Roy Hodgson still going strong – A look at the Premier League’s oldest managers

Roy Hodgson is to remain as Crystal Palace manager for the new season at the age of 76.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the five men to manage in the Premier League after turning 70.

Roy Hodgson

76 years, three days (on the date of Palace’s first game of the new season)

Hodgson’s extended stay means he will take charge of the clash with Sheffield United three days after his 76th birthday. Remarkably he has had three separate spells in the top flight since turning 70, keeping Palace safe from relegation in 2020-21 and again last season, but failing to achieve the same feat with Watford in between times.

His 47-year managerial career has taken in a total of 17 clubs in six countries, including four in Sweden, as well as the national teams of England,…

Italy 10/11 to win against Sweden in this afternoon’s Euro 2016 clash

Competition: Euro 2016
Market: Italy to win against Sweden
Odds:

Italy lock horns with Sweden in their second Euro 2016 Group E clash at the Stadium Municipal this afternoon, and are big favourites to come out on top with how well they’ve begun this summer’s tournament.

The Azzurri are currently top of Group E with three points from their opening game victory over Belgium, two points clear of Sweden and the Republic of Ireland in second and third respectively. A win for Italy will see them into the knockout round, and the manner of their performance against Belgium could see them beating Sweden too.

As for the aforementioned, the Swedes drew their opening game of the Euros to Ireland, but could still end the day top of Group E with a win at the …

Rob Page against Wales games moving to Principality Stadium ahead of Euro 2028

Manager Rob Page says Wales should not move home games to the Principality Stadium ahead of Euro 2028.

The UK and Ireland’s bid to host Euro 2028 was formally approved on Tuesday, with the 74,500-capacity home of Welsh rugby in Cardiff among the 10 venues to be used for the tournament.

The idea of playing at the Principality Stadium – Wales have played there only once since 2011, a 4-1 friendly defeat to Spain in October 2018 – angers a large section of the Dragons’ fan base, who prefer that games are played at the 33,280-capacity Cardiff City Stadium.

But Noel Mooney, chief executive of the Football Association of Wales, last month raised the possibility of the men’s national team playing there before Euro 2028 to allow players and supporters to get us…

Prediction: Romania vs Netherlands

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker:

With plenty of pressure on their shoulders on Tuesday evening, the Netherlands will travel to Munich when they meet Romania for their Round of 16 showdown.

Romania

Starting with Romania, only continuing on what has been a history-making summer over in Germany, the Tricolours find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Booking a maiden knockout stage ticket and remarkably finishing at the top of Group E ahead of European giants Belgium, Edward Iordabescu’s men have embarked on an iconic fairytale. However, signing off their Group E campaign with a 1-1 stalemate against Slovakia last week, the Yellows will be more than aware that they face a huge leap up in class on Tuesday evening. Signing off their EURO 24 preparations with a lack…

Georgia ready to ´write a new page of history´ at Euro 2024 – Kvaratskhelia

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia says Georgia are ready to leave our mark and write a new page of history on their major international tournament debut at Euro 2024.

Willy Sagnol s side, who qualified via the play-offs after beating former champions Greece on penalties, are the only debutants in Germany, where they commence their campaign against Turkiye on June 18.

The Crusaders will also play Portugal and Czechia in Group F, with Kvaratskhelia insisting he and his team-mates are not appearing in the tournament just to make up the numbers.

The Napoli winger, who helped the Partenopei to the 2022-23 Scudetto, scored four goals for Georgia during qualifying, in which he also completed the joint-most dribbles along with Belgium s Jeremy Doku (both 44).

On being consid…

Euro 2020: From Bale to Zakaria – the stars in the shop window

Euro 2020 is just days away, and that means the rumour mill is about to go into overdrive.

International tournaments always represent something of a showcase for clubs seeking reinforcements and this year will be no different, even if the impact of the pandemic means spending may not quite reach levels of old.

There will be several players eager to impress at these finals: some will be long-term targets out to justify the hype, while others will be seeking a new challenge as contracts begin to wind down.

Using Opta data, Stats Perform has compiled a list of some of the candidates vying to be front and centre of this particular shop window

 

Belgium: Jeremy Doku

One of Belgium s less-known attacking stars, Jeremy Doku was directly involve…

Eredivisie strugglers Ajax appoint John van ‘t Schip as interim manager

Ajax have appointed former player and assistant boss John van ‘t Schip as the club’s interim manager.

The 36-time Dutch champions, who slumped to the bottom of the Eredivisie table on Sunday after losing 5-2 at PSV Eindhoven, parted company with Maurice Steijn last week.

A club statement read: “Ajax appoints John van ‘t Schip as interim head coach of Ajax 1. The former Ajax player signs a contract with the club running from October 30 2023 until June 30 2025.

“Van ‘t Schip and Ajax have agreed to him stepping into a function in technical management from July 1 2024.”

Former Ajax and Netherlands winger Van ‘t Schip, 59 won four Eredivisie titles during his time at the club as a player and has had two previous spells as assistant manager.

Liverpool eye Jonathan Tah

Liverpool are interested in signing Jonathan Tah in the summer transfer window, according to . Tah is out of contract at Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season, and Premier League outfit Liverpool are keen on snapping him on a free transfer.

Tah has been on the books of Bayer since 2015. The 28-year-old Germany international central defender has established himself as one of the better defenders in the Bundesliga and helped his club win the title last season. Tah scored four goals and gave one assist in 30 Bundesliga starts last season and has played twice in the league so far this campaign.

Liverpool are aiming to win the Premier League title this season and have won all three matches so far this campaign. As for Bayer, the defending German champions…

Liverpool´s 2019-20 Premier League fixtures in full

Liverpool open the new Premier League season at home to Norwich City on Friday, August 9.

The Merseysiders finished the previous campaign on a high by beating Tottenham to land the Champions League title and will expect to start strongly against the newly promoted Canaries.

Manchester City, who pipped Jurgen Klopp s side to the domestic crown in 2018-19, visit Anfield on November 9 at the end of a tricky run that also sees Liverpool go to Manchester United and Aston Villa and host Tottenham.

The first Merseyside derby of the season takes place on December 4 with the return at Goodison Park scheduled for March 14.

 

Liverpool s 2019-20 Premier League fixtures in full (all times local):

August 9, Liverpool v Norwich City (20:00)
August…

Houston Dynamo v Los Angeles FC: Olsen calls for focus to achieve double

Houston Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen has urged his team to maintain their high level as they prepare to face Los Angeles FC for the second week running.

The Dynamo came out on top as 2-0 winners at BMO Stadium last weekend, bouncing back from their 1-0 defeat to Toronto FC.

They now sit seventh in the Western Conference as one of three teams on 40 points.

And Olsen says his team cannot let their guard down, despite already registering a vital win against LAFC.

This is a league where you ve got to move forward, and you ve got to get better, Olsen said.

We ll have to be at our best. Things happen quickly against LAFC. The focus you need to play against them is an incredibly high level.

Alarm bells are always going off, and we coped with it…