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Metro
8 hours ago
- Business
- Metro
Premier League club tipped to land treble after deals in summer transfer window
Only two English clubs have been able to land a treble to date (Picture: Getty) Jason McAteer has tipped one of the Premier League biggest clubs to land a treble in 2025-26 after their impressive summer transfer window. Manchester United and Manchester City are the only English clubs to achieve the historic feat to date – clinched in 1999 and 2023 respectively. The treble is secured by winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season and is incredibly hard to do. The likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea have never won trebles – but McAteer feels Arne Slot's side are genuinely capable of doing it this term. The Reds, who landed last season's Premier League title in Slot's debut campaign as head coach, have already made a number of high-profile signings including Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong. Get personalised updates on Liverpool every day Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Liverpool have also reached a full agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt to sign Hugo Ekitike in a deal worth £79m. Jason McAteer backs Liverpool for 2026 treble Liverpool won the Premier League title last term under Arne Slot (Picture: Reuters) Former Liverpool defender McAteer told William Hill Vegas: 'If Liverpool were to win back-to-back Premier League titles, it would be phenomenal. 'They don't need to win the Champions League to call it a great season, but to be a truly legendary team, you must win both competitions or even complete the treble, like Manchester United in 1998-99. 'Liverpool have been in contention in recent years, going deep in four competitions. 'The signings that Liverpool have made this summer mean they now have a squad capable of going all the way. Florian Wirtz joined from Bayer Leverkusen for a club record £116m (Picture: Getty) 'The likes of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike mean they have a team and a squad set up not just to compete, but to win the Champions League and the Premier League. 'The quality is undoubtedly there, and so is the experience. 'When you have players like Mohamed Salah still delivering 30 plus goals a season, a world-class centre-half like Virgil van Dijk, and Alisson in goal, who keeps clean sheets for fun, there is absolutely no reason why Liverpool cannot be genuine treble contenders. Mohamed Salah was the Premier League Player of the Season last term (Picture: Getty) 'There is a reason why trebles are not won often – Manchester City did it recently, but we all know pressure builds and fatigue, injuries, and the mental toll all mount up. 'But they are prepared for that – Arne Slot's squad has the ingredients to do something legendary.' More Trending McAteer has also suggested that the new Champions League format – only introduced last season – hurt Liverpool as they crashed out to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16. 'Despite being knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain, you have to say that Liverpool had a phenomenal Champions League campaign last season,' he added. 'They came up against PSG at exactly the wrong time. Remember, they won in Paris in the first leg and were only defeated at Anfield on penalties. 'It was more of a disappointment because Liverpool finished top of the league phase. In a different format, maybe a fairer one, Liverpool would have gone all the way.' Arrow MORE: Arsenal vs AC Milan LIVE: Pre-season friendly latest score and goal updates Arrow MORE: Martin Zubimendi reflects on Liverpool snub and decision to join Arsenal
Irish Daily Mirror
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
McAteer's first Ireland goal a distant memory in gruelling pre-season grind
Ireland winger Kasey McAteer will never forget his first Ireland goal - but he is paying for his summer exploits now. McAteer is playing catch-up with his non-international Leicester City teammates now that he has finally returned to pre-season training - and the 23-year-old is being put through the ringer. He started a unique pre-season friendly on Saturday, as the Foxes saw off Belgian side OH Leuven 2-1 in a 180-minute game, with three different 11s getting 60 minutes each. McAteer had an early chance - a header that skimmed the crossbar - and the runout was the latest stage of his delayed preparations for the new campaign. 'The first few days of pre-season are always tough, especially coming in a bit later than a lot of the boys,' he told the Leicester City website. 'But I'm just getting to grips with it now and getting the fitness in. That's what it's all about in pre-season. 'When you're coming in on the first day, you have to do your testing, which is the worst bit about it, but it's just how it is and the way it falls. 'But now I'm back in with the boys, which is what I wanted to do. It's nice to link up with everyone again after a few weeks off, build those relationships up again and get down to it. 'They are a bit further ahead fitness-wise than us boys who have come in after the international games. We had a few more days off but it's about catching up now and that's what we're looking to do. 'You never really switch off, especially mentally. You're always thinking about pre-season coming around and getting back to your top levels of fitness. You need to do a few more sessions and get the work in the legs.'
Otago Daily Times
12-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
$32k a night for 'ultra-luxury' Queenstown hotel
It's quite the transformation. An "ultra-luxury" Queenstown hotel is opening on a lakefront, edge-of-the-CBD site that was formerly home to the humble Bumbles backpackers. The Brisbane-based developer of New Zealand's first ROKI Collection hotel is opening for guests and casual diners on September 1. GM Stephen McAteer says the $70million hotel includes 15 suites, ranging from one- to four-bedders with a 'Grand ROKI' seven-bedder available too. Rates range from $1800 to $32,000 a night, but McAteer says they're also offering locals "celebration rates" over their first few months. He believes it's bringing "something truly different to NZ — an urban retreat that combines the tranquility of a lodge with the energy of a hotel in stunning Queenstown". "We're giving guests the expansiveness of a countryside lodge in this urban environment." With 'Roki' meaning 'tranquil' in te reo Maori, he adds "every aspect has been thoughtfully designed to be a space to pause and breathe, a sanctuary of calm" — the concept having been carried through by Auckland-based Sumich Chaplin Architects and leading interior designer Virginia Fisher. McAteer says what'll make it "ultra-luxury" will be the quality of the staff and the service they deliver. "We've got a very high staff-to-guest ratio, our capacity is only 46 and we're running one-to-one on open, and we anticipate that growing to about 60-plus over summer." The main third floor will house two restaurants that are also open to the public — seafood-inspired The Terrace, overlooking the lake, and "signature" modern fine dining restaurant Essence. McAteer says what's exciting is 'director of culinary' Paul Froggatt — Luxury Lodges of NZ Chef of the Year 2023/ '24 — has only cheffed in remote lodges, but will now show off his skills to all. The public can also visit The Library Bar. Open just for guests will be their "hidden sanctuary within the sanctuary", an elaborate wellness offering called 'ROKI Pure'. "We've got lap pool, jacuzzi, ice bath, saunas, we will meet our guests on whatever stage of the wellness journey they're on." They're even employing a 'sleep concierge'. "What better opportunity for these guests flying into a different time zone, different temperature, a different firmness of bed and pillows to have a sleep concierge come to their suite and offer the latest in health technology, allowing them to sleep and be restful and awaken rejuvenated." McAteer says they're also taking sustainability and conservation seriously, whether with 'keep cups' and no single-use plastic water bottles, or by partnering with predator control group Southern Lakes Sanctuary and Kea Conservation Trust — their logo is the native kea. They'll donate an amount each month to head-of-the-lake conservation work and also offer guests a hands-on experience if they're keen.
Otago Daily Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
‘Ultra-luxury' hotel ‘something truly different'
Queenstown's new $70 million ROKI Collection hotel is due to open on September 1. PHOTO: SUPPLIED It is quite the transformation. An "ultra-luxury" Queenstown hotel is opening on a lakefront, edge-of-the-CBD site that was formerly home to the humble Bumbles backpackers. The Brisbane-based developer of New Zealand's first ROKI Collection hotel is announcing today it will be opening for guests and casual diners on September 1. General manager Stephen McAteer said the $70 million hotel included 15 suites ranging from one- to four-bedders and a "Grand ROKI" seven-bedder would be available too. Rates range from $1800 to $32,000 a night, but Mr McAteer said the hotel was also offering locals "celebration rates" over its first few months. He believed it was bringing "something truly different to New Zealand — an urban retreat that combines the tranquillity of a lodge with the energy of a hotel in stunning Queenstown". "We're giving guests the expansiveness of a countryside lodge in this urban environment." "Roki" meant "tranquil" in te reo Māori and "every aspect has been thoughtfully designed to be a space to pause and breathe, a sanctuary of calm" — the concept having been carried through by Auckland-based Sumich Chaplin Architects and leading interior designer Virginia Fisher. Mr McAteer said what would make the hotel "ultra-luxury" would be the quality of the staff and the service it delivered. "We've got a very high staff-to-guest ratio, our capacity is only 46 and we're running one-to-one on open, and we anticipate that growing to about 60-plus over summer." The main third floor would house two restaurants that would also be open to the public — seafood-inspired The Terrace, overlooking the lake, and "signature" modern fine dining restaurant Essence. Mr McAteer said what was exciting was that "director of culinary" Paul Froggatt — Luxury Lodges of NZ Chef of the Year 2023-24 — had only cheffed in remote lodges, but would now show off his skills to all. The public could also visit The Library Bar. Open just for guests would be the hotel's "hidden sanctuary within the sanctuary", an elaborate wellness offering called "ROKI Pure". "We've got a lap pool, jacuzzi, ice bath, saunas — we will meet our guests on whatever stage of the wellness journey they're on." The hotel was even employing a "sleep concierge". "What better opportunity for these guests flying into a different time zone, different temperature, a different firmness of bed and pillows to have a sleep concierge come to their suite and offer the latest in health technology, allowing them to sleep and be restful and awaken rejuvenated?" Mr McAteer said the hotel was also taking sustainability and conservation seriously, whether with "keep cups" and no single-use plastic water bottles, or by partnering with predator control group Southern Lakes Sanctuary and the Kea Conservation Trust — the hotel's logo is the kea. The hotel would donate an amount each month to head-of-the-lake conservation work and also offer guests a hands-on experience if they were keen.
The 42
15-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'Roy flipped… That image epitomises Uri. He was a black belt in kickboxing'
AS THE tributes poured in for ex-referee Uriah Rennie following news of his death at the age of 65 last week, one memorable image did the rounds. The Premier League's pioneering first black referee, who officiated over 300 fixtures between 1997 and 2008, proved a key figure during a match between Man United and Sunderland. 31 August 2002 was the date. The Saipan controversy and Roy Keane's abrupt World Cup exit were still fresh in people's minds. Ex-Ireland teammate Jason McAteer had been winding Keane up during the game. Less than 12 months earlier, the pair had been arm in arm following McAteer's famous winner against the Netherlands in a crucial World Cup qualifier. But the Red Devils captain and McAteer, a Mick McCarthy sympathiser, were no longer on good terms. The pair initially clashed while challenging for the ball. Keane won possession off the Black Cats midfielder, who proceeded to foul Keane. The incensed Man United star went for his opponent. Rennie stepped in, doing what not many referees of that era would have had the bravery to do and physically blocked one of English football's fiercest competitors from his attempts at retaliation. The two players continued mouthing off, and McAteer made a clear book-writing gesture about Keane's much-discussed new autobiography, which had been published the previous day. The Irish midfielder avoided a red card in that instance, but he was still dismissed minutes later for an off-the-ball elbow on McAteer. 'That's a very famous image,' says Ashley Hickson-Lovence, who wrote the 2022 novel 'Your Show,' based on Rennie's life. 'Jason McAteer made a comment about [Roy's] book, and Roy flipped. 'And, you know, that image epitomises Uri. He was a black belt in kickboxing, and he knew martial arts. He wasn't really meant to do that. You're not taught to do that. So that was him doing whatever needed doing to keep the game under control. I don't think the FA were a huge fan. I think there were a few comments that the FA made afterwards, saying that wasn't the best thing to do, or they don't encourage other referees to do that. 'Actually, it was funny because Roy Keane didn't get sent off in that moment. He did get sent off in the game, but he managed to stop Roy Keane attacking Jason McAteer at that point. So that would have been a warning of sorts, to Roy, to behave himself. 'Uri was such a character, and someone who sometimes didn't do things by the book, to do the best that he could as a role of a referee, which is obviously really tough.' While writing 'Your Show,' Hickson-Lovence got to know Rennie, 'a hero' to the young author, who credits the trailblazer for his subsequent stint as an amateur referee. Advertisement The book had started life as the student's PhD at the University of East Anglia. The then-English teacher gained access to Rennie's email address through a friend of a friend, and the ex-referee was initially reluctant about cooperating with the project. Hickson-Lovence needed to 'really sell myself' before Rennie agreed to meet him at the Ponds Forge leisure centre in Sheffield. 'I had to give him a screenshot of my profile as a teacher from the school website and that sort of thing,' he recalls. The pair met up 'four or five times,' and these conversations would help inform the writing of 'Your Show' — a novel that was also a biography of sorts. 'The more we got talking, the more he sort of loosened up, and we warmed to each other, and I listened back to our conversation after his passing, and just listened back to our interviews, and there was a lot of laughter, and that was lovely to hear.' Despite multiple old reports simply describing Rennie as 'English,' Hickson-Lovence discovered he had been born in Jamaica. 'To make that rise from Jamaica to a very rough estate in Sheffield in the '70s, refereeing in the lower leagues, in the semi-professional game in the '80s, in Yorkshire, would have been incredibly tough. And that's something I don't know, because he didn't really talk about it with me, to be honest. And then, to make it to the Premier League in 1997 with increased cameras, scrutiny, Sky Sports, all that sort of thing, it's one hell of an achievement. 'He arrived in Sheffield in 1972, and he qualified as a referee in 1979, and I do think it was a difficult time. 'He lived in a relatively small, modest house with a lot of brothers and sisters. So, especially when he was a young man, sport was his escape. 'I think [his story is] film-worthy, if I do say so myself.' The pair became increasingly close, and as the novel was getting ready for publication, Rennie commended Hickson-Lovence on 'a very good read'. Completing the project was a major coup. Rennie rarely accepted interviews following his retirement. Hickson-Lovence suspects part of this mistrust was due to some of the unkind journalism written about the former referee in his heyday. 'Even when the book was released, I had requests from The Guardian, The Observer and lots of other publications who wanted to do interviews and things about the book together, and he didn't want to do that. And I accepted and respected that decision. 'I would message him to say: 'By the way, so and so wants to do something, I think they're quite trusted,' or whatever. And he would just say: 'Not for me.' Sort of a polite decline.' He continues: 'I think [doing interviews] had to be for a good reason. I suppose he didn't want it to have a sort of journalistic slant or angle. I imagine he wanted it to be a book that had longevity, or would inspire others of colour or marginalised groups to get involved in football and refereeing, particularly. 'But that being said, he didn't really get involved, apart from the interviews. He let me do what I wanted to do.' Rennie refereed over 300 professional games. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Hickson-Lovence and Rennie stayed in touch following the project's conclusion and would regularly message one another. They spoke on the phone for a couple of hours about Rennie's pride following his appointment as the Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University and the 'open-door policy' he planned to have. He was only installed in the position last month. 'He wanted to really break down the barriers in terms of what a university is and what a university should be, and how that relationship would work with the wider Sheffield community.' Rennie, who was also a magistrate in Sheffield since 1996, earlier this year expressed his sympathy after Hickson-Lovence's father passed away. Uri's recent message to me after my dad died. A kind man with a big heart. RIP Uriah Rennie ❤️ — Ashley Hickson-Lovence (@AHicksonLovence) June 9, 2025 During their conversations, it was sometimes notable what was left unsaid. Last April, Rennie told the BBC about how doctors found a nodule on his spine caused by a rare, inoperable neurological condition. The man once described as the Premier League's fittest referee had to learn to walk again. Hickson-Lovence recalls how Rennie didn't mention his illness during their lengthy interactions, and it was only later that he found out the iconic figure had been ill. 'He was quite a private man. And I think he just didn't want to make it all about him, so to speak. 'He was a very selfless man. And all of my interactions with him, it was striking to me how much he cared about other people and the community and putting others first. 'I just think he saw his role as helping others, community and humanity first. And everything he did had to have the right purpose, and if it wasn't going to help anybody, or if it wasn't going to have a lasting impact, or it wasn't going to inspire, then he just wouldn't do it. I'm not just talking about the book. I'm talking about anything he does, because he's a patron of several charities. He goes into schools, he goes into care homes, he's done walking marathons and half marathons. He's done all sorts to raise money for charities. Charities became his thing, and community became his thing. 'It's weird, because I think of Uriah Rennie's legacy now more as a human than actually a referee, having met him and done the research, it feels like he just had such a bigger impact. He had a huge impact on the pitch, but his impact in Sheffield and South Yorkshire cannot be understated, really. 'He knew everybody. And if it was a charity [making a request], he wouldn't say no.' In December 2023, Sam Allison became the Premier League's second-ever black referee, 15 years after Rennie's retirement. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Despite his remarkable achievements, Hickson-Lovence believes Rennie remains a somewhat underappreciated footballing figure. 'I do think the Premier League should have done more to use Uri's legacy to get more officials of colour up through the system. It's not good enough that it was 15 years since his retirement that we had Sam Allison [the Premier League's second black referee], and I still don't think [it's acceptable], considering how culturally diverse the top level game is in the UK, that we don't have more officials of colour, and managers and coaches as well.'
