Great entertainer Simon Zebo bows out; Darragh Ó Sé on recovering from a bad defeat; Football championship enters ‘sorting phase’
Great entertainer Simon Zebo bows out; Darragh Ó Sé on recovering from a bad defeat; Football championship enters ‘sorting phase’Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso controls the ball during a training session ahead of their Europa League final against Atalanta at the Aviva Stadium. Photograph: Alex Grimm/Getty Images
Gavin Cummiskey couldn’t but be impressed by Xabi Alonso’s multilingual talents when the Bayer Leverkusen coach spoke at his press conference ahead of this evening’s Europa League final against Atalanta at the Aviva Stadium. He “,” he writes, but what he fails to mention is whether Alonso speaks English with a Meath accent. After all, it was to Kells he came as a young fella to learn the language. “,” a chuckling Mark Butler, vice-chairman of Kells Celtic, tells Gordon Manning.
The Meath man is having a season like no other, his Leverkusen side unbeaten in all competitions, winning their first ever Bundesliga title and through to both the Europa League and German Cup finals.Dublin will feel like a European soccer city, ” writes Michael Walker, but several factors down the years have prevented it from making that status permanent, not least it being “a nursery for players to go England”.who announced yesterday that he will be retiring at the end of the season. “Zeebs was a true one-off,” he writes, “a free spirited, game-breaking fullback/winger who could light up grounds with his skills and his smile.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Xabi Alonso hails 'Irish connection' as he prepares for Europa League deciderFormer Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has a long connection with Ireland
Read more »
Bayer two games away from unbeaten season but in the Atalanta philosophy every team is beatableJournalists quiz Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso on a multitude of topics from his summer in Ireland to Toni Kroos announcing his retirement from Real Madrid and Germany
Read more »
The forgotten LOI match that launched the career of a Liverpool legendRonnie Whelan was an unknown 17-year-old when he faced off against Xabi Alonso's father's team in 1979 but within a month he was moving to Anfield.
Read more »
‘It’s great a lad from the town has done well for himself’: Kells remembers the summer of Xabi AlonsoBayer Leverkusen’s illustrious manager spent a summer learning English – and playing football – in Co Meath
Read more »
Europa League: Bayer Leverkusen on course for Dublin final after 2-0 win in RomeMarseille held to a 1-1 home draw by Atalanta in the other semi-final first leg
Read more »
Bayer Leverkusen make history as they edge into Dublin Europa League finalThe German champions broke Benfica's longstanding record after going 48 consecutive games unbeaten.
Read more »