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      in Soccer

      How every Premier League stadium will look in 100 years according to AI with Emirates on its own ISLAND

      by

      STADIUMS looking like airports for aliens. Colourful streaks of fire worthy of Olympic opening ceremonies.AI predictions of how Premier League grounds will look a century from now dazzles the mind as much as the eyes.
      Arsenal’s Emirates is one of the most modern stadiums in the land but it’s one of many grounds that could get a dramatic new lookCredit: Getty
      It might seem like neon light years away from today’s world but Old Trafford as it is now could be much changed by 2123Credit: Getty
      Arsenal’s stadium could evolve into an oval temple on its own island as sailing boats drift by on the surrounding water.
      And Old Trafford might become the most ironic name for a venue in sport, judging by the shimmering new jewel of a ground that could emerge on the current site.
      Meanwhile, Manchester United’s neighbours City may find their capacity swelling by a greater margin over the next 100 years than their trophy cabinet has grown over the past decade.
      Betting Sites called in AI to assess how today’s 20 Prem stadiums will look in a century’s time.
      READ MORE TOP STORIES
      So, here in 2023, image generation software Midjourney has produced a 20-20 vision of 2123 – if you are still following me….
      Of course, the only thing less likely than the predictions being entirely right is the Prem still consisting of exactly the same 20 teams.
      But at least none of us will be around on 2123 social media to read the trolls mocking the verdicts of 2023 AI!
      So read on to see where Midjourney arrives after a “ground-breaking” long trip into the future judging what will become of each stadium.
      Most read in Football
      Arsenal
      The Gunners will travel thousands of miles as well as a 100 years – according to AI.
      That’s because the Emirates Stadium looks like it will have copied the Middle East – with skyscrapers to one side and an extravagant water feature all around it.
      The Gunners could be making waves or at least ripples in 2123 if this predicted appearance for the stadium proves to be true
      Here’s how the Emirates looks now – certainly less cosy!Credit: PA
      The venue, in fact, is similar to the Palm Islands in the United Arab Emirates – three artificial areas on the coast of Dubai.
      Arsenal’s current ground was only completed in 2006, holding up to 60,704 fans – for now anyway.
      Aston Villa
      A rising ruby of a stadium or intimidating architecture far removed from the average fan’s comfort zone for a football venue?
      The 2123 Villa Park, with its multi-tiers and wider look at the top, might just divide opinion…
      But the aging current version has housed the Villans since 1897.
      And already the club hope to expand capacity from 42,682 to 50,065, with a huge refurbishment in time for Euro 2028.
      Villa Park might be glowing after another 100 years
      Aston Villa is one of many Prem stadiums tipped for a major overhaulCredit: Reuters
      Bournemouth
      Fitting for a venue called the Vitality Stadium, the Cherries’ possible future facilities have an airier, leafier look outside.
      For some, the smooth look might be more akin to a travel terminus than a site for blood-and-thunder footie.
      But whatever the case, it seems sure to hold far more than the ground’s modern-day limit of 11,307.
      The Cherries’ home could also move far away from a traditional look
      The Vitality Stadium as it is now looks small by comparisonCredit: Getty
      Brentford
      The Bees would light up West London with their sleek but individual look to the 2123 version of the Gtech Community Stadium.
      One end of the venue will not even be covered, while one side is a complex of buildings.
      That bit even looks a bit, well, 2023-ish – but that’s not surprising, perhaps, as the stadium was only opened in 2020, currently welcoming up to 17,500 spectators.
      Brentford’s future facilities look busy but quite compact
      This neat ground could go from Gtech to extra hi-tech in 100 yearsCredit: Rex
      Brighton
      Blending perfectly with the sea in the background, this vision of the Seagulls’ future offers a cosy stadium enclosed in see-through material.
      Trees around the ground add to the pleasant look.
      All in all, another landmark treat for fans, who saw Brighton’s ground worries finally ended with a move to the new Amex Stadium in 2011.
      Brighton’s venue could match the sea background
      Brighton’s Amex already appears pretty futuristic from this angleCredit: Rex
      Burnley
      A flash of light and a dash of Claret!
      AI predicts a bright future for Burnley – with a stand that seems to bend along two sides and fireworks shooting out amid the roofing.
      Pretty impressive considering the Clarets have been at Turf Moor since 1883, making it the the second-longest continuously-used ground in England – behind Preston’s Deepdale.
      The Clarets will light up the football world, judging by this look
      Without change, historic Turf Moor looks a decent blend of old and newCredit: Alamy
      Chelsea
      Many observers reckon Stamford Bridge – the Blues’ west London home since 1905 – needs a revamp.
      But the huge oyster of the predicted 2123 stadium is also surrounded by a different environment – seemingly the homes and offices of four generations into our future.
      New century, new setting?
      It certainly adds class and distinction to a ground, first opened in 1877, that currently holds up to 40,343.
      Stamford Bridge might get an atmospheric sheen
      Chelsea’s home looks old-fashioned when contrasted with the future imageCredit: Rex
      Crystal Palace
      May believe the Palace always love a cover story…
      So how about this – a dome with a massive see-through roof covering all the pitch.
      And judging by this image of a transformed Selhurst Park, there’s plenty of green space for fans around the ground.
      All that would be such a huge hop, skip and jump from when the stadium hosted events at the 1948 Summer Olympics, which was held 24 years after the venue was opened.
      Selhurst Park as it could be appears more welcoming than most grounds
      The Crystal Palace ground of the modern day slots into the neighbourhoodCredit: Getty
      Everton
      Have we caught AI cheating? Go and stand in the corner and print out 100 lines!
      This predicted version of where the Toffees could be at in 100 years looks suspiciously similar to how their upcoming new Bramley-Moore Dock venue will look.
      The £500million, environmentally-friendly replacement for Goodison Park could be ready for the start of next season – giving more than a hint of its appearance 99 years on from that.
      Everton’s vision of the future might be closer than most
      Everton hope to move from Goodison Park after 132 years in 2024Credit: EPA
      Fulham
      Fans would be sad to to see much change to the tight, atmospheric Craven Cottage – apart from the desire for extra capacity.
      Luckily, Midjourney. suggest Fulham in 2123 will keep plenty of the charm afloat – with the new Riverside stand actually moving ON to the Thames.
      So, at least in part of the stadium, it will be the fans rather than their heroes who almost walk on water.
      Fulham moved to the Cottage back in 1896 and the main scope for improvement must be the numbers it can hold, with a maximum of only 22,384 at the moment.
      Craven Cottage might get a dramatic expansionCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
      Craven Cottage is regarded as one of the most homely if compact groundsCredit: Getty
      Liverpool
      Anfield might get a revamp akin to a reboot of a classic sportscar accelerating threw decades of design.
      This depiction appears to blend the tradition of one of the top-flight’s most famous old stadiums with ultra-advanced touches.
      And there’s roofing curved all around rather than today’s jagged mix of stands.
      The Reds have been at Anfield since the club was formed in 1892 and will soon expand capacity from 54,074 to 61,276.
      Anfield’s stands could get a stylish covering
      Liverpool’s nostalgic stadium might get a more graceful but arguably less iconic lookCredit: Alamy
      Luton Town
      Kenilworth Road could also stay in touch with its roots, if this computer-generated image proves accurate.
      The current 11,5000-seat site is expected to swell its capacity by 2123 via large stands with massive roofs jutting out.
      The Hatters have been here since 1905, with one strange distinction being a five-year ban for all away fans from 1985 following a riot by visiting supporters.
      Luton in the 22nd century might still play at what appears reasonably similar to a 21st century venue
      Kenilworth Road seems sure to lose its ultra compact appearanceCredit: Getty
      Manchester City
      Wherever City play it will be a pleasure dome – if they are somehow again, or still, at the top of the Prem tree in 100 years’ time.
      But the expanded Etihad that is predicted appears to be even more of a huge all-purpose entertainment centre than is planned in the current revamp.
      The maximum attendance is expected to soar way beyond its current 53,400 over the next ten decades way – and with a more graceful look to the arena.
      However, many non-Mancunians might ask mischievously: Will there still be too such colossal clubs so close to each other in 2123?
      The future Etihad could be a design classic
      The 2022-23 Treble winners might see exciting developments to their stadiumCredit: Alamy
      Manchester United
      Mixing the spirit of the past with the energy of the future, “Old” Trafford looks supercharged for success, based on the AI depiction.
      Studded with huge scarlet images lighting up the outside, the future 2123 image could actually be a nod (forwards or is that backwards?) to the refurbishment promised now by incoming shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
      But despite an aging current stadium, some Red Devils’ fans might be more worried about whether it will take the club 100 years to find the right long-term replacement for legendary manager Alex Ferguson.
      Nonetheless, Old Trafford still has the highest capacity, at 74,310, for club football in the UK.
      Many fans might just about still recognise this future look
      The Red Devils’ ground is set for a revamp, sooner AND laterCredit: Rex
      Newcastle
      St James’s Park could dominate the Newcastle landscape from a longer distance – and more elegantly – 100 years on.
      Midjourney expects the Magpies’ giant nest – home since 1892 – to lose its status as one of the few top-flight grounds perched slap-bang in a city centre.
      Fast forward a century and it will be smoothed out into a rounded stadium.
      And, like many of the predicted new-looks for Prem grounds, appears to have found loads of extra space outside for fans to gather.
      Milburn Stand will tower even higher – but apparently combine with Leazes End to curve around the venue.
      Future St James’ Park is identifiable by its black and white tones
      The Magpies’ ground has seen many changes, with capacity now at 52,305Credit: Rex
      Nottingham Forest
      An exciting new growth for the Forest – after being at the City Ground since 1898?
      But rather than particularly branching up or out, it appears the stadium could get mainly stylish cosmetic improvements by 2123.
      However, as the venue is set on the River Trent, perhaps Midjourney was just having AI-ter’s block when it came up with this vision.
      The future City Ground also has a familiar look
      Nottingham Forest’s current venue holds 30,455Credit: Getty
      Sheffield United
      The oldest major football stadium in the world could leap light years into the future – based on the laser-like trimming predicted for Bramall Lane in 2123.
      The ground opened in 1855, with the Blades moving in 34 years later.
      And judging by the spangly image generated for the next century, United could also be hosting rock concerts by then – perhaps partying like it’s 2099.
      Laser-like red streaks would give Bramall Lane an exciting edge
      The modern-day ground can take up to 32,050 spectatorsCredit: Getty
      Tottenham
      Moving Tottenham Stadium, even over a 100-year period, might seem a task akin to our ancient forefathers shifting Stonehenge.
      But Midjourney appears to think Spurs’ massive modern 62,850-cpacity stadium will have a fresh setting.
      Or maybe football has just gone even more eco-friendly.
      The North London venue’s 2123 version has trees frothing round it – and plenty of walking space.
      Fireworks are also envisaged – a bit like Tottenham’s early form after they appointed Ange Postecoglou as manager at the start of 2023-24.
      Spurs’ ground is set to be even more of a gym
      The Tottenham Stadium is often rated the best Prem groundCredit: Rex
      West Ham
      There’s no hint in the AI image as to whether the Hammers, in 100 years’ time, will have tackled the main issue for many fans – the large gap between the stands and the pitch.
      But from the outside, London Stadium looks even bigger than the current dome, which was built for the 2016 Olympics.
      The 80,000-capacity venue looms like the world’s biggest, shiniest dish, with the addition of leafy walkways for fans around the ground.
      London Stadium is another venue predicted for extra vibrancy
      West Ham moved to the London Stadium in 2016Credit: Getty
      Wolves
      Moli-NEW! With sharper angles than a Lionel Messi dribble, Wolves’ 2123 stadium will have extra bite around the edges.
      Home to the Midlanders since 1889, Molineux was one of the first grounds to get floodlights in the 1950s.
      Read more on The Sun
      Four decades later it was ahead of the game once more with a costly revamp.
      And there’s no chance of the Wolves getting long in the tooth if they adopt the dashing lines of flashing gold, as envisaged by AI.
      Molineux could get what fans might consider a snazzy upgrade
      Molineux has led the way before and might do so again in the futureCredit: Getty More

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      in Soccer

      My lookalike brother is an ex-Premier League ace and World Cup winner – I quit football to do something very different

      by

      ROMAIN GIROUD ditched football as a youngster to pursue a completely different career – now he takes inspiration from his World Cup-winning brother.The 46-year-old, who is the brother of AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud, played for Auxerre and represented France at Under-15 and Under-17 level as a centre-back.
      Romain Giroud, brother of Olivier Giroud, gave up football for a different job
      Olivier Giroud currently plays for AC MilanCredit: Getty
      He played alongside the likes of Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet and Nicolas Anelka as a teenager but never made it as a professional.
      Instead, he decided to become a full-time nutritionist.
      Romain has already made it clear that he is his brother’s biggest fan.
      In a joint interview with French TV channel Telefoot earlier this year, he brought Olivier to the brink of tears with an emotional message.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      He said: “For me, you are the best player in the world.
      “I never told you, but through you, I made the career that I never managed to make.”
      Romain also opened up about his relationship with his brother during an interview with L’Equipe in 2022.
      The Frenchman said: “He grew up with older brothers and when he played football with us, he raised the bar.
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      “Olivier always wanted to be on par with us to compete with us. And we lived together. This context has helped create a winning culture.
      “He has this ability to seize and provoke opportunities. He is the soul of a striker, of scoring goals.”
      Olivier Giroud kicked off his professional career with French side Grenoble in 2006 and went on to play for Istres, Tours and Montpellier before joining Arsenal in 2012.
      During his time in North London he scored 105 goals in 253 appearances, won three FA Cups and was handed the Puskas Award in 2017 for an outstanding scorpion kick goal against Crystal Palace.
      The striker then joined Chelsea and went on to win the Champions League and Europa League.
      He left Stamford Bridge to sign for AC Milan in 2021 and won the Serie A title at the end of his first season.
      Giroud is also France’s all-time leading goalscorer having netted 56 times in 129 appearances. More

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      in Boxing

      Inside Anthony Joshua’s amazing property investments, including owning commercial buildings in Mayfair and Bond Street

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      HEAVYWEIGHT boxer, fashion icon, and now property magnate.We are used to seeing Anthony Joshua, 34 dominate in the ring.
      Heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua is a property magnate
      It is believed AJ has amassed a whopping £200m fortuneCredit: GQ / Matthew Brookes
      AJ has spent his wealth wisely on property investments, including this retail space in Bond Street
      73 New Bond Street cost AJ £25m
      While since he became a sporting legend, glam magazines have put AJ on their front covers modelling designer clobber and looking dapper in a fine cut suit.
      But, it’s as a real estate investor the two-time unified WBO, IBF, and WBA champion is using as his retirement plan.
      Playing real-life Monopoly, Joshua has bought commercial buildings in Mayfair and Bond Street – the latter for a whopping £25million.
      Through his company 258 Investments he has also acquired two residential homes in North London, and is said to own three homes in his native Watford worth £1.5million.
      Read more AJ news
      Back in October, The Sun exclusively reported Joshua dropped £30million on a 301,000 square foot property in Hertfordshire, which was previously the HQ for oil giant BP.
      73 New Bond Street, £25million
      Before the dust had settled following his April demolition of Jermaine Franklin at the Greenwich O2, we revealed AJ had splashed the cash on a property on one of London’s poshest streets.
      While he may have earned around £20million for that pay day, that didn’t cover the cost of 73 New Bond St.
      AJ spent £25million on that exclusive address.
      Most read in Boxing
      A source close to the boxer told SunSport: “He has always had his eye on the bigger picture when it comes to business and wealth.
      “He eclipses most other stars when it comes to how to handle great wealth.”
      12-16 Dering Street, £20million
      Home to the local Mayfair gastropub Bonds, AJ also acquired 12-16 Derring Street, estimated to be worth around £20million.
      The 6,300 square foot building boasts office space too.
      It is just 100 metres from Hanover Square’s Elizabeth line entrance, so it’s prime Central London.
      Gives AJ more scope in plush West London.
      12-16 Dering Street is also part of AJ’s commercial property portfolio
      The property features a gastropub as well as office spaceCredit: Paul Edwards
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      North London, £2million
      AJ has a deep affinity to North London.
      He bought his mum her home there, while he honed his skills as a youngster at Finchley Boxing Club.
      So it was no surprise he would invest in property nearby.
      This stunning family home will be netting him a fortune from a potential renter.
      AJ has another home, not far from there, that is also worth around £2million mark.
      AJ has two North London properties listed on his 258 Investments website
      Both properties are said to be worth around £2m
      Hertfordshire, £30million
      The biggest commercial space AJ has ever bought is this 301,000 square foot monster in Hertfordshire, another part of the world he should know well having grown up in Watford.
      It used to be the the HQ for oil giant BP. That’s right, AJ’s coining in enough dough to buy out an oil company.
      The estate includes more than 1,300 parking spaces and contains several blue chip firms.
      But the fighter has not yet revealed what his plans are for it.
      A close pal of the 2012 Olympic gold medalist told The Sun: “AJ has seen so many athletes build vast wealth and then squander it all.
      “He is smarter than that. He has been working to build a huge empire that spans multiple large investments in different industries and will continue to grow way after he hangs up his gloves. He and his partners have really big plans for the complex he has bought.”
      Most recently, AJ bought the HQ of oil giant BP for £30m
      Retail, £750,000
      Not much is known about AJ’s purchase of a retail spot in another spot in North London, close to Alexandra Palace.
      But their Instagram suggests it was an impulse buy – which is great if you have the money.
      Read more on The Sun
      Sharing a picture of Origin Massage Therapy, a caption on 258 Investments read: “We met a friend for a coffee to discuss our property requirements and ended up securing a lease for the premises that we sat down in. Sourced off market for @originmassagetherapy.”
      The property is worth around £750,000, according to estimates online.
      After meeting for a coffee, AJ purchased another retail spot in North London More

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      in Soccer

      Inside Inter Miami star Luiz Suarez’s amazing car collection, from a £67,000 Range Rover Sport to riding a £115,000 Audi

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      LUIZ Suarez has driven an array of amazing motors through the years.It was a luxury afforded to him thanks to a stellar career and huge pay days at clubs, including Liverpool, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and now Inter Miami after his latest move.
      Luis Suarez is a motors fan
      Suarez has an epic 2022 Range Rover SportCredit: Range Rover
      The Range Rover Sport boasts plush interiors
      But, even though his wages were sky-high – he was sensible when it came to his motor choices.
      Suarez shunned supercars by Ferrari and Lamborghini, unlike some of his team-mates.
      Instead, he went with trusted brands like Audi, BMW and Land Rover.
      That doesn’t mean he skimped on the cost, though.
      Read more car collections
      Here’s what the Uruguayan football legend has in his garage.
      Range Rover Sport, £67,000
      The staple footballer’s motor.
      Last year, Suarez was spotted in a top of the range Range Rover Sport with all the trimmings.
      Costing somewhere around £100,000, it featured leather seats but was the less fancy 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine.
      Most read in Football
      It can reach 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds.
      Audi SQ7, £87,000
      Hotshot Suarez must have learned a thing or two about Audi cars during his time at Barcelona.
      The Catalans were famously sponsored by the German manufacturer until 2019, with the big stars scoring classy company cars.
      His SQ7 comes with a powerful TDI V8 engine and a turbocharged diesel 4.0-litre engine.
      It’s the perfect cross between an SUV and sports car.
      Suarez’s powerful SQ7 comes with a powerful TDI V8 engineCredit: AudiCheck out these amazing collections

      BMW X5, from £70,000
      In his final year at Barcelona, Suarez was spotted driving to training in a luxury SUV.
      He went with a glam BMW X5, that’s midsize so it has enough room for his family of three kids.
      Under the bonnet, it boasts a 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine which produces 286 horse power.
      Footballers including James Milner swear by the X5.
      In his final year at Barcelona Suarez drove a classy BMW X5Credit: BMW
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      Audi RS6 Avant, £115,000
      The most expensive in Luis’s collection, no expense was spared with his RS6.
      It’s the fastest in his garage – with a capability of hitting 0-60 mph in just 3.6 seconds.
      It is powered by a 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 engine that provides 600 horse power.
      The RS6 is also believed to be the forward’s favourite motor.
      The RS6 Avant is the most expensive in Suarez’s car collectionCredit: Audi
      Cadillac Escalade, £90,000
      Usually seen carting celebrities around in LA, the Cadillac Escalade is a chauffeur’s car.
      It is the heigh of American luxury, and a massive car to lug around.
      Measuring 17ft long and weighing 2.6 tonnes, the engine is a massive 6.2-litre, naturally aspirated V8.
      All of this means it’s not the fastest – with a top speed of just 105 mph.
      Cadillac Escalade is the classic celebrity limo in LACredit: Cadillac
      Hyundai Tucson N-Line, from £32,000
      When he played for Atletico Madrid, Suarez, again, opted for the club’s company car.
      The LaLiga giants had a deal struck with South Korean’s Hyundai, who produce excellent and reliable motors.
      And not long after, Suarez was seen around town trying out their Tucson N-Line model.
      It’s a sporty number with a 2.5-litre petrol engine.
      A sponsored Hyundai Tucson N-Line got Suarez to training at Atletico MadridCredit: Hyundai
      BMW iX, from £69,000
      In recent years, Suarez has plied his trade in Brazil.
      Although his wages might have decreased, slightly, his love of nice cars hasn’t.
      Read more on The Sun
      He shared a purchase of an all-electric iX in a BMW garage in a snap posed with wife, Sofia Balbi.
      Purists might turns their nose up at it being fully electric, however it is certainly one of the most impressive on the market.
      While in Brazil, Suarez and his stunning wife Sofia opted for an all-electric BMW
      Suarez and his wife of 14 years, Sofia More

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      in Boxing

      Inside Eddie Hearn’s amazing life, from double-glazing salesman to managing Anthony Joshua and driving a Rolls-Royce

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      AS promoters go, Eddie Hearn must be the most famous and recognisable.The chairman of Matchroom Sport, which was founded by his renowned businessman dad Barry in the 1980s, is believed to be worth around £50million.
      Matchroom Sports supremo Eddie Hearn has built a fierce reputation in boxing
      Flying by private jet is the norm for HearnCredit: Rex Features
      Through the years, Hearn is said to have owned a £320k Rolls-Royce WraithCredit: Getty
      Smart, tailored Thom Sweeney suits look the business on Hearn
      Thanks to savvy moves in the boxing world, managing Anthony Joshua as a fighter and capitalising on his marketability, the 44-year-old lives a dream lifestyle.
      He often travels by private jet, wears tailored Thom Sweeney suits and enjoys a jet-set life driving a £320,000 Rolls-Royce Wraith and £80,000 Range Rover.
      His gift-of-the-gab began to show at 15, when he sold double-glazing in Essex for £3-an-hour.
      Failed school
      While dad Barry was swelling the coffers of Frank Bruno, Lennox Lewis, Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn, Eddie was flunking Brentwood High School.

      He failed his GCSE exams and was refused entry into sixth form, despite Hearn Sr’s pleas to give him a second chance because of his son’s sporting prowess in football and cricket.
      “I grew up thinking I was a hard nut, and in Brentwood School I was,” he once said. “Anywhere else I was a pansy.”
      Hearn went to the less selective Havering Sixth Form College in Romford to study A-levels in media studies, PE and business studies.
      He was on a promise from his dad of £1,000 if he got a C or better in his exams. Hearn scored two C grades and one A.
      Most read in Boxing
      Window shopper
      Hearn was already showing he was a born salesman when he was just a teenager.
      He immediately put his cheeky chappie persona to good use working in telesales for a double-glazing firm in Essex.
      “I worked for Weatherseal in Romford. I’d go there after college at night and do telesales,” he told The Guardian.
      “It’s the worst job in the world but the best training for sales.
      “For every rejection we had an answer on a list – from ‘I’ve just lost my husband,’ to ‘I’ve just done my double-glazing.’
      “We always had a reason to make an appointment.”
      Confident Hearn also told the Big Issue: “I was good in front of people. And I had a lot of chat. I suppose I could be a bit of a charmer if I wanted to be.”
      Hearn has always been blessed with a gift-of-the-gab
      Barry and Eddie Hearn have continued a family tradition of boxing promotingCredit: Vicki Couchman – The Sunday Times
      Aspiring agent to big break
      When he was 18, Hearn was recruited as a sports agent for LEA.
      He soon prospered, bringing in clients including Ian Botham, as well as several high-profile golf clients.
      His son’s work impressed his dad, who invited Eddie on board for a subdivision called Matchroom Golf.
      But it was by chance Eddie got involved in boxing.
      He was sat on a poker table with former heavyweight Audley Harrison, when the Olympic gold medallist asked him for help getting a fight.
      “I was playing in the World Series of Poker and happened to be drawn on the same table as Audley, who asked if he could get on a Matchroom show,” Hearn said.
      “So I phoned up the old man and told him: ‘I think we can do something with Audley.’
      “The phone went stone quiet. Then he said: ‘You’re on your own, I’m going nowhere near him.’”
      Eddie put Harrison on Prizefighter, which he duly won.
      read more sports features
      Hearn is no stranger to closing out dealsCredit: Rex Features
      After taking a punt on Audley Harrison, Hearn’s career in boxing took offCredit: Rex
      And then he got him a European title show, in which the Londoner defeated Michael Sprott in 2010.
      Incredibly, that earned Harrison a WBA title fight with David Haye.
      Harrison was knocked out in the third round, but it put Hearn on the map.
      “Those days are fun because it’s just you against the world,” Hearn told Square Mile.
      “No one really knows who you are. You’re just this kid whose blagging it. It’s fun, then.
      “Doesn’t come with the pressures and responsibilities and aggravation now. I weren’t a threat.”
      On top of the world
      Today, Eddie is a huge success story – reportedly dividing his time between his Bel Air home in Los Angeles and mansion in Brentwood, Essex.
      In 2018, he signed boxing’s first ever billion dollar fight deal with DAZN.
      World champions includin Canelo Álvarez, Gennady Golovkin, Oleksandr Usyk, Vasyl Lomachenko and Katie Taylor have all been promoted by him.
      Mexican boxing legend Canelo Alvarez was promoted by Hearn
      Anthony Joshua is one of Hearn’s biggest clients to dateCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp0c2sVDVf4/
      But, his biggest, most fruitful and certainly most financially rich has come no bigger than Anthony Joshua.
      Amusingly, AJ is in on the “cash cow” joke he has been referred to when it comes to his relationship with Eddie and Matchroom boxing.
      When asked to comment on a photo with Hearn and Matchroom CEO Frank Smith by DAZN, the two-time unified champion jokingly called himself the pair’s “investment”.
      “You’ve got two business men checking in on their investment! Just making sure that it’s running steady,” he said.
      “People call me the cash cow, so they’re just checking in on their cash cow and making sure that it’s still creating that milk!”
      Family life
      Away from boxing, Eddie lives a very private life.
      He is married to the beautiful Chloe, who has been described as his “soulmate”.
      Eddie was by her side when the businesswoman opened the doors to her Chloe’s Beauty Bar in Brentwood, alongside TOWIE alumni Chloe Sims in 2014.
      The parlour featured regularly on the reality TV show, before closing it down in 2019.
      Chloe and Eddie Hearn pose togetherCredit: Splash News
      Chloe Hearn used to own a beauty salon in EssexCredit: Alamy
      Away from the spotlight, Hearn lives a very private lifeCredit: Sportsfile
      However, Eddie opened up about his family life in The Times in 2019, which includes their daughters Isabella and Sophia.
      Read more on The Sun
      Writing his own column, he penned: “I get jumped on by the kids about 6.30. It’s a lovely way to wake up — except on them days when you went to bed at 3 … Work takes me away a lot, so if I’m home, my missus expects me to do my bit.”
      Speaking about Chloe and their Essex life, he added: “My missus is from west London and she used to take the mick: ‘Ooh, I’m dating an Essex boy.’ Now? She adores it here. There’s a lot of good working-class people in Essex. And you won’t find no snobbery here, neither.” More

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      in Soccer

      Sorry Grealish… Mary Earps’ Lionesses are UK’s ‘real rock stars’ with mag shoots, McDonalds ads and desperate celeb pals

      by

      SHE was once so hard-up she worked five jobs to pay for petrol to get to football matches.

      But England goalie Mary Earps could now rake in millions after being named Sports Personality of the Year 2023.

      Mary picked up the Sports Personality of the Year trophy

      She fought to get Nike to make a replica of her shirt for fans

      The 30-year-old is set to follow in the commercial footsteps of other England female greats like Alex Scott, Chloe Kelly and captain Leah Williamson, with industry insiders hailing their ‘rock star’ appeal that is rapidly catching up with their Three Lions compatriots.

      Since winning last year’s Euros, the Lionesses have graced the cover of top fashion magazines, endorsed sports and fashion brands like Nike and Calvin Klein and promoted luxury names such as Gucci.

      One sports agent told The Athletic last year: “It feels like I’m managing a celebrity more than a footballer at the minute.

      “They’re demanding just as much – possibly even more – money than the male players. Brands and celebrities are passing on their numbers.”

      The Lioness’ fame soared further this year after making the final of the World Cup, losing out to Spain in a narrow game that ended 1-0.

      One expert said big-name companies will be lining up to offer Mary sponsorship deals because she is already a fan favourite, with thousands chanting her name from the stands.

      The stopper is popular not just for her keeper skills but for taking on sports giant Nike.

      She took a swipe at the firm for not making a replica of her goalkeeper shirt for fans. They were quickly rolled out and Mary was vindicated when they took five minutes to sell out online.

      Stars like Alessia Russo are attracting a new generation of fans

      Ella Toone and Russo strike a pose for a magazine front cover

      Beth Mead received her OBE from the Prince of Wales

      In June this year she launched her own brand MAE27 to offer supporters an alternative shirt with the motto: ‘Be unapologetically yourself’.

      She is the second Lioness in consecutive years to be named Sports Personality of the Year after Beth Mead was given the 2022 accolade.

      PR expert Sean O’Meara, of Essential Content, told us: “Mary could earn millions. Her potential is huge.

      “Winning Sports Personality of the Year opens up all sorts of opportunities and could make Mary a household name.

      “Brand and sponsorship deals will increase, presenting jobs are possible and no doubt reality TV shows and programmes like Strictly Come Dancing will start sniffing around.

      “It’s a giant opportunity. The whole Nike replica shirt furore boosted Mary’s popularity as the lovable underdog that everyone can root for.

      “Now she’s been introduced to a more mainstream audience with this award, people who aren’t necessarily football fans.

      “Being the second Lioness to win Sports Personality is good for the whole Lioness brand. They are a really strong, healthy brand with lots of authenticity and scandal-free.”

      Lucrative deals

      Ella Toone and Alex Greenwood have deals with McDonald’s

      Beth Mead even has a mini doll in her likeness

      Mary’s teammates call her the TikTok Queen and it’s easy to understand why.

      Alongside team-mate Millie Bright, she’s not afraid to show off her dance moves and also posts training clips.

      She has more than 750,000 followers on the platform.

      Yet it could have been all so differently for Mary, who has a degree in information management and business studies. 

      Three years ago the Man United goalie was ready to quit the beautiful game after being left out of the England squad.

      She told how she collapsed to her kitchen floor and cried before considering retirement, then accepting she might never make the national team.

      “I got to a point where I felt I had sort of reached my limits,” she said. 

      “I had given football a good go, but wasn’t quite good enough. I had responsibilities. I had a mortgage and it wasn’t adding up.”

      Mary is riding the crest of a wave after also winning Best Fifa Goalkeeper, the Super League Golden Glove, the World Cup Golden Glove and England Player of the Year. She also came fifth in the Ballon d’Or.

      Mary had already faced a tough ride at a time when women’s football was mainly ridiculed by men.

      Aged 17 and playing for Doncaster, Mary admitted “there was no real money in the game back then.”

      Yet to take driving lessons, she relied on other players to help take her to matches and took on two coaching roles as well as a job in a local cinema, a kids’ toy shop and telesales work at her dad’s firm to contribute to petrol money.

      She said: “There was a girl who even drove from Southampton up to Doncaster and used to pick me up on the way. It is mad how the game has changed since then.”

      Doors opened

      Alex Greenwood has a deal with Visa

      Twitter/@Mdawg1bright

      Millie Bright advertised Walkers crisps

      More people than ever are tuning in to watch the women’s game, with an audience of 21.2 million watching the BBC’s World Cup coverage this year.

      This has attracted mass sponsorship and brand deals for players.

      One agent told The Athletic how the team’s “feet didn’t touch the ground for months.”

      They continued: “We had so many requests from so many different areas — areas that previously we’d been trying to push doors down in.

      “Two days after the final, we booked in a day with our players where we had to sit down with pages and pages of requests. We had loads of big brands, including some that hadn’t done much work in women’s football, wanting to work with them.”

      Presenter Alex Scott is arguably the most famous Lioness and is said to be as worth as much as £4million.

      England captain Leah Williamson is reportedly also worth £4million after striking deals with Italian fashion house Gucci, Nike and Pepsi.

      Arsenal’s Alessia Russo, 24, who has deals with Adidas, Gucci, PlaySation and Beats by Dre, and graced the cover of Women’s Health, is said to be on a £100,000-a-year salary and is reportedly the first British star to make £1million in a year.

      Manchester City’s Alex Greenwood, 30, has a contract with sports brand Under Armour – estimated to be worth £250,000 – as well as jewellery brand Abott Lyon, for whom she designed football-themed bracelets and necklaces. She also champions Garmin watches.

      Fashion idols and luxury brands

      The Lionesses got MBE’s

      Leah Williamson is a fashion queen

      Chelsea forward Lauren James is just 22 but already has deals with Sure, Google Pixel and Nike.

      Stable mate Millie Bright, 30, is an ambassador for Walkers crisps and Pepsi while Chloe Kelly, who stripped to her bra in a victory celebration at the Euros, starred in a Calvin Klein underwear campaign. Range Rover is reputed to have tried to tie Chloe into a £1.5m deal.

      Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone, 23, is the face of Nike’s Phantom GX football boots and has deals with PlayStation and McDonald’s.

      Right-back Lucy Bronze has paired with Cupra cars, Visa, EE and Klarna.

      Last year’s Sports Personality of the Year winner, Arsenal player Beth Mead has deals with Budweiser and McDonald’s and has been spotted wearing Victoria Beckham clothes. 

      It is not known how much her endorsements are now worth but Beth was valued at £410,000 before winning the title.

      ‘Clean and healthy’

      Alex Scott leads the big earners

      Alex Greenwood strikes a pose

      Sean O’Meara says England’s female heroines will continue to attract big money as the game grows in popularity too.

      He said: “Men’s football still has more commercial clout but the women are catching up and Mary stands out as one of the players with a cult following.

      “Women’s football is attractive to companies because it’s viewed as ‘clean’ and healthy.

      “Male footballers are cleaner than they used to be and, on the whole, are undergoing a renaissance in terms of perception and what it means to be a player.

      “There are a lot of players who are challenging the play hard, drink hard culture from the 90’s, but overall the women’s game is seen as a safer, sometimes more attractive, bet.” More

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      in Boxing

      Inside Anthony Joshua’s amazing car collection, from top-of-the range Range Rover to riding in a £600k Rolls-Royce limo

      by

      ANTHONY Joshua is part of the sporting elite, having amassed a fortune through boxing.AJ, 34, is believed to be worth around £200million – thanks to a glittering career and savvy investments.
      Anthony Joshua has amassed a fortune believed to be around £200m
      AJ has a deal with Land Rover and was presented with a stunning Dynamic
      The stunning one of a kind Land Rover is worth £150k
      AJ’s signature is featured throughout the amazing motor
      The leather seated headrests have AJ’s signature on too
      The two-time former unified world heavyweight champion has spent his money wisely.
      And thanks to a sponsorship with Land Rover, his company cars are to die for.
      SunSport takes a look at what the legendary boxer has in his garage.
      Range Rover Dynamic £150,000
      The most impressive of his fleet is a top-of-the-range Range Rover that is worth £150,000.
      Read more on car collections
      The one-of-a-kind customised SUV was presented to AJ ahead of his  bout against Wladimir Klitschko in 2017.
      His high-performance Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic includes a number of special features just for the boxer, including door handles with unique boxing glove pattern surrounds, name-inscribed treadplates, a chrome B-pillar badge with AJ’s signature, and a custom equipment storage unit for all Joshua’s gear.
      The car also features diamond-quilted leather interior with Joshua’s signature embossed in the headrest and aluminium letter box finishers on door cards engraved with his signature.
      Rolls-Royce Phantom stretch limo, £600,000
      We’re cheating here, this one wasn’t technically his.
      Most read in Boxing
      However, he did try to buy a stunning Rolls-Royce Phantom stretch limo, after he was taken for a ride in it in 2016.
      AJ hired the amazing motor when he attended an event in Staffordshire.
      And he was so impressed, he reportedly asked John Smith, the owner of Phantom Limo Hire, if he would sell it to him.
      Joshua also shared a snap on Instagram posing with the limo.
      He captioned the photo: “Work… That’s all a brother’s working with.”
      Check out these amazing collections

      AJ was enamoured by a £600k Rolls-Royce limo he hired
      The Phantom limo features a floral ceiling
      Vauxhall Astra, £1,500
      Everyone has to start somewhere.
      And Joshua’s first car was a Vauxhall Astra that he saved up £1,500 to buy.
      In an interview he described the Astra as a “‘stable, sturdy, a good car.”
      Still, given its size it’s a mystery he was able to squeeze his 6ft5in frame into one in the first place.
      AJ’s first car was a Vauxhall Astra he saved £1,500 forCredit: Alamy
      read more sport features
      Jaguar XJR, £93,000
      Although AJ has had some classy cars in his time, it’s his XJR that has a special place in his heart.
      He told The Telegraph in 2016: “When I pull up in a Jag, it’s like a watch. Certain watches, everyone has, but there are certain watches only a few people know about.
      “The Jag is a car that only certain people know about.
      “It used to be that it was a car for the established man, who’d been in the game for years and treated himself to a Jag, but now they’re crossing right the way across the board.
      “And I’m lucky enough to have one that they’ve kept classy but added a few sports touches to.”
      The Jaguar XJR was one of AJ’s favourite ridesCredit: Handout
      Audi A3 S-Line, £40,000
      Most recently, AJ has been seen driving around Central London in this stylish Audi.
      It’s the highest spec the German manufacturer produces.
      The motor features a powerful 2.0 litre turbocharged engine with Quattro all-wheel drive and an S Tronic automatic gearbox.
      It’s a very comfortable ride.
      However, AJ reportedly has a chauffeur who drives him – so he may not know!
      Most recently, AJ has been seen driving around in an Audi A3 S-Line
      Range Rover Sport, £82,000
      One thing we know about AJ is he loves his mum.
      When he had enough riches, and she was desperately in need of a new car, he happily obliged by gifting her a Range Rover Sport.
      Read more on The Sun
      He said: “I feel I’ve never had the time to focus on helping her, so when her car broke down, I was just like it’s that time – if I’m going to do anything I’ll sort her out with a nice car, and so I got that as a present.
      “It’s nice for her to be in a car like that. She didn’t expect it and we surprised her, so it was a really good time for her.”
      AJ gave his mum a Range Rover Sport when her car broke down More

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      in Soccer

      How Arsenal legend Ian Wright went from untouchable pundit frozen out by BBC and ITV to one of the nation’s favourites

      by

      IAN WRIGHT has opened up on why he was snubbed for years by the BBC and ITV before making his comeback in 2015. The much-loved pundit quit Match of the Day 15 years ago after falling out with TV bosses.
      Ian Wright made his Match of the Day debut when he was still a playerCredit: TWITTER/IAN WRIGHT
      The Arsenal legend became a regular again on MOTD in 2015Credit: BBC
      But it came after he was axed in 2008 after a disagreement with TV bosses that lasted yearsCredit: Getty
      Wright is again set to step back from screens at the end of this season – but now on far better terms.
      The former England striker announced he is leaving MOTD”to do a few more different things with my Saturdays.”
      Wright made his debut on the iconic highlights show in 1997, while he was still playing in the Premier League with Arsenal at the time.
      After retiring three years later, he began working as a regular pundit in 2002.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      He lasted on Match of the Day for six years before being axed and frozen out by the BBC following a dispute with chiefs.
      The Gunners and Crystal Palace legend was unhappy as he thought he was only being used for comedy purposes to stop tensions arising between fellow pundits.
      Wright said at the time: “I feel like I am just there as a comedy jester to break the ice with Alan Shearer and Alan Hansen, who just do run-of-the-mill things.
      “I can’t do that any more. People want something different.”
      Most read in Football
      Ian Wright making his first Match of the Day appearance with Des Lynam and Trevor Brooking
      Wright has become a much-loved part of the showCredit: BBC
      Wright has now lifted the lid on his 2008 departure from the BBC as he spoke to his Wrighty’s House podcast.
      He said: “There was a time I wasn’t on the BBC for about nine years, they weren’t happy with a column I’d done about punditry and where it should be going, how it feels a bit sterile.
      “And the fact that I said I feel like I’m on the end and I’m being like a court jester, I come in for the light comic relief.
      “I said I’ve got more to offer.
      “I remember being off the BBC for about nine years and I couldn’t get nothing at ITV because the guy that got rid of me on the BBC went to ITV.
      “It’s funny because the guy I’m talking about Niall Sloan, he is like in the television world a father to me in terms of how he explains things to me, how he wants me to be.
      “We’re very tight now. But I couldn’t get on any television.”
      Desperate to continue his role in the media, the 1998 Premier League winner with Arsenal embarked on a career in radio and it ended up being the start of his comeback journey to tele.
      It led to him getting the job as host of a documentary about Laurie Cunningham, who was a pioneer for black footballers.
      Wright explained: “This is where Absolute Radio came in and everyone down there almost saved me, made me fall back in love with doing it.
      “To get back onside with Sloan from ITV, he wanted to do a documentary about Cunningham and the people doing it said: ‘We can’t do a documentary without me speaking about Cunningham.’
      “And so Sloan was like: ‘Okay he’ll do it, but he’ll do it if you give him a game again, let him get back on the TV.’
      “So I done it, it done really well and they gave me a game.
      “They gave me Chelsea against Brentford in the FA Cup and I was very fortunate because I was on with Martin Allen, who was somewhere else in space while he was on TV.
      “Everything he was saying I was able to counter-attack it and say, ‘well that’s not right because of this.’
      “I remember David Luiz really dived into somebody and I remember digging him out for that and then after that people were writing in saying: ‘Where’s he been? Why isn’t he on then?’
      “And it just turned on its head, I was back.
      “What it made me realise is you’ve got to put the work in.”
      Wright ended up landing a more permanent role on MOTD in 2015 after helping to convince BBC chiefs while doing international fixtures on ITV.
      Leaving once again is a tough decision – but Wright believes he has made the right one, explaining: “The time’s come for it I think.
      “I don’t want to go too deep into what it means to me but the music, every time I hear the music, it takes me back to an unbelievable place when I first remembered what Match of the Day meant to me.
      “Then to get myself into a position where I was able to be good enough to be on Match of the Day and then be a regular, it was more than I thought it was going to be.
      “When I first went on, not very rehearsed in what I was going to say or what I was going to be, I was winging it and I remember Des Lynam, when he welcomed me on to the show, I said to him ‘this is my Graceland’.
      “Match of the Day was my Graceland.
      “When I first got the call for it, it does hit hard. You are nervous, because some people still don’t realise, It’s live.
      “People still say ‘it’s live?’ Yeah. Obviously the games are highlights because we’re putting all the stuff on it.
      Read more on The Sun
      “But while we’re sitting there, we’re live. It’s a live show.”
      Wright says he is “really looking forward to my last months” on the show and is hopeful his time on MOTD will end with his beloved Arsenal winning the Premier League title.
      Ian Wright and son Shaun Wright-Phillips did punditry together last seasonCredit: BBC
      Ian Wright has also worked for ITV following his axe from teleCredit: Getty More