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Goal takes a look at some of the best out-and-out strikers in football history, with examples from across generations

Tradition dictates that centre-forwards must wear the Number 9 jersey and the number is usually reserved for a particular type of striker.

The Number 9 generally plays ahead of the Number 10 in an advanced forward role, occupying centre-backs and getting onto the end of crosses or latching onto through balls in behind the defence.

Generational talents and tactical innovations have seen the odd alteration to the style of the Number 9, but the job remains the same: bring your team-mates into the game and score goals.

Goal takes a look at some of the best Number 9 strikers in football…

GettyAlan Shearer | England

An intelligent and tough operator, Alan Shearer is one of England's greatest ever strikers and was renowned for his heading ability. He is, by some distance, the best goalscorer in Premier League history with 260 goals in 441 appearances and struck 30 goals in 63 games for England.

AdvertisementGettyRonaldo | Brazil

Known as 'The Phenomenon' in Brazil, Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the best Number 9s ever to grace a football pitch. Tall, strong and possessing lightning pace, Ronaldo dazzled defenders while playing for the likes of Barcelona, Inter and Real Madrid. The Brazilian sensation's arrival in the 1990s marked a noticeable evolution in the role of the Number 9, bringing more dynamism and panache. He scored over 400 goals in his career, including 62 for his country.

Getty ImagesGabriel Batistuta | ArgentinaGabriel Batistuta's exploits leading the forward line earned him the nickname 'Gabigol' and he was undoubtedly one of the finest Number 9s of his generation. A fearsome competitor, Batistuta could score goals in any fashion, whether it was a ferocious effort from the edge of the box or a deft front-post header – he could do it all. ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty ImagesRobert Lewandowski | Poland

Poland's greatest goalscorer of all time, Robert Lewandowski emerged as one of the best strikers in the world while playing for Jurgen Klopp's Borussia Dortmund and his subsequent exploits at Bayern Munich cemented that reputation. The spearhead of the attack, Lewandowski's pace, power and technique are crucial tools in his style of play.

GOAL breaks down the most recent moves made by American soccer stars

Oh, the magic of Deadline Day.

It's a time where everything and anything can change, where clubs and players can completely alter their fortunes with one quick medical and one swift movement of a pen.

It's also a day where players can become resigned to their fate, where hopes and dreams are dashed with reality setting in.

Key members of the U.S. men's national team got a bit of both of that in the run-up to Deadline Day. Some earned dream moves, while others got much needed-changes of scenery on the road to Qatar.

And then there were the ones left watching on as their transfer hopes were dashed.

With that said, here's a look at which USMNT players were on the move, which weren't and what it all means as the World Cup draws closer.

GettyChristian Pulisic – Chelsea

The #FreePulisic movement couldn't get it done.

Reports say the winger was "held hostage", although transfers usually aren't THAT serious. What is serious is the implication this all has on the USMNT.

If Pulisic isn't the most important American player, he's certainly in the top two or three. And, with just a few months until the World Cup, he's playing sparingly, coming off the bench to play right-wingback for a Chelsea team that seemingly has no interest in using him.

Now, things change in soccer. In a few weeks, Pulisic could be scoring goals by the bunches, benefitting from a consistent run of games. However, nothing we've seen recently indicates that will be the case.

Instead, it's only gotten more complicated. The club went after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, another attacking piece, after already signing Raheem Sterling. Rafael Leao was also linked while Hakim Ziyech, another competitor for minutes on the wing, was kept on despite links to Ajax.

The path to success at Chelsea has gotten all the more complicated for Pulisic, who could very realistically head to the World Cup lacking the confidence required for him to be the USMNT's star.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesRicardo Pepi – FC Groningen

The train has reached a new station, and what a relief that must be.

Pepi's move to Augsburg hasn't gone to plan, to say the least. Some would say it's been a disaster. He has zero goals and, possibly, even less confidence as he now heads to the Netherlands on loan to try to salvage his World Cup spot.

In theory, the Eredivisie is a perfect landing spot for Pepi. The league is known for being attacker-friendly and free-flowing, but it's also a good league tactically. For a young player like Pepi that, at age 19, is in a vital stage of his development, minutes in the Dutch league should be invaluable.

As for what this all means for Pepi's World Cup hopes, that depends on the next few weeks. As things stand, Pepi finds himself in a race against time, having essentially wasted the last year of his development while squandering much of the momentum he had in the months leading up to his Augsburg move.

Can you blame him for making that move, considering the dollar figures and challenge involved? No. But was it the right move for him? Probably not. Now, this move to Groningen gives him the chance to show what made those in American soccer fall in love with his potential in the first place as he looks to score the goals required to book his spot in Qatar.

(C)Getty ImagesSergino Dest – AC Milan

What a rollercoaster it has been for Dest over the past few weeks.

Reports out of Barcelona frequently said that Xavi was done with Dest and that the American wasn't in his plans. Reports out of Barcelona also said that Xavi was in love with Dest and believed he could play for the club.

The truth? Who knows? What matters now though is that Dest is on the move to another megaclub.

Dest has opted to join AC Milan, the reigning Serie A champions, on an initial loan with an option to buy. And so ends the Barca rollercoaster, at least for the timebeing.

For Dest, all that matters is minutes and, with AC Milan, he'll get some at a very high level. A clash with rivals Inter this weekend may be too soon for the fullback, but he does have Napoli and Juventus over the next five weeks. There's also a Champions League campaign, with Milan favored to make it out of a group that includes Chelsea, RB Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb.

The move, in many ways, is a lateral one for Dest, who leaves a Barca club trying to break out of hard times to join a Milan one that has seemingly escaped their own downswing.

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GettyJohn Brooks – Benfica

The ship may have sailed when it comes to Brooks' World Cup hopes, but you can never write anything off, can you?

The 2014 World Cup veteran has been out of the picture for the better part of a year, with Berhalter offering several explanations for his absence. Generally, the explanation has said that Brooks just hasn't shown he can fit in the USMNT's game model, while a dip in form also was used to explain why he hasn't been called in.

Knowing that he was on the outside looking in, Brooks went into this summer without a club, having seen his contract with Wolfsburg expire. He had been linked with a move to Saudi Arbaian side Al Nassr and, more recently, American-owned Spanish side Mallorca.

He's ended up at Benfica, though, where he'll get the chance to play in the Champions League. An injury to youngster Morato could open the door for significant minutes.

That may or may not be enough for Brooks to seal a spot at a second World Cup. But Benfica seems like the best-case scenario for a player to make one last push.

Some great players have represented El Tri and this is their best ever XI!

Mexico are historically the most successful national team in the CONCACAF region with 11 titles at continental level.

Nicknamed "El Tri", they have qualified for 17 World Cups throughout their history and have featured at each tournament since 1994, making them one of only six countries to do so!

Some incredible superstars have featured for Mexico, with the likes of Hugo Sanchez, Rafael Marquez and Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez as just some of the players to have represented some of the world's biggest clubs.

But who make Mexico's ultimate dream team?

Let's take a look!

Getty ImagesGK: Jorge Campos

One of the pioneers of the "sweeper keeper" concept so prevalent in modern day, Campos was known for his skill on the ball outside the penalty area as much as his saves.

A proper athlete, the shot stopper had tremendous leaping ability, athleticism and speed to rush off his line, which balanced out his height disadvantage.

Campos made 129 appearances for Mexico between 1991 and 2003.

An interesting fact about Campos is that he started out as a striker and scored 28 goals for his first club UNAM.

He featured at two World Cups, in 1994 and 1998 and only just keeps Guillermo Ochoa out of this XI, with the latter regularly turning into Superman while representing the national team!

AdvertisementGetty ImagesCB: Carlos Salcido

Salcido was a key figure at three World Cups – in 2006, 2010 and 2014 – as well as three Gold Cups – in 2005, 2007 and 2011 – and was also part of the team that won the gold medal at the 2012 Summer OIympics.

He played most of his international career as left-back, but also featured as a defensive midfielder and ended his career as a centre-back.

Salcido retired after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Getty ImagesCB: Rafael Marquez

Marquez, nicknamed El Kaiser, is arguably one of the best Mexican players of all time.

The former Barcelona man is the third most-capped player in the history of the Mexican national team, earning 147 caps during his international stint between 1997 and 2018.

He became only the fourth player to play for his country at five consecutive World Cups, appearing in the 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 editions.

Marquez also holds the record for playing the most number of games at World Cups (19).

He won the 1999 Confederations Cup and 2003 and 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cups with Mexico.

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Robert CianfloneCB: Claudio Suarez

Suarez held the record for the most caps with the Mexico national team (177) until Andres Guardado dethroned him, with Ahmed Hassan, Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Al-Deayea the only other players with more caps.

He was a key member of Mexico's 1994 World Cup squad in the United States as well as the 1998 World Cup in France.

He missed the 2002 World Cup due to injury, but played at his third World Cup in Germany in 2006.

The Reds will not be returning to Wembley this season as their nightmare campaign suffered another body blow at the Amex

In a season of suffering, the FA Cup provided yet another slap in the face for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.

Their reign as holders is over, ended at the fourth round stage by Brighton, after Kaoru Mitoma’s stoppage-time goal condemned them to a 2-1 defeat at the Amex Stadium.

Harvey Elliott had given the Reds a first-half lead, finishing off a fine pass from Mohamed Salah, only for Lewis Dunk to divert Tariq Lamptey’s 25-yard strike past a wrong-footed Alisson Becker to level matters before the break.

Both sides missed chances in the second period, and the game appeared to be drifting towards a stalemate until in the 93rd minute, Pervis Estupinan’s clipped cross reached Mitoma at the back post, and the brilliant Japanese international showed incredible composure to take a touch before stabbing a volley past Alisson from close range.

It felt tough on Klopp’s side, who competed well throughout and were unrecognisable from the side battered here in the Premier League earlier this month, but it is merely the latest setback in a campaign that is fast becoming a nightmare at Anfield.

GOAL runs through the winners and losers from a dramatic day on the South Coast…

(C)Getty ImagesThe Winners

Kaoru Mitoma:

It was fitting that the game’s best player should provide the game’s decisive moment. Liverpool won’t want to run into Mitoma any time soon, that’s for sure. The Japan star had terrorised them in the league meeting a fortnight ago, and he did so again here, his speed and elusive dribbling too much for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was substituted in a huff before the hour mark. James Milner, his replacement, fared little better, with only a brilliant block from Alisson denying Solly March a goal after Mitoma had delivered a peach of a cross with the outside of his right foot. There was, however, to be a late sting in the tale, and what coolness Mitoma showed to control Estupinan’s cross and fire home at the death. He’s some player, this lad. The big question, surely, is how long Brighton can hang on to him, and where on earth he’s been until now? 

Harvey Elliott:

What a difference a week makes. Having looked like a fish out of water on the left of Liverpool’s attack against Chelsea, Elliott was asked to go again here, and fared much better. The 19-year-old is not a natural out there, by any means, but having been the Reds’ matchwinner in the third-round replay at Wolves, he was on target again at the Amex, drifting infield to good effect to latch onto Mohamed Salah’s neat pass and finishing well on his right foot. It was his fifth goal of the season – only Salah, Darwin Nunez and Roberto Firmino have more – and might have been followed by a sixth before half-time, with only a good recovery tackle from Tariq Lamptey denying him. There was also a sublime through ball for Salah, which the Egyptian failed to convert, and while he is not a natural defender, there was plenty of endeavour off the ball before he was replaced by Jordan Henderson just before the hour mark.

Cody Gakpo:

Five scoreless games to start his Liverpool career, but small steps are what the Reds are after, what they’re clinging to, at the moment, and here we had the clearest indication of where Gakpo may fit into this team, and the kind of things he might bring. The Dutchman, as he did at Wolves in the last round, and against Chelsea last weekend, started as the Reds’ No.9, instructed to connect the game by drifting deep, and to prevent Brighton playing into midfield easily by crowding Alexis Mac Allister and Pascal Gross. He did it well, too. There were signs of a growing understanding with Salah, in particular, and Klopp will have been pleased to see the new boy showing the confidence to turn and slip away from defenders in the middle of the pitch, driving forward with purpose and speed. There was to be no end product, as it turned out, and that’s the next box he needs to start ticking, but Gakpo was certainly one of the better performers in red today.

AdvertisementGettyThe Losers

Liverpool’s full-backs: 

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s face said it all. Not happy. There was less than an hour on the clock and the fourth official’s board had gone up, showing the No.66. The England man didn’t offer an open show of dissent towards his manager, but he certainly didn’t disguise his disappointment. Another game gone, another game searching for form and rhythm and happiness. Alexander-Arnold had not been especially poor here – he saved Liverpool with a goal-line clearance in the first half – but it says plenty about the Reds’ struggles, and their inability to get their full-backs into the game in an attacking sense, that they would be willing to take off a potential game-changer with the cup tie poised at 1-1. Andy Robertson, too, offered little by way of threat, pinned back by Solly March and overworked defensively as it turned out. Not a day to play full-back, this one.

Fabinho:

It should really have been the briefest of cameos. Fabinho entered the field in the 84th  minute, and he should have been leaving it in the 87th with a straight red card. How the VAR, Neil Swarbrick, didn’t deem his raking challenge down the achilles of Evan Ferguson to be worthy of dismissal, only he knows. Even Fabinho looked like he expected to be sent off, while Ferguson hobbled off, lucky not to have picked up a serious injury. Unintentional, certainly, but the Brazilian can count himself very fortunate not to be looking at a suspension.

Mohamed Salah:

Another game, another blank for Liverpool’s star man, whose form continues to worry. In fairness, this was a game in which Salah should have ended his recent drought. He was denied by a goal-line clearance from Lewis Dunk early on, and sent through by Harvey Elliott soon after. His finish, though, was poor, indicative of a player lacking confidence despite his remarkable goalscoring record. He never stops working, Salah, and he must look at the mess going on around him and wonder what the hell has happened, but his second half here summed things up right now. He was on the periphery, hoping rather than expecting. Liverpool need to get him firing again quickly.

Moises Caicedo:

How to ruin a relationship with a club and its supporters, in one easy step. Caicedo wasn’t present here, having been told by Brighton to stay away until the transfer window closes. The Ecuador international is trying to force through a move to Arsenal, who saw a £60 million ($74m) bid rejected earlier this week, but he would be well advised to be careful what he wishes for. The attraction of the Emirates Stadium (or indeed Stamford Bridge) is clear, but as Yves Bissouma and Marc Cucurella would tell you, the grass isn’t always greener. Brighton are the club that gave Caicedo his platform in European football, and play with a style and a confidence that has allowed the 21-year-old to flourish. He'd do well to remember that, but something tells me he won't.

GettyLiverpool Ratings: Defence

Alisson Becker (7/10):

Helpless with the deflection for the equaliser, but otherwise solid. Brilliant block from March at 1-1, and then beaten by Mitoma from close range at the end. Blameless.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (5/10):

Perfectly placed to clear from the line from Ferguson, but was again tormented by the speed and trickery of Mitoma, and didn't offer a great deal going forward.

Joe Gomez (6/10):

Did well defensively for the most part and was secure in possession, save for one loose clearance straight to Ferguson late on.

Ibrahima Konate (7/10):

Looked assured when asked to run back towards his own goal, and defended on the front foot with aggression. Goal-saving block to deny Ferguson.

Andy Robertson (5/10):

Quiet in the first half, when he was preoccupied with the threat of March and Lamptey. More prominent after the break.

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GettyMidfield

Stefan Bajcetic (6/10):

Did well to walk the tightrope after an early booking. Provided bite and pressing, but can use the ball much better than he did here.

Naby Keita (7/10):

Made a good start, setting up Salah for a chance, and his tenacity led to the opening goal. Faded in the second half and was replaced early, but he is well worth his shirt at the moment. Brings a bit of thrust to the midfield.

Thiago Alcantara (5/10):

Some classy touches, but tried to be too clever for his own good at times, and didn't dictate the rhythm of the game as he can.

The full-back's defensive capabilities continue to be questioned, so should the Reds look to sign some competition this summer?

Once again, the spotlight is shining on Trent Alexander-Arnold in the wake of a Liverpool defeat. No change there, you might say. The England full-back is, it seems, a player who divides opinion like few others in the modern game. Genius or liability? Pick a side and stick to it, until the bitter end.

Certainly, Alexander-Arnold looked more like the latter than the former as Liverpool exited the Champions League in spectacular, yet at the same time rather tame, fashion at the hands of Real Madrid on Wednesday.

The Reds’ 6-2 aggregate defeat brings with it a raft of tough questions, one of which surrounds Alexander-Arnold’s role in Jurgen Klopp’s side, and about the 24-year-old’s development as an all-round footballer.

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“Not good enough defensively,” was the verdict of Anfield legend Jamie Carragher, who was covering the game for in America. Alexander-Arnold’s weaknesses, Carragher continued, have become so glaring and so alarming that Liverpool, he feels, need to consider signing a right-back this summer, in order to provide competition and stimulus for their home-grown hero.

Whether that happens or not is another matter. Liverpool, we know, are targeting a midfield overhaul in the next transfer window, with most of their budget set aside for the likes of Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount and Matheus Nunes.

But whatever happens, one thing is clear. The debate surrounding Alexander-Arnold is likely to run and run…

GettyLittle sign of progress

It feels, in truth, more than a little harsh to continually highlight the faults in Alexander-Arnold’s game, especially considering how many of his esteemed, high-profile Liverpool team-mates have struggled this season.

Virgil van Dijk, for example, has seen his form nosedive, as has Fabinho. Andy Robertson has been short of his best levels, while Jordan Henderson has looked like a player in decline. Even Mohamed Salah, the top scorer and talisman, has been up and down.

Alexander-Arnold, though, seems to attract the most attention and the most criticism. Maybe that is the price on the ticket, given the copious praise he received when emerging as one of the most talented (and successful) English footballers of his generation.

As Robertson, his great pal, told this week: “People are quick to talk players up, especially English players. But they're also quick to knock them back down again.

"We all show weaknesses. Every full-back gets beat by a winger every now and again. We all have dips of form. The criticism of him is quite heavy and I don't really know why."

Maybe, though, it is because, to be brutally honest, the issues being discussed have been evident since the day he burst onto the scene at Anfield. Alexander-Arnold, remember, is a right-back who was converted from a midfield player in his late teens, and so has always looked more comfortable and more useful with the ball than without it.

That presents a problem, especially when confronted with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Wilfried Zaha, Jack Grealish, Gabriel Martinelli or Vinicius Junior, top-class widemen who will ruthlessly exploit each and every weakness in a full-back’s game.

Alexander-Arnold’s positioning is often criticised, but that can be attributed mainly to the demands of his manager, who wants him playing high up the field so as to influence Liverpool’s attacking play. More worrying is his lack of intensity when challenging for the ball, and his tendency to react too late – or not at all – to danger in and around his penalty area.

However good a footballer he is, those things will continue to cost his team, and continue to bring harsh scrutiny.

AdvertisementGettyDon't ignore the upside

The other side of the coin, of course, is that what Alexander-Arnold brings to Liverpool on the ball is unrivalled.

So much of the Reds’ play goes through him. Whether it is his whipped deliveries into the penalty area, both from open play and dead balls, his pitch-opening switches from right to left or his incisive, searching passes into forward players from deep, Alexander-Arnold is constantly involved as Liverpool seek to open up teams. His stats for assists, and more pertinently chances created, tell their own story.

How Liverpool would miss him if he were not there. The man he replaced in the team, Nathaniel Clyne, was a fine player, a solid defender and a consistent performer, but Klopp’s side would never have scaled the heights they have with him in the side.

They need Alexander-Arnold’s strengths as much now as they ever did. The question, rather, is how they can minimise his weaknesses.

The idea of competition

So do Liverpool, as Carragher suggests, need to go out and find themselves a right-back to compete with Alexander-Arnold going forward?

Considering the likes of James Milner and Joe Gomez have been used as cover there this season, many would answer ‘yes’ to that one.

But Liverpool did sign a right-back last summer, don’t forget. They bought Calvin Ramsay from Aberdeen, while allowing home-grown Wales international Neco Williams, who had become desperate to play regular first-team football, to join Nottingham Forest.

The trouble is, Ramsay’s first season on Merseyside has been decimated by injury. The Scot has played only two games, and will not be back in action now until July due to a knee injury suffered in training last month.

Liverpool believe the 19-year-old has the quality and potential to be a fine understudy and competitor for Alexander-Arnold, but they need to get him fit and healthy first. His absence this season has gone under the radar, but it has certainly not helped the Reds’ cause.

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GettyThe elephant in the room

Back to Alexander-Arnold, it should be pointed out at this point that he and Liverpool are heading into a crunch period, in terms of his contract situation.

In the summer, he will have two years left on his current deal, signed in July 2021, and so it is expected that negotiations over a new one will begin at some point in the coming months.

Liverpool have no intention of selling one of their best and most decorated players, of course, but there will be plenty of top clubs looking closely at how the story develops. The likes of Real Madrid, for example, would love a player of his calibre.

Alexander-Arnold has always stated his desire to spend the bulk, if not the whole, of his career at Liverpool. He wants to captain the club, to build a legacy like his hero, Steven Gerrard.

He’s already well on the way to doing that, having won every club trophy possible by the age of 24, and having created countless magnificent memories in doing so. He is a world-class talent, make no mistake about that.

The smart money says he’ll agree a new contract at some point this year, with Klopp and Liverpool backing him to come through this testing time and reconfirm his position as one of the world's top players once more.

Xavi's side had to settle for a 0-0 draw against 15th-placed Getafe, meaning they have not scored in any of their last three games in all competitions

Robert Lewandowski was anonymous as Barcelona were held scoreless by relegation-threatened Getafe, as they continued their stumble towards the Liga title with a second successive 0-0 draw.

The Blaugrana rattled the post twice in quick succession midway through the first half, with Raphinha and Alejandro Balde both denied by the woodwork.

Chances were at a premium for the rest of the contest, though. Gavi fired wide, Raphinha had a shot tipped around the post, and while Getafe occasionally threatened, the hosts never carved out a clear goalscoring opportunity.

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Meanwhile, Lewandowski, Barcelona's big summer signing, was kept quiet as he struggled to assert himself on the kind of contest he was bought to help the club win.

GOAL rates Barcelona's players from Coliseum Alfonso Perez…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (6/10):

Didn't really have a save to make.

Sergi Roberto (3/10):

Removed with a leg injury inside 20 minutes.

Ronald Araujo (7/10):

Probably Barca's best player on the day. Absolutely imperious.

Jules Kounde (5/10):

Bit nervy at centre-back, far better at right-back. His long-term position can perhaps be called into question.

Jordi Alba (5/10):

Looked exhausted after an hour. Can't really be entrusted to start these days.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Franck Kessie (6/10):

Glimpses of quality, but didn't offer the creative spark his side needed on the day.

Sergio Busquets (5/10):

Kept the ball moving, but his lack of pace can be immensely frustrating when Barca have to play fast.

Gavi (6/10):

Won a lot of tackles, kicked a lot of people, and sprinkled in some moments of individual quality. Now leads La Liga with 62 fouls committed.

Getty ImagesAttack

Raphinha (6/10):

The Blaugrana's most consistent attacking threat, although he can be a bit predictable sometimes. Saw a curled shot tipped around the post late.

Robert Lewandowski (4/10):

Lifeless, maybe injured.

Alejandro Balde (5/10):

Handed an unlikely start at left-wing, looked far more comfortable when moved to left-back.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Eric Garcia (4/10):

Introduced for the injured Roberto. Started at right-back then moved to a more central role. Didn't have much to do next to Araujo.

Ansu Fati (4/10):

Appeared to have nailed down a spot in the side, but saw Balde start on the left ahead of him. Went on a nice run or two, but is lacking confidence in the final third.

Ferran Torres (4/10):

Doesn't really offer much to this side.

Pablo Torre (N/A):

A last-minute introduction.

Xavi (3/10):

Fiddled with his line up a bit, reverting back to a 4-3-3 and putting Balde at left-wing. Didn't quite work in the first half — although the Blaugrana did hit the post twice. They struggled to create in the second, and had no answers for Getafe's organised unit. They will still win the league, but this was yet another poor showing.

The Qatari banker has been described as a discreet operator and had flown under the radar in the Middle East until he launched his bid to buy United

Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the frontrunner to buy Manchester United, has been described as a private and reserved individual who is little known in business circles in Qatar and the Middle East, according to a report in .

The Sheikh, the son of the former Qatari Prime Minister, is also likely to be receiving backing from the state for his £5.5 billion takeover bid for the Red Devils as he only earned approximately £1.5 million from his role as board member of Credit Suisse, which he served on for six years and appears to be one of his most prominent roles.

GettyGraduated from military school aged 16

According to the report by , Sheikh Jassim entered the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1997 at the age of 15 and graduated the following year at the age of 16.

That would make him one of the youngest students at Sandhurst, where officers usually enter at the age of 18 or at post-graduate level at the age of 21 or above.

He studied Commissioning Course 973 and was part of Inkerman Company, along with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is the current emir of Qatar.

Previous Sandhurst graduates include Winston Churchill, Prince William and Prince Harry and Muammar Gaddafi.

AdvertisementGetty Images Previous discussions about buying United

The report also reveals that Sheikh Jassim was part of discussions to buy United back in 2010 when the Red Knights, a consortium of wealthy Red Devils' fans, launched an ultimately failed bid to buy the club from the Glazers.

Jassim attended meetings in Doha alongside other members of the Qatar royal family and according to a source consulted by he seemed "very interested in the idea".

GettySmoking and looking 'uninterested' in meetings

The report states that Jassim was known for smoking in the middle of meetings with his various companies. While alcohol is prohibited in Qatar apart from in certain hotels, there is no law against smoking.

Jassim's business associates consulted by also said he was "difficult to read" in meetings and sometimes appeared uninterested.

"It was not uncommon to see him cross his legs, look away from the table and, once again, start puffing on a cigar," adds the report.

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Getty'Likes nice things'

Although Jassim is said to be a private and reserved figure and in that respect is very different to INEOS CEO Sir Jim Ratcliffe, his only rival to buy United, the report adds that the Skeikh "likes to have nice things" and therefore wants to own the club because it will give him a greater status and presence.

Qataris have invested in prestigious British department store Harrods plus skyscrapers the Shard and the Empire State Building and United, the best-supported and most successful club in English football, is seen as another "trophy asset".

Liverpool would only consider selling Mohamed Salah for “over £150m ($189m)”, says Jamie Carragher, with interest being shown from Saudi Arabia.

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Egyptian linked with move to the Middle EastTalk of record-breaking contract offerReds understandably reluctant to sell WHAT HAPPENED?

The Egyptian superstar finds himself at the centre of a big-money transfer saga as the summer window in England begins to wind down. There has been talk of the 31-year-old forward being presented with a contract offer from Al-Ittihad that would lift him above Cristiano Ronaldo when it comes to the highest-paid players on the planet.

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Liverpool, with manager Jurgen Klopp leading the way, have been quick to play down the exit talk, with Carragher claiming that an eye-watering bid would need to be tabled in order for a sale to be considered. The Reds legend has told : “I think it’d have to be over £150 million. I’m not saying he’s worth that right now at his age but I don’t think £100m; you’re not replacing Mo Salah for £100m. If they offered a crazy figure but as I said it is so late in the window. If it was earlier – maybe they might think about it because that is the model that they’ve had in the past but I don’t think Mo Salah is going anywhere.”

AND WHAT'S MORE

Salah is tied to a contract at Anfield through to 2025, with Carragher adding on his immediate future: “I don’t think Mo Salah will go. One because it’s so late in the window. I don’t necessarily thing Mo Salah will want to go and what I mean by that is that Salah will be a little bit like Ronaldo. I can see Mo Salah playing until he’s in his late 30s so I think he might think, ‘I’ve got another three or four years’. Well he’s got another two years on his contract [at Liverpool] so I don’t know if he’ll stay after that but he’ll want to score as many goals as he can, win the biggest honours, break records. I think there’s time for him to go to an MLS, Saudi Arabia, maybe somewhere else in the future in his late 30s because I think he looks after himself. He’s such a professional and I think there’s still a lot more years in Mo Salah right now. But if you actually think of the model of FSG and the reason why Liverpool have had so much success, when someone made a crazy offer for Philippe Coutinho five or six years ago – Barcelona paid £130m. They [Liverpool] didn’t try and replace Philippe Coutinho, they bought Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker and then Liverpool went on to win the lot. So in some ways it is the model of the ownership. You’ve bought Salah, you’ve had great years from him he’s over 30 now and someone made a ridiculous offer from him and it was earlier in the window.”

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Salah has scored 187 goals for Liverpool through 308 appearances, with several records broken while helping the Reds to Premier League, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Community Shield triumphs.

The 46-year-old's time in charge will be remembered for its shortcomings after a historic failure in Australia and New Zealand

Vlatko Andonovski's tenure as head coach of the United States women's national team is over. That fact was confirmed the second the USWNT fell to Sweden in the World Cup's last 16, though it wasn't made official until Thursday when it was confirmed that he has stepped down from the role. It's the nature of the job, really: anything less than perfection is generally going to be seen as not good enough.

But, make no mistake, Andonovski came nowhere near perfection. He generally seemed well-liked by players and has proven himself as a capable head coach during his time in the NWSL, but his USWNT tenure will be remembered as nothing short of a disaster. It'll not just be remembered as the era in which the rest of the world truly caught up with the USWNT, but also the era in which the USWNT left themselves open to it by botching everything from personnel selections to in-game adjustments.

The blame for that will fall on Andonovski, although there's plenty to go around from the highest levels of U.S. Soccer all the way down. This wasn't a one-man mess, for sure. Regardless, so ends the Andonovski era, one that will be looked back at as a failure as the U.S. never got close to reaching the standards of yesteryear.

Getty ImagesWhat Andonovski walked into

Say what you want about Andonovski, but you do have to appreciate the difficulty of the situation he walked into. By replacing Jill Ellis, he was taking over for a legend. There's an old saying that says that you don't want to replace the legend; you want to replace the guy that replaced the legend. That proved true here, for sure.

In taking over the USWNT, Andonovski was always going to be held up to Ellis' standards. Those consecutive World Cup trophies would hang over everything Andonovski did. Ellis set the marker, and Andonovski would have to live up to it.

He couldn't. At two major tournaments, Andonovski led the USWNT to just three wins in 10 games. Under his leadership, the USWNT just completed their worst-ever World Cup run. Andonovski is now the first coach to lead the team into multiple major tournaments and not lift a trophy.

And the worst part is that many saw it coming. This summer's disaster had been brewing for some time.

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It was easy to excuse the USWNT's performance at the 2020 Olympics. It was a disjointed, delayed tournament after all, one totally derailed by the coronavirus pandemic. The players were out of rhythm and devoid of chemistry. In hindsight, though, it was the first worrying sign.

The U.S. finished with the bronze medal, a success for most teams but surely not for this program. The tournament began with a 3-0 battering at the hands of Sweden in the group stage, but, from there, the U.S. seemed to right the ship. That was until semi-final loss to Canada doomed them to that third-place match, where they took down Australia in a 4-3 thriller.

During that tournament, Andonovski was criticized for never settling on a line up, rotating in a way that sometimes seemed needless. He was also criticized for failing to usher in new blood to take over from a series of legends that were nearing their expiration date.

That second part led to his mandate after that failure in 2021: bring in new superstars in time for 2023.

Getty ImagesFailed rebuild

To be fair, this wasn't entirely Andonovski's fault. Injuries robbed him of several younger stars like Catarina Macario and Mallory Swanson, both of whom would have been key players at the World Cup this summer. But still, a glimpse at the World Cup squad shows a team that failed to move on from the previous generation, and, by the end, it cost them.

Julie Ertz was never properly replaced when she stepped away to become a mother. She was ultimately replaced by… Julie Ertz, until Andonovski was ultimately forced to use her at center-back due to the lack of depth in that position.

Megan Rapinoe, a true titan of the game, was nowhere near the level we saw back in 2019, but was still Andonovski's go-to substitute even as the U.S. attack stalled completely. And Alex Morgan, still one of the top strikers in the world, was unable to find her old form and, but with no one really in the squad to replace her, Andonovski persisted.

To his credit, Andonovski saw this coming. He left Morgan and Rapinoe out for a stretch of games in 2022 as he tried to usher in a new era. The problem was that that new era didn't quite take off.

Yes, stars like Naomi Girma came to the fore, but Andonovski has more losses than wins in this regard. He failed to get the best out of Sophia Smith, a player that should have done more at this World Cup, and couldn't quite get Trinity Rodman firing. Savannah DeMelo, meanwhile, somehow became a key player despite not making her first appearance until weeks before the World Cup. And let's not forget the decision to overlook players like Sam Coffey.

Overall, Andonovski was never quite able to find the right blend between old and new. Even so, the USWNT had the talent to compete at the World Cup, as long as everything went right…

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Getty ImagesManagerial disaster-class

That prior criticism regarding over-rotation seems lightyears away now. This summer, Andonovski's biggest flaw was his inability to make the changes needed, both before and during games. While it was clear to see the USWNT was struggling, Andonovski was never willing to really fix it as it seemed he didn't truly trust his players.

The attack never got going, with the front three scoring just two goals all tournament, both from Smith. Yet Andonovski never really made any tweaks to the formation or personnel that led to anything resembling a coherent attack. Yes, chances were created, but they weren't finished. Something had to change.

The midfield, meanwhile, was a mess the whole way, with Rose Lavelle's injury and eventual suspension leaving her limited. The No.6 position was an issue that was never resolved as Andi Sullivan struggled, and it wasn't until his surprise inclusion of Emily Sonnett in the Sweden game that he truly shook things up.

But Andonovski's biggest shortcomings weren't with his initial XIs necessarily, but rather his in-game adjustments. All tournament long, he was too hesitant to turn to his bench. Against the Netherlands, he made just one sub. Against Sweden, he made just one in 90 minutes and only one more in extra-time before tossing on two players for penalties, one of whom – Kelley O'Hara – missed from the spot.

His inability to trust players cost the USWNT, for sure, and his overall struggles in constructing a cohesive team from back to front is why the U.S. went home so early.

Jude Bellingham is making quite the impact at Real Madrid, but the Liga giants have still managed to spell his name wrong in their locker room.

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Midfielder moved to La Liga from DortmundHas made an immediate impactLiving up to his big-money price tagWHAT HAPPENED?

The England international joined the Blancos from Borussia Dortmund during the summer transfer window for €103 million (£88m/$111m). Such a hefty price tag would weigh heavy around the neck of some, especially those that are only 20 years of age.

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Bellingham is a special talent, though, and he has found the target in all four of his La Liga appearances for Real to date – allowing him to match a record previously set by the great Cristiano Ronaldo. His latest effort for the Blancos was a dramatic match winner in a 2-1 victory over Getafe at Santiago Bernabeu.

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Bellingham reflected on his heroics in the dressing room afterwards, saying: “I’ve never heard a stadium sound louder in my life.” It was, however, impossible to ignore the fact that a spelling mistake had been made on the locker he sat beside, with Real opting for “Bellimgham”.

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Errors such as that can be laughed off at present as Bellingham is enjoying a dream start to life in the Spanish capital. He has already endeared himself to a demanding fan base and will be back on domestic duty after the international break when Real Madrid play host to Real Sociedad on September 17.