Bournemouth have reached an agreement with Marco Rose to become their new manager when Andoni Iraola departs the Vitality Stadium this summer.

The 49-year-old will officially take charge ahead of the new campaign, allowing the Premier League club to begin preparations for next season.

Iraola confirmed earlier this week that he will step down when his contract expires, ending a successful three-year spell on the south coast.

A swift appointment

The Cherries hierarchy moved rapidly to secure their primary target following the departure announcement of their outgoing head coach.

While a formal unveiling is not expected immediately, paperwork and visa processes are already being finalised behind the scenes.

Discussions regarding the make-up of the incoming backroom staff are also actively taking place.

The German tactician has been without a club since parting ways with RB Leipzig in March 2025 following a challenging domestic and Champions League campaign.

Shared tactical philosophy

Despite his recent hiatus from the dugout, the experienced coach brings a pedigree of winning silverware and navigating elite European competitions.

His high-intensity approach makes him an ideal stylistic successor for a team heavily accustomed to front-foot, pressing football.

The incoming boss has previously outlined his tactical blueprint, emphasising emotion, hunger and intense physical output.

We want to be very active against the ball, sprint a lot.

We want to win high balls and have short ways to the goal.

We don’t want to play high and wide, but fast, dynamic and actively forward.

Scotland Women will play in front of a record-breaking crowd of around 28,000 fans at Murrayfield on Saturday for their Six Nations clash against formidable favourites England.

The anticipated attendance shatters the team’s previous home high of 7,774, set against the same opposition at the Hive earlier this year.

Ticket sales have already surpassed the combined total of the nation’s five highest attendances at their usual smaller venue.

A monumental milestone for Scottish rugby

Moving the fixture to the main national stadium marks a monumental milestone for the hosts.

For the seasoned campaigners in the squad, the contrast between past struggles and Saturday’s spectacle is incredibly stark.

Veterans such as Lana Skeldon, Emma Wassell and captain Rachel Malcolm vividly recall playing in front of virtually empty stands during their early careers.

“It’s a bit of a pinch me moment.”

Malcolm admitted ahead of the historic encounter.

“We’ve come from having empty stands or not many fans to be in front of a historic crowd and it’s something that we are just so proud of.”

Surpassing the national football record

To contextualise the achievement, the anticipated turnout easily eclipses the biggest crowd ever drawn by the national women’s football team.

A previous landmark of 18,555 spectators watched the footballers face Jamaica in a 2019 international.

Despite women’s football traditionally receiving broader mainstream coverage, the rugby squad will confidently bypass that benchmark this weekend.

The decision by organisers to utilise the expansive Murrayfield pitch has clearly been vindicated by the soaring ticket demand.

The Red Roses juggernaut awaits

While the occasion is a triumph off the pitch, the reality on the field remains deeply daunting for the home side.

The visitors arrive boasting astonishing recent attendances themselves, including 77,120 for last weekend’s tournament opener against Ireland.

Evie Wills has been named as the sole change to the starting lineup tasked with containing the world’s top-ranked team.

Meanwhile, the Red Roses have reshuffled their formidable pack and backline, shifting Ellie Kildunne to the wing and bringing Sarah Burton into the second row.

The reigning champions are heavily fancied to secure a comfortable victory, but the hosts will focus on incremental gains and delivering a resolute performance.

The Vancouver Canucks have sacked general manager Patrik Allvin after a disastrous campaign that saw the franchise finish with the worst record in the NHL.

The decision ends his four-year tenure with the Canadian club following a dramatic and rapid decline in fortunes.

Just one year ago, the Pacific Division outfit were a single victory away from reaching the Western Conference finals.

However, this season proved disastrous as they plummeted to the absolute bottom of the league standings.

The struggling side finished more than 10 points adrift of their closest rivals at the foot of the table.

Rutherford points to necessary rebuild

Jim Rutherford, the president of hockey operations, confirmed the swift departure in a statement released on Friday.

“Under his guidance we have accumulated a lot of young talent, and he has helped us lay the foundation for our rebuild.”

Rutherford added that the season was highly disappointing and acknowledged the deep frustration felt by the fanbase.

“Moving forward our goal will be to continue to bring younger players who can go together with our current group and form our next competitive core.”

Internal friction and blockbuster departures

The Swedish executive was originally appointed in January 2022 to transform a promising young roster into perennial playoff contenders.

While that vision briefly materialised under former head coach Rick Tocchet, the current campaign was derailed by injuries and documented locker-room tension.

Public friction between star forward Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller ultimately led to the latter being traded away to the New York Rangers.

Further dismantling of the squad occurred in December when highly-rated captain Quinn Hughes was dealt to the Minnesota Wild.

That blockbuster exchange for prospects and draft picks firmly signalled a total rebuilding phase for the franchise.

Focus shifts entirely to the future

A busy trade deadline saw several more experienced players depart as the organisation aggressively stockpiled future assets.

Adam Foote, who was promoted to head coach after Tocchet departed for the Philadelphia Flyers, faced an impossible task guiding the severely depleted roster.

A new general manager will now be tasked with developing a massive incoming wave of youthful prospects.

The next appointment must successfully blend these new arrivals with remaining established veterans like Brock Boeser and Jake DeBrusk.

Ipswich Town face a tense fight to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League as Millwall and Southampton close the gap at the top of the Championship table.

Coventry City require just a single point at Blackburn on Friday to guarantee their top-flight return after a 25-year absence.

However, the race to join them in the second automatic qualification spot has become increasingly unpredictable.

The Tractor Boys appeared to be in complete control of their destiny with a two-point cushion and two games in hand.

A surprise 2-0 defeat to Portsmouth on Tuesday served as a stark reminder of the division’s unforgiving nature.

Chasing pack apply the pressure

Third-placed Millwall have renewed their push for the top tier.

Meanwhile, the Saints are surging up the standings following an impressive six-game winning streak that has lifted them into fourth.

Even faltering Middlesbrough remain mathematically in contention ahead of the final day on 2 May.

The Teessiders have slumped to fifth during their worst run of the campaign, suffering three draws and three defeats.

Trying to predict the final standings is now incredibly difficult, especially with Kieran McKenna’s men still needing to play both Boro and the South Coast side.

Inconsistent form causes concern

The Suffolk outfit were heavily tipped for promotion at the start of the season.

Sitting second on 75 points with five fixtures remaining meets those early expectations, yet their performances have often lacked a creative spark.

Despite boosting a talented squad with January arrivals Anis Mehmeti and Dan Neil, the team has struggled to replicate the thrilling football seen during their previous promotion charge.

Their longest winning streak this year stands at just four matches during the festive period.

“The result at Portsmouth summed up the season,” said Jobi McAnuff on the 72+ EFL podcast.

“When you look at the players at their disposal it’s ridiculous, but I’m not seeing what I should be given the quality within the squad.”

Navigating the final hurdles

The promotion hopefuls require 10 points from their final five matches to mathematically secure second place.

Former club captain Mick Mills remains confident that the current squad can achieve that target.

“When you look at the fixtures, we can pick up three wins,” Mills told BBC Radio Suffolk.

“Ideally one of them would be Middlesbrough because that would completely nail Middlesbrough, their chance to finish second would be pretty much gone.”

The impending return of natural left-back Leif Davis is expected to provide a crucial boost to the team’s balance and attacking threat.

Consistency remains the ultimate challenge for a talented but unpredictable group of players as the season reaches its climax.

Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Madrid Open due to a right wrist injury, meaning he will miss his home tournament for a second consecutive year.

The multiple Grand Slam champion was forced to pull out of the Barcelona Open earlier this week with the same physical issue.

Now, the Spanish star has admitted the problem is far more serious than his medical team initially expected.

Ongoing fitness frustrations

Missing the prestigious ATP Masters 1000 event in the Spanish capital represents a significant blow for the young talent.

He also sat out the Madrid tournament last season because of a persistent right leg problem.

This latest setback disrupts his crucial clay-court preparations ahead of the upcoming French Open at Roland Garros.

‘Incredibly hard to share’

Announcing his withdrawal on social media, the former world number one expressed his profound disappointment.

“There are some news that are incredibly hard to share. Madrid is home, one of the most special places on my calendar, and that’s why it hurts so much not to be able to play here for the second year in a row,” he wrote.
“It hurts especially not to be in front of my people, in a tournament that means so much.”

Saudi Arabia have dismissed manager Herve Renard less than two months before the start of the 2026 World Cup in North America.

The 57-year-old Frenchman departs his role a mere 55 days prior to the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Greek coach Giorgios Donis is widely expected to be appointed as his successor on a one-year contract.

The former Huddersfield Town and Sheffield United midfielder currently manages Saudi Pro League side Al-Khaleej.

A second spell cut abruptly short

The departing head coach had only returned to the Saudi national team in 2024 for a second stint in charge.

His initial tenure spanned from 2019 to 2023 and included a memorable group-stage victory over eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Roberto Mancini took the reins for 14 months following that first departure, before the Saudi Arabian Football Federation opted to bring their former manager back.

Speaking to news agency AFP regarding his sudden dismissal, the former Zambia and Ivory Coast boss remained pragmatic about the situation.

That’s football… Saudi Arabia have qualified for the World Cup seven times, including twice with me.

And there’s only one coach who has led them through both the qualifiers and the World Cup; that’s me, in 2022. At least there will be that sense of pride.

An extensive international pedigree

Beyond his successes in the Middle East and Africa, the highly travelled tactician ended a 20-year World Cup absence for Morocco when he guided them to the 2018 tournament.

He also recently managed the France women’s national team, leading them to the quarter-finals of both the 2023 World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics.

His anticipated replacement, Donis, will now face the immediate and daunting challenge of preparing the squad for international football’s premier competition.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has confirmed the start time and complete schedule for its unprecedented fight card set to take place at the White House on Sunday, 14 June.

The event, officially named UFC Freedom 250, is planned as a celebration marking 250 years of the United States.

It will be staged on the South Lawn in Washington D.C. and coincides with US president Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.

Action inside the Octagon will commence at 01:00 BST on Monday, 15 June (20:00 ET on Sunday, 14 June).

Title fights headline historic card

A lightweight title unification bout between undisputed champion Ilia Topuria and interim holder Justin Gaethje serves as the main event.

The co-main attraction features former middleweight king Alex Pereira stepping up to face Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight belt.

A heavyweight clash between fan-favourite Derrick Lewis and Josh Hokit was also recently added to the landmark showcase.

UFC president Dana White revealed that the US leader personally requested the matchup while sitting cageside at an event in Miami last week.

I said, ‘Derrick, the president just asked me why you’re not on the card. Do you wanna fight on the White House card?’ And he goes: ‘Of course I do. Tell the president thank you, I wanna do it.’

Dana White

Fight week festivities and schedule

Build-up to the momentous occasion will feature a series of public events across the American capital.

A press conference is scheduled at the Lincoln Memorial on Friday, 12 June, beginning at 01:30 BST the following morning.

Fans will then gather at the Ellipse park adjacent to the presidential residence for a festival on Saturday afternoon.

The ceremonial weigh-ins will follow that evening, culminating in a live concert performance by the Zac Brown Band.

Full UFC Freedom 250 fight card

Seven high-profile matchups have been officially confirmed for the unprecedented sporting spectacle.

England Women Under-23s have claimed the European Competition trophy following a decisive 3-0 victory over Sweden in the final.

First-half strikes from Isobel Goodwin and Hannah Silcock, followed by an Olivia McLoughlin finish, ensured a comfortable triumph for the young Lionesses.

The impressive result marks a dream start for head coach Lydia Bedford, who was appointed to lead the youth side just last month.

Early dominance sets the tone

The national team seized complete control of the match by netting twice within a breathless opening nine minutes.

Victory was then effectively sealed shortly after the break when Tottenham Hotspur prospect Lenna Gunning-Williams provided the crucial assist for McLoughlin.

Chelsea’s 17-year-old midfield talent Chloe Sarwie delivered another sparkling performance, seamlessly backing up her creative output from Tuesday’s semi-final against the Netherlands.

A remarkable tournament turnaround

Securing this silverware completes an impressive recovery in the season-long tournament, which features the 12 leading youth teams across the continent.

Bedford’s developing squad initially suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to Germany in their opening group fixture last October.

However, the British outfit responded to that severe setback by drawing with Portugal and subsequently rattling off four consecutive 1-0 victories to reach the showpiece event.

This latest triumph demonstrates that the next generation of talent on the fringes of Sarina Wiegman’s senior squad remains firmly among Europe’s elite.