Ex-Manchester United midfielder Philip Mulryne has been ordained as a deacon in the Catholic Church. Mulryne, who picked up 27 caps for Northern Ireland, was ordained on Saturday by the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin. The 38-year-old is a member of the Dominican Order and is expected to be ordained as a priest next year. Mulryne made his debut for Man Utd in 1997, before moving to Norwich City and later Leyton Orient.
Marco Van Basten (Football) – former Holland striker and head coach, three times European Footballer of the Year, turns 52 today.
Dunga (Football) – Brazil World Cup winner and national team coach Dunga celebrates his 53rd birthday today.
Marcus Rashford (Football) – Manchester United and England young striker, turns 19 today.
Matt Dawson (Rugby) – The former Wasps, England and Lions scrum-half, now a captain on ‘A Question of Sport,’ is 44 today.
Cristiano Ronaldo had quite the view as he stepped up to take his spot-kick against Alaves. Whereas most fans would try to put the opposition taking a penalty off by screaming and waving – these La Liga supporters are using the more private parts of their anatomy to district Cristiano Ronaldo . One chap, who isn’t wearing his shirt, has pulled down his trousers and presented his chap to the three-time Ballon d’Or winner. But he doesn’t just leave it dangling there, he’s making sure Ronaldo gains every inch of his attention by waving it around – and rather vigorously so. Who knows if the Real Madrid star saw it or not it, but it didn’t seem to affect Ronaldo who tucked away his penalty neatly.
The Barcelona FC team dressed in denim have arrived Manchester ahead of their UEFA Champions League game with Manchester City tomorrow at the Etihad Stadium. City lost 4 – 0 to Barca when the two teams met at the Nou Camp. The Barcelona team will stay at the five-star Lowry Hotel, sleeping under the same roof as the Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho. Tomorrow will be yet another opportunity for Guardiola to try and win his former club. He has lost to Barca at previous meetings. See more pictures after the cut.
Real Madrid defender Pepe is likely to be out for several weeks with a hamstring injury and could miss El Clasico. The 33-year-old Portugal defender was injured during the first half of Saturday’s 4-1 win over Alaves. Real confirmed Pepe “has been diagnosed with a grade two muscle injury in the femoral biceps of his left leg”. Spanish newspaper reports claim he is likely to be out for four to six weeks. Real face city rivals Atletico Madrid on 19 November and meet Barcelona on the first weekend of December.
Manchester United have shared some pictures of their latest training session – and it looks as though Bastian Schweinsteiger is back in the mix. He’s pictured alongside his teammates, complete with a bobble hat, as they prepare for Thursday’s Europa League game against Fenerbahce. Schweinsteiger had been training on his own after being told he wasn’t going to be picked by Jose Mourinho. Mourinho left him out of European squad and club wrote him off financially as a first team squad player last month in last set of accounts. More pictures after the cut.
Obafemi Martins’ move to China hasn’t always been smooth, but it has been undeniably lucrative and it’s about to get even more so. The former Seattle Sounders forward has reportedly signed a contract extension that will keep him at Shanghai Shenhua through 2017 and net him about $9 million. If Martins were still playing in MLS he’d need to be paid about $12-15 million in order to net that much, almost double what the highest paid players in the league get. It’s enough to put him safely in the Top 10 among the top paid players in the English Premier League.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte hailed the performances of Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses at wing-back as being key to his side’s strong run of form. The duo made vital contributions in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Southampton at St Mary’s, with Moses providing the assist for Eden Hazard’s opening goal. Alonso, who Conte signed from Fiorentina in August, is an established left-back but he has proved effective in a more advanced role, while Moses has defied his reputation as a fringe player by cementing his place in Chelsea’s starting line-up this season. Conte, who has utilised a 3-4-3 formation during Chelsea’s run of four consecutive Premier League victories, said: “This role is very important in this system because you must have good stamina and quality to play as a wing-back. “I ask my wing-backs to attack and defend. I think Moses is a great surprise in this aspect because we know him as a winger but I think he is playing in a fantastic way. “For Alonso it wasn’t easy to go into the English league and to play in this way.” Conte suggested that his squad contains enough strength in depth to use wing-backs throughout the season, adding: “We have to continue but I think Pedro can also play in this role, like Moses. “More defensively, [Branislav] Ivanovic or [Ola] Aina can play as wing-backs, but I’m pleased because I’m seeing a lot of positive things.”
French Ligue 1 outfit, Marseille, are exploring the possibility of signing John Mikel Obi from Chelsea during the winter transfer window, according to TuttoMercatoWeb. The Nigeria captain has entered the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge, so is due to become a free agent next summer. That situation is likely to leave Chelsea open to offers in January, with Mikel having fallen out of favour again under Antonio Conte. His present condition at Chelsea is not unconnected to his decision to exit pre-season and proceed to Rio Olympics to represent Nigeria and which did not go down well with Conte. The 29-year-old has spent 10 years with the Blues, making well over 350 appearances and collecting numerous major honours, but it appears his days in west London are numbered.
Novak Djokovic is ready to fight for his world number one status as Andy Murray heads into this week’s Paris Masters looking to overtake the Serb. Murray, 29, won his third title in as many weeks with victory in Vienna on Sunday and could top the rankings with another good run in Paris. Four-time champion Djokovic says he is rejuvenated after a slump in form. “It makes me want to go on court and fight for every point because there is something to win at the end,” he said. The 12-time Grand Slam champion returns to action after losing in the Shanghai semi-finals two weeks ago. Djokovic, 29, has finished four of the past five years as the world number one and will hold on to the top ranking if he reaches the final in Paris. However, failure to do so would allow Murray to overtake him if the Scot can win, or if Murray reaches the final and Djokovic falls before the semis.
Saturday 29th October, 2016:
Sunderland 1 – 4 Arsenal
Manchester United 0 – 0 Burnley
Middlesbrough 2 – 0 Bournemouth
Tottenham 1 – 1 Leicester
Watford 1 – 0 Hull City
West Brom 0 – 4 Manchester City
Crystal Palace 2 – 4 Liverpool
Sunday 30th October, 2016:
Everton 2 – 0 West Ham
Southampton 0 – 2 Chelsea
Monday 31st October, 2016:
Stoke City 3 – 1 Swansea
Real Madrid and Wales forward Gareth Bale has extended his contract with the Spanish giants until 2022. The 27-year-old arrived at the Bernabeu from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur on a six-year deal in 2013 for a then world record fee of £85m. He has helped Real win five trophies in the past three seasons, including the Champions League twice, and scored 62 goals in 135 appearances. Midfielders Luka Modric and Toni Kroos have also signed new deals this month. Bale’s contract is reportedly worth £600,000 per week, £350,000 after tax.
Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr has named his 24-man squad for next month’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Algeria in Uyo. Judging from the last squad that played against Zambia, there are recalls for Oghenekaro Etebo, Victor Moses, Odion Ighalo, John Ogu, Dele Alampasu and Leon Balogun. Tyronne Ebuehi is being called up for the first time.
The Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC Ifeanyi Ubah, Nigeria); Dele Alampasu (FC Cesarense, Portugal)
Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); William Troost-Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway); Kenneth Omeruo (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Uche Henry Agbo (Granada FC, Spain); Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands); Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Musa Muhammed (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey); Elderson Echiejile (Standard Liege, Belgium), Kingsley Madu (SV Zulte Waregem, Belgium)
Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense, Portugal); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Brown Ideye (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England)
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