Tag: Scottish Premiership

Jesse Marsch reportedly in the mix at Monaco and Celtic

Marsch has been unemployed since leaving Leeds in February

If the U.S. men’s national team intends to make Jesse Marsch its new head coach, it may want to get moving.

As the European season comes to a close and teams begin to plan for 2023-24, Marsch has appeared on the radar of at least two big clubs.

Monaco has sacked Philippe Clement after a disappointing campaign in which the Ligue 1 club missed out on Europe entirely. According to multiple reports, Marsch is one of the top candidates to take over at Stade Louis II.

Meanwhile in Scotland, treble-winning Celtic is on the lookout for a new manager after Ange Postecoglou moved on to Tottenham. Marsch is among the top contenders to succeed the Australian, according to Sky Sports.

This presents something of a conundrum for U.S. Soccer, which is methodically conducting a search for its USMNT head coach.

Marsch is considered one of the top candidates for the job, which is now being filled by B.J. Callaghan — the second interim head coach the team has had in 2023.

Callaghan will be in charge for both of the USMNT’s summer tournaments, the Nations League and Gold Cup, which will see him in his position through July at least.

U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker will oversee the coaching search and although he’s said the federation has already spoken to some candidates, he won’t even start his full-time role until August.

Should U.S. Soccer wait until the end of the summer, some names on its list will surely be unavailable. Marsch, who has been unemployed since leaving Leeds in February, looks like he could be one of them.

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Malik Tillman is still very undecided on his club future

Rangers or Bayern? The USMNT midfielder needs some time to figure it out

Amid his breakout campaign at Rangers, Malik Tillman has said he needs some time to sort out where he’s playing next season.

The U.S. national team midfielder has scored 10 league goals on loan from Bayern Munich this term, becoming one of the top attacking midfielders in the Scottish Premiership during his first full season of senior-team soccer.

Rangers head coach Michael Beale has consistently stated he’d like to sign the 20-year-old on a permanent basis at the end of the season, with Rangers holding a reported £5 million purchase option.

But Bayern also reportedly holds a buy-back clause that it could trigger immediately after Rangers use their own purchase option.

That has left Tillman’s future very much in the air. Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Saturday’s Old Firm derby against Celtic, the USMNT midfielder said he’d need to chat with both of his prospective managers before making a decision.

“I think I have to listen to both managers, the Rangers one and the Bayern one, and see what they say and where they see me and see what the plan is for the future and then I can decide,” Tillman said.

Tillman’s teammate Todd Cantwell expressed his desire to see the U.S. international at Ibrox for the long term.

“As a Rangers player but also as Rangers fans he’s the sort of player you want to keep here. He’s only going to get better as he gets older which is pretty scary actually,” Cantwell said.

“We want him here. He’s a fantastic footballer and I think he’s pretty aware of how much he is loved here.”

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Malik Tillman makes World Cup statement with solo stunner for Rangers

The 20-year-old scored one of the goals of the season for Americans abroad

Malik Tillman appears to be right on the bubble for the U.S. national team World Cup roster.

USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter called Tillman out after naming him to his September roster, saying the 20-year-old “needs to do better. He needs to increase his level.”

Tillman didn’t make much of an impact for the U.S. in two September substitute appearances, and has been mostly used as a reserve after returning to Rangers.

That’s why Sunday’s stunning solo goal could be so important for Tillman.

Making his first league start since September 3, Tillman picked the ball up near midfield against Motherwell and proceeded to dribble right through several defenders before clipping a finish over the goalkeeper for the game’s opening goal.

Rangers would go on to win 2-1, picking up three vital points that saw them move to within two points of first-place Celtic in the table.

It was also a crucial confidence-booster after a 7-1 midweek thrashing at the hands of Liverpool in the Champions League, the fourth group-stage defeat in a row for the Scottish side.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Tillman admitted that his goal would be a major boost to his and his team’s mental state.

“The last few weeks were a bit tough,” Tillman said. “[We] didn’t win in the Champions League and I think it’s an extreme boost for me. We have to keep looking forward and hope we win the next few games as well.”

Watch Tillman’s solo goal vs. Motherwell

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Premier League postpones matches following death of Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday after reigning for 70 years

The Premier League has announced that this weekend’s round of fixtures has been postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.

The Football League and Women’s Super League also followed suit as sporting events across Great Britain were postponed in the wake of the monarch’s passing.

“At a meeting this morning, Premier League clubs paid tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” read a statement from the Premier League.

“To honor her extraordinary life and contribution to the nation, and as a mark of respect, this weekend’s Premier League match round will be postponed, including Monday evening’s game.”

Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive, said: “We and our clubs would like to pay tribute to Her Majesty’s long and unwavering service to our country.

“As our longest-serving monarch, she has been an inspiration and leaves behind an incredible legacy following a life of dedication.

“This is a tremendously sad time for not just the nation, but also for the millions of people around the world who admired her, and we join together with all those in mourning her passing.”

In addition to the Premier League, the Scottish Premiership also postponed its matches this weekend.

The BBC reported that next weekend’s matches could also be up in the air due to policing needs ahead of the Queen’s funeral.

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