Category Sports News

Injuries have derailed countless careers before they’ve truly begun. For young footballers, especially those who’ve already had a taste of the big stage, the road back is long and unforgiving.

One minute you’re the next big thing, the next you’re stuck in a sterile rehab room chasing the player you used to be. Patience is often a veteran’s trait – not something easily summoned at 18 or 19.

Florian Wirtz – who Liverpool are keen to sign – might not be the most patient man in football, but he has proved he can weather a storm.

In March 2022, just as the Bayer Leverkusen prodigy was breaking out and being hailed as the next big thing in German football alongside Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) brought everything to a halt.

The dream of a World Cup debut in Qatar vanished. He was still named Newcomer of the Year by the players’ union, but the honour felt hollow with the tournament slipping through his fingers.

While Leverkusen stumbled through a turbulent start to the 2022-23 campaign – one that cost Gerardo Seoane his job and brought in Spaniard Xabi Alonso – Wirtz was out of sight, deep in rehab.

The new manager’s first few months passed without his star playmaker. But Alonso saw what was coming.

During the winter break, he called Wirtz the club’s “difference maker” and highlighted the youngster’s ability to unlock defences between the lines. It wasn’t a bold prediction – but even Alonso might not have expected just how quickly Wirtz would return to top form.

By the second half of the season, Wirtz was already pulling strings again and laying the foundations for Leverkusen’s historic 2023-24 campaign, culminating in their first Bundesliga title.

When they finally lifted the Meisterschale – the league winner’s trophy – Wirtz was no longer a talent, he was a bona fide star.

The youngest player to reach 50 Bundesliga appearances at 18 years and seven months, he had become the face of a fearless, dynamic side.

Naturally, the big clubs came circling. In 2023 and 2024, links to Europe’s elite grew louder, but Wirtz stayed put – in part because Alonso did too.

Both resisted the pull of big-money moves last summer, committing to one more chapter at Leverkusen. But that chapter is now ending.

What separates Wirtz from so many others isn’t just his touch or vision, it’s his mentality.

Even early in his Bundesliga career, he carried himself like a leader. He’s not the loudest voice in the room, but his presence is felt. Some mistake his quiet, understated demeanour for simplicity, and Wirtz doesn’t go out of his way to change that image.

A viral TikTok clip from the national team saw Wirtz rank his favourite foods, declaring “normal potatoes… I would say are number one”.

It became a meme across German football – fans plastered potato images over his face, and the quote even made it into summer dance tracks. Wirtz, for his part, wasn’t laughing.

“I don’t find it entertaining,” he told Kicker. “Especially those who know me – and myself – don’t understand why that blew up.”

His team-mates, however, appreciate the way Wirtz keeps things simple. “He’s a great baller and a bit cheeky, that helps him,” said Leverkusen keeper Lukas Hradecky, who once summed up the midfielder’s flair with a now-iconic phrase: “Flo is doing Flo things.”

“Florian is just a huge asset with his care-free nature,” said former Germany boss Hansi Flick. “He’s simply an outstanding technician, loves to play, is very creative, has a good shot, runs hard and is quick. He’s the full package.”

Ex-Leverkusen head coach Seoane once praised Wirtz’s composure and decision-making in tight spaces, noting how he remains ice-cold when accelerating into dangerous areas. Alonso, too, has regularly lauded his character and fearlessness: “He will always try something.”

Off the pitch, Wirtz remains grounded. He’s still close with the same group of friends from his hometown in the Rhineland.

When reports emerged recently of Liverpool and Manchester City meeting with his representatives, many learned that those representatives are his parents: 71-year-old Hans Wirtz and 63-year-old Karin Gross. His sister Juliane plays in the women’s Bundesliga for Werder Bremen.

Karin handles the finances. Hans – a former border agent and chairman of a local football club – speaks directly with sporting directors and chief executives. Bayern recently approached him to discuss how Florian might fit into a team alongside Musiala.

“The sporting perspective is much more important than money. My parents would be angry if I ever gave money priority,” Wirtz told Sports Illustrated earlier this month, revealing his mum and dad would give him a 150 euro-a-month allowance early in his career.

Some critics argue Wirtz might have missed endorsement opportunities with such a homegrown support structure. But while others chase commercial deals, Wirtz has prioritised football – and stayed loyal to the people who have been with him from the start.

Liverpool have made initial contact with Bayer Leverkusen over a move for attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.

The Germany playmaker is emerging as a primary target for Arne Slot as the Premier League champions already begin planning for next season.

Liverpool are set to sign Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen and the Anfield club registered their desire to sign 22-year-old Wirtz during those discussions.

Formal negotiations are still to get under way but that is expected to happen in due course for a player that is valued by the Bundesliga club at more than £120m.

It remains to be seen whether Liverpool would be willing to pay that sort of fee, which would eclipse the British transfer record fee of £107m Chelsea agreed with Benfica for Enzo Fernandez in 2023.

Earlier this week, BBC Sport revealed Manchester City were no longer in the race to sign Wirtz, leaving Liverpool and Bayern as the frontrunners.

Liverpool boss Slot told the BBC this week that the champions would be “stupid” not to strengthen this summer.

“There are not many that can strengthen us, but the few that are out there, we will try to get them,” Slot said.

A fan who allegedly spat at a member of Ross County’s coaching staff during Thursday’s Scottish Premiership play-off has been given a lifetime ban by Livingston, who has also provided the details to Police Scotland.

A Livingston fan yelled and yelled right behind the visitors’ dugout after Top-flight County scored a penalty in the 96th minute to draw in West Lothian’s first leg.

County manager Don Cowie claimed Carl Tremarco, who had been allegedly arguing with him, was spat at amid the row that was being documented.

“Our thanks to a number of our own supporters who were quick to reach out and help identify the individual,” Livingston’s CEO, Dave Black, stated on the website.

We have now identified the person responsible, and we have given the details to the police, who will be looking into this further.

The Championship runners-up were “absolutely appalled by the actions of one mindless idiot,” according to Black, who “abhorrent, shameful, and tainted what was a hard fought, well-balanced game.”

He claimed to have called Tremarco to apologize and thanked the County assistant and the rest of the visiting coaching staff for managing to remain as restrained as possible despite what had transpired.

One of Cowie’s fans spit on our assistant manager’s face, Cowie claimed in a statement to BBC Scotland. That is not permitted.

Our employees want to protect each other when it occurs because it is a repulsive experience. I wanted to ease the stress.

Although Livingston manager David Martindale was not present, he claimed the incident would be “disgusting if true,” adding, “It’s vile. It’s disgusting. Really, really disappointing.”

Danny Wilson’s opener was cancelled out by Ronan Hale’s late penalty, and the teams met in Dingwall on Monday to decide which team will win the top flight next season. The game ended 1-1.

Police Scotland made the announcement following a Livingston incident.

Hove, second T20

West Indies 81-9 (20 overs): Arlott 3-14, Bell 3-28

England 82-1 (9.2 overs): Sciver-Brunt 55* (30)

England won the series by nine wickets and won it 2 for 2.

With a dominant nine-wicket thrashing of the West Indies at Hove, England remained unassailable with a 2-0 lead.

England came within 82 runs to reach their goal, with Sofia Dunkley scoring 24 not out and new captain Nat Sciver-Brunt unbeaten in 55 of 31 balls.

The only bright spot in another disappointing display from the visitors and a completely one-sided contest was Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who fell to the first ball of the innings.

West Indies struggled to contain England’s impressive discipline and aggression with the ball, falling to 29-4 before regaining it to 81-9.

In her second international start, Seamer Em Arlott finished with 3-14, including veteran batter Stafanie Taylor and Windies skipper Hayley Matthews for six.

From her four overs, pace bowler Lauren Bell took 3-28, and spinner Charlie Dean took a subpar 2-12.

Only eight boundaries were scored in their entire innings, which also included 74 dot balls, were Shemaine Campbelle and Shabika Gajnabi, the only two West Indies batters to achieve double figures, with 26 and 22 coming from them.

After a miserable winter, England’s seam attack under new head coach Charlotte Edwards appears to have rediscovered much-needed energy and life.

Bell continues to impress as the head of the attack and one of the few English players to win the Women’s Ashes with credit. With Qiana Joseph bowled for four in the opening over, she made the breakthrough.

In the opening game of the series against the Windies, Matthews recorded an unbeaten century in Canterbury, and a stunning lofted cover drive for four off Arlott made it seem as though she was moving forward, only for the seamer to remove the Windies captain’s leg stump the following ball.

England roared out in celebration of the dismissal, and the subsequent collapse demonstrated why.

West Indies were 30-4 after the six-over powerplay, with Zaida James superbly caught by a one-handed diving Dunkley at midwicket.

Campbelle and Gajnabi’s 34-ball fifth-wicket stand was just a waiting game, with Mandy Mangru being bowled next ball after Arlott had become frustrated with her 36-ball knock and being caught off Dean at long-on.

Sciver-Brunt’s captaincy era began with a victory in the first T20, but she also suffered a personal disappointment as a result. She handled the situation in this one in excellent style.

Sciver-Brunt reached her half-century from just 27 balls, her second-fastest total in T20 internationals, despite Wyatt-Hodge’s missed drifting delivery from James first ball.

She once more capitalized on a toothless West Indies attack by striking 10 fours all around the ground.

With 64 balls to go, England roared to victory in the second match thanks to Dunkley, who had a career-best 81 in the first one.

That is only enhanced by the 87 balls that Sciver-Brunt had to score in 2022, which included the winning runs.

“The camp has a great atmosphere, obviously.” A fantastic group of girls. They have welcomed me very warmly.

Nat Sciver-Brunt, England’s captain, said: “We set a pretty high standard for ourselves in the first game, and we probably surpassed that here.” It helps us to build up our spirits.

Hayley Matthews, captain of the West Indies, says, “It’s obviously a little disappointing. We were aware that some of our veteran campaigners, like Chinelle Henry and Deandra Dottin, would be taking a tough tour with us when we arrived.