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Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
From Man Utd failure to shot at Wembley glory for EFL's most under-rated manager
Richie Wellens is aiming to bring Leyton Orient to the Championship on Sunday having learnt up close from Sir Alex Ferguson when a young player at Manchester United Twenty five years have passed but Richie Wellens still wakes up regretful about the opportunity not seized. By his own estimation Leyton Orient's manager had all the ability to be a fixture at Manchester United during the peak of Sir Alex Ferguson 's reign. 'I was talented enough,' he says. 'But I just didn't dedicate myself.' Rather than linger on his failure to 'max out', though, Wellens has channelled his disappointment into ensuring the young players he is developing in East London do not fall into the same trap. It is certainly working. If he can seal promotion to the Championship in Sunday's play-off with Charlton, the rest of English football will have their eyes opened wide to one of the country's most impressive homegrown managers. Wellens arrived at Brisbane Road in March 2022 with Orient staring a return to non-League in the face. They are now one win away from their first season in the second tier since 1982 and a club that has long felt it does not deserve nice things has flipped the narrative. 'A bit like Tottenham,' Wellens says, with a sigh that reflects the hurt at seeing how far his boyhood club have slipped. But his experience at United, featuring in underage teams alongside Wes Brown and John O'Shea before making a solitary first-team appearance, served as the foundation to his management. Seeing the intensity of Roy Keane in training, learning from the methods and manipulations of Ferguson instilled a winning mentality. 'What I saw was a manager whose will to win filtered down no matter what it takes,' he says. 'The late goals were unbelievable. People called it Fergie Time but it was a pure belief that we were going to win. 'If you wanted to play football, he'd out-football you. If you wanted to fight and scrap against him, he'd have a fighter. The mentality they had. Football 's a bit different now, back then they could kick you, but they left an imprint on me.' Still, he is more than aware how much has changed since those infamous days when young players at the training ground would be locked into tumble dryers and skips. 'It was brutal but back then it was the norm. Would I have changed it? Not at all, not a little bit.' That his own sons - Charlie, recently released by Reading, and Alfie, at Orient - are charting their own paths informs his thinking further. 'Would I like to seem treated how I was when I was 16 or 17? No,' Wellens admits. 'But it put me in a position where I could play for 20-odd years and now I can be a manager and no matter what anybody throws at me it doesn't affect me because I'm quite strong-minded and resilient. Maybe I built that up over a period of time.' When he took his first job in management - at Oldham in 2017 - Wellens was afraid to call Ferguson up for advice. But when he guided Salford City to the EFL Trophy in 2021, a congratulatory text arrived. Is he hoping for another one on Sunday afternoon? "It'd be nice," he says. "He's the best Britain has ever produced." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Saudi Gazette
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Al Ittihad's last-gasp legend: A title season written in stoppage time
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Al Ittihad's 14th Saudi Pro League title will not be remembered as just another championship win — it was a season defined by drama, resilience, and an unshakable will to fight until the very last whistle. Nicknamed by fans as 'Ittihad Time,' the Jeddah club earned a reputation for stunning late winners throughout their triumphant 2024-25 campaign — scoring 12 goals beyond the 90th minute, collecting a crucial 30 points from those dramatic finishes. Without them, the title could have easily slipped away. These final moments mirrored the famous 'Fergie Time' era of Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United, with Al Ittihad repeatedly flipping matches in stoppage time, including nine matches with match-winning goals and three matches salvaged by late equalizers. Algerian midfielder Houssem Aouar stood out as the king of the clutch, scoring five goals after the 90th minute, each directly securing victories. From the season opener against Al-Kholood to the pivotal late winner against Al Nassr on Matchday 30, Aouar was the face of Ittihad's Ittihad finished 31 rounds of the season with 72 goals, scored by 15 different players. Star striker Karim Benzema led the way with 21 goals, followed by Aouar with 12, Dutch winger Steven Bergwijn with 10, and Abdulrahman Al Aboud with six — his highest league tally since joining the title marked a shift in identity for Al Ittihad. While their 2022-23 title under Nuno Espírito Santo was built on defensive discipline and a league-record 19 clean sheets, the 2024-25 triumph under French tactician Laurent Blanc was driven by attacking flair and high Ittihad scored 12 more goals than the previous title-winning team and boasted a 59% average possession, compared to 51% under Santo. While the defense conceded 32 goals, more than twice as many as in their previous title season (13), their attacking edge proved defensive vulnerabilities, Blanc guided the team to eight clean sheets and engineered a system where possession and pressing delivered results — cementing his tactical shift from the previous defensive Ittihad eyes a potential domestic double with the King's Cup final against Al Qadsiah, this season will be remembered for more than just silverware. It will go down as the year when Al Ittihad built their championship legacy in the dying minutes — and rewrote the script of title-winning football in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Gazette
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Al Ittihad's last-gasp legend: A title season written in stoppage time
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Al Ittihad's 14th Saudi Pro League title will not be remembered as just another championship win — it was a season defined by drama, resilience, and an unshakable will to fight until the very last whistle. Nicknamed by fans as 'Ittihad Time,' the Jeddah club earned a reputation for stunning late winners throughout their triumphant 2024-25 campaign — scoring 12 goals beyond the 90th minute, collecting a crucial 30 points from those dramatic finishes. Without them, the title could have easily slipped away. These final moments mirrored the famous 'Fergie Time' era of Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United, with Al Ittihad repeatedly flipping matches in stoppage time, including nine matches with match-winning goals and three matches salvaged by late equalizers. Algerian midfielder Houssem Aouar stood out as the king of the clutch, scoring five goals after the 90th minute, each directly securing victories. From the season opener against Al-Kholood to the pivotal late winner against Al Nassr on Matchday 30, Aouar was the face of Ittihad's Ittihad finished 31 rounds of the season with 72 goals, scored by 15 different players. Star striker Karim Benzema led the way with 21 goals, followed by Aouar with 12, Dutch winger Steven Bergwijn with 10, and Abdulrahman Al Aboud with six — his highest league tally since joining the title marked a shift in identity for Al Ittihad. While their 2022-23 title under Nuno Espírito Santo was built on defensive discipline and a league-record 19 clean sheets, the 2024-25 triumph under French tactician Laurent Blanc was driven by attacking flair and high Ittihad scored 12 more goals than the previous title-winning team and boasted a 59% average possession, compared to 51% under Santo. While the defense conceded 32 goals, more than twice as many as in their previous title season (13), their attacking edge proved defensive vulnerabilities, Blanc guided the team to eight clean sheets and engineered a system where possession and pressing delivered results — cementing his tactical shift from the previous defensive Ittihad eyes a potential domestic double with the King's Cup final against Al Qadsiah, this season will be remembered for more than just silverware. It will go down as the year when Al Ittihad built their championship legacy in the dying minutes — and rewrote the script of title-winning football in Saudi Arabia.
Daily Record
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Rangers takeover king sees Cyriel Dessers hit 50 but Vaclav Cerny hints at Ibrox farewell
It was the final home game of a nightmare campaign but those who bothered to turn up at least had something to cheer Sir Alex Ferguson was back at Ibrox for a trip down memory lane. But it remains to be seen if Fergie Time is over for his managerial namesake. Caretaker gaffer Barry was overseeing what might just be his final home match in interim charge of the team. Sir Alex didn't hang around to see Cyriel Dessers hit the 50 mark for Gers with goals in either half. The former Manchester United gaffer was pictured taking a look round his told team's museum earlier the day but was long gone before United kid Sam Cleall-Harding opened the scoring, never mind Nico Raskin's late third for Rangers. New owner Andrew Cavenagh and his partners from 49ers Enterprises were in attendance and it's now down to the Americans to spell out Barry's future. Here's the talking points from Ibrox: Lap of dishonour Next time the Rangers support turn up at Ibrox, they'll hope to be walking into a very different club. It's been a miserable campaign for the Gers faithful and just as was the case on Sunday, thousands demonstrated just how fed up they are by staying home. But the promise of a US takeover at least offers scope for a brighter future. Just what that entails will be explained in the coming days but in the meantime the Gers faithful had one last home game to get through. Their already sagging enthusiasm for the showdown with United were hardly helped by the sight of Jim Goodwin's side taking the lead 20 minutes in. The hosts had started the brighter and deservedly pounced when Sam Cleall-Harding gave the sleeping James Tavernier the slip to nod home from Ryan Strain's corner on 20 minutes. Their lead didn't last long as Dessers got Rangers level with a fabulous header five minutes later. It was the Nigerian who put Gers in front from the penalty spot on 72 minutes after VAR recommended ref Calum Scott take a look at Vicko Sevelj's challenge on Mohamed Diomande. United were still reeling from that set-back when they were hit with another hammer blow three minutes later as Nico Raskin rifled into the roof of David Richards' net. But even with that late show won't do much to make up for a dreadful season. Frankly, Saturday's Easter Road curtain-closer can't come quick enough for the Light Blues legions. The fans who did turn up certainly weren't hanging about a second longer than needed as they gave their team's lap of dishonour at the end a swerve. Slick Cyd brings up the 50 Where do you start with Dessers? He's a striker that seems to have the Rangers faithful pulling their hair out on a weekly basis. Yet his deadly double means he now has 50 goals in just two season in Glasgow. He made the point himself last week that fans would have taken those kind of figures had they been offered them when he arrived from Cremonese. But there's still that nagging feeling that a more reliable frontman would be well on his way to a century by now had they been presented with some of the gilt-edged chances Dessers has spurned over his time in Scotland. That may be true but you can't take anything away from his two finishes last night. Having missed two glorious headed chances against Aberdeen on Sunday, no-one was expecting him to bullet home with a stunning finish from Jefte's wicked delivery. He was able to bring up his 50th for Gers with a second half penalty after regular taker James Tavernier stepped aside - and it's enough to nudge him ahead of Daizen Maeda and Simon Murray to take over the Premiership golden boot race. Butland back with a bang From Super Jack Butland in goal one year to calamity keeper the next, this season certainly hasn't gone how the Ibrox No1 expected. The former England stopper was Gers player of the year by some distance last term — but he's miles of it this campaign. Clangers home and away to Motherwell, a humiliating OG against former club Manchester United, the inexplicable spill at Dens Park — all of those have served to chip away at the high esteem the 32-year-old has been held in since his arrival in the summer of 2023. Last month's howler at home to Hibs proved to be the final straw for Ferguson as he dumped Butland back to the bench, with Liam Kelly handed the gloves instead. But after six games kicking his heels amongst the subs, Butland was back in sticks to face United. It was a chance to show he still has it to be the club's first-choice stopper - or maybe an opportunity to stick one of the club's highest earners in the shop window. Regardless of the reasoning, he took it by making three big saves from Glenn Middleton, Sam Dalby and a Dessers mis-kick. Fond farewells? Butland isn't the only Rangers player with a question mark over his future. With huge changes coming this summer, there's barely a first-team member who can be certain of their involvement next season. Gers would undoubtedly love to keep Vaclav Cerny next season but unless the in-coming Yank owners can find a fresh pile of dollars, it looks like the £6million-rated Czech loanee is on his way back to Wolfsburg. That certainly seemed the message as he paused while being subbed off to bid what looked like an emotional goodbye. Leon Balogun has already made his pitch for a new deal this week but with the centre-back set to turn 37 next month that's far from guaranteed, despite another steady showing in defence. As for costly recruits like Nedim Bajrami, Danilo, Robin Propper and Tom Lawrence, most of those who bothered to turn up last night won't mind if the farewells dished out at full-time will be a final one. United run flat Dundee United stormed through the split with ambitions of chasing down third place. Instead, they arrived at Ibrox desperately clinging onto the fifth and final Euro spot after a disastrous start to their top-six schedule. Now the have to beat Aberdeen at home on Saturday if they are to ensure their passports will be getting booked next tee,. Jim Goodwin admitted his knackered Tangerines have been running on empty after a gruelling first season back in the Premiership. Successive defeats to Celtic, Aberdeen and St Mirren saw them concede 10 goals stripped the Tannadice men of much of the confidence they'd built up during a previously impressive campaign. They didn't look too tired right in the early stages at Ibrox right enough, despite turning up with only 17 fit players. But once they let Cleall Harding's lead slip it was always inevitable their energy reserves would run dry and so it proved. They need to find a spark against the Dons or it will be St Mirren jetting out on Conference League duty.
Irish Examiner
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
'We must do better' says Amorim as United prepare for Europa League semis with Bournemouth draw
Bournemouth 1 Manchester United 1 For most of the game Ruben Amorim scratched his beard in bewilderment as Jim Ratcliffe glowered in the stands but the Manchester United manager ended his day feeling just like Alex Ferguson. Well, sort of. Liverpool are champions and he has yet to win even one trophy, though of course that can still happen this season, incredible as that seems. This time the Outclassed of '25 merely had an equaliser to celebrate but it was netted deep into in Fergie Time - and after a controversial refereeing call had gone their way. That it was Rasmus Hojlund who scored it perfectly summed up the gulf between the Fergie glory story and the zombie movie now showing every other week at Old Trafford and at venues across the country. The big Dane had scored just one club goal since December 12 before prodding home to prevent Antoine Semenyo giving 10-man Bournemouth a deserved win. Exactly what Athletic Bilbao will have made of all this ahead of Thursday's Europa League semi-final first-leg in the Basque Country is anyone's guess but they certainly won't be any less confident of hosting the final in person come May 21. "We didn't win, but it doesn't matter – it's a different competition,' was Amorim's verdict. "The way Bournemouth defend is quite similar so we can take things from this game. But again it is a new history and we must do better." Indeed they must, especially as Bournemouth were in total control until Evanilson was controversially sent off with 20 minutes remaining. Bournemouth railed at that, during and afterwards, but it was also true they might have been a man down much earlier had VAR sought an upgrade of a yellow for Tyler Adams' two-footed challenge on Alejandro Garnacho. United conceded straight afterwards, in the 23rd minute. Adam Smith pounced on a pass to Patrick Dorgu from Luke Shaw - starting for the first time this season - and Evanilson's clever flick allowed Semenyo to drill past Andre Onana. Bournemouth remained comfortable after the break, with Dango Outtara's free-kick smacking a post on the hour, but the Evanilson incident was only 10 minutes away. The Brazilian was booked for a challenge on Noussair Mazraoui that replicated the Adams one - two-footed but seemingly the result of a slippery surface rather than malicious intent. This time though there was zero contact with the ball and when VAR suggested referee Peter Bankes ought to check the footage there was only going to be one outcome. "Everyone who has played football understands - he slips," Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola complained. "Of course we are going to appeal. It is common sense. I don't think you should have a red card for this. But the VAR cuts to the worst angle, the worst frame." It looked as though Bournemouth might hold out but eventually United found a way, six minutes into added time. Shaw crossed from the left, substitute Manuel Ugarte stabbed goalwards and Hojlund - just onside - poked it over the line. "He now needs to score many more,' Amorim added. Thursday would be as good a time as any, Rasmus. Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Kepa 7; Smith 7, Zabarnyi 6, Huijsen 7, Kerkez 6; Scott 7 (Cook 72) , Adams 6; Semenyo 7 (Senesi 86), Kluivert 6 (Tavernier 72), Ouattara 6; Evanilson 6. Manchester United (3-4-2-1): Onana 6; Yoro 7, Maguire 6 (Lindelof 65, 5), Shaw 6; Mazrauoi 6 (Obi 76), Casemiro 6 (Ugarte 65, 4), Fernandes 6, Dorgu 5 (Eriksen 90); Garnacho 7, Mainoo 6 (Mount 65, 4); Hojlund 6. Referee: Peter Bankes 6.
