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      Sir Alex Ferguson curse strikes again with two more Man Utd title winners sacked and LEAGUE ONE boss rare success story

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      FOOTBALL management, bloody hell — Sir Alex Ferguson made it look so easy that a load of his former Manchester United stars tried it.To say most find it extremely difficult would be an understatement.Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United proteges are not faring very well in managementCredit: GettyMan Utd hero Michael Carrick was sacked by MiddlesbroughCredit: GettyWayne Rooney failed to succeed in various managerial positionsCredit: GettyGary Neville suffered a devastating run at ValenciaCredit: GettyNone of his protegees have come remotely close to what the great Scot managed in his trophy-laden career.Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley are the latest former Fergie apprentices to see their first permanent jobs in English management end with the axe.Ruud van Nistelrooy, dangling by a thread at Leicester, is set to join them.Carrick, 43, showed a lot of early promise — taking Boro to the play-offs in his first full season in 2022-23 after a fourth-placed finish — but lost to Coventry in the semi-finals. Read More on Man UtdHe failed to make the end-of-term Championship lottery in the following two campaigns — and paid for it with Wednesday’s sacking.The Teessiders announced Carrick’s exit in a brief 61-word statement.It was in stark contrast to the relative love letter Watford released to tell the world they had binned Cleverley.Carrick’s former midfield partner, 35, finished his only season as a boss in 14th — not enough to convince the Hornets he deserved a second campaign.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordSporting director Gian Luca Nani wrote: “It has been a privilege to work closely with Tom, to understand how he sees the game and his enthusiasm.“He deserves to be recognised for this and I’m sure he will have a bright future in the game.”’What did he expect?’ – Sir Alex Ferguson looks ‘absolutely disgusted’ in new footage from Man Utd Europa League lossVan Nistelrooy, 48, is still waiting to learn his fate but it would be a surprise at this point if he was not dismissed after taking Leicester down.The Dutchman was one of the greatest goalscorers the Premier League has ever seen after crashing in 150 goals in 219 Red Devils games between 2001 and 2006.So there was a huge irony when his Foxes side failed to net for EIGHT consecutive Prem matches — all of them defeats — between February and April.It all leaves the managerial success stories of Ferguson’s former players looking increasingly thin on the ground.Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville are two of the more disastrous examples.With Rooney’s ill-fated spells at Birmingham and Plymouth and the latter’s Valencia horror show.No one could keep upRoy Keane won Sunderland promotion but his last job was Ipswich in 2011.Blink and you would have missed Paul Scholes’ 31 days managing Oldham.Ryan Giggs’ personal problems look to have kiboshed his coaching ambitions. Jaap Stam got Reading to a play-off final but left the club a year later, while compatriot Robin van Persie’s Heerenveen lost 9-1 to AZ Alkmaar in September — though he is now in charge of Feyenoord.Mark Robins, the man who saved Fergie’s job with a famous FA Cup goal back in 1990, has had a middling start at Stoke after working wonders at Coventry.Phil Neville is in the MLS, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in Turkey and Mark Hughes has been relegated to the National League with Carlisle United despite bossing six Prem teams across 18 years.Arguably, the biggest hit is Steve Bruce, in charge of Blackpool and having managed more than 1,000 games — but don’t tell Newcastle fans that.Read More on The SunAnd with 12 years now passing since Fergie retired, the options of his former players who could still turn their talent to management is fast running out.Jonny Evans, released by United this month, is the last remaining player to have appeared during Ferguson’s reign.Former Man Utd ace Tom Cleverley was let go by WatfordCredit: GettyRuud van Nistelrooy is facing the axe at LeicesterCredit: Shutterstock EditorialMan Utd legend Roy Keane hasn’t coached since 2011Credit: Getty More

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      Staggering monthly fee Prem aces pay for luxury online butler service offering private jets, hotels & shopping revealed

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      PREMIER League stars are signing up to a luxury £1,700-a-month online butler service offering private jets, hotels and shopping.The app promises “exclusive lifestyle management for football elites” including help with travel plans, fashion and VIP event tickets.Premier League stars including Joshua Zirkzee are signing up to a luxury £1,700-a-month online butler serviceCredit: GettyThe service offers private jets, hotels, shopping.and moreStars who have downloaded concierge service Amslux include Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch. Man United striker Joshua Zirkzee, new Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and the ex-Bayern Munich ace Thomas Muller have also joined.The Amsterdam firm was founded six years ago by pals Emmanuel Ntow, Ward Struwer and Mitchell Spel.Their most expensive one-off purchase was for a star of Germany’s Bundesliga who asked them to source a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 watch worth £105,000.read more on footballOther requests include handbags worth £20,000 and £10,000 designer trainers.But one anonymous player’s partying ended up in a brush with the law.Emmanuel told The Sun: “A player asked us urgently through Instagram if we could help him with a very difficult last minute request.“He needed a private jet for the next day to Ibiza as all flights were cancelled.Most read in Football“We used all our power to get this done and he was very happy. “A week later when he arrived back from his holiday he asked us to fly two girls in from Ibiza.John Obi Mikel on wild Chelsea nights out in central London and his hilarious friendship with Salomon Kalou“Everything was taken care of but after they landed we were called with a very strange conversation.“He said the girls were not allowed to enter the country because they were being sought by Interpol.”But he said most requests were more straightforward to deal with.Emmanuel said: “We offer personalised travel — whether that’s a secluded private villa, a luxury yacht charter, or a five-star resort.”Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. More

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      David Coote produced an admirable act of humility as picture of shamed ref working as Evri delivery driver went viral

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      BIZARRELY, David Coote’s former career as a Premier League referee will stand him in good stead as a delivery driver.He’ll be dealing with two yellows every working day, just as before.Former Premier League referee David Coote has taken on a new career as an Evri delivery driverCoote fell from grace after a video leaked showing him ranting against Jurgen KloppCredit: PAOnly instead of cards, it’s those two thick, emulsioned lines by the roadside where he swings his Evri van in front of a school entrance and slaps on the hazard lights before dumping a poly-wrapped, fake Nike top from China on the wrong doorstep.What a come-down for the man who took charge of a Wembley final involving Manchester United and Newcastle only two years ago.Equally, what an admirable act of humility and courage by someone who brought shame upon himself and his profession but, as he says so himself, “is trying to move forwards and regain a sense of purpose and responsibility”.When one of football’s most promising officials was captured on video, slurring his way through a foul-mouthed rant at Jurgen Klopp, it was easy to dismiss him as another pompous and pumped-up symbol of the Premier League era.Read More on FootballBut as this fascinating story unfolds, Coote more and more is morphing into its victim as opposed to its perpetrator.By labelling Klopp a German c*** and snorting cocaine to earn a 16-month ban, he let himself down.But maybe he did so as a release from the relentless pressure heaped upon him as a referee at the top level of our national game.At first Coote appears as a p****d-up prima donna, showing off in what he believed was the assured privacy of intimate surroundings with friends, having a pop at Liverpool’s manager because he could.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSIt’s some fall from officiating the 2023 Carabao Cup final to haring around his home county of Nottinghamshire dropping off parcels part-time for minimum or living wage.But having been sacked by his paymasters at the PGMOL, the fact he is not too proud to take any job to get back on his feet suggests a person ready to pay their penance.Shamed Ref David Coote EXCLUSIVE on death threats, coke battle & coming out | The SunIt’s not just the animated reaction of Klopp that is to blame.There are 20 unexploded bombs like him managing in the Premier League because they are under enormous  pressure, too.Klopp’s heated exchange at Coote after Liverpool did not get a penalty in a 1-1 draw with Burnley is just one example of the dozens that litter every season.Every decision referees make is under more scrutiny than ever before.Whether that’s the fault of TV’s ever intrusive coverage or that there is silly money involved in men’s football today is irrelevant. It’s how life is.I imagine Thomas Bramall, the latest referee to be walking around with a target on his back for blowing his whistle too quickly in Aston Villa’s final-day defeat at Man Utd is starting to understand the reality of life as a top-class ref.Reality of life as a top-class refThe intricacies of his mistake are too complicated to explain in one column but it’s fair to say he cocked up.In their defence, Villa were largely restrained in their vocal reaction despite lodging a formal complaint, as is their right.The wider criticism has been astonishing and whether justified or not, young referee Bramall is being painted a pretty grim picture of what’s in store if he stays in his job.It’s patently obvious by what’s happened to Coote that it’s an alarmingly quick process to plummet from the heights of running a showpiece final in front of 90,000 fans to becoming a delivery boy.But while it’s tempting to feel sorry for him, we should not.We should instead give credit to a bloke who made a mistake and is now trying to put it behind him without crying out for pity.And perhaps reflect on the foundations of fury that can make referees crumble so spectacularly as he did.Besides, dealing with frothing managers day in, day out who feel totally wronged by even the slightest thing that goes against them is actually the perfect training for becoming a white van man.Try pulling out on him at a T-junction.************MILLIE BRIGHT’S shock withdrawal from the Euro 2025 squad reminds of one thing.Women look after themselves better than men, physically and mentally.They tend to be braver than men too when it comes to knowing their limits.It takes courage to pull out of an international tournament — especially when England are defending their European crown.The 31-year-old Chelsea defender admits she had to fight off her ego to make the call.That is something men rarely do enough of, overcome primeval urges and make a decision in favour of their own well-being at the top level of sport.Too many would lose that battle with their own psyche. Pull out and you are still considered a loser among the boys.Bright is a winner for thinking of things more important than football.****************INGESTING biometric tablets to record things like stress levels from the inside is both fascinating and horrifying.England’s players have been doing this under boss Thomas Tuchel’s instruction as they prepare for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Andorra.Now, I have no idea if these tablets are single-use, and I don’t really want to ask anyone at the Football Association for the details either.But if not, just picture the scene 24 hours after swallowing — when what goes in must come out.Lots of Premier League stars peering down between hairy legs on the loo.And who on earth has the job of washing them?Or maybe each player has his own, complete with initials — like ‘HK’ for Harry Kane — to avoid unpleasant mix-ups. Yuk.********IN the final scene of The Empire Strikes Back, the rebel fleet disperses as Luke Skywalker and pals head for different galaxies at the speed of light.The break-up of Bournemouth’s over-achieving squad this summer has a similar ring to it.Read More on The SunFirst Dean Huijsen heads to Real Madrid, now Milos Kerkez looks bound for Liverpool. Newcastle are eyeing Dango Ouattara.Pretty soon the gallant band of brothers — which beat  Arsenal (twice) and Nottingham Forest, also coming close to European qualification  — will be splintered across the football cosmos, leaving Cherries manager Andoni Iraola standing alone like Obi-Wan Kenobi. More

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      When are the 2025/26 Premier League fixtures released?

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      THE curtain may have only just gone down on the 2024/25 Premier League season, but fans are already itching for the return of top flight football.Liverpool head into the new campaign as champions of England after Arne Slot’s side convincingly wrapped up the title with four games to spare.Liverpool will be hoping to successfully defend their title next seasonCredit: ReutersThe Reds will be eagerly awaiting their opponents for the opening weekend as they begin their title defence and don the gold champions patch once again.Three new teams are set to join the Premier League following promotion from the Championship last season.Burnley, Leeds and Sunderland will mix it with the big boys once again as they replace Southampton, Ipswich and Leicester.Fans of the three promoted clubs are counting down the days until the fixtures are released as they prepare for trips to the likes of Anfield, Old Trafford, the Emirates, and many more!READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWhen are the 2025/26 Premier League fixtures released?The fixtures for the 2025/26 Premier League season will be released on Wednesday, June 18 at 9am BST.All 20 clubs will learn the provisional dates for all of their fixtures, although some fixtures are subject to change.The exact date and time at which individual matches take place will be determined at regular intervals throughout the season based on TV selections.When does the 2025/26 Premier League season start?The 2025/26 Premier League season will begin on the weekend of August 16/17, 2025.Most read in FootballThe start date allows for the maximum player rest time available – 83 clear days – from the end of the 2024/25 campaign.33 weekend and five midweek match rounds will make up the 2025/26 season.The Premier League states that the schedule “continues to allow more rest time for players over the festive match-round period”.No two rounds of fixtures will take place within 60 hours of each other and there will be no game on Christmas Eve. More

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      Tottenham squad set to be boosted by return of league winner who hasn’t played for club in nearly TWO YEARS

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      MANOR SOLOMON is set to be given a second chance at Tottenham.The Israeli winger, 25, has become a forgotten man in N17 after spending the season on loan at Leeds.Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou is set to welcome back Manor SolomonCredit: GettySolomon spent last season with Leeds on loan and experienced immense successCredit: ReutersSolomon hasn’t played for Tottenham since September 2023Credit: GettyBut he proved to be a huge hit at Elland Road, netting ten goals in 41 appearances as he helped the Whites to promotion back to the Premier League.Leeds are keen to sign him permanently, while there are believed to be other suitors in the Premier League interested in Solomon’s services.But SunSport understands the North Londoners are minded to bring him back into the first-team fold over pre-season with the ambition of keeping him next season.That is despite all the uncertainty around the managerial position at Tottenham.Read More on FootballFormer Fulham loanee Solomon joined Tottenham on a free transfer in 2023.That is after he left Shakhtar Donetsk following Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine the year before.His first campaign was blighted by a hamstring injury, limiting him to just six Spurs appearances.Solomon’s last game for Tottenham was back in September 30, 2023.Most read in FootballNow everyone at Spurs are currently waiting with baited breath over whether Daniel Levy will back or sack boss Ange Postecoglou.It is understood the latter is more likely, despite the Aussie delivering Spurs their first trophy in 17 years with last month’s Europa League triumph.Ange Postecoglou drops huge hint over Tottenham future with incredible mic-drop moment at Europa League paradeThomas Frank and Marco Silva, of West London rivals Brentford and Fulham respectively, are among the candidates to succeed Postecoglou if he is sacked. More

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      Jack Grealish appears to take swipe at Pep Guardiola as he’s set to be snubbed from Man City’s Club World Cup squad

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      JACK GREALISH has appeared to take a swipe at boss Pep Guardiola’s selection policy.The Manchester City star, 29, has fallen out of favour at the Etihad.Jack Grealish has fallen out of favour under Pep GuardiolaCredit: ReutersGrealish started just seven Premier League matches during the 2024-25 season.Having made just one brief cameo in the final six games of the campaign, Grealish was left on the bench during the FA Cup final – with Guardiola instead turning to teenage debutant Claudio Echeverri as his side chased an equaliser.Appearing on talkSPORT, Grealish’s former Aston Villa team-mate Gabriel Agbonlahor criticised Guardiola’s treatment of his pal.Agbonlahor said: “I think towards the end of the season, it felt to me like it got a bit personal.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”Bringing on a young kid for his debut in an FA Cup final when you’re chasing a goal, when you’ve got someone who’s had the career Jack’s had just seemed a bit odd.”That seemed a bit personal to me, like a last little dig to get you out, to upset you, to (make) you want to move. But we’ve seen this before from Pep.”Pep can be ruthless at times. If he feels that you’re not part of his future plans, he will get rid of you.”When talkSPORT posted the clip to Instagram, Grealish commented, appearing to point to how many sub appearances he’s made: “What u want me to do score a hatty in 20?”The post received several other comments, including one that read: “Dude jack is been bad lately and I’m not surprised Pep did that.”Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKGrealish replied to a talkSPORT postCredit: Instagram @talksportThe Man City star also responded to a fanCredit: Instagram @talksportGrealish responded: “haha I’ve been bad lately?”Scored 3 goals in my last 3 appearances over 45 mins but okie dokie love x”.Jack Grealish to Napoli?! Conte Plots Shock £100M Raid – Would City Really Let Him Go?Grealish scored one goal and laid on one assist in 20 Prem appearances during the 2024-25 season.His three goals in all competitions came against Leicester, Paris Saint-Germain and Salford.Yesterday it emerged that Grealish will not head to the US with his team-mates for the Club World Cup, as he nears a City exit.The England ace is said to be attracting interest from the Premier League and overseas – with Villa, Newcastle, Everton and Napoli among the interested suitors.Boss Guardiola said in May: “Of course Jack has to play. He needs to do it — with us or another place.”SunSport recently revealed that Grealish had accepted that he may need to leave City in order to reclaim his England place in time for the World Cup.’I LOVE JACK GREALISH’Having missed out on last summer’s European Championships, Grealish has been left out of both of Thomas Tuchel’s squads so far as Three Lions boss.Asked about the 39-cap star in March, the German said: “I love Jack Grealish. I love everything about him; his personality, his quality.”The guy has courage, can take the heat, not afraid of the Bernabeu whistles when he’s on the ball, it does not affect him, it affects him only in the best way.”Is he a player who should be available and have an impact in our (England) squad? Yes, 100 per cent. But lately, he simply has no rhythm and he and I agree 100 per cent.Read More on The Sun”He said, ‘Thomas, I’m not a start-stop player. It’s so hard for me to influence a match from the bench and be on the bench again, and two weeks later start again’.”I’m not judging anyone, but it’s just a characteristic of Jack, he gets better with every minute. The more he plays the better he gets and then he becomes a proper machine.” More

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      Cole Palmer changes Chelsea number as Liam Delap’s new shirt confirmed after £30million transfer from Ipswich

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      COLE PALMER has switched to the No10 shirt at Chelsea – casting further doubt over Mykhailo Mudryk’s future.The winger has been provisionally suspended since December after failing a doping test while on international duty with Ukraine.Cole Palmer has taken the No10 shirt at ChelseaCredit: GettyThe number was previously held by the now-suspended Mykhailo MudrykCredit: GettyConfirmation of Mudryk’s B-sample results has still not been announced – with the £88.5million forward potentially facing a four-year ban.Chelsea and boss Enzo Maresca declared their support for the 24-year-old when news of his failed drugs test emerged.However, Maresca was caught off guard by Mudryk turning up and meeting fans in Wroclaw, Poland ahead of last week’s Conference League final.Asked about Mudryk being in Poland, Maresca said: “He is here? I don’t know. I am happy for Mischa to be here.”READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe former Shakhtar Donetsk player joined his team-mates at their party to celebrate winning the trophy and posed with a medal.But just over a week after partying with teammates, Murdyk has been replaced as the Blues’ No10 by star man Palmer.Chelsea insist it is no reflection of his personal situation and that – ahead of the new season – he will be assigned a new number.Mudryk wore the No15 shirt when he arrived at Stamford Bridge in January 2023 but was given the No10 after Christian Pulisic left the club that summer.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSPalmer arrived from Manchester City at the same time and has worn No20 since.Chelsea’s announcement confirming the change did not mention Mudryk.The club have also confirmed that new £30m striker Liam Delap will wear the vacant No9 shirt for his new club.Delap will look to break the trend of Chelsea No9s failing to make an impact.The shirt number has been vacant for two years with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Romelu Lukaku, Gonzalo Higuain, Alvaro Morata, Radamel Falcao and Fernando Torres all having struggled in West London while wearing No9.Palmer seems certain his former City youth team-mate Delap will not suffer the same fate.He said: “I’m excited to play with him. I was messaging him asking If he was coming and that.“I played with him at Under 18s, 21s. We went to the first team together.Read More on The Sun“‘He’s a great striker, one of the best in the Premier League. You can see from last season.“So I think he’ll help us a lot and hopefully score lots of goals.”Liam Delap snatched the vacant No9 despite its ‘curse’Credit: GettyPalmer took the No20 when he arrived from Manchester CityCredit: Reuters More

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      ‘Unfinished business’ – Ian Wright urges Arsenal to sign former Premier League star valued at £50million

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      IAN WRIGHT has urged former club Arsenal to buy Ademola Lookman this summer.The Gunners are seeking to bolster their attack following three consecutive runner-up finishes.Ademola Lookman has impressed since moving to ItalyCredit: GettyLookman, 27, has had previous Premier League spells with Everton, Fulham and Leicester – with mixed fortunes.Since moving to Atalanta in 2022, the winger has gone from strength to strength – winning the Europa League and finishing 14th in the Ballon d’Or last year.Wright, 61, believes that Lookman would be well placed to improve Mikel Arteta’s front line.On his Wrighty’s House podcast, the former forward said: “I’m going to go with Ademola Lookman winning the African Player of the Year in respects of that man’s journey.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”I remember him from Charlton, it didn’t work out [the] £10million [move] to Everton, then moving all over the place, the journey from loan to this, then I think that’s one of the most devastating performances I’ve seen in any final with that hat-trick he scored.”You know, it’s just… I can’t help but look at his dark moment where it would have been dark for him. You know, especially all those loans going to another country.”And you know what? He never had no problem going wherever he needed to go to find it.”And then obviously, like you say, you find your place. Like Scott McTominay’s found that, like he [Lookman] found with Atalanta.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK”I hope we can buy him, Arsenal.”I would love someone like him to come back to the Premier League and say, ‘listen, I have unfinished business here so I am going to help Arsenal win the league’.Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini slams Ademola Lookman for his penalty skills “But I just admire his journey and now he’s recognised rightly as a top player, unbelievable.”SunSport recently revealed that Lookman has admirers at Arsenal.Some Gunners chiefs, however, are concerned about his age – believing that at 27 Lookman may have already peaked.In addition to Arsenal, Liverpool are keeping tabs on the £50m-rated former Evertonian. More