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Breaking: Chelsea Confirm Xabi Alonso As New Manager On Four-Year Contract.
Chelsea FC have officially appointed Xabi Alonso as their new manager on a four-year contract, with the Spaniard set to take charge from July 1.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In his first statement after the appointment, Alonso expressed pride and excitement about joining the club, describing Chelsea as one of the biggest teams in world football.
He said both the ownership and sporting leadership share a common ambition to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and challenging for major trophies.
Alonso also highlighted the quality within the current squad, noting that the club has strong potential which he is eager to develop. He added that his immediate focus will be on hard work, building a strong team culture, and delivering success.
The former Real Madrid coach was reportedly Chelsea’s top target following the departure of Liam Rosenior in April, who lasted just three months in the role. Alonso will serve as “manager” rather than head coach, giving him broader responsibility in shaping the club’s sporting direction.
The announcement came shortly after Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup final, with interim coach Calum McFarlane taking charge for that match.
Although there had been speculation linking Alonso with a possible move elsewhere, including interest from Liverpool amid uncertainty over Arne Slot’s future, Chelsea moved quickly to secure his services.
Other names considered for the role reportedly included Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva, Oliver Glasner, Cesc Fabregas, and Felipe Luis.
Alonso becomes the fifth permanent manager under the BlueCo ownership era, following Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca, and Rosenior.
Chelsea currently sit ninth in the Premier League and face uncertainty over European qualification for next season, with their final league position determining whether they will compete in the Conference League or Europa League.
As a player, Alonso enjoyed a decorated career with Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and the Spain national team before retiring in 2017. He began coaching at Real Madrid’s youth level and later managed Real Sociedad B and Bayer Leverkusen, where he achieved remarkable success, including an unbeaten Bundesliga title and a domestic double in the 2023–24 season.
He also had a brief spell at Real Madrid’s senior team before leaving in January following a challenging period that included a Club World Cup semi-final defeat and reported dressing-room tensions.
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THE MILLION-DOLLAR HAND: Maradona’s Infamous ‘Hand Of God’ Match Ball Sells For £2.5m At Auction.
The football utilized by Diego Maradona to score his controversial “Hand of God” goal against England during the 1986 World Cup has been auctioned in the United States for £2.5m.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Adidas Azteca ball brought in $3.3m via Heritage Auctions on Saturday, which fell short of the estimated £7.3m ($10m) projection from experts.
Key details of the historic item and match include:
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The Match: The ball was in play for the entirety of Argentina’s 2-1 quarter-final victory against England at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
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The Infamous Goal: Maradona scored both of Argentina’s goals, with his first involving him punching the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton—an infraction missed by the referee. Post-match, Maradona famously attributed it to “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God”.
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Goal of the Century: Minutes later, the Argentina captain scored a legendary solo goal, weaving past five outfield players and rounding Shilton.
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Prior Ownership: The ball was kept for over three decades by Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser, who officiated the match. He initially sold it in 2022 for £1.74m ($2.37m), though a subsequent attempt to sell it in 2023 did not meet the reserve price.
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Related Memorabilia: This auction follows the 2022 sale of Maradona’s Argentina shirt from the same match, which fetched £7.1m.
entertainment
“PLEASE FORGIVE ME”: Inside Ijebu’s Dramatic Public Plea After The Loss Of Veteran Icon Ogogo.
Nollywood actor Olatayo Amokade, widely known as Ijebu, recently took to social media to appeal to his family, friends, colleagues, and associates for forgiveness regarding any past grievances.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The emotional video message shared on his Instagram page followed the passing of veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly called Ogogo, who died at the age of 66.
Key highlights from his statement include:
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Deep Reflection: Ijebu expressed that the veteran actor’s death weighed heavily on his heart, prompting him to reflect deeply on the brevity of life and the importance of resolving conflicts early.
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Public Apology: Addressing seniors, colleagues, staff, and younger actors in the industry, the actor asked everyone to overlook his shortcomings and pardon any offense.
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Call for Reconciliation: Emphasizing that human beings come into the world with nothing and leave with nothing, he urged people to let go of grudges because life is short.
The founder and General Overseer of Rock Word Church and Dominion International, Dr Adamson Aromaegbe, has passed away.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the late gospel preacher died on Friday, with the specific circumstances surrounding his death kept private.
Key takeaways from the announcement include:
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Official Confirmation: The church leadership formally announced his passing on Sunday through a statement issued by Rev. Nnamdy Echezona via the ministry’s official channels.
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Tributes to a Visionary: The ministry honored Dr. Aromaegbe as a dedicated Christian leader, mentor, teacher, and kingdom builder whose life and work deeply impacted countless individuals.
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Next Steps: The church has asked members, friends, and well-wishers to keep the family and the Dominion International community in their prayers, noting that details regarding his “Celebration of Life” ceremony will be shared later.
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