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      Who is Champions League draw host Reshmin Chowdhury and is she married?

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      RESHMIN Chowdhury is one of football’s most popular pundits.But who is she and is she married? From her sporting success to her family life – here’s everything you need to know about Champions League draw host Reshmin Chowdhury.

      Instagram / @reshmintv

      Reshmin Chowdhury reporting from the Champions League final Who is Reshmin Chowdhury?
      Reshmin Chowdhury is a British sports journalist, broadcaster, and event host, who has enjoyed a stunning broadcast career after making a name for herself working for Real Madrid from 2008 to 2010.
      Since then, she has worked for BBC Sport, Uefa, ITV, Discovery, Fifa, BT Sport, beIN Sport, talkSPORT and TNT Sports.
      She has also presented the Champions League draw, revealing the perils of the draw in a 2019 column for SunSport.
      In 2015 Chowdhury won the Media Award at the Asian Football Awards. More

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      Supercomputer predicts Champions League winners after last 16 draw as holders Man City land dream Copenhagen tie

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      MANCHESTER CITY have been backed to retain the Champions League trophy following their dream draw. The English and European champions face Copenhagen while rivals Arsenal play Porto.

      Following the draw, OLBG’s supercomputer ran its algorithm after compiling data from all group stage results.
      And they tip Pep Guardiola’s City with a huge 49 per cent chance of winning it all.
      Bayern Munich – with star striker Harry Kane in fine form – come in at second with just an 18 per cent chance.
      Real Madrid are placed third with 14 per cent while Arsenal are fourth at nine per cent, above even PSG.
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      The Gunners’ current squad will be in unfamiliar territory despite the club’s affinity with the last 16 under Arsene Wenger.
      North London’s Arsenal last competed in the last 16 in 2017 but they have failed to make it beyond that stage since 2010.
      City have made two of the last three finals and are looking to become the first English side since Nottingham Forest in 1979 and 1980 to win the title in back-to-back seasons.
      The last time they failed to progress past the round of 16 was in 2016/17, Guardiola’s first season in charge.
      Most read in Champions League

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      Elsewhere, ex-Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham will be returning to Germany to face RB Leipzig with Real Madrid.
      Bayern and Kane will be up against Lazio in their own tie.
      And there is also a tasty tie between last season’s Serie A and La Liga winners in Napoli and Barcelona. More

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      Champions League draw LIVE: Latest reaction as English giants Arsenal land former winners while Man City get dream tie

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      THE draw for the last-16 of the Champions League has concluded at the Uefa headquarters in Switzerland.Premier League giants Arsenal will face a tough trip to former winners Porto while Manchester City will take on Copenhagen.
      Jude Bellingham and Champions League kings Real Madrid will play German side RB Leipzig.

      TV channel: TNT Sports 1
      FREE live stream: Uefa’s official website/app

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      Follow our live blog below…
      Madrid blow
      Real Madrid will likely be without David Alaba for their clash against Lazio.
      Madrid confirmed Alaba had suffered a torn ACL in a statement.
      It read: “Following tests carried out on our player David Alaba, he has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
      “He will undergo surgery in the coming days.”
      Credit: Getty
      ‘Let’s go’
      Thomas Muller has taken to social media following the Champions League draw.
      He said: “Rome we are coming, let’s go FCB!”
      Credit: Twitter
      Vieira homecoming
      Fabio Vieira will face some familiar faces when Arsenal take on Porto.
      The midfielder joined the Gunners from the Portuguese giants in 2022.
      Credit: Getty
      Inzaghi reacts to draw
      Simone Inzaghi has reacted to seeing Inter Milan be drawn against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
      He will come face to face with Diego Simeone who he used to be team-mates with at Lazio.
      It will be a great round of 16 clash, with two top teams in two beautiful stadiums in front of packed houses.
      We are happy because we continue to take part in big European games consistently.
      Atletico have played two finals in the last ten years and have a great history in this competition, our club is no different and we want to try to dream again to give our fans further joy.
      The Atletico boss is Diego Simeone, a great coach who I have an excellent relationship with. I won a lot with him, including a league title with Lazio.
      Now it’s time to focus on the upcoming month, though: we have some big league matches as well as the Coppa Italia Italian Super Cup.
      After that, we will start to think about preparing for these two big games: they will be two battles, we’ll have to work hard to be ready.Simone Inzaghi
      Deco on Barcelona draw
      Deco has reacted to Barcelona’s round of 16 draw against Napoli.
      He said: “There is still time to go but they are league champions, like we are, and I believe we will see two tough games.
      “There is no luck in the Champions League.
      “We are talking about Napoli, league champions, and they have quality players.
      “In football talking about luck does not make sense.” 
      Bayern react to draw
      Bayern Munich stars Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller have reacted to the round of 16 draw against Lazio.
      Neuer said: “It’s an Italian team, who are always set up well tactically. We’ve already got positive experiences against Lazio.
      “We go into the games as favourites but can’t underestimate them. I have very positive memories of the stadium.
      “The fans in Italy are always very loud. Everyone’s looking forward to the matches. We’ll try to win both games.”
      Muller added: “I’m excited about the draw. It’s an exciting city. Lazio as a club are always interesting.
      “When you’re through to the round of 16, you’ve done a good job. It’s an old, famous stadium that’s seen so many battles in the past.
      “We’re focusing on the job. It’s a nice one to face.”
      Credit: Getty
      Terry backing Madrid
      John Terry has backed Real Madrid to win the Champions League title.
      Following the draw, he said: “I think team-wise you have to look at Real Madrid.
      “For me, I think they have been fantastic, probably for the last seven or eight years in the competition and are always there.
      “I think Bellingham has been incredible as an individual and they obviously have a fantastic manager in Carlo who I worked alongside for many years at Chelsea.
      “He’s a great man manager, so the players love him, great tactically and I think they will go a long way.”
      Credit: AP
      Recap of the draw
      Here is the draw in full…
      Porto v Arsenal
      Napoli v Barcelona
      PSG v Real Sociedad
      Inter Milan v Atletico Madrid
      PSV v Borussia Dortmund
      Lazio v Bayern Munich
      Copenhagen v Man City
      RB Leipzig v Real Madrid
      More from Edu
      Edu has also insisted that Arsenal need to “maintain” the performances in order to progress in the competition.
      He added: “The most important thing for us is to maintain our performances and the way we are playing.
      “That’s our focus, that’s where we want to be and want to keep growing, so let’s see how far we can go in the competition.
      “We want to try and go as far as possible, but we are very much concentrating on playing well, performing well and playing the best football we can, and then we’ll see how far we go.”
      More from Begiristain
      Txiki Begiristain has also insisted that Man City “know” how to win the Champions League.
      He added: “We know what it takes now to win this Champions League and we want to do it again,”
      “We finished top of the group, and we have played well in Europe.
      “Once we are in the knockout rounds, we have to understand why we are. The respect for all the contenders is huge.
      “But, of course, all the opponents will be difficult and the first one we have to work on is Copenhagen.”
      Credit: PA:Press Association
      City need to be ‘careful’
      Director of football Txiki Begiristain has also reacted to Manchester City’s round of 16 draw against Copenhagen.
      He said: “In the group phase they played against Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Manchester United and they went through. They were the second-best team in the group so it means a lot.
      “They have been better than Manchester United and Galatasaray, two clubs with a much more experience in the Champions League than them. So we have to be careful.
      “We have to take it seriously and respect what they have done. They have something very good.
      “We have already played Copenhagen (in the Champions League last season) so we go back to Copenhagen which is a wonderful place to visit.
      “They played very well at home but what happened two years ago means nothing.”
      Europa Conference League draw

      Sturm Graz vs Slovan Bratislava
      Servette vs Ludogorets
      Union Saint-Gilloise vs Eintracht Frankfurt
      Real Betis vs Dinamo Zagreb
      Olympiacos vs Ferencvaros
      Ajax vs Bodo/Glimt
      Molde vs Legia Warsaw
      Maccabi Haifa vs Gent

      Aston Villa will head straight into the round of 16.
      Edu reacts to draw
      Edu has reacted to Arsenal’s draw against Porto in the Champions League round of 16.
      Speaking after the draw, he said: “We are going to play against a club that is very used to playing in the competition because they play in it every single year and they have a lot of players as well with big experience.
      “We have to understand how are we going to play and respect them as much as we can. We will play our game and see if we can go through this stage.
      “We can see how they are playing, how organized they are, and the players that they have. Porto is a club that you have to be really prepared to play against or we’ll have problems, so what we have to concentrate on is maintaining our levels and the way we are playing.”
      Credit: Sunday Times
      Champions League top scorers
      Despite not making it past the group stages, Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojund is among the Champions League top scorers.
      The Danish striker netted five times in the groups, equal to Alvaro Morata, Antoine Griezmann and Erling Haaland.
      Who will finish the campaign with the most goals?

      Supercomputer prediction

      A supercomputer has predicted Arsenal to win the Champions League.
      The Gunners returned to the competition this season for the first time since 2016/17.
      But it is like Mikel Arteta’s side have never been away as they picked up four wins from their six group matches.
      They even qualified with a game to spare after thrashing Ligue Un side Lens last month.
      Now a supercomputer devised by OLBG has predicted the Gunners to win the Champions League after compiling data from all group stage results ahead of the round of 16.

      Top assister
      Bukayo Saka has impressed in his debut campaign of the Champions League.
      The Arsenal star has assisted the most amount of goals [4] in the competition.
      Will he impress in the knockout stages?

      Jesus’ Champions League dream

      Gabriel Jesus has previously admitted that he wants to win the Champions League with Kai Havertz, having lost out on the cup to the German in 2021.
      He said: ”A lot, we are always joking that he [Havertz] won the Champions League against me and I always say I want to win one with him!”
      ”We always joke [about it], but now I want to win with him and Jorginho as well. He is an amazing player and the way he plays he is so strong and tall, with his quality as well he helps us a lot.
      ‘Quietly like me, he is always fighting and helping the team and the way this guy has arrived is massive. We are very happy we have him.”

      Europa League preliminary round draw
      Here is the complete draw for the Europa League preliminary round.

      Shakhtar v Marseille
      Galatasaray v Sparta Prague
      Braga v Qarabag
      Benfica v Toulouse
      Young Boys v Sporting Lisbon
      Lens v Freiburg
      Milan v Rennes
      Feyenoord v Roma

      The winners could face the likes of Liverpool, West Ham and Brighton in the following round.
      When will the draw be confirmed?
      Uefa have confirmed that the exact date and times of the round of 16 matches will be announced this evening.
      Credit: Reuters
      Full story of the draw
      Check out SunSports’ full story on the Champions League draw.

      Vieira homecoming
      Fabio Vieira will face some familiar faces when Arsenal take on Porto.
      The midfielder joined the Gunners from the Portuguese giants in 2022.
      Credit: Getty
      More fan reaction
      Football fans have been left fuming after the Champions League draw for the Last 16 was picked this morning.
      Supporters suggested that the random draw was “rigged” after Manchester City were picked against the “easiest” team in the pot and Arsenal were handed a tough tie.
      The Cityzens were drawn against Copenhagen, while Arsenal will face Porto who won the competition back in 2004.
      Copenhagen are ranked as the 37th best team in Europe according to Uefa’s own club coefficient.
      While Manchester City are considered the best team in Europe off the back of their Champions League success last season.

      Man City record vs Copenhagen
      Manchester City face Copenhagen in the Champions League round of 16.
      City beat the Danish side once in the group stages last season 5-0, drawing the other game 0-0.
      City also beat Copenhagen in the Uefa Cup 4-3 on aggregate back in 2009.
      Credit: Rex
      More on Porto’s CL history
      The Portuguese giants have won the Champions League twice in the club’s history.
      Porto first won the tournament in 1987 and again in 2004.
      The second victory was when the club was managed by Jose Mourinho.
      Credit: Getty
      Arsenal fans react to draw
      Arsenal fans have been reacting to their Champions League draw against Porto on social media
      One fan posted: “One of those teams that are exceptionally fiddly to eliminate but you’d make Arsenal strong favourites.”
      A second wrote: “Lol we are winning this comfortably at home.”
      Another added: “They’ve got some decent players. Good keeper. Won’t be easy.”
      Credit: AP More

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      Furious fans say Champions League draw is ‘rigged’ as Man City get ‘easiest’ tie but Arsenal face previous winners

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      FOOTBALL fans have been left fuming after the Champions League draw for the Last 16 was picked this morning.Supporters suggested that the random draw was “rigged” after Manchester City were picked against the “easiest” team in the pot and Arsenal were handed a tough tie.
      John Terry was picking the teams for the Champions League last 16 drawCredit: Reuters

      The Cityzens were drawn against Copenhagen while Arsenal will face Porto who won the competition back in 2004.
      Copenhagen are ranked as the 37th best team in Europe according to Uefa’s own club coefficient.
      While Manchester City are considered the best team in Europe off the back of their Champions League success last season.
      Fans were quick to offer their opinions on the favourable draw that was picked out by Chelsea legend John Terry.
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      Taking to social media, one wrote: “This is so rigged.”
      While another added: “The draw is always rigged for Man City, that’s so sad.”
      A third chimed in saying: “Of course City get Copenhagen, it’s so rigged”
      A fourth suggested it was the easiest tie that Pep Guardiola’s side could have got, writing: “Man City always getting easy opponents.”
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      There is no suggestion the draw was in any way fixed.
      Copenhagen earned their place in the last 16 after finishing second in Group A ahead of Manchester United.
      The Danish side took three points off the Red Devils winning 4-3 and losing 1-0 Erik ten Hag’s struggling side.
      The full draw was announced as Europe’s elite prepare to face off against each other for a place in the quarter finals.
      The fortunate draw for Man City carries on a recent trend for Guardiola’s side.
      Their opponents at this stage of the competition in the last four years read Copenhagen, RB Leipzig, Sporting Lisbon and Borussia Monchengladbach.
      City came through all of those ties.
      Man City’s previous Last 16 opponents
      2023/34 – FC Copenhagen
      2022/23 – RB Leipzig
      2021/22 – Sporting Lisbon
      2020/21 – Borussia Monchengladbach

      Manchester City will face Copenhagen as they look to retain the trophy this yearCredit: AFP
      Arsenal will face Porto after topping their groupCredit: AFP More

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      Champions League draw in full as Arsenal land former winners and holders Man City handed dream tie

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      ARSENAL and Manchester City have learned who they will face in the Champions League last 16.After both sides topped their respective groups – the last time we will see the format ahead of its change to the Swiss Model next season – they have now found out their opponents for the first knockout round.
      Clubs have learned their fate in the last 16 draw of the Champions LeagueCredit: Reuters
      Arsenal have found out their Champions League opponents for the last 16Credit: Getty
      Man City are looking to retain the titleCredit: AFP
      Arsenal have been drawn against two-time winners Porto.
      Meanwhile, holders Man City have been drawn against Copenhagen.
      The Gunners’ current squad will be in unfamiliar territory despite the club’s affinity with the last 16 under Arsene Wenger.
      The North London side last competed in the last 16 in 2017.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      However, they have also failed to make it beyond that stage since 2010.
      Arsenal topped a group with PSV, Lens and Sevilla.
      Meanwhile, Man City have made two of the last three finals and are looking to become the first English side since Nottingham Forest in 1979 and 1980 to win the title in back-to-back seasons.
      The last time they failed to progress past the round of 16 was in 2016/17, Guardiola’s first season in charge.
      Most read in Football
      Man City topped a group with RB Leipzig, Young Boys and Red Star.

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      Elsewhere, Jude Bellingham will be returning to Germany to face RB Leipzig with Real Madrid.
      Bayern Munich talisman Harry Kane will be up against Lazio in their own tie.
      There is also a tasty tie between last season’s Serie A and La Liga winners in Napoli v Barcelona.
      The poor performance of Manchester United and Newcastle – who both finished bottom of their groups – mean how the two remaining English sides do is important for the Premier League to land a fifth Champions League spot.
      From next season an expanded format will hand the two top performing nations in European competitions, including the Europa League and Conference League, an additional place.
      Two more places will be determined by the Uefa coefficient. More

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      Champions League last-16 draw: UK start time, teams, TV channel, stream, full schedule for knockout fixtures

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      ALL eyes have now turned to the Champions League last-16 draw following the end of the group stage.Holders Manchester City go into the last-16 after maintaining a 100% record in Group G as Pep Guardiola’s side look to win defend their European Cup.
      Man Utd crashed out of Europe after a limp defeat to Bayern MunichCredit: Getty
      Micah Hamilton scored twice as holders Man City maintained their 100% win recordCredit: Getty
      Arsenal sailed through as Group B winners, while Manchester United crashed out of Europe following a limp 1-0 defeat to Bayern.
      Newcastle United will also miss out on the knockout stages – and the Europa League – after losing their all-important group stage finale against AC Milan at St James’ Park.
      But for Arsenal and Man City fans, when exactly is the Champions League draw?
      When is the Champions League last-16 draw?

      The Champions League Last 16 draw on Monday, December 18.
      It is scheduled to get underway at 11am GMT – 12pm local time.
      The huge draw will take place in Nyon, Switzerland.
      Group winners are set to face runners-up in other groups unless they play in the same country.

      Read more in Champions League
      How can I watch it for FREE?

      Fans can watch the Champions League last-16 draw for FREE on UEFA.com.
      Alternatively, tune into SunSport’s live blog which will have the latest updates as the draw is announced.

      What teams will be in the Champions League last-16 draw?

      Bayern Munich (GER)*
      Copenhagen (DEN)**
      Arsenal (ENG)*
      PSV (NED)**
      Real Madrid (ESP)*
      Napoli (ITA)**
      Real Sociedad (ESP)*
      Inter Milan (ITA)**
      Atletico Madrid (ESP)*
      Lazio (ITA)**
      Borussia Dortmund (GER)*
      PSG (FRA)**
      Man City (ENG)*
      RB Leipzig (GER)**
      Barcelona (ESP)*
      Porto (POR)**

      *Confirmed group winners**Confirmed group runners-up
      When do the Champions League last-16 matches take place?
      The round of 16 will be played over the course of four weeks
      Most read in Champions League
      First legs: 13/14/20/21 February 2024
      Second legs: 5/6/12/13 March 2024 More

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      The best managers available for free including Champions League winning bosses as pressure mounts in Premier League

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      IT’S that time of year in the Premier League.Despite the cold weather, the heat on the managers could not be more intense as we head into the hectic Christmas-New Year period.
      Pressure is mounting on under-fire bosses such as Erik ten Hag and Mauricio PochettinoCredit: AP
      Games come thick and fast and a few bad results could see some trigger-happy owners taking aim.
      With that in mind, there are a number of top managers who are without a job who could be snapped up as replacements.
      They include Champions League and Premier League title winners.
      Here, we take a look at 10 notable out of work bosses who a club could turn to…
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      Graham Potter
      Graham Potter built up credit with Ostersunds and Brighton before he flopped at ChelseaCredit: PA
      Graham Potter has been without a club since being sacked by Chelsea in April after having the worst win rate of any permanent manager in the club’s history.
      However, Potter has already proven himself capable of leading a project forward, with his time at Ostersunds and Brighton clear examples of this.
      And with Chelsea still in disarray long after his exit, his time at Stamford Bridge is not looking quite so bad.
      Antonio Conte
      Antonio Conte has won multiple league titles in Italy and won the title in England with ChelseaCredit: AFP
      Antonio Conte left Tottenham in March of this year after an acrimonious fallout with the club.
      Most read in Football
      However, multiple league titles in Italy and a Premier League in England with Chelsea show the Italian tactician is more than capable of picking up the pieces somewhere.
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      Julen Lopetegui
      Julen Lopetegui won the Europa League with Sevilla in 2020Credit: PA
      Julen Lopetegui is one of the most recent additions to the list, having walked out on Wolves in August over frustration with the club’s lack of spending to try and stay in the top flight.
      Despite less than impressive spells at Real Madrid and Spain, he showed his tactical nous by helping Wolves avoid the drop last season and guiding Sevilla to the Europa League in 2020.
      Ruud van Nistelrooy
      Ruud van Nistelrooy won two trophies at PSV before leaving just before the season endedCredit: Getty
      A new addition to the senior managerial game generally, Manchester United icon Ruud van Nistelrooy managed PSV to an impressive Eredivisie season last year while also winning two trophies en route.
      However, he walked out on the club with one game of the season to go citing a lack of support from the board.
      Andre Villas-Boas
      Andre Villas-Boas left his last job at Marseille due to transfer policy differencesCredit: Getty
      Tottenham and Chelsea fans will both remember Andre Villas-Boas following his less-than-impressive spells in England.
      His Marseille stint was far more successful though, guiding them into the Champions League for the first time in six years and beating Paris Saint-Germain for the first time in nine, though differences in transfer strategy ultimately saw him resign in 2021.
      Joachim Low
      Joachim Low won the World Cup with Germany in 2014Credit: Getty
      Joachim Low has been without a job since leaving the German national team in 2021.
      He has spent 15 years at the helm, lifting football’s ultimate prize – the World Cup – in 2014 and the Uefa Confederations Cup in 2017.
      Ralph Hassenhuttl
      Ralph Hassenhuttl shares the same football tactics philosophy as Jurgen KloppCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
      A manager cut some from the same cloth as Jurgen Klopp who favours the “Gegenpressing” style of football, Ralph Hassenhuttl had impressive spells in Germany’s lower tiers before guiding RB Leipzig to second place in their first-ever Bundesliga season.
      A nearly five-year spell at Southampton would follow, where he would help the Saints avoid Premier League relegation despite the club’s best players being poached without being properly replaced before he was sacked in November 2022.
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked by Man Utd months after making the 2021 Europa League finalCredit: Getty
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been without a job since his sacking at Man Utd in late 2021.
      A second-place finish in the league and making it to the Europa League final the season before counted for nothing as he was sacked after the club’s form fell off a cliff.
      Those achievements in light of United’s recent fall from grace are looking all the more impressive however.
      Hansi Flick
      Hansi Flick won the continental treble at Bayern Munich for the second time in their historyCredit: AP
      Hansi Flick has had a short but sweet club managerial career at the top of football, winning the Treble in 2020 for just the second time in Bayern Munich’s history.
      However, after leaving them for the German national team as Low’s successor, Flick made history by becoming the first-ever boss to be sacked from the position.
      Read more on The Sun
      Zinedine Zidane
      Zinedine Zidane has hinted he will be returning to management soonCredit: AFP
      Having won the Champions League an unprecedented three times in a row with Real Madrid, it beggars belief how Zinedine Zidane has not returned to management yet despite heavy links.
      Between 2016 and 2021 – which accompanied a short break – Zidane won three Champions League titles and two LaLiga titles but he has recently hinted at his possible return, telling RMC Sport in October: “I will be back soon. Wait, wait a little bit.” More

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      Man Utd tried to sign Luka Modric but just missed out on future Ballon d’Or winner transfer, Harry Redknapp reveals

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      MANCHESTER UNITED’S legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign Luka Modric during his final few years at Old Trafford.That is according to SunSport columnist Harry Redknapp, who revealed Ferguson was “calling about” Modric before his retirement in 2013.
      Manchester United tried to sign Luka Modric but missed outCredit: AFP
      Modric played under Harry Redknapp when he was Tottenham managerCredit: AFP
      However, “for various reasons” Sir Alex couldn’t seal the deal and the star midfielder stayed with Tottenham for four years under Redknapp when he was manager at White Hart Lane.
      The Croatia legend quickly turned into one of the sport’s greatest ever players under the popular gaffer and went to Real Madrid in 2012 to win five Champions League titles and the 2018 Ballon d’Or.
      The ex-West Ham boss also admitted Fergie was keen to land Paolo Di Canio when he also shone bright under Redknapp at Upton Park.
      But a move for Di Canio also didn’t work out at a time when it was mainly the manager who scouted for talent compared to the modern times where clubs rely on team officials, like sporting directors.
      Read More on Man Utd
      Redknapp told SunSport: “I remember Fergie calling about Luka Modric and Paolo Di Canio, but for various reasons he couldn’t get the deals done.”
      Modric amassed a total of 17 goals and 25 assists in 160 appearances across his four-year stint at Tottenham.
      The now 38-year-old shone bright in north London next to other top stars, such as Gareth Bale, who also followed him at Real.
      United really missed out as the Croat then registered a staggering 37 goals and 79 assists in 506 appearances for Los Blancos.
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      Modric also led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup Final where they lost to France.
      The midfield maestro also took his country to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals in Qatar, where they finished third.
      And he is still active at Real despite his advanced age as he has made 13 appearances and played in five out of six Champions League group stage matches this season. More