The big news: Klinsmann given the boot

Jurgen Klinsmann was sacked as the coach of the United States men’s football team, reported The Guardian. US Soccer announced his departure on Monday after the team lost successive games to Mexico and Costa Rica in the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign. Klinsmann coached the team for 98 matches, which saw him win 55 games and lose 28 since his appointment in 2011.

The Guardian also reported that Bruce Arena will be named as Klinsmann’s successor. Arena has previously coached the national team from 1998 to 2006.

Other top stories

  1. West Bromwich Albion thrashed Burnley 4-0 in a stellar show on Monday. Matt Phillips, James Morrison and Darren Fletcher scored in the first half, before Salomon Rondon made it 4-0 to complete the rout against hapless Burnley defence. 
  2. India will bid to host the 2019 Fifa Under-20 World Cup in the coming months, All India Football Federation President Praful Patel said on Monday. Patel was confident that winning the bid to host the 2017 Fifa Under-17 World Cup will empower Indian football and help the sport gain the chance to host in the Under-20 event in three years’ time. 
  3. Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin signed a six-and-a-half year old deal with the Gunners on Monday. The deal will see him earn up to 100,000 pounds a week. The Spaniard had previously signed a deal in 2015, and the new contract was made amidst increasing pressure from Manchester City and Barcelona. Bellerin joined the club in 2011 and spent two years as a youth player before progressing to the first team. 
  4. In a first, Wales players Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale have made the 40-man shortlist for Uefa’s team of the year. Even Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez and ex-team-mate N’Golo Kante feature in on the list. In total there are four goalkeepers, 12 defenders, 12 midfielders and 12 forwards. Fans can vote for the team of the year on UEFA’s website till January 3. 
  5. Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez says he does not want to think about relegation after the champions lost their sixth game this season against Watford, taking them to 14th spot on the table, just two points above the bottom three. “Nothing is wrong. We need to keep working hard like we do and I am sure we will get the wins,” said Mahrez, as reported by the BBC. “I know we have good quality to stay in the Premier League and maybe more.” 
  6. Argentina superstar Lionel Messi has yet against been nominated for the annual Fifa Puskas award for the best goal of the year after his strike for Argentina in a Copa América match against the United States, an award he is yet to win. The 10 nominees also include Neymar and Hal Robson-Kanu, whose brilliant strike against Belgium was a highlight of Euro 2016.
  7. MK Dons have ended their talks with former Liverpool player Steven Gerrard as a potential manager as both parties failed to come to terms after the initial discussions. The League One side will continue their search for a new manager. Gerrard has been linked with Celtic, Inter Milan and a return to Liverpool in a role that can see him on the pitch as well.