Andoni Iraola has committed his future to Bournemouth until 2026 by penning a one-year contract extension with the club, having enjoyed an excellent first season on the south coast.
Iraola left Rayo Vallecano to join Bournemouth after they parted company with Gary O'Neil last year, and after a difficult start to his tenure, he has overseen a tremendous campaign.
Bournemouth failed to win any of their first nine league games under Iraola before beating Burnley in late October.
Since that victory, only the current top four of Arsenal (65), Manchester City (64), Liverpool (58) and Aston Villa (48) have bettered the Cherries' tally of 45 points.
Their overall total of 48 for this campaign, meanwhile, is a new top-flight club record.
Though they were beaten 2-1 by Brentford on Saturday, they could still secure a top-half finish when they visit Chelsea for their final game on Sunday, should other results go their way.
Last week, Iraola was rewarded for his fine work with a nomination for the Premier League Manager of the Season award, alongside Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Unai Emery.
On Monday, the club confirmed he had also penned a one-year extension to the deal he agreed last June, which was set to expire at the end of 2024-25.
"I'm very happy to sign the contract. For me, it is a matter of renewing the confidence from both sides," Iraola told the club's website.
"We have had a good experience with our first season together in the Premier League, and I am happy that both sides want to continue the relationship further."
Liverpool chairman Werner 'determined' to take Premier League games abroad
Liverpool chairman Tom Werner is "determined" to take Premier League games to the United States and elsewhere around the globe.
The subject of leagues playing regular-season matches abroad has become a subject of debate in recent weeks, after FIFA pledged to analyse the impact of moving games.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters recently said the door was "ajar" for games to be played in other countries, due to a legal settlement between FIFA and US-based match promoter Relevant Sports.
Premier League fans would likely oppose overseas games more than most, with supporter protests in England having contributed to the demise of the European Super League in 2021.
Liverpool were one of the clubs at the forefront of that ill-fated project, and Werner has risked the wrath of Reds fans by putting his name to plans for global games.
"I'm determined one day to have a Premier League game be played in New York City," Werner told the Financial Times.
"I even have the crazy idea that there would be a day where we play one game in Tokyo, one game a few hours later in Los Angeles, one game a few hours later in Rio, one game a few hours later in Riyadh.
"We make it a day where football, where the Premier League, is celebrated."
Asked how clubs could get fans to support the plans, Werner added: "Let's figure out a way to offer them very cheap travel and accommodation.
"If Liverpool are playing Nottingham Forest, we will support fans coming to New York and make this an attractive thing for the fans as well."
Liverpool will play in the US during pre-season, facing Arsenal in Philadelphia on July 31 before taking on Manchester United in Columbia, South Carolina three days later.
LaLiga is also looking to revive plans to play matches abroad, after opposition from players and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) killed a proposal for Barcelona to face Girona in Miami in 2019.
Sporting Kansas City v Seattle Sounders: Vermes looking forward to grudge match against rivals
Peter Vermes is hoping for a competitive match when Sporting Kansas City face off against rivals Seattle Sounders in the MLS on Saturday.
Sporting KC have struggled so far this season, sitting bottom of the Western Conference on just 11 points after winning just two of their games.
They are currently on a 10-match winless streak, but Vermes wants his team to use past grudges against Seattle to inspire a win.
"Seattle have always had a very good team, a solid nucleus," Vermes said. "We always have battles with them no matter where we're playing. They're an explosive team that can defend very well. It'll be a tough battle.
"We're two very competitive teams that are in the middle of competing for the same things. You end up playing each other a lot and having grudges that roll over. It's healthy.
"Everybody's form comes into play at some point. Not just as individuals, but as a team. We will win together for sure."
Seattle are seven points better off in the table, but their home form has let them down of late, leaving them sitting just below the playoff places.
Head coach Brian Schmetzer is aiming to continue their winning streak on the road in Kansas City.
"We've been pretty good on the road, more road wins than home wins," Schmetzer said. "It's a confident team. I think we have been playing better as of late.
"We've talked about closing out games, we'll be ready for them. Execution is critical. We've got a good team with plenty of confidence - we just need to execute plays more regularly."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sporting KC – Johnny Russell
Russell, who scored Kansas City's lone goal on Saturday, has scored six times in 11 career regular-season matches against the Sounders.
No player has scored more goals against Seattle than Russell since he joined MLS in 2018 (tied with Sebastian Blanco and Cristian Espinoza).
Seattle Sounders – Jordan Morris
Morris has scored seven career regular-season goals against Sporting, including four in his last visit to Kansas City. Only against LA Galaxy (nine) has Morris scored more regular-season goals during his MLS career.
MATCH PREDICTION: SPORTING KANSAS CITY WIN
Seattle have lost a lead in the 90th minute or later twice this season, including doing so against Real Salt Lake on May 30. The Sounders had only failed to win when leading in the 90th minute or later twice in the previous six seasons combined (2018-23).
Seattle have won six of their 13 regular-season visits to Kansas City (D2 L5), including winning two of the last three. The Sounders' .462 winning percentage in Kansas City is the best of any team that has visited Sporting six or more times in the post-shootout era (since 2000).
Kansas City equaled the longest true losing streak (excl. breakaway shootout losses) in the club's regular-season history at seven with a 3-1 loss at Minnesota on Saturday. It was the first defeat in the streak by more than a one-goal margin, and they will be aiming to avoid creating a new record.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Sporting KC – 40.9%
Draw – 26.6%
Seattle Sounders – 32.5%
Minnesota United v FC Dallas: Estevez hoping to change luck against high-flying Loons
Nico Estevez believes FC Dallas are building towards a big result against a top team as they travel to Minnesota United on Saturday.
Dallas are winless in their last four games and have not won on the road yet this season, leaving them 12th in the Western Conference with 13 points.
Estevez said he was pleased with the performances he has seen away from home so far and is hopeful they can turn that into their first win.
"I think it's important because overall, we have performed very well against the top teams in the West," said Estevez, as quoted by the Big D Soccer substack.
"I think we were unlucky not to have more points than we have. We have to take those positives, but as I said to the guys, is all these little steps that we are making, and we're feeling better about how we're competing against top teams."
Meanwhile, Minnesota got back to winning ways last Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City.
With other teams around them not playing this weekend, the Loons have the opportunity to leapfrog Los Angeles FC into second and close the gap to leaders Real Salt Lake to two points.
They are missing players due to international duty, but head coach Eric Ramsay is confident his side are in a good position to get a positive result.
"We will do what we can [against Dallas] with a group of very hungry players, but it's a testing position [to be without so many players through internationals]," said Ramsay.
"Hopefully our squad is stronger for that. We've given ourselves a bit of breathing space [with the win last weekend], but I'm genuinely excited about how we shape up and see what we can produce."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Minnesota United – Robin Lod
Lod came off the bench to score against Kansas City on Saturday, his seventh straight regular-season home match with a goal contribution, tying Darwin Quintero for the second-longest run in club history.
Only Lod himself has had a longer streak, contributing to a goal in 13 straight at home in 2020-21.
FC Dallas – Asier Illarramendi
Illarramendi completed 91 of his 99 pass attempts at Los Angeles FC on Saturday. The last Dallas player to complete more passes in an away match was Javier Morales (96) at Colorado in October 2017.
MATCH PREDICTION: MINNESOTA UNITED WIN
Minnesota have only lost one of their last 10 meetings with Dallas (W5 D4, incl. playoffs) dating back to September 2020. Dallas had won five of the first seven meetings between the sides prior to September 2020 (L2).
The Loons’ win over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday took them to 28 points from 15 matches this season, six more than they have ever had at this stage of a season in club history.
Meanwhile, Dallas are winless in their first eight away matches this season (D2 L6), equaling the second-longest road winless run to begin a season in club history (also eight in 2012). Dallas only went longer before a road win in 2000, failing to win any of their first 11 away from home that year.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Minnesota United – 53%
Draw – 24%
FC Dallas – 23%
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