In November 2007 Alex McLeish was given the opportunity to prove himself in the one environment that could make him quit his job as Scotland manager.
The attraction of the English Premier League was high and the chance to take charge at Birmingham City offered the challenge he craved.
McLeish had almost taken Scotland to Euro 2008, but described club football as a "fix" he needed to satisfy.
He is not the only one with such an addiction. It is a reason why Sir Alex Ferguson, who turned 68 just 10 days ago, will be in the opposite dugout today when Manchester United head to St Andrew's.
McLeish saw that same desire 32 years ago when he played under Ferguson at Aberdeen and, like many more, he soaked up knowledge from a man he has always admired.
"It's helped my education and made me better at what I've done as a player and coach," he said.
Ferguson made McLeish and his Aberdeen teammates believe they could beat anybody.
Unfashionable yet undaunted, they challenged the dominance of Celtic and Rangers and humbled the European giants of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to claim the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1983.
Ferguson has spent 24 years mostly replicating that success at Old Trafford. With an unbeaten run of 12 games, including draws against Manchester City, Liverpool and the leaders Chelsea, Birmingham have performed way beyond expectations.
McLeish has got the best out of players whose best days seemed behind them.
One, Stephen Carr, retired 13 months ago after being released by Newcastle. Two months later, he joined Birmingham and has been a vital part in defence.
McLeish will now seek to build on this foundation with more quality and depth.
The Spanish midfielder Michel has signed from Sporting Gijon, and Kenwyne Jones, the Sunderland striker, could be another addition, although McLeish will have to rely on the old guard against United.
The surprise FA Cup third round defeat at home to Leeds, now two divisions below them, last weekend - United's third loss in six games - highlighted the inconsistency of the champions.
"They will be a bit like a wounded animal and extremely dangerous," said Mcleish.
"I don't believe there will be any complacency from us. If we can get something from them then I think we will still be punching above our weight."
A cautious approach is wise. As the United winger Ryan Giggs warned: "The turn of the year is when we are notoriously at our best."
@Email:akhan@thenational.ae
Birmingham v Man Utd, 9.30pm, Showsports 1&2
On-loan forward Landon Donovan, who goes straight into Everton's squad for a tough away trip to Arsenal, is relishing the chance to debut against the Gunners.
"Arsenal are a very good team playing very well right now," said Donovan, who has joined the Toffees on a 10-week loan spell from Los Angeles Galaxy while the Major League Soccer season is on a close-season break. "I'm hoping to play and it would be a great experience but I'm here to help this team win, whatever that takes."
With injuries to strikers Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner, Croatian forward Eduardo, who has scored two goals in his past two games, is likely to start up-front again for Arsene Wenger's side who are suddenly back in the title race.
Arsenal v Everton, 7pm, Showsports 1&2
Wigan are looking to record back-to-back victories for the first time this season. With midfielder Mohammed Diame their only injury concern, the Latics manager Roberto Martinez is considering giving several of the fringe players who excelled in last week's FA Cup win over a Hull a league start.
"We've been working hard to get the levels of competition up and prepare our younger players to have an impact on the game," he said.
Sixth-placed Villa need to get back among the goals if they are to avoid three consecutive losses. For Martin O'Neill's Champions League chasing side, the trip to lowly Wigan, who sit 16th, represents an ideal opportunity to get back to winning ways. They are boosted by the return of James Milner following a foot injury.
Wigan v Aston Villa, 7pm, Showsasha
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The Old Slave and the Mastiff
Patrick Chamoiseau
Translated from the French and Creole by Linda Coverdale
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20James%20Wan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jason%20Mamoa%2C%20Patrick%20Wilson%2C%20Amber%20Heard%2C%20Yahya%20Abdul-Mateen%20II%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Price: From Dh529,000
Engine: 5-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 520hp
Torque: 625Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.8L/100km
Who are the Sacklers?
The Sackler family is a transatlantic dynasty that owns Purdue Pharma, which manufactures and markets OxyContin, one of the drugs at the centre of America's opioids crisis. The family is well known for their generous philanthropy towards the world's top cultural institutions, including Guggenheim Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, Tate in Britain, Yale University and the Serpentine Gallery, to name a few. Two branches of the family control Purdue Pharma.
Isaac Sackler and Sophie Greenberg were Jewish immigrants who arrived in New York before the First World War. They had three sons. The first, Arthur, died before OxyContin was invented. The second, Mortimer, who died aged 93 in 2010, was a former chief executive of Purdue Pharma. The third, Raymond, died aged 97 in 2017 and was also a former chief executive of Purdue Pharma.
It was Arthur, a psychiatrist and pharmaceutical marketeer, who started the family business dynasty. He and his brothers bought a small company called Purdue Frederick; among their first products were laxatives and prescription earwax remover.
Arthur's branch of the family has not been involved in Purdue for many years and his daughter, Elizabeth, has spoken out against it, saying the company's role in America's drugs crisis is "morally abhorrent".
The lawsuits that were brought by the attorneys general of New York and Massachussetts named eight Sacklers. This includes Kathe, Mortimer, Richard, Jonathan and Ilene Sackler Lefcourt, who are all the children of either Mortimer or Raymond. Then there's Theresa Sackler, who is Mortimer senior's widow; Beverly, Raymond's widow; and David Sackler, Raymond's grandson.
Members of the Sackler family are rarely seen in public.
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
UAE WARRIORS RESULTS
Featherweight
Azouz Anwar (EGY) beat Marcelo Pontes (BRA)
TKO round 2
Catchweight 90kg
Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) beat Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)
Split points decision
Welterweight
Gimbat Ismailov (RUS) beat Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR)
TKO round 1
Flyweight (women)
Lucie Bertaud (FRA) beat Kelig Pinson (BEL)
Unanimous points decision
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) beat Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)
TKO round 1
Catchweight 100kg
Marc Vleiger (NED) beat Mohamed Ali (EGY)
Rear neck choke round 1
Featherweight
James Bishop (NZ) beat Mark Valerio (PHI)
TKO round 2
Welterweight
Abdelghani Saber (EGY) beat Gerson Carvalho (BRA)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) beat Igor Litoshik (BLR)
Unanimous points decision
Bantamweight
Fabio Mello (BRA) beat Mark Alcoba (PHI)
Unanimous points decision
Welterweight
Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magomedsultanov (RUS)
TKO round 1
Bantamweight
Trent Girdham (AUS) beat Jayson Margallo (PHI)
TKO round 3
Lightweight
Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) beat Roman Golovinov (UKR)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Steve Kennedy (AUS)
Submission round 2
Lightweight
Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)
TKO round 2
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
'Midnights'
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