ARSENAL are understood to have compiled a 14-man shortlist in their hunt to identify Arsene Wenger’s Emirates replacement.
The latest shock name under consideration is Jose Mourinho’s Manchester Unitedassistant Rui Faria.
SunSport unveils some of the names likely to be on the list – and assesses their chance of becoming the first new Gunners boss in 22 years.
Check out the full list, below…
MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI
Juventus chief has made no secret of his interest in coming to the Premier League and could have the choice of Arsenal or Chelsea.
The Italian is the new bookies’ favourite and just waiting for the call.
Gunner rating: If Arsenal want him, he’ll want them.
JOACHIM LOW
Germany boss has plenty of admirers for his work with the world champions but he has signalled he wants to stay on with Die Mannschaft until 2020.
Could be a Real Madrid target too if he changes his mind.
Gunner rating: Plenty of people at the Emirates would fancy him but does not seem likely.
LEONARDO JARDIM
Portuguese boss of Monaco made a massive impact as he steered a fledgling team to last year’s Champions League semi-finals and then had half of the side sold that summer.
An English speaker who is ready for a new challenge.
Gunner rating: Appears to have slipped down the radar this season but could re-emerge.
THOMAS TUCHEL
Former Borussia Dortmund coach appeared the perfect Arsenal fit given his relationship with new Emirates big-hitter Sven Mislintat.
But while Tuchel fell out with the Dortmund players and Arsenal dithered, PSG pounced and he is expected to be announced as Unai Emery’s successor later this month.
Gunner rating: Too late – they’ve missed the boat.
RUI FARIA
Surprise candidate, especially given his long-standing close relationship with Jose Mourinho.
Initially a fitness coach under Mourinho, whom he first met at Barcelona, during their period with Leiria, and has moved up the pecking order as a loyal lieutenant.
Gunner rating: A shock contender and even more of a shock appointment.
CARLO ANCELOTTI
Double-winner with Chelsea in 2010 before harshly sacked a year later for only finishing second, Ancelotti is the ultimate managerial fixer.
He’s got Juve, Milan, Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich on his CV, too.
Has a home in London and would definitely fancy it.
Gunner rating: If Arsenal want a smooth transition, there is nobody smoother.
PATRICK VIEIRA
Wenger’s first Arsenal signing and still revered by Gunners fans for his role as the midfield enforcer of the Invincibles.
Fell out with his fellow Frenchman and ended up on the payroll at Manchester City’s global empire.
Former Gunners midfielder is another who has joined the City staff, where he is part of Pep Guardiola’s backroom team.
Has impressed many by bringing the same calmness he showed on the pitch to a coaching role.
But hard to see him returning as the main man.
Gunner rating: More likely to come back as part of a coaching team rather than the boss.
THIERRY HENRY
Arsenal’s greatest striker, arguably their greatest player, and cutting his coaching teeth as Roberto Martinez’ Belgium No2.
Whether the Frenchman would really fancy getting his hands dirty every day, when he has a lucrative Sky contract in his pocket, is another matter.
Gunner rating: Blotted his copybook with some perceived criticisms of Wenger but would be a huge popular candidate.
MAURIZIO SARRI
Chain-smoking Napoli boss has made his side one of the most attractive in Italy.
He’s had the Neapolitans dreaming of a first Serie A crown since Diego Maradona’s day before the weekend thumping at Fiorentina.
Appears to have tired of owner Aurelio De Laurentiis and would be open to the chance.
Gunner rating: Philosophy would seem a natural fit but not a proven winner.
ZELJKO BUVAC
For so long Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp’s No2, Buvac is now being strongly tipped with the soon-to-be vacant position at Arsenal.
Said to be the real brains behind the Reds’ exhausting “Gegenpress” defensive tactic, Buvac could be the man to finally add some grit to the Gunners’ back-line.
Gunner rating: Strong defensive mindset but lacks experience as a No1 manager, having spent just three years at German minnows Neukirchen.
Victor Osimhen has been named the 2023 African Footballer of the Year, cementing his status as one of the world’s top players.
Osimhen surpassed competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah for the prestigious award.
The Super Eagles forward concluded a remarkable year in the imperial Moroccan city of Marakesh, ending Nigeria’s 24-year wait for Africa’s top individual prize, last won by legendary Kanu Nwankwo in 1999.
During the event, Osimhen expressed gratitude, acknowledging the impact of Nigerian legend Emmanuel Amuneke, who coached him at the U-17 level, and the support from fans and fellow players.
“It’s a dream come true for me. I want to thank everyone who has seen me through life’s journey, in achieving my dreams and goals. I appreciate Nigerians and Africa for their unwavering support and encouragement,” he said.
Osimhen recognised the influence of Emmanuel Adebayo, Solomon Kalu, and other African legends, expressing gratitude to his role model, Didier Drogba.
The award reflects Osimhen’s outstanding performances with Napoli, where he played a pivotal role in their Serie A title run, scoring 26 league goals and becoming the first African to win the top scorer award, breaking George Weah’s record in the Italian top-flight.”
Lionel Messi, the renowned Argentine football icon, clinched the coveted 2023 Ballon d’Or, setting a new record for the 2022 World Cup champion.
In a glamorous event held in Paris, Messi, who now plays for Inter Miami, received the prestigious award on Monday night. This achievement is widely seen as a well-deserved recognition for his pivotal role in guiding the Abiscelete to World Cup victory in the previous year.
Aged 36, Messi succeeded Karim Benzema as the recipient of this award, which acknowledges his exceptional performances during the last season when he inspired Argentina to triumph at the World Cup.
His remarkable displays in Qatar, where he led his nation to a historic victory, enabled him to surpass strong competition, notably from Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. Haaland secured the second spot in the final voting, with Mbappe finishing third and Kevin De Bruyne taking fourth place.
Messi, a former Barcelona superstar, left an indelible mark at the World Cup, scoring seven crucial goals. His exceptional performance led to him being named the tournament’s best player, especially after Argentina’s victory over France in the final.
While Messi’s World Cup heroics were undeniable, his final season with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) was relatively lackluster. Subsequently, he made a move to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
His former PSG teammate, Mbappe, made a strong case for the Ballon d’Or with his outstanding World Cup performance, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, including a memorable hat-trick in the final for France.
Norwegian striker Erling Haaland had a remarkable season, scoring an incredible 52 goals in 53 games for Manchester City. This stellar performance played a pivotal role in helping Pep Guardiola’s team secure a historic treble in the English Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
Both Haaland and De Bruyne were nominated for the Ballon d’Or from their exceptional contributions to the success of Manchester City.
Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba’s ‘B’ sample has confirmed the presence of testosterone, a source close to the case told AFP on Friday.
The 30-year-old former Manchester United player, a World Cup winner in 2018, faces a ban of up to four years.
The original test by the Italian anti-doping agency (Nado) showed the presence of testosterone metabolites.
On Friday, Pogba learned that the analysis of his B sample, carried out on the previous day, had produced the same result.
The player’s entourage declined to comment.
Under the World Anti-Doping Code, Pogba is liable to a four-year suspension, which could be halved if he proves that he was not at fault.
The ban could even be limited to a few months if the use of the substance took place “out of competition and is not related to his level of performance”.
Pogba’s representatives said last month that the testosterone came from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor he consulted in the United States.
Testosterone promotes muscle development.
Contacted by AFP, Nado was unable to confirm this information “due to a decision by the Italian privacy authority”.
Pogba has seven days to submit his defence to Italy’s National Anti-Doping Tribunal, which will investigate his case and request a sanction, a process that could take several weeks.
In addition to the proceedings of the Italian sports justice system, a judicial investigation will be opened by the Turin public prosecutor’s office, as doping is a criminal offence in Italy.
Since the announcement of his positive test, Pogba has been unable to train with Juventus, the club to which he returned in July 2022 after six seasons with United.
The announcement came shortly before Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri’s press conference on the eve of the Turin derby against Torino, at which he simply said he was “sorry for Paul”.
Contacted by AFP, the club, which has also suspended payment of his estimated annual salary of 8 million euros (8.4 million dollars), did not respond.
Pogba started the season attempting to bounce back from string of injuries last season and from summer surgery.
His sample was reportedly taken at his club’s opening match of the Serie A season, a win at Udinese on August 20, during which he was an unused substitute.
After the first sample tested positive on September 11, Pogba’s agent Rafaela Pimenta said she was “awaiting the second sample and cannot have an opinion before the results”.
“What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break a rule,” she added.