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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes admits he feels "responsible" for Erik ten Hag's sacking and ended up apologising to the Dutchman.

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• Ten Hag sacked by Man United
• Bruno feels "responsible" for dismissal
• Says he "apologised" to Dutchman

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ten Hag was relieved of his duties at Old Trafford earlier this week, with United skipper Fernandes thanking the 54-year-old for what he did for the club. After the 30-year-old scored in his team's 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday, in his first Premier League goal of the season, the attacking midfielder admitted he bore some of the blame for Ten Hag's sacking.

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  WHAT BRUNO FERNANDES SAID

  He said on Sky Sports: "We know that Erik [ten Hag] has gone, it is not good for anyone at the club when the manager goes. The team is not the best, the results are not the best and he is the one who pays for it. Whenever you see a manager go you have to take some of the blame on yourself, it is because the team is not doing so well. It is easier to get rid of a manager than 15 players. I spoke to the manager [Ten Hag] and apologised to him, I was disappointed he has gone and I tried to help him. I wasn’t scoring goals, we are not scoring goals and I feel responsible. I normally score a lot of goals but I always gave 100%. He is aware of that."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Less than a week after Ten Hag was shown the door, Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim was confirmed as his successor. The 39-year-old has a huge job on his hands, with United currently 13th in the Premier League table and seemingly in a state of disarray.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Before Amorim is in the dugout for United's trip to Ipswich Town on November 24, interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy will be in charge for the games against PAOK in the Europa League on Thursday and then at home to Leicester City next Sunday in the Premier League.

There are reportedly growing tensions within Carlo Ancelotti's backroom staff following Real Madrid's difficult start to the season.

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• Real Madrid suffer underwhelming start to season
• Tensions rise in Ancelotti's backroom staff
• Physical preparation and injuries cause friction

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Real Madrid have not had the dream start to the season they had expected when they announced the signing of French superstar Kylian Mbappe over the summer. Instead, the season has been a bit of a disappointment so far as Los Blancos have not seemed to click and morale seems down in the entire camp, with talks of Ancelotti being sacked.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Injuries have also been a major issue for Real Madrid this season as they have suffered a total of 25 within just three months of the season starting. Ancelotti currently has nine players out injured in the form of David Alaba, Joan Martinez, Dani Carvajal, youth centre-back Jacobo Ramon, Eder Militao, Thibaut Courtois, Aurelien Tchouameni, Lucas Vazquez and Rodrygo. As per The Athletic, this has caused a sense of mistrust within the backroom staff towards the team’s physical preparation.

  Real Madrid's head of performance, Antonio Pintus, is responsible for the physical training but some consider his methods to be old-fashioned, while Jude Bellingham admitted last year that the fitness trainer "loves to kill us".

  However, sources close to Pintus believe the club’s intense schedule is one of the causes of their mounting injury woes.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  It has also been reported that Pintus’ relationship with head coach Ancelotti has become strained in recent months. The dressing room is said to believe that the problems between the two Italians is due to Pintus not taking responsibility for important decisions, including the recovery process of injured players. Furthermore, there are disagreements over the importance of the players' running metrics during matches.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

  Sources told The Athletic that Pintus' future at Valdebebas is currently up in the air as further strains between the coaching staff and physical trainers may break whatever sort of professional bond there is, and that could affect the team's morale further down the line.

Whilst new West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui will likely want to make improvements in every area of the pitch, it appears clear that the Hammers' top priority is to find new stars to bolster their backline.

Hammers eye defensive reinforcements during transfer window

The East London outfit have already managed to get one defender through the door with Max Kilman joining the club in a £40million move from fellow Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers. The English centre-back is joined by experienced goalkeeper Wes Foderingham who joined on a free transfer earlier this month.

West Ham enquire for £100k-p/w attacker who outscored Antonio last season

He’s a real handful for defenders just like Antonio.

By
Ben Browning

Jul 15, 2024

Whilst the Hammers have already enjoyed some success in the transfer market, they will have to continue their pursuit of new defenders following Ben Johnson's departure from the club after failing to agree on a new contract at the London Stadium. The right-back has gone on to join Premier League new boys Ipswich Town, leaving the Hammers with a void to fill in this area of the pitch.

West Ham's other player in this position Vladimir Coufal is also attracting interest with Turkish champions Galatasaray reportedly eager to sign the Czech defender.

With a new right back the likely next target for David Sullivan and co, it appears that West Ham have already started making enquiries about a highly-rated defender.

West Ham want Wan-Bissaka this summer

With a right back high on the Hammers' list of priorities this summer, Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke is now claiming that West Ham United have enquired about signing Man United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The outlet states that the Red Devils are willing to listen to offers for the 26-year-old during the transfer window with the defender's contract at Old Trafford set to expire next summer.

Wan-Bissaka first arrived at Man United in a £45million move from Crystal Palace back in 2019. Since then, the defender has gone on to make 190 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring two goals for the club during that time.

During his tenure at Old Trafford, the 26-year-old has earned plaudits for his work on the defensive front, impressing as a tough tackling defender in a modern game that values full-backs with an attacking edge. Speaking on Wan-Bissaka's abilities, Sky Sports pundit and former Man United right back Gary Neville spoke on the player's approach to defending:

“It’s a bit of an old fashioned approach because nowadays full backs are expected to be wingers, score goals, set up goals, take free kicks and penalties. This is a little bit of a throwback. I don’t think we have to try and say he needs to be something different.

"He’s an outstanding defensive right back – he could potentially be part of a back three – he’s a better defender than some of the attacking full backs, work on that.”

With Wan-Bissaka currently commanding a weekly wage of £90,000 per capology, now might be the right time to cut their losses on the defender and cash in on him while they still can.

At the beginning of last season, Tottenham Hotspur were electric, with James Maddison’s quality being a huge part of their early success – notably winning August's Player of the Month award as a result.

Unfortunately, his injuries prevented him from being able to remain quite at that level, with boss Ange Postecoglou missing his creativity at times throughout the campaign.

During his first campaign in north London, the former Leicester City star managed a tally of four goals and nine assists, but it wasn’t enough to secure a Champions League place for Spurs, as they registered a fifth-placed finish.

Maddison has cemented himself as a valuable member of Postecoglou’s squad, registering the third-most assists last term, with the 27-year-old hoping for an injury-free season in 2024/25.

He could further be boosted by the addition of one talented youngster, with Spurs plotting a move to sign another English prospect who enjoyed a brilliant campaign in the Premier League last time around.

Tottenham set to make offer for Premier League star

According to Argentinian outlet TyC Sports, Spurs are in negotiations with Aston Villa over a potential deal to sign forward Jacob Ramsey this summer.

The 23-year-old suffered terribly with injuries last season, restricting him to just 16 appearances, registering one goal and one assist for Unai Emery’s side.

The report claims that Postecoglou’s side are preparing a £19m bid with midfielder Giovani Lo Celso also included in a move that would take him to Villa Park.

The Argentine was rumoured with a move to the West Midlands last summer, but could yet move to Villa this time around, securing a reunion with Emery after their time together at Villarreal.

Despite his injury issues in recent times, Ramsey would be a phenomenal addition, potentially forming an excellent partnership with Maddison at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Why Ramsey & Maddison could form a dream partnership

The current Spurs midfielder has excelled in possession, gaining a reputation for his excellent ball-striking ability alongside his eye for an assist – as demonstrated by his tally of nine in the Premier League last season.

Despite his lowly goal and assist tally from 2023/24, Ramsey is a brilliant talent who could thrive in north London with Maddison’s talents alongside him.

The “sensational” Villa youngster, as described by journalist Seb Stafford-Bloor, averaged two shots and 3.1 shot-creating actions per 90 in 2023/24, showcasing his ability to create opportunities for himself and his teammates.

He likes to run forward with the ball at any given opportunity, averaging three progressive passes per 90 and 3.5 progressive carries, potentially allowing Maddison to be presented with more frequent opportunities to potentially increase his already impressive tally of goals and assists.

Ramsey’s best campaign in a Villa shirt came in the 2022/23 campaign, where the youngster contributed with six goals and eight assists – an example of his quality when not plagued with injury issues.

Postecoglou has already demonstrated he is capable of taking young prospects to the next level, with Brennan Johnson and Micky van de Ven thriving under his guidance last season.

He has the opportunity to replicate his successes with Ramsey this summer, with the rumoured £19m deal plus Lo Celso going in the opposite direction a great deal for all parties.

It would allow Ramsey to reach the next level in his already promising career, with Lo Celso able to reignite his professional career under a manager that he’s previously enjoyed a successful stint under.

Spurs target "mind-blowing" £25m marksman who'd revive Maddison

The incredible poacher would be a game-changer for the Lilywhites.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 19, 2024

The Italian tactician has used two entirely different line-ups in the league and cups, but there are the first signs of his approach causing issues

Enzo Maresca's Chelsea tenure has been relatively plain sailing to this point; the Blues have only lost to title challengers Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League, surpassing expectations to sit third in the table, and they have predictably cruised in the Conference League against inferior opposition.

A Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Newcastle in October is the only significant blip, but that will pale into insignificance if the Italian is able to deliver a return to the Champions League.

The major challenge facing him now, however, comes off the field as he tries to juggle a squad that is brimming with talent and top-level stars who expect to be playing every match.

Although he denies it is the reality, Maresca's solution so far has been using 'A' and 'B' teams, as he fields two entirely different line-ups in the league and cup. But as rumours of unsettled players begin to swirl, how long can that really go on?

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  Murmurs of discontent

  Maresca's approach of having two entirely separate line-ups for league and cup games was always likely to cause issues down the line, especially as transfer windows approach and the rumour mill begins to swirl. After all, no-one wants to be in the B team.

  The main focus of the first transfer rumours to cause a stir has been Christopher Nkunku, who has been linked with a January switch to Manchester United having apparently grown frustrated with a lack of Premier League game time despite being Chelsea's top scorer in all competitions.

  Rather surprisingly, Chelsea are said to simply want to recoup the £52 million ($65m) they paid for him in 2023 after an injury-plagued debut season at Stamford Bridge. Obviously these rumours should always be taken with a pinch of salt, but the idea of selling a player who clearly has the potential to be prolific as a regular starter should be out of the question – especially to a top-four rival.

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  'All one team'

  For his part, Maresca is insistent that there is no split between the squad as he put on a united front: "The reason why we make changes is not because we are the 'A team' or the 'B team' – we are all one team," he said in early November.

  "The only reason is because they all deserve to play. Some of them are playing Premier League games, some of them in the Conference League or Carabao Cup. But in one game or two games, it can change; the ones playing Carabao and Conference games can then play in the Premier League. We have 24 or 25 outfield players, and there is only one team, only one squad. What we try to do is to share minutes with all of them."

  He continued: "There are players that are fantastic players but for me, we don't have indispensable players. The reason we change players is because we think all the players are good. Some of them, for sure, are better than the rest, but it doesn't mean they are always going to play."

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  Inconsistencies?

  It is fair enough that Maresca wants to make his first-choice XI a meritocracy, but there has been a disparity between his words and his selections, with the likes of Marc Cucurella, Tosin Adarabioyo, Mykhailo Mudryk and Nkunku spending time out of the 'A team' despite playing well.

  Nkunku in particular will feel aggrieved having scored 10 times already this season. Maresca has stood steadfastly by the ever-improving Nicolas Jackson in the Premier League, and although he has been repaid with seven goals, there have been periods and even entire matches where the striker has gone missing and could have been replaced earlier.

  Chelsea's back-up centre-forward saw just 11 minutes of domestic action in November despite Jackson only really making an impact in one game, with his goal and strong display at Leicester. Essentially, Conference League goals clearly aren't enough for Nkunku to play his way into the team, so he finds himself in limbo.

  Enzo Fernandez will be an interesting case from this point onwards. He seized his opportunity last time out against Leicester, scoring and assisting in the 2-1 win, having regained his Premier League place mainly as a result of a knock to Romeo Lavia. What Maresca does with him now may well set the tone.

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  Juggling egos

  Nkunku's frustration is understandable – he would be a guaranteed starter for a host of leading clubs across Europe and shouldn't have to settle for starts in what have been, to this point, glorified training matches in the Conference League. His form deserves more.

  The Frenchman has shown in the past by leaving boyhood club Paris Saint-Germain behind for RB Leipzig in search of first-team football that he is not willing to be overlooked in the long-term, and that is the risk that Maresca runs.

  Elsewhere in a loaded attack, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Jadon Sancho and Joao Felix have all demonstrated that they are big egos, with the latter two both falling out with their previous managers over a lack of game time at Manchester United and Atletico Madrid, respectively.

  Chelsea's Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Newcastle complicated matters further, with even fewer minutes on offer for a squad packed with talent. At the moment it feels as though Chelsea and Maresca are in something of a honeymoon period, but the situation is a ticking time bomb.

Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has given his verdict on Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford to reunite with Ruben Amorim.

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• Meulensteen discusses Ronaldo's return to Man Utd
• Former Man Utd coach thinks 'that ship has sailed'
• Believes Ronaldo only has two more incentives to continue

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ronaldo returned to Manchester United in 2021 after ending his stint with Juventus. However, the return of the Old Trafford fan favourite did not go as smoothly as the Portugal captain would have expected, despite scoring 27 goals and providing five assists in 53 games. After a rather public dispute with Erik ten Hag in the winter of 2022, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner parted ways with the Red Devils and joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr as a free agent.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Former Manchester United coach Meulensteen has now discussed the chances of Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford to reunite with his former Portugal team-mate and current Red Devils manager Amorim. However, the Dutchman believes "the ship has sailed" in any hopes seeing CR7 back in the famous red shirt for a third time. Meulensteen also listed a few reasons why the Portugal international is not keen on returning to Europe.

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  WHAT MEULENSTEEN SAID

  Speaking to TribalFootball.com, Meulensteen said: "Cristiano Ronaldo back to Manchester United? I think that ship has sailed. There is speculation because of his relationship with Ruben Amorim and it is an intriguing idea, but I can’t see it happening."

  He continued: "Cristiano Ronaldo could’ve had another two years playing in Europe, but I think that he only wanted to join a team who had a good chance of winning the Champions League."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

  The Portugal international remains a key part of Al-Nassr's Saudi Pro League project. With the overall quality of the Saudi Pro League outside of a few clubs, the goals keep flowing for Ronaldo. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is currently 96 goals away from breaking the barrier of 1,000 goals and it is unlikely that he will retire before the landmark is reached.

A Leeds United star who was a regular under Daniel Farke last season has agreed terms to leave the club this summer.

Players to leave Leeds this summer

It has been a busy few weeks at Elland Road, with the transfer focus so far mainly being on outgoings. The Whites have signed Joe Rodon, Joe Rothwell and Alex Cairns but have let go a number of players, with midfielder Glen Kamara the latest to leave.

Kamara explained why he chose to sign for Ligue 1 side Rennes, saying: “I had very good first contacts with the managers. I came here because the club has ambition. I know that it was built in particular thanks to the training of great players, it is a talent factory. I hope my experience will help to have the best possible season. There are plenty of assets here to succeed.”

As can be seen, the Elland Road summer departure list is already in double figures and could increase with talks being held for Rasmus Kristensen to leave for Eintracht Frankfurt. Now, by the looks of things, a first-team ace who featured heavily last season could soon join that list.

Junior Firpo agrees terms with Real Betis

According to a report out of Spain, Leeds United left-back Junior Firpo has agreed personal terms with Real Betis, who have already dealt with the Whites in moves for Marc Roca and Diego Llorente.

It is stated that Firpo is even giving up a percentage of his £60,000-a-week Leeds salary to return to Betis, where he began his professional career.

An agreement still needs to be reached with Leeds for Firpo’s signature, but a move back to Betis where he impressed and earned a move to Barcelona appears to be in the pipeline.

The 27-year-old has made 84 senior appearances after joining in a £13m deal from Barcelona back in 2021, with 33 of those games coming under Farke last season. Firpo also praised Farke in April, admitting he is the Leeds manager who has suited him the most.

“For me he has been unbelievable. I think he is the manager that suits better my style of play, out of all of the managers I have had here. It is not just because he is here now. It is the truth because of how he thinks about full-backs or how full-backs can play.

“I think the same for them [Rutter and Gruev] about how he thinks about football. He suits us a lot. I was like before that, I want to see how he works against Premier League teams because it is different, but then we went to Chelsea and it worked quite well. We still looked really good, so I love it.”

Firpo made the left-back spot his own, especially in the second half of the campaign, and started the Wembley playoff final defeat to Southampton. That could prove to be his final outing as a Leeds player, making a move to Betis one to watch.

Rangers are reportedly keen on getting two key pieces of transfer business over the line in the remaining days of the transfer window, as they gear up to take on Dynamo Kyiv in a two-legged Champions League qualifier.

Superb summer at Rangers but Hearts draw frustrating

The Gers have had a summer to remember in the transfer market, signing as many as nine new players and significantly strengthening the depth at Philippe Clement's proposal. The most recent of those was Robin Propper, who has arrived as an experienced addition to the defence, making 223 appearances in the Eredivisie during his career.

The signing of Propper is just the tip of the iceberg, however, with Mohamed Diomande joining on a permanent basis after spending last season on loan at Ibrox and Oscar Cortes staying on for another season from Lens.

Other transfer rumours continue to emerge as well, with Tyrese Campbell being eyed up as an exciting free agent, following his exit from Stoke City after six years at the club. Still only 24, the attacker registered 57 goal contributions in 164 appearances for the Potters.

Last Saturday's 0-0 draw away to Hearts was a disappointing way for Clement's men to begin their 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season, however, as they immediately lost ground on rivals Celtic on the opening weekend. While great business has been done at Rangers, it further highlighted the need for even more quality, and it looks as though that could happen.

Clement wants two key signings at Rangers

According to a new claim from Football Insider, Clement wants to add two attacking players to his Rangers squad this summer, as the spending continues in the current transfer window. The report states that the Gers boss is after a "top-class striker and winger" before the end of the month, even though they have have already signed Hamza Igamane and Vaclav Cerny for those positions.

This is encouraging to hear for Rangers fans, even though signing too many players can have the potential to upset the rhythm of the squad, almost giving Clement too many options.

A continued lack of firepower was clear to see at Hearts – they only had three shots on target and five in total – with Abdallah Sima not around after a strong loan spell at Ibrox last season, so it is only right that the Gers should focus on the two aforementioned positions.

Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland arguably stands out as the perfect option for Rangers in the coming weeks, not only because of his ruthlessness, but also due to being a boyhood Gers supporter. He topped the Scottish Premiership scoring charts last season, finishing six goals clear of second-placed Matt O'Riley, and is so experienced that he shouldn't be daunted by playing for one of Britain's biggest clubs.

Rangers could sign £5m machine who is more clinical than Dessers

Philippe Clement must sign another striker before the end of the transfer window…

By
Ross Kilvington

Aug 6, 2024

If Clement managed to bring in Shankland and Campbell, with the latter more of a wide player, it could make a world of difference, ensuring they don't slip up in similar fashion as the season goes on.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hit back at suggestions he is not starting Kevin De Bruyne due to a rift with his star midfielder.

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• De Bruyne struggling for minutes at City
• Claims of a rift between player and manager
• Pep hits back and explains situation

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  De Bruyne has only made four Premier League starts this season for Manchester City, while his last five appearances have all been off the bench after returning from injury. The Belgian's lack of meaningful minutes has led pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher to question the situation. Neville has claimed De Bruyne's lack of game time is "unusual, bizarre, strange" and Carragher has insisted "something is going on" between the pair at City.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  De Bruyne is also facing an uncertain future at Manchester City. The 33-year-old is into the final year of his contract and has confirmed negotiations with the club have now been put on hold. It's therefore no surprise to see Guardiola quizzed on the current situation with De Bruyne, and the City boss has hit back, rather sarcastically, at claims he's fallen out with his midfield superstar.

• WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

  He told reporters: "People say I've got a problem with Kevin. Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? No, I don't want Kevin to play. The guy who has the most talent in the final third. I don't want it. I have a personal problem with him after nine years together. He's delivered to me the biggest success to this club. But he's been five months injured and two months injured. He's 33-years-old. He needs time to find his best. Like last season, step by step. He'll try to do it and feel better. I'm desperate to have his best.

  "I'd love to have the Kevin in his prime — 26 or 27. He would love it too. But he is not 26 or 27 anymore. He had injuries in the past, important and long ones. He is a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy. He played in 10 or 11 seasons a lot of games. I know he is desperate to help us, he gives glimpses of brilliance that only he can have. But always I said, he himself will not solve our problems. Like Erling [Haaland] won't solve it himself. We attack and defend together. We want the best players back. Hopefully step by step the confidence will come back and we'll get the best of all of us."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Manchester City have failed to score in their last two Premier League matches against Liverpool and Tottenham. They haven't gone three in a row without finding the back of the net since March 2008.

The Sporting KC president and CEO was given the league's top honor for business recognition

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• Reid wins 2024 MLS Executive of the Year
• Credited with renovations to Children's Mercy Park
• Brought capacity crows for SKC

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Jake Reid helped make Kansas City into a soccer hub in 2024, and as a result, the Sporting KC President and CEO was named this year's Major League Soccer Executive of the Year award, the league announced Monday.

  Reid accomplishments in 2024 included significant renovations to Children's Mercy Park, Sporting's home stadium, with the team adding new videoboards and LED sports lighting. The team has a new downtown office, and the business operations staff has doubled since his arrival in 2010. As a result of these changes and growth, Sporting KC was able to set some new milestones this year.

  The club had the largest attended soccer match in North America, working with its NFL neighbor, the Kansas City Chiefs to host Lionel Messi's Inter Miami at Arrowhead Stadium with a capacity crowd of 72,610. The team also hosted its first Copa America match at Children's Mercy Park this summer and its first set of college football games, with Kansas Football playing two NCAA Division I football games at the stadium with sold out crowds.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Sporting KC were the second-worst team in MLS's Western Conference last season, but it didn't stop the team from finding commercial success, which likely played a factor in Reid winning the award.

  In addition to all of the club success mentioned, Reid also serves on the KC2026 Board for the FIFA World Cup, the Kansas City Sports Commission Board, and leads The Victory Project, which won Community Champion recognition. Reid’s efforts to strengthen Kansas City's status, in his view, as the "Soccer Capital of America" have drawn praise from civic leaders, team owners, and local organizations.

  “Jake’s commitment to our community and his collaborative leadership have been instrumental in many history-making soccer milestones in our region, including our efforts as a Host City for the FIFA World Cup 26,” says Pam Kramer, CEO of KC2026 in a statement. “I respect him as a leader and a friend and I’m thrilled to see this well-earned recognition from Major League Soccer.“

• WHAT THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS SAID

  “On behalf of the entire Kansas City Chiefs organization, I’d like to congratulate Jake Reid on being named Major League Soccer’s Executive of the Year,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said in a statement. “He has worked extremely hard to innovate for Sporting KC and their fans, promote and grow the game of soccer, and advocate for the greater Kansas City region. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Jake for a number of years and am personally thrilled that he’s earned this well-deserved honor."

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• WHAT KANSAS CITY'S MAYOR SAID

  "On behalf of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and KCK, we congratulate Sporting KC President/CEO Jake Reid for being named Major League Soccer’s Executive of the Year," said Mayor/CEO Tyrone A. Garner in a statement. “This achievement is a true testament to Mr. Reid’s incredible dedication, vision, and leadership. His hard work and commitment to excellence have not only shaped the success of Sporting KC and our region, but also to the game of soccer itself. Once again, congratulations on this well-deserved honor."