All posts by h716a5.icu

After a career marked by both triumph and turmoil, Frank de Boer has ruled out a return to football management, saying he’s had “enough of all that misery.” Once hailed for leading Ajax to four straight Eredivisie titles, the Dutch tactician’s later stints at Inter, Crystal Palace, and the Netherlands national team left him disillusioned. Now, settled in Spain and content with family life, De Boer says he’s done chasing touchlines.

From golden years at Ajax to turbulent times abroad

Few Dutch managers have lived as extreme a managerial journey as De Boer. At Ajax, between 2010 and 2016, he was nothing short of a legend, winning four consecutive Eredivisie titles, the Johan Cruyff Shield, and earning back-to-back Rinus Michels Awards as the best coach in the country. His Ajax side embodied Dutch football’s ideals laced with possession-heavy, attacking, and relentlessly dominant.

But after narrowly missing a fifth league title in 2016, De Boer resigned, bringing an end to an era of domestic dominance. What followed, however, was a sequence of bruising experiences that reshaped his perspective on football management and also his place within it.

His move to Inter in 2016 lasted just 85 days. A low scoring average in games and four losses in five matches saw him dismissed before winter. Months later came his ill-fated Crystal Palace stint with a mere 77 days and five games in the Premier League which all ended in defeats. What began as a mission to modernise teams quickly turned into a pattern of short-lived chaos.

AdvertisementAFPDe Boer is done with the dugout

In a recent interview with , De Boer made it clear that his coaching days are likely behind him. With Ajax in the hunt for a new coach, he was asked if he would be open to step back into the hot seat.

"Not at all. All that misery," he said. "I just hope they get it right. Also for Johnny [Heitinga], a true Ajax man. They could use some improvement in their squad. They certainly have quality, especially for the Eredivisie. Let's hope for some structure. That Ajax, as it should be, dominates almost every opponent. I don't mean 50 minutes, but 70 or 80.  Last week, the first half against Twente. That was embarrassing. It could have been 5-0. It shouldn't be, not at Ajax. You see it with [Liverpool coach Arne] Slot now: they have fantastic players, but things aren't going well. That puzzle just has to fall into place at Ajax too."

Despite his fondness for the club that defined his career, De Boer admits he’s lost the appetite for football’s relentless negativity and pressure.

"Never say never, but I'm not exactly thrilled. I don't miss all that negativity at all. I'm a grandfather three times over, I do things for UEFA and on TV for Viaplay, I have my house in Spain. And I get to play a lot of padel. I'm very happy with my life," said De Boer.

Lessons from failure: Inter, Palace, and the Dutch national team

Each of De Boer’s managerial exits tells a story of promise undone by timing, pressure, or misfit environments. At Inter, he inherited a fractured squad, battling internal politics and inconsistent performances. By November 2016, he was gone.

His brief tenure at Palace became one of the shortest in Premier League history with five league games, zero goals, zero points. Jose Mourinho infamously mocked him afterward, calling him “the worst manager in Premier League history,” a label De Boer has since brushed off.

His stint with Atlanta United in the United States offered temporary respite. He guided them to the 2019 U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup, before parting ways in 2020 after a poor tournament run. A year later, as Netherlands head coach, he led the Oranje to Euro 2020, only to crash out in the round of 16. The early exit triggered harsh criticism and before long he was gone again.

By the time he managed Al Jazira in 2023, De Boer’s managerial fire had cooled. A mid-table finish and modest record ended with another dismissal.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportDe Boer's life after whistle

After leaving Al Jazira at the end of 2023, De Boer has consciously stepped away from full-time coaching and is currently not involved in any managerial position. Having endured the intense scrutiny that follows every setback, he has made it clear that he feels no urgency to return to the dugout.

De Boer has openly acknowledged that the pressures and negativity surrounding modern football management have taken their toll. Instead of chasing another opportunity on the sidelines, he has chosen to focus on a quieter, more balanced life.

Now based in Spain, De Boer divides his time between family life, working on projects for UEFA, and serving as a television analyst for Viaplay, where he provides commentary and tactical insights. Away from the spotlight, he’s also developed a passion for golf and padel, sports he says keeps him active and grounded.

There’s a lot to like about Manchester United at the moment. Of course, many more improvements are needed before Ruben Amorim’s project hits the desired level, but recent results and, perhaps more importantly, performances, suggest a page may have been turned.

Amorim has stuck to his guns in the Old Trafford hot seat and received more than a measure of criticism and question marks in return. But are the signs of vindication just about appearing for the thought-filled tactician?

A summer well spent has seen first-team outliers cast away and upgrades in the form of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha arrive and work their stuff under the Theatre’s lights.

Benjamin Sesko is a talented striker, but the jury remains out in regard to his potential as the leading man for many years to come.

What Sesko has to prove at Man Utd

Sesko joined Man United from RB Leipzig for a £74m fee this summer, ending a protracted search for a new striker.

So far, the 23-year-old has only scored two goals and provided one assist across 11 matches, but his link-up play and presence in the area offer much promise.

Podcast host Adam Joseph noted that the Slovenian “needed a better touch” during Saturday’s hair-raising draw to Forest, unable to capitalise on the wizardry of Mbeumo. But this will come.

Mbeumo and Cunha, after all, are seasoned Premier League stars, whereas Sesko is only a few months into his career in English football and younger besides.

Bryan Mbeumo

11

5

Casemiro

9

3

Bruno Fernandes

11

2

Benjamin Sesko

11

2

Harry Maguire

8

2

We know he can score goals. But Man United’s finest strikers in modern times have proved they have many more strings to their bow.

Take Robin Van Persie. The iconic centre-forward was hailed by Sir Alex Ferguson for his “sensational” shooting and for having “an impact as big as anyone” at Old Trafford after joining from Arsenal for £24m in 2012.

His movement and intelligence in the final third set him apart from the masses, and Sesko, tall and well-built, could emulate the Dutchman in that regard.

But there might actually be an up-and-coming Carrington talent with more potential than the summer recruit.

Man Utd's biggest striker talent since RVP

Last week, Amorim acknowledged JJ Gabriel publicly and confirmed he has been paying attention to the 15-year-old forward’s progress, even handing him an opportunity to train with the first team.

Hailed for his “exceptional skillset” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, “combining flair and confidence on the ball”, Gabriel hasn’t yet developed positionally, capable both on the left and in a central striking berth, but there’s so much to like and he could even make his debut in the not-too-distant future.

Already a regular for the U18s, Gabriel has shattered expectations with his prodigious technical ability and fleet-footed work on the ball. He’s too good for the youngsters around him, and journalist Nathan Salt confirmed that “one insider thinks ‘he’s already better than Premier League players'”.

Correspondent Steven Railston has even suggested that Gabriel “the best talent United’s academy has ever seen”.

Sometimes, you can just tell. Gabriel is a one-of-a-kind dribbler and is the top goalscorer in the U18 Premier League this season, with seven goals (and one assist) from just eight matches. Darren Fletcher has predominantly used him centrally, despite being schooled out wide, but the prolific potential of this young star suggests this might be a wise call.

Though he’s not physically developed, nor has he tried his hand on the senior stage, Gabriel has so much potential, and there’s no question that his ceiling reaches higher than Sesko’s.

Could the teenager turn out to be United’s best since Van Persie? It is far too early to tell, but the signs so far are more than promising, to be sure.

Man Utd's "anonymous" flop is rapidly becoming a bigger problem than Dalot

Ruben Amorim has a job on his hands to put one Manchester United player on the right track.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 3, 2025

Even as the humidity went up due to the extended monsoon, both batters kept their cool and raised maiden Test tons, putting South Africa well on top

Mohammad Isam29-Oct-20241:47

Stubbs: ‘Getting to three figures was a big relief’

In local cricket circles, they say that if you have survived Mirpur, Sylhet or Chattogram is a breeze. This is obviously about the pitches at these venues. South Africa’s batters navigated the Shere Bangla National Stadium surface well last week, so when they got to the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, it was time to cash in. They did, finishing the first day on 307 for 2, and it was thanks mainly to the tenacity of the young pair of Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs.The two of them hit centuries – the first in Tests for both of them – after South Africa opted to bat, added 201 for the second wicket, and complemented each other when they batted together. Stubbs said afterwards that de Zorzi helped him through his nervous start and a tough period after lunch to keep the pressure on Bangladesh throughout the day.”To get to the three figures was a big relief more than anything,” Stubbs said. “This definitely ranks as my favourite hundred. Till lunch, I was scoring quite freely. After lunch, I was trying hard to get off strike. The ball was [reversing]. It was a good period for them. I grafted it out and once I got the rhythm back, I felt quite comfortable.Related

De Zorzi and Stubbs hit maiden tons to make it South Africa's day

“When the ball got a bit softer after lunch, we thought Taijul [Islam] got one or two to spin. He beat me on the outside [edge]. There was also a little bit of tail on the ball to keep you thinking. They also got the ball to [reverse] just enough to get you thinking. It was a good batting wicket but it was hard to score freely. You were going to get yourself out by giving them your wicket.”Stubbs got through his 198-ball stay by banking on the reverse sweep, his most profitable shot after the cover drive. Stubbs struck three fours with the reverse sweep, including one that went through the covers. De Zorzi, too, was strong on the sweep, which encouraged Stubbs to stick to what worked for him best.”My plan was to sweep before the game, but then I struggled with the actual sweep,” he said. “So it was more the reverse sweep today. Tony was sweeping very well today. Sometimes when it is working on that day, you commit with it. He did it really well.”I was really nervous up front. It was nice batting with Tony. He was very calm. He was flowing quite nicely. I give huge credit to him. Straight after lunch, he started cramping. The mental strength to go through the whole day was unbelievable. We kept reminding each other to not take anything for granted. It was really enjoyable batting with him.”De Zorzi ended the day having batted through the 81 overs for 141 not out, to Stubbs’ 106.Tony de Zorzi batted through the opening day•AFP/Getty ImagesSouth Africa’s major challenge in Bangladesh has also been the unseasonal heat. The extended monsoon has caused the humidity to go up, too, so the visitors have had to endure some tough weather in both Dhaka and Chattogram, where it usually cools down around this time of the year.”It was flippin’ hot in the Caribbean [too],” Stubbs pointed out. “Then we went to the UAE last month. It is about getting used to the uncomfortable heat. I sweat a lot so it is all about trying to keep my gloves dry. Fortunately, I have a nice sponsor who has given a lot of gloves for this tour. That’s the biggest challenge.”Incidentally, Chattogram has been a happy place for South Africa’s batters over the years, especially when it comes to putting together partnerships.In 2003, Boeta Dippenaar and Jacques Rudolph put together 429 for the unbroken third-wicket stand at the old MA Aziz Stadium across the city. It is still the highest Test stand against Bangladesh. And five years on from that, Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie added 415 for the opening stand at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium – a world record for the opening wicket. De Zorzi and Stubbs haven’t threatened those numbers, but theirs is a partnership that is likely to have a similarly big impact on this Test match.

In a trade deadline stunner, Carlos Correa is headed back to the team he won the World Series with in 2017. According to multiple reports, the three-time All-Star has been traded from the Twins to the Astros.

Correa, 30, is set to move to third base in Houston to finish the season in place of the injured Issac Paredes and upon his arrival, sent a fired-up message to Astros fans:

"I’m coming home and there’s only one goal in mind," he told Brian McTaggart in an interview with MLB.com. "And that’s to win championships."

Houston has been an MLB juggernaut over the last decade, playing in four World Series' since 2017 and winning two of them. Correa won one, and will now look to win another as the Astros sit at 62–47 and in first place in the American League West. The infielder is hitting .267 this season with seven home runs and 31 RBIs.