Latest news with #Fray
Irish Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
David Beckham's true colours shine as admission is made about Man Utd icon
Inter Miami star Ian Fray has shed light on club co-owner Sir David Beckham's incredible commitment to his team, stating that the footballing icon is a pillar of support for all his players. After making headlines in 2018 with the establishment of the Major League Soccer side, Beckham has been instrumental to Miami ever since. Under his ownership the squad now has an assembly of stellar talents, including Lionel Messi. The World Cup-winning legend has also been joined by his former Barcelona team-mates Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets in the MLS. But it's not just the stars who feel Beckham's influence. Fray has praised the former England captain's egalitarian approach, as he's often spotted at the training grounds and is a regular fixture at matches. "Yeah, he's good," Fray told Mirror US Sports. "He's been here quite a few times and he says hi to everyone in the morning. If you want something, you can go and ask him at any time. He gives you his number so you can text him if you need anything. He's a great guy." This past week has been particularly momentous for the 50-year-old. Honoured by King Charles in the Birthday Honours list, for his contribution to sport and numerous charitable deeds, Beckham is now known as Sir David, reports the Mirror. The ex-Real Madrid star then showed his unwavering commitment to his team, turning up for Miami's Club World Cup debut at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami just a day after being honoured by the King in London. Speaking to DAZN on the day of the game, Beckham said: "'It's been an emotional week I must admit. For me and for my family. "It's obviously very special. It's a huge honour, but one that has been shared with myself and my family and so, it's been emotional." Miami have been drawn in a group with Egyptian outfit Al Ahly, Brazilian side Palmeiras, and Portugal's FC Porto at FIFA's revamped Club World Cup. Before kicking off their campaign with a disappointing 0-0 draw against Al Ahly on Sunday, Fray shared his belief that they can make an impact in the tournament. "We had a really strong week of practice last week, it's been super hot here. I think we are definitely ready," the 22-year-old said. "Once we heard we were in from even last year, we were looking forward to this. Everyone looks at MLS as a lower league - we want to go in and make a statement and show that we can hang with whoever." Miami will next play Porto on Thursday as they aim for their first win of the competition. The Club World Cup also features Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester City. Enzo Maresca's team get their campaign underway on Monday evening against Los Angeles FC. Pep Guardiola's team meet Moroccan outfit Wydad Casablanca on Wednesday afternoon.
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
David Beckham's gesture to Inter Miami players speaks volumes about Man Utd icon
Manchester United and Real Madrid icon David Beckham may be one of the most recognisable faces on the planet, but he still has time for all of his players at Inter Miami Inter Miami star Ian Fray has revealed that club co-owner Sir David Beckham is always there for his players, regardless of their standing in the squad. Beckham made waves in 2018 when he founded the Major League Soccer side. Since their inception, Inter Miami have built a squad that boasts several high-profile names, most prominently World Cup-winning legend Lionel Messi. He's been joined by his former Barcelona team-mates Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets. Such is Beckham's hands-on approach, he is often seen at Miami's training facility and frequently attends games. His focus isn't just on the team's household names, however. According to Fray, Beckham makes time for everyone and even goes as far as offering an on-call service of sorts for his players - a gesture that simply says it all about the recently knighted Manchester United icon. "Yeah, he's good," Fray told Mirror US Sports. "He's been here quite a few times and he says hi to everyone in the morning. If you want something, you can go and ask him at any time. He gives you his number so you can text him if you need anything. He's a great guy." It's been a huge week for the 50-year-old, with the former England captain recognised for his services to sport and charity in King Charles' Birthday Honours list. Last Friday, the ex-PSG man became Sir David. Yet the former Real Madrid winger's dedication to his club was on full display once again just hours later. He was in attendance for Miami's Club World Cup opener at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, a day on from receiving his honour from King Charles in London. Speaking to DAZN on the day of the game, Beckham said: "'It's been an emotional week I must admit. For me and for my family. It's obviously very special. It's a huge honour, but one that has been shared with myself and my family and so, it's been emotional." Miami have been drawn in a group with Egyptian outfit Al Ahly, Brazilian side Palmeiras, and Portugal's FC Porto at FIFA's revamped Club World Cup. Before kicking off their campaign with a disappointing 0-0 draw against Al Ahly on Sunday, Fray expressed his belief that they can make an impact in the tournament. "We had a really strong week of practice last week, it's been super hot here. I think we are definitely ready," the 22-year-old said. "Once we heard we were in from even last year, we were looking forward to this. Everyone looks at MLS as a lower league - we want to go in and make a statement and show that we can hang with whoever." Miami will now come up against Porto on Thursday as they bid for their first win of the competition. The Club World Cup also features Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester City. Enzo Maresca's team get their campaign underway on Monday evening against Los Angeles FC. Pep Guardiola's team meet Moroccan outfit Wydad Casablanca on Wednesday afternoon.
Campaign ME
03-06-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Seven Media reveals five new business wins in the Middle East
Independent integrated communications agency Seven Media has revealed five significant new business wins. The agency will now represent a diverse range of high-profile clients, including: Global travel leader Skyscanner ; ; Public-private initiatives facilitator, Emirates Foundation , which focuses on sustainable community development; , which focuses on sustainable community development; One of the UAE's most important historical landmarks, Qasr Al Hosn ; ; Leisure and entertainment operator and manager, Yas Asset Management , whose assets include Yas Marina and Yas Bay Waterfront; and , whose assets include Yas Marina and Yas Bay Waterfront; and Abu Dhabi Awards, one of the UAE's highest civilian honours, which recognises individuals whose contributions have positively benefited the UAE. The new additions reflect Seven Media's capabilities across sectors ranging from travel and tourism to government, culture and lifestyle. Gregg Fray, Co-Owner of Seven Media, said, 'These wins across the agency's multiple divisions are a testament to the incredible talent and strategic thinking that runs through our team. 'We are proud to partner with such iconic and influential brands, and look forward to helping them tell their stories in powerful and engaging ways,' Fray added. From supporting a global travel platform such as Skyscanner, to a prominent government initiative such as Emirates Foundation, Seven Media aims to demonstrate its ability to deliver impactful communications campaigns across varied industries. Seven Media's integrated approach, combining digital strategy, creative content production and results-driven PR, has previously earned it numerous accolades and long-standing client partnerships.
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Inter Miami holds meetings, intense practices to right ship ahead of Philadelphia clash
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates headed to Philadelphia on Friday with a palpable sense of urgency to defeat the first-place Union, fueled, in part, by a players-only meeting Sunday night after the team's 3-0 home loss to Orlando City. Despite its star-studded lineup and lofty preseason expectations, the team has slipped to sixth place in the East, is winless in six of its past seven games, and has conceded 20 goals during that stretch. Defender Ian Fray said before training Friday morning that the team's veteran stars spoke up at the meeting, and one result has been increased intensity at practice all week. 'It's been rough stretch of games that we're not used to, but this week has been the hardest week of training I think we've had all season, and the guys have really come together,' Fray said. 'The intensity has been high, the coaches made that change in practice, where we're really working extra hard and the players taking the accountability to put in the extra work. We're ready for this game.' Last Memorial Day Weekend, Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets did not travel for the road game at Vancouver, choosing to stay home and watch their sons play in the club-sponsored Dreams Cup youth tournament. This time, it's a different story. 'I knew about last year, but obviously, this year we are at a moment where we need them, so they will travel,' coach Javier Mascherano said. Fray added that every player is dialed in and has a strong desire to get out of this funk. 'We're so used to winning all the time, and now we get the stretch of losing, so it was about putting in the extra work, everyone knows we have to do that,' he said. 'We all know we're not in a good moment and we have players here that maybe know how to turn things like this around.' Fray said that goalkeeper Oscar Ustari has been one of the team's most vocal leaders during this stretch. Mascherano said having the luxury of a full week of practice between games allowed the coaching staff to work the players longer and harder to try to correct weaknesses, especially on the defensive side. 'We have taken advantage of this week to work on a lot of things that we have to improve on, and It has been very productive, but it is not something different from what we have been doing,' Mascherano said. 'We took advantage of the long week to have more intense and longer training. We have focused on regaining confidence. The team has lost confidence, and the sport has an emotional side to it. You can train a lot but in the end it's how you face each game. We've been speaking with the players and stressing that turning things around is in our hands.' In addition to the players' meeting, Mascherano and his staff held team meetings and individual conversations with players to get the group back on track. The team was unbeaten in its first 14 games under Mascherano, including a 2-1 win at home against Philadelphia on March 29. 'As a coaching staff, we need to know what they players are thinking and feeling,' Mascherano said. 'For us to help them evolve, we need to know those things.' He added that club management has given him full support and has not interfered with his coaching. Inter Miami has 22 points through 13 games and trails the Union by seven points; but Miami has a game in hand and three games during the next seven days, so this is a critical stretch for the team to climb back up the standings. After Philadelphia, Miami plays back-to-back games at home on Wednesday against last-place Montreal (1-9-4) and on Saturday against third-place Columbus Crew (7-1-6), which Miami beat 1-0 on the road in April. '[The Union] is in first place, we haven't been in a good moment, so this is the perfect opportunity to show everybody why we're still the best team in the league,' Fray said. 'This game is set up perfectly for us to show everyone we're still Inter Miami.' In addition to getting back to the top of the East, Miami is motivated to get back in good form for the upcoming Club World Cup. The team will take a month-long break from MLS to play in the group stage of the tournament. Miami plays in the opening match June 14 at Hard Rock Stadium against Egyptian club Al Ahly, then heads to Atlanta for a June 19 game against Portuguese club Porto and then back to Hard Rock for a June 23 game against Brazilian club Palmeiras. FIFA is allowing teams to add players for the tournament. Mascherano said he has spoken to club officials about where the team needs help, and now it is up to them if they want to add reinforcements. He also is eager for Messi to sign a contract extension, as that will add stability for the long-range plans and give the fan base reason for optimism. 'Obviously, as a coach, I want him to renew his contract as soon as possible and I hope the news can be announced as soon as possible, above all for the peace of mind of the fans, and the peace of mind of everyone around the club,' Mascherano said. 'I'm not the one who has to deliver it or comment on it. I am not involved in the negotiations.' How to Watch: Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia Union kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Subaru Park and fans can watch on Apple TV MLS Season Pass.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Messi, Suarez, Alba rest as Inter Miami squanders 3-1 lead, loses 4-3 to FC Dallas
A dejected Lionel Messi was caught on camera shaking his head in a Chase Stadium suite early Sunday evening as he watched his Inter Miami teammates give up a third unanswered goal to FC Dallas, resulting in a crushing 4-3 loss. The Argentine legend, who was rested for the game along with other key starters amid a high-stakes Champions Cup week, surely was thinking the same thing everyone in the stunned crowd was thinking: How could the team have squandered a 3-1 second half lead? How could the team that was celebrating its third goal and a seemingly safe lead just 30 minutes earlier find itself trudging to its home locker room empty handed and brokenhearted? What went wrong? Coach Javier Mascherano offered a simple answer: 'For 60 to 65 minutes we played a very good game, during which we fell behind and rallied, which isn't easy. Regrettably, as I told the players, I am responsible. I made a mistake reading the game and I was unable to help them.' He went on to explain that when Miami was was ahead 3-2, and he was preparing to make substitutions, Dallas went to a five-man attack and in wanting to match those numbers, he made some changes that did not go well. The team seemed disorganized and began to unravel at that point, and the visitors took advantage. 'Sometimes those things happen, and you have to take the blame,' Mascherano said. It was Miami's first loss in league play this season, and the team drops to 5-1-3 for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Oscar Ustari were not on the Inter Miami game roster for the Sunday match, and Sergio Busquets was on the bench. The veteran quartet was given a break, was expected, as Miami was coming off a 2-0 loss on the road against the Vancouver Whitecaps late Thursday night in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal. The second and decisive leg of the series looms Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale. The roster shakeup opened up opportunities for some of the team's lesser-used players, such as defenders Ian Fray and David Martinez, and forwards Leo Afonso and Allen Obando, the 18-year-old Ecuadorean forward, who made his first MLS start. Fray and Obando made an impact early on in the game, and were a big reason Inter Miami held a 2-1 lead at halftime. Miami fell behind in the eighth minute on a goal by Dallas right back Shaq Moore, who grew up in nearby Lauderhill and got his start with the Lauderhill Lions. Moore blasted a shot from the right side after the ball bounced around and through four Miami defenders. The boisterous Chase Stadium crowd of 20,727 was deflated, but the home team got on the scoreboard eight minutes later. Fray, the Coconut Creek native, collected a long diagonal cross from David Martinez, made a slick move to get around a Dallas defender and sent a perfect cross to the center of the area, where Afonso took a shot, which was saved by Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes. Another South Florida local, Fafa Picault of Palmetto Bay, pounced on the rebound and scored the equalizer for Miami. Then, it was Obando's turn to make his mark. Fray once again delivered a well-timed cross and the Ecuadorean finished to push Miami ahead to the delight of the pink-clad crowd. 'I am happy for scoring my first goal, it wasn't the result we wanted, but we have to keep working,' Obando said. 'This is futbol, and anything can happen.' Miami center back David Martinez made it 3-1 at the 56-minute mark after sprinting into the penalty area and taking control of a loose ball as his teammate Benja Cremaschi battled a Dallas defender. It seemed Inter Miami had the game well in hand, but then everything began to unravel for the home team. 'I was happy to score that goal, Benja made a great effort and I was able to score, but we got a result we did not expect and we leave in a bad mood,' Martinez said. Dallas scored a pair of goals over a five minute span, the first by Osaze Urhoghide in the 64th minute and the equalizer by Anderson Julio in the 69th. And things would only get worse for Inter Miami, as Pedrinho got behind the Miami back line and gave Dallas a 4-3 lead at the 81-minute mark. Three unanswered Dallas goals. A 3-1 Miami lead squandered. Chants of 'Messi! Messi!' could be heard from the stunned crowd. But on this day, Messi could not come to the rescue. He watched with his family from a field level suite. Unlike recent games, in which Miami had trouble scoring, tying Chicago 0-0, beating Columbus 1-0 and being shut out by Vancouver, the men in pink scored three goals on Sunday. But it wasn't enough. '[Sunday] we scored three goals, and went home empty handed,' Mascherano said. 'The offensive part worked, but clearly the defensive part did not.' Mascherano indicated on Friday that there would be roster changes for the Dallas game as he and the staff balance league play and the Champions Cup. The loss to Vancouver left Miami in a precarious position and on the verge of elimination. Champions Cup uses aggregate scoring, and the tiebreaker is away goals, so Inter Miami must score at least two goals and concede none on Wednesday to force extra time for a shot at the championship game. The team was in a similar situation in the quarterfinals against Los Angeles FC and rallied from down 2-0 with a pair of Messi goals to win the series 3-2. This time, a spot in the final is on the line. The winner of the Champions Cup will earn $5 million and qualify for the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup and 2029 FIFA Club World Cup. With such a high stakes game on the horizon, and such little time to recover from the Vancouver trip, Mascherano rested many of the starters. The Miami starting lineup on Sunday included: Drake Callender (captain), Fray, Gonzalo Lujan, Maxi Falcon, Martinez, Picault, Toto Aviles, Yannick Bright, Cremaschi, Afonso and Obando. 'I told the players they had nothing to feel bad about, there were a lot of players in the lineup who had not played many minutes this season; it's not easy to come in like that, a bunch of players who had not played together,'' Mascherano said. 'They gave their maximum and for 65 minutes the team was doing well. Unfortunately, at 3-2, when everything was in our favor, I made mistakes and I take the blame.' On the bench for Miami were Rocco Rios Novo, Ryan Sailor, Marcelo Weigandt, Noah Allen, Fede Redondo, Busquets, Telasco Segovia, Santi Morales and Tadeo Allende. Inter Miami returns to Chase Stadium Wednesday night for the highly anticipated second leg of the Champions Cup semifinal against Vancouver. The game is at 8 p.m. and fans can watch on FS1 in English and TUDN in Spanish. 'Vancouver comes into the game with a 2-0 lead, so we have to show up with the feeling that we have nothing to lose and everything to gain,' Mascherano said. 'We have to take control of the game from the start, try not to think too much about the situation and try focus on what we can do and score the first goal and go from there.'
