Louis van Gaal says he leaves a Netherlands squad with close bonds but not enough wingers after he retired in the aftermath of their World Cup exit.
The Oranje went unbeaten throughout regulation time at Qatar 2022 and were only eliminated on penalties by Argentina in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Van Gaal s side boasted an array of defensive and offensive talent, with Cody Gakpo finishing the tournament with three goals to his name up front in attack and Wout Weghorst snatching a dramatic brace versus La Albiceleste.
But though the veteran coach feels he departs a team that can rely on each other, he acknowledges they lack the crucial players out wide to exploit the full breadth of the pitch.
What do I leave behind with the Oranje? he told AD. I leave a…
Miroslav Klose has secured his first senior job as a head coach after taking over as boss of Austrian Bundesliga team SCR Altach.
The appointment of the Germany great, whose career haul of 16 World Cup goals remains a competition record, was announced on Friday.
The news was portrayed as a surprise appointment in Austria. Altach said Klose will sign his contract on Sunday and be presented on Monday.
Klose, the 44-year-old former striker, retired from playing in 2016 after five years with Serie A side Lazio and has since had spells working as an assistant with the Germany national team, and at Bayern Munich.
He was head coach of the Bayern under-17 team for two seasons and served as first-team assistant to Hansi Flick in the 2020-21 campaign.
Alt…
Burnley’s survival hopes have suffered a significant blow with winger Luca Koleosho facing several months out with a knee injury.
The 19-year-old summer signing from Espanyol has been one of Burnley’s brightest lights so far this term and scored his first goal for the club in Saturday’s 5-0 win over Sheffield United.
But the Italy under-21 international was hurt in the first half of Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat at Wolves and, after initially trying to carry on, was forced off with 36 minutes gone.
“It’s bad news for us,” manager Vincent Kompany said. “He’s going to be out for a while apparently…I’d like to think he’ll still play this season but it might be towards the end of the season.”
Kompany would not disclose the precise nature of K…
Tottenham head coach Antonio Conte is questioning his long-term future after a traumatic period following the deaths of three close friends, Gian Piero Ventrone, Sinisa Mihajlovic and Gianluca Vialli.
The 53-year-old Italian hinted that his stint as Spurs boss, where he has a year-long extension on his deal that expires at the end of this season, could be drawing to a close.
Conte worked closely with Ventrone as Spurs fitness coach, before his passing in October. Mihajlovic and Vialli are former club and country teammates who passed away in December and January respectively too.
This season is a difficult season under personal aspect because to lose three people I knew very well, first Giampiero, then Sinisa and now Gianluca, it was not simple, Conte told report…
Chelsea defensive midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko wants to join AC Milan in the summer transfer window, according to , as relayed by. Bakayoko spent the 2018-19 season on loan at AC Milan from Chelsea and wants to return to the Italian giants for the 2021-22 campaign.
It has been reported that Chelsea have triggered a unilateral clause which has allowed them to extend the contract of Bakayoko for another season. This will let the 26-year-old move to Milan, who themselves are keen on signing the France international defensive midfielder this summer.
Bakayoko joined Chelsea from AS Monaco in the summer of 2017. The France international was on loan at Milan in 2018-19, on loan at Monaco in 2019-20 and on loan at Napoli last season. During his spell at the Naples club, the 26-y…
Lothar Matthaus is confident that former club Bayern Munich can reclaim their Bundesliga crown this season under the guidance of new head coach Vincent Kompany.
Kompany, who endured a difficult campaign with Burnley in the Premier League, was appointed as Thoms Tuchel s successor at the German club in May.
The 38-year-old won 41 of his 96 games in charge of the Clarets (D24 L31), although only five of those victories came in English football s top flight.
Bayern kick off their Bundesliga campaign away to Wolfsburg on Sunday, hopeful of avenging their first season without a trophy in 12 years.
The 33-time Bundesliga champions were upstaged by Xabi Alonso s Bayer Leverkusen, who stormed to a domestic league and cup double without defeat.
However,…
Jack Grealish joined Manchester City for moments like this.
Upon completing a £100million move from Aston Villa in August 2021 – a British-record fee that was eclipsed by Enzo Fernandez s move to Chelsea last month – Grealish was asked about his biggest motivation after leaving his boyhood club.
Competing for major trophies is something that I wanted to do, he replied. [The move] was something I couldn t turn down. Let s hope it is a successful one.
With a Premier League title under his belt from last season, Grealish had already achieved that aim. But after playing a peripheral part in that first triumph, the England international is starting to make far more of an impact this time around.
Never was that more evident than in Wednesday s top-of-the…
Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi lamented his side s failure to play the perfect match after their 2-0 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.
A first-half goal from Leroy Sane and a Danilo D Ambrosio own goal were enough for the Bundesliga champions to open their group-stage campaign with three points at San Siro.
The winners of the 2019-20 edition of Europe s premier competition dominated Inter, attempting 21 shots at goal compared to the Italian side s nine as Inzaghi s men only registered two shots on target.
Inzaghi was frustrated with his team s lacklustre performance, telling Sky Sport Italia: In the first 20 minutes we lost many duels against an intense, extraordinary team, one of the strongest in Europe.
After the first goal, where we had to do…
Crystal Palace are eyeing a move for Espanyol goalkeeper Diego Lopez, according to the Mirror.
Since taking over at Selhurst Park, Roy Hodgson has rotated Julian Speroni and Wayne Hennessey in between the sticks but is looking for another option as he aims to steer the club out of danger.
Lopez boasts a host of experience having played for Real Madrid, Villiareal and Sevilla in Spain and AC Milan in Italy.
Over two spells at the Bernabeu, Lopez won the La Liga title and the Champions League while internationally he was part of the Spain squad that played at the 2009 Confederations Cup.
The thirty-six year old played all but three league games for Espanyol last season but is yet to feature this term with Paul Lopez now first choice.
Crystal P…
Manchester City have firmly refuted claims they offered to triple Lionel Messi s salary in an attempt to lure him from Barcelona in 2016.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak was quoted in Spanish media on Saturday as naming Barcelona superstar Messi as the player he most regretted failing to sign.
The reports included suggestions that Al Mubarak, who has been in the role since 2008, had revealed he asked Pep Guardiola to discuss the compelling financial offer with his former player.
But the Premier League champions have rejected the reports.
We deny the veracity of these quotes, a City spokesperson said.
City have often been linked with five-time Ballon d Or winner Messi, who has spent his entire career at Camp Nou.
The 31-year-old is Barca…