SOCCER
Beckenbauer honored
The German Super Cup is to bear the name of Franz Beckenbauer, who died earlier this year, from next year, the German Football League (DFL) announced on Friday. Beckenbauer, nicknamed “Der Kaiser” for his dominant style on the field, was one of the greatest players of all time and died in January aged 78. He won the German Bundesliga five times as a player (1969, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1982) and the German Cup four times (1966, 1969, 1969 and 1971). “The annual duel between the German champion and the German Cup winner will in future be called the Franz Beckenbauer Super Cup,” the DFL said in a statement. The 2025/26 edition of the Franz Beckenbauer Super Cup would take place on Aug. 16 next year.
RUGBY
Canada get new coach
Steve Meehan, an Australian with coaching experience in England and France, was named coach of the Canadian men’s national rugby team on Friday. Meehan’s 17 years in the coaching ranks include a stint as head coach of Bath in the English Premiership from 2006 to 2011, winning the European Challenge Cup in 2008. He served as an assistant coach with France’s Top 16 2003 and 2004 champions Stade Francais as well as Toulon, the Western Force and Queensland Reds of Super Rugby and Japanese side Kintetsu Liners. Meehan replaced Welshman Kingsley Jones, who mutually parted ways with the Canadian national squad after they failed to qualify for the Rugby World Cup in France last year. Jones finished 14-34 in test matches. Rugby Canada high performance director Stephen Aboud led the search process for a replacement. “Steve brings proven experience in coaching successful teams and a strong track record for improving players,” Rugby Canada chief executive officer Nathan Bombrys said. “We believe Steve’s positive coaching and leadership will create the right environment for our team to achieve the growth needed to reach their potential and qualify for the Rugby World Cup,” he added. The 2027 Rugby World Cup is to be held in Australia.
SOCCER
Deila joins Atlanta United
Ronny Deila, who captured two Scottish Premiership crowns with Celtic and a Mayor League Soccer (MLS) Cup with New York City FC (NYCFC), was named the new head coach of Atlanta United on Friday. The 49-year-old Norwegian manager was sacked this week by United Arab Emirate side Al Wahda after coaching in Belgium with Standard Lige and Club Brugge. He joins Atlanta United’s newly appointed sporting director, Chris Henderson, in trying to spark the club back to its MLS championship form of 2018. “We’re thrilled to welcome Ronny as the new head coach of Atlanta United,” club president Garth Lagerwey said. “He has a proven track record of winning in multiple leagues around the world, including the 2021 MLS Cup with NYCFC, and his knowledge of MLS was a key factor in our search,” he said.” We believe his style of play aligns with the club’s philosophy as we look to build a team that will compete for trophies consistently,” he added. Deila went 46-29 with 15 drawn in all competitions with NYCFC from 2020 to June 2022 when he took charge of Brugge. He also won Scottish crowns with Celtic in 2015 and 2016.
SS Lazio on Monday fired the far-right sympathizer who handles their eagle mascot after he posted online a series of videos and pictures of his erect penis. Falconer Juan Bernabe, who has been present at Lazio home matches with Olimpia the eagle since the 2010-2011 season, posted the footage on social media after having surgery on Saturday to implant a penile prosthesis to improve his sexual performance. Lazio said that they had “terminated, with immediate effect” their relationship with Bernabe “due to the seriousness of his conduct,” adding that they were “shocked” by the images. The Serie A club added that Bernabe’s dismissal
‘TOUGH TO BREATHE’: Tunisian three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur suffered an asthma attack in her 7-5, 6-3 victory over Colombia’s Camila Osorio Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei yesterday cruised into the second round of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open, while Iga Swiatek romped into a third-round women’s singles showdown with Emma Raducanu and Taylor Fritz was just as emphatic in his pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam title. Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, the third seeds, defeated Slovakia’s Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls of Britain 7-5, 6-2 in 90 minutes in Melbourne. Ostapenko and Hsieh — who won the women’s doubles and mixed doubles at the Australian Open last year — hit 25 winners and converted five of nine break points to set
Dubbed a “motorway for cyclists” where avid amateurs can chase Tadej Pogacar up mountains teeming with the highest concentration of professional cyclists per square kilometer in the world, Spain’s Costa Blanca has forged a new reputation for itself in the past few years. Long known as the ideal summer destination for those in search of sun, sea and sand, the stretch of coast between Valencia and Alicante now has a winter vocation too. During the season break in December and January, the region experiences an invasion of cyclists. Star names such as three-time Tour de France winner Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel and Julian Alaphilippe
AGING WELL: Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, 22, was sent packing after being dispatched by world No. 97, Laura Siegemund, the second-oldest player in the draw at 36 Novak Djokovic yesterday created a slice of Grand Slam history on his way into the Australian Open third round, but last year’s women’s finalist Zheng Qinwen was knocked out in the biggest shock so far. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, in-form Coco Gauff, two-time Melbourne winner Naomi Osaka and a rampant Carlos Alcaraz were all victors on a rainy day four. Play was suspended on the outside courts for a couple of hours in the early evening because of the wet weather. That led to the rescheduling of a women’s doubles match between wild-cards Tsao Chia-yi of Taiwan and Thailand’s Peangtarn Plipuech and 11th
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