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South Korea Replaces Klinsmann with Asian Games-winning Coach Hwang

U-23 Korean national team head coach Hwang Sun-hong speaks at the Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea on Oct. 8, 2023. (Kim Geun-soo/Newsis via AP)
U-23 Korean national team head coach Hwang Sun-hong speaks at the Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea on Oct. 8, 2023. (Kim Geun-soo/Newsis via AP)
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South Korea Replaces Klinsmann with Asian Games-winning Coach Hwang

U-23 Korean national team head coach Hwang Sun-hong speaks at the Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea on Oct. 8, 2023. (Kim Geun-soo/Newsis via AP)
U-23 Korean national team head coach Hwang Sun-hong speaks at the Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea on Oct. 8, 2023. (Kim Geun-soo/Newsis via AP)

Jurgen Klinsmann's successor as South Korea coach is former international Hwang Sun-hong.
Hwang will take temporary charge of the team for at least two 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Thailand in March, the Korea Football Association said on Tuesday.
He led the under-23 team to gold at the Asian Games last October and has also coached in the domestic league with Seoul, Busan IPark and Pohang Steelers. The former international scored 50 goals for South Korea.
“Hwang has recently demonstrated his achievements with his team’s victory at the Hangzhou Asian Games,” said Jung Hae-sung, the new chief of the KFA national team committee. “He also has experience in international competitions and an understanding of Asian soccer.”
The KFA is expected to name a full-time coach before World Cup qualification continues in June with games against Singapore and China.
Klinsmann was dismissed on Feb. 16, 10 days after Korea lost to Jordan in the semifinals of the Asian Cup. He was widely criticized for his strategy on the field and working methods off it.

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Wawrinka Brings Career to a Close with Defeat in Basel

Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka greets the fans after his final match in his career after losing the Round of 32 match against Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka at the Swiss Indoors Basel tennis tournament, in Basel, Switzerland, 27 October 2026. EPA/CLAUDIO THOMA
Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka greets the fans after his final match in his career after losing the Round of 32 match against Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka at the Swiss Indoors Basel tennis tournament, in Basel, Switzerland, 27 October 2026. EPA/CLAUDIO THOMA
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Wawrinka Brings Career to a Close with Defeat in Basel

Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka greets the fans after his final match in his career after losing the Round of 32 match against Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka at the Swiss Indoors Basel tennis tournament, in Basel, Switzerland, 27 October 2026. EPA/CLAUDIO THOMA
Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka greets the fans after his final match in his career after losing the Round of 32 match against Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka at the Swiss Indoors Basel tennis tournament, in Basel, Switzerland, 27 October 2026. EPA/CLAUDIO THOMA

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka played the final match of his career in front of home fans on Tuesday, bidding farewell to the sport following a 7-5 7-6(2) defeat by Czech Jiri Lehecka at the Swiss Indoors in Basel.

Wawrinka announced last year that he would retire at the end of the 2026 season, 24 years after he turned professional.

The ⁠41-year-old defeated Rafa ⁠Nadal in the 2014 Australian Open final to win his first major, before claiming his other two Grand Slam crowns by beating Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2015 French ⁠Open and 2016 US Open.

"For me, all I wanted in my career was to give everything, to have no regrets, to always fight, to always give 100% in every match — out of respect for myself, for the opponent, for the tournament, for the fans, for everybody," Wawrinka told the ATP website, according to Reuters.

"That was always ⁠the ⁠most important thing for more than 20 years, and that's the only way you can leave the sport: without any regrets."

Wawrinka won 16 ATP titles and reached a career-high world ranking of number three in 2014. He also won Olympic doubles gold with Roger Federer in 2008 and helped deliver Switzerland's first Davis Cup title in 2014.

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Chelsea’s Joao Pedro Out for ‘a Few Weeks’, Says Alonso

24 October 2026, United Kingdom, London: Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso appears dejected on the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge. (dpa)
24 October 2026, United Kingdom, London: Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso appears dejected on the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge. (dpa)
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Chelsea’s Joao Pedro Out for ‘a Few Weeks’, Says Alonso

24 October 2026, United Kingdom, London: Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso appears dejected on the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge. (dpa)
24 October 2026, United Kingdom, London: Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso appears dejected on the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge. (dpa)

Chelsea forward ‌Joao Pedro is expected to be sidelined for a few weeks after suffering a thigh injury in training, manager Xabi Alonso said on Tuesday ahead of his side's League Cup clash with Liverpool.

The 25-year-old Brazilian missed Saturday's ‌defeat by ‌Tottenham Hotspur after ‌picking ⁠up the injury ⁠during a training session on Friday.

"He has an injury on his thigh and he is going to be out for a few weeks," ⁠Alonso told reporters. "Let's see ‌how many; ‌we don't want to predict on ‌that, but he's not ready ‌for the next games."

Pedro has made a bright start to the season, scoring five goals ‌and providing three assists in seven appearances across ⁠all ⁠competitions.

Alonso acknowledged the loss of the Brazil international but said Chelsea had the depth to cope with his absence.

Chelsea will face Liverpool on Wednesday in the League Cup last 16 and host Manchester United in the league on Saturday.

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Xhaka and Embolo to Return to International Duty After COVID Test Investigation

Football - Premier League - Sunderland v Leeds United - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - October 25, 2026 Sunderland's Granit Xhaka in action. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Sunderland v Leeds United - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - October 25, 2026 Sunderland's Granit Xhaka in action. (Reuters)
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Xhaka and Embolo to Return to International Duty After COVID Test Investigation

Football - Premier League - Sunderland v Leeds United - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - October 25, 2026 Sunderland's Granit Xhaka in action. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Sunderland v Leeds United - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - October 25, 2026 Sunderland's Granit Xhaka in action. (Reuters)

The Swiss Football Association (SFV) ‌said on Tuesday that Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo will be available for selection again next month, after completing an investigation into forged COVID-19 vaccination certificates acquired by the pair.

The SFV and Xhaka agreed that he would miss Switzerland's October Nations League fixtures with Scotland, Slovenia and North Macedonia, after the midfielder admitted to acquiring a fake certificate ‌in order to ‌be able to travel and ‌compete ⁠in 2022.

Forward Embolo ⁠was also dropped from the Switzerland squad later in September for the same reason.

"The SFV has examined the two cases comprehensively and has come to the conclusion that the return of the players after the conclusion ⁠of the legal proceedings and taking ‌into account the ‌sporting consequences (four missed international matches in September and October) ‌is justifiable," the SFV said in a ‌statement.

"We are convinced that a return to the national team in November is responsible and right," added national team director Pierluigi Tami.

Both Xhaka and ‌Embolo were given a suspended fine of 150,000 Swiss francs ($181,225), which will ⁠be ⁠in place for a probationary period of two years.

Xhaka apologized and took responsibility for his actions, calling it "a mistake".

The statement went on to confirm that Xhaka would not have the captaincy removed, highlighting that the decision remains with the team and the coach, Murat Yakin.

Switzerland face Slovenia and Scotland in their final two Nations League group games in November, and sit top of Group E with 12 points.