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CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 9, 2023--

Borussia Dortmund’s heartbreak was Bayern Munich’s normality. The last day of the Bundesliga season was astonishingly dramatic yet the outcome was very familiar. Bayern won their 11th consecutive German title. In Italy, the record is seven in a row, secured by Juventus in the last decade. In France, it is also seven, the only seven times Lyon have won Ligue 1, all in the 2000s. In Spain, Real Madrid’s five consecutive titles in the late 1980s remains unrivalled. In England, the magic number is altogether lower: just three. There have been six hat-tricks, but no team who has gone on to win four. It points to a general competitiveness across the old Division 1 and the Premier League that, over 135 years, no club has been able to sustain domination to such an extent. It means that Manchester City could go into uncharted territory this season. Their five predecessors offer warnings from history, in some cases comparisons that stretch back almost a century. The modern-day City obviously differ in some respects from Huddersfield (1923-26), Arsenal (1932-35), Liverpool (1981-84), Manchester United (1998-2001) and United again (2006-09). There are nevertheless common denominators, explanations why teams who had the potential to be champions for a fourth successive season did not. It is safe to say City have avoided the first. While Pep Guardiola has done a triple hat-trick, winning three consecutive league titles in each of LaLiga, the Bundesliga and the Premier League, he is only the second manager to perform the feat in England, after Sir Alex Ferguson (twice). It is notable that the architect of the success of each of the teams who tripled up was a genuine managerial great; on previous occasions, he built such solid foundations that a continuity candidate could carry on prospering for a while after his departure. Herbert Chapman led Huddersfield and Arsenal to their first titles: he left Yorkshire for London in 1925 and died in office in 1934. At Anfield, Bob Paisley retired in 1983, Joe Fagan was promoted from within and won three trophies in his first year in charge. In 2001-02, Ferguson announced his decision to retire, which he subsequently revoked, but perhaps the distraction cost United. Either change, albeit belatedly, or the prospect of it may have cost City’s predecessors. Other elements could be more ominous for the current champions. Liverpool did a different treble to them in 1983-84, but it meant they had a marathon season; that may have taken a toll when they went on a seven-game winless run early in the defence of their league title. United came within a match of a treble in 2008-09 and had lost five league games by Christmas the following season. Perhaps the exhaustion of playing 179 games in three campaigns was a factor when United then lost five times in a seven-match period towards the end of 2001. Now City begin this season after playing 180 games in the last three years. Huddersfield’s April slump in 1927 was notable for two meetings with the eventual champions Newcastle: Town won at Leeds Road but lost at St James’ Park. Perhaps Arsenal’s slide was beginning with a 5-4 loss to Sunderland in December 1935; it proved to be another season when the title was destined for the north-east. Since then, the pattern has been still starker. Liverpool lost home and away to Everton in 1984-85 (albeit once when the title was decided), as United did to Arsenal in 2001-02 and Chelsea in 2009-10. Over those six games, the respective serial winners only scored two goals. The past suggests anyone wanting to finish ahead of City will have to beat them twice, probably with clean sheets. They may appreciate some help from their rivals, too: in 01-02, Liverpool, the runners-up, also beat third-placed United home and away; in 84-85, Tottenham, who came third, did a double over Liverpool. A recurring theme is the question of how to sustain success, of how much change is required and helpful. There are reasons to argue that each of the triple champions ended up weaker in the fourth campaign. In an era when transfers were fewer, neither Huddersfield nor Arsenal bought anyone designed to strengthen their first 11 immediately. Amid a higher turnover of players more recently, significant departures led to their teams being toppled. With Josko Gvardiol joining, City could end up stronger in defence compared to last season but, minus Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez, a lesser side further forward. In particular, the talismanic captain’s move to Barcelona may have unfortunate parallels. Midfielder and skipper Graeme Souness left Liverpool for Sampdoria in 1984, while Ferguson chose to sell Jaap Stam in 2001 – a decision he subsequently admitted was a mistake – and United lost both Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez in 2009. On both occasions at United, there was a sense the dynamic of the side was shifting. That was more deliberate in 2001: if, often and understandably, there can be a reluctance to effect change, perhaps Ferguson was too revolutionary. Juan Sebastian Veron and Ruud van Nistelrooy arrived, United starting to shift to a five-man midfield designed to improve their prospects in Europe. The Argentinian was a gifted misfit at Old Trafford; the Dutchman proved prolific but though he scored 36 goals in his debut season and 150 in five years, he only won one Premier League title. But Ferguson, in selling Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke, showed a willingness to move on from those he deemed in decline. Ageing was a reason why other spells of dominance ended: in 35-36, Arsenal’s hugely influential inside-left Alex James turned 34; so did Phil Neal and Kenny Dalglish in 84-85. The great Scot was dropped earlier in the season and only scored six goals in 53 games in all competitions, though he did record a remarkable 24 assists. In 09-10, the veteran trio of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville made more starts than in the previous campaign. None of which may seem too worrying for City: with Gundogan and Mahrez going, Kyle Walker and Kevin de Bruyne are the only probable regulars in their 30s, though it may prove a problem if the Belgian’s impact diminishes. A further factor may seem beyond Guardiola’s control and, indeed, unknowable at the moment. Injuries explain why no one succeeded in their bid to become founder members of the four-in-a-row club: in 1927, Huddersfield’s end-of-season slump came as they lost captain Clem Stephenson, Billy Smith, now their record appearance maker, and their brilliant Scot Alex Jackson; lacking their two wingers and their playmaker, the goals dried up. Arsenal’s injuries nine seasons later included top scorer Ted Drake, inside-forwards James and Ray Bowden and goalkeeper Frank Moss, who missed almost all of the season. For Liverpool, Ian Rush had scored 47 times in 83-84; his tally went down to 26 – only 14 of them in the league – the following season, when he was outscored by John Wark and missed a third of the top-flight games. The most famous injury of United’s 01-02 was David Beckham’s metatarsal but the most significant may have been Roy Keane’s knee, ruling the captain out of a couple of their autumn defeats. United’s 09-10 was littered by injuries: Wayne Rooney had 34 goals by the end of March when he hurt his ankle and got no more. Defensive absentees were a constant and came at a cost, one defeat seeing Darren Fletcher and fellow midfielder Michael Carrick in an ersatz back three. Perhaps the fates of Drake, Rush and Rooney highlight how damaging an injury to Erling Haaland could be, even if City have proved they can win the title with a false nine instead. But a feature of the sides who failed at the fourth attempt – with the notable exception of United in 2001-02 – is that goals were scarcer: remarkably Arsenal went from 115 in a league season to 78. All of which shows the fragility of even a champion team. Even in the age of squad rotation, a key injury can be pivotal. If some elements are beyond the control of even a control freak like Guardiola, so is the factor that can mean champions are deposed. Most of the teams who had won three successive titles were denied a fourth by a side that can safely be branded very good or great. Perhaps not Huddersfield – Newcastle had been FA Cup winners in 1924 but their subsequent league positions were sixth, 10th, first, ninth, 10th, 19th and 17th; but Sunderland went on a three-season arc in the 1930s when they were runners-up, champions and FA Cup winners and, in 1935-36, their 109 goals were 50 more than Huddersfield’s total. Meanwhile, 84-85 was Everton’s finest season with their best-ever team: they were also FA Cup finalists and Cup Winners’ Cup winners. There are reasons to think Arsenal’s 01-02 double winners were better still than Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles. Chelsea’s 09-10 team forged Jose Mourinho’s winning machine with the attacking incision to become the first team to get a century of top-flight goals since the 1960s. All of which suggests someone will have to do something remarkable to depose City. Arguably they knew that already: the one season in the last six when City were not champions, Liverpool won 26 of their first 27 games. It prompts the question if anyone else has greatness in their grasp now. But the history of English football has shown that no one wins forever; that no one, thus far, has been the best for four seasons in a row. And now City will either make history or, if it repeats itself, be ambushed by it. Read More Inside Trent Alexander-Arnold’s new role: ‘With great power comes great responsibility’ Inspired appointment Vincent Kompany repaying Burnley’s gamble The Mikel Arteta transfer gambles that will shape Arsenal’s season West Ham agree deals for England pair Harry Maguire and James Ward-Prowse Wozniacki returns to tennis and new Man Utd threads – Tuesday’s sporting social We are sleepwalking into a disaster – PFA chief worried about demands on players

By Alexander Marrow The rouble hit a more than 16-month low on Wednesday, hampered by strong foreign currency

Dentons, the world's biggest law firm by number of employees, is distancing itself from its business in China in response to intensifying regulation in the country.

Coffee shop Blank Street has partnered with Stanley, the viral TikTok cup, to hand out free flasks to caffeine-seekers across the city. For the blissfully unaware, the famed Stanley cup has been making waves online in recent months with a staggering 2.3 billion views under the hashtag alone. The platform has been flooded with reviews, unboxing videos and has almost become an emotional support accessory for avid TikTokers, influencers and celebrities across the globe. To secure the iconic cup, all you need to do is tell your Blank Street Charlotte Street barista: "Quench my thirst." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter You'll then be given your very own Stanley Quencher, perfect for keeping iced coffee temperature perfectly chilled for two whole days. You must be quick, as there are only 50 available across Thursday and Friday (10-11th August) between 11am and 2pm. On Thursday, Blank Street will have its first drop of 25 Stanley Quenchers, in the sell-out eucalyptus colour, available only at Blank Street’s Charlotte Street store. The next drop of 25 cups will be available at the same time, the same place on Friday – the rush for thirst-quenching is on. Coffee fans will have another opportunity to secure their Stanley at a later date. All they need to do is keep their eyes peeled on the Blank Street socials for further details. Caffeine addicts wondering what to fill in their newly-secured Stanley Quencher can find inspiration in Blank Street’s expertly crafted Cold Brew menu. With delights such as the traditional Cold Brew, clean-cut Cortado Cold Brew, and treacly, best-selling Shaken Brown Sugar Cold Brew - the curated menu of delicious iced creations is packed full of chocolate-y and caramel-y flavours from the coffee shop’s innovative Cold Brew Shot. The menu has been taking London by storm already, with Blank Street seeing a whopping 11X increase in the number of Cold Brews ordered from May to August this year. Ignacio Llado, UK MD at Blank Street said: "Keeping your iced coffee cold in the summer can be a bit of a mission, so we’ve partnered with the sell-out success that broke TikTok Stanley Cup to give away a limited number of free cups, and help fight the fight against melting iced beverages. "At Blank Street we want to keep Londoners cool, caffeinated and chic, and what’s more on-brand than a eucalyptus Stanley Quencher - but you’ve got to be quick!" Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Reality TV star-turned-entrepreneur Kim Kardashian is the new face of fashion label Marc Jacobs. The brand posted a close-up picture of Kardashian’s face on Instagram, as part of the autumn/winter 2023 campaign. The AW23 ready-to-wear collection was debuted at the New York Public Library in June earlier this year, and was populated with masculine tailoring, oversized shoulders, high-waisted pleated trousers and mini dresses. According to WWD, the show notes were written by ChatGPT. They read: “The Marc Jacobs fashion show captivated audiences with its innovative approach to blending menswear-inspired tailoring with feminine aesthetics. “The collection showcased impeccably tailored suits designed exclusively for women, accompanied by flat shoes, black tights and stunning altered gowns. The predominantly black and white palette created a striking visual impact, emphasising the timeless elegance and versatility of monochrome fashion.” WWD confirmed Kardashian as the new face of the brand, and said she was pictured in some of these oversized silhouettes in the advertising campaign, photographed by Tyrone Lebon. Marc Jacobs is no stranger to casting major celebrities in its fashion campaigns – Baywatch star Pamela Anderson, American rappers Ice Spice and Doja Cat, socialite Paris Hilton and actor Winona Ryder have all modelled for the brand. Kardashian, 42, is the founder of shapewear brand Skims, which last month was reportedly valued at $4 billion (£3 billion). She’s also featured in many other brand ad campaigns over the years. She’s modelled for luxury fashion house Balenciaga, and collaborated with shoe brand Stuart Weitzman on their autumn 2022 campaign called ‘Stand Strong’. Kardashian also co-designed Dolce & Gabbana’s spring/summer 2023 collection, and appeared in the glamorous accompanying ad campaign. Kardashian has also worn Marc Jacobs before – and posted one of these ensembles on Instagram in May. Her outfit was a collaboration between Marc Jacobs and Fendi – she wore a white corset and a fitted long denim skirt, which was accessorised with an exaggerated white furry hat, white leather gloves and see-through platform heels. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Shoppers make seven big impulse buys per year on average – survey Even 4,000 steps a day could ‘reduce risk of death’ – study How many steps a day can cut risk of early death (and it’s not 10,000)

Financial losses due to supply chain disruptions dropped over 50% on average in 2022, compared with a year

Hip-hop has been an integral part of social and racial justice movements

BLUE BELL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 9, 2023--

West Ham have agreed deals in principle to sign Harry Maguire and James Ward-Prowse, the PA news agency understands. Manchester United defender Maguire and Southampton midfielder Ward-Prowse have also agreed personal terms with the Hammers. Maguire remains in discussions with United about the terms of his exit from Old Trafford but the transfer, understood to be worth around £30million, is expected to go through. The Hammers are also close to announcing the £35million signing of Mexico midfielder Edson Alvarez from Ajax. The 25-year-old has passed a medical but the paperwork is still being completed. Meanwhile, West Ham are understood to have knocked back an initial £60million approach from Manchester City for midfielder Lucas Paqueta. That figure is some £30million less than West Ham would entertain selling the Brazil midfielder for. However, there could be a player swap involved with Hammers boss David Moyes having long held an interest in City midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Alvarez and Phillips can both fill the position vacated by the £105million sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal. Young winger Cole Palmer, who scored in Sunday’s Community Shield defeat by the Gunners, is another player admired by Moyes. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

The signs of hip-hop’s influence are now everywhere from Pharrell Williams becoming Louis Vuitton’s men’s creative director to billion-dollar brands like Dr. Dre’s Beats headphones and retail mainstays like Diddy’s Sean John and the Rocawear line started by Jay-Z

Honda says its April-June profit more than doubled on healthy sales of its motorcycles and cars, as the Japanese company also received a perk from favorable exchange rates