Latest news with #StokeCity
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
'He didn't say f*** off' - Hallgrimsson happy to 'wait and see' after Delap talks
Chelsea's €40m target Liam Delap has held talks with Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson about his international allegiances. Delap has represented his native England up to U21 level but the FAI have maintained interest as he's eligible through both maternal and paternal grandparents. Hallgrimsson admitted in October he'd delegated dealings to his assistant John O'Shea – who'd worked with Delap during his loan spell at Stoke City – but the Icelander has now met the player face-to-face. Also present at the meeting was Delap's father Rory, who won 11 caps for Ireland and is currently assistant to Ireland's record caps holder Robbie Keane at Hungarian champions Ferencvaros. Although it appears England are in pole position to retain the Ipswich Town striker, he's free to switch until the Three Lions cap the 22-year-old in a competitive senior international. That won't happen until at least September after Thomas Tuchel opted against drafting Delap in for the June double-header to allow him to remain with Lee Carsley's Euro U21s champions. "We have sat with him, yeah,' admitted Hallgrimsson after finalising his squad for the June friendlies against Senegal on Friday week and Luxembourg four days later. 'We just told him we would love to have him in our camp. Liam has good qualities and everybody knows that. His father played for the Republic. 'Obviously we are always hoping the good players will join us. He is now in the England under-21 squad for their Euros finals. "That is his focus at the moment. What will happen after that we will have to wait and see." When asked to confirm if Delap remains interested in joining the Boys in Green cause, the Ireland boss took a direct interpretation of their discussion. "Well, he didn't say fuck off," he said with a smile. Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna has allowed his star striker to open negotiations with suitors due to his €36m release clause. He scored 12 goals in 37 league appearances for a relegated Tractor Boys side that features an Irish presence in Dara O'Shea, Jack Taylor, Sammie Szmodics and Chiedozie Ogbene. Hallgrimsson isn't overly concerned about their relegation culling the volume of top-flight minutes his players are exposed to. The FAI have painted a bleak picture in their sales pitch to the government for academy funding, arguing 35 players operating across the top five leagues in Europe are a minimum to assemble a successful Ireland team. Once this double-header is completed, Ireland are straight into a blitz of six World Cup qualifiers against Portugal, Hungary and Armenia from September 6 to November 16. Failure to reach USA next year would prolong Ireland's tournament famine to the longest stretch since their qualification breakthrough At Euro '88. 'I think we have the material to qualify, sure,' said the manager who guided Iceland and Jamaica to major tournaments. 'I have, from experience, qualified with less talent than we have here in this Ireland squad. Obviously, we would like more players to play at a higher level and I think more players will. They're still not peaking in age. 'I think the players that got promoted, the likes of Josh Cullen will play, more or less, every minute for Burnley in the Premier League. 'For those relegated, it wasn't that they were that bad – and some like Sammie and Chieo were injured – but Dara O'Shea played really well. 'Ryan Manning did well for Southampton and Kasey McAteer is playing every minute for Leicester City. The quality is there for sure. 'We like to have players playing at the highest level but I would rather have players playing in the Championship than being on the bench.' That criteria would seem to apply in the case of Evan Ferguson. Although he provided winning goals in two of the manager's four victories against Finland and Bulgaria, he endured a disastrous club campaign. A loan move from Brighton and Hove Albion to West Ham United didn't improve the outlook and he may have to drop into the second tier to regain the sharpness he exuded from his teens. 'I can only judge from the time he's with us and he's been good for us, very efficient,' stressed Hallgrimsson. 'Whatever he goes, it's not something we cannot control. We haven't seen him since March, so we just want to see and speak to him, see what's happening and just evaluate where he is.'
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Liverpool legend and former Rangers player dies aged 85 as tributes paid
Plenty of tributes have been paid to the Edinburgh born former player who featured with the likes of Liverpool and Rangers. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Former Liverpool and Rangers player Willie Stevenson has passed away, aged 85. The former left-half was born in Leith and played in the local area at Edina Hearts and Dalkeith Thistle before winning the Scottish Football League and Scottish Cup at Rangers. He then made himself a hero at Liverpool over a five year spell before joining Stoke City, ending his career with stints at Tranmere Rovers, Limerick, Vancouver Whitecaps and Macclesfield Town, Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A Liverpool statement reads: 'Liverpool FC is deeply saddened by the passing of former player Willie Stevenson. Stevenson, who made 241 appearances for the club in the 1960s, has died at the age of 85. A skilful left-half, Edinburgh-born Stevenson was signed by Bill Shankly from Rangers in October 1962 and was a key member of the team that won First Division titles in 1964 and 1966, as well as the Reds' first FA Cup in 1965. He missed only nine league matches in his first four full seasons at Anfield and also collected a runners-up medal in the 1966 Cup Winners' Cup. Stevenson scored 18 goals for Liverpool, including the penalty that clinched a 2-0 semi-final win over Chelsea en route to the historic FA Cup success of 1965.' Tributes paid to Willie Stevenson Stoke City said: 'Stoke City Football Club is saddened to learn of the passing of former left half, Willie Stevenson, at the age of 85. The Scot, who hailed from Leith and began his career with Rangers, made more than 100 appearances for the Potters between 1967 and 1973 after Tony Waddington brought him to the Victoria Ground for a £30,000 fee from Liverpool. 'A popular member of the Potters' side which reached the FA Cup semi-finals in successive seasons in the early 70s, he was also with City when Waddington's side lifted the 1972 League Cup, featuring in the Third Round as City overcame Oxford United. We send our thoughts and sincere condolences to Willie's family and friends at this sad time.' Tranmere chairman and former teammate Mark Palios commented: 'Willie was a classical ball playing midfielder who made those around him look good. He was massively influential in the development of the young side that Ron Yeats put together, with the likes of Bobby Tynan, Ronnie Moore and Dickie Johnson. He was a great team mate who I was privileged to play alongside, and and my thoughts and best wishes are with his family and loved ones.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Football historian Kieran Smith added: "Extremely sad news to announce the passing of the great Willie Stevenson. An Anfield legend and an esteemed member of Shankly's great team of the 1960s. Our thoughts are with his family and friends YNWA."
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers title-winner who became legend with Liverpool dies as tributes pour in for ‘one of Shankly's heroes'
REST IN PEACE Rangers title-winner who became legend with Liverpool dies as tributes pour in for 'one of Shankly's heroes' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMER Rangers and Liverpool hero Willie Stevenson has died at the age of 85. Born in Leith in the north of Edinbugh, Stevenson originally played for Dalkeith Hearts before signing for Gers in 1958. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 2 Willie Stevenson won titles with both Rangers and Liverpool Credit: Getty 2 He was a hero under iconic Anfield boss and fellow Scot Bill Shankly Credit: PA:Empics Sport He played over 100 times for the Ibrox club and was part of the league championship-winning team in 1958/59 and won the Scottish Cup with the Light Blues the following season. The emergence of Jim Baxter at Rangers led to Stevenson moving to Liverpool in 1962 for £20,000 and he became one of the stalwart's in Bill Shankly's iconic sides of the sixties. He retired in 1975 after a stint at Macclesfield Town. Tributes have poured in for the Scot as the news broke. With the Reds, Stevenson won the league twice and the FA Cup and played in almost 250 games before joining Stoke City in a £30,000 transfer in 1967. A Liverpool statement read: "Liverpool FC is deeply saddened by the passing of former player Willie Stevenson. "Stevenson, who made 241 appearances for the club in the 1960s, has died at the age of 85. "A skilful left-half, Edinburgh-born Stevenson was signed by Bill Shankly from Rangers in October 1962 and was a key member of the team that won First Division titles in 1964 and 1966, as well as the Reds' first FA Cup in 1965. "He missed only nine league matches in his first four full seasons at Anfield and also collected a runners-up medal in the 1966 Cup Winners' Cup. "Stevenson scored 18 goals for Liverpool, including the penalty that clinched a 2-0 semi-final win over Chelsea en route to the historic FA Cup success of 1965. "His final appearance for the club came in November 1967, three days after he marked his Anfield swansong by netting a late spot-kick winner to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1. "Stevenson then moved to Stoke City in December 1967 and would later represent Tranmere Rovers, Vancouver Whitecaps, Limerick and Macclesfield Town before hanging up his boots. "The thoughts of everyone at Liverpool FC are with Willie's loved ones at this sad time." Stoke City released a statement: "Stoke City Football Club is saddened to learn of the passing of former left half, Willie Stevenson, at the age of 85. "The Scot, who hailed from Leith and began his career with Rangers, made more than 100 appearances for the Potters between 1967 and 1973 after Tony Waddington brought him to the Victoria Ground for a £30,000 fee from Liverpool. "A two-time First Division winner with the Reds, either side of lifting the FA Cup in 1965, Stevenson joined City in December 1967 and featured regularly until he suffered a leg break in defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in October of 1970. "A popular member of the Potters' side which reached the FA Cup semi-finals in successive seasons in the early 70s, he was also with City when Waddington's side lifted the 1972 League Cup, featuring in the Third Round as City overcame Oxford United. "Stevenson, who scored seven goals for the Club, then featured for Tranmere Rovers, Vancouver Whitecaps and Macclesfield Town in the latter years of his playing career. "We send our thoughts and sincere condolences to Willie's family and friends at this sad time." Football historian Kieran Smith said: "Extremely sad news to announce the passing of the great Willie Stevenson. An Anfield legend and an esteemed member of Shankly's great team of the 1960s. Our thoughts are with his family and friends YNWA." One Liverpool supporter said: "RIP Willie Stevenson, one of Shankly's heroes." Another said: "Rest in peace, Willie Stevenson. A true Red. Thoughts and prayers with his family and loved ones during this difficult time." And this fan said: "Sad to hear the news of the death of one of my first ever heroes. RIP Willie Stevenson. Absolute legend." George Scott, a team mate of Stevenson's at Anfield, added: "Just heard of the sad passing of my old pal from our days together at Anfield, the great Billy Stevenson. What a great player and a great character he was. When we used to play five a sides at Melwood he would shout 'Don't waste it Scotty give it to me'. RIP Billy." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Willie Stevenson dead at 85: Liverpool pay tribute to the two-time title winner who starred under Bill Shankly
Former Liverpool star Willie Stevenson has passed away at the age of 85. The Scot made 241 appearances for the club in the 1960s and won two league titles under Bill Shankly. Announcing his death on X on Tuesday evening, Liverpool paid tribute to Stevenson. A club statement read: 'We are deeply saddened by the passing of former player Willie Stevenson. 'The thoughts of everyone at Liverpool FC are with Willie's loved ones at this sad time.' Stevenson also played for Stoke, Tranmere, Vancouver Whitecaps and Macclesfield.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Preston sign Foxes goalkeeper Iversen
Daniel Iversen's last competitive action came during a loan spell with Stoke City in 2023-24 [Getty Images] Preston North End have signed Leicester City goalkeeper Daniel Iversen on a four-year deal. The 27-year-old Dane will join on a free transfer on 1 July when his contract with the Foxes expires. He previously spent time on loan with the Lancashire side in 2020-21 and 2021-22. "I love it here. It's the most I've been happy. Preston is where I've played my best football," he told the club website.
