Sports
Arsenal preparing centurion send-off for legendary boss Arsene Wenger as they invite club legends to final game
Arsenal have invited Thierry Henry, Tony Adams and the other members of their 100 Club to attend Arsene Wenger‘s Emirates Stadium farewell.
The Gunners have written to all former players who have made 100-plus league appearances for the club ahead of the match against Burnley on Sunday — Wenger’s final home game. These include legends such as Bob Wilson, Frank McLintock and Sol Campbell.
Arsenal will use the fixture as a key element of their celebrations to commemorate the Frenchman’s 22 years in charge.
Whoever replaces Wenger is unlikely to have the iron grip over transfers that he enjoyed during his reign as it emerges that Konstantinos Mavropanos was signed without the 68-year-old being consulted. The Greek defender arrived in January and made his senior debut in the defeat at Manchester United. But it is understood Wenger had virtually no input into the decision to sign the 20-year-old from PAS Giannina.
The circumstances surrounding Mavropanos’s signing provide a clear indication of the direction Arsenal are headed in terms of their transfer strategy.
Head of recruitment Sven Mislintat’s influence has grown significantly since his arrival in November. Mavropanos was signed on his recommendation. Wenger had fought hard to keep total control over the club’s recruitment but Mislintat will almost certainly become the key voice over transfers once a new boss is appointed.
The Gunners have written to members of their 100 Club to invite them to the game
GUNNERS GREATS FROM ACROSS THE AGES
This was the amazing gathering of 31 centurions for the launch of Arsenal’s 100 Club in 2013. Everyone who has played 100 games for the club has been invited to the Emirates on Sunday for Arsene Wenger’s final home game.
Back row (from left): Lauren, Robert Pires, Gilles Grimandi, John Lukic, David O’Leary, David Price, Graham Rix, Brian Talbot, Andy Linighan, Martin Hayes.
Middle row: Sammy Nelson, Sol Campbell, Jimmy Rimmer, Liam Brady, David Hillier, Alan Smith, Tony Woodcock, Paul Davis, John Radford, Michael Thomas, John Hollins, Nigel Winterburn, Perry Groves.
Front row: Jimmy Magill, Jon Sammels, David Court, Bob Wilson, Frank McLintock, Alan Skirton, Billy McCullough, Terry Neill.
As well as identifying Wenger’s successor, the club are making one last attempt to secure Jack Wilshere’s long-term future.
As it stands, the midfielder will leave at the end of the season when his deal expires after failing to agree terms over an extension. But the club are making one final effort to resolve the contract dispute that has left a large question mark hanging over Wilshere’s future.
Wolves and Everton are poised to move for Wilshere if he leaves at the end of the season.
Meanwhile, long-term injury victim Santi Cazorla believes he can return to first-team action before the end of the season.
The Spaniard hasn’t played a senior match since October 2016 due to a chronic achilles problem that has required a series of operations.
‘I’ve still got some way to go, because after being sidelined for 18 months, everything has to be done in its own time,’ said the 33-year-old.
Thierry Henry is among the 31 players to have played over 100 league games for the club
‘But the sensations I have keep getting better and I’m feeling optimistic about the future.
‘The objective is to play some part with the team before the season ends, but we have to take things carefully.
‘After being out for so long it will take a while to get back into form, it’s a real struggle, but when you have been out like I have, you also notice pains elsewhere — apart from what I’ve had with my tendon.’
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Team, the Super Eagles.
This development was announced by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in the early hours of Tuesday, following the approval of the NFF Executive Committee based on a recommendation from its Technical and Development Sub-Committee. Labbadia’s appointment takes immediate effect.
Born on 8th February 1966 in Darmstadt, Germany, Labbadia enjoyed a distinguished playing career, earning two caps for the German national team. His club career included stints at prominent clubs such as Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC. Notably, he won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994.
Labbadia’s coaching career has seen him manage top-tier clubs such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen, among others. He holds a UEFA Pro License and is well-regarded for his tactical acumen.
With his appointment, Labbadia becomes the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Höner notably guided the Super Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate task is to prepare the Super Eagles for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches.
Nigeria will face Benin Republic on Saturday, 7th September in Uyo, and Rwanda on Tuesday, 10th September in Kigali. The team will also play four additional qualifying matches in October and November as they aim to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON, scheduled to be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Super Eagles, placed in Group D, will face familiar foes Benin Republic, who recently defeated Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The draw for the AFCON qualifiers, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, last month, also sees Nigeria taking on Libya and Rwanda, both of whom are also part of the Super Eagles’ group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Labbadia’s appointment comes at a crucial time as the Super Eagles look to regain their dominance on the African continent and secure qualification for both the AFCON and the World Cup.
Finidi George has stepped into a new role as the technical manager for NPFL side, Rivers United, following his resignation as coach of the Super Eagles.
During his brief tenure with the Eagles, George’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo and a 2-1 loss to Benin Republic in Abidjan cast doubts on Nigeria’s World Cup qualification, prompting calls from fans for his dismissal.
South Africa vs Nigeria: Why we failed to defeat Super Eagles – Percy Tau
Nevertheless, Rivers United, the 2021-22 champions, expressed optimism in a statement on Wednesday via their official handle about having the former Eagles international manage their team.
“Finidi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, having had a distinguished playing career spanning over fifteen years,” the statement read.
Kanu advocates for establishment of standard soccer academies
Dr. Okey Kpalukwu, General Manager of Rivers United FC, welcomed George, stating, “We are delighted to have Finidi George join our team. His appointment marks a new chapter in our club’s history, and we are committed to working together to achieve success.”
Expressing his gratitude to the club, an elated George remarked, “I am honored to have this opportunity, and I thank the Sports Commissioner, the General Manager, and the supporters for their confidence in me. I am committed to working hard and making the team win.”
Inter Milan were taken over by US fund Oaktree on Wednesday after the Serie A champions’ outgoing owners Suning missed a deadline to repay a debt worth hundred of millions of euros.
In a statement, Oaktree announced they had “assumed control” of Inter after the non-repayment of a “three-year loan to Inter Milan’s holding companies that matured on 21 May 2024 with a total balance due of approximately 395 million euros ($428 million)”.
Chinese conglomerate Suning have relinquished control of Inter to Oaktree three days after the team were officially crowned Italian champions for the 20th time.
Suning borrowed 275 million euros at over 12 percent interest three years ago to pay staff and players as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the finances of clubs across Europe, putting up their controlling stake in the club as collateral.
“Oaktree is dedicated to achieving the best outcome for the long-term prosperity of Inter Milan, with an initial focus on operational and financial stability for the Club and its stakeholders,” Oaktree continued.
Inter became a powerful force at home and abroad after Suning acquired the club in 2016, with seven trophies including two Serie A titles and two European finals.
Simone Inzaghi’s team cruised to this year’s championship, winning the Scudetto with five matches remaining by beating AC Milan in a thrilling local derby.
Oaktree, which manages $192 billion in assets, said they are “committed to working closely with Inter Milan’s current management team, partners, the league and governing bodies to ensure the Club is positioned for success on and off the pitch”.
Inter ended up in the hands of Oaktree in a manner similar to the way another US fund, Elliott Management, took control of their local rivals Milan in 2018.
Elliott became Milan’s owners when Chinese businessman Li Yonghong was unable to repay a loan he had taken out when he bought the club from the late Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest the previous year.
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