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June 6, 2023

June 6, 2023June 6, 2023 IFMSPORTS

Totteham Appoint Postecoglou As New Manager

Ange Postecoglou has been appointed as the new manager of Tottenham Hotspur on a four-year contract, following his successful stint at Celtic.

The 57-year-old guided Celtic to back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles during his two seasons in charge.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy expressed his excitement about Postecoglou joining the club, praising his positive mentality and fast, attacking style of play. Levy also highlighted Postecoglou's track record of player development and his understanding of the importance of the academy.

Tottenham had been searching for a new manager since the departure of Antonio Conte in March, with interim managers Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason taking charge in the meantime.

Postecoglou, the first Australian manager in the Premier League, arrives at Tottenham after achieving a domestic treble with Celtic. He secured five out of six available trophies during his two-year tenure, joining the ranks of esteemed Celtic managers Jock Stein, Martin O'Neill, Brendan Rodgers, and Neil Lennon who have achieved a domestic clean sweep.

Celtic's chief executive, Michael Nicholson, expressed his gratitude for Postecoglou's contributions to the club and acknowledged his decision to seek a new challenge. While disappointed to see him leave, Celtic respects Postecoglou's desire for a fresh opportunity.

June 6, 2023

June 6, 2023 IFMSPORTS

Benzema Joins Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad

Karim Benzema has officially completed his move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad following his departure from Real Madrid.

The former French international has signed a contract with the Saudi champions, which is believed to be for a initial period of two years, with an option for a further season.

Benzema became a free agent after opting out of the one-year extension clause in his Madrid contract. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed his respect for Benzema's decision while acknowledging the club's disappointment in seeing him leave.

The striker was presented with a lucrative wage offer from Al-Ittihad, who clinched the title last month, beating Al-Nassr, the team where Cristiano Ronaldo plays.

In addition to Benzema's move, there is also interest from Saudi Arabia in Lionel Messi, who has been offered a staggering sum of over £350m per year by Al-Hilal. While Barcelona is attempting to re-sign Messi, the Argentine superstar, who recently left Paris Saint-Germain, is yet to make a final decision on his future.

Messi's status as a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia resulted in a suspension from PSG after an unauthorized visit to the country.

Jorge Messi, Lionel's father, expressed his desire for his son to return to Barcelona in an interview on the Twitch channel Jijantes FC. However, both parties acknowledge that time is running out.

Barcelona President Joan Laporta and Messi Sr. are exploring possibilities within the club's financial limitations to find a resolution.

Benzema, the current Ballon d'Or holder, enjoyed an illustrious 14-year spell at Real Madrid, winning 25 major trophies during his tenure.

Though injuries hampered his appearances this season and prevented his participation in the World Cup in Qatar, he still started 33 matches in La Liga and the Champions League, scoring 23 goals, including one in his final appearance against Athletic Bilbao.

The 35-year-old will hold a farewell press conference in Madrid on Tuesday.

June 5, 2023

June 5, 2023June 5, 2023 IFMSPORTS

Jim Hines, First Sprinter To Run 100m Under 10 Seconds, Dies

World Athletics announced on Monday the passing of Jim Hines, the trailblazing American sprinter who broke the 10-second barrier for the 100m event.

Hines, aged 76, made history at the 1968 US Championships in Sacramento when he officially recorded a sub-10 second time of 9.9 seconds.

Later that same year, at the 1968 Olympics held in Mexico City's high altitude, Hines secured the Olympic gold medal in the 100m event, further lowering the world record to an electronically timed 9.95 seconds.

Impressively, this record stood for an incredible 15 years, making it the longest-standing men's 100m world record in the era of fully automatic timing. It was ultimately surpassed by fellow American Calvin Smith in 1983, also at altitude, with a time of 9.93 seconds.

Born in Dumas, Arkansas, in September 1946 and raised in Oakland, California, Hines initially had a passion for baseball. However, his talent for sprinting caught the attention of coach Jim Coleman, and by the age of 17, Hines ranked among the top 20 sprinters worldwide for the 100-yard distance.

He attended Texas Southern University, and in 1965, he achieved his first podium finish in the US Championships, securing second place in the 200m event.

At the Mexico Olympics, Hines triumphed over Lennox Miller from Jamaica and Charles Greene, clinching the gold medal in the 100m and setting a new world record in the process.

Hines continued his success at the Olympics by anchoring the USA's 4x100m relay team, contributing to their gold medal victory in a world record time of 38.24 seconds.

Shortly after the Olympics, Hines faced a setback when burglars broke into his home in Houston and stole his hard-earned gold medals. However, he placed an advertisement in his local newspaper, appealing for their return. Miraculously, the medals were anonymously mailed back to him in a plain brown envelope.

Following his retirement from athletics at the end of 1968, Hines pursued a career in the NFL, playing for the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jim Hines leaves behind a lasting legacy as a pioneering sprinter who shattered barriers and etched his name in the annals of track and field history.

June 5, 2023

June 5, 2023June 5, 2023 IFMSPORTS

Real Madrid Wants Kane As Benzema Replacement

Real Madrid has identified Harry Kane as their top target in the search for a replacement for Karim Benzema, who has left the club after a remarkable 14-year tenure.

Kane, aged 29, has one year remaining on his contract with Tottenham and is currently weighing his options for the future.

Real Madrid has compiled a shortlist of potential strikers, including Napoli's Victor Osimhen, Inter's Lautaro Martinez, Chelsea's Kai Havertz, and Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic. However, the Spanish giants have a particular admiration for England's leading goal scorer, Kane.

They are optimistic that the departure of several high-earning players, such as Benzema, Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio, and Mariano Diaz, will create financial room for their pursuit.

The club has also been engaged in negotiations with Borussia Dortmund for the acquisition of English midfielder Jude Bellingham, who has expressed a keen interest in joining Real Madrid.

While Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is determined to retain Kane at his boyhood club, he is said to be demanding a fee exceeding £100 million, a figure that Real Madrid may be hesitant to meet.

Kane has been a prolific scorer for Tottenham, amassing 280 goals in 435 appearances and standing just 47 goals away from Alan Shearer's Premier League record of 260.

Tottenham has managed to retain Kane's services in the past, successfully resisting his attempts to move to Manchester City two summers ago. However, with Tottenham unable to secure Champions League qualification for the upcoming season and Kane yet to win a major trophy, his future in North London remains uncertain. Real Madrid hopes that their illustrious history and ambition for major titles will entice Kane to consider a move to Spain.

In addition to the search for a new manager following a disappointing campaign, Tottenham is also expected to initiate talks with Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou in the coming days.

As the 35-year-old Ballon d'Or-winning Benzema departs Real Madrid on a free transfer after five Champions League triumphs and four La Liga titles during his tenure, the club is eager to find a suitable successor to lead their frontline.

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Author: IFMSPORTS

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