Even at 38, Jamie Vardy would still be an upgrade on the strikers at Rangers, writes Calum Crowe
A footballer with genuinely global appeal, Gascoigne arrived in Glasgow as a flawed genius whose talents illuminated everything around Rangers during that nine-in-a-row era in the '90s.
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BBC News
28 minutes ago
- BBC News
'End of an era' - Modric plays last game for Real Madrid
It's all over for Luka Modric at Real 597 appearances, 28 trophies and 13 years, the 39-year-old Croat has played his last game for while Wednesday's thrashing by Paris St-Germain in the Club World Cup semi-final proved an unforgettable finale, Modric's career for the Spanish giants will never be 2018 Ballon d'Or winner's Real Madrid trophies include six Champions Leagues and four domestic titles, since joining Real from Spurs in 2012."The moment has arrived. The moment I never wanted to come, but that's football, and in life everything has a beginning and an end," Modric said on Instagram when his exit was announced."I arrived in 2012 with the hope of wearing the jersey of the best team in the world and the ambition to do great things, but I couldn't have imagined what came next," he said."Playing for Real Madrid changed my life as a footballer and as a person."I'm proud to have been part of one of the most successful eras of the best club in history."Modric, who will play for AC Milan next season, bagged two goals and six assists in 34 appearances in the Spanish top flight this season as Real were pipped to the title by Barcelona. He also featured in every game as Carlo Ancelotti's side reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where they were beaten 5-1 on aggregate by signed a one-year contract extension last year, which expired at the end of the Club World Cup. 'Modric's legacy will live on forever' Although he has been largely limited to substitute appearances this season, Modric will leave Real as its most decorated player after 597 appearances, 43 goals and 95 assists."Modric will forever remain in the hearts of all Madridistas as a unique and exemplary footballer who has always embodied the values of Real Madrid," said club president Florentino Perez after his departure was announced in June."His football has captured the imagination of Madridismo and fans all over the world. His legacy will live on forever."Modric captained Real to two trophies in his final season to take his haul to 28 titles, overtaking Nacho Fernandez as the club's most successful addition to the half-dozen Champions League titles, there are six Fifa Club World Cups, five European Super Cups, four La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey triumphs and five Spanish Super Cups during his 13 seasons at leading Real to a 2018 Champions League success over Liverpool and then Croatia to the World Cup final in the same year, Modric became the first player other than Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to win the Ballon d'Or since is also the oldest player to represent Los Blancos in La Liga and their oldest goalscorer, having scored in a 2-1 win over Valencia at the age of 39 years and 116 days, overtaking Ferenc Puskas' is also currently the third longest-serving member of a Spanish top-flight side, behind Oscar de Marcos of Athletic Club and Atletico Madrid midfielder month, the Croatia legend became an "investor and co-owner" with a minority stake in Championship side Swansea City. 'It feels like the end of an era' Although Modric has been playing less than he has done for most of his Real Madrid career, he is the kind of player that can affect things because he becomes a magnet for the may have felt he was being useful at some points, but football is heading in a different direction now - you need to cover a lot of ground for instance. Look at Pedri who is the number one retriever of possession at Barcelona and runs more than anybody else. Modric can't do that has been the one who has been pushing to stay put but Real had doubts. They listened to the player, the fans, read the room and felt it wasn't time yet. But everybody was prepared for his however, has been an exemplary professional. Perhaps his most difficult time was when Carlo Ancelotti told him and Toni Kroos that he was going to change things and the club had decided to go for a more physical and dynamic midfield with Aurelien Tchouameni, Fede Valverde and Eduardo managed to turn things around and became a very important part of the team, but Modric had a phase on the the last couple of years, his situation has left him a bit uneasy. He didn't know where he stood. He felt he could play 90 minutes more often. It was a nightmare for him but this season, he has understood his role better and has been their ultimately, this will have been a decision taken by the club. Xabi Alonso would have agreed to it but it's a club decision, first of all. The way Alonso's teams play requires a lot of effort which he cannot ask of also feels like the end of an is a new culture that has to be set for this team. Ancelotti has struggled with the fractions and egos in the team and by getting Modric out, you can build for new leaders - and that might be Real's thinking.
BBC News
29 minutes ago
- BBC News
Chebbak hat-trick helps Morocco avoid DR Congo upset at Wafcon
Ghizlane Chebbak was the hero once again as the Morocco captain scored a fine hat-trick to ensure her team did not slip up against DR Congo, with the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) hosts eventually winning 4-2 after a topsy-turvy game in who turns 35 next month and was named player of the tournament at the previous Wafcon three years ago, had already saved the Atlas Lionesses in their opening match against Zambia, curling home from long range late on to snatch a 2-2 time she struck twice in the space of 19 first-half minutes to settle nerves after Merveille Kanjinga had silenced a packed Olympic Stadium by giving the Congolese a shock lead with just six minutes on the Central Africans, who scored with their only two shots on target, were briefly back level again thanks to Flavine Mawete's goal with 20 minutes Chebbak slid in at the far post to complete her hat-trick just six minutes later, while a Yasmin Mrabet penalty in the closing stages finally broke DR Congo's victory came after Zambia had beaten Senegal 3-2 earlier on Wednesday, with both the North Africans and the Copper Queens now almost certain to qualify from Group A, but the Congolese are on the brink of an early exit after a second successive final round of group fixtures will see Morocco face Senegal and Zambia take on DR Congo on Saturday, with both games kicking off at 19:00 to follow.
BBC News
34 minutes ago
- BBC News
Bencic hatching plan 'while falling asleep' to beat Swiatek
Wimbledon 2025Dates: 30 June-13 July Venue: All England ClubCoverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. Full coverage guide. Belinda Bencic knows what she will be thinking about before she goes to sleep Swiss player uses the time before she drifts off to visualise her gameplan for her next match and her next it will be the small matter of a first Wimbledon semi-final, and against five-time major winner Iga Swiatek."She is a big challenge and I'm really excited to play her. We've had some close matches. I will come up with a plan," the 28-year-old former Olympic champion her method of preparation, she said: "I'm not so much of a writer. For me it's more like imagining some plays."It's important for me to do it before I go to sleep. While I'm falling asleep, I go through it unconsciously."It's something that happens naturally and then I'm able to kind of memorise it a little bit." Bencic's sleep could well be broken, though, as her 14-month-old daughter, Bella, is with her in London - not that she is worried."I don't adjust anything, I'm just being a mum at home. When she cries in the night, I'll wake up," said Bencic, who is seeking to become the first mother to win a Wimbledon singles title in 45 years."It's not something that's going to affect me for my [match]."Earlier during Wimbledon, she explained: "I see myself as a mum first, and then tennis player. My priorities are clearly with my family."It has been nearly six years since Bencic last reached the final four of a Grand Slam, ultimately losing in straight sets to Bianca Andreescu in the 2019 US Open been on maternity leave from September 2023 to October 2024, she said she has been "surprised" by how quickly the positive results have started the year ranked 489th in the world and is now projected to break back into the world's top 20 after Wimbledon. Success this year has also included winning the Abu Dhabi WTA 500 title in said motherhood has had a positive impact on her approach to being a professional player, making her "more relaxed" and ensuring she has less time to think about tennis. 'It doesn't end here' Bencic was joined by Bella in the outdoor gym at Aorangi Park on Wednesday morning, playing with medicine balls while her mother prepared for her 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2) victory over Russian teenager Mirra has also been watched by her daughter from a balcony above court 18, which she said was "kind of unreal"."Sometimes you realise, 'Wow, I'm playing Wimbledon, I have my family here, my daughter is actually watching me'," she said."She will not remember anything - she doesn't realise yet - but still it's a very nice feeling."Bella is too young to be on Centre Court so Bencic's husband - who is also her fitness coach - will once again be absent from the box when she takes on Bencic would not want it any other way."No, she definitely gets the priority," she added. "I'm really happy when he looks after her."It means the world to me to be in the semi-final. It's definitely unreal, but it doesn't end here."
