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The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Italy SACK Luciano Spalletti as boss storms out of press conference.. with Premier League legend favourite to land job
ITALY coach Luciano Spalletti revealed he has been SACKED and will leave his post after tonight's World Cup qualifier with Moldova. Former news conference at the helm. Advertisement 5 Luciano Spalletti revealed he has been sacked by Italy 5 Spalletti stormed out of his pre-match press conference in Florence But a last 16 exit in Euro 2024 saw him under threat and Friday's 3-0 trouncing by Norway in their opening qualifier for the 2026 World Cup saw him given his marching orders by Italian FA boss Gabriele Gravina. Speaking in Milan ahead of the Moldova game, 'I'm sorry, I would have preferred to stay and try to change things. I have an excellent relationship with Gravina, but I take note of the dismissal due to the negative results. 'So I will be on the bench against Moldova, then I will give the ok to terminate the contract. I owe it to the Federation that has always supported me, even when the results did not arrive.' Advertisement READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS Spalletti added: 'What's important is the new cycle for the national team. I say this without hypocrisy, jealousy or envy. 'It hurts me that I was not able to bring out the best in all the players or expressed my football. 'I am also disappointed with myself. With these results I know I have created problems for the Italian football movement and I am especially sorry for this. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Advertisement Most read in Football Exclusive 'If anything, the criticism I received after the Norway match was far too understanding.' Claudio Ranieri , 73, only left his role at Who could replace Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham manager? 5 Claudio Ranieri is pipped to replace Spalletti after leaving Roma in May 'I will speak to the boys and ask them for character: we have to go to the World Cup, even if it will be complicated. Advertisement 'We must not believe we are stronger than the others, it is something we have already paid for. 'For me they are the right men: I would be happy if the new coach confirmed them, because it would mean that I did not make a mistake in choosing the players. 'When I spoke with the managers of the various clubs I never had any problems, I always had the utmost availability and understanding. I never had any particular problems. 'From my point of view, having worked in club football , I actually tried to spare some in some cases to avoid problems and controversies. Advertisement 'If then there are those who use subterfuges to avoid coming to the national team, from my point of view it is better that they never come again." 5 Italy fans edited a picture of Ranieri as a Roman emperor That opened the door for a question over whether Spalletti felt 'betrayed' by some players who had ducked his international calls. Briefly, he started to answer 'Why should I feel betrayed?' before stopping himself, getting to his feet and walking out after just 24 minutes. Advertisement The Azzurri have not appeared at a World Cup since 2014 after losing playoffs to Sweden (2018) and Wembley . Fans have begged Ranieri, w ho won the Premier League with Chelsea and Fulham , to save the day. 5 Ranieri shocked the world when he led Leicester to the Premier League title in 2016
The Irish Sun
25-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Roy Keane smirks live on TV before responding to Ruben Amorim's claim that the ‘good days are coming' for Man Utd
ROY KEANE smirked as he told Sky Sports that Manchester United "can't get any worse next year" following Ruben Amorim's rallying cry. Amorim Advertisement 5 Roy Keane said that Manchester United can't get any worse next season Credit: Sky Sports 5 Ruben Amorim told Man Utd fans that 'good days are coming' Credit: Getty The Red Devils boss apologised to the fans inside the Theatre of Dreams following Amorim told the supporters to put the season "in the past" and "stick together and move forward" as he tried to bury Before he added: "Six months ago, in my first three games in charge, with two victories and one draw, I said to you a storm is coming. "Today, after this disaster season, I want to tell you the good days are coming." Advertisement READ MORE ON MAN UTD Now club legend Keane has suggested that Amorim is right to be positive about the future of the Premier League giants, claiming it can't be any worse next term. Asked if he was inspired by Amorim's words, Keane said: "I'm not sure about inspired, but they can't get any worse than this next year, can they? "They can't get any worse. They'll have to improve. There's obviously a few players' contracts up - who will leave. "We go back to recruitment. They certainly need to get players in who know the Premier League. Advertisement Most read in Football Exclusive 5 Man Utd beat Aston Villa 2-0 on the final day of the Premier League season Credit: PA 5 Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford "I think the majority of signings over the past two or three years are players who have never played in the Premier League and they've struggled to adapt." Advertisement He added: "This group of players have show this year, with the amount of games they've lost - and last year in the league - they're not up to it. Ruben Amorim vows 'good days are coming' after 'disaster season' as Man Utd flops give him daggers during public apology "That's not going to change overnight with the manager and the system and having more time to work with them [the squad]. "They need certain players to come in who know the league and who are men." - their lowest place and tally in Premier League history. Advertisement And new arrivals will be the talk of the town for fans of the 20-time English champions this summer. But at the moment they are having to settle for links to players who have spent the majority of the season battling relegation alongside United - including Wolves' While there could also be significant exits from United in the coming weeks. Captain and star man Advertisement Garnacho, 5 Alejandro Garnacho was left out of the matchday squad for Man Utd's win over Aston Villa Credit: PA Man Utd ratings: Diallo needs to be one of first names on Amorim's team-sheet but Hojlund remains shot-shy MANCHESTER UNITED saved possibly their best performance of a dismal season until the final game by seeing off Aston Villa. Goals from the livewire But the game was not without controversy. First Then But replays showed he had spilled the ball and Morgan Rogers fired home what he thought put his side 1-0 up. VAR couldn't rightly rule it was a goal as Thomas Brammall had already blown his whistle. Villa were incensed, United were relieved, and it was the beleaguered hosts who went on to secure a final-day victory.
The Irish Sun
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Horrifying moment car ploughs into huge crowd of fans near stadium ahead of Espanyol vs Barcelona derby clash
THIS is the terrifying moment a car ploughs into huge crowds of Espanyol-Barcelona fans ahead of the derby clash. The horror incident unfolded near the RCDE Stadium, wider Barcelona, before the game began. Advertisement 3 This is the terrifying moment a car ploughs into huge crowds of Espanyol-Barcelona fans 3 The horror incident unfolded near the RCDE Stadium before the game began 3 The car in the midst of crowds Unbelievable footage shows the white vehicle facing the crowds as drinks are being thrown at it. The car then picks up speed and ploughs into fans, with some seen hanging onto the windscreen. Armed police are seen chasing after the vehicle as it disappears into the sea of people. The vehicle ploughed into a group of Advertisement read more news Several fans were injured and required urgent treatment, with ambulances dispatched to the horror scene. Witnesses have spoken of the shocking ordeal, saying how there was a lot of confusion in the first few minutes after the incident. According to local reports, the Catalan police have initially said a female driver lost control of her car. There have been thirteen minor injuries, according to cops and Espanyol, Advertisement Most read in Football Exclusive The Catalan police have also insisted that the plough was accidental, the news site added. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at Advertisement
The Irish Sun
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘The medals are still mine but they mean more to others' – Shamrock Rovers ace Aaron Greene reflects on career milestone
AARON GREENE knows what he has achieved but is not one for keeping mementos. The Advertisement 2 Aaron Greene of Shamrock Roveres was presented with a commemorative jersey to mark his recent achievement of scoring 100 League of Ireland goals by manager Stephen Bradley 2 Aaron Greene also spoke about why he's given away nearly all his medals It is an achievement not to be sniffed at - only 42 other players have done it in the But Greene, 35, may not keep it. He knows what he has done, and has given away most of his medals in the past. He explained: 'Of my medals I only have one. The only medal my wife made me keep was the fourth of the four-in-a-row. 'I've given my dad one, I've given one of my friends who lost his dad the week before we won the league one. Advertisement READ MORE ON FOOTBALL 'I've given one of my brother's friends who buried his son at 18-month-old one. "I'm not doing this in a big-headed way; medals are brilliant and you can take them, but there was another Rovers fan…I gave him a medal, he passed away and it got put in his coffin. 'It's not about…the medal are still going to be mine, people can't say I haven't won them, but I've only got one and that's all I have in my house. It's framed with my four-in-a-row jersey. 'I haven't done it out of… it's for people that it probably means a little more to them. Advertisement Most read in Football Exclusive 'You can't take it away from me, I still won them, but other people have them and I think they mean a little more to those people. That's really it.' He knew his landmark goal was coming up as his father John and club statistician Karl Reilly had let him know when he was 99. This week's title: How 'brave' Arsenal were denied by PSG in Champions League semi-final His dad also keeps a scrapbook and was in Turner's Cross last Friday hoping to see it, before it came on Monday when he volleyed home a Graham Burke pass against Sligo. Greene's first came in 2009 against Derry City and Rovers' fans still remind him his goal for Galway United against them that year ended their title hopes. Advertisement But he is proud of it all and that, at 35, he continues to show the teenagers how it is done, as do fellow evergreen strikers like Rory Gaffney at Rovers and Padraig Amond at Waterford. He said: 'I've been very lucky to share dressing rooms with a lot of really good senior players that have really helped me. 'And I try to take little bits of that to try to help the other boys that we have in our team. That's part of life. 'People come, make connections. I had the saying, you don't make friends in football. I've stayed in contact with a lot of people who I've had throughout my career. Advertisement 'Even at my wedding, the majority of people who were there were footballers. I've a lot of friends in football. 'Me, Rory and Johnny (Kenny), I know Johnny is at Celtic now but we are still very close. 'What Rory put his body through, the operations last year, to come back and play is incredible. There is a lot left in the old boys. Don't write us off yet! 'Even when we do our running, if the young boys don't stay with us, trust me, we let them know. It is a younger league, but the old boys still have a bit to go. Advertisement 'You see Podge (Amond) at Waterford, we still have a bit to go. If you just flood it with younger boys, they are not going to learn. 'It's brilliant, we have a good relationship with our senior players and the young lads. I think we implement that well.'
The Irish Sun
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Everton 2 Ipswich 2: Toffees leapfrog Man Utd into 14th but throw away two-goal lead in entertaining draw
JULIO ENCISO fired a worldie as relegated Ipswich pulled off a stunning comeback draw. Everton looked in complete control for much of the first half, boosted by Beto's brilliant headed opener on 26 minutes and a low-25-yarder from Dwight McNeil soon after. Advertisement 6 Julio Enciso hails his wonder goal that sparked Ipswich's revival Credit: Alamy 6 George Hirst soared for the Tractor Boys' point-saver Credit: AFP But shortly before the break Enciso flashed home a right-footer that swerved all over the place on its way past keeper Jordan Pickford. Sub George Hirst then rewarded Ipswich's hard-grafting second period by leaping high to nod a backpost leveller on 79 minutes. But Everton only needed a point to leapfrog Manchester United in the bottom half of the Prem table. FULL REPORT TO FOLLOW ... Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL 6 6 Beto's flying header broke the deadlock for Everton Credit: Reuters 6 Dwight McNeil soon doubled the Toffees' lead on 35 minutes Credit: Getty 6 Julio Enciso gave Ipswich hope before the break Credit: Getty Advertisement Most read in Football Exclusive
