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      Abandoned UK stadium that hosted FA Cup 110 years ago to undergo £130million regeneration after it was left to rot

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      THE CRYSTAL PALACE National Sports Centre – the site of 21 FA Cup finals – is undergoing a £130million refurb and could host top-class athletics by the end of the decade.The iconic sports venue in South London, which includes an abandoned Olympic-standard swimming pool, has fallen into a state of disrepair over the past decade.The Crystal Palace National Sports Centre is set to undergo a major refurbCredit: FAULKNER DOWNESA whopping £130million will be sunk into the venue, which has become agedCredit: FAULKNER DOWNESThe revamp could lead to the venue hosting top athletics by the end of the decadeCredit: FAULKNER DOWNESThe area had been left to rot, with PIGEON POO all over the indoor track, leaks in the roof and floodlights that were closed off on safety grounds.There had also been sightings of foxes and rats darting in-between the rusty old stands.Yet since the summer of 2023, work has begun to restore the arena back to its former glories, starting with long-overdue track repairs.And now “new concept images” have been released by the Mayor of London that show the potential transformation of the outdoor athletics arena and the swimming facilities inside the Grade-II listed building – with a completion date of 2028.READ MORE SPORTS NEWSThe hope is that future Diamond League meetings could be held there in front of a capacity crowd of 35,000.London Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged millions to improve the sporting facilities at the Sports Centre that opened in 1964 and is just two miles from Selhurst Park, home of FA Cup winners Crystal Palace.And building firm Morgan Sindall Construction have been appointed to deliver the Centre’s improved design and build.A pre-construction period has started, which includes detailed applications for planning and listed building consent, with major works planned to commence in the second half of 2026.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSMayor of London Sadiq Khan has pledged millions of pounds to revamp the venueCredit: PAThe redevelopment will include a complete rebuild of the structure of the swimming and diving pools and “improved sporting facilities”.The location holds a special place in British sporting history – with 20 men’s FA Cup finals, excluding replays, held on the same site between 1895 and 1914.How Crystal Palace outsmarted Man City in FA Cup finalIt was also the historic venue for the first Women’s FA Cup final in 1971, which was won by Southampton Ladies.It also hosted some of the greatest international athletics events in the UK – Usain Bolt ran a 200 metres race in front of 15,000 people at the London Grand Prix just weeks before the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.And Steve Ovett, Seb Coe and Steve Cram are among the other track-and-field icons who have raced there.Khan said: “Crystal Palace National Sports Centre is an historic and much-loved sporting and community facility where many UK sporting stars have started their careers and trained but which needs major investment and refurbishment.“I’m committed to this once-in-a-generation redevelopment of the site which will secure its future for decades to come.“With short-term improvements already delivered and Morgan Sindall Construction now appointed to deliver the design and build of the centre.”We look forward to working closely with partners and the local community to create an outstanding sporting venue as we work together to build a better, healthy London for all.” More

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      Crystal Palace in talks to end trophy parade at abandoned UK stadium left to rot 110 years after hosting FA Cup final

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      CRYSTAL PALACE are preparing to head back to familiar territory as they celebrate their historic FA Cup triumph. The Eagles ended a 119-year wait for a major trophy with a 1-0 win over Manchester City at Wembley last weekend.Crystal Palace are planning a trophy parade through south LondonCredit: GettyIt it proposed the parade ends at Crystal Palace Park, home of the National Sports CentreCredit: The TimesCrystal Palace Stadium sits on the site of the club’s former homeCredit: The TimesThe facility has been in a state of disrepair since closing in 2022Credit: The TimesPalace are planning a trophy parade through South East London next Monday. The club expect thousands of fans to line the streets of the capital. According to The Guardian, bosses have been in discussions with local stakeholders about ending the open-top bus parade at Crystal Palace Park.The site is dominated by the now-abandoned Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLPrior to 2012, the 19,000-capacity athletics venue hosted the London Grand Prix. It was built on the site of the old Crystal Palace Stadium, which formerly hosted the FA Cup final and was Palace’s first home after their formation in 1905.The world’s oldest cup competition final was contested at the ground between 1895 and 1914, with the current stadium opening at the same address in 1964.But the athletics venue closed in November 2022 following concerns over safety. Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKIt has been left to rot ever since, with the crumbling track overgrown by nature and trees growing in the stands. London mayor Sadiq Khan announced funding to restore the facility almost two years ago.Crystal Palace stars lift FA Cup trophy as they win first major honour in club’s history with win over Man CityWork is now slowly getting underway to restore it to its former glory.The track has been relayed, while the reopening of the 50m and diving pools remain the key priority for the project.London Assembly Member for Bexley and Bromley, Thomas Turrell, said: “The phased target openings for facilities across the estate remain for 2027 and 2028.”The project is currently at the mid-point of the contractor procurement process, aiming to have a contractor on board by Spring 2025.Renovation work has begun to restore the facility to its former gloryCredit: The TimesNature had begun to take over the site after it was left to rotCredit: GettyThe diving and swimming facilities lay empty despite the pleas of local coachesCredit: The TimesTrack repair work began in late 2023 with more work set to begin later this syearCredit: x/CPSP2020″A planning submission will follow later in the year with works programmed to start on site in 2026.“I am pleased to this project developing. “While there is still a lot to do, and I know local people are keen to see the pool in particular opened as soon as possible, it is good to see progress finally being made. Read More on The Sun”The Centre has been forgotten for too long and I am really excited by this plan.”It is time to bring UK athletics home to Crystal Palace!” More

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      Phil Foden puts Man City’s FA Cup final defeat behind him as he beams with his kids in Burberry Father’s Day photoshoot

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      FOOTIE ace Phil Foden lines up with his kids in a Father’s Day shoot for Burberry. It’s good to see the Manchester City star, 24, all smiles as he posed with son Ronnie, six, and daughter True, three.Manchester City ace Phil Foden poses with daughter True, 3, and son Ronnie, 6, in a Father’s Day shoot for BurberryCredit: BurberryPhil pictured with mini-me son RonnieCredit: BurberryIt’s good to see Phil smiling after the agony of losing the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace on SaturdayCredit: GettyAfter all, just days ago he and boss Pep Guardiola had to face up to the team’s shock 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Crystal Palace.  Foden is the face of Burberry’s new menswear collection, launched to “celebrate fatherhood”, after he previously collaborated with the famous brand ahead of Euro 2024. The England footballer, wearing a white T-shirt and navy shirt, holds True on his lap as she rocks a checked dress, while his “mini-me” son sports a Burberry shirt next to him. Sharing the heartwarming pictures on their official Instagram page, the fashion giant posted: “Team line-up: Phil, True and Ronnie Foden celebrate fatherhood.” READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSFans commented: “What a beautiful family.” After working with Burberry in 2023, doing a shoot in Stockport, Gtr Manchester, the £200k-a-week midfielder said: “Fashion is important to me and it was incredible to work with Burberry in my hometown.” Burberry’s new range has been launched ahead of Father’s Day next month, celebrating “fatherhood, tradition and British values”. At the weekend, The Sun on Sunday revealed how Foden has already treated daughter True to a £10,000 Rolex, a £160 Monnalisa designer dress, and a £40 bag from Hookd. Most read in FootballHer Rolex is identical to one worn by Kylie Jenner’s daughter Stormi, six.Phil’s own watch collection includes a Rolex Sky Dweller and a Day Date.Manchester City’s Phil Foden shuns posh holiday for £100 tent at a £14-a-day fishing lake in the CotswoldsUnlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. More

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      Jamie Vardy linked with shock free transfer move to FA Cup kings Crystal Palace after confirming he’s leaving Leicester

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      JAMIE VARDY has been linked with a shock move to FA Cup winners Crystal Palace.Vardy, 38, is leaving Leicester City at the end of the season after 13 years with the Foxes as a club hero.Jamie Vardy has been linked with a move to Crystal PalaceCredit: Shutterstock EditorialVardy scored his 200th goal for Leicester on Sunday after announcing he will leave the club this summerCredit: GettyThe experienced striker will be a free agent this summer on the expiration of his current deal and is thought to be keen on remaining in the Premier League. And according to the Independent, Crystal Palace are one top flight club who are considering offering him a deal.The Eagles, who beat Man City 1-0 to win the FA Cup on Saturday, are reportedly weighing up a move for the forward to bolster Oliver Glasner’s front line.Palace already have both Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eddie Nketiah as options up top, but are still considering adding Vardy to the mix.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLVardy managed nine goals and four assists for Leicester this season as the King Power outfit were relegated back to the Championship.And the club legend was given a fitting farewell from the Leicester fans when he played his final game for the club in a 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town.The former England international found the back of the net to take his total for Leicester to a satisfying 200 goals in 500 appearances. Vardy had been linked with a switch to Hollywood-owned Wrexham, who sealed a promotion into the Championship this season.Most read in FootballCrystal Palace won the FA Cup on SaturdayCredit: GettyCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSBut a potential move to the Welsh outfit was seemingly ruled out by Wrexham exec Humphrey Ker this week.While Vardy has insisted that Leicester will have no problems adjusting to life after his exit.Rebekah Vardy throws husband Jamie a surprise party as he leaves Leicester CitySpeaking after their 2-0 win over Ipswich, he said: “They’ll be fine, they’ll be fine.”We’ve got a good squad and we’ve got all the youngsters coming through as well. “I’m glad I’m not them, because football is a killer mentally and I couldn’t do it all again if I’m honest.”But I’ve enjoyed every minute of it and I look forward to keeping an eye on the club I love.”Vardy said goodbye to Leicester City on SundayCredit: ReutersHe leaves the club as a Premier League championCredit: Getty More

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      What Erling Haaland told Crystal Palace star about why he wasn’t taking FA Cup final penalty

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      ERLING HAALAND told Daniel Munoz that he gave up Manchester City’s penalty in Saturday’s FA Cup final because Omar Marmoush is “also a good kicker”, the Crystal Palace star has claimed.Haaland, 24, is City’s top scorer this season with 21 Premier League goals.Erling Haaland initially grabbed the ballCredit: ReutersHaaland, 24, the handed it to Omar MarmoushCredit: GettyDean Henderson went on to save Marmoush’s penaltyCredit: GettyThe Norwegian has taken seven penalties this term, scoring four of them.Trailing 1-0 on Saturday, City were awarded a spot kick for Tyrick Mitchell’s foul on Bernardo Silva.Haaland initially grabbed the ball, before surprisingly giving it to Marmoush.The Egyptian had never previously taken a penalty for City, but scored four out of four for Eintracht Frankfurt during the first half of the season.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLPalace’s Wembley hero Dean Henderson, who had been fortunate not to be sent off for a deliberate handball, guessed right and saved Marmoush’s spot-kick, with Palace going on to win 1-0.Colombian Munoz earned the player of the match award at Wembley, having set up Eberechi Eze’s winner.Speaking to 10Sports in his homeland, the wing-back said of the spot kick incident: “I asked him (Haaland) why he didn’t take the penalty, since he was the team’s top scorer.”And he told me that his team-mate was also a good kicker. So, I told him, ‘If you don’t take the penalty, he’ll miss.’ And he missed.”Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordDaniel Munoz was brilliant in Saturday’s FA Cup finalCredit: AlamyAfter the game, Henderson also suggested that Haaland should have taken it.The Palace stopper told ITV: “To be fair, [Erling] Haaland might have stepped up, I wasn’t sure which way he’d go.How Crystal Palace outsmarted Man City in FA Cup final”He gave it to [Omar] Marmoush, I knew which way he was going. I knew I’d save it.”Wayne Rooney, working as a pundit at Wembley for the BBC, was critical of Haaland’s decision to hand off the penalty.The Manchester United legend said: “I don’t think he’s given it away.”I think it’s been taken off him before the game, I think it’s been decided (pre-match).”When presenter Gary Lineker, who will leave the BBC after this Sunday’s Match of the Day, added “you can’t override the manager”, Rooney insisted: “There’s moments you can. And I think Haaland should have taken the penalty.”Man City ratingsMANCHESTER CITY were stunned by Crystal Palace at Wembley, condemning Pep Guardiola to a first trophyless season in eight years.After the final, Pep Guardiola admitted that he didn’t know why Haaland hadn’t take the penalty.The Man City boss, 54, said: “They decided on the pitch.”I don’t know. I didn’t speak with them. I thought he (Haaland) would want to take it. These are things for them.Read More on The Sun”That moment for the free kick, for the penalty, it’s the feeling and how they feel. They decided Omar was ready to take it. Henderson made a good save.”Haaland extended his streak of never scoring at Wembley to five games, with City set to go trophyless this season for the first time since the 2016-17 season.Crystal Palace ratingsCRYSTAL PALACE secured their first ever trophy with a famous FA Cup final victory over Manchester City. More

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      Crystal Palace risk being gutted by Big Six after FA Cup fairtytale but Eze and Co should follow Vardy’s example

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      THERE’S one big problem with so-called footballing “fairytales”.Instead of “and they all lived happily ever after”, they tend to end with the words “and they all f***ed off to Big Six clubs”.Crystal Palace’s FA Cup heroes like Eberechi Eze risk being poached by the big six clubsCredit: Shutterstock EditorialBut they should stay put at PalaceCredit: GettyThe day after the final we were given a reminder of football’s greatest fairytale merchant, Jamie VardyCredit: Shutterstock EditorialBefore and after Crystal Palace lifted their first major trophy at Wembley on Saturday, those who inspired the club’s FA Cup triumph have been the subjects of a speculation avalanche about summer switches away from Selhurst Park.Boss Oliver Glasner is in pole position to take over a Tottenham team nowhere near as good as Palace, while Eberechi Eze has attracted the interest of Spurs and both Manchester clubs, all of whom have been beaten by the Eagles this season.Midfield man Adam Wharton is wanted by Liverpool, while skipper Marc Guehi could be holding out for a free transfer to Real Madrid or Barcelona.These are the last things any Palace fan wants to read in the afterglow of victory over Manchester City — but it is the way of the footballing world, with its big, bad wolves.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLMoney talks. The bigness of big clubs is big. And killjoy PSR regulations make it increasingly hard for smaller clubs to be upwardly mobile.Yet the day after Palace’s Wembley glory, we received a timely reminder of English football’s greatest fairytale merchant, Jamie Vardy.After their miraculous title success in 2016, Leicester were precisely where Palace are now — their euphoria troubled by rumblings from a traditional, self-entitled elite desperate to dismantle their team. N’Golo Kante immediately headed off to Chelsea, to be followed by his midfield partner Danny Drinkwater a year later.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKRiyad Mahrez begged for a move but had to wait until 2018 before he was snapped up by Manchester City.Yet Vardy, the subject of a major bid from Arsenal in 2016, stayed put — claiming it was an easy decision to stay at Leicester.Dean Henderson gets emotional live on GMB over death of his dad after FA Cup triumphThe idea of rough-diamond Vardy working under the urbane Arsene Wenger would have represented an intriguing meeting of minds.But nine years later, there was Vardy, netting his 200th goal in his 500th and final match for the Foxes, treated to a guard of honour from the boys of 2016 and hailed as Leicester’s finest-ever player.Of course, it still wasn’t “happily ever after”. Leicester have been relegated for the second time in three years following a train-wreck  campaign.But Vardy’s achievements, since his £1million arrival from non-league Fleetwood in 2012, have been extraordinary. From the great escape, to a record 11-match Premier League scoring streak in the title campaign, to the Golden Boot in 2020 and the FA Cup in 2021. Vardy isn’t your classic romantic hero.Jane Austen never wrote about a bloke who played non-league football in a convict’s ankle tag, taunted opponents with incessant s***housery and thrived on a diet of Skittles, vodka and the tobacco product snus.Nicknamed Steptoe, due to his resemblance to an ancient TV rag-and-bone man, Vardy went from rags to riches and back to relative rags, due to his wife’s defeat in the Wagatha Christie court case. But in an age of here-today-gone-tomorrow transience in elite football, Vardy has been a glorious exception.He snubbed Arsenal, became the Foxes’ GOAT and, at 38, still operates with the speed of a thoroughbred racehorse.Of course, nobody should blame Eze, Wharton, Guehi or any of Palace’s Cup final heroes if they do jump ship.And certainly not Glasner, given the complete lack of loyalty shown to modern football managers.Claudio Ranieri, architect of Leicester’s 2016 success, was sacked nine months later —  in between two legs of a Champions League knockout match against Sevilla.When I recently asked Glasner whether Spurs would always be a bigger club than Palace, he insisted that they “inhabited a different world”.While Europa League nights at soulful Selhurst Park sound like a treat, the lure of a higher salary and higher expectations, in a world-class stadium feeds the egos of these men.Glasner may leave this summer, along with two or three of Palace’s best players, and that would be a shame — because it would be such a bleeding obvious thing to do.Vardy, meanwhile, is looking for another Premier League club. Palace might well see him as a more reliable back-up striker than Eddie Nketiah. And Vardy might see another fairytale opening up.Named n’ shamedEverton’s new Bramley Moore Dock stadium has been named after a law firmCredit: ReutersONE of the most depressing factors when a club moves to a new stadium, is that they are nearly all subject to “naming rights” deals.Take Everton’s new home — which has apparently been named after a law firm, rather than the farcical comedian Benny Hill and the orange-skinned antique dealer David Dickinson.English football ground names used to possess a certain romance — from Scunthorpe’s Old Show Ground to Shrewsbury’s Gay Meadow.There is nothing so poetic about the ‘Hill Dickinson Stadium’.Fans show they CairFulham fans will say their goodbyes to Tom Cairney this weekendCredit: Shutterstock EditorialWHEN Fulham face Manchester City at Craven Cottage on Sunday, both sets of supporters will say goodbye to a talismanic midfielder who arrived at his club ten years ago and led them to previously unscaled heights.And while Kevin De Bruyne wasn’t bad, the Fulham fans will be singing “ain’t nobody like Tom Cairney”.Glanville’s no puzzleEnglish footballer writer and author Brian Glanville has passed away at 93Credit: GettyBRIAN GLANVILLE, who has died aged 93, was a prolific journalist and author who was the doyen of our trade.And for all the great lines Glanville wrote, the words I remember best were ones he spoke at Loftus Road during a friendly between Trinidad & Tobago and Iceland in 2006.We were covering this bizarre fixture because England were due to play Trinidad at that year’s World Cup but the “action” was hardly gripping, so another esteemed writer turned his attention to the puzzle section of his newspaper.At which Glanville hollered: “Four letters beginning with ‘C’ — a bloke who does a crossword in a press box.”Esse option a tier jerkerRecruitment from the Championship for the likes of Romain Esse has worked wonders for PalaceCredit: GettyCRYSTAL PALACE’S FA Cup success owes much to their willingness to recruit from the Championship — an increasingly-rare approach among Premier League clubs.Eberechi Eze, signed from QPR, and Adam Wharton, from Blackburn, were stars of the show, just as Michael Olise proved an excellent recruit from Reading before last summer’s move to Bayern Munich.Romain Esse, a January signing from Millwall, looks like he will prove to be Palace’s next such shrewd buy.It’s a wonder more top- flight clubs don’t do likewise.Pep’s sour HendPep Guardiola’s rant at Dean Henderson should have been a moment of good grace insteadCredit: Shutterstock EditorialPEP GUARDIOLA’S ranting at Dean Henderson after Manchester City’s FA Cup final defeat by Crystal Palace, brought to mind a quote attributed to American football coach Vince Lombardi — “Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser”.But despite his reputation for volcanic outbursts, Sir Alex Ferguson — the one manager with more Premier League titles than Guardiola — could often be extremely gracious in defeat.Such as after the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley, when Guardiola’s Barcelona defeated his Manchester United side 3-1.“Nobody’s given us a hiding like that but they deserve it,” Ferguson said. “In my time as manager, it’s the best team I’ve faced.”Sure, Henderson should have been sent off — but Palace’s first major trophy should have been a moment for similar good grace.Read More on The SunLeague of their ownFOR English watchers, a clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan is the least sexy Champions League final in years — no English clubs or players and no Lamine Yamal to marvel at either.Yet PSG and Inter are wonderful teams and this promises to be the competition’s best final in years — especially as there hasn’t been a decent one since Real Madrid’s 3-1 win over Liverpool in 2018.Crystal Palace ratingsCRYSTAL PALACE secured their first ever trophy with a famous FA Cup final victory over Manchester City. 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      How Gary Lineker’s BBC exit will spark intense rivalry between Match of the Day hosts to lead BBC’s World Cup coverage

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      GARY Lineker’s BBC exit is set to spark an intense rivalry between his Match Of The Day successors over who will lead the World Cup coverage.Insiders said that Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates will also be competing to take the main presenting job for next year’s FA Cup Final.Gary Lineker’s BBC exit is set to spark rivalry between his MOTD successors over who will lead the 2026 World Cup coverageCredit: Ray CollinsGary, 64, announced he was leaving the BBC early following an anti-Semitism rowCredit: PAThe bookies currently have Kelly Cates, 49, as the frontrunner with odds of 2/1Credit: Getty – ContributorLineker, 64, yesterday confirmed The Sun’s story about his departure — announcing he was leaving the BBC early following an anti-Semitism row.It scuppered plans for Mark, 51, Gabby, 52, and Kelly, 49, to have supporting roles alongside him at his swansong during next summer’s World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.A source said: “Now Gary’s gone there has to be a lead anchor for the World Cup coverage. “Mark, Gabby and Kelly can definitely share the duties between them but it will boil down to who gets the big games.READ MORE ON GARY LINEKER“For example, who will be taking the lead role on the final — which will be the game they all want to be the leading voice on.“Mark, Gabby and Kelly are friends but they will be positioning themselves in the coming months because, naturally, it’s a competitive job and who wouldn’t want to be the frontrunner?“It’s become an inside joke that it’ll be like something out of Game of Thrones — with all of them vying to take the lead.”Insiders said the lead presenter for the FA Cup Final coverage next May, a month before the World Cup, is also up for grabs.Most read in FootballThe bookies currently have Kelly as the frontrunner with odds of 2/1, while Mark and Gabby are both at 3/1. The three will share normal MOTD presenting duties next season.Our source added: “Mark, Gabby and Kelly are all excellent broadcasters so it’s not going to be an easy decision to make. Gary Lineker apologises for antisemitic post and confirms he’s quitting BBC next week”They can do the MOTD job-share fine but when it comes to the prestige of holding up the coverage for those major events, it’s inevitable someone’s nose is going to be put out of joint.”Former England striker Lineker is stepping down after Sunday’s MOTD, ending a 26-year career with the BBC.He sparked fury after sharing an online post criticising Zionism, and illustrated with a rat.Gary repeatedly apologised in a video statement yesterday.Mark Chapman, 51, is also in the lead to host BBC’s World Cup coverageCredit: GettyGabby Logan, 52, will also be competing with the other hosts to take the main presenting job for next year’s FA Cup FinalCredit: PAHe said: “I care deeply about the game, and about the work I’ve done with the BBC over many years. “As I’ve said, I’d never consciously repost anything anti-Semitic — it goes against everything I stand for.“However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”Read More on The SunBBC Director General Tim Davie called him a “defining voice in football coverage”.He added: “Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season.”How Gary Lineker became the BBC’s highest paid starGary Lineker has hosted Match Of The Day for more than 25 years but will leave the role earlier than expected following a row over his use of social media.The Leicester-born star, who moved seamlessly from footballer to one of the most famous and highly-paid presenters at the corporation, began his career at Leicester City, the club he had supported since childhood, in 1978.The 64-year-old striker scored 103 goals for the Foxes in all competitions before signing with Everton for £800,000 in 1985.He scored 40 goals in 57 games for the Toffees in his only season with the Liverpool-based side, before his six goals for England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico won him the competition’s golden boot award and attracted the attention of Spanish football giants Barcelona.Moving to the Catalan side in 1986, Lineker went on to become the highest scoring British player in La Liga, Spain’s highest football division, under English manager Terry Venables. His record 42 goals was only beaten by Welsh winger Gareth Bale in 2016.Lineker spent three years in Spain before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in July 1989 for £1.1 million.He played a part in England’s run to the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy, which resulted in a defeat on penalties against West Germany.After the match, Lineker, who captained the Lions from 1990 to 1992, coined the phrase: “Football is a simple game: 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win.”He won the 1991 FA Cup final with Spurs, beating Nottingham Forest 2-1 despite having a goal controversially disallowed for offside and Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley saving a penalty.In 1992, Lineker became the first English footballer to play in Japan’s highest division, the J League, when he joined Nagoya Grampus Eight for £2 million.He retired after an injury-hit two-year spell at the club which saw him play just 23 times.Throughout his career Lineker was renowned for never receiving a yellow or red card booking from the referee.Following his retirement, Lineker joined BBC Radio 5 Live as a football pundit before becoming a team captain on the sports game show They Think It’s All Over from 1995 to 2003.In 1997 he took over as host of Grandstand when then-presenter Desmond Lynam was at Aintree for the Grand National which was abandoned due to a bomb alert.He replaced Lynam as presenter of the BBC’s flagship football highlights programme Match Of The Day in 1999, when Lynam defected to rival ITV.Lineker would later become the corporation’s highest-paid presenter, with the BBC’s annual report for 2023/24 showing his salary to be to around £1.35 million a year.He was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023 after an impartiality row over comments he made criticising the then-government’s new asylum policy.In November 2024 he announced he would be stepping down from presenting Match Of The Day at the end of the season, but would still host World Cup and FA Cup coverage.He exited the broadcaster early, however, after apologising for sharing and then deleting a post on his Instagram account from the group Palestine Lobby, illustrated with a picture of a rat, which prompted calls for him to be sacked from the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA).After this the BBC said Lineker would leave his presenting role following the conclusion of Match Of The Day for the 2024/25 season and added that he would not present its coverage of the 2026 World Cup or next season’s FA Cup.Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman will share the presenting role on the football show from the next Premier League season.The former England striker is also the co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, makers of the popular The Rest Is History series and its spin-offs about politics, football, entertainment and money. 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      How Crystal Palace outsmarted Man City in FA Cup final with hokey cokey midfield and Glasner’s tactical masterclass

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      CRYSTAL PALACE made history by winning their first major trophy – after a tactical masterclass from Oliver Glasner. The Eagles outsmarted Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to record a deserved 1-0 win at Wembley on Saturday. Eberechi Eze took his chance and proved to be the matchwinner against Man CityCredit: GettyOliver Glasner put together a bold tactical plan – and it workedCredit: GettyGlasner employed similar tactics to his team’s 5-2 loss against City earlier this season. But SunSport’s Dean Scoggins reveals how subtle tweaks to the system paid off for Palace.How did Palace set up? Glasner had an absolutely brilliant plan. It’s great for a club like Palace to win their first trophy.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe Austrian said in his pre-match press conference that if Pep plays the same way again as he did when they beat them 5-2 at the Etihad, he’ll have a plan for it. I’ve got his number. And he did. He had his number. Everyone had to be well drilled, but they were. It’s a setup which we know they play 3-4-3 – but it was more of a 5-2-3.BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKPalace matched up with City to deny their playmakers space in midfieldThey set up with the wing backs very deep, Tyrick Mitchell on one side and Munoz the other side.Most read in FootballMunoz got forward a lot more than Mitchell did, but essentially they were a back five. Bold Oliver Glasner reveals eleven-word football lesson he gave Pep Guardiola on pitch after FA Cup finalAs well as the midfield two in front, it was where Eze and Ismaila Sarr got in the positions to stop City. Manchester City set up in a fairly predictable shape, but it was Nico O’Reilly who went into the inside left positionEze and Sarr dropped in alongside the midfield two, and then Mateta in front created a semicircle around in front of the midfield.Everywhere you looked, it looked like Palace had more players. City were unable to break through the compact Palace defenceWho caught the eye? The work rate of Eze and Sarr was so impressive.It showed how much Glasner trusted his forward players to do a defensive job and then be so compact between the lines. You also have give a hat tip to Adam Wharton, who as a young English midfield player was like the marshal in there.You could see him pointing, the conversations he was having with team-mates.It’s a relief he’s fine after suffering a concussion, which halted his celebrations. But his mind was definitely on it when he was in the game. He was absolutely brilliant.How did Mateta affect the game?He might not have had many chances in front of goal, but Mateta was crucial to Palace’s success.We know he holds the ball up well. We know he makes good runs in behind.Palace have said before the game, we know that City will have a deep-lying midfield player who will sit, who will drop off and recycle possession and go side to side.Mateta did tireless work off the ball for PalaceMateta had a massive job to do – and that was basically to go and mark that player out of possession.As a striker, he was man-marking Bernardo Silva for the majority of the game.City later swapped it round and it was De Bruyne trying to be the playmaker. Mateta did the same thing.It was a thankless role but a crucial one that stopped City getting the ball to their danger men. The Frenchman had the tough job of man-marking Bernando SilvaHow did Palace score?Glasner had a plan with Daniel Munoz where he was looking to exploit gaps left by O’Reilly.When the ball goes into Mateta, Munoz is only thinking one thing – get down the wing.It’s the understanding of the tactic and when to go, when to gamble.Because if you choose the wrong time against Manchester City, you’ve got Jeremy Doku to chase going back the other way.Munoz was on the move as soon as Mateta got the ballThe Colombian raced into the area where Nico O’Reilly should have beenMunoz crossed for Eze to smash in the matchwinnerWhere did City go wrong?Aside from the penalty, Omar Marmoush didn’t get in the game at all.Erling Haaland had one moment early in the first half where I thought, City are going to break them down here.De Bruyne went back into the pocket, and City forced Palace back into their area around the penalty spot.The Belgian hit a lovely cross, which Dean Henderson makes a great save from.De Bruyne linked up early with Haaland for a golden chance – but Palace didn’t let them do it againCity were camped just outside the Palace area all game, with Glasner’s side keeping them at arms lengthAfter that, it wasn’t working – but they didn’t change it up. City didn’t put the full-backs on the touchline and push the wingers inside.They could have put Haaland up the middle to try and push Palace into a 3v3 at the back.But they didn’t. It was the same set-up all the way through.Read More on The SunThey just didn’t have that man in front of the back three or back four to dictate play.Mateta was the key and gave them a problem with the way he was marking. More