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Emery Hoping Magic of Europe Can Kickstart Villa’s Season

Football - UEFA Europa League - Aston Villa Press Conference - Bodymoor Heath Training Ground, Bodymoor Heath, Britain - September 24, 2025 Aston Villa manager Unai Emery during the press conference. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - UEFA Europa League - Aston Villa Press Conference - Bodymoor Heath Training Ground, Bodymoor Heath, Britain - September 24, 2025 Aston Villa manager Unai Emery during the press conference. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Emery Hoping Magic of Europe Can Kickstart Villa’s Season

Football - UEFA Europa League - Aston Villa Press Conference - Bodymoor Heath Training Ground, Bodymoor Heath, Britain - September 24, 2025 Aston Villa manager Unai Emery during the press conference. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - UEFA Europa League - Aston Villa Press Conference - Bodymoor Heath Training Ground, Bodymoor Heath, Britain - September 24, 2025 Aston Villa manager Unai Emery during the press conference. (Action Images via Reuters)

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will hope another big European night can ignite his team after a poor start to the season in which they are yet to win a Premier League game.

Spaniard Emery returns to the Europa League on Thursday - a competition he has won four times - when his team host Bologna under the Villa Park lights in their opening group match.

Villa also hosted the Italian team in last season's Champions League, winning 2-0, but now find themselves in Europe's secondary club tournament.

The excitement may not quite be the same as last season when Villa played in the top level of European club competition for the first time since 1982-83, but for Emery it remains special.

"It is fantastic to play in Europe. I really love playing in Europe and I am so grateful that Aston Villa is giving me the project to play in Europe," said Emery, who won the Europa League three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal.

"I told the players, for me, Europe is always a dream. To share it with the supporters - two years ago in the Conference League, Villa Park was always amazing. Last year in the Champions League, the same," he added in his pre-match press conference.

"I think the supporters will be excited about this competition as well, like I am."

Despite their poor start to the season in which they have scored once in five Premier League games, Villa will be regarded as one of the favourites for the Europa League, the winners of which earn a place in next season's Champions League.

"Our aim is to get in the top eight positions and we're starting tomorrow," Emery said.

Defender Ezri Konsa said Villa's start has not been good enough but denied there had been crisis meetings and hopes they can turn the page on Thursday.

"Things haven't been good so far for us this season, but there are blips in a season and we're going through that now," the England international said.

"Hopefully we can move on from that. We've been in these positions before. Last season we went eight games without a win, so we know what it takes to get that win."

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Sports

Guardiola Says Man City Have Not Trained Ahead of FA Cup Final Amid Tight Schedule

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola greets fans at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace in Manchester, England, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola greets fans at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace in Manchester, England, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP)
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Guardiola Says Man City Have Not Trained Ahead of FA Cup Final Amid Tight Schedule

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola greets fans at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace in Manchester, England, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola greets fans at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace in Manchester, England, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said on ‌Friday he would have preferred seven days to prepare for the FA Cup final like opponents Chelsea, but acknowledged the compressed schedule is the price of success in other domestic competitions.

With City also winning the League Cup this season, their schedule has been tight with Premier League and FA Cup games in the home stretch of the season as they chase a domestic treble.

City are two points behind Arsenal in the Premier League and Guardiola said their rushed preparation after beating Crystal Palace on Wednesday has been far from ideal ahead of Saturday's final at Wembley Stadium.

"I would prefer to ‌have seven ‌days like Chelsea had but when you reach the ‌final ⁠of the Carabao ⁠Cup (League Cup) and you win one of these domestic trophies, then you have less days," Guardiola told reporters.

"The schedule is what it is. Of course, it's not ideal but we did it in the past and we'll have to do it tomorrow. The big clubs, when you are in more difficult circumstances than the opponent, you do extra to try to do ⁠it.

"It's not the perfect scenario to prepare for the ‌final because we didn't train absolutely anything ‌since Crystal Palace. But I rely a lot on what we have to do ‌and we're going to try."

CITY'S FOURTH STRAIGHT FA CUP FINAL

City have ‌reached their fourth straight FA Cup final but Guardiola said he hopes they can "do better than the last two times" and make their fans proud after losing to Manchester United in 2024 and Crystal Palace last year.

"The message (to the players) is ‌how we have to move, run, play against Chelsea to beat them," he said.

"It is the FA Cup ⁠final at ⁠Wembley with two prestigious clubs, with our fans that make an incredible effort to come down to London - which today is not cheap - and try to perform as good as possible to win."

Wembley holds a special place in Guardiola's heart, having won the Champions League title at the stadium with Barcelona while he has led City 24 times to the iconic arena.

"I'm so disappointed with English football for not making (renaming) a stand for Pep... So many times I've been there, so at least a lounge or a box," he joked.

"Maybe I need to go 24 more times. It's been a special place, definitely."

Guardiola said they will make a late fitness call on midfielder Rodri while the rest of the squad is fit.

Sports

Beckham Becomes First British Billionaire Sportsman

David Beckham. (Reuters)
David Beckham. (Reuters)
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Beckham Becomes First British Billionaire Sportsman

David Beckham. (Reuters)
David Beckham. (Reuters)

Former Manchester United and England star David Beckham has become Britain's first billionaire sportsman, according to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List.

Beckham and his wife Victoria's collective wealth reached an estimated £1.185 billion ($1.583 billion) this year, the Rich List compilers said.

That moved them into second place in the list of the UK's wealthiest sportspeople, behind the family of ex-Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, whose wealth was valued at £2 billion.

Beckham, who retired from playing in 2013, is a co-owner of Inter Miami, estimated to be Major League Soccer's most valuable club at £1.07 billion.

The 51-year-old also has lucrative brand ambassador roles for companies including Adidas and Hugo Boss.

Beckham captained England and won the Premier League and Champions League during a glittering career with United, before spells at Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.

Victoria Beckham's wealth has largely been generated from her fashion label after she originally found fame as a member of pop band The Spice Girls.

Joining Beckham on the Rich List, seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton is fifth on the list, having built a fortune the Rich List calculated at £435 million.

Reigning Masters golf champion Rory McIlroy is seventh with a £325 million valuation.

Boxer Anthony Joshua is placed at eighth with a fortune of £240 million, one place above his heavyweight rival Tyson Fury, who is ninth on £162 million.

Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane and retired former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray are joint 10th with £110 million each.

Among business people with sporting associations, Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe has dropped down the overall Rich List.

His fortune shrank by £1.85 billion, according to the list compilers, to £15.194 billion.

The list compilers lowered the value of Ratcliffe's petrochemicals company INEOS to £17 billion owing to "rising debt, falling revenues and a loss of £515.7 million".

Promoters Barry and Eddie Hearn have joined Britain's billionaire club, with their combined wealth estimated at £1.035 billion.

Barry is the founder and president of Matchroom Sport, one of the leading promoters in boxing, darts and snooker, while his son Eddie is chairman of the organization.

Sports

Coleman to Leave Everton at End of Season after 17 Years

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Southampton - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 18, 2025 Everton's Seamus Coleman reacts after being substituted after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Southampton - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 18, 2025 Everton's Seamus Coleman reacts after being substituted after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
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Coleman to Leave Everton at End of Season after 17 Years

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Southampton - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 18, 2025 Everton's Seamus Coleman reacts after being substituted after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Southampton - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 18, 2025 Everton's Seamus Coleman reacts after being substituted after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Seamus Coleman will bring the curtain down on his 17-year Everton career at the end of the season when his contract expires, the Premier League club said on Friday.

The 37-year-old right back, who joined from Irish side Sligo Rovers in January 2009, holds the club record for most Premier League appearances with 372 from his 433 games across all competitions.

"After more than 17 years ⁠at this great ⁠football club, I've decided this season will be my last as a player here," AFP quoted Coleman as saying in a statement.

"I want to thank the fans for their unbelievable support. You've helped me in more ⁠ways than you could imagine. I've always tried my best to put Everton Football Club first and you all mean the world to me."

He captained the side in 140 games, earning admiration from supporters who valued his commitment.

However, injuries have limited the defender's impact in recent seasons, with just one Premier League start this campaign – ⁠a ⁠brief 10-minute appearance against Manchester United before being substituted.

Coleman said he would take time during the close season to consider his future, with Everton offering him the option of a coaching role.

"To think I've gone on to make the most Premier League appearances for Everton and to become captain of this great football club – it was beyond my wildest dreams," he said.