Veteran manager Manuel Pellegrini grabbed headlines once again after agreeing to take over West Ham in the English top flight, which the Chilean called the best football league in the world.
The 64-year-old’s return to the big league isn’t the only managerial change to happen in the sports world though, with three NBA teams sparking a coaching merry-go-round to start what is brewing to be a busy offseason.
On other sports news and updates, Argentina are set to miss their top-choice goalkeeper Sergio Romero after the 31-year-old picked up an injury.
Bucks, Knicks, Suns make coaching changes
The Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns have started their NBA offseason by bringing in new faces at the helm.
Milwaukee, who was without a legitimate head coach since firing Jason Kidd last January, hired Mike Budenholzer to take over their team that made the playoffs in the Eastern Conference this season.
Budenholzer won the Coach of the Year in 2015 and is known as one of the best tacticians in the league. However, after a poor season in Atlanta, he agreed to part ways with the Hawks organisation.
Nonetheless, Bucks General Manager Jon Horst expressed his belief that Budenholzer is the right man to transform them into legitimate title contenders.
“Mike has demonstrated the ability to lead and communicate, and understands what it takes to build a winning culture. This move puts our organisation in a terrific position as we work together toward our collective goal of sustained success and winning championships,” Horst added.
Moreover, former Memphis Grizzlies coach David Fizdale was appointed as the new head coach of the Knicks, replacing Jeff Hornacek who lasted two seasons with the team.
Fizdale led the Grizzlies to the playoffs in his only full season with the team. However, he was fired early last year after a falling out with Memphis star Marc Gasol.
On the other hand, the Suns make history after hiring Igor Kokoskov to guide them as they rebuild. The 46-year-old Serbian is the first-ever head coach born and raised outside North America in league history.
Although Kokoskov served as an assistant coach with the Utah Jazz in the past three seasons, he is an accomplished international coach. In fact, he guided Slovenia to a gold-medal finish and perfect 9-0 record in the FIBA EuroBasket 2017.
West Ham appoint Pellegrini as new manager
A new era of Hammers football is set to begin.
After a disappointing Premier League season that saw them battle relegation throughout, West Ham United have taken the first step to their rebuilding efforts by naming Manuel Pellegrini as new manager.
According to the club, the former Manchester City boss signed a three-year contract with the team to succeed David Moyes at London Stadium. It is also reported that his deal is worth £7 million a year, making him their highest-paid manager ever.
“I think that West Ham had a difficult season last season and I hope that next season we are going to play football that will delight the fans. I always play attacking football and we must try to reach important targets in the season,” Pellegrini said.
“I am sure that, with the players we have in this moment in the squad, and bringing maybe another four or five in, we are going to have a strong team.”
Pellegrini, who also managed Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga, won the Premier League title with the Sky Blues in the 2013-2014 season. He also boasts winning the League Cup twice during his three-year stint with Manchester City.
The Chilean boss managed Hebei China Fortune for two years before leaving the Chinese Super League club over the weekend.
Argentina keeper Romero out of World Cup
La Albiceleste received a huge blow ahead of World Cup 2018 after goalkeeper Sergio Romero was ruled out of the competition due to injury.
Romero, who was expected to be the nation’s first-choice goalkeeper, was forced to withdraw from the team after picking up a knee injury. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) also confirmed that the 31-year-old stopper requires surgery.
According to a brief statement from the AFA: “Sergio Romero suffered today a joint blockage in his right knee that will leave him out of the squad.”
The Manchester United player had been named as part of Jorge Sampaoli’s squad for the big event in Russia. However, with the latest setback, Chelsea’s Willy Caballero and River Plate’s Franco Armani are now predicted to share the goalkeeping duties for the nation.
Moreover, due to the injury, AFA called up Nahuel Guzman to be their third keeper. The 32-year-old, who plays for Liga MX side Tigres, has won six caps with the national team.
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