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      in Soccer

      Inside Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney’s £10m Wrexham spending spree – stadium overhaul to Paul Mullin’s staggering wages

      by

      WHEN it comes to football club owners, Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are in a league of their own.The pair are the toast of Wales after Wrexham FC won a long-awaited promotion back into the football league with a 3-1 victory over Boreham Wood on Saturday.
      Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds celebrate with the Vanarama National League trophy over the weekendCredit: Getty
      It marked the latest chapter of a fairy-tale story after Deadpool star Ryan and Rob, both 46, bought the ailing non-league club back in 2020.
      Just a decade ago, Wrexham were on the brink of bankruptcy, but in the space of a few years its superstar owners have now invested over £10million, as documented in the Disney+ documentary Welcome to Wrexham.
      From a bold plan to buy back the stadium to busting the wage bills and buying 365 gin and tonics for locals, turning around Wrexham’s fortunes hasn’t come cheap for the pair.
      But while they have had to write off millions of pounds in the quest for promotion, Wrexham’s newfound popularity around the world – and the hefty pay check from Disney – has meant they’re not totally in the red.
      Read More on Wrexham
      Stadium overhaul
      Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground was bought back by the clubCredit: AP
      Rob and Ryan unveiled plans for extensive redevelopments of the stadiumCredit: WNS
      After snapping up Wrexham FC for £2million, Rob and Ryan’s first big mission was to buy back the famous Racecourse Ground stadium.
      Previously, it was owned by Wrexham Glyndwr University, who bought it in 2011 as the club battled a financial crisis.
      Wrexham’s latest accounts to the end of June 2022 show that £3.67million was paid to repurchase the freehold of the stadium, according to the Mail on Sunday.
      Rob and Ryan – who have a combined net worth of over £400million – then announced plans to develop the Racecourse’s Kop stand for an estimated cost of around £80-90 million.
      Most read in Football
      When finished, the state of the art new stand will house 5,500 fans, while also boasting impressive hospitality and office facilities.
      The pitch has had its fair share of problems over recent yearsCredit: gemmathomasphotography/Wrexham AFC
      Rob and Ryan aren’t just focused on Wrexham’s men’s team, with the duo intent on making their women’s team the best in Wales.
      They previously said: “The commitment of the club’s owners in their mission statement was clear, in that their ambition was to grow all areas of Wrexham AFC, not just the first team.”
      They pledged to make the women’s team fully semi-professional, should they win promotion this season – a feat they achieved earlier this month.
      It’s Always Sunny star Rob tweeted: “ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. CONGRATULATIONS @WrexhamAFCWomen!!!!!!”

      But the investment isn’t always quite so rewarding. In the documentary, Rob is seen baulking at the cost of installing a new £100,000 pitch at the start of the 2021/2022 season.
      But after learning the surface is defective, the owners are then forced to spend £200,000 to returf it yet again.
      Player power
      The players celebrate after securing promotion with a 3-1 victory over Boreham WoodCredit: AFP
      Paul Mullin is paid a reported £4,500-a-week salaryCredit: Getty
      Key to Wrexham’s title bid has been their squad of expensively assembled stars, who are expected to have the highest wage bill in Non-League history.
      Star striker Paul Mullinshad set a new goalscoring record for League Two before his move to Wales and it took a hefty sum to convince him to drop down the divisions.
      While the average Non-League player is said to earn between £1,000 and £1,500 a week, Mullin – who has scored 38 league goals this season – signed a deal worth £4,500 per week in 2021.
      Close behind him are Ben Tozer and Aaron Hayden, from Cheltenham Town and Carlisle United respectively, who are on an estimated £3,000 per week.
      Since taking over, Ryan and Rob have largely snapped up players at the end of their contract and the only transfer fee they have paid is the £375,000 sum for Ollie Palmer.
      Perhaps the biggest name in the current squad is former Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster, who was convinced to come out of retirement on a short-term deal.
      “’I don’t need much (money) – to be honest,” Foster said. “The negotiations took about five minutes. Wages wise, it’s literally peanuts… the part for me is getting the team over the line and getting them promoted.”
      The club’s total wage bill for the 2021/22 season was revealed in the show to be around £2.3million – around the cost of an average League Two team’s.
      It is likely this season will surpass Salford City’s £2.68million bill in 2018/19, which remains the Non-League record.
      But the payday doesn’t stop there for the Wrexham FC players. Executive director Humphrey Ker previously revealed they would receive £250,000 each if they finished top of the National League.
      Kind gestures
      The town has been won over by the Hollywood pair’s generosityCredit: Getty
      Aside from ploughing millions of gratefully-received pounds into the club, Rob and Ryan have won over the community with a series of more personal investments.
      To celebrate one year as owners, the duo paid for 365 gin and tonics at The Turf Hotel near the stadium.
      Explaining the gesture, they wrote: “Just a quick note to thank each and every one of you on our 1-year anniversary with the club.
      “The love and adoration for Wrexham FC – it’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen. That’s why we’ve put up 365 Aviation Gin and Tonics behind the bar. Have one on us.”
      Whenever their fans have been in need, they have been quick to open their wallets.
      Weeks after they bought the club, Wrexham supporter Aiden Stott, who has cerebral palsy, set up a campaign to try and raise £6,000 towards buying a new bath and mechanical hoist.
      After Rob donated the life-changing donation in full, Aiden said: “I am absolutely amazed, I just can’t believe it.
      “I thought that friends would share it and support me, but I never thought that someone famous would donate. It’s brilliant and I’m just in shock.”
      When Kayleigh Burton set up a GoFundMe page to help kit out her son’s futsal team, Ryan donated £1,600 to kit out FC United of Wrexham.
      Kayleigh and her boy, Keegen, had been through a difficult year after the death of his father, Adam.
      Upon receiving the donation, she said: “I’m lost for words, and over the moon. Thank you Ryan for putting a smile on the team’s face, if thank you is even enough.
      “Keegen is Wrexham’s number one fan. His dad would be made up for him and bursting with pride.”
      It’s not just the fans, either. Rob and Ryan have been there for their players through thick and thin.
      In December 2021, midfielder Jordan Davies went through the most difficult of tragedies, when he and his partner Kelsey lost baby boy Arthur to a stillbirth.
      Following their loss, Jordan and Kelsey sought to raise money for stillbirth and neonatal death charity Sands UK by setting up a funding page.
      Rob and Ryan, together with partners Kaitlin Olson and Blake Lively, donated £10,000 towards the cause.
      Money makers
      Welcome to Wrexham has been a huge hit on Disney+Credit: Disney
      Last season, Ryan and Rob’s ambitious investments meant that the club made an overall loss of £2.9million – but it could pay off in the long run.
      That same season, the club’s income soared by 304 per cent to £6million as the Hollywood fairy-tale sparked interest around the world.
      Season ticket sales have also gone through the roof. In 2019 Wrexham sold just 2,609, but for this season, that figure has more than doubled to 6,820.
      Being in League Two next season will also significantly offset that pricey wage bill.
      Just for competing in the division alone, the club will receive £1.1million from the EFL, while Sky Sports will pay between £10,000 to £20,000 for showing any game on TV.
      And, of course, being the subject of a hugely popular Disney documentary doesn’t hurt either.
      Read More on The Sun
      The streaming giant has made a £430,000 profit on each episode of Welcome to Wrexham since it debuted last year, according to The Mirror.
      However little Ryan and Rob may know about football, it’s clear they know how to make a hit. More

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      in Soccer

      How Wrexham owner Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively built incredible £370m fortune – from gin to Gucci and Gossip Girl

      by

      RYAN Reynolds has more than one reason for fist-pumping celebrations following Wrexham’s dramatic Easter Monday win.The owner of the Welsh football side and his wife Blake Lively have almost doubled their fortune to £372 million in the past year.
      Blake Lively cheering on Wrexham AFC with her husband Ryan ReynoldsCredit: Getty
      The couple have racked up a business empire worth a combined £372mCredit: Getty
      The star of Deadpool and the Gossip Girl actress have proven to be astute tacticians in the business world.
      They have their fingers in countless pies, including gin, mobile phones, non-alcoholic drinks, fashion, cosmetics, movies and, of course, football.
      Wrexham, which is co-owned by Ryan and fellow actor Rob McElhenney, lost almost £3 million last year.
      But the North Wales side’s 3-2 victory over nearest promotion rivals Notts County this week means they are odds on favourites to climb out of the non-league and into the more financially lucrative English Football League.
      Read More on The Sun
      Canadian Reynolds, 46, bought Wrexham with the aim of getting them into the £6 billion Premier League.
      Their battle for success, which was documented in a Disney Plus TV series, is proving to be blockbuster viewing.
      Reynolds said that the tussle between Wrexham and Notts County had “created drama unlike anything you’d ever see in a damn movie.”
      He has converted his wife Blake into a fan of football and the couple are buying a £1.5million home in the village of Marford not far from his club’s Racecourse ground.
      Most read in Football
      Here we look at Hollywood power couple’s biggest deals and estimated net worth.
      Ryan Reynolds – net worth £348m
      Reynolds is one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars – earning £57million in 2020 and netting around £16 million per movie.
      He struck a very savvy deal when he agreed to star in and produce the Marvel comic book movie Deadpool in 2016.
      While he was paid “just” £1.5million upfront, Reynolds took a share of the box office profits which earned him up to £30million. 
      But he’s not just an actor. He’s made his fair share of savvy investments.
      Drama unlike anything you’d ever see in a damn movieRyan Reynolds
      Communications giant T Mobile have agreed to pay up to £1billion for Mint Mobile which Reynolds bought a quarter share of just three years ago.
      He is going to remain in a creative role following the takeover, which is said to have earned him £245million.
      The film star has done much to promote Aviation gin, which he’s believed to have between a 20 and 25 per cent share in.
      The company was sold back in 2020 for half a billion pounds to British drinks firm Diageo. 
      Reynolds bought the fifth division club in 2020 for £2millionCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Ryan is involved with Aviation Gin which was sold for £500 millionCredit: PA:Press Association
      Comic actor Reynolds co-founded Maximum Effort Productions and Maximum Effort Marketing, which was responsible for a jokey viral post about character Big’s Peloton heart attack in Sex and the City.
      The actor has proven to be adept at using social media to promote his products.
      His biggest gamble to date has been buying fifth division team Wrexham.
      Actor Rob McElhenney convinced Reynolds to buy the non-league side for £2million even though the pair had never met and neither knew that much about football.
      But the duo are now addicted to the beautiful game and made good their promise to invest in the team.
      Reynolds has invested in the sports streaming platform Fubo and helped with its marketing campaign.
      The actor is on board of Match Group Inc which owns dating sites  Tinder, OkCupid, Hinge and PlentyOfFish.
      Over the years, Reynolds has worked with Armani, Hugo Boss, Nissan and Hyundai. His car collection, though, includes a £300,000  Lamborghini Aventador and £150,000 Audi R8.
      Blake Lively – net worth £24m
      Blake was paid £50,000 for every episode of the teen drama Gossip Girl, which meant she made over £6million for the 121 she was in. 
      Last week Lively posted an image of herself in a bikini top showing off her toned midriff just months after giving birth to her fourth child.
      It’s no wonder that so many brands have paid to be associated with the 35-year-old actress over the years, including a “multimillion” deal to be the face of the cosmetics giant L’Oreal in 2014.
      The stylish star is rumoured to have earned over £3million for a deal with high end fashion firm Gucci in 2012. 
      Blake was the face of L’Oreal Paris from 2014 in a ‘multimillion’ dollar dealCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Blake made £6million from playing troubled teen Serena van der Woodsen on Gossip GirlCredit: Handout
      In 2011 she was chosen to be the face of Chanel’s Mademoiselle handbag line, which is sure to have attracted a seven-figure fee.
      Recently, she’s tried her hand at starting her own side hustle from acting.
      Her latest venture is a line of non-alcoholic mixer drinks called Betty Buzz which makes sense for the teetotaller.
      Blake, who has 39 million followers on Instagram, has been posting images of herself with the drink, named after her grandmother Betty, which she launched in 2021.
      Blake and Ryan’s growing brood share a seven bedroom £4million mansion in Bedford, which is about one hour’s drive from New York. Their neighbours include Matt Damon, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
      Read More on The Sun
      They are both believed to have invested in plenty of real estate.
      But not everything Blake touched turned to gold, with the actress ditching a digital magazine and hand-made items sales site called Preserve a year after its 2014 launch. More

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      in Motorsport

      Inside Formula 1 drivers’ luxury car collections – including Max Verstappen’s James Bond car and Hamilton’s £13m garage

      by

      FORMULA 1 drivers definitely live life in the fast lane – on and off the track.As some of the highest-paid sports stars in the world, they have huge mansions, designer outfits, and an impressive supercar collection to show for it.
      Lewis Hamilton shows off his Mercedes-Benz GLC SUVCredit: LewisHamilton/twitter
      Carlos Sainz with his Ferrari 600 LT SpyderCredit: mclarenautomotive/facebook
      And as many of them have shown, driving for some of the world’s biggest carmakers like Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Mercedes-Benz comes with incredible perks.
      Just ask Lewis Hamilton, whose partnership with Mercedes has netted him some of the manufacturers’ most amazing vehicles.
      Here, we take a peek into the garage of some of Formula 1’s biggest stars to see what they drive when they are not competing on the grid.
      Sergio Perez
      Sergio’s private car collection is said to be worth £4.3millionCredit: Rex
      His Bugatti Chiron cost a mind-blowing £2.5millionCredit: bugatti
      Although Sergio is yet to win a major championship, he’s still one of the most recognisable Formula 1 stars and is the fourth highest-paid driver on the grid right now.
      READ MORE ON F1
      The Mexican reportedly has five luxury cars to his name including a Bugatti Chiron, which retails from a mind-blowing £2.5million.
      Other cars in his collection include a McLaren 720S, a Mercedes Benz AMG, a Porsche Panamera, and a BMW X7.
      In total, the Red Bull racer’s cars are said to be worth over £4.3million.
      Charles Leclerc
      Charles Leclerc is one of the richest stars on the grid todayCredit: AP
      His vast collection includes a Rolls Royce WraithCredit: AFP
      Monte Carlo-born Charles is one of the grid’s most talented stars, with an estimated net worth of £42.5million after signing a deal with Ferrari in 2019.
      Most read in Motorsport
      He has one of the most impressive collections of private vehicles said to be worth £5.6million, including the powerful Bugatti Chiron and a Rolls Royce Wraith, worth £811,180.
      He also has a Ferrari GTC4 in his garage, which reportedly set him back £689,000, and a McLaren GT, which retails at £649,000.
      But that’s not all – the 25-year-old owns a Ferrari F8, a Land Rover Discovery, and a Jaguar XF.
      Max Verstappen
      Max’s collection is inspired by James BondCredit: Max33Verstappen/twitter
      Max also owns an Aston Martin Valkyrie, said to give drivers an F1 experienceCredit: Reuters
      The Red Bull driver is one of the highest-paid stars in Formula 1 and has a private car collection inspired by James Bond.
      Max owns a 007-type DB11, a follow-up to the DB10, driven by the fictional secret agent in Spectre.
      The Dutchman is reported to have added an Aston Martin Valkyrie to his collection. According to reports, the vehicle is priced at a whopping £2.1million.
      The manufacturer’s website describes the car as the closest anyone will get to having the Formula 1 experience on the road.
      Lewis Hamilton
      The Mercedes-Benz driver has several cars made by his teamCredit: MercedesAMGF1/twitter
      He says he no longer drives many of his supercars for environmental reasonsCredit: Xposure
      As a seven-time champion, it is no surprise that Lewis Hamilton likes to travel in style with a collection of some of the most luxurious vehicles.
      He has owned a 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 and a Ferrari LaFerrari.
      But these days, he prefers to be a bit more low-key as he takes the environment into consideration.
      In 2020, he told Reuters: “I don’t drive any of the cars that I own anymore. I only drive my [electric Mercedes] EQC.”
      It’s been reported that he also has a Mercedes-Benz G63, a GLC SUV, a McLaren P1, and a Pagani Zonda 760. According to reports, his private car collection is worth over £13.8million.
      Carlos Sainz
      Carlos Sainz has proudly shared snaps of his McLaren 720S on social mediaCredit: mclarenautomotive/facebook
      The star also has a McLaren 600 LT SpyderCredit: mclarenautomotive/facebook
      Carlos’ net worth is estimated to be £6.4million, meaning he has the means of securing himself an enviable car collection.
      It includes a Ferrari 812 Competizione, worth nearly £488,000.
      The Ferrari driver also has two McLarens – a 720S and a 600 LT Spyder – and has proudly shared snaps of them on social media.
      At £177,310, his Ferrari Roma is the least expensive vehicle in his possession.
      Fernando Alonso
      Fernando has several supercars including a McLaren
      Before switching teams from Alpine to Aston Martin, Fernando, 41, used to travel around in an Alpine A110 but has since upgraded.
      He now drives an Aston Martin DBX luxury SUV, which Fernando says is his dream car – the car doesn’t come cheap either, with the 2022 version boasting a starting price of £158,000.
      According to Slash Gear, the Spaniard’s garage includes a La Ferrari, a Porsche 918 Spyder, and a McLaren P1, which costs a staggering £895,000.
      Other cars in his collection are a Maserati GranCabrio, and the Ferrari 599 GTB Fernando Alonso Edition, which only had 40 units and typically sells for £244,000.
      Lance Stroll
      Lance Stroll is worth £41.6million and and owns a range of supercarsCredit: Splash
      His Ferrari California set him back a staggering £290,000Credit: Alamy
      Although Lance Stroll is worth £41.6million, his father Lawrence, who is a part owner and executive chairman of Aston Martin has a £2.4billion wealth.
      Lance’s car collection is one of the most incredible and is said to include a Ferrari California, which set him back £290,000.
      The Canadian also owns a Lamborghini Huracan, a Mercedes Benz AMG GT-R, and an Aston Martin Vantage, which is sold for about £131,000.
      His father, on the other hand, has a £50million Ferrari 250 GTO – the world’s most expensive car, and a £200million superyacht.
      Lando Norris
      Lando Norris has been living a glam life ever since swapping the UK for MonacoCredit: Getty
      Lando drives a powerful McLaren 720S, with a £248,800 price tagCredit: Getty
      He was seen driving a Fiat 500 Jolly in MonacoCredit: Norrislandofans/twitter
      He left the UK for Monaco when he got an extension to his McLaren deal last year and has been living the glam life ever since.
      Lando’s supercars includes a £248,800 McLaren 720S, which has the capability to go from 0-60 mph in just 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 212 mph.
      Staying loyal to his team, he also owns a McLaren 570 GT, which comes with a £169,000 price tag.
      He isn’t all about the big cars, however – he has been spotted driving around Monaco in a cute Fiat 500 Jolly, which has sparked a ton of memes and TikTok videos.
      Valtteri Bottas
      Valtteri Bottas has a £25million fortune and a number of carsCredit: EPA
      Valtteri owns a McLaren 765LT, which sells for £310,000
      Vatlterri, 33, who spent most of his career at Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate, has a £25million fortune in his own right and takes home £8.6million a year driving for Alfa Romeo.
      It’s no surprise then that he can afford a car collection that includes a McLaren 765LT Spyder, which goes for £310,000.
      There’s also a Mercedes Benz AMG GT Black Series for nearly £286,000, and an Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifogilo for £74,736
      The least expensive car in the Finnish racer’s collection is a Mercedes AMG C63 for £69,000.
      George Russell
      George Russell with his Mercedes AMG GT that cost £97,000Credit: Instagram @georgerussell63
      He also owns a Mercedes C63 S Coupe and posted a picture on social media of him washing itCredit: Instagram @georgerussell63
      As a driver for Mercedes, George, 25, has an array of supercars he could choose from, including his Mercedes AMG GT, which costs £97,000.
      Powered by a 4.0 litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, it can go from 0-60 mph in just 3.7 and has a top speed of 190 mph.
      Read More on The Sun
      The British racer also owns a Mercedes C63 S Coupe which is on the market for £63,482.
      He has even shared pictures of himself on social media washing the car himself by hand. More

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      in Soccer

      Where Soccer AM’s Soccerettes are now, from glamour models and talkSPORT host to Hollyoaks star and Big Brother winner

      by

      WITH cult classic football show Soccer AM set to be axed, SunSport takes a look back at one of its most iconic features – Soccerettes. The skit was scrapped in 2015 but saw a wide variety of future stars throughout its runtime.
      Soccer AM is set to be axedCredit: Sky
      From TV presenters to glamour models and actresses to Big Brother winners, the section etched its place into British TV history.
      But where are some of the most memorable Soccer AM Soccerettes now?
      Natalie Sawyer
      Natalie Sawyer appeared on Soccer AM in a Brentford shirt and now works at TalkSport
      Starting off, Natalie Sawyer made more than one appearance on Soccer AM during her 18 years working at Sky Sports.
      The now talkSPORT radio presenter and podcast host represented Brentford on the show, but back then promotion to the Premier League was a dream for any Bees fan.
      READ MORE ON SOCCER AM
      Natalie had been married to ITV commentator Sam Matterface until 2014. However, since 2015 she has been in a relationship with former Leeds and Brentford midfielder Jonathan Douglas.

      Gemma Atkinson
      Actress and former glamour model Gemma Atkinson appeared on Soccer AM in a Bury shirt in 2007
      Former TV Soap star Gemma Atkinson has forged a multi-faceted career which includes a 2007 appearance on Soccer AM, in which she donned a Bury shirt.
      Gemma appeared on both Emmerdale and Hollyoaks and has worked as a glamour model, before also adding Strictly Come Dancing to her CV.
      While on Strictly she met current partner Gorka Márquez, and she is now expecting her second child in the summer.
      Most read in Football
      Jennifer Metcalfe
      Jennifer Metcalfe is still one of the biggest stars on Hollyoaks now
      Jennifer Metcalfe made her Soccer AM debut while adorning a Bradford shirt.
      The Soap star is best known for roles as Mercedes McQueen and Jade Nicholls in Hollyoaks and Emmerdale respectively.
      She is mother to five-year-old Daye, but has admitted she would love to give him a sibling.
      Lucy Pinder
      Lucy Pinder wore a Southampton shirt. She later appeared on lad mags including FHM and Loaded
      Former glamour model Lucy Pinder was an instant hit on Soccerettes as she represented Southampton during her appearance.
      Lucy appeared in lad mags such as Nuts, FHM and Loaded, and also made an appearance on Big Brother in 2009.
      She has also dabbled in acting, with appearances in movies such as Sharknado 5.
      Chantelle Houghton
      Chantelle Houghton wore a yellow Arsenal shirt when on the SoccerettesCredit: Soccer AM
      She shot to fame after winning Big Brother in 2006Credit: Olivia West – The Sun
      Chantelle Houghton shot to fame after winning Big Brother in 2006 as a non-celeb.
      But before this she had been on Soccer AM with a yellow Arsenal shirt. She would later appear on Come Dine With Me.
      Chantelle has a daughter, ten-year-old Dolly, with ex-partner Alex Reid.
      Tamsin Greenway
      Tamsin Greenway appeared on Soccer AM with a shirt reading ‘unbelievable tekkers’Credit: Sky
      Greenway won bronze in the 2010 Commonwealth gamesCredit: Empics Sport
      Tamsmin Greenway appeared on Soccer AM in a Leicester City shirt, before it was removed to reveal a shirt which said “unbelievable tekkers”.
      The former England Netball star won bronze at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and at the 2011 and 2015 World Cups. She is now the head coach of Scotland.
      Greenway has two children, Jeane and Casey, born in 2013 and 2019 respectively.
      Kelly Kelly
      Wrestler Kelly Kelly made a special appearance in 2007Credit: Sky
      After retiring from WWE in 2012 she became an influencerCredit: Twitter @TheBarbieBlank
      Wrestler Kelly Kelly, real name Barbie Blank, also made an appearance on Soccer AM.
      The former WWE star made an appearance on the show back in 2007.
      The blonde bombshell left WWE in 2012 and became an influencer.
      Louise Cliffe
      Former Miss Manchester Louise Cliffe went on to appear on Big Brother
      Former Miss Manchester Louise Cliffe appeared on Soccer AM as a Manchester United Soccerette in 2011.
      The 36-year-old model went on to appear on Big Brother that same year.
      She got together with Jay McKray in the house, who she married and split up with a year later.
      Later, in 2016, she announced she was dating another one of her Big Brother housemates, Stuart Pilkington, and expecting a baby with him.
      The couple are still together and have two children, Eli, six, and Ezra, four. Louise now works as a body piercer.
      Peta Todd
      Peta Todd was just 21 when she was on Soccer AM
      Former Page 3 girl Peta Todd was just 21 when she first appeared on Soccer Am, supporting West Ham – and it wasn’t her last.
      She’d just come back from Afghanistan where she was supporting the troops with charity Help For Heroes.
      Over the years Peta has raised thousands for the charity, through endeavours like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, skydiving and running the London Marathon in 2010.
      In 2010, she received an award for outstanding contribution to the charity, which included a personal meeting with Prince William.
      Read More on The Sun
      Peta has been married to cyclist Mark Cavendish since 2013. They have four children together, Delilah, 10, Casper, four, seven-month-old Astrid, and Frey, seven, who has special educational needs after he developed sepsis as a baby.
      She also has a son, Finnbar, 16, from a previous relationship. More

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      in Soccer

      I’m UK’s oldest football fan – if Grimsby Town reach FA Cup final on my 101th birthday it’ll be the best present ever

      by

      MOST pensioners look forward to a telegram from the King and a birthday cake when they turn 100.But Jack Hinchliffe had bigger fish to fry.
      Jack with son Graham and his honorary Grimsby Town shirt from the clubCredit: Richard Walker
      Come rain or shine, Jack has seen around 2,000 Grimsby Town matchesCredit: Richard Walker
      He got the “best present” ever when his beloved Grimsby Town were promoted on the same day.
      Now Jack is hoping his 101st will be just as lucky if the second division Lincolnshire underdogs can overcome Premier League high-flyers Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday in the quarter finals of the FA Cup.
      Two more wins by Town on their remarkable run and it would be a Wembley FA Cup final on June 3 – the same weekend as Jack’s big day.
      Jack joked: “I’ll be living in hope or dying in despair!
      Read More on FA Cup
      “I don’t drink but I might even open a bottle if we win.”
      Oldest footie fan
      The loyal Mariners’ supporter is Grimsby’s – and possibly Britain’s oldest – footie fan and his passion for his club knows no bounds.
      He has watched around 2,000 matches since he started following Grimsby in 1948 when he left the army after the Second World War.
      Come rain or shine Jack has waved his scarf at every game until he finally quit travelling the country to go to away matches at the age of 93.
      Most read in FA Cup
      He’s too frail to travel to Brighton for Sunday’s cup clash where Town take on a team 76 places above them in the leagues, and will watch on TV instead.
      The former fish salesman said: “I think we can do it.  Why not? We’ve come this far.
      “If we make it to Wembley the whole town will empty – and I’ll definitely want to go.”
      Jack at Wembley with grandson Jayden in 2016Credit: Richard Walker
      Grimsby only regained their full league status last year by winning the national playoffs after a potentially disastrous drop into the semi-professional National League.
      But this season the bounceback has continued with a remarkable and record-breaking run of five FA Cup games when they have defeated teams higher up the leagues. 
      The last time they flew so high was in the FA Cup quarter-finals in 1939 when they were a First Division side, losing 5-0 to Wolves in the semi-finals.
      Thousands of fans will be taking their iconic Harry the Haddock inflatable fish to Brighton’s American Express Community Stadium.
      The Mariners fans include comedian Lloyd Griffith, ex-kids entertainer Timmy Mallett and, occasionally, ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson whose Grimsby Town bobble hat often makes an appearance.
      And the current PM Rishi Sunak has even thrown his weight behind the team after a fifth round victory over his team Southampton.
      He said: “I now have a new team to support in the cup.”
      But local celeb Jack is by far the fan’s favourite and he was last year guest of honour at a ‘legends’ night where he was thrilled to meet ex-goalie Nigel Batch, who played for Grimsby between 1976 and 1787.
      The team also made Jack an honorary player with his own ‘Hinchliffe 100’ shift which he keeps on a peg in his living room.
      Jack’s most exciting game yet was at Wembley in 2016 when his team beat Forest Green Rovers to return to the EFL.
      A picture of him at the match with grandson Jayden, now 17, hangs proudly on his wall.
      Even Boris has been spotted in a Grimsby hat while out running with his dogCredit: Splash
      Jack, aged around 50, when he worked as a fish salesman in GrimsbyCredit: Richard Walker
      He said: “That was a great day. 
      “There was nobody left on the streets of Grimsby because everyone was at the match.”
      The father-of-two, grandfather of nine and great-grandad of eleven became obsessed with Grimsby when he went to see them at Blundell Park, the 124-year-old stadium in Cleethorpes where Town still play. 
      Sprightly Jack makes sure he goes for a short walk on the crescent outside his house every day to make sure he’s fit enough to watch his team on the weekends.
      “I don’t go to the mid-week games because you have to pay extra and I already pay between £300 and £400 for my season ticket,” he says.
      And on the subject of money, he reckons today’s footballers earn far too much.
      “They are greedy,” he says. “You used to get paid by the match and that was fair enough.
      “But I guess as Greavsie once said ‘it’s a funny old game’”
      Jack’s obsession with Grimsby started in 1939 when he left the Royal Engineers at the end of the war after taking part in tough campaigns in France, Norway, Egypt and the Middle East.
      He said: “I started going because it was somewhere to go. There wasn’t much to do after the war – it was job done.
      “I was quite sociable so a group of us started going.”
      Jack, who had played football growing up in Filey, was in Grimsby to lay cables for the post office and ended up staying after falling in love with first wife Joyce.
      He said: “Joyce used to visit the landlady me and another lad were staying with.
      “I  went to the Ritz cinema in Cleethorpes with a group of five, including Joyce, and when we got to the door there was only four allowed in.
      Jack with first wife Joyce, left, and second wife Kathleen
      Jack, far left, took his own team Haven Hotspurs to victory in 1953Credit: Richard Walker
      “We tossed for it and I took Joyce in. Afterwards we walked all the way back to Grimsby fish market, about three miles, and talked all the way.
      “When I walked her home her mum answered the door and said ‘bring the lad in then’. I thought ‘ey, what’s going on here then,’ but she came out with a washing up bowl full of beetroot from her garden for me. I still love a beetroot sandwich.”
      When Jack, then 19, and 18-year-old Joyce tied the knot they started going to games together and when baby Robert, now 71, came along, he went too.
      Sadly, Joyce died of liver failure aged 58.
      He went on to marry Kathleen, who died in 2004 aged 81, and had two children, taxi driver Graham, 57, and Sandra, 62, who were also ‘persuaded’ to support the Mariners.
      Sandra said: “To be honest I don’t really like football but it keeps dad going and gives him something to talk about with other people.”
      Granddaughter Seren Lucas, nine, has followed in her granddad’s footsteps and joined a junior team.
      Jack once ran his own football team Haven Hotspur FC who won the third division championship in 1953
      Despite being a massive Grimsby fan, Jack isn’t that interested in other clubs.
      And he is charmingly blunt when talking about the world’s most famous players.
      His favourites were Brazil sticker Pele, who died in December last year, and Hungarian Ferenc Puskas.
      He says: “I liked George Best but then he took to the drink and ruined the girls.”
      He saves a special mention for Raich Carter, a Hull City player, who he helped watch defeat Grimsby in 1949.
      Granddaughter Seren has made granddad proud playing for GrimsbyCredit: Richard Walker
      Pele and Puskas are Jack’s all-time favourite players
      Carter, who had captained his home town team Sunderland to a League Championship in 1936, was, says Jack, “the best player I’d ever seen at that time.”
      Jack, who has lived through five monarchs, has four carers to help but is still sharp for his age and with a twinkle in his eye says: “The oldest person in Britain is 108 and I’m going to beat them.”
      Son Graham puts his dad’s longevity down to his attitude.
      Read More on The Sun
      “You can come in and tell dad the worst news and he just goes ‘ah, well’. He’s always been that way.”
      While Jack might not make tomorrow’s match Grimsby Town knows their lucky mascot is right behind them. More

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      in Motorsport

      Formula One team bosses rich list revealed ahead of Saudi Arabia GP – including Spice Girls hubby’s countryside manors

      by

      IT’S a nail-biting job, but being a team principal in the world’s most expensive sport certainly comes with some incredible perks. Just ask Formula 1 bosses Toto Wolff and Christian Horner, who have millions in their bank accounts and enjoy the finer things in life. 
      The team principals manage affairs and are responsible for the success of their driversCredit: EPA
      Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff celebrates with driver Lewis HamiltonCredit: Getty
      Principals are the face of their teams and the decision makers who come up with strategies to ensure the success of their drivers.
      And ahead of the Saudi Arabia GP, the pressure is on Toto and Mercedes as they look to claw back points, after reigning champ Max Verstappen crossed the line first in Bahrain.
      This season a few new principals joined the familiar faces around the paddock.
      Ahead of Jeddah, we take a look at the richest people at the helm of F1 teams. 
      MORE ON F1
      Toto Wolff – 478m 
      Toto Wolff is by far the wealthiest team principal on the grid todayCredit: Rex
      With a staggering estimated £478million in his coffers, the Mercedes – AMG Petronas boss is currently the richest team principal on the grid.
      He’s also the second-highest paid, taking home £7.6million a year.
      The Austrian, 51, who started off as a racing driver himself, owns a 33 per cent stake in the Mercedes team, as well as being its managing director and executive director. 
      Many critics and fans have attributed much of Mercedes’ success to him – under his watch, the team has notched up 114 wins. 
      Most read in Motorsport
      He’s also been instrumental in the career of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, considered two of the greatest drivers of all time. 
      Off the grid, Toto is married to Susie, a Scottish former racing driver, and they share two kids.
      Christian Horner – £41.4m
      Christian Horner has been the team principal at Red Bull since 2005 and is married to Spice Girl GeriCredit: Getty
      The couple share a stunning country home in OxfordshireCredit: Instagram
      As team principal of Red Bull since 2005, Christian Horner is the highest-paid team boss and has a salary of around £8.2million a year. 
      He’s got the trophies to show for it, as he’s successfully led the team to nine world titles. 
      Like Toto, he started off as a driver and had some success in the late 90s – even founding his own team, but ended his driving career in 1998 at just 25.
      Christian worked in team management before joining Red Bull in 2004 and ascending to the top within a year. He’s now worth an estimated £41.4m.
      Away from the grid, the Englishman is married to Spice Girl Geri and they share two homes, in Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire. 
      Their Oxfordshire property is breathtaking, boasting an indoor swimming pool, a pond for boating and huge grounds where they go horse riding. 
      Otmar Szafnauer – £4.1m 
      Otmar Szafnauer has been in the sport for decades and is worth £4.1millionCredit: Rex
      Although he’s the most experienced team principal, having been in the sport since 1989, Otmar’s salary is considerably less than Toto and Christian’s. 
      As the boss of Alpine, a position he has held since 2002, he is paid around £822,500, and worth an estimated £4.1m.
      Like many other principals on the grid, he also had a short stint as a driver back in the early 90s. 
      But it was his work away from the driver’s seat that brought him into the limelight.
      After working as Operations Director at British American Racing, he joined Force India in 2009, which later rebranded as Aston Martin. 
      Franz Tost – £4.1m 
      Franz Tost has been overseeing AlphaTauri since 2005 and takes home £822,500 a yearCredit: Rex
      Franz Tost also has a ton of experience under his belt – he’s been the team principal at AlphaTauri since 2005. 
      The 67-year-old was appointed after Red Bull took over Minardi, and is the oldest team principal on the grid today. 
      Before that, he was a driver and even won the Formula Ford 1600 title in 1983. 
      He quit a few years later and worked his way up the ranks of team management.
      Franz was first signed by Williams and remained there for five years before leaving for Red Bull. 
      As one of the longest-tenured team principals on the grid, he is paid £822,500 a year, and worth around £4.1m.

      James Vowles – £4.1m 
      James Vowles has a £4.1million fortune and is the new team principal at WilliamsCredit: Rex
      This is Englishman James’ first season as Williams’ team principal after serving as Mercedes’ motorsport strategy director. 
      He made his Formula 1 debut as an engineer for the Honda racing team before moving on as a strategist for Brawn GP. 
      James joined Williams at the end of 2022 and at the age of 44, is one of the youngest team principals on the grid, with an estimated £4.1million fortune.
      James has a motorsport degree from Cranfield University – a qualification which is uncommon for bosses at F1.
      He also likes to dabble in driving, making an appearance at last year’s Asian Le Mans Series.
      Guenther Steiner – £4.1m
      Guenther built the Haas team from the ground up and has a £4.1million net worthCredit: Rex
      Guenther, 57, is one of the most colourful team principals Formula 1 has ever seen, as evidenced by his appearance in Netflix’s Drive to Survive.
      He has been at the helm of Haas since 2014 after previously serving as managing director of Jaguar and technical operations director at Red Bull.
      The Italian American began his career as a mechanic in Belgium for the Mazda Rally Championships.
      While at Red Bull, he was contacted to build the Haas team from scratch, which has helped him build up an impressive £4.1million fortune, approximately.
      He is paid £822,500 a year for his work as the team’s leader.
      Alessandro Alunni Bravi – £4.1m
      Italian Alessandro is also a lawyer and has been serving as the Team Representative of Alfa Romeo since last yearCredit: Getty
      Last year Alfa Romeo decided to move away from the team principal formula and introduced a management structure to oversee the team.
      One of the members of the management team includes Alessandro Alunni Bravi, who is worth an estimated £4.1million.
      The 49-year-old Italian, who is also a qualified lawyer, has the new position of Team Representative and will perform most of the roles of a principal when dealing with F1 bosses and sponsors.
      He was previously the team principal of the trident GP2 team and has served as a board member of Sauber since 2017.
      Frederic Vasseur – £2.5m
      Frederic Vasseur took over from Mattia Binotto this seasonCredit: Rex
      The new Ferrari boss has built up a wealth of experience as the principal of teams like Renault, Alfa Romeo and Sauber.
      The 54-year-old Frenchman studied aeronautics and founded his own team in 1996 which went on to win several trophies in the junior formulae.
      Frederic is credited for overseeing Lewis Hamilton’s success in the Formula 3 Euroseries and helping him to win GP2 titles in the mid-2000s.
      Last year it was announced he would be replacing Mattia Binotto as the boss of Ferrari.
      Although he’s now worth an estimated £2.5million, it’s probably only a matter of time before this figure shoots up as he will be paid £5.2million in his new role.
      Andrea Stella – £1.2m
      Andrea Stella replaced Andreas Seidl as the team principal of McLaren last yearCredit: Rex
      Andrea Stella will most likely see a boost to his estimated £1.2million net worth thanks to his lucrative £5.2million-a-year role at McLaren.
      The 52-year-old Italian was announced as Andreas Seidl’s replacement following his decision to leave the team after a four-season run.
      Andrea’s appointment is an internal promotion as he previously served as the team’s executive director.
      He’s got an impressive history to back up his eye-watering salary – he has worked with some of the greatest drivers including Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso.
      Mike Krack – £800k
      Mike Krack’s net worth is likely to shoot up with a reported salary of £822,500Credit: Getty
      Mike Krack has overseen the Aston Martin team since 2002 and is reportedly worth over £800,000.
      He replaced Otmar Szafnauer in the team and is set to take home around £822,500 a year, which will surely boost his bank balance.
      The 50-year-old engineer from Luxembourg previously worked with Sebastian Vettel for a year from 2006, when the racer began his career.
      Read More on The Sun
      He’s also worked in Formula 3 and has moved between teams like BMW and Porsche.
      Mike recently defended driver Lance Stroll – son of the Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll – claiming he is “strongly undervalued”. More

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      in Soccer

      We live near Premier League ground & it’s awful… rowdy fans use our gardens as toilets but it’s not the biggest problem

      by

      IT’S been a fixture in Chelsea for almost 200 years, but the future of Stamford Bridge has been thrown into doubt. Club co-owner Todd Boehly wants to ditch the old arena and move the team to a new state-of-the-art ground – possibly in a different location.
      Stamford Bridge is slap-bang in the middle of a residential areaCredit: Getty
      Stamford Bridge can hold around 40,000 fansCredit: Olivia West
      The current venue can hold around 40,000 fans – far less capacity than other top Premier League clubs, but still enough to cause chaos on game days in the affluent south west London neighbourhood.
      And the thought of double the amount of supporters traipsing along the streets of Fulham fills residents with dread.
      Following the Blues’ Tuesday night victory against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League, The Sun headed down the next morning to chat to locals about the realities of living next to the famous ground.
      Liz Miller, 66, has been a resident there for decades and revealed her surprising bugbear on match days.
      UK FEATURES
      “When Chelsea are playing at home you can’t buy a bottle of wine in any of the shops around here,” she tells us.
      “It’s really irritating, especially if you don’t follow football.”
      She adds: “The fans are a lot better behaved than they used to be.”
      Liz, who walks her dog Sherlock every day near the ground, says she loves the crowds the stadium draws – but isn’t thrilled when the roads end up gridlocked.
      Most read in Football
      Resident Liz Miller says it drives her nuts on match days because she can’t buy a bottle of wine anywhereCredit: Olivia West
      A large canister of hippy crack had been dumped on a wall near the stadiumCredit: Olivia West
      “They’re hot on clearing the rubbish from fans, but it’s not the same when it comes to the poo from police horses,” she adds.
      “That’s always left all over the place. It’s a bit grim.”

      Pee patrol
      By 7am the majority of the rubbish dropped on the route to the London Underground station by drunken fans had been cleared up – but some remained scattered down side roads.
      We saw half-empty beer cans, bottles and food wrappers, and even a large canister of laughing gas, dubbed Hippy Crack, dumped on a resident’s garden wall.
      While residents we spoke to praised the authorities for keeping litter dumped by fans to a minimum, some highlighted other problems that need attention.
      Council worker Tajudeen Afolabi says many residents are upset by the behaviour of football hooligans.
      While most rubbish had been cleared away, some lingered on the streetCredit: Olivia West
      We saw half-empty beer cans, bottles and food wrappersCredit: Olivia West
      “Residents often get in touch with us to report bad behaviour after a match has been played at the stadium,” he says.
      “After the latest one, one resident got in touch to say someone had defecated in their garden.
      “Almost all want solutions to public urination as it is really dirty and gets on people’s nerves.”
      One man, who asked not to be named, tells us: “It’s great that they clear up the rubbish, but the more important thing to deal with is people weeing all over the place.
      “Sometimes if you’ve got to go, you just have to go, but why aren’t there more toilets for fans to use outside the stadium?”
      Sometimes if you’ve got to go, you just have to go, but why aren’t there more toilets for fans to use outside the stadium?Chelsea resident
      Another points out: “I don’t see why we can’t have those standing urinals put in. That would solve a big part of the problem with people weeing anywhere they can find.”
      Residents showed us a popular corner next to Waterford Road, near Fulham Broadway station, where fans regularly stop to urinate before the long journey home.
      Chelsea fan Wayne says: “They used to go there all the time but I think residents complained.
      “Now they have a police officer there on match days to stop it from happening.
      “It’s just one of those things. If there were proper places to go, people would use them.
      “Other than that, I love living here and hearing the crowd go wild at matches. It’s a big part of the atmosphere of the area.”
      Gridlocked traffic
      Taxi driver Tesfayi says he often gets stuck in long queues of traffic on match daysCredit: Olivia West
      The future of Chelsea’s stadium has been thrown into doubtCredit: Getty
      Almost all the residents we spoke to highlighted the impact match days have on traffic in the area, with which often bring roads to a standstill.
      Someone who knows only too well how bad it can get is taxi driver Tesfayi, 51.
      “I love the club, but on match days it is hard to get back home after my shift,” he says.
      “The traffic around the stadium is problematic… but it’s only ever on match days so I don’t mind it too much.
      “I’m a big Chelsea fan so I like living near the stadium. It’s worth it.”
      Mining engineer Alex says his only frustration with the stadium is the bad trafficCredit: Olivia West
      This was highlighted as a residential area where fans have defecated after a gameCredit: Olivia West
      Alex, a mining engineer, admits the traffic is “annoying”, but he likes the “buzz” the stadium brings to the area.
      He adds: “It’s only for one evening so I don’t mind it really. Plus we get more regular Tubes which is great.”
      In an attempt to make things easier for fans travelling to and from Stamford Bridge, TFL put on extra services.
      Read More on The Sun
      But one dad we spoke to says he avoids the packed Tubes like the plague.
      The parent, who asked not to be named, tells us: “Extra Tubes are great, but when I have to take my 12-year-old on the Underground she often ends up in tears thanks to rowdy football fans hitting everything. It’s not great.”
      Discarded packaging from a Chelsea supporters’ scarfCredit: Olivia West
      An old pizza box is found strewn on someone’s doorstepCredit: Olivia West More

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      in Soccer

      Inside married sports stars’ biggest scandals as Kyle Walker’s caught out again … from wife swap to houseboat sex party

      by

      THEY’RE at the top of their game with glamorous wives and bulging bank balances – but some sportsmen can’t resist playing away from home.This week England ace Kyle Walker was caught exposing himself and pawing and snogging a woman in a bar in Manchester.
      Walker was filmed on a drunken night out exposing himself and kissing a womanCredit: The Sun
      The woman in the video was not his wife, Annie KilnerCredit: BackGrid
      The Man City ace, 32, was seen grinding against a female pal while boozing with male pals on Sunday evening – with wife Annie Kilner nowhere to be seen.
      It’s not the first time he’s been caught out – and he’s not the only footballer to score an own goal. Here we reveal the sportsmens’ league of shame…
      Joe Westerman
      In February, Super League rugby rat Joe Westerman, 33, was filmed romping in an alley behind Greggs with a pal’s missus.
      The Castleford Tigers loose forward was caught performing a sex act on the woman – and his horrified wife Lauren, 33, swiftly booted him out of the family home.
      READ MORE SPORT FEATURES
      Cheating rugby league ace Joe Westerman was caught performing a sex act in footage which went viral
      His wife Lauren called time on their marriage after the incidentCredit: Twitter
      The mum-of-three told The Sun: “I’ve relived that footage over and over again.
      “It’s something I’ll never be able to get out of my mind, no matter how hard I try.”
      Westerman has apologised and vowed to work on his “decision-making around alcohol”.
      John Terry
      Former Chelsea and England team-mates John Terry and Wayne Bridge had an epic falling out over allegations married Terry had an affair with Bridge’s then-partner Vanessa Perroncel back in 2009.
      Most read in Football
      Wayne Bridge refused to shake former team mate John Terry’s hand before a match after it was rumoured he’d had an affair with his now ex VanessaCredit: AFP
      Wayne Bridge and Vanessa Perroncel split in 2009 and share one sonCredit: Rex
      Bridge infamously refused to shake Terry’s hand prior to a clash between Chelsea and Manchester City, despite lingerie model Vanessa always denying the allegations.
      Bridge and Vanessa dated for four years after first meeting in 2005, and share a son.
      The Terry rumours surfaced soon after they split in 2009; friends claimed he had seduced Vanessa as he comforted her over the break-up.
      In January 2010 she became the subject of a super-injunction imposed by a High Court judge which prevented the press reporting the allegations – but it was lifted a week later.
      Tiger Woods
      Dozens of women claimed they’d had sexual relationships with Tiger Woods, which ended his marriage to Elin NordegrenCredit: Getty
      Jamie Jungers claimed she was Woods’ mistressCredit: Rex Features
      Pro-golfer Tiger Woods’ reputation took a battering in 2009 when one of the biggest scandals in golfing history emerged.
      Ranked World Number One at the time, dozens of women came forward alleging they had sexual relationships with the-then married golfer.
      Former madam Michelle Braun alleged that “every couple of months he requested to have multiple girls”.
      “It could be up to 10 girls at a time,” she claimed. “He had a particular type, he liked young college cutie, girl next door types, preferably blonde.”
      Former stripper Jamie Jungers claimed she had an 18-month affair with the golfer – rumoured to have slept with more than 120 women.
      Woods’ wife and mother of his two kids, Elin Nordegren, divorced him for a whopping $100million, according to reports.
      Ryan Giggs
      Ryan Giggs, pictured here with ex-wife Stacey, had an affair with his brother’s wife, and Big Brother star Imogen ThomasCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Natasha Giggs was married to Rhodri Giggs and had an eight-year affair with her brother-in-lawCredit: Collect
      Ryan Giggs landed himself in hot water in 2011 when it emerged he’d been having an eight-year affair with his brother Rhodri’s wife Natasha.
      At the same time it emerged he was also having a fling with Big Brother star Imogen Thomas.
      Giggs took out a gagging order but was named as the footballer in question in May 2011 by a Scottish newspaper.
      After he was named, Imogen said: “I called it off a million times but he kept coming back. He knew it was wrong as well, he said as much, but he was pursuing me.”
      Ryan settled his £40million divorce from wife Stacey in 2017.
      Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson
      New York Yankee pitchers Fritz Peterson, front, and Mike Kekich with their wives, Marilyn Peterson and Susanne KekichCredit: AP
      Yankees players Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich famously traded partners in 1972 – and caused one of baseball’s biggest romance scandals in the process.
      It’s said Peterson became drawn to former cheerleader Susanne Kekich, while quieter Kekich became close to Marilyn Peterson.
      Kekich, then 27, said at the time: “Don’t say this was wife-swapping, because it wasn’t. We didn’t swap wives, we swapped lives.”
      Andy Carroll
      Andy Carroll was in the dog house when a picture of him passed out in bed with a blonde woman went viral
      Luckily the couple’s wedding still went ahead and they are still happily married todayCredit: INSTAGRAM
      It was especially bad timing for footie star Andy Carroll when photos emerged of him passed out in bed with a blonde after a day of partying — just two weeks before his wedding to reality TV’s Billi Mucklow.
      The ex-England striker, 33, partied with Taylor Jane Wilkey after flying to Dubai to gatecrash his fiancée’s hen party and had gone on a 17-hour drinking session.
      But both parties denied anything untoward had taken place, with Taylor, 27, telling The Sun: “It was all just a bit of entirely innocent fun.”
      Thankfully Andy and Billi’s wedding still went ahead, and the pair are still happily married today.
      Oliver Giroud
      Olivier Giroud later issued a grovelling apology to his wife JenniferCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Celia Kay was the model who allegedly had a fling with footballer Olivier GiroudCredit: Twitter
      In 2014 French striker Olivier Giroud, who was playing for Arsenal at the time, was caught quite literally with his pants down.
      A photo emerged of Giroud in nothing but boxers in a Four Seasons hotel room with model, Celia Kay.
      The striker later issued a grovelling apology on social media, apologising to his wife Jennifer – the mother of his four children – and his club.
      She forgave his indiscretions however, and they are still together today, having now been together over 11 years.
      Wayne Rooney
      Coleen and Wayne have been together since teenagers, but the football star has been involved in a few scandals along the wayCredit: Getty
      Helen Wood had a threesome with RooneyCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      He’s been with childhood sweetheat Coleen since they were 16, but there have been many reports surrounding Wayne Rooney over the years.
      In 2004 the Sunday Mirror reported that teenage Rooney had paid £140 for sex with prostitute Charlotte Glover, then 21.
      Around the same time he was said to have slept with Gina McCarrick, then 37, at a £45 brothel in Liverpool.
      It was at this same brothel that he was said to have slept with grandmother Patricia Tierney, then 48, known as the ‘Auld Slapper’.
      Rooney went on to cheat again, sleeping with £1,000-a-night prostitute Jenny Thompson, then 21, in July 2009 along with Helen Wood – while Coleen was pregnant with his son Kai.
      But Coleen has forgiven him and the couple are still going strong.
      Hulk Hogan
      Hulk Hogan filed a lawsuit against Bubba the Love Sponge and his former wife, Heather ClemCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Terry Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan, pictured in court during his trial against Gawker MediaCredit: Reuters
      In 2012, a sex tape featuring Hogan and Heather Clem, the estranged wife of his best friend Bubba the Love Sponge, emerged online.
      A few months later American site Gawker, which has since folded, published a small snippet of the tape online.
      Hogan filed a lawsuit against Heather and Bubba for invasion of privacy, winning a settlement.
      Linda Hogan, who split from her husband in 2007 – the same year the sex tape filmed – later slammed the film as “sickening”.
      “I knew something was going on behind my back, I just didn’t know it was so close to home,” she told Radar.
      Minnesota Vikings
      Players from NFL team the Minnesota Vikings landed themselves in hot water in 2005.
      They allegedly threw a massive sex boat party with around 100 prostitutes rumoured to have been in attendance.
      Read More on The Sun
      17 members of the team were allegedly involved in the sex party, which was said to have been held on board a pair of houseboats.
      Women reportedly flew in from the surrounding areas for the soiree, with some of the players allegedly involved in sex acts in front of the crew. More