Spurs agree deal to make Igor Tudor interim manager, O’Neill appointed at Blackburn – live | Football
Key events
Tottenham Hotspur: Igor Tudor’s has no connection whatsoever with Tottenham Hotspur, has managed nine different clubs in five different countries across the past 13 years and the only honour he has won as a gaffer was a Croatian Cup with Hadjuk Split.
As far as taking over at Tottenham is concerned, he sounds to the manor born, although if social media is anything to go by his appointment has gone down like a lead balloon among Spurs fans. Tudor is expected to take his first training session on Monday, ahead of Tottenham’s Premier League match against Arsenal next weekend.
FA charges Rodri with misconduct
Manchester City: Rodri has been charged with misconduct on the back of comments he made in an interview following City’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur a fortnight ago. The Football Association have not taken kindly to the Spaniard’s suggestion that referees have an agenda against his side and don’t treat them fairly.
Tottenham Hotspur: Igor Tudor, eh? The former Croatia defender was last in the news when being fired as Juventus manager in October after a run of eight games without a win. Tudor had spent just seven months in charge of Juve and has previously managed Marseille, Hellas Verona, Udinese and Hadjuk Split. His appointment is unlikely to set pulses racing among Spurs fans but they’ll be hoping Igor can keep them in the Premier League before a bigger name with a better pedigree joins them from the inevitable carousal that follows the World Cup.
Spurs agree deal for Tudor reign
Spurs have agreed a deal to appoint former Juventus manager Igor Tudor as interim until the end of the season.
And on that bombshell, I shall pass the blog to middle-distance runner Barry Glendenning to put more meat on the bone.
And now another fantasic Friday FA Cup-based read, courtesy of Will Unwin. Chelsea boss Liam Rosenoir is heading back to Hull (for one day only). Is he fondly remembered?
Here’s an excellent Friday afternoon read. Ben Fisher gets his chat on with Burton boss Gary Bowyer ahead of the FA Cup tie against West Ham.
Paul MacInnes
From Derek McInnes to our own Paul MacInnes, who has an update from the Premier League shareholders’ meeting this morning.
The independent football regulator (IFR) met with Premier League clubs on Friday morning and stressed the importance of agreeing a new financial redistribution deal with the EFL.
David Kogan, the chair of the IFR, told clubs they should focus on agreeing the much-delayed deal as a priority, arguing that stasis will damage the competition’s ability to adapt to future challenges.
Kogan, who also discussed the ongoing State of the Game review which will underpin the regulator’s work, is only the latest official to urge the top flight to resolve the redistribution issue which has been a subject of contention between the top flight and the EFL since the Covid lockdowns.
The Premier League currently shares 15% of its central revenues down the football pyramid, but with the cumulative gap in revenue between the top flight and the Championship estimated at more than £5bn, the EFL has said the number should rise to a figure closer to 25%.
At the meeting in central London, there was also scrutiny on Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada, following minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s widely-reviled remarks about immigrants to the UK earlier this week. When asked for his views on Ratcliffe’s remarks as he left the meeting, Berrada chose not to comment.
Hearts boss Derek McInnes doesn’t mind his side being underestimated as they bid to keep Rangers and Celtic at bay at the top of the SPL table. Hearts are in the box seat with 12 games left and face a crunch clash against Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.
“I think from the outset, it was people looking in from September when we went top of the league ‘good old Hearts, top of the league in September, good on them’,” said McInnes.
“October, November, we were still getting a lot of plaudits. Now that we’re still there, I think we’re actually starting to annoy a few people. I think a lot of people naturally would have thought we’d have fell away by now, which is fine, I get that and I understand it.
“We are overachieving. The boys are doing so well to maintain it and I’m just enjoying where we are. I don’t see anybody in the dressing room not enjoying it and we’ve just got to try and keep it going.”
Hearts could go eight points clear of Rangers with a win on Sunday.
“We see the significance of the fixture, obviously when you’re playing teams around you, but a win, lose or draw for me doesn’t decide anything,” said McInnes.
“It’s an opportunity for us to go and try and win the game. We understand a lot of games are more difficult than others, and this is in that bracket, but nothing will get decided on Sunday.”
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has issued fitness updates on Erling Haaland and John Stones ahead of the FA Cup tie against League Two neighbours Salford on Saturday.
Haaland didn’t come out for the second half of the midweek win over Fulham and Guardiola said of the Norwegian striker: “Erling’s not 100 per cent but we’ll see today how he feels.
“It’s not a big issue, the doctor said to me. But had some disturbance before and during the game and that’s why second half he didn’t play. We will see his evolution.”
Stones, after missing 19 games, was on the bench for the Fulham win.
Guardiola revealed: “Yeah, unfortunately it’s [been] a long time. The last time he played was against Leeds United [in November] but fortunately he has made two or three training sessions.
“We’ll see tomorrow if he plays or how many minutes he plays. Our priority is beat Salford and going into the next round.”
It’s quite a time to be Brentford striker Igor Thiago. As well as signing a new contract with the Bees today, he’s only gone and won the January Player of the Month award.
It’s now the second time he’s landed that prize in the last three months.
Thiago, who scored five goals in January, told the club website: “I’ve asked people at the club how many Brentford players have won this, and they told me that nobody had received this trophy before me.
“So I’m really happy to have won it two times now and I look forward to, hopefully, winning more! I also want to thank all of the staff and all of the players for their support and for helping me on the pitch.”
Carrick wins Manager of the Month
Michael Carrick has won January’s Barclays Manager of the Month. The Manchester United boss held off a four-man shortlist featuring, erm, Sean Dyche (sacked), Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Chelsea’s Liam Rosenior.
It comes just three months after Ruben Amorim (sacked) lifted the prized gong for his excellent work with United in October. Enzo Maresca (sacked) won the prestigious award for his exploits with Chelsea in November.
Of course, Arsenal’s opponents Wigan aren’t just your average FA Cup team. Because in 2013 they did this.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking ahead of the FA Cup tie against Wigan. The Gunners host the Latics on Sunday.
“It’s an opportunity for the team, again, with another competition, and the history that we have related to that competition, it’s amazing. We’ll play at home again. I’m really excited to recover and go again.
“Every three days we are getting so used to playing different competitions, home or away, and we know what that competition means to the club, to ourselves, and go step by step.
“So we will reflect on the game [v Brentford], take the positive, the learnings for sure that we have to improve and go on Sunday again with the energy and the batteries fully charged to go and win the game.”
And they really should win the game. Wigan are 22nd out of 24 in League One and have conceded 30 goals in their 16 away games (won two).
O’Neill appointed as Blackburn boss
Blackburn Rovers have announced Michael O’Neill as new head coach on a short-term arrangement.
O’Neill will take charge of first-team matters at the Championship side while continuing in his role as Northern Ireland manager, as agreed with the Irish FA.
A club statement said: “A manager of outstanding experience and character, with a clear footballing philosophy and a reputation for getting the best out of players, the 56-year-old brings a proven track record at both club and international level over the past 20 years.
“During his first spell in charge of Northern Ireland, O’Neill led the national side to UEFA Euro 2016 – their first major tournament finals in 30 years – earning widespread acclaim for his leadership, organisation and ability to develop competitive teams.
“O’Neill was appointed Stoke City manager in November 2019, guiding the Potters to Championship safety in his debut season at the club.
“He took charge of 143 games over a three-year period in the Potteries, before being re-appointed by Northern Ireland in December 2022.
“His coaching career has also included spells in Scotland and Ireland, with Brechin City and Shamrock Rovers respectively.
“It has been agreed that O’Neill will resume international duties for Northern Ireland’s FIFA World Cup play-off against Italy in March.”
Blackburn currently sit third-bottom of the Championship after just eight wins in 31 matches this season.
They have been without a manager since Valerien Ismael left his role on 2 February.
O’Neill said: “I am grateful to the Irish FA for their support and cooperation in allowing me to take this opportunity.
“Blackburn Rovers is a historic Premier League-winning club with a proud tradition, and the chance to work at a club of that stature is one I felt was important to embrace.
“The immediate focus is clear – there is a challenge ahead in the final stretch of the season and the objective is to help the team build momentum and climb the Championship table.
“From a professional perspective, being back on the training pitch every day, involved in matches and the rhythm of club football, is always valuable. It keeps you sharp and connected to the demands of the game at this level.
“For now, my focus is on giving everything to Blackburn Rovers in the weeks ahead. I understand what this club means to its supporters and I am looking forward to working with the players and staff to deliver performances the fans can be proud of.”
Damien Johnson will be in the dugout for Rovers’ game against Queens Park Rangers this Saturday, with O’Neill watching from the stands.
Tottenham plan to appoint interim manager
Jacob Steinberg
Tottenham intend to appoint an interim manager until the end of the season, with a view to making a permanent hire in the summer.
The north Londoners fired Thomas Frank earlier this week and are confident of having a replacement in charge by Monday.
The dream, of course, is for Mauricio Pochettino to return once he has coached the USMNT at the World Cup.
A fourth-place finish in the Champions League is highly desired. Michael Carrick, Liam Rosenoir and Arne Slot would shake on it right now. But it’s not where you want to be if you’re an Olympian and Team GB keep racking up the fourths. Can they finally win a first medal? Find out in our live blog.
There is a managerial vacancy at Spurs. What do the bookies think?
Next permanent Tottenham manager:
11/8 Marco Rose, 2/1 Igor Tudor, 7/2 Roberto De Zerbi, 11/2 Mauricio Pochettino, 6/1 John Heitinga, 13/2 Robbie Keane, 7/1 Edin Terzic, 16/1 Oliver Glasner, Ledley King, 20/1 Marco Silva, Enzo Maresca, Gareth Southgate, Harry Redknapp, Andoni Iraola, 25/1 Ruben Amorim.
Marco Rose
Marco Rose (born 11 September 1976) is a German professional football manager who was most recently the manager of RB Leipzig, and a former player who was a defender for Lokomotive Leipzig, Hannover 96 and Mainz 05.
He coached Mainz 05’s second team, then Lokomotive Leipzig, before going through the ranks at Red Bull Salzburg.[1][2] After winning the UEFA Youth League, he became the first-team manager in 2017, winning the Austrian Bundesliga in both of his seasons and the Austrian Cup for a double in 2019. He then managed in the German Bundesliga at Borussia Mönchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, where he won the DFB Pokal in 2023.
Kevin Keegan didn’t always enjoy a 4-3. But he certainly loved this one. Trailing 3-0 at half-time and down to 10 men after Joey Barton’s red card, his Manchester City side somehow came back to win this fourth-round replay 4-3. Remarkable.
Oh, if you like a ‘where are they now?’, Jon Macken, who scored City’s winner, is the current manager of Stalybridge Celtic.
Another classic fourth-round FA Cup tie. Who remembers this one from 1997? Check out a very young looking Scotland boss, Steve Clarke.
It’s a big weekend in Scotland. Take a look at the table ahead of Rangers v Hearts and this is a genuine three-horse title race. Twelve games to go.
(PA Media)
Danny Rohl claims Hearts should be feeling the pressure going into the top-of-the-table clash with Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.
The Light Blues conceded a late goal to draw 1-1 with Motherwell at Fir Park on Wednesday night to leave them five points behind the William Hill Premiership leaders and one point ahead of Celtic, who have a game in hand over both their title rivals.
When Rohl took over from Russell Martin in October, Rangers were 13 points behind Hearts, with the German coach guiding them back into the title race and when asked if Sunday was a must-win game for the Gers, he turned the question on its head.
“Yeah, generally it’s about consistency, to take three points again and again and again, and in the last couple of weeks we did really well at this,” said Rohl, who declined to reveal his team news.
“That’s the reason why we closed the gap. It’s a big game to take the three points, but I think it’s also the same for Hearts. If you are 13 points ahead of a club and you drop maybe to two points, maybe there’s also pressure on them. This is for both teams, both teams know what’s about in this game.
“I think both teams have pressure on this game. If we can close to two points, it would be massive. Every game now is crucial. All the teams now know every result influences a lot, but every result is also not a final decision. This is also very important to understand.
“We have had a good run at home, a lot of good results, a lot of clean sheets. But we face a strong side, we have a different challenge to Wednesday. We have also to understand this game, and I want to pick the best team for this game.”
Despite extending Rangers’ unbeaten domestic run to 12 games, Rohl came in for criticism from fans perhaps for the first time on Wednesday, with frustrated and anxious supporters questioning team selection, substitutions and approach to the game, especially when the home side were reduced to 10 men in the second half.
The former Sheffield Wednesday boss, who was named Premiership manager of the month for January, said: “Twenty-four hours before the game you get an award for the best manager of the month, 24 hours later you’re not good enough. This is football. I’ve said it many times before, it’s about the next game.
“In football sometimes it’s emotional. In this match day, we concede late, the two other clubs (Celtic and Hearts in their respective midweek games) scored late, it could be a completely different story today and you ask me different questions.
“But this is football. I try to be balanced after wins but also after draws, we’re not talking about defeats at the moment. We were not happy, especially when you concede so late.
“As a manager you always take the responsibility. I make my decision before the game, there was an idea behind it. And then after, the decision-making is influenced by the result. If you draw, then you have to ask maybe such critical questions, but this is normal.”
We’ve also received a message from Sir Ernest Shackleton Smith. No idea what the story is there.
An email from Charles Antaki. He has an observation about Manchester City Women’s Swedish boss?
“It’s chit-chat time , isn’t it, so OK for a trivial question? Andrée Jeglertz. His first name puzzles me: in French, it would be a female name, and looking through various online searches, nothing suggested that it would be any different in Swedish (or any other language). I’m assuming that the Guardian’s sleuths have looked into this, and that you have a ready answer to hand. Maybe some sort of variant on Dennis Bergkamp’s not being called Denis?”
Well, it seems that André (without the extra ‘e’) is very common for Swedish men, with over 13,000 individuals bearing this first name. The spelling Andrée is less common as a first name but is used.
And maybe this is the key. Andrée is used in Sweden as both a surname and a given name for men, though it is more commonly associated with the surname of the famous Swedish polar explorer, Salomon August Andrée. So perhaps the City manager’s parents were big fans of Swedish polar explorers.
A bit of nostalgia now. I’m about 10 miles from Bradford City’s ground which seems to have a new name every time I drive past it on the way to the M62. It’s been snowing here by the way although drizzle now dominating possession of the skies. I mention Bradford because, this being FA Cup fourth round weekend, it’s time now to look back at some of the classic matches. This was a mad one, wasn’t it.
Chelsea 2-4 Bradford
“This was the real deal – David brutally slaying Goliath. And comfortably, too. Chelsea, the Premier League leaders, swarmed into an early 2-0 lead, which was pegged back to 2-1 by half-time but then, inexplicably, they collapsed in the second half.”
We also remembered it in our ‘My Favourite Game’ series – a feature in that incredibly weird Covid time when sport stopped and all we could do was look back. This is how Aaron Bower recalled it.
Matt Hughes
Thanks Niall. And I’ll open my set with some finance news. Yes, I know how to work a crowd.
Manchester City have agreed a back-of-shirt sponsorship deal with the finance company Revolut with the banking app’s logo to feature below the players’ squad numbers in Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie against Salford City.
The back-of-shirt deal is for domestic cup matches only and is an extension of Revolut’s existing partnership with Manchester City women, whose shirts have carried for the company’s branding in the Women’s Super League and cup competitions for the past 12 months.
Revolut will be on the back of City’s shirts when they meet Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on 22 March.
City’s latest commercial partnership is similar to Manchester United’s deal with Qualcomm, the US technology company whose chip product, Snapdragon, is on the front of the players’ shirts.
Qualcomm gained the right to advertise its products on the back of United’s shirts from the start of last of season, with the Microsoft Copilot+ brand appearing in men’s domestic cup matches, WSL and academy games since August 2024.
With that, it’s time to hand over to my esteemed colleague, David Tindall …
Wrexham host Ipswich in an all-Championship affair in the FA Cup tonight. With both teams currently in the playoff places, it’s possible this could be a Premier League fixture next season.
Wrexham forwards Kieffer Moore and Nathan Broadhead, both former Ipswich players, plan to send their old club packing. “I love playing against my old sides and I love scoring against them too,” Moore told BBC Radio Wales. “I’m looking forward to seeing them, and hopefully we can beat them,” Broadhead added.
The Welsh side are aiming to go beyond the fourth round for the first time since 1996-97 when they lost an all-third-tier quarter-final at Chesterfield.
Sixth-tier Macclesfield face Brentford on Monday night after dumping out the holders, Crystal Palace, in one of the great FA Cup shocks. Assistant manager Francis Jeffers (yes, that one) has claimed that Marc Guéhi and Oliver Glasner had a big half-time bust-up.
“They were going at it in the tunnel,” Jeffers told the Wayne Rooney Show. “I thought: ‘I like that, there’s an edge, they’re not happy about something. We’ve rattled their cage.” Guéhi has since moved on to Manchester City, while Glasner will depart Selhurst Park at the end of the season.
Sky are reporting that Vítor Pereira has agreed to take over as Nottingham Forest manager; he’s been firmly in the frame ever since Sean Dyche cleared his desk. Can he repeat the trick after keeping Wolves up last season?
Some final thoughts from Eddie Howe’s press conference, reflecting on the impact of last summer’s turbulent transfer window.
“The words ‘patience’ and ‘understanding’, they’re rarely accepted, in football management when you’re talking about your team. People want clarity on where you are, they want to know whether you’re good or bad. In the middle isn’t accepted.
“Don’t get me wrong, we could have done better and there are certainly things that we could improve, but I think longer term we’ll be better for it if we can work through this season. The biggest thing is to find a clear identity and way of playing, and then we can see what the future looks like with this team.”
There are five more WSL games on Sunday, with second-placed Manchester United hosting London City Lionesses. Marc Skinner’s side are heading back from Madrid, where they took a big step towards the Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-0 victory over Atlético last night.
Elsewhere, third-placed Chelsea host Liverpool, Arsenal go to Brighton, Everton welcome fellow strugglers West Ham and Tottenham visit Aston Villa.
In the Women’s Super League, leaders Manchester City have a chance to get back on the horse after their defeat at Arsenal – they host bottom club Leicester tonight.
The Manchester City manager, Andrée Jeglertz, has said he expects Mary Fowler and Aoba Fujino to be fit for the game. “Mary got a knock in training last week but is back again this week and available for Friday.”
Salford City go back to the Etihad on Saturday, having lost 8-0 to Manchester City in last season’s FA Cup third round. Their manager, Karl Robinson, has revealed the League Two team won’t wear red this time, perhaps sensing it triggered something in City’s players.
“Salford is a proper football club and that’s our message going into this game,” Robinson said. “Last year we wore the red kit but we’ll wear our away kit this year, just to signify it’s a new era. We do sit separate to City and United. We have our own identity. We’re a completely different football club now.”
“Last year was really emotional. It wasn’t too long ago our owners were leaning on iron bars watching non-league football. To then walk out at the Etihad in front of 60,000 with their football club was incredible. That’s the journey of all journeys.
“This year we have other things to worry about. We have a different mindset. We’ve learned from last year. We’ll be way more prepared.” Perhaps Robinson is hoping City mistakenly think they’re playing Arsenal tomorrow.
More from Eddie Howe, who offers injury updates on Lewis Miley and Bruno Guimarães. “We are waiting day-by-day on Lewis. It is a dead leg, a bad knock to his thigh. He is having scans every few days, we don’t think it’s going to be long term.”
“With Bruno, we are awaiting news on his hamstring injury,” Howe adds. “He was getting fatigued [against Spurs], maybe in a normal situation we’d have taken him off, but we’ve run out of midfielders. So he stayed on, and got injured.”
Hearts manager Derek McInnes has been talking to Sky Sports before a big weekend in the Scottish title race. McInnes takes his league leaders to Ibrox on Sunday, looking to defend or extend a five-point gap to Rangers.
“It’s two teams in decent form,” he straight-bats. “They’ve signed some good players [in January] and their squad looks really strong. We’ve got to take confidence from our previous results [winning at Ibrox and Celtic Park this season’].”
Hearts have been top of the table for 20 weeks. Does he feel his team are underrated? “We’re punching way above our weight. Rangers and Celtic are expected to be there. For us to be ahead, we’re doing a lot right. We just want to keep it going as long as we can, so we need to keep picking up wins.”
Howe adds: “We would love to have a Cup run. Our attitude won’t change, we want to try and win the next game and that is Aston Villa. It is a tough draw, a competition we want to do well in, and we want to go as far as we can.”
The Newcastle manager delivered the Carabao Cup trophy last year but his FA Cup record with the Magpies is not so good – suffering first-round exits to Cambridge and Sheffield Wednesday, a quarter-final loss to Manchester City in 2024, and a fifth-round home defeat to Brighton last year.
Eddie Howe has just held his Newcastle press conference, with his team going to Villa Park on Saturday evening. He says the midweek win at Spurs “definitely helped the feeling and the mood around the training ground. It was a big win for us but now we have to try and back that up, we are searching for consistency.”
One of the many highlights in Barney Ronay’s read on Sir Jim Ratcliffe …
Manchester United are being misused. For all the corporate gloss, United’s real power lies in their congealed but enduring status as a community object, a big tent, a place for all-comers. Their co-owner has no business using this carefully stitched thing to spread his political counter-messages.
The city of Manchester is also being misrepresented. The line Ratcliffe is parroting is at odds with the city’s spirit, its football clubs, its sporting culture. Manchester is a port city built on generations of incomers. It’s a mixed-up muddled-up multipack of people bumping up against each other. Its energy is open, mix-and-match, outward-looking.
Igor Thiago signs new Brentford contract
Brentford striker Igor Thiago has signed a new contract, extending his deal until 2031, with the option for an additional 12 months. The Brazilian was signed from Club Brugge in February 2024, but had to overcome a knee injury last season before hitting form this term, scoring 17 Premier League goals so far.
“I love the club and the people in the club,” said Thiago. “It’s a true love, a real love. When the fans support me, and I see them singing my name and singing my song, it gives me more power. It’s been a great season for us. Everybody has been on the same page. I hope we can get something special from it.”
Slot is asked where the FA Cup sits among his priorities for the season – he puts it on an equal footing with competing in this year’s Champions League, and ensuring qualification for next season.
He also praises Brighton, who knocked Manchester United out in the third round but are in a bad run of form – “we have a lot in common; they are so much better than their league position suggests.”
Slot adds that Wataru Endo will be out for “quite a long time” after suffering a serious injury while filling in at right-back at the Stadium of Light. “We don’t expect a positive outcome. We have to wait and see. We expect not to have him for quite a long time.”
“That is not the first time with our right full-backs,” adds Slot, who is without Conor Bradley and Jérémie Frimpong. Dominik Szoboszlai could return after missing the Sunderland game due to suspension.
Liverpool host Brighton on Saturday evening, and Arne Slot says he’ll be keeping a close eye on training in order to make “the best possible decision” on the strength of his line-up. Liverpool have played Man City and Sunderland in the last six days, but will have a week’s break before going to Nottingham Forest next Sunday.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot is the first top-flight manager facing the media this morning – his press conference is under way now.
We’ll also hear from Eddie Howe (9.30am GMT), Mikel Arteta (12pm), Pep Guardiola (12.30pm), Rob Edwards (1pm), Marco Silva, Régis Le Bris, Scott Parker (all 1.30pm), Unai Emery (2pm) and Daniel Farke (2.15pm).
Over in Spain, Atlético Madrid are closing on their first Copa del Rey final appearance for 13 years after thrashing Barcelona in the first leg of their semi-final. Sid Lowe saw it all:
And here’s the fourth-round fixture list …
Friday (7.45pm GMT)
Hull City v Chelsea
Wrexham v Ipswich
Saturday (3pm unless stated)
Burton Albion v West Ham (12.15pm)
Burnley v Mansfield
Manchester City v Salford City
Norwich v West Brom
Port Vale v Bristol City
Southampton v Leicester
Aston Villa v Newcastle (5.45pm)
Liverpool v Brighton (8pm)
Sunday (2pm unless stated)
Birmingham v Leeds (12pm)
Grimsby v Wolves (1.30pm)
Oxford United v Sunderland
Stoke City v Fulham
Arsenal v Wigan (4.30pm)
Monday (7.30pm)
Macclesfield v Brentford
Here’s what to look out for in the FA Cup’s four-day, fourth-round weekend …
Another grand old club currently without a manager are Blackburn Rovers. BBC Sport and others are reporting that Michael O’Neill is set to take over at Ewood Park – but will also continue in his Northern Ireland role for the World Cup playoffs, and this summer’s finals if they qualify.
Blackburn’s current interim manager is the former Northern Ireland international Damien Johnson, and he will reportedly stay on as part of O’Neill’s coaching staff. Rovers sacked Valérien Ismaël on 2 February, with the club mired in the Championship relegation zone.
Hello. The first domestic football match I ever saw on live TV was in 1991 – the FA Cup final between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur. Two historic clubs led by long-serving managers Brian Clough and Terry Venables, who walked out at Wembley holding hands. Jumpers for goalposts, isn’t it? Marvellous.
Spurs won the Cup but Venables was soon moved upstairs by Alan Sugar, so maybe managerial turmoil is nothing new. But it’s still sad to see the current state of affairs at both of these storied clubs, who both dispensed with their managers earlier this week. Relegation is a real threat for two teams who really should be nowhere near trouble, and nobody is 100% sure who to blame.
Forest are lining up Vítor Pereira, the Premier League’s new Winston Wolf, to replace Sean Dyche, while Spurs didn’t appear to have anyone in mind to replace Thomas Frank. We’ll keep track of developments and look ahead to a busy FA Cup fourth-weekend – although Tottenham and Forest are helpfully both already out, freeing up time for their recruitment searches.
