Latest news with #IntertotoCup
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Aston Villa icon looks unrecognisable as Jack Grealish posts Instagram message
Jack Grealish admitted he was left starstruck after bumping into Aston Villa legend Olof Mellberg, who is now unrecognisable from his playing days Jack Grealish says he was left starstruck after bumping into a barely recognisable Olof Mellberg. Despite now playing under the legendary Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and sharing a dressing room with football greats like Kevin De Bruyne, it seems an encounter with ex-Aston Villa defender Mellberg made a significant impression on him. The lifelong Villa supporter seized the moment to capture the meeting on Instagram. With his arm around Mellberg for the photo, Grealish pointed enthusiastically at the Swede, a broad grin spread across his face. Next to the image of the pair, the City midfielder wrote: "Not many people that I get starstruck over, but this guy is one! Big Olof Mellberg. One of my boyhood heroes." Now sporting a different look from his Villa Park days, the 47-year-old, with tousled hair and a bushy, greying beard, appeared equally pleased to see Grealish. Mellberg signed for Villa from Racing Santander in 2001 for a fee around £5million. It proved to be money well spent as the hard-tackling icon spent seven seasons with the club. He clocked up 263 appearances, scored eight goals and even captained Villa for several seasons. He also helped the club win the Intertoto Cup in 2001. In 2008, Mellberg moved to Juventus, where he stayed for a year before switching to Greek side Olympiacos for three seasons. Short stints at Villareal and Copenhagen followed, before he retired in 2014. Having turned to management, he took the reins of Swedish outfits IF Brommapojkarna and Helsingborg, as well as Norway's Fremad Amager. His latest venture led him stateside with St. Louis City SC, but his tenure was cut short as he was shown the door after a solitary season in MLS. Grealish, who made an eye-watering £100m switch from Villa to Manchester City in 2021, is now on the periphery at the Etihad following four years with the club. After spending much of this season warming the bench, speculation is rife about where he will land next. The 29-year-old has been linked with Everton, Tottenham, Newcastle and West Ham. A return to Villa Park continues to be whispered about, though it appears off the cards for the moment. Speaking towards the end of the season, Guardiola also hinted that Grealish's future could lie away from Eastlands. "Of course, Jack has to play," Guardiola said. "He's an unbelievable player that has to play football every three days. It didn't happen this season and last season either. He needs to do it, and that's with us, or another place. And that's a question for Jack, his agent, and the club." Grealish will set to miss out on the Club World Cup this summer, with his main priority being to find a new club ahead of the 2025/26 season and the World Cup next summer, if he still has realistic ambitions of playing for England at the tournament.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
John Textor to sell stake in Crystal Palace to avoid European ban
John Textor is Crystal Palace's largest shareholder and the owner of Lyon, who are also due to take part in the Europa League. John Textor is Crystal Palace's largest shareholder and the owner of Lyon, who are also due to take part in the Europa League. Photograph: Dave Winter/Shutterstock John Textor is attempting to sell his 43% stake in Crystal Palace so the club averts the being denied European competition next season. Palace's participation in the Europa League has been thrown into doubt by Uefa multi-club rules that bar sides with the same owner from competing in the same continental event. Textor is Palace's largest shareholder and the owner of Lyon, who are also due to take part in the tournament. Officials from Palace and Uefa met in Nyon on Tuesday and a decision is expected in the next 10 days. Despite the size of Textor's stake, he has only 25% of voting rights at Palace and argues this means no rules have been breached. He has been attempting to complete a full takeover but that has stalled and he may sell so Palace are allowed to fulfil what is, if a dalliance with the defunct Intertoto Cup in 1998 is discounted, their European debut. Advertisement 'All of the UK knows that I don't have decisive influence over Palace,' Textor told the Daily Mail. 'It was a good meeting. They listened and we'll see what happens. I wouldn't be trying to sell [this stake] if I did. We are trying to help separate it and sell. We wanted to buy but it's become clear that isn't going to happen and so we're trying to help Palace and the situation with Uefa.' Uefa's rules stipulate that if Palace cannot prove their separation from Lyon they would be demoted to the Conference League as the lower-ranked of the clubs. The situation becomes more complex given the Danish club Brondby, who expect to compete in that tournament, are majority owned by the Palace co-owner David Blitzer. The draw for the Conference League's first qualifying round is made on 17 June. Possible workarounds include placing one or more of the clubs involved into a blind trust, as the Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe did last year with his Ligue 1 club, Nice, when both clubs qualified for the Europa League. Palace, who qualified for the Europa League through their shock FA Cup final win over Manchester City, had not met the Uefa deadline of 1 March for proving they had separate ownership structures. Palace may yet be thrown another lifeline by the threat of further Uefa sanctions against financially stricken Lyon. The French club are under a settlement agreement that involves heavy financial penalties and transfer controls. If they are deemed to have breached it, they could be ejected from the Europa League.
The Irish Sun
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Tiny club on ‘haven of volcanic islands' in middle of North Atlantic Ocean qualifies for Conference League
TEAMS playing in next season's Conference League will be treated to an unusual venue - in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. C.D Santa Clara, who play in Portugal's top flight, secured a fifth-place finish on Saturday. 2 Portuguese side Santa Clara secured a best-ever fifth-place finish in the Primeira Liga Credit: X 2 The club are based in the Azores, almost 1,000 miles west of Lisbon The club beat Farense 2-1 to book their place in next season's Conference League qualifiers. Saturday's win secured a best-ever Primeira Liga finish for the club, who are located on the tiny Atlantic archipelago of the Santa Clara are the only team from the stunning volcanic islands to have ever competed in a Uefa competition . The Azores are made up of nine main islands situated around 870 miles west of Lisbon. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL It is the outermost region of the European Union and became an autonomous region of Portugal in 1976. Santa Clara are based in the capital city of Ponta Delgada, which has a population of just over 70,000 and is located on Sao Miguel Island. The club made their European football bow back in 2002, replacing fellow Portuguese side Vitoria in the Intertoto Cup. And they made their Conference League debut almost two decades later after a sixth-place finish in 2021. Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Santa Clara will enter next season's competition at the second qualifying round. They almost made the group stages four years ago, falling to Serbian side Partizan Belgrade in the final qualifier. 'I can't see anything' - Chelsea fans moan as live TNT Sports coverage of Conference League clash is ruined by smoke Should they make it this time, fans will face around a seven-hour trip to the club's 12,500-seater Estadio de Sao Miguel. One fan wrote on X following Saturday's game: "Santa Clara vs [Kazakstan side] Astana, let's make it happen." Another laughed: "Mid Atlantic trip!" While a third added: "I hope the record for most km traveled in an European game is set if they get like a team from Azerbaijan. Teams will be lucky to visit Azores, it's a great place."
Scottish Sun
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
I expect Tottenham to beat Man Utd in the Europa League final because they have far better players, says Harry Redknapp
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) I FANCY Tottenham to beat Manchester United in the Europa League final — because they have got a much better squad. If Spurs do win, I think they might keep Ange Postecoglou . . . and he'd be silly to walk away. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Ange Postecoglou's job at Tottenham is under threat Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Even though some people think that he will, because he has had enough. You can see a difference in him but that comes with losing. When you're winning, you can have a laugh and a joke. Now you can see an edge to him because he's being asked questions about his future and he's getting beat week in, week out. It's going to change his persona. That's for sure. I didn't really have a bad time like that at Spurs. READ MORE MAN UTD NEWS CLIFFE'S EDGE Sir Jim Ratcliffe fears Ruben Amorim could RESIGN as Man Utd manager But I did elsewhere, and when someone puts a mic under your nose, it's not easy to keep answering questions. Your personality changes. So I understand how Ange feels. But he isn't going to get a better club than Tottenham if he leaves. I looked at the bench the other day and it's a very strong group. Unlike United, I think they have recruited well and whatever people say, they have spent some money. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Centre-half Cristian Romero is a World Cup winner and Micky van de Ven is a good player. In midfield they are strong. Wayne Rooney names three players Man Utd should sign this summer including transfer for iconic former star I like Dejan Kulusevski while striker Dominic Solanke was a big signing. Spurs are in far better shape going forward than United, miles better. Next year, with everybody fit, Tottenham could be a top-six club again. If they won this competition, and could add a couple of good players, they could have a really good season. Ange just needs to survive to have the chance to work with that team again. And I think he'd probably survive if he wins the final. But, by resting so many players for league games, I'm not sure he is giving Spurs the best chance of doing so. I know they've had really bad injury problems but it does you no good to keep losing. You want to win a couple of games before a final. It breeds some confidence. A commentator I heard said Spurs play different football in Europe. 3 Man Utd vs Spurs - Europa League final: Kick-off time, TV channel and live stream info for Bilbao clash Of course they do, as the teams they're playing are not as good as their Premier League rivals. If we're honest, the Europa League is quite a second-rate competition. I won the Intertoto Cup with West Ham. People called it the Inter Two-Bob Cup. But these competitions aren't an awful lot better. Not so long ago Spurs were playing in the Champions League final, which is about ten grades above. But a trophy's a trophy. It would be nice for Spurs to win one after a long wait. And they are better placed to build on winning than United. The only way United get the money they need to improve their squad is by winning the final and reaching the Champions League. If Spurs do win, I think they might keep Ange Postecoglou . . . and he'd be silly to walk away. Harry Redknapp But, even then, I'm not sure they would get it right. United are four or five good players off being anywhere near good enough. They're that far away. Unless they recruit fantastically well, you wouldn't see them being anywhere near the top six again next season. It's hard to believe they bossed English football for so long under Sir Alex. I see him at the races. He wouldn't be critical in public, but I do wonder what he must think at times when he sees the teams there. Alex wasn't a coach. But he was a great judge of a footballer and people. He signed great players and put them in the right positions. And he brought in personalities he thought could cope with playing for United. Managers now, including Ruben Amorim, have to rely on the judgment of others. A bad situation could get even worse There can be so many people in a recruitment committee that the manager only has one-sixth of the vote. Only Bruno Fernandes would get in one of Alex's teams. Look at the money that United have wasted — like £85.5million on Antony. And the players they have let go. Scott McTominay is two games away from winning the Serie A title with Napoli. He was Man United through and through. Those are the sort of players you want around you. Amorim is probably too honest. He admits United are miles away. He knows the club must get that money if they are going to bring in the players they need. And if they don't have it, a bad situation could get even worse.
The Irish Sun
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
I expect Tottenham to beat Man Utd in the Europa League final because they have far better players, says Harry Redknapp
I FANCY Tottenham to beat Manchester United in the Europa League final — because they have got a much better squad. If Spurs do win, 3 Ange Postecoglou's job at Tottenham is under threat Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Even though some people think that he will, because he has had enough. You can see a difference in him but that comes with losing. When you're winning, you can have a laugh and a joke. Now you can see an edge to him because he's being asked questions about his future and he's getting beat week in, week out. It's going to change his persona. That's for sure. I didn't really have a bad time like that at Spurs. READ MORE MAN UTD NEWS But I did elsewhere, and when someone puts a mic under your nose, it's not easy to keep answering questions. Your personality changes. So I understand how Ange feels. But he isn't going to get a better club than Unlike Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Centre-half Cristian Romero is a World Cup winner and Micky van de Ven is a good player. In midfield they are strong. Wayne Rooney names three players Man Utd should sign this summer including transfer for iconic former star I like Dejan Kulusevski while striker Next year, with everybody fit, Tottenham could be a top-six club again. If they won this competition, and could add a couple of good players, they could have a really good season. Ange just needs to survive to have the chance to work with that team again. And I think he'd probably survive if he wins the final. But, by resting so many players for league games, I'm not sure he is giving Spurs the best chance of doing so. I know they've had really bad injury problems but it does you no good to keep losing. You want to win a couple of games before a final. It breeds some confidence. A commentator I heard said Spurs play different football in Europe. 3 Man Utd vs Spurs - Europa League final: Of course they do, as the teams they're playing are not as good as their Premier League rivals. If we're honest, the Europa League is quite a second-rate competition. I won the Intertoto Cup with West Ham. People called it the Inter Two-Bob Cup. But these competitions aren't an awful lot better. Not so long ago Spurs were playing in the Champions League final, which is about ten grades above. But a trophy's a trophy. It would be nice for Spurs to win one after a long wait. And they are better placed to build on winning than United. The only way United get the money they need to improve their squad is by winning the final and reaching the Champions League. If Spurs do win, I think they might keep Ange Postecoglou . . . and he'd be silly to walk away. Harry Redknapp But, even then, I'm not sure they would get it right. United are four or five good players off being anywhere near good enough. They're that far away. Unless they recruit fantastically well, you wouldn't see them being anywhere near the top six again next season. It's hard to believe they bossed English football for so long under Sir Alex. I see him at the races. He wouldn't be critical in public, but I do wonder what he must think at times when he sees the teams there. Alex wasn't a coach. But he was a great judge of a footballer and people. He signed great players and put them in the right positions. And he brought in personalities he thought could cope with playing for United. Managers now, including Ruben Amorim, have to rely on the judgment of others. A bad situation could get even worse There can be so many people in a recruitment committee that the manager only has one-sixth of the vote. Only Bruno Fernandes would get in one of Alex's teams. Look at the money that United have wasted — like £85.5million on Antony. And the players they have let go. Scott McTominay is two games away from winning the Serie A title with Napoli. He was Man United through and through. Those are the sort of players you want around you. Amorim is probably too honest. He admits United are miles away. He knows the club must get that money if they are going to bring in the players they need. And if they don't have it, a bad situation could get even worse. 3 Postecoglou and Ruben Amorim head into the final with their futures in doubt Credit: Getty
