International Football
Sergio Aguero set to announce retirement from football
Argentina star footballer, Sergio Aguero is expected to announce his retirement from football later this Wednesday.
This is sequel to his lingering heart problems. Sports Village Square recalls that the problem manifested in the November 2017 friendly match Argentina had with Nigeria in which the player had to be rushed to the hospital at half time.
He had since been diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia after experiencing chest pains 41 minutes into his first start for Barcelona last month.
The striker was initially told to rest for three months, but according to Spanish publication, Marca, Aguero is now planning to step away from football permanently at just 33 years old.
Aguero joined Barcelona on a free transfer last summer from Manchester City and was making his first start for his new club against Alaves when he experienced chest pains.
The striker required on-pitch medical attention shortly before half-time having complained of dizziness.
There was growing distress in the stadium as Aguero lay flat on pitch, having gone down moments after he had his hand placed on his chest.
Barca’s medical staff rushed on the pitch to assist Aguero and looked to place him on a stretcher, before the striker eventually got up and slowly walked off the pitch unaided.
The Argentinian spent then next two days in hospital and was diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia after undergoing several tests.
He was subsequently told to rest for three months while ‘the effectiveness of treatment is evaluated’.
However, it has now been revealed that the severity of his condition was greater than first thought.
As a result, Aguero will reportedly announce his retirement from football at a special ceremony at the club on Wednesday.
Speaking after the incident took place, Aguero thanked the Barcelona supporters for the messages of support he had received.
Aguero said: ‘Hey Culers! Sending you all a big hug! Thank you for all the messages of support. Now it’s time to recover and wait for more news. Sending you all a big hug.’
The incident also prompted an outpouring of support at his former club Manchester City.
Among those to send their well wishes was manager Pep Guardiola. He said: ‘I spoke with his agent.
‘It’s difficult news for him and his family. We wish him well from all our people. Our chairman, we wish him a safe recovery. Health and life more important than anything else.
‘He is in good hands, he takes care of himself, we wish him a safe recovery and come back if he can – otherwise enjoy his life and what he has done. Be careful and be safe for the rest of his life.’
International Football
German Thomas Tuchel becomes 3rd foreign manager for England
Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has been named the new head coach of the England national team, the country’s Football Association said in a statement on Wednesday.
The German, who is England’s third foreign manager, after Sweden’s Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian Fabio Capello, will be assisted by Englishman Anthony Barry, the statement added.
“We are thrilled to have hired Thomas Tuchel, one of the best coaches in the world and Anthony Barry who is one of the best English coaches to support him,” FA CEO Mark Bullingham said.
Tuchel replaces Lee Carsley, England’s under-21 manager, who has been in temporary charge since the resignation of Gareth Southgate after England’s defeat by Spain in the Euro 2024 final in July.
-Reuters
International Football
Factbox on England head coach Thomas Tuchel
German Thomas Tuchel has been appointed head coach of the England national team on Wednesday.
Born: Aug. 29, 1973 in Krumbach, Germany.
PLAYING CAREER
* Tuchel played for his local club TSV Krumbach, before moving to FC Augsburg’s academy at the age of 15.
* He never played for Augsburg’s senior side and joined German second division team Stuttgarter Kickers in 1992.
* After eight league appearances for Kickers, Tuchel moved to fourth-tier SSV Ulm.
* Tuchel made 69 league appearances for Ulm as a central defender before he was forced to retire in 1998 at the age of 25 due to a knee injury.
COACHING CAREER
* Tuchel began his coaching career with a youth team role at VfB Stuttgart in 2000, working with future Germany internationals Mario Gomez and Holger Badstuber.
* He returned to Augsburg and took charge of their reserve team for the 2007-08 season.
* Tuchel was appointed Mainz 05 manager in 2009, replacing compatriot Juergen Klopp.
* He guided Mainz to Bundesliga stability during his five-year stint at the club, gaining plaudits for his team’s high energy, attacking style of play.
* Tuchel took over from Klopp as Borussia Dortmund coach in 2015.
* He led Dortmund to a 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2017 German Cup final. He was sacked by Dortmund three days later.
* Tuchel joined Paris St Germain in 2018 on a two-year contract, replacing Unai Emery.
* He won two Ligue 1 titles, including a domestic quadruple in his second season, and guided the club to their first Champions League final, where they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich.
* Tuchel was sacked by PSG on Christmas Eve in 2020, despite the club finishing top of their Champions League group and sitting third in the Ligue 1 table.
* He was named Chelsea manager in January 2021 on an initial 18-month contract following the dismissal of Frank Lampard.
* Tuchel revived the team’s Premier League season and guided the London club to the Champions League final, where they beat Manchester City. Chelsea also won the Super Cup and Club World Cup.
* Chelsea sacked Tuchel in September 2022 following a shock 1-0 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb in their opening Champions League group game.
* Bayern Munich appointed Tuchel to succeed Julian Nagelsmann in March last year.
* Bayern decided to let Tuchel go at the end of the 2023-24 season despite a contract until 2025. Tuchel steered Bayern to the Bundesliga title in 2022-23, but they finished the last campaign without any silverware for the first time in more than a decade.
* Tuchel will become England’s third foreign manager after Sweden’s Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian Fabio Capello.
* Tuchel will take over the team in January ahead of the qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup.
-Reuters
International Football
Portugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad
Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Mateus Mane has become hot property after Portugal named the 17-year-old in their Under-18 squad on Friday, one day after England included him in their squad.
Mane was called up for a second successive England youth camp by coach Liam Bramley before the team travel to Marbella for a four-team tournament this month.
Mane is eligible for both teams having played for the Portugal Under-17 side last season. As the Under-18 team is a non-UEFA age group, both nations are entitled to call the player up.
He made his England international debut last month against the Portugal Under-18 side who have named Mane in their squad for a four-nation tournament this month.
With both tournaments running concurrently, Mane can only play for one team and Wolves and England confirmed he would feature in Bramley’s side.
Reuters has contacted Portugal’s football association for clarification.
While players with multiple nationalities have played for more than one country if they are eligible, they are not allowed to switch allegiances at senior level – unless they have played only in friendly matches for the first country.
-Reuters
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