The Pakistani board intends to bid for five to six major events in the 2023-31 cycle, aiming to win at least two of those

Umar Farooq15-Apr-2020

The PCB is planning to team up with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to bid for ICC events in the cycle that runs from 2023 to 2031. According to Ehsan Mani, the PCB chairman, the Pakistan board intends to bid for five to six major events, aiming to win at least two of those.The ICC had invited expressions of interest from its Member nations until March 15 for 20 global events that will be held in the 2023-2031 cycle but due to the coronavirus pandemic the meetings have been deferred indefinitely. Mani, meanwhile, has opted to initiate discussions with the ECB about the possibility of making joint bids and co-hosting events with a view to increasing the chances of winning the bids.Since becoming an affiliated member of the ICC in 1952, Pakistan have hosted two global cricket events: the 1987 and 1996 World Cups. They were supposed to host the 2008 Champions Trophy (which was later postponed and staged in South Africa) and the 2011 ODI World Cup but lost the hosting rights as several nations refused to tour Pakistan over security concerns in the wake of rising terrorist attacks in the country.ALSO READ – Playing India is like pie in the sky – Ehsan Mani”It is very important for Pakistan cricket and its development that some of the ICC events are played in Pakistan,” Mani said in a PCB podcast. “We intend to make a very serious expression of our interest on this matter and we will be getting full government support as well. The ICC delegation did met with Dr Fahmida Mirza, the Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination who also handles sports in the country, and they [the ICC] got a very positive impression [of our intent and ability to host global events].PCB chairman Ehsan Mani speaks at the PSL 2019 draft•Getty Images/AFP

“We had expressed an interest to host five to six events and, frankly, it is likely we won’t be getting more than one or two. But we also thought out of the box to bid jointly with another country. I have already begun speaking with the Emirates Cricket Board for a team-up to increase the chances of hosting some of it together but, again, it needs cooperation. There are a few events with 16 games and then there are events with 30-40 games, so depending on the scale, the workload can be divided between us.”For the best part of the decade following the terrorist attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in March 2009, international cricket on Pakistani soil remained an impossibility, with the PCB also stripped of hosting rights to ICC events. But in May 2015, the PCB convinced Zimbabwe to visit for a short limited-overs series after guaranteeing them a USD 500,000 pay package. Two years later, the final of the 2017 Pakistan Super League (PSL) was held in Lahore, with an eight-member overseas contingent taking part in the high-octane clash. Since then, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and a World XI side have toured Pakistan for international matches across formats and the PSL, too, has made a gradual comeback in its entirety.”We have demonstrated through the PSL that Pakistan has what it takes to hold international games at a large scale,” Mani said. “Those 30 games were free of any untoward incidents; they were well run despite some logistical challenges, which we were able to overcome to send the message loud and clear that we have the ability to stage big matches. It’s premature to tell which events we would be bidding for but we have indicated to the ICC about our interest across the board: from youth cricket to the senior World Cups. We have full confidence in our logistic capability and infrastructure to hold them.”But there are other countries, too, who are likely to present a strong case for their bids. But unfortunately when the “Big Three” (India, Australia, and England) emerged as a combined force and Pakistan and a few other boards couldn’t stop that from happening, the ICC had distributed all major events between them. But this won’t happen this time around. All the major broadcast markets in the world for the ICC to earn its revenue from is in the South-Asian region and Pakistan is well placed time-zone-wise as well. So, our case is really quite strong.”

Aston Villa are believed to be interested in completing the summer signing of an “outstanding” new attacker who’s scored three times against them in the past.

Aston Villa transfer news

This summer promises to be an exciting one at Villa Park, with likely Champions League qualification giving them a great chance of signing players who can make Unai Emery's squad even more formidable. Atletico Madrid defender Mario Hermoso has been linked with a move to Villa, with a recent report even claiming that he is "close" to securing a switch at the end of the season.

Michael Olise, who continues to stand out as Crystal Palace's brightest young talent, is also catching the eye. The 22-year-old has scored nine goals in just 12 league starts this season, and that tally would likely be far greater if it hadn't been for injuries.

Villarreal attacking midfielder Alex Baena is another rumoured target for the Villans, having enjoyed a brilliant season for the Spaniard outfit, registering 12 assists in 30 La Liga starts in 2023/24 to date, also boasting experience playing under Emery on his CV.

There are some players who could leave Villa in the summer window, however, with Diego Carlos reportedly pushing for an exit, according to a recent update.

Aston Villa eyeing "outstanding" attacker

According to Takvim [via Sport Witness], Aston Villa are keen on signing Wilfried Zaha this summer, but they are facing competition from another Premier League team. West Ham are the club in question, with agent talks and negotiations taking place with both sides over a potential move for the Galatasaray winger.

The Ivorian joined the Turkish side on a free transfer from Crystal Palace last summer, but his time there hasn't necessarily gone to plan, with only 13 league starts coming his way. He has scored nine times, however, and could represent an exciting option for Villa.

At 31, the former Palace and Manchester United man may not be getting any younger, but he knows the Premier League inside out, netting 68 times in the competition overall. The Villans know all about the threat he can pose, having allowed him to score against them three times in the past. Ally McCoist was one of many to heap praise on him during his time at Palace, calling the winger "absolutely outstanding".

Zaha could provide an added spark in the wide areas for Villa, at a time when Emery will be needing to juggle both Premier League and Champions League football, something the Palace legend now has experience in.

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Granted, there may be younger options out there, but there is still enough left in the tank for the tricky star to enjoy a number of good years in a Villa shirt.

Everton have had a turbulent 2023/24 campaign, but following some fine form, they have guaranteed their Premier League place for another season. The Toffees were sunk by two separate points deductions for FFP breaches, but have since battled their way to safety.

The Merseyside club will still want to keep their players fit ahead of the summer, and with that in mind, Football FanCast is here to keep you updated with the latest injury news coming out of Goodison Park.

Latest Everton injury news

Sean Dyche gave a mixed injury update ahead of their Goodison Park meeting with Sheffield United this weekend. The good news is that Dyche confirmed that Everton have no one "seriously injured" at the moment and that "most of the group are ready to go again", except for players we already know who are out injured.

Everton: current injuries

Player Name

Injury

Date Injured

Expected Return Date

Vitalii Mykolenko

Ankle

24th April

Next season

Nathan Patterson

Hamstring

15th April

Next season

Dele Alli

Hip

Summer

Unknown

Vitalii Mykolenko – ankle

Defender Vitalii Mykolenko's season is over after he damaged ankle ligaments during the Merseyside derby in late April. The Ukrainian appeared to twist his leg awkwardly and saw out the rest of the first period at Goodison Park before being replaced at half-time.

Having suffered ligament damage, his recovery period will see him miss the Toffees' remaining games.

Nathan Patterson – hamstring

The reliable Nathan Patterson is also out for the remainder of the season after picking up a hamstring injury against Chelsea.

Dyche had this to say: "Patto will be out for the season – he will need surgery. Very unfortunate injury. We're disappointed on that one for him as much as us."

Dele Alli – groin

Dele Alli is yet to play for Dyche, as he was on loan with Besiktas when the former Burnley boss was appointed manager. And things have gone from bad to worse for the recovering midfielder, as he's set to be out for even longer after going under the knife recently.

Dyche provided an update recently on Dele as well, stating: "Dele's focus is just getting fit. Obviously, he's got a period [to go] yet but he's just focusing on that. We're not worrying about when, just, first things first, get fit. That's all we're looking for him to do and that's all he's looking to do."

Latest Everton suspension news

The Toffees have no players missing through suspension.

Newcastle United travel to face Burnley at Turf Moor this afternoon, looking to build on the 5-1 hammering of Sheffield United at St James' Park last weekend.

Goals from Alexander Isak, Callum Wilson, Bruno Guimaraes and an own goal from Ben Osborn secured the win for Eddie Howe's side, keeping the Magpies' slim hopes for European football next season alive.

The club have the opportunity to make it back-to-back wins against another relegation-threatened side when they face Vincent Kompany's side, who have a slim chance of staying up this season.

However, if Howe's side are to secure all three points, they will have to do it without experienced centre-back Fabian Schar, who limped off with a hamstring issue during last weekend's victory against the Blades, with the Magpies boss confirming it's unlikely he will feature again this season.

The Swiss international's setback sees him join Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles on the sidelines, with Howe potentially having a dilemma on who should replace the 32-year-old for the trip to Lancashire.

That being said, we take a look at three potential players who could partner Dan Burn this afternoon…

1 1. The Obvious Choice Emil Krafth

Swedish defender Emil Krafth has enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence under Howe in the first-team due to the club's injury problems, featuring 13 times in the Premier League this season.

His appearance tally has drastically increased from last campaign, where the defender only managed one singular league appearance – coming on as a last-minute substitute in the 3-3 draw with Manchester City.

However, like Lascelles and Botman, he suffered an ACL tear that would see him miss the vast majority of the season, before catapulting himself back into contention in recent months.

Before last weekend, the 29-year-old was on a run of four consecutive Premier League starts, but Schar's hamstring issue saw the right-back feature in a slightly unnatural central role.

However, he's been a dependable figure in among the chaos at St James' Park, with Howe likely to rely on his experience once more this weekend.

2 The Younger Alternative Alex Murphy

After bringing him off the bench last weekend, Magpies boss Howe could hand youngster Alex Murphy a first Premier League start given the club's injury woes.

The 19-year-old joined the club from Irish side Galway United during the summer of 2022, with Murphy joining Newcastle's academy side upon his arrival.

Murphy, who can play left-back and centre-back, has made seven appearances for Newcastle's U21 side in the Premier League 2 this season, whilst also being included in the first-team squad for the warm-weather training camp in Saudi Arabia.

However, the Magpies boss handed him a rare opportunity against Wilder's side at St James' Park, but didn't get the opportunity to flourish in his few minutes off the bench.

The "impressive" defender, as branded by Newcastle Chronicle writer Mark Carruthers, deserves the opportunity between now and the end of the campaign to impress the fans – potentially allowing him to make more first-team appearances in 2024/25.

3 The Wildcard Option Cathal Heffernan

Although Cathal Heffernan is yet to make his senior debut on Tyneside, the promising youngster has played an important role in the club's youth squad since joining.

After arriving from Italian side AC Milan last summer, the 19-year-old centre-back has made 23 appearances for various youth levels, scoring on three occasions, including against the Italian side in the UEFA Youth League.

It would certainly be a shock to see the Irish defender be handed his first opportunity in the Magpies' first-team this weekend, but given the current injury situation at the club, it could be the perfect opportunity for Heffernan to prove his talents.

Newcastle have given multiple chances this season to youngsters Lewis Miley and Elliot Anderson, who have made giant steps and cemented their places as regular players within Howe's squad.

Howe should look to repeat his decision with Heffernan, with the club and the youngster potentially reaping the rewards of putting their faith in the youngsters, with the Irishman having the potential to be the next academy breakthrough into Howe's side.

Newcastle hit the jackpot on warrior whose value has skyrocketed 328%

He’s enjoyed a successful stint in the first-team under Eddie Howe.

ByEthan Lamb May 3, 2024

A compressed tournament is set to be held between August 18 and September 10

George Dobell12-Jun-2020CPL organisers have confirmed their intention to stage the competition entirely in Trinidad & Tobago between August 18 and September 10.The competition will be played, subject to government approval, behind closed doors with the top-paid players expected to accept a salary cut of up to 30% when compared to 2019 levels. There will be no salary cut for players below the US$20,000 bracket.Players are currently required to arrive in Trinidad by August 1 in order to satisfy the quarantine period mandated by the Trinidad & Tobago government. There is a possibility this quarantine period could be lifted, at least for visitors from certain nations, in due course.ALSO READ: Trinidad & Tobago government “very much open” to hosting CPLWith a smaller window available for the tournament, it will feature double-headers on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and only three matches – two semi-finals and a final – in the play-offs rather than the usual four. Games will start at 10am and 5.30pm during the week and 10am and 2pm at the weekends.All players will stay in the tournament hotel in conditions overseen by a medical advisory committee. Match officials will also be expected to take a 30% pay cut. Most CPL staff have already done so.”Should the tournament take place it will take place entirely in Trinidad & Tobago, which is the most successful country in the Caribbean in controlling the spread of the virus – recording just one new case since April 30 and just 117 total cases overall,” Michael Hall, the CPL operations manager, wrote in an update sent to various stakeholders.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”One of the consequences the Covid-19 pandemic will have is that the CPL will be played behind closed doors in 2020. We were therefore faced with the very difficult decision of whether to play the tournament at all.”[But] we also felt strongly that it is important for cricket to be seen to be getting underway again as well as to show the world that the Caribbean is open for business.”We have taken the decision to stage the tournament (subject to final approval from the government of Trinidad & Tobago, which we expect next week). I can advise that the tournament period will be from August 1 to September 12, with the first matches on August 18 and the final on September 10.”While there is no firm date for the draft at this stage, it is expected to be at the end of June. Players who have already signed contracts will be asked to sign a “variation letter” agreeing to a cut.”We accept we are asking players to give up a portion of their salary,” Hall wrote. “However without such a gesture it will be impossible to run the tournament, so we need to be clear that non-acceptance of the proposed reductions will result in your clients already under contract being replaced, or if not already contracted, being removed from the draft list.”

Glasgow Rangers ended a three-game winless run by securing their place in the 2024 Scottish Cup final after a solid display from the Ibrox side at Hampden on Sunday.

Hearts were swept aside 2-0 as the Light Blues looked comfortable through large spells of the game. It was a far better performance than the previous two matches in the Premiership, which now sees the club trailing Celtic by three points.

Cyriel Dessers was the hero at the national stadium, scoring two well-taken goals, sending Rangers through to a first Scottish Cup final showdown against Celtic since 2002. That time, the blue side of Glasgow won 3-2 courtesy of a last-gasp Peter Lovenkrands winner.

While the performance was good and several under-fire players stepped up to the occasion, it proved to be a disappointing one for Abdallah Sima, who was forced off after just 15 minutes with what looked like a hamstring injury.

Philippe Clement will be hoping Sima isn’t sidelined for too long, especially considering his record in front of goal this term.

Abdallah Sima’s statistics at Rangers

Michael Beale was the manager to bring Sima to Glasgow last summer, securing his services on a season-long loan deal from Brighton & Hove Albion.

The move has certainly been a shrewd one. In 38 games for the Light Blues, the 22-year-old winger has scored 16 goals while chipping in with two assists, all while missing 14 matches after sustaining an injury whilst on international duty with Senegal in January.

Metric

Europa League

Premiership

Goals

3

11

Assists

0

2

Key passes per game

1

0.9

Successful dribbles per game

1.8

1.3

Big chances created

0

2

Via Sofascore

There is no doubt he would have already broken through the 20 goal barrier by now had he remained fit. His influence came to the fore during the recent clash against Celtic where he netted a second-half equaliser after coming on as a substitute, and it is crucial he is fit for the title run-in.

He will return to Brighton this summer, yet could Clement perhaps try and wrangle a permanent deal for the youngster due to his impact at the club this season?

Abdallah Sima’s market value in 2024

The Senegalese winger is rated at £6.6m as per Football Transfers' xTV model (expected transfer value) and if he does recover in time to play a part in the final six games of the campaign, this could potentially rise between now and the start of the summer transfer window.

Clement may not have many funds to work with during the summer unless he ships out a few players, but if Sima were to be available for a realistic fee, he could be a worthy addition to the squad.

His current valuation may indicate Rangers will have to splash out £6m or more to sign him, which could be slightly outside their budget.

it is a reasonable market value considering his displays, but Rangers actually sold a player back in 1998 who was worth more than double Sima if adjusted for 2024 money; Gennaro Guttuso.

When Rangers signed Gennaro Gattuso

The late, great Walter Smith had led Rangers to nine league championships in a row during the 1996/97 campaign and was looking to bolster his squad that summer to do what no team in Scotland had done before, win ten titles in succession.

There were plenty of incomings that summer as Smith splashed the cash to sign Lorenzo Amoruso, Marco Negri and Sergio Porrini in a bid to make history.

Gattuso was also signed, brought in for nothing having previously spent time at Perugia, and it looked like the diminutive Italian could be a big part of the club’s future, such was his vast talent.

In his only full season at Ibrox, the youngster made 37 appearances, scoring four goals in the process, but it was to no avail as they ended the campaign without a trophy for the first time since the 1980s.

Despite playing 11 matches at the start of the following season, it was evident he wasn’t in Dick Advocaat’s plans for the future and was sold for nearly £4.2m to Salernitana back in his homeland.

Gennaro Gattuso’s transfer value in 2024 money

This fee represented a decent piece of transfer business for someone who was clearly going to be pushed aside for Advocaat’s own signings, and it turned out that the Gers hit the jackpot on the 5 foot 9 brute.

In 2024 – with Totally Money adjusted for inflation over the years – that transfer fee would now be worth a staggering £18.2m, proving how impressive a sale it really was for the Dutchman.

A few years later, however, many of the Ibrox faithful must have wondered what would have happened if the Gers kept the Italian midfielder as he began to shine for AC Milan.

What Gennaro Gattuso did after leaving Rangers

He joined Milan in 1999 and spent the next 13 seasons winning everything that was available to him, which included two Champions League titles and two Serie A crowns, making 468 appearances for the club in the process.

Of course, he was also part of the Italy squad which won the World Cup in Germany back in 2006, playing six of their seven games as they became champions of the world for the fourth time.

It was a career full of highlights, with the player emerging as a tough tackler and someone who was not to be messed with.

Journalist Jerry Mancini lauded Gattuso for his abilities on the pitch, saying: “He was a tenacious tackler and great at winning the ball back. A great leader and fought for every inch on the pitch.”

It would be interesting to see just what he would have achieved had Gattuso remained in Glasgow for another few years, but Advocaat’s decision to move him on certainly brought the club a decent financial windfall at the time.

It shows how good he was that his value was more than every single Rangers player currently since he moved back to Italy in 1998, and he certainly fulfilled his potential for both Milan and Italy over the next 15 years.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

Tim Bresnan, the Yorkshire allrounder who helped England to victory on their Ashes tour of Australia in 2010-11, has agreed to leave the club with immediate effect, in a bid to secure first-team opportunities in the final years of his career.Bresnan, 35, made his Yorkshire debut against Northamptonshire in 2003, and went on to play an integral role in the club’s back-to-back County Championship titles in 2014 and 2015.However, he arguably had his finest season the following year, when he was named Yorkshire’s Player of the Year after excelling with bat and ball. His stand-out performance came in the Championship decider against Middlesex at Lord’s, where his unbeaten 142 came close to securing a hat-trick of titles.In his career to date, he has claimed 557 wickets in 199 first-class matches, and scored 6714 runs at 28.81. In List A games, he has picked up 315 wickets and scoring 3221 runs in 173 appearances.”I would like to thank Yorkshire for giving me 19 fantastic years and the opportunity when I was younger to kick-start my career,” said Bresnan. “Hopefully with me moving aside, the younger players will get their opportunity to kick-start their careers as well.”It has given me immense pride to represent the county for the best part of two decades. My Yorkshire cap is one of my proudest possessions. I would also like to thank the Members for their support during my time at Yorkshire.”I didn’t take this decision lightly but now is the best time to move on. There is still plenty of fire in my belly and I look forward to what the future brings.”On the international front, Bresnan became a vital part of the England team that not only rose to become the No.1 Test side in the world in 2011, but also claimed England’s first global trophy, the World T20 in the Caribbean in 2010.From the moment he made his Test debut against West Indies at Lord’s in 2009, Bresnan played a part in 13 Test victories in a row – most notably on the 2010-11 Ashes tour where he came into the side for the fourth Test at Melbourne and helped to bowl Australia out for 98 on the first morning of the match.In addition to the World T20 win, Bresnan played a part in Perth Scorchers’ Big Bash win in 2017, and later that year claimed 6 for 19 in a T20 Blast win over Lancashire at Headingley, the best T20 bowling figures in the club’s history.Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s director of cricket said: “Everyone at the Club has huge respect for Tim for what he has achieved in his career for Yorkshire and England. He has represented the Club with huge pride and distinction for 19 years.”His contribution both on and off the field has been immense and we wish him every success for the future.”

Everton claimed three vital points in their hunt for Premier League survival, beating local rivals Liverpool 2-0 at Goodison Park on Monday night.

Goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin secured the Toffees' first Merseyside derby win on home territory since October 2010, moving the club eight points clear of the relegation zone with just four games remaining.

The victory is a crucial one for Sean Dyche's side, but it's also derailed Liverpool's title ambitions – with the Reds now sitting three points off the summit, but only a point clear of Manchester City, who have two games in hand.

Every single Everton player put in a huge shift during the victory, but one player, in particular, shone throughout and produced an even better performance than goalscorer Branthwaite.

Jarrad Branthwaite's stats against Liverpool

The 21-year-old centre-back has been a pivotal part of the Toffees' squad this season, starting 31 Premier League games so far this campaign, often partnering James Tarkowski at the heart of the defence.

Branthwaite featured for the whole 90 minutes, making eight clearances and blocking four shots as he helped preserve the Toffees' clean sheet.

He also won 75% of the duels that he contested, whilst making one tackle, but neither of which were his biggest contributions during the encounter at Goodison Park.

The defender displayed a cool head, like that of an experienced centre-forward, as he bundled the ball past Alisson to give Dyche's side a deserved lead going into the break.

However, despite his brilliant display at the back, one other Everton player produced an even better performance, justifying his recall to the starting lineup for the crucial clash.

James Garner's stats against Liverpool

After missing the clash against his former side on Sunday afternoon, midfielder James Garner was recalled to the starting eleven for the meeting with Jürgen Klopp's men – a decision that proved to be a sensational one.

Whilst the 23-year-old only managed to complete nine passes, an average of one just every 10 minutes, the former Manchester United man produced a brilliant display out of possession, restricting the visitors to minimal chances throughout.

Garner won 100% of the duels he entered, also winning two tackles and two interceptions, with his tireless effort proving vital in the middle of Everton's midfield.

The Toffees' number 37 also managed to complete 100% of his dribbles during the game, proving why Dyche decided to recall him for such an important fixture.

He was subsequently awarded a 9/10 rating by Liverpool Echo journalist Chris Beesley, with the Everton reporter claiming the 23-year-old added "bite" to the squad – a huge bonus in a derby encounter.

His display against the Reds reflects how much of an underrated and important part of Dyche's side Garner is, with the youngster capable of nailing down a long-term place in the heart of the Toffees' side.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 24, 2024

Nico Williams revealed that he always "wanted to be at Athletic Club" amid "approaches from many clubs" for the Barcelona target.

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• Williams had a host of suitors after the Euros
• Barcelona seemed to be the frontrunners
• Forward focussed on realising European dream with Athletic

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After several impressive performances in the European Championship with Spain, Williams caught the attention of several European sides, including Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Arsenal. However, Athletic Club stood firm, refusing to entertain offers for their prized forward and after a summer full of speculation and uncertainty, Williams stayed at the Basque club.

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• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Williams has been nurtured in Athletic's academy and since his childhood, the forward has dreamt of representing the club on the European stage. Following the team's fifth-place finish in La Liga last season they have secured a berth in the Europa League, UEFA's second-tier club competition, and Williams remains determined to go deep in the tournament.

• WHAT WILLIAMS SAID

  In an interview with Williams spoke candidly about the transfer speculation and his decision to remain at Athletic.

  "It's always flattering to know that big teams have you on their agenda," Williams said. "But I've always been clear that I wanted to be here. Athletic is a different feeling that you don't get at other clubs. I'm really looking forward to doing things well at this club."

  Williams also addressed the numerous offers he received, explaining that his agent handled those discussions, but his loyalty to Athletic never wavered.

  "The truth is that that is a matter for my agent," he said. "There were approaches from many clubs. My heart is with Athletic. I have a contract here, but who knows what will happen in the future. I wanted to stay here because playing in Europe with Athletic was what I was most excited about."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  The 2024-25 Europa League final will be staged at San Mames and if Williams can inspire Athletic in that competition he can potentially lift the trophy on home turf.

The MLS club have parted ways with their long term VP & technical director as they make a playoff push

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Bocanegra oversaw roster construction from 2017Directed team that won MLS Cup in 2018Garth Lagerwey will assume role until end of seasonGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Atlanta have made a significant front office change with just two months remaining in the MLS regular season. Bocanegra, who was intrumental in the expansion franchise's early success, has been removed from his position with immediate effect, the club announced on Wednesday.

The move comes just weeks after a busy summer window in which Atlanta spent heavily on former Atalanta attacking midfielder Aleksei Miranchuk. Bocanegra also directed a number of high profile departures, generating big fees for Caleb Wiley and Thiago Almada.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The move comes at an interesting time for the MLS side. Atlanta is currently clinging on to the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and face a tricky slate to round off the season as they hope to secure a playoff spot.

It has been a turbulent year for the team, which has won the 2018 MLS Cup and the 2019 U.S. Open Cup. They parted ways with head coach Gonzalo Pineda in early June, and appointed Assistant Coach Rob Valentino as interim boss for the remainder of the season. The club promised in June that a search for a new permanent head coach would begin immediately, but there have been no further updates since that announcement.

WHAT GARTH LAGERWEY SAID

In an official statement, Club CEO Garth Lagerwey spoke on the decision to part ways with Bocanegra: "We are deeply appreciative of Carlos’s dedication and success over the last nine years with Atlanta United. However, I believe it’s time for our club to move in a new direction. While we will continue to fight for a playoff spot down the final stretch of the season, this gives us a clean slate and a runway to properly assess all vacancies in our sporting operation ahead of what will be an extremely important offseason for our club."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Bocanegra's first iteration of Atlanta United was one of the most successful expansion franchises in MLS history. In 2017, they became the first ever expansion side to qualify for the playoffs, and 12 months later lifted MLS Cup on the back of an immensely talented squad, highlighted by MVP winner Josef Martinez.

Bocanegra also is one of the most successful and capped U.S. men's national team players, having made 110 caps and winning two Gold Cups.