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      I flogged fake Gucci gear to my Arsenal team-mates in the car-park… the Wags all had same knock-off bag at Christmas do

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      FORMER Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack has revealed that he used to sell knock-off luxury brand items to his team-mates.Stack was a member of the Gunners’ Invincibles who won the Premier League in the 2003/04 season.
      Graham Stack used to sell fake Gucci gear to his Arsenal team-matesCredit: Getty
      The players would also by Stack’s goods for their WagsCredit: Reuters
      However, he only played 10 league games in his six-year spell for the North London-based side, having gone on multiple loans before leaving in 2006.
      As a back-up player, he did not qualify for a Premier League medal during Arsenal’s famous campaign nor was paid to the same level as the likes of Thierry Henry or Robert Pires.
      But he did make up for it with his off-field antics as he saw an opportunity to make a bit of cash from his team-mates.
      Stack exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone: “I grew up in pubs in West London and it’s fair to say we had quite a few characters who used to drink in our pubs.
      READ MORE ON ARSENAL
      “We had a number of football teams, darts teams, karaoke nights, it was a proper old fashioned blokes pub with the football and racing on and it was full of colourful characters. 
      “One of them used to bring in some knock-off clothes, bags, wallets etc, and again, because I wasn’t on a lot of money at the time I saw a bit of a gap in the market.
      “So I started off buying four or five boxes of ‘Gucci’ from him and within a week I’d sold it all, so I thought I may as well up my intake and fill the whole car up. 
      “I went to the training ground with a boot full of ‘Gucci’ gear, I’m in the car park and all the youth team lads were coming out and before you know it some of the first-team lads were coming over to see what all the fuss was about.
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      “I just remember Liam Brady calling me over saying ‘this isn’t Camden Market, this is Arsenal Football Club, you can’t be selling goods out of your boot in the club car park’.
      “I got a bit of a telling off, but Liam knew what I was like and it was harmless really, I was just trying to earn a few extra quid.”
      And it wasn’t just Stack who found himself in trouble after his pals got found out at the Gunners’ Christmas party.
      He added: “To be fair to the lads, some of the first team boys, they weren’t ones to go into town and start shopping.
      “But it was funny because we had a Christmas party at the Landmark Hotel in central London about three or four weeks later and all the lads had the same ‘Gucci’ shoes on and all their partners has the same ‘Gucci’ handbag.
      “Which was quite embarrassing for the lads because obviously, they’d told the missus they’d been into the shop especially to buy it.
      Stack also had spells in the lower leagues of English footballCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “Needless to say a few of them got in trouble that night and a few truths came out.”
      His best moment for the Gunners came in the League Cup in 2003 as he was the hero in a penalty shootout against Rotherham.
      After leaving Arsenal, Stack went on to have spells at Reading, Plymouth, Hibernian and Barnet.
      Read More on The Sun
      He then joined Kerala Blasters, which is when he started coaching while also playing.
      In March last year, he came out of retirement and played for Chesham United in the Southern League Premier South, the 7th tier of English football. More

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      Arsenal ‘open to Kieran Tierney transfer offers this summer’ in huge boost to Newcastle

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      ARSENAL are open to selling Kieran Tierney in the summer, handing Newcastle a huge boost, according to reports.The Toon are in the hunt for a new left-back and view the 25-year-old as a potential option.
      Arsenal could sell defender Kieran Tierney at the end of the seasonCredit: Getty
      Tierney is supposedly growing frustrated at his lack of game time this term after losing his spot in the team to Oleksandr Zinchenko.
      He has played 26 times in all competitions but just four of those have been starts in the Premier League.
      The Scottish international is into his fourth season at the Gunners since arriving from Celtic for £25million.
      He has often struggled with injury issues since his switch and required knee surgery to fix his repeated problems.
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      Football Insider report that manager Mikel Arteta is planning to strengthen his squad and spend big when the transfer window re-opens.
      Therefore, a number of fringe players could be sold if good enough offers come in, with Tierney one they are willing to offload.
      Choosing to cash-in on him could increase funds to be spent on the likes of Brighton star Moises Caicedo or West Ham captain Declan Rice.
      Newcastle supposedly have an interest in Tierney as well as Fulham star Antonee Robinson, who is also on the radar of Manchester City.
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      Eddie Howe wants to provide Dan Burn with increased competition and talks over a new contract with him are rumoured to be underway.
      Tierney’s arrival could potentially spell the end for Matt Targett, who has played 12 times this campaign.
      It could be a busy transfer window ahead for Newcastle, especially if they secure European football, with the club also tracking Bristol City star Alex Scott and Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby. More

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      Seven Liverpool flops who become success stories, including Peter Gulacsi and England ace Conor Coady

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      LIVERPOOL have had an endless list of stars play for them through the years.And while some have been hits during their time at Anfield, many have only made their name elsewhere.
      Coady was once on the books of Liverpool before becoming an England starCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The likes of Xabi Alonso, Luis Suarez, Steve McManaman and Michael Owen all quit the Reds in their prime.
      But there are other players the likes of Rafa Benitez and Gerard Houllier allowed to leave before they were household names.
      We take a look at seven of the biggest frustrations for Liverpool fans in Premier League history…
      CONOR COADY
      Coady played just one PL game for the Reds but is now in England’s squadCredit: Reuters
      Coady, 30, joined Liverpool in 2005, aged just 12 before working his way through the youth ranks.
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      Despite his obvious potential, the England star made just two appearances for the Reds – and just one in the Premier League.
      After a successful loan spell at then-League One side Sheffield United in 2013-14, Coady was sold to Huddersfield that summer.
      After playing in 45 of the Terriers’ 46 Championship games, Coady joined Wolves after a single season.
      The centre-back helped them gain promotion to the Premier League and even obtain European football, before returning to Merseyside on loan at Everton.
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      Coady made his England debut against Denmark in 2020, earning the man of the match award in the process.
      And he was included in Gareth Southgate’s England World Cup squad, though failed to make an appearance.
      PETER GULACSI
      Peter Gulacsi never played a competitive game for Liverpool and is now a star at RB LeipzigCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The Hungarian goalkeeper, 32, spent six years at Liverpool – one on loan and then five after signing permanently.
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      But Gulacsi never played for the Reds – more often than not acting as their second or even third-choice keeper, behind the likes of Pepe Reina and Brad Jones.
      Gulacsi was loaned to Hereford, Tranmere and Hull before being sold to RB Salzburg in 2013.
      After two impressive years in Austria, the goalkeeper moved to the German Bundesliga with giants RB Leipzig.
      Gulacsi has spent eight years at Leipzig after quickly becoming their No1, helping them mount a charge for the league title AND Champions League.
      Gulacsi has played 284 times for the Germans and is still going strong.
      RAHEEM STERLING
      Raheem Sterling left Liverpool as a good player with raw potential – but now he’s a global superstarCredit: Reuters
      Sterling, 28, signed for Liverpool in 2010 after seven years at QPR, aged just 15.
      He made headlines a year later when he scored FIVE in a 9-0 youth team win over Southend.
      Sterling broke into the first-team in 2012 and spent just over three seasons in the squad.
      While Sterling was arguably already a ‘star’ during his final season at Liverpool, he was still very raw.
      Even the most-ardent of Reds fans must concede the winger has gone from strength-to-strength since joining Manchester City.
      Since leaving Liverpool without a trophy, Sterling has helped Pep Guardiola’s side win three Premier League titles, an FA Cup and four League Cups.
      Sterling joined Chelsea last summer and has also played a starring role for England in the last three major tournaments.
      ALVARO ARBELOA
      Arbeloa quit Liverpool in 2009 and became a first-team regular at Real MadridCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      The Spanish right-back, 40, only spent two seasons at the club – sharing minutes with Steven Finnan in his first.
      In 2008-09, Arbeloa was Liverpool’s undisputed first-choice, but was quickly pinched by Real Madrid.
      Arbeloa went on to spend seven years at the Bernabeu – becoming a regular for Spain’s national team in the process.
      The right-back played 233 times for Real, winning the LaLiga title and two Champions League crowns.
      Arbeloa earned 56 international caps, helping his team win THREE straight tournaments – the Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
      And he retired in 2017 after a brief spell at West Ham, where he made three appearances.
      IAGO ASPAS
      Aspas was a laughing stock at Liverpool but became a Spain international after leavingCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      The Spanish forward, 35, is arguably one of Liverpool’s all-time biggest flop signings.
      Aspas played just 14 times in the Premier League – failing to score a single goal.
      He will also go down in footballing folklore for his horror corner kick in the 2013-14 title-defining defeat to Chelsea.
      Aspas left the club after just one season, moving to Sevilla, before re-joining boyhood club Celta Vigo the following year.
      He has since scored 143 times in just 290 games – while earning his first 18 Spain caps.
      To rub salt into the wound, Aspas even scored in the 2-2 draw with England in 2016.
      Aspas was part of the Spain squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
      But he did not make the plane for Euro 2020, where Spain lost in the semis to eventual winners Italy.
      SUSO
      Suso was frozen out at Liverpool after 14 PL games in his debut season with the first-teamCredit: Getty
      Suso, 29, joined Liverpool’s youth ranks from Cadiz in 2010, before stepping up to the first-team within two years.
      After 14 Premier League appearances in his first season, Suso was loaned out to Almeria the following season.
      He was then sold to AC Milan with very few Liverpool fans thinking much of it – especially after he was loaned off to Genoa in his second season having played just five times in his debut year.
      But since 2016, Suso has become a star, turning himself into a regular at the San Siro for three-and-a-half seasons, before joining Sevilla.
      Suso has scored seven goals in 103 games from the right wing for Sevilla.
      And he helped them win the Europa League in 2020.
      DANNY INGS
      Danny Ings has become of the of the league’s most-feared forwards since leaving LiverpoolCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Ings, 30, joined Liverpool in 2015 with a reputation for being one of England’s top young talents.
      But in four years at Anfield, Ings played just 14 times in the Premier League due to injuries.
      Jurgen Klopp always insisted he was a huge fan of Ings.
      But ultimately he decided it was best for the player to sell him to Southampton in 2019 following a year-long loan on the south coast.
      Ings netted 46 goals in 100 games during his three years with the Saints.
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      The striker then joined Aston Villa for £25million and scored 14 goals before a £15m switch to West Ham in the January transfer window. More

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      I’m a former West Ham striker & football pundit… but I gave it all up for a VERY different career

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      A FORMER West Ham and Crystal Palace striker and pundit has revealed his shock career change.Iain Dowie, 58, played 400 games for clubs including Crystal Palace, West Ham, and Southampton.
      Iain Dowie played for major clubs including West Ham and Crystal PalaceCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Iain now works for a Lancashire law firmCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      After retiring in 2001, the Northern Ireland striker went on to manage a range of teams including his old team, South London titans Palace.
      He later tried his hand as TV punditry, becoming a fixture of Sky Soccer Saturday alongside host Jeff Stelling.
      But Iain recently gave it all up for a completely new career as a mortgage advisor at a Lancashire law firm.
      Alexander Grace Law, based near Burnley, has taken him on as a business director leading its re-mortgaging team.
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      Iain’s wife Debbie also works at the company’s office near Preston.
      He told the Daily Star: “While people may wonder how I’ve gone from the football pitch to the office I have been working within the conveyancing arena for some four years now and when I was asked if I would come on board with them it was a no-brainer.
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      “I’m a real people person and much of my role will be out on the road meeting potential new partners and clients.
      “And while I learned my management skills in the football world everything is transferable – but with less swearing!’
      “I’ve really got stuck into the new role and can’t wait to get out there and meet some new faces.”
      James Young, the solicitor who founded the firm, said he loved Iain’s locker-room stories.
      It comes after former Premier League striker Marco Gabbiadini told how he gave up football to run a B&B in York.
      Sunderland legend Marco Gabbiadini, 55, embarked on the unlikely second chapter after giving up football at the age of 35.
      Former England midfielder Lee Bowyer also revealed that he now spends his days fishing carp on a secluded lake.
      Iain during a spell as a TV punditCredit: Rex
      Iain managed major clubs including Crystal PalaceCredit: Dave Pinegar – The Sun More

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      Gabriel Martinelli & Julian Alvarez feature in the best Dream Team of Game Week 24

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      ALL hail John Ilic, Game Week 24’s top Dream Team gaffer!The West Brom supporter amassed 167 points in what was a high-scoring week.
      Let’s take a closer look at his inspired XI to see how he reached that imposing total…
      Featuring now fewer than five Arsenal playersCredit: DREAM TEAM
      John backed Arsenal to prosper in Game Week 24 and the Gunners repaid him with two wins and back-to-back clean sheets.
      Aaron Ramsdale (£3.9m), Ben White (£4.4m) and Gabriel (£3.9m) all contributed to the defensive shut outs against Leicester and Everton, combining for 45 points.
      Elsewhere, Ruben Dias (£5.7m) benefited from a favourable match-up in the FA Cup as he took Bristol City for eight points to add to the three he earned against Bournemouth.
      Luke Shaw (£4.1m) was rested against West Ham in midweek but he filled his boots at Wembley with an assist on top of Manchester United’s clean sheet in the Carabao Cup final.
      The England left-back was booked against Newcastle but a nine-point haul continued his good form.
      Dream Team’s third-best defenderCredit: GETTY
      John’s defensive assets averaged 13.4 points each in Game Week 24 – a gaffer can’t ask much more than that.
      Bukayo Saka (£5.1m) missed out against the Foxes but he was superb at home to the Toffees, sparking his side’s rout with a wonderful goal before he assisted another for a return of ten points.
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      With 128 points to his name in total, the Gunners’ No7 is the third-best asset in his position right now.
      Phil Foden (£4.9m) was by far the most successful player of the Game Week with an explosive return of 32 points after a lean period.
      Man City’s resident wonderkid produced a “10/10 performance” against the Cherries according to Match of the Day’s Micah Richards to register 15 points and he capitalised on his momentum to take Bristol City for a further 17 points via a brace on Tuesday.
      No doubt the 22-year-old will be a popular recruit ahead of Game Week 25 now transfers have been refreshed.
      Statement made
      Jarrod Bowen (£3.8m) completes the midfield and he managed to take Nottingham Forest for ten points despite not getting on the scoresheet in West Ham’s comfortable 4-0 win in east London.
      The ex-Hull winger assisted one goal and edged out his team-mates to claim the Star Man gong.
      John’s decisive masterstroke in Game Week 24 was backing Julian Alvarez (£3.8m).
      The World Cup winner scored City’s opener at the Vitality Stadium and provided an assist at Ashton Gate to add 15 points to his total, seven more than Erling Haaland (£9m) mustered this past week.
      Gabriel Martinelli (£3.7m) blanked in five consecutive outings prior to his goal against Aston Villa and he emphatically built on that reprise with 22 points in Game Week 24, with 18 of them coming against Everton via a brace.
      The Brazil international is one of just eight forwards with 100+ points to their name at this stage of the season.
      Back with a bangCredit: GETTY
      And finally, no Dream Team is complete without Marcus Rashford (£6.5m) right now.
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      Man United’s No10 produced 13 points to take his overall total to 240 – he’s chipping away at Haaland’s lead every week.
      Great work, John, good luck to you and all gaffers ahead of Game Week 25! More

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      Man Utd ace Casemiro enjoys a Costa Coffee as he takes stroll with stunning wife Anna Mariana ahead of Liverpool clash

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      MANCHESTER UNITED star Casemiro escaped the grind of the Quadruple chase by popping out for a walk and a coffee with wife Anna Mariana. The 31-year-old midfielder and his partner strolled around Cheshire ahead of the Premier League clash with Liverpool on Sunday.
      Casemiro and Anna Mariana went out for a coffeeCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      They enjoyed a stroll around CheshireCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      The pair dashed across the road to their luxury carCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      Casemiro and his wife own a Bentley BentaygaCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      Unwinding after a cameo in the FA Cup win over West Ham, Casemiro and Anna grabbed a hot drink from Costa Coffee.
      The Brazilian wore a grey designer jumper made by Off-White to go with his black tracksuit trousers and Nike trainers.

      Meanwhile, Anna wrapped up in a coat with matching black trousers and boots.
      After getting their coffee, the couple jumped into their £200,000 Bentley Bentayga and zoomed off.
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      The luxury vehicle is Anna’s and was purchased along with a £230,000 Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge for Casemiro, The Sun exclusively reported.
      The Man Utd ace reportedly met his wife in 2011 when he was playing in his homeland for Sao Paolo.
      The pair tied the knot in 2014 and have two children.
      As well as being a mother, Anna also runs a make-up range and does modelling.
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      She is also a fashion guru and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
      This keeps her busy while her husband watches games back three or four times at home to analyse his performance.
      His desire to improve has served him well and he is playing a vital role in Man Utd’s revival under Erik ten Hag.
      He netted a header in the Carabao Cup final as the club ended a six-year trophy drought.
      Casemiro has featured 34 times this season, scoring five goals and getting a further five assists.
      Anna Mariana married Casemiro in 2014Credit: Instagram
      The couple have two childrenCredit: Instagram More

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      Brentford vs Fulham LIVE SCORE: Premier League latest as Bees host Cottagers in tasty London derby – stream, TV channel

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      BRENTFORD host Fulham in a tasty Premier League match – and both sides have their eye on a European position.Vitaly Janelt’s last-gasp strike rescued the Bees a point against Crystal Palace in their most recent outing.
      However, Marco Silva’s men will be oozing with confidence as they go into this fixture fresh from booking a FA Cup quarter-final spot.

      Kick-off time: Monday, March 6 – 8pm GMT
      Live stream: NOW TV
      TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League

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      Sadio Mane predicts more Premier League stars will complete Bundesliga transfers… thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo

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      SADIO MANE predicts more Premier League stars will move to the Bundesliga… thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo.Mane, 30, swapped Liverpool for Bayern Munich in a £35million deal last summer.
      Sadio Mane has tipped more Premier League stars to join him in the BundesligaCredit: Getty
      Mane has revealed what Cristiano Ronaldo said after he joined Bayern MunichCredit: Getty
      And his high-profile capture was hailed as a huge coup for the German giants.
      Mane scored 120 goals in 269 games for the Reds, winning every club trophy available.
      But the Senegal star still snubbed a new contract in order to move to Bavaria.
      Mane believes the Bundesliga is every bit as good as the Premier League.
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      And he predicts more stars from England’s top-flight will eventually join him in making the switch.
      That’s after former Manchester United star Ronaldo, now playing in Saudi Arabia, congratulated Mane on his move.
      The forward said: “The Bundesliga is sometimes underestimated. This was also on display by recent successes in the Champions League.
      “I met Ronaldo in Mallorca before the start of the season, when my transfer was already decided.
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      “He congratulated me on moving to Munich and told me: ‘It’s a great club, it’s a big step for you’.
      “I am sure that soon we will see even more Premier League stars in the Bundesliga. The championship here is very balanced.
      “See how tight the top of the table is. And the atmosphere in the stadiums… why should anyone say no to the Bundesliga?”
      Mane so far has 11 goals and four assists in 24 games for Bayern, who are joint-top of the Bundesliga table with Borussia Dortmund.
      As for old club Liverpool, they are 21 points off Premier League leaders Arsenal after a below-par campaign.
      But Mane is confident Jurgen Klopp remains the right man to turn things around at Anfield.
      He added: “Liverpool will be back. I’m convinced they will overcome this situation.
      “They had many injuries and tough tests but Jurgen Klopp is definitely the right man.
      “He will lead Liverpool back up, from this season – the players love him.” More