標籤: successor

NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin has repeatedly stated that he intends to retire from full-time Cup Series racing at the end of the 2027 season. Although there is still some doubt about his execution, it appears Joe Gibbs Racing has a succession plan in place.

Fox Sports’ Bob Pockross wrote that O’Reilly Series driver Brent Cruz is “focused on driver development” so that he can replace Hamlin in the No. 11 car whenever that happens.

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Hamlin, who is coming off a million-dollar win in the NASCAR All-Star Race, remains easily one of the best drivers in the sport. In 2026, he leads the Cup Series in laps led (624), and his average finishing position (9.92) is even better than last season, when he won six races.

It’s not like it’s a Michael McDowell or Kyle Busch situation, where wins have become less frequent. Hamlin is a championship contender who has a legitimate chance to win every week at every oval track on the Cup Series circuit.

RELATED: NASCAR Cup Series all-time win list, including Denny Hamlin

That’s why there is considerable doubt as to whether Hamlin will actually leave when his contract expires. Whether it’s in 2027 or any year after that, JGR has a tentative plan.

Cruz, who just turned 18 in March, has been one of the best drivers in the O’Reilly Series this season. He finished in the top 10 in seven of his 10 races and finished in the top five in four races.

Widely regarded as one of the top prospects in NASCAR, with some even seeing him as a better talent than Connor Zylisch, a Cup Series ride is inevitable. Crews looks ready to step behind the wheel of the No. 11 whenever Hamlin decides to step away.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

NASCAR’s silly season is just a few months away and, while Michael McDowell isn’t one of the biggest names being talked about, the veteran driver believes he knows who will be his successor.

Speaking to reporters at Watkins Glen, McDowell called Tristan McKee “the real deal” and believes he will be the one to take over driving the No. 71 car for Spire Motorsports when McDowell retires.

At the beginning of the year, McKee was ranked 14th among the top NASCAR prospects in 2025 by Bob Pockross of Fox Sports. He became the second-youngest ARCA winner at Watkins Glen in 2025, just two years after he became the youngest driver to win in the CARS Tour Pro Late Model division.

Notably, McKee won’t turn 16 until August. The Virginia native has already raced in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East, but although he is a rising star in NASCAR, he still needs to prove himself at the Truck Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series levels.

Realistically, Mackie is at least three years away from getting a chance to ride full-time in the Cup Series and even that timeline will be longer.

Investigating Michael McDowell’s future in NASCAR

McDowell, who will turn 42 in December, clearly has no intentions of retiring in the near future. The longtime Cup Series driver intends to remain behind the wheel of the No. 71 for several more seasons, but that doesn’t seem possible either.

Part of the problem for McDowell is the disappointing results. His last win came in the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard in 2023. What’s more troubling for Spire Motorsports is that their results are getting worse every year.

In 2024, McDowell achieved seven top-10 finishes with six pole positions and 256 laps led, finishing the season with a 14.58 average starting position and 21.31 average finishing position. A year later, McDowell led only 96 laps with six top-10s and two poles, and his average starting position dropped to 15.69.

The situation has become even worse in 2026. Through 11 races, McDowell ranks 23rd in points (189), 18th in average starting position (19.0) and 24th in average finishing position (21.5).

Spire has made it clear in recent years that it wants to become one of the top teams in the Cup Series. Carson Hocevar, who scored his first Cup Series win at Talladega, is emerging as a superstar, and Daniel Suarez is enjoying a breakout year in his first season with Spire.

McDowell is undoubtedly the worst performing driver at Spire Motorsports at the moment. Ultimately, if his contract expires after the 2026 season, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if Spier decides to find someone else to drive the No. 71 car next year.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

newcastle united Once again preparing himself for a potentially busy summer, Bruno Guimaraes is attracting attention from across Europe.

has been a midfielder Linked to many top clubsAnd while there is no guarantee of an exit, the situation has clearly prompted Newcastle to think about what’s next.

This connects to another noticeable pattern. In recent months, the magpies have been Keeping a close eye on the Brazilian marketA place they already know well. Now, that search may have led them to a new target.

according to espn brazil Journalist Felipe Silva is looking at Corinthians youngster Andre Luiz as a potential option should Newcastle forward Bruno Guimaraes move on.

At first glance, this may seem like another hypothetical link. However, the situation surrounding the Corinthians midfielder suggests that something more substantial is building behind the scenes.

Transfer background and market movements

Andre Luiz is no stranger to European attention. Earlier this year, AC Milan tried to sign him and talks reached formal negotiations. The deal ultimately fell apart due to financial disagreements between the clubs.

Meanwhile, Juventus also showed interest during that window. Their representatives also traveled to Italy, underscoring how seriously Europe is following their developments.

Now there is a fresh push. ESPN says Andre’s agent is currently in Europe and actively searching for new suitors. This is in line with the growing sentiment within Corinthians that this summer could be the right time to sell.

The Brazilian club are ready to make a deal and see the long-time midfielder as one of their most valuable assets for the next window. His price for 70% of his rights is currently around €20m (£17m), and the player is also willing to give up his share to help facilitate the move.

The rapid rise of a ‘hot-headed’ wonderkid

Part of the urgency comes from Andre Luiz’s recent trajectory. His rise has been very rapid.

The 19-year-old spent several years in the academy before breaking into the first team. Within about three months, he went from early opportunities to a regular starter. That sudden surge caught the attention of all of Europe.

However, that rapid ascent has also brought some turmoil. As detailed by the Brazilian outlet ulAndre Luiz has seen a dip in form in recent weeks. He has also been sent out twice, raising concerns about discipline and restraint.

Reports from Brazil describe him as “A little hot headed sometimes”. The disappointment of the failed move to Milan earlier this year also appears to have had an impact.

Still, Corinthians isn’t overly concerned. Internally, the feeling is that everything has happened too quickly for the teen, and some inconsistency was always possible.

There is strong support around him. The dressing room continues to support the midfielder, and his director of football is seen as a key figure in guiding him during this phase.

The important thing is that Andre Luiz remains very popular in the team. His more reserved personality has helped him stay grounded despite his sudden rise.

what will newcastle get

From a football perspective, it’s easy to see why Newcastle are interested.

Like Bruno Guimarães, Andre Luiz fits the mold of a modern box-to-box midfielder. He combines defensive intensity with the ability to carry the ball forward and contribute in attack.

Their numbers support this. He averages approximately 4.0 ball recoveries and 2.3 tackles per game, while maintaining an 84% pass success rate. Andre also scored three goals in 23 matches played in all competitions this year.

He is comfortable moving the ball through the midfield and has the ability to break down opposition lines with his dribbling. Furthermore, he shows good awareness between the lines and can get into the box late.

Physically, he is strong and plays with high intensity. Corinthians’ previous coaching staff at the club believed that Andre Luiz’s profile would be a better fit for English football.

Furthermore, early in his development, he played as a right-back and centre-back, which helps explain his defensive instincts and positional awareness.

Then again, in many ways, the profile overlaps with that offered by Bruno Guimarães, particularly in terms of energy and involvement in all phases of the game.

Timing – why this summer could be decisive

There is a growing feeling among those around Andre Luiz that his value could drop if a move is not secured soon. Their recent decline in form coupled with disciplinary issues has created a sense of urgency.

As a result, their representatives are actively working to generate offers ahead of the summer window. For their part, Corinthians never hid their openness towards a sale.

With the European market already busy and a raft of players pushing for movement, the coming months look crucial.

On the one hand, Andre Luiz is still only 19 years old and is clearly a player in development. His recent inconsistency and disciplinary record raise legitimate questions.

On the other hand, the price point is relatively modest by Premier League standards. At around €20 million (£17 million), he represents a potentially high-upside investment.

If Bruno Guimaraes leaves, Newcastle will need to act decisively. An early move for a player like Andre Luiz could give them an edge over other European clubs.

However, the situation also demands careful decisions. This is no finished product, but a talented midfielder at a crucial stage of his career.

The mix of potential and volatility makes this a story worth watching in the coming weeks.

AFC Bournemouth Now there will be a vacancy to think about after Andoni Ierola confirmed he will leave at the end of the 2025/26 season. This would end a successful spell on the south coast.

While high profile names and proven Premier League managers are being mentioned, few of them can get the praise of Bournemouth like Vasco Botelho.

In February, we covered Claims of ESPN Brazilian journalist Bruno Andrade. He explained that Bournemouth view the Moreirense coach as part of a succession plan within the same wider group.

At the time, it seemed like an interesting detail. Now with the areola out, it’s starting to seem more relevant.

There is still no indication that Bournemouth have made any final decision. Still, Botelho isn’t just another name thrown into the mix. It is said that he is a coach who is well known to the club. Furthermore, he is already a coach working within the club’s ecosystem, and a coach whose profile looks like it would work at the Vitality Stadium.

Why is Vasco Botelho different?

At 37, Vasco Botelho is still young for a senior coach. However, the increase has been rapid and earned.

As mentioned, he started in youth football at GDS Cascais when he was only 17 years old. zerozero. He then progressed through Estoril’s academy structure and made a serious name for himself with the club’s under-23s. During this period, they won the Liga Revelção twice and the Taça Revelção twice.

After that came União de Leiria, where he achieved promotion from Liga 3 and then Alverca. At Alverca, he took charge of a struggling team and eventually led them to the Primeira Liga. He reached 14th place with the club. Following this, he produced remarkable performances in the second half of the season.

That alone would make him an interesting candidate. The more revealing part is how people describe him.

As revealed in a detailed article on the Portuguese outlet SaturdayA former player said he was seen as a demanding, methodical coach with an offensive mindset who wanted brave teams, defensive organization and strong possession of the football.

The player said he values ​​quality under pressure and does not want teams to give away the ball easily when under pressure.

This seems to be the kind of identity Bournemouth have tried to create.

The personality behind the coach

Vasco Botelho also comes across as someone who lives the work to the fullest.

In a more personal interview he explained: “I set my alarm for 6:15, but I usually wake up a little earlier. Typically, I’m the first one to get to the club before 7:00. In those first hours, that’s when I feel really productive.”

That is not the language of someone casually passing through a role. Instead, it portrays a coach who is deeply invested in detail, planning and structure.

At the same time, he doesn’t talk like a pure obsessive who wants players to remain locked inside football permanently. He also said: “The day before the game, everyone has to take the afternoon off, rest and do other things so they can clear their mind.”

That balance is one of the more interesting parts of his profile. He works hard, but he doesn’t appear to be blind to mental freshness.

He clearly put forward that broader vision when discussing the profession: “We have to be able to adapt to the context, and also have a balance, which is one of the most important things.

“We have to maintain that balance and accept that we will not always have everything we want. We will have many wars, and we will have to accept losing some battles in order to win others. But there is no room for relaxation. We will always have to be dissatisfied”He said.

There is flexibility in it but there is also edge in it. Bournemouth may like both parts.

A coach who seems to connect with the players

The exterior details add even more color for Bournemouth fans.

A former colleague said that Botelho “already stood out because of the quality of his training” and that he would watch opponents, film matches, edit the footage and then show it to the players.

Another recalled that his sessions and video analysis were “very thorough”, adding that he was the first coach he had seen having personal meetings with each player before the season started.

Former player Hugo Leal described him as “a ‘yelling’ coach in the good sense”, someone who never rested until everything was right.

Fernando Varela, who captained Alverca under him, said that Botelho enforced the rules immediately “without harassing the players” and also emphasized the humane side of his management.

Bournemouth aren’t just changing tactics following Erola’s departure. They will also provide a voice, a presence and a daily standard-setter. Botelho’s profile suggests someone who can make demands without breaking away from the group.

He also seems comfortable thinking about success broadly. in an interview with to ballHe said: “In football, we cannot say that there is only one way to guarantee success.”

He then used Djokovic, Federer and Nadal as examples of champions with different paths. He also added: “Michael Jordan played 12 seasons and won six rings… In other seasons, was he a failure?”.

This suggests a coach who can deal with pressure without becoming a prisoner of every short-term ups and downs.

English will not be a problem

One detail that stands out strongly in the Bournemouth context is language.

Vasco Botelho worked at St. James’s School in Cascais, an experience that helped him improve his English. It has also been written in Portuguese reporting that he has a command over the language. Therefore, if ever consideration was given to taking him to England, this should remove one obvious concern.

So if Bournemouth are to accelerate their thinking, communication will appear to be no barrier at all.

He is already working in a Bournemouth-based environment, and the practical side of the switch appears to be far less complicated than other emerging candidates.

Why does fit matter to Bournemouth?

None of these guarantee placement. Bournemouth may decide they want a more experienced name. They may prefer someone already tested in the top five leagues. They can also survive extensive searches.

Still, if the club indeed sees Vasco Botelho as part of its succession plan, Ireola’s exit changes the timing of negotiations.

He has an upward curve and coaching credentials. He has breadth, intensity and, by all accounts, a personality worthy of leadership. Plus, he has the Englishman to step into that world without any pressure and has won his fair share of minor trophies.

So while Bournemouth supporters may not know his name as well as some of the more obvious candidates, Botelho doesn’t look like a betting outsider. He looks like a coach the club is already preparing itself to trust.