After making an immediate impact as caretaker manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has taken over the reins at Manchester United on a permanent basis.
Since replacing Jose Mourinho in December, the Norwegian has wasted little time revitalising the dynamic attacking play that characterised so much of legendary manager Alex Ferguson s time at the club – something that had been sorely missing since the Scot retired in 2013.
Ferguson, who won 65.2 per cent of his 810 Premier League games in charge, had appeared to leave the Red Devils in a healthy state, having just won the title by 11 points, but a series of managers have found stepping into his shoes a thankless task.
Here, we take a look at the men who have been in the Old Trafford hot seat since Ferguson s departure…
Atletico Madrid talisman Antoine Griezmann is more difficult to defend against than Lionel Messi, according to Sporting CP head coach Jorge Jesus.
Sporting visit the Wanda Metropolitano in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday, with both clubs looking to salvage continental campaigns stunted by Champions League group-stage exits.
Jesus side finished third in a tough Group D topped by Barcelona, although the use of man-marking tactics proved effective in keeping Messi scoreless over two meetings.
However, the Sporting boss is adamant that approach would prove ineffective against the in-form Griezmann, who has netted 10 goals in his last seven club appearances.
I think [we will not use the same method] because Messi is very differ…
German international turned professional wrestler Tim Wiese claims he is fitter now than when he played regularly in the Bundesliga.
The former Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen and Hoffenheim goalkeeper retired in 2014 and has since pursued a career in professional wrestling.
He also won six caps for Germany between 2008 and 12.
He is due to make his in-ring WWE debut No
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v. 3 in Munich after being invited to join a training camp earlier this year.
Wiese says he trains for up to four hours a day to maintain his physique.
As a goalkeeper, you only have to walk around a bit in the workout, Wiese told Bild. But the weight is much bigger in wrestling, moving 120 kilos is more strenuous than 90.
He already sounds at home in …
Marseille will hope their Europa League final clash with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday brings to an end a sustained period of underachievement for what many would consider a sleeping giant of European football.
As a club, Marseille are no strangers to European finals, having won the Champions League in 1992-93, two years after finishing runners-up.
They also reached the final of the Europa League in its former guise as the UEFA Cup in 1999 and 2004, losing on both occasions.
However, before this season, Marseille have had a minimal impact on European competitions in the interim, with a quarter-final spot in the 2011-12 Champions League the best they have mustered.
They are once again on the verge of bringing a European trophy back to the Velodrome, but, as…
England manager Sarina Wiegman believes Beth Mead has “shown enough” to earn her recall to the squad for the Lionesses’ final Nations League fixtures.
It is a welcome return to the international fold for the 28-year-old Arsenal forward, who resumed club action last month after suffering an ACL injury last November and has now earned an England call-up for the first time in over a year.
Tottenham midfielder Grace Clinton and Manchester City goalkeeper Khiara Keating retain their places in the Lionesses’ 23-player squad, having received their first senior call-ups in October.
England play their final two games of the year, starting with the Netherlands at Wembley on December 1 before facing Scotland at Hampden Park four days later and Wiegman is delighted t…
Julian Nagelsmann has challenged Bayern Munich to send a message to their Champions League rivals by completing a group-stage double over Barcelona.
Hosts Barcelona are staring at elimination ahead of Wednesday s Group C clash at Camp Nou, where even victory might not be enough to keep them in the hunt for a last-16 spot – they need Viktoria Plzen to cause a shock against Inter in the other group game.
Bayern, however, are determined to take all three points, and head coach Nagelsmann said on the eve of the game his players should ignore the issues affecting their opposition.
We re already through to the next round, he said. To be honest, it s not important to me who else gets through. The only thing that matters to me is that we finish first.
We have…
Would a loan move be a good choice for Wilshere? / Image via herald.ie
Once the most exciting prospects in English football, the 24-year-old Arsenal midfield Jack Wilshere is in a moment that could be a defining one to his entire professional career.
Plagued by injuries and beleaguered by the impetuous pressure from the stands, Wilshere could be on the move out of Arsenal as Arsene Wenger is keen to help the midfielder revive his career.
Loan Out
Just 48 hours before the transfer window closes, Premier League side Arsenal have made it clear that their prized asset Jack Wilshere will be available for a loan in order to get first-team football and get his career back on track.
The England midfielder has struggled to cement a first-team place with both clu…
Lionel Messi is one of the most gifted athletes in history, believes former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.
The current Manchester City manager won a trio of LaLiga titles and lifted the Champions League twice with a Messi-inspired Barca team between 2008 and 2012.
Messi is reportedly close to signing a new long-term contract at Camp Nou and Guardiola said the way the Argentina international handles an extreme level of expectation places him among history s sporting elite.
He is one of the most privileged, gifted athletes of all time, Guardiola told Catalunya Radio.
I would like to enter his brain and find out how he can withstand the pressure like he has, with both Barcelona and Argentina on his back.
The whole world expects him to score three…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic must listen to his body as he ponders his future in football after an injury-hit season with Milan, according to legendary Italian striker Francesco Totti.
The Roma icon also compared Ibrahimovic s stop-start season to the end of his own playing career, although he acknowledged he was often benched despite not suffering from as many injuries as the Swede has.
Ibrahimovic could win his fifth Scudetto in the coming weeks, with Milan holding a slight advantage over Inter, Napoli, and Juventus at the Serie A summit, but has started just 11 of the Rossoneri s 32 league games this term.
The Sweden international, who missed out on the chance to represent his country at the 2022 World Cup after a play-off defeat to Poland last month, has impressed wh…
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In a real showdown between two European giants on Thursday night, Spain will welcome Portugal to the Estadio Benito Villamarin for their opening Nations League contest.
Spain
Starting with the hosts, after watching France lift the inaugural Nations League title back in October following a 2-1 defeat at the San Siro, Spain have managed to bounce back since then. Eventually cruising top spot in Group B after their World Cup qualifying run, Head Coach Luis Enrique finds his side marking their return to action in the midst of a four-match winning run. Last seen back in March when claiming back-to-back 5-0 and 2-1 victories against Iceland and Albania, the European giants have also won seven of their last eight matchups across all formats…