Sport

Bukayo Saka wins England men’s Player of the Year for the second year running on his birthday

Literally couldn’t have happened to a nicer lad.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 6th September 2023

Premier League star Bukayo Saka has won the England men’s team Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year – and on his birthday, no less.

Beating the likes of national team captain Harry Kane, and fellow talented youngster Jude Bellingham, who came second and third, respectively, Saka has now won the supporter-voted award for the second year running, after clinching his first at just 21.

As for this year’s accolade, following another successful league campaign with Arsenal in the 2022/23 season, and having more than played his part for England – scoring three times during their Qatar World Cup journey and shining in both the Nations League and the European qualifiers – it comes as little surprise that one of the country’s best talents has won it yet again.

Better still, it’s safe to say that he was a little taken by surprise when presented with the award concealed inside a giant birthday present by his teammate James Maddison.

Cue a typically wholesome reaction from arguably England’s most wholesome footballer.

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Saka being presented with England’s Player of the Year award for 22/23.

As you can see, the youngster said he had “no words” after winning the award, simply insisting, “I’m really grateful. Thank you to everyone who made this happen and yeah, it’s a nice birthday gift as well, so I’m happy”.

Saka, who just turned 22 on Tuesday, has scored seven goals in the last 10 appearances he’s made for his country – including the first hattrick of his career in the Three Lions 7-0 win over North Macedonia at Old Trafford back in June.

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He also happened to win the PFA’s Young Player of the Year at the end of August, and came in second for his club’s own POTY award.

The Ealing-born winger is once again part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for their Euro 2024 qualifying match against Ukraine on Saturday and the friendly with Scotland in Glasgow the following Tuesday.

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Meanwhile, the Lionesses’ Player of the Year award will be announced later this month, with countless candidates likely to closely contest each other following an incredible showing at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

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Featured Image — England/Bukayo Saka (via Instagram)

Sport

Pep Guardiola signs new contract to stay at Manchester City until 2027

Danny Jones Danny Jones Pep stay at Man City for one more year new deal

Blues will be delighted to hear that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is staying after agreeing to sign a contract extension that will keep him at the club until at least 2027.

The Catalan coach and supremely talented tactician has won all there is to win with Man City and after completing not only a record-matching treble but making history by becoming the first English team to win four Premier League titles in a row, you could argue his Etihad project is well and truly completed.

Guardiola, who joined City back in 2016, has gradually been creeping towards the end of his most recent contract, leaving those slowly searching for his replacement and the fan base wondering what the future holds for their next chapter.

But it turns out they don’t have to worry about life after Pep for a little while longer, as the 53-year-old has now extended his stay for another two seasons. The blue moon that has loomed over Manchester for the best part of a decade isn’t going anywhere just yet.

Although reports earlier this week suggested that Pep Guardiola would remain head coach for at least another season after agreeing to a one-year deal with an option of extending for another 12 months, it appears as though the club have gone even further to offer him a deal to stay even longer.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager, who is comfortably one of the most decorated and celebrated coaches in football history, was due to leave the club at the end of the current campaign.

However, although his contract would have seen him depart by June of next summer, this new deal will now see him stay in post until the end of the 2026/27 campaign, which will see him surpass the 10-year mark and then some.

It’s the news all Blues have been waiting for and an announcement that will no doubt come as a huge relief given the immense success he has brought to East Manchester.

Despite waiting until now to seemingly decide his future, the man himself has actually been pretty clear on the matter, insisting that he “fell in love” with the club from the moment he got here and saying as far back as 2020 that “unless they [CFG] sack me, I will stay here.”

Speaking in an official statement, Guardiola said: “Manchester City means so much to me. This is my ninth season here; we have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club. That is why I am so happy to be staying for another two more seasons.”

“Thank you to everyone for continuing to trust and support me – The Owner, The Chairman Khaldoon, Ferran, Txiki, the players and of course the fans… everyone connected to Manchester City. It has always been an honour, a pleasure and a privilege to be here.”

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Better still, while the details of the agreement are yet to be fully detailed, it is thought that the new contract still includes an option to extend for an extra year, meaning we could be looking at Pep in Premier League dugouts even longer.

Should City go on to close the gap on current league leaders Liverpool, it would mean Guardiola would have overseen five title wins with the same team in a row: a feat only matched by very few in European football, most notably Juventus and Bayern Munich, the latter having managed 13 consecutive years.

Who knows if/when Guardiola will actually leave the Etihad Stadium for a new challenge, all we know is he changed modern football forever and has given Manchester – a city already spoilt in this respect – some of the most impressive football it’s ever seen.

All we do know is that the beautiful game’s passionate, bald, tiki-taka extraordinaire known simply as Pep is staying in 0161 for the time being and there are countless fans who are absolutely buzzing about it.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Optus Sport/Sky Sports (via YouTube)/Rufus46 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sport

Tributes pour in for chairman of Manchester City’s ‘Cheadle Blues’ supporters club, Tommy Muir

Danny Jones Danny Jones Tommy Muir dead tributes

Tributes are pouring in following the death of Tommy Muir, the long-standing chairman of Manchester City’s ‘Cheadle Blues’ supporters club, at the age of 71.

News of Muir’s death broke on Thursday, 21 November, with countless Man City fans learning of his tragic passing online and proceeding to pay their respects.

The Cheadle Branch boss, lifelong supporter and well-known club figure is said to have died following a period of illness, with a member of the popular Bluemoon Forum claiming he suffered from the progressive disease pulmonary fibrosis for some time.

Numerous messages of sadness, love and support have been shared on social media already.

By all accounts, Muir will be remembered as a much-loved leader of City’s Cheadle Branch, as well as a generous character with a great sense of humour.

There are countless messages from people who know him from the local area or through helping sort spare tickets for matchdays and as the familiar face around Maine Road back in the day and on the bus to the Etihad Stadium for many years.

Tommy was also one of the official supporters group members who were treated to a visit by Man City themselves, naming him honorary Life Vice President of the Official Supporters Club and bringing the Treble trophies to his doorstep back in July 2023.

He also famously face-timed with Kevin de Bruyne back in 2018, during which he said, “I want to watch this City team for 100 years.”

Muir, an ex-Royal Mail worker, also served as the landlord of The Kenilworth pub back in Cheadle, Stockport, where fans would regularly meet pre-match before heading to watch the game.

Local author and historian of Manchester sport, Gary James, wrote on Facebook: “I’ve just seen this news… Sad to hear the news that Tommy Muir has died. A wonderful person who first helped me with my research decades ago. A dedicated MCFC fan. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Speaking to The Manc, General Secretary of City’s Official Supporters Club, Kevin Parker told us: Tommy was a blue through and through and 100% committed to The Supporters Club at Cheadle and its members.

“I have known Tommy for over 30 years and no one deserved the recent success the club has had more than him. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and fondly remembered. He will still be watching our wonderful club from the Blue Stands in the Sky telling anyone who disrespects his Club to ‘do one'”

Known to so many throughout the fan base, even supporters who never met him personally have been sharing their condolences on various platforms. Those who knew him well have nothing but heartwarming memories to share.

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Fan forums like Bluemoon have been awash with people mourning Muir’s passing. One person told the story of meeting him at the age of 17 and following him when moved to The George and Dragon pub – another popular City haunt before games.

Another wrote: “I got to know Tommy when I joined the Cheadle Supporters branch. Tommy loved being branch secretary. He was absolutely dedicated to his position as branch secretary […] The branch meetings were serious affairs, getting through what had to be discussed, but in between was humour and laughter brought about by Tommy.

“Tommy had a huge sense of humour, and his one-liners were famous amongst the branch members, which would have everyone laughing throughout the meetings. The coach trips to the away games were never dull. They were always full of cheer, drinking, laughter, and City songs.”

“Keep on watching your beloved City from above. Rest in peace, Tommy.”

Losses like this within a fan base are always tough to take. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, the Cheadle Branch and all the Blues whose lives he touched. RIP Tommy Muir.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images – Bluemoon Forum/X

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