Features

Subterms

    More stories

    • 238 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      How Erling Haaland went from lanky teen to goal machine thanks to cow’s heart diet and very strict rule

      by

      ERLING Haaland was once a “little guy” with a buzz cut who couldn’t score for the first team of his home town side in Norway.Now the 6ft 4in Manchester City striker is football’s most deadly predator, breaking the Premier League goal-scoring record with seven games to spare.
      Ering Haaland is football’s most deadly predator and has broken the Premier League goal-scoring recordCredit: Getty
      With his long blonde locks lapping his shoulders, he fired home against Arsenal on Wednesday to notch up 33 Prem strikes.
      In all, he’s scored 49 times on his debut season in England.
      On Twitter, former Five Live presenter Peter Allen branded City “a petrodollar powered juggernaut driven by a Nordic goal monster easily beating everyone”.
      But even those who aren’t fans can admire the work that has gone into his transformation from a lanky teen to Viking marauder.
      Read More on ERLING Haaland
      Here, Grant Rollings looks at how the 22-year-old became a goal-scoring machine.
      Calorie-controlled killer
      It is hard to believe now but as a baby Erling was a small, thin boy.
      Over the years he has worked hard to bulk up his 6ft 4in tall frame.
      Haaland shows off his milk smoothies with kaleCredit: https://www.instagram.com/erling.haaland/
      He eats his dad’s home-made lasagne before every home game, wolfs down cow’s heart and liver and drinks milk laced with kale, which he calls “my magic potion”, to maintain a 6,000-calorie-a-day diet.
      Most read in Football
      Erling also pays for his own chef, who cooks up a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired lunch of boiled fish and vegetables.
      The young player’s development was undermined by growth spurts which meant he suffered injuries.
      To prevent them, he installed a £50,000 walk-in cryotherapy chamber in house in Cheshire and takes regular ice baths.
      He spends hours in the gym every day honing his six-pack, earning him the nickname The Terminator.
      It has paid off because defenders bounce off the powerful player when they try to bring him down.
      It has paid off because defenders bounce off the powerful player when they try to bring him down.
      Man City manager Pep Guardiola called the Norwegian a “machine”.
      Nearly two million rival fans signed a petition calling for Erling to be deported because he’s a “robot.”
      Not a Jack the Lad
      ERLING is very different from City’s most expensive-ever signing, £100million England forward Jack Grealish.
      While Jack is often seen out on the town with his pals and girlfriend, the Norwegian keeps a low profile with his 19-year-old girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen.
      Erling Haaland was born in West YorkshireCredit: Instagram
      It was during a trip back home to Scandinavia around two years ago that he fell for Isabel, who, like him, had been part of the Bryne FK team’s football academy.
      Erling is not one for partying or boasting about his exploits, preferring to do his talking on the pitch.
      Ex-coach Alf Ingve Berntsen said: “In our part of the country we used to have a lot of farmers. People had to work very hard and not speak too much.
      “So it’s in our genetics. It’s better to do the work than to talk a lot. So Erling is a typical person from our region.”
      The player, though, thinks he’s been able to adapt to the laddish Premier League.
      He said: “My father spent ten years in England so he kind of brought me up to have a bit of English banter.”
      Since moving to Manchester last summer, though, pals back in Norway have apparently seen less of their golden boy.
      Bryne player Robert Undheim says: “We see little of him. I think he has cut out a lot of people he knows and is halfway friends with.
      “But he has a very good team around him that is easy to relate to. That makes a lot of sense, I think.”
      Self-belief in his DNA
      Even though Erling was incredibly quick and skilful, few people in his home town thought he’d go on to be a superstar – apart from the player himself.
      This week classmate Robert Undheim, who was replaced when a 15-year-old Erling made his debut for Bryne football club in 2016, revealed: “In high school he said he was going to be the best in the world in football.
      Proud Erling as a kid with his mum, dad, brother and sisterCredit: INSTAGRAM/Gabrielle Braut Haaland
      “People made fun of him. But he meant it. One hundred per cent.”
      His former coach Alfe Ingve Berntsen said: “Erling was the best when he was a little guy, but we didn’t think when I began to coach him when he was seven that he would become top scorer in the Champions League.”
      Erling never scored in his 16 first team games for Bryne.
      But his pace attracted the attention of Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when he was manager of Norwegian side Molde.
      He saw his potential and signed him as a 16-year-old, teaching the youngster how to head the ball.
      He then joined Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg in 2019.
      A year later he moved to Borussia Dortmund in Germany, before joining Man City last summer.
      Football farm
      THE striker isn’t the first top flight player off the Haaland production line.
      He was born in West Yorkshire when his dad, Alfie, was playing for Leeds United in England’s top division.
      His dad Alfie played for Leeds United in England’s top divisionCredit: alfiehaaland/Instagram
      Athleticism and mental toughness are in Erling’s DNA.
      Alfie was brave enough to get into an on-field feud with Manchester United hardman Roy Keane, while his mum Gry Marita Braut was a Norwegian heptathlon champ.
      At the age of three, Erling moved to Bryne in Norway, where generations of the Haaland family are from. It is a farming community, and in the summer Erling has been known to help out his maternal great-uncle, former Norway international Gabriel Hoyland, with his pigs and potatoes.
      He regularly returns to see his older brother Astor and sister Gabrielle, while his dad has helped to manage his career.
      Erling’s relentless drive to improve came from a desire to be better than his footballer dad, who also played for Man City.
      Explaining his motivation, he said: “When I was young it was getting better than my father and getting as good as I can.
      “Now there is something inside me that just thinks about football all the time, about what I can do better.”
      Money-making machine
      THE world’s most in-form striker has enough star quality for big brands to pay big bucks so they can be linked to him.
      He has a £20million deal with Nike, earned a reported £2million from Samsung and was paid around £1million by luxury watch firm Breitling.
      Haaland owns a £300,000 Rolls-Royce CullinanCredit: Cavendish
      He has spent some of that money on a string of luxury cars, including a £300,000 Rolls-Royce Cullinan and a £120,000 Carbon Black Audi RS 6.
      He also flies on private jets and splashes out on good food, reportedly adding a £25,000 tip to a £400,000 bill at a restaurant in Greece.
      City pay him a reported £385,000 a week, with some suggestions that bonuses are worth another couple of hundred grand.
      Bryne, a coastal town of just 12,000 people, is cashing in on the association with their most famous citizen.
      There is talk of building an Erling Haaland museum to attract tourists who already visit to see the mural and statue of the striker and to buy shirts from the club shop.
      Local businessman Inge Brigt Aarbakke said: “Imagine a place where people can come and look at the shirts he has used in the different clubs, not least the match balls he has scored his hat tricks with.
      “I’m convinced that families on holiday would want to visit Bryne. The children would want to see where Erling grew up.”
      Getting some shut-eye
      THE athlete is dedicated to the trend of following the body’s natural sleep pattern – known as the circadian cycle.
      He revealed: “The first thing I do in the morning is to get some sunlight in my eyes. It is good for circadian rhythm.”
      The striker taking a nap with a match ballCredit: Instagram / @erling.haaland
      Erling won’t touch his smart phone or any other electronic device two hours before bed time and at night he filters out blue light from digital screens with special spectacles.
      He said: “I see this as key to improving performance by even just a few percentages. It’s a matter of mentality.”
      The striker is so wrapped up in the Champions League that his morning alarm plays the competition’s anthem.
      It is having the right effect because Erling is the top scorer this season with a dozen goals so far.
      Read More on The Sun
      He knows that City’s United Arab Emirates billionaire owner Sheikh Mansour is paying him a fortune to win the most coveted silverware in club football.
      Erling said: “The club want to win the Champions League. They didn’t bring me in to win the Premier League because they already know how to win it.” More

    • 238 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      We live INSIDE famous entrance to Luton Town stadium – footballs smash our windows but there are surprising perks

      by

      STROLLING along Oak Road in Luton, the row of Victorian red brick terraced houses feel just like any other street.But halfway down the road, homes have effectively been cut in half to make way for two entrances to the town’s football ground, Kenilworth Road.
      The entrance to Luton Town FC’s ground, Kenilworth Road, is cut into a row of terraced housesCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Abdul Ali lives right next to the entrance for home fans at the groundCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Home to Luton Town FC – which is on the cusp of entering the Premier League next season – the ground was built in 1905 and is one of the most unique in the football league.
      Visiting fans climb bright blue metal staircases perched above resident’s gardens to access the away stand, while patios from adjacent houses back onto the stadium.
      Currently third in the Championship, Luton Town stands a strong chance of making it to the play-offs for promotion.
      If successful, the club will be handed an estimated £10million bill to upgrade its long-standing ground.

      For locals who live on the street, the thought of the team moving to a new ground throws up mixed feelings.
      Abdul Ali’s family home is metres away from the entrance and backs onto the ground.

      “I’ve lived here my whole life,” he tells The Sun. “Until about seven years ago it was really easy to see into the stadium.
      “We used to have footballs smashing our window every so often when they accidentally got kicked out when teams tried to score.
      Most read in Football
      The stand entrance has been cut into a row of Victorian terrace housesCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Stairs lead up to the Oak Stand, running above residents’ gardensCredit: Getty
      “It was kind of annoying at the time, it used to drive my dad mad.
      “We complained and complained and the club finally put up netting and some corrugated iron to stop it.
      “It means that my view of the pitch is gone unless I jump up and down on my bed. Then I can see a little bit of the grass, but not enough to watch the game.”
      On match days, Abdul says there is always a sea of police on the street – which, he adds, comes with an unusual perk.
      We used to have footballs smashing our window every so often when they accidentally got kicked out when teams tried to score… it drove my dad madAbdul Ali, Oak Road resident
      “I went out during Sunday’s game to get some food and then police escorted me back to my house,” he says.
      “It’s kind of cool being escorted home.”
      One of the unique entrances on Oak Road provides access to The Bobbers’ Club – part of the Luton Town football ground for 89 years.
      On leaving the street – where house prices cost an average of £222,500 – fans are led down a small alleyway before they clamber the iron stairs to a terrace leading onto the Oak Stand.
      Stray balls
      Anu’s garden is directly next to the stairs leading the seats for away fansCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Rear gardens back onto the stadiumCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Mum-of-four Anu’s garden runs beneath the terrace, and she tells us stray footballs often end up landing in it.
      “They’ve only ever asked for the ball back once,” she admits. “We’ve kept the others.”
      Anu, 52, says local families in the area used to get complimentary passes to matches from the club, but that’s not happened since Covid.
      “We used to get a family ticket to go in the summer which was nice,” she says.
      “We’d go and see a match against one of the smaller teams. It was good to get in the ground.
      “My son’s bedroom in the attic enables him to see a bit of the ground so he can sometimes see the games.”
      My son’s bedroom in the attic enables him to see a bit of the ground so he can sometimes see the gamesAnu, local mum-of-four
      Anu’s neighbour LeeLee says she loves the buzz of match days, adding: “It makes me feel alive. I love it.
      “It keeps things interesting around here. I rarely have any problems with the fans.”
      Sadly Anu doesn’t share her enthusiasm.
      She claims she’s fed up of hooligans chucking rubbish from the steps into her garden as they come and go.
      “Last week my house was egged by fans, they leave cans and bottles in front of my house,” she tells us.
      “They spray alcohol on to mine and my neighbour’s windows and drop litter from the stairs as they go into the stands.”
      ‘I’ll never leave’
      Residents say some fans can be disruptive and cause problems on game daysCredit: Getty
      Many families living on Oak Road have grown up in the area and are lifelong fans of the club.
      Joumna’s childhood home backed on to the stadium and she’s since moved into her own property across the road.
      The 49-year-old admits she’s noticed fan behaviour has changed over the years, adding: “I remember as a child we didn’t have as many problems.
      “Now, whichever team loses, the fans are shouting and swearing. It’s a shame.”
      She adds: “The stadium is alright with me. I was born on this road and I’ll probably never leave.
      “It was fine when I lived overlooking it. We never had any issues.”
      Driven to despair
      Resident Amanpreet is fed up of having to move her car to accommodate match goersCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Residents are required to move their cars on match daysCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      But there is one issue that drives all residents up the wall – parking.
      Everyone who keeps a car on the street – a permit for which costs £60 a year – has to move it off Oak Road on game days or it will be seized.
      “Parking is such a problem around here,” resident Amanpreet, 34, tells us.
      “The stadium is a problem now because it attracts so many people. We have to move our car on match days but finding a space can be hard.”
      Fellow resident Malik, a 37-year-old customer services worker, shares her frustration.
      He claims he wouldn’t have bought a house if he’d realised how disruptive the road closures would be.
      Malik says he wouldn’t have bought a house on the road if he’d realised how disruptive the road closures would beCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      “I’m not happy because I pay to park my car on this road and I have to move it regularly,” he says.
      “If the game is at 5pm we have to move the car at around 10am. It’s really difficult with two young kids – it’s frustrating.”
      Another local, Khuram, 38, adds: “The parking issue is a struggle.
      “I have two young kids and walking them several streets over to the car on match days between fans is stressful.
      Read More on The Sun
      “There are lots of police on match days which is good, but we often have to show that we live here to get through at the end of the road.
      “The only time I have an issue with the stadium is match days because it’s disruptive.”
      Luton Town are on the cusp of moving up into the Premier League, which would mean all changeCredit: GOOGLE EARTH More

    • 213 Shares99 Views

      in Motorsport

      How Fernando Alonso became ultimate Formula One playboy as supermodel-loving star fuels rumours of Taylor Swift romance

      by

      FERNANDO Alonso lives life in the fast lane – on and off the track.The Formula One ace, 41, is back to his best this season racing for Aston Martin, and his love life must be keeping him busy when he’s not chasing podium finishes.
      Fernando Alonso is one of F1’s biggest starsCredit: Instagram
      The star has been a legend of the sport for two decades and has raised eyebrows with his cheeky antics. Pictured, with model Michelle Marsh at Silverstone in 2005Credit: EPA
      Fans were sent into a frenzy last week when Spanish magazines began linking Alonso to newly-single pop star Taylor Swift.
      The two-time world champion fuelled the flames last night when he posted a video of himself winking as he listened to one of the 33-year-old’s hit songs, Karma.
      It came just weeks after Alonso announced his split from long-term partner Andrea Schlager, explaining in a statement: “We have been lucky enough to share a fantastic time together, and it will continue to be so, but on a different form of affection.”
      Here, we steer a path through the flamboyant star’s long relationship history, from supermodels to a romance with one of his Formula One rival’s pals.
      Read More in F1
      The rockstar wife
      Alonso and Raquel Del Rosario married secretly in 2006Credit: Reuters
      The singer performed in the Spanish rock band El Sueno de MorfeoCredit: Eyevine
      Alonso and singer Raquel Del Rosario – who was lead singer for Spanish rock band El Sueno de Morfeo – met in 2005 after she performed at a concert to mark his first F1 title.
      He told her on-stage in front of thousands of adoring fans that he was “single and romantic” – and it clearly did the trick.
      Spending their time living first in Oxford and then Switzerland, they married secretly in 2006 but only confirmed it publically two years later.
      In 2011, however, the couple confirmed their break-up in a jointed statement, saying: “This has been a very thought about and mutual decision.
      Most read in Motorsport
      “We are separating from marriage, but never as friends, and there is still a very strong affection and mutual admiration to ensure the happiness of the other.”

      The banker
      Alonso moved on with former Miss Switzerland runner-up Xenia TchoumitchevaCredit: BackGrid
      After his split from Raquel, Alonso quickly moved on with former Miss Switzerland runner-up Xenia Tchoumitcheva.
      The talented Russian model, who has a degree in economics, has had an even more colourful career than her ex.
      After bagging an internship at JP Morgan, she was offered roles at Merrill Lynch and Duet Group, but decided to swap the stock market for the pop charts – releasing a rap single.
      A JP Morgan worker told the Mail that Xenia ‘brightened up the office’ when she worked there, but sadly it wasn’t to be. Neither was her romance with Alonso, which ended in late 2011.
      The model
      His next relationship was with Russian model Dasha KapustinaCredit: Alpha Press
      The following year, Alonso found another Russian model, stepping out at the German Grand Prix with Dasha Kapustina.
      The besotted pair were snapped on a holiday in Majorca as they relaxed on board a private yacht and were frequently seen together around the paddock.
      In 2013, Alonso whisked Dasha off to Las Vegas ahead of the British Grand Prix, taking selfies along the strip and even enjoying a David Copperfield show.
      After two years together, though, their romance quietly fizzled out.
      The journalist
      Alonso was engaged to Lara Alvarez but the relationship didn’t lastCredit: Reuters
      Alonso quickly fell head over heels after meeting journalist Lara Alvarez in December 2014.
      The star popped the question to his fellow Spaniard, who was previously linked to Real Madrid footballer Sergio Ramos.
      But by 2016, the 16-month relationship had come to a sad end, as pictures emerged of Lara stepping out without her silver ring.
      A source told a Barcelona-based newspaper that there was no bad blood between them, citing “the distance and demands of their jobs” as the reason behind the split.
      The rival romance
      Viki Odintcova was linked with Alonso in 2016Credit: INSTAGRAM
      She previously told how she ignored Cristiano Ronaldo’s DMsCredit: INSTAGRAM
      Alonso’s next flame, Viki Odintcova, has no shortage of admirers in the sports world – even claiming she ignored Instagram DMs from Cristiano Ronaldo.
      She said: “That happened… He (Ronaldo) even wrote to me. It was a long time ago. He wrote, ‘Hi, how are you?’
      “I deleted the message and didn’t reply.”
      The Russian model was rumoured to be dating Alonso in April 2016, but he would have risked the ire of her “most famous” pal.
      Viki previously told Russian TV: “The most famous person in my phonebook is Lewis Hamilton. The last time he messaged me was November 15, to congratulate me on my birthday.
      “I go to his races occasionally, the last time was in Sochi (at the Russian Grand Prix). We’ve been friends for three years. When I met him, I could barely speak English, I could only understand it.”
      The lingerie star
      Linda Morselli stuck by Alonso after his horror car accident in 2021Credit: Getty – Contributor
      Italian lingerie model Linda Morselli has a truly racy relationship history, having previously dated MotoGP rider and nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi.
      After being snapped supporting Alonso at races in 2016, the pair confirmed their relationship with an Instagram post the following year.
      Linda – who was once crowned Miss Elegance at the Miss Italy beauty pageant – was there for her partner in 2021 when he was hit by a car on a roundabout while cycling in Switzerland.
      Alonso, who was training on a £5,500 road racer ahead of his return to F1 after a two-year absence, was rushed to a nearby hospital for X-rays and underwent surgery on his jaw.
      After half a decade together, the couple went their separate ways last year.
      The newest ex
      Alonso and Andrea Schlager announced they had broken up earlier this monthCredit: Instagram
      He met the journalist while she was working in the paddockCredit: Instagram / @andrea.m.schlager
      Alonso’s latest relationship was with Andrea Schlager, a sports commentator known for her work in F1 and MotoGP.
      The pair first met in the paddock while she was working as a sports presenter for ServusTV, dropping a series of cryptic clues on social media before going official.
      Just hours after Alonso secured a podium finish at the Australian Grand Prix earlier this month, he released an Instagram statement announcing their break-up.
      In a statement, he wrote: “We wanted to tell you that our relationship as a couple ended. 
      “We have been lucky enough to share a fantastic time together, and it will continue to be so, but on a different form of affection.
      “As you have probably seen, we have continued working on and off track on various projects together also during this time, and we will keep doing so with deep love and respect for each other.
      “We thought it is appropriate to share this as you have all been very supportive. Thanks for that. Love Fer & Andrea.”
      Alonso’s cheeky video this week sent Taylor Swift fans into meltdown, with one TikTok user commenting: “Oh my god Taylor X Fernando confirmed????”

      If the superstar is spotted in the paddock at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, they will truly go into overdrive. More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

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

      by

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

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

    • 238 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      I’ll never forget the summer of 1996 – the country buzzed about the Euros and we need that back

      by

      LIKE most Sun readers, I will never forget the summer of 1996. The whole country was buzzing because of the Euros.As a teenager, I soaked up almost every second of the tournament, convinced that it would be England’s moment of glory.
      PM Rishi Sunak is backing a historic joint bid by the UK and Ireland to host the Uefa European Championships in 2028Credit: Dan Charity / The Sun
      England captain Harry Kane is joining with sides to back the bid to hold the prestigious tournament in the UK and IrelandCredit: Getty
      Scotland’s Andy Robertson is also behind the push to secure the tournament on home soilCredit: Rex
      Steven Davis, Northern Ireland captainCredit: Sportsfile
       It gave me a love of the game — its highs and lows — that I still have to this day, especially as a long-suffering Southampton fan.
      As a country, our passion for football is unparalleled. It is known the world over.
      From the Premier League to Sunday league, the game brings us together.
      Our stadia aren’t just ­sporting venues where the best players in the world want to play and fans ­everywhere dream of visiting, they are part of who we are — cultural icons at the heart of our communities, monuments to the game we love.
      READ MORE ON EURO 2028
      Again and again in recent years, those stadia have hosted some of the biggest games in world football.
       We have hosted Champions League finals, Euro 2020 matches — including almost all of England’s epic run  to the final — and the record-breaking 2022 Women’s Euros.
      We have got world-class sporting infrastructure and a  brilliant track record.
      So it would be fantastic to bring a full, international men’s tournament back to these shores.
      Most read in Football
       That’s why today the UK and Ireland are launching a historic joint bid to host the Uefa European Championships in 2028.
      By bringing the whole of the UK together, along with Ireland, we will showcase our shared love of the beautiful game.
      It will be the most ambitious sporting event our islands have jointly staged — five Football Associations with Uefa united in delivering one of the best tournaments Europe has ever seen.
       The captains of each of the host nations — Harry Kane, Séamus Coleman, Steven Davis, Andy Robertson and Aaron Ramsey — may be rivals on the pitch, but they are all on the same side in cheering on this effort.
      Imagine it — the best teams in Europe battling it out at the Etihad in Manchester, Hampden Park in Glasgow, the Principality in Cardiff, Casement Park in Belfast, the Aviva in Dublin, and of course, Wembley Stadium.
      Not to mention Villa Park, St James’ Park, Everton’s new ­Stadium and the Tottenham ­Hotspur Stadium.
      And imagine, just for a second, our boys following in the Lionesses’ footsteps and lifting that trophy five years from now. What a summer that would be.
      All about the future
      This year marks the 160th anniversary of the laws of the game — 160 years since they were first adopted and ­published, here in the UK.
       We are rightly proud of that unique legacy. There is so much to celebrate and savour — from Jackie Milburn to Jack Charlton, from 1966 to Euro ’96.
      Aaron Ramsey is on the same side as his rival in cheering on this effortCredit: Getty
      The Republic of Ireland’s Séamus Coleman is hoping to bring the tournament to the UK and IrelandCredit: Sportsfile
       But this tournament will be all about the future.
       On a rainy day last month we held a kickabout at No 10 with the Lionesses. As Beth Mead, Jill Scott and Ellen White showed a group of excited school kids their skills and rattled some of the historic furnishings, you could see the inspirational impact of their Euro triumph last summer.
      So Euro 2028 is about inspiring even more boys and girls not just to cheer on their team but to lace up their boots and get out there themselves.
      It’s about supporting the game at the local level and lifting up our communities — together the bid partners have already committed more than £500million to improve grassroots football.
      It’s about delivering new investment to upgrade facilities — including the regeneration of Casement Park in Northern Ireland.
       It’s about harnessing the power of the tournament to drive long-term benefits through volunteering, tourism and new business opportunities.
       It’s about pubs, front rooms and fan parks filling up across these islands — friends and family coming together, in victory or defeat.
      We estimate the bid could generate benefits of up to £2.6billion for our nations.
       It’s the ultimate win-win — a festival of football to cheer the nation and benefit us all.
      Read More on The Sun
      Let’s bring people from across Europe and beyond to our host cities, to see the best football on the best stage anyone can offer.
      Let’s create new memories for a new generation. Let’s back our bid. More

    • 250 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

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

      by

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

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Kids’ football is more than just physical activity – it helps youngsters learn good behaviour, says Raheem Sterling

      by

      PLAYING weekend football with a local team has been a rite of passage for kids for generations.But a Sun investigation today reveals that the cost of living crisis is forcing scores of kids to drop out of sports clubs as families struggle to make ends meet.
      The cost of living crisis has driven more children away from clubs – here Brent Cross under-11s celebrate championship victory with head coach Jamie Kavanagh, far leftCredit: Olivia West
      Almost 50 per cent of Football club leaders surveyed told The Sun that a lack of money was affecting participation in sportCredit: Olivia West
      In the wake of the crisis, today The Sun is launching Footie For All — backed by some of England’s top players — to highlight the importance of grassroots sports clubs.
      A shocking new poll from Sported, a charity which supports community sports clubs, has found 94 per cent of grassroots clubs are concerned about the impact of soaring prices on their membership.
      And football clubs across the country have told The Sun how the economic crisis is forcing kids out of training and weekend matches, even though the clubs are doing all they can to give their players a chance.
      One such club is Brent Cross Football Academy in North London, which offers matches and training to almost 200 children, aged from four to 14.
      READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
      The players come from a huge mix of social backgrounds and to keep things as accessible as poss-ible, the club still charges £400 to £500 a year for subscriptions, while other clubs have raised theirs to more than £600.
      The academy is determined to try to avoid any young player missing out on sport, and the management team make it clear to parents they will help out any family with financial struggles when they can.
      And the Brent Cross chiefs’ worries are shared across the country, with 92 per cent of clubs saying they are extremely concerned about the negative impact on the young people they serve, according to the Ring/Sported Community Pulse Survey.
      And almost 50 per cent of club leaders surveyed told how lack of money was affecting participation in sport.
      Most read in Football
      Some 31 per cent of those surveyed believe the long-term con-sequences of the economic pinch will see fewer young people taking part in sports and physical activity.
      The benefits of grassroots sports for kids is well documented.
      From the obvious health benefits, community sports teams also offer huge social benefits by channelling kids’ energy into physical activity.
      The UK is home to more than 40,000 clubs, and almost all those we spoke to declared that they would never want to stop a child playing with them — but often find themselves under pressure due to the cost of registration, pitches or transport.
      Nicola Walker, chief executive of Sported, said: “The cost of living is putting grassroots sports groups under extreme pressure. It’s making it harder to raise the cash to operate.
      “And it’s making it tougher on our kids to afford the price of participation, or even just the cost of travelling to take part.
      “That means they could miss out on a boost to their physical and mental wellbeing.
      Struggling families
      “But time spent kicking a ball or in a dance class is also time in a safe space where young people meet positive influences and get a priceless chance to learn and grow.
      “So it’s important that the Government recognises all the amazing ways in which sport contributes to building stronger, safer communities and offers the support it needs.”
      At Brent Cross the country’s economic woes started to become apparent at the beginning of the year, when head coach Jamie Kavanagh noticed he was losing children because families were struggling with paying the subs.
      He sent a message to all parents asking if those who could afford it could spare a little more to help fund sponsorships for ten children who could no longer afford to play.
      Jamie, 27, said: “We’re finding that a lot of the children are struggling to make every session purely because of the cost of the subs, new football boots, kit and travel to fixtures and training.
      “We hoped to be able to help ten children but we’ve managed to get the money to sponsor 12, thanks to the generosity of the parents.
      Every one who donated extra told us how amazing the initiative was.
      “The parents of the kids who get to play for free are hugely grateful and it allows them to focus on other things without the worry of their children missing out on activities they enjoy and keep them active.
      “Football is so important for helping kids with communication skills, having an outlet, and it gives them a family feeling. I’d never want anyone to lose that due to money issues.”
      With so many football clubs telling how the cost of living crisis risks harming the health of our youngsters, it was clear something needed to be done.
      Here we highlight some of the grassroots clubs which are making a big difference in their communities and finding ways to try to beat the negative effects of the cost of living crisis.
      And four England aces, who know only too well the benefits of grassroots football, back our call for Footie For All.

      TELL us about your inspiration grass roots club. Email us at footieforall@ the-sun.co.uk

      John Stones
      Barnsley, Everton, Man City & England
      “PLAYING grassroots football as a kid with my friends for my local team was the first step into football for me, and I never looked back.
      Playing grassroots football was incredibly important for England and Man City defender John StonesCredit: Alamy
      He says: ‘Football can give children something to look forward to, even when things may be difficult’Credit: Rex Features
      “It played such an important part of my childhood and I’ll always be so grateful for the opportunity it provided for me and so many other children.
      “Grassroots football often provides a happy and safe environment for children to play, meet friends and learn new skills.
      “If it wasn’t for that start I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn important life skills on and off the pitch while having fun with my mates.
      “It can give children something to look forward to, even when things may be difficult, and make such a positive impact for both parents and kids.”
      Raheem Sterling
      Alpha & Omega FC, QPR, Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea & England
      “WE can’t just look at the physical benefits of grassroots football because it also has the ability to bring people together.
      Raheem Sterling thinks football is more than just the physical benefitsCredit: Getty
      Raheem says: ‘My mentor Clive Ellington was the one that actually got me into football to focus my energy and correct my behaviour’
      “My mentor Clive Ellington was the one that actually got me into football to focus my energy and correct my behaviour.
      “He was a great role model. I found something I wanted to put my maximum energy in to and it paid off.
      “I fell in love with football through that Sunday league team – and made friends for life.”
      Eric Dier
      International Prep School, Lisbon, Sporting CP, Spurs & England
      “FOOTBALL is a lifeline for many.
      Tottenham and England defender, Eric Dier, feels football is a lifeline for someCredit: Getty
      Eric loved football as he says it ‘encourages teamwork, discipline, friendship, improved health and wellbeing’Credit: ericdier15/instagram
      “It encourages teamwork, discipline, friendship, improved health and wellbeing, and a sense of community.
      “I know kids will benefit from the game and all that comes with it.”
      Jarrod Bowen
      Leominster Miners, Hereford Utd (Herts), West Ham, England
      “WHEN I was little I had a dream of playing football for my entire life.
      West Ham winger, Jarrod Bowen, dreamt of playing pro football ever since he was a childCredit: Getty
      Jarrod says: ‘Football is for everyone and it’s massively important it stays that way’
      “It was the most important thing in my week and I know it’ll be the same for boys and girls across the UK.
      “We can’t let kids see that dream die simply because mum or dad can’t afford to pay for the subs, kit and travel. Football is for everyone and it’s massively important it stays that way.
      “It’s more than just kicking a ball about, it’s building lifelong friendships, getting to do something you love and a chance to learn   about healthy competition.
      “It gives a routine and a chance to zone out from anything that might be going on in their lives. If that’s taken away it’ll leave children in a bad place because they’ve lost something they love.
      “One of the best things for me is seeing young kids play football at my old club. I saw an under-eights team in a penalty shootout. It brought me so much joy to see how happy and determined they were. That’s what football is really about – bringing joy to everyone.”

      Helston AFC, Cornwall
      HELSTON AFC plays a vital role in supporting nearly 400 kids in 17 teams, including many families from nearby Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, one of Europe’s biggest helicopter bases.
      But youth co-ordinator and under-13s coach Chris Strike says the cost of living crisis has badly impacted this region of Cornwall, making it harder for families to pay the £80 annual membership.
      Helston AFC plays a vital role in supporting nearly 400 kids in 17 teamsCredit: Apex
      Chris, 42, an architect from Helston, said: “We’ve had a number of parents say this year they can’t afford the membership fees.
      “I’m proud to say we don’t and we won’t ever stop a child registering because they can’t pay their fee.
      “Either the club will fund it or a couple of us have funded kids. Others ask us to pay monthly and that’s fine, we have always found a solution.
      “I’m lucky I own my own business and sponsor my team and there are a couple of coaches in that position, but a lot of the teams will try to raise money from local businesses.”
      Chris added: “Each of the 17 teams has two coaches trying to help the players, both in and out of football. Some kids want to talk about difficulties at home and you are there to support them in that respect as well. There’s a lot more to being a football coach than just coaching football.”
      The club has close ties with Plymouth Argyle and Southampton’s academies, and this year 19 youth players from Helston have represented Cornwall.
      Among their recent successes is striker Luke Jephcott, who plays for Swindon, and who was with Helston before joining Argyle’s academy.
      The Pythian Club, Nottingham
      COMMUNITY sports club and outreach centre The Pythian Club in Nottingham offers free sports sessions, including football and boxing, to youngsters aged up to 19.
      Yet even without subs, its bosses fear that costs such as travel and kit are becoming unaffordable for the families of its youngsters.
      The Pythian Club in Nottingham offers free sports sessions, including football and boxing, to youngsters aged up to 19Credit: Pythian Club
      The club performs an important social role, often taking on children who have been involved in gangs and crime, or who have been referred to it by probation services.
      Currently it looks after 400 children and teenagers who come to the centre to play a range of sports.
      Founder Benjamin Rosser told The Sun: “It absolutely breaks my heart that so many kids are missing out. Sport is such an important way for us to reach out to kids and stop them from going down the wrong path. Part of our work is actively seeking out young people that would otherwise fall through the gaps and give them a chance at a better life.
      “We have around 120 to 150 young people we work with that are really financially struggling and need extra support.
      “We try to find ways to work around that to make sure they don’t have to make difficult choices such as having to pay their bus fare to school and not be able to access a sports activity that week.
      Read More on The Sun
      “Sometimes it’s getting food in their belly or playing football. Those are the difficult choices that they’re making.
      “Running a session on a Friday for about 180 kids sets us back about £280, which is expensive, but we never pass those costs on. We’re a family and we’ll always provide what we can.”
      Tell us about your inspiration grass roots club. Email us at footieforall@the-sun.co.uk More

    • 225 Shares109 Views

      in Motorsport

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

      by

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