All posts by z3u9t.icu

Manchester United would have been fearing the final outcome of their clash on the South Coast whilst the clock ticked down as ten-man AFC Bournemouth held onto their precarious 1-0 lead.

An embarrassing 16th loss of the Premier League for Ruben Amorim’s topsy-turvy Red Devils was on the cards but for Rasmus Hojlund.

The Dane has had many a vocal critic this season about his anonymous attacking displays but he managed to pop up with a last-gasp equaliser to hand the away side a dramatic share of the points.

With the Cherries seeing Evanilson sent off for a dangerous tackle in the second half, a point against a side that ended up playing with ten men for 20 minutes will still feel like somewhat of a poor result, with the likes of Andre Onana enduring another shaky afternoon.

Onana's performance in numbers

Ultimately, another game ended up passing Onana by without a Premier League clean sheet, with the often nervy goalkeeper only managing to amass a weak nine clean sheets from 33 total games.

The Cameroon goalkeeper would fail to make a single save across another choppy 90 minutes, with Antoine Semenyo’s first-half effort proving too fierce for the ex-Ajax shot-stopper to thwart.

Moreover, his ability with the ball at his feet left a lot to be desired too, leading to the United number one only registering 23 accurate passes from 32 attempted, on top of only three accurate long balls being accumulated from 12.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

A new ‘keeper must be high up Amorim’s shopping list this summer but he will have to do better than he did in January.

After all, his only signing at Old Trafford hasn’t exactly set the world alight…

4/10 Man United dud must be axed after Bournemouth

Minus Bruno Fernandes showing his obvious class again with seven key passes tallied up, alongside Hojlund’s redemption arc being on show, there were a number of underperformers once more that would have irked Amorim watching on.

Indeed, Patrick Dorgu falls into this underperforming category, with his lackadaisical approach on the ball gifting Semenyo a chance to fire Andoni Iraola’s men into the lead.

Minutes played

89

Touches

61

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

61

Accurate passes

25/30 (83%)

Accurate crosses

0/4

Possession lost

15x

Total duels won

9/14

Amazingly, this isn’t the first time Dorgu has fallen victim to a lapse in concentration this season, with one kamikaze back-pass versus Ipswich Town back in February gifting Jaden Philogene a fortuitous effort.

But, away from another costly error allowing Semenyo to score, the table above shows how his overall game was equally as shoddy, with the 20-year-old failing to register a single accurate cross down the left channel.

Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst would dish out his lowest match rating of the day to the ex-Lecce man subsequently, with Luckhurst stating that his 4/10 judgement was due to Dorgu looking “unsettled” by Bournemouth’s high press.

Thankfully, his blushes were spared by Hojlund being in the right place at the right time to fire home a late equaliser, leading to the 22-year-old presumably feeling that he deserves to start this coming Thursday when Amorim’s camp travel to Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League.

After all, United’s season rests on a potential success in this competition now, culminating in Dorgu perhaps being axed for the Red Devils’ upcoming Basque adventure. It’s a big game, but Harry Amass or even Luke Shaw are surely more deserving of a place over the final weeks of the season.

Their next Amad: Man Utd make huge swap offer for "outstanding" £42m star

Manchester United are making moves to land a new attacking star ahead of the summer transfer window.

1 ByEthan Lamb Apr 26, 2025

Aston Villa kept their Champions League ambitions intact with an impressive 4-1 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday evening in the Premier League.

The two clubs are both vying for a top-five finish and with it a spot in Europe’s top table next term. Unai Emery’s side defeated PSG in midweek, but this performance will also bolster their confidence ahead of the final few games of the campaign.

Ollie Watkins opened the scoring in the first minute before Fabian Schar equalised for Newcastle.

The second half was all Villa, however, as Ian Maatsen, an own goal by Dan Burn and an effort from Amadou Onana sealed all three points.

The majority of the starting XI performed wonderfully well, but it was Watkins and Morgan Rogers who powered the club to yet another league win.

How Watkins and Rogers performed against Newcastle

Watkins set Villa on their way to all three points after slotting home a deflected opener against the Magpies.

The Englishman also grabbed an assist, registered five total shots and made two key passes before he was subbed off in the 82nd minute.

He is returning to the form of last season and Rogers is someone who is helping him flourish. The attacking midfielder has enjoyed a fine season, having scored 14 goals and recorded 12 assists in all competitions.

Accurate passes

Youri Tielemans (71)

Key passes

Marco Asensio (5)

Ground duels won

Youri Tielemans (8)

Tackles

Ian Maatsen (6)

Shots on target

Morgan Rogers (3)

Against the Toon, Rogers grabbed another assist, completed 90% of his passes, made two key passes and succeeded with all three of his dribble attempts.

When the pair are playing at this high standard, nothing can stop Villa, that’s for sure. There is one player in the squad who has been the fulcrum which makes everything tick – Youri Tielemans.

The 9/10 star who's becoming Aston Villa’s best player

The Belgian international has been the standout performer for the club this season, showcasing his talents at the highest level.

Five goal contributions in 12 Champions League games proves that the midfielder has been sublime in the competition. Add in another eight goal involvements in the Premier League and Emery has a player who could be in high demand this summer.

Content creator Mark Goldbridge described Tielemans as “Villa’s player of the season this year” following his display on Saturday evening, and it is easy to see why.

Operating in a deep-lying midfield role, the former Leicester City star completed 88% of his passes, took 98 touches, won 11 of his 16 total duels contested and even made three key passes throughout the match – including the assist for Watkins’ opener.

Alongside Boubacar Kamara, Tielemans dominated proceedings and his performance was key in Rogers and Watkins delivering in the final third yet again. Indeed, journalist John Townley awarded the 27-year-old a match rating of 9/10 for his stunning display.

Emery has started the midfielder in every single Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League match this season, highlighting his importance to the club.

Should Villa qualify for Europe’s premier club competition next season while also winning the FA Cup, they will have Tielemans to thank.

Aston Villa in talks to sign "talented ball carrier" likened to Grealish

Villa aren’t the only side interested, though.

ByCharlie Smith Apr 19, 2025

The final knockings of the 2024/25 campaign are drawing close, and Liverpool are on the brink of celebrating a Premier League title in front of their fans after 35 years.

Jurgen Klopp put the club back on their perch when he ended the interminable drought in 2020, one year after incredibly winning the Champions League, but they were denied the merriment from reaching its deserved level, intermingling reduced due to government restrictions.

But now, with Arne Slot at the helm, the Red sea will be out in force this weekend, with just one point needed against struggling Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield to seal the title.

It’s remarkable, and the city will lap it up. Liverpool have been brilliant this season, solid at the back, dogged in midfield, and slick in offence.

Mohamed Salah has been the architect of so much attacking play, posting 32 goals and 23 assists across all competitions in a year that will surely see him crowned the Premier League’s Player of the Season for the second time.

However, the output has been somewhat lopsided, and it’s no surprise FSG are looking to enrich the frontline in the transfer market this summer.

Why Liverpool need to improve their attack

Firstly, Liverpool’s ‘star’ striker, Darwin Nunez, is expected to be sold at the end of the season after failing to adapt to Slot’s tactics. He’s started just one Premier League game since Boxing Day, yielding a measly seven-goal haul under the Dutchman’s wing.

Liverpool need more impetus from their focal frontmen, with Diogo Jota also flattering to deceive at times this season, injured at others, while Luis Diaz performs dutifully in a dynamic central berth when called upon but lacks that innate goalscoring instinct.

Cody Gakpo has looked far sharper in a more structured left flanking role under Slot, arcing inward to strike on goal, but it’s clear that Liverpool could do with a bit more snap in attack to take them to the next level next year and compete for titles across multiple fronts.

Mohamed Salah

47

32

23

Cody Gakpo

44

16

6

Luis Diaz

46

15

8

Diogo Jota

33

9

4

Darwin Nunez

42

7

7

Federico Chiesa

11

1

2

Liverpool’s sky-high pedigree, the balmy conditions Slot and Klopp before him have created, suggest that the world’s finest would be tempted with a move to Merseyside this summer.

And one of the best out there might just be on FSG’s radar.

Liverpool chasing marquee signing

According to Caught Offside, Barcelona have set their asking price for Raphinha at €90m (equating to about £77m) ahead of the summer market.

Though La Blaugrana won’t necessarily want to force their high-flying forward out the door, ongoing financial bother could prove to be enough to hold sway, with their decision to set a price at this early stage indicative of their stance.

Liverpool could do with a dynamic, balanced attacker such as the Brazilian, but they aren’t the only club in the race, with Arsenal and Chelsea both keen too.

It feels like sporting director Richard Hughes will need to start putting in the groundwork swiftly if the Merseysiders are to prevail.

Why Raphinha would thrive at Liverpool

With Diaz, 28, about to enter the penultimate year of his contract, Liverpool are currently working out whether to renew his terms and take the Colombian’s deal into his 30s or to cash in while his stock is high.

Barcelona, by the by, have a long-standing interest in the player. Some food for thought.

Raphinha would almost be a shoo-in for the Ballon d’Or this year were Salah not in such almighty fettle, the 28-year-old having scored 30 goals and added 23 assists across 49 matches since the campaign’s opening.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goal involvements and the top 8% for shot-creating actions per 90, so you can see how he’d improve Liverpool’s frontline, enhancing Gakpo, Salah and that new centre-forward who is as yet undetermined.

Given that 40 of Raphinha’s 53 contributions have come when positioned on the left, he could be the perfect Diaz replacement, maybe even emulating a former Liverpool superstar in Sadio Mane.

Deadly in front of goal and electric up and down the field, Mane really was a one-of-a-kind player, never reaching the same numerical heights as Salah in Klopp’s team but still establishing himself as one of the best players in the world.

The Senegal legend won the lot, and while Diaz has been a worthy successor, he’s never reached that same ridiculous level. Raphinha, however, is proving himself to be a cut above Liverpool’s man and could indeed take Slot’s project to new heights.

He’s actually been described as the “best player in the world” this season by Statman Dave, so threatening and incisive in a way that is done with a flourish.

Raphinha also has Premier League experience with Leeds United, similar to Mane, who plied his trade with Southampton before transferring to Liverpool for £34m in 2016, one year into the Klopp era.

Hailed as a “magician” of a footballer by his former Whites teammate Dan James, Raphinha would be the perfect player to join a title-winning cause.

His sweeping skill set is exactly what Liverpool need, adding a goalscoring dimension while raising the playmaking level too.

With 19 goal contributions across 12 matches, the fleet-footed winger has probably been the standout force in the Champions League this season and may yet play an even bigger part in the narrative, with Barcelona preparing for a two-legged showdown with Inter Milan for a place in the final.

His potency on the left flank denotes a Mane-esque quality that could ease Salah’s burden and create a healthier and more poised approach next season.

It really does feel like a no-brainer for a Liverpool side looking to leap even higher in Slot’s second season, finances, of course, permitting.

Klopp sold Liverpool ace for just £9.5m, now he's outperforming Isak

He was once a clutch presence in Jurgen Klopp’s title-winning Liverpool outfit.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Apr 24, 2025

Manchester City have a historic summer transfer window ahead of them. The disappointing season they have endured in 2024/25 is almost over, and there is a chase to strengthen the squad in the summer, ahead of the Club World Cup and then the 2025/26 campaign.

It will be all change at the Etihad Stadium next term. Talisman Kevin De Bruyne will leave the club after a decade of success in the famous Sky Blue shirt, including the famous treble in 2022/23. He might not be the only club legend to leave on a free, given that Ilkay Gundogan’s contract is up in a few months.

It means that City will almost certainly sign a new midfielder this summer, and there has already been an update on their targets.

The latest on City's midfielder transfer plans

Well, it is going to be a crucial few months at City, and that all starts with their new director of football, Hugo Viana. The former Sporting CP director, who worked with Manchester United boss Ruben Amoirm, will take over from Txiki Begiristain at the helm in East Manchester.

According to the highly reputable David Ornstein, City’s hunt for transfer targets will “ramp up” now that Viana’s role at the Etihad Stadium is sorted. The journalist has already confirmed two of the De Bruyne replacements they are eyeing up.

City are believed to be targeting Nottingham Forest number 10 Morgan Gibbs-White and Bayer Leverkusen and Germany starlet Florian Wirtz as potential replacements for their outgoing club legend.

There is not a clear first-choice target for the Mancunian side at this stage, and more could well emerge.

However, a deal to sign Wirtz in particular could be an expensive one. Sky Germany reported at the end of March that he could cost as much as £101m if a deal was to be struck.

With that hefty price in mind, perhaps City will be put off any potential deal. This could lead to them turning to an academy star to fill the void left by De Bruyne.

Man City's in-house Wirtz and Gibbs-White solution

There is plenty of attacking talent in the City academy, as you might expect. One of the most exciting players in that group is Reigan Heskey, the son of former England striker Emile and brother of Jaden, another City academy starlet.

Said to possess “Rashford-like ability” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the 17-year-old has made a big impression this term for City’s academy. In 33 appearances across all competitions, he’s amassed an impressive goal tally of 24, as well as grabbing eight assists.

U18 Premier League

17

15

6

UEFA Youth League

8

3

0

FA Youth Cup

4

2

1

Premier League 2

3

3

1

EFL Trophy

1

1

0

It is worth noting that Heskey is, by trade, a winger rather than a number 10, like Gibbs-White and Wirtz. The latter can play in a wide area as well, but, if Pep Guardiola wanted to unleash the youngster, he could move Jack Grealish or Phil Foden into a more central role and play Heskey as a left-winger, where he truly excels.

There is no doubt that the teenager, who is an England U17 international, is an exciting talent. He is a tricky winger who excels when isolated against the full-back, thriving in one-vs-one situations. He also has a natural eye for goal, just as his father did.

Football scout Antonio Mango once said that Heskey is a player who “can’t be ignored” any longer by City. His goal involvement numbers this term across academy sides are exceptional, and it really does feel like he is ready to explode in first-team football.

With De Buryne guaranteed to leave the Etihad Stadium this summer, perhaps that opens the door for Heskey’s inclusion in the first team. It certainly would be a very much-deserved opportunity.

Bigger talent than De Bruyne: Man City lead race to sign £87m "superstar"

Manchester City have a huge task in replacing Kevin De Bruyne this summer but have wasted no time in the window.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 8, 2025

Newcastle United have now joined several top clubs in the race to sign a teenage star who’s the same “talent level” as Erling Haaland, according to reports.

Alan Shearer praises "excellent" Guimaraes despite Tottenham draw

Although Newcastle have the chance to redeem themselves against Burnley this weekend, they’ll look back on their 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur as a chance wasted. The Magpies largely dominated, but came unstuck by a shock Cristian Romero brace which included a late overhead kick.

Eddie Howe still has plenty of reason to be optimistic, though, and one of those reasons is the performance of Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian emerged from the bench before finding the back of the net and receiving high praise from Tyneside legend Alan Shearer.

It was a standout display from a Newcastle fan favourite, but that may not stop the Magpies from welcoming another midfield addition in the January transfer window.

£65m Newcastle duo should be fuming with Howe's team selection vs Spurs

Two Newcastle players, in particular, are unlikely to be too happy right now.

ByMatt Dawson Dec 3, 2025

Those at St James’ Park have already been linked with the likes of Scott McTominay on that front and could welcome the Scotland international, before turning their focus towards the in-demand Yan Diomande.

Newcastle join Yan Diomande race

Newcastle have now joined the race to sign Diomande, according to TeamTalk, and are among the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Liverpool all competing to land the winger’s signature.

One RB Leipzig source even went as far as to tell TeamTalk that the winger is the same “talent level” as Manchester City star Haaland, who also came through the Red Bull ranks at Salzburg a number of years ago.

Newcastle have reportedly sent their scouts to watch the 19-year-old in action, but it remains to be seen whether they’ll be able to position themselves to secure his arrival.

What’s more, Leipzig themselves are not ready to let their young star leave and his reported €100m (£87m) release clause should help fend off at least some of the interest.

Given how Anthony Elanga has struggled this season, Diomande is someone that the Magpies should be all in on if they want to complete their frontline alongside record signing Nick Woltemade.

Shades of Woltemade: Newcastle holding internal talks to sign £21m "magician"

If you are of an Arsenal persuasion, then it’s likely you’re sitting very happy right now. The Gunners are top of the table, and Mikel Arteta’s side have just dispatched their fierce rivals. Life doesn’t get much better, right?

The sequence of events that played out at the Emirates made their 4-1 victory all the more sweeter.

Speaking in the build-up to the game, Thomas Frank jokingly replied to a reporter’s question about Eberechi Eze by saying, “Who’s Eze?”

The England international infamously rejected a move to Tottenham in the summer despite everything looking as though it was agreed. He joined their rivals instead, heading to his boyhood club, the club of his dreams. The club that rejected him when he was just a boy in the academy.

Well, let it all work out. Frank certainly knows who Eze is now. Draped in Arsenal red, following a few slow months to start the season, he is now a hero.

Arteta’s men strengthened their grip at the top of the Premier League table by recording a remarkable win and much to Frank’s dismay, Eze was the man of the moment, scoring a quite breathtaking hat-trick.

How Eberechi Eze downed Spurs

Wow, just wow. What a moment this was. A few years ago Eze revealed that he cried in his room when he was rejected by Arsenal.

It was always his dream to play for the club and well, that dream became a reality in the summer. Never in his wildest dreams, however, did he expect what played out on Sunday, even if he did pray for such a moment to occur.

This was one of the finest individual performances from an Arsenal player that we can remember. To recount more recent memories, it’s up there with Declan Rice’s performance against Real Madrid last term, with Andrey Arshavin’s four-goal haul at Anfield. Sometimes a player delivers a performance that is so perfect it gets talked about for years to come. This was that moment.

Eze has had to work hard to find form this term, playing a mixture of games on the left flank and in the middle. With skipper Martin Odegaard out injured, he’s had a chance to showcase why he was purchased for £67.5m in the summer.

Yet, before that clash with Spurs, the former Crystal Palace man had scored just once in the league. How quickly things change in football.

Each goal Eze scored just seemed to get better. The first was supplied by Declan Rice and perhaps rather fortuitously, he managed to get a shot away amidst a bunch of Spurs players. It rifled past the goalkeeper to make it 2-0 after Leandro Trossard had opened the scoring.

Eze’s night got better in the second half when, minutes after the half-time interval, he darted onto Jurrien Timber’s pass and found the corner of the goal with his left foot.

His third and final goal came late on when Spurs had thrown players forward. Trossard was at the centre of things again, playing the ball into Eze, who was standing inside the area. He took a touch to set himself and then lashed it home. It capped off an incredible performance, one that will live long not just in his memory, but in the memory of supporters.

Still, he’s not the only one in red and white who had their best game in Arsenal colours.

Not just Eze: Another Arsenal star had his best game for the club

There was a primary reason Arsenal signed Eze in the summer. They needed more depth and they needed more quality on the left flank.

Noni Madueke had already been signed from Chelsea but in Gabriel Martinelli and the aforementioned Trossard, they lacked spice. Between them, they scored eight goals each in Premier League action last term.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The Belgian was perhaps questionably handed a summer pay rise to keep him at the club but when Eze signed, his career at the Emirates Stadium looked as good as done.

Well, how wrong were we? Trossard, in the words of Arsenal writer Connor Humm, has “arguably been the best winger in the Premier League this season.”

Always a man for the big occasion, the 30-year-old rose to the mark again and put in a performance that was equally effective as Eze’s.

Trossard opened the scoring in the first half in brilliant fashion. It was a run from out to in, one that was said to be “like Robert Pires” by Gary Neville on Sky Sports commentary, that made the goal.

Mikel Merino still had plenty to do, however, but he clipped a pass beautifully into the path of Trossard. He took the ball down, spun and then found the net on his left foot. Advantage Arsenal.

Trossard’s work was not done there. The £27m man registered two key passes, one of which proved decisive as he supplied Eze’s goal that sealed his hat-trick.

As The Standard’s Simon Collings noted when the Belgium winger was substituted late on, it was “probably one of his best games in an Arsenal shirt.” Quite.

Minutes played

78

Goals

1

Touches

39

Accurate passes

11/23 (48%)

Key passes

2

Assists

1

Shots on target

1

Accurate crosses

1/1

Successful dribbles

0/4

Duels won

4/10

It was a tireless performance and one that epitomised the former Brighton forward’s time in London.

In the 32 matches in which Trossard has scored for Arsenal, they have never lost. The games he’s scored the most goals of his career against? Liverpool (6), Chelsea (4) and Spurs (4).

The winger is no Usain Bolt, he’s not the quickest player in the world. He’s no Bukayo Saka either, he lacks the same explosiveness. However, what he lacks in that regard, he makes up for in technical ability and mental fortitude. He is a mental giant and one of the hardest-working players in this team.

Eze certainly stole the show at the Emirates but Trossard deserves his flowers too.

Fulham are now considering a move for Brendan Rodgers as a replacement for Marco Silva, with their current manager being heavily tipped to join a rival Premier League club.

Silva is under pressure at Craven Cottage, as a result of his side’s poor start to the Premier League season, now sitting in 15th place and just one point above the relegation zone after the 2-0 defeat against Everton at the weekend.

The 48-year-old is the third longest-serving manager in the top flight, behind only Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola, having been in charge since July 2021, but his future is now in doubt, having been unwilling to commit to a contract extension.

Consequently, the club hierarchy may need to start thinking about replacements, and they are weighing up a move for a former Premier League manager…

Fulham considering Brendan Rodgers as Marco Silva replacement

According to 67 Hail Hail’s transfer correspondent Graeme Bailey, Fulham are now considering Rodgers as a replacement for Silva, with the Northern Irishman available after resigning from his role as Celtic manager last month.

Not only is the Portuguese manager at risk of being sacked, but he has also been heavily tipped to take over at Nottingham Forest in the future, given his relationship with controversial owner Evangelos Marinakis.

It is unclear whether the 52-year-old would be willing to make the move to Craven Cottage, but there are plenty of indications that he would be a solid long-term replacement for Silva.

In his most recent Premier League job, the Carnlough-born manager impressed considerably, with Gabriel Agbonlahor describing him as “world-class” courtesy of the work he did at Leicester City.

The ex-Leicester boss led the Foxes to FA Cup glory in the 2020-21 campaign, which he followed up with a victory in the Community Shield ahead of the following season.

Games

204

Wins

96

Draws

37

Losses

71

Points per game

1.59

The former Celtic manager also knows what it takes to win, having led the Hoops to 11 trophies during his two stints at Parkhead, winning two trebles on the spin across the 2016-17 and 2017-18 campaigns.

Silva has arguably taken Fulham as far as he can, given their performances this season, and Rodgers has proven he could be an excellent replacement.

Every current Premier League manager has been ranked by Football FanCast Every current manager in the 2025/26 Premier League ranked

Every current Premier League boss ranked from best to worst.

ByCharlie Smith Nov 8, 2025

One manager who has previously hailed Swansea City supporters is open to the idea of replacing Alan Sheehan in south Wales.

Swansea City managerial latest

The search for a new permanent Swans manager is underway after parting ways with Sheehan on Tuesday following a poor start to the Championship campaign.

A club statement on Tuesday read: “In the wake of a disappointing run, it is felt results and performances do not meet the standards expected at this stage of the season, and we have had to take this difficult decision.

“The process to appoint a new head coach is already under way. We will update supporters on this process once it has been concluded.”

CEO Tom Gorringe and head of recruitment Adam Worth are leading the search for Sheehan’s successor, with Hammarby manager Kim Hellberg the favourite to come in during the international break.

Talks have been held with the 37-year-old who at this stage appears to be one of the frontrunners after initial discussions.

Swedish coach Hellberg isn’t the only name, though, with former managers Russell Martin and Brendan Rodgers out of work at this moment in time, as well as former Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick.

Russell Martin open to Swansea City return

According to the BBC, Martin is open to the idea of returning to Swansea, more than two years on after leaving for Southampton.

The outlet states that Martin ‘remains a popular figure among players and staff at Swansea’, however, a move back to south Wales for the available manager ‘is unlikely’ despite still having ‘many admirers within the club’.

The Swansea owners are the ones who are seemingly against a return for Martin, who was sacked from Rangers earlier this season following a disastrous short tenure at Ibrox.

The 39-year-old did take Southampton to the Premier League in his first season in charge before being sacked in the top flight by the Saints. Martin has actually taken charge of more games for Swansea than any other club in his managerial career and clearly has a soft spot for Jacks supporters.

Club

Games

Points per game

MK Dons

80

1.38

Swansea

99

1.35

Southampton

73

1.58

Rangers

17

1.24

Following a draw at Huddersfield during his time in charge, Martin was full of praise for the Swansea supporters.