Postecoglou Appointed New Coach of Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr on Two-Year Deal
Ange Postecoglou has been appointed the new head coach of Al-Nassr on a two-year deal, the Saudi Pro League champions said on Friday.
"A new chapter. Mr. Ange Postecoglou appointed as head coach of the Al-Nassr first team. The contract spans two seasons," the club said in a statement.
"We wish him and his staff every success in their journey."
Postecoglou previously managed Tottenham Hotspur, whom he guided to Europa League glory in 2025, but he was sacked two weeks later after they finished 17th in the Premier League standings.
A reign at Nottingham Forest in the 2025-26 season ended 39 days after his appointment when he went winless in his opening eight games in charge, which included six defeats.
He takes over an Al-Nassr side led by Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who guided the club to the Saudi Pro League title on the final day of the season in May.
A manager known for winning trophies in his second season, Postecoglou guided Celtic to two Scottish Premiership titles while he has also won league titles with Brisbane Roar and Yokohama F Marinos.
Makkah Deputy Governor Attends Gulf Cup Opening Ceremony in Jeddah
Under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and on his behalf, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz attended the opening ceremony of the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup (Khaleeji 27) at Alinma Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
The ceremony was attended by Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, heads and representatives of sports federations from the Arab Gulf states, and several officials, SPA reported.
Prince Abdulaziz, who is also President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC), expressed his sincere thanks and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for his generous patronage of the championship.
In a press statement, he said: "The patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques of the championship reflects the special place this Gulf gathering holds for the leadership of this country, as well as the championship's rich sporting legacy, which over the decades has contributed to bringing brothers together and strengthening ties among the peoples of the region."
"Today, we are delighted to see the launch of the 27th edition of the championship in the city of Jeddah, in a manner befitting the status of this prestigious cup and its enduring value in Gulf sports. We once again welcome our brothers to their second home, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and wish all the participating national teams success," the sport minister said.
The championship is being held from September 23 to October 6, 2026, with eight national teams competing in 15 matches. Group A comprises Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Kuwait, while Group B comprises Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Yemen.
Berlin Confirms Withdrawal from Race to Host Summer Olympics
Berlin on Thursday confirmed its withdrawal from the race be part of Germany's bid to host the summer Olympics and Paralympics, leaving only Munich and the western Rhine/Ruhr region as potential hosts.
The Berlin senate confirmed the withdrawal at a press conference in the German capital on Thursday, a day after reports emerged the city would no longer take part.
"Today is a sad day for Berlin, because the Olympic and Paralympic Games would have been a tremendous opportunity -- for Berlin, for East Germany, and for future generations," Berlin mayor Kai Wegner told reporters.
On Saturday, the German Olympic Committee (DOSB) will make a call on a preferred region as part of a bid to the International Olympic Committee to host one of the 2036, 2040 and 2044 Summer Games.
Berlin was one of the three remaining regions in the race after Hamburg's withdrawal, however support to host the games in the German capital flatlined after elections last Sunday.
Elif Eralp, the lead candidate for the far-left Die Linke which topped the polls, said Monday she did not support a bid for Berlin to host the Games.
"Naturally, political stability was a key concern for the leading sports associations," AFP quoted Wegner as saying.
"When Ms. Eralp stated that the bid was effectively off the table... the leading sports associations made it clear: we cannot give you our approval under these circumstances.
Kaweh Niroomand, the head of the Berlin bid, said: "We simply could not offer the political stability required."
On Tuesday, a DOSB evaluation committee had ranked the Munich and Rhine/Ruhr bids highly, with the Berlin bid coming in third place.
Hamburg withdrew in May after failing to win support at a public referendum.
The summer Olympics have been held on German soil twice. Berlin hosted the Games in 1936 with Germany then under Nazi leadership, while Munich played host to the 1972 Games, then as part of West Germany.
Antonelli Aims to Stay on Target for F1 Title in Baku
Kimi Antonelli insists the Formula 1 title race is “not over” as he takes a vast 81-point lead into this week's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
It looks as good as over, but Baku has sprung surprises before.
A year ago, that was where Oscar Piastri's title shot began to fall apart. The Australian was leading the standings when he almost stalled on the grid, dropped to last and crashed, all in the space of about a minute on the opening lap.
That kicked off a run of six races without a podium finish for Piastri, who had to watch the title race become a fight between eventual champion Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.
Antonelli is sounding cautious as he aims to become F1's youngest-ever champion.
