Roger Federer is coming back to US Open four years after retirement, set for two blockbuster matches US Open confirmed Roger Federer's return on Sunday, and he will be joined by three other tennis greats Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:25:16 IST Written by Aratrick Mondal Prefer HTon Google Share
Nerves cost us against Australia, but I'm proud of the team: women's hockey coach: Marijne Nerves cost us against Australia, but I'm proud of the team: women's hockey coach: Marijne Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:09:14 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Amstelveen
After seventh seed Victor Lai fell in three games to ninth seed Alex Lanier at the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi, the former described the Frenchman as a ‘beast’, lauding his physical fitness and tenacity to go the distance and play the long game
India men’s football team will face Panama in a FIFA international friendly in September, ahead of another friendly against five-time FIFA World Cup winners Brazil in Kolkata on October 3. According to a report by The Times of India, the match between India and the North American side is
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out of the running to replace Gianni Infantino, but says he expects a candidate to challenge the Fifa president's leadership in March. Infantino has faced calls to step down after he scrapped a controversial plan to sell off stakes in Fifa's
Barcelona began their La Liga title defence with a commanding 5-0 victory over Elche on Sunday, with Raphinha and Fermin Lopez scoring twice each and Anthony Gordon setting up two goals on his debut. The result comea a day after Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid defeated Espanyol 2-1 with a late winner
GCT Grand Finale: Praggnanandhaa beats Keymer to stake his claim for finals GCT Grand Finale: Praggnanandhaa beats Keymer to stake his claim for finals Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 09:43:17 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link St. Louis
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin may have been vocal in his demand for the current FIFA president Gianni Infantino to step down but he has no interest in replacing the under-fire Swiss. Infantino continues to face pressure to leave his position as world football’s governing body chief following
Why Fletcher could be what Man Utd fans have been waiting for
It does not surprise me that Darren Fletcher has been passed the reins at Manchester United as interim manager for Wednesday's game at Burnley.
Darren is an outstanding person, and he would be the perfect choice to take the job on a longer-term basis following Ruben Amorim's departure.
Fletch, as everyone in football calls him, is someone I know very well.
He has been at United since he was a young lad, has worked under the great Sir Alex Ferguson and played alongside some of the most illustrious names in the club's long history.
All of that will count for nothing once the game against Burnley starts, though, so why do I feel is he a top coach in the making? It goes back to when he played for me, when his contribution on and off the pitch was incredible.
Having received an unbelievable reference from Sir Alex about Fletch - which was so good it was frightening - I took him to West Brom in February 2015.
One of the things Sir Alex told me was that for United's big games in the Champions League, away from home, he would always pick him because he was an out-and-out winner who gave everything in every game.
Sir Alex said he knew that, if it was going to be really tough and he needed someone in midfield who would be absolutely relentless, then he always played Fletch.
He said you could always count on him in a game and you could always depend on him off the pitch as well, because he was an absolutely fantastic lad.
I knew he'd tell me that, talking about a fellow Scot, but I soon found out he was telling me the truth.
From the hundreds of signings I made in my 30-year managerial career, I would honestly say I don't think I signed a better player or person.
People ask me about players I've worked with and people who have been an influence in my teams. At all of my clubs there were some big influences in the dressing room, and I liked strong characters.
Fletch was definitely one of those. He was a gentleman, a top professional, and he led by example. He's not a shouter or a hollerer, but he knew the game so well.
Although he had suffered a very difficult time with illness before he joined us, during his time at The Hawthorns he played in all the Premier League teams I picked while I was West Brom manager.
He started all but one of those 91 games, and during that spell he started 86 consecutive league games for us, which was a record for any active player at that time.
His influence on and off the pitch was fantastic and, although his glory years at United were over, he provided the leadership we needed to take the Albion to a top-10 finish in the Premier League.
The club had some brilliant players and plenty of other strong characters, yet I'm sure not one of them would have had a bad word to say about their captain.
The leadership and man-management skills he will need now at United were clear to see then. He was a great lad to have around off the pitch but was not afraid to speak his mind to me either.
He would always debate my tactics if he felt it was right to do so, and at times showed a steely backbone when needed.
I believe that, given the chance, and given the time, Fletch can become a top candidate for the permanent job - if United decide to take a deep breath and give him a fair chance to show what he is capable of.
He is United through and through, so will know the task in hand and will not be afraid to make hard decisions.
Many years ago, another young Scot took charge at Old Trafford. Sir Alex was backed because the people at the club believed in him. Given time, Fletch could be what United fans have been waiting for too.
I was delighted to see Liam Rosenior get the Chelsea job this week, because we need more British managers in the Premier League.
He is managing a top team too, which does not happen very often for British managers nowadays. Hopefully Fletch will get an opportunity to do exactly the same at United as well.
United are not the only major team to have sacked their manager this week. Christmas and early new year have barely passed us and the spirit of goodwill has certainly bypassed football management!
With the changes at Celtic and Chelsea also producing a tidal wave of disappointment in some quarters and joy in others, it leads me to question again what really makes a good manager or coach in this day and age.
The game has changed dramatically since my era, when management was about total control, encompassing all football matters.
Clubs now, whether big or small are, without much doubt, running a system where managers have morphed into two different roles - a director of football, and a first-team coach.
Because of that, most clubs now just require the first-team coach to do what it says on the can, which is to coach the first team. All other responsibilities outside that job are now down to the director of football.
So, what is needed today to be successful, as a first-team coach at a top club? Firstly, you have to win games!
Also, as we've seen with what has happened at United and Chelsea, your relationship with the director of football must be absolutely bulletproof - for many reasons, but again more so for the coach's benefit.
They have to trust the recruitment of the club's players, understand the club's identity and produce a strong bond between all the different departments on the football side, such as the academy or medical staff specifically, that can affect their success.
By doing so, you build a club where, from the top end to the bottom, everyone understands that they are all in this process together.
That enables the club to become a winning club, but for that to happen there are as many things that you need to get right off the pitch as well as on it.
Those are the challenges for whoever does get the job at Old Trafford, and anywhere else.
Tony Pulis was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Sports
The French are known for a lot of things but badminton isn’t one of them. Till Sunday, when the country that has never been considered among the top nations even in Europe created history at the 2026 World championships, in more ways than one
11 hours ago
AITA picked them, the government cut them: Why has India’s Asian Games tennis squad been slashed from 12 to 7? The AITA had originally proposed a 12-member squad for for the Asian Games, which included six women. But the list was slashed down to just seven players. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026
11 hours ago
Ashton Jeanty injury update: Is the Raiders RB out for the season? Doctor reveals possible diagnoses; ‘best case…’ Ashton Jeanty was injured after attempting a catch, prompting a tense silence at the Raiders’ facility before his teammates gathered and knelt in prayer. Updated on: Aug 24
15 hours ago
When Liverpool came to Newcastle last August, there was utter jubilation as Rio Ngumoha scored a remarkable 100th-minute winner. They scored late again this time around, through Dominik Szoboszlai's 99th-minute penalty, but it felt more like a sense of relief than joy as they rescued a point
15 hours ago
'Is Sydney Taylor playing tonight?' Chicago Sky guard's slow start vs Fever sparks injury concerns Sydney Taylor was in Chicago’s starting lineup when the Sky hosted the Indiana Fever on Sunday night. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 07:32:12 IST By Ojas Jaiswal Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
15 hours ago
Yet again, the England men's cricket team is picking through the wreckage of a late-night misdemeanour. The latest stain on the game's reputation is a result of pictures of fast bowler Brydon Carse in handcuffs and surrounded by police officers outside a nightspot in Derby
15 hours ago
Jean-Philippe Mateta is arguing the remainder of his Crystal Palace contract is invalid and has taken his case to Fifa. Multiple sources have told BBC Sport the France international has launched an official challenge over the validity of the final 10 months on his Selhurst Park deal
1 days ago
Bangladesh 64: Starc 6-12 & 95: Shanto 31; Starc 4-39, Cummins 3-10, Lyon 3-25 Mitchell Starc took 10 wickets in the match as Australia bounced back from last week's shock defeat by Bangladesh to win the second Test by an innings and 51 runs and draw the series 1-1. Second Test
1 days ago
Jannik Sinner's absence benefits Carlos Alcaraz: What to expect from the US Open champion after his long injury layoff Jannik Sinner is out, but is it premature to call Carlos Alcaraz the US Open favourite after four months away? Updated on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
US Open leaves Stan Wawrinka out in the cold, denying former champion a wild card for his final Grand Slam The US Open has surprisingly denied Stan Wawrinka a wild card for what could be his final appearance at a Grand Slam. Updated on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
India faced the Netherlands in their Pool E match of the ongoing FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 on Saturday (August 22) at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen but suffered a 1-3 defeat. India conceded one goal in the third quarter and two in the fourth quarter to go down against the hosts
1 days ago
There is an uncanny resemblance between Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa’s bronze-medal run at the 2011 BWF World Championships and Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand’s campaign at the 2026 edition. Jwala and Ashwini faced the second-seeded Cheng Wen-hsing and Chien Yu-chin as early as the
1 days ago
Runs on the board and rival wickets, is the template that Dhananjaya de Silva will chase when the second Test commences at the SSC Ground on Sunday (August 23, 2026). “It’s about putting runs on the board. That’s what India did [at Galle]. For the first two days they batted and got 460 runs
1 days ago
Serena Williams returns to US Open after four years, joins Carlos Alcaraz for mixed doubles Serena Williams will return to the US Open for the first time since 2022, partnering Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles after receiving a wildcard. Published on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
Roberto De Zerbi may have spent close to £400m by the time his Tottenham Hotspur rebuild is complete – but it took just his side's first Premier League game of the season to prove all the money in the world is no guaranteed cure for a losing mentality
1 days ago
Manchester United's fans had endured a bad enough day on the banks of the River Humber when Hull City's stadium announcer gleefully piped up midway through the second half. Two trains back to Manchester from the city centre station had been cancelled
1 days ago
From a shy girl to team mentor, Savita Punia says hockey changed her life From a shy girl to team mentor, Savita Punia says hockey changed her life Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 12:08:49 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Amstelveen
2 days ago
Shubhankar makes cut after spectacular ace at Nexo Championship Shubhankar makes cut after spectacular ace at Nexo Championship Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 12:17:58 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Aberdeenshire , Shubhankar Sharma ended his streak of four missed cuts as he made the
2 days ago
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi has been fined for slapping Philadelphia Union's Quinn Sullivan during their side's Major League Soccer (MLS) 2-2 draw on Wednesday. Messi, 39, slapped Sullivan around the back of the head towards the end of the game as he complained the Union player had elbowed him after
2 days ago
Premier League champions Arsenal will start the new season with some of the nightmares of the previous two as their marquee signing, midfielder Bruno Guimarães, is not part of the squad due to an injury. Guimarães signed for £75 million (Rs. 979 crore) from Newcastle United and suffered a knock
2 days ago
Nostalgia may have enveloped Sairaj Bahutule when he entered the SSC Ground. He would have remembered his last Test played at the same venue in 2001, a game India lost. The Indian spin-bowling coach, though, quickly immersed himself in the nets here Friday (August 21, 2026)
2 days ago
Lionel Messi fined for slapping opponent on the head as Inter Miami-Philadelphia clash erupts into late red-card chaos Lionel Messi was fined by MLS after slapping Philadelphia's Quinn Sullivan on the head as Inter Miami's 2-2 draw desecended into stoppage-time chaos. Updated on: Aug 22, 2026
2 days ago
Double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra managed to deliver his season’s best performance at the Lausanne Diamond League on Friday but fell agonisingly short of the top spot, as Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage finished first with a throw just nine centimetres more than his
2 days ago
Why did Nick Chubb retire? Net worth in focus as NFL player ends career at 30 Nick Chubb played for eight seasons in NFL that included seven years with the Cleveland Browns and one with the Houston Texans. Updated on: Aug 22, 2026, 09:25:09 IST By Shirin Gupta Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
2 days ago
Arsenal started last season as nearly men - but now they have the swagger of winners. That much can be seen on the approach to Emirates Stadium. Above the entrance to the ground is new signage, a simple message in gold: 'Champions'. Players and fans alike have taken the confidence of last season's
2 days ago
Liverpool, Man City face questions in new era without Salah, Guardiola Liverpool, Man City face questions in new era without Salah, Guardiola Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 06:32:41 IST AFP Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Mohamed Salah and Pep Guardiola are two of the most iconic figures in
2 days ago
Nakashima knocks out Fritz to reach Cincinnati semi-finals Nakashima knocks out Fritz to reach Cincinnati semi-finals Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 04:36:47 IST AFP Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Brandon Nakashima continued his red-hot pace on Friday
2 days ago
