The Guardian

Defender voiced criticism after defeat at Atlético He is out of contract next summer and plans to leave Lisandro Martínez’s view that Jason Wilcox is failing as Manchester United’s director of football reflects the dressing room’s general frustration at recruitment and squad depth, although the outburst is also regarded as a push by the defender to secure a move because he is out of contract next…

In 1977, Richards sued to play in the US Open after transitioning. Now she supports bans on trans athletes in women’s sports. A new biography explores a complex legacy It was a story that dominated tennis headlines back in 1977: Dr Renée Richards, an ophthalmologist who excelled as a male amateur player before a sex-change operation, was suing for the right to play in the women’s draw of the US O…

The 52-year-old reflects on the pain of being sacked after two decades turning Red Bull into an F1 powerhouse, questioning his purpose in life and dealing with panic attacks Christian Horner should be in steamy Singapore, preparing for another grand prix victory, but here he is, at home on an autumnal morning in genteel Highgate as his wife, Geri Halliwell-Horner, welcomes me with a cheerful hug.…

Former Manchester City player is coming out of retirement at 40 to play one match for ambitious Supreme Sha Tin Hong Kong, China (as is the official football name), has long tried to follow the advice of Han Solo in Return of the Jedi: keeping their distance from China while trying not to look like they are keeping their distance. It is all about maintaining an independent football association an…

Brazilian in limbo after being left out of first team Cheltenham’s Cotterill: ‘His attitude was great’ Tottenham’s forgotten man Richarlison has been hailed for his “immaculate” attitude after he scored for the club’s under-21s on Tuesday night. Richarlison has not played for Spurs’ senior side since an opening-day defeat at Brentford on 22 August after he was left out of the 25-man Premier Leagu…

With no ‘home’ games in Ukraine, Arda Turan’s side hit the road again, with Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge hosting their Champions League campaign The morning has thinned out into low, wispy cloud. Beneath it, Shakhtar Donetsk’s players are going through their paces. It is a light session for those who did not start against Veres Rivne the previous day; that means Arda Turan observes from the side, wa…

After every stunning Scott Boland performance of recent years, many of them in place of an injured Josh Hazlewood, a reasonable ­question does the rounds: why isn’t Boland the automatic pick in the Test side, and why does Hazlewood take ­precedence when fit? In truth, ­Hazlewood has given a dozen years of answers, but on the fifth day of the ­Durban Test he provided one more reminder with a caree…

Plus: the earliest trophyless seasons, scoring off one’s backside (part II) and the origins of ‘shithousery’ Mail us with all of your questions and answers “How many professional players have ended their senior careers with more own goals than goals for their own team?” wonders Peter Clark. In the past we’ve looked at the players with the most own goals , but we haven’t looked at those who ended …

After three straight game-winning drives, Cleveland’s quarterback was sacked eight times in a dismal defeat that punctured the hype surrounding him I guess the New York Jets didn’t get the memo. This was supposed to be a Deshaun Watson lovefest. A day where, much to the chagrin of those of us with a moral compass and a functional memory , football fans worldwide could declare Watson was “so back”…

Lexi Potter and Lauren James stole the show against Greece but England’s 8-1 aggregate win was one of many lopsided scorelines If there had been a vidiprinter at the King Power Stadium displaying the aggregate scorelines from the night’s Women’s World Cup qualifying playoffs around Europe, it might have looked more at home on the cricket scoreboard just over a mile further south at Leicestershire…

Recruiting report prepared for Raiders’ 2024 search Lawyers say assessment contains racial stereotypes Flores sued NFL over discriminatory hiring in 2022 A recently unsealed recruiting report on Brian Flores contains multiple examples of “racial stereotypes” and amounts to unlawful retaliation for the coach’s discrimination lawsuit against the NFL, according to his lawyers. The Korn Ferry report,…

The sports-mad city has embraced its new superstar, even as he choppers in from Manhattan and makes no secret of the fact that Philly was never his first choice Philadelphia has always had an instinctive affinity with athletes who embrace the grind over the glamour. In a place where sports mean a little too much, commitment has traditionally counted for more than celebrity. What it demands above …

Old habits resurface as Australia fritter away advantage and allow All Blacks to mount aerial assault at Eden Park Les Kiss stood forlornly in the middle of Eden Park wearing a thousand-yard stare. The past 10 Wallabies coaches had all been where he was now, shaking their heads and cursing after a failed attempt to storm the fortress of New Zealand rugby. This was Kiss’s first loss as Australia c…

Even New Romantics have a view but this long story will not be cut short amid endless hypotheticals and split narratives It’s Wednesday afternoon (UK time) and I find myself interviewing Tony Hadley on TalkSport about his upcoming big band tour. We play a bit of Spandau Ballet, chat about the classics and his career – hanging out with Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. In as much as you can deduce i…

Former Test batter and Afghanistan coach is taking the Lions abroad and is telling his players to ‘be smart’ Jonathan Trott pretty much entered Ashes folklore from the outset, scoring a series-winning century on his Test debut at the Oval back in 2009. Less spoken about, but just as relevant to the latest move in his upwardly mobile coaching career, is the first time he pulled on an England shirt…