Latest news with #Maribor
The National
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
I got off team bus for Rangers transfer exit - it was a bad decision
The forward, 31, left the Ibrox club in 2018 to join Wigan Athletic after his buyout clause was triggered. Steven Gerrard had to inform the player of the transfer bid for his services, but was confident the player would not leave Rangers. However, speaking on Open Goal, Windass has explained that as soon as he was informed of the transfer bid, he started driving to seal a move to the English side. He said: "I had a nightmare. I don't want to go over it. They activated my buyout clause. "He [Gerrard] came up to me and got me off the bus and told me, 'These have put a bid in for you. "I have obviously got to tell you because you're not going to leave to go then I left." Windass had been in line to feature for Rangers against Maribor in the Europa League before his decision to leave for Wigan. Rangers would go on to win the match 3-1. He continued: "I was about to start. It was Maribor in the Europa League. "I didn't have an agent or anything. It was a bad decision. "But I just went straight down the motorway. Read more: "[Rangers assistant] Mick Beale was texting me, saying you're making a mistake. "I was 23, I wanted a bigger wage. I was stupid." Despite the bizarre circumstances surrounding his exit, Windass was in talks with Gerrard over a loan back to the club. "We had a zoom call about six months later because I was going to go back on loan in the January, Paul Cook wouldn't let me go," said Windass. "Gerrard basically gave me what for. He told me everything that was wrong with me and how I can improve and stuff as a person. "He said if we are going to bring you back, we need to have an honest conversation. "I never went back anyway, and that was it. "It's ages ago now, so I'm not that bothered by it now. "But for two years after, I was thinking about it every day until I signed for Sheffield Wednesday."
The Irish Sun
28-04-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Hundreds of ultras turned up to training' – Former Bohemians star opens up on ‘unique career path' since leaving LOI
ALI REGHBA and his Maribor team-mates recently found themselves face-to-face with their ultra fan group after a disappointing loss. But his experiences in the six years since the former Ireland youth star left Bohemians to move abroad mean that something so out of the ordinary is not that unusual. Advertisement 4 Ali Reghba left Bohemians for Leicester City in 2019 Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription 4 He has played in Algeria, North Macedonia and now Slovenia Credit: Getty Images - Getty 4 He revealed why fan culture in Algeria is especially unique Credit: Getty Images - Getty The attacker told SunSport: 'We lost a league game against a team that was bottom of the table. 'There were a lot of reasons why we lost . . . but we lost and the ultras had a word with us after the game. 'They weren't happy which is understandable because in Maribor, the standards are really high. 'We're the biggest club, the biggest budget, the expectation is to win.' The thought of Slovenian ultras waiting outside the dressing room for a chat might sound somewhat menacing to someone in Ireland. Advertisement Read More on Bohemians But this is nothing new or out of the ordinary for Reghba who had a similar experience when playing in Algeria with CR Belouizdad. The 25-year-old Irish-Algerian continued: 'When I was in Algeria, that was times a hundred! 'In Algeria, the fanbase of the team I was at was huge, they could have filled stadiums with 60,000 or 70,000 if they were allowed. 'And there are a lot more ultras in Algeria. Advertisement Most read in Football Exclusive 'I remember we were on a bad run of games and they showed up at training. Even with our security, they couldn't stop them because they showed up in their hundreds. 'They weren't happy. It didn't go further than that — it wasn't physical — but that was an experience.' Colm Whelan shakes fourth official's hand during Bohemians clash against Shamrock Rovers And the Dubliner has had a lot of those since departing Bohs for Leicester City in 2019, before moving to Algeria, North Macedonia and now Slovenia. Many experiences were good. Some were bad. Advertisement But Reghba would not change any of them. He said: 'It's unique. A lot of people see my career path and think it's strange, which you would see from an outside perspective. 'Because it is different. But I'm the sort of person who wants to try different things.' 'I know my level, and I knew Macedonia could be a springboard again if I took my chance. Thank God it worked out.' That 'different' career began with a pretty common move for an Irish youngster as he departed for England to the Foxes. Reghba said: 'That's the ideal move for every young lad from Ireland. Advertisement 'It went well for me for a while at Leicester but then injury and whatnot caught up with me. 'And then you get to an age when you need first-team football and Leicester wouldn't allow me go on loan for the first two seasons, though there were clubs interested. 'By then, I had a year and a half left on my contract and I said, 'I can't stay here any longer, I need to move on'. 'I had options in the lower leagues in England but I wanted to try something different and CRB reached out. Advertisement 'They are a big team in Algeria, in the African Champions League, so I thought, why not? It will be an experience.' CULTURE SHOCK Reghba was not taking a step completely into the unknown. His father hails from Algeria and the family used to spend summers there when he was growing up. But playing football there was still a culture shock. Advertisement He added: 'I knew Algerian football but not to the extent of what it actually is, there was a lot more to it than I expected . . . things apart from the football. 'It's very political at clubs, it was a learning curve. 'Even though it wasn't the greatest move for me career-wise — I didn't do amazing — I learnt a lot. 'Looking back, it was maybe not the best decision to make but I'm happy I made the decision when I did.' Advertisement Again looking for first-team football, he asked for his contract to be ripped up in 2023, though there was a delay that led to a six-month spell out of the game. Reghba explained: 'There was interest but because I hadn't played that many games, teams were hesitant and wanted a look at me. 'But the transfer window was closing too. 'I went to a club in Turkey and they wanted to sign me but we couldn't get it done. Advertisement 'So I was then without a club for six or seven months and that's when the decision comes, 'What do I do now, do I go back to Ireland?' 'But that's not what I wanted to do. Once I left Ireland in my football career, I didn't want to go back. 'Not because of any problem with Irish football, but I believe I can go further, even after all these experiences.' 4 Ali Reghba of Republic of Ireland and Tomas Tavares of Portugal during the 2019 UEFA U19 Championships semi-final Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription Advertisement Still, his next move was one he felt was about regaining confidence rather than testing himself as he joined North Macedonian outfit Rabotnicki. Whereas the League of Ireland is currently ranked 31st in Europe, North Macedonia is ranked 51st. But Reghba saw it as a springboard. He said: 'I had options at bigger clubs but I knew the owners in Macedonia, and I knew they wouldn't make it difficult for me when the time came to move on. 'I know my level, and I knew Macedonia could be a springboard again if I took my chance. Thank God it worked out.' Advertisement He scored seven goals and had five assists in 16 games for Rabotnicki to help the club into title contention and put himself on the radar of a host of European clubs. But he remained in the Balkans as Slovenian outfit Maribor made an offer, with Reghba keen to test himself in a league that is ranked higher — 28th in Uefa's rankings. He researched the club and figured it was a side going places having recently been bought by former Shelbourne owner Acun Ilicali. He said: 'Maribor was the right choice, I'm enjoying it here. It's a nice small city but not too far from bigger cities like Vienna and Zagreb. Advertisement 'Slovenian is quite easy to pick up after being in Macedonia, the language is quite similar plus everyone has a good level of English. The standard of football is very good too, though we're a bit disappointed with our league position. 'We're second and it's going to be hard to win the league.' But Reghba — who is under contract until 2027 — now hopes to push on, with international honours also his long-term goal, be it with the land of his father or his mother. The ex-Ireland Under-19 player said: 'Of course it's an ambition but right now it's about club and if I do well then that chance will come. Advertisement 'Who with is not something I've thought about too much. 'Ireland and Algeria, I feel deeply connected to both countries. 'My mother is Irish and it's where I grew up and my dad is Algerian and we travelled there every year as kids. 'When the time comes, I'll sit down and think about it.' Advertisement
Iraqi News
30-01-2025
- Sport
- Iraqi News
Tomorrow.. Iraq, South Korea in a friendly match in preparation for the Asian Cup competitions
Baghdad - INA The administrative director of the youth team, Nadeem Karim, confirmed today, Thursday, that our youth team has an appointment tomorrow to play a match against its South Korean counterpart, in preparation for the Asian Cup competitions. Karim said, in a statement to the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "Tomorrow will witness the holding of our second friendly match during the Thailand camp, where we will face the South Korean youth at eight o'clock in the evening, Thailand time (four o'clock in the afternoon, Baghdad time)," explaining that "the delegation management seeks to play a third friendly match against one of the Thai clubs; with the aim of adapting to the atmosphere similar to the climate of China." He pointed out that "the youth team mission will leave Thailand at dawn on the tenth of next February, heading to the Chinese city of Shenzhen, in preparation for its participation in the Asian Cup competitions, which will start on the 12th of the same month." Karim revealed, "Decisive negotiations are still underway with the Slovenian club where professional Adam Talib plays, with the aim of securing his inclusion in the national team during the Asian Youth Cup finals, which will be hosted by China on February 12th." He added, "The player's participation will be decided today, as negotiations are underway with his Slovenian club Maribor, with the aim of allowing him to join the national team in the upcoming Asian event." He explained, "The second professional, Arez Khoshnaw, who plays for the Finnish club Honka, is with the mission and continues his training with great enthusiasm."
