Albania coach Sylvinho looked up to Arsene Wenger as his inspiration, while he hailed Pep Guardiola as a genuis .
Sylvinho did not have much success during spells in charge of Lyon in France and Corinthians in his homeland of Brazil, but has excelled in his first job as a national team manager.
He took over Albania s national team at the start of 2023, and guided them to the Euro 2024 qualification. It is just the second time the Balkan nation have progressed to the finals of UEFA s flagship competition, and his efforts saw him rewarded with the Golden Decoration of the Eagle by Albania s prime minister.
Sylvinho lost just one of his opening eight games as Albania coach, with that defeat coming in his first match against Poland, though his side did slip to a 3-0 …
Halfway through last season, Borussia Dortmund were in pole position to dethrone Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
The new year saw Lucien Favre s bright young side falter just enough for Bayern s know how to tell, with Niko Kovac s men claiming a seventh successive top-flight crown.
But it means the anticipation is for a memorable tussle once again this time around, with the processions of recent campaigns hopefully a thing of the past. Throw in an ambitious chasing pack and you have quite a spectacle.
Before the first ball is kicked, five Omnisport journalists have put their necks on the line with some top-four predictions.
We totted up the overall scores and here s what we came up with. Apologies in advance to all at Signal Iduna Park…
…
As we gear up for another edition of the Women s Champions League, the excitement around this iconic club competition is as tantalising as ever.
This season s tournament, which starts on Tuesday, brings with it new managers and big moves from some top players, as the best and brightest across women s European football go toe-to-toe.
Sixteen teams have qualified and will now battle it out to be crowned champions of Europe in Lisbon next year.
The tournament will welcome Celtic and Galatasaray, who have become the first teams from Scotland and Turkiye, respectively, to reach the group stage in this current format.
There are also debutants in the form of Swedish side Hammarby, who turned heads in the qualifying rounds by knocking out last season s quarter-fi…
Pep Guardiola says he is happy Manchester City s hearing into 115 charges for alleged breaches of the Premier League s financial rules begins on Monday.
Following a four-year investigation, the club were charged and referred to an independent commission in February 2023.
Man City strongly deny all charges.
The alleged breaches of the Premier League s financial rules relate to a period between 2009 and 2018, with the trial expected to run for 10 weeks and a verdict likely to come in early 2025.
While some are dubbing it sport s trial of the century , Guardiola is just pleased that it is now close to the start date.
It starts soon and hopefully finishes soon, Guardiola said of the hearing. An independent panel will decide, and I am looking forward …
Top of the table, sack your head coach, lose El Clasico, return to the top of the table.
It is hard to argue with where Barcelona stand as LaLIga s season pauses amid the coronavirus pandemic, although their means of staying on course for a ninth title in 12 seasons have often been unconvincing.
Here, we take a look back at the Opta numbers behind a campaign where Quique Setien has replaced Ernesto Valverde in the Camp Nou hot seat and many of the old certainties seem not to exist anymore.
Well, apart from one man s enduring brilliance.
by Leo Messi
VIDEO:
— FC Barcelona (from ) (@FCBarcelona)
WORST BARCA TEAM SINCE BEFORE GUARDIOLA
Barcelona s points haul of 58 from 27 games is enough for a two-point lead o…
Former England striker Michael Owen announced he would retire at the end of the season on this day in 2013.
Owen, then 33, had signed a one-year contract with Stoke after leaving Manchester United the previous summer but his time in the Potteries was hampered by a hamstring injury, contributing to his decision to call it a day.
Owen scored 40 goals in 89 England appearances – making him the fourth highest scorer for his country’s men’s team at the time – and played at the top level for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Manchester United.
“It is with an immense amount of pride that I am announcing my intention to retire,” Owen said on March 19, 2013.
“I have been very fortunate in that my career has taken me on a journey I could only have…
The Fightin’ Mike Whites will look to make it two straight, as the New York Jets fly into Lucas Oil Stadium for a Thursday Night Football date with the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9.
Despite White’s heroics in New York’s win over the Bengals last week, his team enters TNF as 10.5-point NFL betting underdogs against Indy on a short week.
Can the Jets pull off an upset for the second straight week? Find out in our free picks and predictions for Jets vs. Colts on November 4.
…
A new season is always a fresh start in the NFL but for the Washington Commanders, it’s their opening game with a new name for the franchise.
The scheduling gods have been kind to the Commanders, giving them an opening game that is winnable and in which they’re favorites, but should they be?
Find out in our free NFL picks and predictions for the Jaguars vs. Commanders, with kickoff on September 11.
…
The Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Commanders will kick off their final preseason game of 2023 on Saturday night at Fed Ex Field in Summerfield, MD.
The Bengals will be using this game only for the deep reserves that are fighting for roster spots. The Commanders will likely do the same after losing Terry McLaurin to injury in the last game.
I analyze the NFL odds and total and give my best NFL picks and predictions for the Bengals vs. Commanders below.
Bengals vs Commanders odds
Bengals vs Commanders predictions
The Cincinnati Bengals are taking absolutely no chances with injuries in this preseason finale and are resting every starter on the team. Many of the starters will not even be…
Week 11’s matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans could be the biggest bag of cats on the NFL odds board.
Houston continues to climb the power ratings, winning three of its last four games including a 30-27 upset of Cincinnati this past weekend. The Texans enter this homestand with a 5-4 record SU and ATS, in pursuit of an improbable playoff spot.
Arizona hits the road with franchise quarterback Kyler Murray in tow after he made his season debut in a win over Atlanta last Sunday. Murray’s return snapped a six-game losing skid for the Cardinals, drastically changing the way the NFL Week 11 odds think about this non-conference clash.
I break down the point spread and Over/Under total for this head-scratcher and give my best NF…