Netherlands rope in Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez as head coach

Amsterdam [Netherlands], August 13 (ANI): Spain and Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez has been appointed as the head coach of the Netherlands men’s national team, with the deal running through to the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Xavi, a multi-time La Liga champion and four-time UEFA Champions League winner with Barca and a FIFA World Cup and Euro Championship (two times) with Spain, has been appointed to the position after the Dutch’s shock round of 32 FIFA World Cup 2026 exit to Morocco.

A statement from KNVB said, “Xavi Hernandez has been appointed as the new head coach of the Netherlands men’s national team. The 46-year-old Spanish coach takes over from Ronald Koeman. Xavi has reached an agreement with the KNVB on a contract through to the 2030 FIFA World Cup." fish-roadgame.com

Xavi said on his appointment, as quoted by the team’s official website, that he is in a way “a son of Dutch football", citing his development at the FC Barcelona academy with influence from Netherlands legends Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels.

“It is a great honour to become head coach of the Netherlands national team. As someone who was developed at the FC Barcelona academy, with strong influences from, among others, Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, I feel a special connection to Dutch football. You could say I am, in a way, a son of Dutch football. Other great coaches, especially Louis van Gaal, under whom I made my debut at Barcelona, and Frank Rijkaard, have also played an important role in shaping me as both a player and as a coach," he said.

“The Netherlands has a rich football culture and a clear vision that strongly appeals to me: attacking football, based on possession, with creativity, passion and conviction. Of course, the main objective is always to win, but I prefer to do so in a way that reflects those characteristics and that people can enjoy watching. The potential is there, as well as a strong foundation to build on. I am looking forward to starting this challenge together with the players, the staff and everyone within the KNVB," he added.

The team’s Director of Elite Football, Nigel de Jong, said, “Every new cycle requires us to take a fresh look at where we want to go, what we need to get there and which available head coach is the best fit. Xavi has experienced and won everything as a player, including a World Cup, multiple league titles and Champions League titles."

“As a coach, he has been shaped by years of working with top coaches who share a footballing vision that aligns very well with the way we want the Netherlands national team to play: taking the initiative, playing dominant and attractive football, combined with the flexibility required in modern football at the highest level."

“Xavi believes in these core principles and has embraced them and made them his own. All of that, combined with his personality and the way he connects with players and brings the best out of a group, makes him the right choice for the coming years," he added.

The team’s managing director Marianne van Leeuwen said, “With Xavi, we are bringing in someone who, as both a player and a coach, has experienced the very highest level of international football. He knows what it takes to be successful and brings that experience to the Netherlands national team. That fits our ambitions. We are therefore delighted that he has chosen to take on this challenge." (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

લિયોનેલ મેસ્સીના પિતા જોર્જ મેસ્સીનું 8 ઓગસ્ટના રોજ 68 વર્ષની વયે લાંબી બીમારી બાદ અવસાન થયું હતું. આ પછી લિયોનેલ મેસ્સીએ 12 ઓગસ્ટના રોજ તેમના પિતાના અવસાન પર પહેલીવાર મૌન તોડ્યું જેમાં તેને સોશિયલ મીડિયા પર એક ઈમોશનલ પોસ્ટ શેર કરી જેમાં તેમણે ભવિષ્યમાં ફૂટબોલ રમવા અંગે શંકા વ્યક્ત કરી હતી.

લિયોનેલ મેસ્સીએ સોશિયલ મીડિયા પ્લેટફોર્મ ઈન્સ્ટાગ્રામ પર તેમના પિતા જોર્જ સાથેનો એક ફોટો પોસ્ટ કર્યો અને એક નોટ પણ શેર કરી જેમાં તેને લખ્યું કે તેઓ આ મોટી ખોટ સ્વીકારી શકતા નથી અને તેને સમજાતું નથી કે તે તેના પિતા વિના જીવનમાં કેવી રીતે આગળ વધશે કારણ કે તેઓ મારા બેસ્ટ મિત્ર, માર્ગદર્શક અને એજન્ટ પણ હતા.

મને ખબર નથી કે આગળ કેવી રીતે આગળ વધવું

પિતાના અવસાન પછી લિયોનેલ મેસ્સીએ ઈન્સ્ટાગ્રામ પર શેર કરેલી એક પોસ્ટમાં લખ્યું છે કે "મને ખબર નથી કે હું તમારા વિના શું કરીશ. મને ખબર નથી કે આગળ કેવી રીતે વધવું. હું ફક્ત ફૂટબોલ રમી રહ્યો હતો, પરંતુ હવે મારી પાસે ઘણા સવાલો છે કે શું હું ચાલુ રાખી શકીશ." મેસ્સીએ સમજાવ્યું કે તેના પિતાએ તેને દરેક બાબતમાં સપોર્ટ આપ્યો અને હંમેશા તેના નિર્ણયોમાં વિશ્વાસ રાખ્યો. "બધા માટે આભાર. હું તમને પ્રેમ કરું છું, પપ્પા."

વર્લ્ડકપ શરૂ થવાના થોડા દિવસ પહેલા તે બીમાર પડ્યા

પોતાની પોસ્ટમાં લિયોનેલ મેસ્સીએ સમજાવ્યું કે વર્લ્ડકપ 2026 શરૂ થવાના થોડા દિવસો પહેલા તેના પિતાની તબિયત અચાનક બગડી ગઈ હતી, જેના કારણે જોર્જ પહેલી વાર કોઈ ટુર્નામેન્ટમાં હાજરી આપી શક્યા ન હતા. "હું દરેક મેચ પછી મારા પિતાના મેસેજની રાહ જોતો હતો. મને તમારી ખૂબ જ યાદ આવશે, પણ તમે હંમેશા સાથે રહેશો. ખાસ કરીને મારા બાળકોને ઉછેરવામાં, કારણ કે હું તેમને એ જ રીતે શીખવીશ અને ઉછેરીશ જે રીતે તમે મને ઉછેર્યો છે."

મેસ્સીને રોનાલ્ડોનો સપોર્ટ મળ્યો

મેસ્સીના પિતાના અવસાન પછી જ્યારે તેણે સોશિયલ મીડિયા પર એક પોસ્ટ શેર કરી, ત્યારે તેને ક્રિસ્ટિયાનો રોનાલ્ડોનો સપોર્ટ મળ્યો, જેમાં રોનાલ્ડોએ તેની પોસ્ટ પર કોમેન્ટ કરી અને લખ્યું છે કે લીઓ, આ મુશ્કેલ સમયમાં તને અને તારા પરિવારને મારું મોટું હગ, તમને ઘણી શક્તિ મળે.

આ પણ વાંચો: 25 સિક્સ, 15 ચોગ્ગા અને 233 રન... અભિષેક શર્માએ મચાવી ધૂમ, બોલર્સ થયા હેરાન

New Delhi [India], August 12 (ANI): South African batter David Miller has identified his unbeaten 101 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) as the knock he is most proud of in the league innings, saying the pressure-filled chase played a key role in shaping his career.

Miller, who is representing Southern Brave in The Hundred 2026, reflected on his career and his most memorable IPL performances while speaking to JioStar. The left-hander has established himself as one of T20 cricket’s most dependable middle-order finishers over a career spanning more than a decade.

“I think the 101 that I scored against RCB, the fact that it was a chase, chasing down a score and scoring a hundred, my first hundred in the IPL, my first T20 hundred, was a knock that felt the most rewarding. I think there was a lot at stake there, and it kind of set my career up if I look back at it now. Then there was another knock that I’ll always remember as well, the one in Durban against Australia. We chased down a score there as well, and I scored a hundred, 118 not out or something. So, those two knocks under pressure, scoring hundreds, they’ll always kind of stand out," he said.

Miller’s 101 came off just 38 balls for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) against RCB in the 2013 season and remains one of the most iconic innings of his IPL career. The performance announced him as a destructive force in the middle order and laid the foundation for his reputation as a finisher.

The South African said mastering the art of finishing innings has been one of the most rewarding aspects of his long career.

“Probably the fact that I’ve made a career by batting in the middle order and finishing games, that would be something I’m most proud of. It’s something that takes a long time to kind of conquer and master. I’m still learning all the time, but at least I’ve had a long career in that department, and I’ve really enjoyed going about chasing innings, especially," he said.

Miller has featured in 15 IPL seasons since making his debut in 2012, representing Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals. He holds the record for the most IPL seasons played by a South African cricketer.

His most celebrated IPL campaign came with Gujarat Titans in 2022, when he played a pivotal role in the franchise’s title-winning debut season. Miller was the backbone of GT’s middle order and produced several match-winning performances during their historic run.

Reflecting on his favourite IPL memory, Miller picked that triumph with Gujarat Titans.

He said, “My favourite moment in the IPL… there have been many, but we obviously play to win, so definitely winning the IPL for Gujarat Titans would be that."

Miller has accumulated 3,288 runs in 152 IPL matches across his career and has become synonymous with late-innings hitting and successful chases.

In The Hundred 2026, Miller has scored 166 runs in eight matches for Southern Brave, although the franchise could not secure a place in the knockout stages. His latest campaign has added to a career in which the 37-year-old continues to play a key role in T20 leagues around the world. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

On the field, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are fierce competitors. Off the field, they have shown respect for each other. Ronaldo, on the day he got married to Georgina Rodriguez, took the time to convey his condolences following the death of Messi’s father.

Ronaldo commented on Messi’s post, saying, “A huge hug to you and yours in these tough times, Leo. Much strength.”

Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, died on Saturday at a hospital in Rosario, Argentina. He was 68. He played a fundamental role in Messi’s career. He served as his agent and managed his business affairs. He traveled with a young Messi to Barcelona in the early 2000s for the trial that opened the doors to La Masia.

Messi made his professional debut in 2005. He went on to win eight Ballon d’Or awards. He led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title.

After his father’s death, Messi posted a long note on social media. He wrote that he still cannot believe his father is gone. He said it is very hard to imagine not seeing him or talking to him again. He said his father asked him to play in the last World Cup, and just days before it started, his health got worse.

Messi said he expected and missed his father’s message after every game. He kept thinking that going as far as possible would give his father time to watch a game. They made it to the final, but his father could not be there.

Messi said he does not know what he will do without his father. He said he used to just play football, but now he has doubts about whether he will continue for much longer. He called his father a dad, friend, and representative. He said he will be missed but will always be present, especially in raising his children. He ended by saying, “Thanks for everything. I love you, Pa.”

Messi has reportedly suspended his football career indefinitely following his father’s death.

Lionel Messi Opens Up on Football Future After Father’s Death

Lionel Messi has said he is unsure how much longer he will continue playing football. He posted an emotional tribute after his father’s death.

Messi’s father Jorge was 68 when he died last week following a long illness. Jorge had been Messi’s agent since he was 14. He watched his son become one of the greatest players ever.

Messi wrote on social media that he does not know what he will do without his father. He said he used to just play football, but now he is not sure if he will carry on for much longer. He said his father was by his side from the very beginning. He wished his father had held on a little longer so they could finish together.

Messi led Argentina to the 2026 World Cup final. His side lost 1-0 to Spain. During the tournament, he was brought to tears after scoring against Algeria. His family later said Jorge was dealing with a health situation.

Messi said his father asked him to play in one last World Cup. Just days before it started, his father’s health took a turn for the worse. Messi kept telling his father they would make the final so he could come along. He wanted to win the trophy for his father, but he said his legs had nothing left. He tried to push past his physical limits but could not.

Messi’s family moved to Spain in 2001 when he was signed by Barcelona at age 13. His mother and siblings soon moved back to Argentina, but his father stayed with him. Messi scored 672 goals in 778 games for Barcelona, winning four Champions League titles and 10 La Liga titles. He joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 and Inter Miami in 2023.

Messi said his father never missed a single game. He called him his dad, friend, and mentor. He said he will be missed but will always be with him, especially in raising his children. He ended by saying “I love you, Dad.”

FAQs.

Q. What did Cristiano Ronaldo say to Lionel Messi?

A. Ronaldo sent Messi a message of support after his father’s death.

Q. How old was Jorge Messi when he died?

A. Jorge Messi was 68 years old.

Q. How many Ballon d’Or awards has Messi won?

A. Messi has won eight Ballon d’Or awards.

Q. What did Messi say about his football future?

A. Messi said he was unsure how much longer he would play.

Q. How many goals did Messi score for Barcelona?

A. Messi scored 672 goals in 778 games for Barcelona.

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