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      in Soccer

      I endured the worst sexism when I started out in football, I’m so proud of our Lionesses and how far we’ve come

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      WIN or lose in today’s World Cup final, we should all  say thank you to our heroic Lionesses for giving us reason to be so hopeful, happy and proud this summer.What a massive achievement to go all the way and put England’s women’s football on the global map in the process.
      Whatever happens in the World Cup final, Sarina Wiegman and the England Lionesses are heroesCredit: Getty
      A peak audience of 7.3million tuned in to see England beat Australia on Wednesday, the BBC revealed, even though the time difference meant an 11am kick-off.
      And their thrilling performance was worth the watch.
      The Lionesses are an exceptionally talented bunch and they play brilliantly to each other’s strengths.
      But it’s not just about skills and teamwork. Female footballers who have come as far as these girls must be particularly determined and tenacious.
      READ MORE KARREN BRADY
      And in the excellent Sarina Wiegman they have a coach worthy of their talents.
      Despite playing for the Dutch national champions and representing her country, for most of her own football career she had to work as a PE teacher to supplement her income.
      No seamless lucrative hop from multimillion-pound player’s contract to multimillion- pound manager’s deal for Sarina.
      She had to graft to make her way as a manager. But along the way, she became a gifted and in- spirational leader.
      Most read in Football
      Within three years of gaining her full coaching licence, she led the Dutch women’s team to victory at the 2017 Euros and the final of the 2019 World Cup. Sound familiar?
      Last year, she took the Lionesses to victory at the European Women’s Championship and now our women’s team is in its first World Cup final.
      No wonder the FA are considering her as a potential successor to Gareth Southgate for the men’s national team.But for all her success, she is in a minority.
      Spain, who England will play today, have a male manager, as do many other women’s teams.
      Just 12 out of the 32 squads in this year’s World Cup are headed by female coaches, despite clear evidence that women leading women in sport adds up to success.
      And you have to ask — why are there so many blokes in charge, given that no women manage men’s teams?
      I was the first woman to hold a top-flight role in English football at Birmingham City, after joining the club as managing director aged 23.
      When I started out, I was subjected to the most overt sexist chauvinism.
      A chairman of a fellow football club claimed that I would do a “Sharon Stone” in a football tribunal to get out of a Football Association fine.
      I was banned from boardrooms — which had a “no women allowed” policy — and was once chanted at by 30,000 football fans with words too rude to print in a family newspaper.
      It was a slog and, at times, depressing. I always say that the boardroom door was the first door I kicked down, and I have held that door open as long and as wide as possible to get as many other women as possible through it over the past 30 years.
      So, whatever happens today, I’m proud of how far we have come.
      Women’s football in England has come a long way and a World Cup win would take it to the next levelCredit: PA
      A nation is gripped. And proud. And excited. We are in the finals and bossing it!
      As a result, people are taking women’s football more seriously than they ever have. For which I give a giant hurrah.
      These women deserve to be celebrated, and I back The Sun on Sunday’s calls to give out gongs to the Lionesses.
      But there is still some major catching up to do when it comes to parity with men’s football.
      First, there’s the economics of it. Forget making a profit, or even breaking even.
      Every Women’s Super League club loses money.
      The interest in the game is there on a national level, which is obviously wonderful.
      FIERCE AND FABULOUS
      But it does not yet filter down to domestic leagues.
      So, the truth is that the men’s teams are funding the women’s game.
      Domestic leagues can’t even think about equal pay at this stage as the broadcast, sponsorship and gate revenue of the WSL doesn’t add up to a hill of beans. But this is expected to change.
      The latest figures from 2022 show that the 12 WSL clubs boosted their revenue by 60 per cent in one year — and that’s before the inevitable World Cup effect.
      Nike have not made Mary Earps’ England goalkeeper replica jersey available to fansCredit: AP
      So it’s a shame that sponsors Nike have yet to notice this team is breaking the mould, and they need to address that.
      How ridiculous that fans can’t buy a replica of Mary Earps’ goalkeeper’s shirt because the sportswear giant doesn’t think it’s worth manufacturing one.
      Then there’s the massive disparity in prize money.
      This summer is the ninth Women’s World Cup and each member of the winning team will get £213,000 from a total tournament purse of £88.5million.
      Meanwhile, the men’s purse has grown to £345million.
      In my view, it’s time for FIFA to take the lead. The women’s World Cup earns almost £1billion.
      They rake in SO much money from all these ever-expanding tournaments and yet, from their accounts, which I have studied, it’s hard to work out what they do with it all.
      It would be great if they made it their business to redress the balance by paying female footballers more money from their gate and broadcasting revenue.
      This is something domestic leagues can’t do because their revenue just can’t support it.
      After all, if FIFA can afford to pay their President Gianni Infantino more than £3million a year, surely they can afford to equal the women and men’s prize money?
      Unfortunately, as fierce and fabulous as the Lionesses are, when it comes to women’s football there is still too much uncomfortable mirroring with the world of regular work, where men run the show, get paid more and are taken more seriously than women.
      But the success of Sarina and her team is a great reminder that if you want something done right, get a woman to do it.
      After all, football could be coming home today.
      Read More on The Sun
      If it does, it’s the women’s team who will be carrying it.
      Come on England!
      Attitudes towards women in football used to be archaic, says KarrenCredit: Caters News Agency More

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      in Soccer

      They’re straightforward, lack vanity, refuse to be sex objects & are effortlessly patriotic – why we love the Lionesses

      by

      WATCHING the Lionesses celebrating winning their place in the World Cup Final on Wednesday, I felt a sensation unfamiliar to me.It was like my nose was running — but a bit higher up and bringing with it a feeling of happiness not generally associated with a summer cold.
      The Lionesses refuse to be sex objects and are effortlessly patrioticCredit: Getty
      Could the young Lionesses make the old Wags look any less relevant?Credit: Getty
      I was crying! I never cry. I only ever saw my dad cry once — when Prince, our Alsatian, died.
      Why do the Lionesses make me cry?
      Their confidence, not built on the quicksand of vanity.
      Their refusal to be sex objects and/or victims at a time when the objectification and mental health of young women is at an all-time low.

      Their effortless patriotism when we’ve been told for such a long time that it’s the dirtiest of words.
      Their talent and teamwork at a time when the narcissistic and lonely life of the social influencer is held up as the surest way for ambitious girls to find fame.
      Could the young Lionesses make the old Wags look any less relevant?
      Having dreams, ambitions and passions that money can’t buy — and the self-respect that only paying your own way in life can bring — seems far more enviable than being the kept woman of a man who has to take off his boots in order to count up to 20.
      Most read in Football
      If the Lionesses make Wags look bad, they make the male England players look worse.
      These alleged LGBTQ allies — led by “gay icon” David Beckham — were last seen wafting off to Qatar to give good PR to a country where migrant workers are treated like chattels, women are treated like children and homosexuals are treated like criminals.
      The Lionesses draw in multitudes turned off by the ugliness of the male game, with its inordinate share of spouse beaters, cat kickers and sexual assaulters within its ranks.
      All that hype and money — and they haven’t been able to get into a World Cup final for more than half a century.
      Football touches us because, more than any other sport, we can see the child inside the adult — the lack of accoutrements needed means that the poorest kid can access it.
      When a player scores, they react with the joy of a child, as do their friends to their fleeting triumph.
      It’s hard to see the exuberant kid in the over-paid and self-pitying male footballers — but very easy to see it in the Lionesses with their ponytails and bare-faced beauty.
      Their names — Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Mary Earps — carry echoes of our Dickensian heritage while also sounding like super-heroines from the future.
      They already sound like names on statues, even though they’re so young.
      When the Lionesses speak, they conjure up a sense of community which the money-mad and globalist male game has lost.
      And by community, I don’t just mean the country whose shirts they wear.
      I mean a wider female community stretching back into the past — the “Lost Lionesses” of the 1971 Women’s World Cup — and reaching into the future.
      Last year, when the Lionesses won the Uefa European Championship, I heard pre-teen girls yelling the players’ names, like war-cries while kicking a ball around on the public lawns at the end of my street.
      This year I heard a little girl adorably singing “Three Lions wearing skirts” in the local Pizza Express.
      This goes beyond football — it goes to the very heart of confidence for the next generation of teenage girls.
      I wonder how many “tomboys” will be stopped from taking the sad journey to the surgeon’s scalpel now that the Lionesses have shown us such a bold new way of being feminine?
      So I don’t really mind crying at long last, but I hope it stays limited to sport.
      I don’t want to start imitating a fire hydrant every time I see an injured dog on Instagram or spontaneously sobbing during ghastly “girly chats”.
      But, at 64, I finally understand why we get emotional when our team (and the Lionesses really are the first time I’ve thought of any team as being “mine”) wins — or loses, because either way, I can see myself snivelling lots tomorrow.
      Read More on The Sun
      Not just because of what they represent for women’s football — but for women.
      As the Terminator almost said: “Men — I know now why you cry.” More

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      in Soccer

      How Sarina Weigman went from disguising herself as a boy to play football to the most successful women’s manager ever

      by

      WITH the Lionesses roaring into the World Cup final for the first time, manager Sarina Wiegman is celebrating her own record-breaking achievement.The former PE teacher has become the first manager to take two national teams all the way to the final — having coached her native Netherlands through the tournament in 2019.
      Sarina Weigman has become the first manager to take two national teams all the way to the World Cup finalCredit: Getty
      Former England players have said the key to Sarina’s success is how much she gets to know her playersCredit: Getty
      Sarina, who as a child disguised herself as a boy to play in her local team, is now being talked about as a possible successor to Gareth Southgate as manager of the England men’s team.
      FA boss Mark Bullingham confirmed that it was considering appointing a woman when Southgate’s contract expires at the end of next year, saying: “It’s the best person for the job. If that best person is a woman then why not?”
      And those who have trained under mum-of-two Sarina, a three-time winner of Fifa Women’s Coach of the Year, reckon she is well qualified.
      Ellen White, part of last year’s Euros-winning squad, says the key to Sarina’s success is how much she gets to know her players.
      READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
      Ellen, 34, said: “We needed someone to bring everyone’s strengths together on and off the pitch and allow them to be free to express themselves.
      “Sarina is a genuinely lovely person that shows a lot of empathy. She wants to know you on a human level, not just as a player. She has conversations with you about your family.
      “Her communication levels are on another level to what we have experienced before. It’s the fact she knows each player individually and knows what makes them tick.”
      True grit
      But what sets Sarina apart is also her true grit — born from a lifetime of fighting for her place in a sporting world dominated by men.
      Most read in Football
      Sarina, who learned her skills playing against boys when girls’ football was banned in the Netherlands, led the charge for women to be paid professionals in the country.
      Dutch player Leonne Stentler said: “She tried to fight for that at every moment. She saw our progression was going so fast that it would be possible some day that we would be full-time professional players.
      “She had to fight for everything. She was trying to break through every wall.”
      That fighting spirit was awakened early in her childhood in The Hague when she discovered a love of football alongside twin brother Tom.
      As her country banned girls from the pitch, she cut her hair short to look more like a boy, so she could play alongside her sibling in the local team, ESDO.
      Despite the ban, her parents supported her dreams.
      She recalled: “As a little girl, when I was five or six, girls were not allowed to play football, but I just liked football and my parents never made any fuss. They just said, ‘If you want to play football, you’re going to play football’.”
      A breakthrough then came in the 1970s, as Uefa made all of its member nations invest in women’s football and Sarina was able to move to HSV Celeritas, which had a female team.
      As a child, Sarina disguised herself as a boy to play in her local teamCredit: Twitter
      At the age of 18, Sarina was part of the Netherlands squadCredit: PA
      Despite her obvious talent, the barriers to women were so entrenched Sarina never saw it as a possible career.
      She said: “I knew in elementary school that I wanted to be a PE teacher. That’s very strange, too, but I just wanted to be involved in sports.
      “I didn’t know I could be a coach because there was nothing for women in football — I couldn’t see it, so I didn’t think that it was an opportunity.”
      In 1987, the midfielder joined the Delft club KFC 71, winning the national cup the same year and was selected to play for her country.
      A year later, at the age of 18, she was part of the Netherlands squad invited by Fifa to compete in the Women’s Invitation Trophy, a precursor of the World Cup, in China.
      While there, she caught the eye of Anson Dorrance, the manager of the US Women’s Team and head coach at the University of North Carolina, who offered her a sports scholarship and a place in the university’s Tar Heels women’s soccer team.
      The secondment to the US, where women’s football was on the up, was a turning point, making her more determined to make her mark in her homeland.
      “It was an absolute trigger for me,” she said. “I thought: ‘If I can contribute in the Netherlands, to create what is in the US in the Netherlands, I would be a happy person.’ It took 20 years.”
      On her return, she worked as a PE teacher at Segbroek College in The Hague, a job she kept throughout her playing career.
      She trained with the men at ADO Den Haag several times a week and eventually joined the women’s team of Ter Leede, where she played for nine years, helping them to win two league titles and the Dutch cup, while also earning 104 caps for her country.
      As captain of the team, her leadership skills were clear — as well as her need to nurture the players who, unlike their male counterparts, were not paid professional wages.
      Teammate Jeanet van der Laan recalled: “She was pretty loud in the dressing room and very confident about her qualities.
      “Sarina came to visit me because she wanted to see where I lived.
      “I only had a washing machine and not a dryer.
      “She asked me, ‘How are you going to do this? You have to train, practise almost every day. How are you going to dry your gear?’.
      “I said, ‘I don’t know, I don’t have any money’. So, she gave me her tumble dryer. And that’s something I will never forget.”
      Sarina, who is married to childhood sweetheart and sports lecturer Marten Glotzbach, retired from the pitch to start a family at 33, and had daughters Sacha and Lauren.
      While still working as a PE teacher, she returned to the club as its coach, winning the double in her first season — and continued to fight for the rights of women players.
      When the Dutch women’s league, Eredivisie, was launched in 2007, she was asked to coach a new team for Ado Den Haag on a part-time basis but she refused until they gave her a full-time job.
      She became the first female coach at a Dutch professional football organisation when she joined Sparta Rotterdam.
      Host of honours
      In 2014, she became the assistant coach of the Dutch women’s team but turned down the top job a year later. “Sarina only begins a new adventure when she’s ready for it,” explained husband Marten.
      In 2017, she agreed to take over as head coach and, in one of the first team meetings, she handed players an article entitled “Thirteen things you should give up if you want to be successful”.
      Sarina celebrated with the Lionesses after dispatching Australia 3-1 in Sydney to reach England’s first World Cup FinalCredit: Getty
      Included on the list was, “Give up your need to be liked”.
      It’s a philosophy that Dutch former player Leonne Stentler says the single-minded coach lives by.
      She said: “Sarina is someone who has a goal and just tries to reach that goal.
      “To anything else, she’s just . . .  blind is not the right word, but she doesn’t let anyone or anything change her mind or influence her.”
      The approach worked — as she guided the Netherlands to their first Euros win in 2017, earning Sarina a host of honours, including being named Best Fifa Women’s Coach and a Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau.
      She followed it by taking the Dutch team to a runners-up medal at the 2019 World Cup, following which she became the first woman to be honoured with a statue at the Dutch Football Association.
      But a year after the World Cup triumph she disappointed her home fans by agreeing to take over from Phil Neville as head coach of the Lionesses, saying: “Why not? I only want to work at the top. I wouldn’t be happy with any less.”
      A brilliant tactician, Sarina has turned around the fortunes of the England team, who have lost just one match out of 38 under her stewardship.
      While she nurtures her players, she also has a ruthless streak, and caused controversy by leaving England captain Steph Houghton out of this year’s World Cup squad because of injury.
      As she heads to her second World Cup final as a national coach, she says winning is not as im­portant as changing the perception of women’s football — and creating opportunities she was denied as a child.
      Sarina said: “I really love the medals but what I’m proud of most is that now young girls have perspective, young girls can play football and young girls can wear shirts [with players’ names on].
      “When you go to the grocery store and people tell you, ‘My daughter was wearing that shirt but my son is wearing that shirt now too’, we’ve changed society.
      Read More on The Sun
      “That’s the change I’m proud of the most. I didn’t have opportunities. I have two daughters, they played football in mixed teams when they were younger, and it was normal.
      “Things are changing, but there is still a long way to go.”
      Sarina Wiegman, second from left on bottom row, as a girl in her local football team in the Hague
      Sarina retired from the pitch to start a family at 33, and had daughters Sacha and Lauren with husband MartenCredit: sarina.wiegman/instagram More

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      in Soccer

      Ultimate Premier League Wags Insta rich list includes ‘world’s hottest Wag’ & savvy reality star who out-earns boyfriend

      by

      THEY say that behind every successful man, there stands a great woman. That appears to ring true for players of the English Premier League, who are cheered on by their stunning wives and girlfriends.
      English Premier League footballers have some of the most glamourous WAGS by their side (pictured is Melanie Martial)Credit: Instagram/@melaniemartialdc
      With the season having kicked off this weekend, many will be in the stands cheering on their fellas, while others support them from afar.
      Some wags have amassed armies of fans of their own – and can rake in thousands by sharing a single Instagram post.
      The amount they can earn – estimated by HypeAuditor’s Instagram Money Calculator – is dictated by how many followers they have, average likes and the reach of their account.
      Here we reveal the ultimate Premier League Wag Instagram rich list – and some can even out-earn their footballer partners.
      READ MORE ON WAGS
      Cindy Kimberly – £9K
      Cindy gained social media attention when Justin Bieber posted a picture of herCredit: Instagram
      She is now with Everton star Dele Alli, who she’s been dating since last yearCredit: Instagram
      Dutch model Cindy, 24, has managed to build a huge online presence, largely thanks to Justin Bieber launching an internet hunt to find her.
      He posted her picture to millions of his followers with the caption “Omg who is this!!” back in 2015, when she was 17.
      Cindy has since modelled for huge fashion brands like Marc Jacobs, Savage x Fenty and Boohoo, and posed for Sports Illustrated among other top titles.
      She began dating Everton midfielder Dele Alli in 2022 and they’ve been spotted enjoying holidays and sharing loved up snaps of each other.
      Most read in Football
      With 7million followers, Cindy reigns supreme when it comes to Instagram and is reportedly able to charge brands up to £9,000 per post – around the same as Dele, who has 8.5m followers.
      Dani Dyer – £5.7K
      Dani Dyer made a name for herself after winning Love Island in 2018Credit: Instagram
      She and Jarrod Bowen announced the birth of their twins earlier this yearCredit: Getty
      Love Island star Dani Dyer, 27, who won the series in 2018 with ex Jack Fincham, went public with West Ham star Jarrod Bowen in 2021.
      The pair delighted fans in May when Dani gave birth to their twins Summer and Star. Dani already has a two-year-old with her jailbird ex-boyfriend Sammy Kimmence.
      As one of the most popular Love Island stars, Dani has over 3.8m followers on Instagram – and with her likes averaging 221.7k, she’s allegedly able to demand £5,749 per post.
      Meanwhile Jarrod has 351K followers, and can earn an estimated £3,473 per post.
      Marta Diaz – £5.4K
      Marta, who is dating Sergio Reguilon, often posts racy pictures on InstagramCredit: Instagram
      She is only one of a few WAGs to have more followers than their significant otherCredit: Getty
      Marta Diaz, 23, certainly knows how to set pulses racing – she’s famous for her racy snaps on social media.
      The Spanish beauty is dating Tottenham star Sergio Reguilon, and previously admitted the couple went months without having sex because they were separated during lockdown.
      She is just one of a select few WAGs to have more followers than their partners.
      On YouTube she has over 2m subscribers, while over on Instagram she has more than 3.3m, and can make an estimated £5,400 per post.
      Sergio, meanwhile, has 1.8m Instagram followers – and can reportedly net £6,237 per post.
      Vlada Zinchenko – £3.9K
      Vlada is a sports journalist and has interviewed some of the biggest footballers in the worldCredit: instagram.com
      She and Oleksandr kept their relationship secret until they were ready to tell the worldCredit: Instagram

      Manchester City’s Oleksander Zinchenko married Vlada in 2020 after a romantic proposal inside the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv.
      The Ukrainian’s teammates helped keep their romance a secret until they were ready to tell the world.
      Now they are proud parents to two kids and regularly give fans glimpses into their family life on social media.
      Before becoming Mrs Zinchchenko, Vlada, 27, made a name for herself as a sports journalist and has interviewed some of the world’s top football players.
      On Instagram she has 683k followers, and can earn an estimated £3,900 per sponsored post. Her hubby has 2.5m followers.
      Melanie Da Cruz – £3.3K
      Melanie began dating Manchester United’s Anthony Martial in 2016
      Their relationship initially courted some controversyCredit: Getty
      Melanie, 32, is no stranger to the limelight – she made a name for herself on French TV and has been with Manchester United star Anthony Martial since 2016.
      Their relationship did not get off to a smooth start, however – eyebrows were raised when he dumped his former lover Samantha Jacquelinet and got together with Melanie soon after.
      Despite past allegations of infidelity, the pair appear to be loved up and regularly share snaps of them on holiday in destinations like Dubai and Santorini.
      Anthony is dad to son Peyton, whom he shares with Samantha, and also has Swan, who was born in 2018 with Melanie.
      Melanie’s 4.5million followers on Instagram means brands aiming to work with her could be paying up to £3,300 per post. Anthony has 6.3m followers and can ask up to £7.8K.
      Ainê Coutinho – £2.4k
      Ainê has been married to Philippe Coutinho since 2012Credit: Instagram
      They have adorable tattoo tributes to each otherCredit: Instagram
      The romance between Ainê and childhood sweetheart Philippe Coutinho has been hailed as one of football’s ‘great love stories’.
      The Brazilian pair first met as teenagers – Phillipe was 14 – at a friend’s party and have been inseparable ever since.
      She has always supported his football career and follows him whenever he moves to a new club.
      Ainê, 30, and Aston Villa star Phillippe, who married in 2012 and share three children together, often post adorable snaps of each other and their family. They even have sweet tattoo tributes to each other.
      With 979k followers on Instagram, Ainê is reportedly able to pocket up to £2,362 per post.
      Meanwhile her husband boasts a whopping 24.9m followers – meaning he can allegedly command up to £20K per post.
      Anna Mariana Casemiro – £2.2k
      Anna Mariana is married to Manchester United star CasemiroCredit: Instagram
      The couple share two childrenCredit: Instagram
      Anna Mariana, 34, has been extremely successful in her own right – she has a successful make-up range and works as a model on Instagram – when she is not busy being a mum.
      She is married to Manchester United star Casemiro and they share two kids. They began dating in 2011 and married three years later.
      Brazilian Anna – who holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration – met Casemiro while the midfielder played for Sao Paolo.
      With 504.6k followers on Instagram and an engagement rate of 3.6%, she is reportedly able to make up £2,284 on Instagram. Her hubby has 22.1m followers and can command an estimated £21K.
      Maja Nilsson Lindelof – £2K
      Maja has been named the hottest WAG in the Premier LeagueCredit: instagram @majanilssonlindelof
      She is married to Manchester United’s Victor LindelofCredit: Getty
      She has been called the sexiest WAG in the world and has been building an incredible Instagram empire.
      Married to Manchester United’s Victor Lindelof, Swedish beauty Maja, 29, is founder of the fashion brand Lis Bonne Atelier and also writes blogs for a glossy magazine.
      She’s also a human rights ambassador for UNICEF and often highlights the work being done to protect children around the world.
      Maja has an Instagram following of 252k and can allegedly charge up to £2,000 each time she posts an advert. Her husband has 2.3m followers, but can reportedly only command £2,684 per post.
      Izabel Kovačić – £1.9K
      Izabel often posts pictures of herself on holiday at exotic locationsCredit: Instagram @ izakova
      The couple got married in the same church they met as teenagersCredit: Instagram @izakova
      As far as glam WAGS go, it doesn’t get much better than Izabel, who is the wife of Manchester City central midfielder Mateo Kovačić.
      The pair’s relationship has been wholesome from the beginning – they even met at church while they were teenagers.
      And in 2017, they returned to that same church for their wedding.
      Since then, she has been living the ultimate Wag dream and is often seen vacationing at exotic locations.
      Isabel, 30 has an impressive social media presence – she’s followed by 457k people and is able to make £1,965 on the platform.
      It pales in comparison to her husband’s five million followers, however.
      Isabelle da Silva – £1.8K
      Isabelle da Silva is extremely active on social mediaCredit: INSTAGRAM/BELLE SILVA
      She has been married to Thiago Silva since 2015Credit: Splash News
      In 2020, Isabelle da Silva put her family’s business out in the open when she revealed she was trying to convince her Brazilian husband Thiago to have a vasectomy.
      The mum-of-two, 36, has been married to the Chelsea star since 2015 after being together for years.
      Read More on The Sun
      She is extremely active on social media where she has over 669k followers. Isabelle regularly posts snaps of Thiago and their kids alongside sultry bikini shots.
      On Instagram, she is reportedly able to earn up to £1,817 each time she agrees to a sponsored post. Thiago, who has 22m followers, can earn an estimated £17K per post. More

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      in Soccer

      How Lionesses Alessia Russo became England’s ‘million pound’ golden girl but was left blushing after meeting famous fan

      by

      AT 11, Alessia Russo was tipped as a future England star by goalscoring great Kelly Smith – and now, 13 years later, she really is making the Lionesses roar.The World Cup forward, who scored the winning goal against Colombia on Saturday to take England into the semi-finals, has been dubbed the “golden girl” of the Women’s Super League.
      Alessia Russo has been dubbed the ‘golden girl’ of the Women’s Super LeagueCredit: MARK CANT/Women’s Health UK
      Alessia in her new Arsenal strip having left Man Utd in a shock transferCredit: Getty
      Alessia with her mum, dad and brotherCredit: Instagram @alessiarusso99
      The 24-year-old had already cemented her place in the nation’s hearts with a spectacular backheel goal for England in last year’s Euros semi-final against Sweden which was named the Goal of the Tournament.
      Now, a month after her transfer to Arsenal from Manchester United, Alessia — known to her family as Lessi — is lighting up the World Cup too.
      And she’s going for gold as well as goals.
      Factoring in commercial deals with such brands as Adidas, Gucci, PlayStation and Beats by Dre, she is now thought be the first WSL player to earn more than £1million a year.
      Read More on Alessia Russo
      With celeb fans such as David Beckham — and his daughter Harper — she is already such a national treasure that her boots have been displayed in the Tower of London.
      Colin Whitfield, a former coach at Bearsted FC in Kent, where she began her footie career, told The Sun she is inspiring a new generation.
      He said: “The girls in particular all want to be the next Alessia Russo. She has inspired lots of people, not just at Bearsted.
      “There’s a real sense of excitement off the back of her success. I can’t see it ever disappearing.”
      Most read in Football
      The Kent-born striker’s rise to the top was on the cards from a young age.
      Coming from Sicilian stock, Alessia grew up in Maidstone in a sporting family — policeman dad Mario played for Met Police FC and coached local kids, brother Giorgio played for non-league team Ramsgate and younger brother Luca represented England in under-20s track and field events.
      Mum Carol recently recalled Alessia as a “cute three-year-old dancing in a tutu” but added that she had been desperate to ditch ballet because she wanted to go to football training with her dad and brothers.
      Coach Mario revealed he had got “strange looks” from other parents when he moved his daughter from the girls’ to the boys’ team after spotting her potential.
      At St Simon Stock Catholic School in Maidstone, Alessia’s star quality was clear, and former head teacher John Malone and PE teacher Claire Brown recall she was a “driven” pupil who “already had the mindset of a great sporting star”.
      John told Good Morning Britain: “She played for the girls’ team but also, up to a certain age, girls can play for the boys’ team.
      “Her reputation was out there in the community. So PE departments from other schools would be calling us on the match day to say, ‘Is that girl playing for you this evening?’.
      “If the answer was yes, they knew that they were going to lose.”
      From the age of eight, Alessia trained at Charlton Athletic’s academy, where in 2006 she was led on to the pitch as a mascot by Casey Stoney, who would later become her boss at Manchester United.
      Offered a contract by Chelsea just as she was considering university, she opted to take a soccer scholarship at the University of North Carolina, where her brother Luca was already studying on an athletic scholarship.
      Her first-year roommate was fellow England player Lotte Wubben-Moy.
      Sporting star
      Her university coach Anson Dorrance — who also trained Lioness Lucy Bronze — told a newspaper: “Players usually slow down in shooting practice to achieve more accuracy.
      “But Alessia never did that, she always played the game. She always went 100mph to try and score a goal, even in an exercise. Russo trained ruthlessly to become the player she is and she’s going to keep getting better.
      “So even to this day I use examples of my great players, Alessia certainly being one of them, to help my current players become elite.”
      Always a star of the England youth teams, once scoring five goals in one match against Croatia aged 17, she was called up to the senior squad in February 2020.
      Seven months later, on her return from the States, the life-long Manchester United supporter was snapped up by the Red Devils.
      Last month, when she left after three years to join Arsenal, she reflected on how it had always been her dream to play at Old Trafford.
      She said: “If I ever picture myself as a little girl, I’m wearing a United shirt with a ball glued to my feet. If someone told that little girl she’d represent the club one day, create so many memories and score at Old Trafford, I can’t imagine how she’d contain the excitement.”
      Alessia has also revealed her health struggles, telling Women’s Health magazine: “In lockdown, it was tough. I was training on my own, I was home and I lost quite a bit of weight.
      “Then I signed for Man United soon after lockdown and within about six weeks, I completely tore my hamstring, which I could only relate back to losing a lot of weight because I’ve never had a muscle injury before.
      “[My diet] was high in protein but I was sacrificing all the carbs and the fats. I used to track everything.
      “I was at a low point with my food and with my weight. I wasn’t strong enough. I wasn’t robust. I thought I looked great but really, on the football pitch, I wasn’t strong enough to compete.”
      While at United, Alessia went on to become United’s top scorer, earning an estimated £35,000 to £45,000 a year, rising to more than £60,000 in her third year, as well as bonuses for goals and winning matches, placing her among the WSL’s highest earners.
      Her income was boosted by her call-up to the Lionesses, with each player paid £2,000 per game for an average of 11 a year.
      Winning the 2022 European Championship brought the elite players into a whole new ball park for earnings, with each of the Lionesses receiving a £50,000 bonus.
      They were also paid £430 a day to take part, for a total of 37 days, meaning a pay cheque of £15,910.
      Along with the Arnold Clark Cup and the Finalissima tournament, each player banked around £88,000, claims sport website The Athletic.
      With Euros glory still fresh in fans’ minds, Alessia was already hot property when she joined Arsenal, who signed her on a free transfer after being knocked back with a world-record bid, estimated to be around £500,000, in January.
      Alessia, who has 567,000 followers on Instagram, can expect to cash in on her fame with commercial deals worth six figures.
      This month, boot sponsor Adidas selected her as one of five players to promote its Champion The Girls initiative, aimed at preventing teenage girls from dropping out of sport, and she appeared alongside David Beckham in a campaign for the brand as well as modelling its Gucci collaboration range.
      After her spectacular Euros goal against Sweden, Adidas displayed her green boots among the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, declaring her a “national treasure”.
      Her advertising earnings are thought to be between £300,000 and £500,000 a year and estimates suggest Alessia earned almost £4,000 from sponsored Instagram posts in the first quarter of 2023, bettered only by England team-mates Lucy Bronze, Beth Mead and captain Leah Williamson.
      Her earnings from social media are expected to have doubled in the run-up to the World Cup.
      PR expert Nick Ede said: “Alessia Russo is a breakout star and with her athletic good looks she can command millions this year.
      “She’s already an ambassador for numerous brands and I can see her expanding this into more luxury and beauty territories.”
      Other schools would call us to ask if she was playing …and if the answer was yes they knew they were going to lose.Former teacher John Malone
      With their sights on the World Cup, the Lionesses stand to earn even more.
      Fifa has guaranteed that every player competing in the tournament will be paid at least £23,500, with every winning player receiving at least £213,000.
      Despite Alessia’s success, many in the world of football praise her lack of arrogance.
      Man United’s Leah Galton said: “She works extremely hard and she’s one of the nicest people off the pitch I think I’ve ever met.”
      David Beckham and 12-year-old daughter Harper enjoyed a chat with Alessia, hosted by Adidas, before England’s World Cup game against Haiti last month.
      Afterwards Alessia said: “He’s been one of my idols ever since I was a little girl.
      “That’s probably one of my biggest highlights, having a normal conversation with someone you used to watch on the world stage when you were younger.
      “It was amazing and he was really nice, a bit of a pinch-me moment in terms of what women’s sport is doing. It’s special to hear that Harper is a huge fan.
      “He said we should never lose sight of what we are doing as a team, which was really cool because we’re all in the moment in terms of all we see and competing every day on the pitch. The impact you have away from that is what’s really special to hear.”
      But Alessia’s biggest fans are still her devoted family, and earlier this month, as she left for the World Cup in Oz, mum Carol posted an emotional tribute to “Lessi”.
      She said: “The day is finally here, I can’t believe you’re off to your first senior World Cup.
      “How exciting. It only seems like yesterday you were that cute little three-year-old, dancing around in your tutu but desperate to give it all up so you could join football coaching with Daddy and play football with Luca and Giorgio.
      “We had no idea, did we, that it would lead to all this?
      Read More on The Sun
      “You’re living your dream and doing what you love, and shining like our little superstar.”

      7.2M see triumph on telly
      THE Lionesses’ 2-1 World Cup win over Colombia was seen on TV by 7.2million delighted fans.
      The quarter-final match drew the tournament’s highest audience so far and was ITV’s second biggest peak audience this year, behind the Grand National.
      England’s win secured a place in the semi-finals against tournament co-hosts Australia on Wednesday.
      And if they beat the Aussies they will then face the winner of the match between Sweden and Spain in Sunday’s final.
      Colombia match winner Alessia said the England team celebrated reaching the semi-finals with a trip to see dolphins.
      On the outing, her team-mate Ella Toone jokily threw a yabby – a type of crayfish – into Lessi’s lap, causing her to fall off a wall.
      And she revealed there was already some friendly rivalry between the England squad and the host nation ahead of Wednesday’s big match in Sydney.
      Arsenal striker Alessia told the England Football YouTube channel: “Some Aussie couple came up to us and said, ‘Congratulations for last night. Good luck for Wednesday – but not too much luck’.
      “I think everyone is looking forward to it and so are we as players. It makes it even more exciting that you’re playing the hosts.
      “We know it’s going to be packed out, so yes, just buzzing for it.”

      Triumphant Alessia in England’s defeat of ColombiaCredit: Rex
      Adidas selected Alessia as one of five players to promote its Champion The Girls initiativeCredit: ADIDAS
      Alessia also has a deal with Beats by Dre
      Young talent Alessia as a footie-mad childCredit: INSTAGRAM/ALESSIA RUSSO
      Mascot Alessia with Casey Stoney in 2006
      Alessia takes a tumble and falls off a wall More

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      in Motorsport

      Inside F1 drivers’ globe-trotting hols that make even footballers’ look budget – including Ibiza party with superstar DJ

      by

      THEY quite literally live life in the fast lane, so it’s not surprising Formula 1 stars love to slow down, relax and unwind in absolute luxury. With the summer break upon them, F1 drivers like Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly and George Russell have jetted off around the world on jaw-dropping trips that put even millionaire footballers’ to shame.
      Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen and his partner Kelly Piquet were recently seen enjoying a family boat trip out in the Sardinian seaCredit: BackGrid
      From Sardinia to Ibiza to jet-packing and raving – often with their glam other halves – this is how the super rich stars are spending their vacations.
      Max Verstappen
      World champion Verstappen extended his title lead at the Belgian Grand Prix, securing his eighth straight victory, so no doubt he’ll be feeling very happy going into the summer break.
      The 25-year-old and his model girlfriend Kelly Piquet, 34, have been enjoying a romantic getaway to Sardinia, Italy, flying in on a private jet days after the final race.
      Kelly has posted on Instagram, showing off the beautiful surroundingsCredit: Instagram
      Max and Kelly have been together since 2020 and are one of the golden couples of the sportCredit: Getty
      The pair jetted off to SardiniaCredit: https://www.instagram.com/kellypiquet/?hl=en
      Since then, the couple have been enjoying the beautiful scenery and coastal views, and have visited the local towns with Kelly’s daughter Penelope, who she welcomed in 2019 with her ex, Daniil Kvyat.
      READ MORE FORMULA 1 FEATURES
      Kelly began dating Verstappen in late 2020 – one year before he won the F1 World Championship – and the pair have been going strong ever since.
      Pierre Gasly
      Pierre Gasly and Francisca Gomes have been spending time together in the Algarve, PortugalCredit: Instagram
      Pierre is enjoying some down time, pictured here relaxing in the hot tubCredit: Instagram
      The star took his foot off the pedal to enjoy a round of golfCredit: Instagram
      Pierre Gasly, 27, and his girlfriend Francisca ‘Kika’ Gomes started dating last year and went Instagram official with their romance at the beginning of 2023.
      And it seems the pair are clearly still very much enjoying the honeymoon phase.
      They are currently spending some time in the Algarve, Portugal, and they’ve both posted a series of loved-up photos together.
      Most read in Motorsport
      Pierre has been enjoying time relaxing in the hot tub, and earlier this week Francisca even posted a ‘cheeky snap’ showing off their tans – and derrieres – at the beach.
      While away, Gasly’s swapped driving for a spot of golf, and while he posted a photo enjoying an ice cream, he hasn’t gone full ‘holiday mode’ – still making sure he goes to the gym while abroad too.
      The driver’s girlfriend Francisca posted this cheeky snap showing off their golden tansCredit: Instagram
      Naturally, Pierre has a snazzy motor at the readyCredit: Instagram
      Francisca found a perfect spot to sunbatheCredit: Instagram
      George Russell
      Among the most adventurous couples are Brit George Russell, 25, and investment broker girlfriend Carmen Mundt, who have been together since 2020.
      The pair are currently away with their families and have spent a lot of time at sea, paddle boarding, jet skiing, hoverboarding and even playing around with hydro-jet packs.
      Posting photos of their adventures, George wrote: “Really fun times trying some new things.
      “I’ve never been very comfortable in water but have enjoyed pushing myself outside my comfort zone. A few small bruises later, we’re away!”
      George and Carmen have been together since 2020, and are spending the summer break spending time with their familiesCredit: Instagram
      Carmen was previously a student at the University of Westminster and studied for a degree in business management and financeCredit: Instagram
      The sporty pair had a go at paddleboardingCredit: The Mega Agency
      Even hydro jet packs were on the itineraryCredit: Instagram
      Daniel Ricciardo
      While Aussie racer Daniel Ricciardo has won eight Grand Prixs, last August he hit a career low, getting ditched by McLaren and failing to secure a seat for the 2023 season.
      He went on to make a surprise F1 return at the Hungarian GP, and since the season ended he’s enjoyed a much-needed trip to Ibiza alongside DJs Martin Garrix and Tiesto.
      Garrix posted a photo on his Instagram of the trio enjoying a lunch captioned: “CRAZY day in Ibiza!! thanks for partying in the rain.”
      Ricciardo, 34, – who is dating Heidi Berger – also owns a luxury mansion in Los Angeles, and is said to enjoy spending most of the summer in LA, telling the West Australian: “The weather, having the beaches close by, I feel like you can escape the madness of it all.” 
      Daniel Ricciardo has been spending time in IbizaCredit: Instagram
      Lewis Hamilton 
      He recently posted a cool underwater snap of himself, and while it’s not known where Lewis Hamilton is holidaying currently, it will no doubt be phenomenal.
      He’s no stranger to lavish trips, having previously travelled around America and Mexico in his summers off, and has enjoyed jaunts to Jamaica and Costa Rica.
      The driver, 38, is rumoured to be dating singer Shakira, 46, and the pair are reportedly embracing a “hot summer romance” and have become “inseparable”.
      Lewis Hamilton uploaded this photo to his Instagram, with the caption ‘Out of office’Credit: LEWIS HAMILTON / INSTAGRAM
      Lewis previously posed with his arm around Shakira as they went out for dinnerCredit: Instagram – Mustafa
      Lance Stroll
      He managed to crash his car and fall down the stairs at the Belgian Grand Prix, so Lance Stroll was probably feeling ready for a break.
      The 24-year-old shared a selection of photos showing his break so far on Instagram captioned: “Summer dump”, showing him enjoying an ice cream and wake-surfing.
      There’s been no sign of girlfriend Sara Pagliaroli in his summer pics as yet, who he’s dated since 2021.
      Lance Stroll is making the most of the summer breakCredit: Instagram
      Lando Norris
      He recently posted a video if himself jumping off a yacht into the crystal blue sea, so it seems Lando Norris is finally taking some much earned rest with his family.
      Read More on The Sun
      However, as soon as the season finished, the 23-year-old first hopped in a helicopter alongside Max Verstappen to visit their mutual friend DJ Martin Garrix.
      In true ‘work hard, play hard’ style, the pair partied at Tomorrowland dance festival in Belgium together before taking a much needed proper break.
      After the last race, Lando Norris boarded a helicopterCredit: Instagram
      Lando and pal Max Verstappen flew into Belgium for the Tomorrowland festivalCredit: AFP More

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      in Soccer

      I live next to Premier League stadium – players like Roy Keane used to LIVE next door and cause chaos… I got one sacked

      by

      RESIDENTS who live a stone’s throw from one of the noisiest stadiums in the Premier League say they love it – but have had to scold future stars, including an international legend.The 30,000 capacity City Ground, where Nottingham Forest has played since 1898, is surrounded by tightly-packed Victorian housing, with one of its entrances as the end of a red-brick terraced street.
      Nottingham Forest have played at the City Ground since 1898Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Local resident Jane Benwell says she once told off legend Roy Keane, who was a ‘naughty boy’ when he played for Forest aged 19Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      But locals claim they enjoy the buzz of match days – especially since Forest were promoted back into English football’s top flight last year, for the first time since 1999.
      Many are also season ticket holders – meaning they can be in their seats in the stand just moments after leaving home.
      But living literally in the shadow of the ground – rated last season by experts as having one of the loudest atmospheres in the UK – does have its drawbacks.
      When The Sun visited as part of our Life’s A Pitch summer series, locals told us they have to deal with noisy TV vans and residential roads being completely closed by metal gates before and after kick-off.
      READ MORE LIFE’S A PITCH
      Meanwhile neighbours described how teenage Forest apprentices were housed on their street in properties owned by the club – but would play loud music, kick footballs around the street and hold late night parties.
      Incredibly, resident Jane Benwell told how she once had to tick off former Republic of Ireland captain and Manchester United legend Roy Keane – now a respected broadcaster – when he lived in digs next door to her on Colwick Road.

      Then 19, he moved to Forest from Irish club Cobh Ramblers in 1990.
      The shop assistant said he was “a naughty boy”, adding: “He would answer back if you asked him to quiet down.
      Most read in Football
      Roy Keane played for Nottingham Forest for 13 years before moving to Manchester UnitedCredit: Sports Photo Agency
      Local resident Jane says she once told off legend Roy Keane who was a ‘naughty boy’Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      “It’s really funny now when I see him on TV and think back to those days.
      “Another one who lived there as a youngster was Sean Dyche, who is now Everton manager – although I don’t recall any specific problems with him.”
      Jane, 69, also once marched into the office of then-Forest boss Paul Hart to complain when one young player who lived opposite her exposed his backside in the street.
      She said: “There were children about at the time – it was completely unacceptable. So I walked round to the ground and asked to see the manager.
      “I was shown into his room and said, ‘One of your young players has been dropping his trousers’. 
      Roy Keane would answer back if you asked him to quiet down. It’s really funny now when I see him on TV and think back to those daysJane Benwell
      “He sort of listened and nodded, and asked if I knew who it was. I didn’t, but asked if he could have a word anyway. 
      “Within 15 minutes of me arriving home, Paul turned up at the house. He went in and demanded to speak to the culprit.
      “Once he identified them, he ordered them to pack their bags – and told them they were out for good.
      “He then came over and apologised, and said to let him know if it happened again.”
      Jane says she once marched into Paul Hart’s office to complain about the behaviour of his playersCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      Jane told how on another occasion, one of the young lads was sitting on her car bonnet – and when he refused to get off, she “dragged him off by the scruff of his neck”.
      “They would also play loud music to deliberately wind my husband up, and we’d have girls knocking on our door looking for them,” she recalled.
      “There was a house next door, which is literally next to the ground, and a large property directly opposite.
      “But we don’t have any problems with that anymore because they haven’t been living in for about three or four years. They house them somewhere else now.”
      Jane, who has lived in her terraced home for 34 years, added: “Other than that, living here has been absolutely fine really. It isn’t as noisy as people think it would be.
      I asked to see the manager. I was shown into his room and said, ‘One of your young players has been dropping his trousers’… Once he identified them, he ordered them to pack their bagsJane Benwell
      “And the turnstiles at the end of our road are home fans only – so we don’t see any trouble with away supporters.”
      She said the only real drawback is when her road is shut off by a large metal barrier for around an hour before and after kick-off, which she claimed is an “anti-terror measure”.
      It means residents can’t drive in or out, but Jane said long-time locals have become used to planning their journeys around matches.
      She added: “When Forest games are on TV, the broadcast vans park right behind our house.
      “They can be very noisy with their generators and have spotlights on all night – we’ve had to get blackout blinds to sleep at the back.”
      ‘We love it’
      Residents say young players used to have kickabouts in the streetCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Fellow resident Mary Smith, 68, said: “We did have a few issues with some of the younger Forest players they put up in the street a few years ago – parties where we had to ask them to quiet down a bit, that sort of thing.
      “They would also have a kickabout in the road, and because they were obviously trained how to kick a ball well it would sometimes smack really hard into a car or window. 
      “But I suppose they were only young lads away from home for the first time having a bit of fun, as young lads do.
      “Some have gone on to have very good careers in the game.
      “Apart from that, which was a while ago, we really love living here.
      “My husband and son are big Forest fans and love only having to leave just before a game then getting back almost as soon as the final whistle has gone.”
      ‘Added bonus’
      Chris Soar is a Nottingham Forest supporter and says living by the stadium is an ‘added bonus’Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The quiet street comes alive on matchdays with TV vans and thousands of football fansCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Supporter Chris Soar, 38, lives behind the Bridgford End, which has a lower roof at one end to allow light onto the street.
      He said: “I had a season ticket until last season, so it was ideal for me living here. 
      “We have lived here around seven years – we really like the house and having Forest literally on your doorstep was an added bonus. 
      “We don’t have any complaints – the ground has been here for 120 years and I don’t think you would move next to one without knowing what to expect, especially a big club like Forest.
      “If anything, it’s really interesting. When they played games behind closed doors during Covid you could hear the players shouting on the pitch.”
      Young players would also have a kickabout in the road, and because they were obviously trained how to kick a ball well it would sometimes smack really hard into a car or windowMary Smith, local resident
      Resident Helen Fitzsimmons, 52, added: “My husband, son and stepson are all season ticket holders, and my parents were.
      “We are a big Forest family so we enjoy living here.
      “The bustle and buzz of a matchday is great, especially when a really big club like Manchester United or Liverpool are in town.
      “The barrier doesn’t really bother us – you just plan around it accordingly. It’s not like we don’t have plenty of warning of kick-off times.
      “We moved in after the players moved out of their digs so didn’t experience that – but I gather from others in the street it could be a bit chaotic at times.
      “In fact, I think I may have been to a party in one of the houses once upon a time when I was younger. 
      Read More on The Sun
      “Overall, it’s a fantastic place to live.
      “Now Forest are in the Premier League, there are only 19 games here a year, plus any home cup games, so any inconvenience or noise is really only for a very small percentage of the year.”
      Chris says people who move next to the stadium know what to expect as it’s been there for so longCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Nottingham Forest have played at the City Ground since 1898Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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      in Boxing

      Tyson Fury opens up on crushing 7am call that told him of cousin’s murder – as family feared it would push him over edge

      by

      TYSON Fury was relaxing in Majorca with wife Paris when he was woken at 7am with a call that changed his life. His beloved cousin Rico Burton, who he treated as a brother, had been stabbed to death outside a club, at the age of 31.
      Tyson was devastated by his close cousin’s murderCredit: NETFLIX
      Rico was stabbed on a night out in Cheshire
      The devastating effect on the world heavyweight champ is captured in moving scenes in the new Netflix series At Home with the Furys.
      Tyson, who has bipolar disorder and was struggling with retirement from the ring at the time, plunged into a deep low on hearing the news, leaving wife Paris fearing he would spiral into a long and damaging depression. 
      “Tyson got the call early in the morning,” she says on camera. “He went into a really low, quiet mood which isn’t good for Tyson.
      “Such a devastating phone call can change everything that’s going on in his life and I think Tyson found it really hard to process that it happened.”
      Read More in Features
      Horror stabbing
      Rico was stabbed in the neck with a seven-inch blade during a brawl outside a group of bars in Altrincham, Cheshire.
      Last week, killer Liam O’Pray, 22, was jailed for life at Manchester Crown Court over the senseless murder.
      At the time of the tragedy, Tyson posted a heartfelt plea to end knife crime. But the nine-part documentary, released on August 16, reveals the full impact of the tragedy on The Gypsy King, and the part it played in his triumphant comeback to the ring, in December.
      It also highlights the fears that both Tyson, 34, and Paris, 32, – who have six kids and seventh on the way – have about the long term effects of the sport, including brain damage, and the battle between his poor mental health when inactive and the risk of physical harm in the ring.
      Most read in Boxing
      Tyson struggles to deal with his grief in the days afterCredit: Netflix
      Hundreds gathered for the funeral of tragic Rico
      Thug Liam O’Pray was jailed for lifeCredit: Greater Manchester Police
      The night of Rico’s death, Tyson, dad John and Paris were watching the world heavyweight title bout between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk, in Majorca, ahead of a meet-and-greet with fans.
      Tyson went on to party with Paris, unaware of the horrific events unfolding at home until the call from his cousin Justin, the following morning, brought him crashing down.
      “Last night I was on a high after the Usyk fight,” he says. “We had a great party, me and Paris were dancing. It was a great night. 
      “Then this morning I got a phone call telling me my cousin Rico has been killed. It’s like someone took the plug out of me and all the life had come out of me. Rico had a whole lot of life to live and now he’s finished, shocking news. ”
      Reminiscing about their childhood together he adds: “Me and Rico are really close. We trained at the same boxing club together. We used to play up and down when we were small kids, hide and seek, building dens. Precious moments.”
      Fears of suicidal thoughts
      While anxious Paris sits by the pool in the luxury villa, heartbroken Tyson lies on a chaise longue inside, staring blankly into space.
      Mum-of-six Paris, who met Tyson when he was 17 and she was 15 and married him in 2008, worries that the grief will overwhelm him.
      Remembering the spiral of depression and drug and drink addiction that followed the death of their unborn baby and his beloved uncle Hughie, in the same hospital, in 2014, she says: “Tyson doesn’t handle death very well. 
      “He doesn’t know the normal procedures of life and he handles it in his own way, so his own way today is that he’s locked himself in the room and hasn’t really spoken to any of us since.
      “I think he’d like to be at home right now but he can’t go anywhere because he’s got something like 1,500 people coming to the show tonight and to be the cheery, upbeat Tyson Fury they’ve all paid to come and see.
      “He’ll dig deep and find his space because he is a showman and that’s what they do.”
      Rico was stabbed in the neck outside pubs in Goose Green, AltrinchamCredit: PA
      Paris worries about how Tyson handles griefCredit: Courtesy of Netflix
      Dad John was anxious about the effect Rico’s death had on TysonCredit: Courtesy of Netflix
      The boxer, who has been open about his mental health struggles, ballooned to 28st and was drinking 18 pints a day at his lowest ebb in 2015, and admitted he was on the brink of suicide.
      With the sad news coinciding with his feelings of having no purpose, having stepped away from the ring, Paris fears a return to those dark days but says she’ll pull him through.
      “Tyson has taken Rico’s death really hard so I’m supporting him 100 per cent. We’re in it, ride or die,” says Paris.
      “Me and Tyson, we’ve been through some tough times, we’ve had some serious tough situations whether it’s been the kids being ill,  or me being in hospital or Tyson having his depression times, we went through some tough stuff. We can make it through anything.”
      But dad John worries the new heartbreak could send him over the edge again.
      “Tyson doesn’t deal very well with death but none of us do,” he says. “What he tends to do is think to himself ‘Life isn’t worth living. What am I doing all this for? Why have I done what I’ve done in my life when it can all be taken away from you in the blink of an eye.”
      ‘Awakening day’
      While Tyson retreats into himself, he puts on a brave face to attend the Majorca show, just hours after his loss.
      He tells the audience about the moment he was told of Rico’s death: “I’ve had my blood turned cold because you never know when your time’s up and you’re only ever one phone call away from disaster so it’s been a real awakening day. 
      “I’ve had that many emotions today I’m not too sure how to handle it. You people came to see the show but I’ve had the f***ing day from hell to be honest with you. 
      “But it’s made me realise one thing – that life and time is very precious and it can be taken away from anybody at any time.”
      It’s made me realise one thing – that life and time is very precious and it can be taken away from anybody at any timeTyson Fury
      Flying home, he barely speaks and when they meet Paris’ mum Lynda for a pub lunch, close to their Morecambe Bay home, he sits alone outside and broods.
      “Tyson hasn’t said more than ten words to me in the last two days,” says Paris. “Tyson wants to stick his head in the sand, I’m letting him have that moment for himself because obviously he’s still upset.”
      The troubled champ withdrew into himself after the newsCredit: Netflix
      Tragic Rico was like a brother to Tyson
      Just two days later, on a run along the bay, the ever-impulsive fighter finds his own solution to his low mood – posting an Instagram message challenging boxing promoters to raise £500million to lure him back into the ring,
      “If I’m going to put all on the line boys it has to be half a billion or more,” he says, giving them seven days to raise the cash, “If not, thank you very much it’s been a blast. So let the games begin.”
      Blindsided, Paris worries he’s not in the “right frame of mind” to be making huge decisions, but the dramatic change in Tyson’s mood, as he begins to dream of a comeback, gives he pause for thought
      After she challenges him over the post, he jokes: “If I got half a billion I might start shopping at Sainsbury’s instead of Asda and if I get another half a billion, I might up the ante and shop in M&S. Come on!”
      “You can instantly see how delighted he is in boxing talk,” she says. “You can see the mood lift on him, he’s excited, he’s happy, just because he’s had a conversation about boxing.”
      Even so, Paris is shocked when Tyson announces he has made a deal on his comeback, without telling her, announcing in a restaurant that: “I can confirm I’m coming home baby. I’m fighting Nov 12.”
      Tyson returned to the ring to battle Chisora in DecemberCredit: Getty
      Tyson is devoted to his familyCredit: parisfury1/instagram
      To make matters worse he tells his worried wife: “I’m sad that I ever thought of retirement. I’m going to continue ‘til I can’t fight anymore. I’m going to be like all the rest of them, battered to pieces with brain damage.”
      “Boxing is not a game, it’s a very dangerous sport,” she says. “One punch can cause life devastating effects.”
      But Tyson reveals he is “lost” without the sport and that he felt choked by retirement.
      “Why am I boxing? Because it’s the only thing I’ve got in my life,” he says. “That might sound strange with me having a family. However, having retired for a few months, I realise it’s the only thing I can do. Without it I’m lost.”
      Tyson announced he was coming out of retirement in October 2022 and defeated Derek Chisora in his comeback bout, in front of a 60,000 strong crowd at Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium in December.
      He is set to fight UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 28.
      With his second retirement over, Tyson has no plans to quit for some time.
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      “When I knew it was finally over it was like someone cut a lifeline on me and stopped me breathing almost,” he says.  “As soon as I said I was coming back, it was gone, and I’m feeling great again. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready to let go.”
      At Home with the Furys is available on Netflix from August 16 More