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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.

Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui admitted that a lot has changed since the last time his side played against Everton. They host the relegation-threatened Toffees at Molineux, with Sean Dyche’s team lingering above the drop zone in 17th. Saturday’s clash is the reverse fixture of Lopetegui’s first game in charge of Wolves where they edged to victory on Boxing Day after substitute Rayan Ait-Nouri scored in stoppage time. The goal handed Wolves a vital win to lift them off the foot of the table and Lopetegui believes a lot has changed since then. “It seems a lot of years ago now, but it was only months,” he told a pre-match press conference. “It was my first match in the Premier League and it was important. Being honest, we didn’t deserve to win this match, but in the end, we got what was important for us, which was to believe more. “It was very difficult moment (at the start of his tenure) and we achieved three important points at that moment. It was a tough match and it’s going to be the same this Saturday, for sure. “It was difficult to imagine we would be in the situation we are in now when we last played Everton, but it was our aim. “We tried to achieve points and change things, knowing the difficulty and the quality of the level of the Premier League. “Fortunately, we manged to achieve our aim and we are happy for this. “But when you go and accept one new challenge, you are not thinking about the end of the challenge, you are only thinking of the next step, the next match and that’s the only way to build a new reality, and that’s what we tried to do.” Wolves are currently 13th in the table with two games to go, starting with Everton before finishing the season at the Emirates against Arsenal. They secured Premier League safety earlier in the month and Lopetegui knew the team would be safe when faced with their responses after defeats. “Maybe after each defeat and with the answer of the players in the next day after a defeat. For me, they were very key moments and very important moments,” he added. “To see them to come here into work [after a defeat] with big commitment and with a big belief, that was important. How we would manage and drive out of those bad moments were key for our achievement.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Sam Allardyce urges ‘police to do a lot more’ about social media abuse UEFA to investigate after AZ Alkmaar fans confront West Ham players’ families Hope Powell joins England backroom staff for men’s Under-20 World Cup

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.”

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has acknowledged how much of a huge loss to the club the departures of James Milner and Roberto Firmino will be. The pair, whose signings in the summer of 2015 pre-date the arrival of current manager Jurgen Klopp by a few months, have played an integral role in their recent success. Both will depart when their contracts expire at the end of the season as Champions League and Premier League winners but Henderson believes their importance extends beyond just on the pitch. On Milner’s contribution, the England midfielder told the PA news agency: “A tremendous amount of value to the team. “I think the manager said it perfectly in that we wouldn’t have achieved anything without Millie. He is such a big character and such a big leader within the team. “It will definitely be strange not seeing him at Liverpool next season, he’s been incredible ever since he came to the club. “He helped me a lot and other players around him and is probably taken for granted a little bit as a player from the outside but from the inside he has got so much respect from all of the players and all of the staff and we wish him all the very best in whatever his next chapter looks like.” Firmino, who has returned to training this week after missing six matches with a muscle problem, is due a particularly emotional farewell in Liverpool’s final home match of the season against Aston Villa on Saturday. The much-loved Brazil international travelled with the squad for Monday’s win over Leicester and the away fans dedicated more than 10 minutes of the second half to singing about him. “He will be a huge miss also,” added Henderson, who was speaking at an NHS Big Tea event in Crewe in his role as an ambassador for NHS Charities Together. “The good energy he gives the team is always so positive, he’s always in a good mood and smiling but his quality on the pitch is unbelievable. “Thankfully he is back in training and hopefully he can be ready if not at the weekend then maybe the last game of the season. “But you have seen the reception he got on Monday from the fans and rightly so. I am sure that will be the case again on Saturday.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Luke Wood says playing for Lancashire ‘my pride and joy’ ahead of Blast opener Manager of the season contender Unai Emery ‘trying to improve every day’ Barry Bannan dedicates Sheffield Wednesday’s stunning comeback to Darren Moore

Unai Emery said he has plenty more to offer as Aston Villa boss after being nominated for the Premier League manager of the season award. Emery has overseen an impressive transformation at Villa Park since replacing Steven Gerrard in October last year, lifting them from fifth-bottom to the brink of European football next season. The 51-year-old Spaniard is on a six-man shortlist for the managerial award, alongside Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi, Newcastle’s Eddie Howe and Fulham boss Marco Silva. When asked about his nomination, Emery told a press conference: “We want to take some trophies or be respected for our work, but I’m trying to be focused every day on getting better and trying to improve. “Our way here has only just started and I’ve only been here for 10 per cent of the time I want to be here, trying to improve, trying to build a strong project and get our objectives. For now, I’m proud of everybody here.” Villa have won 14 and lost only six of his 26 top-flight games in charge and remain in contention for the final Europa League spot. Emery, a four-time Europa League winner as manager with Sevilla (three times) and Villarreal, and also a runner-up with Arsenal, is renowned for an intense approach to his work. He said: “I always try to enjoy my work, and I do enjoy it every day. I feel passion for my work. “When we are playing and facing big challenges every week, every month, every year, you have to be very focused and spend a lot of time on getting the best results possible. “When I can have two days off, I enjoy it and I’m trying to take my mind out of my work – not completely, but I enjoy doing different things. “When I am focused here, preparing the training sessions, preparing for matches, trying to complete our work, of course I am spending a lot of hours here.” Villa are level on points with seventh-placed Tottenham, who occupy the Europa Conference League berth, after last week’s 2-1 win against the Londoners and play at Champions League hopefuls Liverpool on Saturday. Emery said he was relishing the challenge at Anfield, adding: “They have very high-level players and a good bench to use in the second half, and they also have a very good coach in (Jurgen) Klopp. “The crowd there are supporting them a lot. That is what we are going to face. I want to play against them, preparing the match and taking our moments. “We want to be successful, more than them in 90 minutes. That is the difficulty we are going to face. We need to be clinical.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Luke Wood says playing for Lancashire ‘my pride and joy’ ahead of Blast opener Jordan Henderson knows Liverpool will miss James Milner and Roberto Firmino Barry Bannan dedicates Sheffield Wednesday’s stunning comeback to Darren Moore

Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan dedicated his side’s incredible play-off win over Peterborough to boss Darren Moore. Wednesday beat Posh on penalties on a breathtaking night at Hillsborough, recovering from a 4-0 first-leg deficit to draw 5-5 on aggregate after extra-time before their spot-kick success. In the wake of Friday’s 4-0 loss at London Road, Moore was the subject of a racist social media post from a Wednesday fan which the club described as “repulsive”. The supporter was banned for life by the Owls and, after Thursday night’s Sky Bet League One semi-final drama, Bannan paid tribute to his manager who he praised for not only handling the incident, but for making his players believe they could turn their situation around. “What he’s done in the last week has been unbelievable, to turn around the mindset of the players, he had a massive job to do to try,” he told Sky Sports. “I’m so proud of him, the way that he’s handled this week after the racism he’s received as well – that shouldn’t be anywhere near the football, never mind a manager who’s won 96 points as well. That one’s for him.” Bannan’s words to the camera were also echoed in a candid dressing-room video shared by the club in which, after Moore praised the players, Bannan stepped forward to thank the manager on behalf of the club. Speaking on Thursday after the incredible 120 minutes of action, Moore called it the best night of his managerial career. “For me, it’s my best moment in terms of management,” said Moore, whose side will face either Barnsley or Bolton in the final at Wembley on May 29. “To witness it and for it to come here, I couldn’t have wished for it to be at a better place, under the lights here at Hillsborough. “Tonight will be special, but as I keep saying to them, we have got another game to go. We enjoy tonight and then focus on the Wembley game now. “We had a rallying call to get the fans to come out and be in full voice and they were tonight. When the boys were cramping up tonight, the fans kept them going. The boys showed great character.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live On This Day in 2012 – Chelsea beat Bayern Munich to claim first Champions League David Moyes concerned for family after trouble mars West Ham victory Eddie Howe says Newcastle win ‘huge’ but warns still work to do in top-four hunt

Yandex NV has received bids from billionaires Vladimir Potanin and Vagit Alekperov to buy a controlling stake in

Manchester City have unveiled their home kit for the 2023/24 season, paying homage to their 20th anniversary at the Etihad Stadium.

Friday's transfer roundup includes news on Liverpool's midfielder shortlist, Barcelona's possible player-plus-cash offer for Joshua Kimmich, Man Utd's summer plans and more.

As 'White Men Can't Jump' reboot is all set to release on HULU, it now comes to light that Woody Harrelson wasn't the original choice for the 1992 film

Manchester United bidder Sir Jim Ratcliffe is now the second-richest person in the UK according to the Sunday Times Rich List, with the list’s compilers placing his wealth at almost £30billion. Ratcliffe, the chief executive of the INEOS chemicals company, has bid to take a controlling stake in United. He faces competition from Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim, who made an improved fourth bid to buy 100 per cent of the club earlier this week. That move was interpreted as an attempt to seize the initiative from Ratcliffe, whose bid is reported to be structured to allow two members of the Glazer family which currently owns the club to keep a combined 20 per cent stake. Ratcliffe, born in Failsworth in Greater Manchester, was ranked 27th on the 2022 Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated wealth of £6.075bn, but has jumped up to second in the 2023 list with wealth now believed to be £29.688bn, an increase of almost 400 per cent in 12 months. Robert Watts, the compiler of the Rich List, told PA: “This year we have new information about the full scale of INEOS’ profits and that has made us confident that INEOS is now worth at least £40bn. “We have also learned more about the personal assets that Jim has accumulated over the past 25 years.” Ratcliffe topped the Rich List in 2018 when his personal wealth was estimated at £21.05bn. INEOS already owns French club Nice and Swiss side Lausanne. The Reuben family, which includes Jamie Reuben who bought a minority stake as part of the Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle in October 2021, drops from third to fourth on the list despite their overall fortune increasing by £2.134bn to £24.399bn. The Coates family, which founded the bet365 betting company and owns Championship club Stoke, remains 16th in the list with a combined fortune of £8.795bn, an increase of £158million compared to 2022. Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich dropped off the list altogether, having been in 28th place last year. The list compilers believe his fortune remains largely intact despite sanctions imposed by the UK and other governments following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but he is not on the 2023 list because he does not have British citizenship or live in the UK. The Sunday Times identified golfer Rory McIlroy as the richest active UK sportsman with a fortune of £200m. Also contained within its list of the wealthiest 35 people under the age of 35 were boxer Anthony Joshua (£150m) plus footballers Gareth Bale (£70m), Raheem Sterling (£61m) and Harry Kane (£51m). :: Further information on the Sunday Times Rich List can be accessed via the following link: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/sunday-times-rich-list Read More Sheikh Jassim makes bigger last-ditch bid in Man United takeover saga Ineos ‘optimistic’ over Man United purchase after increased contact What would a Sir Jim Ratcliffe takeover mean for Manchester United Jon Rahm faces day two battle to make the cut at US PGA Championship Rumours: Man United ‘shock’ Mane move and Arsenal talks to sell Xhaka How Manchester United experiment with No. 10s - and where it goes wrong