Category Sports News

Kilmarnock have confirmed the appointment of Stuart Kettlewell as their new manager.

The former Motherwell and Ross County boss replaces Derek McInnes, who left the Rugby Park club to join Hearts earlier this month.

Kettlewell, 40, left Fir Park in January citing personal abuse during a run of poor results.

However, he impressed Kilmarnock chairman Billy Bowie and his fellow directors enough during interviews to be offered a two-year deal. Stevie Frail will again assist Kettlewell with Chris Burke and Craig Clark as coaches.

Scotland assistant John Carver and former Killie forward Steven Naismith had also been linked with the post.

“The club conducted a thorough recruitment process, where we were looking for a candidate who has a track record in recruiting and developing players, including young talent and has a strong understanding of Scottish football,” a club statement said.

“We identified Stuart as the best candidate to lead Kilmarnock into an exciting new chapter.

In appointing a new manager, Kilmarnock have clearly been eager to avoid any of the complications that surrounded the departure of McInnes.

That all got a bit tricky with the mounting speculation followed by a defeat at Motherwell and the understandable dismay of some fans.

The decision that McInnes wouldn’t be in charge for the final match of the season against his prospective new employers was clearly an exercise in damage limitation.

Kettlewell was not an unexpected candidate. He is available and can point to a strong evidence of work at Motherwell and Ross County.

Amy: I’ve not seen one Kilmarnock fan who supports this. Cheap option and one that confirms us as bottom-six fodder.

David M: He didn’t really get a chance at Motherwell. I always respect his honesty.

Ryan: Risk is a massive factor with Kettlewell. When you consider the manner in which he departed his previous position, surely it has to be considered a real possibility that he would walk again, on his own terms, if he wasn’t happy?

Ross: Given some of the other names touted, the prospect of Kettlewell is a little underwhelming. He didn’t exactly set the heather on fire during his last job.

Kilmarnock have confirmed the appointment of Stuart Kettlewell as their new manager.

The former Motherwell and Ross County boss replaces Derek McInnes, who left the Rugby Park club to join Hearts earlier this month.

Kettlewell, 40, left Fir Park in January citing personal abuse during a run of poor results.

However, he impressed Kilmarnock chairman Billy Bowie and his fellow directors enough during interviews to be offered a two-year deal. Stevie Frail will again assist Kettlewell with Chris Burke and Craig Clark as coaches.

Scotland assistant John Carver and former Killie forward Steven Naismith had also been linked with the post.

“The club conducted a thorough recruitment process, where we were looking for a candidate who has a track record in recruiting and developing players, including young talent and has a strong understanding of Scottish football,” a club statement said.

“We identified Stuart as the best candidate to lead Kilmarnock into an exciting new chapter.

In appointing a new manager, Kilmarnock have clearly been eager to avoid any of the complications that surrounded the departure of McInnes.

That all got a bit tricky with the mounting speculation followed by a defeat at Motherwell and the understandable dismay of some fans.

The decision that McInnes wouldn’t be in charge for the final match of the season against his prospective new employers was clearly an exercise in damage limitation.

Kettlewell was not an unexpected candidate. He is available and can point to a strong evidence of work at Motherwell and Ross County.

Amy: I’ve not seen one Kilmarnock fan who supports this. Cheap option and one that confirms us as bottom-six fodder.

David M: He didn’t really get a chance at Motherwell. I always respect his honesty.

Ryan: Risk is a massive factor with Kettlewell. When you consider the manner in which he departed his previous position, surely it has to be considered a real possibility that he would walk again, on his own terms, if he wasn’t happy?

Ross: Given some of the other names touted, the prospect of Kettlewell is a little underwhelming. He didn’t exactly set the heather on fire during his last job.

Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has signed a two-year contract to succeed Xabi Alonso as head coach of German club Bayer Leverkusen.

It is the first managerial role that Ten Hag, 55, has taken since his departure from United in October.

Alonso was confirmed as the new boss of Spanish giants Real Madrid on Sunday.

Ten Hag won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup during a spell of just over two years in charge at Old Trafford, but was dismissed with United 14th in the Premier League.

Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes said: “With Erik ten Hag, we have brought in an experienced coach with impressive success on the pitch.

“With three league titles and two domestic cup wins, he and Ajax dominated Dutch football from 2018 to 2022.

“And Erik demonstrated his quality as a coach with the ensuing success at Manchester United under difficult circumstances at times.”

Under former Liverpool midfielder Alonso, Leverkusen won a league and cup double in 2023-24.

They finished second in the Bundesliga this season, 13 points behind champions Bayern Munich.

Ten Hag, who will officially start his new role on 1 July, said Leverkusen are “one of the best clubs in Germany and also among the top clubs in Europe”.

Erik ten Hag, the ex-Manchester United boss, has accepted a two-year contract from Bayer Leverkusen as their new coach. Xabi Alonso was appointed as the head coach of the German club.

Ten Hag, 55, has taken Ten Hag’s first managerial position since leaving United in October.

Alonso was appointed Real Madrid’s new manager on Sunday.

Ten Hag was in charge of Old Trafford for just over two years, winning the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, but he was later dismissed with United 14th in the Premier League.

From 2018 to 2022, he and Ajax dominated Dutch football with three league titles and two domestic cup victories.

And Erik’s success at Manchester United came as a result of his coaching prowess, even in challenging circumstances.

In 2023-23, Leverkusen won a league and cup double under Alonso, a former Liverpool midfielder.

They finished the season’s second place in the Bundesliga, 13 points behind Bayern Munich, who had previously won.

Leverkusen are “one of the best clubs in Germany and also among the top clubs in Europe,” according to Ten Hag, who will take over his new position on July 1.

Erik ten Hag, the ex-Manchester United boss, has accepted a two-year contract from Bayer Leverkusen as their new coach. Xabi Alonso was appointed as the head coach of the German club.

Ten Hag, 55, has taken Ten Hag’s first managerial position since leaving United in October.

Alonso was appointed Real Madrid’s new manager on Sunday.

Ten Hag was in charge of Old Trafford for just over two years, winning the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, but he was later dismissed with United 14th in the Premier League.

From 2018 to 2022, he and Ajax dominated Dutch football with three league titles and two domestic cup victories.

And Erik’s success at Manchester United came as a result of his coaching prowess, even in challenging circumstances.

In 2023-23, Leverkusen won a league and cup double under Alonso, a former Liverpool midfielder.

They finished the season’s second place in the Bundesliga, 13 points behind Bayern Munich, who had previously won.

Leverkusen are “one of the best clubs in Germany and also among the top clubs in Europe,” according to Ten Hag, who will take over his new position on July 1.

Erik ten Hag, the ex-Manchester United boss, has accepted a two-year contract from Bayer Leverkusen as their new coach. Xabi Alonso was appointed as the head coach of the German club.

Ten Hag, 55, has taken Ten Hag’s first managerial position since leaving United in October.

Alonso was appointed Real Madrid’s new manager on Sunday.

Ten Hag was in charge of Old Trafford for just over two years, winning the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, but he was later dismissed with United 14th in the Premier League.

From 2018 to 2022, he and Ajax dominated Dutch football with three league titles and two domestic cup victories.

And Erik’s success at Manchester United came as a result of his coaching prowess, even in challenging circumstances.

In 2023-23, Leverkusen won a league and cup double under Alonso, a former Liverpool midfielder.

They finished the season’s second place in the Bundesliga, 13 points behind Bayern Munich, who had previously won.

Leverkusen are “one of the best clubs in Germany and also among the top clubs in Europe,” according to Ten Hag, who will take over his new position on July 1.