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Saudi Arabia Appoints Donis as Coach Ahead of World Cup

Coach Georgios Donis (Photo by Essa Doubisi)
Coach Georgios Donis (Photo by Essa Doubisi)
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Saudi Arabia Appoints Donis as Coach Ahead of World Cup

Coach Georgios Donis (Photo by Essa Doubisi)
Coach Georgios Donis (Photo by Essa Doubisi)

Saudi Arabia made its coaching change official Thursday by replacing Hervé Renard with Georgios Donis until July 27, less than two months before the start of the World Cup in North America.

The 56-year-old Donis, a former Greece international, joins from Al-Khaleej, one of several Saudi Pro League clubs he's coached.

“He has extensive experience in the league, including his most recent post (which) enhances his ability to adapt quickly," the Saudi Arabian Football Federation said in its announcement.

Saudi Arabia opens its Group H play at the World Cup against Uruguay on June 15. It also plays Spain and Cape Verde.

Donis was a longtime Panathinaikos midfielder who also played in England for Blackburn, Sheffield United and Huddersfield. He has also coached Panathinaikos and Maccabi Tel Aviv, among others.

The Federation said it will hold a press conference in Riyadh with the national team's coaching staff before ⁠the ⁠squad depart for their training camp in the United States.

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Serena Williams' Comeback at Queen's Club is Over after Injury to Doubles Partner

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Queen's Club Championships - Queen's Club, London, Britain - June 10, 2026 Serena Williams of the US during practice REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Queen's Club Championships - Queen's Club, London, Britain - June 10, 2026 Serena Williams of the US during practice REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo
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Serena Williams' Comeback at Queen's Club is Over after Injury to Doubles Partner

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Queen's Club Championships - Queen's Club, London, Britain - June 10, 2026 Serena Williams of the US during practice REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Queen's Club Championships - Queen's Club, London, Britain - June 10, 2026 Serena Williams of the US during practice REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

Serena Williams' much-hyped comeback to professional tennis at the Queen's Club lasted just one match.

The 44-year-old Williams' doubles partner, 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko, was forced to withdraw from the draw on Thursday because of a knee injury she sustained in a singles match against Karolina Pliskova in the last 32 on Wednesday.

In her first professional match since the 2022 US Open, Williams teamed up with Mboko to beat third-seeded duo Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6 (2), 6-2 at the grass-court event on Tuesday. They were scheduled to face Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund in the quarterfinals.

Williams is set to play doubles at the Berlin Open in Germany next week. Her partner has yet to be announced, The Associated Press reported.

Williams won 23 Grand Slam singles titles — including seven at Wimbledon — before stepping away from the game, saying at the time she was “evolving” away from tennis rather than "retiring."

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Wolves Fire Coach after Relegation from Premier League

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Burnley v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain - May 24, 2026 Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Rob Edwards applauds fans after the match Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Burnley v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain - May 24, 2026 Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Rob Edwards applauds fans after the match Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes
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Wolves Fire Coach after Relegation from Premier League

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Burnley v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain - May 24, 2026 Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Rob Edwards applauds fans after the match Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Burnley v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain - May 24, 2026 Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Rob Edwards applauds fans after the match Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes

Wolverhampton fired manager Rob Edwards on Thursday following the team's relegation from the Premier League.

Edwards was in charge for only seven months, having been hired in November when Wolves was winless and in last place.

He couldn't keep them up but, as a local-born former player, he was widely viewed as a coach the club was looking to build its future around.

Instead, Edwards was dumped a few weeks after he said Wolves were “not good enough” and “this place is in a mess.” He lost 16 of his 30 matches in charge of the team, which finished bottom of the league on 20 points.

“Following a comprehensive review at the conclusion of the season, the club has determined that a change in leadership is necessary as Wolves enters the next stage of its development,” The Associated Press quoted Wolves as saying in a statement.

“While the club recognizes the significant challenges faced by Edwards and his staff during their tenure, and acknowledges the commitment and professionalism they demonstrated throughout, it ultimately concluded that a different sporting direction would provide the strongest platform for future success.”

Wolves has already signed former England right back Kieran Trippier and Mexico striker Raul Jimenez as the club prepares for life back in the second-tier Championship.

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German Players to Pay for 600 Fans' Stadium Trip amid Soaring Transport Costs

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Germany Training - Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, US - June 10, 2026 A football with the FIFA World Cup logo is pictured during training IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Scott Kinser
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Germany Training - Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, US - June 10, 2026 A football with the FIFA World Cup logo is pictured during training IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Scott Kinser
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German Players to Pay for 600 Fans' Stadium Trip amid Soaring Transport Costs

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Germany Training - Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, US - June 10, 2026 A football with the FIFA World Cup logo is pictured during training IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Scott Kinser
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Germany Training - Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, US - June 10, 2026 A football with the FIFA World Cup logo is pictured during training IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Scott Kinser

German players have stepped up to ease fans' pain from soaring transport costs at the World Cup, offering to pay for 600 of them to travel by bus to their last Group E game against Ecuador in New Jersey on June 25, media reports said. City authorities hiked rail and bus fares from New York to the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey by several times citing increased pressure on the public transit systems. That triggered a backlash from fans who have already paid high prices for match tickets, Reuters reported.

"In light of the high cost of bus and train travel in New York during the World Cup, the German national team players have organized free transport to the final group match for 600 fans," the BBC quoted the German Football Association as saying.

"Captain Joshua Kimmich and his teammates are covering the cost of buses to take supporters from New York to the arena in New Jersey for the match against Ecuador."

Reuters could not immediately confirm the statement. A round trip to the stadium by train, which usually costs $12.90, has been set at $98 during World Cup games, down from the originally proposed $150 fare after NJ Transit faced heavy criticism.

Shuttle buses will cost $20, down from the initial $80 price tag.

Transport was free for fans at the last two World Cups in Russia and Qatar. Four-time champions Germany will begin their campaign in Houston against Curacao on Sunday.