No Time Left for Hoddle
Glenn Hoddle, formerly manager of England’s national team and once one of the most popular players in Tottenham history, was dismissed as Hotspurs’ manager after the north London club’s worst start to a Premier League season.
The former England manager, who has been under pressure for several weeks, was fired a day after the Hotspurs’ 3-1 loss to Southampton.
Hoddle left Southampton to take over at Tottenham two years ago, marking the return of a White Lane hero and sparking optimism of a Tottenham revival. But the Hotspurs’ faded and finished 10th last season. This season, the club had one win and four points through the first six games and was 18th in the 20-team standings.
“Coupled with the extremely poor second half to last season, the current lack of progress and any visible sign of improvement are unacceptable,” said Daniel Levy, the Tottenham chairman.
“It is critical that I, and the board, have absolute confidence in the manager to deliver success to the club. Regrettably we do not.”
Hoddle, 45, is the first Premier League manager to be fired this season.
David Pleat was appointed interim manager, with Chris Hughton as first-team coach.
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Arsenal reclaimed the top spot in the English Premier League after holding Manchester United to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford .... Deportivo de La Coruna took the lead in the Spanish league standings by beating last-place Albacete, 3-0 .... Ronaldo and David Beckham each scored as host Real Madrid beat Malaga, 3-1.
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Three fans were injured and 15 detained by police after clashes broke out between fans of Athens’ cross-town rivals, AEK Athens and Panathinaikos, authorities said. Rival groups of fans battled near Nea Smyrni stadium and in several other parts of the city, and clashed with riot police inside the stadium. Fans set fires in the stands, ripped up plastic seats, and threw flares onto the pitch. In central Athens, a group of youths driving scooters set fire to a car, which was destroyed by the flames.
In the game, Grigoris Georgatos scored twice to salvage a 2-2 draw for AEK in the fourth round of the Greek first division championship.
