It was announced Monday that the Royals’ all-time winningest manager, Ned Yost, will be leaving the dugout at the conclusion of the 2019 season.

Yost has amassed 744 wins and counting as manager for the Royals.

After being hired in May 2010, Yost led the Royals to back-to-back World Series appearances, as well as a championship in 2015. Since then, however, the Royals have been in a steady decline and have entered into a major rebuilding phase.

Yost has garnered 1,201 wins in his tenure as a manager, good enough to earn him 45th on the all-time list.

In a statement from the Royals, Yost discussed his impending retirement:

“With the development of our young players and our returning veterans, I feel and hope the worst is behind us in this rebuilding phase of our organization. My plan all along was to get us through the rough times and then turn it over to a new manager to bring us the rest of the way. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here as your manager and will never forget the good and hard times we had together as an organization and a fan base.”

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Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was one of many to congratulate Yost on his retirement:

Although no replacement for Yost has been announced yet, a likely candidate is former St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheney, who is currently a special advisor in player development for the Royals. Matheney arises as an option following his stint with the Cardinals, during which he won 55 percent of his regular-season games, three division titles, and a pennant in 2013.

Many changes are afoot in terms of MLB managers, with the Giants searching for a new leader to replace Bruce Bochy and the Padres seeking a replacement for Andy Green. The Royals, who are coming off of a rebuilding phase that spanned multiple years, could be a target destination for many different potential managers looking to lead them back to the postseason.

The Minnesota Twins ushered in a new era in the Twin Cities Thursday morning by hiring 37-year-old Rocco Baldelli, the youngest manager In Major League Baseball.

Twins Hire Youngest Manager In MLB

Baldelli is a former player for the Tampa Bay Rays and sees his first managerial position with Minnesota. Baldelli saw several positions with the Rays, including first-base coach and field coordinator before the full-time hire Thursday. The hire, though in line with many of the young core and direction of the team, comes as a bit of a surprise considering the previous manager, Paul Molitor, won the 2017 Manager of the Year Award.

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The long-time Ray amassed ten career Wins Above Replacement, though he doesn’t exactly see the advanced metrics movement as a revolutionary tactic despite his youthful disposition.

“Analytics is just a word,” Baldelli said about advanced metrics. “Really, all we’re trying to do is put players in better position to succeed. It’s a huge asset to have more information and the ability to use it. The info doesn’t do anything in and of itself. It’s having people who can use that info.”

This is the first time the Twins have hired a manager from outside the organization in over three decades.

The Boston Red Sox officially named former utility infielder Alex Cora as their 47th manager on Sunday.

red sox manager News

Cora — the bench coach for the Houston Astros — signed a three-year contract with the Red Sox that runs through the 2020 season and includes a club option for the 2021 season.

Since the Astros are facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series beginning Tuesday, Cora has not yet been formally introduced at Fenway Park. A press conference will have to wait until after the series ends.

“I am extremely honored and humbled to be named manager of the Boston Red Sox,” Cora said in a statement announcing his hiring. “Returning to the Red Sox and the city of Boston is a dream come true for me and my family and I look forward to working towards the ultimate goal of winning another championship for this city and its great fans.”

The Puerto Rican also thanked the Astros “for giving me the chance to start my coaching career.”

“It has been a very special season and an incredible organization to be a part of and I am looking forward to the World Series and winning with this group,” he said.

Cora, 42, played for the Red Sox from 2005 to 2008, after beginning his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he played from 1998 to 2004. He is also the general manager of the Puerto Rico national baseball team, and last played with the Washington Nationals in 2011. Cora then signed with the St. Louis Cardinals, who won the World Series in 2011, but was released by the team in March 2012.

Cora is the 22nd former Red Sox player to manage the team and the first since Butch Hobson (1992-94). Over the past week, team president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski met with Cora and two other candidates for the manager position: former Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus and longtime Minnesota Twins skipper Ron Gardenhire, who has since been hired by the Tigers.

John Farell, Cora’s predecessor, had served as Boston’s manager since 2013, when he led the Red Sox to their eighth World Series title. Farrell was fired earlier this month, two days after the team lost three games to the Houston Astros in the AL Division Series.

“Alex brings a lot to the table, my friend,” Astros designated hitter Carlos Beltran said. “He’s a guy that always is looking for information that he could use against the opposite team. He has good communication with the guys, respects the guys. He’s always in the clubhouse getting to know the players, getting to know which buttons he could push on each player to make them go out there and play the game hard, which is great.”

The Red Sox boast a core of talented young players (Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, Jackie Bradley Jr.) to go along with an ace (Chris Sale) and elite closer (Craig Kimbrel), both in their primes.

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 2: Alex Cora #13 of the Washington Nationals makes a catch against the New York Mets at Nationals Park on September 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. The New York Mets won, 7-3. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

The New York Mets have undergone some managerial shifts in recent weeks.

Mets new manager news

Terry Collins stepped down on Sunday after seven seasons in charge, and longtime pitching coach Dan Warthen and head trainer Ray Ramirez also parted ways with the franchise.

Collins has not left the Mets completely, however, as he will be serving as general manager Sandy Alderson’s special assistant.

Now, a former Met has emerged as a potential candidate to coach the Mets, whose bullpen has struggled in recent years.

John Franco, a 57-year-old former pitcher, has voiced a desire to manage the team.

Franco played 14 of his 20 major league seasons with the Mets (1990-2001, 2003-2004). His 1,119 career games pitched is an NL record, and he is ranked third in major league history with 424 career saves. Franco also played for the Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds. 

According to the New York Post, the candidates who could replace Warthen — who had been the Mets’ pitching coach since June 2008 — include Mets bullpen coach Ricky Bones and minor league pitching coordinator Ron Romanick. “The Mets could also consider external candidates such as former Royals pitching coach Dave Eiland and former Oakland pitching coach Curt Young. Jim Hickey, who stepped aside as Rays pitching coach Tuesday, could also be considered for the job,” the Post reported.

“We will be adding staff as well as replacing Ray,” Alderson said. “But there will be a reorganization that I think will provide us with more capacity as well as different organizational structure. With regard to Ray and the decision to reorganize, we felt it was going to be difficult to retain Ray.”

Alderson added that Collins will focus on player development in his new position. The GM noted the number of players the Mets promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas this season.

“I was disappointed with the performance of some of these players and their preparation for playing at the major league level,” Alderson said. “This is an area I think Terry can be very helpful, so I expect that a good part of his time will be spent in the area of player development.”

Anderson also said hitting coach Kevin Long is expected to return, and that third-base coach Glenn Sherlock is under contract for next season.

NEW YORK – MAY 21: John Franco, former pitcher of the New York Mets, throws out the first pitch to former Met, Mike Piazza before the game against the New York Yankees on May 21, 2010 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Mark Sampson, England’s women’s soccer team manager, has been fired by the Football Association following allegations that he behaved inappropriately with his players.

Mark Sampson Firing News

The FA’s chief executive, Martin Glenn, said the 34-year-old Welshman “overstepped the professional boundaries between player and coach” during his tenure as manager of Bristol’s Women’s team from 2009 to 2013. (Sampson then became coach of England’s women’s team).

At Bristol, Sampson first worked with ten-to-16-year-olds and later as the senior first-team coach. More than one player made claims against Sampson, and FA chairman Greg Clarke stated they ranged from the “trivial to the very serious,” although no specific incidents were disclosed.

According to several reports, the allegations against Sampson were first made anonymously in March 2014, three months after he left Bristol Academy to become coach of the Lionesses. The FA’s safeguarding and investigations team began inquiries into the claims shortly afterward. However, Glenn joined the FA one year after the allegations first arose, and says he was not informed of the probe until October 2015. He read the full report last week and handed it to Clarke.

Additionally, 30-year-old former England forward Eni Aluko — who is Nigerian-born — told The Guardian that Sampson had bullied and harassed her and made racial remarks about her. Aluko currently plays for the Chelsea Ladies of the British Women’s Soccer League.

However, The Sun reports that Sampson was fired for conduct not related to Aluko’s case.

Sampson has recently enjoyed success as England’s women’s manager: his squad reached the semi-finals at Euro 2017 this summer and routed Russia 6-0 in their first World Cup Qualifying match. Sampson’s contract was due to expire in June 2019, although the Guardian reported that Glenn told him in a phone call on Wednesday afternoon that “it would be terminated immediately”

Glenn has vowed that a probe into Aluko’s allegations — as well as those made by another mixed-race player named Drew Spence — would continue.

Sampson’s firing comes almost exactly 12 months after former England men’s team manager Sam Allardyce was forced to resign amid a newspaper sting after just one game in charge. Allardyce — who replaced Roy Hodgson as England boss following the national team’s embarrassing loss to Iceland in the Round of 16 of the Euro 2016 tournament — was replaced by current manager Gareth Southgate. 

DEVENTER, NETHERLANDS – JULY 30: Mark Sampson, head coach of England gives his team instructions during the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 Quarter Final match between France and England at Stadion De Adelaarshorst on July 30, 2017 in Deventer, Netherlands. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Diego Maradona has returned to the soccer spotlight with a new head coaching job: the Argentina legend has been named the new manager of United Arab Emirates second-division club Al-Fujairah.

Argentina’s Diego Maradona Named Manager of UAE’s Al-Fujairah

This marks the 56-year-old former Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli attacking midfielder’s first coaching gig since he was fired as manager of UAE team Al Wasl in July 2012 after just one season.

Maradona posted a photo of himself holding Al-Fujairah’s No. 10 jersey (the number he used to wear with Argentina) on Facebook with the following caption in English, Spanish and Italian:

“I want to let you all know that I am the new manager of Al-Fujairah SC who hail from the UAE’s second division,” the Argentine wrote while presenting the red-and-white jersey. “These are my new colors!”

Maradona helped lead Argentina to win the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, and reached the final again four years later. He became famous for comments like the “Hand of God,” referring to a handball he was suspected of committing in the penalty box to score a goal in a game against England in the 1986 World Cup.

The legend twice won the Italian Serie A with Napoli, and also played for Sevilla and Argentina Juniors. He began his coaching career with short stints at Argentine teams Mandiyu de Corrientes and Racing Club in the mid-90s, but did not become manager of an international team until he became head coach of Argentina in 2008, a post he held until 2010.

Under Maradona, Argentina played in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa but were eliminated by Germany, who defeated the Albiceleste 4-0 in the quarter-finals.

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – JANUARY 09: Diego Maradona reacts during a FIFA Team Friendly Football Match at the FIFA headquarters prior to The Best FIFA Football Awards 2016 on January 9, 2017 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images)

Ronald Koeman has already publicly stated that his dream is to manage Barcelona, but the Everton coach has confirmed that he will see out his three-year deal with the Premier League club to completion.

Manager Ronald Koeman Says He’s Staying With Everton, Not Going to Barcelona

The 54-year-old Dutchman is in the first season of his contract at Goodison Park, having transferred from Southampton last summer.

Koeman said that he knows there is a lot of work left to do with Everton.

“Everyone knows that I am from Barca, they know my love for a club where I grew up as a player and as a person,” he told Spanish newspaper Sport. “In football, as in life, as in business, everything can be talked about and discussed.”

The manager also revealed that his other big “dream” in life is to coach his native country’s national team. Koeman served as assistant to Netherlands head coach Guus Hiddink for the 1998 World Cup.

“I now owe to Everton,” Koeman added. “We have a very powerful and exciting project and we will reinforce our best to try to reach next season the Champions League.”

The Dutchman was tied to a move to Barcelona after manager Luis Enrique announced he was stepping down at the end of the season.

Nevertheless, Koeman insists he is content at Everton.

“I don’t see me being the next manager,” he added.”I mentioned several times it’s human ambition – for players, for managers. That doesn’t change my position or contract with Everton. I’m really happy, I’m looking forward to next season.”

Koeman also announced that forward Arouna Kone will leave Everton at the end of the season. The 33-year-old Ivory Coast star signed with the Toffees from Wigan Athletic in 2013.

The Dutch manager also stated Everton will allow winger Aaron Lennon all the time he needs to recover from his stress-related illness.

The 30-year-old English midfielder was detained under the Mental Health Act on Sunday following concerns about his well-being. Lennon has just over 12 months remaining on the three-year deal he inked after transferring from Tottenham in 2015.

“As you know the club mentioned that Aaron had a stress-related illness and it is a private situation,” Koeman said. “We try to give him all the support (to enable) him to come back as soon as possible.

“We have contact with him and his family and I think it is best we keep it between club, the player and his family,” Koeman continued. “We would like to see him back but what is important now is for him to be like he was. Life, health, is more important than football.”

Koeman added that he understands the greater pressures soccer players face now compared to 20 years ago due to factors like social media and playing more games each season.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MARCH 11: Ronald Koeman, Manager of Everton gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Everton and West Bromwich Albion at Goodison Park on March 11, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

An impromptu tribute to Dallas Green broke out on the field at the Philadelphia Phillies’ spring training home in Clearwater, Florida on Thursday morning.

Phillies Hold Impromptu Tribute for Late Ex-Manager Dallas Green, Dead at 82

The former MLB pitcher, manager and executive— who led the Phillies to the 1980 World Series after just one season in charge— died Wednesday at age 82.

Larry Bowa, who played for Green on that championship-winning team, was in attendance.

Also present was Charlie Manuel, the only other manager besides Green to lead the Phillies to a national title (in 2008).

Bowa cried, as did several fans in the stands at Spectrum Field, as the Phillies honored Green with a moment of silence.

Green’s old jersey, No. 46, hung in the dugout during the team’s game against the Minnesota Twins.

“It was tough last night,” Bowa said. “I just couldn’t believe it. This guy meant the world to us. We don’t win a World Series without Dallas. It doesn’t matter if we’ve got 10 Pete Roses, we don’t win a World Series without Dallas.

“He taught me a lot about being mentally tough and giving everything you have, every pitch, nine innings. Never quit. He was a guy that told our team, ‘Look in the mirror. You’re not as good as you think you are.’ He said, ‘Anybody can win divisions, go win a World Series. Put a ring on somebody’s finger.'”

Green, who was also a manager for the New York Mets and Yankees, went 20-22 as a major league pitcher in the 1960s, playing with the Phillies, Mets and Washington Senators. He began working in the Phillies’ front office in 1967, focusing on minor-league talent development, before being named their manager in 1979.

Green then became the Chicago Cubs’ general manager in 1980, and helped revitalize the franchise in the early 80s. He earned the Executive of the Year award from several publications in 1984.

He took over as Yankees manager in 1989, but lasted less than a year after he had notorious disagreements with owner George Steinbrenner. Green then finally took charge of the Mets from 1993-96, finishing with a 54-478 record as a manager.

The Phillies had several talented players in the late 1970s, but up until that point had always fallen just one step short of the World Series.

Bowa had heavily criticized Green leading up to Philadelphia’s 1980 World Series win.

Manuel, meanwhile, got into a public feud with Green in 2006 after the latter— who was a member of the Phillies’ front office— criticized Manuel’s Phillies team for their performance that season on a radio interview. Several years later, Green told a reporter he was wrong for slamming Manuel, and he thanked Manuel for showing him there are other ways to manage a team than the way he did it.

“I showed him,” Manuel said. “When I look back, maybe he was testing me. But I understood him and I think at the end he felt he understood me.”

On the night Philadelphia won the World Series in 2008, Manuel and Green both legends in the Phillies organization, sat in Manuel’s office and reflected.

“He was very happy,” Manuel said. “Him and I had a few drinks of VO. I think I outdrank him, really. But, of course, when he won back in 1980 he would have outdrank me.

“Everything about it was good. He was just as happy as I was and I can’t tell you how happy I was.

“He was always around and he definitely pulled for the Phillies day in and day out.

“Baseball’s going to miss Dallas Green.

“I’m going to miss him.”

John Farrell will remain in charge of the Boston Red Sox in 2017.

John Farrell To Return As Red Sox Manager In 2017

Despite the Red Sox’s 4-3 home loss to the Cleveland Indians in Game 4 of the ALDS on Monday night, Farrell will stay on as the team’s manager in 2017, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced at Fenway Park Tuesday afternoon.

“John Farrell will be our manager for 2017. He is all set and his whole staff will be invited back” said Dombrowski. “I think they did a very fine job for us.”

Farrell is signed through 2017. Dombrowski declined to address the option the Sox hold on Farrell for 2018.

“Something of that magnitude I need to sit down with ownership and discuss that,” Dombrowski said.

In four season as Red Sox manager, Farrell has compiled a record of 339-309. The team won the World Series in his first year, 2013, then finished in last place in the American League East in 2014 and 2015 before bouncing back with a division title this year.

The Red Sox did say goodbye to another valued member of their organization, however, on Monday. Veteran slugger David Ortiz, 40, played the final game of his career in Monday’s loss to the Indians.

The Red Sox will open the 2017 season at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 3.

BOSTON, MA – JUNE 03: Manager John Farrell #53 of the Boston Red Sox does an interview prior to the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on June 3, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. Toronto won the game 5-2. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images)

Walt Weiss stepped down as the Colorado Rockies’ manager, and general manager Jeff Bridich concurred with the decision, both announced on Monday.

Walt Weiss Steps Down As Rockies Manager After Four Seasons

Weiss’s contract expired on Sunday, the final day of the regular season, and whether he would continue or not was up to a decision between him and the organization. Weiss was 283-365 in four seasons as Colorado’s manager. The Rockies finished this season 75-87, their best record since 2010.

Rockies chief baseball officer Dan O’Dowd hired Weiss to replace Jim Tracy after the 2012 season, although Weiss never worked directly with O’Dowd, because the team was run by senior vice president of Major League operations Bill Geivett. Weiss was in place when Bridich was promoted from player development director to GM following the 2014 season.

When Weiss, 52, took over, the Rockies were coming off their worst season in franchise history. At the time, he was a high school coach with no major league coaching experience.

In a recent interview, the former big league shortstop stated he was content with the direction the team was heading.

“There’s a lot to look forward to here, especially from where we came from,” Weiss said. “Coming in right after the worst season in the history of the franchise, I feel like that if it wasn’t rock bottom, it was pretty darn close. But there’s a lot to feel good about.”

Colorado was strong coming out of the All-Star break this season, and the team spent much of the second half within reach of a National League Wild Card spot. Nevertheless, the fact that the Rockies and Weiss never negotiated an extension was an indication that the relationship was not strong. Bridich agreed that the organization needed to start fresh.

“I would agree with Walt that it was time to move on, and I think over the course of two years with he as manager and me as the GM, we put in a lot of work to try to make the relationship work,” said Bridich, who did not put a timetable on the search for a new manager. “I’m proud of that — that we committed to each other moving forward. It could’ve been different when changes were made in the front office two years ago.”

Bridich added the team is considering “internal and external” candidates, although even before Weiss stepped down, Triple-A Albuquerque manager Glenallen Hill was rumored to be a potential candidate.

Hill has managed the Rockies’ Triple-A clubs for the past four seasons. He was on the Rockies’ Major League coaching staff 2007-2012, and has worked in the Rockies’ system since 2006. However, Bridich stressed that “there have been no formal plans put in place.”

The Rockies players expressed appreciation for Weiss’ laid-back style, with All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenadao crediting Weiss for keeping the team on the right track. On Sunday, Arenado called him a manager that “every player respects, everyone around the game respects. You don’t find those people too often.”

The next manager will be inheriting one of the game’s top leadoff hitters in Charlie Blackmon, an RBI pro in Arenado, another deep threat in Carlos Gonzalez, a rising star in shortstop Trevor Story and a young yet talented pitching rotation led by Jon Gray. 

Colorado also has a rather unstable bullpen, which blew 28 save opportunities. The Rockies went 24-36 in games decided by two runs or less this season.

“I like the group that we have. I think we are close,” said Arenado, who led the league in RBIs (133) and tied for the NL home run title (41). “I want fans to know that so they don’t lose hope. I feel bad. They come out every day, to see us lose the way we do sometimes. It upsets me. I want them to know that I truly believe we’re close.”

DENVER, CO – JUNE 24: Manager Walt Weiss of the Colorado Rockies smiles prior to the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on June 24, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. The Diamondbacks defeat the Rockies 10-9 (Photo by Bart Young/Getty Images)

The Arizona Diamondbacks, who went 63-93 this season and finished in fourth place in the National League West, fired both manager Chip Hale and general manager Dave Stewart Monday afternoon.

Diamondbacks Fire GM Dave Stewart, Manager Chip Hale After 93-Loss Season

Both were in their second year with the team.

Stewart, 59, was hired in late September 2014 to replace Kevin Towers as GM. A few weeks later, Stewart named Hale, 51, as the manager. The Diamondbacks went 148-176 under Hale.

Stewart was hired by the franchise’s chief baseball officer, Tony La Russa, who has not been fired.

“We are very grateful to Dave and Chip who are widely respected throughout the game of baseball.,” said Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall in a statement. “Ultimately, the results have not been what we had hoped and while that responsibility is shared by all of us, we have decided that a change is necessary. We are still discussing what the appropriate role for Tony La Russa will be moving forward.”

Arizona signed free agent ace pitcher Zack Greinke for $206.5 million before the 2016 season– his $34.4 million per year salary the largest in MLB– and traded for Atlanta Braves starter Shelby Miller, an All-Star. However, hopes for the Dbacks were soon dashed, as both pitchers woefully underperformed this season, Miller even becoming one of the worst in the league.

The Diamondbacks won the World Series in 2001 and had a brief comeback ten years later, winning the NL West. Nevertheless, Arizona has steadily declined since then, posting five consecutive non-winning seasons.

The franchise will now be searching for its fifth GM and fifth manager since 2010.

A four-time 20-game winner as a player, Stewart had previously worked in the front office for Oakland, San Diego and Toronto before landing his first general manager job.

Hale played seven major league seasons with the Minnesota Twins and the Los Angeles Dodgers before starting his coaching career. He worked as Bob Melvin’s bench coach for three seasons before being hired as a major league manager for the first time with Arizona. He previously worked nine seasons in the Diamondbacks organization and spent two seasons with the New York Mets.

Arizona’s pitching staff struggled as a whole, finishing with a league-worst 5.11 ERA.

The Diamondbacks were also criticized for the deal that brought in Miller, which sent outfielder Ender Inciarte and shortstop Dansby Swanson, Arizona’s top draft pick in 2015, to Atlanta. In his first seasons with Arizona, Miller struggled, going 3-12 with a 6.15 ERA.

PHOENIX, AZ – APRIL 06: General manager Dave Stewart and manager Chip Hale #3 of the Arizona Diamondbacks talk on the field before the Opening Day MLB game against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field on April 6, 2015 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says his team could be a ‘top six’ club if they were playing soccer in the English Premier League.

Brendan Rodgers Thinks Celtic Would Be Major Threat In Premier League

Rodgers spoke after the Scottish club’s 3-3 Champions League tie with Premier league leaders Manchester City on Wednesday.

“There’s no doubt Celtic are a major threat to nearly every English club,” said the 43-year-old former Liverpool boss.

The English Football League announced last week that no Scottish clubs would be invited into any expanded setup in the future.

“If Celtic were in England, they would be in the top four/top six clubs there,” said Rodgers, who took over for Ronny Deila as Celtic boss in May. “If you are another club playing in that league or Championship, or League One, would you want that type of threat coming in? I don’t think you’d want it and that’s the reality.”

Rodgers continued: “It is going to be difficult for Celtic to be in the English pyramid system because of the sheer scale of the club. Most of our games are packed out now. Can you imagine Celtic with that resource? Then it can go as far as it wants then. It would be frightening prospect but an exciting prospect.”

The EFL are also considering adding eight new members, so they can create four divisions of 20 below the Premier League.

Rodgers added that Celtic’s performance against Manchester City was proof that the Champions League should not become a closed shop to all but teams with the largest finances.

“Wednesday was a perfect example of that,” said the manager, whose side bounced back from an opening 7-0 defeat by Barcelona. “After the Barcelona game, there were critics, which is natural when you lose so heavily.”

Rodgers continued: “But I think, when you put it into perspective, there has to be opportunities for clubs like Celtic – one of the great clubs of world football – to play in this competition and the competition is better for a club like Celtic being in it.

“I know League One clubs that probably have greater resources than Celtic, but that shouldn’t stop us having an opportunity.”

Following pressure from Europe’s richest teams, UEFA agreed in August to guarantee each of the continent’s top four domestic leagues– currently Spain, Germany, England and Italy– four spots each in the group stage.

Nevertheless, Rodgers believes Celtic proved that they deserve the opportunity to be in Europe’s elite club competition.

“It was an incredible advert for Glasgow Celtic,” he said of the draw with Pep Guardiola’s City.

Furthermore, Scottish Professional Football League chief executive Neil Doncaster has warned of the risk of “an inexorable slide towards an NFL-style closed-shop system.”

Celtic next face Dundee in a Scottish Premiership game on Saturday.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MAY 23: Celtic unveil their new manager, Brendan Rodgers at Celtic Park, Glasgow on May 23, 2016 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

Sam Allardyce has left his job as manager of England’s national soccer team following a newspaper investigation that claimed he offered advice on how to “get around” rules on player transfers.

England Manager Sam Allardyce Caught In Newspaper Sting

Allardyce, 61, left by mutual agreement with the Football Association after just one match and 67 days in charge.

The manager is also alleged to have used his position to negotiate a deal worth £400,000 ($521,000) to represent a Far East firm.

During meetings with undercover reporters from The Daily Telegraph, Allardyce reportedly criticized his predecessor, Roy Hodgson, mockingly calling him “Woy” and claiming he “hasn’t got the personality” for public speaking. Allardyce also criticized Gary Neville, one of Hodgson’s assistants.

Former Bolton Wanderers, West Ham United and Sunderland boss Allardyce replaced Hodgson as England manager in July, following England’s embarrassing elimination by Iceland at UEFA Euro 2016 in France.

Allardyce is also alleged to have stated England’s players were underperforming because they had a “psychological barrier” and “can’t cope.” He also suggested players who were not being played for their clubs should not be picked for England, and described the FA’s decision to redevelop Wembley Stadium as “stupid.”

“He accepts he made a significant error of judgement and has apologized,” the FA said. “This is not a decision that was taken lightly but the FA’s priority is to protect the wider interests of the game and maintain the highest standards of conduct in football. The manager of the England men’s senior team is a position which must demonstrate strong leadership and show respect for the integrity of the game at all times.”

Gareth Southgate will step in as England’s interim manager. Allardyce is now the national team’s shortest-serving full-time manager.

Allardyce met FA chairman Greg Clarke and chief executive Martin Glenn on Tuesday to offer what he called a “sincere and wholehearted apology for my actions”.

“Although it was made clear during the recorded conversations that any proposed arrangements would need the FA’s full approval, I recognize I made some comments which have caused embarrassment,” he added.

“As part of the meeting, I was asked to clarify what I said and the context in which the conversations took place. I have co-operated fully in this regard.

“I also regret my comments with regard to other individuals.”

BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND – JULY 25: Newly appointed England manager Sam Allardyce poses after a press conference at St. George’s Park on July 25, 2016 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

Dusty Baker was selected as the new manager for the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. The team’s original first choice for manager was Bud Black, although negotiations for this deal fell through due to financial terms and contract length, according to several sources. Black backed out after expressing a higher desired salary than the Nationals were offering – a mere $2 million for two years.

Baker has signed on for a “multi-year deal,” according to the Washington Post. He previously became notorious after receiving a large amount of criticism for his handling of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood in Chicago. However, Baker has also won everywhere he’s gone. He won a pennant in San Francisco, made the playoffs in Chicago, and won several games and two division titles with the Reds in Cincinnati. “During our broad search process we met with many qualified candidates, and ultimately it was clear that Dusty’s deep experience was the best fit for our ball-club,” Nationals owner Ted Lerner stated.

He has been described by many as an “old-school” manager, and has vastly improved his role as a manager, particularly with regards to his management of pitchers. Baker was a longtime outfielder for both the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers (primarily). His career spanned 19 years. He has also managed the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs. He had been on managerial hiatus for two years, the Cubs being the last team he managed up until his hire by the Nationals. Baker is also the second minority to currently hold a managerial title among the 30 big league clubs, the other being the Atlanta Braves’ Fredi Gonzalez, who is Hispanic.