List of All Articles with Tag 'eppersons'

Phil Jones will look back fondly on 12 years at Manchester United despite admitting to “difficult days” in his battle with injuries after it was announced he will be leaving the club in the summer. The 31-year-old will depart Old Trafford at the end of his contract, having been blighted by injuries for much of his stay. The defender, who joined from Blackburn in 2011, played 229 times, scoring six goals for United and helping them win one Premier League title, an FA Cup and the Europa League. Jones, who is yet to decide whether he will carry on playing, said in an open letter on Twitter: “It’s always tough to leave a club. I did so already with Blackburn Rovers, all those years ago aged only 19, but I could never imagine what was to follow. “My time at United has been nothing short of incredible. “It’s not a time to be sad. It’s a time to look back, for me and my family, and be happy that I managed to live a dream at United. “I can always say to my family and friends that not many people get to play for this club, to always be in its history and to be able to look back with such happy memories. I lived a dream at the biggest club in the world. I played for England in major tournaments. At United, I won trophies, most notably the Premier League under Sir Alex, in his final season Phil Jones “I wish Erik (ten Hag) and his staff, and all the players, the best of luck for the future. He’s building something here and I’ll be watching, supporting, and hoping, more than anyone, that he can continue the progress we can all see already. “I want to say thank you to everyone who has helped me at Manchester United, where I’ve made friends for life. “But, most of all, my family, who stuck by me through everything. The biggest one to my wife and two beautiful girls. I cannot put into words the support you’ve given me. We’ve stuck together and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.” Jones has not played in over a year and managed only 13 appearances since the start of the 2019/20 season and has revealed the turmoil injuries played on him. “I wish I could have played more. I wish I could have given more to the many squads I played alongside,” he added. “I will say, from the bottom of my heart, I did everything I could. I did everything the medical team asked of me. “I never left a stone unturned in the pursuit of living my dream and having the opportunity to represent Manchester United on the pitch. I spent some difficult days away from my family, rehabilitating and recovering away from everyone, recuperating away from the training pitch, which I was desperate to get back to. “I’ve said before that I found it hard to even speak to my team-mates because I was hurt that I couldn’t help them. I was hurt that my family couldn’t see me on matchdays, and you feel like you’re letting people down. “Sometimes, in life, things happen that we don’t like, but we have to learn to accept it and be at peace in our minds that we did everything we could to overcome the challenges. In your career, and life, that’s all we can really do. “I lived a dream at the biggest club in the world. I played for England in major tournaments. At United, I won trophies, most notably the Premier League under Sir Alex, in his final season.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Sean Dyche: The only table that matters is the one at the end of the season Julen Lopetegui thrilled with Wolves progress since his first clash with Everton Sam Allardyce urges ‘police to do a lot more’ about social media abuse

Mage's path through Triple Crown season is not an easy one

West Ham manager David Moyes admitted he was concerned for the safety of his family after AZ Alkmaar hooligans attacked Hammers fans following Thursday's Europa...

In Dublin on Saturday night, the fight could be won and lost before the first bell transforms a city. The homecoming of Katie Taylor has been sanctioned by a fight-starved nation, decreed a national event, and her belated coronation is not in doubt. However, she has to beat a bigger, stronger, younger and unbeaten fighter in Chantelle Cameron to complete the Disney tale. And that is why the hours and minutes and seconds before the opening bell are so critical. Taylor has an iron will and she has an unnerving belief in her ability. She has proven that she can ignore pressure; Cameron is in the hot spotlight, her every move here in the Dublin sun has been watched. She is facing this intense pressure for the first time and it can be overwhelming. The pair hold 11 world title belts, a glittering collection of leather, fake jewellery and pomp. Not one of the hefty ornamental belts will offer an ounce of protection against the action once the bell sounds; they will not help the inevitable nerves as the pair prepare to walk from their shaking dressing rooms at the back of 3Arena. That is attention and noise that neither will have experienced before; nothing can prepare a boxer for that emotional and draining moment. Fights are won and lost in that wicked, wonderful, feared and desired moment. This could be one of those fights. There will be 10 two-minute rounds, a mere 20 minutes of action to separate the pair. There will not be, and there never is in the women’s code, a time for getting a sense and feel of each other; they will start in a fury, trust me. It will end 1,200 seconds later in an equal fury. At the final bell, the referee will have to separate them. It will leave a mark on the boxing landscape for a long, long time. And take an inevitable toll on both the women in the ring. This will not be a masterclass in the sweet science’s defensive skills; this will be an old-fashioned brawl, a fight to replay in your head and watch at times through your fingers. Cameron is unbeaten in 17, the fully unified champion at super-lightweight. Taylor is unbeaten in 22, the fully unified champion at lightweight. They are separated by five heavy pounds and Taylor is four years older at 36. Cameron’s belts are the prize, but don’t be fooled by all that glitters. This has nothing to do with the baubles - this is a fight for pride. Too much of it, to be honest. Taylor is risking so much and, even in the last hours before the fight, it is hard to fully grasp why Cameron was chosen. “I just want to fight the best, it’s that simple,” Taylor insisted. She can never have enough praise for the selection. Cameron has admitted that she would have agreed to lose a pound or two if Taylor had asked. The men do that all of the time; Taylor looked at me like I had put in a low bid to buy her granny when I asked her why she had not made Cameron lose a few pounds. “It’s sport, I would never do that,” she replied. The anticipation will be incredible in the minutes before the ring empties and the fighters are left to fight. Taylor will move her feet, but Cameron can also move. Taylor will take risks and so will Cameron. Taylor has a notoriously big engine and so does Cameron. It will be a battle of wills, not subtle traps. Taylor has a determination that is too often forgotten when her gentle voice points towards scripture. She has fought her way from the ropes to centre ring in brutal fights with Delfine Persoon twice, Natasha Jonas, Jessica McCaskill and Amanda Serrano. She has won in 16 consecutive world title fights, set a standard, blazed a trail and converted the unconvertible. But, that passage to greatness takes a toll. Taylor is only human and there is always a fight when the scars from so many other nights combine. There is a real risk of that in the Dublin ring; this was never going to be an easy homecoming. Taylor understands that better than anybody. Cameron has to win several fights on the night. She has to overcome all of the emotions and pressure and ignore the adrenaline pushing and pushing her. She will make the walk to the ring, look over at Taylor and see a woman transformed. Taylor has that habit of changing from the polite woman at the media scrums to a cold boxer in the ring. Cameron’s nerve will be tested in that square cauldron and those last minutes. And then the bell will sound. Both admit they love the fighting part of their business. It will be tight, close and most, if not all rounds, will be difficult. Taylor knows how to win a 10-round fight, she knows how to finish rounds, she knows how to dig deep after a bad round. Cameron will be matching her, chasing her. It will be truly memorable. A round could be won and lost during exchanges in the last 10 or so seconds. It’s craft and Taylor is the master. When 1,200 seconds of boxing come to a joyous end, there will be a wait and a debate and then a hand will be raised. The loser will not be happy, opinion might be split. Taylor has won fights by a round before, nicked a victory with a few punches at the end of rounds. It is likely to be the same here in dear old, dirty Dublin. What a fight it will be. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron are shaming their male counterparts Katie Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron live stream: How to watch fight online and on TV The Devin Haney trap that Vasiliy Lomachenko must avoid to extend glittering career Who is fighting on Katie Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron undercard? What time does Katie Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron start in UK and US? How to watch Katie Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron online and on TV

At first glance, the idea of a former NFL legend and a former US Women's National Team star wanting to bring "global eyeballs" to an English soccer club might seem an unusual ambition.

Phil Jones will leave Manchester United when his contract expires in the summer after making just 13 appearances in his last four seasons of an injury-hit dozen years at Old Trafford. The defender, who Sir Alex Ferguson infamously said could become United’s greatest-ever player, made 229 appearances for the club in total, scoring six goals. He has missed the whole of this season, when he was omitted from United’s 25-man Premier League squad by manager Erik ten Hag, just as he did not play in 2020-21. Jones said: “It’s been very difficult, the last couple of years. There’s no denying that. There is no hiding away from that. My family have been absolutely instrumental in keeping me on the straight and narrow and keeping me focused, to try to get fit and try to play more.” The 31-year-old joined from Blackburn in 2011 for £16m and showed his versatility by playing as a centre-back, a right-back and a midfielder in his early years at Old Trafford, when Sir Bobby Charlton compared him to the Busby Babe Duncan Edwards. Jones made 41 appearances in his first year at Old Trafford and helped United win the Premier League title in 2012-13. He has won 27 England caps, being part of the squads for two World Cups and one European Championships. Read More Football rumours: Arsenal preparing £90million swoop for West Ham’s Declan Rice Newcastle may have Saudi riches, but Howe’s team is built on bargains Julen Lopetegui thrilled with Wolves progress since his first clash with Everton

Formula 1 will produce the television coverage of the Monaco Grand Prix next week – ending a longstanding grip on the event from local broadcasters. F1 produces the world feed for every race on the calendar, with Monaco previously being the anomaly among a season of 22 races in 2023 – a figure which has dropped from 23 after Imola’s cancellation this weekend due to flooding in the Emilia Romagna region. Local TV station Tele Monte Carlo had been the producers of one of the sport’s most famous races, but F1 will now control the broadcasting of the event, including the world feed. The local hosts have been criticised in recent years for their feed, with examples of key action being missed and shots shown at random times. A memorable instance was in 2021, when a battle for position between Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly after a pit-stop was cut-out for a random replay of Lance Stroll’s car running wide at the swimming pool chicane. The event’s production is now set to improve by F1 moving it in-house, with new and improved angles in addition to traditional shots around the twists and turns of the principality. Monaco has been out on its own in locally producing their F1 race for the last 11 years, since Fuji Television stopped producing the Japanese Grand Prix in 2011. Previous to that, F1 gradually took the reigns at grands prix around the world from local hosts to in-house production. 2023 marks the first in a three-year deal between F1 and the Automobile Club of Monaco (ACM), in the short-term stamping out doubts about the future of the blue-ribbon race. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez won last year’s Monaco Grand Prix in wet conditions. The Mexican trails team-mate Max Verstappen by 14 points heading into this year’s race. Hometown favourite Charles Leclerc will be eyeing his first ever podium at a race he has notoriously struggled at since his F1 debut in 2018. The Ferrari star has secured pole positions in the last two years but was unable to take to the start line in 2021 due to a mechanical failure and a pit-stop blunder in 2022 meant he finished fourth. Read More F1 race schedule: What time is the Monaco Grand Prix next Sunday? Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes are the biggest losers from Imola Grand Prix cancellation F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix cancelled after heavy flooding in region Will Imola Grand Prix be rescheduled?

Leeds boss Sam Allardyce says he wants the “police to do a lot more” to help protect footballers from abuse on social media. The Yorkshire club this week condemned the threats directed at Patrick Bamford and his family after the striker’s penalty miss in last week’s Premier League draw with Newcastle. Allardyce urged Bamford to respond by scoring the winner in Sunday’s game at West Ham and said: “He’s been OK, he’s obviously extremely upset about the situation. It’s something that’s left a very, very bad taste indeed. “I’d like the police to do a lot more, but it appears with social media they rule the world and can say and do what they want unfortunately, which is why the world’s in such a big mess, isn’t it? “But he’s handled it pretty well. I think the club gave him as much support as he needed, particularly security-wise. It wasn’t just about him, it was about his family. “The best way for him to respond is to go out on Sunday, play to his highest level and try and score. It would be great if he scored the winner. Hopefully it won’t affect his performance.”

Tottenham Hotspur have held an initial round of talks with Feyenoord's Arne Slot over their head coach vacancy, though the club insist they do not have number one target at this stage.

Hope Powell has joined the England backroom staff for the men’s Under-20 World Cup in Argentina, the Football Association has announced. Powell, who was head coach of the senior England women’s team between 1998 and 2013 and was more recently in charge at Brighton, will serve as a technical advisor to Ian Foster and his coaching team. The 56-year-old also coached the Great Britain women’s team at the London 2012 Olympic Games. She led the Lionesses to the 2009 European Championship final and coached the team at two World Cups. Powell’s appointment is supported by the England Elite Coach Programme, a partnership between the FA and the players’ union, the Professional Footballers’ Association. The aim of the programme is to support individuals from under-represented groups to work with the England national teams. Young Lions head coach Foster said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve been able to bring Hope on board for our FIFA Men’s U20 World Cup as technical advisor. “I’ve known Hope since 2014 when we completed our LMA Diploma together. Her vast experience of international football and the knowledge she has from working with FIFA will be invaluable to us.” England open their World Cup campaign against Tunisia on Monday. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Five players who could, and potentially should, have been nominated for the Premier League's Player and Young Player of the Season awards.

UEFA is expected to launch an investigation into the trouble that marred West Ham’s Europa Conference League semi-final victory at AZ Alkmaar. Pablo Fornals’ injury-time winner, that earned a 3-1 aggregate success and sent them to next month’s final in Prague, prompted a gang of black-shirted, hooded AZ ultras to attempt to storm into the area reserved for friends and family behind the dugout. Players including Michail Antonio, Said Benrahma, Aaron Cresswell and Flynn Downes climbed over the advertising hoardings in a bid to stop the trouble. The governing body’s disciplinary panel will wait for the relevant reports before deciding on any action, but the PA news agency understands that given the severity of the disorder, it could follow previous cases and an inspector may be appointed to investigate more thoroughly. Given the extensive video footage of the ugly scenes the Dutch club could face heavy sanctions. Hammers boss David Moyes, whose 87-year-old father David Snr was at the match, said: “I can’t explain what happened and why it happened. “I can only say the players were involved because it was the family section and most of their family and friends were in there. That was probably the reason for the reaction. “Was I worried? Yeah, my family were there and I had friends in that section. You’re hoping they would try and get themselves away from it. “I didn’t recognise it because I’d gone onto the pitch. Security wanted to take me inside, but I had to make sure my players weren’t involved.”