Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

As Jamie Vardy approaches his 38th birthday, many expected his pace to slow. However, under Leicester City’s new boss, Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Foxes captain is showing signs of reinvigoration. In a dramatic 2-2 draw with Brighton on Saturday, Vardy showcased his trademark composure and leadership. With just four minutes left, Leicester was trailing 2-0 to the Seagulls. But Vardy, never one to shy away from the spotlight, halved the deficit with a clinical finish. Then, in the dying seconds of added time, he turned provider, setting up Bobby De Cordova-Reid to slot home the equalizer. Van Nistelrooy, a former…

Two former Premier League players have spoken about their growing fears of long-term health impacts from years of heading footballs, as concerns over brain injuries in the sport continue to mount. Former England defender Gary Pallister revealed that debilitating migraines plagued him throughout his career, while ex-Newcastle and Manchester City player Steve Howey has undergone scans revealing cognitive decline. Pallister: “The pain was sickening” Pallister, who won four Premier League titles with Manchester United, described migraines that began at age 17, causing blurred vision, tingling sensations, and violent headaches that left him unable to train for days. “I would throw…

West Ham’s Julen Lopetegui and Wolves’ Gary O’Neil face mounting pressure as their teams prepare for Monday’s Premier League showdown, dubbed “El Sackico” by fans. Both managers are among the favorites to lose their jobs, with recent poor performances fueling speculation. Lopetegui’s Struggles to Replace Moyes Julen Lopetegui’s tenure at West Ham has been fraught since he replaced David Moyes in July. The Spaniard, tasked with elevating the team beyond Moyes’ defensive style, has seen inconsistent results, leaving West Ham in 14th place with just four wins. Recent losses to Arsenal (5-2) and Leicester (3-1) have highlighted the Hammers’ lack…

Lewis Hamilton said he was happy his time with Mercedes “finished on a high” after what he described as “a really turbulent year”. The seven-time champion brought to an end his 12 years with Mercedes with a fourth-place finish after starting 16th on the grid in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “It has been probably the longest year of my life, knowing from the beginning I was leaving,” Hamilton said. “It’s like a relationship that you’ve told whoever the counterpart is you’re leaving but you’re living together for a year. Lots of ups and downs but we finished on a…

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca hailed his team’s resilience after a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory over Tottenham on Sunday but admitted the Blues remain unprepared to challenge for the Premier League title. The dramatic win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw Chelsea overturn a two-goal deficit, with Marc Cucurella’s early slip-ups gifting Spurs an initial lead. Maresca, appointed in the summer, acknowledged the team’s progress but tempered expectations. “We are ahead of my expectation in terms of how we play on and off the ball, and the results,” said Maresca. “But we are far from being ready. Arsenal, [Manchester] City, and…

Kylian Mbappe has promised he remains committed to playing for France despite being left out of their last two squads. The 25-year-old Real Madrid forward has 86 caps for France, helped them win the World Cup in 2018 and scored a hat-trick in the 2022 final defeat by Argentina. He is also their captain, yet Mbappe was omitted from the France squad in October as a precaution after returning from injury – and then again the following month for no clear reason. “The French team has always been the highest rank in football, it’s the national team. I’ve always said…

In a thrilling encounter at the Allianz Arena, Nathan Tella’s second-half strike secured Bayer Leverkusen’s place in the German Cup quarter-finals, overcoming a 10-man Bayern Munich side in front of 75,000 spectators. Bayern’s hopes were dashed early in the match when veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer received a straight red card in the 17th minute. Rushing off his line to intercept a dangerous run from Jeremie Frimpong, Neuer collided with the Leverkusen winger, leaving referee Tobias Stieler with little choice but to send him off. This marked a pivotal moment for the reigning German champions, who were forced to reorganize their…

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s managerial reign at Leicester City began in style as the Foxes secured a crucial 3-1 victory over West Ham United at King Power Stadium on Tuesday night. Just three days after his appointment, the Dutchman replaced Steve Cooper, who was sacked following a dismal run of results, and witnessed his side bounce back from a heavy 4-1 defeat to Brentford with a spirited performance in front of their home crowd. Jamie Vardy’s goal just 98 seconds into the match set the tone for the evening. The Leicester captain, renowned for his record-breaking feats, continued his streak of…

Tiger Woods has proposed that each American Ryder Cup player should receive $5 million, with the entirety donated to charity. His comments reignite a long-standing debate about player compensation in the event, which historically has never included direct payments. Speaking at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, Woods emphasized the Ryder Cup’s immense revenue and the potential for funds to support charitable causes. “The Ryder Cup makes so much money,” Woods said. “Why can’t we allocate it to various charities? I hope the players get $5 million each and donate it. It’s so hard to make the team—what’s wrong…

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has rubbished claims of a rift with star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, affirming his commitment to seeing the Belgian return to his best after an injury-hit campaign. De Bruyne, 33, has struggled for game time this season, starting just four Premier League matches. Following an abdominal injury, he has managed only 72 minutes across five substitute appearances since his return last month. During Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool, De Bruyne entered with 12 minutes remaining and nearly scored, only to be thwarted by goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. This prompted pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville to…