Chelsea has hired Xabi Alonso as its latest manager on a four-year deal, with the former Real Madrid coach set to take over on July 1. Alonso replaces Liam Rosenior, who was fired last month, and will become the fifth permanent coach appointed by Chelsea’s American owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital since they bought the club in 2022. Alonso lasted eight months at Madrid before leaving the club by mutual consent in January after poor results and widespread media reports that he lost control of the locker room. Before that, he was at Bayer Leverkusen, which he led to the German title and an unbeaten domestic season.

Aaron Rodgers is running it back with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Two people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press that the four-time NFL MVP agreed to a one-year deal to return to Pittsburgh on Saturday. The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. The 42-year-old Rodgers guided Pittsburgh to an AFC North title last year, throwing for 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Now he's back for his 22nd and perhaps final season. Rodgers reunites with former Packers coach Mike McCarthy, hired to lead the Steelers in January after Mike Tomlin stepped down.

GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) — Mike Brown was hired for this moment.

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers fired coach Kris Knoblauch on Thursday, dismissing him after a first-round exit followed him guid…

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs fired coach Craig Berube on Wednesday, John Chayka's first major move since taking over as general mana…

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers fired president Daryl Morey on Tuesday and decided to keep Nick Nurse as their coach after the team…

If LeBron James wants to keep playing professional basketball, the Los Angeles Lakers want it to be with them. General manager Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick affirmed their desire to keep James in a Lakers uniform one day after his eighth season with the club ended with a heartbreaking 115-110 loss and a second-round sweep at the hands of the powerhouse champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The 41-year-old James hasn't decided whether to keep playing. Pelinka also said the Lakers badly want to keep guard Austin Reaves with a big new contract while they build a roster around superstar Luka Doncic.

A person with knowledge of the negotiations says Steve Kerr has reached an agreement in principle on a two-year contract to continue coaching the Golden State Warriors. Kerr still must sign his new deal, the person told The Associated Press on Saturday night, speaking on condition of anonymity because the contract must be finalized. Kerr’s 12-year coaching run with the franchise has featured four championships and six NBA Finals appearances, including five straight alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green from 2015-19. Kerr shared an embrace with those two stars near the end of the loss in Phoenix, saying afterward he knew it could be their final time together.

CLEVELAND (AP) — After collapsing in the clutch in the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Cleveland Cavaliers got timel…