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Soccer

Zidane leads 12-candidate list for top managers' prize

Winning seven trophies in 18 months on the job has earned Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane a spot among the 12 managers up for this year’s Best FIFA Men’s Coach award.

World football’s governing body released the list Thursday, which was put together by a panel of legends including World Cup winners Cafu, Diego Maradona, and Carles Puyol.

Along with Zidane, Bayern Munich’s Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea’s Antonio Conte, Juventus’ Massimiliano Allegri, and AS Monaco’s Leonardo Jardim are nominees who won their respective league titles last season.

Here’s the full 12-man shortlist:

  • Massimiliano Allegri (Juventus)
  • Carlo Ancelotti (Bayern Munich)
  • Antonio Conte (Chelsea)
  • Luis Enrique (Barcelona)
  • Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
  • Leonardo Jardim (AS Monaco)
  • Joachim Low (Germany)
  • Jose Mourinho (Manchester United)
  • Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham)
  • Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid)
  • Tite (Brazil)
  • Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid)

Pep Guardiola earned the nod despite enduring the first trophyless season of his managerial career with Manchester City.

A combination of votes from national team captains and coaches, media representatives, and the public will determine the winner.

Claudio Ranieri was named the Best FIFA Men’s Coach of 2016 after guiding Leicester City to an odds-defying Premier League triumph.

NFL

GM: Bell part of Steelers plan, but he's behind

LATROBE, Pa. — The Pittsburgh Steelers do not know when running back Le’Veon Bell will show up, but they are still counting on him to have a big year, general manager Kevin Colbert said Wednesday.

Asked whether the Steelers have considered rescinding Bell’s $12.1 million franchise tender, Colbert told ESPN the Steelers will work with who’s available. Still, he said, “I fully expect Le’Veon Bell to be a significant contributor for the 2017 Steelers. That’s as simple as I can state it.”

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Both sides couldn’t reach a long-term contract before the deadline to do so passed, and because Bell isn’t under contract, he’s training in South Florida instead of at Saint Vincent College for training camp. All signs point to a late August return for Bell, whose Steelers will play the first-string offense Aug. 26 against the Indianapolis Colts.

When asked about the belief that Bell can stay fresh and injury free away from the team, Colbert stressed, “It’s beneficial for everybody to be in camp.

“I’ll argue that consistently,” Colbert said. “Training camp is important for the growth and preparedness to be ready to play this game opening week. We can argue about camp and preseason, how many games and all that, but I do know you need to practice this game to play it at the highest level. Someone once said it would be like boxing without sparring. You can’t just show up and play.”

Bell can’t be fined for his absence from training camp because he doesn’t have a signed contract. He isn’t permitted to receive a long-term contract this season because the deadline to do so for tagged players passed on July 17.

Bell is one of the game’s best playmakers but plays in a positional market that appears tapped out at around $8 million per year. Colbert said the Steelers don’t “box anybody” when it comes to positional marketplaces and place values on players based on what they do for the team. But the Steelers can’t revisit that process with Bell until after the season.

“Right now we’re worried about 2017; that’s all we can focus on,” Colbert said. “We’ve said it in the past — we want Le’Veon to have a great NFL career as a Pittsburgh Steeler. That hasn’t changed. In reality, all we’re dealing with is 2017.”

Soccer

Champions League play-offs: Napoli beats Nice; Sevilla victorious in Istanbul

Ten clubs took the pitch on Wednesday looking to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League, and, following five first legs across Europe, a picture is emerging of who will be involved in the draw.

Napoli 2-0 Nice

In one of the two play-offs boasting two clubs from European football’s top five leagues, SSC Napoli defeated OGC Nice, who ended with nine players, 2-0 at Stadio San Paolo. Away supporters weren’t allowed to attend the game, which may have been for the best as it spared them from witnessing red cards to Vincent Koziello and Alassane Plea, both of whom were sent off following a dangerous tackle by the former. Dries Mertens continued his phenomenal form in the Champions League by opening the scoring, while Jorginho converted a penalty kick.

Istanbul Basaksehir 1-2 Sevilla

Jesus Navas’ first competitive touch since returning to Sevilla was an assist. It was that type of night for the Andalusian club, which left Turkey’s capital with a 2-1 win at Istanbul Basaksehir, making its debut in the Champions League. A cold-blooded shot by Sergio Escudero produced the match’s first goal, and the lead was restored by Wissam Ben Yedder just one minute after Navas took the pitch.

Hapoel Be’er Sheva 2-1 Maribor

Hapoel Be’er Sheva turned things around in Israel, scoring two goals after NK Maribor drew first blood in the 10th minute. Anthony Nwakaeme manufactured a world-class volley to equalise, and Shir Tzedek blasted a penalty into the top corner just before the interval.

Celtic 5-0 Astana

Celtic qualified for the Champions League’s group stage with a game to spare, thrashing Astana 5-0 in Scotland. Its result was a tad flattering, as two own goals were scored while the third came after a nasty clash of heads between Tom Rogic and Yuri Logvinenko. Nonetheless, the Bhoys will be happy about the second leg being merely a formality.

Olympiacos 2-1 Rijeka

Olympiacos BC came from behind and scored in second-half stoppage time to claim a 2-1 victory versus HNK Rijeka at Karaiskaki Stadium. After the Croatian club was put at a disadvantage when Leonard Zuta was shown a red card, the Thrylos sent its supporters into a frenzy in the 93rd minute, as Alaixys Romao headed home a scramble in the penalty area.

NFL

Bennett backed by brother Martellus, Baldwin
6:58 PM ET

  • Sheil KapadiaESPN Writer

    Close

    • Covered the Philadelphia Eagles for Philadelphia Magazine and Philly.com from 2008 to 2015.
    • Covered the Baltimore Ravens and the NFL for BaltimoreSun.com from 2006 to 2008.

Two days after electing to sit during the national anthem, Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett received support from his brother, Martellus, and his teammate Doug Baldwin on Tuesday.

“I support him, I support his movement, I support Colin Kaepernick, I support all the guys, Angela Davis, all the people that came before us to pave the way for what we’re trying to do in the black community,” Martellus Bennett, a Green Bay Packers tight end, said. “I support everybody and always will. I always will be very pro black, I guess would be the term to say.”

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Baldwin said that he is considering joining Bennett’s protest.

“I was really proud of it. And I think we as a society should be proud,” Baldwin said.

“The overwhelming and most profound message is that we claim to have equality and liberty for all people. And some people feel that’s not the case. So maybe we should listen to them. Maybe we should listen to what their thoughts are and see if we can’t be better. If we think we’re perfect, the Romans thought they were perfect. I’d just say maybe we shouldn’t think we’re perfect and there’s always room for improvement.”

Bennett said after Sunday’s game that he plans on sitting during the anthem for the entire season. He told reporters that he wanted to use his platform as an athlete to promote equality.

Pete Carroll said he supports Bennett’s message but thinks everyone should stand for the anthem.

“I support the heck out of his concerns and issues and all that,” Carroll said. “When it comes to it, I love our country, and I think we should all stand for the opportunities when the flag is represented. But the fact that his heart is in a great place and he’s going to do great work well after the time he’s with us, it’s easy for me to support him in his issues. But I think we should all be standing up when they play the national anthem.”

“If there’s anybody you can look up to, it’s Mike. I know sometimes he may come off a little abrasive, but man the dude is such a great guy. He’s always working in the community, he’s always trying to better the young and he’s a progressive thinker. I think it’s awesome.”

Martellus Bennett on brother Michael Bennett

Martellus Bennett wouldn’t say whether he’s decided to join his brother in protest.

“I support Michael in everything he does,” Martellus Bennett said. “He’s very well-educated on what it is he wants to happen in the world and what he’s trying to communicate, and I think he does an awesome job. I love him to death, and I think he’s very courageous in the position he’s in and the things that he says, and I’m very proud to be his brother and to see him make the impact that he does — not just with stances like that but the work that he does in the community, the type of father that he is. If there’s anybody you can look up to, it’s Mike. I know sometimes he may come off a little abrasive, but man the dude is such a great guy. He’s always working in the community, he’s always trying to better the young and he’s a progressive thinker. I think it’s awesome.”

Baldwin was asked if he’s worried about a segment of fans being turned off by players sitting for the national anthem.

“No. It’s football,” Baldwin said. “I appreciate the fans who come out here and support us. But it’s football. We’re not saving lives. We’re not police officers. We’re not doctors. We’re football players, first and foremost. So if you want to stop watching the game because a guy feels strongly about a very serious topic that’s going on in our society, well then that’s your choice. You have a right to freedom of speech. So yeah, if you want to do that, all for it.

“If your feelings are hurt about a particular situation, then maybe you should ask yourself, ‘Why are my feelings being hurt about this? Why is it so important for somebody, who seems to be an intelligent human being, why is it so important for them to get this message across? Why is it so important for them to do it in this fashion? In the particular moment in which they do it? Why is it so important?’ All of us can ask ourselves those questions, and maybe we’ll be smarter human beings, a smarter society if we do that.”

ESPN’s Rob Demovsky contributed to this report.

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Soccer