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Recent stories across football and basketball

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By Timothy Akintola

Updates on Jürgen Klopp, Minnesota Lynx, Hugo Viana, Palmer and Alisson Becker.

Jürgen Klopp appointed as the Global Head of Soccer for the Red Bull network.

Former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund’s manager, Jürgen Klopp has just been appointed as the new Global Head of Soccer for the Red Bull network. His role will encompass overseeing clubs in Germany (RB Leipzig), Austria (Salzburg), the U.S. (New York), and Brazil (Bragantino) within their multi-club model. According to German newspaper BILD, Klopp’s contract includes an option for him to leave for the Germany national team in the future. Red Bull CEO, Oliver Mintzlaff described Klopp as “the strongest signing in Red Bull’s soccer history” and a potential game changer for the company’s international soccer initiatives. His appointment is set to be announced at a press conference in mid-January 2025, with his tenure beginning on January 1. Klopp will focus on club oversight rather than daily operations.

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Napheesa Collier powers the Minnesota Lynx to the WNBA finals.

The Minnesota Lynx have reached the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2017, defeating the Connecticut Sun 88-77 to take the decisive game 5. Napheesa Collier led the Lynx with 27 points and 11 rebounds, while Courtney Williams added 24 points and strong defensive effort. Kayla McBride helped establish an early lead, scoring 10 of her 19 points in the first quarter. The Lynx will face the top-seeded New York Liberty in Game 1 on Thursday night, with Game 2 scheduled for Sunday in New York and Game 3 on October 16 in Minnesota. Coach Cheryl Reeve praised Collier’s MVP-caliber performance, stating, “When Phee is the MVP, plays like the MVP, we’re a hard team to beat.” Collier expressed the team’s camaraderie, saying, “It feels amazing… we want to keep playing together.”


Hugo Viana set to take over as the new Manchester City’s Sporting Director.

Manchester City is reportedly eyeing Hugo Viana, the director of football at Sporting Lisbon, as the preferred candidate to succeed Txiki Begiristain, who is set to leave his role at the end of the season. Begiristain has been instrumental in transforming City into a powerhouse in English football since joining in 2012, notably playing a key role in Pep Guardiola’s appointment in 2016. His contributions have earned him significant praise from the City manager. As City navigates an ongoing legal battle with the Premier League and aims for a fifth consecutive title, they are already looking to fill the gap left by Begiristain. Guardiola’s squad will face Wolves in their first match after the international break on October 20.

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Palmer beats Bellingham and Saka to clinch England’s forward of the year.

Chelsea forward, Cole Palmer has been awarded the England men’s player of the year for 2023-24, as voted by the public. The Chelsea forward topped the poll, finishing ahead of Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, who came in second and third, respectively. Palmer made his international debut for the Three Lions in November, contributing to a 2-0 victory over Malta at Wembley. Since then, he has earned nine caps, starting two matches, including five appearances at Euro 2024, where he scored in the final against Spain in a 2-1 loss. This accolade follows his recognition as PFA Young Player of the Year in August after an impressive debut season at Chelsea, where he netted 25 goals. Palmer, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City last summer, is expected to feature in the upcoming Nations League matches against Greece and Finland.


Alisson Becker is set to miss 6 weeks after his hamstring injury.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker is set to miss approximately six weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained during last weekend’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace. The 32-year-old Brazil international was forced off late in the second half, and tests indicate he won’t be fit until after next month’s international break. His earliest potential return could be for the match against Southampton on November 24. In the interim, Liverpool will face Chelsea on October 20 and Arsenal a week later, along with two Champions League matches against RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen. Caoimhin Kelleher, who missed the Palace game due to illness, is expected to step in as he did last season when Alisson was sidelined with a similar injury. Manager Arne Slot acknowledged the impact of Alisson’s absence, calling him the best goalkeeper in the world.

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