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      We played together before working alongside each other under Solskjaer – now we’re rivals battling for promotion

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      MICHAEL CARRICK knows he has his work  cut out trying to spring a surprise on Manchester United pal Kieran McKenna.Firstly, Middlesbrough could be without TEN players for the visit of high-flying Ipswich this afternoon.
      Carrick will be taking on his old pal this afternoonCredit: Shutterstock
      McKenna was a rising star in Utd’s backroom team under OleCredit: Leila Coker/Shutterstock
      Solskjaer is still to return to management after his time at United
      And even at full strength, Boro chief Carrick knows how hard it will be to get one over “one of the best coaches you could ever hope for”.
      The good mates met as Tottenham players before being reunited at United when McKenna, 37, took over as Under-18s coach while Carrick, 42, was nearing the end as a player.
      They then worked under both Jose  Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
      Ahead of  locking horns as bosses for the first time, Carrick said: “Of course, there is a temptation to try to catch him off guard.
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      “We worked in each other’s pockets  for so long at United — we emptied our football brains on to each other.
      “We helped prepare a team along with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for a number of years so we saw a lot of similar things to be able to work together.
      “You unload all of your knowledge on  to each other and feed off it, developing some sort of understanding. We certainly think in similar ways.
      “I picked his brains a lot and we ended up learning a bit from each other, though  I probably learned more from him than  he did from me!”
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      McKenna began his coaching path  when a hip injury forced him to retire, aged 22.
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      Fast forward 15 years and he is the envy of the Championship and attracting admiring glances from Prem clubs having propelled the Tractor Boys to second after going  up from League One last summer.
      Carrick said: “He has done an incredible job, which I am not surprised about one bit. He is one of the best coaches that  I have ever come across.
      “He’s got a very good football brain and eye for detail. His knowledge is just incredible in terms of what he  can store and remember.
      “On the grass he’s fantastic in how he structures his sessions. He’s just  an all-round top coach.
      “I knew from the start, when I first saw him working, how good he was with the youth teams and Under-18s at United when I was playing.
      “Then I got to work with him with  the first team — and I knew from that stage that he would go on to have a  terrific managerial career.
      “We speak a lot and are good friends. Who knows what is going to happen  with Kieran? I just know how good he is and what he is capable of.”
      Equally, McKenna sees Carrick as a pal and inspiration.
      He said: “Of course, the opposition manager is a good friend and someone I hold in the highest regard as a player, coach and, more importantly, as a person.
      “The full focus and respect has gone into preparing for a really good opponent.
      “I think we have very similar views on things, very similar views on football.
      “How we like the game to be played and quite a lot of things that we enjoy from a tactical point of view in terms of how we want our teams to go about things.
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      “So I think we share quite a lot of  viewpoints and a relationship in football that I feel like I’ve learnt and benefited from such a lot.”
      Carrick believes both  were given a great grounding at Old Trafford.He added: “I had some good and some more challenging times — and you learn from that as a player and coach.”  More

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      Sunderland interview little-known Swedish boss to become next manager after sacking Tony Mowbray

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      SUNDERLAND have approached Kim Hellberg in the search for a new manager, according to reports.The Black Cats surprisingly axed Tony Mowbray earlier this week despite the club being just three points behind the play-off places.
      Kim Hellberg has reportedly held talks over becoming Sunderland boss
      They have won just one of their last five games.
      Mowbray, 60, led the club to the play-off semi-final last year before losing to now Premier League side Luton.
      Academy coach Mike Dodds is currently in temporary charge but Hellberg has held talks with owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, claim The Times.
      The 35-year-old boss is without a job after leading IFK Varnamo to fifth in the Swedish top-flight.
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      Their season came to an end last month and Hellberg chose to resign, citing his desire for a new challenge.
      He has also been linked with the Hammarby job, who lost their boss Marti Cifuentes to QPR.
      Hellberg is a highly-rated young coach and he has made his way up the football pyramid.
      His career began when he won the fifth tier with Kimstad Golf.
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      He then moved to Kuddby IF and won two promotions in three years before climbing to the Swedish equivalent of the Championship and Prem.
      Sunderland also have Reims manager Will Still and Nice assistant Julien Sable on their radar. More

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      ‘Most beautiful girl in world’ and daughter of ex-Premier League star stuns in new pics as fans say ‘you look damn fine’

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      THYLANE BLONDEAU stunned fans with her latest Instagram upload.She is the daughter of Patrick Blondeau, who played for Sheffield Wednesday in the Premier League.
      The model posed in a bathroomCredit: Instagram @ thylaneblondeau
      She is one of the world’s most well known modelsCredit: Instagram @ thylaneblondeau
      And has over seven million followersCredit: Instagram @ thylaneblondeau
      She regularly keeps fans up to date on social mediaCredit: Instagram @ thylaneblondeau
      Thylane is one of the most in-demand models in the world and is signed to the IMG agency.
      Her looks on catwalks and editorial alike have seen her garner 7.3million followers on Instagram.
      And it’s on that platform that she posted her latest set of pictures.
      In the photos she paired a black cardigan with a black skirt.
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      She captioned the photo with a black heart emoji to match her ensemble.
      One fan commented: “You’re so beautiful”
      Another wrote: “Too beautiful.”
      A third commented: “Wow.”
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      The model has attended NBA games in the pastCredit: Instagram @ thylaneblondeau
      While a fourth wrote: “Ooh la la”
      And a fifth said: “You look damn fine.”
      Thylane’s dad, Patrick, 55, won two caps for France, joined Sheffield Wednesday from Monaco at the start of the 1997/98 Premier League campaign.
      He only spent one season with The Owls before heading home to sign for Bordeaux and then Marseille.
      However, he did return to England with Watford in the Championship in 2001 – just months after Thylane was born.
      And lives a jet-set lifestyleCredit: Instagram @ thylaneblondeau
      She always keeps fans up to date on InstagramCredit: Instagram @ thylaneblondeau
      Her father played for Sheffield WednesdayCredit: Instagram @ thylaneblondeau
      Her father played for WatfordCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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      Tottenham blow with Ange Postecoglou’s assistant leading race to take over as Swansea manager

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      CHRIS DAVIES is a leading candidate to replace Michael Duff as Swansea manager.The 38-year-old is senior assistant coach to Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham after spending years as Brendan Rodgers’ No2.
      Chris Davies is Ange Postecoglou’s No2 at SpursCredit: Rex
      The Aussie brought Davies to Tottenham as part of his staff in the summerCredit: Alamy
      Davies was close to taking over at the Welsh club before Duff was appointed boss of the Championship outfit back in June.
      The former Wales Under-19 player was an analyst at Swansea under Rodgers when the club won promotion to the Premier League in 2011.
      Davies followed Rodgers to Liverpool and also worked with the Northern Irishman at Celtic and Leicester.
      Swansea are on the hunt for a new boss after sacking Duff on Monday with the club lying 18th in the Championship.
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      They have just five wins from 19 games – and only one victory in the last eight.
      Duff’s assistant Martin Paterson was also shown the door.
      If the Swans opt to step up their interest in Davies, they would need to seek permission from Spurs and pay compensation to secure his services.
      Ex-Birmingham boss John Eustace and former Luton and Southampton chief Nathan Jones are both out of the running for the vacant post.
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      Alan Sheehan remains Swansea’s caretaker boss and is expected to be in charge for Saturday’s Championship game at Rotherham alongside coach Kristian O’Leary and goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson.
      Former Luton defender Sheehan moved to the Liberty in the summer after Russell Martin and his backroom staff departed for Southampton.
      Michael Duff was sacked after just 21 games in chargeCredit: Getty More

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      I played 33 minutes in the Premier League – now I’m slugging it out at my 25th club after transfer to seventh tier side

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      A FORMER Sheffield United striker is now plying his trade at seventh tier side Mickleover. Leon Clarke, 38, made two Premier League appearances in a career that spans across 25 different clubs.
      Clarke was promoted to the Premier League with Sheffield United in 2019Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      He also played for a host of Championship and League One sidesCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      The 38-year-old has racked up 153 professional career goals, with 60 of them coming in the Championship.
      During the proceeding years in League One, he scored 23 goals for Coventry City, before re-joining boyhood club Wolves on loan in 2015.
      He is dearly remembered for his Steel City derby brace against city rivals Sheffield Wednesday in 2017 in the Championship.
      Clarke finished United’s top scorer in 2017/18 and was named in the PFA Team of the Year for his output in front of goal.
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      He appeared for 33 minutes, across two games, when Sheffield United were promoted to the top-flight.
      Clarke then enjoyed spells across Bury, Shrewsbury Town, and Bristol Rovers.
      He spent time earlier this year in the National League with Hartlepool, before a loan spell at Rushall Olympic paved the way for a move to Kettering in September.
      And he has now moved to non-league Derby outfit Mickleover.
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      Clarke told the Star: “Mickleover play the sort of football I like, attractive. It’s the sort of opportunity I had to jump at with both hands.”
      The club are currently top of the Southern League Premier Division Central table, with Kettering just outside the relegation zone.
      He had a goal disallowed in his debut on Saturday, as Mickleover lost 2-1 at Halesowen Town.
      But still, it can’t hurt having a former Championship talisman and Premier League player among the ranks. More

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      Football Manager cult hero Will Still ‘shortlisted for English job’ after smashing it in Ligue 1 with high-flying Reims

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      SUNDERLAND are interested in Reims manager Will Still, according to reports.The Black Cats are on the hunt for a new manager after sacking Tony Mowbray yesterday.
      Will Still has impressed at Reims since taking charge in 2022Credit: AFP
      Sunderland sacked Tony Mowbray on MondayCredit: Reuters
      Mowbray was axed with his side sitting ninth in the Championship table, three points off the play-off spots.
      According to The Guardian, Still is on their shortlist of possible replacements.
      Sunderland chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, 26, is said to have been impressed by Still’s work in Ligue 1.
      After sacking Mowbray, 60, the Black Cats are understood to be keen on recruiting a highly-rated young manager.
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      Still, 31, landed the Reims job in October 2022 after an unusual rise to prominence.
      The Belgian, whose parents hail from England, studied at Myerscough College in order to launch his career in coaching.
      A keen Football Manager player, he landed his first managerial role with Belgian side Lierse aged just 24 in 2017.
      He then took charge of Beerschot before becoming assistant boss to Oscar Garcia at Reims.
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      When Garcia was sacked Still stepped into the top job… and never looked back.
      He embarked on a sensational 17-game run, made all the more remarkable by the fact that Reims had to pay a £22,000 fine after every game, as Still didn’t have his Uefa Pro License qualification.
      After beginning the course earlier this year Still prevented Reims from receiving any more fines.
      The French side have had an amazing start to the season and sit fifth in Ligue 1, just four points off the Champions League places.
      At the end of last season, Still refused to rule out a future move to the Championship.
      Asked about working in the English second tier, he said: “Vincent Kompany was at Anderlecht last year and has gone into the Championship and has done an unbelievable job.
      “I think the Championship rivals many of the top leagues in the world.
      “All the doors are open. I’m not closing anything at any time.”
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      Sunderland are also claimed to be interested in Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, who would be unlikely to leave the high-flying Tractor Boys.
      Nice assistant Julien Sable has also been mentioned. More

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      Man Utd legend breaks silence over ‘unfair’ sacking at EFL club but refuses to accept his career is over

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      MANCHESTER UNITED legend Mark Hughes has finally spoken out after Bradford City “unfairly” sacked him – and claims he is not finished yet.The League Two club axed the former Manchester City boss and ex-Barcelona striker, 60, two months ago.
      Mark Hughes took Bradford to the League Two play-offs last season but was axed on October 4 this term with the Bantams in 18th placeCredit: Alamy
      Hughes celebrates his second successive top-flight title with Man Utd in 1994 alongside Ryan Giggs, Lee Sharpe and Clayton BlackmoreCredit: Getty – Contributor
      But the 72-cap Welshman believes, after “shocking a few people” by stepping down the divisions to take the Bantams job, he can pull off another surprise by returning to management.
      Hughes won the Premier League twice and the FA Cup three times as a United frontman.
      The former Southampton and Everton ace also lifted the FA Cup with Chelsea, as well as twice being named PFA player of the year.
      After hanging up his boots in 2002, he bossed Wales, Blackburn, Man City, Fulham, QPR, Stoke and Southampton, before taking over Bradford in February 2022.
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      And he feels the Bantams acted too quickly to dismiss him, despite winning just three of their first 11 EFL matches this season.
      Bradford sat in 18th place when he departed on October 4 after finishing sixth last term.
      But Hughes told ex-England chief Sam Allardyce’s No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, said: “We did okay last year and got to the play-offs, the best season they’d had at League Two level in this current period.
      “But you’re at risk as a manager early in the season if you don’t set the tone.
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      “Everybody thinks that if you have a bad start, that’s how the whole season is going to pan out. That’s not the case, in fairness.
      “When I got the sack, it was the first time since December I’d lost back-to-back league games.
      “I thought it was a little bit unfair, if I’m honest. But the perception was that I needed to go.”
      Hughes insisted criticism from fans “wasn’t fazing me” and added: “I was quite happy to wait until it turned round.
      “I don’t feel I’m done. I possibly did before the Bradford role because I’d been out for three years. It looked like I wouldn’t get another opportunity, for whatever reason.
      “I had the opportunity to go to Bradford and took it. I probably shocked a few people.
      “But it was just a case of getting back in. I thought it was a good club with a good fanbase.” More

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      Man Utd legend Wayne Rooney tells his Birmingham flops to ‘grow a pair’ and slams ‘sloppy’ play in Rotherham stalemate

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      WAYNE ROONEY has hit out at his players as Birmingham’s dismal form continued.The Blues welcomed second-bottom Rotherham to St Andrew’s on Saturday and the game ended 0-0.
      Wayne Rooney has threatened to sell players if they don’t perform betterCredit: Reuters
      Rooney has only won one of the eight matches he has taken charge of since replacing John Eustace in the dugout.
      Birmingham were 12th in the Championship and one point off the play-offs when he took over.
      But the club have now slumped to 15th and are seven points behind the top six.
      Rooney’s side were booed off after the stalemate to Rotherham with minority owner and NFL legend Tom Brady in the stands.
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      And after the game the fuming Manchester United icon admitted his team were lucky not to lose.
      Rooney ranted: “I thought we started the game really well. But we got sloppy, we got slow, and we created a lot of our own problems.
      “A lot of things we need to address, basics of the game like heading the ball, it was not there today.
      “I think some players in there need to grow a pair of balls, basically, because I’m watching what they do in training and the minute there is fans out there they become a different player, a different person.
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      “That is football. You are going to have to play in front of fans, wherever you play.
      “It is okay doing things on the training pitch but you have to take that into the games.
      “We are still a young team but then the leaders in the team… that’s where Lukas Jutkiewicz has been brilliant. He is frustrated he doesn’t play all the games but you can see he is a leader, he is talking in there.
      “But there are some players who have got enough experience to stand up and be leaders.
      “They are trying but it’s silly errors, decision-making. Game management is a big part of the game we need to improve on.
      “I’m completely different as a manager to what I was as a player.
      “You might see me on the sidelines quite calm. But the players know exactly what I expect of them, and if they are not doing it, they won’t play.
      “And by not playing, they won’t be at this football club. We will get different players in.
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      “The players are very aware of what I want from them and the expectations I have of them, my own expectations as well.”
      Birmingham next face Coventry away on Friday night. More