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Former Wolves Boss O'Neil Replaces Rosenior at Strasbourg

Wolverhampton Wanderers' head coach Gary O'Neil during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, at The London Stadium in London, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP)
Wolverhampton Wanderers' head coach Gary O'Neil during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, at The London Stadium in London, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP)
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Former Wolves Boss O'Neil Replaces Rosenior at Strasbourg

Wolverhampton Wanderers' head coach Gary O'Neil during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, at The London Stadium in London, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP)
Wolverhampton Wanderers' head coach Gary O'Neil during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, at The London Stadium in London, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP)

Racing Strasbourg have named former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Gary O'Neil as new manager to replace Liam Rosenior, who left to take over at Chelsea, the Ligue 1 ​club said on Wednesday.

O'Neil has been out of work since his sacking at Wolves in December 2024 and the 42-year-old Englishman will be in charge for Saturday's French Cup match away at Avranches.

"I am proud to join this incredible club and I can't wait to get started," O'Neil said in a statement.

"Racing has a unique history, ‌extraordinary passion, ‌great resilience and, of course, loyal ‌supporters ⁠who ​want ‌to see this team play beautiful football and succeed.

"We have a group of high-quality players and clear, ambitious goals for the season. My priority is to work hard with the team and give my all for the club's success."

Rosenior was announced as Chelsea's new coach on Tuesday, making the switch ⁠from Strasbourg to the Premier League side who are both part of the ‌same multi-club ownership structure.

The French club ‍was taken over by ‍the BlueCo consortium in 2023 and took Rosenior to ‍London to replace Enzo Maresca.

Maresca parted ways with Chelsea on New Year's Day after a poor run of form, winning one of their last seven league games to lose ground in the ​title race, and a falling out with the club owners.

O'Neil joined Bournemouth's backroom staff in 2021 and ⁠was appointed caretaker manager in August 2022 after the sacking of Scott Parker. He was made permanent coach in November but was sacked at the end of the season despite avoiding relegation.

In August 2023, O'Neil signed a three-year contract at Wolves and led them to a 14th place finish in the Premier League in his first season. But he was sacked in December 2024 after two wins from 16 games left them in the relegation zone.

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Martinelli Apologizes After Pushing Injured Bradley

Noni Madueke (C) of Arsenal pushes back Jeremie Frimpong of Liverpool who is approaching Gabriel Martinelli (R) of Arsenal during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC, in London, Britain, 08 January 2026. (EPA)
Noni Madueke (C) of Arsenal pushes back Jeremie Frimpong of Liverpool who is approaching Gabriel Martinelli (R) of Arsenal during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC, in London, Britain, 08 January 2026. (EPA)
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Martinelli Apologizes After Pushing Injured Bradley

Noni Madueke (C) of Arsenal pushes back Jeremie Frimpong of Liverpool who is approaching Gabriel Martinelli (R) of Arsenal during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC, in London, Britain, 08 January 2026. (EPA)
Noni Madueke (C) of Arsenal pushes back Jeremie Frimpong of Liverpool who is approaching Gabriel Martinelli (R) of Arsenal during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC, in London, Britain, 08 January 2026. (EPA)

Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli apologized to injured Liverpool right back Conor Bradley after trying to push him off the pitch near the end ​of the 0-0 draw on Thursday.

Bradley fell awkwardly near the touchline in stoppage time and Martinelli clearly thought he was time-wasting, throwing the ball at him before manhandling him.

Liverpool's players reacted angrily and after the ensuing melee, Martinelli and Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate were booked.

Northern Ireland full back Bradley was eventually taken off the field on a stretcher in obvious distress.

"Conor and I have messaged and I've ‌already apologized ‌to him. I really didn't understand he ‌was ⁠seriously ​injured in ‌the heat of the moment," Martinelli posted on social media.

"I want to say I'm deeply sorry for reacting. Sending Conor all my best again for a quick recovery."

Martinelli's actions were branded "disgraceful" and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville said the Arsenal forward had left him fuming.

"You cannot do that. That is so poor. I think an apology is needed," the ⁠former Manchester United defender said.

"Bradley is being stretchered off. I'm fuming with Martinelli, to be ‌honest. Disgraceful. I'm surprised a Liverpool player ‍hasn't gone over and whacked Martinelli ‍there!"

Fellow pundit Roy Keane also criticized the Brazilian forward.

"I didn't like ‍it. It's happened to me when I was badly injured and a player stood over me, and it's not good... I'm surprised the Liverpool players didn't react to Martinelli more. I think that behavior is an absolute ​disgrace. Not good scenes," Keane said.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said he "feared the worst" for Bradley, although he was measured ⁠in his criticism of Martinelli.

"I am 100% sure that if he knew what the injury might be, he wouldn't do that," the Dutchman said. "But it doesn't look great if Bradley has the injury we think he has.

"You don't like to see a player being moved if he might have an injury."

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said Martinelli would never have tried to move Bradley if he thought he was injured.

"Probably he doesn't know because knowing Gabi, there is zero intention," the Spaniard said.

"I don't know what happened to Conor, but hopefully it's not bad, but ‌obviously, there is no intention from Gabi to do anything bad to him."

Sports

Sabalenka Gets Revenge Over Keys in Repeat of Australian Open Final

Aryna Sabalenka (L) of Belarus signs autographs for fans after the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International tennis tournament at Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane, Australia, 09 January 2026. (EPA)
Aryna Sabalenka (L) of Belarus signs autographs for fans after the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International tennis tournament at Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane, Australia, 09 January 2026. (EPA)
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Sabalenka Gets Revenge Over Keys in Repeat of Australian Open Final

Aryna Sabalenka (L) of Belarus signs autographs for fans after the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International tennis tournament at Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane, Australia, 09 January 2026. (EPA)
Aryna Sabalenka (L) of Belarus signs autographs for fans after the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International tennis tournament at Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane, Australia, 09 January 2026. (EPA)

World number one Aryna Sabalenka sent an Australian Open warning as she beat Madison Keys on Friday in Brisbane in a repeat of last year's Melbourne final.

Keys stunned Sabalenka nearly 12 months ago but the Belarusian took revenge on the American with a statement 6-3, 6-3 victory to reach the semi-finals.

Keys was playing less than 24 hours after her marathon three-hour win over Russia's Diana Shnaider and had heavy strapping on her thigh.

She turned in an uncharacteristically error-strewn performance and struggled on serve as Sabalenka struck a series of superb returns.

Sabalenka, aiming for her third Melbourne title in four years when the Australian Open begins on January 18, said the Brisbane tournament was helping her find form ahead of the first major of the year.

"I'm just trying to bring on court things I have been working on the pre-season, such as coming to the net," she said.

"I was working on my serve and it seems that it's working a little bit better.

"I'm just trying to get some matches, get some wins, get the rhythm going again."

Sabalenka will play Czech surprise package Karolina Muchova in the last four after the 11th seed held her nerve to see off world number five Elena Rybakina 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.

Muchova raced through the first set against an out-of-sorts Rybakina, who eventually found some rhythm to claim the second.

But Muchova broke the former Wimbledon champion once in the third set to get over the line, helped by her opponent's 42 unforced errors.

Muchova has won her last three matches against Sabalenka, although the last was in 2024 at the China Open.

"If it's a year and a half back, we both are different players than we were before," Muchova said.

"But yeah, these matches before were very long battles, I think always three-setters and could have gone either way."

Sports

Swiatek Romps to United Cup Victory in 58 Minutes

Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts while in action against Maya Joint of Australia during their quarterfinal match at the 2026 United Cup tennis tournament at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney, Australia, 09 January 2026. (EPA)
Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts while in action against Maya Joint of Australia during their quarterfinal match at the 2026 United Cup tennis tournament at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney, Australia, 09 January 2026. (EPA)
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Swiatek Romps to United Cup Victory in 58 Minutes

Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts while in action against Maya Joint of Australia during their quarterfinal match at the 2026 United Cup tennis tournament at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney, Australia, 09 January 2026. (EPA)
Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts while in action against Maya Joint of Australia during their quarterfinal match at the 2026 United Cup tennis tournament at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney, Australia, 09 January 2026. (EPA)

World number two Iga Swiatek defied a partisan crowd to thrash Australian Maya Joint in Sydney on Friday and give Poland the lead in their United Cup quarter-final.

Joint is a talent at age 19 but she was blown away by the six-time Grand Slam champion, Swiatek teaching her a lesson in a 6-1, 6-1 victory in 58 minutes.

The 24-year-old Swiatek will be among the favorites when the Australian Open starts on January 18 and this showed why as she won a third match in a row.

Hubert Hurkacz faces home hope Alex de Minaur in the men's singles as Poland and Australia battle for the right to meet reigning champions the United States in the last four.

The other semi-final is between Belgium and Switzerland.

The United Cup is a mixed-teams competition featuring 18 countries and serves as build-up to the Australian Open.