Latest news with #NickCushing
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Manchester City Women close to appointing Denmark manager Jeglertz
Manchester City are close to agreeing a deal to appoint the Denmark national team manager, Andrée Jeglertz, as their new women's head coach. It is understood that the proposed move would enable the Swedish coach to remain in charge of Denmark until the conclusion of the European Championship in Switzerland this summer, before taking over the Women's Super League side that finished fourth in the English top tier last season. A deal with Jeglertz is yet to be concluded fully but multiple sources have confirmed discussions are at an advanced stage and he has been City's first-choice candidate after an extensive search to replace Gareth Taylor, who was sacked in March. Nick Cushing was put in temporary charge of the team but he is not understood to have been in the frame for the long-term position. Jeglertz has been in charge of Denmark since 2023, having taken over after the World Cup that year, but on Tuesday there were reports in the Danish media that his likely successor has already been lined up by the Danish Football Association in anticipation of his exit after the European Championship this summer. His contract with the Danish FA is understood to expire after the tournament so no compensation nor release fee would be required. The 53-year-old has extensive experience coaching in the women's game and led the Swedish club Umeå to lift the women's European Cup – then known as the Uefa Women's Cup – in 2004 with a squad that included the Brazil legend Marta. City believe he suits their model for a technical style of play and that his coaching and tactical philosophies fit City Football Group's preferred profile. The search to replace Taylor was led by the women's team football director, Therese Sjögran, and the managing director, Charlotte O'Neill. It is their first major appointment since their respective arrivals in 2024 and 2023. In a lengthy managerial career that has stretched more than 22 years, Jeglertz has also managed the Swedish teams Djurgården and Linköping, as well as the Finland national team. As a player he was a defender, predominantly for Umeå and represented Sweden at youth international level. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Before his sacking Taylor had been in charge for five years and it was understood that the club's decision to let the former Wales striker go was based on performances and a feeling that a change would improve the team's chances of achieving their aims of winning silverware. The club have won the WSL title once, in 2016, but have now endured three consecutive trophyless seasons.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Welcome to World Sevens Football – DJs, smoke cannons and £3.7m prize pot
Of all the unique elements to the new World Sevens Football tournament, the Jaws theme tune being played before a penalty kick was perhaps the most striking. Bizarrely brilliant is the best way to describe the first full day of women's football's new competition. Few knew what to expect from this tournament, which will earn the winners £1.9 million in prize money. Even the teams competing were not sure what was waiting for them when they arrived in Estoril on the Portuguese Riviera. An unpredictable DJ, smoke cannons and street-style football was the answer. Telegraph Sport was on the ground in Estoril to take in and assess women's football's new format. There had been questions over how seriously the competing teams would take the World Sevens. Manchester City left several of their big-name players at home in contrast to Manchester United, who brought a full strength squad. But it was clear from the start that every team competing want to win. That is no doubt due to the huge prize money available to the winners. The total prize pot is worth £3.72 million while the winners will take home £1.9 million, with a percentage of the money going directly to players. 'For any team who wins it, it would do a lot,' Marc Skinner, the United coach, said of the prize pot. 'If we then get to the point where we can win the prize money, then of course that can be huge for us as well. But more importantly, the players have to enjoy it and that's exactly why we were here.' Speaking after his side won their second game on penalties, Nick Cushing, the interim City manager, said: 'Because it's new, there's no real jeopardy. If we lost today, we would be disappointed, but it's not like you've been knocked out of the Champions League. 'As the tournament starts to go on, you get closer to the prize money and you get closer to being the first winner, the jeopardy starts to come in and the tactics start to change.' All the teams are staying in the same hotel and are able to mingle with each other. While many have commented how they 'feel like a kid again', one source told Telegraph Sport it had the feel of a youth tournament. The seven-a-side format means players are not bound by the strict tactics and principles we often see in the Women's Super League. The whole point of the World Sevens is for games to be entertaining and there was no hint of a low block or a bore draw. In fact, draws are not allowed – with matches having five minutes 'over-time' and penalties if teams are level after 30 minutes. 'I think this format really speaks to the next generation, it's football fun again,' said former United States player Tobin Heath, who is one of the former pros on the player advisory council. Living in the moment 🤣#MUWomen || #WorldSevensFootball — Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) May 22, 2025 'Football has become so professionalised, so prescribed. We're missing the fun, the feel of what football is, what I fell in love with. I don't see it enough anymore. I think it's being coached out too young, too soon. And even speaking to the players, it's been fantastic.' There was a moment in Bayern Munich's game against Benfica when Tuva Hansen took her shirt off after scoring and was booked by referee Minka Vekkeli. But organisers decided to rescind the yellow card, with the pair then taking part in a light-hearted video. At World Sevens Football, we celebrate joy! @FCBayernEN — World Sevens Football (@worldsevens_) May 22, 2025 Most players seemed to embrace the format and, in truth, when else do they really get to let loose and just enjoy themselves? At the start of each game, the starting seven players are announced on the speaker before they run out onto the pitch. It was clear several found it amusing but many embraced it, with United's starting team all doing cartwheels for their second game. Players clearly enjoyed the opportunity to have fun. City forward Kerolin said it felt like she was back playing in Brazil while United's Gabby George said players have been able to relax after a tough domestic campaign. In addition to Hansen, Bayern Munich appeared to be having a team competition for the best goal celebration. 🎣 Bayern ready to reel in another spectacular win 😜📺 Watch it all LIVE & FREE on DAZN🗓️ May 22🔗 Link in bio#DAZNxW7F #WorldSevensFootball — DAZN Women's Football (@DAZNWFootball) May 22, 2025 🍎Bayern moving into the semis like...📺 Watch it all LIVE & FREE on DAZN 🔗 #DAZNxW7F #WorldSevensFootball — DAZN Women's Football (@DAZNWFootball) May 22, 2025 'It's enjoyable for the fans, but also enjoyable for us,' George said. 'We've just had a long, gruelling season, we put ourselves under immense stress and pressure because we want to win things. But here we've just been able to let our hair down and show our flair.' At the start of the tournament, the in-house DJ would play music when players went to take corners as well as when goals went in. The highlight was undoubtedly the Jaws theme tune being played before Ajax midfielder Lily Yohannes took and scored a penalty against City's Khiara Keating. 🎯 Johannes gives Ajax comeback hope from the penalty spot!📺 Watch it all LIVE & FREE on DAZN🗓️ May 22🔗 #DAZNxW7F #WorldSevensFootball — DAZN Women's Football (@DAZNWFootball) May 22, 2025 'I don't know if you're familiar with going to any basketball games, but music is such a part of that culture and we're really trying to bring the culture into the experience of the game,' Heath said. Music during Women's Super League games is something traditionalists would turn their nose up at, and rightly so, but in this format it works. The crowds taking in games were not huge but given the location that is not a surprise – Portugal is hardly a hotbed for women's football. Many of the teams taking part were not announced until a couple of weeks before and more fans may have travelled over had they been given more notice. That is something that organisers will hope to navigate in the future. There did appear to be a sizeable engagement with the tournament, which was broadcast for free on DAZN, on social media. The obvious question is: can the World Sevens become a regular part of the women's football calendar? It has certainly been a hit with players. The involvement of Heath, and other former pros such as Anita Asante and Caroline Segers, has been key. Competing teams were impressed by the arrangements made for them and how organisers catered to their specific needs. A lot of the build-up to this tournament centred on injury concerns ahead of this summer's European Championship, and whether players are overloaded. But United's Grace Clinton countered that players would only have been doing the same type of games in training had they not been at the tournament. 'I've heard from a lot of players who are thankful that they have a space to continue to play, to continue to have their fitness, to get their confidence,' Heath said. 'I understand being overloaded, but I can tell you that's like maximum 10 per cent, five per cent, of the footballing population. And I can tell you most of the footballing population, they're being under-loaded. There's so many players that are just craving for minutes.' World Sevens Football is funded by the United States-based philanthropist Jennifer Mackesy, co-owner of National Women's Soccer League club Gotham FC. It is understood there is a commitment to invest as much as $100 million (£75 million) in W7F over the next five years, with further events planned. A second tournament will take place on another continent between November and December, with different teams competing. So, the tournament is here to stay in the short term. It will be intriguing to see whether the interest and excitement can be maintained in the long term, but the early signs show there is definitely an appetite among players for the tournament to continue.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aleixandri to leave Man City on free transfer
Spain international Laia Aleixandri will leave Manchester City in the summer on a free transfer when her contract expires. The 24-year-old, who can play in defence or in midfield, has been linked with a move to reigning European champions Barcelona. Aleixandri played all 90 minutes in City's 5-2 home win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, with her departure announced afterwards. City posted on social media: "We can confirm that Laia Aleixandri will leave the club on the expiry of her current contract this summer. "Everyone at Manchester City would like to thank Laia for her efforts during her time at the club and wish her the very best for the future." She was at Barcelona's academy and played for their B team before moving to Atletico Madrid in 2017. During five seasons with Atletico she helped them win the Spanish title three times before joining City in June 2022. Interim City manager Nick Cushing praised Aleixandri, and said: "Since I've been here she has been an incredible person and an incredible player. She is a really high-quality player - she plays international football and been part of Manchester City and Atletico Madrid. "She will probably go to another team that's challenging for trophies. I've really enjoyed working with her but it's the nature of the game and we've seen big players move on from this team and we've replaced them - and we have to do that again, but she will be missed." Head here to get involved Get the latest WSL news on our dedicated page
New York Times
10-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Manchester City's Nick Cushing on Crystal Palace match: ‘As it stands, this is my last game'
Manchester City Women interim head coach Nick Cushing said there have been 'no conversations' about his future in the role beyond this season. Cushing, 40, took charge at City following the sacking of Gareth Taylor in March, five days before his side suffered a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Women's League Cup final. Advertisement City face Crystal Palace in their final match of the 2024-25 Women's Super League (WSL) campaign on Saturday. 'I said after the last game, there has been no conversations about [the managerial role] post this season,' Cushing said at a press conference on Friday. 'As it stands, yes. This is the last game, [but] I've really enjoyed the period. It's been challenging, but it's also been really enjoyable. 'I spent December, January, and February without a team, and one thing I've learnt is I am better in a team. I am really motivated to be successful. 'The coaching and being around the players, planning games that we've had, I've been almost at home in that moment. Post this, who knows? 'There's been no conversation with this team about continuing, but my desire and intention is to be with a team from pre-season.' City are guaranteed to finish fourth in the WSL and will miss out on Champions League football next season, following their 2-2 draw with third-placed Manchester United on Sunday. Under the guidance of Cushing, City were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-final with a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Chelsea. They were also defeated 2-0 in the semi-final of the Women's FA Cup by Man United. Cushing has dealt with absences to key squad members during his time in charge, including Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw, who has been sidelined since March 15 when she was substituted against Chelsea with a hamstring issue. The City head coach said the striker would remain out for the last match of the campaign. 'She won't be involved,' Cushing said. 'She's not been with the team, and she's still in that initial stage of rehab with the medical team.'
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'As it stands, this is the last game'
The identity of Manchester City's next permanent manager remains up in the air, with interim Nick Cushing stating there have been "no conversations" between himself and club about the role. Cushing previously served as manager from 2013 to 2020, winning five trophies, and returned in March following the sacking of Gareth Taylor. But while Saturday's meeting with Crystal Palace could be his final WSL game in charge of City, Cushing is determined to have a coaching role lined up before next season. "There's be no conversations about post this season. As it stands, this is the last game," Cushing confirmed. "I've really enjoyed this period. It's been challenging but it's also been really enjoyable. I spent December [to] February without a team and one thing I've learned about myself is I'm happy in a team. I'm really motivated to continue to be successful, coaching and being around players, planning big games – I've been at home in that moment. "Post this, who knows. But my desire and intention is to be with a team from pre-season." In April, City women's director of football Therese Sjogran told BBC she has not ruled out the possibility Cushing staying on, but the 40-year-old said talks have not yet been had. "There has been no conversations about me continuing here," he said. "I have no concrete move but I have a desire. This has only fuelled it – playing in League Cup finals, chasing Champions League semi-finals. "I have a huge desire to take some time with my family post World Sevens and then be back at it, hopefully with a team that matches my ambitions and my hunger to compete for trophies."
