The Guardian

Four-year-deal secures Spaniard’s future until 2030 Title winner now among best-paid managers in the world Mikel Arteta has promised “this is only the beginning” of what he can achieve as Arsenal manager after signing a new long-term contract that will take his reign of the club beyond a decade. The Spaniard is understood to have signed a four-year deal that will secure his future until 2030. It …

In an exclusive interview, former Ipswich manager talks of his lasting affection for the club, savouring time out with family and friends and ideas for his next move It was on the Portman Road pitch, bathed in bright early May light while immersed in the relief and joy of a third promotion in five years, that Kieran McKenna realised the moment was right. The thought had flickered earlier in the s…

Commission concluded in July threat level was low Manchester City whistleblower given 10 days’ notice Portuguese authorities kept Rui Pinto in the dark for almost three months about their decision to end his status as a protected witness and notified the Manchester City whistleblower 10 days before it was due to expire, it can be revealed. According to documents seen by the Guardian, the special …

‘It doesn’t look like proper cricket,’ says Faf du Plessis as Canada’s Super60 tournament raises a few eyebrows Have you heard about Schrödinger’s six? When a cricket ball has spawned off the edge of the bat and flown all of 35 metres, is that really a six at all? How about when it comes in a hulking yet virtually empty 50,000-seater stadium in Canada, the ball smashed into the empty stands and k…

The Broncos demolished the second tier, winning 26 of their 27 games, but promotion is not only decided on the pitch By No Helmets Required Two years ago this week, London Broncos were relegated from Super League, their ground had flooded and their owner had walked away after spending £24m of his private fortune. The club were soon asking supporters to save them. They did – and fans wearing last …

Messi addresses crowd after scoring in win against Benin ‘Not coming any more is going to be deeply painful’ Lionel Messi described his retirement from international football as the “saddest day of my career” after playing his final game for Argentina in a 3-0 defeat of Benin. Messi, who scored and provided two assists in the victory at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, took to the field af…

Back end of 2027-28 season likely to be ‘challenging’ Fixture contestion a growing area of concern The Women’s Super League will face major disruption next season due to by the Club World Cup, with Arsenal and Chelsea likely to be absent from domestic competition for up to a month. The Guardian revealed last week that the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup is set to be awarded to the United States …

Pinarello-Q36.5’s Camprubi and Gloag floored in crash ‘Things like this shouldn’t happen,’ says British rider Tom Pidcock has admitted he almost quit the Tre Valli Varesine in a rage after a police motorcyclist drove into the peloton and struck two of his Pinarello Q36.5 teammates. Speaking after the race, in which he finished second, Pidcock said: “A police motorbike was going the wrong way down…

The White Sox were one of the worst teams in MLB history. Now they are just five wins from a place in the World Series The postgame celebration songs pounded through the Bluetooth speakers in the Chicago White Sox clubhouse on Monday night, minutes after the team’s playoff victory over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. The White Sox, who lost 121 games two seasons ago, have made a rem…

Ronaldo lists notes ‘validated’ for Portugal coach to say Pelé, Maradona, loyalty and selfies get mentions Cristiano Ronaldo said in a lengthy statement on Tuesday that the Portugal head coach, Jorge Jesus, had agreed to make eight points relating to him in a press conference before the team’s game in Denmark last week. Ronaldo said he had approved a document listing the points after a video meet…

On a night where he equalled Peter Shilton’s England appearance record, Harry Kane did what he always does It is a very Harry Kane kind of thing to equal a record. Respectful, no ego, all about the collective. On a room temperature night at Wembley Stadium Kane duly did this, drawing level with Peter Shilton’s record for England caps, and doing so while delivering a performance of Total Midweek K…

Plus: two political leaders at the same club game, a very long-term suspension and extremely quick equalisers Mail us with all of your questions and answers “Oli McBurnie is back in the Scotland squad,” noted John Cant last week. “With his record of 16 appearances [now 20] and zero goals, he said in a recent interview, ‘a tap-in on Saturday or one that goes in off my backside would be lovely’. Th…

The inaugural Asean Cup, not to be confused with the existing Hyundai Asean Cup, may not live long in the memory but Fifa president sees benefit It’s probably not a coincidence, what with Fifa’s presidential election getting closer all the time, but Gianni Infantino has been sweeping through Asian member associations. There he was attending a ceremony in Macau to inaugurate new headquarters, sign…

The story from the 2018 Test in South Africa will stay alive for years more, unless it is finally put to sleep with the truth of what happened Add it to the immeasurable list of things that you can blame Covid for. Without the pandemic, Australia’s Test team would have headed to South Africa in February 2021, less than three years after the 2018 sandpaper scandal saw them come home from Johannesb…

A chippy and at times ugly friendly nonetheless gave Mauricio Pochettino’s side four wins out of four, with another young player making the difference. Before 1878, a referee trying to get players’ attention was left to waive a white handkerchief in the air. It was an imperfect practice, asking an infractor to be self-aware enough to look for a doffed doily after hard contact. The game forever ch…