Young Australian defender Lucas Herrington has traveled an extraordinary journey over the past nine months, but this week he returned to Brisbane in preparation for playing two friendly matches against Brazil, and fulfilling a dream he had since childhood.
At the beginning of the year, the promising centre-back was one of the most prominent emerging talents in the ranks of Brisbane Roar in the Australian League, but his move to the American Colorado Rapids, his brilliance on the international scene, and then joining Hull City in England, changed the course of his career remarkably within a short period.
Herington, who celebrated his 19th birthday at the beginning of this month, told reporters on Wednesday: “It seems really crazy... Time has passed so quickly.”
He added: “It was a wonderful trip for me, and I enjoyed every moment of it.” "I'm just trying to stay humble, keep working hard, and enjoy this experience."
Herrington, who on Tuesday won the Harry Kewell Award for the best Australian under-23 player, expressed reservations when it was pointed out that his innate talent facilitated his reaching this level.
“Obviously I had to work hard and adapt to every stage I went through,” he said.
He added: “From Brisbane to Colorado, and from the Australian national team to English football, each station has its own environment and different style of training. “You have to adapt to all of that.”
He continued: “But in the end, football is football, and I simply love playing it.”
The Australian national team will face its Brazilian counterpart in Townsville, Queensland, on Friday, before meeting them again next Tuesday at Lang Park Stadium in Brisbane, the city that witnessed Herrington's first professional appearance less than two years ago.
In addition to the possibility of facing stars like Vinicius Junior, the second match is of special importance for the young defender, as he has never represented his country on the soil of his city.
“I can't wait,” he said. “It has always been one of my dreams to represent Australia in Brisbane.”
He added: “A large number of my family and friends will come to watch me, and we will face one of the greatest teams in the world. “There are not many competitors that match Brazil on the international stage.”
He concluded by saying: “I think everyone is excited about this match.” I'm excited, the coaching staff is excited, Brisbane is ready for it and even the whole state of Queensland looks ready too. "I can't wait to wear the shirt."
Valencia, on Wednesday, signed former Mexico national team coach Javier Aguirre until the end of the season, to replace interim coach Oscar Sanchez, who in turn replaced Carlos Corberan, last week.
Aguirre returns to Spanish football after a two-year absence, during which he coached the Mexican national team. At this year's World Cup, Aguirre led Mexico to its first knockout stage victory in the tournament since 1986 on home soil, before losing 3-2 to England in the round of 16.
Valencia will be the seventh Spanish club managed by Aguirre. The club has the right to extend his contract for an additional year.
After earning one point from his first five matches, Valencia dismissed Corberan, and Sanchez took over for the next two matches in the Spanish League before the international break, where Valencia beat Alaves, then lost to Real Sociedad.
Thus, Valencia remains in nineteenth place in the standings with 4 points.
On September 13, the club announced the departure of Chief Football Officer Ron Gourlay and Corberan, and returned Braulio Vázquez to assume the position of sporting director, for the second time on the same day.
The experienced duo, Aguirre and Vasquez, will now undertake the task of removing Valencia from the relegation zone in the Spanish League, a battle that has become familiar to the team in recent seasons.
Frenchman Isaac Hajjar will defend the Red Bull colors for the 2027 season of the Formula 1 World Championship after extending his contract, according to what the Austrian team announced, on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix scheduled for this weekend in Baku.
The Austrian team said in a statement: “We are pleased to announce the extension of Ishak Hajjar’s contract, thus completing the duo of drivers for the 2027 season of the Formula 1 World Championship,” referring to the extension of the contract of four-time world champion Dutchman Max Verstappen until 2030 in August.
The young French driver made a strong start to the season in his first year with Red Bull, but his progress was hampered by a wrist injury that forced him to miss the last three rounds.
He is expected to return to the wheel of his car this week in Baku.
Red Bull quoted Hajjar as saying: “I am very happy to continue this adventure with Oracle Red Bull Racing.” “I joined this team eight months ago, and I immediately realized the size and ambition of this organization.”
He added: “I constantly strive to listen, learn and develop myself every day, which increases my enthusiasm for what awaits me in the future.”
For his part, the French director of the Red Bull team, Laurent Mekes, welcomed the contract extension, saying: “We are happy to continue our journey with Isaac. Since joining us at the beginning of the year, he has shown an exceptional level on and off the track, especially since he is still only in his second season in Formula 1. Therefore, the decision to extend his contract was a no-brainer.”
He added: “The period following his injury was difficult for him, but this extension reflects the confidence we place in him, and we are eager to see him again on the track.”
Hajjar, who will turn 22 next Monday, is ranked eighth in the World Championship standings with 71 points.
He reached the podium at the Monaco Grand Prix by finishing third, and also achieved a series of seven consecutive places in the top six before suffering an injury.
The Frenchman is playing his second season in Formula 1 after finishing runner-up in the Formula 2 championship in 2024. After a distinguished first season with the Racing Bulls team in 2025, this year he moved to Red Bull to partner with Verstappen.
