I Dig Sports
Pep Guardiola, Man City's Champions League quest is on, Benzema's Real Madrid exit, Zlatan retires, more
We're almost at the end of the 2022-23 European season, and the talking points keep coming. Manchester City completed the second leg of their attempt at the treble, wrapping up the FA Cup win over rivals Manchester United and now turning their attention to the UEFA Champions League. Real Madrid's longtime star, Karim Benzema, announced his surprise exit this weekend, scoring in his final game for the club ... and giving them a chance to properly and authentically rebuild.
Elsewhere, RB Leipzig won the German Cup, Inter Milan continued their positive momentum ahead of Saturday's CL final, Paris Saint-Germain's season ended in dismal fashion and the legend, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, brought his career to an end after 24 brilliant seasons.
- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga & more (U.S.)
It's Monday, and for the final edition of Musings in 2022-23, Gab Marcotti reacts to the biggest moments in the world of football.
Two down and one to go, but for Pep Guardiola and Man City, it's all about the Champions League
There are his words, not mine. "More than ... the treble, is the fact to win the Champions League," Pep Guardiola said. "We have to admit it, without the Champions League -- it has been amazing, it has been fun -- but we are missing [something]. We have to do it.
"We get more and more credit for what we have done these years, we have done many things, but I said to the players 'you have to put the pressure on yourself, to be recognized as something good, you have to win in Europe.'"
It's an understandable thing to say, but it's remarkable when, for the longest time, Guardiola's tune was rather different. After seven years of being asked pretty much variations on the same question ("How important is winning the Champions League to you?") and replying in a very rational if rather coachspeak-y way ("We want to be the best that we can be, sometimes in a knockout competition there are things you can't control, the league is the best measure of what you are achieving") he sounded like a fan. And maybe a bit irrational, too, because he knows full well that in 90 minutes -- just like Saturday's Champions League final against Inter -- anything can happen.
Manchester City can be unlucky, Inter can have the game of their lives, the referee could make a terrible mistake... it's the nature of the sport: the best team doesn't always win. City played 61 games in all competitions this season. On paper, they were the best team in every single one of them going into the game, and yet they only won 44 of those 61 games. That's less than three out of four.
Guardiola has never been about banging on about silverware in public (like, say, Jose Mourinho). He's talked about performance, improvement and all those those things clubs strive for without measuring them exclusively in terms of trophies. So why layer on this extra dollop of pressure on yourself and your players now, especially since it doesn't come from the ownership or the supporters?
City don't need to win the Champions League for their business model to work and Sheikh Mansour, who has famously been to watch a game at the Etihad just once in the nearly 15 years he's owned the club, presumably isn't bombarding him with text messages. The fan base is diverse and global, but certainly the hardcore -- the folks who boo the Champions League anthem -- has such an acrimonious relationship with UEFA (stemming from the Financial Fair Play investigations) that it's never been part of the club-defining narrative the way it has been at, say, Real Madrid or Liverpool.
Nope, you suspect this comes from within. From Pep himself. Analytical and intellectual he may be, in his heart he's still a footballer, and this is how players measure success. He may have three of these trophies at home, including the one he won as a player, but he knows what another Champions League trophy (one without prime Lionel Messi on his team) would mean to his legacy. At least to those who measure these things in cups.
Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City need to win the Champions League to be recognised among the greats.
In terms of how good they are, there's not much to prove, and he showed it against Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
It wasn't so much about the performance -- United won the xG battle, even without the generous penalty for the Jack Grealish handball, and they had two chances to equalize at the very end -- it was the way they seemed unfazed throughout, looking as if they could have kicked it up a gear or two at any time. And that opening goal, after just twelve seconds, was the epitome of directness, long passing, second balls and all those things you would never have associated with a Guardiola team even just a few years ago.
As for United, the game pretty much confirmed what I wrote leading up to the final. There's a style gap, there's a stability gap and there's a personnel gap and Erik Ten Hag will need time to close it (assuming he does).
I'm not sure his results this year -- he took his team to two domestic finals and the last eight of the Europa League, while finishing third in the Premier League -- are how we should measure his progress in the long term, but in the short term he showed he can deliver on what he needs to do to keep the side ticking over and the media off his back.
Benzema goodbye is a chance for Real Madrid to rebuild
It happened so quickly. It began with early rumours on Friday, Carlo Ancelotti's firm denial -- he said he had "no doubts" that Karim Benzema would be staying -- on Saturday, Real Madrid's club statement on Sunday afternoon and, on Sunday night came the farewell after the 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao, in which he scored his 353rd and final goal for the club.
After 14 seasons, five Champions League crowns, four league titles, three Copas del Rey, a Ballon d'Or and an assortment of lesser trophies, Benzema is swapping the Bernabeu for (reportedly) Saudi Arabia.
Where does this leave Real Madrid? As I see it, in adversity there is opportunity, and maybe his farewell is a chance to accelerate the rebuilding process.
Alejandro Moreno explains why he believes Harry Kane is the only candidate to replace Karim Benzema at Real Madrid.
Marco Asensio (reportedly close to Paris Saint-Germain), Nacho, Luka Modric, Mariano Diaz, Dani Ceballos and Toni Kroos are all out of contract this summer. Eden Hazard is rescinding his deal, which had another year to run. The club, reportedly, were going to extend Modric and Kroos another year, partly out of gratitude, partly because they can still contribute, partly to help the youngsters grow.
I'd be tempted to move on from all of them with the possible exception of Ceballos, who is 26, if he was willing to commit to a club-friendly deal. Doing so would knock close to 100 million euros off a wage bill that is the second highest in Europe. That savings, plus the money set aside for the Kylian Mbappe deal that never materialized, can provide the basis for a proper rebuild.
It may mean not being among the Champions League favourites straight away, but one of the good things of being in LaLiga, as opposed to Serie A or the Premier League, is that you know you're pretty much assured of a top-four spot. (And given Barcelona's myriad issues, who knows? Maybe you can still win the title.)
Florentino Perez has rebuilt this team time and again. It may be time to do it once more if you want to give yourself the best possible way to get back to the top in the next few years.
Zlatan has left the building ...
We knew he was going to address the crowd and say farewell to Milan. We just did not know he was leaving for good.
And yet, really, we should have known that even the man who calls himself God, at 41 years of age and having logged just 145 minutes of football this season, was ready to pack it in.
It's a cliche to describe Zlatan Ibrahimovic as larger than life, but as often happens, there's plenty of truth in that trite phrase. He was a Paul Bunyan-esque folk hero who sometimes rubbed people the wrong way -- just ask Pep Guardiola -- but also could charm and entertain like few others. He often did this, especially once he reached his 30s, by adopting the Zlatan persona, sometimes making you wonder whether he was simply playing a character named Zlatan. And yet, somehow, that character felt more real and genuine than so many of his cliche-ridden colleagues.
Julien Laurens reflects on Zlatan Ibrahimovic's career after the AC Milan striker announced his decision to retire from football.
Few men his size came anywhere near his ability on the ball. And while it's true that teams forcibly adapted to him rather than the other way around (what else are you going to do when you sign a guy with his unique skill set?), it's equally true that he won 14 league titles in a 24-year career, almost all of them as a front-and-center protagonist.
When Julien Laurens and I interviewed him last year for "Gab & Juls Meets ..." we asked what the next chapter would be and he told us he was "a little bit panicking." That's understandable, after three decades of an athlete's daily routine, but given his personality, I wonder how long before he tells us that others are the ones who will soon be panicking as he embarks on the next phase of his life.
An appropriate end to PSG's nightmare season: A home loss and Neymar, Messi booed
Paris Saint-Germain's home defeat to Clermont Foot on the final day of the Ligue 1 season was a fitting metaphor for their campaign. They went 2-0 up only to lose 3-2, sort of mirroring the excitement of what a Kylian Mbappe-Neymar-Lionel Messi strike force may achieve and the subsequent letdown. Neymar, injured in the stands, was booed during the postgame celebration, as was Messi and coach Christophe Galtier.
PSG fans know there's plenty of blame to go around, but it's obvious that those with the biggest paychecks are going to be held to a higher standard. When you then take your annual spring injury sabbatical (Neymar) or jet off to Saudi Arabia for a photo shoot (Messi)... well, you're going to be targeted. The club's dysfunction obviously runs deep, but the reaction to Messi in particular tells us something about fandom in the modern age.
PSG were a big club with a big fan base before Messi arrived, and it grew even bigger after he landed. And this where there's a bit of a disconnect between Messi fans who started supporting PSG because he was there -- as evidenced by the 1.5 million followers the PSG Instagram account reportedly lost after his final game -- and the PSG fans who trace their lineage back to the days of Safet Susic and Jean-Marc Pilorget.
The latter are sticking around now that Messi's gone. They'll be there when/if Mbappe leaves too and they'll still be there if/when the Qataris move on too. They also likely realized that their club was used not just by Messi and Neymar, but by the current ownership and many of the players who have come through the Parc des Princes in the past few years.
They got the benefits of it, sure, but, still, to many it was a marriage of convenience. And in these situations, when it's over, you feel a little bit used.
RB Leipzig outlast Frankfurt to win German Cup. Are they ready to challenge Bayern Munich?
This season's German Cup final could probably have gone either way until a double-deflected Christopher Nkunku shot made its way past Kevin Trapp to give Leipzig the lead 20 minutes from time.
Marco Rose's crew had the upper hand for much of the game, but that felt largely by design as Eintracht Frankfurt handed them the initiative and looked to hit on the break. Though not at their sharpest -- and missing some big guns like defender Josko Gvardiol, forward Andre Silva and goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi -- Leipzig looked the better team throughout and added a deserved second with winger Dominik Szoboszlai.
For obvious reasons, Leipzig aren't everyone's cup of tea, but the work they've done in attracting and developing gifted youngsters, as well as developing a strong footballing identity, is groundbreaking. Plenty talk of the benefits of multi-club ownership, but they're actually the only ones to have pulled it off effectively.
Now comes the big question: can they compete for the title next season? A lot will depend on whether they can effectively replace Nkunku, Gvardiol and Konrad Laimer -- the first two are heavily linked to moves elsewhere, the latter has already committed to ... Bayern. But really, it feels as if this was the year to do it and that, maybe, without the injuries to Gulacsi (who went down in October and missed the rest of the campaign) and Nkunku (who made just 25 league appearances and was still joint-top scorer), they might have pulled it off.
Inter also close out the season on a high ...
It was a meaningless game, sure, and Simone Inzaghi rotated a few players, but Inter's 1-0 victory away to Torino makes it 11 wins in their last 12 games heading into the Champions' League final. That's form, and that matters too.
Nobody is under any illusions who the overwhelming favourite in Istanbul is going to be, and all Inter can do is give themselves the best possible shot. In maintaining their late-season momentum and ensuring everyone is as fit and as rested as they can possibly be after a gruelling campaign -- 57 games isn't quite as many as Man City's 61, but that's still a lot -- they are doing just that.
One team may be stronger than the other, but we'll nevertheless see two sides at full strength in the Champions League final. That bodes well for the neutral.
Pressure on India to get ICC monkey off their back? Not at all, says Dravid
"The hype not being there might be a good thing."
The media briefings with the Australian contingent over the past few days have been dominated by Ashes talk, and, you wouldn't be far off the mark if you felt the WTC final was more of a warm-up, a stepping stone for the marquee series of the English summer.
Still, with warmer temperatures forecast for the match, the longer boundaries at the Oval which also has true bounce, has made pundits like Ricky Ponting and Wasim Akram believe Cummins' team has a slight edge.
India, though, are unperturbed.
"Look, whatever will happen will happen in those five days," Dravid said. "Anything that happens before or after doesn't really make a difference. Who is the favourite, who isn't, when two good teams with good players play, whichever team performs well over the five days, will win. I have full hope that if we play good cricket, and, we have the ability, we have the players that we can pick 20 wickets, we can score runs, I have full hope that we can win this. The hype not being there might be a good thing."
Dravid also said India were not going into the match with the baggage of having not won a world title since MS Dhoni's team lifted the 2013 Champions Trophy, which was also in England. Under the leadership of Rohit and Dravid, India have featured in two T20 World Cups, with their best finish being the semis in the 2022 edition in Australia.
"No, not at all," Dravid responded to whether India were feeling any pressure from such expectations. "I mean, we don't feel any pressure in terms of trying to win an ICC trophy. Of course, it would be nice to do it. It's certainly nice to be able to win an ICC tournament. But also in the context of things, you look at this and you see this is the culmination of two years of work, it's a culmination of a lot of success that gets you here. So there's a lot of positives to take from that to see where you stand on the table, winning series in Australia, drawing series here, being very competitive everywhere that this team has played in the world over the last five or six years.
"Those are things that will never change just because you have or you don't have an ICC trophy. That's really the bigger picture. But, of course, it's nice to be able to lift any game of cricket you want to win. This happens to be like a World Test Championship final and it would be nice to get them on the right side of the result."
Dravid also felt it would be stretching the point by attaching the significance of an Indian win in the WTC final to the long-term health of Test cricket, just like India's World Cup wins in 1983 and 2007 had done for the exponential growth of the white-ball game.
"I don't think you can compare the two. That was a long time ago and they (ODIs and T20s) still are the new formats of the game. Test cricket has been around a really long time and I'm not sure one match is going to transform things or change things drastically, irrespective of whichever way it goes. Test cricket faces unique challenges, it's a fantastic game which faces some challenges, which is not necessarily going to change (by) the result of one game."
NFL minicamp Week 1 storylines: QB concerns for Raiders and Niners? New look for Lions' backfield?
Nine NFL teams are scheduled to open their mandatory three-day minicamps this week, and 21 more will follow next week.
As the rookies and the veterans come together, it will not be uncommon to see some familiar faces in new uniforms, with this week seeing the mandatory debuts of defensive tackle Javon Hargrave with the San Francisco 49ers and cornerback Jalen Ramsey with the Miami Dolphins. This whirlwind of an offseason also included ownership changes and record-setting contracts. With minicamps underway, teams are beginning to get a taste of what this coming season could bring.
What do you need to know about this week's activities? We asked our NFL Nation reporters to preview this week's minicamps and tell us the biggest storylines they are watching.
Jump to:
CLE | DAL | DET | LV | MIA
SF | SEA | TEN | WSH
Cleveland Browns
Storyline to watch: Quarterback Deshaun Watson's sharpness
How will Watson look through his second offseason in Cleveland? Watson struggled in six games last season coming off a 700-day layoff from football, including an 11-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy by committing sexual assault, as defined by the league, on massage therapists. Watson now has had this entire offseason to settle into coach Kevin Stefanski's offensive scheme and build chemistry with teammates. How that translates this fall -- and whether Watson can regain his 2020 form -- will ultimately determine Cleveland's fate in 2023. Minicamp will provide a glimpse. -- Jake Trotter
Dallas Cowboys
Storyline to watch: Two-minute drill
The Cowboys have been careful with their contact and pace during organized team activities after coach Mike McCarthy was fined each of the past two offseasons. That will continue to some degree in minicamp, but McCarthy indicated the plan is to have some full-team, two-minute work, which will raise the level of competitiveness. It will also help McCarthy and Dak Prescott continue to work on their communication as playcaller and quarterback in as close to live play as a team can get in the offseason. -- Todd Archer
Detroit Lions
Storylines to watch: Running back Jahmyr Gibbs' progression
The Lions' front office gave offensive coordinator Ben Johnson a gift by drafting Gibbs at No. 12. It'll be interesting to see how they use the rookie running back going forward, especially after holding him out of rookie minicamp after he tweaked an ankle. However, he was able to display his route-running skills during OTAs. As proof of its confidence in the rookie, Detroit completely reconstructed its backfield this offseason by letting go of D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams, then adding former Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery to pair with Gibbs. Although Gibbs is listed as a running back, the Lions see him as a dual option who is equally talented at catching and running. He'll have a chance to showcase his talent. -- Eric Woodyard
Las Vegas Raiders
Storyline to watch: Who's playing quarterback?
With quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo sidelined as he recovers from surgery to his left foot that took place after he signed with Las Vegas in March, Raider Nation turns its eyes to Brian Hoyer, Aidan O'Connell and Chase Garbers. While Las Vegas bet on Garoppolo being ready for training camp, there remains a possibility that he'll never play for the Raiders, meaning minicamp will give the 14-year vet (Hoyer), the fourth-round draft pick (O'Connell) or the second-year pro who has yet to take an NFL snap (Garbers) a leg up on the competition. -- Paul Gutierrez
Miami Dolphins
Storyline to watch: The battle for WR3
Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are the obvious 1a and 1b in the Dolphins' passing offense, but the team has several options for its third starting receiver. Miami signed Braxton Berrios and Robbie Chosen this offseason, and the latter was a standout during OTAs. Erik Ezukanma, Cedrick Wilson Jr. and River Cracraft are also in the fold, but this is a position battle that should last well into training camp. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
San Francisco 49ers
Storyline to watch: The quarterback quandary continues
Brock Purdy remains the presumptive starter, but he's still in the early stages of the throwing program that goes with his recovery from right elbow surgery. Which means Trey Lance and Sam Darnold will continue to get the bulk of the reps. They've taken turns with the starting unit during OTAs in what passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak calls a "pretty fierce" competition. Nothing about the quarterback pecking order will be decided during this minicamp, but it will set the stage for what figures to be an interesting training camp at the most important position. -- Nick Wagoner
Seattle Seahawks
Storyline to watch: The status of the top two draft picks
Unlike last offseason, the Seahawks don't have a quarterback battle or an unresolved contract situation with a star player. But there is a question of how much cornerback Devon Witherspoon (fifth overall) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (20th overall) will participate in minicamp after both were somewhat limited during rookie minicamp and the first few OTAs. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Witherspoon, who has yet to sign his rookie contract, is coming back from a minor hamstring injury. Smith-Njigba missed most of his final college season because of a hamstring injury. Both have been limited in full-speed 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills so far. -- Brady Henderson
Tennessee Titans
Storyline to watch: The secondary
Veteran safety Kevin Byard did not attend voluntary OTAs, which is unusual for the four-time team captain. The timing of Byard's absence is interesting given how he was asked to take a pay cut, resulting in unsubstantiated rumors that he asked to be released. Byard's presence at minicamp would put everything to rest. Conversely, his absence would be cause for concern. The Titans rotated nickel cornerback Elijah Molden to the back end of the defense while Byard was away. Starting cornerback Kristian Fulton tried something different this year by working out on his own in Miami instead of attending voluntary OTAs. Fulton's return to minicamp is something to monitor, given that he's in a contract year and the team signed free agent defensive back Sean Murphy-Bunting. -- Turron Davenport
Washington Commanders
Storyline to watch: Quarterback Sam Howell's progress
Coach Ron Rivera has made it clear: Howell is the starting quarterback for now but still must earn the job over Jacoby Brissett. While there's optimism surrounding Howell, he started only one game last season. But Washington's coaches like Howell's progression -- from his quick decision-making to his command of the huddle and accuracy. But he hasn't been perfect. The Commanders have a good roster surrounding Howell, so if he plays well, it could lead to a strong season -- and an end to the multi-decade search for a long-term solution at the position. It would also buy the staff job security with a new owner. -- John Keim
ATLANTA -- Braves right-hander Michael Soroka, who posted an 8.38 ERA in two starts in his comeback from two right Achilles tendon tears, was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.
The move came after Soroka allowed five runs and seven hits in 3⅔ innings in Atlanta's 8-5 win at Arizona on Sunday. All of Soroka's runs allowed came with two outs. After the game, he said: "That's not quite me."
Soroka, an All-Star as a rookie in 2019, was Atlanta's Opening Day starter in 2020 before suffering his first Achilles tendon tear early in the season. He needed a follow-up procedure before suffering a second tear in 2021.
The Braves didn't immediately announce who will replace Soroka in the rotation. An option could be rookie AJ Smith-Shawver, who threw 2⅓ scoreless innings in relief in his debut Sunday.
The Braves on Monday also claimed infielder Lucas Williams off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers and optioned Williams to Gwinnett. To make room on the 40-man roster, left-hander Max Fried was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
The Anaheim Ducks hired Greg Cronin to be their next head coach, the team announced Monday.
Cronin, who coached the Colorado Avalanche's AHL affiliate, will be an NHL head coach for the first time. The 60-year-old Cronin spent five years with the Colorado Eagles and guided the team to the playoffs four times. Previously, he coached the New York Islanders' AHL affiliate in Bridgeport.
He replaces Dallas Eakins, who was dismissed after four seasons. In Eakins' final campaign the Ducks finished with a 23-47-12 record, worst in the NHL.
"While we did cast a wide net in searching for the next head coach, it became clear to me that Greg would be the ideal fit for the position," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a statement. "Being a young team, I felt we needed a teacher of the finer points of the game, and someone who has worked extensively over time with talented young players, helping them develop into successful NHL players. Greg has done all that and more, and we are excited to name him head coach of the Anaheim Ducks."
Cronin, who was on the first coaching staff in the United States national team development program, is known for developing players. He has been a collegiate assistant coach at several schools and was a head coach at both the University of Maine and Northeastern. He was an assistant with the Islanders and the Toronto Maple Leafs in addition to his time in the AHL.
"I'm excited and honored to be named head coach of the Anaheim Ducks," Cronin said in a statement. "This team has a fantastic future ahead, and I'm very grateful to the Samueli family and Pat Verbeek for entrusting me with this amazing opportunity."
Cronin played an instrumental role within the Avalanche's organization. He was responsible in the development of players including Pavel Francouz, Logan O'Connor and Alex Newhook, and helped nearly 20 players make their NHL debuts with the Avs.
He takes over a team that despite missing the playoffs for a fifth straight season has used the draft to develop one of the NHL's strongest farm systems. The Ducks began tapping into some of their promise during 2021-22, when they were in the hunt for a wild-card spot only to fall short a with 31-37-14 record, before finishing this season at the bottom of the standings.
Still, the franchise features young talents such as Jamie Drysdale and Mason McTavish along with a pair of NHL All-Star Game selections in Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras. The Ducks' farm system this season became the first NHL organization to have its prospects win Defenseman of the Year honors in the OHL, the QMJHL and the WHL in the same year.
And with the Ducks having the No. 2 pick in the NHL draft, they could select University of Michigan center Adam Fantilli to become part of their future.
Spain and Brazil will play a friendly in March of 2024, a match organised by the football federations of both countries to combat racism under the theme: "We are all alike."
Spanish federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales and his CBF counterpart, Ednaldo Rodrigues, said they would reinforce their commitment against violence in football with the match, part of a friendly series that will see Brazil play against one other UEFA team.
- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)
The RFEF and the CBF said in a joint statement that they hope the match can "intensify already good relations" between the two countries with a venue in Spain as yet to be determined.
Repeated racist abuse against Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior has unleashed a heated debate in Spain about tolerance for racism.
The Brazilian has been subjected to insults since he came to play in Spain five years ago.
A match at Mestalla between Real Madrid and Valencia earlier this season was stopped during the second half after the Brazil international identified a fan in the crowd behind the Valencia goal as having racially abused him.
In social media posts after that game, Vinícius said that "racism is normal in LaLiga" and claimed that "in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists."
LaLiga has filed complaints to authorities for racist insults or chants against Vinicius, with some of them being shelved by prosecutors.
Rubiales has publicly admitted that Spain has a problem with racism.
Spain last played against Brazil at the 2013 Confederations Cup and this would be the 10th time the two countries meet.
They are 5-2-2 in those previous nine meetings.
UEFA had previously floated a measure for CONMEBOL teams to join 2024-25 UEFA Nations League play, but the plan never materialised.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Tottenham are set to appoint Ange Postecoglou as their new head coach after agreeing a deal in principle with the 57-year-old, sources have told ESPN.
ESPN reported on Thursday that Spurs were expected to approach Celtic over a move for Postecoglou following Saturday's Scottish Cup final, and talks progressed quickly on Monday after he expressed a desire to manage in the Premier League.
- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)
Although Spurs did not immediately respond when contacted by ESPN, sources have said Postecoglou has agreed terms on a two-year contract with an option of a third year and a formal announcement could come in the next few days.
Should Postecoglou's arrival be confirmed, it would bring a lengthy search to a close after Antonio Conte was sacked on March 27.
Chairman Daniel Levy initially appointed Conte's assistant Cristian Stellini as interim boss but he lasted just two matches with April's 6-1 thrashing at Newcastle United triggering another change with 31-year-old Ryan Mason placed in charge until the end of the season.
Although Mason publicly stated he was interested in taking the job on a permanent basis, Spurs focused their search on external candidates and held initial talks with Julian Nagelsmann.
However, Tottenham quickly distanced themselves from any serious interest in the former Bayern Munich coach and instead discussed the position with other candidates including former Spain and Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, as well as Feyenoord's Arne Slot.
Spurs were dealt a significant blow when both Slot rejected an approach from the north London club, opting instead to sign a new deal at Feyenoord just days after the club's general manager Dennis te Kloese told ESPN Netherlands' morning show "Goedemorgen Eredivisie" he had rejected an offer to become Tottenham's sporting director.
However, the club quickly turned their attention to Postecoglou, who secured Celtic's eighth domestic treble in its history with a 3-1 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle in Saturday's final at Hampden Park.
Postecoglou has won five of the six trophies available since joining the club from Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos in the summer of 2021.
Postecoglou, who was born in Greece but grew up in Australia where he later managed the Socceroos for four years, was on a 12-month rolling contract at Celtic and therefore free to move this summer without the Scottish club owed any compensation.
Celtic attempted to ward off Spurs' interest by offering an improved deal but their attempts appear to have been unsuccessful.
Newcastle United's majority owners, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), has taken ownership of the Saudi Pro League's four leading clubs, including Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr and Al Ittihad, the side close to agreeing a deal to sign Karim Benzema.
As part of Saudi Arabia's so-called "Sports Clubs Investment and Privatization Project," the PIF has taken a 75% stake in each of Saudi champions Al Ittihad, reigning Asian champions Al Hilal, Al Ahli and Al Nassr, with the remaining 25% in each team being transferred to non-profit foundations from the Saudi Ministry of Sport.
- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)
All Saudi clubs were previously "owned but not controlled" by the Ministry of Sport.
Multi-club ownership of teams participating in the same competition is not permitted in major leagues across the world, including the Premier League and LaLiga, while UEFA has forced Red Bull-owned teams RB Leipzig and FC Salzburg to prove a distinct difference in their organisational structure to enable both sides to compete in European club competitions.
There are no such restrictions in Saudi Arabia, which enables the PIF to become majority shareholders in the four teams.
In a statement, the PIF tweeted that it will liaise with the Saudi Ministry of Sport to "work closely on all the necessary regulatory procedures."
The Saudi PIF secured a majority stake in Newcastle in October 2021, despite the takeover initially being blocked by the Premier League amid concerns of Saudi government interference or control of the club's hierarchy.
Since taking charge at St James' Park, the PIF has hired manager Eddie Howe, injected significant funds into player recruitment and seen the team qualify for next season's Champions League and a reach a first major final this century before losing to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final in February.
Ronaldo's move to Al Nassr in December, after his United contract was mutually cancelled last November, brought new spotlight onto the Saudi Pro League and ESPN reported in April that there are plans for clubs in the league to target up to 50 leading out-of-contract players in Europe's major leagues this summer.
Benzema is close to agreeing a deal to sign for Al Ittihad following his departure from Real Madrid, while ESPN has reported that Al Hilal have made a lucrative offer for Lionel Messi to join them when his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires at the end of this month.
Pope 'confident' he is up to Ashes captaincy challenge if required
When Rob Key became England's managing director last year, he said that he was "not concerned with having to appoint a vice-captain" and that it was "low down on my priorities" but has gradually become convinced of the importance of the role - not least when observing Moeen Ali's influence within England's white-ball set-up.
Stokes and McCullum told him last month that they wanted Pope to be made vice-captain in a formal capacity after deputising in the winter, and his appointment was ratified before the Ireland Test. "It really shows where Ollie Pope is - how far he's come in a year," Key said.
On Pope's promotion, Stokes said after the Ireland Test: "[We had] given him more responsibility over the winter, using him more out on the field, running things by him about what I think. Then we just naturally came to a decision together. And he's excelled as a player and taken responsibility at No. 3.
"I just thought it was the right time to finally, officially, name a vice-captain and Popey was the man for it. I think it will do him the world of good, getting a double-hundred on his vice-captaincy debut."
Pope said that he saw the role as "a big honour" but that it would not represent a major change from the winter. "From what I was doing before, it doesn't make a big difference," he said. "I'm going to give my opinion and challenge Stokesy when he needs challenging. We're going to be tested in the Ashes along the way, so it's not always about going on and agreeing with him.
"It's about providing a different opinion to let ponder in his mind as well. Nothing's really changed. He's got a pretty clear vision, and he's got 15 guys in that changing room who know our roles now, so that's helpful for everybody."
Before his own appointment as captain last year, Stokes had served as Joe Root's deputy in two separate spells. He cared deeply about the position, which he lost in the aftermath of the street fight outside a Bristol nightclub in 2017 that briefly threatened his career.
"It's a role that I took very seriously," Stokes added on Saturday evening, "and I told him, I want him to take it as seriously as I did. That's why me and Joe worked so well together: I didn't take it just as a badge, almost, and we rubbed off [on] each other really well so I'm encouraging Popey to do the same role that I did."
Pope believes that Stokes will do everything in his power to be on the field at all times this summer, but said that he feels "confident" he would be able to "implement the same ideas" as his captain if the situation arises.
"Fingers crossed Stokesy's body's all good," Pope said. "It's going to take a hell of a lot for him not to be on the pitch even for a day's play, knowing what he's like.
"But if it did happen, I feel confident. We've played a lot together as a team over the last year and a bit, and he knows a lot how he wants the bowlers to operate, the kind of fields he sets, and tries to get players to hit balls in areas that they don't normally want to hit [them] in.
"So I've got a pretty good understanding of how he runs things now and, if needs be, can implement the same ideas."
Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98
The 2023 edition of the Women's CPL will feature seven matches, as opposed to four in the inaugural season last year. The league will host will get underway on August 30, with the final taking place on September 10 in Trinidad and Tobago.
As was the case last year, the sides taking part are Trinbago Knight Riders, Barbados Royals and Guyana Amazon Warriors. Barbados will serve as the other venue for the tournament.
This time around, the group stage will feature a double round-robin format, with the top two qualifying for the final.
"We are hugely excited to have an expanded WCPL schedule for 2023 and we are grateful to the government of Trinidad & Tobago for their support in helping to grow the tournament in 2023," Pete Russell, the CPL CEO, said.
Minister of Sport and Community Development Shamfa Cudjoe said: "Once again, the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is pleased to partner with the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) as we get ready to host the final match of the 2023 Women's CPL. The hosting of this game comes at an opportune time as it strategically aligns with the goal of the Ministry's ongoing Pink Reign TT campaign, which speaks to promoting women and girls in sport."
The scheduling of the WCPL means the tournament avoids a clash with the Women's Hundred this year, with that competition running from August 1 to 27. It allows Matthews and Dottin to be available for the entirety of the Hundred before the WCPL starts, and frees other players signed up to both tournaments to play each in full. There was a significant overlap last year, with the final of the Women's Hundred on September 3 and the WCPL final the following day.
Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Ayabonga Khaka, Chamari Athapaththu, Hayley Jensen and Fatima Sana were the overseas players at the 2022 WCPL.
Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: 
Email: 
