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      in Motorsport

      What happened to Ferrari’s 11 British F1 drivers including last winner 60 YEARS AGO as Lewis Hamilton joins elite club

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’S stunning transfer to Ferrari has shocked the world of Formula One.Motorsport fans around the globe will remember February 1 as the date Hamilton officially cut ties with Mercedes following a 26-year association.
      Lewis Hamilton has sealed a shock move to FerrariCredit: PA
      He joins the likes of Nigel Mansell on a prestigious list of British Ferrari F1 driversCredit: Rex Features
      Hamilton’s career with Mercedes
      Seven world drivers titles, 103 race wins, 104 podiums and a legion of other records to boot. To say his career backed by Mercedes power has been a success would be an understatement.
      Having signed a £100million contract with Mercedes in summer 2023, Hamilton then used a break clause in his deal to seal his switch to Ferrari.
      Hamilton will drive for the Scuderia from 2025 after signing a “multi-year contract” worth £100m.
      His goal with the Italian constructor will no doubt be to win a historic eighth title if he cannot manage it in his final season with the Silver Arrows.
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      However, Hamilton is not the only Brit to have driven in the scarlet red of the Prancing Horse.
      That being said, if he is to win Ferrari’s first driver title since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 he will be fighting against history stretching back 60 YEARS.
      But who are Hamilton’s predecessors?
      Below we take a look at the 11 previous drivers to have got behind the wheel at Ferrari.
      Most read in Motorsport
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      Peter Whitehead
      Peter Whitehead pictured drinking a beer in a FerrariCredit: 2015 Getty Images
      Peter Whitehead raced for Ferrari at the birth of F1 in 1950.
      An amateur pre-war racer and RAF pilot, Whitehead raced in 12 F1 races, achieving one podium before he left the sport in 1954.
      Following the second world war Whitehead returned to racing and worked his way to purchasing a Ferrari 125 from Enzo Ferrari, contesting nine Grand Prix with it.
      Whitehead’s most noteworthy exploits came in outside of F1 however, winning the 1951 Le Mans 24 Hours race. He was killed in 1958 while competing in the Tour de France.
      Mike Hawthorn
      Mike Hawthorn was the first Briton to win the F1 world championshipCredit: SSPL/Manchester Daily Express
      “Farnham Flyer” Mike Hawthorn joined Ferrari in 1953 and raced with them until 1958 and became famed for wearing a bow tie during races.
      Battling with the likes of F1 legend Juan Manuel Fangio, Hawthorn came close to title success in 1954 as he won three podiums and won in Spain.
      However, he would not land a title until 1958, becoming the first Brit to win an F1 title in the Ferrari 246 in a title battle with Sir Stirling Moss.
      Hawthorn would retire from racing in 1958 but would tragically die in a car accident on the A3 Guildford Bypass on January 22 1959.
      Peter Collins
      Peter Collins won three races in F1Credit: 2009 Getty Images
      Peter Collins raced his first season with Ferrari in 1956.
      He earned Enzo Ferrari’s respect that season when he gave up his own world title ambitions by handing his car over to Fangio at Monza.
      Collins was active in F1 for six years, with his final win in F1 coming at Silverstone in 1958.
      He died while racing around the Nurburgring just three weeks later.
      Tony Brooks
      Tony Brooks won two races with Ferrari during his F1 careerCredit: Getty
      Tony Brooks joined Ferrari in 1959 following the deaths of Hawthorn and Collins.
      He won two races in Reims and Germany to hand him a shot at the title.
      But the title dream would fall short after an ultimately needless pit-stop at Sebring, USA, following a collision with Wolfgang von Trips.
      Unlike many unfortunate racers in the era, Brooks retired from motorsport and lived a long life, only passing away in 2022 aged 90.
      Cliff Allison
      Injuries thwarted Cliff Allison’s promising careerCredit: Getty
      Cliff Allison joined Ferrari as part of its stable of drivers for the 1959-1960 F1 season.
      However, after just six races he saw his career cut short. Following a second place finish in Argentina, a crash at the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix saw Allison hurled from his cockpit and was sidelined for a year.
      Allison woke up in a hospital speaking French despite never learning the language.
      He returned to F1 in 1961 with Lotus but suffered a double leg break at the Belgium Grand Prix, ending a promising career. Allison died in 2005 aged 73.
      John Surtees
      John Surtees won world championships in F1 and on motorcyclesCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      The last man to win the F1 title at Ferrari, John Surtees was proficient in both F1 and motorcycle racing and is famed as a world champion on four and two wheels.
      He was active for 12 years in F1, winning six races including two in 1964 on route to a championship.
      Things eventually turned sour between driver and team however, leaving Ferrari in a rage in 1966.
      Surtees died of respiratory failure in 2017 at the age of 83.
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      Mike Parkes
      Mike Parkes raced six races in FerrariCredit: Getty
      Mike Parkes raced for Ferrari in the 1966 and 1967 F1 seasons following a seven-year break from the sport he had made his debut in in 1959.
      Podiums in the French and Italian Grand Prix in 1966 showed off his promise before he suffered a leg-break in Belgium ended his career prematurely.
      Parkes was also a racer in sports cars, winning the British Saloon Car Championship in 1961.
      He died in 1977 aged 45.
      Jonathan Williams
      Jonathan Williams made just one F1 start in his careerCredit: Getty
      Jonathan Williams made just one F1 start in his racing career, but making it for Ferrari means he makes this list.
      Williams one F1 race in Mexico saw him finish 8th.
      He retired in 1972 and became a pilot, before switching to be a writer and photographer.
      Williams died on in 2014 aged 71.
      Derek Bell
      Derek Bell is the most successful Brit in Le Mans historyCredit: Getty
      Derek Bell is best known for his career in sportscars.
      But the two F1 starts he made for Ferrari put him on this list even though he did not do great in the seat.
      A lack of opportunities prompted him to move on from the team in 1969, before he would go on to win Le Mans five times to make him the most successful Brit to race in it to date.
      Born in 1941, Bell has also won the Daytona 24 three times and the World Sportscar Championship twice.
      Nigel Mansell
      Nigel Mansell was the last driver confirmed by Enzo Ferrari before he diedCredit: 2019 Getty Images
      Nigel Mansell became the first driver to get behind the wheel of a Ferrari for more than 20 years when he joined the Prancing Horses in 1989.
      Things started off well with a win at the Brazilian Grand Prix, but that would prove to be a false-dawn amid reliability issues.
      Mansell would eventually leave the team at the end of 1990 to rejoin Williams, where “Mansellmania” was born as he won a championship in 1992.
      “‘Il Leone” as he was known to the Tifosi, was the last driver confirmed by Enzo Ferrari before his death. These days Mansell is enjoying retirement with a number of successful business enterprises.
      Eddie Irvine
      Eddie Irvine came within touching distance of a title at FerrariCredit: Bongarts
      Eddie Irvine came within touching distance of an F1 title in 1999, winning four races.
      However, he was unable to match Michael Schumacher in his prime and promptly left at the end of the season before retiring from F1 in 2002.
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      Irvine has since gone on to become a successful businessman which has earned him an incredible net worth.
      He is the last Brit to race for Ferrari, and 20 years on Hamilton will follow in Irvine’s footsteps aiming for an eighth title to eclipse none-other than Schumacher.

      🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

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      Inside Lewis Hamilton’s £13m collection of supercars including super rare Ferrari and £1.6m ride made entirely for him

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      F1 legend Lewis Hamilton boasts a stunning car collection befitting of the racing driver legend he is.Since his 2007 debut, the seven-time world champion has earned a staggering fortune from motorsport.
      Lewis Hamilton owns a £2m McLaren that he still drives around Monaco inCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      Hamilton, who has a deal with Mercedes, looks set to leave their F1 team
      Lewis Hamilton boasts a car collection worth a staggering £13mCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      F1 legend Hamilton shows off his Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe worth around £177k
      He has been paid an astonishing £350million by Mercedes, who he signed for in 2013.
      But, it could be the end of an era. The 39-year-old is reportedly poised to complete a sensational switch to Ferrari and team up with Charles Leclerc ahead of the 2025 season.
      Hamilton’s epic wealth has allowed to enjoy a lifestyle to envy.
      And cars are most certainly his passion – with a garage of supercars worth around £13MILLION.
      Read more on Lewis Hamilton
      Hamilton is a self-confessed car fanatic, who collects everything from the latest supercars to vintage classics and even electric vehicles.
      He said previously: “I don’t know anything about wine. I don’t know a huge amount about art.
      “But what I do know is cars, and I’m very particular about them.”
      Here we take a look at just some of his extravagant collection:
      Most read in Motorsport
      PAGANI ZONDA 760 LH
      The rarest motor in Hamilton owned was his £1.6m Pagani Zonda that was made entirely for him.
      The exterior and interiors are purple, and at the request of the sports star he opted for a manual gearbox instead of the usual sequential one.
      His reasons? Because he hated getting behind the wheel of it initially.
      He once said: “The Zonda is terrible to drive!
      “It’s the best-sounding car I own, but handling-wise it’s the worst.”
      That could be why in 2015 Hamilton got in an accident that caused some significant damage to the cherished motor.
      Hamilton reportedly sold the motor in 2022.
      Hamilton’s Pagani Zonda cost him £1.6m but he hated driving itCredit: Rex FeaturesCheck out these amazing collections

      1966 SHELBY 427 COBRA
      The highest valued car in Hamilton’s collection is this stunning classic.
      Believed to be worth around £4m, it’s a rare sight – unless you’ve seen the racer cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway in LA.
      Hamilton was often spied taking his ex-missus Nicole Scherzinger for a spin in this beauty, which had him standing out from the crowd.
      A 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra is Hamilton’s most expensive car worth £4mCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      LAFERRARI
      Every car aficionado worth their weight in salt owns this £2m Ferrari – another collector’s item that rises in value as the years go by.
      Capable of reaching a top speed of 217 mph, the LaFerrari can hit 0-62 mph in just 2.4 seconds, meaning it’s the fastest car Hamilton owns.
      Footballers including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Son Heung-min also drive this frighteningly fast motor that must feel like handling a racing car.
      A £1m Ferrari La Ferrari is a must for any car collection, including HamiltonCredit: Xposure
      MERCEDES-AMG PROJECT ONE
      Lewis got his hands on a Project One in 2021, even though it wasn’t released until 2022.
      He was heavily involved in the production of the plug-in hybrid sports car that’s capable of hitting a top speed of 217 mph.
      Only 275 were made, and they cost around £2m.
      Getting his hands on one was one of the many perks of his deal with Mercedes.
      Hamilton managed to get his hands on a £2m Mercedes-AMG Project One ahead of its 2021 release
      Hamilton was heavily involved in the production of the Project OneCredit: AFP or licensors
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      MERCEDES-AMG SLS BLACK
      He already owned a SL Black Series, so why not add the SLS, right?
      Hamilton, who clearly has a need for speed, added this supercar to his garage probably because it’s the fastest Mercedes in production.
      Powered by a 6.2-litre V8 engine that produces 622bhp – the SLS can reach a top speed of 196 mph.
      It also hits 0-60 in just 3 seconds – making it the ideal car for Hamilton to get his thrills off the track with. For a price tag of £230k, it’s just what you’d expect really.
      Driving for Mercedes has its perks for HamiltonCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      Hamilton regularly shares images on social media alongside Mercedes motorsCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      MCLAREN P1
      Despite splitting with McLaren’s racing team, Hamilton can’t have felt too aggrieved with his former employers. In 2015, he added a £2m P1 to his extensive list of rides.
      The P1 has a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine, which is twinned with an electric motor that means the supercar has a total power and torque output of 903 bhp and 980 Nm of torque.
      In real talk that means it’s fast and powerful, can hit a top speed of 217 mph and hits 0-60 mph in just under 2.7 seconds.
      In 2015 Hamilton added a £2M McLaren P1 to his list of ridesCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      The McLaren P1 is capable of hitting 0-62 mph in just 2.7 secondsCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      1967 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT500
      The second classic car that’s part of his fleet, fans of the Hollywood movie Gone In 60 Seconds might recognise this motor as looking to similar to one of the Eleanor models from the film.
      Hamilton had his customised by Oklahoma-based car shoop Classic Recreations for additional cost.
      At auctions, they can fetch up to £750k, and you can bet Hamilton’s is in tip-top condition. That said, we doubt he’ll ever sell it.
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      When the Mercedes-Maybach 6 came out in 2016, Hamilton made sure he got his hands on the concept car.
      The 2×2 coupe is completely electric, and can run up to 200 miles before it’ll need recharging.
      Hamilton also has another Mercedes – the Maybach S600, which is a luxurious chauffeur’s car with a partition separating the front seats from the back.
      Both those motors have a combined worth of around £800k.
      And Hamilton doesn’t mind swapping four wheels for two – sometimes taking his £6,500 Honda CRF450RX Motocross Bike around the dirt tracks of California.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Then there’s also his Maverick X3 dune buggy that would’ve set him back around £20k, that’s also electric in theme with his eco-warrior status.
      However, with a switch to Ferrari imminent – imagine the company cars he’s got lined up?
      Hamilton is a fan of the Maverick x3 dune buggy worth £20kCredit: 2017. All rights reserved.
      Nicole Scherzinger used to ride with Hamilton on his buggyCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      Hamilton also has a penchant for motorbikesCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      in Soccer

      Wayne and Coleen Rooney set for fly-on-the-wall series covering highs & lows of Wagatha trial & Birmingham City sacking

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      WAYNE and Coleen Rooney are set to make a fly-on-the-wall documentary featuring the couple’s domestic lives with their four sons.It comes after the success of Tyson Fury’s Netlfix series, which followed the life of the champion boxer and his family.
      Wayne and Coleen Rooney are set to make a fly-on-the-wall documentary covering their lives with their four sonsCredit: Instagram
      The show on Wayne, 38, and Coleen, 37, could spark a bidding war among streaming giantsCredit: Reuters
      Coleen’s Disney+ documentary on the Wagatha trial was a hitCredit: Disney+
      The show on former Manchester United and England legend Wayne, 38, and Coleen, 37, could spark a bidding war among streaming giants.
      A TV insider said: “The couple have starred in documentaries for different streamers and the feedback from viewers was that they’re most intrigued by what life is like behind the doors of Chez Rooney.
      “Wayne and Coleen live in a sprawling £20million mansion in leafy Cheshire with six bedrooms, a wine cellar and accommodation on their 40-acre estate for 14 horses.
      “Then there’s the fact they’ll soon be navigating the minefield of having four lads aged five to 13 growing up with famous parents and the luxuries that come with that.”
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      The source added Fury had shown “a sports star’s domestic life can be just as intriguing as a rock star or style icon”.
      Hit Disney+ documentary Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story gave her side of the High Court libel clash with Rebekah Vardy.
      Amazon Prime Video’s Rooney, looking at his life and career, came out in 2022.
      Both were made by Lorton Productions, who recently said they were launching the third TV project with the couple.
      Most read in Football
      It was originally believed to focus on Wayne’s coaching career, but that seems less likely after Birmingham City fired him last month.
      Instead it could now follow eldest son Kai, 14, who is in Man United’s youth academy, and brothers Klay, ten, Kit, eight, and five-year-old Cass.
      A spokesman for the Rooneys declined to comment.
      Wayne enjoyed a glittering career as a player becoming Man Utd’s all-time top scorerCredit: Getty
      Tyson Fury’s Netlfix series following his life and his family has been a huge successCredit: Courtesy of Netflix More

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      in Soccer

      World’s highest stadium among ‘the most feared on the planet’ is so far up it’s too dangerous for international matches

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      THE highest football stadium in the world is one of the scariest away days any club will face on the planet.Peru’s Daniel Alcides Carrion Stadium is even too dangerous for most international games to be played there because of the ridiculously high altitude.
      The world’s highest football stadium is Peru’s Daniel Alcides Carrión Stadium as it sits at 4,378m above sea levelCredit: Facebook
      The ground is seen as one of the most feared away days on the planet because of the high altitude
      This ground is located in the Peruvian city of Cerro del Pasco and stands at an almost unimaginable 4,378m above sea level – making it the stadium with the highest altitude on Earth.
      At this jaw-dropping height, the players face an almighty uphill task as the oxygen around them begins to suddenly drop and sits lower than many of them would’ve ever faced before.
      As with almost all team sports, but especially the hugely competitive world of football, a player requires a lot of oxygen to be taken in after 90minutes of constant hard running and extreme sprints.
      This horror mix results in fatigue settling in before half time has even crossed a player’s mind.
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      For context, the mammoth Mount Everest is 8,848 metres above sea level at its peak but Britain’s tallest mountain Ben Nevis is just 1,345m making the football ground substantially higher.
      An even more staggering fact is that the stadium sits so high up that it would take over 14 Shard’s stacked on top of each other to be at the same height from sea level.
      For this reason it is only used to host Peru Cup matches on an international level on just a handful of occasions per year.
      It is done during cup games as it gives the opposition players a chance to acclimatise to the altitude before kick off.
      Most read in Football
      However, the ground does belong to a team in the third division of the Peruvian league called Union Minas.
      Formally playing in the countries top league not so long ago, Union Minas have got a reputation as having one of world’s most feared away days.
      Despite the clear challenges for players, the stadium is set behind a beautiful sight of the Andean mountains in Cerro de Pasco and can hold 8,000 fans at matches.
      The pitch uses an artificial turf which makes it stand out even more from the typical football heritage many fans in Britain and Europe might expect.
      Ban from football
      Back in 2007, the footballing world was gripped by a controversial ban for stadiums that sat anywhere higher than 2,500m above sea level – including the Daniel Alcides Carrion Stadium.
      FIFA made the ruling after saying home teams had an “unfair advantage” and said they were fearing for player safety after several complaints.
      Several players were even see using bottled oxygen as a means of surviving through games because it was getting so tough for them.
      The decision left a handful of countries national teams in disbelief as Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia were all prevented from hosting World Cup qualifiers in their own capital cities.
      When Argentinian icon Diego Maradona heard about the ban he and a team of former Argentina players went to play a football match at the Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz.
      The reason for this was because that ground sat 3,600m above sea level and showed that if Maradona, a then a 47-year-old, could play for over an hour at that altitude then so could fit, young professionals.
      Despite this Lionel Messi once spoke about the challenges of playing at the La Paz ground saying: “You can’t play a lot within what height allows you.
      “It’s terrible to play here. It’s hard. When you make an effort or run a bit, it is difficult to recover.”
      And just last September, Argentina’s World Cup winning stars needed to use oxygen tubes to deal with the high altitude ahead of their clash with Bolivia.
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      Brazilian footballers were also pictured using huge tanks to simply get through some international matches in South America.
      The ban on high altitude grounds was later revoked in May 2008, and FIFA has since allowed teams to return to their preferred playing ground.
      The ground is used by Peru third division side Union Minas and can hold 8,000 fans
      The Brazil national team were seen using oxygen tanks during a match against Bolivia because of the high altitude
      Argentina and Liverpool footballer Alexis Macallister using an oxygen tank before an away day to Bolivia’s national stadium More

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      in Soccer

      I was a pro football star who won major trophy & qualified for Europa League – but I gave it all up to become a LAWYER

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      A PRO football star who won a major trophy and qualified for the Europa League has told how he gave it all up to become a lawyer.Scott Stevenson was a junior player for St Johnstone when the Perth side won the Scottish Cup in 2014.
      Scott Stevenson pictured in Linlithgow kit
      The former St Johnstone star is now a lawyerCredit: SWNS
      The Saints beat Tayside rivals Dundee United 2-0 at Celtic Park to win a place in qualifying for the 2014-2015 Europa League.
      St Johnstone beat Swiss side FC Luzern on penalties before losing out to Slovakia’s Spartak Trnava in the third qualifying round.
      Just months later, Scott gave up full-time professional football for a drastic career change.
      He said: “I played professionally for St Johnstone for two years until they won the Scottish Cup in 2014.
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      “I have since played part-time while pursuing my legal career for clubs such as Albion Rovers, Stirling Albion, East Kilbride, Linlithgow Rose and Gartcairn.”
      Scott is now urging young players to think of plan-B careers if their football dreams do not go to plan.
      He said: “These are tough decisions for a young person with a head full of stardust to make.
      “But they are decisions which could shape their future, for good or ill.
      Most read in Football
      ”Footballing stardom is the ultimate prize. But there are things I wish I’d thought about before I signed my first professional contract.”
      Scott added: “The day a young footballer signs his first professional contract is an unforgettable occasion.
      “It vindicates the long car journeys to games, the cold hours on the touchline for parents and the relentless honing of the young hopeful’s unique skills.
      “But in the euphoria surrounding it, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that it is a binding document.
      “Great care should be taken to ensure that the terms and conditions within it are in the youngster’s best interests.
      “The ideal contract duration at this stage in a career would be two to three years.
      “It is enough time to create some job security and to develop within the team, but also short enough to allow for a different career path if things do not go according to plan.
      “The footballing life is notoriously short-term and young people may come round to the view that university or an apprenticeship might be better for their long-term prospects.”
      It comes after a Newcastle United cult hero who starred at the World Cup revealed why switched careers to become a greengrocer. More

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      in Soccer

      Marcus Rashford’s ‘party’ lifestyle ‘worried Man Utd staff as long ago as 2021’ – as Rooney reaches out to ex-team-mate

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      MANCHESTER United staff had worries about Marcus Rashford’s “party lifestyle” as long ago as autumn 2021, insiders claim.Concerns were raised about the star enjoying boozy nights out and holding rowdy house parties with pals.
      Wayne Rooney decided to get in touch with Marcus Rashford amid worries about his ‘party lifestyle’Credit: Getty
      Old Trafford bosses became concerned about worrying allegations regarding Rashford’s behaviourCredit: Getty
      Wayne Rooney, who had himself hit troubled patches in his career, decided to get in touch with his former team-mate.
      The Sun understands that Reds ­legends David Beckham and Rio Ferdinand have also been in contact.
      Their interventions came after Old Trafford bosses became concerned about a series of worrying allegations about England international Rashford’s behaviour.
      And The Sun told how Rashford went on a 12-hour bender in Belfast last week then rang in sick for training on Friday.
      READ MORE ON MARCUS RASHFORD
      He was dropped for Sunday’s 4-2 FA Cup win over Newport and will be fined two weeks of his £325,000 weekly wage.
      He expressed remorse for his actions during a tense meeting with manager Erik ten Hag and United’s director of football John Murtough on Monday.
      The club said the matter was now closed and he would be considered for selection for the game against Wolves tomorrow.
      But earlier alarm bells included Rashford’s relationship with the fans — usually rock solid given his status as an academy graduate.
      Most read in Football
      They suffered when he clashed with a supporter at Old Trafford who criticised his performance against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
      He was alleged to have confronted the fan saying “Who the f**k do you think you are you silly c**t, come round the back and say it to my face”. He later denied it.
      Rooney, who like Rashford burst into the public eye as a teenager, was only too happy to help.
      A source said: “The club were alerted to some issues which ­concerned them. People around Marcus believed one solution could be to ask Wayne if he would be good enough to contact Marcus directly and offer support.
      “Wayne was only to happy to help. Marcus has always looked up to Wayne — he’s one of his idols — so he was really happy to hear from him.”
      Reds legends David Beckham and Rio Ferdinand have also been in contact with RashfordCredit: Getty
      Marcus Rashford’s turbulent relationship with childhood sweetheart Lucia Loi broke downCredit: Getty
      Rooney, who by that time had retired and was manager of Derby County, contacted Rashford by phone.
      He gave him words of encouragement and made clear he was available if Rashford ever needed to seek his advice.
      Rashford said in a 2023 interview with Gary Neville how grateful he was for Rooney’s support.
      He said: “I always think to myself like how can I help other players like ­certain players have helped me.
      “I feel like I’m in the right position and stuff to genuinely help them in the beginning of their careers. I’m trying to set them off in the right direction the same way that people like Wazza [Rooney], Carrars [Michael Carrick], Juan [Juan Mata] all set me off in the right direction.”
      But despite the support offered to Rashford, some have remained concerned that his love of nightlife has been adversely affecting his performance on the pitch.
      The 26-year-old has been spotted going into casinos, including Manchester’s 235 casino and Genting in the city’s Chinatown district.
      Rashford is understood to have started playing poker at home with some of his United team-mates and is said to have then begun to visit casinos to play in private VIP rooms, knocking back beers.
      Customers at one casino gathered by the door to try to see him. A source said: “Marcus loves playing poker and has been doing it for years. He might have a couple of bottles of beer — nothing crazy, but he didn’t used to so it wasn’t great.
      “When Marcus was challenged about it, he would always push back and say it wasn’t an issue.”
      Another source said: “Marcus loves the nightlife but the concern is that he’s been doing just too much of it. His house has been a party house.”
      More upset came when his turbulent relationship with childhood sweetheart Lucia Loi, 25, broke down.
      The couple met while pupils at Ashton-on-Mersey school while Rashford was a United scholar.
      A source said: “Lucia is great for Marcus because she’s a normal girl and knew him before all the money, the cars and the jewellery.
      “When you strip back his personality he isn’t the most confident around women and has the same insecurities most people have.”
      Marcus, right, with brothers Dane Rashford, left, and Dwaine Maynard, centreCredit: Instagram
      Rashford is so close to brothers Dwaine and Dane that they all live in mansions in the same road along with mum MelanieCredit: PA
      Another issue which has weighed heavily on Rashford recently is supporting his extended family.
      He is so close to brothers Dwaine and Dane that they all live in mansions in the same road along with mum Melanie.
      But those relationships have been put to the test following Dane’s arrest on suspicion of battery in October while on holiday in Miami with his partner.
      The police case was dropped but the fallout has seen Dwaine put his home up for sale and caused friction within the family.
      A source said: “Marcus loves all of his family dearly but it is draining for him.”
      Rashford has also bought properties for extended family members but that has added to his stress levels, as some have expected him to provide further for them.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      The source added: “Marcus is really struggling. Anyone who cares for him needs to step up and start helping him, rather than expecting it to be the other way round.
      “He might be a wealthy footballer but he’s a young man who has lost his way. The sooner he finds it, the better.” More

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      in Soccer

      Fears for Marcus Rashford after boozing, split from childhood sweetheart and ‘warning’ from Ten Hag

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      IT WAS only last summer that striker Marcus ­Rashford had the world at his feet — but critics say he’s now out of control.The boyhood Manchester United fan had just signed a new five-year, £325,000-a-week contract running until 2028 — giving him a guaranteed £84.5million in salary.
      For the first time, Marcus Rashford’s Old Trafford future is being seriously questioned by fans and critics after he went out clubbing the night before training and rang in sickCredit: Getty
      The news of Rashford’s split with his fiance Lucia Loi, his childhood sweetheart, after he was pictured walking back into a Miami hotel with personal trainer Courtney CaldwellCredit: Getty
      Marcus now faces some time off the pitch as he tries to regain Ten Hag’s trust and simplify his life away from footballCredit: Getty
      All he had to do was keep ­performing on the pitch.
      Smiling for the camera with boss Erik ten Hag, he said at the time: “I will give everything to help the team reach the level we are capable of. I couldn’t be more excited for the future under this manager.”
      But for the first time, his Old Trafford future is being seriously questioned by fans and critics after he went out clubbing the night before training and rang in sick.
      Ex-Premier League star and BBC pundit Chris Sutton yesterday told the It’s All Kicking Off podcast: “He thinks he’s untouchable.
      READ MORE ON MARCUS RASHFORD
      “This hasn’t been the first time he’s had a misdemeanour. It’s been continuous. He has no respect for the manager and no respect for his teammates. That’s the bottom line.
      “He’s probably thinking he is going to outlast Ten Hag, but he’s out of control as far as I can see.”
      Fellow BBC pundit and Newcastle legend Alan Shearer added: “Something is wrong — either at home or in his relationship with the club.
      “He can’t keep doing this, he can’t keep wasting his talent. He needs strong management, someone to get hold of him and tell him there’ll be huge regrets come the end of his career if he continues doing this.”
      Most read in Football
       Rashford’s latest actions have presented a huge challenge for disciplinarian Ten Hag, who has already put his foot down with stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho and forced them out of the club.
      The only thing that may save his longer-term future at the club is a heartfelt apology to the Dutchman and the fact United are in dire need of attacking options.
      An Instagram apology to the fans will no doubt follow and a promise to improve on his total of four goals in 26 appearances this season.
      But the signs of a troubled life off the pitch were there before United announced in July last year that the 26-year-old had signed a new deal after a superb season saw him score 30 goals in 56 games.
      A month earlier, The Sun told how Rashford had split with his fiancée Lucia Loi, his sweetheart from school. The news emerged after he was seen walking into a Miami hotel with personal trainer Courtney Caldwell during a holiday.
      Rashford then appeared to be among players warned by Ten Hag ahead of this season that they needed to live their life right, on and off the pitch.
      He said: “When you are not living the right life, you get killed. What is important? Sleep, recovery, nutrition. Three key areas and when you don’t do this right, you can’t perform.
      “So when you ask me about Rashford, the same also counts for Rapha Varane and for every player. You will not reach the levels when you don’t do the things right.”
      When asked directly, “Is there a concern that Marcus or any other player has a problem with their lifestyle?”, Ten Hag refused to take a backwards step.
      He responded: “In general, when I came in at Man United, the standards were not right. That’s true.
      “I demand the highest standards in sleep, recovery and nutrition because that makes the difference if you can perform every third or fourth day. At Man United we are demanding the highest standards.”
      Rashford should not have been surprised by the warning as Ten Hag previously dropped him from the starting line-up against Wolves in December 2022 for being late for a team meeting.
      He responded by coming on as a sub and scoring the winner, and later insisted in an interview he understood the decision.
      He said: “I never made a thing out of it because if I was a coach, I’d have done the same.”
      But in June, 2023, his personal life was being questioned when he was spotted in Malibu, California, with American Caldwell and Love Island’s Natalia Zoppa.
      And three months later, he pranged his £700,000 Rolls-Royce.
      Then, in October 2023, he incurred Ten Hag’s wrath again when he decided to go out to ­Chinawhite nightclub in Manchester to celebrate his birthday after United were beaten 3-0 by rivals Man City.
      Ten Hag later said: “I spoke with him about it. It’s unacceptable. He apologised and that is it. For us it’s an internal matter. He’s very motivated to put things right.” That night out came nine days after his brother Dane was arrested on holiday with his partner in Miami on suspicion of battery.
      The Rashford family closed ranks but Dane’s mugshot emerged online the following month — causing a split between Dane and Marcus’ other brother Dwaine Maynard, who looks after his career.
      A source said: “The arrest was embarrassing and has caused a lot of problems within the family. Marcus is firmly in the middle of it and trying to keep everyone happy, which is making him unhappy.” Dane has since been cleared of any wrongdoing.
      But the Rashford family were dealt a further blow when a cousin passed away, with Marcus paying tribute to him by looking up to the sky after scoring. Marcus now has to regain Ten Hag’s trust and simplify his life away from football.
      Many fans are baffled how it has gone so wrong for the footballer, who could do no wrong in the public’s eyes early on in his career.
      He earned widespread praise for his charity work and campaigning on food poverty. This led to him being awarded an MBE in 2020, when he was 22. He successfully lobbied the Government during the pandemic to U-turn on its policy of stopping free school meals for primary kids at the summer holidays.
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      And his motivational children’s book You Are A Champion won Book Of The Year in 2022.
      The star was snapped partying with pals in Malibu, CaliforniaCredit: Apex
      The star was involved in a late night crash in his £700,00 Rolls-RoyceCredit: Ketts News – The Sun More

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      in Soccer

      The most bizarre England game ever against eighth-tier minnows… who nearly put Gary Lineker to shame

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      ENGLAND’S football stars once played a bizarre friendly against eighth-tier minnows – who almost put them to shame.Sir Bobby Robson’s squad were preparing for the 1988 European Championships when they came up against a non-league side.
      A packed crowd watches the friendly at the Buckingham Road StadiumCredit: Alamy
      Gary Lineker had just finished his second season at Barcelona, while the likes of Stuart Pearce and John Barnes were also playing in the top-flight every weekend.
      Just a week earlier, Lineker gave England a 1-0 win over Switzerland in Lausanne.
      A walkover was was therefore largely expected when they took to the pitch for a friendly against lowly Aylesbury United.
      Sir Bobby agreed to take part in the friendly after being convinced it would be good preparation for the upcoming tournament in West Germany.
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      Little over 6,000 fans packed out their tiny Buckingham Road ground to get up close to their England heroes.
      But what was meant to be a one-sided encounter nearly saw the non-league outfit take a humiliating lead.
      Cliff Hercules was supposed to be on holiday in Ibiza, but flew back for the game and missed a huge opportunity to score an historic goal.
      He made was left free in the penalty area after England’s defenders failed to track his run, but was mortified as his close-range header sailed over Peter Shilton’s goal.
      Most read in Football
      David Brown, 52, was one of the spectators in attendance on June 4, 1988.
      He told The Sun: “I have been a fan of the club since 1985 and joined the board to help try and bring it back.
      “My grandad used to take me as a kid, then I grew up and moved into a house round the corner from the ground – I was able to cycle there.
      “I was there when we played against England. Six thousand people went to the match and today it is still the only time and England team has played a non-league ground.
      “We even nearly scored a couple of goals.”
      Ultimately England went onto win the friendly 7-0 thanks to four goals from Peter Beardsley and strikes from Lineker and Everton pair Dave Watson and Trevor Steven.
      Hercules himself also recalled what could have been a life-changing moment.
      He told the BBC: “I was in Ibiza and had to interrupt my holiday to fly home. When I told everyone I was going back to play against England, they were like ‘yeah, whatever’.”
      “I had a great chance to score. If it had gone in it would have changed my life.
      “We’d first heard about the prospect of facing England a few months earlier, but we put it to the back of our minds because we were concentrating on promotion,” he adds.
      “Aylesbury paid to fly me back on the Friday, I played on the Saturday, we had a meal with the England players afterwards, before I flew back to Spain.
      He added: “I had a great chance to score. If it had gone in it would have changed my life.”
      The friendly did little to help England’s preparations based on their subsequent performance at Euro ’88.
      The Three Lions failed to win a single point after losing to Ireland, the Netherlands and the Soviet Union.
      Meanwhile, the Buckingham Road site had been left to rot since 2006.
      It was intended to be redeveloped into housing, but 17 years later a rotting stand and overgrown pitch still occupies the site.
      Damaged walls, cracked seating and shattered fence panel also fill the ground – a far cry from the glory of 1988.
      Aylesbury currently have to ply their trade at Chesham FC while attempts are made to bring football back to the town.
      David, a marketing director, added: “The owner wanted to build houses on the ground, but it is on a flood plain and there’s not enough access.
      “The owners have done nothing with it for 17 years. It would cost several million to get the site up and running.
      “We aren’t giving up hope on the ground but there’s enough land around Aylebsury for us to build something new. We want to build a complex with 4G pitches.
      “We are currently having to play in Chesham and get 150 to 200 people. If we were playing in the town again then we’d expect that number to be between 500 and 1,000.”
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      A new planning application to redevelop the stadium into 42 houses and a new public open space was heard by Buckinghamshire Council last month.
      Planning documents detailed how the stadium is now “dilapidated, overgrown and has been subject to some anti-social behaviour”, before councillors voted to defer the matter to the Director of Planning and Environment for approval. More