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أعلن نادي بيراميدز، موافقته على انضمام وليد الكرتي مهاجم الفريق إلى منتخب المغرب المشارك في بطولة كأس العرب. 

ومن المقرر أن تنطلق بطولة كأس العرب، في الأول من ديسمبر المقبل، في العاصمة القطرية بالدوحة. 

طالع.. طريق بيراميدز.. موعد مباراة فلامينجو وكروز أزول في كأس الإنتركونتيننتال

وجاء بيان نادي بيراميدز على النحو التالي:

انطلاقًا من العلاقات الطيبة التي تربط نادي بيراميدز بمختلف الأندية والاتحادات الوطنية العربية، وتلبية لطلب الجامعة المغربية لكرة القدم، بشأن لاعبنا وليد الكرتي، وافقت إدارة نادي بيراميدز على انضمام اللاعب إلى صفوف المنتخب المغربي المشارك في كأس العرب للمنتخبات بقطر.

وجاء قرار نادي بيراميدز بالموافقة على انضمام الكرتي للمنتخب المغربي، على الرغم من ارتباط الفريق بمباراتين في الدوري المصري الممتاز يومي 3 و6 دبسمبر وفي ظل غيابات عديدة يعاني منها الفريق، انطلاقًا من العلاقات الطيبة التي تربطه بجميع المنتخبات العربية، وبما يضمن الحفاظ على تحقيق مصالح الطرفين.

ومن المقرر أن يصل وليد الكرتي خلال الساعات المقبلة إلى العاصمة القطرية الدوحة، بعد عودته من زامبيا مع بعثة بيراميدز، عقب سماح إدارة النادي بالتحاقه ببعثة الفريق المغربي في كأس العرب.

Suryakumar Yadav had a poor tournament with the bat, scoring just 72 runs in seven innings, but he wasn’t fussed about it

Shashank Kishore29-Sep-20252:03

Chopra: Tilak understood the need of the hour

It was well past midnight on Monday in Dubai when Suryakumar Yadav walked into the press conference room. It had been a night mired in chaos and confusion. Who would present India the Asia Cup trophy? Would India accept it if it came from ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi? Would Pakistan even turn up for their press conference, amid rumours that their team bus had already left? We got the answers by and by.Suryakumar had endured a poor tournament, and the non-cricketing issues may or may not have taken a toll on his form.There was the unbeaten 47 in India’s second game of the tournament, against Pakistan, but he had scores of 0, 5, 12 and 1 to end the Asia Cup with. On Sunday, his dismissal attempting to loft Shaheen Shah Afridi on the up left India precariously placed at 10 for 2 in their chase of 147.Related

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“I feel I am not out of form, I feel I am out of runs,” Suryakumar said. “I believe more in what I am doing in the nets and my preparation. So in matches, things are on autopilot.”His record as captain, though, has been impeccable. Since becoming full-time T20I captain, he has racked up series wins over Sri Lanka, South Africa and England and now at the Asia Cup, where India won seven games in a row to win their ninth title.Having answered the question on his form, Suryakumar directed the mic jovially the other way, egging journalists on to direct some of the questions towards Abhishek Sharma, the Player of the Tournament who sat alongside him. “I’ve felt personally that when you are not scoring runs, it is difficult to take the team along. But Surya is the same irrespective of whether he has scored runs or not,” Abhishek said, throwing his weight behind his captain.

“The boys took it [the controversies] in their stride. Since day one, I was just telling them to focus on cricket and enjoy the game”Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar had to contend with more than just cricket at the Asia Cup. It began with a handshake with Asian Cricket Council and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi during the captains’ press conference – a routine gesture that quickly turned contentious and set the tone for what followed.Days later, at the toss on September 14, Suryakumar’s refusal to shake hands with Pakistan captain Salman Agha added fresh spark to the issue. Next came a series of gestures and confrontations from both sides, eventually forcing the match referee to step in for disciplinary hearings.”I feel it was not that difficult [to deal with],” Suryakumar said. “The boys took it in their stride. Since day one, I was just telling them to focus on cricket and enjoy the game. The boys took it in a positive way. We were very focused in every game.”Suryakumar stressed that despite everything that went on, there was a bigger sense of satisfaction around where India were at in the runway to the T20 World Cup early next year, where they are defending champions.Suryakumar Yadav pretends to carry a trophy he refused to receive•AFP/Getty Images”What we wanted to achieve in this tournament, we have achieved,” he said. “There are a lot of things which you don’t get to achieve in a bilateral tournament. This was like a knockout tournament.”As soon as we entered the Super Four, I told the boys that let’s approach it like a quarter-final, semi-final and final. So we played a semi-final type of game against Sri Lanka, and then it was a perfect final. There are nerves, responsibility and pressure, and it was a perfect final.”When asked about half-centurion and Player of the Match Tilak Varma, the only name barely touched upon in an unusually long press conference, Suryakumar chose to throw the spotlight on the entire team.”I wouldn’t want to point out one player,” he said. “From the first game to the final, a lot of players came in and stepped up at crucial moments. Tilak played an unbelievable knock in the final. We’ve seen him do that before. Kuldeep [Yadav] and Varun [Chakravarthy] came back with the ball. This is just not about the final. Throughout the journey in the tournament, we’ve stepped up and seized small moments. This was a collective effort.”

Kobbie Mainoo is reportedly in talks with Napoli ahead of a January exit from Manchester United.

Across his last four games, manager Ruben Amorim has won 10 points from an available 12, stringing together a run of three wins and a draw. The former Sporting boss has seemingly, after over a year in charge, found some consistency in his first team.

This could prove crucial for Amorim, who has found himself under varying amounts of pressure since moving from Sporting to Old Trafford in November 2024. In becoming more sure of his first team, though, the Portuguese has limited the minutes of Kobbie Mainoo.

A product of the club’s prestigious youth academy, Mainoo has played just 138 minutes in seven Premier League appearances this season. As a result, rumours have started to circulate about his future and now, reports in Italy have suggested that a move to Serie A could be on the cards.

Amorim wants Mainoo to stay amid Serie A talks

As per Football Italia, Napoli have “been in contact with the agent” of Kobbie Mainoo and that “interest in a loan deal is mutual” between the player and club. Reportedly, the defending Serie A champions are looking for midfield depth following an injury suffered by Kevin De Bruyne.

Depth is made all the more imperative given that Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa will be absent during the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations and Napoli have retained the interest that they seemed to have in Mainoo back in the summer transfer window.

Despite keen interest from Antonio Conte’s side, it would seem that Amorim hopes that Mainoo remains in Manchester, though it has also been reported that a move to Italy is “more likely” and something that has reached the “advanced talks” stage of negotiation.

Though Amorim may want Mainoo to stay, it is understandable as to why the midfielder wants more first-team football, especially with a World Cup coming up next year. With Napoli’s current absentees, Mainoo would certainly receive minutes at the club.

Not only that, but Napoli’s status as a Champions League club may only make the move more alluring to Mainoo. It remains to be seen, though, whether the England international departs in the next transfer window.

Exciting update on young Man Utd defender's first team chances

Somerset suffer upset against Glamorgan thanks to allround batting and key bowling display

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay04-Jul-2025

Ned Leonard claimed five wickets against his former county as Glamorgan shocked South Group leaders Somerset with a nail-biting two-run Vitality Blast win at Taunton.The visitors posted 176 for six after losing the toss, Dan Douthwaite top-scoring with 56 off 32 balls, with three fours and four sixes, while Colin Ingram hit 55 from 33 deliveries. Matt Henry finished with two for 15 from four overs.In reply, Somerset fell just short on 174 for nine, Will Smeed making 72 off 49 balls and Leonard claiming five for 25. It was only Glamorgan’s fifth victory in 20 Blast visits to Taunton.Henry’s first two overs of the match saw Will Smale caught by Craig Overton over his shoulder at mid-on and Alex Horton top-edge a pull shot to Meredith at fine leg to make it 22 for two.Ben Kellaway hit successive boundaries off Overton in the fifth over and the end of the power play saw Glamorgan 42 for two. That became 66 for three when left-arm spinner Lewis Goldsworthy had Kiran Carlson, on 14, brilliantly caught by the diving Tom Abell at deep mid-wicket.When Kellaway, who had moved to 28, top-edged an attempted reverse sweep off Goldsworthy to Tom Kohler-Cadmore at short third-man, Glamorgan were struggling on 75 for four in the 11th over.It was 94 for five when Riley Meredith dismissed Asa Tribe, caught behind cutting, but the Australian’s next over saw Douthwaite, on two, dropped by wicketkeeper Tom Banton and it proved a costly error.Ingram moved to a powerful 31-ball half-century with a six off Meredith. Ben Green struck a big blow for Somerset when having the South African caught at short third-man off a top edge with the total on 143 in the 18th over.Douthwaite smacked Lewis Gregory for 4,4,6 at the start of the 19th over and another six took him to fifty off 29 balls. He was run out off the final delivery of the innings, having cleared the ropes again off Meredith.Somerset had reached 25 off 3.5 overs when Banton was caught at mid-off miscuing a delivery from Leonard, who followed up by bowling Kohler-Cadmore behind his legs.The hosts had posted 41 for two at the end of the power play and were in some bother when Tom Abell fell for a duck, superbly caught by Douthwaite off his own bowling to make it 44 for three. Sean Dickson and Smeed lifted the tempo with sixes off Kellaway and at the halfway point in their innings Somerset were 77 for three, needing exactly 100.Dickson had made 27 off 17 balls when top-edging a slog sweep off Andy Gorvin to make it 97 for four after 12 overs. Smeed moved to a 35-ball fifty, but Gregory fell quickly to Leonard and at 100 for five the home side were in a deepening hole.The target became 55 off five overs and then 35 off three as Green and Smeed produced some clean hitting against tight Glamorgan bowling. Green hit a straight six of Jamie McIlroy, who quickly responded by having Smeed caught at wide long-off.Leonard then had Green caught off a skyer and Craig Overton taken at deep mid-wicket to complete his five-for and 16 off the final over, bowled by Douthwaite, proved just too many for Somerset.

Liverpool’s quality has been such across the past decade that blips are met with dismay across the red half of Merseyside. Anfield and its supporters, quite simply, are used to winning.

Ten years ago, Liverpool appointed Jurgen Klopp following Brendan Rodgers’ dismissal. Ten years ago, everything changed. Now, the Reds are considered among the most ferocious and feared in Europe; beating Liverpool is a trophy in itself.

But Arne Slot has work to do, with Liverpool having lost three in a row, including successive league outings in the final moments.

Superstar signings such as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have yet to hit their stride on Merseyside, and there’s no denying there are tactical balances from head to toe. This is all grist for the mill of negativity, but Liverpool are sure to click into gear soon.

However, not all problems can be fixed so simply. For example, Mohamed Salah has been one of the most disappointing stars so far,

Liverpool preparing for Salah departure

Salah is of an age that poor form is viewed through the lens of the inevitable decline, which claims footballers into their thirties. But this is short-sighted.

Only last season, the 33-year-old scored 34 goals and laid on 23 assists across all competitions, broke the Premier League record for goal involvements in a 38-game season (47).

There’s no denying the Egyptian has been poor this term, anonymous for large sections of games and enduring his slowest start to a Liverpool campaign with three goals and assists apiece from ten matches. But he is still Salah, and Liverpool’s problems reach every area of the field.

While the long-serving superstar is expected to find a purple patch once again this term, there’s no denying he is getting older, and Liverpool need to find themselves a successor.

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has been earmarked as the man for the job.

According to Spanish sources, the in-form Premier League star is right at the top of Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes’ shopping list as he plans for the future, though competition is sure to be thick.

The Ghana international is valued at £75m and Bournemouth resisted an effort from Tottenham this summer. He has since signed a new contract at the Vitality, running until 2029, so the Cherries’ position is strong.

Why Liverpool want Antoine Semenyo

Liverpool’s chaotic season opener was a sign of things to come, winning 4-3 against Bournemouth. Semenyo bagged a brace and played with incredible quality and composure.

Now seven matches deep into the league campaign, Semenyo has scored six times all told and provided three assists too. This is a remarkable return; this is Salah-like territory.

Indeed, while Salah is well below his best, there’s a sense that even if the £400k-per-week star was on his A-game, he might not be on the same level as Bournemouth’s main man, whose efforts thus far have even led one Premier League analyst to suggest he is “one of the best players in the world”.

Matches (starts)

7 (7)

7 (7)

Goals

2

6

Assists

2

3

Shots (on target)*

1.7 (0.7)

2.4 (1.3)

Touches*

42.1

50.0

Pass completion

74%

75%

Chances created*

1.7

1.4

Dribbles*

0.1

2.1

Ball recoveries*

3.4

5.6

Tackles*

0.0

1.7

Duels won*

1.4

6.7

It is, quite frankly, a staggering drop-off, with Semenyo outstripping the legendary winger across every area in the Premier League this season. The Ghanaian has been sharper in attack, more intelligent on the ball and far more combative and engaged in the build-up.

Salah remains one of the deadliest forwards in English football history, though, and his two-goal haul so far this season has lifted him above Andy Cole and into fourth place in the all-time scoring charts.

But with Federico Chiesa and Jeremie Frimpong stood as Salah’s back-up options on the attacking right flank this term, it’s very clear that a high-level replacement would be needed.

It might be worth drawing attention to the fact that Semenyo is of an age with a 25-year-old version of Salah, a version who waved goodbye to a career in Italy and signed for Klopp’s Liverpool in a £34m deal.

And the signs, to be sure, are promising. While the data pool is shallow, statistical site FBref have crunched the data to reveal Semenyo ranks not only among the best for output in the English top flight this season, but among the top 10% for ball recoveries and the top 3% for aerial battles won per 90.

There is little to suggest he would not be a star at Liverpool. Two-footed and dynamic, the £75k-per-week talent feels very Liverpool-esque, with a hunger for success at the highest level and a fearsome, high-octane take on the game.

Last season, Semenyo scored 11 goals and posted six assists in the Premier League. This gave him praise from many and it provided Bournemouth with a £70m bid from Spurs to chew on. Now, he is levels higher. Imagine the heights he could hit in Slot’s Liverpool squad.

In April, Salah penned new terms at Liverpool. The greatest player in the Anfield side’s recent chapter will play his football in red until the end of next season. But what if Salah fails to reclaim his one-time level? Can Slot afford such a weak link dominating his frontline for much time to come?

With Semenyo added to the fold, there’s a sense Liverpool would have all they need to come together and hit that vein of form which would carry them to titles and sustained success.

Better than Guehi: Liverpool dreaming of signing "best U21 player in the PL"

Liverpool may need to dip back into the transfer market in 2026 after a disjointed start to the season.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 8, 2025

Things are starting to look a little more positive for West Ham United at the moment.

Granted, they lost their last game and currently sit in the Premier League relegation zone, but the performances under Nuno Espírito Santo have been far better.

Moreover, the club would not have fought back so valiantly for a point against Everton under Graham Potter.

However, there is still plenty the manager needs to do, such as phasing out an international ace in the same way he did James Ward-Prowse.

Why Ward-Prowse's West Ham career is over

It might seem a little over the top to say that a player’s time is up at a club when there are two years left to run on his contract.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, the unfortunate reality for Ward-Prowse is that, if he wants to play regular football at any point over the next two seasons, he needs to leave West Ham, as it’s clear he won’t be doing that under Nuno.

After all, the Portuguese coach’s first action after taking the job was to leave him out of the squad entirely for the game against Everton and then do the same again for last weekend’s game against Arsenal.

It might sound harsh, and maybe it is a little, but it’s also not much of a surprise, as after joining Nottingham Forest on loan at the start of last season, the manager did the same to him there, so much so that his loan was cut short.

It’s hard to blame the manager too much, either, as while he’s a talented player with an impressive CV, the former Southampton captain has been well below par for the Hammers.

Minutes

90′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

61

Accurate Passes

41/48 (85%)

Crosses (Accurate)

5 (1)

Shots on Target

0

Ground Duels (Won)

6 (1)

Aerial Duels (Won)

3 (0)

Lost Possession

14

Fouls

3

Dribbled Past

2

For example, in Potter’s final game, against Crystal Palace, he somehow managed to lose the ball 14 times, lost eight of nine duels, misplaced four of five crosses and committed three fouls.

At the end of the day, it would be best for all parties if Ward-Prowse left the club in January, which could be said about another West Ham star who has been a big disappointment since joining the club.

The West Ham star who should be on borrowed time

While you could make the case for other West Ham players, such as Konstantinos Mavropanos, receiving the Ward-Prowse treatment, the international in question is Niclas Füllkrug.

There was quite a bit of hope when the German joined the club last summer, as he was coming off a season in which he scored 15 goals and provided ten assists in 43 appearances for Borussia Dortmund.

Moreover, he had just played in the Euros for Germany, so while nobody expected Erling Haaland numbers, they did expect a reliable if unspectacular striker.

Unfortunately, the Hammers got the latter without the former, and as things stand today, it’s hard to see where his next goal comes from.

For example, in 27 games for the East Londoners, totalling 1262 minutes, the 32-year-old has scored just three goals and provided two assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 5.4 games, or every 252.4 minutes.

Appearances

20

7

Minutes

877′

385′

Goals

3

0

Assists

2

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.25

0.00

Minutes per Goal Involvement

175.4′

N/A

Worse still, all five of his goal involvements for the club came last season, with him drawing a blank in all eight appearances this season.

With numbers like this, and performances like the one he put in against Everton, in which he lost the ball nine times, lost 50% of his ground duels and ten of his 14 aerial duels, it’s easy to understand why Gabby Agbonlahor said he’s “not a good enough player” to represent the Irons.

Therefore, Nuno should take him out of the team entirely now and either play the slightly less poor Callum Wilson, or be bold and go with Callum Marshall or Josh Landers.

Ultimately, Füllkrug clearly isn’t good enough to play in the Premier League, so he should be sold as soon as possible during the winter window.

West Ham ace who's "pure joy to watch" could become Nuno's new Gibbs-White

The international star could be the secret to helping Nuno get more out of West Ham this season.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 10, 2025

Liverpool have opened the 2024/25 season in perfect fashion, sitting top of the Premier League with four wins from four.

Under Arne Slot, they’ve quickly shown resilience and attacking flair, but the journey has not been without its flaws.

Three times already this season – against Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Atlético Madrid – the Reds have let two-goal leads slip, only to be rescued by late winners. The most special of all perhaps being Rio Ngumoha’s strike at St James’ Park.

That ability to find decisive moments in the dying stages has become a hallmark.

The 93rd-minute strike against Atlético was Liverpool’s fourth goal scored in stoppage time across all competitions this season, underlining the winning mentality that carried them to their second Premier League crown last season.

While Dominik Szoboszlai has been central to the team’s fluid play, it is a different player who increasingly embodies the leadership once associated with the great Steven Gerrard.

Szoboszlai: A creative hub and tactical fix

Szoboszlai’s start to the season didn’t go smoothly.

Slot publicly criticised him for his role in Bournemouth’s opening goal during the 4-2 win at Anfield on the opening weekend.

Since then, however, the 24-year-old has responded with consistent excellence and versatility.

Last season, the Hungarian produced 12 goal involvements this campaign, a reminder of his value in the final third. His numbers reflect a midfielder who drives play forward relentlessly:

Progressive Carries per 90

2.60

Progressive Passes per 90

4.73

Shot-Creating Actions per 90

4.30

Pass Completion Rate

84.3%

Progressive Passing Distance per 90

131.4m

These metrics paint a picture of a player who not only initiates attacking moves but sustains them with precision passing and clever movement.

His decisive 30-yard free-kick against Arsenal was the standout moment of Liverpool’s season so far, sealing a 1-0 win that kept their perfect record intact.

What makes Szoboszlai even more valuable is his tactical adaptability.

Against Newcastle, with Liverpool stretched at St James’ Park, he filled in at right-back and barely put a foot wrong all evening. He did the same when Arsenal came to town a few weeks ago.

This flexibility makes him a manager’s dream – a midfielder capable of influencing games both with creativity and discipline.

It’s tempting to compare Szoboszlai to Gerrard, as many pundits have, but this season he is functioning as Liverpool’s alternative to Florian Wirtz.

While Wirtz has struggled to adapt since his high-profile Premier League arrival, Szoboszlai has thrived in high-pressure situations, reinforcing why Liverpool chose him as a centrepiece in midfield.

That said, the Hungary international isn’t quite as iconic as Gerrard just yet.

Liverpool's new Gerrard

If Szoboszlai is Liverpool’s creator, Virgil van Dijk is their leader.

At 34, the Dutchman remains a colossal presence at the back, but this season he has added moments of attacking inspiration too.

His stoppage-time winner against Atlético epitomised a player taking responsibility in decisive moments.

Football analyst Josh Williams has described Van Dijk as “outrageous” this season, adding that he “takes responsibility like Gerrard used to.”

It is rare for a centre-back to be compared with Liverpool’s most iconic midfielder, but the parallels are clear.

Just as Gerrard dragged teams through games with moments of inspiration, Van Dijk is now doing the same from defence.

Statistically, his influence remains elite and he showcased that against Atletico.

To illuminate his qualities, Van Dijk ranks in the 86th percentile among his fellow central defenders for pass completion (91.5%) over the last year, ensuring that Liverpool can build calmly from the back.

He is also in the 90th percentile for progressive passes (5.24 per 90), showing how often he breaks lines with distribution from deep.

Defensively, he dominates in the air, winning 3.02 aerial duels per 90, placing him again in the 86th percentile among centre-backs.

Statistical comparisons with Ronald Araújo and Gabriel Magalhães highlight his profile: a defender who combines physical dominance with elite ball progression.

But Van Dijk’s role extends beyond numbers. As club captain, with a contract running until 2027, he is the figure setting standards in this rejuvenating side.

Liverpool’s start has not been flawless. Throwing away leads three times already is a warning sign for a team with ambitions of another title.

Yet those setbacks have been countered by players willing to step up in decisive phases.

Szoboszlai has driven the creative rhythm with his passing and chance creation, while Van Dijk has shown the authority and timing to decide contests late on.

Together, they have shaped Liverpool’s early-season identity: a side capable of brilliance, but reliant on its big leaders to seize the big moments.

Not Salah or Van Dijk: Liverpool star is now "one of the best in the world"

Liverpool left it late once more to collect a Champions League victory at Anfield over Atletico Madrid.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 18, 2025

León confirmed Ignacio Ambriz as their new head coach after Eduardo Berizzo resigned Saturday morning in the wake of a 2-0 loss to Juárez. The Mexican manager begins his second spell with La Fiera, the club he guided to the Guardianes 2020 title. León, who are led by Colombian star James Rodriguez, are winless in four and sit 11th in the Apertura 2025 with 12 points.

Getty ImagesA familiar face returns

Ambriz returns to Liga MX after last managing Santos Laguna in the Apertura 2024, a campaign in which the Guerreros finished at the bottom of the standings with only 10 points. Despite having Rodriguez on their roster, Leon have scored just 10 goals and conceded 18. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportPrevious success with Leon

This marks a homecoming for Ambriz, who guided León to the 2020 Guardianes title during his first tenure between 2018 and 2021. Over three seasons with the Esmeraldas, he recorded 61 wins, 23 draws and 29 losses in 113 matches, with his teams scoring 204 goals while conceding 136.

Ambriz’s second debut on the León sideline is set for Saturday, Oct. 4, when La Fiera will host league leaders Toluca on Matchday 12 of the Apertura 2025.

Getty Images SportFighting for Play-In qualification

After 11 rounds of the current tournament, León occupy 11th place in the table with 12 points, the product of three wins, three draws and five defeats.

The coaching change came swiftly after Berizzo’s departure, as the club immediately began searching for a replacement before settling on Ambriz. The Mexican coach now has less than a week to prepare his team for the crucial home clash against the high-flying Diablos Rojos.

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Getty Images SportJames on his way out?

Rodríguez’s contract with León expires this December, and so far, there are no signs that the Mexican club plans to offer the Colombian a renewal.

Nottingham Forest admire an “unbelievable” Premier League manager, with Evangelos Marinakis looking to “move quickly” to appoint a replacement for Nuno Espirito Santo.

Nuno sacked after just three Premier League games

Trouble has been brewing at The City Ground for quite some time now, with Nuno not helping the situation when he revealed his relationship with Marinakis was no longer the same as it was in the 2024-25 campaign, saying: “I always had a very good relationship with the owner – last season we were very close and spoke on a daily basis. This season it is not so well,”

“Our relationship has changed and we are not as close. Everybody at the club should be together, but this is not the reality.”

The 51-year-old initially held onto his job, but Forest announced the decision to sack their manager on Monday night, with Marinakis sacking the Portuguese coach off the back of a 3-0 defeat at home against West Ham United.

It is a controversial decision to sack the manager who led the Tricky Trees to Europe for the first time in 30 years, which makes it even more crucial for Marinakis to get the next appointment right, with Ange Postecoglou set to be appointed.

Taking to X, Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett revealed Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is one of the managers “admired” by the Nottingham Forest hierarchy, but Postecoglou appears to be the man set to take Forest forward.

"Underrated" 4-2-3-1 manager now open to replacing Nuno at Nottingham Forest

The Tricky Trees could be set for a managerial change at the City Ground.

1 BySean Markus Clifford Sep 5, 2025 Glasner could have been "unbelievable" appointment

It seems likely the Austrian, who plays a 3-4-2-1 system, would’ve been a popular appointment among the Forest fans, given what he has achieved since arriving at Crystal Palace, most notably leading the Eagles to FA Cup glory last season.

However, the 51-year-old would’ve been a controversial appointment from a Palace point of view, given the fact Forest replaced Glasner’s side in the Europa League this season, due to issues surrounding multi-club ownership.

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has praised the “unbelievable” job Glasner has done, while also adding: “He loves football, always believes we can win and he instills that in his players.”

However, Postecoglou may also be an exciting appointment, given that the Australian is well-known for an attacking style of play, with the 60-year-old leading Tottenham Hotspur to Europa League glory last season.

SA20 commissioner talks up SA20’s investment in local cricket, saying “We see ourselves as very different to the ILT20. We’re a South African league, with a majority of South African players”

Firdose Moonda08-Jan-2025T20 franchise leagues that do not field a majority of locally based players are “not good for the game”, according to SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith.Speaking ahead of the league’s third season, which, once again, clashes directly with the UAE’s ILT20, Smith argued that what sets the SA20 apart is how rooted it is in the South African system and what it does for the country’s cricket.”We see ourselves as very different to the ILT20. We’re a South African league, with a majority of South African players and our ultimate goal is to benefit South African players,” he said at the captain’s day press conference in Cape Town. “We’ve been built up against ILT20, so it’s very difficult for me to not come across like I’m bad-mouthing them, but I do feel like a league like that is not good for the game; that there’s that many international players required to build a team; there’s no investment back into local cricket. That is a challenge for the world game and something that needs to be managed going forward.”Related

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While the SA20 follows an IPL-style model that allows for teams to field four internationals per XI, the ILT20 allows a maximum of nine internationals. All six SA20 squads are restricted to 19 players, must contain a minimum of 11 South African players and international places in the squads are limited to seven. They are also required to contract a rookie player, a South African under the age of 22 who has not been contracted to the tournament before. The ILT20 requires that at least two UAE players are included in the playing XI and four in the squad overall, and that squads contract two players from Associate nations, who do not get any special provision in the SA20.For Smith, the SA20’s focus is on developing as much local talent as possible while also offering international players the opportunity for tough competition. “We’re a Full Member nation. Our priority is to put on a global league, but to benefit South African cricket. That’s important for us,” he said. “What we have focused on is building the SA20 to the point where we are now being recognised as one of the biggest leagues outside the IPL. That’s important for us, and that’s the feedback we’re getting. And what we’ve seen from a player group is that this is where players want to play because it’s competitive, there’s good crowds, the standard of cricket is good, and this is the place to come and challenge yourself.”The SA20 has already attracted the likes of Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan – who played a season at the ILT20 and then returned to South Africa – Trent Boult, and some of England’s most high-profile Test players for this season, Joe Root, Johnny Bairstow and (before he was injured) Ben Stokes. But several players have also made the move from the SA20 to the ILT20 such as Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Adil Rashid and Phil Salt, and there have been and may yet be instances where players whose teams are knocked out of one tournament fly across to play in the knockouts of the other. Smith described that as a situation the league does not have “control” over.

What they do manage is their own initiatives, both in the four-week period that the tournament takes place and outside of that. This year, the SA20 started a schools league for both boys and girls that ran from September 2024 and will conclude in March. They have hired former national assistant coach Vincent Barnes to work on the project, which includes over 500 schools. They have also run camps for Under-19 women’s cricketers ahead of the age-group World Cup but talk of a women’s SA20 has gone quiet after the WPL moved into the January-February window from 2026. ESPNcricinfo understands that over the next 18 months, the SA20 will look at how to develop a women’s competition but for now will continue to work with younger players.”There’s a lot of really cool grassroots programmes that we’re putting in place that hopefully will unearth some incredible talent on both the girls and boys side,” Smith said. “Our franchises are also starting to build academies and scouts and do things on the ground which will really benefit the ecosystem. We’re hoping in the next coming two to three years that you’ll really see the impact of SA20 at the grassroots level.”For its part, the ILT20 launched a development tournament ahead of its second season, which ran in Dubai and for which more than 300 local players signed up to the draft.The other measurable comparison between the two leagues is fan engagement. Last season, the SA20 boasted ten sold out matches and 70% of the overall tickets available were sold while the ILT20 reported a 300% increase in stadium attendances.For Smith, public support for the SA20 is one of the standout features which makes the competition “an established product now that has elevated itself to probably the biggest league outside of the IPL.” “I’ll never forget seeing you know the fan bases and the colours of each team being supported,” he said. “The feedback we get globally is when people tune in, they see a happy South Africa in summer with full stadiums and incredible cricket.”