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The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Weighs us down' – Ireland legend pinpoints Aviva Stadium flaw compared to Jack Charlton glory days at old Lansdowne
GARY KELLY met ex-Italy and AC Milan star Daniele Massaro at the Aviva Stadium yesterday and was instantly transported back to USA '94. The ex-Ireland defender was part of Jack Charlton's squad to travel to the World Cup. And the Drogheda man smiled: 'When I came in first, I said, 'Is that Daniele?' I actually have his jersey from f***ing Giants' Stadium. Unreal!' Asked if Massaro has his No 12 shirt from 31 years ago, the former full-back added: 'He said he does but couldn't make out my name on the back. Do the maths!' The pair were at the Aviva Stadium to announce ticket details for And while Leeds legend Kelly, who remains a season-ticket holder at Elland Road, is looking forward to seeing his old club at the Dublin 4 ground, he admitted he still misses the feeling he got from the old Lansdowne Road. Read more in Irish football Kelly, who made his Ireland debut under Charlton ahead of that 1994 World Cup, added: 'Lansdowne Road, cold showers . . . we'd teams beaten already under Jack. Teams — the dressing rooms were cold, cement, cold water, everything was horrible, showers, flickering lights — come here now and it's nearly too nice. 'Away teams come here and go, 'Why wouldn't you want to play football in this? Let's go beat them'. 'That's another little stone around their neck to weigh Ireland down because it's beautiful, it's an absolutely immaculate stadium, isn't it?' Most read in Football Whatever about their home ground, if Ireland are to make it through this year's World Cup qualifiers and get back to America to relive memories of USA '94, Kelly reckons the team will need to be horrible. The 50-year-old continued: 'I would rather play s**t and win than play pretty and lose. Just get that winning mentality back. Shamrock Rovers snap up Northern Ireland Under-21s goal-getter as Stephen Bradley gives exciting verdict You win your home games, pick up a few points on the road, I know it's easy saying it but under Jack we've done it, under Mick McCarthy we've done it. 'We have good players. If we can get out of that group — you have to be coming second. You have to aim for the play-offs. "If we don't, it's just rip up the paper and start again. How many times can we do that? 'It's just about making Ireland tough to play against again. The pretty football doesn't suit us. 1 Gary Kelly (centre) joined by World Cup oppenent Daniele Massaro (right) and fellow Leeds legend Tony Dorigo (left) at the Aviva stadium "Here it's about letting them know it's Ireland and you are not getting away with it. At home you have to beat the teams.' Kelly also stressed the key to success for Heimir Hallgrimsson's side will not be individuals but having a togetherness. He added: 'The bite can only come back in the player if the player wants to believe in it. "The new manager has his style, I think his main thing is he wants you to fight for the jersey, close down, keep the ball. 'If our manager can get the players to believe in what he's doing and get the confidence going . . . 'When we were injured under Jack, we'd still ask could we come in because we knew there'd be a lads' night out! That's important too. "Don't put them in their rooms for three or four days, have a game of golf or a beer and get to know one another. "Get them as a whole, tight-knit, get everything going the way you want it and that will transfer on to the pitch. 'We had Saturday night out, Sunday we'd all be down in Gibney's, do a bit of training Monday and you go out and could beat Holland here! AVIVA FORTRESS 'It was just a fortress here. I know the Aviva is pretty but you have to make it horrible to come to. "Irish fans are brilliant wherever they go. Make it hostile. Make the place a fortress.' If Ireland are at the World Cup next year, which is being hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, Kelly — who won 52 caps and featured at two World Cups — will be there. He added: 'This is a great opportunity to get to the World Cup. It would be amazing for the Irish people — and they will travel. 'I don't follow Ireland around, I watch them on TV, but if they qualify for somewhere like that, you are going, everyone is going for a bit of craic and a p***-up.' GARY KELLY was speaking to announce details of Leeds United's friendly with AC Milan at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, August 9. Tickets go on general sale today at 10am.
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
John Terry thanks runner dressed as a SHOE for kind gesture during London Marathon
Chelsea legend John Terry ran the London Marathon in a little over five hours on gruelling day and later claimed that it was the toughest thing he had ever done John Terry has thanked another London Marathon participant who was dressed a shoe for helping him during a moment of struggle. Chelsea legend Terry took just over five hours to complete the race on an energy-sapping day during which race organisers pleaded with the masses to slow down because of unusually high temperatures. Terry, who raised more than £40,000 for the Rays of Sunshine Children's Charity and ran with former team-mate Jody Morris, crossed the finish line on The Mall in a time of 5:00:43 - 10 seconds behind former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere. And Terry, in a post on Instagram, praised fellow runner Karl Fitzpatrick from Jersey for "some great words of encouragement" and handing him a drink. Fitzpatrick was dressed in a shoe costume to raise money for Jersey Hospice and Terry wrote: "Legs are a little stiff and sore this morning, that is by far the TOUGHEST thing I have EVER done and this morning I have so much respect for everyone who run the marathon yesterday. "Also a big shout out to the guy dressed as a shoe, who overtook me when I was struggling, yes dressed as a shoe and overtook me, slowed down and gave me some great words of encouragement and gave me some sweets and gels, he then carried on running, about 2 minutes later he come running back towards me with a bottle of coke, Thank you mate." Danny Mills was the fastest ex-footballer, posting a time of 3:16:07, with marathon veteran Gary Rowett running 3:38:38. Another former Chelsea player, Steve Sidwell, clocked a 4:50:28, in his first marathon, while ex-Italy centre back Leonardo Bonucci ran 5:02:09. Sunday's event set the record for the largest number of finishers in a marathon with a total of 56,640 beating 55,646 set by the New York City marathon last November. Many miles ahead of the former footballers, Sebastian Sawe dominated the men's elite race with a blistering burst just before the 20-mile mark that blew apart the deepest field ever assembled. And while suboptimally warm conditions had race chiefs warning the masses to slow down, Tigst Assefa ran a women's-only world record as Eilish McColgan came home top Brit in a solid debut. Sawe, making only his second trip over the distance, produced a split of 13:56 between 30 and 35km to pull away from a fading pack that included greatest of all time Eliud Kipchoge and Olympic champ Tamirat Tola. And he maintained that effort all the way to the Mall for a winning time of 2:02:27, ahead of debutant Jacob Kiplimo and 2024 winner Alex Mutiso. By that stage Assefa, who finished second last year before taking Olympic silver in Paris, had already caught her breath. The Ethiopian made her move at less than halfway and said after that the 20c temperatures suited her down to the ground as he crossed the line in 2:15.50. Assefa did, however, slow in the closing miles as the heat picked up. McColgan, meanwhile, achieved her maiden goal of beating mum Liz's personal best – taking more than two minutes off the 1996 champion's time with a creditable 2:24:25. But after finishing eighth overall, the Scot admitted: 'There was a big gap between us and the leading elites. I didn't feel it today, I got to halfway and then I panicked a bit, so I came off my pace and found myself running on my own. I'm proud of myself though to mentally keep going and I'll be heading for another major at the end of this year.' Mahamed Mahamed ran 2:08:52 to take the domestic bragging rights, and eighth overall, in the men's race while triathlon star Alex Yee finished 14th in 2:11:08 in his experimental outing. 'Good race but very tough,' Yee said. 'I struggled in the last three miles, which I found really hard. I think I went out too hard at the start.'
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Former Premier League star and boyfriend of Diego Maradona's daughter accused of assaulting his own SON, 18, by his ex-wife
A Premier League star has been accused of biting his 18-year-old son's ear in a beating which left his alleged victim fleeing the house in tears before dawn. Dani Osvaldo is accused of pinning his son, Gianluca, against the wall and pounding him repeatedly by his former wife and the teenager's mother, Ana 'Nina' Oertlinger. The shocking allegations, made by Oertlinger on Argentinian television, come amid her legal battle with Osvaldo over alleged unpaid child support which has left her fearing potential homelessness. Osvaldo, 39, is a former Southampton striker who recently rekindled his romance with Gianinna Maradona, the grieving daughter of Argentina legend Diego. The ex-Italy star has reportedly chosen not to comment on the alleged assault or money owed in child support to Oertlinger, as per Portuguese outlet Caras. 'He was physically violent toward my son,' Oerlinger told Argentine show A La Tarde. 'He physically assaulted my son in the early morning of January 13. 'At one point, he put him against the wall and hit him on the head, ribs, and arm, all on the left side. 'Daniel got on top of him on the couch and kept hitting him with his fists and bit his ear,' she said on the show, via Paparazzi. 'The situation calmed down, they continued arguing, and my son started to cry. 'The relationship was always unstable because the father was always someone who disappeared for months on end. 'The anger came because he (Gianluca) has a (friendly) relationship with Jimena (Baron, Argentinian actress and Osvaldo's former partner) and my son doesn't want to end the relationship. And while he was hitting him, he insulted Jimena and me. 'Gianluca escaped, he was able to do so and left the house. He returned at dawn, on a Monday at 4:40 a.m., alone in a state of shock. 'My son loves him, but he's in pain, he felt disappointed, and today he doesn't have a relationship because as soon as this happened, he blocked him.' Panellists on the A La Tarde show claimed that Osvaldo has a 'significant debt' which means he has not paid child support, including health insurance, to Oertlinger. Oertlinger allegedly fears that she could end up homeless due to not having the money to pay rent, while Osvaldo is refusing to act as a guarantor. Gianluca, the son, has put a restraining order on him, Oertlinger said. 'Daniel Osvaldo, do you know what he has today in Argentina? Zero, he filed for bankruptcy. But he has a hidden fortune of more than 40 million dollars, and Ana Oertlinger is going after that fortune, to collect what he owes her,' said panellist Diego Estevez. Cora Debarbieri added: 'She (Oertlinger) is going through a very particular situation, because today is a crucial day for her, as she has to renew her rental contract; otherwise, she would unfortunately be out on the street.' Recently, Osvaldo posted a romantic restaurant picture across the table from Gianinna Maradona, daughter of Diego. 'I love you,' he wrote. It has been a turbulent time for her amid the trial of even of Maradona's medical team for 'cuplable homicide' after the 1986 World Cup winner died following a heart attack aged 60 in 2020. They deny the charges. Evidence heard in court suggested that Maradona's worsening condition - including a deformed heart which swelled to double that of a regular size - would have been visible to attentive medical professionals days before his death. Osvaldo has often been seen as an uncontainable figure. Roma suspended him in 2011 for punching team-mate Erik Lamela, while Southampton got rid of him after he headbutted Jose Fonte in training. Boca Juniors also terminated his contract for smoking in the dressing room, while he later quit a second term there as he said he preferred 'asado [Argentine barbecue] and beer to money'. Lore has it that he once turned down a move to Sevilla to ensure he could attend a festival, and he retired aged 30 to become a rockstar. In an interview, the towering forward described the move as 'liberating' and revealed his unhappiness playing football as he turned attentiont to his band, Barrio Viejo. But in another twist, earlier this month, he made his return to football after nine years to play for amateur Argentine club Huracan, where he began his career in 2005.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Only one Juventus player sent message to Thiago Motta after sacking
Samuel Mbangula has been the only Juventus player to send a social media message to Thiago Motta since the Bianconeri announced the coach's sacking on Sunday. Juventus fired their coach, Thiago Motta, on Sunday and replaced the ex-Italy international with their former defender, Igor Tudor. The Croatian tactician drove over 1,000 km from Split to arrive in Turin on Sunday. On Monday afternoon, he will lead his first training session at Continassa. Motta thanked Juventus, including the players, with a brief statement on Monday, but only one Juventus footballer shared a public message to bid farewell to the departing coach. As reported by Gazzetta dello Sport, only Belgian talent Mbangula sent a social media message to his former boss after his sacking. 'Thank you for everything, coach. I will never be able to thank you enough for believing in me from day one and for allowing me to achieve part of my dream, the most important part, in any case,' said the winger. 'Since you arrived, you have always wanted the best for us, and you have shown it. I wish you all the best for the future.' Mbangula made his senior Juventus debut and scored a goal in the opening game of the campaign against Como. Multiple sources in Italy have reported that Motta had lost control of the dressing room with many unhappy players, including Federico Gatti, Dusan Vlahovic and Andrea Cambiaso.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thiago Motta breaks silence after Juventus sacking
Thiago Motta admits he faced 'intense moments' at Juventus with 'maximum determination' and thanks the ownership, the directors and the players the day after being sacked. Juventus confirmed Motta's sacking and Igor Tudor's appointment on Sunday. The Bianconeri sit fifth in the Serie A table and have already been eliminated from the Champions League and the Coppa Italia. Reports in Italy claim Motta was informed about Juventus' decision on Sunday while he was taking a few days off with his family in Portugal. The ex-Italy international released a brief comment to ANSA on Monday morning. 'I have experienced intense moments, always facing them with maximum determination and the desire to improve every day,' said the ex-Juventus coach. 'I thank the ownership for giving me the opportunity to be part of this great club, the management, and all the people at the club who have supported me in my daily work. 'I also thank the players for their effort and commitment from day one. I wish the fans and Juventus all the best for the future.' Motta had signed a contract until 2027 last summer, but his stay at the club lasted barely nine months. Poor results and a bad relationship with part of the dressing room led to his dismissal with nine games left to be played in Serie A. His successor Igor Tudor arrived at Continassa on Sunday night and will lead his first training session on Monday afternoon.
