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      Sir Alex Ferguson chose David O’Leary, Alan Curbishley and Martin O’Neill as possible Man Utd manager in 2000 if he quit

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      MANCHESTER UNITED could have had Martin O’Neill, Alan Curbishley or David O’Leary as their manager in the year 2000.The trio were Sir Alex Ferguson’s picks if he had decided to leave Old Trafford at the turn of the century.
      Sir Alex Ferguson recommended three managers to take over from him at Man Utd in 2000Credit: PA
      Celtic chief Dermot Desmond revealed the trio had been eyed as replacements for the legend.
      At the time O’Leary, 63, was managing Premier League new boys Leeds while Curbishley and O’Neill were head coaches at Charlton and Leicester. 
      And Desmond told The Athletic he offered to increase Ferguson’s salary by 50 per cent with Scottish giants Celtic in 1997. 
      However the Red Devils boss’ wish to win the Champions League saw him remain with the Manchester giants. 
      And the Old Trafford side went on to capture the trophy two years later. 
      Desmond, 70, reportedly went back to Ferguson a few years later to enquire as to who the Glasgow-born manager would choose to replace him at United. 
      He said there were three people: Dave O’Leary, Alan Curbishley and Martin O’NeillDermot Desmond
      And Ferguson, 80, told the Irish tycoon he had identified O’Leary, Curbishley and O’Neill as potential bosses at Old Trafford.
      The latter would eventually land the Celtic manager’s job thanks to a meeting with the club’s then directors – Brian Quinn and Pat Sheehy – which came about through Ferguson’s input. 
      Desmond said: “In 2000, I went back and asked him if he was to pick his replacement at that time who would it be. 
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      Alan Curbishley was also eyed as a possible Manchester United coach and Ferguson replacementCredit: Back Page Images
      “He said there were three people: Dave O’Leary, Alan Curbishley and Martin O’Neill. 
      “I said the one I’m interested in is Martin O’Neill. 
      “I had previously asked a prominent broadcaster if Martin would be interested in the job and I got a response in the negative. 
      “I then asked Alex if he would speak with Martin, to see if he would meet with me, and the response was that he would be very interested in meeting. 
      “So I met Martin for dinner and we got on very well. I introduced him to Pat and Brian and they also felt he was a remarkable individual, so we hired Martin.” 
      Having captured two League Cups with Leicester in 1997 and 2000, O’Neill went on to win three trophies in just over 11 months following his arrival at Celtic.
      And the 69-year-old and his team won three Scottish Premiership titles with a team boasting stars including Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton. 
      David O’Leary led Leeds United to the Champions League semis after being eyed as a potential Old Trafford managerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      But neither he nor O’Leary or Curbishley, 64, were able to come close to Ferguson’s trophy-winning record. 
      However the Northern Irishman proved to be the most successful of the three. 
      He went on to manage Sunderland and Aston Villa as well as doing a five-year international management spell with the Republic of Ireland. 
      His most recent managerial post was with Nottingham Forest with the Championship club sacking the coach just five months into the job. 
      Elsewhere, O’Leary’s tenure with Leeds came to an end in 2002 with the former Gunners player helping the Elland Road club to reach the semis of the Champions League. 
      And Curbishley’s 15-year stint at Charlton finished 2006 after he helped the club secure promotion in 1998. 
      It’s reported the managerial trio were identified prior to the eventual succession plan put in place for Ferguson with David Moyes landing the job as his United replacement. 
      However the former Everton boss, 57, who is now in charge of West Ham, lasted just eight months in the Old Trafford hotseat before being sacked in 2014. 
      United finished seventh in the league in the 2013-14 season. More

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      Celtic lining up transfer swoop for Barnsley’s Callum Styles as Hoops hunt new long-term left-back

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      CELTIC think Barnsley star Callum Styles could finally solve their problem at left-back.The Hoops are still struggling to find a long-term successor to Kieran Tierney following his £25million move to Arsenal in August 2019.
      Styles has impressed at Barnsley since joining from Bury in 2018 and is now on Celtic’s radarCredit: Getty
      Celtic have struggled to replace Tierney since he left for Arsenal in 2019Credit: Getty
      Scotland star Tierney has been a hit at the Gunners but Celtic have yet to fill his boots despite trying several players on that side of their defence.
      Croatia right-back Josip Juranovic, 26, has been covering left-back for the Scottish giants but boss Ange Postecoglou is keen to get a long-term solution sorted.
      Styles, 21, has been a stand-out player in a Tykes side battling against relegation from the Championship this season.
      The Oakwell club have been struggling since former boss Valerien Ismael left to take over at West Brom in June.
      Former winger Styles joined Barnsley as a promising teenager from Bury in 2018 and established himself as a regular last season.
      He has been a fixture for the Tykes this campaign and has one goal and an assist to his name so far.
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      Another played linked with the left-back role at Celtic is Hibs starlet Josh Doig.
      Ex-Hoops striker Charlie Nicholas said last month the club should move for the 19-year-old as he fits the ‘Kieran Tierney mould’.
      Nicholas, 59, told The Scottish Sun: “Celtic can’t go out and buy the finished article.
      “They need to develop players and sell them on. That is the club’s model.” More

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      Giovanni van Bronckhorst CONFIRMED as new Rangers manager to replace Steven Gerrard who quit to join Aston Villa

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      RANGERS have confirmed the appointment of Giovanni van Bronckhorst as new boss to replace Steven Gerrard.The 46-year-old has been in talks with the Scottish side for the past week about returning to Ibrox 20 years after departing as a player.
      Giovanni van Bronckhorst has been appointed as the new manager of Rangers following Steven Gerrard’s departureCredit: Rex
      Dutchman Van Bronckhorst played for the Scottish side for three years between 1998-2001Credit: Getty
      Van Bronckhorst won the Scottish Premier League twice during his three-year spell before linking up with Arsenal in 2001.
      He had jetted into London to hold talks with the Gers earlier this week about becoming their manager.
      SunSport revealed on Wednesday night how the Dutchman was on the brink of succeeding Gerrard following positive discussions.
      And Van Bronckhorst has now revealed his joy at returning to management – almost a year after departing Chinese club Guangzhou City.
      Speaking to Rangers’ website, he said: “I am absolutely delighted to be returning to Rangers as the club’s new manager.
      “I feel so lucky to be going to work with a squad which is in a great position on all fronts and largely has that experience of being winners.

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      “I look forward to carrying on and enhancing the work that has been done already alongside Ross Wilson and the board of the club, and I’m grateful for the chance to work again at this huge football club.
      “I cannot wait to meet the club’s incredible supporters again and begin this new era for us all.”
      Van Bronckhorst spent just a year managing in China with Guangzhou coming 11th in his one season.
      Prior to that he managed Feyenoord, having been promoted from assistant boss.
      In his first season in the top job he won the KNVB Cup – the Dutch equivalent of the FA Cup.
      The following year he led the club to their first Eredivisie title in 18 years.
      Rangers chairman Douglas Park remarked: “I am delighted to welcome Giovanni as our manager to begin a new era and build further on what has already been achieved at the club.
      “The team is in a good position on the park and, as a board, we will support both Giovanni and Ross Wilson to continue to make Rangers a success.
      “I wish Giovanni all the very best in his role and look forward to working closely alongside him.”
      Van Bronckhorst takes over a side sitting top of the table after 13 games played, with the club four points ahead of rivals Celtic.
      Rangers, who could still qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League, face Hibernian on Sunday for a place in the League Cup final.
      Rangers legend Lorenzo Amoruso appears on Italian Big Brother to surprise his partner with gushing declaration of love More

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      Ex-Arsenal star Giovanni van Bronckhorst on the brink of replacing Steven Gerrard as Rangers boss following Villa move

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      GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST is set to return to Ibrox to replace Steven Gerrard as Rangers’ new boss.The Dutchman, who featured for the Scottish side between 1998-2001 before joining Arsenal, has been the favourite to take charge of the club.
      Former Rangers left-back Giovanni van Bronckhorst is poised to become the club’s new managerCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The ex-Feyenoord gaffer has been the favourite to succeed Steven Gerrard at IbroxCredit: Getty
      Van Bronckhorst, 46, recently jetted into London to hold talks with the Gers about becoming their manager after Gerrard left for Aston Villa.
      A delegation of Rangers chiefs then jetted to Amsterdam on Tuesday for further discussions.
      And SunSport understands negotiations between the club and the former Barcelona man were tonight nearing completion.
      The final detailed discussions centre around the appointment of Van Bronckhorst’s full backroom staff.
      It remains to be seen whether his right-hand man Jean-Paul van Gastel will join him at Rangers.
      Van Gastel – currently manager at Guangzhou City – had been Van Bronckhorst’s No2 at the Chinese club.

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      Despite the uncertainty of whether Gastel will arrive in Glasgow, sources close to the deal believe an agreement is close to being signed, sealed and delivered – barring any last minute hitches.
      Rangers Sporting Director Ross Wilson has been leading negotiations, with club chiefs pleased with the process so far.
      During his three-year spell at Rangers, Van Bronckhorst featured in 117 games in all competitions, while scoring an impressive 22 goals.
      One of those strikes came in the 2000 Scottish Cup final as he broke the deadlock in the 4-0 win against Aberdeen.
      In total, Van Bronckhorst won the Scottish Premier League twice, along with two Scottish Cups and one Scottish League Cup.
      He will take over a side sitting top of the table after 13 games played, with the club four points ahead of rivals Celtic.
      Rangers, who could still qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League, face Hibernian on Sunday for a place in the League Cup final.
      Mikel Arteta has finally brought ‘fear factor’ from the Highbury years back to Arsenal, says former Gunner Theo Walcott More

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      Man Utd keen to sign right-back with Rangers’ Nathan Patterson on transfer radar as Everton circle for £10m star

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are considering a move for Rangers’ £10million-rated teen star Nathan Patterson to provide competition for right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, according to reports.The Red Devils and Prem rivals Everton are two of “more than a dozen teams across Europe” to have shown an interest in the 19-year-old, according to 90min.com.
      Patterson has earned his first three caps for Scotland in 2021Credit: Getty
      The football news platform reveals United are set to make a move for a new right-back in January after missing out on that objective in the summer.
      It says expensive outlays for Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo in pre-season restricted their ability to land a full-back.
      It adds United were keen on former Spurs star Kieran Trippier and that he was keen to come but Atletico Madrid’s £30m valuation bulldozed the switch.
      The report comes amid questions over the quality of former Crystal Palace star and current first-choice right-back Wan-Bissaka.
      The article says United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants a new recruit to “challenge the 23-year-old rather than just replace him.”
      It adds: “Rangers captain James Tavernier was a player considered by United in the summer.

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      “But while he remains a possibility, it’s another member of Steven Gerrard’s title winning side that is now of interest – teenage sensation Nathan Patterson.”
      We reported last month that Everton were in pole position to sign Patterson after rivals Liverpool pulled out of the running.
      At the time Gers boss and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard branded the Toffees ‘jokers’ for tabling a £5m bid for the Scotland international.
      Patterson is under under contract at Ibrox until 2024 and has earned all three of his senior caps in 2021.
      French visitors amazed as bottles of Buckfast recovered from Rangers end vs Lyon More

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      Ex-Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko puts Celtic on red alert as he targets managerial job to Britain

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      ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO wants to make a managerial move to Britain — and has put Celtic and other clubs on alert.The ex-Chelsea and AC Milan striker is keen to work in the UK again after quitting as Ukraine boss after a Euro 2020 quarter final defeat to England.
      Shevchenko joined Chelsea in 2006 for a then club-record £31million feeCredit: Getty
      Shevchenko, 45, is free to move and feelers have already gone out from the top agency he works with to find out about vacancies.
      The legendary forward, who is Ukraine’s all-time top scorer with 48, even had interviews in the summer but failed to land a job.
      Now he he hopes his star name will be enough to tempt a club to take a chance.
      Sheva has only worked in a managerial capacity at international level but was a success in his five years in the Ukraine job.
      Their run to that knock-out meeting with the Three Lions was the first time Ukraine have reached the quarter-finals of the European Championship.
      There would be no problem with a work permit as the former Chelsea star has had a base in England for years.

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      The 45-year-old also speaks English and and has good knowledge of the domestic game.
      His availability has got him on wish lists and he could be a surprise choice at Scottish heavyweights Celtic if Ange Postecoglou does not work out.
      The former Australia manager has had a tricky start at the Hoops with seven defeats in all competitions so far after his late arrival in the summer.
      Crocked Celtic ace Kyogo shows touch of class as he appears pitch side to wish team-mates good luck More

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      Rangers 0 Lyon 2: James Tavernier in own goal blunder as Steven Gerrard’s 50th European tie as boss ends in defeat

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      JAMES TAVERNIER scored an own goal as Rangers lost 2-0 to Lyon at Ibrox in the opening tie of their Europa League group stage campaign.Karl Toko Ekambi had opened the scoring in the first half with a sublime finish after a blistering run down the wing.
      A calamitous own goal early in the second half left Rangers with a lot to doCredit: AFP
      Islam Slimani wheels away celebrating Lyon’s secondCredit: Getty
      John Lundstram was handed a rare start by Steven Gerrard who had earlier called this match ‘possibly the biggest challenge’ of his managerial career.
      Gerrard was taking charge of the Light Blues for the 50th time in European competition.
      Ibrox was raucous but Lyon started the brighter of the two sides and went deservedly ahead after 22 minutes through the tricky Toko Ekambi.
      The visitors capitalised on some sloppy play at the centre circle from Joe Aribo and Ryan Kent and released the Cameroonian down the right.
      Lundstram came over to occupy him but his attempts to thwart the attack were lacklustre as he backed off the winger and left a gap for him to cut inside.
      But in all fairness – the stepover was fantastic and the finish itself was sheer quality, rasping into the bottom corner past Allan McGregor.
      Lundstram was then involved in two openings for Rangers at the other end as he went down in the box but saw penalty claims waved away before he dragged a left footed shot wide from the edge of the box following terrific work by Ryan Kent in winning the ball off Lyon in their own half.

      The Scouse midfielder stepped inside and fired at goal but Anthony Lopes’ gloves were kept clean.
      Moments later Lyon could and should have had a second but Gusto curled his effort wide after being set up by Lucas Paqueta who’d nutmegged Borna Barisic at the by-line.
      Lopes was properly tested with five minutes left in the second half and it was Kent again causing problems as he skipped past the on-rushing Lyon defenders and rattled a shot towards the bottom corner only to see the keeper palm it to safety.
      Kent then went down in the box as the Ibrox crowd again called for a penalty but once more the referee saw nothing in it.

      HIT BACK Rangers respond over Neil Lennon and Chris Sutton Ibrox access row as they say they have fulfilled all UEFA obligations

      Rangers set about finding a way back in the second half but with only eight minutes going the uphill battle became a mountain to climb.
      Some terrible – borderline comical, even – defending from the home side ended up with Gers skipper Tavernier diverting the ball into his own goal.
      Kent won the ball back on the edge of the area, lost it immediately and Houssem Aouar forced a save from McGregor.
      A bit of pinball followed and Islam Slimani had an easy tap-in but somehow it fell to Goldson on the line, who then hit it off Tavernier and into the net.
      Lyon perhaps knew at this point that the three points would be theirs barring a monumental effort from the Glasgow side and took off goalscorer Toko Ekambi with 20 minutes left, as ex-Liverpool and Stoke ace Xherdan Shaqiri took his place.
      Gerrard had already replaced Steve Davis with winger Scott Wright but was forced into an unwanted change when Kent pulled up injured and was subbed off for Kemar Roofe.
      Fashion Sakala was also introduced late on to inject a bit of pace and he did just that when he skipped past Emerson and surged into the box from the right-hand side but the Lyon defence swarmed the six-yard area and denied him any chance of finding Alfredo Morelos who was wanting the cutback

      Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page 

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      Neil Lennon taking legal advice after Rangers denied him access to Ibrox saying he was security risk

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      FORMER Celtic boss Neil Lennon is believed to be taking legal advice after being denied access to Ibrox.The Hoops legend and former Parkhead striker Chris Sutton were both told by Rangers they couldn’t attend tonight’s Europa League match against Lyon.
      Former Celtic boss Neil Lennon was denied entry to Ibrox tonight
      Fellow Celtic icon Chris Sutton was turned away from Ibrox tooCredit: The Sun
      Ibrox chiefs informed BT Sport that they could not guarantee their safety.
      It’s understood that Lennon is taking legal advice over possible compensation for loss of earnings as a result of Rangers’ decision.
      Lennon and Sutton had been asked by BT Sport to be their analysts for the 5.45pm kick-off between Real Betis and Celtic in Seville from a Winnebago outside the stadium and then do the same again from an open studio inside Ibrox – a 40-yard walk away – for the 8pm kick-off.
      However, Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson informed BT that the club could not ensure the pair’s security at such short notice and that, as a result, they could not be admitted inside the ground.
      BT had followed their usual protocol by contacting UEFA and Rangers with the names of those who would be working for them on Wednesday. That led to text messages later that night, which resulted in the club rejecting BT’s request for accreditation for Lennon and Sutton.
      Former Rangers stars Ally McCoist, Neil McCann, Derek McInnes and Kris Boyd have broadcast from Parkhead recently without any such issues.

      McCoist and former captain David Weir have been drafted in to replace them for the Rangers match, while the Celtic game will now be covered from BT’s studio in London.

      MEGA OFFER Get £20 risk free bet on Rangers v Lyon plus 33/1 bet builder tip with Paddy Power

      Sutton, for his part, attacked the club’s response on social media.
      A BT spokesperson said: “We had hoped that Darrell Currie and the team would be able to present the coverage of both the Celtic and Rangers UEFA Europa League games live from Ibrox this evening, as we have done in the past. 
      “Rangers have since raised security concerns and so we have had to change our plans. 

      NO GO Rangers warn fans to AVOID key exit route out of Ibrox stadium after Lyon clash tonight

      “This evening Paul Dempsey will now present our UEFA Europa League coverage of Real Betis v Celtic alongside Stiliyan Petrov live from the BT Sport Studio in Stratford. Darrell Currie, Ally McCoist and David Weir will present Rangers v Lyon live from Ibrox.”
      Rangers insist they have fulfilled all obligations towards UEFA.
      They said: “We have complied with all UEFA contractual obligations to facilitate BT as host broadcaster. Any conjecture or speculation is both inaccurate and unhelpful.”

      Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page 

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