Latest news with #UEFAProLicence
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool face dilemma after exceeding non-homegrown limit
Liverpool Face Non-Homegrown Limit Headache as Kerkez Arrival Looms Transfers Bring Excitement, But Rules Still Matter There's a buzz around Liverpool right now. A Premier League title reclaimed, Arne Slot settling into the dugout, and a flurry of signings before the summer heat sets in. Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong are already through the door, and Milos Kerkez is about to follow. The recruitment drive is deliberate, targeted and ambitious. But amid all the fanfare, a familiar issue looms. Registration rules. Because while ambition might be limitless, squad quotas are not. And Liverpool are over the non-homegrown limit. Advertisement Kerkez, a £40 million arrival from Bournemouth, is expected to join next week. At 20, the Hungarian left-back looks a shrewd piece of business, especially given Andy Robertson's patchy form last season and ongoing concerns over fitness and consistency. Photo: IMAGO Yet as it stands, Liverpool already have 18 non-homegrown players. That's one over the Premier League limit of 17. Add Kerkez, and the number becomes 19. You do not need to be a UEFA Pro Licence graduate to work out that somebody has to go. New Faces Mean Old Ones Must Move On This is not a dilemma unique to Anfield. Clubs often sail close to the edge with these quotas. But this is where Richard Hughes earns his money. Because if Kerkez is to be registered alongside Wirtz and Frimpong, two existing names will need to be moved on. Advertisement Frimpong, developed at Manchester City, qualifies as homegrown. A neat loophole in an otherwise rigid structure. But others are not so fortunate. X: @LFC Among the 19 currently counting against the quota, a few stand out. Calvin Ramsay's time at Liverpool has been plagued by injury and misfortune. After three difficult years, his name on the list feels more like a placeholder than a priority. Photo: IMAGO Elsewhere, names like Kostas Tsimikas, Luis Díaz, Darwin Núñez and Federico Chiesa hover on the periphery. All of them valuable in their own ways, but also assets that can command decent fees should Liverpool need to balance the books or free up space. Photo: IMAGO Why Kerkez Fits and What It Means for Others Slot wants players who can execute his high-possession, press-resistant model. Kerkez fits that mould. Quick, progressive, and with the ability to tuck into midfield or provide width when needed, his role under Slot could mirror the inverted full-back blueprint deployed across Europe. Photo by IMAGO Advertisement But his arrival nudges Robertson closer to uncertainty, and Tsimikas even more so. The Greek international has been a loyal deputy, but Liverpool may now view him as expendable. The same may apply to other wide or attacking players if the club wish to address balance in other areas. Photo: IMAGO Sales on the Horizon as Liverpool Plan Next Moves After making early progress, Liverpool are now over the non-homegrown limit, and that is likely to shape the narrative of the next few weeks. The club have rarely been reckless with squad construction, and that careful planning will now be tested under the new regime. This is a numbers game as much as a footballing one. The limit is clear. The squad is bloated. And the message from the AXA Training Centre is clear: sales are coming.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Elavarasan takes charge of Kelantan Darul Naim
KUALA LUMPUR: Former national Under-23 coach E. Elavarasan and Muamer Salibasic have been tasked with reviving Kelantan Darul Naim's (KDN) fortunes as they prepare for the 2025-26 M-League season. Elavarasan brings a proven track record to the East Coast side. During his stint with Malaysia's Under-23 team, he guided them to the 2023 Merlion Cup title, a semi-final finish at the AFF Championship, and qualification for the 2024 Asian Cup as one of the best second-placed teams in the qualifiers. He stepped down from the role on Sept 18, 2023 to focus on assisting then-national coach Kim Pan Gon with the senior squad. His new partner in the KDN dugout, Bosnian-born Salibasic, holds a UEFA Pro Licence and has built a solid coaching reputation across Europe and the Middle East. The 41-year-old, who played for Sabah in the M-League in 2013, has recently coached clubs in Bosnia and Sweden. Former Kelantan FA president Tan Sri Annuar Musa confirmed the duo's appointments and praised KDN's ambition to restore footballing pride in the state. "Congratulations to the only team from Kelantan that will play in the 2025-26 season. Welcome to Elavarasan and Salibasic, who will work hand in hand to train Kelantan," Annuar said in a Facebook post. "Kelantan are serious about bringing back the glory of football." Annuar, who oversaw Kelantan's golden era from 2009 to 2016, played a major role in turning the Red Warriors into one of Malaysian football's most dominant forces. Under his leadership, Kelantan won two Super League titles, two FA Cups, and the Malaysia Cup, earning recognition as one of the best-run teams in the country. He was also a long-serving FAM executive committee member and chairman of the M-League team management committee. In his social media post, Annuar also revealed that KDN have strengthened their squad with the signing of several national players from Asean, Asia and Africa. "Some Asean, Asian and African national players have been roped in to shape Kelantan's new-look team. All the best to Kelantan," he said.
Scottish Sun
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
My dad's a Scottish football cult hero who turned down Celtic job now I'm youngest British coach to get Uefa Pro Licence
He was a fan favourite at several Scottish clubs RISING STAR My dad's a Scottish football cult hero who turned down Celtic job now I'm youngest British coach to get Uefa Pro Licence Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HIS dad is one of Scottish football's most popular cult heroes. Now he is making his own way in the football world as a coach - and has reached a mega milestone before anyone else. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 3 Owen Coyle during his spell as Queen's Park boss Credit: PA 3 His son (second from left) is now following in his footsteps Credit: Kenny Ramsay Owen Coyle was a fan favourite at Dumbarton, Clydebank and Aidrieonians before making his mark in the top flight with Dundee United and Motherwell. Coyle also earned cult hero status at Bolton Wanderers and after hanging up his boots he became a manager, taking charge of Bolton after successful stints at St Johnstone and Burnley. The Republic of Ireland cap famously turned down his boyhood club Celtic in 2009 - because the Hoops came calling on the same day his Burnley side clinched promotion to the Premier League. Coyle has since gone on to manage elsewhere in England, the USA and in Scotland - but is currently coaching in India with Chennaiyin. His son, also called Owen, has just earned his Uefa Pro Licence - the highest level of coaching qualifications - at the age of 28. And he's been told that makes him the youngest person in Britain to hold those badges. He posted a picture of himself with his certificate on his Instagram account. And he said: "Delighted to share that I've officially graduated with my UEFA Pro Licence — the highest coaching diploma in football — after two challenging and rewarding years. "I began my coaching journey at 16, and 12 years on, I'm proud to have reached this milestone at 28. I'm told it makes me the youngest British coach to achieve the licence — something I'm grateful for and don't take lightly. "Thank you to the Scottish FA for their support throughout, to my peers for the insight and good company along the way, and to my family, friends, and colleagues who've backed me since day one. Celtic transfer special - Nygren in and Kyogo to return "Still plenty to learn — but a positive step forward." Coyle Jr is currently employed at Nottingham Forest as player pathway and loans manager. That's following a recent promotion from assistant player pathway and loans manager, a role he combined with working as one of the development coaches at the club. Coyle Jr joined Forest as a scout in 2023 after a spell working under his dad at Queen's Park as the club's B team manager, in which he also assisted his father with the senior team. Prior to that, he was the manager of the England Amputee national team and also worked as a youth coach at Oldham Athletic and a disability-inclusive coach at Blackpool. 3 Owen Coyle Jr on the training field with Queen's Park Credit: Willie Vass Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
New York Times
12-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Justin Cochrane to join Thomas Frank's backroom staff at Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur are set to seal the appointment of Thomas Frank as head coach after managing to secure the highly-rated Justin Cochrane as his assistant. Spurs agreed terms with Frank following the departure of Ange Postecoglou and contacted Brentford earlier this week to hold talks relating to compensation and staff. Advertisement The deal was held up by the situation of Cochrane, who Brentford wanted to keep and had admiration from elsewhere — but he decided to join Tottenham. Cochrane is regarded among the most promising coaches in the English game and will stay part of the national team set-up on a part-time basis under Thomas Tuchel, after being appointed in February. The 43-year-old spent almost a decade as a youth coach at Spurs earlier in his career and has worked for the past three seasons with Frank. He saw the Englishman as a vital part on his new team. They will be joined by coach Chris Haslam and analyst Joe Newton. Haslam is Brentford's head of athletic performance and has worked for the club for more than a decade across two spells. Newton, the first team analyst, has been with the club since 2019. Three members of Postecoglou's backroom staff, Mile Jedinak, Nick Montgomery and Sergio Raimundo, left Spurs with the Australian but his former assistant, Matt Wells, and goalkeeping coach Rob Burch remained at the club. Ryan Mason, who was also part of Postecoglou's team, joined West Bromwich Albion as head coach before the 59-year-old's dismissal. Cochrane began his professional coaching career at Spurs, first joining the club in 2009 when he was still a player in the National League and spending the next nine years in their academy. On leaving Tottenham, he worked for three years in England's youth set-up, coaching the national team's Under-15, U-16 and U-17 sides, and also spent a year working in Manchester United's academy before joining the Bees. Cochrane represented a number of clubs in the lower divisions of English football during his playing career, including Queens Park Rangers, Crewe Alexandra and Millwall. He was born in London but made over 10 appearances for the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda. He first started coaching when he was still a teenager in QPR's academy and set up a grassroots team for local children under the age of 10. Before he retired, Cochrane started volunteering with Tottenham's youth teams. He worked in their academy alongside Matt Wells, who has spent the last two years on Ange Postecoglou's backroom staff. Advertisement During his initial spell with Spurs, Cochrane helped to develop future England internationals Noni Madueke and Kyle Walker-Peters, as well as Oliver Skipp, Josh Onomah and Japhet Tanganga. Cochrane then became England Under-15s head coach. In 2019, he completed his UEFA Pro Licence and was promoted to Under-16s before eventually taking over the Under-17s. In June 2021, he left England to become Manchester United's head of player development and coaching. He only spent 12 months with United before he was appointed as an assistant to Frank at Brentford. Over the last three years, Cochrane has taken on more responsibility. He coached the forwards with Frank, and helped Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa to become elite strikers. Cochrane was heavily involved in the planning of training sessions too. He was highly-rated internally at Brentford and it will be a blow to lose him. Haslam has worked for Brentford for over 10 years across two different spells, either side of a short stint at Wigan Athletic. Brentford were in League One when Haslam first joined the club and he has played a major role in their journey up the divisions. He initially joined the Bees in 2010 and became their head of conditioning from 2011, joining the Latics three years later. Haslam returned after 12 months to work with the under-21s before he was promoted to head of athletic performance across the first-team and B team. Haslam's role covers physical performance and sports science. He is in constant communication with Frank on a matchday, and often acts as a liaison between the head coach and the fourth official. Haslam has worked with the Danish men's national team too, and was part of their backroom staff at last summer's European Championship. Newton was in Tranmere Rovers' academy before he was released in 2014 and enrolled on a sports science degree at Wrexham University. During his time at university, he was registered in Wrexham's squad but spent time out on loan with non-League sides Colwyn Bay, Witton Albion and Newtown AFC. Advertisement He completed a masters in performance analysis at the University of Chester and worked for Welsh top-flight side The New Saints (TNS). He joined Brentford as a first-team performance analyst in September 2019. He is responsible for producing reports and post-match analysis on how the team has performed. Newton has forged a strong bond with Frank over the past six years. He has played a role in helping Brentford earn promotion to the Premier League and then flourish in the top-flight. (Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
Daily Record
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
I'm a Rangers title winner coaching in Latvia and my team would be top three in Scottish Premiership
Gregory Vignal admits Rangers would be one of his dream jobs but he's happy cutting his teeth with RFS for now He's the Rangers title-winning hero who is now earning his stripes as a coach at Latvia's top club. And he admits that in the future, his dream job would be as Ibrox gaffer. But for now, Gregory Vignal is happy learning his trade at Riga outfit RFS. And the former Gers and Liverpool star has claimed that if his new team were in the Scottish Premiership - they'd finish in the top THREE. Vignal is now a fully qualified coach with a UEFA Pro Licence under his belt and he's fluent in three different languages. He still calls Scotland his home after falling in love with Rangers during a loan spell in Glasgow under Alex McLeish 20 years ago. Vignal was part of their legendary Helicopter Sunday title-winning side and also lifted a League Cup at Hampden. He's now a budding coach and had already been a manager in his own right after a short spell at French third division club Versailles. The 43-year-old is keen to broaden his horizons at the start of his coaching journey and has now taken up a short-term post in Viktors Morozs' backroom team at RFS. They're the Latvian league champions who have competed in the Europa League for the past two seasons. RFS have beaten Ajax and drawn with the likes of Anderlecht - and Vignal is impressed by their set-up. So much so, he's convinced that if they were in the SPFL, they'd be up there challenging the Old Firm. Vignal told Record Sport: 'Honestly, RFS would finish in the top three of the Scottish Premiership. I'm telling you, of course they would. 'People there might be surprised but it's true. We are good enough to be in the top three in Scotland. 'Even in my last job at Versailles, it was bigger than a lot of jobs in Scotland - and that was the French third tier. 'We had a £6million budget and for games against Red Star FC in Paris, we had a crowd of around 12,000 people at the game. 'So the job I had there, if you compare with some clubs in Scotland, it was bigger. 'Here at RFS, we have quality players. 'In the Europa League in recent years, they've done really well against good teams. "The standard is good and that's why I wanted to come here, to see it with my own eyes. 'When you get an opportunity like this you have to take it.' Vignal is determined to become a top coach and, thanks to his time at Ibrox and Anfield, has some stellar contacts in the game like McLeish, Rafa Benitez, Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard. During a recent trip back to Liverpool, he spoke with Benitez and Gerrard - who was recently linked with a return as Rangers manager before Russell Martin was appointed. Vignal believes the prestigious post would also have interested the Champions League-winning Spaniard. And for him, it's something he'd love to experience himself in the future. He said: 'Of course, I want to be a number one coach but you have to wait and work for the right opportunity. 'If you're lazy, you can't reach your target. 'My dream job? First, it would be to manage a big team in France. But then, of course, if I could manage a club like Rangers it would be amazing. 'Everyone knows I love that football club. Liverpool would also be a dream - but I'm not the only coach who wants these jobs! 'I'm dreaming big but I think you have to. If you don't, you stand still. I know what I have to do but you need a chance. 'Every top coach has to start somewhere. Gerard Houllier always told me that. He believed in me. 'I speak to Rafa, Alex and also Gordon Strachan for good advice. I've even had good conversations with Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness recently. 'I met Rafa in Liverpool and we spoke about the Rangers job before Russell got it. 'He's not working at a club right now, he's with UEFA. 'But if Rangers would have considered him? Of course he would have been interested. 'I also spoke to Steven and joked with him. I asked if he'd got his apartment in Glasgow ready! 'All of those types of guys have been in the game a long time so I have to listen to them and be really humble. 'I trust myself and my ability. Hopefully my day will come.' Vignal is enjoying working with players from different countries at RFS. He hopes he's proved his commitment to becoming a top coach by stepping out of his comfort zone and going to Latvia. Vignal, who is attracting interest from English clubs, said: 'I've been really surprised by how good the club is, in terms of its organisation and structure. 'People think you're only properly working in football if you're at a club in the top five leagues. 'That's totally wrong. Even in a small country like Latvia, some of these clubs now are so well run. 'Riga is a beautiful city and I'm really enjoying it. 'And since I arrived here, my phone has started ringing more. It's as if work leads to more work, if you understand. 'It feels like I'm getting my coaching career on track now. 'I hope people see that commitment is a big part of my character. 'Even if it's not an easy way, I'm not afraid to take it. 'I'm willing to make sacrifices to get to where I want to go. 'It is a multi-cultural dressing-room with players from lots of different countries like Brazil, Ivory Coast and Serbia. 'I hope that's another reason why I got the job because I speak three languages myself, French, English and Spanish. 'In terms of my profile, that definitely adds to it. That kind of thing can only be good for me.'
