17 h. ago You are the head coach: Guardian writers choose their own Lions squads

We asked our rugby experts to elbow Andy Farrell aside and install themselves as the man in charge. This is who they picked and whyBuild the team around The majority of my spine players come in the pack. In some areas the leading candidate is a cut above the rest and none more so than Dan Sheehan at hooker. He’s nailed on as first choice. I’d put Maro Itoje in that bracket too and, due to lack of alternatives, I would’ve had Caelan Doris before news of his shoulder injury emerged. Perhaps the most important player is the one back I’ve selected in this category, however. Jamison Gibson-Park has been so exceptionally consistent and is someone you can look to build around. You build a team around your players of influence and, for me, they are Sheehan, Itoje and Gibson-Park. Continue reading...

Politics

33 h. ago When is the Lions squad announced? Date, time, how to watch and fixtures for Australia tour

British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell will confirm his travelling party during a special event held in front of more than 2,000 fans at the O2 Arena

Politics

36 h. ago Tom Cleverley was never going to survive Watford sack after deluded decision

Watford have sacked former Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley to leave the Championship side searching for their 11th head coach since 2020

Events

39 h. ago EFL club brutally sack former Manchester United star as announcement made

Former Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley has been sacked as Watford head coach after failing to secure a Premier League return with the Hornets

Politics

42 h. ago The Breakdown | Andy Farrell faces Owen question as selection debates pile up for Lions squad

Head coach must decide if his son commands a place, the back-row blend and whether a left-field pick is required As Andy Farrell prepares to name his British & Irish Lions touring squad it is worth reflecting on the events of 12 years ago. Then as now, the destination was Australia and Farrell was an important cog in Warren Gatland’s management team. It was also the last time the Lions actually won a series, the solitary occasion they have ticked that illustrious box this century.And do you remember who, ultimately, made the difference in the all-important final Test in Sydney, with the best-of-three series poised at 1-1? None other than the strong-scrummaging Alex Corbisiero, who had been omitted from the original squad and owed his presence to an ankle injury sustained by Ireland’s Cian Healy early in the tour. Continue reading...

Politics

48 h. ago Sergio Agüero: ‘Dad never said I played well. He didn’t want me to become cocky’

Now the subject of a documentary, the former striker opens up on his strict upbringing in Argentina, the heart troubles that ended his career and that Manchester City goalDuring a visit to Madrid in 2007, Anatoliy Byshovets, the then head coach of Lokomotiv Moscow, said watching Sergio Agüero was like visiting the Prado. Pep Guardiola said he was a legend. Jorge Valdano said he could invent anything, anywhere, a unique footballer who had lost all fear, although he was wrong on that. Lionel Messi said he did the impossible. Diego Maradona said Agüero reminded him of himself, phoning one day to apologise for not playing him more. “I was a dickhead,” Maradona said.Sometimes it can feel like the one person who never said Agüero was good was the one person he really wanted to. When the former Manchester City striker announced he was retiring at the age of 33, forced to stop by a heart problem, all the stress accumulated beneath the surface since his debut at 15, his dad called and said h...

Politics

49 h. ago Ruben Amorim is getting what he wanted from Manchester United positional switch

Man United's formation switch under head coach Ruben Amorim has meant Alejandro Garnacho has had to adjust to a new role.

Politics

56 h. ago Popovich hands over Spurs coaching reins after nearly 30 years: ‘I’m El Jefe now’

NBA’s all-time wins leader suffered stroke in November76-year-old will move into role as team presidentGregg Popovich spoke publicly Monday for the first time since suffering a stroke six months ago, saying that the time was right to step down from his role as San Antonio Spurs head coach.“Things are getting better by the day, but it’s not good enough for what we plan ahead,” Popovich said. “So, it’s time to make this change.” Flanked by Spurs greats Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, the 76-year-old Popovich – speaking far more softly than he has in the past – said his health is improving and that he fully believes in Mitch Johnson, who will replace him as the team’s coach. Continue reading...

Politics

61 h. ago Natalie Nakase is 1st Asian American WNBA head coach and unfazed by being the face of the Valkyries

Natalie Nakase is the coach of the San Francisco Bay Area’s first WNBA team and she has learned to block out those who underestimated her

Politics

65 h. ago ESPN can't stop zooming in on stunning NHL fan sat behind team bench

As the hosts secured a crucial Game 7 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, the stunning blonde was spotted sitting over the right shoulder of Dallas Stars head coach Peter DeBoer.

Politics

3 d. ago Man United hero shares Viktor Gyokeres message amid Ruben Amorim reunion links

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is expected to look to strengthen his attack this summer after a dismal Premier League campaign

Politics

3 d. ago Northampton give Andy Farrell much to ponder before Lions unveiling

Henry Pollock impresses but can the British & Irish Lions head coach afford to leave him out the squad on ThursdayOne of the all-time great club knockout results could yet have big implications in the coming days. Northampton will now feel they have a genuine chance of lifting the Champions Cup for the first time in quarter of a century while Andy Farrell suddenly has much to ponder before Thursday’s British & Irish Lions squad announcement in London.Just as the Saints fully deserve to be contesting this month’s final against French challengers Bordeaux-Beglès so the prospects of several of their players have been significantly enhanced. It is now less a question, for example, of whether Henry Pollock and Fin Smith could make the plane and more whether Farrell can afford to leave them behind. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago The Wales players tipped to break through for the next World Cup as new head coach has big task

Warren Gatland's successor will be taking a close eye on Wales depth chart

Sport

5 d. ago Ruben Amorim has the opportunity to unleash an exciting Manchester United attack vs Brentford

Man United head coach Ruben Amorim is poised to shuffle his pack against Brentford on Sunday afternoon.

Events

5 d. ago Arne Slot hopes title triumph will help Liverpool secure transfer targets

Securing league crown has enabled earlier preparationSlot: ‘It definitely helps to attract new players as well’Arne Slot believes the emphatic nature of Liverpool’s title triumph and the emotional celebrations that followed will help the club beat off competition for their main transfer targets this summer.The Liverpool head coach gave his players two days off as reward for clinching a record-equalling 20th league title on Sunday, when a party was held at Anfield after the 5-1 rout of Tottenham. Slot’s celebrations continued with his wife’s birthday meal on Monday before his focus switched back to business on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Arne Slot drops hint on Liverpool's summer transfer plans after title triumph

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is hoping that the wild and emotional scenes last weekend at Anfield will inspire his players to retain the Premier League title

Politics

5 d. ago Championship relegation lurking for Stoke, Derby, Preston, Luton or Hull

Five teams fight to avoid joining Cardiff and Plymouth in dropping to League One on the season’s final dayIt is high season for engravers, a fertile few weeks for after-dinner speakers to make hay at elaborate end-of-season dos, but not every Championship team has something worth celebrating. Last Saturday, three hours after Cardiff’s players sank to the turf when the final whistle confirmed their relegation to the third tier, a division the club has not played in for 22 years, the squad slipped into suits for their annual black-tie awards night in a suite overlooking the same surface.At some point, Rubén Sellés, the Hull head coach, seemingly got wind of the jarring circumstances and cancelled his team’s bash, which had been scheduled for Tuesday, to prevent a similarly tone-deaf evening. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Legendary Gregg Popovich steps down as San Antonio Spurs head coach after 29 years

Popovich led San Antonio Spurs to five NBA championships during his near-three-decade spell

Politics

5 d. ago Barry Ferguson lifts lid on 'long meeting' with incoming Rangers chief which has left him 'excited'

Interim head coach left impressed by new Ibrox sporting director

Politics

5 d. ago The Wales situation as things stand with no head coach, staff in limbo and match approaching

Wales head to Japan in a couple of months and there's still no indication who will be in charge

Politics