Latest news with #SeanDyche
The Guardian
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The modern-day Stanley Matthews? Ashley Young, Ipswich and longevity
In the good old days when pitches consisted purely of mud, shorts were short and facial hair on footballers was ubiquitous, players had to eke out every single second of a career. Each new contract got thirtysomethings a step closer to becoming a pub landlord, every penny mattering in an era where players were not made for life. Medical support and fitness routines were not what they could have been; making it into your fifth decade as a professional was quite difficult with a barrelled chest and self-healing injuries. Often it was only the goalkeepers able to reach their 40s with the hope of carrying on, as John Burridge and Kevin Poole will tell you. Ashley Young, however, has no excuse. Not only is he an outfield player who has been making millions per season for around the past 20 years but he still wants to carry on playing the sport. Football Daily assumes he was probably able to put down the cash on the Dog and Partridge during his Watford days, where he made his professional debut in 2003, the week when Where Is The Love? by the Black Eyed Peas was top of the hit parade. Since then he has been managed by Sean Dyche but still loves football and wants to continue at Ipswich, where he's signed a one-year deal, aged 40. 'Ashley has had a fantastic career and his achievements speak for themselves,' parped head coach Kieran McKenna, 39. 'He has maintained an extremely high level of professionalism and competitiveness throughout his career and he is still playing at a very good level. We feel his leadership and experience will be valuable to the group this season and he is very hungry to contribute on and off the pitch.' Portman Road is used to old-timers watching the sunset go down in East Anglia. John Wark finished his career at Ipswich at the end of his third spell with the club. The Escape to Victory star was 39 at the time but he looked roughly 25 years older than Young, who, rather sickeningly, does not seem to have aged at all since his teenage years, which might explain why he wants to continue being in the public eye. And who could forget Mick Burns's appearances for the Tractor Boys at the ripe old age of 43 years 219 days, when playing against Gateshead in January 1952? Fellow wing wizard Stanley Matthews carried on until he was 50, having admittedly lost some of his best years to a world war, which might explain why he wanted to keep going. Young has also suffered, missing the odd month or two to knee, ankle and groin knack but the winger-turned-full-back has a dream to chase down and surpass his heroes Graham Alexander and Tony Ford. The duo spent the majority of their careers in the historic county of Lancashire, at Preston and Rochdale, rather than Manchester United and Everton. Alexander made 833 league appearances before calling time at 40, while Ford made 98 more, eventually hanging up his boots at 42. Young is currently on 563, so requires roughly another 10 seasons to catch them up and equal Matthews for the truest test of longevity. Then, hopefully, he can take over the running of legendary north London drinker The Faltering Full-back. 'So for the girls, this time, as a friend and a fellow footballer, I want them to just go and enjoy this final – they play incredible football and they deserve to be there. As a human being I just want them to go out and just enjoy the game of football' – Keira Walsh with some very admirable sentiments ahead of the Euro 2025 final. Spain's 2023 World Cup win was, of course, overshadowed by the actions of Luis Rubiales in the aftermath. 'Re: Maurice Mandale's letter [Wednesday's edition]. My old Sunday league team once went on an end-of-season tour to Madrid, but the opposition for our second game failed to turn up. With temperatures in the mid-30s and an inviting bar only a sliced goal-kick away, we did what any self-respecting English team abroad would do, and played a game among ourselves. We picked the sides using the time-honoured 'dads v lads' formula, with the younger half of the squad facing off against the older. Imagine our delight when we found the dividing line fell in the 20-minute window between the births of the twin brothers on the team' – Andy Korman. 'Re: the North [letters passim]. Everyone knows it starts at The Neck and ends in the Land of Always Winter. In the middle of it lies Winterfell, where Sean Bean lives' – George RR Mar Jane Beer. 'Re: Ken Muir's letter. I lived in South Kensington and I can safely say that it is in west London. I'm also a West Ham fan, and that is in east London. So, yeah' – Steve Hibbert. 'In Oxford there is a South Parade, which is north of the city's North Parade. Hope this settles the matter' – Dan Levy (not that one). 'May I be one of at least 1,057 correspondents to point to the existence of the town North in South Carolina' – Jason Steger (and no others). If you have any, please send letters to Today's winner of our prizeless letter o' the day is … Andy Korman. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here. A double dose of pod action as Women's Football Weekly looks at Spain's dramatic Euro 2025 win over Germany and Sunday's final against England. Football Weekly Extra also reflects on the latest Euros action, plus transfer talks and what to expect from Thomas Frank's Tottenham this season. Listen wherever you get your pods. An inquest has found that George Baldock died in an accident in his own swimming pool in Athens, with no drugs or alcohol in his system. Jess Carter has thanked England fans for their 'unbelievable support' after revealing she had been racially abused on social media. 'No one is more disappointed in some of my performances than what I am, but the colour of my skin has got nothing to do with that,' said Carter. In more encouraging scenes that remind us of Steve Buscemi with a skateboard, England fans are being backed to 'bring the absolute vibe' to St Jakob-Park on Sunday. Hugo Ekitiké has sealed his big-money move to Liverpool and in a shock twist, rejected a late attempt by Manchester United to hijack the transfer. At least United have got Marcus Rashford's wages off the books, after the Englishman confirmed his loan switch to Barcelona. Sadly, Japanese fans hoping to catch a glimpse of Rashford on Barcelona's east Asia tour are to be denied. Barça have cancelled Sunday's pre-season friendly against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo, alleging 'serious contractual breaches' by the promoter. Arsenal have got their man in Viktor Gyökeres and are also poised to confirm the signing of Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia for an initial €15m. Fun and Games in South America dept: Neymar had a heated exchange with a Santos fan after his late goal was ruled out in the 2-1 home defeat to Internacional. The 33-year-old was seen remonstrating with a supporter after his stoppage-time leveller was ruled not to have crossed the line. It's been a difficult return to his boyhood club, with Neymar sidelined by injury, illness and suspension as Santos battle relegation. Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba face a suspension for skipping the MLS All-Star game, which wasn't very Grow The Game of them, huh. Alexander Isak has not travelled with his Newcastle teammates for their pre-season friendlies in Asia … due to a 'minor thigh injury'. Reports suggest Isak has told Newcastle he wants to explore a move away from the club. And Marc Brys has denied he has quit as coach of Cameroon despite the country's football federation confirming his exit, as the Belgian said his email was likely hacked and his alleged resignation letter did not come from him. Latest from Big Sir Jim Ratcliffe's plans for a new Manchester United stadium includes hopes of staging the Women's World Cup final in 2035. Build it and they will come? Yeah, about that: reports suggest anyone wishing to attend United games on a regular basis, what FD readers might term a 'season ticket', will have to pay up to £4,000 for a 'personal seat licence' before next paying for an actual season ticket. What a swizz! But they're common practice in the United States, it is said. So that's OK. Elderly FD readers may recall the 'bonds' schemes of the early 1990s which were about as popular as this wheeze is likely to be. So far it's just an idea being explored as is BSJ's plan of getting the government to pay at least some of the overall estimated cost of £2bn. Britain's former richest man won't be paying the full whack himself, you know. Top Reds, even those who think dear old Old Trafford actually just needs a lick of paint and a Changing Rooms-style refurb, better get saving for 2031-32, when BSJ and Lord Coe, his project manager, unveil the new place and United kick off their latest promotion campaign. Nick Ames has been busy. This piece asks if England's haphazard winning machine can curtail Spain's Euros party, while our roving reporter has also been speaking to fans scrambling to find a ticket for Sunday's final. Despite Messi's absence, the MLS All-Star game entertained plenty. But that may no longer be enough, writes Alexander Abnos. In the latest edition of Moving the Goalposts, Sophie Downey explains what has changed for England and Spain since their last tournament meeting in the 2023 World Cup final (Clue: a lot). Manchester United need a new midfielder more than they need a new striker, writes Daniel Harris. Tom Garry documents Michelle Agyemang's journey from ballgirl to England superstar, while Jonathan Liew has tried to get to the bottom of what exactly Wiegman-ball is. Starters v bench: Suzanne Wrack explains the big selection decisions facing England and Sarina Wiegman in the Euro 2025 final. Sophie Downey dissects Spain's win over Germany and why the individual brilliance by Aitana Bonmatí eventually trumped the power of collective. It's that time of the summer when football and cricket cross over. The summer used to be exclusively reserved for cricket so many a sportsman played both. Chris Balderstone, pictured here as a Huddersfield player in 1964, played two Tests for England against the brilliant West Indies team of 1976, having played for Doncaster, Queen of the South and most famously as the schemer in the Carlisle team that played a single, 1973-74, season in the old First Division and led the entire Football League after three matches. As a cricketer, he played for Yorkshire initially before moving to Leicestershire, playing into his 40s as a batsman and left-arm spinner alongside David Gower, Peter Willey, Phil DeFreitas and Jonathan Agnew. 'Cricketers might think they're pretty hard but they're not compared to footballers,' Balderstone once said. A true sporting all-rounder later became an umpire before dying aged just 59 in 2000.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Everton forward faces defining summer as David Moyes weighs up what to do
A difficult day looked set to end in more frustration as Everton trailed Sligo Rovers 3-1. The game was a friendly, the first of pre-season and essentially a fitness test built around the return of Seamus Coleman to the club where he rose to the Blues' attention. But defeat still would have disappointed the hundreds that had crossed Ireland to follow Sean Dyche's side. It looked like that would be the outcome until the intervention of Youssef Chermiti. The young forward bagged two late goals to salvage a draw hours after his club had been hit with news The Friedkin Group had pulled out of their first takeover bid. READ MORE: Everton and Roma name more legends for historic match at Hill Dickinson Stadium READ MORE: Four Everton youngsters set for defining summer as club weighs up next options It was a big moment for Chermiti, even if the match meant little in terms of preparations for the upcoming season. The forward had endured a tough first season following his surprise arrival from Sporting Lisbon the previous summer. With Everton operating on a budget, splashing just over £10m on a teenage prospect felt a luxury the club may not have been able to afford at the start of the 2023/24 season. Over that campaign he ended up caught in a tough spot. Dyche's squad was too small to allow him to leave on loan, with offers for his services made that January. But Chermiti was considered too raw for the Blues boss to use in the cut and thrust of what became another relegation fight after the club was hit with two points deductions for spending breaches. Dyche admitted it was a tough situation to wrestle. Everton supporters did get glimpses of him and, after the pressure eased following the home wins over Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, the Portugal youth international started the home win over Brentford. He looked good in flashes and so, when his brace turned the game around at Sligo there was a sense he was starting pre-season with the momentum he had finished the past campaign with. That feeling survived the friendly defeat at Salford City that followed. Chermiti came off the bench in that match and his nifty footwork won the free-kick from which James Garner levelled before a much-changed Blues fell away late in the game. It therefore came as a jolt of disappointment when Dyche announced at Coventry City days later that his summer was over. A foot injury suffered in training between the friendlies required surgery and that was Chermiti done until November. And then, as he finally neared a return, a thigh strain ruled him out for several more months. The timing of the thigh setback was particularly cruel. In January, Armando Broja and Dominic Calvert-Lewin both suffered serious injuries. Beto was far from established and so, had Chermiti been available, there was a genuine opportunity to make an impression given how threadbare the squad was. It was March before he made it on the pitch in front of David Moyes. It took just 11 minutes to make an impact as he played a role in Jake O'Brien's late equaliser against West Ham United. After that cameo, he said: 'I just want to keep getting involved – keep getting minutes in the bank and try to score my first goal... hopefully at Goodison Park. That's my goal. "I feel the love from the supporters. Every time I play here, I feel that energy and that love from the fans. It's a great feeling." A goal at Goodison did not come - indeed, he is yet to score a senior goal for the club, though circumstances have been unkind to him. As a result, he approaches his third season with Everton at a crossroads. The departure of Dominic Calvert-Lewin has removed one barrier to the first team. But Beto's star rose after he took advantage of his period as the only fit forward at the club while the decision to invest £27.5m into 22-year-old forward Thierno Barry suggests Chermiti will not be guaranteed to be second choice. That means he faces the prospect of being the third choice forward in a system that will likely rely on just one. A loan deal could be his best route to the development minutes the 21-year-old desperately needs. He did start the friendly at Acrrington Stanley on Tuesday night but his performance could be judged both ways. He forced two good saves from Accrington man of the match, goalkeeper Ollie Wright, the best an acrobatic tip over the bar after a diving Chermiti met a Tim Iroegbunam cross. Yet it was another opportunity in which he did not hit the back of the net. More are likely to follow with Everton set to travel to Blackburn Rovers and then the USA. He will get time to make his case and, even if he was to leave on loan, there is no suggestion he does not have a future at the club - he is contracted until 2027. The question is whether Moyes will view him as too important to a small squad to allow to leave for the first team minutes he is ready for.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Everton progress cannot hide urgent transfer need as key date nears
In among the furore around Carlos Alcaraz and Jordan Pickford at Newcastle United on the last day of the season, one of Everton's main contributors to the win went a little under the radar. Vitalii Mykolenko. Advertisement Pickford preserved his role as pantomime villain at St James' Park with another strong performance while Alcaraz steered a header home in the second half to earn a commendable 1-0 win. It was Mykolenko's cross that the Argentinean got on the end of. The Ukraine international left-back had surged down the left-wing past Iliman Ndiaye and dropped an excellent delivery into the perfect position in the penalty area. READ MORE: Everton get injury boost on first day of pre-season training as new transfer arrives READ MORE: New progress at Hill Dickinson Stadium as thousands of Everton supporters set to see personal touch Advertisement Remarkably, it was just Mykolenko's second assist in the Premier League as an Everton player. His first came in February on what was his 100th appearance in the competition, as he set up Jake O'Brien's equaliser at Brentford. In fairness to Mykolenko, his forays forward have been restricted from a tactical point of view. Under Sean Dyche, and playing alongside Dwight McNeil on the left, there was never a natural chemistry that allowed the left-back to venture into the final third. Plus, defensive cohesion was always the former manager's modus operandi. And when the the 26-year-old did find himself in those advanced areas, the guile and incision has rarely been there with his final ball. Under David Moyes there has was a noticeable change. Mykolenko was typically tasked with providing width on the left flank, allowing Ndiaye to drift infield to pick up possession. Advertisement It means that while Mykolenko still can be let down by his work with the ball, he is at least in position to have an impact on Everton's attack. By getting high and wide he creates space for the team's most gifted player. "Moyes wants me to join in the attacks and he always says you not only have one job on the pitch, but two or three," Mykolenko said in May. "I'm trying to be my best not only in defence, but in attack as well. "I like to play in attack and now, I'm working with the coaching staff and with the gaffer on that. I'm working individually with Billy (McKinlay) and I'm working with Leighton Baines in attack on training sessions and in defence, as well." Regardless of your opinion on him as a player, Mykolenko fulfils a critical role in the Blues squad. Not only does he have solid attributes as a footballer, but bluntly, he is the club's only senior left-back. Advertisement Ashley Young did cover for him at times last season but has left, while Nathan Patterson started one game there last term against Arsenal. Still, make no mistake, Everton are light on the left. It is curious then that the club have seemingly made right-back a priority. Everton reached a verbal agreement with Kenny Tete to join the club and tied down club captain Seamus Coleman to a new one-year deal. O'Brien was excellent at right-back last season, while Patterson remains in situ. Yet links to left-backs have not been forthcoming. Of course, Moyes could potentially plug Patterson in to the position again, albeit it is an awkward fit. In a crisis, star centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite could potentially play there too. It is one gap among many that the Blues have to plug this summer. And with Mykolenko's contract set to expire at the end of next season, maybe one to address again further down the line too. Advertisement Moyes will be confident of getting more from Everton's number 19, certainly from an attacking perspective after a full pre-season. There have been small signs of progress from the player already in their time working together. Moyes has been open about his ambition for in the near future though and he will want to see rapid progression. If Mykolenko can't keep up with that, the Scot will want a left-back who can.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
🎧 Managerial chaos but is it exciting?
"The one thing that hasn't changed is the chaos in the situation."Could Leicester's new man in charge be former Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder? Sheffield Wednesday head coach Danny Rohl? Former Burnley and Everton manager Sean Dyche? Or could they look at ex-Wolves boss Gary O'Neil?The When You're Smiling team take a look at the candidates for Leicester City's vacant managerial role, but former Foxes winger Matt Piper isn't feeling all that enamoured."Flip-flopping around from different managers, different journeymen, just reeks of what we've all been pointing fingers at the club for," Piper said."It all seems a little bit unprofessional, not well planned out and scraping the barrel."No candidates really on that list that you're really excited about or I'm certainly not anyway." Listen to the full episode and more on BBC Sounds.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ex-Sheff Utd boss Wilder has Leicester interview
Leicester City have interviewed former Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder in their search for a new 57-year-old parted company with the Blades after failing to guide the South Yorkshire club back to the Premier League at the first United finished third in the Championship table, one place and 10 points short of automatic promotion, and then went on to lose the play-off final to Sunderland at Wembley in finds himself up against Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl for the vacancy at the King Power Leicester are said to be admirers of 36-year-old Rohl, there is a release clause in his contract that the Foxes would need to meet to try and bring the German in as Ruud van Nistelrooy's however, did not reported back for the start of pre-season at Wednesday amid ongoing financial concerns at the club, where wages have gone interest in Rohl and talks with Wilder come after Leicester were previously linked with former Burnley and Everton manager Sean Dyche is now seen as a less likely candidate, former Bournemouth and Wolves boss Gary O'Neil is another name that has been linked with Leicester on their return to the Championship. Leicester finished third-from-bottom and 13 points from safety last season as they plunged back to Championship for the second time in three took the Foxes more than nine weeks after their relegation was confirmed to announce Dutchman Van Nistelrooy's departure, just days before players reported back for pre-season meant that Andy King - who was a member of Leicester's Premier League-winning side in 2016 - stepped up from his coaching role at the club to take charge of their first pre-season friendly, a 3-1 win against League One side Peterborough United at their Seagrave training base on Saturday.
