Pochettino appointed as new coach of USA national team

Pochettino appointed as new coach of USA national team
Argentine Mauricio Pochettino has been named as the new head coach of the United States national team, the US Soccer federation announced on Sept. 10, 2024. (File/AFP)
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Updated 11 September 2024
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Pochettino appointed as new coach of USA national team

Pochettino appointed as new coach of USA national team
  • Pochettino is the biggest name coach to take charge of the USA and the first foreigner since German Juergen Klinsmann, who was sacked in 2016
  • No detail of the contract length was provided by US Soccer but Pochettino will lead the team in the 2026 World Cup which the USA is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada

MIAMI: Argentine Mauricio Pochettino has been named as the new head coach of the US national team, the US Soccer federation announced on Tuesday.

The former Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Espanyol coach replaces American Gregg Berhalter who was fired in July after a disappointing Copa America campaign.

Pochettino is the biggest name coach to take charge of the USA and the first foreigner since German Juergen Klinsmann, who was sacked in 2016.

Pochettino, 52, has been unemployed since his abrupt departure in May from Chelsea after just a single season in charge.

No detail of the contract length was provided by US Soccer but Pochettino will lead the team in the 2026 World Cup which the USA is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.

“Mauricio is a serial winner with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive and competitive teams,” said Matt Crocker, US Soccer’s sporting director who led the search for a new coach.

“His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad,” he added.

Pochettino has a track record of promoting young talent at Southampton, Tottenham and Spanish side Espanyol earlier in his managerial career.

At Tottenham, Pochettino played a key role in shaping the career of England captain Harry Kane and he turned Spurs into regular top-four finishers while also guiding them to the Champions League final in 2019.

The Argentine, who coached stars such as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in Paris, said he was relishing the chance to progress the US team.

“The decision to join US Soccer wasn’t just about football for me; it’s about the journey that this team and this country are on,” Pochettino said.

“The energy, the passion, and the hunger to achieve something truly historic here — those are the things that inspired me. The opportunity to lead the US men’s national team, in front of fans who are just as passionate as the players, is something I couldn’t pass up.

“I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we’re going to build something special that the whole nation can be proud of,” he added.

Pochettino inherits a relatively young team which reached the last-16 at the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022, losing to the Netherlands in the knockout phase.

But hopes that a young squad could progress toward 2026 were damaged by a poor Copa America campaign in July, when the team failed to advance out of the group stage finishing with just one win from three games after losses to Panama and Uruguay.

Berhalter, who had been heavily criticized by fans and pundits, was dismissed and the federation took their time in the search for his replacement.

US Soccer chief executive J.T. Batson said he was convinced that Pochettino was the right coach to get the best out of a team which is led by AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic.

“His deep knowledge of the game, his commitment to developing talent, and his relentless drive for excellence are exactly what we need as we prepare for the 2026 World Cup,” he said.

The financial package to bring in Pochettino, involved negotations with his former club Chelsea and included help from donations from the business world.

“Pochettino’s appointment is supported in significant part by a philanthropic leadership gift from Kenneth C. Griffin, Founder and CEO of Citadel and Founder of Griffin Catalyst. Additional support has been provided by Scott Goodwin, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Diameter, and several commercial partners,” US Soccer said in their statement.

The appointment is the second made by Crocker, a Welshman who previously worked with Pochettino at Southampton.

Crocker brought in another former Chelsea coach, Emma Hayes to lead the women’s team who she took to an Olympic gold in the Paris Games last month.


Professional Fighters League reveals ‘Battle of the Giants’ video ahead of Riyadh showdown

Professional Fighters League reveals ‘Battle of the Giants’ video ahead of Riyadh showdown
Updated 52 sec ago
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Professional Fighters League reveals ‘Battle of the Giants’ video ahead of Riyadh showdown

Professional Fighters League reveals ‘Battle of the Giants’ video ahead of Riyadh showdown
  • Event on Oct. 19 is headlined by Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira for the heavyweight title

RIYADH: The Professional Fighters League has released the promotional film for the “Battle of The Giants: Brace for Impact” event, created with award-winning studio Duality, which takes place on Oct. 19 at Mayadeen in Riyadh.

The video is inspired by the epic movie classic “Godzilla vs. King Kong,” and was filmed entirely on green screen using state-of-the-art technology.

It features larger-than-life versions of headliners Francis “The Predator” Ngannou and 2023 PFL Heavyweight World Champion Renan “Problema” Ferreira towering over a city and clearing everything in their paths to fight.

The card will also feature Bellator Women’s Featherweight World Champion Cris “Cyborg” taking on two-time PFL World Champion Larissa Pacheco in the co-main event, and a lightweight showdown between AJ “Mercenary” McKee and Paul “Big News” Hughes.

“Battle of the Giants: Brace for Impact” Main Card:

Heavyweight Main Event: Francis Ngannou (17-3) vs. Renan Ferreira (13-3, 3 No Contest).

Women’s Featherweight Co-Main Event: Cris “Cyborg” (27-2, 1 NC) vs. Larissa Pacheco (23-4).

Bellator Middleweight World Title Bout: Johnny Eblen (15-0) vs. Fabian Edwards (13-3).

Featherweight Main Card Bout: Husein Kadimagomaev (11-1, 1 NC) vs. Zafar Mohsen (13-4).

Lightweight Main Card Bout: AJ McKee (22-1) vs. Paul Hughes (12-1).Early Card:

Bantamweight Early Card Bout: Raufeon Stots (20-2) vs. Marcos Breno (15-3).

Lightweight Early Card Bout: Makkasharip Zaynukov (15-4) vs. Dedrek Sanders (9-4).

Featherweight Early Card Bout: Ibragim Ibragimov (7-0) vs. Nacho Campos (5-0).

Middleweight Early Card Bout: Mostafa Nada (9-3) vs. Ahmed Sami (11-4-0, 1 NC).

Featherweight Early Card Bout: Youssef Al-Housani (4-1) vs. Taha Bendaoud (3-0).


Sabalenka wins 15th match in a row to reach Beijing quarters

Sabalenka wins 15th match in a row to reach Beijing quarters
Updated 02 October 2024
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Sabalenka wins 15th match in a row to reach Beijing quarters

Sabalenka wins 15th match in a row to reach Beijing quarters
  • The US Open champion will face Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic or Spain’s Cristina Bucsa in the last eight in Beijing

BEIJING: Top seed Aryna Sabalenka won her 15th match in a row to power into the China Open quarter-finals with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Madison Keys on Wednesday.
The US Open champion will face Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic or Spain’s Cristina Bucsa in the last eight in Beijing.
World number two Sabalenka has won more matches on tour this season than anyone else and extended her red-hot streak with a fairly routine victory over the 24th-ranked American.
On a sunny Beijing day, Sabalenka and Keys exchanged breaks in the first set for 3-3 before the hard-hitting Belarusian pulled away go a set up.
The second took a similar course and Keys double-faulted on the first match point to gift Sabalenka victory in 65 minutes.
Sabalenka is on a collision course in the semifinals with China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, who faces 43rd-ranked Amanda Anisimova in the last 16 later Wednesday.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka can take a major step toward overhauling Iga Swiatek at the top of the rankings by lifting the title in Beijing.
Swiatek is not playing in the Chinese capital because of “personal matters.”


Bridgestone latest Japan firm to end Olympics sponsorship

Bridgestone latest Japan firm to end Olympics sponsorship
Updated 02 October 2024
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Bridgestone latest Japan firm to end Olympics sponsorship

Bridgestone latest Japan firm to end Olympics sponsorship
  • The decision comes after Japanese electronics giant Panasonic and auto titan Toyota said last month they had decided to end their top-tier Olympic sponsorship
  • Bridgestone struck sponsorship deals with the Olympics for 10 years in 2014 and the Paralympics for six years in 2018
  • The contract will not be renewed when it expires at the end of 2024, the firm said

TOKYO: Tire giant Bridgestone has become the latest Japanese firm to end its Olympics sponsorship, following pullouts by Toyota and Panasonic, saying it wants to focus on motorsport.

Bridgestone said on Tuesday that it “still strongly believes in the IOC’s vision of ‘building a better world through sport’,” referring to the International Olympic Committee.

“Still believing in the power of sports, the company will carry that momentum forward” by using tire products to “drive innovation,” a statement said.

The decision comes after Japanese electronics giant Panasonic and auto titan Toyota said last month they had decided to end their top-tier Olympic sponsorship.

Toyota’s chairman Akio Toyoda has said the Olympic Games were “becoming increasingly political,” while Panasonic announced their withdrawal citing “management considerations.”

Bridgestone struck sponsorship deals with the Olympics for 10 years in 2014 and the Paralympics for six years in 2018, a company spokesman told AFP on Wednesday.

The contract will not be renewed when it expires at the end of 2024, the firm said.

In December, Bridgestone said it had been named as the tire supplier for the Formula E World Championship from 2026.

It described its role in the championship for electric cars as “a cornerstone of the company’s sustainable global motorsports strategy.”


PGA Tour commissioner and Saudi fund governor paired at pro-am event in Scotland

PGA Tour commissioner and Saudi fund governor paired at pro-am event in Scotland
Updated 02 October 2024
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PGA Tour commissioner and Saudi fund governor paired at pro-am event in Scotland

PGA Tour commissioner and Saudi fund governor paired at pro-am event in Scotland
  • Monahan is paired with Billy Horschel, while Al-Rumayyan is playing with Dean Burmester of South Africa, one of 14 players from LIV Golf in the field
  • Monahan and Al-Rumayyan were involved in meetings in New York on Sept. 11 and 12 as the two sides try to work out a deal

Three weeks after PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan met with Saudi Arabia’s financial backer of LIV Golf, they will be together again this week in Scotland, this time inside the ropes.

Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Public Investment Fund that supports the LIV Golf League, are playing together in the Dunhill Links Championship on the European tour. The tournament starts Thursday.

Monahan is paired with Billy Horschel, while Al-Rumayyan is playing with Dean Burmester of South Africa, one of 14 players from LIV Golf in the field.

In the group directly behind them Thursday at Carnoustie will be Rory McIlroy, who will be playing with his father.

Monahan and Al-Rumayyan were involved in meetings in New York on Sept. 11 and 12 as the two sides try to work out a deal in which PIF would become a minority investor in PGA Tour Enterprises and they try to figure out a team concept and bring the sides together.

The PGA Tour has banned players who moved to LIV Golf, which launched in June 2022. The European tour has allowed players to return to certain events provided they take care of sanctions, a combination of suspensions and fines.

Jon Rahm is playing the Dunhill while he appeals his fines. A ruling on that — an independent panel previously ruled in favor of the European tour — is not expected until next year.

Guy Kinnings, the CEO of the European tour, also was part of the New York meetings and will be at the Dunhill Links. Kinnings expressed optimism that discussions were headed in the right direction although he said, “Long way to go. A lot of detail, complicated stuff to be done.”

There had been concern negotiations had stalled with little movement since June. The LIV Golf League ended on Sept. 22, and the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs ended at the end of August.

The tournament pairs a professional with an amateur for three rounds at St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. Al-Rumayyan also played in the Dunhill a year ago. Monahan has occasionally played in the AT&T Pebble Beach under a similar format.


Babar Azam steps down as Pakistan T20 and one-day captain

Babar Azam steps down as Pakistan T20 and one-day captain
Updated 02 October 2024
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Babar Azam steps down as Pakistan T20 and one-day captain

Babar Azam steps down as Pakistan T20 and one-day captain
  • Babar’s announcement came a week before Pakistan’s three-Test series against England, starting from October 7
  • He was removed as Pakistan captain in all formats after Pakistan’s humiliating exit from last year’s World Cup

ISLAMABAD: Babar Azam said on Tuesday he had stepped down as the captain of Pakistan’s Twenty20 and one-day teams, saying he wanted to focus more on his role as a batsman.

Babar’s announcement came a week before Pakistan’s three-Test series against England, starting from Oct. 7. Babar was named in the 15-member squad.

Pakistan are also scheduled to have a white-ball tour of Australia in Nov., but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will have to name a new captain following Baber’s resignation.

“I have decided to resign as captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team,” Babar said on X late Tuesday.

“Captaincy has been a rewarding experience, but it’s added a significant workload. I want to prioritize my performance, enjoy my batting, and spend quality time with my family, which brings me joy.”

Babar said he was stepping down as Pakistan’s captain in all three formats in November last year after Pakistan's humiliating exit from the One-Day World Cup in India.

He was re-appointed in May this year and took over from Shaheen Shah Afridi after a change in the PCB chairmanship.

Babar led Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign in June, in which the Green Shirts suffered a humiliating loss to the United States and lost to arch-rivals India. The Pakistan side crashed out of the tournament in the first round.

“By stepping down, I will gain clarity moving forward and focus more energy on my game and personal growth,” he said.

“I’m grateful for your unwavering support and belief in me. Your enthusiasm has meant the world to me.”