As the least surprising surprise, Thomas Tuchel is the next England manager

So, it has been announced that Thomas Tuchel has agreed to become the next England manager.

Asher-Smith and Neita confirmed for 60m at Birmingham World Indoor Tour Final

British record holder Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita will be racing over 60m at the Birmingham World Indoor Tour Final, in what will be a must-watch race on a day of world-class athletics. Both athletes have shown their quality on the global stage in recent years, and they achieved medal success across the three major Championships and Games during the busy 2022 summer season.

Asher-Smith back to winning ways after claiming 100m gold in Rome

Britain's Dina Asher-Smith maintained her form perfectly to claim her second European 100m title in Rome.

Asher-Smith, Hudson-Smith and Gill among Olympic contenders to light up UK Athletics Championships

On a day where championship records fell and Olympic spots were confirmed, Phoebe Gill (coach: Deborah Steer, club: St Albans), Dina Asher-Smith (Edrick Floreal, Blackheath & Bromley) and Matt Hudson-Smith Anning (Gary Evans, Birchfield Harriers) were among those to light up the Microplus UK Athletics Championships in Manchester.

Asher-Smith, Hughes and Hunter Bell secure titles and World’s spots at Novuna UK Athletics Championships

Dina Asher-Smith, Zharnel Hughes, Max Burgin, Amber Anning, Josh Kerr, and Georgia Hunter Bell were amongst a host of stars who featured over two action-packed days of the Novuna UK Athletics Championships, at the Alexander Stadium, in Birmingham.

Ashes legend believes everyone wants to see sports stars who push the boundaries

Ashes hero Matthew Hoggard has encouraged England players to be smarter when it comes to “Bazzball” to boost their chances of beating the Aussies. The former England fast bowler hinted that England could still win the Ashes as he spoke out on the controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow. 

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Champions UK, Hoggard said: “Bazzball is running towards the danger instead of away from it. You take the positive option rather than the negative option. I like it but still think we've gone too far at times. 

Asian Cup blown wide open following Japan shock and South Korea held

Japan's shock defeat to Iraq and South Korea's late draw with Jordan make it harder than ever to predict who will lift the Asian Cup as the group stage approaches its climax.

Japan were favourites heading into the tournament to win a record-extending fifth title, while Son Heung-min's South Korea were touted as their chief challengers. But after early results in the group stage in Qatar generally went as expected, there was a major upset when Iraq defeated a strangely muted Japan 2-1.

Asian Cup reaches its last hurrah as Qatar face Jordan in final

The AFC Asian Cup reaches its climax today as hosts and holders Qatar take on a Jordan side looking to make history in the competition.

Asian Tour breaks new ground with first-ever event on Scottish soil

The Asian Tour is set to make history by staging an event for the first time in Scotland at the much-acclaimed Fairmont St Andrews on 24-27 August 2023.

The inaugural St Andrews Bay Championship will take place at the venue’s Torrance Course, a 7,320-yard layout set among 520 acres of stunning Scottish coastline with views of St Andrews Bay. Designed by former Ryder Cup and golfing legend Sam Torrance, the course is marked by its deep riveted bunkers, large greens and links design.

Aston Villa Foundation scores a winner with footballing robots

Teachers from across Birmingham enjoyed a hands-on taste of one of the Millennium Point Trust’s small grants projects, when they attended Aston Villa Foundation’s recent STEM Through

Aston Villa's Pacheco to join Filipinas in next FIFA window

The Philippine women's football team got a huge boost as Maz Pacheco is set to join the national squad later this month.

Aston Villa’s £100m vision: more than a stadium, a community renaissance

Aston Villa Football Club, one of Birmingham’s most treasured sporting landmarks, is not just upgrading a stadium — it is helping to reshape a community.

At just 14, Sammy Harvey becomes the world’s youngest international goalkeeper

The thoughts of most 14-year-olds will be on getting their homework done or playing video games with friends.

Athlete Sarah Voss hoping full-body suits make young gymnasts feel safe

German athlete Sarah Voss says she wants to be a ‘role model for young gymnasts who don't feel very safe in every situation’ after recently competing in a full-body suit at the European Championships.

Her outfit defied convention as previously women and girls had only covered their legs in international competition for religious reasons. Voss hopes others will follow her lead.

She said: "It does not say that everyone should do it, it just says that everyone can do whatever they want." Voss said the project had been a year in the making.

The 21-year-old added: "If they feel safe they can wear a normal leotard if they like it. If there is a certain point they think they would feel better in a long leotard, then they should do it.

"For me, it doesn't say I have to wear a long leotard in the future every time. It depends on how I am feeling and how I'd like to perform." Two of the German's team-mates, Kim Bui and Elisabeth Seitz, also wore the full-body suit - which cover the athletes' legs to the ankles - during the women's all-around final.

The German federation said its gymnasts were taking a stand against sexualisation in gymnastics. The International Gymnastics Federation rules allow competitors to wear a one-piece leotard with full-length legs, provided it is of elegant design.

"To do splits and jumps, sometimes the leotards are not covering everything, sometimes they slip and that's why we invented a new form of leotard so that everyone feels safe around competitions and training," Voss explained.

"Every time you don't feel safe it's distracting you from what you want to perform. I think that feeling safe and not thinking about what other people can or cannot see is quite relieving when you can compete like that.

"Some girls quit this beautiful sport because of having to wear leotards so that is why this is a great option for everyone to stay in the sport they love and don't think about anything else about their body - just about their performance."

British-Jamaican gymnast Danusia Francis said: “The suits gives the power of choice back to the athletes and could open the door for more women in the sport.”

Athletes already thinking of Tokyo 2025 following Budapest glory

A glorious 100days of the 2023 World Athletics Championships ended in Budapest as the United States again finished on top of the medal table.

Athletes face heat risks in Paris, environmental groups say

Heat levels during the Paris Olympics could pose health risks for competitors, a report by environmental groups said, adding that continued increases in global temperatures could jeopardise future editions of the Games.

Athletes selected for World Para Athletics Championships Kobe 2024

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland squad has been announced for the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan between the 17-25 May 2024.

Athletes show their appreciation for Birmingham 2022 volunteers

Hundreds of thousands may have received a high five from a giant foam Perry hand; a cheery greeting, helpful directions or a photo op from our fantastic fourteen thousand-strong Commonwealth collective.

Athletes unite to call on government to back 2029 World Championships bid

More than 100 of Britain’s most celebrated athletes have today written to the Prime Minister urging the UK Government to seize the golden opportunity to bring the World Athletics Championships back to London in 2029.

Athletes with 112 Olympic or World Medals in action as Müller Grand Prix Gateshead start lists go live

Start lists are live for the first Wanda Diamond League event of 2021 – the Müller Grand Prix Gateshead – with eight reigning world champions and two current Olympic gold medallists set to compete this Sunday, May 23, in the North East of England.

Athletes in the line-ups have a combined number of 112 global outdoor world and Olympic medals between them. In addition, they own a whopping 156 European, Commonwealth, world indoor and European indoor medals. The women’s 100 metres is a preview to the Olympic final we will see later this summer in Tokyo as Olympic gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica faces reigning and four-time world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica, world 200m gold medallist Dina Asher-Smith and current world leader Sha’Carri Richardson of the United States.

Thompson-Herah is also the reigning Olympic 200m champion, while Fraser-Pryce won the Olympic 100m title in 2008 and 2012. In total, the sprinters in this event alone in Gateshead have earned a staggering 41 global championship medals during their careers. The pole vault sees the 1-2-3 from the last World Championships in Doha enjoying a rematch. Sam Kendricks of the United States won gold on that occasion – and also took the world title in London 2017 – ahead of Mondo Duplantis of Sweden and Piotr Lisek of Poland, although Duplantis has since captured the world record.

Other global gold medallists in action at Gateshead include high jumper Mariya Lasitskene, triple jumper Caterine Ibargüen and javelin thrower Anderson Peters. Russia’s Lasitskene, who is competing on the circuit as an Authorised Neutral Athlete, is the reigning and three-time world champion.

In Gateshead she will take on, among others, the silver medallist at the 2019 World Championships, Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine. Colombian Ibargüen is reigning Olympic champion in her event and two-time world gold medallist as she uses the Gateshead meeting as a stepping stone toward her title defence in Tokyo.

World champion Peters of Grenada takes on, among others, Keshorn Walcott, the 2012 Olympic champion from Trinidad & Tobago. Tajay Gayle of Jamaica, meanwhile, the reigning world gold medallist in the men’s long jump, leads the entries in his event.

Andre de Grasse of Canada won three Olympic medals at the Rio Games and he takes on Britain’s Adam Gemili and in-form American Kenny Bednarek at 200m in Gateshead. De Grasse won 200m silver in Brazil behind Usain Bolt plus bronze in the 100m and 4x100m. Nine gold medallists from the recent European Indoor Championships in Toruń are in the line-ups too; include Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway, who won the 1500m and 3000m titles in style in the Polish city in March.

Laura Muir, a multiple European champion indoors and out in recent years, is part of a 1500m field that includes former world champion Jenny Simpson of the United States and recent European indoor champion Elise Vanderelst of Belgium. A series of para-athletics sprints races to open the programme will feature four reigning Paralympic champions – Sophie Hahn, Libby Clegg, Kadeena Cox and Richard Whitehead. Leading the way, Hahn has a grand slam of major titles under her belt – Paralympic, world, European and Commonwealth – despite still only being 24-years-old.