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Golden Boy Award 2018 nominees

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The list of Golden Boy nominees for 2018 has been almost halved as we get closer to announcing a winner.

European football’s brightest talents are competing to claim the prestigious award, which has previously been won by the likes of Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Raheem Sterling, Isco and Paul Pogba.

Kylian Mbappe took the prize last year and is bidding to become the first-ever player to win the gong twice.

Mbappe qualifies for the award still as he remains under 21 and is still playing in the top flight of a European league.

He is the favourite to claim the award for 2018, but faces competition from the likes of Christian Pulisic and Vinicius Junior, while Ajax’s Matthijs De Ligt will be hoping to become the first defender ever to take the crown.

Mbappe is bidding for his second Golden Boy award (Image: SIPA USA)
Pulisic is also in contention for the award (Image: AFP)

The Premier League is represented by Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, Brahim Diaz, Tom Davies, Diogo Dalot, Juan Foyth, Ruben Vinagre and Ryan Sessegnon.

Fulham’s Sessegnon made the revised new 60-man list following Fulham’s promotion to the top flight.

The list of 60 will be cut to 20 in November, before journalists from around Europe will determine the winner in December.

You can vote for your winner on the Tuttosport website here.

Sessegnon has been nominated for the gong (Image: Reuters)
City’s Foden is one of the names nominated for the award (Image: Reuters)

Golden Boy 2018 nominees

Achraf Hakimi – Real Madrid

Carles Alena – Barcelona

Trent Alexander-Arnold – Liverpool

Kevin Adou Amian – Toulouse

Houssem Aouar – Lyon

Musa Barrow – Atalanta

Sander Berge – Genk

Brahim Diaz – Manchester City

Justin Bijlow – Feyenoord

Josip Brekalo – Wolfsburg

Patrick Cutrone – Milan

Dani Olmo – Dinamo Zagreb

Diogo Dalot – Manchester United

Tom Davies – Everton

Mathijs De Ligt – Ajax

Moussa Diaby – PSG

Moussa Djenepo – Standard Liege

Ritsu Doan – Groningen

Gabriel Eder Militao – Porto

Odsonne Edouard – Celtic

De Ligt (right) will hope to be the first defender to win the award (Image: SIPA USA)
Edouard is up for the award (Image: REUTERS)

Ecco Evander – Midtjylland

Phil Foden – Manchester City

Juan Foyth – Tottenham

Godson Fernandes – Benfica

Nicolas Gonzalez – Stuttgart

Amadou Haidara – Red Bull Salzburg

Kai Havertz – Bayer Leverkusen

Jonathan Ikone – Lille

Joao Jota – Benfica

Eduardo Jovane Cabral – Sporting

Dejan Joveljic – Red Star Belgrade

Boubacar Kamara – Marseille

Yann Karamoh – Bordeaux

Moise Kean – Juventus

Kluivert secured a move to Roma this summer (Image: ASRpmaEN/Twitter)
The prestigious Golden Boy trophy (Image: Twitter)

Abdoulaye Jules Keita – Dijon

Justin Kluivert – AS Roma

Tuen Koopmeiners – AZ Alkmaar

Alban Lafont – Toulouse

Leo Jaba – PAOK

Luca Zidane – Real Madrid

Mikhail Lysov – Lokomotiv

Jean-Victor Makengo – Nice

Manu Garcia – Toulouse

Mauro Junior – PSV

Kylian Mbappe – PSG

Weston McKennie – Schalke 04

Evan N’Dicka – Eintracht Frankfurt

Pietro Pellegri – Monaco

Rondel Pierre-Gabriel – Monaco

Christian Pulisic – Borussia Dortmund

Vinagre has been nominated for the award (Image: REUTERS)
Vinicius Junior could be one of the next big things for Real Madrid (Image: X01622)

Ruben Vinagre – Wolves

Marcelo Saracchi – RB Leipzig

Ismaila Sarr – Rennes

Ryan Sessegnon – Fulham

Toni Moya – Atletico Madrid

Dayton Upamecano – RB Leipzig

Federico Valverde – Real Madrid

Vinicius Junior – Real Madrid

Moussa Wague – Barcelona

Timothy Weah – PSG

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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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