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      Footballers who were rich before becoming famous like Vialli, Bamford and the Sultan of Brunei’s nephew

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      THERE is a lot of money to be made in football.Indeed, even middle-of-the-road stars in England’s top flight are making £50,000 each week on average.
      Gianluca Vialli sadly passed away earlier this yearCredit: Instagram @lucavialli
      However, this lot were already from wealthy backgrounds before they made it to the big league.
      Let SunSport guide you through the football stars that were already swimming in riches and didn’t need the beautiful game.GIANLUCA VIALLI
      Chelsea and Italy legend Vialli was always recognised as a gentleman of the game.
      And it’s probably got to do with his upbringing.
      He was raised by his father, a self-made millionaire, in a 60-room castle called the Castello di Belgioioso in Cremona, along with four siblings.
      The Champions League and Serie A winner also loves a posh round of golf.
      He took part in the Alfred Dunhill links championship pro-am event, which is one of the richest golf tournaments played in Europe.
      He then worked alongside manager Roberto Mancini with the Italian national team.
      But Vialli tragically passed away earlier this year after a brave battle against cancer.
      Vialli grew up in a 60-room castle called the Castello di Belgioioso in CremonaCredit: Alamy
      Dignified Vialli had a far from modest upbringingCredit: Instagram @lucavialli
      Gianluca Vialli scores for Chelsea against Nottingham Forest in 1996Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      FRANK LAMPARD
      The interim Chelsea manager didn’t have to go into football, although it was an easy step for him to make.
      Lampard came from a football family, with uncle Harry Redknapp and dad Frank Lampard Snr showing him the way at West Ham United.
      He intended the posh Brentwood School in Essex that would’ve cost a fortune in school fees.
      There, he scored 11 GCSE’s and could’ve been an accountant, according to a former teacher.
      Frank Lampard went to posh Brentwood High SchoolCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      GERARD PIQUE
      Being formerly half of a celebrity couple (his ex-missus is Colombian singer Shakira), Barcelona defender Pique has made his own fortune.
      However, growing up life was easy for the defender who had a spell in England at Manchester United as a youth.
      He lived a comfortable existence in Catalonia. Dad Joan is a successful attorney and businessman, while mum Montserrat is the director of a hospital in Barcelona.
      Even Pique’s grandfather Amador Bernabeu was minted – as a former director of the La Liga champions.
      Gerard Pique’s dad Joan is a successful attorney and businessman, while mum Montserrat is the director of a hospital in BarcelonaCredit: Alamy
      FAIQ BOLKIAH
      Formerly of Leicester City, currently playing in Thailand for Chonburi, Bolkiah is the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, who has a fortune estimated to be worth £15bn.
      His dad is Jefri Bolkiah, a brother of the oil tycoon, so that makes Faiq a member of their royal family and in line to receive a nice inheritance.
      At his 50th birthday, to impress his son, he hired Michael Jackson to play a private gig just for them.
      Faiq Bolkiah is a former Leicester City trainee and nephew of the Sultan of BruneiCredit: Instagram @fjbolkiah
      AL-SAADI GADDAFI
      The third son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Al-Saadi played for Perugia, Udinese and was on the books at Sampdoria.
      In 2011, he retired and became the commander of Libya’s Special Forces and led the army in the Libyan Civil War. In 2018, he was cleared of murder charges after he was extradited from Niger back to Libya.
      During his playing days he once employed Diego Maradona as a technical consultant, and Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson as his personal trainer.
      Al-Saadi Gaddafi was the son of Colonel GaddafiCredit: AFP – Getty
      Gaddafi played in Italy before becoming an army generalCredit: Getty – Contributor
      HUGO LLORIS
      The Spurs goalie comes from an affluent background.
      Growing up in Nice in the South of France, his mother was an attorney, while his dad was a banker.
      He took tennis lessons as a kid, and was ranked high in his age range as a youngster.
      It meant football played second fiddle in his life until the age of 13.
      Lloris famously played through the pain of losing his mum, refusing bereavement leave to play for Nice.
      Hugo Lloris could have been a tennis star instead of a footballerCredit: AFP – Getty
      ROBIN VAN PERSIE
      Wealthy and artisanal, Van Persie’s parents afforded the former Arsenal striker a comfortable life growing up in Rotterdam.
      His father Bob is a renowned artist and sculptor, while his mother Jose Ras is a painter, teacher and jewellery designer.
      Van Persie’s parents split up when he was younger, and he was a troublesome teen.
      His dad expected him to become an artist too.
      Robin Van Persie’s parents were artisticCredit: Instagram @robinvanpersie
      Mother Jose Ras is a painter, teacher and jewellery designerCredit: Instagram @robinvanpersie
      MARIO BALOTELLI
      The fiery Italian wasn’t born wealthy.
      Balotelli originally comes from Palermo and his parents were Ghanaian immigrants.
      But he was adopted by Francesco and Silvia Balotelli when his mum and dad couldn’t afford him.
      They were a wealthy pair, who lived in an affluent part of Brescia called Concesio.
      His birth and adoptive parents fought for custody, but it was decided it was in Balotelli’s best interests to stay put.
      Mario Balotelli was adopted when he was a kidCredit: Instagram @mb459
      Francesco and Silvia Balotelli lived wealthily in BresciaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      ANDREA PIRLO
      An elegant footballer and man, Pirlo learned about the finer things in life when he was a kid.
      His dad Luigi set up a steel company in Brescia in 1982, which Andrea still has a stake in.
      The former Juventus star enjoyed an upper class life, which he later put to use in his own way.
      Pirlo, who ended his career in the MLS, also owns his own vineyard, as rich people do.
      Andrea Pirlo learned about the finer things in life as a youngsterCredit: Instagram @andreapirlo21
      Today, refined Pirlo owns his own vineyardCredit: Instagram @andreapirlo21
      PATRICK BAMFORD
      He doesn’t have to play centre forward for Leeds, you know.
      Bamford isn’t your typical footballer, being a skilled violin and piano player and attended fee-paying Nottingham High School, got five A*s at GCSE and went on to study French, history and biology at A Level.
      Bamford was even offered a scholarship at Harvard in the US, who recognised his academic prowess.
      However, he’s not related to JCB founder Joseph Bamford, as was once claimed.
      Patrick Bamford went to private school and was offered a scholarship to HarvardCredit: Instagram @patrick_bamford
      Bamford is a not relative of JCB founder Joseph Bamford as was once claimedCredit: Hulton Archive – Getty
      KAKA
      Most of Brazil’s best footballers lead a life that tells a rags-to-riches tale. But former Ballon d’Or winner Kaka is different.
      He was raised by father Bosco Izecson Pereira Leite, who was an engineer, while his mother Simone dos Santos was a school teacher.
      It has been reported that Kaka lived comfortably, and wasn’t raised in poverty like many of his teammates for his country.
      Brazilian legend Kaka lived a comfortable existence growing upCredit: Instagram @kaka
      Kaka’s father Bosco Izecson Pereira Leite was an engineerCredit: Instagram @kaka More

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      Fabio Paim was dubbed ‘better than Cristiano Ronaldo’ but love of cars and disastrous loan to Chelsea ended his career

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO marked people’s cards when he first arrived at Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon.He cheekily said to those around at the time: “If you think I’m good, wait until you see Fabio Paim.”
      Fabio Paim was supposed to be a bigger star than Cristiano Ronaldo
      The attacking midfielder was at Sporting Lisbon the same time as RonaldoCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Incredibly, Paim was more highly regarded at Lisbon than either Ronaldo or now-Wolves star Joao Moutinho.
      Ronaldo has established himself as one of the greatest players in history with 198 international caps as Moutinho closes in on 150 matches for his country.
      Unfortunately for Paim, despite winning 42 international caps at youth level for Portugal’s Under-16’s all the way through to the Under-21’s, he faded completely into obscurity.
      He didn’t earn a single senior international cap, and as he admitted, he didn’t deserve to either.
      Because Paim’s story is an educational one for youth players who get bumper contracts when they’re kids and think they’ve already made it.
      He joined Sporting at the age of six, and by 14 Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United were regularly checking on his progress.
      Even the French Football Federation offered him the chance to move to France so he could represent their country.
      To warn everybody off, Sporting tied Paim down on an £18,000 per week contract.
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      He was tied down to a £18,000 per week contract at the age of 16Credit: Getty – Contributor
      But he squandered it all on fast carsCredit: Getty – Contributor
      However, little did they know they would be sowing the seeds for his eventual downfall.
      He told Globoesporte in 2017: “I spent a lot of money on cars. I love cars. I spent lavishly on the ones I wanted. All of them.
      “Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Maserati and even a Punto. Every car you could imagine.
      “When you have a lot of money, you need a support system around you. I would have done it differently, if I could.
      “I knew what I was doing. I believed I had more talent than everyone else.
      “Like everyone, I wanted to feel good, wear nice clothing, drive a nice car and behave with no humility.
      “But, it’s normal, that’s what people work for, to be satisfied. On the field, I did what I had to, in order to retreat to my place. I spent time with people I wanted to and did what I wanted.
      “At the time, no one criticised me when things were going well. But when I stopped playing, they started pointing the finger. I just wanted to be with my cars.”
      Paim was born in the luxurious surroundings of Estoril, a famed luxury entertainment destination on the Portuguese Riviera.
      Paim had a loan spell at Chelsea in 2008Credit: Chelsea FC – Getty
      Portuguese super agent Jorge Mendes acted on Paim’s behalfCredit: Reuters
      However, he didn’t come from money. Paim added: “I was not used to having money. When I started playing, I didn’t even have proper boots. I wasn’t ready for it.
      “I didn’t have what young players have now which is an example to follow. You need role models. I feel proud and a little ashamed to pass along this message to them.”
      After failing to break into the Sporting Lisbon team, super agent Jorge Mendes brokered a loan deal for Paim to try his luck at Chelsea in 2008.
      Playing for the Blues’ reserve side under Brendan Rodgers, it was hoped the move would kickstart his career again.
      But, if anything, it was the final nail in the coffin, as he revealed: “It was there where I stopped training and doing my work.
      “I started drinking. I had money and I started doing a lot of things I didn’t do before. The doors were open for me to do what I felt like.”
      After a season in West London he returned to Portugal and was eventually released by Sporting in 2010.
      Paim then became a footballing journeyman, joining 12 different clubs in seven different countries, playing in countries including Angola, Qatar, Malta and even Lithuania.
      More recently, he was looking for game time with Portuguese second division side, Leixoes S.C in 2018, before moving to fourth tier side AD Sao Pedro da Cova on a free.
      In 2019, Paim was arrested for possession of narcotics, but was later acquitted as wire-tapping is not admissible in a court of law.
      While there was hope Brendan Rodgers could get the best out of Paim at the BluesCredit: Getty – Contributor
      His career is now a case of what could’ve beenCredit: Instagram / @projetofabiopaim
      But Paim knows where he went wrong and where Ronaldo went right.
      He said: “At one point, I could do more than him but I did not have what he had, which is the strength and desire to be what I wanted to be.
      “He had a great work ethic and I didn’t have that. I had the quality, at least as much as him, but I did not have the rest.
      “I would have preferred to have less quality if I had more of the other part. I would have been one of the best in the world.
      “But, no one is born perfect. I thought having talent was enough but it’s not.” More

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      Real Madrid flop Eden Hazard is keen to play for Fenerbahce before retiring, claims former chief of Turkish giants

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      EDEN HAZARD has vowed to play for Turkish giants Fenerbahce before he retires, according to former club chief Hasan Cetinkaya.The Belgium talisman, who moved to Real Madrid from Chelsea in a £150million deal in 2019, has told Cetinkaya he will play for the Turkish Super Lig side one day.
      Eden Hazard has vowed to play for Fenerbahce before his career ends, claims the club’s former chief
      Cetinkaya revealed last year: “Eden Hazard is an old friend of mine, I’ve known him since he was 15 or 16 years old and still played for Lille.
      “He had incredible sympathy for Fenerbahce and gave me his word: ‘Hasan, one day I’ll play for Fenerbahce, I just do not know when that will be.'”
      Cetinkaya, who is now vice-president of Belgian club Westerlo, revealed that Fenerbahce were interested in Hazard, 32, at the start of his career.
      He also revealed that Fenerbahce were interested in Hazard at the start of his career.
      Cetinkaya said: “He was 16 when he played for Lille, they had him, Gervinho and Sow, but we could only attract Sow to us.
      “And then Hazard reached a different dimension, he was one of the greatest talents in Europe, and I wish he had, time will tell, Eden Hazard will one day play for Fenerbahce.”
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      Hazard has endured a frustrating time at Real after being hit by countless injuries.
      He even APOLOGISED for his flop spell at the Santiago Bernabeu last year.
      And he also admitted he could seek a transfer exit next summer – which could be Fenerbahce on red alert.
      Hazard told Marca: “I’m sorry. I’m trying, but … I’m sorry.
      “I have one more year and I have to show [what I can do] but it isn’t easy. I’m not playing, I want to play more. I’m really sorry about what has happened.
      “In January it’s impossible (to leave, because I have my family and I like the city)
      “But in the summer it’s possible that I leave. I have a year left on my contract and it’s a decision for the club.
      “If the club says ‘Eden, thanks for these four years, but you have to go’ I’ll have to accept it.

      “[I’d give myself] a zero in terms of playing, because I haven’t played,” he said, when asked to grade his time at Madrid. “But a 10 in terms of how I feel in this moment with the team. I’m not playing, but being a Real Madrid player was my dream as a kid. I want to play for this club.” More

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      Man City ace Erling Haaland nicknamed “Daemon” by teammates who say he looks like the House of the Dragon character

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      FOOTBALL sensation Erling Haaland has been nicknamed “Daemon” by his Manchester City tea-mmates thanks to his striking resemblance to Daemon Targaryen from TV show House of the Dragon.The Norwegian striker has taken the Premier League by storm, scoring an incredible 32 league goals already this season and equalling Mo Salah’s record.
      Erling Haaland bears a striking resemblance to House of the Dragon character, Daemon Targaryen, according to his team-mates
      Matt Smith stars as Daemon in Game of Thrones spin-off, House of the Dragon
      Haaland has rained hell-fire on Premier League defencesCredit: GETTY
      The 22-year-old bears an uncanny resemblance to the character played by actor Matt Smith in the Game of Thrones spin off prequel series.
      Haaland scored three in just 38 minutes during City’s 6-0 demolition of Notts Forest last August – proving he’s a “Daemon” in the box.
      That was one of six hat-tricks he has mustered this season – netting 48 goals in all competitions.
      The nickname has stuck in the dressing room, with the likes of John Stones and Phil Foden blown away by Haaland’s talents.
      read more erling haaland news
      A club insider said: “A few of the players are huge fans of House of Dragon and they have mentioned to Erling how much he looks like Daemon.
      “He loves a joke and thinks it’s funny. Daemon is unpredictable and so is Erling so their personality’s fit as well.”
      Fans have embraced the lookalike doubles with One Blues fan joking on Twitter: “Didn’t know Daemon Targaryen plays for Man City with the pseudonym Haaland on the back.”
      Another said: “As well as being a great football player @ErlingHaaland is excellent as Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon.”
      Daemon is the volatile younger brother of King Viserys who is known as the Rogue Prince.
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      He is thought to be next in line to the Iron Throne, until King Viserys names Princess Rhaenyra as his heir.
      He is an experienced warrior who rides the dragon Caraxes.
      City signed Haaland last summer for £51m from Borussia Dortmund.
      And the Norweigan has been nothing but prolific since his arrival at the Etihad – with the club fighting to win the treble. More

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      Man City’s billionaire owner Sheikh Mansour ‘tried and tried’ to buy Liverpool but couldn’t deal with ‘difficult’ owners

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      GRAEME SOUNESS has claimed Sheikh Mansour tried to buy Liverpool before he invested his billions into Manchester City.Amanda Staveley, the financier behind the 2008 purchase of the Eastlands club and now Newcastle United director, is said to have confessed the bid in a Dubai restaurant.
      Liverpool fans might wonder what might have been had Sheikh Mansour taken overCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      According to Souness, the Emirati-backed bid to buy Liverpool fell apart as Tom Hicks and George Gillett blocked the sale.
      Souness, who won five league titles and three European Cups with the Reds, recalled on Sky Sports: “I went to Dubai, 12, 13 years ago.
      “I walked round the hotel with my wife and my son and went to the Nobu restaurant which was empty just after lunch.
      “On the way out someone came over and introduced themselves, then a lady came over and she introduced herself as Amanda. ‘I’m a Liverpool supporter,’ she said.
      “During the conversation she said, ‘I’m responsible for taking the Abu Dhabi family to Man City’ and I said, ‘but five minutes ago you said you were a Liverpool supporter – why did you not take them to Liverpool?’
      “She said, ‘I tried and I tried but Gillett and Hicks were so difficult to deal with, they just walked away in the end’.”
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      The American businessmen were hugely unpopular with the Anfield faithful during their three-and-a-half years in charge of the Reds.
      In January 2008, a spat with Rafa Benitez saw their approval ratings plunge even further and fans protested amid news that Middle Eastern interests were evaluating a takeover bid.
      Dubai International Capital, controlled by Sheikh Mansour’s father-in-law Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, were thought to be behind a move to buy Liverpool at that stage as well as a year earlier, before Hicks and Gillett came in.
      Liverpool were ultimately taken over by Fenway Sports Group in 2010.
      Credit: PA:Press AssociationAmanda Staveley is said to have revealed why the bid was blocked More

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      Man City’s worst transfers in the Premier League era, from flops Boateng and Rodwell to £42m mistake Eliaquim Mangala

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      MANCHESTER CITY have invested over £1BILLION in the transfer market over the past decade so, naturally, there are going to be some flops.For every David Silva, Yaya Toure, or Erling Haaland there’s also been an Eliaquim Mangala or Jack Rodwell.
      Three great signings out of four weren’t bad for Roberto ManciniCredit: EPA
      Fortunately for current boss Pep Guardiola, most of the club’s most useless transfers came before the Spaniard brought them continued success.
      Here, SunSport details the five WORST signings City have made in the Premier League era….
      Eliaquim Mangala – £42m (2014)
      Mangala was strongly criticised by the media during his time at CityCredit: AFP or licensors
      Joleon Lescott left the Etihad Stadium after Manuel Pellegrini’s side won the title and Mangala was heralded as a ready-made replacement.
      The defender’s first two seasons saw the club drift away from the top of the table and he was often hammered for poor positioning and slow reactions.
      A solid loan spell at Valencia earned Mangala momentary reprieve under Guardiola but, after 15 appearances, the new boss binned him off before serious injury struck in a 2018 spell with Everton.Jack Rodwell – £12m (2012)
      Injuries curtailed Rodwell’s progressCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Rodwell was an up-and-coming star at Everton but became a symbol of City’s trigger-happy stockpiling when jumping ship at the age of 21.
      There was a problem, however: City already had an excellent set of central midfielders.
      Battling past Yaya Toure, James Milner, David Silva, Samir Nasri, Javi Garcia, Gareth Barry and Fernandinho was too much for Rodwell and he left after two years and just 25 appearances.
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      Jerome Boateng – £10m (2010)
      It is painful enough seeing a former player go on to great things but City didn’t even get close to utilising Boateng’s full potential.
      Perhaps player and club were doomed from day one, the German tearing a tendon in his knee the week before the season began and aggravating it when a drinks trolley bashed it on a flight.
      A year later, Boateng asked to head back home and was allowed to leave for Bayern Munich – going on to win a World Cup, a Champions League and seven Bundesliga titles.
      Jo – £19m (2008)
      Jo arrived with a great record for CSKA MoscowCredit: Reuters
      A top striker in Russia when snapped up by Mark Hughes, Jo struggled to say the least – scoring once in nine league outings before being moved on six months into his stay.
      A brief upturn in form at Goodison Park gave the Citizens some hope of turning a profit… but a dismal 2009-2010 season on Merseyside dropped him back at City.
      Failing to take another chance the following season, Jo finally left to return to Brazil, having cost much more than Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta combined.Wilfried Bony – £25m (2015)
      Bony was sent back to Swansea in 2016 but couldn’t find form there, eitherCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Ten goals in 46 games, only six of which came in the league, is a poor record for any striker, but for an expensive forward at a club aiming to win the title? Terrible.
      The Prem top scorer for the calendar year of 2014, Bony initially couldn’t play for City due to African Cup of Nations duty and a summer bout of malaria came after a quiet start.
      That stunted his hopes for the following year and the club learned their lesson, from then on turning their attention away from signing top players from smaller sides. More

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      I was forced to pay Chelsea millions, almost hit Jose Mourinho and was caught sucking the blood of a porn star

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      WHEN Adrian Mutu arrived at Chelsea in the summer of 2003 for £15.2million, it was a new dawn.The club had just been taken over by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, and were threatening to outspend and topple Arsenal and Manchester United at the top.
      Adrian Mutu arrived at Chelsea the summer they were taken over by Roman AbramovichCredit: John Cassidy
      After testing positive for cocaine Mutu was sacked by Chelsea and banned for seven monthsCredit: AP:Associated Press
      The prolific Romanian striker, who had prospered in Serie A with Parma, was part of a £111million spending spree that included the arrivals of Claude Makelele (£16m), Hernan Crespo (£17m) and Damien Duff (£17m).
      Pin-up Mutu was meant to be the superstar at the heart of the team, manager Claudio Ranieri’s main man.
      But while Chelsea went from strength to strength, Mutu’s career nose-dived.
      In September of 2004, after a fallout with new Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho over his fitness, Mutu tested positive for cocaine.
      A seven-month suspension from the game followed, and although he rediscovered his form at Fiorentina in 2006, his career was blighted by another ban (nine months) after testing positive for appetite suppressant sibutramine  in 2010.
      But today, Mutu cuts a different figure.
      He is leading by example as a figurehead for young Romanian footballers, after coaching the country’s U21 side.
      Today, he is manager of Rapid București and an inspiration for the stars of tomorrow.
      A NEW CHAPTER
      “I think I’m the right person because I know what happens when a player has problems with indiscipline,” he recently told BBC Sport.
      “I’ve passed through hard moments and I came back stronger. If one of my players happens to make a mistake I will tell them to learn from it and not to repeat it.
      Today, Mutu is using his experience to coach Romania’s next generation of footballersCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Mutu was a pin-up and playboy in his heydayCredit: Rex Features
      “I came back and I played better than before, proving to everyone that the young players who have made a mistake must be helped, not judged and destroyed.”
      Mutu, now 44, is full of ambition as a coach – following his stint with his country’s youth stars, followed by a stint as FC U Craiova boss.
      “My ambitions as a coach cannot be lower than the ones I had as a footballer,” Mutu added.
      “I always wanted to be better and better. I want to get to coach at least at the same level I played at, and my dream is to be the head coach of the Romanian national team.”
      A GLAMOUR PLAYER
      In his heyday, Mutu could arguably lay claim to being Romania’s greatest ever player.
      He shares his country’s goalscoring record with Gheorghe Hagi – both scored 35 goals.
      And in a glittering club career he found the net 203 times in countries including England, Italy, and India.
      Mutu and his first wife AlexandraCredit: Rex Features
      TV presenter Alexandra and Mutu had a long drawn out divorce after it was alleged he beat her, although the charges were droppedCredit: Action Images
      Mutu was linked to Hollywood actress Moran AtiasCredit: 2019 Star Max
      Porn star Laura Andresan and Mutu romped together and he sucked her bloodCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Mutu with second wife Consuelo Matos GomezCredit: Getty Images
      However, it was the twice divorced star’s off-the-field antics that hogged the headlines.
      When he first arrived at Chelsea, he faced charges for allegedly beating up his ex-wife TV presenter Alexandra Dinu. The charges were dropped, but a very public split ensued.
      Then he was linked to Hollywood star Moran Atias, after she bombarded him with a flurry of text messages.
      The fling with the Israeli-stunner, who modelled for Versace, only lasted a matter of months, but she later revealed he was her first serious boyfriend.
      In 2004, he was caught in a newspaper sting having sex and sucking the blood of porn star Laura Andreson.
      Mourinho wasn’t impressed and had had enough of the party boy.SACKED BY THE BLUES
      ‘The Special One’ and Mutu clashed when he reported for international duty after missing three weeks of action for Chelsea because of an injury.
      They argued publicly over his fitness, and the forward was fined the maximum two weeks’ wages – believed to be around £120,000.
      Later that month, a routine drugs test was carried out at Chelsea’s training ground in Cobham.
      Jose Mourinho and Mutu didn’t see eye-to-eyeCredit: Action Images
      Mutu failed a drugs test at Chelsea’s Cobham training groundCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Mutu claimed his failed drugs test was the result of taking a sexual performance enhancing substanceCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      Traces of cocaine were found in his system, and Mutu was banned from playing football for seven months.
      He denied any wrongdoing, blaming his doping test failure on a drug to improve his sexual prowess.
      “I am not hooked on drugs,” he said.
      “I categorically deny this. The only reason I took what I took was because I wanted to improve my sexual performance.
      “It may be funny but it’s true. I did not take cocaine. I took something to make me feel good.”COMPENSATION
      After sacking Mutu, Chelsea have sought damages for his actions for more than a decade.
      Initially, the Romanian was ordered to pay the West London giants £15.2million, and there have been several court hearings through the years.
      In October 2018, the European Court of Human Rights threw out Mutu’s final appeal and insisted he owed Abramovich the princely sum.
      “We are exercising our legal remedies to recover the amounts owed to us and we will continue to do so,” a club representative revealed at the time.
      Mutu owes Chelsea £15.2m in compensation after his sackingCredit: Colorsport
      Mutu has remained silent after the European Court of Human Rights threw out his final appeal in 2018Credit: Getty – Contributor
      However, news on the dispute has gone quiet with both Mutu and Chelsea keeping mum on the situation.
      SIMPLY MISUNDERSTOOD
      For all his misdemeanours, Mutu might just be simply misunderstood.
      After all, this is a man who finished a law degree while playing at the top level, loves poetry and reads Dostoyevsky.
      “I guess I am the ultimate split personality,” he once said.
      And in 2013, he showed that he may have turned over a new leaf- showing compassion for a baby rescued from a Chinese sewage pipe.
      “I couldn’t figure out how to carry on living, how to eat my breakfast, when I saw this story on TV,” he said.
      “He’s a special child. When I saw the baby I said: ‘I must adopt him, he has been sent to me by God.'”
      During his playing days Mutu finished a law degree and spoke of reading poetry and loving DostoevskyCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Mutu married former Miss Romania Sandra Bachici in 2016Credit: Instagram
      Is Mutu still the playboy he once was?Credit: Instagram
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      Mutu didn’t end up adopting that baby, but he did welcome a boy Thiago in 2018 with third wife Sandra Bachici, 30, a former Miss Romania.
      He also has one child from his first marriage to Dinu and two from his second marriage to Dominican model Consuelo Matos Lopez.
      Now a family man, Mutu appears to have finally grown up. More

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      Ex-Liverpool star Daniel Agger is a tattoo artist and even invested in sewers when his career came to an end

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      DANIEL AGGER’S retirement is much like his playing career – mixing dirty work and artistry.Following his premature hanging up of the boots in 2016, at the age of 31, the former Liverpool hard-man decided to put money into his passion and necessity: tattoos and poop.
      Former Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is now a qualified tattoo artist
      The Danish defender, now head coach at HB Koge, trained to be a tattoo artist and is now part of one of the biggest parlours across the world, called Tattoodo.
      But for Agger that was not it, as he had more money to invest in s***.
      Now 38, Agger launched a company in 2013 called KloAgger, putting £450,000 into a company that manages sewage systems in his native Denmark.
      So how did they come up with the name? KloAgger translates to ‘Agger toilet’.
      Agger is regularly involved with the firm but his younger brother Marco and their friend Rune Rasmussen oversee the day-to-day ongoings.
      Inked-up Agger is more interested in the tats.
      He started and finished his career at Danish club Brondby, and it was as a 15-year-old youth player that he got his first work done.
      “I was about 15 and on a school trip to Paris,” Agger said in an interview on Tattoodo’s website.
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      “It wasn’t something I’d thought about before. Me and a friend went into the shop and said that’s what we’re going to have and we got it. I still have it today.”
      But it’s been added to dramatically, with almost every inch of his body containing a tattoo.
      There’s the Viking graveyard across his back, the love hearts on his calves, Latin proverbs all over his body and the names of his family members etched in.
      “I see it as one piece,”, the qualified tattooist said. “When I speak to people I talk about my tattoo as one piece but obviously every tattoo has a story, some better than others.”
      One of the more recent is the ‘YNWA’ stamped onto his knuckles – the well-known Liverpool acronym for Anfield’s anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone.
      “Timing was quite good,” Agger said. “[There were] a lot of rumours sending me to another club for a lot of money but I knew I was staying.
      “Somehow I wanted to show that to the footballing world and this was a way I wanted to show it.”
      Agger did eventually leave Liverpool in 2014 and spent two years at Brondby before ending his career earlier than expected.
      Back problems throughout his career saw Agger rely on painkillers to see him through, but he believes they were his downfall.
      Danish defender Agger has also invested in a sewage companyCredit: Kloagger
      He runs it alongside his brother Marco and a friendCredit: Kloagger
      The name KloAgger translates directly to ‘Toilet Agger’Credit: Kloagger
      Agger’s sewage company is only based in his homeland of DenmarkCredit: Kloagger
      Agger leaves the daily running of the company to his brotherCredit: Kloagger
      “I have taken too many anti-inflammatories in my career,” he told Jyllands-Posten.
      “I know that full well, and it sucks, but I did stop it [in the end]. I am not gaining anything personally from saying this but I can only hope that other athletes do.
      “It could be that others take a pill or two less.”
      Agger’s passion for tattooing has somewhat been put on the back burner following his venture into management.
      The Dane took charge of First Division side HB Koge in March 2021 along with former international team-mate Lars Jacobsen.
      Agger guided his troops to a seventh-placed finish last season.
      However, he will no doubt be fuming with his squad today after they suffered a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of FC Fredericia at the weekend.
      The 38-year-old is more into his tattoosCredit: Twitter @danielagger
      Agger got his first tattoo while a 15-year-old boy on a school tripCredit: Action Images
      The former Liverpool centre-back has a Viking graveyard across his backCredit: Getty – Contributor
      He won the Community Shield and League Cup during his 12 years at the clubCredit: PA:Press Association
      Agger sees his tattoos as just one big artworkCredit: Instagram @danielagger22
      The Dane is a qualified tattoo artist and invested in a big parlour called TattoodoCredit: Instagram @danielagger22
      Agger got YNWA printed onto his knuckles during speculation over his future at LiverpoolCredit: Instagram @danielagger22
      He was part of a strong Liverpool side alongside Steven GerrardCredit: Instagram @danielagger22
      Agger retired in 2016 at the age of 31 which he believes was due to painkillersCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd More