Latest news with #SteveSidwell
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'By far my best manager': Reading legends reunited during defeat to the Dons
Reading legends Steve Coppell and Steve Sidwell were reunited on Saturday as the Royals lost 2-1 to AFC Wimbledon. The pair go back a long way, working together at Brentford and Brighton and Hove Albion, but it is in Berkshire where the two combined to play a key role in the Royals record-breaking era. A playing legend for Manchester United and England, the Crystal Palace stalwart took over as Reading manager in 2003 and took the club into the Premier League for the first time in 2006, finishing eighth in 2007. Winning back-to-back LMA Manager of the Year Awards and remaining in post until 2009, 'Sir Steve' has returned on a number of occasions, most recently on Saturday for a Q&A with supporters. Sidwell, now a prominent pundit and co-host of the award-winning Peter Crouch Podcast, moved to Berkshire in 2003 and made 187 appearances for the club. Named in successive Championship Team of the Season's between 2004 and 2006, his final campaign with the club came in 2006/07 before making a big move to Chelsea and playing until 2017 for the likes of Fulham, Stoke City and Brighton. Also in attendance on Saturday, Sidwell took time out to send his former boss a heartfelt message. 'So good to see The Boss yesterday,' he said on Instagram. 'Steve gave me my chance and breakthrough opportunity at 18, taking me on loan from Arsenal to Brentford for the season. We linked back up the season after at Brighton briefly and finally at Reading, where we created history and broke records for the club. 'I often say Jose Mourinho was the best coach, but Steve Coppell was by far my best manager. When we won, we'd celebrate as one, when we lost, I'd apologise to him, that's how he made me feel. A great man and a privilege to play under him. Great to see you gaffer and looking in great shape.'
The Sun
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Joe Cole suffers wardrobe malfunction celebrating Chelsea goal and causes £3000 of damage but says ‘I ain't paying'
JOE COLE suffered an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction as he celebrated Chelsea becoming Conference League champions. His former club came from behind to beat Real Betis 4-1 in Wroclaw, Poland, and become the first club to complete the set of Uefa competitions. 3 3 3 However, Cole 's enthusiasm to celebrate as Chelsea scored came back to bite him. Watching the game from the TNT Sports studio in the 40,000 Wroclaw Stadium, Cole looked sharp as he wore a brown suit and white shirt for his TV duties. He was appearing alongside West Ham star Michail Antonio and ex-Chelsea team-mate Steve Sidwell, as well as presenter Emma Dodds. And a clip shared to the broadcasters social media pages showed how the 43-year-old celebrated one of the Blues' goals, before he had an unfortunate incident. Cole was seen jumping up and down with his arms in the air when Chelsea grabbed a goal. The beaming former midfielder then went to Sidwell to hug him over the table. But his animated response to the goal prompted Dodds to try and intervene to stop him knocking over some drinks on the table. She was seen grabbing a microphone, but not before the contents of a cup of tea had been knocked over on the table in the chaos. Cole turned around and noticed the mess which saw his face go from jubilation to horror before he is heard saying: "Oh no my tea." He then picked it up and took a swig before looking for some napkins to clean up the table which was drenched in liquid. Moment Chelsea & Real Betis fans CLASH in Poland launching bottles & smoke grenades hours before Europa Conference final After returning into camera shot, Cole then picked up a microphone and showed it to the camera. Cole then joked: "[That's] About three grands worth. "I ain't paying." Chelsea won the match thanks to goals from Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo. But Cole heaped praise on "genius" Cole Palmer, who had notched two assists to turn the game around following Abde Ezzalzouli's first half strike for Betis. Cole said on TNT Sports: "Cole Palmer, absolute genius. We don't produce these players. "They don't fall off trees. He took the game by the scruff of the neck tonight and made it happen. "There aren't many players in world football who can do what he does." Cole, who was a Champions League runner-up with the Stamford Bridge outfit in 2008 - the last major Uefa final the team were defeated in - added: "Chelsea is a huge club at this level. "And what I would say, for these young players and this team to win a trophy, it's going to take them to the next level. "But it's not about that tonight. It's about a group of young footballers, young coaches, coming together and achieving something. "Don't be looking down your noses at this." Cole also gave his transfer verdict on loan star Sancho, who Chelsea have the option to sign from Manchester United for £25million or face a £5m penalty to not sign him. He said: "I think Jadon is a really great player and I think he's done well. "He's been rotated in and out a bit but I want to see Jadon playing. You want a player like that in your squad. It will come down to a financial decision I imagine but I really like him." Asked specifically whether the winger had done enough to justify a permanent move, Cole said: "Yes I do. "This is a kid who went to Dortmund and was a superstar as a kid. It wasn't working at Man United but he's done well, he's got his career back on track at Chelsea.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'There is a really good era coming'
Pundits have been reacting to what winning the Conference League trophy means for Blues forward Steve Sidwell, speaking on Sky Sports: "Look at the Chelsea staff and the players, you can see what it means to all of them. They are back to winning ways, it's what this club is all about."Enzo Maresca has had huge pressure from the day he walked in. There is huge pressure on you being at this football club, as a player and as staff."Getting that medal around his neck and lifting that trophy is huge for him."Ex-Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole, speaking on TNT Sports: "The Chelsea fans are very demanding because they are used to winning. Now they have seen this team win they have more belief, the players have more belief. I feel like there is a really good era coming."Next season for Chelsea has to be improvement."They finished 15-points off champions Liverpool in the Premier League, so that gap has to be smaller."Will they be in a title challenge? We don't know. But that points gap is crucial. Keep moving and keep improving."Commentator and Former Leeds striker Lucy Ward, also speaking on TNT Sports: "People mock this trophy but this will mean a lot to this set of Chelsea players because it is a platform to move on into the Champions League this season."Can they win another trophy? Can they get close at the top of the Premier League?"They will look back on this season in the Conference League, the development of the young players, solidifying some of the older players, and realise this actually means something."
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Conference League final: Joe Cole casts doubt over Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca's team selection ahead of Real Betis showdown
Former Chelsea star Joe Cole has expressed his doubt over the lineup picked by Blues boss Enzo Maresca ahead of the Conference League final. Appearing as a pundit on TNT Sports, Cole said: '[Playing Trevoh] Chalobah and [Benoit} Badiashile together, I'm not a big fan of mixing it. 'Levi Colwill has come in and done well. You can't pick a Chelsea team now, the squad's so strong, you don't know who's going to start.' However, Cole did praise Maresca for getting Chelsea into a Champions League place, which the Italian achieved thanks to a 1-0 final-day win over fellow European hopefuls Nottingham Forest. He added: 'I think he's got the hardest job in the Premier League. He had an expectant crowd and a huge squad. I think it's been brilliant. 'There were a couple of moments when it looked like it was going off the rails and he brought it back. His fellow pundit and former Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell added: 'As a player you want the truth to be told to you. For me he's [been] magnificent.'
The Irish Sun
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Premier League legends hit the fairways at US President Donald Trump's Doonbeg Golf Links before night on the Guinness
FORMER England footballers Peter Crouch, Ashley Cole and Steve Sidwell enjoyed a golfing getaway in Clare last week. The former Advertisement 4 Former Cheslea star Steve Sidwell and Peter Crouch hit Trump Doonbeg Credit: INSTAGRAM @stevesidwell14 4 The pair were also joined by former Arsenal and Chelsea star Ashley Cole Credit: INSTAGRAM @stevesidwell14 4 The lads enjoyed a night out after the round at the stunning links course Credit: INSTAGRAM @stevesidwell14 4 U.S. President Donald Trump visited the course he owns last year before earning his second-term in office But the ex-Premier League stars cashed-in for an experience as they tackled one of Ireland's most scenic and challenging courses. Known for its dramatic dunes and views, Doonbeg has become a popular destination for sports personalities and celebrities alike. After their round, the trio were seen enjoying pints of Guinness at the resort. Images shared on social media showing them in relaxed form, surrounded by empty glasses and smiling faces. Advertisement read more on golf Former While both Ashley Cole and Steve Sidwell have also worked as pundits for TNT Sports, regularly appearing on Premier League and European football coverage. The course - which is obviously on President Trump has visited the course previously, and some members of his family are regular visitors to the stunning resort. Advertisement Most read in Golf But if you fancy a round at Donald Trump's Doonbeg? - It'll cost you -green fees at the luxury Co Clare resort are eye-watering €425 this time of year, and a weekend round soaring to €525. That's the price to play one of Ireland's most scenic links tracks, where the Atlantic views are as jaw-dropping as the bill at the pro shop. Fears over Scottie Scheffler after 'painful' moment spotted by fans while at Charles Schwab Some of the top links course around the country will be full with some of the best players in the world later this summer ahead of In 2019 some of the world's top players hit links in the Republic as they prepared for the challenge of Dundonald in Antrim. Advertisement
