Real extend Luka Modric’s contract until the end of 2025
MADRID, July 18: Real Madrid extended Luka Modric’s contract on Wednesday, bringing the Croatia midfielder back for a 13th season with the club.Madrid said it and Modric agreed to extend the player’s contract until June 2025.One of Madrid’s captains, Modric didn’t play as often as a starter this season but is expected to have a greater role in Carlo Ancelotti’s midfield after the retirement of Toni Kroos.He has won 26 titles with Madrid, the most in club history along with defender Nacho Fernández. Among those are six Champions Leagues and four Spanish leagues.“Modric arrived at Real Madrid in 2012, and in his 12 seasons representing our shirt he has become a Real Madrid and world football legend,” Madrid said.Modric won won the Ballon d’Or, the FIFA Player of the Year Award and was named UEFA Player of the Year in 2018, when he led Croatia to a runner-up finish at the World Cup.Modric has made 178 appearances with Croatia and is the nation’s all-time record-holder for international caps. He has made 534 appearances for Madrid, having scored 39 goals. (AP)
Strasbourg part ways with coach Vieira after one season
PARIS, July 18: France football great Patrick Vieira was out as coach of US-owned top-tier club Strasbourg on Thursday just a month before the Ligue 1 season starts.The club, which is in shared ownership with Chelsea, said in a statement Vieira left by mutual agreement. He was a year into a three-year contract.Vieira guided Strasbourg to a 13th-place finish in the 18-team league during a season in which fans protested against being part of a multi-club ownership project with Chelsea.Strasbourg said Vieira would always be welcome at the club, and it will soon name a new coach.Vieira has coached Strasbourg, Nice, Crystal Palace and New York City. He previously coached youth teams at Manchester City, which is in the same Abu Dhabi-backed ownership project as New York.As a player, Vieira won World Cup and European Championship titles with France, and three English Premier League titles with Arsenal, where he was in the midfield heart of the unbeaten “Invincibles” team of 2003-04. (PTI)
Aubameyang joins Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadsiah
RIYADH, July 18: Former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has joined Al-Qadsiah, the promoted Saudi Pro League side said on Thursday.Aubameyang, 35, is the latest high-profile name in European soccer to join the Khobar-based club after former Real Madrid defender Nacho and former Wolfsburg keeper Koen Casteels.Gabon international Aubameyang, who won a LaLiga title at Barcelona, the German Cup at Borussia Dortmund and the FA Cup at Arsenal, played 34 Ligue 1 matches after joining Olympique de Marseille last season, scoring 17 goals. (Agencies)
Squash:Bawa, Anahat to spearhead India’s challenge
NEW DELHI, July 18: Shaurya Bawa and Anahat Singh will spearhead India’s challenge in the boys’ and girls’ team events respectively at the World Junior Squash Championships in Houston.Bawa, who won a bronze medal in singles, will be teaming up with Yuvraj Wadhwani, Ayaan Vaziralli and Arihant KS in the boys’ event starting on Thursday.National champion Anahat, quarterfinalist in singles, will combine with Unnati Tripathi, Nirupama Dubey and Shameena Riaz in the women’s team event.The boys will meet Kuwait and the girls will take on Chinese Taipei in the opening rounds. (PTI)