USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino has admitted to harbouring a desire to make a Premier League return after coming "so close" to winning the title with Tottenham. The Argentine has confessed that he still feels the pull of the English top flight, even as he prepares to lead the United States men’s national team at the 2026 World Cup on home soil.

Pochettino's love affair with Spurs

The Argentine, now quite well settled into his new role as the manager of the USMNT, revealed that he still dreams of returning to the English top flight, a league where he came agonisingly close to winning major honours with Tottenham. His tenure in north London ended abruptly in November 2019, just months after guiding Spurs to their first Champions League final. His five-and-a-half years at the club yielded 293 matches, significant progress and a squad that, for a brief period, seemed capable of redefining Tottenham's modern history. Yet his departure left a lingering sense of what might have been.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportPochettino on English football’s unique pull

Speaking in an interview with thePochettino – who also managed Chelsea – admitted that he still watches the Premier League religiously. When asked whether he misses it, the 52-year-old said: "Yeah, I watch a lot. The Premier League is the best in the world. Of course, I miss it. I am so happy in the USA, but I am always thinking about returning one day. It is the most competitive league, and of course, I would love to come back again."

Pressed on what remains at the top of his personal wish list as a coach, Pochettino’s answer revealed a hint of longing. He said: "Talking about the Premier League, and we are in London… to win the Premier League and the Champions League. We were so close in Tottenham. I want to achieve this. I am still young, I have the energy, experience and motivation to try in the future. Outside, to make my family feel proud – my sons, my wife, my dog, my horses, my mum and dad, my granddaughter…"

The manager revealed that he is still in touch with Daniel Levy, the former Tottenham chairman, who vacated his post earlier this year. "I was very surprised (by Levy's exit). We still keep in touch," he said. "Our relationship was always good. His legacy is there. It's amazing what he did for the club. We're in contact and one day I'd like to share a coffee with him. He made it a possibility for me to manage a club like Tottenham – one of the best clubs in the world with an amazing fanbase. I'm very grateful to him and proud to be part of the family of Tottenham."

Pochettino REALLY wants to come back!

This is not the first time that Pochettino has spoken about his desire to return to the Premier League. Back in March, he told of taking in a second spell at Tottenham: "To be honest, the day that I left the club always I was thinking one day to come back. It's not that I was thinking before the offer from the USA national team, I was thinking to come back.

"The day that I left I was thinking I would love to one day come back to Tottenham because like I told in the past, I said for me, I felt empty in the moment that I left. It was like an unfinished job and that is why. It's a feeling, it's a feeling, it's a dream.

"I don't know how you can take or I can explain or describe but I think for sure it's a club that is always going to be special for me. And I would like to one day to have the possibility again to try to arrive in a situation that we are back to finish in a different way."

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GettyA work in progress with the United States

Since taking charge in September 2024, Pochettino has tried to reshape a USMNT side that holds massive potential to shine on the global stage. There will be pressure on him to deliver the goods at the World Cup next summer at home after being drawn in Group D along with Australia, Paraguay, and a third team, which will be one of Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo or Romania. However, his contract is due to expire following the World Cup, and given the constant managerial turnover in the Premier League and Pochettino’s proven track record of elevating young squads, the prospect of him returning feels increasingly plausible.

Pete Crow-Armstrong got off to a hot start in July with four hits in eight at-bats during two Chicago Cubs wins over the Cleveland Guardians at Wrigley Field. It was the kind of performance that deserved a proper tribute from the home crowd and PCA got it on Thursday when he showed up at the ballpark to find 19 fans lined up in a row with his full name painted on their chests.

But there are only 17 letters in Pete Crow-Armstrong you might be thinking. Well, they not only had a hyphen, but they also had someone with no shirt playing the space between his first and last name.

For almost a decade, the Astros ruled the American League. If they weren't dominating their competition on the field to the tune of four pennants in seven years, they were invariably dominating chatter off of it—for good or for ill.

In 2025, that came to a screeching halt. Houston missed the playoffs altogether for the first time since 2016, drummed out by the Guardians on the season's penultimate day. They finished three games behind the Mariners in the American League West, yielding control of that division for the first time since 2020.

Questions swirled around the fate of general manager Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada after the season, but according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, neither of them are going anywhere.

"Astros GM Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada are both under contract for next year and will return in 2026," McTaggart wrote on social media Tuesday afternoon. "Any speculation about their futures can be put to rest."

Brown has worked as the team's general manager since 2023, while Espada is entering his third year with the franchise carrying a record of 175–148.

And who is the Test centurion with the lowest batting average?

Steven Lynch07-Oct-2025I heard that Shivam Dube has played 36 T20Is without defeat. Is this a record? What are the equivalent records for ODIs and Tests? asked Nirmal Balaraman from the United States
India actually lost two of Shivam Dube’s first five T20 internationals (against Bangladesh and West Indies late in 2019), but since then he’s played 36 more without tasting defeat: that includes four tied games (all won by India in a super over), a no-result and one match which was abandoned after the toss was made. His 34 successive wins (ignoring no-results and abandonments, but including super-over victories) is easily a record for men’s T20Is: Pascal Murungi of Uganda has not lost any of his last 26 matches (his most recent was in December 2024), while Jasprit Bumrah is currently on a run of 23.There is a longer run in women’s one-day internationals, at least until Dube wins his next three games: the Australian pair of Megan Schutt and Jess Jonassen won 36 and 35 completed matches respectively before a narrow loss to England in Bristol in July 2023. The record for women’s T20 internationals is a run of 23 successive wins by England’s Laura Marsh between January 2011 and October 2012.The record for men’s ODIs is 20 wins in a row, set by four team-mates whose run all came to an end when Australia lost to West Indies in Port-of-Spain in May 2003: Matthew Hayden, Brad Hogg, Glenn McGrath and Ricky Ponting. (Hayden and Hogg missed that defeat, but returned for the next game, which they also lost.) The Test record is also an Australian preserve: McGrath, Justin Langer, Michael Slater and Mark Waugh all won 16 successive matches before March 2001, and that was matched by Hayden, Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Michael Hussey and Brett Lee up to January 2008. Both runs were ended by defeats by India, in Kolkata in 2001 and in Perth in 2008.Which bowler has dismissed most batters out stumped in Tests? asked Nijat Ahmed from India
There are no great surprises in the aggregate numbers: Muthiah Muralidaran, the top Test wicket-taker, leads the way with 47 stumping victims, with Shane Warne second on 36, one ahead of another Sri Lankan, Rangana Herath. The Australian offspinner Nathan Lyon currently has 28 stumping victims, as did Clarrie Grimmett.Grimmett only took 216 Test wickets, so 12.96% of his victims came via stumpings. That’s the most for anyone with over 100 wickets apart from the Indian legspinner Subhash “Fergie” Gupte, whose 149 included 20 stumpings (13.42%). Another Australian legspinner, Arthur Mailey, took 99 Test wickets, of which 18 (18.18%) were stumped.Nine West Indians reached double figures in a recent T20 international against Australia. Was this a record? asked Victor Persaud from Trinidad
The match you’re referring to was the fourth in the series in the Caribbean in July: West Indies made 205 for 9 against Australia in Basseterre, with nine batters reaching double figures. This was actually the third such instance in T20 internationals, and the second this year: Austria (223 for 8) did it against Slovenia in Latschach in May, which followed the first instance, by Tanzania (176) against Uganda in Kigali (Rwanda) in December 2022.The record for women’s T20Is is eight, by Australia (153 for 8) against England in Canberra in 2011.Jerome Taylor, with one hundred and one 50 in 73 Test innings, has the lowest batting average of anyone who has made a Test century – 12.96•Getty ImagesWhich non-wicketkeeper took over 100 Test catches but finished his career without taking a single Test wicket? asked Azweer from India
I think there are actually ten people who fit the bill here. New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming held on to 171 catches in the field, but never bowled in his 111 Tests, let alone took a wicket. He did not take any in first-class cricket either, although he did pick one up in an ODI (Marcel Schewe of the Netherlands during the 1996 World Cup in Vadodara).Brian Lara took 164 catches but no wickets, Matthew Hayden 128, Virat Kohli and Andrew Strauss 121, Colin Cowdrey 120, Hashim Amla 108, Mohammad Azharuddin and Graham Thorpe 105, and Ajinkya Rahane 102. Here’s the list of those with 100 or more catches in the field.Which player who has scored a Test century has the lowest average? And how about ODIs? asked David Collins from England
The lowest career average by a batter with a Test century is 12.96, by the West Indian fast bowler Jerome Taylor, whose 106 against New Zealand in Dunedin in 2008 – which remained his only century – was over 2.5 times his previous-highest first-class score, 40 for Leicestershire against Derbyshire in 2007.He was only the second man, after his namesake Bruce Taylor on debut for New Zealand against India in Calcutta in March 1965, to score his maiden century in a Test having never previously reached 50 in a first-class innings. They have since been joined by Curtis Campher, with 111 for Ireland against Sri Lanka in April 2023 (he still has no other first-class scores of 50 or more).The next-lowest career Test averages by centurions belong to the Pakistan pair of Yasir Shah (14.12) and Saqlain Mushtaq (14.48). Australia’s Jason Gillespie, with 18.73, has the lowest of anyone with a double-century.The lowest ODI average by a man with a century to his name is 16.44, by the big-hitting West Indian Carlos Brathwaite, who slammed a memorable 101 against New Zealand during the 2019 World Cup. He’s just ahead of another West Indian, Xavier Marshall (17.52), and Australia’s Trevor Chappell (17.61).For the record, the lowest in T20 internationals is 15.06, by Slovenia’s Izaz Ali, who scored 118 in one innings and a total of 123 in his 15 others to date.And there’s an update to one of last week’s questions, via Ivan Monaghan from Australia
In the answer to the question about the man with the most Test runs but the fewest nineties, I didn’t spot that Greg Chappell’s only score in the nineties was not out – an undefeated 98 against England in Sydney in January 1980. This means that Greg has the most Test runs without ever being out in the nineties – his 7110 just shades the 6996 of Don Bradman.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

وجه لاعب جديد من صفوف الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، انذرًا لمسؤولي القلعة البيضاء بفسخ التعاقد.

وشهدت الساعات الأخيرة، أنباء عن فسخ أكثر من لاعب في صفوف الزمالك، عقودهم من طرف واحد، بسبب المستحقات المتأخرة، كان آخرهم محمود بنتايج الظهير الأيسر للفريق.

طالع.. خاص.. أول رد من الزمالك على أنباء فسخ محمود بنتايج عقده

ويمر الزمالك، بأزمة مالية طاحنة تهدد استقرار الألعاب الرياضية في النادي، في مقدمتها فريق الكرة.

وعلم بطولات من مصادر خاصة، أن البرازيلي خوان بيزيرا أنذر الزمالك للمرة الثانية بشأن مستحقاته المتأخرة لدى القلعة البيضاء.

وجددت الشركة المسؤولة عن بيزيرا، إنذارها للزمالك، بطلب الحصول على مستحقاته وإلا سيمضي في خطوات فسخ تعاقده مع النادي.ع

The Los Angeles Dodgers' losing skid continued with a 6–5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. Not only was the club swept by Milwaukee, but they've now dropped eight of their last 10 games played.

And for longtime ace Clayton Kershaw, the most frustrating part may have been that he very likely felt he could have righted the ship for his club with Sunday's start. The southpaw was cruising through three innings and, with a 3–0 lead, looked poised to turn things around for Los Angeles.

But the top of the fourth inning was a comedy of errors for the Dodgers defense behind Kershaw. With two outs and a runner on second, Kershaw induced a grounder in the infield—surely a seeming end to the inning—but third baseman Tommy Edman's throw sailed past first baseman Freddie Freeman, allowing the Brewers to plate a run. The second run of the inning scored on an RBI single, then the third run scored after Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages's error.

Kershaw made it to the top of the fifth inning but exited after the Dodgers' third error of the day. He let out a yell in frustration as he walked off the mound, then slammed his glove and hat down on the dugout bench in anger.

After the game, Kershaw was in no mood to talk.

"I don't make anything of it. They beat us. We need to play better tomorrow," Kershaw said. "I don’t have much to say. I’m going to get myself in trouble so let’s just call it."

The defending champions uncharacteristically booted the ball around the field during the series against the Brewers. In their last 10 games, they have a -17 run differential. To make matters worse, star first baseman Freddie Freeman exited the game in the sixth inning after getting hit by a pitch on his left hand. The Dodgers said it was a left wrist contusion, X-rays were negative and that he's considered day-to-day, according to Jack Harris of .

That was a small bit of good news for Los Angeles. And the good news has been hard to come by lately.

No wonder Kershaw didn't have much to say.

With the trade deadline just about a week away, one of the biggest names floated as a potential player on the move is Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr.

The White Sox have lived up to their lowly expectations in 2025, sitting dead last in the AL Central just after the All-Star break. Already 30 games below .500, it's clear that contention isn't in the cards in Chicago.

What's less clear is when their long rebuild will finally start to take shape, and whether Robert is part of those plans at 28 years old. Once heralded as a star of the future, Robert's days with the organization could be numbered, especially given he has a $20 million team option in his contract set to come into play in 2026. Whether they'd be willing to pick up that option remains pivotal to Robert's future in Chicago.

Robert has struggled at the plate this season. Through 83 games, he owns a .636 OPS and just a 0.6 bWAR, though he's shown signs of life of late. Robert has 10 home runs, 40 RBIs and 25 stolen bases on the year, while playing solid defense out in center field.

If he can rediscover his previous form at the plate, as he's just two seasons removed from a breakout 2023 campaign in which he hit 38 home runs and had a .857 OPS, he'd be a sensational addition for a contending team at the deadline.

We're going to look at some possible fits for the outfielder at the MLB trade deadline.

Philadelphia Phillies

MatériaMais Notícias

ASA e CRB se enfrentam neste sábado (30), às 17h (de Brasília), no Estádio Municipal Arapiraca, pelo primeiro jogo da final do Campeonato Alagoano. A partida terá transmissão de Band (AL) e FAF TV (Youtube). Para chegar à decisão, os mandantes superaram o CSE na semifinal, enquanto os visitantes eliminaram o Murici.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Confira abaixo todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto entre com a ASA e CRB (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
ASA x CRB
Campeonato Alagoano – final (ida)

🗓️ Data e horário: sábado, 30 de março de 2024, às 17h (de Brasília)
📍 Local: Estádio Estádio Municipal Arapiraca, em Arapiraca (AL)
📺 Onde assistir: Band (AL) e FAF TV (Youtube)
🟨 Árbitro: Wagner do Nascimento Magalhães (RJ)
🚩 Assistentes: Nailton Junior de Sousa Oliveira (Fifa-CE) e Márcia Bezerra Lopes Caetano (RO)
🖥️ VAR: Carlos Eduardo Nunes Braga (CBF-RJ)

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⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

ASA (Técnico: Rodrigo Fonseca)
Bruno; Paulinho, Benné, Roni Lobo e Gabriel; Colina, Allef, Wescley e Didira; Keliton e João Cabral.

CRB (Técnico: Daniel Paulista)
Matheus Albino; Matheus Ribeiro, Fábio Alemão, Saimon e Willian Formiga; Falcão, Caio César e Gegê; Mike (Labandeira), Léo Pereira e Anselmo Ramon.

➡️ Confira os confrontos das quartas de final da Copa do Nordeste

Tudo sobre

CRB

Tottenham announced their new leadership structure earlier this week with Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange both working as co-sporting directors, and there’s now been clarity as to specifically how they will operate together at N17.

Spurs announce Fabio Paratici return with Johan Lange promoted

Many speculated that Paratici’s return could spell the end for Lange’s involvement in Spurs’ recruitment strategy, but as confirmed by the club, he’ll be working side by side with the popular Italian.

Paratici, who worked as a consultant for months before coming back full-time — advising Lange, CEO Vinai Venkatesham, Thomas Frank and ex-chair Daniel Levy — officially returns to North London over two years after he was forced to resign due to his worldwide ban.

The 53-year-old played a significant role in the signings of key Tottenham stars, including Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, Pedro Porro, Rodrigo Bentancur, Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie and Pape Sarr, with his comeback seen as a major boost for the Lilywhites.

He was a key ally of Levy, and the latter’s exit after 25 years last month threatened to derail a move for Paratici (talkSPORT).

However, Venkatesham, regardless of Levy’s departure, ultimately decided that Paratici should be involved in an official capacity, and it’s hard to argue given the transfer chief’s track record, extensive contact list and reputation as a fierce negotiator.

Paratici and Lange's very different Tottenham director roles explained

While Paratici and Lange are ‘co-sporting directors’ by title, the duo will actually have very different tasks, as explained by Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.

It is believed that Paratici will be the ‘dealmaker’, overseeing the task of getting star players through the door, while Lange’s responsibilities are geared more towards scouting and talent-spotting.

Paratici’s reputation as a transfer expert precedes him.

Having honed his skills at Juventus and Tottenham before, he is known for his shrewd negotiation tactics, ability to close high-profile moves and strategic approach to the market. Paratici excels at identifying the right moment to strike whilst leveraging relationships with clubs and agents to secure key signings.

By contrast, Lange brings a keen eye for talent and a deep understanding of player development.

His background as a technical director at FC Copenhagen and sporting director at Aston Villa highlights his experience in scouting and building a sustainable recruitment strategy.

Lange’s focus on the long-term pipeline of talent, youth integration and data-driven scouting will back up Paratici’s deal-closing prowess, with the duo set to complement eachother nicely and divide key responsibilities.

It is a fantastic move by Spurs, and if their dynamic proves successful, other Premier League sides may even take inspiration.

Newcastle United have purchased some real gems over the last few years when flexing their muscles across various transfer windows.

Just this summer gone, the Magpies splashed out a substantial £69m to land Nick Woltemade, and it’s already looking like it was a necessary splurge to make, with the skilful, yet towering German now up to four Premier League goals, despite the new campaign still very much being in its infancy.

Other, more shrewd purchases in recent memory have also seen Eddie Howe and Co. land both Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn, who remain as mainstays in his XI to his day, despite both being veteran figures at St James’ Park, while a deal to snap up Sandro Tonali for £55m back in 2023 continues to pay off.

The best recent bit of business of them all, however, could be obtaining Bruno Guimaraes, with the much-loved Toon captain even being hailed as “special” by his manager at the weekend, as another clutch moment from the Brazilian in black and white secured a last-ditch 2-1 win over Fulham.

Guimaraes' hero status at Newcastle

Acquired for a cheaper fee than both Woltemade and Tonali at the £40m mark back in 2022, it’s clear, now that Newcastle won themselves an almighty bargain picking up the South American from Lyon when they did.

Indeed, the Rio De Janeiro ace has become a “talisman” for the Magpies – as he was recently labelled by Match of the Day pundit Michael Carrick – with goals and assists aplenty, 52 combined to be exact, always matched by a hunger to battle away and fight for his beloved side, across his 166 appearances and counting on Tyneside.

From his mammoth 11,032 minutes in the Premier League, Guimaraes has won a very high 915 duels.

Yet, that is also coupled with his incisive play in the forward areas, with his 6510 accurate passes across the same span of matches, often resulting in him finding a teammate in the forward areas who can steer the Toon to a win.

The well-respected number 39 – who has also been dubbed a “joy to watch” this season by Toon-based blog Mouth of the Tyne – does also take matters into his own hands in the attacking positions, with a bumper eight goal contributions next to his name this campaign.

All of this overwhelming evidence points in the direction of Guimaraes being an unbelievable, earth-shuddering steal, but there is a new star emerging at St James’ Park now who might well be viewed as Newcastle’s most prized purchase since the 27-year-old’s impactful arrival.

Newcastle have another Bruno bargain

Guimaraes’ longevity in a Magpies shirt should be commended, with his midfield partner in Joelinton, beginning to show signs of decay, while he continues to stand out as a fine wine.

Malick Thiaw will hope he’s viewed as such a revered element of Howe’s team down the line, with the decision to bring in the 6-foot-4 centre-back this summer for just £34m already being viewed as another Guimaraes-style masterstroke.

Games played

6

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches*

48.7

Accurate passes*

33.5 (88%)

Ball recoveries*

4.0

Clearances*

4.0

Total duels won*

5.0

Just ten games have come the Düsseldorf-born warrior’s way on Tyneside to date, and yet, he is already being branded as “absolutely sensational” to watch by Newcastle-based writer Thomas Hammond.

The table above only backs up all the wild praise the three-time Germany international has been receiving, with the commanding number 12 not looking out of place whatsoever in the Premier League – despite struggling to hold down a first-team spot at AC Milan – as seen in him averaging an unerring 88% pass accuracy, on top of winning five duels on average across his six outings in the tough league so far.

He very much stood out against Fulham too, in much the same way Guimaraes did, with eight duels heroically won, further reinforcing how much of a bargain the Toon have managed to pull off by acquiring Thiaw for a measly £34m.

With two Champions League clean sheets also under his belt, seeing Mouth of Tyne further boldly state that Thiaw can play at the “very top”, it’s clear that one of the centre-back spots in Howe’s XI is now nailed on to be taken up by the new fan favourite.

Already a recipient of his own catchy chant by the Newcastle fans, too, it does remain to be seen what Thiaw’s long-term career looks like in England.

Right now, though, he looks to be treading down the same, success-laden path as Guimaraes in being a staple for many years to come.

Move over Woltemade: Howe has unearthed a new “game-changer” at Newcastle

Newcastle United have unearthed a new game-changer, and it’s not Nick Woltemade.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 26, 2025