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Djokovic Names Compatriot Troicki as Coach Ahead of French Open

20 May 2026, France, Paris: Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic in action during a training session on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament (Roland Garros 2026), at Roland Garros Stadium. Photo: Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
20 May 2026, France, Paris: Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic in action during a training session on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament (Roland Garros 2026), at Roland Garros Stadium. Photo: Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Djokovic Names Compatriot Troicki as Coach Ahead of French Open

20 May 2026, France, Paris: Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic in action during a training session on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament (Roland Garros 2026), at Roland Garros Stadium. Photo: Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
20 May 2026, France, Paris: Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic in action during a training session on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament (Roland Garros 2026), at Roland Garros Stadium. Photo: Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Novak Djokovic has confirmed long-time friend and compatriot Viktor Troicki as his head coach ahead of next week's French Open where the Serb will bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title.

"Welcome my friend, teammate and now coach... Viktor Troicki," former world ⁠number one Djokovic ⁠wrote on Instagram, according to Reuters.

The pair have previously combined. Troicki, Serbia's Davis Cup captain, joined Djokovic's coaching setup for his Paris Olympics ⁠gold medal triumph in 2024.

They previously teamed up as players to deliver Serbia its first Davis Cup title in 2010.

Troicki's immediate task will be to help Djokovic, who turns 39 on Friday, muster confidence after an injury-disrupted season ⁠following ⁠his defeat in the Australian Open final in January.

Djokovic has had limited clay-court preparation ahead of the year's second Grand Slam while managing his workload to cope with a niggling shoulder issue.

The French Open starts on Sunday.

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Saudi Arabia Tops AFC Club Rankings for Sixth Consecutive Year

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia Tops AFC Club Rankings for Sixth Consecutive Year

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia has retained its top position in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) club rankings, according to the latest update for the 2025–2026 season.

The Kingdom leads the standings with 132.545 points, followed by Japan in second place with 120.410 points, and South Korea in third with 87.334 points.

This marks the sixth consecutive year Saudi Arabia has topped the AFC rankings, reflecting the strong performances of Saudi clubs in continental competitions and their consistent competitiveness in Asian tournaments.

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FA to Investigate Southampton Over 'Spygate'

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FA Cup - Fourth Round - Southampton v Leicester City - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - February 14, 2026 General view of empty seats during the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FA Cup - Fourth Round - Southampton v Leicester City - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - February 14, 2026 General view of empty seats during the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File Photo
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FA to Investigate Southampton Over 'Spygate'

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FA Cup - Fourth Round - Southampton v Leicester City - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - February 14, 2026 General view of empty seats during the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FA Cup - Fourth Round - Southampton v Leicester City - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - February 14, 2026 General view of empty seats during the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File Photo

The Football Association said on Thursday it had launched an investigation into Southampton after the club admitted to spying on three Championship rivals this season.

Southampton were expelled from the Championship playoffs after acknowledging they observed opponents' training sessions within 72 hours of matches, with Middlesbrough reinstated on Tuesday to face Hull City in Saturday's final.

The winner ⁠of the lucrative ⁠playoff final, often described as the richest match in soccer, is promoted to the Premier League next season.

"We will now investigate, and won't comment further until we have assessed ⁠the evidence," the FA said in a statement.

The club have also been handed a four-point deduction for next season, while their appeal, which argued the punishment was "disproportionate", was rejected on Wednesday.

The English Football League (EFL) confirmed on Wednesday that the club's sanction, along with a four-point deduction for the 2026–27 season ⁠and ⁠a formal reprimand, will stand, forcing the south-coast side to quickly turn its focus to rebuilding both on and off the pitch.

The club had admitted to spying on opponents in a case dubbed 'Spygate', including filming a Middlesbrough training session before their semi-final, as well as similar incidents involving Oxford United and Ipswich Town earlier in the campaign.

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PSG Boss Luis Enrique: Arsenal Are World's Best When Out of Possession

PSG's head coach Luis Enrique talks to his squad during a training session at the Paris Saint-Germain training center Wednesday May 20, 2026, in Poissy, west of Paris, ahead of the Champions League final against Arsenal in Budapest on May 30. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
PSG's head coach Luis Enrique talks to his squad during a training session at the Paris Saint-Germain training center Wednesday May 20, 2026, in Poissy, west of Paris, ahead of the Champions League final against Arsenal in Budapest on May 30. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
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PSG Boss Luis Enrique: Arsenal Are World's Best When Out of Possession

PSG's head coach Luis Enrique talks to his squad during a training session at the Paris Saint-Germain training center Wednesday May 20, 2026, in Poissy, west of Paris, ahead of the Champions League final against Arsenal in Budapest on May 30. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
PSG's head coach Luis Enrique talks to his squad during a training session at the Paris Saint-Germain training center Wednesday May 20, 2026, in Poissy, west of Paris, ahead of the Champions League final against Arsenal in Budapest on May 30. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Paris St Germain head coach Luis Enrique has lavished praise on Arsenal ahead of this month's Champions League final, dubbing them the best team in the world without the ball.

Arsenal ended their 22-year wait for the Premier League title on Tuesday and Luis Enrique told reporters it was no surprise they had also reached the final of Europe's elite club competition.

"We’ve got experience of playing against ⁠Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, ⁠and we know full well how good they are on the ball," he said on Wednesday.

"Off the ball, they’re the best team in the world, no doubt about it. With the ball, they’re capable ⁠of scoring plenty of goals.

"And it’s only natural to see them in the final. It’ll be a very tough final with two teams approaching it in two different ways. But I think we’re in for a cracking final."

The PSG boss stressed the importance of pressing and defending ahead of the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30, ⁠highlighting ⁠star forward Ousmane Dembele's work rate.

“He defends all the time, no matter the match or the minute," the Spanish manager said.

"It’s important to have him because we tend to always highlight what the forwards do when they score goals or provide assists, but we don’t highlight enough what he does as a defender. When a team doesn’t have the ball, you have to defend.”