Wolves, in turn, are more than familiar of Gray's hockey handiwork, which helped to send the Brampton Battalion, then the North Bay Battalion to two appearances in the J. Ross Robertson Cup final, then the Hamilton Bulldogs to a pair of championships. Article content Article content Papineau and company were more than eager, then, to add Gray to their organization after he parted ways with the Bulldogs, now based in Brantford, after the 2024-25 season. Article content The Wolves announced Gray's hiring as director of player personnel last week in a hockey operations shuffle that included the promotions of Spencer to head scout and Jeff Forsyth to assistant general manager. Assistant coach Brent Gauvreau has since added the title of director of player development, while Trevor Gallant, another former Brantford staffer, was added as scout for southwestern Ontario. Article content Article content 'I'm honoured to be asked by Rob to join the Sudbury Wolves,' Gray told The Sudbury Star this past Tuesday. They've got a great history, a lot of great juniors who have come through the Sudbury Wolves. Article content 'My goal is to help Rob and the Wolves win a championship. The harder I work and the better we do together, hopefully we'll achieve that goal.' Article content A mainstay for the Battalion beginning with their entry into the league in 1998, Gray's connection to junior hockey goes back much further. His grandfather was Matt Leyden, the highly decorated junior hockey executive and administrator whose name now graces the OHL's Coach of the Year award. Article content Gray's keen eye for talent helped longtime Battalion bench boss Stan Butler and his crew to reach the post-season in all but two of their seasons in Brampton, with a final appearance in 2009.
NBC Sports
22-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
2025 WNBA MVP, DPOY, MIP Odds: Betting, Futures, Predictions including Collier, Clark, Thomas
The second-half of the WNBA season is set to tip off July 22 and with a five-game slate, there's no better time to take a look at the updated races for Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player. WNBA MVP Ladder: The MVP race isn't nearly as over as the Rookie of the Year race (Paige Bueckers isn't even listed at most places), but there is still time for Alyssa Thomas (+700), Breanna Stewart (+2000), A'ja Wilson (+6000), or Caitlin Clark (+7000) to make up ground — but they'll need help. Barring a setback or injury in the second half, Napheesa Collier (-700) has a significant lead over the field. Collier put up a phenomenal first half averages of 23.1 points (1st), 7.6 rebounds (10th), 3.3 assists (30th), 1.8 steals (4th), and 1.6 blocks (4th) per game on 51/34/94 shooting splits! Anything close to that in the second half of the year seals the deal for Collier, especially after her All-Star MVP. WNBA DPOY Ladder: There's value on A'ja Wilson (+250) given her insane on-and-off the court splits, while Napheesa Collier (+350) attempts to become the fifth player since 2007 (A'ja Wilson, Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes) to win MVP and DPOY in the same season. Gabby Williams (+400) entered the break leading the league in steals per game (2.4) by a half-steal per contest, while Alanna Smith's (+500) 2.2 blocks per game was second behind Wilson (2.4). The battle for DPOY will be a tight one that could come down to the final game or two of the season. There are four to five viable options to bet right now, but no clear favorite. WNBA MIP Ladder: Besides Coach of the Year, Most Improved Player might be the toughest market to handicap. Golden State's Kayla Thornton (+400) and Veronica Burton (+350) lead the market at most shops, while Washington's Brittney Sykes (+650), Los Angeles' Azura Stevens (+550), Phoenix's Sami Whitcomb (+950), plus Seattle' Erica Wheeler (+750) and Gabby Wiliams (+1200). To be honest, Atlanta's Allisha Gray (+1500) even has a case here. It's going to take another two to three weeks for some of the market to start tattletaling on itself and give us a clear favorite. I bet Thornton (+400) and Sykes (+250) earlier in the season, so those who are I am riding with so far. I'd say hold off and wait because no one has been a favorite for more than a few weeks or reached below +200 odds. Vaughn Dalzell's WNBA Futures Bets: 2 units: Stephanie White to win Coach of the Year (+115) 2 units: Minnesota Lynx to win Championship (+340) 2 units: A'ja Wilson to win MVP (+225) 2 units: Napheesa Collier to win MVP (+150) 0.5 unit: Napheesa Collier to win MVP (+300) 0.5 unit: Jonquel Jones to win DPOY (+3000) 0.5 unit: Angel Reese to win DPOY (+2000) 0.5 unit: Aliyah Boston to win DPOY (+3500) 0.5 unit: Kamila Cardoso to win DPOY (+5500) 0.5 unit: Kayla Thornton to win MIP (+400) 0.5 unit: Brittney Sykes to win MIP (+250) 0.5 unit: Aliyah Boston to win MIP (+1500) 0.5 unit: Kamila Cardoso to win MIP (+3000) 0.5 unit: Seattle Storm to win the Championship (+2500) Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
