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Celtic: Liel Abada joue alors que Postecoglou fait face au jour de la marmotte

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Liel Abada
Liel Abada s’est vu refuser un but en seconde période tout en réalisant une performance d’homme du match

Il serait faux de dire que Liel Abada n’est pas chanté au Celtic Park, mais lorsque les hymnes de louange commencent, ce sont normalement ses compagnons d’attaque Kyogo Furuhashi et Jota qui reçoivent la sérénade.

Abada a 21 ans et comment son équipe avait besoin de sa contribution mercredi contre Livingston. Une nuit qui ressemblait à une promenade sur le gâteau est devenue un peu difficile, un match qui a vu le Celtic accélérer dans une avance de 2-0 avec la promesse de plus s’est transformé en une affaire frustrante.

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Le Celtic a rarement semblé en danger de perdre des points mais, de même, ils ne se sont jamais approchés de leur meilleur niveau.

Crédit Livingston pour cela. Leur organisation, leur engagement, leur conviction les ont maintenus dans la chasse. Ils ont juste refusé d’être écrasés. David Martindale est un biscuit pointu. Ses équipes n’ont pas tendance à s’évanouir dans les grands stades et contre des adversaires plus glamour.

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Ce n’était pas une répétition d’Aberdeen samedi. Livingston en avait beaucoup plus sur eux en tant qu’équipe. Ils ont marqué, posé quelques questions, refusé au Celtic un confort dans leur jeu. Tout était assez agité, un peu moche.

La force créatrice derrière les deux buts du Celtic était Abada, un centre transformé en son propre filet par Ayo Obileye et un autre balayé par Kyogo. Ce furent les moments décisifs. Cela fait cinq passes décisives cette saison et sept buts dans la ligue, ce qui s’ajoute aux 15 buts et 11 passes la saison dernière.

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C’est tout un parcours pour un jeune joueur dans un club exigeant d’un pays inconnu.

Il avait un but exclu par VAR, ce qui était juste et injuste à la fois. Il était hors-jeu mais sa contribution méritait un but. Plus tard, il a eu un tir à travers le visage du filet de Livingston. Il était le joueur le plus important du Celtic la nuit où leur avance de neuf points au sommet a été rétablie.

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À plusieurs reprises cette saison et la dernière, c’est Abada qui a ouvert les portes du Celtic, marquant un but à la 90e minute contre Dundee United qui a fait 3-2 qui est rapidement devenu 4-2, marquant les deux premiers dans une victoire sur Motherwell, marquant le briseur d’impasse lors de la victoire 4-0 contre les Rangers.

‘Postecoglou vit le jour de la marmotte’

C’est la force de l’équipe d’Ange Postecoglou. Il y a presque toujours quelqu’un pour faire le travail les jours difficiles.

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À 2-0, cela n’a pas donné l’apparence d’un de ces matchs collants, mais ça l’était. Le Celtic, bien sûr, avait des masses de possession et des montagnes de tentatives au but.

Ils ont également eu un adversaire vaillant qui a gagné en confiance. Nous pensons que le Celtic est une équipe qui fonctionne bien mais, en réalité, ils remportent plus de victoires grâce au caractère qu’ils n’effacent leurs adversaires grâce à la qualité.

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Vous vous demandez ce que Postecoglou pense de tout cela. La plupart des semaines, son équipe est invitée à briser les équipes prudentes. Il vient avec le territoire d’avoir la plupart des meilleurs joueurs du pays et une vaste richesse par rapport à presque tous les autres. Mais il doit parfois avoir l’impression de vivre le jour de la marmotte.

Le week-end, ils ont réussi 33 tirs sur le but d’Aberdeen et 81% de possession. Ils l’ont gagné en fin de journée. Lors de leur match précédent, ils avaient réussi 22 tirs sur le but de Ross County et 75% et encore une fois gagné par un seul but. Encore une fois hier soir, ils ont profité d’un nombre énorme de possessions et de tirs et il n’y en avait qu’un à la fin.

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Les mois d’hiver peuvent avoir une sensation de broyage pour eux. Peu importe la classe, il suffit de compter les points. Le Celtic est sur une longue série de victoires et il ressemble à une équipe qui a presque oublié comment perdre des matchs de championnat.

Seul St Mirren a réussi à déchiffrer le code, avec 20% et quatre tirs contre 19 pour le Celtic. Cela avait une nature bizarre.

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Des choses comme ça n’arrivent pas très souvent. Le Celtic, même en jouant sous lui-même, fait le travail. Les Rangers continuent de prier pour des signes de faiblesse et des points perdus, mais il n’y a aucun signe.

Ce n’était pas joli et le souvenir aura disparu au moment où quelqu’un arrivera au parking, mais rien de tout cela n’a d’importance.

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Trois points, trois points, trois points. C’est le rythme joyeux de l’équipe de Postecoglou alors qu’ils enchaînent deux matchs de suite.

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Scott Brown: Former Celtic captain on hair, Ayr & choosing ‘to be horrible’

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Venue: Somerset Park, Ayr Date: Friday, 29 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Coverage: Watch on the BBC Scotland channel and follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app

“It was my identity – what I needed to be the best I could be.”

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Normally a player has hair and then loses it when he becomes a manager. Scott Brown did it the other way round.

For the best part of two decades, this shaven-skulled enforcer dominated the Scottish football landscape on a journey during which he would become one of the game’s most decorated players.

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These days, he can be spotted in the Somerset Park dugout with a thick thatch.

Turns out being bald was all part of the plan for the former Celtic and Scotland captain.

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“I made a decision when I retired I would grow my hair for the kids and I do look like a more approachable person,” the Ayr United head coach tells BBC Scotland.

At 38, the boots have been hung up for a while and Brown’s focus is all about navigating the notoriously choppy waters of the “tightest division in the world”.

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‘I did it to intimidate players’

Being bald was just part of Brown. It fed into the psychology of a player who would adopt an uncompromising attitude whenever he crossed that white line. A mindset suit of armour to improve the chance of victory.

“[I did it] just to intimidate people,” he says. “I made that decision just to be horrible. Not really speaking to anybody on the park. If players tried, I would refuse to speak to them.

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“Not being big time but just to make sure my head was focused and I was ready and organised, because if I had a laugh and a joke about stuff on the park, I probably would not have played as well as I could have.

“You can be whoever you want for 90 minutes on that pitch. You can be a winner, want to dictate games, be passionate, be louder than you normally are in the changing room. It worked really well for me.”

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It sure did. A deluge of silverware followed, including 10 Scottish Premiership titles, six Scottish Cups, seven League Cups, not to mention 55 Scotland caps.

“After the 90 minutes, I could go back to being Scott – sit down, chill and relax,” Brown adds.

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‘It’s about getting the balance right’

But age brings many gifts. Maybe a softening of attitudes in some aspects of life. And family has an impact too.

“During Covid, the kids asked if I had hair,” he explains. “I wasn’t 100% sure if I actually did.”

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It will be there for all to see on Friday night as BBC Scotland broadcasts Ayr’s home game with high-flying Airdrieonians.

Rhys McCabe’s SPFL Trust Trophy winners occupy fourth – the last of the promotion play-off places – while the hosts are eighth, just three points above the relegation play-off spot.

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However, a win for Ayr would take them to just one point off Friday’s visitors, such is the congested nature of the Championship.

“Two good weeks and you could be challenging for the top four – two bad weeks you could be challenging for the relegation zone,” Brown admits.

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When an Anton Dowds-inspired Ayr triumphed against Airdrie five games ago, it lifted them to fifth. Now, they’re back looking over the shoulder.

However, Brown believes he has the players capable of the primary objective this season, which is staying in the division, and aims to harness the local passion for the club.

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“[Former head coach] Lee [Bullen] brought in a good squad and I have got the benefit of the lads now,” he says.

“We have a couple of experienced pros, but we are a very young team. It’s about getting the balance right.

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“There are young players coming through who have never been anywhere else, so we are lucky enough they understand the club and what it means to them.

“When Fraser Bryden, a lifelong Ayr fan, scored against Inverness Caledonian Thistle the other week, his mates were all in the crowd singing, cheering and chanting his name. When he does score those goals, it’s emotional for everyone.”

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That emotional rollercoaster is full steam ahead as the campaign nears its end.

Brown knows what it takes at this stage of the season and, while the shaven head is no more, that driven, uncompromising attitude is going nowhere.

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Premier League fantasy football tips: Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, Son Heung-min

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Alistair Bruce-Ball

The fixture calendar for the rest of the Premier League season is pretty much set so now it’s up to you to decide on your strategy depending on what chips you have left in the game.

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We know there are seven teams with a double gameweek 34 – Arsenal, Liverpool, Wolves, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Everton and Sheffield United.

Tottenham don’t have a fixture in gameweek 34, which makes things slightly trickier if you don’t have a Free Hit chip, because they will then have two double gameweeks before the end of the season.

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Chelsea will also double twice in the last four gameweeks of the season, while Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle and Brighton will all have a double gameweek, which is almost certainly going to be in gameweek 37.

Managers who still have their second wildcard available will rightly be debating whether to play it now, either in gameweek 30 or 31, or in gameweek 35 to really attack the last four weeks of the season with a potential Bench Boost in mind for gameweek 37.

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If you’ve still got that Free Hit chip then the earlier wildcard could be tempting because you can bring in as many Tottenham and Chelsea players as you like without having to worry about gameweek, 34 when Tottenham blank and Chelsea are away to Arsenal.

I like that strategy because the fixtures look good for both Tottenham and Chelsea in the next few weeks – but if you’ve already used your Free Hit then you might want to hold on to the wildcard until gameweek 35 and focus your transfers on Liverpool and Arsenal in the short-term as we start to build up towards gameweek 34.

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Captaincy

Those managers who can get Mohamed Salah into their squads this week will certainly want to consider him for Liverpool’s game against Brighton at Anfield on Sunday as his ownership is relatively low.

Many will be taking a points hit to get him because they can’t afford him in a straight swap or they may decide to wait until next week, which will give those of you who get him on the wildcard a nice little edge.

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If you don’t own Salah then I would suggest a Tottenham attacker for their game at home to Luton, preferably Son Heung-Min, or the man I’m looking to as a slightly differential captaincy pick this week in Cole Palmer, who has a home game against Burnley.

Fixtures to target

This is one of those gameweeks when two of the best teams in the Premier League go head-to-head and we own four or five of their players, in this case Manchester City and Arsenal, who face each other at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

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I would be very happy to field my attackers in this game, the likes of Bukayo Saka and Erling Haaland, but I would try to bench my defenders if I could.

Arsenal’s defence has been superb this season and we know all about their prowess at set-pieces so fielding one of Gabriel, William Saliba or Ben White isn’t really too much of a problem, but I wouldn’t want to have two of them in my starting line-up if I could avoid it.

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If you’re looking for a defender to bring into your squad this week then Statman Dave and Chris Sutton each had a suggestion in this week’s Fantasy 606 podcast – Dave has gone for Chelsea’s Malo Gusto, while Chris likes the look of Conor Bradley for Liverpool – and both come in at only £4.2 million.

Bradley has the advantage of the double gameweek 34 but if Trent Alexander-Arnold returns to fitness in the next few weeks then he is less likely to start every game. Gusto looks undroppable for Chelsea at the moment and we still don’t know when Reece James may return to action to provide competition for him.

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Differentials

Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz was one of the rare successes in gameweek 29, his two goals in Fulham’s 3-0 win against Tottenham taking his tally to seven goals in his past seven games and his next three matches are against Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle.

He only costs £4.6 million, which also makes him a great makeweight if you’re having to use two transfers to get to Salah this week.

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Gamble of the week

We run a listeners’ team on the Fantasy 606 podcast whereby a different listener comes on each week to manage the side. This week’s listener, Alex from Vancouver, has taken the gamble to remove Haaland from the squad to enable the signing of Salah.

Haaland obviously has the tougher fixture this week, he doesn’t have a double like Salah in gameweek 34 and it enables the listeners to have Salah, Son and Saka in their midfield.

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It comes down to your budget – if, like me, you can’t afford to have all four of Haaland, Salah, Son and Saka then which one makes way? It’s Son for me, who will be replaced by Salah next week, but I might then have to turn to a cheaper Tottenham attacker to try to fill Son’s boots.

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My Mate’s A Footballer: Patrick Bamford tests podcast co-host Joe Wilkinson’s free-kicks

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Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford meets up with his My Mate’s A Footballer podcast co-host, comedian Joe Wilkinson, for a free-kick challenge.

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Can Wilkinson finally prove himself to be the elite free-kick “specialist” that he claims he is?

Listen to episodes of ‘My Mate’s A Footballer’ here

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Chelsea expect to be in Women’s Champions League semi-finals, says boss Emma Hayes

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Chelsea celebrate
British record signing Mayra Ramirez scored as Chelsea drew 1-1 with Ajax on Wednesday night to progress 4-1 on aggregate

Emma Hayes says Chelsea “expect to be” in the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League after securing their spot for a second season running by dispatching Dutch side Ajax.

Chelsea were beaten in the semi-finals by champions Barcelona last season.

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“We expect to be here, I should say that,” said Hayes.

“If you look at our record in the Champions League, even in the last five years, it was only once we didn’t qualify from the group. We’ve made the latter stages every [other] year.

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“I don’t make any excuses, we should be at this level and we should be at the semi-finals. Of course we have a little bit more depth to be able to do things like make more changes [on Wednesday] than we’ve ever had.

“But we haven’t won anything, we’re in the place we want to be. I don’t know who the opponent will be – but we’re ready.”

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Chelsea could set up another meeting with Barcelona in the last four. The Spanish giants have a 2-1 aggregate lead going into the second leg of their quarter-final tie with Brann on Thursday.

Hayes, who leaves Chelsea in the summer to manage the United States women’s national team, hopes to guide her side to the quadruple this season but will need to rely on every member of the squad after being hit with long-term injuries.

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As well as chasing a first European crown, Chelsea are top of the Women’s Super League, face Arsenal in the Women’s League Cup final on Sunday and play Manchester United in the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals next month.

“We love winning. I always say this to the players. No-one cares who scores. Everyone has a role to play,” said Hayes.

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“We have to count on each other. Some will play more than others throughout the season. I trust the squad, I trust the players. We’re in the place we want top be.

“There were some that absolutely needed to recover [on Wednesday] so I’m really happy with the whole squad.”

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Thursday’s gossip: Sesko, Branthwaite, Guimaraes, Alexander-Arnold, Diaz, Paqueta, Anselmino, De Zerbi

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Benjamin Sesko

Arsenal have a 10-man shortlist for a new striker this summer with RB Leipzig’s Slovenian Benjamin Sesko, 20, Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres, 25, and his fellow Sweden international, Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, 24, among those being monitored. (Mirror)external-link

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Manchester United are keen on Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, 21, as they prioritise improving their defence next season. (Telegraph)external-link

Pep Guardiola is “obsessed” by Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, 26, but Manchester City would have to pay 100m euros (£85.7m) to sign the Brazil international. (Fichajes – in Spanish)external-link

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West Ham expect Manchester City to move again for their Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta, 26. (Football Insider)external-link

Chelsea are among the clubs interested in Athletico Paranaense goalkeeper Bento, 24, who made his Brazil debut against England last week. (Globo – in Portuguese)external-link

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Tottenham want to sign Feyenoord’s Mexico striker Santiago Gimenez, 22, as their replacement for Harry Kane this summer – one year after the 30-year-old England striker’s departure to Bayern Munich. (Caught Offside) external-link

Liverpool forward Luis Diaz, 27, has not given up hope of moving to one of the big Spanish La Liga clubs in the future, according to the Colombia international’s father. (Daily Mail)external-link

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Manchester United are interested in signing Argentine defender Aaron Anselmino, 18, from Boca Juniors. (Ole – in Spanish)external-link

Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi is Bayern Munich’s leading managerial candidate if they cannot persuade their former midfielder Xabi Alonso to join from Bayer Leverkusen. (Florian Plettenberg)external-link

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Tottenham, West Ham, Brighton and Everton are all plotting moves for Juventus and England Under-21 winger Samuel Iling-Junior, 20. (Football Insider)external-link

Italy midfielder Jorginho, 32, could leave Arsenal this summer to return to his homeland. (Football London)external-link

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The Gunners’ hopes of signing winger Xavi Simons, 20, have been hit because Paris St-Germain want to give the Netherlands international more game time when he returns from a loan at RB Leipzig. (Express)external-link

Manchester United will let Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen, 32, leave this summer. (Football Insider)external-link

Real Madrid cannot afford a rumoured move for Liverpool and England full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, 25. (Goal)external-link

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Germany midfielder Toni Kroos, 34, is set to sign a one-year contract extension to stay at Real Madrid. (Fabrizio Romano)external-link

Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders is a contender to take charge at Ajax next season. (Telegraph – subscription required)external-link

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Steph Houghton: Manchester City defender and ex-England captain to retire

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Steph Houghton claps the Manchester City fans
Steph Houghton has won 121 caps for England, while representing Sunderland, Leeds, Arsenal and Manchester City at club level

Manchester City defender and former England captain Steph Houghton will retire at the end of the current Women’s Super League season.

Houghton, 35, is City’s record appearance holder and is part of the squad in contention to win the WSL title this season.

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Houghton has 121 England caps but has not played for her country since 2021.

“I hope I leave the game in a better place than when I started,” Houghton, who began at Sunderland in 2002, said.

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“And [I hope] I have contributed in some small way to giving the girls of tomorrow a better future in football.”

Centre-back Houghton spent five years at Sunderland, followed by three-year spells at Leeds and Arsenal, before joining City in 2014.

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She made her England debut against Russia in March 2007, going on to appear at two World Cups and two European Championships.

However, Houghton missed out on a place at Euro 2022, having not played for eight months because of an Achilles injury, and was also left out of Sarina Wiegman’s squad for last year’s World Cup.

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Houghton also represented Team GB at London 2012 and Tokyo 2020.

“Taking the decision to retire, is such a difficult thing to do,” said Houghton, who was awarded an MBE in 2016 for her achievements in women’s football.

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“Whilst age comes to every player, it makes it no easier having to say the words out loud. Football has been my life; my passion and I have loved the career I have had.”

The Lionesses posted on X: “We wish you all the best in your retirement.

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“From leading the Lionesses to growing the women’s game – your impact will never be forgotten.”

How Houghton become an ‘icon of the game’

Houghton has played 241 games for City and is their most decorated player having won eight major trophies – four Continental Cups, three Women’s FA Cups and the FA Women’s Super League title in 2016.

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She also won two WSL titles with Arsenal in 2011 and 2012, also helping the Gunners to five cup victories.

“Steph is – without question – an icon of the game,” said City head coach Gareth Taylor.

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“Although her professional career on the pitch is now coming to an end, her legacy will be felt for so many years to come.

“She’s paved the way for so many to thrive in the future.”

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City captain Houghton signed a new one-year deal in June 2023, taking her into a 10th year at the club during which she will stop her playing career.

“I feel incredibly privileged to have been able to work with her since 2020 and know her name will be written into the history books as a true footballing great,” added Taylor.

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City are level with leaders Chelsea with five matches left in their WSL season, which is set to conclude on 18 May against Aston Villa.

“I am excited for whatever comes next,” said Houghton, who is married to former Liverpool defender Stephen Darby and helped him complete a 178-mile march for ex-players with motor neurone disease this week.

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“In the meantime, I remain focused on giving everything I have left for Manchester City, over the next two months.”

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Stoke City supporters banned for tragedy chanting at Elland Road

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The force said the two men were in the away supporters’ section of the upper West Stand at the time, which is immediately above home fans.

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Turner, 44, of Longport Road, Stoke-on-Trent, was fined £553 and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £221 victim surcharge.

Lawton, 28, of Johnson Place, Stoke-on-Trent, was fined £120 and told to pay £85 in costs and a £48 victim surcharge.

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Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus were both fatally stabbed in April 2000, on the eve of Leeds’ UEFA Cup semi-final tie with Galatasaray.

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, external, X (formerly Twitter), external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.

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