Soccer Football - Championship - Coventry City Promotion Parade - Coventry, Britain - May 4, 2026 Coventry City manager Frank Lampard talks to the fans as he celebrates promotion to the Premier League REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Soccer Football - Championship - Coventry City Promotion Parade - Coventry, Britain - May 4, 2026 Coventry City manager Frank Lampard talks to the fans as he celebrates promotion to the Premier League REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Frank Lampard has been named England's Manager of the Year by his peers after leading Coventry City back to the Premier League after a gap of a quarter of a century.
Coventry finished top of the second tier Championship by 11 points to return to the top flight, all while playing an attractive brand of attacking football.
Former England midfielder Lampard edged out seven other coaches, including Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, to take the Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy at the League Managers Association (LMA) awards on Tuesday.
"Your personality as a manager and a leader is so clearly defined in how your team has played great football this season, with confidence and self-belief, and I've enjoyed watching them," Reuters quoted former Manchester United boss Ferguson as saying.
Spaniard Arteta was named Premier League manager of the Year at the awards after guiding Arsenal to their first league title in 22 years.
Andree Jeglertz took the Women's Super League Manager of the Year Award after his team won the league and reached Sunday's Women's FA Cup Final in his first season in charge.
Northern Ireland Boss O'Neill Extends Contract Until 2032https://english.aawsat.com/sports/5277686-northern-ireland-boss-oneill-extends-contract-until-2032
FILED - 26 March 2026, Italy, Bergamo: Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill applauds the fans after the 2026 FIFA World Cup European semi final qualifying soccer match between Italy and Northern Ireland at the New Balance Arena. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa
Northern Ireland Boss O'Neill Extends Contract Until 2032
FILED - 26 March 2026, Italy, Bergamo: Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill applauds the fans after the 2026 FIFA World Cup European semi final qualifying soccer match between Italy and Northern Ireland at the New Balance Arena. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has signed a four-year contract extension until 2032, the country's Football Association said in a statement on Wednesday.
The 56-year-old, who returned for a second spell in 2022 having left the team in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, has managed a record-breaking 104 games for his side.
"This is a role that means a great deal to me," Reuters quoted him as saying.
"I continue to believe strongly in the potential of this group of players and the direction we are moving in. There is a lot of work ahead, but I am excited by the future."
O'Neill first took charge of Northern Ireland in 2011 and oversaw their qualification for Euro 2016 - the nation's first major international tournament in 30 years - where they were knocked out in the last 16.
He had also been appointed interim Blackburn Rovers manager in February, balancing the role alongside his Northern Ireland duties, but it was confirmed earlier this month that he would not take that job on a permanent basis.
Northern Ireland also missed out on a place at the World Cup after a 2-0 defeat by Italy in a UEFA play-off semi-final in March, ending their hopes of qualifying for the tournament for the first time since 1986.
Irish FA President Conrad Kirkwood praised O'Neill's impact and said his contribution has been significant to the team.
"I am delighted that he will continue that work into the future and I look forward to more memorable achievements for the team," he said.
Northern Ireland face Guinea in a friendly on June 4 before travelling to France as part of preparations for the UEFA Nations League, which begins in September.
Reyna Included in US World Cup Squad, 4 Years after Doha Dramahttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5277633-reyna-included-us-world-cup-squad-4-years-after-doha-drama
Reyna Included in US World Cup Squad, 4 Years after Doha Drama
United States coach Mauricio Pochettino named Giovanni Reyna in his 26-strong for the World Cup (Reuters)
United States coach Mauricio Pochettino named Giovanni Reyna in his 26-strong for the World Cup on Tuesday, four years after the midfielder was almost sent home from the 2022 tournament in Qatar following a bust-up with former coach Gregg Berhalter.
Borussia Monchengladbach attacking midfielder Reyna appeared as a substitute in the USA's friendly defeats to Belgium and Portugal in March after impressing Pochettino during last November's international window.
Reyna has played only a handful of games at club level since the turn of the year, making only eight appearances in the Bundesliga as a substitute for Monchengladbach.
However the 23-year-old remains one of the most technically gifted attacking players available to Pochettino as the Argentine coach prepares for the USA's World Cup Group D opener against Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12.
Reyna was at the center of an explosive controversy in Doha four years ago, when it emerged after the tournament he had almost been kicked out of the camp by then coach Berhalter over his attitude in training.
That in turn led to Reyna's mother informing US Soccer of a physical altercation in 1991 between Berhalter and his then girlfriend, and now wife, which triggered an investigation by US Soccer.
Pochettino's squad was announced at a roster reveal event in New York on Tuesday.
"I think we were seeing, analyzing, assessing all the situations and we decided the 26 players of the roster," AFP quoted Pochettino as telling a briefing Tuesday.
He added that he was seeking the "best balance in the 26" picks.
The US coach declined to comment on high-profile figures like Lyon's Tanner Tessmann who were left out of the roster while relying heavily on the likes of Tyler Adams.
"I think we cannot talk about the players that are not in the roster, because it's very respectful to the players that made the roster," he said.
"I know what it means to be out of the roster, in 1994, the World Cup in the US I was out... finally I made the roster. That is why I know it's so painful, but that is my job."
Little suspense surrounded the event, with details of Pochettino's selection leaking out in US media reports for several days leading up to Tuesday's formal announcement.
As expected, Europe-based players make up the bulk of Pochettino's squad with the likes of AC Milan's Christian Pulisic, Juventus's Weston McKennie and Monaco's Folarin Balogun all included alongside English Premier League players Adams (Bournemouth), Brenden Aaronson (Leeds), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace) and Antonee Robinson (Fulham).
Among the Major League Soccer players included in the roster are former coach Berhalter's son, Sebastian, the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder.
Squad:
Goalkeepers
Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)
Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergino Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Alex Freeman (Villarreal/ESP), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach/GER), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO)
Midfielders: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/ENG), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA), Gio Reyna (Borussia Monchengladbach/GER), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Tim Weah (Marseille/FRA), Alejandro Zendejas (Club America/MEX)
Forwards: Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Haji Wright (Coventry City/ENG)
Sinner, Sabalenka Cruise in French Open 1st Roundhttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5277626-sinner-sabalenka-cruise-french-open-1st-round
Italy's Jannik Sinner looks on as he plays against France's Clement Tabur during their men's singles match on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2026. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)
Italy's Jannik Sinner looks on as he plays against France's Clement Tabur during their men's singles match on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2026. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)
Jannik Sinner powered into the second round of the French Open on Tuesday as his fellow world number one Aryna Sabalenka also made a winning start at Roland Garros.
Sinner needed just over two hours to beat French wildcard Clement Tabur 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 to extend his winning streak to 30 matches.
After taking all three clay-court Masters 1000 events in the run-up to Roland Garros, the 24-year-old Italian appears to have cracked the code to victory on the red dirt.
Without double-reigning champion and world number two Carlos Alcaraz in the draw, top seed Sinner is considered the runaway favorite to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires for the first time come the men's final on June 7 and complete his career Grand Slam.
"Pressure is always going to be there," Sinner told reporters, according to AFP.
"It's normal. So I try to take it in a very natural way. I know what kind of player I am. Then, you know, if you don't feel the pressure, it means you don't care.
"I do care a lot about what I'm trying to achieve on a tennis court."
He showed why he is the man to beat in the French capital with a punishing display against the world number 171, hitting 40 winners to just 21 unforced errors.
Sinner will meet Argentinian Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round.
Belarusian Sabalenka hurried through a 6-4, 6-2 win against Spanish world number 50 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro first on center court as temperatures continued to soar through the first week of the tournament.
The only real blip for Sabalenka as she returned to winning ways on clay after a surprise early exit from the Italian Open was her failure to serve out the match on Court Philippe Chatrier.
But the four-time major winner broke in the next game to book her spot in the second round against France's Elsa Jacquemot.
"I'd say that for me always not easy, the first rounds," Sabalenka said. "And then, as I get further in the tournament, as I get more comfortable, my level becomes better."
Following a wet and cold Italian Open earlier in May and similar conditions during the practice week at Roland Garros, the big-hitting 28-year-old said the scorching conditions played somewhat in her favor.
"I'd say that it was a bit warm," she joked.
"Especially compared to the first days when I first got here, it was like 14C, like, freezing.
"Now it's boiling hot and balls are flying, everything is much faster. But physically I feel strong, so I feel like it can benefit me."
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, left, and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain shake hands after their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Women's defending champion Coco Gauff made short work of fellow American Taylor Townsend, kicking off her tournament with a clinical 6-4, 6-0 performance.
The fourth seed joked the heat was "nothing" as she grew up in Florida, but added: "Honestly I felt more bad for the fans. Dang you're watching in the heat and I hoped no one passed out. So I'm glad I finished quickly."
Felix Auger-Aliassime claimed a fifth-set tie-break to move into the round of 64 as the Canadian narrowly avoided coming undone against Germany's Daniel Altmaier.
Russian sixth seed Daniil Medvedev was not so fortunate, however, going down in five sets to Australian wildcard Adam Walton.
It was the seventh time in 10 French Open appearances that the former world number one has fallen in the first round.
"I know that I am in good shape and I can play well in Roland Garros. I can," Medvedev said.
American fifth seed Jessica Pegula also departed as she went down 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 to Australia's Kimberly Birrell.
Alexander Bublik completed the list of big-name exitees for the day as the ninth-seeded Kazakh succumbed in four sets to German Jan-Lennard Struff.
Japanese four-time former major winner Naomi Osaka got off to a winning start, beating Laura Siegemund of Germany 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).
Last year's breakout star at Roland Garros, Lois Boisson, was unable to recreate her stunning run to the last four as she went down 6-2, 6-2 to 22nd-seeded Russian Anna Kalinskaya.
Rising US star Iva Jovic, 18, further confirmed her potential as she strolled past Alexandra Eala 6-4, 6-2 to book a clash with compatriot and former world number eight Emma Navarro, who defeated Indonesian Janice Tjen in straight sets.
Canadian teen Victoria Mboko was also victorious, needing just over an hour to beat Czech Nikola Bartunkova for the loss of only three games.
French 17-year-old Moise Kouame won his first match at his home major; an impressive 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 6-1 victory over 2014 US Open winner Marin Cilic of Croatia.
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