RIO Ferdinand wore a daring outfit on TNT Sports’ Champions League final coverage that echoed Liverpool’s famous ‘Spice Boys’ suit of the 1996 FA Cup final.
The Man Utd legend, 45, was a guest at Wembley alongside Jose Mourinho – with Laura Woods on hosting duties.
But immediately, viewers were drawn to discussion about his bold suit choice.
Perhaps with the weather in mind, Ferdinand donned a sharp cream linen number for the showpiece.
Underneath his blazer, he wore an unbuttoned white shirt as he fielded questions from presenter Woods.
However, fans online couldn’t help but comment on Ferdinand’s fashionable two-piece.
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One wrote on X: “Rio Ferdinand reviving the ghost of Liverpools Spice Boys.”
A second shared: “Rio Ferdinand dressed as the NumberTaker.”
A third added: “Jose looking well after not working for a bit. Rio looking the picture of sartorial style in cream linen.”
While a fourth posted: “Rio Ferdinand looks like a fkn pimp with that white suit on.”
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The sharp look drew comparisons with a cream Armani suit worn by Liverpool’s stars ahead of the 1996 FA Cup final.
Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Jamie Redknapp and others were called the ‘Spice Boys’ because of their perceived lifestyle off the pitch.
The name was actually coined following unfounded rumours Fowler was dating Spice Girl, Emma Bunton.
While Jason McAteer and David James took on modelling jobs outside of football that continued to fuel that image, with success limited.
The Reds famously lost that 1996 cup final to Manchester United after Eric Cantona’s late strike.
Fowler spoke about the famous suit to the Daily Mirror in 2008.
He said: “People still remind me about the white suits all the time. It’s one of those things – if we had won the game nobody would have mentioned it but we lost and it has become infamous.”
Ferdinand was present for Real Madrid’s 15th Champions League win.
Los Blancos overcame Borussia Dortmund 2-0, thanks to goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Jr.
Bellingham outshines Sancho on the night of his dreams at Wembley
THE very moment Vinicius Junior struck the second goal, Jude Bellingham sank to his knees, stretched out his arms and looked up at the sky, writes Charlie Wyett.
It was the moment that Bellingham had always dreamed of, to win the Champions League. The fact it came at Wembley, on home soil, made it that little sweeter.
Bellingham delivered the pass to Vinicius who scored to ensure that Real Madrid, remarkably, have now been the kings of Europe on 15 occasions.
It was the final kick of the biggest game in Bellingham’s life as he was immediately replaced by Joselu in a tactical switch by Carlo Ancelotti.
With no Premier League teams involved, this was an English duel between Bellingham and Jadon Sancho. The west midlands v south London. Stourbridge versus Kennington.
It is obvious which of the two former team-mates won this scrap, although Sancho’s team should have put Real out of sight by half-time.
Ultimately, neither Englishmen had particularly dazzling games.
Sancho, on loan from Manchester United, started brightly and gave Real left-back Ferland Mendy a few uneasy moments.
Yet this was nothing like the performances he delivered against PSG to help his team to the final.
Instead, with three minutes remaining of normal time, Sancho was replaced by another Englishman, teenager Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.
There was to be no drama. Bellingham added this Euro title to his La Liga winner’s medal. Not forgetting he has also been voted as the La Liga player of the year.
Bellingham, featuring in his 42nd game of the season for Real, was unable to make much of an impact in his role wide left.
On the hour mark, he had touched the ball 35 times but had done little with it.
With the scores at 0-0, he somehow failed to score with a header when he was unable to make contact with a cross from Vinicius. Any touch and it would have been a goal.
By then, the keyboard warriors were out in force on social media, dishing out some laughable criticism of England’s greatest talent. Potentially, our greatest ever player.
Yet the inevitable happened and Dortmund were left to curse those missed chances.
A mistake by Sancho led to a Madrid corner and Dani Carvajal leapt highest to head them into the lead.
Bellingham had another chance but it was deflected wide by Nico Schlotterbeck.
But, with seven minutes left, he helped stick the knife in to help Vinicius score and ensure this is an evening he will never forget.
In the crowd were his dad Mark, mum Denise and brother Jobe, who got into the stadium five hours early
Bellingham’s mum was in tears as her son stepped up to get his medal. And let’s all hope Bellingham will be lifting another trophy in Berlin on July 14.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
