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    Inside Christian and Geri Horner’s £50m fortune – including prize-winning side-hustle & jaw-dropping Spice Girls payday

    THE future of Christian Horner’s Formula One career continues to hang in the balance amid bombshell allegations about his workplace conduct.The Red Bull Racing chief, 50, is awaiting the verdict of bosses after being accused of “inappropriate behaviour” by a female colleague and sending “sexually suggestive” texts. 
    Christian and Geri Horner are worth tens of millionsCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
    Horner’s future with Red Bull Racing were reportedly be decided in 10 daysCredit: PA
    Racing boss Christian earned a staggering £8m in 2022Credit: Getty
    Christian, who has categorically denied all claims, was put through an eight-hour grilling as part of an independent investigation and his fate will reportedly be decided within 10 days.
    It risks ending his 19-year career with Red Bull Racing, where he’s paid in excess of £8million a year, and putting a sizeable dent in the fortune earned by him and his ex-Spice Girl wife Geri. 
    The couple have netted tens of millions of pounds over the years, with a fortune of at least £50million, which has afforded them an enviable and comfortable country lifestyle.
    From £2.4million in rental properties to a horseracing firm and royalties, we look into Geri and Christian Horner’s finances. 
    READ MORE ON CHRISTIAN HORNER
    £8M Red Bull salary
    Red Bull boss Christian is believed to be the highest-paid team principal in F1 and began working for them in 2005 . 
    Company accounts reports, which span between 2011 and 2022, show the F1 boss has been paid a staggering £40.2million over that 11-year period. 
    His 2022 pay from Red Bull was listed at £8,044,000, which was almost £3million higher than the £5,085,000 salary he bagged a year earlier.
    It’s an impressive hike from his £1,343,000 salary back in 2011.
    Most read in Motorsport
    Popstar fortune
    Geri amassed a staggering fortune from her time as both a solo artist and a member of the Spice Girls, who remain the best-selling female group in history.
    Red Bull debuts design with Mercedes-style element reportedly dubbed ‘illegal’ by Christian Horner
    Her popstar earnings were paid in Wonderful Productions Limited, which was set up in 1997 – one year before the singer left the band. 
    During the company’s first three years of trading, it reported a £13.1million turnover and that she paid herself £8.9million. 
    No pay disclosures were reported by her in accounts between 2001 and 2018. Figures suggest the firm entered a non-trading phase between 2009 and 2012. 
    Geri bagged £2.2million in pay following the return of the Spice Girls – minus Victoria Beckham – in 2019, reportedly for just six gigs. 
    The Spice Girls remain the best-selling female group in music historyCredit: PA:Press Association
    A 2019 Spice Girls reunion, minus Victoria, saw Geri bag £2.2millionCredit: PA:Press Association
    The bombshell claims that have rocked F1F1 was rocked earlier this month by the sudden news that Christian Horner had been placed under investigation by Red Bull’s Austria-based parent company.
    This was thought to be over a “dossier of incriminating material” regarding “inappropriate and controlling behaviour” towards one female, The Telegraph reported.
    Red Bull’s Austrian parent company flew an independent lawyer to the UK to question the multi-millionaire race ace and his accuser.
    The former racing driver, who runs world champion Max Verstappen’s all-conquering Red Bull team, endured an eight-hour grilling over the claims last week.
    Most recently however, more allegations have come out as the De Telegraaf reported that Horner allegedly sent sex messages to his employee “over an extended period of time”.
    Messages were said to have been saved and presented as evidence to the external ­barrister running the inquiry after the woman made a complaint last December.
    Mr Horner categorically denied the new allegations and is thought to be taking legal action against De Telegraaf.
    An F1 source told The Sun last week that “Christian has not been sacked or asked to resign and he is not going to resign”.
    The investigation raises the question of who could take over the helm of the all-conquering racing team of world champion Max Verstappen.
    His wife Geri Halliwell is also said to be “terrified her life will unravel” amid Horner’s “inappropriate behaviour” probe.
    The ex-Spice Girl, who was “in floods of tears” when the Red Bull boss was hit with the bombshell allegations, fears the drama will drag on for years, a source has claimed. 
    But Geri, 51, is understood to be standing by her husband.
    She has told pals: “Christian has done nothing wrong.”
    Horner has overseen a huge period of success for the racing team – winning multiple F1 championships with Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen.
    Red Bull has won seven Formula One world drivers’ championships and six world ­constructors’ titles under Horner’s leadership.
    Last season, the team won 21 of the 22 races on the global F1 tour, and Verstappen, 26, won the drivers’ crown.
    Horner was awarded a CBE for services to motorsport in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List

    The Daily Mail reported that the firm was worth £3million the following year and she paid herself £1million from the company.
    The paper also claims Wonderful Productions made £152,000 profit in 2022 and Geri paid herself £762,240 that year. 
    Last year’s accounts showed losses of £77,994 but held reserves of nearly £1.4million. 
    Geri also has the firm Falcon Queen Limited, which was set up in May 2021 to provide “business support activities”. All shares are owned by Wonderful Productions.
    According to the Mail, Falcon Queen Limited made losses of £75,521 last year and plunged £276,000 into the red. 
    Geri is still believed to receive earnings for Spice Girls Limited – a joint venture between her, Victoria, Mel B, Mel C and Emma Bunton. 
    Media ventures
    Geri has released seven books for children and two autobiographiesCredit: Alamy
    Alongside music, the singer has had successful stints as an author.
    Geri released two autobiographies – If Only, which became a best-seller in 1999 and sold more than a million copies in the UK alone, and Just For The Record three years later.  
    In 2008, she released a six-part children’s series called Ugenia Lavender, which sold 250,000 copies in its first five months.
    Last year, Geri released her latest children’s book Rosie Frost And The Falcon Queen. 
    Her earnings have been topped up over the years by other media work including a stint as a judge on The X Factor in 2011 and 2012 and Australia’s Got Talent in 2013.
    She also made cameos in TV shows including Sex And The City, US show Extra and appeared in the films Spice World, Crank: High Voltage and Gran Turismo. 
    Geri was a judge on The X Factor for two years until 2012Credit: ITV
    Last year, she made an appearance in the film Gran TurismoCredit: Alamy
    Horseracing empire
    The Horners have a number of race horses, all of whom are named after Geri’s songs and covers including It’s Raining Men, Look At Mee, Lift Me Up and Mi Chico Latino.
    Among the most successful is Lift Me Up, an eight-year-old male who was born in 2016 and cost £28,000. 
    The horse, real name Hector, was lined up as a potential Cheltenham Festival hopeful but hasn’t run since last May. 
    Lift Me Up, who has raced at least twice, earned the couple £2,361.18 in prize money for winning a race in front of 70,000 punters, according to the British Horseracing Authority.
    Christian Horner’s life and careerCHRISTIAN Horner is among the most well-known names in Formula One having helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.
    1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
    1991 – Wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in karting races
    1993-1997 – Competed in a host of competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two, and Formula 3000
    1997 – Founded and developed the F3000 team Arden
    1999 – Retired from driving and continued developing the Arden team
    2005 – Appointed head of Red Bull team, becoming the youngest ever team principal at that time
    2009 – Wins his first races as team principal with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
    2010 – Wins the Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship with Vettel – the first of four doubles in a row
    2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen shortly before the couple split
    2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
    2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
    2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
    2021 – Wins another Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, pipping Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season
    2022-23 – Red Bull win the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship two years in a row

    Last month, Geri revealed Hope – named Look At Mee after the singer’s 1999 solo hit – had her first race and finished fifth.
    The couple owns a horseracing company called OMBI, which was set up in 2021, and lists the nature of its business as “activities of racehorse owners”.
    The couple built a 14-horse stable at their Oxfordshire mansionCredit: Instagram/gerihalliwellhorner
    As well as stables, they also have farm animals including donkeysCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
    Its latest accounts, for the year ended 30 June 2022, showed they held £113,378 in “biological assets” – believed to refer to the horses – and £400,000 worth of goods.
    The company retained £68,852 in funds after bills were deducted. 
    Last year, work finished on a 14-horse stable, including two foaling stalls, at their Oxfordshire home and ex-jockey Maxine Filby was hired to run the yard.
    Christian told The Telegraph his passion for horses was “just a bit of fun” and “escapism away from the madness of F1”. 
    He said: “We don’t really know what we’re doing but it’s exciting. It’s something Geri and I both get a kick out of and something we enjoy as a family.” 
    Rental properties
    Away from the equine world, the couple also have a buy-to-let business named Estelle Ward, which was set up in 2021.
    It’s listed as the owner of a £2.1million flat in Highgate, North London, according to Land Registry. 
    The latest accounts for Estelle Ward lists property assets of £2.4million with a £1.6million ‘loan facility’, which the couple pays interest on at 1 per cent above the Bank of England base rate. 
    Geri inside the couple’s indoor pool, which is in a converted barn on their Oxfordshire estateCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
    Christian preparing a large feast on a plush barbeque unit at their Oxfordshire mansionCredit: Instagram @christianhorner
    As of November 2022, the firm reported a £6,455 deficit – as a result of the loan and other bills. 
    READ MORE SUN STORIES
    The couple also owns two stunning mansions, in Hertfordshire and Banbury, Oxfordshire, which boast swimming pools, a boating lake and a farm.
    The latter is a luxury estate that has an indoor pool inside a converted barn, stables for their horses as well as pens for their other farm animals and sprawling country grounds.  More

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    Jurgen Klopp’s agent confirms manager’s plans after Liverpool exit with Bayern Munich job set to be available

    LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp plans to take a year out following his exit from the club. That’s according to his agent Marc Kosicke who told Sky Germany that the German doesn’t plan to take over any club or national team anytime soon.
    Jurgen Klopp will depart Liverpool this summerCredit: EPA
    The statement comes after Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich confirmed they will be parting ways with Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season.
    Klopp was immediately linked with replacing him.
    The Liverpool chief has already stated he has no intentions of coaching another team in England following a successful nine year spell at Anfield.
    But since the announcement in January, he has found himself linked with vacancies at Barcelona and Germany but his agent insists he is going nowhere… for now.

    Klopp’s agent Kosicke said: “Jurgen Klopp will not coach any club or national team for a year after this current season.
    “That remains unchanged.“
    With Klopp having ruled himself out of Bayern Munich job, former player and current Bayer Leverkusen manager Xavi Alonso is favourite to land the job alongside Zinedine Zidane and former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
    Ironically, the vacancy coming up at Bayern could wreck Liverpool’s plans with it understood they are keen to appoint Alonso themselves.
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    Klopp first arrived to Liverpool back in November 2015 having replaced Brendan Rodgers in the dugout.
    Klopp was able to get the team to the Europa League final a couple of months later where they lost 3-1 to Sevilla.
    Pep Guardiola breaks silence on Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp’s shock exit at end of season after Man City beat Tottenham
    Since then, he has returned the club to the top of the game, guiding them to a Champions League and Premier League trophy during his time.
    Signings including Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk have been key players during his tenure.
    Klopp has spent nine years at LiverpoolCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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    Zinedine Zidane ‘will only return to management for three jobs’ as Bayern Munich hunt new boss

    ZINEDINE ZIDANE will reportedly only return to management should three specific jobs become available.The Frenchman has been linked with the Bayern Munich post following the announcement that Thomas Tuchel will be stepping down.
    Zinedine Zidane will only manage one of three potential jobsCredit: Reuters
    Tuchel will leave Bayern at the end of the season, prompting the Bundesliga giants into a hunt for their next manager.
    Zidane, 51, along with Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso have been spoken about as potential options.
    The former Real Madrid manager has been out of work since leaving the LaLiga giants in 2021.
    During his time as Bernabeu boss, he enjoyed enormous success winning the Champions League three times and the league twice.
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    Since becoming a free agent, Zidane has been tipped with moves to Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.
    However, Sport have claimed that only three jobs would interest Zidane in returning to the dugout.
    This includes Bayern, as well as his former side Juventus and the French national team.
    An insider told the outlet: “Zinédine sees FC Bayern like Real Madrid: an institution as a club with a great past and great working conditions.
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    “Both clubs have many similarities in the way they work.
    “In this respect, it was for him German record champions a topic that he never rejected.
    Zinedine Zidane cannot stop smiling as he hands Karim Benzema Ballon d’Or congratulates Real Madrid star
    “But he definitely doesn’t want to go to England, that’s for sure.
    “But if those in charge in Munich want to get him, they have to give him the sporting power and fulfill his wishes.
    “He is very ambitious and subordinates everything to success. He doesn’t want to leave anything to chance.”

    As revealed by the insider, Zidane has no interest in managing in the Premier League.
    This could rule him out as an option for Liverpool should they miss out on Alonso. More

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    Alan Sugar gave me my break in football before I scored against Man Utd – now I make £15k an hour in new job

    FOR many footballers life would not get much better than scoring in front of a packed-out Old Trafford.However, for ex-Tottenham and Norwich star Paul McVeigh, it was simply one chapter of his stunning life.
    Former Tottenham and Norwich star Paul McVeigh scored at Old TraffordCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
    But McVeigh has revealed that public speaking is the biggest buzz of his lifeCredit: X formerly Twitter / @Paulmcveigh77
    He is paid £15k an hour for his speechesCredit: X formerly Twitter / @Paulmcveigh77
    McVeigh, 46, appeared in 20 Premier League matches and scored against Manchester United at Old Trafford for the Canaries in a 2-1 defeat in 2004.
    He describes himself as the “luckiest guy in the world”, but not for his 14-year football career which included more than 240 games for Norwich.
    Instead, it is his career after hanging up his boots which has left him feeling this way.
    McVeigh has transitioned from whipping crosses into the box from the left wing to whipping up people through motivational speaking.
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    The Belfast-born Northern Irishman started preparing for life after football in his 20s and now has a Master’s degree in sports psychology.
    Having been given his big break in football by then Tottenham owner Alan Sugar, McVeigh now delivers keynote speeches all around the world to the likes of Barclays and PWC on performance psychology.
    Speaking to The Mirror, McVeigh said: “At 16 Alan Sugar started paying me some money to play football. I did that for nearly 20 years.
    “Now some other big organisations pay me money to talk about what I did on the pitch. I’ve done that for 15 years and it’s like, ‘Pinch me’.”
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    The Mirror claims McVeigh earns a cool £15,000 per hour delivering these speeches, including recent speeches where he shared a Las Vegas stage with titans of American football and a weekend in the Middle East.
    He explained: “What I talk about is how to get the most out of yourself, the criteria that allows you to do it, and it always comes back to mentality and psychology.”
    Top 10 highest paid footballers in the world revealed with no Premier League players making the top five
    However, McVeigh could have had a remarkably different post-career pathway if he had paid more heed to the “terrible” advice some of the old guard, including Teddy Sheringham, gave him at Tottenham.
    Sheringham was joined by the likes of Gary Mabbutt, Darren Anderton and Nicky Barmby in offering cautionary advice about post-playing prospects.
    McVeigh recalls: “They would say things like, ‘Play as long as you can, wee man’ or ‘These are the best days of your life.’
    “They were inferring the rest of my life was downhill. I’m never going to be as happy, never going to make as much money, never going to be as successful.”
    of course, this was not the case, and McVeigh insists his current job is the best buzz of his life.
    He added: “I still get a massive buzz from doing it.
    “It’s the best rush I’ve gotten in my entire professional life.”
    However, he is not nescient to some of his former colleague’s difficulties when hanging up their boots, but McVeigh also does not believe football stars should not be given special treatment.
    He explained: “I’m empathetic. But why are we special? We’re not.
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    “We might be good at football but why should we get special treatment?”
    To that end, McVeigh has launched a leadership programme which lists Harry Kane, Yaya Toure and Mo Farah among more than 50 potential speakers. More

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    I worked as a McDonald’s cleaner but lasted just TWO DAYS – now I’m tearing it up in the Premier League

    SPURS ace Dejan Kulusevski plans to become a dab hand in the kitchen — but he was not even trusted with fast food as a teen.The Sweden midfielder, 23, went on work experience at McDonald’s as a cleaner when he was 15 — but he lasted just two days.
    Dejan Kulusevski lasted two days working in McDonaldsCredit: Tottenham Hotspur
    But now he is tearing up the Premier League at TottenhamCredit: Getty
    Now he is trying cooking at home, and it is proving far more successful than his first-ever job.
    Kulusevski said: “I did work at McDonald’s! It was my first job. My best friend, his father worked there. I worked there for two days and didn’t go back. So it was a good week off!
    “I was just doing the cleaning there and they did not let me touch the food.
    “I like meat and I  am learning, looking at YouTube.
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    “I don’t like numbers so I  don’t like recipes — trying to make things up.
    “I love everything in life so it is fun to improve with everything.”
    Kulusevski also lifted the lid on what life is like under manager Ange Postecoglou.
    Kulusevski told SunSport: “He gets angry for sure.
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    “There have been a couple of half-times when he thinks we’re not doing enough, playing safe and not pushing enough to win the game and then he lets us hear it.
    “He goes really, really mad. But we always play better afterwards so it works!
    Postecoglou dubbed ‘nicest man in football’ for response to fan’s question
    “It is not fun but it is part of the job, you cannot always just give love to players sometimes you have to be hard on them like parents do. It is not scary because it helps us in the end.”
    There is no denying it has worked. Only Manchester City and Liverpool have won more than Spurs’ 16 points from losing positions this season.
    Postecoglou has players and supporters on side like no manager since Mauricio Pochettino in North London, there are no longer protests or toxic chants if Spurs are struggling late on in a game – only hope.
    His arrival has sparked a huge change of mood and culture at the club after the brutal messages and frustrating football from the likes of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
    Kulusevski was called upon to sell the club to new signing and fellow Swede Lucas Bergvall a few weeks ago, and spoke in glowing terms about the club.
    Bergvall, who also spoke to Postecoglou, ended up choosing Spurs over Barcelona.
    He said: “I met him and it was nice to see him because I know him a bit. I told him the truth, the same as what I tell everyone. How good this club is and the plans for the future.
    “I didn’t want to tell him which club to join because that is hard, but it is the first time I’ve played with a Swedish player.”
    Kulusevski has been a key player for Spurs this season
    Kulusevski also acknowledges that the sales pitch may well have been different a year ago.
    The winger added: “Yes, it has changed at the club, absolutely.
    “It has been a fantastic change and now it feels like the club is going on the right path and we are doing the right things.
    “We are more focused on better things. It is a different mentality, we have to improve.
    “It is not about we have to win otherwise it’s a catastrophe, it is about improving every day and if things are going to happen they will happen. It is more about the positive things.”
    It certainly helps that Postecoglou plays the style of football that Kulusevski has loved since he was a boy.
    The self-confessed football “nerd” who grew up playing Fifa all night and playing front-foot football during the day, loves the philosophy.
    And having considered a coaching career of his own, it is one he would stick to.
    The former Juventus man took time to help out with Tottenham’s Under-14s this week and paid a surprise visit to the club’s Spurred 2 Coach programme this week.
    The Foundation initiative helps young adults without coaching qualifications take the first steps towards earning FA badges and Kulusevski surprised last weeks participants by taking part in a training session with them in the shadow of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
    He said: “I love teaching kids as they make you so happy. I would like to train kids in the future.
    “I played like that as a child.
    “When I grew up, we kept the ball on the floor and wanted to have possession, we didn’t want to be afraid of anybody.
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    “That is exactly the same things as we are doing now. For a player to play this style is a blessing. It is brave and the most important in life is to not care about mistakes.
    “As a coach I would not care about mistakes. I would just want my players to feel free to express their talent as every man and woman has talent.”
    Kulusevski has been helping young adults start their coaching coursesCredit: Tottenham Hotspur More

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    Jose Mourinho gives blunt three-word response to Man Utd return rumours & admits being unemployed makes him ‘depressed’

    JOSE MOURINHO is desperate to get back into work, saying being unemployed makes him “depressed”.But the ex-Roma boss gave a blunt three-word response when asked about returning to the leading role at Manchester United.
    Jose Mourinho said being unemployed has made him’ he has been ‘depressed’Credit: x @rioferdy5
    Mourinho gave a blunt response amid rumours of his return to Man UtdCredit: AP
    Mourinho coached United between 2016 and 2018, winning the EFL Cup and the Europa League during his first season.
    And he was sacked from Roma last month despite leading the Italian giants to back-to-back finals.
    Speaking on Rio Ferdiand’s FIVE podcast the ex-United boss quickly made clear the rumours were “not from me” about his return to the Red Devils.
    But the 61-year-old did say he was ready to take on his next challenge as being away from the dugout is making him “depressed”.
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    He continued: “I was having lunch with my friends and people that works with me and we were in the lift.
    “I was telling the guys if I can work tomorrow, I work tomorrow.
    “I don’t enjoy any day without work. I don’t understand, I’m sorry guys.
    “But I don’t understand people that speak about sabbatical time.
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    “Sabbatical time gives me only one thing – depression. So I want a different job. I just want to work but I need to be patient.”
    His time at Roma ended after the Italian side sat ninth in Serie A at the time with Mourinho’s touchline antics causing problems for the club.
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    The Special One’s departure from the club was inevitable after a run of one win in six matches that included dropping to ninth in the table, two red cards and a Coppa Italia exit to arch-rivals Lazio.
    Mourinho added he has received job offers since leaving Roma but “it was not something I was interested in”.
    And a sabbatical would not be uncommon if Mourinho chooses to take it.
    Pep Guardiola took a sabbatical between the Barcelona and Bayern Munich jobs in 2012-13 and lived in New York. 
    Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp may also opt to take some time out when he leaves Anfield at the end of the term after revealing the job has made him “exhausted”.  More

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    Man who has spent 8 per cent of his life playing Football Manager becomes boss of real team after double relegation

    A FOOTBALL MANAGER addict has become a real-life boss aged just 27 – of a professional team relegated twice in a row.Orri Thorisson claims he’s spent eight per cent of his life playing the computer game. 
    Orri Thorisson says he feels like he’s succeeding in life when he does well onlineCredit: https://twitter.com/KVfotbolti
    And Icelandic fourth-tier side KV admit they’ve gone down a “different route” in appointing the rookie to their top job.
    Chairman Auounn Orn Gylfason agrees Thorisson has no “magic wand”.
    But he does have a wizard record on Football Manager.
    Thorisson recently won his sixth successive Premier League crown with Leicester City – at least, on his keyboard and screen.

    He saved 600 hours of playing time to achieve that feat… no doubt at the King Powered-up Stadium.
    But it’s not all it seems – as until last year he was a gamer of two halves.
    Thorisson shared his love for Football Manager online with almost equal playing time on the pitch.
    But hip surgery ended his physically-active career, leaving him feeling he had “lost something in my life”.
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    But incredibly Thorisson was quickly appointed head coach of sixth-tier Kria – thanks to his friends owning the local club.
    He won instant promotion after 13 wins in 16 games, before agreeing to move to KV on a one-year contract.
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    Thorisson insists Football Manager has helped him in the dugout as well as tackling personal demons.
    He told SportBible: “I genuinely believe it’s had a positive impact on my real-life management abilities.
    “The game’s intricate mechanics, strategic decision-making and pressure-filled scenarios have allowed me to hone my analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.”
    Thorisson also called the game a “therapeutic escape during harder periods in my life”.
    He added: “I find solace and distraction from playing the game and it allows my mind to momentarily detach from real-world struggles.
    “I know it sounds bad but when I’m doing good in the game, I feel like I’m doing good in life.
    “For me, it’s the thrill of leading your favourite team to victory and the satisfaction of nurturing young talents.
    The job could be a really good stepping stone… And to have some extra income for my family, including my pregnant girlfriend, is huge.Orri Thorisson
    “Oh, and the 4-2-3-1 formation I’ve used throughout my entire FM career? I’ll definitely play a form of that tactic in real life.”
    Thorisson dreams of one day matching the levels he’s reached gaming with real-life achievements.
    He said: “I took the job knowing it could be a really good stepping stone in my career.
    “And to have some extra income to provide for my family, including my pregnant girlfriend, is huge.”
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    Club supremo Gylfason confessed: “We know success in Football Manager doesn’t just happen with the swing of a magic wand.
    “You need to have a deep understanding of the game and now time will tell if he can meet up to our expectations in real life.” More

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    I played with Messi for seven years at Barcelona but he wasn’t a great friend – we had to be separated during a bust-up

    A BARCELONA legend – who could soon be their new manager – has lifted the lid on a row with Lionel Messi that forced Pep Guardiola to intervene.And he insists that both he and the icon Argentina forward were just merely work colleagues and not friends.
    Rafael Marquez became a legend at Barcelona and now coaches their B teamCredit: Getty
    He had a bitter falling out with Lionel Messi while at the Nou CampCredit: AFP
    The man in question is Mexican icon Rafael Marquez, who is now back at the Nou Camp as boss of their second team.
    The 44-year-old, who has been touted as the replacement for Xavi in the Barcelona dug-out this summer, spent seven years playing for the club until 2010.
    He won the LaLiga titel four times and the Champions League plus a number of other honours during that period as the then-teenage Messi burst onto the scene.
    However, Messi’s continual dribbling in training left Marquez fuming.
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    He has now revealed how it led to him losing his temper as a huge argument erupted between them.
    And he says it got so bad that ex-boss Guardiola, now in charge of Manchester City, had to step in.
    Speaking to Yordi Rosada, Marquez said: “We knew that Leo could dribble to three or four players, but sometimes exaggerated it a lot.
    “We tried to direct it, saying to him: ‘Here you dribble, here you don’t’.
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    “By my strong insistence in these instructions, started a problem between Messi and I.
    “We began to exchange words and Guardiola had to intervene to solve the problem.
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    “Messi and I were not big friends, we were colleagues.”
    Marquez had spells with New York Red Bulls, Leon, Hellas Verona and Atlas prior to hanging up his boots in 2018.
    Messi, meanwhile, left in 2021 to join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer after smashing dozens of records at Barcelona, before moving on to Inter Miami, where he currently plays.
    Both players have starred in five World Cups, with the latter leading Argentina to glory in Qatar in December 2022. More