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    Inside incredible stadium built on top of a SHOPPING CENTRE hosting big European tournament

    THERE are few stadiums where you can nip to McDonald’s and H&M at half-time and make it back for the second half.But at this unique ground you might just manage it.
    The pitch is on the roof of a shopping centre
    The Vozdovac Stadium is also known as the Stadion Shopping CentreCredit: AFP
    The Voždovac Stadium stands on the roof of a SHOPPING CENTRE but can still sit 5,175 fans.
    The Vozdovac Stadium is also officially known as Stadion Shopping Center.
    And it has a McDonald’s and H&M within it.
    There’s an Intersport as well if fans fancy buying a replica shirt on the way out.
    READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
    The Vozdovac stadium opened in 2013 and is approved by Uefa to host Champions League and Europa League games if required.
    It is one of the few rooftop stadiums in the world.
    Similar to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley, the stadium utilises escalators to helps fans get to their seats.
    Week in, week out, the stadium is home to Belgrade side Vozdovac, a minnow who have made their way to Serbia’s first division this season.
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    But to aid the club with revenue, it’s loaned out to Red Star’s youth side for their Uefa Youth League games due to its Uefa approved status.
    That’s led to Manchester City taking on Red Star Belgrade there this week in the Champions League.
    City’s youth team managed to do the business at the Stadion Shopping Centre, with a 2-2 draw enough to see them advance to the knockout stages of the Uefa Youth League.
    The stadium seats 5,175 fansCredit: TNT SPORTS
    And was host to Manchester City in the Europa League todayCredit: TNT Sports More

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    Inside ex-Premier League star’s amazing £400-a-night hotel with spectacular pool bar just yards from the beach

    IN 2018, the same year Dejan Lovren lifted the Champions League, he became a hotelier.It came soon after his clothing label, Russell Brown launched, although that didn’t have as much success and is now defunct.
    The 4-star Joel Hotel in Croatia pulls in visitors all-year round
    Joel Hotels boasts an infinity pool and incredible sea viewsCredit: instagram @joelhotel_novalja
    Former Liverpool player Dejan Lovren is the hotel’s ownerCredit: instagram @joelhotel_novalja
    But, his four-star Joel Hotel in a beautiful part of Croatia is very much here to stay, and is certainly THE place to stay.
    Lovren, now 34 and playing for French club Lyon, had the property built from scratch in Novalja on the island of Pag.
    The project reportedly cost him somewhere around £3million.
    And since it opened its doors, it has continued to provide a relaxing place to stay for tourists from all over the world.
    Read more football news
    What has it got?
    A two-minute stroll from the spectacular Plaza Strasko beach, the Joel Hotel, reportedly named after his two children Josip and Elena, has a boutique feel to it.
    There are just 16 rooms, and each has its own designer kitchen.
    They are split up into 11 one-bedroom apartments, 2 studio apartments, 1 deluxe apartment and 2 annexes.
    Each apartment includes a living room, as well as a spacious private balcony.
    Most read in Football
    Prices vary, with an apartment with a sea view costing around £215-per-night during high season.
    While a superior deluxe apartment is as much as £401-per-night.
    Pool, restaurant and bar
    Amenities haven’t been skimped on by Lovren.
    The outdoor infinity pool measures at 12 x 6 metres and is heated all-year round.
    Spectacularly, it offers a breathtaking view of Novalja and the surrounding mountains.
    There is also a state-of-the-art outdoor gym, for those who want to stay in shape on their holiday.
    But for others who just want to unwind and let it all go, there is an amazing restaurant and bar.
    On the menu is Mediterranean cuisine from meaty pasta dishes to a Tuna steak with sauteed vegetables.
    Rooms can cost up to £400-per-night during high seasonCredit: instagram @joelhotel_novalja
    Living rooms and kitchens feature in the superior apartmentsCredit: instagram @joelhotel_novalja
    Clean, pristine bathrooms offer plenty of spaceCredit: instagram @joelhotel_novalja
    Relaxing by the pool has never looked better at the Joel HotelCredit: instagram @joelhotel_novalja
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    The bar serves classic cocktails, as well as a variety of other alcoholic beverages.
    Visitors also have the option to rent a boat.
    The reviews are in
    The Joel Hotel is a favourite for guests who have reviewed their stay on TripAdvisor.
    In fact, it has recorded an impressive five star rating from 23 reviews.
    One visitor wrote: “Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the best stay on Pag. Close to Novalja and close to Zrće.
    “The accommodation, amenities, the staff and the intimacy of the stay was brilliant. We stayed for five nights and had a great time. No more than eight people by the pool. Your own private oasis of comfort.”
    Another posted: “A breathtaking luxury building. Very friendly staff and approachable. The service is unmatched. The food is delicious – fresh ingredients, great served.
    Guests can rent a boat for the dayCredit: instagram @joelhotel_novalja
    The Joel Hotel restaurant gets good reviews online
    Guests can enjoy tuna steak
    Pasta dishes are also on offer
    “Do yourself a favour and visit this amazing hotel in Novalja.”
    While a third shared: “First of all, the hotel location is the perfect spot in Novalja. The view from the pool is just wow. Accomodation – very clean and nicely decorated. Friendly staff.
    “And best part is definitely food and drink. Enjoyed every meal and cocktail… best moscow mule I had.”
    A kind act
    Back in December, 2020 Croatia was hit by an earthquake with a reported magnitude of 6.4 that destroyed homes and buildings in Petrinja.
    Generous Lovren, who played 78 times for his country before retiring in early 2023, offered his help.
    Read more on The Sun
    The Adriatic Sea is in view of the hotel
    The hotel attracts high-flying clientele
    Dejan Lovren famously offered his hotel to families affected by a 2020 earthquake in his homeland
    He kindly gave 16 endangered families free accommodation at the hotel and urged them to get in touch with a personal message on Instagram.
    Not only a brilliant footballer, Lovren clearly has a heart of gold. More

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    Mary Earps is England’s TikTok queen with 1m followers thanks to her hilarious and heart-warming videos

    SOCIAL media can be a powerful tool for a sports, when it is done right.Lionesses hero Mary Earps is ticking all the boxes on that front.
    England shotstopper Mary Earps has become of the game’s iconic figuresCredit: Getty
    Off the pitch, Earps cuts a glam figureCredit: Instagram @1maryearps
    The Sports Personality of the Year award nominee, 30, has had a remarkable year on the pitch.
    Following up her displays at the Euros in 2022, she starred in England’s World Cup campaign – memorably saving a penalty in the final with Spain before firing her teammates up with a series of expletives caught on camera.
    But it’s off the pitch where Man Utd star Mary is at her most endearing.
    She is known as the ‘TikTok Queen’ among her peers, drawing more than 1million followers to her account thanks to her hilarious and heartwarming videos.
    Read more Lionesses news
    Sometimes, the hilarity is at the expense of her teammates…
    The fall girl
    Often, Earps ropes in pal Millie Bright for her TikToks.
    Most recently, the goalie deputised for the Chelsea defender as captain.
    Put a camera in front of them, and they are a comedy duo to be reckoned with.
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    Several of Mary’s clips include the centre back.
    Some of the most memorable include various dance routines the pair pull off in unison.
    The one that gets us, though, is a game where you have to guess the song and sing along.
    If you don’t, the other player – standing behind you – will clatter you with a pillow.
    Both Mary and Millie take considerable pleasure in whacking each other if they don’t know the song.
    It, strangely, makes for compelling viewing.
    Mary Earps usually ropes in Mille Bright for some TikTok funCredit: TikTok @1maryearps
    A guess the song game always provides hilarity between Earps and BrightCredit: TikTok @1maryearps
    Clowning around
    Mary is a model professional.
    She has to work hard to become a permanent fixture for her country, when she was dropped by former England coach Phil Neville she fought hard to win her place back.
    It was a moment that saw her consider retirement.
    Thankfully, she didn’t. And she is now one of the first names on the teamsheet.
    Clearly, she also provides plenty of light relief in training – and isn’t afraid to clown around.
    Case in point, a recent training session with Utd saw her showing off her skills.
    After pulling off a save, she runs to the camera to show off her face covered in bits of grass.
    She captioned the clip: “When you’re a goalkeeper and the groundsman has just cut the grass.”
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    A training session on a freshly cut pitch saw Earps covered in grassCredit: TikTok @1maryearps
    Beauty regime
    One thing TikTok is famous for is beauty tips.
    You can’t move on the platform for make-up advice, skin care tips and the like.
    Mary is, obviously, well aware of this.
    So, in the only way she knows how, the football star filmed her own beauty regime.
    First, she comically applied a face mask, then scrubbed her teeth with purple whitening toothpaste.
    Earps then applies a cleanser, a booster, and an eye cream to get rid of dark circles, followed by a moisturiser.
    All of this is brilliantly narrated by England star Jess Carter.
    Earps comically applies a face maskCredit: TikTok @1maryearps
    Purple whitening toothpaste is part of Earps’ beauty regime
    Success story
    No doubt her biggest success in the game came in the summer of 2022.
    England lifted the Euros, in front of home support at Wembley, against old rivals Germany.
    It was a nail-biting game, with Mary proving resilient to the end.
    After the game, as you can imagine, celebrations ran wild.
    Leading the chorus of songs was Earps, with a medal around her neck, dancing in the changing room.
    Various teammates join her in harmony during the momentous moment.
    Of course, that clip is pinned and has been played a whopping 4.4million times by TikTok users.
    Earps celebrates England’s famous Euro 2022 winCredit: TikTok @1maryearps
    Alessia’s worst fears
    Coming up an uncompromising centre half doesn’t scare England forward Alessia Russo.
    If anything, the Arsenal star is ready to mix it with the most physical of players.
    However, she does have one fear that was exposed by Mary… turkeys.
    During a recent England camp, the pair were taking a walk around their base when they stumbled upon a turkey in their path.
    Frozen in fear, Alessia wouldn’t go anywhere near it, prompting Mary to film the moment and narrate over the top of the clip: “Alessia is afraid of turkeys, everyone.”
    Read more on The Sun
    Alessia argued the case that it charged at them, but Mary wasn’t having any of it.
    It’s just another reason why Mary is the ‘TikTok Queen’.
    Alessia Russo’s scary moment with a turkey was captured by Earps
    The turkey, itself, was seemingly going about its own business More

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    I lived a double life as a rally driver and drug smuggler – I had champagne and coke-fuelled parties before races

    RANDY LANIER was a motor racing champion who won Rookie of the Year at the 1986 Indy500.But just a year later he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for drug smuggling.
    Randy Lanier lived a double life as a race driver and a drug smugglerCredit: NETFLIX
    He founded Blue Thunder and became IMSA GT champion in 1984Credit: NETFLIX
    Lanier fulfilled his dream of racing the Indy500 in 1986Credit: NETFLIX
    Born in rural Virginia, Lanier dreamed of becoming a race driver from the first time he heard a live broadcast of the Indy500 on the radio.
    The 69-year-old fulfilled his dream in 1986 following a rather unconventional path into the world of motorsport.
    It began when he moved to Florida in the 1960s when his love for cannabis turned into a money-making scheme.
    Lanier and his close associates began to smuggle in the drug from the Bahamas and his operation grew and grew.
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    After overcoming a setback in which Lanier was robbed at gunpoint in his home, the soon-to-be-racer was importing cannabis from South America, and with it he built an impressive fortune.
    Going straight to the suppliers meant Lanier began smuggling hundreds of thousands of pounds of cannabis worth millions of dollars.
    His scheme involved hiding the contraband in hollowed-out ballast tanks of barges, and the more he shipped in, the better his race car became.
    Lanier was already an amateur racer by the time he became a drug kingpin but his career never took off.
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    He blamed that fact on not owning and running his own team, so once he had the money he set up Blue Thunder and worked his way onto the IMSA racing scene.
    As Lanier put it himself: “To really be an up-front runner in racing, it takes not only a team, but a team with quite a bit of funds.”
    His own wife Pam described him as not the most “elegant” driver with Lanier following the Jeremy Clarkson handbook of power first, ask questions later.
    But it was a recipe for success and Lanier became one of the best young drivers on the circuit, thanks in part to the wisdom he no doubt learned from one-time Le Mans star Bill Whittington, his co-driver.
    Together the pair beat Indy500 legend Bobby Rahal to win the IMSA GT Championship in 1984, and with that brought further racing opportunities.
    Lanier then had the chance to walk away from his drugs empire for good when two representatives from Ford, who he had believed to be FBI agents, visited him at a race to offer him the chance to join their factory team.
    But he turned them down for one simple reason – friendship.
    Lanier stated: “My mind was already made up. I wanted to keep Blue Thunder together. That’s what friends do.”
    Lanier threw champagne and coke-fuelled parties before racesCredit: NETFLIX
    His secret life caught up with him and he was sentenced to life in prison in 1987Credit: NETFLIX
    Naturally, a self-funded racing champion with no discernable income raised eyebrows, but that did not prevent Lanier from expanding his operation – on and off the track.
    He began paying off the mob for access to ports with one job costing him £500,000 alone, and another involving one ship being diverted from landing in Louisiana to San Francisco – some 1,500 nautical miles.
    Lanier ploughed most of his money into his race cars but there was plenty of excess which was spent on speedboats as well as champagne and cocaine-fuelled parties before races.
    He then took things up a notch when he set his sights competing at the Indy500 by racing alongside professional daredevils like Rahal, Mario Andretti and AJ Foyt.
    Lanier fulfilled his childhood dream of racing the Indy500 in 1986 where he placed ninth – the highest ranking rookie in the race.
    But authorities were closing in and when his bookkeeper Charles Podesta was arrested, the game was up.
    Check out what these sport stars drive…
    Podesta confessed to his part in the smuggling racket and gave details on how the operation was ran by Lanier and his associates.
    In 1987 Lanier was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole but he was released after 27 years thanks to a presidential pardon from Barack Obama.
    He turned to yoga and despite claiming the US prison system was set up for recidivism rather than self-reflection, Lanier became a yoga instructor and a suicide watch volunteer – trained to sit and talk with people who tried to take their life – in prison.
    Following his release in 2014 he established Freedom Grow – a charity designed to help those sent to prison for cannabis-related charges regain their freedom.
    He remains passionate about cannabis, which he views as “just a plant”, and wants people to be given their lives back.
    Read more on The Sun
    Lanier said on the subject: “These people should not be currently incarcerated when there are 38 states, and all these corporations, making millions of dollars selling thousands of pounds of cannabis, legally, every week.
    “These people need to come home.” More

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    Forgotten one-cap England star who retired aged 28 now runs property company with one-goal Premier League cult icon

    SETH JOHNSON’S body broke down so much that it forced him to retire aged just 28.But now he is building himself back up in his new career running a property company with a former cult hero.
    Seth Johnson made one appearance for England and 15 U21 capsCredit: Getty
    Johnson, 44, burst on to the scene as a youngster with Crewe, making his debut aged 17 and racking up more than 100 appearances before a £3million move to Derby in 1999 when he was 20.
    But before moving to Pride Park, he stayed put with Crewe to help them avoid relegation.
    His stellar performances for the Rams earned him his solitary England cap in 2000 under Peter Taylor.
    The midfielder came on for Gareth Barry in a 1-0 friendly defeat away in Italy in what was David Beckham’s first match as captain. 
    READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
    Eleven months later, Johnson left Derby for Leeds in a £7m move that is remembered for an infamous tale about his Elland Road wages.
    The story goes that he went into negotiations with Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale hoping to increase his money from £5,000 per week to £13,000.
    But Ridsdale reportedly made an opening offer of £30,000 – which prompted stunned silence before the chairman immediately bumped it up to £37,000.
    But Johnson, who scored five goals in 121 Premier League games, clarified: “People don’t know the story. When they talk about negotiations for the contract, I wasn’t even there. The contract had nothing to do with me.
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    “I remember being at home when it got sorted. I’d agreed to go, but my agent rung me up and told me about the deal.
    “It wasn’t motivated by money for me. I’d had a good couple of years at Derby and just signed a new deal so I was on decent money anyway, but Derby were bottom of the league at the time, Leeds were near the top, I knew a lot of the lads there, and Derby decided to sell me because they wanted the money.”
    The move did not work as planned as Johnson was plagued by a host of injuries that required seven surgeries in his four years at Leeds, limiting him to just 59 appearances.
    A failed medical saw a move to Middlesbrough collapse before he became frozen out – with Leeds knowing one more appearance would trigger another payment to Derby.
    In the end, Johnson – who made the first of his 15 England Under-21 caps as a sub for Frank Lampard – was released in 2005 and returned to Derby for two more years.
    His last game in professional football saw his side win the Championship play-off final at Wembley.
    But another knee injury sustained in that match spelt the end of his career aged just 28, forcing him to hang up his boots. 
    However, determined to keep himself active, he moved into business – linking up with former Hartlepool, Luton, Derby and Leicester striker Steve Howard, who scored one of his 209 club career goals in the Premier League following the Rams’ promotion.
    Both men are listed as active directors at Greygoose Property Investments Ltd on Companies House since September 2010.
    Johnson made a name for himself at CreweCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
    The contract negotiations with Peter Ridsdale did not quite go as reportedCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    Johnson’s injury woes and a contract clause limited him to 59 Leeds appearancesCredit: PA:Press Association
    His solo senior England cap came against Italy in 2000Credit: Getty
    The firm focuses on buying and selling real estate in the north-east, while Howard is also heavily involved with another residential and commercial management agency. 
    Johnson added to Planet Football in 2017: “The surgeon said I should retire and that my knee was in a bad way. In the back of my mind I wanted to give it another go, but I didn’t want to go to another team injured and keep breaking down.
    “Speak to anyone who knows me and they’ll tell you I’ve always been football-mad. 
    “Early on, I really struggled with not being a footballer because to go from something you’d done all your life pretty much every day to suddenly not doing that was difficult.
    “Even now, I want to do something, but I still don’t know what. I’d rather do something that I enjoy doing, and I never really fancied the coaching side of things.
    “I’ve got a property company up in Newcastle with Stevie Howard, who I used to play with at Derby, but apart from that I don’t do much. I play a bit of golf, I play the odd charity game and golf events, but apart from that not much.
    “I played football as a kid in Devon, they don’t produce many footballers down there really. I’m proud of what I achieved and what I did.”
    Johnson, meanwhile, remains a member of Ingenious Film Partners 3 LLP alongside one-time England team-mate Jamie Carragher.
    Read More on The Sun
    The company has a long list of illustrious former members from the football world, including Sir Alex Ferguson, Steven Gerrard, Gary Lineker, Joey Barton, Tim Cahill, Emile Heskey, Robbie Keane and John Arne Riise.
    Ingenious’ capital has helped back a number of huge films including Avatar, Life of Pi and Shaun of the Dead.
    Johnson in action against Manchester United’s Darren FletcherCredit: Reuters
    The final match of his career was the 2007 Championship play-off finalCredit: PA:Empics Sport More

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    I’m a retro shirt collector – these three common kits from the 80s and 90s could be worth as much as £1,000

    DOUG Bierton collects vintage football kits that are worth a packet.His company Classic Football Shirts, co-founded with pal Matthew Dale in their student digs at Manchester University in 2006, boasts a warehouse crammed with over 500,000 items, a stones throwaway from the Etihad Stadium.
    Doug Bierton collects vintage shirts and sells them with Classic ShirtsCredit: Matthew Pover
    Classic Football Shirts famously reunited Ian Wright with his old memorabiliaCredit: PA
    The Classic Football Shirts warehouse houses over 500,000 itemsCredit: Matthew Pover
    In recent years, they have grown from strength to strength – launching pop up shops around the globe and selling over 1,000 shirts a day.
    Earlier this month, they visited LA, Miami and New York, where they met David Beckham and Giorgio Chiellini.
    While back in 2021, they successfully reunited Ian Wright with his old memorabilia.
    The shirts, themselves, provide talking points and long-lasting memories that makes them even more valuable.
    Read more football news
    Some ark back to the great players that wore them, while others are groundbreaking designs that have been repeated in kits of today.
    In good nick, they can net you a fortune.
    However, there is one kit that could be worth as much as £1,000.
    What makes a kit valuable?
    The Euros and World Cup are huge triggers for nostalgia.
    Most read in Football
    That’s why the most valuable shirts are linked to those tournaments.
    “The World Cup sends everything crazy because football shirts evoke memories,” Bierton told SunSport.
    “You remember where you were when you watched your first World Cup match. You clips and reruns of old tournaments on the TV in the build-up to the tournament.
    “Then, you see the shirts the players are wearing and you think, ‘I wouldn’t mind being like the Brazilian Ronaldo, scoring loads of goals and having that shirt he wore.”
    He continued: “I was obsessed with the 1990 World Cup.
    “I was five, and I don’t really remember watching the games that much.
    “But I had the highlights on VHS and me and my brother watched it so many times, we burnt the video out in the end.
    “Moments like England taking on Cameroon and Lineker scoring the penalties, (Sergio) Goycochea becoming a hero against Italy with a gold chain hanging out his shirt.
    “(Frank) Rijkaard spitting at (Rudi) Voller, Paul Gascoigne tears… it was the time before football was really commercialised.”
    Retro shirts are popular because of the memories associated with themCredit: PA:Press Association
    Diego Maradona’s Argentina shirt from 1994 is a collector’s itemCredit: PA
    Three Lions on a shirt
    For that reason, his favourite top is England’s Umbro kit of that era, as worn by David Platt, Gary Lineker, Terry Butcher and Paul Gascoigne.
    But it’s the Admiral number from the 1982 World Cup that was the most commerical.
    Today, in mint condition, that sells for £350.
    “The one that’s voted for as the most popular is normally the 1982 shirt, with the design across the shoulders as worn by Kevin Keegan.
    “If you think back to 1966 and before and beyond, it was just a plain white shirt for England.
    “But Admiral were the ones who did something a bit more bold, which makes it cool.”
    How they get their hands on shirts
    Finding the shirts can prove tricky for Doug and Matthew, although somehow they have become well-stocked.
    “I can’t tell you all the trade secrets, but sometimes sourcing shirts comes with great difficulty,” Doug revealed.
    In mint condition England’s 1982 World Cup shirt could cost as much as £350
    Germany’s famous 1990 kit and Holland’s iconic 1988 shirt are collector’s items – but what’s the most expensive?
    “We’ve been going for 15-years now, so we’ve got a lot of contacts in place to be able to find the items.
    “We look in the clearance section, where you can get shirts from £9.99 that you can’t get on the high street, or we get them from clubs and manufacturers around the world.
    “We also work with players to get very rare match-worn shirts and people get in touch with us and offer us their old shirts, which we do trades and valuations for.”
    So, what’s the valuable?
    There are honourable mentions for Germany’s 1990 World Cup kit as one of the most sought after, as well as USA’s 1994 shirt they wore when they hosted the tournament.
    Doug explained: “The flag pattern across the chest of the Germany shirt was so different for the time. It really revolutionised football shirts from that moment on.
    “Graphics and bold designs became much more prominent, which makes it a very important piece.
    The German shirt is worth around £200, depending on the condition. I’d say the USA shirt could go for around £500.”
    But, according to Classic Football Shirts it’s these three that are the most valuable.
    The Netherlands 1988 Euros shirt, as worn by Marco Van Basten and Ruud Gullit, is the most expensive at £1,000.
    Ruud Gullit models Holland’s shirt which is the most valuableCredit: Getty
    Germany’s green away shirt could fetch up to £600Credit: Getty
    Classic Football Shirts boast a huge warehouse that houses all their kits
    That’s followed by Germany’s 1990 green away shirt that could cost £600.
    Read More on The Sun
    Finally, Argentina’s blue away from the 1994 World Cup, modelled by a demonic Diego Maradona, would fetch you £500.
    Word to the wise, check your wardrobes now. More

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    What happened to Sir Alex Ferguson’s 7 ‘terrific’ Man Utd prospects including midfielder he swore at down the phone

    SIR ALEX FERGUSON helped to produce some top talents during his 26-year tenure at Manchester United.From David Beckham and Nicky Butt to Paul Scholes and Gary Neville, the legendary manager nurtured several academy hopefuls and turned them into Premier League and European champions.
    Sir Alex Ferguson tipped seven Man Utd youngsters for greatness in 2001Credit: Reuters
    And in 2001, shortly after winning his seventh league title, Ferguson tipped seven stars for greatness.
    He said: “We’ve got some terrific prospects at Old Trafford.
    “Darren Fletcher, who we hope will get over his broken leg, is good. Michael Stewart and Luke Chadwick are doing very well, and John O’Shea’s doing well too.
    “There’s a young left back called Paul Tierney who’s doing well, as is Danny Pugh.
    Read More on Man Utd
    “But there’s a young boy who has started now, he’s 16, called Kieran Richardson. He’s going to be a fantastic player.”
    While some went on to become United icons, others went on to enjoy time elsewhere in England and Scotland.
    But what happened to them all?
    Darren Fletcher
    Every Man Utd fan, no matter how young or old, will likely recognise the name Darren Fletcher.
    Most read in Football
    The midfielder joined United’s academy at the age of 11 and signed his first contract four years later.
    Fletcher made his first team debut in 2003 and went on to spend 12 years at Old Trafford, winning five Premier League titles, three League Cups, an FA Cup and a Champions League title.
    After leaving Man Utd he enjoys spells with West Brom and Stoke City before retiring in 2020.
    The former Scotland international is now technical director at Old Trafford.
    Darren Fletcher won several trophies with the Red Devils and is now technical director at Old TraffordCredit: AFP
    Michael Stewart
    The midfielder signed his first professional contract with Man Utd in 1998, but found game time hard to come by.
    He made just 14 senior appearances before leaving in 2005 to join Hibernian.
    Stewart went on to spend time with Hearts, Turkish side Gençlerbirliği SK and Charlton before retiring in 2011.
    The 42-year-old now works as a pundit on BBC and TNT Sports, usually covering the Scottish Premiership.
    Michael Stewart made 14 appearances for the Red DevilsCredit: Getty
    Luke Chadwick
    Chadwick made his professional debut for the Red Devils in 1999 against Aston Villa.
    However, he struggled to establish himself as a regular first team player and was subsequently loaned out five times – twice to Royal Antwerp, twice to Reading and once to Burnley.
    The midfielder eventually left Old Trafford in 2004 after making 38 appearances.
    He went on to play for West Ham, Stoke, Norwich, MK Dons, Cambridge United and non-league side Soham Town Rangers before retiring in 2016.
    Chadwick is now involved with Football Fun, a program that aims to help young children enjoy the sport.
    Luke Chadwick left Man Utd in 2004Credit: PA
    John O’Shea
    O’Shea signed his first professional contract for Man Utd at the age of 17 and made his first team debut in a League Cup defeat to Aston Villa in 1999 – at the same time as Chadwick.
    The defender went on to win five Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup with the Red Devils before leaving in 2011.
    He then went on to play for Sunderland and Reading.
    After retiring from football in 2019 O’Shea turned to coaching and has since worked with Reading, Republic of Ireland and Stoke.
    He is now Wayne Rooney’s assistant at Birmingham City.
    John O’Shea enjoyed a successful career with Man UtdCredit: PA:Empics Sport
    Paul Tierney
    The full-back signed his first professional contract with Man Utd in 2000, but struggled to break into the first team.
    His first, and only, appearance for the Red Devils came in a League Cup defeat to West Brom in 2003.
    Following several loan spells, he was eventually sold to Livingston in 2005 and also went on to play for Blackpool, Stockport and Altrincham.
    He stepped away from football in 2009 and is now a Council Tax Team Leader for Salford City Council.
    Danny Pugh
    Pugh made his Man Utd debut in a Champions League group stage match against Maccabi Haifa in 2002, just a matter or days before his first Premier League appearance.
    He was limited to just seven senior appearances for United before joining Leeds.
    The midfielder then went on to play for nine different clubs across the English football pyramid.
    He is now a UEFA A Licensed Football Coach.
    Kieran Richardson
    Ferguson predicted that Richardson would become a “fantastic player” back in 2001.
    The winger and midfielder went on to win two Premier League titles and the FA Cup with United, making 81 appearances and scoring 11 goals.
    He left Old Trafford to sign for Sunderland in 2007, five years after making his professional debut.
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    Richardson went on to play for Fulham, Aston Villa and Cardiff before retiring in 2016.
    He is now a luxury watch dealer.
    Ferguson predicted that Richardson would become a ‘fantastic player’Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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    Inside Leah Williamson’s glam lifestyle, from sponsorships with Gucci and Nike to friendship with Alex Scott

    Elegant on the pitch, stylish off it – Leah Williamson is one of football’s leading players and fashionistas.The Arsenal defender became a pop culture icon when she captained the Lionesses to Euros glory in 2022.
    Leah Williamson has become a fashion icon outside of footballCredit: Getty
    England captain Leah famously won the Euros with England in 2022Credit: Rex
    Leah is also a regular in fashion magazines and poses in stylish shootsCredit: PA
    However, a cruel ruptured ACL injury back in April robbed her of the opportunity to lead her country out at the World Cup.
    But now Leah has returned to training and is eyeing a comeback in the new year to spearhead the Gunners’ title challenge in the WSL.
    Since her heroics with the Three Lions, she has become a hot commodity reportedly raking in £4million.
    Her bank balance boosted by deals with Gucci, Nike and Pepsi.
    Read more football news
    While the 26-year-old is also a regular feature on the red carpet, and recently attended the GQ Men of the Year Awards with pals Alex Scott, Chloe Kelly, and Mary Earps.

    She’s kind of a big deal
    Although Arsenal and WSL fans would have known her stock, Williamson’s grew during the Lionesses Euro 2022 campaign..
    With the North London giants, she is said to earn around £150,000-per-year.
    But it’s in sponsorships where she has well and truly prospered.
    Most read in Football
    Since her coming of age moment two summers ago, fashion house Gucci have signed her up as an ambassador, Pepsi made her front and centre of their ad campaigns, while Nike utilised her athletic frame to model their fashionable garments and Dyson have utilise her too.
    Alongside the likes of KSI, Anthony Joshua, Jude Bellingham, and Trent Alexander-Arnold she has also appeared in JD Sports photoshoots – showing off their streetwear collections.
    Arsenal also ensure she’s front and centre of any new clothing and kit launches they have.
    Because of this, Leah has well and truly become a figure of fashion.
    Magazines like Vogue, GQ and Elle have featured her in fancy fashion shoots.
    Experts have commented on her outfits as combining femininity with masculinity.
    She told Elle: “In the industry I work in, women have had a lot of oppression. So, I don’t like to stick to the status quo or the norm with my clothes. I like to step out of that, and that’s where embracing that masculine side of dress comes from.
    “I just think it’s a good way to kind of stick your fingers up at everybody else, and say this is what I want to wear and I’m going to wear it.”
    Leah features in an ad campaign for ArsenalCredit: Instagram
    Glam fashion shoots are the norm for LeahCredit: Instagram
    Leah has been credited with mixing masculinity with femininity with her styleCredit: PA
    Stylish Leah always cuts a dazzling figure on the red carpetCredit: Getty
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    Music drives her agenda
    For every game she plays, music fan Leah makes a playlist.
    Whether it’s for Arsenal or England, she makes sure the kit man has it and the music she chooses features in the dressing room.
    It’s the perfect way to connect with her teammates and remember moments in her career.
    “I love how music makes people feel, and how you can connect with people – most conversations I have with the girls come off the back of music,” she told GQ.
    “I like it because when you think back to key moments, you always remember the music that was playing.”
    ABBA’s Does Your Mother Know was a particular favourite during the Euros.
    “It’s become a massive song for us,” she recalled.
    Music is an important aspect of Leah’s life
    Leah regularly draws up playlists for her teammates and has a sponsorship with Dyson – sporting their headphones in this ad

    “We played it before one of the warm-up games and Ella Toone, for whatever reason, went a bit crazy for it. She went out and scored, and then afterwards she was like, ‘Can we have that before every game?’ I went, ‘Yeah! You continue to score, I’ll play what you want.'”
    Comparing them both, she said: “Nothing makes me feel the way football or music do. But you choose which song you want to put on… football is out of your control.”
    On her travels
    When she can, Leah makes the best time of the off season by going on swanky holidays.
    Back in June, she was joined by fellow Lionesses star Keira Walsh for a trip to Ibiza.
    The pair wore matching black bikinis in snaps shared on Instagram, as they showed off their bronzed bodies.
    They also hired a yacht and partied at a luxury beach club.
    The Balearic island seems to be Leah’s favourite place to visit.
    She was also there a year earlier with teammate Beth Mead, where they enjoyed posh dinner at STK – chowing down on steak and truffle fries.
    The next night, Leah was seen at club Ushuaia where she was spotted dancing wearing a bucket hat and jeans.
    Leah shows off her amazing bikini body on board a yacht in IbizaCredit: Instagram
    Keira Walsh and Leah enjoyed the trip to the Balearic island together
    Leah enjoyed a meal at STK Ibiza in 2022Credit: Splash
    Leah speaking at the UN General Assembly
    In August, she visited Za’atari in Jordan, the world’s largest Syrian refugee camp.
    A month later, she addressed the United Nations’ General Assembly in New York and made a plea to challenge gender stereotypes and level the playing field for girls around the world.
    ‘You’re my best friend’
    Although she holds many friends in the game, it’s BBC Sport presenter Alex Scott who seems to be her closest pal.
    The pair are inseparable, whether it’s going on holidays together or attending the same events and posing for the cameras.
    It is believed they have been friends for around three years, after meeting on the women’s football circuit.
    Together they attended the Brit Awards, GQ Men of the Year Awards, and the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, where they were joined by Scott’s girlfriend Jess Glynne.
    And Alex isn’t afraid of making fun of her pal, in a light-hearted moment that showed how close the pair are.
    At half-time during Arsenal’s WSL match against Aston Villa, she interviewed Leah and cheekily encouraged her to share a funny story about a visit to receive her OBE at Windsor Castle.
    Alex began: “Is this where I can tell everyone at home? Actually, you can actually. What went on with the outfit?”
    Mary Earps, Leah Williamson, Alex Scott and Chloe Kelly attend the GQ Men of the Year Awards earlier this monthCredit: Getty
    Leah and Alex Scott are firm friends off the pitchCredit: Rex
    Alex revealed of an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction Leah suffered collecting her OBE at Windsor CastleCredit: Getty
    Initially, Leah admitted to being able to cover up a split in her trousers. However, she soon went further with the truth.
    Read More on The Sun
    “The outfit, yeah, my trousers split,” she said, adding: “I received my OBE not in my best form, but no one knew about it until you just told the whole world, so thanks.”
    A laughing Scott replied: “I had to tell everyone, I had to tell everyone!” More