Asia Cup to be discussed at ACC meeting on Thursday; BCCI to attend virtually

The BCCI holds the hosting rights for the tournament, which is expected to be held in the UAE in September

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jul-2025

Aminul Islam greets Mohsin Naqvi upon the latter’s arrival in Dhaka•BCB

The fate of this year’s Asia Cup, which was thrown into uncertainty following the India-Pakistan military skirmish in May, could be decided at the Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) annual general meeting in Dhaka on Thursday.The BCCI will attend the meeting virtually, and there is no clarity yet on whether Sri Lanka Cricket will attend virtually or an official will travel to Dhaka. For the BCCI, Rajeev Shukla will be the representative. There was even talk of Afghanistan and Oman missing the meeting, but they will now attend, while Nepal, like the BCCI, will participate virtually.The Asia Cup is one of the major points of discussion at the meeting. The BCCI holds the hosting rights for the eight-team tournament, even though the matches are expected to be played in the UAE in September.It is the first time that the BCB is hosting a high-level ACC meeting. Board president Aminul Islam said that the BCB was only providing logistical support to the ACC and didn’t comment on certain boards not sending their representatives.”We agreed with the ACC to organise this year’s AGM,” Aminul said on Tuesday. “It is an ACC programme. We are providing them with logistical support. That’s all we are doing. We are in touch with the ACC, who is informing us who is coming and who is not, as we have to make arrangements for airport pick-ups, hotel bookings and other support.”On Wednesday, Aminul and BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury received Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB and ACC boss, at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. A gala dinner is scheduled in the evening, followed by two days of the meeting at a hotel in Dhaka.

برشلونة يفكر في إعارة لاعبه بانتقالات يناير

يفكر نادي برشلونة الإسباني في اللجوء لحل مؤقت مع لاعبه، خلال فترة الانتقالات الشتوية بشهر يناير المقبل، حسبما أفادت تقارير صحفية.

ويخوض برشلونة مباراة غدًا الأحد أمام سيلتا فيجو ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني “الليجا” موسم 2025-2026.

ويحتل برشلونة المركز الثاني في جدول الترتيب برصيد 25 نقطة، فيما يتصدر ريال مدريد الدوري الإسباني بـ 30 نقطة.

ويعانى برشلونة من الإصابات في صفوفه من وقت لآخر ويغيب عن صفوفه عدة لاعبين، ومن بين المصابين كان مارك بيرنال والذي عاد للملاعب يوم 19 سبتمبر ضد فالنسيا ولعب 9 دقائق فقط، بعد فترة طويلة من الغياب بسبب الإصابة.

ومنذ ذلك الحين، شارك بيرنال في ثلاث مباريات فقط لدقائق معدودة، وتواجد في المباريات الأخرى على مقاعد البدلاء دون مشاركة.

اقرأ أيضًا | فليك: لامين يامال تغير.. ولا أتوقع مشاركة لاعب برشلونة أمام سيلتا فيجو

وبحسب ما ذكرت صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية، برشلونة لا يريد التعجل أو الضغط على بيرنال في المشاركة بعد غياب لمدة طويلة بسبب إصابته.

ويختلف وضع بيرنال عند وضع جافي الذي غاب لوقت طويل أيضًا بسبب إصابته لكنه اندمج بشكل أسرع في الفريق مقارنة ببيرنال.

وأوضح التقرير أن مستقبل بيرنال سيُحدد بعد فترة التوقف الدولي في نوفمبر الجاري، حسب مشاركته ورد فعله في المباريات القادمة، وهناك احتمالية لانتقاله على سبيل الإعارة في فترة الانتقالات الشتوية.

احتمال الإعارة سيدرسه مارك بيرنال وممثلوه، مع أن خطط برشلونة لا تتضمن الاستغناء عنه، لكن الإعارة قد تكون حل مؤقت لتطور اللاعب.

Jaiswal hundred, Siraj's late strike make India favourites

England lose Zak Crawley to last ball of day after being set 374 to win with series on the line

Matt Roller02-Aug-20253:22

Bangar: ‘Jaiswal’s Sehwag-esque impact makes it easier for batters to follow’

The fate of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy will be sealed at The Oval on Sunday. England need another 324 runs to pull off the second-biggest chase in their history and win 3-1; India need eight wickets – or nine, in the improbable event that Chris Woakes walks out to bat one-handed – to square the series. The draw is no longer on the table.India are the favourites, and owe that status to four men: Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored his sixth century, and second of the series; Akash Deep, the nightwatcher whose maiden Test fifty wore England’s seamers down; Ravindra Jadeja, who passed 500 runs for the series; and Washington Sundar, whose late blitz took the target from 335 to 374 inside five overs.Related

England made to toil amid mishaps of their own making

Akash Deep joins nightwatch lore with Oval knock to remember

Butter-fingered England spill six chances

Oval and out: Jaiswal's series comes a full circle with statement hundred

England have been here before. They chased 371 in the first Test of this series with five wickets in hand, and cruised to 378 against India at Edgbaston three years ago without breaking a sweat. A punchy opening stand between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett shaved 50 runs off the target as the shadows lengthened, and England will not be overawed by scoreboard pressure.But Crawley’s dismissal in the final over of the day swung the pendulum firmly in India’s favour. It was Mohammed Siraj, the last seamer standing in this series, who delivered a moment of high skill and high drama. With two balls remaining, Siraj pushed Jaiswal back to deep square leg, a bluff to mask the searing 84mph/135kph yorker which followed, and crashed into off stump.It will be a huge test of both teams’ character, skill and resilience as the series heads into its 24th – and surely final – day. A draw would be a superb achievement for India under new leadership, not least from 2-1 down and on the ropes in Manchester; for England, a series win would be their first against a ‘Big Three’ opponent under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.3:25

‘Root’s wicket will be most important for India’

In Woakes’ absence, this was a brutally tough day for their three greenhorn seamers Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Jamie Overton, who bowled 79 out of 88 overs between them in India’s second innings. Ollie Pope did his best to rotate them but the workload was immense, particularly without a specialist spinner. Their cause was not helped by six dropped catches, and India profited from their profligacy.Akash Deep was the unlikely protagonist of the morning session, seizing an opportunity to chance his arm after seeing out two balls as nightwatcher on Friday evening. He popped the third ball of the day over mid-on for four and decided to keep on swinging, punching the air and thumping his chest when he reached 50 for only the second time in his professional career.England could have had him twice in two balls: they were convinced that Tongue had trapped him lbw, only for the DRS to uphold umpire Ahsan Raza’s not-out call, and Crawley dropped Tongue’s follow-up at third slip. By the time his leading edge was pouched by Atkinson at point off Overton, Akash Deep had added 107 in partnership with Jaiswal.Akash Deep’s gleeful hitting cast Jaiswal in an unfamiliar role, playing in his partner’s slipstream. But he continued to inflict death by a thousand cuts on England’s seamers, scoring heavily behind square on the off side and seizing on any width offered. He reached his hundred after lunch by pinching a single into that very same region, bookending his first tour of England with centuries.By that stage, he had lost another partner. Shubman Gill’s fine series ended with the first ball after lunch, which nipped back off the seam and thumped into his knee roll to give Atkinson his seventh of the match. His overall aggregate – 754 – was second only to Sunil Gavaskar among Indian batters in a Test series, but his highest score in four innings in London was just 21.2:58

Bangar: ‘Akash Deep could be India’s No. 8’

Karun Nair soon became Atkinson’s eighth victim of the Test, edging behind for 17. Nair was struck on the glove first ball, and dropped by Harry Brook – whose view was obscured by Crawley diving across him – on 12 before failing to account for Atkinson’s extra bounce. After a top score of 57 in eight innings, it seems Nair’s comeback series may also prove to be his farewell.Dropped twice on Friday evening, Jaiswal got a third life from Duckett at leg gully, but holed out to deep point for 118 soon after. But India’s lead continued to swell: Jadeja successfully overturned an lbw decision after being struck flush on the right boot and added exactly 50 for the seventh wicket with Dhruv Jurel, as England finally resorted to their occasional spinners.The pitch had clearly flattened out from the first two days but still offered something to work with. Overton managed to get a 76-over-old ball to swing away and trap Jurel lbw, and Tongue threatened to end the innings quickly: Brook finally held on to one when Jadeja steered to him on 53, and Siraj was distraught when given out lbw off the inside edge, with India out of reviews.But Washington went down swinging, as though Brook’s advice in Manchester to “get on with it” was ringing in his ears. He hauled four leg-side sixes in 12 balls, the last of which brought up a 39-ball fifty. By the time he miscued to Crawley at midwicket to give Tongue his fifth wicket, he and Prasidh Krishna (0 off 2) had put on 39 vital runs for the 10th wicket.Duckett and Crawley were left with 14 overs to lay a foundation for England, and Gill was clearly desperate to avoid a repeat of their freewheeling stand in the first innings, posting a deep point from the outset to stem the flow of runs. If it initially seemed curious that Siraj was held back to first change, then his crucial strike vindicated Gill’s decision to give him a single, late burst.

Not Bradley: Liverpool have found the new Trent & he's not even a defender

Liverpool have had their fair share of special European nights over the years, with the famous comeback win against Barcelona back in 2019 in the Champions League – which saw the Reds overturn a 4-0 deficit – still sticking out as the Premier League giants at their thrilling best.

The entertainment levels weren’t through the roof in a similar fashion mid-week when Arne Slot’s men got the better of Barca’s arch rivals Real Madrid by a single goal, but the impressive all-round display would have definitely pleased the Anfield masses watching on.

Indeed, away from Alexis Mac Allister grabbing the winner, faces such as Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah also stood out, when they have otherwise failed to get going this season, with the heavily scapegoated German covering a staggering 11.37km in total.

To make the win even sweeter on Europe’s grandest stage, Liverpool managed to get one over on ex-star Trent Alexander-Arnold, who would only come on for the final few exchanges for Los Blancos.

Yet, despite a chorus of boos greeting his every touch, it’s clear – when analysing Liverpool’s wobbles this season – that they have desperately missed the creativity of their former homegrown product from the right-back spot.

Why Liverpool have missed Alexander-Arnold

Of course, all of the animosity directed towards the former number 66 comes from a place of pain that he deserted his hometown club for a shot in La Liga.

Being able to replace the creativity Alexander-Arnold possessed in spades at Anfield instantly was also going to be an extremely tough ask, with his ability to burst forward and cut open a defence for Liverpool, dubbing him a “dream for strikers” by Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Alexander-Arnold would become a modern-day icon at Liverpool, with a mighty 23 goals and 92 assists falling into his lap on Merseyside.

Liverpool had their work cut out for them in the summer to try and find an attacking full-back of the same calibre as the Englishman; therefore, with the Anfield giants presumably thinking they’d hit the jackpot with the capture of Milos Kerkez.

Unfortunately, the former AFC Bournemouth star – who amassed five Premier League assists last season – has no assists next to his name for Liverpool in league action, leading to him being branded as “out of his depth” by journalist Tim Spiers.

Thankfully, Conor Bradley showed the Liverpool masses why he could be in with a shout to be a long-term fix for Trent deserting the building.

He was phenomenal against the Spanish giants, dealing with the effervescent Vinicius Junior with an energetic display, seeing him win eight duels against Xabi Alonso’s visitors.

But, there was another standout performer on Wednesday night, who could be a surprise shout to be Slot’s next Trent-style figure.

Liverpool's new Trent is in midfield

Liverpool haven’t just experienced a crisis in the full-back areas this season, with the aforementioned Mac Allister struggling in the midfield areas in patches this campaign, too.

He does look to have exited his slump now, with the winning goal against the visitors from Madrid. Dominik Szoboszlai, on the other hand, has only gone from strength to strength this season, even as meltdowns have occurred around him.

The Hungarian would live up to his reputation for being a dead-ball specialist – which saw him hammer home a glorious free-kick against Arsenal earlier this season – against Alexander-Arnold’s new employers, with Mac Allister ultimately thankful for the 25-year-old’s incisive eye for an assist.

The two-time Premier League title winner would, time after time, also come up trumps when taking his very own corner kicks and corners at Anfield, with Szoboszlai now taking on this role expertly, as seen in him already picking up three Champions League assists for the campaign.

Szoboszlai’s numbers vs Real Madrid

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

1

Touches

54

Shots

5

Accurate passes

30/39 (77%)

Key passes

3

Accurate crosses

3/3

Ball recoveries

6

Stats by Sofascore

Back in the bread and butter of the Premier League, Szoboszlai is in a league of his own in terms of progressive carries and crosses attempted.

Two standout characteristics of Alexander-Arnold’s expansive game in England, the Hungarian has registered 26 carries and 25 crosses already in 2025/26. That’s more than any midfielder in England’s top-flight this season.

Slot has even chucked the “unbelievable” number 8 – as he has glowingly labelled him – into the right-back spot on occasion this season, with their similarities almost becoming eerie at this point.

However, as was evidenced on Wednesday night, the 25-year-old can still be an influential figure – like the number 66 – from a number ten position.

More wins will no doubt be collected this season, off the back of Szoboszlai’s “genius” alone, as his former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp also labelled him.

Arne Slot has just unlocked Liverpool's new Coutinho vs Real Madrid

Liverpool may have unearthed their next Philippe Coutinho after getting the better of Real Madrid 1-0.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 5, 2025

الاتحاد الإسباني يعلن موقف دين هويسن من مباراة تركيا بعد إصابته

أصدر الاتحاد الإسباني بياناً رسمياً بشأن موقف مدافع ريال مدريد دين هويسن من اللحاق بمواجهة منتخب إسبانيا ضد تركيا في الجولة الأخيرة من تصفيات أوروبا المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026.

وأفادت صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية أنه تم استبعاد دين هويسن من قائمة منتخب إسبانيا بسبب مشاكل عضلية منعته من اللعب أمام منتخب جورجيا.

وأعلن الاتحاد الاسباني في بيان رسمي: “تم استبعاد دين هويسن من قائمة مباراة إسبانيا وتركيا في المباراة النهائية من تصفيات أوروبا المؤهلة لكأس العالم بسبب آلام عضلية أعاقته عن اللعب أمام جورجيا وقد تم إبلاغ ناديه بذلك”.

وأضاف البيان: “كالمعتاد حرصاً على صحة اللاعب وسلامته، قرر الاتحاد الاسباني إعفاء اللاعب من المواجهة القادمة”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. دي لا فوينتي: الاحترام يمنعنا من الاحتفال.. واتخذنا قرارًا مشتركًا مع ريال مدريد بشأن هويسن

وأكد الاتحاد الإسباني أنه لن يتم المخاطرة بأي لاعب خاصة بما تعرض له لامين يامال ونيكو ويليامز اللذين اضطرا للغياب عن فترة التوقف الدولي بسبب إصابتهما في الفخد.

يذكر أن هويسن قد اشتكى من ألم في مباراة ريال مدريد الأخيرة، لكنه تعافى وانضم لتدريباته، ولم يعاني من أي مشاكل حتى يوم الجمعة الماضي، حيث شعر بشد عضلي جديد، وتقرر الاستغناء عن خدماته في منتخب إسبانيا بعد غيابه ضد جورجيا ونظراً لعدم جاهزيته لمباراة تركيا.

Corinthians toma decisão sobre futuro de Raul Gustavo, Mandaca e Rodrigo Varanda

MatériaMais Notícias

A reformulação do elenco do Corinthians está a todo vapor. O clube definiu as saídas de Gil, Cantillo, Giuliano e Renato Augusto e já mapeia o mercado para fechar com cerca de dez reforços. Além disso, o presidente eleito, Augusto Melo, começa a definir o futuro dos jogadores que voltam de empréstimo ao Timão.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasVaivémGrêmio, Corinthians e São Paulo disputam atacante considerado ‘carrasco de clubes paulistas’Vaivém12/12/2023CorinthiansCorinthians abre negociações com o Benfica pela permanência em definitivo de Lucas VeríssimoCorinthians12/12/2023FlamengoEmpresário de Gabigol abre o jogo sobre renovação com o Flamengo e nega contatos com o CorinthiansFlamengo12/12/2023

+ Tudo sobre o Timão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Corinthians

O Lance! traz atualizações sobre Ivan, Raul Gustavo, Mandaca e outros atletas emprestados pelo Timão na temporada.

IVAN

Ivan não cumpriu as metas estabelecidas em contrato que ativariam uma obrigação de compra pelo Vasco. Com Cássio e Carlos Miguel garantidos para 2024, o Corinthians quer negociar o goleiro, e o Cruz-Maltino deseja contar com o atleta para a próxima temporada. Até o momento, os clubes não abriram negociações para um novo empréstimo.

RAUL GUSTAVO

O Bahia não irá exercer a opção de compra estipulada em contrato, e Raul Gustavo retornará ao Corinthians. Com poucas opções na zaga, o Timão vai reintegrar o zagueiro ao restante do elenco. Raul é bem avaliado pela nova diretoria e deve estar à disposição do técnico Mano Menezes para o Paulistão.

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+ Veja como ficou a tabela do Brasileirão após a última rodada

MANDACA

O volante foi emprestado até o final da temporada ao Juventude e foi importante no acesso do clube gaúcho à Série A. Mandaca não está nos planos do Corinthians para a próxima temporada, e o Timão busca um novo empréstimo. O Juventude está interessado e deve abrir negociações com o Corinthians.

RODRIGO VARANDA

Quem também não permanecerá no Corinthians é o atacante Rodrigo Varanda, que atuou por empréstimo no América-MG. Com contrato até janeiro de 2024 com o Timão, ele não terá o vínculo renovado e já tem pré-contrato com um clube brasileiro.

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Botafogo x Palmeiras: relembre as tretas entre os clubes após partida do Brasileirão

MatériaMais Notícias

John Textor, dono da SAF do Botafogo, ironizou o possível interesse do Palmeiras no atacante Júnior Santos. Essa não é a primeira vez que o clima esquenta nesta relação. Mas como tudo começou até chegar ao ponto que está hoje? Relembre com o Lance!.

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Após a derrota do Botafogo para o Palmeiras, no Campeonato Brasileiro, Textor desceu para a beira do gramado do Estádio Nilton Santos extremamente irritado e reclamou da arbitragem. O dono da SAF do Botafogo falou em “roubo”, “corrupção” e pediu a renúncia de Ednaldo Rodrigues, presidente da Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF).

➡️ Tudo sobre o Fogão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Botafogo

Não é para cartão vermelho, ele mudou o jogo. Isso é corrupção, isso é roubo. Por favor, me multem, Ednaldo, mas você precisa renunciar amanhã de manhã. É isso que precisa acontecer. Esse campeonato se tornou uma piada


John Textor.

CUTUCADA DE ABEL FERREIRA
Abel Ferreira elogiou John Textor após a vitória sobre o Botafogo, no Nilton Santos. No entanto, também deu uma indireta para o empresário.

continua após a publicidade

– Tenho a minha opinião (sobre as falas de Textor), mas se eu disser… Melhor não dizer. Já disse que é um dos melhores presidentes que está no Brasil. Mas o futebol tem disso, muitas emoções… Vocês viram o zagueiro do Botafogo chutando o microfone. São momentos intensos. Só sente quem está lá dentro. Ninguém sabe o que é ser mãe, só as mulheres. Porque sentem.

RELATÓRIO SOBRE MANIPULAÇÃO DE RESULTADOS
John Textor encomendou um relatório da Good Game!, empresa responsável por identificar manipulação de resultados e erros da arbitragem, que apontou uma decisão incorreta do árbitro com benefícios para o Atlético-MG. Na ocasião, o Galo venceu o Botafogo.

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PROVOCAÇÃO NAS REDES SOCIAIS
Após a confirmação de mais um título brasileiro para o Palmeiras, o clube provocou o Botafogo nas redes sociais. O Alviverde publicou um “relatório final” sobre a competição. Confira abaixo.

LEILA X TEXTOR
Em entreivsta ao “ge”, a presidente do Palmeiras, Leila Pereira, criticou as atitudes de John Textor. A dirigente chamou o dono da SAF do Botafogo de “desequilibrado”.

– Chega até a ser ridículo. Ele desprestigia, desvaloriza esse produto tão importante que é o futebol. Ele deveria ter mais serenidade. É uma parte de desequilíbrio do senhor John Textor.

Textor publicou uma resposta oficial. Relembre aqui.

Tudo sobre

BotafogoJohn TextorPalmeiras

الزمالك يوضح موقف عدي الدباغ من مباراة كايزر تشيفز في الكونفدرالية

قال عبد الناصر محمد مدير الكرة بنادي الزمالك إن الفلسطيني عدي الدباغ مهاجم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم غادر القاهرة عقب مباراة زيسكو الزامبي الأخيرة في بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الأفريقية، بعد حصوله على موافقة الجهاز الفني للمشاركة مع منتخب فلسطين أمام ليبيا في التصفيات المؤهلة لكأس العرب.

وتابع عبد الناصر للموقع الرسمي للزمالك: “جاء ذلك في ظل أهمية المباراة لمنتخب فلسطين للتأهل إلى كأس العرب وهو ما جعلنا نوافق حتى نرى الأشقاء في أفضل المحافل طالما بالإمكان المساعدة، كما أن اللاعب لن يتأخر عن بعثة الفريق الأبيض”.

وأضاف مدير الكرة أن اللاعب سيتواجد مع بعثة الزمالك في جنوب إفريقيا بشكل طبيعي غدٍ الأربعاء، بعدما تم إنهاء كافة الإجراءات له بالتنسيق بين الجانبين.

طالع|مواعيد مباريات فلسطين في كأس العرب 2025

وأوضح عبد الناصر محمد أنه تم وضع برنامج خاص للاعب لخوض تدريبات استشفائية فور وصوله لجنوب إفريقيا وسيكون جاهزًا لخوض مباراة كايزر تشيفز في الكونفدرالية.

وتغادر القاهرة في الحادية عشرة مساء اليوم الثلاثاء، بعثة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك متجهة إلى جنوب إفريقيا، استعدادًا لخوض مباراة كايزر تشيفز الجنوب إفريقي، في بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية، ويترأس البعثة أحمد خالد حسانين عضو مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك.

ويحل الزمالك ضيفًا على كايزر تشيفز الجنوب أفريقي في الجولة الثانية لدور المجموعات في الثالثة عصر السبت 29 نوفمبر الجاري باستاد بيتر موكابا بمدينة بولوكواني

Glamorgan return to top-flight return after Derby washout

County set to end 20 years of exile from Division One as rivals Derbyshire are unable to close gap

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay18-Sep-2025

The rain falls at Derby•Getty Images

Derbyshire 17 for 0 trail Glamorgan 259 (Carlson 94, Reece 4-67, Dal 3-29) by 242 runs Glamorgan are celebrating a return to the top tier of domestic cricket for the first time in 20 years after the Rothesay County Championship Division Two match against Derbyshire at Derby ended in a draw.For the second day running, rain prevented any play at the Central Co-op County Ground which meant third place Derbyshire could not overtake the Welsh County in second placeMiddlesex’s subsequent draw against Lancashire at Old Trafford confirmed that Glamorgan will be playing Division One cricket next season for the first time since 2005.They went into the last day already in a strong position but once rain throughout the morning washed out the first session, it was obvious Derbyshire’s slim hopes had gone.The decision to abandon the match was taken after a brief inspection by the umpires and both captains shortly before 12.30pm with Derbyshire taking 11 points and Glamorgan nine points from a game in which play was only possible on day two.Glamorgan end the season with a home game against Lancashire while Derbyshire travel to Canterbury to play Kent.

Hellberg starts instant Middlesbrough overhaul as Viveash handed new role

Closing in on his arrival, Kim Hellberg has already reportedly made the decision to overhaul Middlesbrough’s backroom staff and hand interim manager Adi Viveash a new role at the club.

The Swedish manager has already caused plenty of controversy around the Championship after he rejected Swansea City in favour of Boro in a late twist, and is now set to arrive in Teesside with the task of picking up where Rob Edwards left off.

Having reportedly paid £250k to secure his services, Boro will be hoping to see Hellberg get off to the perfect start, but to say he doesn’t have an easy start would be an understatement.

With Viveash set to remain in charge against Oxford United this Saturday, Hellberg’s first game in charge is likely to come against Championship leaders Coventry City. If nothing changes between now and that game, then Middlesbrough will be able to go within a point of the league leaders with victory on their manager’s debut.

It will be interesting to see how the 37-year-old sets his side up for that game. His preferred formation is a 4-2-3-1, which Boro played so often under Edwards and will now look to use to their advantage under a new manager. This should at least help ease any period of adjustment for all involved.

The Swede isn’t wasting any time before implementing other changes, however. Reports are now claiming that he’s already made an immediate staff overhaul involving interim boss Viveash.

Hellberg makes instant Viveash decision at Middlesbrough

According to Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, Hellberg has already appointed David Selini as his assistant manager and made the decision to keep Viveash on as a technical coach as part of a staff overhaul. The young coach has instantly got to work to make changes in an attempt to hit the ground running in Riverside.

It’s a new role that Viveash has more than earned. The Boro coach stepped up for the club when Edwards departed, leading them to a 2-1 victory over Birmingham City and there’s no doubt his presence will help to welcome Hellberg to the job.

Meanwhile, Selini is also an interesting appointment. The Hammarby assistant has only worked with Hellberg for over a year, but is now set to join him in the Championship at just 31 years old.

In Hellberg and his assistant, Selini, Boro have placed their trust in a young management team and must now hope that their gamble ends in the pay out of promotion.

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