Latest news with #RecordSport
Daily Record
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Nils Koppen in shock Rangers departure just days after 49ers takeover
The Belgian's exit will be confirmed on Monday and comes just six months after he was promoted to Technical Director Nils Koppen is set to become the first high-profile departure from Ibrox as Andrew Cavenagh kicks off his Rangers overhaul. Record Sport understands the Light Blues' recruitment chief is stepping down from his role as Technical Director as Gers' new American regime begin work restructuring the club's backroom operation. The Belgian's exit will be confirmed on Monday - just hours after Kevin Thelwell officially takes up his new post as sporting director at Ibrox. Former PSV Eindhoven head scout Koppen joined Gers in January last year after being hired to lead the club's hunt for new signings. He was instrumental in the moves that brought in last summer's big arrivals Jefte, Hamza Igamane, Robin Propper, Nedim Bajrami and Vaclav Cerny. But those additions failed to change Rangers' on-field fortunes as they finished a huge 17 points behind Double-winning Celtic. His promotion to a wider role as Technical Director last November raised eyebrows amongst supporters given the struggles of the players he had helped recruit. Now just six months later he is heading for the Ibrox exit. Record Sport revealed last week that during his interview for the Gers manager's job, caretaker gaffer Barry Ferguson recommended to the board that Koppen be replaced. Now it will be left to former Everton director of football Thelwell to lead the reshaping of the Gers squad. He has already taken part in talks with some of the candidates hoping to replace Philippe Clement as the team's new permanent manager but will step up his involvement having official moved into his office. Cavenagh and his partners from the San Francisco 49ers completed their £75million Ibrox takeover on Friday and have pledged to make another £20million available to upgrade the squad. It remains to be seen who will be the manager entrusted to spend those huge sums. Davide Anecelotti remains the favourite to land the gig, with Russell Martin, Francesco Farioli and Brian Priske also in the running. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here. Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Daily Record
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
What 18 elite golf stars think of Oakmont as brutal 125th US Open venue set to be nastier than ever
Commentary past and present offers insight into brutal test of the 125th US Open Brutal. Arduous and the toughest test in golf. The 125th US Open at Oakmont promises to be another week to break games and minds. Sam Snead once quipped that he tried to mark his ball with a coin on one of the course's infamous marble-top greens and it slid off. No first cut from tightened fairways into juicy rough as high as five inches where a shoe could be lost and a track which has been lengthened again make for a typically-imposing test at the 10th staging of the event at the course. Angel Cabrera's winning score at the 2007 US Open at Oakmont was five-over par and, although Dustin Johnston finished at four-under when coming out on top the last time, course alterations made ahead of this year's showpiece mean that's highly-unlikely to be bettered in 2025. It takes an exceptional talent to get it done. Since the Second World War, all six champions at Oakmont, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, Larry Nelson, Ernie Els and Angel Cabrera, have won more than a single Major with a combined total of 34. At the 2016 US Open, 14 of the 18 holes averaged over par. Oakmont's par-three eighth is being lined-up to play at over 300 yards. It's a daunting test and, from the past and the present, the biggest names in the game haven't hidden their feelings on the severity of the challenge and Record Sport has taken a look at some of the best. Open champion Xander Schauffele has heard this year's whispers: 'I've heard Oakmont is, from several players, the hardest course they've ever played. "Just it's long and the rough is impossible and you can end up hitting 50-yard pitches trying to get up-and-down for par on every hole, something of that nature.' Masters winner Bubba Watson during the 2007 slog: 'It's a real test of golf, all the way through. Just walking through the parking lot is tough.' Viktor Hovland on the par three eighth hole in 2025: 'I just think all the best par threes are under 200. As soon as you start to take head covers off on par threes, I just think it gets a little silly.' Rory McIlroy on his feelings ahead 2016 challenge: 'It's definitely not excitement. You know you're going to be put under a lot of pressure on basically every single shot. You have to be prepared for how mentally demanding it's going to be, how much concentration you're going to need out there. It's the toughest test in golf and you know that.' Ian Poulter after a gruesome Friday in 2007: 'There is no point bitching and moaning that it is a difficult golf course because it is a tough golf course and it is not supposed to be easy.' Former US Open champ Jordan Spieth: 'I know that if you win a US Open at Oakmont, you can go ahead and say that you've conquered the hardest test in all of golf because this is arguably the hardest course in America day-to-day,' Ryder Cup star and McIlroy's putting coach Brad Faxon: 'I always say the three hardest courses in America start with Oak. Oakmont, Oakland Hills and Oak Hill. But Oakmont is above and beyond the hardest course I've ever played.' Lee Trevino past statement on the brutal nature of the test: 'There's only one course in the country where you could step out right now, right now, and play the US Open and that's Oakmont.' Justin Thomas after a visit for a 2025 practice round: 'I actually went to Oakmont. It's still tough. I would say all of the rumours and everything are pretty on point.' Tiger Woods ahead of his task in 2007: 'That golf course is going to be one of the toughest tests that we've ever played in a US Open, especially if it's dry, it will be unreal because those greens are so severe. It's a great test. Overall, I'd say it's a lot harder than Augusta National.' Phil Mickelson ahead of his 2016 bid: 'I love a quote that Stephen Hawking says: Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change. The hardest course we've ever played.' Shane Lowry recounts his first visit: 'My coach was with me and we teed off on the 10th. We got around to the 14th, which is up beside the clubhouse, and I walked in. And I sat there in the locker room going, I have no idea how I'm going to play golf around this place.' Jack Nicklaus on the par three eighth in 2025: 'Well that's crazy. But that's what they do. I think it's a very difficult thing to have a hole where you're standing back hitting a wood at a par three.'Sergio Garcia during his title chase nine years ago: 'It's definitely the toughest golf course I've ever played. There's no doubt about that. We know how difficult the US Open is and, here at Oakmont, it's even tougher. Physically, at the end, I could feel my legs tightening up a little bit.' Bryson DeChambeau on the length of the track: 'It's a bomber's paradise, so, hopefully, I can drive it well again and putt well and give myself a good chance.' Justin Rose on his last visit to Oakmont US Open: 'I remember it being a classic old course, incredibly difficult, bunkers being amazingly deep. Ball striking is at a premium like most US Opens. Obviously there has been some varying set ups of late in the US Open, but this is back to the traditional type golf course.' Colin Montgomerie, who lost an Oakmont play-off in 1994, gave his assessment to Sky in 2016: 'This place is probably the most difficult ofthe US Open courses and the USGA pride themselves in making this the hardest test of them all. We have to remember that, when Angel Cabrera won here last time, the winning score was five over and only six players broke 10 over all week.' Ernie Els, who won in 1994 win at Oakmont: 'It's a magnificent golf course, definitely in my all-time top three in the world. But it's incredibly tough, it's the ultimate examination of your game.'
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Jack MacKenzie breaks silence on atrocious flying seat injury as Aberdeen Scottish Cup hero confesses 'I got lucky'
The defender was badly hurt and needed stitches and carried off the pitch after the shocking incident after the whistle Scottish Cup hero Jack MacKenzie has urged Scottish football to learn its lessons and make sure the ugly injury he suffered at Tannadice never happens again. The defender was badly hurt after he was hit from a flying seat that was allegedly thrown from the Aberdeen support, after their final day Premiership defeat at Dundee United. MacKenzie needed stitches and had to be carried off the pitch after the horror incident and hopes the authorities can stamp out such flashpoints in the future. The left-back, speaking in an exclusive interview with Record Sport, stated: 'That incident we all want to forget about it and to move on, but we need to look at the serious side of things, where it needs to be taken out of football. 'It is something that needs to be looked at. 'You don't want to see an incident like that again.' The 25-year-old might have been struck but he claimed he was lucky. He also knows it could have been far worse if it had hit one of the young Dundee United fans who were beside him. The incident happened after some of the United fans ran on to the pitch to celebrate their win and European qualification. MacKenzie, who is set to join Plymouth on freedom of contract, admitted: 'There were little Dundee United supporting kids beside me, who were maybe 10 or 11 years old. 'If it had hit them on the head then we could have been looking at something completely horrendous. 'I was unlucky that it hit me but I also got lucky that it didn't cause me even more damage.' The defender admitted the aftermath of the incident was the hardest of his career, from the incident to the fear that it would cost him his Hampden farewell in the Scottish Cup Final against Celtic. Luckily, he was fit and managed to help Aberdeen lift the cup. He explained: 'The week before was probably one of the hardest he had had in football. It was tough. 'I just feared that could be the note I was leaving the club on and I just didn't want that. I wasn't nice for my family, my teammates or myself. 'There was a concern. I didn't train much at the start of the week because the stitches hadn't closed up as much as we hoped they would. 'I was also lucky I didn't get a concussion. An inch lower and it could have hit my eye and it could have been worse but all I ever wanted to do was be involved in the final. When I got the green light to play it was a relief. 'I wouldn't say it has been forgotten about but winning the Scottish Cup definitely outshines that.'
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Next Rangers manager search LIVE as Farioli emerges as late contender to Ancelotti and Martin shootout
Rangers search for Philippe Clement 's permanent successor at Ibrox has taken another twist - with a new name said to have joined the running on Thursday night. Record Sport's exclusive that Steven Gerrard has dropped out of the race has left Davide Ancelotti and Russell Martin as the two leading contenders to land the top job. But reports elsewhere now claim that Ancelotti's compatriot Francesco Farioli has also held talks regarding the vacancy, just weeks after leaving Ajax following their disastrous run of form that saw them concede the Eredivisie title to rivals PSV Eindhoven. With the 49ers Enterprises takeover at Ibrox now just days from being finalised, the new hierarchy will be looking to announce their next man in the dugout as soon as possible so that he can hit the ground running with pre-season for the new campaign just around the corner. The search for the next Rangers manager is reaching it's final stages and you can follow all the latest news and updates RIGHT HERE.
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Steven Gerrard rejects Rangers next manager chance for key reason as Ancelotti and Martin in straight shootout
The 44-year-old has been linked with an emotional Ibrox return but it looks to be Steven Gerrard is on the brink of officially bowing out of the race to become the next Rangers manager – just hours after Dave King personally endorsed him for the hotseat. Record Sport revealed last week that – despite being heavy odds on with the bookies to return to his old Ibrox post – Gerrard was, in fact, facing a major hurdle to convince his wife Alex that the time is right for the family to turn their backs on the trappings of luxury in the Middle East. But ex-chairman King insisted on Wednesday Gerrard should be considered as the obvious frontrunner for the job - and urged the incoming new regime to make their move for the Scouser ahead of both Davide Ancelotti and Russell Martin. Despite King's late push, sources in the region believe Gerrard has decided to stay put in Bahrain for at least another year and withdraw himself from the running to become Philippe Clement's successor. It's understood Gerrard's camp had held initial discussions with the men fronting up the hunt for a new boss. But, as we reported, he asked for time to weigh up his options and discuss the potential move with his long term partner. And now the pair appear to have opted to stay put for at least 12 more months in what is being described as a 'lifestyle' choice. It's understood the decision is not based around tax implications and as Gerrard is now exempt from a multi-million pound HMRC penalty on the vast earnings he banked during a two year stint in Saudi Arabia with Al-Etifaq. It is unclear, however, if the 44-year-old former England skipper is still waiting for pay off payments or gardening leave to be paid following his sacking from the club. To further muddy the waters it's believed Gerrard is thought to be open to a return to the helm at Ibrox at some stage in the future but not at this particular point in time. There are also rumours swirling on Merseyside that he could be a leading candidate to become Arne Slot's new assistant manager with the title winning Dutchman's current right hand man Johnny Heitinga linked to the vacant manager's role at Ajax. It remains to be seen if the potential lure of an emotional return to Anfield could prompt a hasty rethink. But, if Gerrard does rule himself out of the running for the Rangers job, then it looks like a straight shootout between Ancelotti and Martin, with incoming owner Andrew Cavenagh expected to have the final say. Cavenagh has charged sporting director Kevin Thelwell and Gretar Steinsson of the San Francisco 49ers to front up the hunt for a new boss and whittle their way through a list of candidates. But it's understood the health insurance tycoon is now days away from finally completing his multi-million pound takeover of the club and that he will make the ultimate decision on the identity of the man leading the new era from the sidelines.
