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    Ruben Amorim set for major boost in first Man Utd match with forgotten man to return against Ipswich

    RUBEN AMORIM could be handed a huge boost ahead of his game in charge of Manchester United.On Friday the club announced Amorim as their new head coach – a first in history for the men’s team – and that he would officially take over the role on November 11.Ruben Amorim could be boosted in his selection when he takes charge of his first Man Utd game on November 24Credit: PAIt comes as Leny Yoro nears a return to full fitnessCredit: GettyRuud van Nistelrooy has taken interim charge of the squad in the meantime and has overseen a 5-2 win over Leicester in the League Cup and a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the Premier League.SunSport understands the players have made it clear they would like the legendary ex-player to remain at the club when Amorim takes charge.But before a decision is made on that front, Amorim will be thinking about how he can implement his style of play with the squad available to him.The 39-year-old is known to favour a 3-4-3 formation at Sporting CP, which has won two league titles since he took charge in 2020, ending a 19-year league drought.READ MORE ON MAN UTDAnd Amorim looks set to be handed a timely boost with the return of £52million summer signing Leny Yoro.Yoro, 18, was sidelined after sustaining a metatarsal injury during the pre-season friendly against Arsenal. There are high hopes that in time the defender can be a key figure at Old Trafford for years to come.And the ex-Lille star is now edging closer to his first taste of competitive action with the Red Devils.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe Evening Standard suggests Yoro could be in contention to face Ipswich on November 24, which comes after the next international break. Yoro may also be joined by the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire and long-term lay-off Tyrell Malacia, who is back in full training after his last match with the team coming in May 2023.Watch as Sporting CP’s fans jeer at new Manchester United Manager Rúben AmorimSporting beat Estrela da Amadora 5-1 on Friday night led by Viktor Gyokeres scoring four goals.The Portuguese outfit will face Manchester City on Tuesday evening before Amorim’s final game in charge of the club away at Braga, whom he managed before the Lisbon outfit.Three Sporting stars Amorim could swoop for after joining Man UtdRUBEN AMORIM has ruled out poaching any of his Sporting Lisbon players in the January transfer window.But the Portuguese side’s chiefs expect Amorim will come calling in the summer – with his cheque book wide open.Here’s are three Sporting starts United could swoop for… but they won’t come cheap:VIKTOR GYOKERESAge: 26Position: StrikerCost: £84millionSwede has shone since joining Sporting last summer from Coventry — catching the eye of all Europe’s top clubs.Hit 43 goals in 50 games last season and boasts 18 strikes already this term.GONCALO INACIOAge: 23Position: DefenderCost: £50millionBall-playing centre-back was handed his debut by Amorim and has since become a key figure in Sporting’s recent title successes.Can also slot in at left-back if required and has 12 caps for Portugal.MORTEN HJULMANDAge: 25Position: MidfieldCost: £40millionDane is one of the top holding midfielders in Portugal — and made skipper by Amorim.He could be the man to replace Casemiro.Ten Hag’s Man Utd signingsThe Dutchman has brought in 21 players since moving to Old Trafford in 20222022-23:Antony, (Ajax) £86mCasemiro, (Real Madrid) £70mLisandro Martinez, (Ajax) £46mTyrell Malacia, (Feyenoord) £13mChristian Eriksen, (Brentford) freeMartin Dubravka, (Newcastle) loanWout Weghorst, (Burnley) loanJack Butland, (Crystal Palace) loanMarcel Sabitzer, (Bayern Munich) loan2023-24:Rasmus Hojlund, (Atalanta) £72mMason Mount, (Chelsea) £60mAndre Onana, (Inter Milan) £47mSofyan Amrabat, (Fiorentina) loanAltay Bayindir, (Fenerbahce) £4.3mJonny Evans, (Leicester) freeSergio Reguilon, (Tottenham) loan2024-25:Leny Yoro, (Lille) £52mManuel Ugarte, (Paris Saint-Germain) £50mMatthijs de Ligt, (Bayern Munich) £45mJoshua Zirkee, (Bologna) £36.5mNoussair Mazraoui, (Bayern Munich) £12.8mRuben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man UtdWHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers. The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for.Ruben Amorim leaves Sporting on a highBy Charlie WyettRUBEN AMORIM would have preferred to leave Lisbon in a blaze of glory after winning a third Primeira Liga title.Yet football does not work like that. And in what was surely his final game before taking charge of Manchester United, Amorim prepared to say his goodbyes at a half-empty Estadio Jose Alvalade in a League Cup quarter-final against Nacional.Sporting won 3-1 thanks to  second-half goals by captain  Morten Hjulmand and Viktor Gyokeres, who scored two.Luis Esteves pulled back for Madeira-based Nacional.The stadium  will be a good deal more lively on Tuesday when Manchester City are here for  a Champions League match — although Amorim should by then have his feet firmly under his desk at Old Trafford.Liverpool and Aston Villa were both interested in Europe’s most sought-after coach. Even City could have been a possible destination post-Pep Guardiola.Yet the United job is one Amorim, 39,  could not turn  down — even if not everyone saw it that way at Sporting last night.There is clearly a huge split in the Portuguese club’s fan base over their coach leaving at this stage of the season with many believing he should have seen the job through.Yet Amorim, along with the three-man coaching team who are expected to follow him, leaves a club in a much better state than when he arrived here in 2020.Inside the stadium, there was applause — albeit muted — when his name was read out before the game along with the line-ups.And there did not appear to be any jeers when Amorim shuffled out from the tunnel awkwardly towards the dugout.So, while his departure is hard to take for some, none of the fans will forget his legacy.This is a club which is back as the dominant force in Portugal. Even this term, Sporting have won their first nine league games, scoring 30 goals and conceding just two.They are also eighth in the Champions League table, which is one hell of an effort.In contrast, Lisbon was not exactly hit by League Cup fever last night.Amorim made lots of changes, which saw Sporting’s star man Gyokeres, the former Coventry striker, start on the bench.There was, however, a first appearance in six weeks for former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards. He is certainly one player who has been transformed by Amorim since arriving at the club from Vitoria in 2022 and will be sorry to see the coach leave.While he changed his team, Amorim stuck with his tried and trusted formation of a back three.It will certainly be something Manchester United’s fans will have to get used to over the  coming months.But looking at the Premier League table, none of them will be complaining about the change. More

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    Could Ruben Amorim be Man Utd’s next Sir Alex Ferguson? Eerie similarity between both appointments emerges

    RUBEN AMORIM is the latest man tasked with leading Manchester United back to glory.The 39-year-old became the new United head coach last week following Erik ten Hag’s departure.Ruben Amorim will take over at Man Utd next weekCredit: PAHis appointment has similarities to the time Sir Alex Ferguson first arrived at UnitedCredit: GettyTen Hag was sacked following a poor start to the season, with the club struggling in the bottom half of the Premier League table.Amorim quickly emerged as the priority target for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and penned a two-and-a-half year deal just a matter of days later.The ex-Portugal midfielder will officially take the reins on November 11 – but he faces the huge challenge of hauling Man Utd up the Prem table and through the Europa League group stage.Despite the sheer weight of the task, he can look to legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson for inspiration.READ MORE ON MAN UTDWhen the United icon first took over at Old Trafford back in 1986, the Red Devils had just 12 points from 10 league games.At the time, Ferguson had only managed in Scotland.Now, with Amorim about to step in, Man Utd sit 13th in the table with 12 points from 10 games.And similarly, the ex-midfielder has only managed in Portugal.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAmorim jokingly compared himself to Ferguson when looking ahead to Sporting Lisbon’s Champions League clash with Manchester City on Monday.He said: “The focus is on winning the game for Sporting, after that, the inferences that people will draw from this game are not important to me because they could be misleading.Watch as Sporting CP’s fans jeer at new Manchester United Manager Rúben Amorim”If the result is negative, expectations will drop; if we win they will think that the new Alex Ferguson has arrived!”What interests me is to win, a good farewell in Alvalade, win in Braga and start a new adventure in Manchester.”What I want is to leave the fans and my players happy for what is to come in the new season.”Ruben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man UtdWHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers. The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for. More

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    Tottenham star James Maddison’s mum BANS him from celebration he ‘doesn’t know why he did’

    JAMES MADDISON has been banned from taking his shirt off when he scores for Tottenham – by his MUM.The Spurs midfielder, 27, was ticked off by his parents for the automatic yellow card he received for whipping off his top during last month’s 3-1 win over Brentford. James Maddison whipped his top off in celebration last month – much to his mum’s annoyanceCredit: RexThe Spurs star revealed he had received a ticking off after the matchCredit: InstagramAfter scoring a superb free-kick on Sunday in the 4-1 victory over Aston Villa, Maddison stopped himself from going topless once again.His mum is an avid fan of Fantasy Football and players in the starting XI lose points if they are cautioned by the referee.Maddison, who celebrates goals with a darts celebration, said: “I don’t know why I took my top off.“My mum text me about this actually.READ MORE ON FOOTBALL“She said ‘Keep your top on next time because I’ve got you in my Fantasy team and I got minus one for the yellow card.’He laughed: “Sorry mum!”Dead-ball specialist Maddison has vowed to continue channelling his inner David Beckham and score more free-kicks for Tottenham.The 27-year-old feels he has not properly shown Spurs fans what he is capable of doing from stationary positions since he moved to North London from Leicester in the summer of 2023.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe £40million recruit – who has scored seven Tottenham goals – spent countless hours in his garden as a kid, trying to copy Becks who was a free-kick wizard during his time at Manchester United.The Spurs vice-captain said: “It can be difficult sometimes, the really close ones which are right on the edge.’Bruno Fernandes red card was huge VAR error’ in Man Utd loss to Spurs | Whistleblower, Mark Halsey”You haven’t got as much time to get it up-and-down, so it’s why I took it a little bit quicker.”Not sure if you noticed but as soon as the whistle went, I was already leaning into it, to try and catch Martinez out a bit, because he’s a good goalkeeper.”I used to watch Becks. I think last season was the first year I ever had in my whole career where I didn’t score a direct free-kick.Tottenham’s top 10 biggest signings: Hit or miss?1) Tanguy Ndombele – £52.7mNdombele joined from Lyon in 2019 with huge expectations after shattering Tottenham’s transfer record.But he would go on to play just 91 times for the club, scoring 10 goals and is now set to leave one year before the end of his contract.2) Richarlison – £49.3mRicharlison almost broke the £50m mark when he arrived from Everton in 2022 as Harry Kane’s back-up.And while his tally of 12 goals this season was a significant increase on the three from his opening Spurs campaign, he is being linked with a departure this summer.3) Brennan Johnson – £46.8mJohnson was signed by Ange Postecoglou last summer and has impressed in patches during his first season in North London.He scored five goals and 10 assists in 38 games and will look to build on that in the 2024/25 campaign.4) Cristian Romero – £44.2mRomero initially joined on loan from Atalanta in 2021, before his impressive displays saw him secure a permanent deal the following year.He is two games shy of 100 for Spurs and, while he can be reckless with his tackling at times, is beginning to form a promising partnership with Micky van de Ven.5) James Maddison – £39.4mMaddison was handed Kane’s No10 shirt after arriving at Spurs and hit the ground running with three goals and five assists in his opening 11 matches.But after getting injured against Chelsea in October, he failed to return with the same sharpness – managing just five goal contributions in 15 league matches as he missed out on England’s final 26-man squad for the Euros.6) Davinson Sanchez – £35.7mSanchez joined Spurs from Ajax in 2017 and played more than 200 games across a six-year spell.But he was always considered a somewhat erratic defender who did not play more than 20 games in a Premier League season from 2020 onwards.7) Pedro Porro – £34mPorro was another signing who originally arrived on loan in January 2023, before he signed permanently last summer.He has 54 appearances for Spurs under his belt, scoring seven goals and impressing under Postecoglou this season.8) Micky van de Ven – £34mRapid Dutch centre-back Van de Ven was named Spurs Player of the Season in his first campaign at the club.His pace, athleticism, and technical ability on the ball have made him arguably Postecoglou’s best signing to date.9) Moussa Sissoko – £29.8mSissoko came to North London for a substantial fee after being relegated with Newcastle and went on to enjoy five years at Tottenham, playing more than 200 games.Unfortunately for the French midfielder, he is best-known for giving away a controversial penalty for handball in the first minute of Spurs’ 2-0 Champions League final defeat to Liverpool in 2019.10) Giovani Lo Celso – £27.2mLo Celso joined on loan from Real Betis in 2019 – a deal that was made permanent the following season.He has 10 goals and eight assists in 108 games, with some Spurs fans still unsure about the Argentine.”I’ve scored quite a few, maybe 15-16 direct free-kicks. So it annoyed me last year that I didn’t get one.”I know I can be dangerous from them. I probably haven’t shown it to Spurs fans yet.” More

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    Inside departing Arsenal sporting director Edu’s family life, from fiery wife to footballer son and those famous BBQ’s

    ARSENAL fans have been rocked by the news that sporting director Edu is set to leave the club.The good times are back at the Emirates, as the Gunners have built a team capable of challenging Man City at the top.Arsenal’s departing sporting director Edu with his familyEdu has been married to Brazilian Wag Paul for 21 yearsIt has been reported that Edu will link up with Nottingham Forest in a more senior roleCredit: GettyPart of that has been down to the work of Edu, who was famously one of the Invincibles in 2004, who has helped transform the club with a host quality signings.The likes of Martin Odegaard, William Saliba, and Declan Rice have all arrived in North London during the Brazilian’s tenure.It’s reported Edu is looking at a bigger challenge – taking on a senior role at Nottingham Forest to become a chief executive to Evangelos Marinakis’ footballing empire, which includes Olympiacos and Rio Ave.The move could TRIPLE his wages.Read more football newsAway from the game, the ex-Brazil international has developed a cult following.He shares his family life on social media, with wife Paula and their three children taking centre stage on Instagram.While in the summer, those famous memes of him manning a barbecue had Gooners purring over Edu cooking up a huge transfer deal.Family manEdu’s Instagram is almost an ode to his family life.Most read in FootballEdu’s family life is played out on his social media, including wedding dayWhen it comes to party, Edu makes sure he celebrates with his familyAt Christmas time the Gaspar family enjoy a big get-togetherHe shares plenty of personal moments to his 435,000 followers, including his wedding anniversaries over the years.He’s been married to Paula for 21 years, sharing their wedding day to his fans.‘F—ing shut your mouth’ – Ian Wright in X-rated rant at giggling Alan Shearer after Newcastle stun ArsenalAnd the Gaspars love an occasion to celebrate.Back in January, they wore matching white outfits to celebrate the turn of the New Year.Before that, at Christmas, they showed off their family home – posing in front of their tree.Edu and Paula share three children together, that includes their only son Luigi, 20, and daughters Maria, 18, and Isabelli, 11.His wife has always got his back.When the wife got into botherBack in 2021, with the Gunners in a transitional period, things did not start well for Mikel Arteta’s side.The club had to suffer before there were signs of improvement, which meant fans had to be patient.However, tensions spilled over during a home game against Chelsea.With Arsenal trailing 2-0, one angry supporter confronted Edu by getting out of his seat and berating him from the steps.A video was shared on social media showing the tense moment.While Edu managed to remain composed throughout the abuse, Paula could not contain her frustration.After the fan had finished angrily making his point, Paula put her middle finger up at him as frustrations boiled over, demonstrating her willingness to stand up for her husband in the face of criticism.Clearly, Paula isn’t to be messed with.Paula Gaspar is the supportive Wag of EduWhen Edu received abuse from an Arsenal fan in 2021, Paula jumped to his defencePaula told the fan exactly where to go after seeing her husband get stickread more sport featuresFootballer sonFollowing in dad’s footsteps on the pitch is Edu’s son, Luigi.Also a midfielder, he began his career like his father at Brazilian club Corinthians.He joined at U7 level, before representing the club in futsal.When Edu joined Arsenal in 2019, his son linked with up with their academy.But three years later he departed the club by mutual consent.He joined fellow London side Watford in 2022, and has broken into their youth sides.They extended his contract until the end of the season.Luigi Gaspar joined Arsenal in 2019 from CorinthiansA midfielder like dad, Luigi now plays for Watford’s youth sidesEdu’s 35 signings rankedEDU oversaw the arrival of 35 players during his time at the club.Some worked out better than others.Here, SunSport ranks them from worst to best…35. Nicolas Pepe (£72m)34. Willian (Free)33. David Luiz (£8m)32. Runar Alex Runarsson (£2m)31. Mat Ryan (Loan)30. Fabio Vieira (£34m)29. Neto (Loan)28. Marquinhos (£3m)27. Nuno Tavares (£8m)26. Matt Turner (£5m)25. Cedric Soares (Free)24. Albert Sambi Lokonga (£17m)23. Pablo Mari (£5m)22. Dani Ceballos (Loan)21. Raheem Sterling (Loan)20. Jakub Kiwior (£17m)19. Jorginho (£12m)18. Riccardo Calafiori (£42m)17. Kieran Tierney (£25m)16. Takehiro Tomiyasu (£20m)15. Mikel Merino (£28m)14. Aaron Ramsdale (£24m)13. Oleksandr Zinchenko (£30m)12. Gabriel Jesus (£45m)11. Kai Havertz (£65m)10. Jurrien Timber (£38m)9. Gabriel Martinelli (£6m)8. David Raya (£27m)7. Leandro Trossard (£20m)6. Thomas Partey (£45m)5. Ben White (£50m)4. Gabriel Magalhaes (£27m)3. Declan Rice (£105m)2. William Saliba (£27m)1. Martin Odegaard (£30m)Click here to read more Arsenal stories.What’s cooking?When it comes to the summer, Arsenal fans are always hungry for new signings.Bizarrely, some have found a link to their transfer activity when Edu is manning a barbecue.Often, the retired footballer shares clips of him cooking up a treat for his family.Brazilian’s traditionally love grilled meats and fish, and Edu is no different.How Edu made Arsenal great againBy Jack RosserEDU GASPAR has been on a mission to ‘Make Arsenal Great Again’ ever since returning to the club he played for 2019.After a few wobbles early on – signing Nicolas Pepe will never reflect well – the Brazilian has, alongside Mikel Arteta, been crucial in the club’s transformation.Arteta was brought in as the new manager within months of Edu’s return to North London and the former midfielder stuck by the boss when the pressure was on two years into the job.Instead of making the knee-jerk decision to change manager again, the former Brazil international, joined forces with Arteta to institute a huge change of culture at The Emirates.Overpaid toxic influences such as Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were purged from the dressing room and Arsenal set about adding strong characters.Edu finally got the club competing in the transfer market again, with Martin Odegaard an outstanding capture for the club. In landing Declan Rice ahead of Manchester City last year Arsenal showed they couple compete for and sign some of Europe’s biggest talents once more.Arsenal have become one of the most attractive clubs in the Premier League and one of the most efficient in the market.While there have been big deals for the likes of Rice and Calafiori, there have been smart ones too – picking out value where others have lost hope.Kai Havertz appeared as a surprising signing after a dreadful season at Chelsea. But after Edu gave the German space and support to rebuild his confidence he has developed into a fine asset for Arteta.Edu does not only have a tight relationship with Arteta – who many fans will be glad signed a new deal before the sporting director’s departure – but the players too, always ready and waiting to check in, keep them going.London Colney and The Emirates will feel a very different place for all of them without Edu.He has been seen with a cigar in mouth turning over some steaks and sausages ahead of huge deals that have been completed.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt’s an impressive barbecue fitted with plenty of upgrades, just like the squad he helped build.One wonders if it will be heading to Nottingham with him.Edu puts his BBQ skills to good use with a cigar in his mouthArsenal fans linked their transfer activity with Edu manning his bbqEdu’s barbecue is certainly well stacked More

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    David Beckham’s former team-mate becomes referee and one of first ex-players to make the jump

    CHRIS BIRCHALL’s football career took him from Port Vale to Los Angeles – and now he’s eyeing up the Premier League. The former LA Galaxy midfielder has retrained as a referee since hanging up his boots in 2016.Chris Birchall (right) could finally be ready to achieve his Premier League dreamCredit: GettyThe former LA Galaxy midfielder has retrained as a refereeCredit: Paul TongeBirchall played alongside David Beckham in LACredit: Paul TongeBirchall started the process of becoming an official earlier this year.The 40-year-old signed up for a special PGMOL initiative aimed at fast-tracking ex-pros into refereeing. Birchall took charge of his first qualification game in April.And he told SunSport just a month later: “I’d love to ref in the EFL. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL”The hardest things are positioning  yourself and making split-second decisions.”Birchall has now secured a three-year deal with the FA, blazing a trail for ex-players going into the profession.He revealed on Monday: “I am over the moon to accept a 3yr contract offer from the PGMOL to become one of the first ex-players to transition into professional refereeing! “Huge thanks to the PFA and Premier League along with PGMOL for this opportunity.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSTagging in Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, a vocal referee critic, he added: “Don’t be sceptical, be very excited!”The new recruitment drive is part of the Elite Referee Development Plan, which is funded and supported by the Premier League. Fans dub David Beckham’s dream 5-a-side team ‘probably the best ever’ as legend picks just one former Man Utd team-mateIt aims to revamp refereeing in English football, giving ex-professionals a fast-track route into the system.Chief refereeing officer Howard Webb explained: “We’ve made no secret that we are looking to broaden our pool of officials and entice people from other areas of the game and society into refereeing who may have historically not been well represented.”It’s been fantastic to collaborate with the PFA on this programme.”The level of interest from their members strongly indicates they feel this is an exciting opportunity to explore an avenue which could potentially lead them to the highest levels of our game – this time as a match official.”VAR: Imagine the future…Martin Lipton’s pro VAR viewFAST forward 12 months to May 18, 2025.After 89 minutes at Molineux, Wolves, needing to win their last game of the season to stay up, are beating Manchester United, who require a point for Champions League football.A ball over the top sends Rasmus Hojlund racing away. The flag stays down. Hojlund scores. Wolves are relegated.And on the way home, the dejected Wolves fans see the still image on their phones.Hojlund was 2ft offside. No question. A shocker.It means at least a year in the Championship, £100million income drop, a firesale of the squad. While United bank an extra £50m.But it’s OK. Every  one of those fans, plus smiling boss Gary O’Neil and the  Wolves board, will line up to say: “No worries. It’s what we voted for. Rough with the smooth.”Yes. And I’ve got a bridge to Ireland to sell you.Birchall spent much of his early career in England’s lower leagues, playing for Vale, Coventry and Brighton.His world was turned upside down in 2009 when he joined the Galaxy, replacing David Beckham on his debut. Speaking to SunSport earlier this year, Birchall said: “David was great with me. “Although I played with him towards the end of his career, wow what a player. He could pick you out with a pass from 40 yards.”There was banter between us as English guys. He’d come into training every morning and say to me, ‘Hi, Mr Perfect’ and I was like, ‘If anyone should be called that it’s you!’What do David Beckham’s tattoos mean?HandsStarting with the hands, and David Beckham has the word “Love” inked across the top of his left hand, with a swallow on either side.This is joined by the numbers 723, a combination of the shirts he famously wore for Manchester United and later Real Madrid.On his little finger, he has the year he was married.Becks also has a small female-stick figure designed by his daughter Harper.The devoted husband has “Posh” tattooed on a finger as a nod to wife Victoria Beckham’s Spice Girls nickname.ArmsBecks has two sleeve tattoos on both his arms with the centrepieces paying tribute to his marriage to Victoria.The most famous of his body art comes in the shape of her name along the inside of his forearm, which is inked in Sanskrit.Both Posh and Becks have Hebrew tattoos, which they got to celebrate their sixth wedding anniversary.The matching tatts translate to, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine”.Meanwhile, Becks also has a separate rose inking on his left arm to mark the couple’s tenth anniversary.NeckOne of Beckham’s most famous tattoos is on his neck, which is a gothic style cross and wings.It is symbolic of to his religion and acts as a protective guardian of his son Romeo, whose name is tattooed just below the angel wings.Beckham also has the name of his daughter, Harper, on the side of his neck.This was later updated to include the words “Pretty Lady”, to mark her fourth birthday.BackBeckham’s back tattoos serve as tribute to his sons.He has angel wings at the top as a sign of protection for them.Becks has both his eldest on Brooklyn, and his youngest son Cruz’s names inked across his back.BodyBeckham has a large chest tattoo that is an image of himself as Jesus, with three cherubs representing his sons, Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz.The footy ace also has a vertical tattoo down his left side in Chinese symbols – this translates as “Death and life have determined appointments”.Paying homage to his father, he has an inking of a ship at full mast – which is identical to the same one his dad has.”He sends video messages when it’s my lad’s birthday and I’ll text him when any big news happens. He’s humble and the type of person you want to be associated with.”Birchall played international football for Trinidad & Tobago, facing off against Golden Balls in the 2006 World Cup.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe remembers: “My biggest memory was Beckham shaking my hand at the end and telling me, ‘You had one hell of a game’. “He was my hero so that was special.” More

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    Dominic Solanke repays his backers’ loyalty with 21-point splurge – time for doubters to backtrack?

    DOMINIC SOLANKE (£4m) was the weekend’s biggest winner from a Dream Team perspective.The Tottenham striker scored two goals in the space of four minutes on his way to a massive 21-point haul against Aston Villa on Sunday.On targetCredit: Dream TeamSolanke was also credited with a ‘fantasy assist’ by stats providers Opta as he won the free-kick that was expertly converted by James Maddison (£4.6m) in stoppage time.Gameweek 10 is not done yet but at this stage the 27-year-old is the top performer.This points splurge couldn’t have come at a better time for Solanke’s backers as their patience has been tested in recent weeks.He mustered just 16 points from six outings prior to his brace against the Villains and, for all his neat link-up play and tireless running, his lack of threat in the penalty area was a notable issue.In fact, Solanke didn’t register a single shot on target in the six games leading into Sunday’s performance.Solanke produced a composed finish to end his goal droughtCredit: RexAlmost 10% of Dream Team managers will be hoping his latest showing will kickstart a fruitful spell in front of goal – he bagged 21 in all competitions for Bournemouth last season.Gaffers who replaced Solanke prior to Gameweek 10 will obviously be kicking themselves but it was a perfectly logical decision to move away from a striker without a single shot on target in his last six games.The Dream Team gods can be kind but they can also be cruel.Most read in FootballThe question now is worthy it’s a sensible move to bring the England striker back into the fold?Spurs are due to host 18th-placed Ipswich in Gameweek 11, one of just two top flight sides without a league win in 2024/25.Only Wolves have conceded more goals than the Tractor Boys at the time of writing and so it has to be considered an immensely favourable fixture for Solanke and company next weekend.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWGameweek 12 brings a tougher test in the form of Manchester City and Roma but there’s an international break to endure before then.It’s amazing how quickly things can change in Dream Team; Spurs’ No19 looked to be a sensible sell just a few days ago but now has to be considered a strong option for the upcoming Gameweek.It’s early days but Solanke is currently the most transferred-in player for Gameweek 11.Spurs have won nine of their last 11 gamesCredit: PAMore broadly, Spurs are now top scorers in the Premier League this season.This combined with a perfect start of three wins in three Europa League games indicates there’s certainly value to be had among Ange Postecoglou’s squad.READ MORE SUN STORIESBrennan Johnson (£3.8m), James Maddison (£4.6m) and Dejan Kulusevski (£3.1m) are all among the top 13 Dream Team midfielders while Solanke is up to fourth among strikers.Plus, Son Heung-min (£5.3m) averages eight points-per-game so far this campaign.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    European giants selling off part of iconic stadium after incredible £1billion renovation

    REAL MADRID’S first-team locker room from the iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium will be auctioned off.Real’s historic dressing room will be sold by Sotheby’s, who will open the bidding online from 12 November for two weeks.Real Madrid’s first-team locker room from Santiago Bernabeu will be auctioned.This comes after the most extensive renovation of the Bernabeu, which cost £1billionCredit: GettyBidders will be offered 24 individual lockers used by legends of the gameCredit: GettyThe auction is being held in partnership with Pursuit 3 Marketing Group S.L., which is the club’s official memorabilia partner.It comes after the massive renovation of the Bernabeu, which cost a staggering £1billion.Bidders will be offered 24 individual lockers used by legends, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham. Zinedine Zidane, Sergio Ramos and Luis Figo.Bidding starts at £10,000 and each locker will be presented as it appeared during the 2022 season.Read More on FootballThat means that the lockers could be sold for at least £250,000.And each will be accompanied by a letter certifying its authenticity, listing each of the players who once called the locker their own.The sale will also include the Real Madrid Santiago Bernabeu Stadium Mosaic measuring approximately three metres wide with bids starting at £12,000.Also up for grabs are the stadium’s metal doors, which will go for at least £8,000.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSA portion of the proceeds will go to the Real Madrid Foundation, which is committed to encouraging the education of children.The foundation also promotes social inclusion of the most vulnerable members of society and builds a world-class memorabilia programme for the club as well as its fans.Headline Legendary stadium looks unrecognisable with football pitch in underground greenhouse and amazing 360-degree big screenReal are currently second in LaLiga with nine points separating them from leaders Barcelona.Bidding will be taking place at sothebys.com. More

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    There’s something wrong with refereeing after Martinez dodged red for career-threatening Palmer foul, says ex-Prem ref

    LISANDRO MARTINEZ avoiding a red card for his shocking challenge on Cole Palmer signals something could be wrong with refereeing, according to Mark Halsey.The former Premier League referee believes the Manchester United defender was “very lucky” to escape a red card.Lisandro Martinez escaped a red card for his high tackle on Cole PalmerCredit: PAThe challenge could gave caused a serious injuryCredit: PAMark Halsey questioned why VAR did not intervene to send off MartinezCredit: AFPMartinez caught Palmer high on his knee with a reckless lunge that could have led to a serious injury.Ref Rob Jones booked Martinez for the tackle but VAR did not recommend a review, so there was no opportunity to increase the Argentine’s punishment.Halsey cannot understand why VAR did not intervene and he believes Martinez would have walked if the ref took a second look at the incident.Halsey told SunSport’s Whistleblower: “I was surprised that VAR didn’t recommend a review because I don’t think Martinez could have any complaints had he seen red card for that offence. READ MORE ON MAN UTD”Because it was for me, it was serious foul play. It was a challenge that endangered the player’s safety because he was so high. Okay, the force wasn’t there.”But it’s a career threatening challenge when you’re going that high on someone’s knee.”If officials do not think that’s a red card. Then there’s something seriously wrong. It’s not about knowing the laws of the game.”I think Martinez was very, very lucky that he didn’t see red.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSFans were also shocked Martinez did not walk, as was Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.He said after the match: “I think there is not intention to take the ball and the foul is quite dangerous.”Manchester United vs Chelsea: Player Ratings Breakdown (2)”It is quite clear it is a red.”While Gary Neville said in commentary: “When you go that high I think you’re asking for a red card. I think he’s lucky.”When you go knee-high and the ball’s gone, I think it’s a red.” More