LONDON: Manchester United on Friday anointed Jose Mourinho as their third new manager in less than three years in their bid to reinstate the club as a title-winning force in England and Europe.
After three days of talks, Mourinho agreed a three-year contract on a bumper salary reportedly worth more than $20 million (19.5 million euros) a year.
But the 53-year-old Portuguese supercoach, who has 22 honors to his name, said it was the “mystique” of United that drew him to the challenge of reviving one the world’s biggest football clubs.
“Manchester United is one of these clubs where you need really to be prepared for it because it is what I used to call a giant club,” Mourinho said.
“Giant clubs must be for the best managers and I think I’m ready,” he told the club’s television channel.
“To become Manchester United manager is a special honor in the game,” Mourinho added.
“It is a club known and admired throughout the world. There is a mystique and a romance about it which no other club can match.”
The Red Devils need dragging out of the doldrums after first David Moyes and then Louis van Gaal failed to emulate the title-laden glory years under Alex Ferguson, who retired in 2013.
He told the club’s television channel that he wanted to “forget the past three years” at United.
“I want to win,” he said.
“I will give absolutely everything to try and go in the direction we all want.”
Mourinho seemed destined to manage United ever since his Porto side eliminated Ferguson’s men en route to winning the 2004 Champions League.
He thought his time had come when Ferguson retired, but concerns over his volatile personality prompted United to pick the more reserved Moyes instead.
But with that move proving a disaster and Van Gaal faring little better, United’s powerbrokers sacked the Dutchman on Monday and decided at last to gamble on Mourinho, despite his turbulent reputation.
“Jose is quite simply the best manager in the game today,” said United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
Mourinho has won league titles and cups in four countries with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid. He won the Champions League for a second time with Inter in 2010.
Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea in December after a disastrous start to the season that saw the defending champions hovering near the relegation zone amid acrimony between the manager and his players and staff.
Before the new season begins, Mourinho will have to face the fall-out from his second spell at Stamford Bridge.
Former Blues doctor Eva Carneiro is claiming constructive dismissal in a case against Chelsea and has a separate personal legal action against Mourinho for alleged victimization and discrimination.
The employment tribunal, which could take seven to 10 days, will be heard in public between June 6 and 24 unless a settlement is reached first.
There was no word from the Red Devils on the future of club stalwart Ryan Giggs, who has spent nearly three decades at Old Trafford as a player and then as Van Gaal’s deputy.
Mourinho will hope to make significant improvements to an unbalanced and often lacklustre United squad before the new season begins in August.
Media reports said he will have £200 million ($293m, 262m euros) to bring in fresh faces, with former Paris Saint-Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Everton defender John Stones reportedly on his wish list.
The new season could become a battle royale between Mourinho and Pep Guardiola, the incoming boss of bitter rivals Manchester City.
When Mourinho was in charge of Real Madrid and Guardiola running their sworn enemy Barcelona, the Portuguese relished taking a swipe at the Spaniard.
United finished fifth last season behind champions Leicester, Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City, thereby failing to qualifying for the lucrative Champions League.
Missing out on joining Europe’s elite next season ultimately cost Van Gaal his job on Monday, despite winning the FA Cup two days before.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand said Mourinho needed to instil a winning mentality back into the club.
“This is Jose Mourinho’s most exciting and most challenging job yet,” the former England captain said.
After Chelsea, “this winner is now a wounded animal which makes him such a mouthwatering appointment.
“Mourinho’s huge personality is made for this great club.”
Outside Old Trafford, fans were already snapping up Mourinho scarves.
“We’ve had two managers who have tried and failed. Let’s hope it’s third time lucky,” scarf seller John said.
Manchester United anoints supercoach Mourinho
Manchester United anoints supercoach Mourinho
Mathys Tel ‘100 percent’ committed to Spurs, says Postecoglou
- Postecoglou told his pre-match press conference that Tel had been right to take his time over such a major decision
- “He obviously wants to play. We’ve already shown that irrespective of age, he’ll get an opportunity here”
LONDON: Ange Postecoglou said Mathys Tel is “100 percent” committed to Tottenham after the French forward signed on loan despite reportedly rejecting a move to the club earlier in the January transfer window.
Tottenham were busy in the final hours of Monday’s deadline day as they bolstered Postecoglou’s injury-ravaged squad, bringing in Tel and defender Kevin Danso.
Bayern Munich’s Tel, 19, was also linked with Manchester United and Arsenal before opting for Tottenham, who have an option to make the move permanent in the summer transfer window.
Postecoglou, whose team take a 1-0 lead into Thursday’s League Cup semifinal second-leg at Liverpool, told his pre-match press conference that Tel had been right to take his time over such a major decision.
“It’s not so much that he rejected us or rejected anyone else,” said the Spurs manager. “Rightly so he was getting as much information as possible.”
The Australian added: “I had a conversation with him and I guess mine was purely around the football and I think he’ll find a really great place here in terms of where he is in his career.
“He obviously wants to play. We’ve already shown that irrespective of age, he’ll get an opportunity here, and the way we play will suit him.
“Certainly with what we have in the next few months and then more importantly what we’re building beyond, I thought he would be a perfect fit.”
When asked if he felt the France under-21 international was fully committed to Spurs, Postecoglou said: “Yes, 100 percent. I am more than 100 percent sure because he took so much time, was so diligent about finding out everything when he made a decision that it’s us.
“He obviously had options and that sort of gave me even more confidence that we are getting the right kind of mentality, the right kind of player.
“He is very ambitious. He’s got a great deal of self-belief and self-confidence. He feels he can reach the top of the game and he has chosen us, which is a great vindication of what we are doing.”
Tel and Danso will both be available for Thursday’s match at Anfield, but Micky van de Ven and fellow center-back Cristian Romero are set to miss out, with Postecoglou taking a “conservative” approach after the duo’s injury absences.
Tottenham are one match away from a League Cup final at Wembley as they seek to end a trophy drought that stretches back to 2008.
Former Celtic boss Postecoglou, in his second season at Tottenham, put himself under pressure earlier in the campaign when he said he “always wins things in my second year.”
But he said Premier League leaders and League Cup holders Liverpool would also be feeling the pressure.
“I don’t think Liverpool will be any less anxious than us about the fixture,” he said. “You’re in a semifinal, particularly a second leg and it’s still very tight.
“It’s a big game for both clubs so you recognize that, you embrace that but ultimately if you want to be successful these are the games you want to be involved in.”
Chelsea star Kerr ‘feared for my life’ during taxi ride
- Kerr told a jury at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday that she had put her head out of the window when she began to feel sick
- She added the dangerous driving continued for 15 to 20 minutes
LONDON: Chelsea striker Sam Kerr said she “feared for my life” while she and her partner were in the back of a taxi moments before one of them smashed the vehicle’s rear window.
The Australia international is on trial charged with causing racially aggravated harassment to police officer Stephen Lovell during an incident in south-west London in the early hours of January 30, 2023.
It is alleged Kerr, 31, and her partner, West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis, had been out drinking when they were driven to Twickenham Police Station by a taxi driver who complained the pair had refused to pay clean-up costs after one of them was sick, and that one of them smashed the vehicle’s rear window.
Kerr told a jury at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday that she had put her head out of the window when she began to feel sick before the driver “rolled it up” and began to “drive dangerously.”
She added the dangerous driving continued for 15 to 20 minutes, saying: “I was terrified for my life. Everything was going through my mind about being in a car with a stranger I deemed to be dangerous. There was no reasoning with him. It was his way or nothing.
“Kristie asked him to stop the car but there was no change to his driving. We had no idea where we were.
“Kristie was very distressed. She was crying and scared. I’ve never seen her like that before and it made me more scared.
“I started to realize how serious the situation was. It put me in protective mode... he had the power over us... I deemed him to be dangerous because of the driving, but also because he could have taken us anywhere.”
Kerr said the pair tried to open the doors and windows several times, but they remained locked.
Mewis eventually “kicked out (the window) with her boot” which led Kerr to feel “relieved,” but she added: “We didn’t get out straight away as the car was still moving.”
On Tuesday, the court was told Lovell first saw Kerr as she crawled through the smashed taxi window outside the station.
A “heated” discussion about the incident ensued between Kerr and the police, during which she allegedly became “abusive and insulting” toward Lovell, calling him “stupid and white.”
Kerr made her debut for current Women’s Super League champions Chelsea in 2020. She is currently out of action with a knee injury.
277 athletes compete in Saudi Open Kickboxing Championship in Riyadh
- 3-day event brings together elite competitors across different weight classes, age groups
- Championship will expand sport’s reach across the Kingdom, Saudi Kickboxing Federation says
RIYADH: A total of 277 athletes, including 67 women, on Wednesday began competing in 289 categories of the Saudi Open Kickboxing Championship, which is being organized by the Saudi Kickboxing Federation in Riyadh.
The three-day championship is being held at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Al-Malaz. The event kicked off on Wednesday with weigh-ins and medical check-ups followed by competitions.
Federation Chairman Ahmed Al-Towayan said that the championship brings together elite athletes across different weight classes and age groups. He highlighted the SKF’s commitment to these athletes, describing them as the foundation of the sport’s development in Saudi Arabia.
“This championship marks the launch of the second phase of our strategic implementation,” said Al-Towayan.
“We enter 2025 with a great spirit, fueled by the unlimited support in the sports sector from our leadership and the special attention given to kickboxing by Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, minister of sports and president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee,” he added.
To enhance the experience for spectators, the federation has planned various entertainment activities, and set up food and beverage areas offering complimentary refreshments.
The federation will also offer gifts to the audience and host special segments on the sidelines of the championship.
Al-Towayan added: “The championship is not just about fostering a competitive sports environment, but also aims to expand the reach of kickboxing across the Kingdom, while providing diverse entertainment experiences for families and children as part of SKF’s community engagement efforts.”
On eve of his 40th birthday, Ronaldo says he is the best soccer player ever
- “I am the greatest scorer in history,” Ronaldo said in an interview with Spanish television channel La Sexta
- He had said it before, more than once, that he feels he will go out as the best ever in the history of soccer
MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo approaches his 40th birthday with the same confidence and self-esteem as he has always boasted throughout his successful career.
Ronaldo, the former Real Madrid star who now plays for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, will turn 40 on Wednesday and apparently has no doubt about who should be considered the best soccer player ever.
“I am the greatest scorer in history,” Ronaldo said in an interview with Spanish television channel La Sexta. “Although I am not left-footed, I am in the top 10 in history for goals scored with the left foot. These are numbers, I am the most complete player who has ever existed.
“I play well with my head, I take good free kicks, I am fast, I am strong, I jump... I have never seen anyone better than me.”
The Portugal star holds most scoring records in men’s international soccer, including most appearances with 217 and most goals with 135.
He had said it before, more than once, that he feels he will go out as the best ever in the history of soccer. Whenever he was asked about the discussion of who is better, him or Lionel Messi, he always praised the Argentine but ended siding with himself.
Ronaldo’s most recent comments prompted a few reactions in the soccer world.
“I have a lot of respect for Cristiano and I don’t have to analyze his opinions. It’s what he thinks. I have my own thoughts and it isn’t that,” said Javier Mascherano, a former teammate of Messi and his current coach at Inter Miami.
Bangladesh goes into bat for cricket in Saudi Arabia, ambassador says
- M. Delwar Hossain: I look forward to meeting the SACF chairman and discussing how we can work together for better cooperation
- Former Pakistan captain, and one of the great allrounders, Shahid Afridi, was recently in the Kingdom, and met SACF CEO Tariq Ziad Sagga
RIYADH: Bangladesh Ambassador M. Delwar Hossain says that his country is looking forward to working with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation and extending all cooperation as the sport’s popularity in the Kingdom grows.
The ambassador told Arab News: “Cricket is an important area developing in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi cricket team is doing well at the Asian Cricket Council events. We are following up the developments, and are in touch with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation.”
The Saudi cricket team won the ACC Men’s Challenger Cup, both the first and the second competition, played in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2023 and 2024. The tournament is a part of the qualification pathway for the Asia Cup. The finalists qualify for the Premier Cup, whose winner goes on to the Asia Cup.
Hossain said that his predecessor, ambassador Mohammad Javed Patwary, met SACF Chairman Prince Saud bin Mishal Al-Saud last year, and they had signed an agreement between the Bangladesh and Saudi cricket boards.
The SACF chief was also invited to visit Bangladesh to see cricket developments there and decide what kind of cooperation could be extended from the Bangladeshi side. He was a keen supporter, according to the embassy officials who accompanied the previous ambassador during the meeting.
“I am new here, and look forward to meeting the SACF chairman and discussing how we can work together for better cooperation,” Hossain told Arab News.
Bangladesh is a good cricket side, currently ranked in the top ten across all formats: Test, ODI and T20 internationals.
Many Bangladeshi expatriates play cricket at different clubs in Saudi Arabia. Bangladeshi expatriates have been invited to join matches organized by the SACF with employees of various companies as part of corporate cricket.
Recently Bangladeshi international schools have also been engaged in the game — both male and female students — for separate matches organized by the SACF.
With the game growing by leaps and bounds in the Kingdom, many developments are taking place. The Red Sea city of Jeddah hosted the TATA IPL mega auction at the Abadi Al-Johar Arena in November 2024, which attracted international cricket stars and the celebrity owners of the IPL franchises.
The SACF described the TATA IPL mega auction as “a historic sporting achievement in Jeddah.”
Former Pakistan captain, and one of the great allrounders, Shahid Afridi, was recently in the Kingdom, and met SACF CEO Tariq Ziad Sagga, describing it as an inspiring experience, at King Abdullah University Of Science And Technology (KAUST) Winter Enrichment Program 2025.
“Honored to be invited to the @kaust_news Winter Enrichment Program 2025! Thrilled to champion cricket and sports empowerment alongside our star Olympian @ArshadOlympian1, CEO @Cricketsaudi @tzsagga and GM Iqbal Sikandar. A pleasure engaging with the brilliant faculty, students and community here, alongside @ZafarxMalik, CEO of @SAFoundationN. Together, we continue to drive the spirit of sports forward!,” Afridi posted on X.
Pakistani cricketing legends, including Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar, have also been visiting the Kingdom and held meetings with the SACF chairman to discuss the development of cricket and ways to cooperate.
Indian cricket legend and former captain Rahul Dravid, head coach of the Indian Premier League team Rajasthan Royals, also attended the NEOM cricket program recently.
