FOOTBALLERS’ security has never been more important.
Dele Alli was the latest star name targeted by burglars, who broke in while the Tottenham ace was at home and took off with watches worth around £350,000.
Jack Grealish is the latest footballer to invest in a four-legged friend for securityCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Aston Villa ace Grealish welcomed a Belgian Malinois to his family for £25kCredit: Instagram / @chaperonek9
Months before that, Crystal Palace star Mamadou Sakho’s home was ransacked, while Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole have also recently had their safety jeopardised by muggers looking for money and jewellery.
To combat thieves, Premier League stars are now fighting back, which is why Jack Grealish invested £25,000 in a Belgian Malinois pooch from popular security firm K9 Chaperone.
And the Manchester United target isn’t the only one buying a specially-trained guard-dog to stay safe from harm.
MARCUS RASHFORD
Like many footballers, the Manchester United and England forward shopped with Leicestershire’s Chaperone K9, who specialise in training and selling expert guard dogs.
Rashford got himself a huge Cane Corso dog named The Saint that would’ve set him back somewhere in the region of £25,000.
He showed off the pooch on Instagram in 2018, and looked mightily impressed with his purchase.
Marcus Rashford has a Cane Corso called The Saint
PAUL POGBA
Rashford’s Manchester United team-mate Pogba is also a firm believer in protecting yourself with a big dog.
He spent around £15,000 on a Rottweiler in 2019 after he became a target for irate fans.
Pogba stepped up his security measures weeks after “Pogba Out” was sprayed outside the club’s training ground.
He hasn’t had trouble since.
Paul Pogba invested in a Rottweiler when he was a target for Man Utd fansCredit: Chaperone K9
RAHEEM STERLING
The Manchester City winger is a man with lots to protect.
Sterling, a father of three, has a £15,000 Rottweiler called Okan looking after him, his missus Paige Milian and their family.
The Three Lions star was forced to act after Paige returned from a shopping trip to their £3million Cheshire to find a male intruder at their home.
Raheem Sterling bought Okan after his missus Paige Milian walked in on an intruder in their home
PHIL JONES
Manchester United defender Jones already boasted family pets – a couple of adorable pugs.
But they weren’t going to offer him the security he and his wife Kaya needed – should someone threaten their safety.
That’s why they brought in German Shepherd Buddy for £15,000, who will happily save the day if they’re ever in trouble.
Buddy, the German Shepherd, sits with the Jones family
MARK NOBLE
West Ham captain Noble is extra careful when it comes to home protection.
He bought a Belgian Malinois called Striker from Chaperone K9, and also has a German Shepherd as its companion.
Both probably boast as much bite in the middle of the park as the Hammers midfielder.
Mark Noble’s Belgian Malinois will have as much bite as he does in the middle of the parkCredit: Chaperone K9
TYRONE MINGS
Towering defender Mings may look an intimidating presence at 6ft 5in, but he feels more secure having man’s best friend in his home.
Like Sterling and Pogba, he went for an intelligent Rottweiler to protect him and the pooch has helped him settle at Aston Villa.
“Pablo, he’s a Rottweiler, he is here [in Birmingham] he’s at home,” Mings told the Birmingham Mail when asked who helped him find his feet in the Midlands.
“He’s great, he’s the best thing ever. We got him as a protection dog.”
Pablo, who belongs to Tyrone Mings, helped the defender settle in BirminghamCredit: Chaperone K9
ANDY CARROLL
The Newcastle striker was left terrified when he was the target of a gun-wielding motorbike rider who tried to steal his watch while he was in his car waiting at the traffic lights.
So, he bought a Cane Corso to protect him and his family, including ex-TOWIE star Billi Mucklow.
They named him Bane after the murderous Batman villain played by Tom Hardy.
Meet Andy Carroll’s Cane Corso, Bane
RIO FERDINAND
Back in March, BT Sport pundit Rio added teeth to his home security.
A German Shepherd, trained by Chaperone K9, was acquired by the former Manchester United star who was concerned his family may become targets if he was away for work.
A source told The Sun: “They already have stringent measures in place but you can’t be too careful.
“They also love going out for walks as a family in the countryside, so having a dog makes sense.”
BT Sport pundit Ferdinand wanted a dog to protect his family when he was on away days (it’s the one on the right)
HUGO LLORIS
France goalkeeper Lloris went to a rival firm for his security pooch.
The Spurs stopper called up Elite Protection Dogs for a four-legged friend to mind his premises whenever he’s away.
The London-based firm uses only German and Belgian Shepherds that “come from military and police backgrounds”.
Its website says the dogs are “dedicated to shield you . . . from any possible danger or threat as taught through intense training, mental stability and obedience”.
Hugo Lloris got his pet from Elite Protection DogsCredit: Instagram
HAMZA CHOUDHURY
The Leicester City star popped into Chaperone K9’s Leicestershire HQ and personally saw his Belgian Malinois in development.
According to Chaperone K9’s website, the dogs are able to recognise and deal with a number of different threats, including home invasion, road rage, personal attacks on the person and their family and robbery.
Once given a command, they will spring into action with an apparent initial display of aggression to ward a potential assailant off simply by barking.
If there is more than one attacker, they are taught to position themselves between you and the potential threat, continuously barking to keep the assailants at bay.
And should the assailant continue to pose you a danger, a Chaperone K9 has learned, on command, to bite and hold the attacker until you tell the dog to release them.
Leicester star Choudhury went to Chaperone K9s HQ to see his dog being trainedCredit: Chaperone K9
The dogs are able to recognise and deal with a number of different threats
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk