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.
BOOT TO FACE: Wilfried Singo said that his actions were not intentional, ‘but I was able to see afterwards that’ the ’keeper had a significant face injury Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday came from behind to extend their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season with a 4-2 win away against AS Monaco, but lost goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to a gruesome facial injury. The bloodied Italy international was left requiring 10 staples after sustaining lacerations to the right side of his face when he was caught by the studs of Monaco defender Wilfried Singo. “I don’t know if the referee was badly positioned, but VAR [video assistant referee] needed to intervene, you have to protect the players,” PSG captain Marquinhos said. “To not give a red in a situation like
India’s chess star Gukesh Dommaraju returned to a hero’s welcome in his home city yesterday after becoming the youngest world champion aged only 18. Hundreds of fans crowded the arrivals area of Chennai International Airport, cheering alongside banks of television cameras as Gukesh made his way out of the airport after victory in taking the World Chess Championship title. “It means a lot to bring back the trophy to India,” Gukesh told reporters, with garlands of flowers draped around his neck, brandishing the glittering trophy in his hand. “I can see the support and what it means to India, I
Zach LaVine on Thursday scored a season-high 36 points to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 117-108 upset victory against defending NBA champions the Boston Celtics, while LeBron James once again made history. LaVine went 11-of-19 from the floor and made six three-pointers while adding six rebounds and four assists for the Bulls, who improved to 13-15 for the season. “We’re a good team,” LaVine said. “We’re competitive and we’re a resilient group.” Ayo Dosunmu contributed 17 points for the Bulls, while Nikola Vucevic had 16 points and 14 rebounds for Chicago. The Bulls outscored Boston 35-22 in the fourth quarter to rally past
Brimin Kipkorir of Kenya and Amid Fozya Jemal of Ethiopia won the men’s and the women’s categories, respectively, in the annual Taipei Marathon yesterday, which drew about 28,000 participants. Kipkorir finished the 42.2km run in 2 hours, 11 minutes and 41 seconds, which was about 2.5 minutes off the event’s record of 2:09:18 set by his countryman Paul Lonyongata in 2020. Meanwhile, Jemal — who also won the New Taipei Wan Jin Shi Marathon in March — finished with a first-place time of 2:32:47, about seven minutes behind the race’s women’s record of 2:25:55. For winning the race, Kipkorir and
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