McClaren has endured a difficult start to life with FC Twente. Photograph: Phil Cole/Getty Images
Welcome to the real world, Steve. The real world where you’re not saddled with such burdensome decisions as picking between John Terry and Jamie Carragher at centre-back; where you can’t simply ostracise one of your best players, David Beckham, because you’re [...]

Sharapova wasn’t at her best against Rodina. Photograph: Christophe Karamba/EPA
The abrupt and startling retirement of Belgium’s Justine Henin, aged just 25 and the French Open champion for the past three years, did not come as a major surprise to Maria Sharapova, who has taken over from Henin as the world’s No1 and is the top [...]