Managers

The prevailing wisdom is to never look too far into preseason matches, but when those matches are repeatedly beating you over the head with the obvious, you should probably take notice.

Last year, under the guidance of Steve McClaren, Newcastle recorded just two victories in seven matches. They were defeated by Club Atlas, the Portland Timbers reserve squad and League Two side York City F.C. 

That disastrous preseason form led to an opening run of eight Premier League games without a victory. In hindsight, the club was doomed for relegation as early as October 3rd. 

Liverpool spent the last few days training in Palo Alto, California, as part of their USA tour, and during that time Liverpool's training staff found time to take on that of Stanford University in a friendly.

What happened next will shock and outrage you.

Sigi Schmid is no longer the head coach of the Seattle Sounders after they "mutually" agreed to part ways. 

OFFICIAL: #Sounders, Sigi Schmid mutually agree to part ways: https://t.co/Pj8RBLYUCm pic.twitter.com/5s40QG2NLt

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) July 26, 2016

The headlines of 2016 continue to amaze and bewilder in equal measure. Now, we’ve reached peak-2016 with the announcement of Jose Mourinho banning Pokemon Go before matches.

That’s right. A “source” has informed the Daily Star that Mourinho is determined to have his players focused on the task at hand and not on triumphing at the Old Trafford gym.

Patrick Vieira’s initial appointment as the manager of New York City FC raised more than a few eyebrows around footballing circles. He’d previously been employed as Manchester City’s reserve team and Elite Development squad coach, but his profound experience as a player saw him linked with massive jobs such as manager at Newcastle United.

Superstar striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is headed to Manchester United this season, a move that prompted one of my Manchester-supporting friends to assure me they will win the Premier League this season.

Ibrahimovic is known for his ability on the field and his ego off of it, and he may have finally met his match, ego-wise, a man who can stand toe to toe with Zlatan in the self-confidence arena: former Manchester United striker Eric Cantona.

Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has provided a compelling piece of reasoning as towards why Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player of his generation.

Having worked with Ronaldo for six hugely successful seasons at United, Ferguson has since watched the Portuguese forward dominate La Liga for seven years with Real Madrid and win his first major international tournament with Portugal, the 2016 European Championship.

Portugal manager Fernando Santos was undoubtedly the big winner of Euro 2016. It’s an almost certainty that his name has entered the conversations of many top European clubs looking for their next coach.

Euro 2016 did not provide many spectacular moments, unforgettable games or tactical innovations that’ll redefine 21st century soccer, but it did bring back the necessity of having a fantastic manager in international play.

New Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is an eternal optimist, but it will be hard for him to find positives in his first competitive game with the Scottish club, as Celtic were beaten, 1-0, in the Champions League by Gibraltarian side Lincoln Red Imps. Seriously.

Lincoln Red Imps manager Roy Chipolina is also a customs officer and left work in mid-afternoon to get to the game.

Arsene Wenger gave Thierry Henry the choice: either he quit his job as pundit on Sky Sports to focus solely on his job as assistant manager of Arsenal’s U-18s, or he’d lose his role within Arsenal’s academy. 

Henry has responded by leaving the club, choosing to maintain his role on television along with its £4 million-a-year paycheck. 

Arsenal’s all time record goalscorer had been completing his UEFA Pro License  at the club, the final coaching qualification available, giving rise to rumors that he'd someday replace Wenger.