Sports

Tottenham Appoints De Zerbi As Tudor’s Replacement

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3 months ago

April 1, 2026

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Tottenham have confirmed the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as their new head coach.

He has been given a five-year contract, but all eyes are on the remainder of this season as he has been charged with keeping the club in the Premier League.

Spurs are one point and one place above the relegation zone with seven matches to play – the next of which is at Sunderland on Sunday week. There is no break clause in De Zerbi’s deal if Tottenham go down.

“I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world,” the Italian said.

“In all my discussions with the club’s leadership, their ambition for the future has been clear – to build a team capable of reaching great achievements and to do that playing a style of football that excites and inspires our supporters. I am here because I believe in that ambition.”

Spurs knew they had to part ways with their interim manager, Igor Tudor, after the home loss to Nottingham Forest on the Sunday before last, although the situation came to be coloured by personal tragedy.

Tudor learned of the death of his father, Mario, after the Forest game, and Spurs had to show sensitivity as he began to grieve. The club waited until Sunday before announcing his departure by mutual consent.

Tudor took one point from his five league matches after stepping in to replace Thomas Frank on 14 February.

Tottenham had started to explore contingencies for Tudor’s departure after his team slumped to a miserable home defeat against Crystal Palace on 5 March, and, at that point, De Zerbi was adamant he would not return to management until the summer, having left Marseille on 11 February. He needed a break after a turbulent spell at the French club.

Spurs had thought about appointing De Zerbi on several previous occasions, including in the summer of 2023 when they ended up turning to Ange Postecoglou, and after they sacked Frank on 11 February. Back then, it was not only De Zerbi’s refusal to jump straight back into work that influenced things.

Spurs were worried about the optics of his backing of Mason Greenwood, whom he signed at Marseille. The striker was charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault in 2022.

The Crown Prosecution Service discontinued the case after key witnesses withdrew their involvement and “new material came to light”. Spurs supporter groups made clear they did not want De Zerbi – a stance that has endured. Spurs indicated then that De Zerbi would not be an option. They have effected a U-turn.

So has De Zerbi in terms of returning to work during the season. He accepts that the situation at Spurs is a long way from ideal, but he was convinced by the strength and passion of their play for him, the financial package, and the extent to which he will be allowed to shape the squad in the transfer market.

De Zerbi concluded that it was too good an opportunity to pass up, being handed the keys to one of the wealthiest clubs in Europe.

Perhaps it also entered his thoughts that Tottenham might look to reappoint their former manager, Mauricio Pochettino, in the summer.

Pochettino is under contract with the USA side until after the World Cup finals tournament. By going to Spurs, now De Zerbi has essentially headed him off, although the club’s sporting director, Johan Lange, said that De Zerbi “was our No 1 target for the summer and we are very pleased to be able to bring him in now”.

De Zerbi has a reputation as a top‑level coach, admired by many of his peers – mainly for his daring and aggressive possession‑based approach and his ability to innovate.

Towards the end of De Zerbi’s first season at Brighton in 2022‑23 the Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, described him as “one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years”.

De Zerbi enjoyed success at Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk before he went to Brighton, where his first season was sensational.

He led the club to sixth in the Premier League – their highest finish – and qualification to the Europa League; another club first. They lost in the FA Cup semi-final on penalties against Manchester United.

In 2024-25, his first season at Marseille, De Zerbi finished second in Ligue 1 and qualified for the Champions League. When he departed, his 57% win ratio was the highest of any coach at the club this century.

De Zerbi’s reputation for volatility also precedes him, even if it is a part of how he energises a dressing room.

Spurs have done their due diligence on his time at Brighton, and they have been told how difficult he became towards the end of his second season, having publicly questioned the club’s ambition.

It felt as if he engineered his own departure. His spell at Marseille was pockmarked by blow-ups with players.

The most immediate question at Spurs will concern whether De Zerbi can hit the ground running – because time is of the essence. At Brighton, he took over in September 2022 from Graham Potter with the team fourth.

He failed to win any of his first five games, taking just two points, before his methods started to get home.

It is interesting to reflect on an interview with Lewis Dunk, De Zerbi’s captain at Brighton. “If I’m being honest, the first couple of weeks were horrendous … actually, I wouldn’t say horrendous, they were baffling,” Dunk said in September 2023. “He knows that we have spoken about it.

“Training changed dramatically. We worked on a lot of different stuff, and the first couple of weeks were a really hard transition. We were fourth when Graham left, and we were flying with him, and it was a strange time for him to go.

Then Roberto came in and [it was] a carnage for two weeks.”

Sports

USA Defeat Australia To Reach World Cup Last 32

Published

12 hours ago

June 20, 2026

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The United States advanced to the World Cup knockout rounds with a game to spare following an impressive 2-0 win over Australia Friday, stoking the hopes of an already hyped host nation.

The US join fellow tournament co-hosts Mexico as the first teams to progress and could be assured top spot in Group D if Turkey fail to beat Paraguay later Friday.

Excitement had been running high from last week’s US thrashing of Paraguay.

And a glorious day in the Pacific Northwest did not disappoint the red-and-white-clad fans who packed Seattle’s Lumen Field and its surrounding streets and bars.

Even before kickoff, chants of “USA” rocked a stadium best known as the raucous home of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, but also a US soccer hotbed that hosts the local Sounders.

Without injured talisman attacker Christian Pulisic, who failed to recover from a calf issue in time, coach Mauricio Pochettino switched to a 4-4-2 formation, bringing in second striker Ricardo Pepi.

For the second game running, the US were gifted an early lead, thanks to an own goal in the 11th minute.

Playing slightly wider than usual, star striker Folarin Balogun raced down the left and cut the ball back from the byline.

Under pressure from a lurking Pepi, Aussie defender Cameron Burgess steered the ball into his own net.

Toothless Australia

Having surprisingly dropped both goalscorers from their impressive opening win over Turkey, Australia looked toothless.

The US controlled possession and were lively and dynamic on the attack, Weston McKennie and Sergino Dest combining well down the right flank.

Alex Freeman doubled the US lead in the 44th minute from what was surprisingly his team’s first shot on target.

Taking a free kick from the right byline, Antonee Robinson ignored the scrum in the box and played the ball to Sergino Dest, wide open in the D, whose blocked shot looped up into the air.

Freeman — son of Super Bowl-winning NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman — was first to the ball, heading it past Patrick Beach. The offside flag went up. But it was overturned by VAR, and the stadium rocked for a second a time.

Australia made three changes at the break — sending on Connor Metcalfe and Nestory Irankunda, the goalscorers against Turkey — and pushed higher up the field.

They were nearly caught out immediately. Balogun raced onto a through ball for a one-on-one chance, but his shot was blocked after a heavy touch.

Australia’s best chance so far came in the 62nd minute. The dangerous Cristian Volpato — who switched allegiance from Italy to Australia on the eve of the tournament — skied his shot from Irankunda’s cut-back pass.

With the US sitting back, Metcalfe had a shot saved, a rampaging Irankunda was brought down by Richards, and Jason Geria’s close-range effort was blocked in a nervy final phase for the hosts.

But despite late-flaring tensions between the teams, the Americans held on for the clean sheet and will have the luxury of playing Turkey next Thursday, knowing their spot in the round of 32 is secured.

With home advantage and sparkling form so far, US fans will be dreaming of a run to the quarter-finals, which they last reached in 2002, and even beyond.

AFP

Sports

Moroccan football star Hakimi to face trial for alleged rape while playing in World Cup

Published

1 day ago

June 19, 2026

Austin Ojomah

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A French appeals court on Friday has confirmed that Moroccan football icon Achraf Hakimi will face trial for the alleged rape of a woman in 2023, which the Paris Saint-Germain defender denies.

In February 2023, a woman then aged 24 told police in the Val-de-Marne region southeast of Paris that Hakimi had raped her.

The PSG right-back and captain of the Moroccan national team, whose second match of the 2026 World Cup kicks off on Friday against Scotland, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Shortly after the Versailles Court of Appeal delivered its ruling, Hakimi wrote on X that he had been “waiting for this trial since day one.”

“At last, I’ll be able to speak,” he said.

A date has not been announced for the start of the trial at the criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department.

“This confirmation was expected. Nothing here says that he is guilty of anything; he remains steadfast in his defense,” Hakimi’s lawyer Fanny Colin said.

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, said the decision brought her client “relief and hope.”

The plaintiff said she met Hakimi in January 2023 on Instagram and went to his home in a taxi ordered by the player, a police source said at the time.

She claimed that the player kissed her, touched her without her consent and then raped her.

She said she managed to push him away and text a friend, who came to pick her up.

Speaking to the press for the first time in a Mediapart article published Thursday, the woman, using the pseudonym Jeanne, said she wanted a trial “to defend myself, to be heard”.

“I want to explain myself. I want people to believe me,” she added.

Sports

Premier League Fixtures: Arsenal To Start Title Defence Against Coventry

Published

1 day ago

June 19, 2026

Austin Ojomah

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Arsenal will begin their Premier League title defence against promoted side, Coventry, on August 21.

The Premier League fixtures for the 2026-27 campaign were released on Friday, with the Gunners’ home game against Frank Lampard’s Coventry among the highlights in the opening round of matches.Coventry are back in the top-flight for the first time in 25 years after winning the Championship last season.

Andoni Iraola’s first Premier League game as Liverpool manager will be at Newcastle on August 23.

Manchester City start life after Pep Guardiola at home to Bournemouth on August 23.

City are expected to appoint former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca to replace Guardiola, who stepped down at the end of the season after a decade in charge.

New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso begins his reign with a west London derby at Fulham on August 24.

Hull City, who won promotion via the Championship play-offs, begin their first Premier League season since 2017 with a home fixture against Manchester United on August 22.

Ipswich, promoted in second place in the Championship, host Sunderland on August 22.

Elsewhere on the first weekend, Europa League winners Aston Villa travel to Brighton.

Brentford host Tottenham, Everton welcome Crystal Palace and Leeds visit Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal, champions for the first time since 2004, face a testing period after they host Coventry.

Mikel Arteta’s side head to Villa for their first away league game of the season, then meet Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on September 5.

Trips to Sunderland and Brighton follow for the north Londoners.

The weekend of September 12 brings the first Manchester derby of the post-Guardiola era, while Liverpool host Manchester United on November 21.

City and Arsenal do not face each other until November 28 at the Emirates Stadium.

The first Merseyside derby of the season between Everton and Liverpool is scheduled for November 28 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Roberto De Zerbi will get his first taste of the north London derby on December 5 when Tottenham host Arsenal.

The pick of the Boxing Day schedule sees Coventry boss Lampard facing his old club Chelsea on December 26.

Liverpool travel to arch rivals Manchester United on January 23 and a week later City host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.

The final day of the Premier League will take place on May 30, with Arsenal at home to Brighton while City travel to Sunderland and Liverpool host Bournemouth.

Chelsea and United finish at home to Brentford and Fulham respectively.

The start and the end of the coming season are later than usual as a result of the World Cup, which finishes just 34 days before the Premier League begins.

Arsenal will face FA Cup winners City in the Community Shield, which serves as the curtain raiser to the top-flight season, on August 16.