Latest news with #Eredivisie
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Speed of change has not slowed' - Kerkez's rapid rise to Liverpool
Milos Kerkez has never been big on patience. "That's always the problem," he joked midway through his breakout season at AZ Alkmaar, a teenager already agitating to play more, train harder and reach 18-year-old's would have been happy just to be there. Kerkez wanted more - and always has. From leaving AC Milan's academy to become a first-team starter in the Eredivisie, to rejecting bigger names for a chance to explode at Bournemouth, his trajectory has only ever pointed one was born in Serbia and moved to Hungary at 15, vowing immediately to represent their national team. He captained youth sides despite barely speaking the language. "He's a crazy guy," one youth coach said. "He'll make it to a top-three league or be in prison." After all, Kerkez started as a number 10. By 16, he had moved to left-back and then, at 17, he signed for Milan. The speed of change has not AZ, the club handed him a dossier thicker than a phone book, containing stats on his reaction time, pressing habits and recovery devoured it. He tackled with his head, launched touchline assaults like a man possessed and emerged as one of Europe's most relentless full-backs. Bournemouth came calling with a well-crafted pitch - and won out over bigger then, he has been a talisman in Andoni Iraola's turbo-charged system, combining ferocity in defence with electricity going the pitch he is a Twitch streamer, a Fortnite fanatic and a forest fisherman. Maximus the rottweiler waits at home and, in Serbia, so does his father's dream of a farm and training centre, which Milos now hopes to is fiery and funny, and friends with new Liverpool team-mate Dominik when the Hungary starlet rifles into a top corner or tackles a winger with his forehead, you realise the kid from Vrbas is not just rising. He is he is doing it his way.
The South African
18 hours ago
- Sport
- The South African
Kick-off times for Kaizer Chiefs' matches in the Netherlands confirmed
Kaizer Chiefs have announced their 2025 pre-season training camp will be held in the Netherlands, from 4 to 19 July, as the team looks to build momentum ahead of the new 2025/26 season. Apeldoorn, a town situated about 80km from Amsterdam, will serve as the team's base for the duration of the camp. The team will face five Dutch clubs, including opponents from both the Eredivisie (top flight) and the Eerste Divisie (second tier): Date Opponent Time 8 July SBV Vitesse Arnhem 19:00 11 July FC Utrecht 16:00 12 July NEC Nijmegen 14:00 15 July PEC Zwolle 19:00 16 July FC Twente 19:00 NOTE: All times SA Selected training sessions will be open to media , offering interview opportunities with players and technical staff , offering interview opportunities with players and technical staff Kaizer Chiefs will be accompanied by supporters selected through the Vodacom Tsamaya campaign, highlighting the club's focus on fan inclusion and engagement. Kaizer Chiefs stated that the camp aims not just to prepare the squad physically and tactically, but also to foster football relations between South Africa and the Netherlands. This European pre-season marks a significant step as Kaizer Chiefs look to return to winning ways. Amakhosi finished a disappointing ninth in last season's Betway Premiership, missing out once again on a spot in next season's lucrative MTN8 tournament. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Elias Pihlstrom an Aberdeen 'transfer target' with Jimmy Thelin to rival two European clubs for Swedish teen
Pittodrie boss Jimmy Thelin is seeking more attacking reinforcements ahead of the new season Scottish Cup winners Aberdeen are reportedly in a three-way transfer battle to sign Degerfors winger Elias Pihlstrom. Boss Jimmy Thelin has bolstered his squad so far this summer with four new additions but more signings are expected to follow as the Dons gear up for a European campaign that will last until Christmas at least. Despite bringing in Australia international Kusini Yengi on a free transfer from Portsmouth, the Swede is keen to add more options in the forward department following the departures of loan stars Kevin Nisbet and Odday Dabbagh, who have returned to Millwall and Charleroi respectively. And reports in his homeland now claim they are in the race to land teen Pihlstrom. Swedish outlets Kt-Kuriren and FotbollDirekt claim that the Pittodrie club are one of three sides who have expressed an interest in the 18-year-old. Pihlstrom made his senior debut for Swedish top-flight outfit Degerfors last year and has caught the eye this season with three goals from 14 appearances in all competitions. The left-side player has been capped for his country at U19 level, scoring once in six games. However, the report also states that Aberdeen will face competition from Eredivisie duo PEC Zwolle and FC Utrecht to sign the youngster. They also add that Degerfors could be in line to bank a club record transfer fee for the player, having previously sold forward Victor Edvardsen to league rivals Djurgarden for around €700,000 (£597,000) during the 2021/22 season. Were the Dons to bring Pihlstrom to the Granite City, it wouldn't be the first time boss Thelin has retuned to his former hunting ground in Sweden - where he previously managed Jonkopings and Elfsborg - for reinforcements. Thelin signed Danish full back Alexander Jensen from Brommapojkarna last January in a deal worth £600,000. The Scottish Cup winning manager has also utilised his knowledge of the Scandanavian market to his advantage since his arrival 12 months ago. Aberdeen recruited his former midfield general at Elfsborg Sivert Heltne Nilsen from Norwegian club Brann last summer, with the veteran going onto make 32 appearances before suffering a serious eye injury that ruled him out of the final three months of the season. Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Feyenoord confirm Quilindschy Hartman departure to Burnley
Feyenoord have confirmed that Quilindschy Hartman will be joining Burnley this summer. The 23-year-old released a statement via the Feyenoord website, having been with the club since he was nine years old. Hartman said 'Playing for Feyenoord, that's what I wanted as a little boy and I'm proud that I was able to wear this shirt so early, up to the first team and prizes'. Hartman then went on to talk about his desire to play in the Premier League and the chance to move to Burnley means he is making another dream come true. The 23-year-old left-back, who has been capped at senior level by the Dutch national team, only made 12 appearances for the side last season, creating one assist. The fee agreed between the two sides is reported to have been around €12m. During his time with Feyenoord, Hartman won both the Eredivisie title and the KNVB cup. He leaves Feyenoord and Dutch football having made 83 appearances for the senior side, scoring two goals and providing 12 assists. Advertisement Hartman is the first of a number of players expected to leave, or to have already left, Feyenoord this summer. Antoni Milambo may well follow him to the Premier League by joining Brentford in the near future. GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Clarets sign defender Hartman from Feyenoord
Burnley have signed full-back Quilindschy Hartman on a four-year deal from Eredivisie side Feyenoord. The 23-year-old, who is Scott Parker's second signing of the summer, makes the switch having played more than 80 top-flight games in the Netherlands. Advertisement "It's a really special feeling of hunger and excitement," Hartman said. "From the first moment I spoke to the coach, I was really excited and impressed and I would say he was the biggest influence in me coming here. "I'm so glad the deal is now done, I'm really proud to be here and I can't wait to start next week." Meanwhile, set-piece coach Eliot Tybebo has left the club after three seasons to pursue an opportunity abroad.
