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      Move over Ryan Reynolds… the unexpected A-list stars who own football clubs – from Oscar winners to Little Mix singer

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      FORGET flashy supercars and expensive Prada handbags, the new must-have celeb accessory is a football team. And the latest star to join the trend could be Robbie Williams, who has reportedly been backed by a consortium to make a bid to take over his lifelong club Port Vale FC. 
      Robbie Williams has revealed his hopes to take over Port Vale FCCredit: supplied
      Last season, under owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Wrexham secured their first league title win in 45 yearsCredit: PA
      The former Take That man, 49, was named club president at the weekend and hinted there could be a lucrative TV streaming series if a deal with him at the helm went through. 
      If approved, it could follow in the success of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s takeover over at Wrexham and their famous Netflix show Welcome To Wrexham. 
      Robbie isn’t alone in vying for a slice of a football team – Sir Elton John became the chairman and director of Watford FC in 1976 and bankrolled them until 2002.
      Until last year, TV chef Delia Smith and her husband owned 53 per cent – the majority share, which they acquired in 1996 – of Norwich City.
      READ MORE ON SPORT
      While in August, American football legend Tom Brady bought a minority stake in Birmingham City. 
      Here, we reveal the other surprising stars to put their money into the beautiful game, including A-listers and musicians.
      Jade Thirlwall – South Shields FC
      Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall was among more than 750 fans who invested in South Shields FC, which raised more than £280,000 for the club in 2020. 
      She was also named as an honorary president – alongside ex-politician David Miliband – and her involvement in the club hasn’t stopped there. 
      Most read in Football
      Jade Thirwall was named honorary club president of South Shields FCCredit: Instagram @southshieldsfc
      The Little Mix star, who invested in the club, was brought on to raise the club’s profileCredit: Instagram @southshieldsfc
      The Power hitmaker designed a limited edition football strip for the club and joined LGBTQ+ inclusion workshops at the stadium. 
      The club explained that naming Jade as an honorary president would increase the club’s profile “on a national and international scale, further putting the town on the map”.
      It’s one of several investments Jade has made in her hometown, including putting money into a bar called Aerbia and the nightclub Industry. 

      “South Shields means absolutely everything to me, it’s my home… nothing beats the support and the loyalty and the community spirit that you feel in South Shields,” Jade said in 2022.
      South Shields FC previously said Jade’s investment in the team was “just another example to show how committed such a global superstar is to not just the club, but her hometown”.
      Stormzy – Croydon Athletic
      Stormzy was the manager of England during Soccer Aid 2023Credit: Getty
      The rapper is often seen at Croydon Athletic’s ground (left) and featured on a takeover special programme (right)Credit: Snapchat/Instagram
      Rapper Stormzy joined a consortium with Crystal Palace’s former striker Wilfried Zaha and kit manager Danny Young to buy Croydon Athletic last year.
      Fans were thrilled, including one eager supporter who told news site Inside Croydon: “This could be our ‘Wrexham moment.’”
      The site reported the team was ‘purchased’ for “a token sum” but they believed Stormzy and his pals would “be providing the kind of investment which the club’s fans, players and backroom staff could, until now, only dream about”.
      A statement from the club, which is in the ninth tier of English football, read: “The consortium will own, operate and develop their childhood hometown football club.”
      Stormzy and Wilfried were said to have taken over the club to “do what’s right for the local community” after growing up near to the team’s ground, Mayfield Stadium.
      Natalie Portman – Angel City FC
      Natalie Portman is a co-owner of LA-based women’s team Angel CityCredit: 2022 Jenny Chuang/ISI Photos
      Natalie seen with other stars including Eva Longoria (middle) and Jessica Chastain (right)Credit: Instagram
      Black Swan star Natalie Portman described becoming a co-founder of US women’s team Angel City FC in 2020 as “one of the most extraordinary adventures” of her life. 
      She joined multiple investors including venture capitalist Kara Nortman and gaming entrepreneur Julie Urhman, as well as celebs pals including Eva Longoria, Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Garner, America Ferrera and Uzo Aduba. 
      The Oscar-winner revealed she had decided to get involved after seeing how her children were inspired watching the US women’s national football team. 
      “Watching my son idolise players like Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan the same way he did Lionel Messi or Karim Benzema, I realised that amplifying female athletes could rapidly shift culture,” she told the Guardian.
      At a summit last year, Natalie revealed her belief that Angel City FC and other women’s teams could lead to societal change and greater equality.
      “If our boys look up to women like that, that’s how everything changes. And that’s what got me really excited,” she said.
      The club – LA’s first professional women’s team since Los Angeles Sol folded in 2010 – started playing in the 2022 season.
      Last year, they qualified for their first ever playoff, which they lost to OL Reign, and were also the focus of a three-part HBO documentary. 
      Michael B Jordan – AFC Bournemouth
      Michael B Jordan paid a trip to the Vitality Stadium in December 2022Credit: PA
      The Hollywood heartthrob was mobbed by fans on his way into the groundCredit: Getty
      Famed for starring in the Creed and Black Panther film franchises, many were surprised when Hollywood star Michael B Jordan invested in AFC Bournemouth. 
      He’s part of a consortium led by American businessman Bill Foley, who purchased the club from Maxim Demin in December 2022.
      The following year, Michael revealed getting involved with the Cherries was “crazy and amazing” but he knew there was “so much potential there”.
      The actor admitted he had “wanted to get into sports” for some time and was busy arranging plans to make his first trip to Bournemouth, famed for its stunning beaches.
      Michael explained that “the opportunity kind of presented itself” to him and he had been in discussions for “about a year” before agreeing to join the consortium. 
      He told the Tony Bellew Is Angry podcast: “We thought it through. A team that was in the Premier League and competitive, a great culture and people there in Bournemouth.
      “And a franchise we felt like we could add value and try to help get the team over the hump.
      “It’s cool. It’s a cool team. The players are extremely talented and good people. How can I add to an already amazing club and be a part of that culture?”
      Eva Longoria – Necaxa
      Eva Longoria joined a group of investors in Mexican club NecaxaCredit: Instagram
      The A-lister seen sporting gear from the Liga MX teamCredit: Instagram
      Model Kate Upton and her husband also joined the consortiumCredit: Getty
      In 2021, Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria and the model Kate Upton joined a consortium to buy a stake in Mexican team Necaxa. 
      They bizarrely teamed up with former Arsenal ace Mesut Ozil, the former managers of Swansea FC and ex-owners of DC United to buy 50 per cent of the Liga MX champions. 
      A statement from the club said it was “a historic investment” for the team and also in Mexican football. They added: “This will be a turning point for us.”
      The backers were said to have “extensive experience in soccer and in management of top clubs at an international level”.
      Since the investment, the club has placed 14th in the league two years running.
      Back in 2021, Eva – who has Mexican origins – shared a snap of herself in a Necaxa shirt and hat while sipping from a mug with their logo, which she captioned: “How I drink my coffee.” 
      She claimed to be “feeling so proud & delighted” by her investment and revealed the club would be auctioning its “first-ever NFT” back in 2021.
      Will Ferrell – Los Angeles FC
      Will Ferrell is regularly seen at games for his side Los Angeles FCCredit: Getty
      When comedy legend Will Ferrell was revealed to have an ownership stake in Los Angeles FC back in 2016 many thought it was a stunt for a film or a joke. 
      On The Late Late Show With James Corden in 2018, the Anchorman star even quipped: “I’m in charge of cleaning the stadium bathrooms.”
      However, Will’s investment – part of “a very large ownership group” including Magic Johnson and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley – was very much real.
      The star confirmed: “I love watching it generally speaking…  It’s played all over the world. So many amazing players and so many top-flight leagues and hopefully MLS can be on par, eventually, with the European leagues.”
      Will is regularly seen leading club chants, including in a 2019 video, and is often seen decked out in the team’s merchandise at matches.
      It’s led to success, too, with the club winning their first MLS Cup title in 2022.
      LeBron James – Liverpool FC
      Lebron James owned 2 per cent of Liverpool FC for more than a decadeCredit: Getty
      Lebron James is considered among basketball’s greatest-ever players, so in 2011, some were surprised by his decision to invest in an English football team.
      He was revealed to have purchased a 2 per cent stake in Liverpool FC, reportedly for around £5.1m ($6.5m).
      Just over a decade later, LeBron and business partner Maverick Carter exchanged their stake for a part-ownership of Fenway Sports Group (FSG) for an undisclosed fee.
      The sportsman is believed to own around 1 per cent of FSG, which owns US baseball team Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park stadium, Liverpool FC and US hockey team the Pittsburgh Penguins. 
      Matthew McConaughey – Austin FC
      Austin FC fan chants are often led by investor Matthew McConaugheyCredit: Getty
      The star is flying the flag for his home townCredit: officiallymcconaughey/instagram
      Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey became an investor in his home side Austin FC back in 2019 and revealed his hopes it would become a huge asset for the Texas state.
      “Austin FC is more than a quality investment for Austin, it’s a quality investment in Austin,” he said at the time.
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      “This is about legacy for me, I am at a time in my life where I don’t want to spend time or investments or money on things that I don’t look forward to dealing with on a Monday morning.”
      The star is regularly seen at games and hit the headlines back in 2022 when he hyped up the crowd by performing his signature chant from The Wolf Of Wall Street.  More

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      Pep Guardiola’s lavish life off the pitch – from writing off car collection worth £460k to unusual £2.7m Manchester home

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      HE’S the football manager who has broken multiple records on the pitch – and has one more in his sights.With the second half of the Premier League season underway, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, 53, is gunning for a fourth title in a row, which will further cement his status as one of the league’s all-time greats.
      Pep Guardiola is considered to be one of the greatest football managers of all timeCredit: Instagram
      The Manchester City manager celebrating his UEFA Champions League victory in June last year with his wife Cristina SerraCredit: Getty
      Before becoming a head coach, he played for FC Barcelona, where he starred for Johan Cruyff’s legendary ‘Dream Team’, as well as subsequent sides like Roma and the Spanish national team.
      But it’s his time as a manager where Pep has shone even more, notching up achievements including becoming the only manager to win the continental treble twice.
      It’s helped Pep to amass an impressive fortune – he is reportedly worth £100million and paid £19.7million a year by the Blues. 
      Now also the subject of new BBC doc Pep Guardiola: Chasing Perfection, we look into the manager’s glamorous life away from the pitch with wife Cristina and their three children.
      READ MORE ON SPORT
      Doomed fleet of cars
      Despite having driven a range of enviable motors, Pep is renowned for not being the world’s greatest driver.
      Last year, we reported that he has damaged cars collectively worth £460,000 since joining Man City in February 2016. 
      They included a £200,000 silver Bentley, GTX700, a £150,000 Range Rover, an £80,000 black Mercedes GLE and a £30,000 Mini Cooper.
      A source said: “Pep is brilliant at many things but driving doesn’t appear to be one of them, he has struggled with the roads in Manchester and had a couple of bumps.”
      Most read in Football
      Pep reportedly managed to ‘mangle’ a silver BentleyCredit: Cavendish Press

      The manager’s clumsiness when it comes to motors was further described by authors Lu Martin and Pol Ballus, in the 2019 book Pep’s City: The Making Of A Superteam.
      “He has a reputation from his Barcelona days of being a hapless driver and this is his fourth car he has owned since coming to Manchester,” they wrote.
      “His wing mirrors don’t survive for long and he’s also managed to fill a diesel Range Rover with petrol and mangle a silver Bentley.”

      Jet-setting holidays
      Pep took a no-expense-spared holiday to Egypt with his wife and three kidsCredit: Supplied
      He was showered with gifts during the trip including being given a King Tut mask replicaCredit: Supplied
      After winning the treble – the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and FA Cup – in 2023, Pep celebrated with a trip to Egypt with Cristina and their children Maria, 23; Marius, 21; and Valentina, 16.
      They spent two days in Cairo and six days exploring Aswan and Luxor, where they visited the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Giza. 
      During the trip, Pep was showered with gifts including a replica of King Tutankhamun’s mask – and treated to lunch in a hotel overlooking the pyramids.
      “We welcomed him with flowers, souvenirs and promotional material about various Egyptian tourist and archaeological sites,” Nisreen Othmanli, from Egypt’s tourism board, told Arab News. 
      In 2022, Pep and his wife were seen lapping up the sun in BarbadosCredit: BackGrid
      Before taking over at Man City, he was seen on a luxury yacht in IbizaCredit: SOLARPIX.COM
      In 2022, Pep celebrated winning his fourth Premier League title with a luxury holiday to Barbados with Cristina. 
      He was seen lapping up the waves on an enviable white sand beach before retreating to a high-end resort.
      That same year, he was seen on a romantic boat trip, dining at fancy restaurants and browsing expensive shops, in Venice, Italy.
      Ahead of joining Man City back in 2016, Pep took some time out with his family on a private yacht that they sailed along the Ibiza coastline.
      £11m properties
      Pep has a £2.7m luxury apartment in City Suites, which is located in Salford, Greater ManchesterCredit: Supplied
      He has access to an 18-metre indoor spa pool along with sauna facilitiesCredit: Supplied
      In 2017, Pep splashed out on one of the most expensive properties sold that year in Greater Manchester.
      He spent £2.7million on a luxury apartment in City Suites, which was in the “most desirable address” in Salford, next to a wealth of designer shops, high-end restaurants and wine bars. 
      As part of the deal, Pep had access to an 18-metre indoor spa pool, an exquisite spa and sauna facilities as well as a 24-hour gym. 
      Other benefits included two private parking spots, a 24-hour concierge team, dry-cleaning services and access to a private executive lounge.  
      Pep’s apartment is in a private section of the hotel, which is believed to occupy two of 16 floors. Guests can also rent rooms per night or opt for longer stays too.
      It was considered an unusual option due to most footballers from Manchester City and United choosing to live in leafy Cheshire, known for its sprawling mansions in the countryside.
      My wife is the best in the world at many things, but especially in fashion. So she says normally to me, don’t wear this or wear that, so I follow herPep Guardiola
      Pep also bought an 8,000-square-foot mansion in Pedarlbes, which is the most expensive area in Barcelona, for £8.55million back in 2021 .
      The stunning white home is nestled in the foothills of Sant Pere Màrtir mountain and boasts breathtaking views of the city. 
      It features a spacious living area, a high-end kitchen, a large private swimming pool and balconies across two of the storeys to take advantage looking out of over the picturesque landscape. 
      During a one-year work sabbatical in 2012, Pep lived in a luxurious New York apartment that cost £19,500-per-month and overlooked Central Park. 
      The building, located in Upper West Side, used to be the home of other celebs including X-Files actor David Duchovny and Barbara Streisand. 
      Inside the apartment was four bedrooms, bathrooms and a study, where it’s claimed the manager practised German before taking over at Bayern Munich.  
      Wardrobe fit for a model
      Pep has become known for his style at the Etihad Stadium, often sporting turtle necks and branded jumpers instead of always going for stuffy suits. 
      Among his outfits is his signature grey ‘hoodigan’, which was made by Theresa May’s favourite Italian designer Herno and reportedly costs £1,200.
      The manager was seen wearing the oversized item – considered “lucky” by fans – 30 times between the start of the 2019 season and May. 
      Pep has also been pictured in ‘MDCR’ – referring to ‘Madchester’ – jumpers and an array of items with the letter ‘P’ on them. 
      Earlier this month, he revealed his fashion choices are made by his wife Cristina – whom he met while he was modelling designer gear in Serra Claret, a fashion store owned by her family in Barcelona.
      Pep doesn’t always stick to stuffy suits on the sidelines of the pitchCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Pep modelling in the Nineties for a Catalonian fashion brand
      He said: “My wife is the best in the world at many things, but especially in fashion. So she says normally to me, don’t wear this or wear that, so I follow her.
      “I am smart enough to know that when people are much much better than me, follow their advice and hers is really good.”
      Perhaps he is playing down his own fashion credentials, however. In throwback snaps from the Nineties, Pep was seen modelling on the catwalk for Antonio Miró, while playing for Barcelona.
      It was reported that every item from the Catalonian designer sold out just a few days after the event.  
      Priceless watches
      The manager has a number of expensive luxury watchesCredit: Getty
      His love for fashion doesn’t stop there, Pep is also known to have an impressive collection of watches.
      Among them was a Richard Mille (RM) RM 27-01 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal, which he was pictured with on a golf course, that costs around £590,000 due to there only being ten in the world.  
      Other ultra-expensive timepieces seen on his wrist include a £455,000 RM 022 Tourbillon Aerodyne, a £75,000 RM 010 ‘Manchester City’ and the RM 004 All Gray, which costs more than £150,000.
      Last year Pep was seen wearing a RM 67-02 watch – they typically cost £228,000 but his timepiece was a United Arab Emirates edition, which is not for sale.
      He has also been seen sporting a £55,000 Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Chronograph 5905P and a £12,500 Rolex Cellini. 
      £500k wine collection
      Pep is known to be a wine lover but splashed out a whopping £200k on Spanish reds in 2021Credit: Splash News
      Away from the pitch, it seems the Man City boss is a secret fan of the reds… of the wine variety that is. 
      In 2021, it was reported that Pep forked out £200,000 on a Spanish vineyard’s finest vintage bottles and reportedly drinks a glass or two after football matches.
      Friends told The Daily Star that he spent as much as £500,000 on fancy reds including the very best Riojas, prized Priorat and Dibera del Duero labels.
      A source said: “His main interest is that of a collector of fine vintages, and he sees the value of them as investments… Not only does he enjoy a glass of wine, he really knows his stuff too.”
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Pep reportedly eyed up some of the fancy reds for his restaurant Tast Catalia, which he opened in Manchester back in 2018 alongside two Man City directors. 
      Previously, he said the “best way to enjoy” World Cup matches was “at home with red wine”. More

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      in Soccer

      Inside Xabi Alonso’s glamorous life, from wife who Liverpool team-mate tried to pull to model shoots and love of cars

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      XABI ALONSO is the talk of the town in Germany and Liverpool.The Bayer Leverkusen manager has the club seven points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
      Xabi Alonso is top of the Bundesliga and is the man linked to replace Jurgen KloppCredit: Getty
      But how about the man away from football?
      This has firmly put them on course to land their first Bundesliga title in their 120-year history.
      Alonso has grown a strong reputation in coaching for his innovative and attractive brand of football.
      Whether he is the man to replace the departing Jurgen Klopp at Anfield remains to be seen, given there are a number of other candidates to consider.
      But what about the man away from the pitch and tactics board?
      READ MORE IN LIVERPOOL
      Star crossed lovers
      Alonso is married to Nagore Aranburu.
      The couple tied the knot all the way back in 2009, a month before Alonso left Liverpool for Real Madrid.
      They met when Alonso was still a teenager and playing for boyhood club Real Sociedad.
      Alonso and Nagore have had three children together, Jontxe born in 2008,  Ane, born in 2010 and Emma, born in 2013.
      Most read in Football
      Xabi Alonso married wife Nagore Aranburu in 2009Credit: AFP
      They first met when Alonso was a kid at Real SociedadCredit: Getty
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      Nagore has worked as a model, actress and fashion designer.
      But one hilarious tale came while she worked as a hotel receptionist in Liverpool.
      Ex-Reds ace and Alonso team-mate Peter Crouch recalled the first time he met Nagore.
      Crouch confessed his love at first-sight reaction to meeting Nagore, before Liverpool team-mates including Jamie Carragher broke the news to him that she was with Alonso.
      He said: “On signing for Liverpool I stayed at the Hope Street Hotel.
      “On reception was a girl so good-looking I couldn’t quite believe she was smiling at me all the time.
      The couple have three children togetherCredit: AFP
      Despite busy work schedules they have always made time to enjoy days out togetherCredit: Splash News
      “I told the lads in training, ‘honestly, she’s beautiful, I think I’ve got a shout here.’ Jamie Carragher called a few other senior players over, ‘tell them again, Crouchie.’
      “So I did, ‘amazing. Dark-haired. Spanish-looking. I’m in there.’ It turned out she was Xabi Alonso’s partner.
      “She was doing a bit of work to practise her language skills. He was nice about it. So was she. Carra less so.”
      Despite their busy lifestyles, Alonso and Nagore have always been sure to make time to spend with one another.
      While at Bayern Munich Alonso and Nagore were a regular sight during Oktoberfest celebrations.
      Following Alonso’s retirement from football in 2017 the pair were spotted enjoying a walk on the beach during a family holiday to California.
      Alonso has also revealed the pair love a trip to the museum and going for a mountain drive with the family.
      Alonso and Nagore were often sighted at Oktoberfest celebrationsCredit: AFP
      Alonso revealed the family used to enjoy mountain car ridesCredit: Getty
      Petrolhead and modelling
      Perhaps it is an echo of his sleek playing style, but whenever Alonso is pictured in a car it is one of elegant design.
      And his fashion sense goes in the same direction.
      Alonso loves getting behind the wheel of classic beamers, with a number of Instagram posts showing him driving a variety of classic cars.
      During his time in Munich, Alonso modelled for Porsche and Adidas as they launched the Porsche Design Sport SS17 and sportswear range.
      Alonso modelled for the launch of the Adidas Porsche Design Sport SS17Credit: Adidas / Porsche

      Alonso and Nagore living the high life
      The pair, seen posing for Adidas Porsche Design Sport SS17, really are the model couple
      However, when going to training he would drive a rather inconspicuous Audi, rather than his classic Mercedes 190 SL convertible.
      Cost estimates for that car today put it between £70,000 to £166,000.
      In an interview with Mr Porter, Alonso – who has been likened to James Bond – is seen driving a Porsche 356 and not looking one bit out of place.
      One thing Alonso can’t stand is the idea of tattoos on his body.
      In a 2016 interview with Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Alonso said: “They [friends] know that they have zero chance with me.
      “By the way, I am not against tattoos in principle. It may well be that this looks cool on others.
      “But not for me. I just can’t imagine myself with piercings, chains or anything else. Obviously, I’m hopelessly old-fashioned.”
      Alonso has always championed a sleek fashion styleCredit: Adidas / Porsche
      One thing he can’t get behind are tattoos on his bodyCredit: Adidas / Porsche
      Alonso is also pretty fed up of the idea that footballers have bad taste in music and TV shows, saying: “It’s the eternal cliché that footballers don’t have taste.
      “I think that’s pretty unfair. But I already know that, I’ve gotten used to it.”
      He has previously raved about hit shows like True Detective and Fargo, describing them as “masterpieces”, while also revealing bands he has listened to.
      The Shins, The Flaming Lips, The Delgados, The Velvet Underground and Lou Reed to name a few.
      Special moments are like watch links
      Despite his often suave appearance, Alonso is not one who often dresses to impress.
      But when he does, he goes all out, and watches are the crown jewel of his wardrobe.
      Alonso has likened special moments in his life and career to links in a watch.
      He told The Journal: “For me, every special moment is bound to be linked to a particular watch, and whenever I put it on I’m transported back to that moment – such as when we won the Champions League with Liverpool or the World Cup with Spain.”
      Jurgen Klopp’s successor?By Dan King
      XABI ALONSO ticks almost every box to succeed Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager, and if Bayer Leverkusen don’t let their lead at the top of the Bundesliga slip the case for him to do so will be irresistible.
      The former Kop idol knows the club inside out after five seasons at Anfield and has made no secret of his enduring affection.
      Alonso has already forged a reputation as an innovative coach playing an attractive, pressing style, usually in a fluid 3-4-2-1 formation.
      He has taken Leverkusen from second bottom of the Bundesliga to seven-points clear at the top, putting them on course to be crowned German champions for the first time in their 120-year history.
      It’s worth remembering that both Rafa Benitez and Klopp arrived at Anfield with proof they could dethrone clubs who dominated their leagues
      For Alonso to do the same, in only his second season as a top-flight manager, would mark him out as something special.
      It is that lack of long-term experience that would still make appointing him to replace Klopp a gamble.
      But otherwise, he looks like the perfect candidate as Liverpool are forced to plan a future without the man who made them champions of England, Europe and the world.

      A IWC Steel Ingenieur Automatic 40, £10,500, similar to the one Alonso was givenCredit: IWC
      Alonso shows off one of his many watches on a trip to London with Nagora
      Watches in his collection include Rolex, Patek Philippe, Franck Muller, Audemars Piguet and Panerai – not that he has a particular desire to show off such accessories for fear of coming across as vulgar.
      However, his favourite and most special member of his watch collection was a gift from Nagora on their wedding day – an IWC Ingenieur – worth £10,500 according to Watches of Switzerland.
      For Alonso, the stunning watch “represents the fact that I had found a woman who thought about me, about what I like, and my personality.
      “I don’t wear it much, just on really special occasions.”
      Alonso says he likes IWC watches in general because “they’re not overly showy, attention-grabbing watches” and “have a certain sophistication without being flashy”.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      The old saying goes: “You can tell a lot about a man from the shoes he’s wearing and the watch he has on.”
      And it seems for Alonso, simple but beautiful efficiency is runs through everything he does. More

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      Football stars who broke Hollywood – from snogging A-list sex icon to Arsenal legend who refused to utter Spurs line

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      FOOTBALL is a notoriously short career, with most players forced to retire before they are 35.It’s not surprising, then, that some turn to the big screen to launch a second career – with many Premiership legends heading to Hollywood to make their fortune.
      Ian Wright with director Daniel Kaluuya and co-star Kane ‘Kano’ Robinson at the launch for The KitchenCredit: Getty
      Vinnie Jones cracked the movie world in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking BarrelsCredit: Alamy
      But the movie world is a tough nut to crack – and only a handful of footballers have made it.
      Ian Wright is the latest to make movie news starring in the Netflix film The Kitchen, released this weekend.
      He follows in the footsteps of fellow player Vinnie Jones whose hard man roles, in the likes of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, are now more memorable than his football.
      Here we look at the football stars who have made it to Hollywood – and one who has a THIRD career as a singer.
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      Vinnie Jones
      Vinnie Jones famously broke into America by appearing in Guy Richie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
      The 59-year-old, from Watford, was still playing football when he was cast in the 1998 British gangster film.
      Vinnie, who is worth at least £7million, used his reputation for aggression on the pitch to help him land hardman roles on the silver screen.
      He was infamously pictured grabbing Gazza’s testicles during a 1988 game between Wimbledon and Newcastle.
      Most read in Football
      Eric Cantona starred with Oscar winners Cate Blanchett and Richard AttenboroughCredit: Rex
      He was infamously pictured grabbing Gazza’s testicles during a 1988 gameCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      But Vinnie is now best known for his acting after appearing in Hollywood hits such as Mean Machine, Gone in 60 Seconds and X-Men: The Last Stand.
      David Beckham
      David Beckham made America his home in the final years of his footballing career after signing a £128million five-year contract with MLS team LA Galaxy in 2007. 
      And rubbing shoulders with Hollywood A-Listers obviously inspired Golden Balls to try out a bit of acting himself.
      Just like Vinnie, Becks, 48, worked with Guy Ritchie on the 2017 blockbuster King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.
      Becks worked with Guy Ritchie on King ArthurCredit: Alamy
      He had a cameo role as a grumpy knight in the film, which grossed £116million at the box office. 
      And he also made an appearance as a projectionist in Ritchie’s 2015 film The Man From U.N.C.L.E. 
      Eric Cantona
      Eric Cantona was never short of confidence during his footballing career.
      And he was no different when he turned his hand to acting as he had no qualms about playing himself in the 2009 Ken Loach film Looking for Eric.
      In 2003, King Eric was voted Manchester United’s best ever player for his time at the club between 1992 and 1997. 
      Eric played a courtier in the movie ElizabethCredit: Alamy
      The star played himself in Looking For EricCredit: Alamy
      The Frenchman’s reputation took a hit when he kung fu kicked a fan at a Crystal Palace game in 1995.
      However his popularity endured thanks to the 57-year-old’s charismatic personality. 
      That same charisma translated on screen when he played the role of a French diplomat alongside Cate Blanchett in the 1998 smash hit Elizabeth. 
      The move led to a slew of acting roles in his native France, most recently in the miniseries Inhuman Resources and the action thriller AKA. 
      He recently launched a singing career, releasing a single, The Friends We Lost, in May 2023. 
      Ian Wright
      Wrighty’s first role was the 2011 movie Gun of the Black Sun
      Ian Wright stars in The KitchenCredit: Netflix
      Arsenal legend Ian Wright has become the latest footballer to bag a Hollywood role with his upcoming part in the Netflix film The Kitchen.
      Wrighty, 60, is already a familiar sight on our TV screens thanks to his weekly appearances on Match of the Day.
      And his latest appearance in The Kitchen, which is being directed by Hollywood A-Lister Daniel Kaluuya, is not the first time he has acted. 
      He also starred in the 2011 film Gun of the Black Sun and appeared as himself in the popular Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso. 
      But Hollywood has clearly not changed the former England striker after he reportedly refused to praise Tottenham on the show. 
      He apparently demanded the line “Tottenham are a great side” be changed as he knew if he said it he would never be able to return to north London.
      Stan Collymore
      The former Liverpool player wanted to be 007Credit: AP:Associated Press
      He romped with Sharon StoneCredit: Planet Photos
      Striker Stan Collymore once admitted in an interview that he wanted to be “the first black James Bond”.
      And although the 52-year-old didn’t bag the 007 gig, he did land a top role alongside Sharon Stone.
      In 2006 he appeared alongside the A-Lister in Basic Instinct 2, which grossed more than £30million. 
      In the film, Collymore, who played for Nottingham Forest and Liverpool in the 90s, shared a hot and steamy scene with Stone.
      In it, the pair become frisky in a car before Collymore crashed into the River Thames.
      Stone tipped Collymore for Hollywood greatness after his appearance in the film – but he never bagged another big role again.
      Zinédine Zidane
      Zidane was a Real Madrid legendCredit: AP:Associated Press
      He looked very different in his Asterix role
      Zinédine Zidane is widely known for his skills on the pitch – and the headbutt that marked the end of his career as a player.
      However, he also starred in a couple of films, proving he has more about him than football alone. 
      The Real Madrid legend enjoyed a cameo role in the 2008 film Asterix at the Olympic Games, which grossed more than £100million.
      The 51-year-old also played himself in the 2005 film Goal! The Dream Begins, starring alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham.
      But Zizou reportedly became peeved when he was left waiting for Becks to turn up to film their scene together for the flick.
      Paul Breitner
      The German player scored in two World Cup finalsCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Potato Fritz was not so legendaryCredit: Alamy
      German midfielder Paul Breitner is one of only four players to have scored in two different World Cup final matches.
      He also belongs to another tiny club of players who have starred in films during their careers.
      The 72-year-old landed parts in two German films.
      His first flick, a Spaghetti Western called Potato Fritz, was filmed in 1976 while he was still playing for Real Madrid. 
      Breitner took on the role of a bandit-hunting Sergeant in the film, which was panned by critics. 
      He appeared again on the silver screen with the 1983 German flick Der Zappler.
      And he returned one more time with the 1986 film called Kunyonga – Mord in Afrika.
      Sadly none of the movies enjoyed the kind of success he achieved on the pitch.
      Pelé
      Escape to Victory was among the first to feature playersCredit: Alamy
      The Brazilian legend also starred in a bizarre TV series about aliens
      Brazilian football icon Pelé was one of the first to make the jump from football to films. 
      He starred in the 1981 sports movie Escape to Victory, appearing alongside Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone.
      The legend also landed a role in Os Estranhos – a 1969 Brazilian TV drama about humans making first contact with aliens. 
      His successful acting career continued with a cameo role in the 2001 film Mike Bassett: England Manager – a mockumentary about a small-time football manager who is put in charge of the national team. 
      Pele, who died in 2022, also became the face of many brands in television adverts throughout his life.
      He filmed commercials for American Express, Mastercard, Pepsi, Atari, Emirates, Louis Vuitton and others. 
      Zlatan Ibrahimović
      The Swedish ace played for Man UnitedCredit: Getty
      Zlatan cut his famous hair and donned Roman armour for his debutCredit: Pathe
      Footballing superstar Zlatan Ibrahimović made his big screen debut last year as a Roman warrior. 
      The Swede played a Roman called Caius Antivirus in the 2023 French-language film Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom.
      Ibrahimović also recently appeared in the Italian TV comedy series Vita da Carlo. 
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      The former Manchester United player has the potential to enjoy a glittering career in Hollywood thanks to his unbelievable confidence. 
      During his time as a player, the 42-year-old earned a reputation for being cocky and was often accused of arrogance.  More

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      in Soccer

      Jordan Henderson quitting Saudi soccer doesn’t surprise me — I sat in empty stadiums in 40C heat and was bored to tears

      by

      DRENCHED with sweat, Jordan Henderson looked utterly exhausted as he trudged to the touchline to grab yet another swig from a water bottle.The England international and former Liverpool captain seemed out on his feet after giving his all as he has done countless times for club and country.
      Jordan Henderson seemed out of his feet playing for Saudi minnows Al-EttifaqCredit: Getty
      The Sun’s Chief Foreign Correspondent Nick Parker shares his thoughts on why Saudi football is so off-puttingCredit: Ian Whittaker – Commissioned by The Sun
      But this was not a World Cup epic watched by millions — rather the harsh reality of Henderson’s debut, in 35C heat, for Saudi Arabian Pro League minnows Al-Ettifaq.
      It was not yet half time when Henderson — who with Liverpool won the Champions League in 2019, the Premier League the next year and the FA Cup in 2022 — took his fourth water break in a ramshackle, half-full stadium unfit for even an English League One tie.
      The midfielder was playing in front of just 13,000 fans, under new club coach and fellow former Liverpool and England star Steven Gerrard last August — and even then the writing was on the wall for all to see.
      Now, with Henderson tonight signing off a move to Dutch giants Ajax, after just six months in Saudi, he is the first of a host of crazy-money signings from the Premier League and other European top-flights who are expected to quit the desert kingdom.
      READ MORE BEAUTIFUL GAME
      A source told me: “Jordan knows he has made a terrible mistake and stands to lose a lot of money.
      “But he can’t face another day in Saudi. He has found the heat intolerable and the quality of the football is, frankly, beneath his talents and won’t keep him in the England reckoning.”
      I feel his pain. Watching his debut in Saudi was one of the weirdest experiences of my 35 years covering football games for The Sun.
      Ahead of the 9pm kick-off, daytime temperatures had topped 40C but the real killer was stifling 60 per cent humidity.
      Most read in Football
      I was soaked in sweat two minutes after stepping out of my taxi — and I was just a spectator.
      Even locals accustomed to the heat were tearing up cardboard boxes to create makeshift fans as play began.
      Having experienced the World Cup glitz in neighbouring Qatar just months earlier, my arrival at the new Saudi home of two Liverpool legends was a shock.
      The Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd Stadium was built in 1973 and needs more than a lick of paint — it needs air-con.
      It seats 26,000 but was only half full, despite the pre-match promise of Cristiano Ronaldo and former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane lining up for the opponents Al-Nassr.
      The drabness of Al-Ettifaq’s laboured 2-1 victory, and former Manchester United favourite Ronaldo failing to show for the game, was only made worse by the multi-use stadium’s running track keeping fans remote from the action.
      The star signings on show must have been baffled by the tiny Saudi fan base.
      Women in burkas, men in Arab robes and others in jeans and T-shirts watched from the sweltering stands, where swathes of faded blue plastic seats lay empty.
      A repeat of this when Saudi Arabia hosts the 2034 World Cup would be a disaster — fear of which could lead to a temporary lifting of the Gulf state’s booze ban, to woo more fans.
      But it is not just the heat, and tiny crowds, triggering the footballers’ exodus from Saudi.
      The Islamic kingdom’s strict cultural code is also to blame for this.
      Boozing is banned and punishable by flogging, while players’ Wags are not legally allowed out in public alone — and women in Saudi have only been allowed to drive since 2018.
      Henderson, 33, more than tripled his Liverpool salary, to a reported £700,000 a week, when he moved to Saudi last summer in the twilight of his career.
      Gerrard, 43, landed a £15.2million-a-year deal — after he was axed as Aston Villa boss then ignored by even Championship clubs.
      But the fanfare around the pair’s unveiling at the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd Stadium looked staged, fake and doomed.
      The sweltering heat, as well as extremely strict cultural codes, have left Saudi stadiums full of empty seats during gamesCredit: Ian Whittaker – Commissioned by The Sun
      The fanfare around Steven Gerrard’s £15.2m deal with Al-Ettifaq looked staged, fake and doomedCredit: Reuters
      Within weeks, Henderson — used to playing before 50,000-strong crowds at Anfield and on glittering World Cup stages — turned out in front of just 610 fans for one Al-Ettifaq game.
      The unhappy playmaker is now bailing out to Ajax.
      He was so desperate quit joyless Saudi that he has reportedly agreed to a 75 per cent pay cut to move to Amsterdam.
      He played just 19 times for former Reds team-mate Gerrard and has now torn up his three-year contract with the club and walked out of an Al-Ettifaq training camp in Dubai.
      His Saudi wages would have been tax-free had he stayed for two years.
      But he faces a £7million tax bill if he returns to the UK, thanks to HMRC rules and having spent less than a year working abroad.
      He is far from alone in wanting out, though.
      My source added: “A lot of top players brought in at huge expense from the Premier League and Europe feel the same — and Jordan won’t be the first to leave.”
      Al-Nassr signing Cristiano Ronaldo, 38, was the first megastar to move to Saudi two years ago on a ridiculous £3.4million a week.
      He was followed by Brazil showman Neymar, 31, who joined Al-Hilal on £2.5million a week, from French club PSG.
      Cristiano Ronaldo was the first megastar to move to Saudi, on a ridiculous £3.4m a weekCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      Ronaldo was soon followed by Brazilian showman NeymarCredit: Getty
      The preening ex-Barcelona striker also demanded three supercars for himself, four Mercedes G Wagons for his entourage, a Mercedes van with a driver on 24-hour standby, and an army of staff.
      Other imports have included Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino, Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante, Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez, Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitro-vic, Wolves’ Ruben Neves and former Celtic winger Jota.
      But with the January transfer window now open, many are fed up and desperate to turn tail.
      Firmino is being linked to Fulham, Jota to Tottenham and Benzema to Chelsea.
      Meanwhile legendary Liverpool goal machine Robbie Fowler’s spell as boss of a Saudi second-tier club has ended after four months, following an apparent spat with management.
      Ex-England ace Fowler, 48, was inexplicably axed despite the club being on a winning run.
      He is believed to have received a large severance payout and has not spoken about his exit, which came weeks before Henderson blew the whistle on Al-Ettifaq.
      Henderson’s game in front of 610 fans was the fifth-lowest attendance of the flop Pro League this season, the tiniest being 257, and comes despite the billions invested by the Saudi government in a brazen bid to “sportswash” its appalling human rights record.
      But the sheikhs lavishing oil wealth on the lacklustre league are unlikely to be put off after greedy Fifa chiefs gifted them the 2034 World Cup.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      A Saudi soccer source said: “Players will come and go but Saudi Arabians love football and we are in for the long haul.
      “We have the resources and will do what it takes to make our league and World Cup a great success.” More

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      in Motorsport

      I was an F1 heiress with a jet in back garden but lost it all… I ended up on £60 benefits & got rejected from McDonald’s

      by

      AS the daughter of a British Formula 1 legend, Christianne Ireland lived a life few could imagine.With a private plane in the back garden of her mansion home, she was driven around in Aston Martin and Rolls-Royce cars, attended a private boarding school, had her hair cut by Vidal Sassoon and had a wardrobe of designer clothes.
      Christianne Ireland is an F1 heiress but lost everythingCredit: Chris Balcombe
      Dad Innes Ireland won the US Grand Prix in 1961Credit: SUPPLIED/CHRISTIANNE IRELAND
      Her dad Innes Ireland won the US Grand Prix in 1961 and counted racing icons Stirling Moss, Graham Hill and F1 team founder Frank Williams as his closest friends.
      Her incredible upbringing should have been the springboard for a life of success.
      But Christianne’s world came crashing down after she became an alcoholic, went through two divorces and her dad failed to leave her money in his will. 
      By 2016, she was on benefits of around £60 a week, living in a homeless hostel and was even turned down for a cleaning job at McDonald’s.
      Read More Features
      She describes her astonishing riches-to-rags story as “like falling out of an ivory tower”.
      Christianne, now 65, says her life was saved when she started volunteering at an allotment and she has rebuilt a future as a support manager at a charity called Unity which helps the most vulnerable in society.
      She said: “When I think back on the life I had it seems crazy.  
      “My childhood was bizarre, bonkers. We lived in a Grade One-listed Georgian mansion house with its own stream-fed lake and a miles messenger plane parked out the back.
      Most read in Motorsport
      She grew up in a Georgian mansion house with its own private lakeCredit: SUPPLIED/CHRISTIANNE IRELAND
      Innes was pals with F1 legends like Stirling Moss, Graham Hill and team founder Frank WilliamsCredit: SUPPLIED/CHRISTIANNE IRELAND
      “They were very heady days. I got a pony and trap as a Christmas present aged five and I remember Frank Williams and F1 racer Charlie Crichton-Stuart coming to paint it one weekend.
      “We always had wonderful exotic cars parked outside and we used to go to the village in the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO built for Stirling Moss, which later sold for £27million.
      “He never got to race it after his terrible accident that ended his racing career but I used to get into the passenger seat, my mum would shove the chocolate Labrador in the footwell and we’d go shopping.
      “When I fell out of the ivory tower years later and had to clean up my drinking, I’d look at beggars on the street and think ‘do I want to be one of them, because I have that option, or do I want to get off my backside and do something to get myself sorted?’”
      Cursed by fame
      Christianne’s story is full of twists and turns and a long battle with the bottle which left her homeless with just a suitcase full of expensive clothes – remnants of her past life.
      Her dad Innes was a former paratrooper and apprentice engineer with Rolls-Royce who started racing in an old three-litre Bentley when he was 22 after being left the car by a dead relative.
      After winning the Motor Sports Brooklyn Memorial Trophy in 1957 he joined the Lotus team, taking part in 50 Grand Prixs.
      He was a larger-than-life character who, according to a rival team boss, “lived without sense, without an analyst, and provoked astonishment and affection from everyone”.
      He married Christianne’s mum Norma Thomas, a Scarborough school teacher, three years before his career took off but the trappings of fame cost Innes his marriage.
      An exhausted Innes trying to push his Lotus 18 up the Sainte Devote hill at the Monaco Grand Prix, 1960Credit: Getty
      Step mother Eddie, step brother Jamie, Innes and and Christianne around age 16 at the backCredit: SUPPLIED/CHRISTIANNE IRELAND
      Christianne said: “My father’s success was a double-edged sword.
      “He was travelling to a lot of races which took him away from my mother and the family and it elevated him into a jet-set world. 
      “ My mother wasn’t really kitted out for that life. I think she was quite happy with the little life they had, it was very suburban and nothing flash and I think she would have preferred that.
      “When the money came on board we had a big mansion house called Downton in Powys, Wales, with an airstrip out the back. Dad got a private plane and really enjoyed the lifestyle but mum was often left rambling around alone in this big home.”
      Christianne says her mum struggled to cope and she was sent to a convent  boarding school just before her fifth birthday which she “hated” because “we weren’t from a strict Catholic family, dad was becoming famous and I was the oddball there”.
      When she next returned home, Christianne’s mother had gone and they never really reconciled.
      She said: “My dad got custody of me and I didn’t dare ask what had happened. I remember saying Goodbye when I went to boarding school and that was the last I saw of her at that time.
      “Dad wasn’t the type to sit you down and talk about what happened and a lot was shoved under the carpet.
      “There was a lot of hurt and I would later use that as a ‘poor me’ excuse to drink.”
      Battle with the bottle
      By the time her dad retired in 1967 to become a journalist for Autocar magazine, he had remarried and the family moved to London where Christianne would have her hair cut by Vidal Sasoon.
      She said: “I would go home from school whenever dad was around and we did have some wonderful times. I watched him race at Le Mans for one of my birthdays and I was taken to designer shops where I was allowed to buy lots of beautiful French clothes.
      “In London we shopped in Harrods and Fortnum and Mason. I had lovely things, but in hindsight I’d have swapped it to spend more quality time with my father.”
      Christianne was sent to private girls boarding school Oxenfoord Castle in Midlothian where she says she developed into a “rebellious teenager”. By now her dad had remarried.
      “I would do anything to shock my father and, looking back, I think I must have been angry.
      “I’d wear dreadful make-up, hippy afghan coats smelling of patchouli oil and bring home unsuitable boyfriends. I had a best friend whose father had also been a driving racer and we used to go to Annabel’s nightclub with our fathers’ cards and dance on the tables.”
      Christianne has taken up racing herself nowCredit: SUPPLIED/CHRISTIANNE IRELAND
      Innes in Monaco in 1960Credit: Getty
      When she was 20, Christianne married farmer John Gee and had three children Charles, now 45, Sasha, 43, and Jeffrey, 41.
      The couple married at Welford Park in Newbury, the home of C4’s Bake Off, in a lavish ceremony where she says dad Innes told her: “Right darling, that’s the last big thing I do for you.”
      Christianne says she started drinking copious bottles of wine throughout her marriage, adding: “My poor husband didn’t know how to cope with it, none of it was his fault.
      “I had no instruction manual and my marriage failed.”
      When her dad died of cancer at a rented cottage near Welford, Newbury, in 1993, Christianne was left out of his will.
      Eventually her relationship with her father’s third wife, ex-model Jean Haworth, became estranged.
      Christianne went on to meet Tristram, her second husband, who she wed in 1995, at an AA meeting in what she describes as a “typical cliche.”
      “He was very smartly dressed and I thought ‘oh he’s got money’ while I think he probably thought I had. Neither of us had a pot to p*** in,” she laughs.
      Christianne volunteered with the local AA and went on to speak to prisoners in Broadmoor, the psychiatric hospital which has housed lags like Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe and four-times killer Robert Maudsley.
      She said: “I wasn’t allowed near people like that but I spoke to people with mental health issues who had issues with drinking or drugs.
      “I was terrified going in there for the first time but came across people who had committed terrible crimes when they’d been on drink or drugs and blacked out, and I thought ‘there by the grace of God go I.’
      “One 6ft 4in man murdered his mother with an axe and a woman who set her house on fire with her family in it. Neither of them had any recollection of what had happened.” 
      Rock bottom
      Nine years into her marriage, Christianne said she started secretly drinking again after moving to Gloucestershire and becoming unhappy.
      She said: “I’d do a bit of social drinking but most of it was in secret.
      “I was socially a bit anxious and I needed to drink before we went anywhere. If it wasn’t vodka it would be half a bottle of wine before stepping out the door and the tolerance started to go up.
      “At its worst I’d secretly down half a bottle of brandy.”
      She and husband Simon, who Christianne says “didn’t know how to help me”, broke up after nine years of marriage and he moved to New Zealand.
      She said: “Over the next five years I went through all my savings, sold some jewellery to live off and tried to find jobs, but I wasn’t in the right headspace.
      “I even tried for a cleaning job at McDonald’s but was turned down.  My children weren’t able to help me financially or put me up.
      “They never actually asked me to stop drinking, because nobody should ever ask anyone to stop. Instead they distanced themselves from me.
      “Eventually I moved to Camberley in Surrey when I got a job in a clothes shop for a couple of years, but then the drinking caught up with me.”
      Christianne found working at an allotment helped her turn her life aroundCredit: Chris Balcombe
      In 2015, Christianne went to live in London to help support a distant relative but it didn’t work out and her daughter advised her to make herself homeless to get a flat.
      She said: “By this time I was on benefits of about £60 a week. I thought maybe I should try the Southampton area because I’d lived there for a little while when I was younger.
      “From there the local authority sent me to Romsey and then to Andover where I was given a crash room in a hostel.”
      Christianne spent eight weeks in a hostel where she had to sleep in a single bed in the dining room.
      She said: “All I had was my suitcase. It was quite large with some of my best clothes in it but that was it.
      “You had to be out of the hostel most of the day so it was quite hard. There were quite a few drug addicts there and I’m not very streetwise.
      “The local authority eventually got me a flat but I had no furniture for three weeks and just slept on the floor.”
      Brighter future
      Christianne started to volunteer at a charity called Unity, and a locally-run allotment – a move she credits with saving her life.
      She said: “When I started digging, clearing, growing, pruning it felt like I was getting rid of debris, not just from the allotment but from my life.
      “On the days I wanted to drink I’d go there instead and I slowly started feeling better.
      “I found my local drug and rehabilitation services and signed up with them. I did a course called smart recovery for three months and it gave me strategies to cope with my drinking.
      “I realised it was an ability to cope with life on life’s terms and I was given a toolbox of strategies to help me cope.”
      Now Christianne works as a voluntary sector support manager for Unity and helps oversee a food pantry project.
      She has also taken up racing herself after joining the Brighton and Hove Moto Sports Club, taking part in speed trials and hill climbs.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      She said: “I don’t regret all those things that happened because they brought me to where I am now. I’m like a snake shedding its skin.
      “I’ve had an amazing, crazy life.” More

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      in Soccer

      Premier League’s cheapest stadiums for pie and pint revealed with Man Utd second behind newly-promoted team

      by

      THE cheapest and most expensive pies and pints at Premier League stadiums have been revealed. Tucking into a pie and grabbing a pint at the football is a long-standing tradition in English football culture.
      The most expensive and cheapest pies at Premier League stadiums have been revealedCredit: Getty
      The cost of the combo at different stadiums ranges from £11.30 to £6.20Credit: Alamy
      But over the years it has become a great financial burden for fans at some stadiums around the country.
      According to data compiled by Betting.com, this includes £5 pies and £6.30 pints at one ground down to £3 pies and pints elsewhere.
      Indeed, the most expensive pint and pie combo at a stadium will set you back £11.30, while the cheapest costs a far more economical £6.20.
      But where do each of the 20 Premier League teams rank in the table?
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Kickstarting with the most expensive pies in the division, you will not find a pricier one than at West Ham’s London Stadium, which charges a staggering £5 for one of the savoury snacks.
      Hopping from East to North London, there is only a 20p gap between West Ham pie prices and those at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, while another post-2000 build in Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium charges £4.70 a pop.
      Three more London clubs come in joint fourth with Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, Fulham’s Craven Cottage and Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park all charging £4.50.
      Old Trafford is next with Manchester United charging punters £4.20 per pie, which is 10p more than Brighton’s Amex Stadium.
      Most read in Football
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
      There are only three other grounds in the top flight that hit the £4 threshold for pies, those being Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
      Similarly, three venues – Luton’s Kenilworth Road, Newcastle’s St. James’ Park and Everton’s Goodison Park – charge £3.90 for a pie.
      Midlands outfits Wolves and Aston Villa come in next with fans paying £3.60 at Molineux and Villa Park respectively.
      The gong for the third cheapest pie in the top flight is shared by Liverpool and Sheffield United, with Anfield and Bramall Lane charging fans £3.40 for a pie.
      The second-cheapest pie can be found at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground for £3.30.
      While the most pie-eater-friendly venue is Turf Moor, with Burnley charging fans just £3.
      London clubs make up five of the six most expensive football grounds to buy a pie
      So now we have looked at pies, what about something to wash them down with?
      Well, it would come as no surprise that your wallet would not thank you for going to a game in London, with each of the top four most expensive pints all being located in the capital.
      And once again we find ourselves at West Ham and Arsenal when looking at the most expensive pints in the division, with the two sides charging a whopping £6.30 for a pint.
      West London sides Chelsea and Fulham are next on the cost list with fans charged £5.70 and £5.50 respectively.
      There is then a 30p drop in the prices at Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, with £5.10 Spurs and £5 Palace being the final clubs who charge £5 or more.
      Moving up the line again we find the Toon Army pay £4.90 per pint with Man City fans then being charged £4.60.
      Man Utd and Sheffield Utd are unmatched in terms of pint cost
      Fans in the city of Liverpool of both red and blue persuasions come in next, with the Toffees charging 15p more than the £4.40 the Reds pay for their drink at Anfield.
      Four grounds charge a rounded £4 for pints, those being at Brentford, Brighton, Luton and Wolves.
      Taking third in the ranking for cheapest pints are pie champions Burnley, who charge £3.20 per pint.
      But the joint winners of the low-cost pint contest are the Red Devils and Blades, with pints costing just £3 at the respective stadiums.
      Across the 92 English Football League clubs, however, the cheapest pie put the Premier League to shame, though the same cannot be said for pints.
      Of the data collected, the cheapest pie in the Football League costs just £2.50.
      This wallet-friendly pie charge can be found at four stadiums, three of which are in League One.
      Read more on The Sun
      These are Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road, Stevenage’s Broadhall Way, Port Vale’s Vale Park and League Two’s Crown Ground, the home of Accrington.
      In pint terms, you will actually not find a better rate than the £3 at Old Trafford and Bramall Lane, with only Morecambe’s Globe Arena in League Two charging fans an equivalent rate. More

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      in Soccer

      New Netflix doc follows Messi, Ronaldo and Bale during Qatar World Cup – with bitter toxic feud laid bare

      by

      THEY are the men who held the hopes of nations in their hands.From Thiago Silva to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to England’s Harry Kane and Wales hero Gareth Bale, it is the dream of every country’s captain to win football’s World Cup.
      Netflix docuseries Captains Of The World takes a look at the pressure put on the men tasked with leading their teams to victory – like Argentina’s Lionel MessiCredit: Getty
      Most have their hopes crushed – but the winners take their place in history.
      Now new Netflix docuseries, Captains Of The World, takes a closer look at the pressure put on the handful of men tasked with leading their teams to victory.
      The six-part show follows captains and coaches during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
      We look at how some of football’s most famous names fought for their country’s pride in a bid to lift the famous gold trophy.
      READ MORE WORLD CUP
      LIONEL MESSI
      Argentina
      RANKED one of the world’s greatest players, Lionel Messi dreamed of emulating his hero Diego Maradona.
      He missed his idol, after Maradona died in November 2020 of a heart attack.
      He said: “It’s really weird not having him here, not seeing him in the stands, not seeing people going crazy when he shows up.
      Most read in Football
      “He made everyone feel something ­special. This is my last chance to achieve my greatest dream, but this is a World Cup and it’s really tough.”
      Argentina went through to the semis after an explosive win in a penalty shootout against the Netherlands.
      The match was marked by tempers boiling over in an ongoing feud between Messi and Dutch head coach Louis van Gaal.
      The pair shared bad blood over van Gaal’s treatment of Messi’s mentor and Argentine footballing icon Juan Roman Riquelme when the Dutchman managed Barcelona.
      Messi was left fuming after van Gaal “disrespected” his team by claiming the play-maker didn’t contribute to the game when the other side had the ball.
      After scoring Argentina’s second goal, Messi channelled Riquelme’s mocking victory celebration before calling Netherlands goal scorer Wout Weghorst an idiot in a bad-tempered post-match outburst in the tunnel.
      Messi said: “It was a really tough game. We were facing a great team. We have a very good group of players. They know how to fight when the going gets tough.
      “They (the Netherlands) talked a lot before the game and I didn’t like it.
      “The player in the number 19 shirt (Weghorst) kept provoking us. Bumping into us, and saying things from the start.
      “I don’t think that behaviour belongs in football.
      “I was really angry before the match because a coach like van Gaal . . .  I felt he had disrespected the Argentinian team.”
      Messi fulfilled his World Cup mission after leading Argentina to victory over France in a spectacular final.
      He scored twice in the 3-3 match before scoring again from the spot as Argentina won on penalties.
      He said: “It’s very hard to explain how you feel at that moment. All that energy.”
      Asked if he had any advice for his young­er self, he said: “Enjoy football, keep doing what you do, because that’s what matters the most and the rest will come.”
      GARETH BALE
      Wales
      BALE led Wales to their first World Cup since 1958 and told how much-loved former manager Gary Speed, who took his own life in 2011, aged 42, still inspires the nation.
      On reaching Qatar he said: “The proudest thing you can do as an athlete is to represent your country.
      Gareth Bale led Wales to their first World Cup since 1958Credit: Netflix
      “To be playing for Wales and taking them to the World Cup, for it to become a reality is surreal.
      “Whenever I meet up with Wales it feels like home.
      “I know everyone sees that I’m quiet, but I like to joke around and get people going. It’s about us as a team, trying to do as best we can.”
      He said the team still talk about Gary Speed, adding: “We still speak about him. Everyone involved will tell you how grateful the whole nation is.
      “If he hadn’t come in at that moment, we might not be where we are now, we might not have had that foundation built for us to really kick on and achieve what we’ve achieved.”
      HARRY KANE
      England
      TOP scorer Kane went up against his Spurs team-mate Hugo Lloris in the quarter-final.
      Kane missed a penalty which saw England crash out when they lost 2-1 to France.
      Harry Kane explains that it’s always important to control your emotions during a tournamentCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      But the England talisman never lost hope until the last moment.
      He said: “We’re level-headed, we know what we need to do to go far in this tournament. It’s important you control your emotions.
      “We’re not just here to reach the quarter-final and we have to believe if we want to go all the way.”
      On penalties he said: “I like to have the ball in my hands, stay calm.
      “I always kind of know where I’m going to put the penalty, focus on that.”
      Lloris says of Kane’s miss: “That’s football.”
      England boss Gareth Southgate said: “England always think they should be winning. History would tell us that’s not really the case.”
      CRISTIANO RONALDO
      Portugal
      RONALDO hoped his fifth World Cup finals would see him get his hands on the trophy at last.
      He got off to a rocky start after it was rumoured he threatened to quit after being benched for two games.
      Ronaldo says that he’s felt the same pressure as everCredit: Netflix
      Although he made appearances as a substitute, it didn’t prevent Portugal from being beaten by Morocco in one of the big shocks.
      He said: “Everyone wants to win but there can only be one winner.
      “If you asked me if I finished my career today, would I be happy? Yes of course! But a World Cup win could be fun.”
      Of his shredded dreams after a quarter-final exit, he said: “Some people like me, some people don’t, but I’m proud of everything I’ve done. It wouldn’t be fair for me to ask for more.
      “I don’t chase records, records chase me. Pressure? Every player feels pressure. There’s been pressure ever since I left Madeira aged 11.”
      THIAGO SILVA
      Brazil
      AN emotional Silva told how he was left “hurt” after pre-tournament favourites Brazil were knocked out by Croatia in the quarter-finals.
      But he said he had already won the biggest battle of his life after winning a fight for survival against tuberculosis aged 21 in 2005.
      Silva tells of being ‘hurt’ after Brazil’s loss to Croatia in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finalsCredit: Getty
      The Chelsea defender said: “People say Thiago is weak for having emotions. I wouldn’t have got where I am today by being mentally weak.
      “I had to be strong in one of the biggest battles of my life. I left Brazil when I was young . . . I trained and trained with a painful chest.
      “The doctor held the X-ray up and you could see there was a huge hole in my lung.
      “If we had waited any longer for diagnosis there would be no cure.
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      “Going through tuberculosis left me with scars that will never heal.
      “When people say I’ve won a lot of ­trophies, the biggest achievement of my life was overcoming that.” More