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      Ruben Amorim’s backroom staff: Who are the coaches working alongside Man Utd boss?

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      RUBEN AMORIM is the sixth permanent manager Manchester United have appointed since club icon Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.The young Portugese coach follows David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford hot seat.Ruben Amorim joined Manchester United in November 2024Credit: GettyAmorim is highly thought of in the world of football after a very successful tenure at Sporting.In his first full season at the club, he guided the Portugese giants to a domestic double, including their first league title in 19 years.Sporting only suffered one defeat in Liga Portugal all campaign, which came on the penultimate weekend after they had already become champions.The season before Amorim joined Man Utd, he led the Lisbon club to a second league title in four years, developing some of the hottest talents in Europe, including goal machine Viktor Gyokores.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe 39-year-old will be hoping he can replicate his success at Sporting in Manchester and end the post-Sir Alex Ferguson struggles at the club.But who has Amorim brought along for the journey at the Red Devils?Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd backroom staffRuben Amorim has brought SIX members of his Sporting backroom staff to Man Utd.All six worked alongside the Man Utd boss during his four-year spell at the Portugese giants.Most read in FootballCarlos Fernandes is Ruben Amorim’s assistant at Manchester UnitedCredit: GettyCarlos Fernandes will be Amorim’s assistant head coach, the same job he occupied while working in Lisbon.The 30-year-old first linked up with the Red Devils gaffer at Casa Pia in 2018 – and the two have worked alongside each other since.In addition to Fernandes, Adelio Candido and Emanuel Ferro join Darren Fletcher and Andreas Georgson as Man Utd first-team coaches.Jorge Vital takes up the role of first-team goalkeeper coach – and will be assisted by Craig Mawson – while Paulo Barreira arrives as physical performance coach.Amorim has also brought 39-year-old analyst Eduardo Rosalino with him from Sporting. More

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      ‘He’s got to be the man, surely’ – Jeff Stelling names his favourite to replace Gary Lineker on Match of the Day

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      JEFF STELLING believes there is only one man up for the job of replacing Gary Lineker on Match of the Day.There are several candidates mooted to replace legend Lineker, who will step down after 25 years at the end of the season.Jeff Stelling believes Mark Chapman should be the next presenter of Match of the DayCredit: Getty Images – GettyChapman is the host of Match of the Day 2Credit: PAGary Lineker will step down after 25 years at the end of the seasonCredit: ReutersFormer footballers and presenters have been linked to the role but Stelling believes the BBC should appoint Mark Chapman.He pointed to Chappers’ good sense of humour, with the Match of the Day 2 host already familiar with several pundits too.Stelling told The Telegraph: “Chappers is the man for the job. Great presenter, nice sense of humour, good rapport with the guests, he’s got to be the man, surely.”Stelling, 69, knows all too well what it is like to step down as a presenter from an iconic role, having left Soccer Saturday after 25 years in 2023.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe now presents talkSPORT Breakfast but he saw big changes during his time at Sky Sports, including the departure of several close colleagues as the company sought to appeal to a new demographic.The BBC could adopt a similar strategy to finding Lineker’s replacement, something Stelling is sceptical of.He continued: “Demographics? I’ve never bought the stuff about a new demographic.“It’s a forlorn pursuit to look for a younger audience that probably aren’t interested in the programme anyway by having younger presenters, influencers, social-media types. I’ve never believed that was the way forward.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS“Call me old-fashioned, but I’ve always felt the way to attract an audience of any demographic is to make sure you put out a high-quality product. “If the programme is watched by mums and dads in their forties, make sure it is good enough so that when the new generation reach their forties it is something they want to watch.Gary Lineker will stop presenting Match of the Day the end of this season at and will quit Beeb by 2027“If I’m going to hear somebody talking about a football match, I’d rather it was somebody who had played the game and is able to see things people like me standing on the terraces can’t see, than is a big figure on social media.”Who could replace Gary Lineker as MOTD host?GARY LINEKER dropped the shock news that he is QUITTING Match of the Day.The popular presenter, 63, took over hosting duties on the flagship BBC programme from Des Lynam in 1999.But after more than 25 years in the studio hotseat, he has called time on his MOTD gig.But as part of a huge shake-up, the BBC is considering rotating the presenters on a weekly basis.So with Lineker vacating the chair, new names will step into his giant boots. But who could they be?MARK CHAPMANChapman, 51, is the obvious early favourite to follow on from Lineker as MOTD presenter.He already has the gig as MOTD2 host on a Sunday night plus landed the presenting job for the new BBC Champions League highlights show.ALEX SCOTTScott gets the nod from the Beeb bosses when Lineker is away.The former right-back, 40, is used to presenting the Saturday night show as well as live match coverage – plus ticks the box as a former England international.GABBY LOGANLike Scott, Logan, 51, is one of the understudies to step in when Lineker is not available.She has done most gigs since joining the BBC in 2007, including Olympics, Sports Personality of the Year and Final Score.MICAH RICHARDSLineker’s top pick to replace him is exuberant former Man City defender Richards.The departing host told his close pal, 36, on their Stick to Football podcast: “I’d love to see you take over Micah, I think you’d be brilliant in the chair.”JASON MOHAMMADMohammad could earn the “promotion” from Final Score to Match of the Day.The 51-year-old Welshman – who took over from Logan in 2013 – is one of the BBC’s top earners already and is more senior than fellow Final Score and BBC Sport broadcaster Kelly Somers, who could in theory become the main live host for the afternoon slot.JEFF STELLINGHe couldn’t, could he? While Lineker has been the face of Saturday night TV for football fans for years, the face of the afternoons was Stelling in his role as Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday presenter.He would bring plenty of on-screen charisma, wit and legendary TV expertise – but at nearly 70 and currently with talkSPORT, the Hartlepool fan would not be a cheap or long-term appointment. More

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      Liverpool and Newcastle set for Bryan Mbeumo transfer battle with Brentford hotshot seen as potential Salah replacement

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      LIVERPOOL and Newcastle are set to battle it out in a race for one of the Premier League’s hottest properties.The current league leaders and the Geordie giants are both tracking Bryan Mbeumo – whose form for Brentford this season has been electrifying.Bryan Mbeumo is a transfer target for both Liverpool and NewcastleCredit: PAEddie Howe has long been an admirer of the forward, who has scored eight goals in 11 Premier League starts this season.However, the Cameroonian hitman has now caught the attention of Arne Slot.He regards the Brentford forward as a brilliant option for Liverpool due to the versatility he offers.Like ex-cult hero Sadio Mane, the 25-year-old would be able to comfortably fit into any of the front three roles at Anfield.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLLiverpool have been scouting the forward all season and are now weighing up a summer move for the player.He’s even seen as a potential replacement for Mo Salah – whose future at Liverpool remains unclear.But the Merseysiders won’t have things all their own way.Scouts from St. James’ Park have also been watching the player, who Howe is believed to regard as his number one target.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSSunSport understands they’d even be willing to offer Callum Wilson as a potential makeweight in a deal should Brentford be willing to sell the £50million-rated player.A move for the Indomitable Lions star was mooted in the summer.’He bottled it,’ squeals Neville as Carragher gives updated title predictionHowever, a disappointing summer window on Tyneside followed with the club adding just Lloyd Kelly and William Osula as senior outfield players. They may reignite their interest in Mbeumo in January, but the Bees will be very reluctant to see one of their key men leave the club during the season.It’s also likely Newcastle will have to part with around £50m to sign him.Mbeumo’s stunning start to the campaign has helped limit the effects of Ivan Toney’s move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli. Toney moved to Saudi Arabia in the final few days of the summer window with the Bees netting £40m from his sale.Brentford manager Thomas Frank admitted in September that he expected Mbeumo to leave the club sooner rather than later following his blistering start to the season.He said: “He was our biggest miss for four months last year, even with Toney out.”He was our key player and has added another layer this season with five goals in six games. READ MORE SUN STORIES”That’s incredible and he’s creating chances. He’s a top player. I’m convinced he will play for a bigger club. I’d buy him if I was at a bigger club.“We convinced him to stay and he’s very happy. All our players might need to leave us one day but a lot of them are happy because we have a top environment, with good people. We push each other.”Transfer fees scrapped Q&A: How landmark ruling could mean NFL-style trades and stars suing for millionsFORMER Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra has won his landmark case at the European Court of Justice.SunSport’s Martin Lipton explains what it was all about – and what it might mean for the future of football…What was the case about?Diarra argued Fifa’s transfer rules were illegal after the world body backed Lokomotiv Moscow’s claim that he had broken his contract by refusing to train with them.Is that it?No. Belgian club Charleroi wanted to sign Diarra but were told they would have to pay the money he was fined by Moscow, while Fifa refused to issue an International Transfer Certificate unless they coughed up.Okay, so what does the ruling mean?Theoretically players will have the right to break their contracts and switch clubs without a fee changing hands – just like any employee in any other industry.Hang on – does that mean the END of transfer fees?Potentially, yes. Although players would have to want to move.We would basically end up with a US-style “collective bargaining” model where players would be free to move within transfer windows without impunity.Clubs might be able to “trade” players – swap deals – but with no extra cash changing hands.Is everybody agreed about this?Absolutely not. Fifa claimed the ruling “only puts in question two paragraphs of two articles” of its transfer regulations.Yet the Judges said the current rules were “prohibited” under EU law and “anti-competitive” as they “limit the freedom of action” of players to change employer.Read SunSport’s full Q&A with football on the brink of the biggest shake-up in 30 years… More

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      Premier League cult hero, 38, bizarrely leaves job as Ayia Napa FC manager after just TWO games

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      A former Premier League star has stepped down as manager of Ayia Napa FC after just TWO GAMES.The former Crystal Palace forward, 38, was only appointed head coach of the Cypriot second tier side at the end of October.The FA Cup finalist won both of his games in charge of Ayia Napa FCCredit: AlamyHe claimed back-to-back 1-0 wins before the international break, but has now suddenly parted ways with the side.It brings to an end his THIRD managerial stint in just over a year – following his retirement from playing in the summer of 2023.He departs with Ayia Napa ninth in the table.The man that has been dismissed is Jason Puncheon.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLA club statement read: “Ayia Napa Athletic Club announces the mutual agreement to terminate its partnership with coach Jason Puncheon.”They also confirmed assistant coach Christos Tsapatsoulis has left, before adding: “The board of directors wishes both the best in their professional careers.”Ayia Napa is a tourist resort on the southern coast of Cyprus and is famed among Brit partygoers for its thriving nightlife.All three of Puncheon’s managerial stints have come in Cyprus – with the previous two at Peyia 2014 and AEZ Zakakiou.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAs a player, he spent the best part of a decade in England’s top flight.He scored 24 Premier League goals and came off the bench for Palace in their 2016 FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United.Football icons’ strange hobbiesPrior to his seven-year spell at Selhurst Park, he had stints on loan at Millwall, Blackpool and QPR while with parent club Southampton. More

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      Watch awkward moment journalist tells Ghana manager ‘you are not good at coaching’ in fiery press conference

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      GHANA manager Otto Addo was told “you are not good at all” in a heated exchange with a journalist after failing to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.The Black Stars’ fate was sealed on Friday when they could only manage a 1-1 draw away in Angola.Ghana manager Otto Addo became embroiled in a row with a journalist after a lossCredit: XHe was told ‘you are not good at all’ by the reporter in the press conferenceCredit: XThen on Monday they suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Niger to extend their winless run to six matches as they finished bottom of their group.It means they will not compete in the next Africa Cup of Nations – which runs from December 2025 to January 2026.It is the first time since the 2004 tournament that Ghana have missed out on qualification for the finals.And things came to a head in Addo’s presser following the Niger loss.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAttempting to defend himself, the Ghana head coach said: “Two years of coaching and six months of scouting. Now I ask you what am I?”And during the scouting also I was coaching. I was not, I never stopped. What am I?”Shockingly, the journalist he was speaking to then responded with a damning put down.He replied: “Well I think your scouting is better than your coaching.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”So you are [more] good at scouting than coaching because the coaching you are not good at all.”Addo, who earned 15 caps as a Ghanaian player, is in his second spell as national team boss.Meet Aston Villa wonderkid Lamare Bogarde who has a famous uncleHe spent 10 months in charge in 2022, leading them to qualification for the World Cup.And while they were eliminated in the group stage, Addo made history by becoming the first Ghanaian coach to win a match at a World Cup in a 3-2 win over South Korea.He left after the tournament, but returned in March this year.He has taken charge of 10 matches in his second stint, winning just two. More

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      ‘She throws that in my face every day’ – Man Utd boss Amorim reveals his regret that wife Maria always brings up

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      RUBEN AMORIM shared his big regret that his wife Maria loves to tease him with.The new Manchester United boss is preparing for his first game in charge against Ipswich this weekend.Ruben Amiron revealed he is still teased by wife Maria over one thingCredit: D. RThe Man Utd boss shared his one big regretCredit: GettyIt has been a long journey to that position, from heartbreak at his release from Benfica as a teenager, to winning titles with the club he later re-joined in his career.His love for football and its priority in his life meant he was unable to complete his school exams – and he still regrets not having a better education.Amorim, 39, revealed he still gets teased by his wife, Maria Joao Diogo, for leaving school before taking his exams, aged 18.By then, the player who was released by Benfica as a youngster had already signed a professional contract with another Lisbon side, Belenenses.READ MORE ON MAN UTDAmorim told Portuguese paper Expresso: “I had an agreement with my mother.“I would continue at school until I signed a professional contract.“I signed when I was 17. Today, I regret it a lot. If I’d taken my exams, I could have done the 12th year.“I could also have entered a top college.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSRuben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man UtdWHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers. The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for.“My wife is an electrotechnical engineer and she throws that in my face every day.”Maria is also an interior designer and she married Amorim in 2013 – the couple have two children together.A look at the build-up to Ruben Amorim’s first match in charge of Man Utd The couple got married in 2013 in front of 160 guests at a beautiful ceremony at the Palácio de S. Marcos church in Coimbra.Together with Raquel Viana, she created Dois Tons, who offer interior, home staging, lighting, and turnkey projects as well as preparation of plans and layouts.Their website states that the objective is to design spaces in which “the client’s personality, needs and lifestyle become the pillar of the creative process”.Raquel Viana is the wife of Sporting Lisbon’s sporting director Hugo Viana.Viana will join Man City, where he will replace the departing Txiki Begiristain at the Etihad next season.Amorim and Viana’s wives run an interior design business together More

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      Man Utd joker Ruben Amorim is renowned for doing impressions of other managers and ‘clowning around’

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      NEW boss Ruben Amorim will be hoping to do more than just a good impersonation of a football manager at Manchester United.Yet behind the scenes, Amorim is known for being a good mimic.Ruben Amorim projects a laid-back and relaxed persona to the mediaCredit: GettyHe is known for doing impressions of other managers and generally joking aroundCredit: GettyIn fact, throughout his playing career at Belenenses and Benfica, Amorim was a massive joker and did impressions of his gaffers.And Amorim, 39, has kept his sense of humour.He said: “I’m a very jolly guy, but more within my closed circle. I was always given to clowning around — and I did it a lot.“I miss the changing room a lot because you are a child there. I only became an adult when I stopped playing football.READ MORE ON MAN UTD“But I’ve always played the clown and I’m good at imitating.“I often imitated Jorge Jesus [his ex-Benfica boss] and he knows it. Always with respect.“Once he went to a Uefa coaches meeting and missed training — and I took over training.“His assistant coach, the fitness coach, the physios, all came to see the session and see what I was like.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSWhat Man Utd said on hiring EACH of their post-Fergie managersDavid Moyes”All the skills needed to build on United’s phenomenal legacy.”Louis van Gaal”One of the outstanding managers in the game today.”Jose Mourinho”Quite simply the best manager in the game today.”Ole Gunnar Solskjaer “A wealth of experience, with a desire to give young players their chance and a deep understanding of the culture of the club.”Erik ten Hag”One of the most exciting and successful coaches in Europe.”Ruben Amorim “One of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football.”Amorim’s cousin, Bruno Simao, said: “He loves imitating people and is very good at it. He’s really funny.”But new Man Utd manager Amorim also learnt something serious from former boss Jesus — that players can sometimes be given too much information by a coach.Man Utd divide fans with new ‘school playground’ free kick routine days after Ruben Amorim announcementHe told Portuguese paper Record: “He wanted to give a lot of information, so you have to have more time training and watching more videos.“It improved the team but exhausted a lot of players, so every two years he had to clean out the squad. Players can’t always take so much information.“Some can handle that pressure and others can’t.“Jorge is a coach who is tiring. It’s a lot of intensity and tactical information, every day loaded on to the player.“I worked a lot of years with him and it’s obvious that I have a similar level of work ethic to him.“But we have different personalities. I’ll be hard without being tiresome.“You have to create a link with players, always leave them with a positive thought, happy about training, about playing, so that they can put in a good performance.“All players feel it, but they also feel a great will during the game, when things are going well and you’re winning because you’re comfortable and have all the information.“That helps you a lot to be a better player. If you know the opponent and know what you have to do in every situation in the game, you go more freely on to the pitch.“A football coach isn’t like an engineer where you do this and it’s always right. No, you need a lot of chemistry with the group you have.“If you don’t have chemistry, you have a bad result.”Yet Amorim believes all managers should avoid social media.And he told Maisfutebol: “I don’t look at anything, because I can’t look. Anyone who is a coach shouldn’t look.“It’s impossible to stand all the comments and all that information. That’s why I don’t have it.“At the start, when I started to fall in love with my wife, it also helped me to change my life a bit and disappear from social networks.“That stuff about Instagram and Facebook, it seems it started a long time ago.“But when I was single that didn’t exist and now I thank God for that!”While Amorim is preparing for his huge test in English football, he still regrets not having a better education.And the Old Trafford supremo revealed he still gets teased by his wife, Maria Joao Diogo, for leaving school before taking his exams, aged 18.By then, the player who was released by Benfica as a youngster had already signed a professional contract with another Lisbon side, Belenenses.Amorim told Portuguese paper Expresso: “I had an agreement with my mother.“I would continue at school until I signed a professional contract.“I signed when I was 17. Today, I regret it a lot. If I’d taken my exams, I could have done the 12th year.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I could also have entered a top college.“My wife is an electrotechnical engineer and she throws that in my face every day.” More

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      Stunning former Premier League Wag left shocked as she watches huge bear raiding her bins

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      A FORMER Premier League Wag was left horrified after a bear raided her bins.Stunning model, Evangelia Anderson, is married to ex-Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis.Evangelia Anderson has had a run-in with a huge bear after arriving in MexicoCredit: FacebookThe bear was filmed by her making off with a rubbish bagCredit: FacebookShe is married to former Manchester City star Martin DemichelisCredit: FacebookAfter hanging up his boots in 2017, the Argentine pursued a career in coaching which has led him to taking a job with CF Monterrey in Mexico.Evangelina, whom he married in 2015, has been busy on social media revealing how life in Mexico is going.However, she did not expect to find huge bears wandering their new neighbourhood after venturing down from nearby mountains in search of food.But that is exactly what happened in a recent video shared to her Instagram story that she filmed from her window on Saturday.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIt showed a large black bear rummaging through bins on the street outside.The bear is seen moving a white box into the road before picking out a bin bag and running off with it held in its jaws.Amazingly, this is not her first encounter with a wild bear either. In October she showed how a bear was seen lurking in bushes next to a house at night, while another video showed one sitting in the overgrowth next to a house.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSA third video showed a bear wandering through a construction site.Evangelina is the mother of three children with Demichelis.Erling Haaland does pull ups on cliff edge and runs with wolves as Man City ace stars in insane Beats by Dre advert They moved to Mexico after the 43-year-old was sacked from his role at River Plate.Demichelis won the Premier League and two League Cups with Man City between 2013 and 2016.His career also saw him star for River Plate, Bayern Munich, Malaga Atletico Madrid and Espanyol.He earned 51 caps for the Argentina national team, scoring twice. More