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Arsene Wenger and Antonio Conte on Paris Saint-Germain’s managerial wishlist following Champions League exit

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Paris Saint-Germain are looking for a high-profile coach to bring them Champions League glory next season – and Arsene Wenger could be one of the candidates.

Antonio Conte, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Mancini will also be on the wishlist of the big-spending Qatri club.

The Ligue 1 leaders were eliminated in the knockout stages for the second consecutive year last night as Cristiano Ronaldo inspired a 5-2 aggregate victory for Real Madrid.

Spanish coach Unai Emery signed a two-year contract when he joined from Seville in 2016 with the option of a third year if PSG reached the Champions League semi-finals.

Arsene Wenger is under pressure (Image: REUTERS)
Chelsea boss Conte (Image: AFP)
Unai Emery (Image: AFP/Getty)

The Paris club are 14 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 and are still on course for a domestic cup double.

But the massive summer spending spree – which saw PSG break the world transfer record for Neymar and spend £166m on Kylian Mbappe – was not designed for the home market.

Laurent Blanc was fired in 2016 shortly after signing a new two-year deal when PSG went out in the Champions League quarter-finals for the fourth consecutive year.

PSG players show their dejection (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Emery, who won three consecutive Europa Leagus with Seville, survived last year’s 6-1 second leg humiliation at the hands of Barcelona.

But after a tame surrender to Real Madrid, PSG president Nasser al-Khelaïfi said: “Now is not the time to talk about changes. Everyone is annoyed. We will calm down and think about what we have to change. We are happy with our investment, we believe in our players. We want to continue our project.”

PSG have already approached Wenger, now 68, since the 2011 takeover by the Qatar Sports Investments but the Frenchman could become available at the end of the season. Conte wants to leave Chelsea and Mancini is seeking another challenge away from Zenit.

Carlo Ancelotti (Image: Bongarts)
Former City boss Mancini is now at Zenit (Image: Action Images via Reuters)

Ancelotti coached PSG for 18 months until June 2013 before leaving for Real Madrid but is available after leaving Bayern Munich in September – following a 3-0 defeat at PSG.

Emery said: “My future is the present. I do not want to waste energy on things which, for me, are not important.”

On Sunday before the Real Madrid match, sporting director Antero Henrique said: “We will decide together, him and me, and speak at the end of the season and he is comfortable with that. What occupies us today are matches – the challenges that await us.”

 

 

 

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German Coach, Labbadia Named New Head Coach of Super Eagles

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German tactician Bruno Labbadia

 

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.

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Finidi George Appointed as Technical Manager for Rivers United

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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.”

 

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US Fund Oaktree ‘Takes Over Ownership’ Of Inter Milan

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Inter Milan’s Argentine forward #10 Lautaro Martinez lifts the trophy with teammates during a ceremony for the Italian Champions following the Italian Serie A football match between Inter Milan and Lazio in Milan, on May 19, 2024. Inter celebrates his 20th Scudetto. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)

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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