Jack Grealish scored his first goal in over a year and James McAtee delivered a stunning second-half hat-trick as Manchester City demolished League Two side Salford City in the FA Cup third round. The 7-0 victory was City’s biggest win since January 2019.

Grealish opened the scoring in the 49th minute with a calm penalty after being fouled, jokingly deferring to usual spot-kick taker Erling Haaland, who was rested on the bench. This marked Grealish’s first goal since December 16, 2023, when he netted against Crystal Palace, ending a prolonged struggle for form.

Twenty minutes later, Grealish passed penalty duties to Belgian winger Jeremy Doku, who confidently converted. Doku, instrumental throughout, set the tone for the dominant performance, helping City capitalize on their first-ever competitive meeting with Salford City, a club owned by Manchester United’s famous “Class of ’92.”

City’s youth players made the most of their opportunities. Divin Mubama, making his debut, tapped in Matheus Nunes’ precise low cross to claim his first senior goal. Nico O’Reilly also opened his City account, firing a low shot into the far corner from Doku’s cut-back.

The star of the match, however, was James McAtee. The England Under-21 midfielder, often overlooked this season, stole the spotlight with a clinical hat-trick. His first came in the 62nd minute, courtesy of another Doku assist. McAtee completed his treble within 19 minutes, with Phil Foden and Jack Grealish providing the setups for his second and third goals, respectively.

With key players rested, Pep Guardiola’s side showed their depth and quality, dominating possession and dismantling a Salford team that struggled to cope with the Premier League giants’ intensity.

David Moyes has been reappointed as Everton manager, marking his second tenure at the club. The 61-year-old Scot signed a two-and-a-half-year contract after Sean Dyche was dismissed on Thursday. Everton currently sits 16th in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone, with only three wins from 19 matches this season.

Moyes expressed his excitement about returning to Goodison Park:
“I enjoyed 11 wonderful and successful years at Everton and didn’t hesitate when I was offered the opportunity to rejoin this great club. Now we need Goodison and all Evertonians to play their part in getting behind the players this important season so we can move into our fabulous new stadium as a Premier League team.”

Moyes first managed Everton from 2002 to 2013, during which he transformed the club from relegation candidates to regular top-half finishers. His achievements included:

• Guiding Everton to the FA Cup final in 2009.
• Securing a fourth-place finish in 2004-05, leading to Champions League qualification.
• Developing young talent, including giving Wayne Rooney his professional debut.
• Signing iconic players like Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini.

After leaving Everton to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013, Moyes managed Real Sociedad, Sunderland, and West Ham United, where he won the Europa Conference League in 2023. Moyes had been out of management since leaving West Ham at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Everton faces significant challenges, but Moyes brings vast experience and a deep understanding of the club’s culture. His goal is to stabilize the team and ensure their place in the Premier League as they prepare to transition to their new stadium.

Didier Deschamps, the longest-serving manager of the French national football team, has confirmed he will step down after the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The 56-year-old manager has led France since 2012, achieving remarkable success during his tenure.

Deschamps, a World Cup winner both as a player and manager, stated his decision in an interview with French broadcaster TF1. “In 2026 it will be over. In my head, it’s very clear,” he said. “I’ve done my time, with the same desire and passion to maintain France at the highest level. One has to be able to say stop; there’s a life after this.”

Under Deschamps’ guidance, France has consistently remained one of the world’s top teams:

• Led Les Bleus to their second World Cup title with a 4-2 victory over Croatia in Moscow.
• Reached the final in Qatar, narrowly losing to Argentina in a penalty shootout after a dramatic 3-3 draw.
• Took France to the final on home soil, where they were defeated by Portugal in extra time.
• Secured the title with a victory over Spain.

Deschamps’ journey as France’s manager began after their quarter-final exit at Euro 2012. He succeeded Laurent Blanc and quickly re-established France as a football powerhouse, qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals.

The former midfielder also achieved historic milestones as a player, winning the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 while captaining his country. He is one of only three individuals—alongside Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer—to win the World Cup as both player and manager.

France’s journey to the 2026 World Cup will begin after their Nations League quarter-final against Croatia in March, which will determine their qualifying group. Deschamps emphasized his commitment to maintaining France’s status as a football giant during his final years in charge.

“I want France to stay at the top as they have been for many years,” he said.