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      in Soccer

      Man Utd’s goalkeeping nearly men, from Barcelona icon Victor Valdes to a YouTube vlogger and a gardener

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      SOME of the greatest goalkeepers in football history have graced Manchester United’s famous No.1 jersey.Edwin van der Sar and Peter Schmeichal were two stoppers who won it all at Old Trafford.
      Sergio Romero left Old Trafford over the summerCredit: PA
      But for every David De Gea there is an overlooked back-up.
      De Gea’s understudy Sergio Romero revealed he spent the final term of his six-year stint at United training alone without making a single first-team appearance.
      Here SunSport takes a look at some of the more forgettable names to have featured (rarely) between the sticks at the Theatre of Dreams.
      Joel Pereira – (2012-2021)
      The promising Swiss joined United’s youth ranks all the way back in 2012.
      But after three years with the junior squads, Pereira would fall victim to the cycle of loan spells that can often blight a fledgling career.
      Joel Pereira was one of those who left with Romero this yearCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Six clubs in six years rented the services of Pereira from the Red Devils before he was one of the contingent of eight players let go in the recent summer window.
      The 25-year-old made just three senior appearances for United – but did start a Premier League game against Crystal Palace in 2017.
      In June 2021 Pereira signed one year deal with RKC Waalwijk, who play in the Dutch first division, with the option to extend for another year.

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      Victor Valdes (2014-16)
      Valdes could justifiably expect to see his name right up there on any list of goalkeeping greats.
      The Spaniard won it all with Barcelona under Pep Guardiola, but his United career was a less glittering affair.
      Victor Valdes was a Champions League winner with BarcelonaCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Given the chance to rehab a knee injury before signing for the Red Devils, Valdes made just two Premier League appearances in 2014-15 before falling out with boss Louis van Gaal.
      Reports he refused to turn out for the reserves saw him sent out on loan to Standard Liege in January 2016 before a permanent move away to Middlesbrough. 
      Valdes retired from professional football in January 2018 after spending six months without a club.
      He tried management but is without a job since being sacked by Horta in January 2021.
      Anders Lindegaard (2010-15)
      He was billed as the heir to United’s great Dane Schmeichel but Lindegaard was never more than an understudy at Old Trafford.
      Bought in late 2010 as Sir Alex Ferguson began to plan for the post-Van der Sar era, the Denmark international got started with the customary handful of cup games.
      Anders Lindegaard failed to unseat David De GeaCredit: Bongarts – Getty
      But when out went Van der Sar and in came David De Gea in June 2011, Lindegaard saw his first-team chances dwindle thanks to the Spaniard’s world-record arrival.
      He famously reacted with fury to an interviewer who asked if he was still motivated to challenge for the No.1 spot, saying ‘I’m not here to pick my nose’.
      Despite keeping his fingers in his gloves and not up his nostrils, he could not unseat De Gea and left on a free transfer to West Brom in 2015.
      He is still playing for Helsinborgs and even scored his first ever goal in 2020.
      Ben Amos (2008-2015)
      A Red Devil since the age of 11, Amos was a mainstay of the United youth ranks.
      But as he got older first-team opportunities rarely materialised with the likes of Tomasz Kuszczak, Ben Foster, and Anders Lindegaard variously above him in the pecking order.
      He ultimately made seven appearances for the club including one in both the Prem and the Champions League before moving to Bolton.
      Reports in the summer of 2021 suggested he had a chance to return to Old Trafford but he turned it down in favour of regular football at Wigan.
      Ben Amos rejected a chance to return to United this summerCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      Ben Foster (2005-2010) & Tomasz Kuszczak (2007-12)
      It would not be fair to describe either stopper as an unmemorable name, given both have enjoyed long senior careers.
      But they are grouped together here for the simple fact they both played second fiddle to the great Van der Sar.
      Ben Foster went on to play for Birmingham, West Brom and WatfordCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Thomas Kuszczak left Old Trafford for the south coastCredit: PA:Press Association
      Foster won eight England caps and went on to have successful spells with West Brom and Watford.
      He is still starting for the Hornets in the Premier League… when not updating his hugely popular ‘Cycling GK’ YouTube Vlog, which has over 800k subscribers.
      Poland’s Kuszczak played 11 times for his country before leaving Old Trafford to head to Brighton.
      He retired in 2019, following a spell with Birmingham City. Now back in his homeland, Kuszczak was a pundit on Polish TV for the Euros. He’s also a brand ambassador for Bertrand, a company that designs doors and windows.
      Ricardo (2002-05)
      Ricardo’s spell at United coincided with a golden era in calamitous keeping as Fergie struggled to find the man to replace Schmeichel.
      Kept out of the squad by Fabien Barthez and Roy Carroll, the Spaniard managed just five appearances in three years at the club.
      Ricardo was capped twice by Spain before joining UnitedCredit: Empics
      Twice capped by Spain before he arrived at Old Trafford, he never did enough to convince Sir Alex he was anything more than a back-up and was eventually released on a free.
      In 2019, Ricardo returned to Valladolid, where he is currently coach of their U19 team.
      Massimo Taibi (1999-2000)
      The Italian was a disaster signing for Sir Alex Ferguson in the late 90s.
      Brought in for £4.5million from Venezia after Mark Bosnich suffered an injury, he flapped at a cross in his first game against Liverpool allowing Sami Hyypia to score.
      Massimo Taibi flapped at a cross that led to a Liverpool goal on his debutCredit: Reuters
      Then, about a month later, he let a tame Matt Le Tissier shot trickle through his legs into the goal.
      He played one more time for United in a 5-0 defeat to Chelsea, before returning to Italy with Reggina.
      Now 51, Taibi is retired but works as a pundit on Reggina TV.
      Raimond van der Gouw (1996-2002)
      With over 350 Dutch league appearances under his belt, Van der Gouw arrived in Manchester with bags of first-team experience.
      But by then Schmeichal was already well-established as United’s first-choice. 
      Raimond van der Gouw joined United with bags of experienceCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The Dutch stopper did manage an impressive 57 appearances for the Red Devils before leaving for West Ham.
      A further spell in the Netherlands saw him retire in 2007 at the grand age of 44.
      Since then, he has passed on his expertise as a goalkeeping coach with Sunderland, Vitesse Arnhem and now PSV Eindhoven, where he works alongside former team-mate Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
      Paul Rachubka (1997-2002)
      American-born Rachubka was another youth product who never really got going at the Theatre of Dreams.
      Clean sheets in all three of his senior appearances were not enough to convince Fergie to keep him and he was shipped off to Charlton in the summer of 2002.
      Paul Rachubka now reportedly works as an accountantCredit: PA:Press Association
      A journeyman career of loan spells around northern England followed and Rachubka now reportedly works as an accountant in Manchester.
      Nick Culkin (1995-2002)
      Culkin may not have had much of a United career but his time in football is notable for several reasons.
      He made the shortest-ever Premier League debut when replacing Van der Gouw at Highbury in 1999, with the ref blowing for full-time the second he had taken a freekick.
      Nick Culkin made the shortest debut in Premier League historyCredit: Rex
      And he would see another United bookend his career when he signed for FC United of Manchester – the club formed in protest against the Glazers’ takeover at Old Trafford.
      He now runs a garden maintenance company in Manchester, after retiring from the professional game in 2005 with a long-standing knee injury.
      Carragher jokes he’s had enough of Neville and Keane making excuses for Man Utd boss Solskjaer because ‘he’s their mate’ More

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      Inside Cristiano Ronaldo’s special bond with Sir Alex Ferguson, from winning Ballon d’Or five times to return to Man Utd

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      WHEN Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Manchester United as a talented 17-year-old in 2003, the wheels were set in motion for one of football’s special bonds.But few would believe that his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, a father-figure to the 36-year-old Portuguese superstar, would aid his return to the club that made him nearly 20 years later.
      The moment Sir Alex Ferguson and Cristiano Ronaldo met a special bond formedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Sir Alex congratulates Ronaldo for winning Euro 2016Credit: Getty – Contributor
      In the summer, it seemed nailed on that the all-time leading international goalscorer would sign for United’s arch-rivals Manchester City.
      However, Fergie revealed he stepped in to stop that from happening.
      “A lot of people played their part (in bringing Ronaldo back) and I contributed knowing that really Cristiano wanted to come here and that was important,” he told Viaplay before the ex-Real Madrid star made his return to Manchester United.
      Ronaldo, himself, acknowledged the manager’s contribution. “PS — Sir Alex, this one is for you…” he wrote in a social media post celebrating his move from Juventus.
      Now, the fiery Scot has said Ronaldo deserves a sixth Ballon d’Or title, after his goalscoring exploits for club and country.
      Through the years, Fergie has been credited with making him the player he is today. Sparing him the infamous hairdryer treatment, Fergie filled Ronaldo’s head with confidence – giving him the freedom that allowed him to become a five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
      The “Boss”, as Ronaldo affectionately calls him, was even there for his protege’s most famous moment for his country – winning Euro 2016 – giving him a hug from the stands as he collected his winners’ medal.
      Their father/son relationship has blossomed through the years, so much so it was recently revealed that Ronaldo was set for a sensational return to Old Trafford until Fergie’s retirement in 2013 halted a deal.

      FAN BOY
      After Sir Alex retired, he enjoyed going to live events – from the Oscars to various European finals.
      At Euro 2016, Fergie was in the stands to watch Portugal defeat France 1-0 after extra-time.
      As the Portuguese players walked down the steps after receiving their medals, a proud Ferguson embraced Ronaldo and gave him a huge hug.
      Then, a year later he was a special guest at the 2017 Champions League final, in which Ronaldo won man of the match and scored twice in a 4-1 rout of Juventus.
      Of course, it was Fergie that give him his award that night.

      Ronaldo is given his man of the match award by Sir Alex after the Champions League final in 2017Credit: AP:Associated Press
      FAMILY COMES FIRST
      Back in 2005, as Ronaldo was beginning to establish himself at Old Trafford, his father Jose Dinis Aveiro fell ill in hospital after years of alcohol abuse.
      Immediately, Fergie ordered him to take compassionate leave – even though it meant his star player would miss key games during the season.
      “When my daddy was sick in London, and he was in hospital very bad in a coma,” Ronaldo  revealed Sir Alex Ferguson: Secrets of Success’ in 2015.
      “I had a conversation with him [Ferguson] and I said: ‘Boss, I don’t feel good.’
      “We are in a key moment in the Champions League, and I said I don’t feel good and I wanna see my dad. He said: ‘Cristiano – you wanna go one day, two days, one week? You can go. I’m going to miss you here because you are important, but your daddy is the [priority].’
      “When he told me that, I feel like this guy is unbelievable. He the father of football for me.”
      As the years have passed their relationship has been akin to a father and sonCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Fergie ordered Ronaldo to take compassionate leave when his father was on his death bedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      RED HERRING
      Fergie knew Ronaldo’s dream was to play for Real Madrid, and he wasn’t going to stop him from joining the La Liga giants.
      That said, he did try to pull a fast one when it was reported that Los Blancos were deep in talks with CR7.
      “You don’t think we’d get into a contract with that mob, do you?,” Sir Alex said back in 2008.
      “Jesus Christ. I wouldn’t sell them a virus. So that’s a no — there is no agreement between the clubs.”
      Six months later, Ronaldo moved to Spain – with Fergie in agreement all along.
      Ferguson never got in the way of Ronaldo’s dream to play for Real MadridCredit: AFP – Getty
      Ronaldo and Ferguson embrace at the end of a Champions League match between Man Utd and Real Madrid in 2013Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      A FITTING TRIBUTE
      In 2012, at the unveiling of a statue of Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, Ronaldo made an appearance by video link to pay tribute to his former boss.
      He began by apologising for not being there in person because of his hectic schedule.
      “I think you 100 per cent deserve it for what we did with you,” Ronaldo continued in the clip.
      He even joked, “I hope to see you soon, because I need to practice my English, not my Scottish!”
      Sir Alex and Ronaldo have always been happy to praise one anotherCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
      In 2013, Sir Alex Ferguson was the special recipient of the BBC Sports Personality Diamond Award for the show’s 60th edition.
      Again, Ronaldo took to video link to heap praise on Sir Alex.
      “You were like a football father to me,” Cristiano said.
      “You deserve this award because you are a fantastic manager, a fantastic person and the number one.”
      Ronaldo has referred to Fergie in the past as his football fatherCredit: Getty – Contributor

      FILM STAR
      In 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo’s amazing life made it to the big screen.
      He opened himself up to the world in his documentary ‘Ronaldo’ – which Fergie wasn’t going to miss for the world.
      The Scot stood side-by-side with Ronaldo on the red carpet for its premiere in London.
      Both beaming with pride, Ronaldo and Fergie looked like father and son.
      Sir Alex Ferguson stood side-by-side with Ronaldo at the premiere of his documentaryCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Again, the pair couldn’t hide their affection for one another
      MESSAGE OF SUPPORT
      When Sir Alex suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2018, Ronaldo and the whole footballing world were praying that he would pull through.
      Taking to Instagram, Ron shared an image of them together with the caption: “My thoughts and prayers are with you, my dear friend. Be strong, Boss!”
      Ferguson made a miraculous recovery and the pair met up when Juventus played Manchester United at Old Trafford.
      “A great coach and above all a wonderful man,” Ronaldo shared with a photo in a tweet.
      “Taught me so many things inside and outside the pitch. Great to see you in good shape, Boss!”
      A great coach and above all a wonderful man. Taught me so many things inside and outside the pitch. Great to see you in good shape, Boss! pic.twitter.com/Ql4dcuJvCW— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) October 24, 2018

      TEAR-JERKER
      Last year, Ronaldo won the Portuguese Player of the Year award for a record 10th time.
      It was Fergie’s time to record a moving video message for his former student.
      “Congratulations on a great achievement and a wonderful night you’re going to have in Portugal,” Ferguson said in the clip.
      “I’m really sorry I can’t be with you, but I look back and see you as a young lad at 17 years of age who came to Manchester United, how you have progressed as a human being and a fantastic sportsman.
      Ronaldo receives the 2008 Ballon D’or from FergusonCredit: Offside
      Fergie has revealed he is eternally proud of the man Ronaldo became when he left Man UtdCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

      “I want to say to you, and your mother, and all your family, and all of your kids; well done.
      You have been an absolute pleasure for me to have known, to have worked with, and to have seen you progress into the footballer you were.
      “So, good luck, have a great night, and well done.”
      Alex Ferguson’s emotional message to Cristiano Ronaldo after winning Portuguese player of the year award More

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      in Soccer

      Meet Amanda Staveley, Newcastle takeover leader and former model who turned down Prince Andrew’s marriage proposal

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      AMANDA STAVELEY has led the Saudi Arabia-backed consortium trying to take over Newcastle United since 2017.Finally, the mega-connected businesswoman has been successful – with the £300m Toon takeover now announced.
      Businesswoman and former model Amanda Staveley led the Saudi-based takeover of NewcastleCredit: Camera Press
      Staveley met Prince Andrew in 2001 and they dated for two yearsCredit: Rex Features
      Staveley, herself, and her PCP Capital Partners firm are set to take a 10 per cent stake in the club as part of the deal, and she will take her seat on the board.
      But behind-the-scenes, the Yorkshire-born financier, 48, is battling a crippling brain disease that can lead to dementia.
      She was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease in 2013, for which there is no cure.
      And before she made her foray into the football world, Amanda was courted by ‘Randy Andy’ Prince Andrew.
      However, two years later the former blonde model, who stands 6ft tall in heels, turned down his hand in marriage because she didn’t want to become a Royal.
      THE MEETING PLACE
      In 2000, Staveley launched Q.ton – a health club, gym, restaurant and conference centre in the Cambridge Science Park for £10million.
      A year later, Andrew, then a UK trade ambassador, went to the science park with King Abdullah of Jordan, one of its many investors, and met Staveley for the first time.
      Immediately besotted by her beauty and intelligence, Andrew took her number and they began dating.
      The relationship was beneficial for both parties – Amanda was introduced to Andrew’s contacts book, while he reportedly enjoyed inaugurating her into his inner circle.
      According to reports, she called him “Babe”, while he sent her racy jokes in text messages and emails.
      Andrew soon became entranced by Staveley reportedly sending her racy text messagesCredit: Camera Press
      Andrew loved introducing Staveley to his high-society friendsCredit: Rex Features
      Andrew was so entranced by his new love, Staveley was invited to Buckingham Palace and Sandringham, while she also helped decorate his home in Windsor Great Park.
      The Queen and Prince Philip were believed to be delighted for Andrew, and gave Staveley their seal of approval.
      However, he couldn’t get her down the aisle. In 2003, she politely declined his marriage proposal.
      “Andrew’s a lovely man and I still care for him a great deal,” she told the Daily Mail.
      “But if I’d married him, my independence would have disappeared.”
      HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE
      In 2013, Amanda was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease – a degenerative disorder that affects people later in life.
      When the cruel illness takes effect, sufferers’ brain functions begin to slowly decline and mood swings, memory loss, as well as involuntary body movements are just some of the symptoms she could face.
      She was told by doctors that the disease is dormant, but could be triggered through stress and pressure at work.
      Amanda discovered she had inherited the Huntington’s gene from her mum Lyne – a former champion show-jumper – when she was tested before starting her own family at 37.
      In 2011, Staveley married Iranian businessman Mehrdad GhodoussiCredit: Robert Shack Photography
      Staveley suffers from Huntington’s diseaseCredit: Rex Features
      She credits husband Ghodoussi for being patient with herCredit: Avalon.red. All rights reserved.
      “The stress brings on the onset of the disease, and the disease is fatal,” she revealed to the Mail on Sunday.
      And she is the first to admit it has made her difficult for her husband, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, who she married in 2011.
      “I have the most incredibly patient and loving husband. I didn’t want to get married when I found out about the disease – but he said he didn’t care, and that we would find the best medical care available.”
      Although, rather strangely, Huntington’s made Amanda better with numbers when she was a City dealmaker with Barclays bank.

      “It’s actually very useful because I’ve never needed a calculator,” she said.
      “The Barclays guys were always shocked that I could do complicated financial models in my head. I thought I was just good with numbers – it turns out I was sick.”OVERCOMING ADVERSITIES
      Before she could count the likes of Simon Cowell and Sir Philip Green as mates, and was whisked around in a chauffeur-driven £250,000 Rolls Royce Phantom, Staveley had to overcome adversity as a teenager.
      Incredibly, she was accepted at Cambridge University aged just 16 – after completing her A-Levels in one year.
      But Amanda had to drop out after suffering a number of setbacks.
      Staveley has accrued a wealth of £120m and can count on mates including Sir Philip Green and Simon CowellCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Aged 16 Staveley was accepted to Cambridge UniversityCredit: Rex Features
      Her dad Robert Staveley, a north Yorkshire landowner who founded the Lightwater Valley theme park, suffered a heart attack.
      And her mum’s Huntington’s illness reared its ugly head, and she had her own personal issues to deal with too.
      “When I got to university my dad had a heart attack, my mum was very ill with Huntington’s, and I also had an eating disorder,” she said.
      “I was educated at a girls private school – Queen Margaret’s in York – and I found being educated with men at university very tough. I had a psychologist, I was sectioned, my weight dropped and I didn’t know how to cope.”
      MAKING CONTACTS
      At the age of 23, Staveley managed to convince a bank to lend her £180,000 to set up her own restaurant.
      Stocks was launched in the village of Bottisham, Cambridgeshire, where Amanda took on the role of chef and waitress – often working till 4am to make sure she was prepped for the next day.
      But, despite her long hours, it didn’t deter her from studying for her City exams with ambitions to become a financial adviser, as well as fulfilling modelling duties for extra cash.
      With its proximity to the Newmarket Racecourse, Stocks became a haunt for the flat-racing fraternity.
      Members of the Dubai-ruling family, the Maktoums, who own the Godolphin Stables, were regulars.
      Arab princes and dotcom tycoons from ‘Silicon Fen’ – a nickname given to a region of Cambridgeshire which is home to a cluster of high-tech businesses, were also customers.
      Staveley’s first business venture was Stocks restaurantCredit: 2008 AFP
      Over the years Staveley built up an enviable contacts bookCredit: PA:Press Association

      And with such high-prestige clientele, Staveley was well-placed to pick up an enviable contacts book when she finished her studies.
      Since her Stocks days, she has amassed a personal fortune worth around £120million, has a home in Dubai and a luxury apartment on Park Lane.
      Soon, she may just add a Quayside penthouse overlooking the Tyne to her property portfolio.
      Newcastle United Supporters Trust welcome proposed Saudi takeover More

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      in Soccer

      Sad tale of Freddy Adu, from ‘next Pele’ aged 14 and training at Man Utd to 15 different clubs and Swedish third tier

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      FORMER wonderkid Freddy Adu is now 32, without a club and staring at the last knockings of a career full of ‘what might have beens’.The original golden child exploded on to the scene in America when he was just 14 when he was signed by MLS giants DC United.
      Freddy Adu was the original wonderkid dubbed the ‘American Pele’Credit: Getty
      Then, at the same age, he became the youngest scorer in US professional football with a goal against New Jersey MetroStars, who later became the New York Red Bulls.
      That prompted Nike to snap Adu up on a $1million (£730,000) sponsorship deal, while ESPN said he was a better sporting prospect than LeBron James.
      Even Brazilian legend Pele compared the prodigy to Mozart for displaying such an incredible ability at such a young age.
      However, Adu’s career soon became a disappointment – with the pressure of being America’s great hope too much and expectation becoming a burden.
      After a failed trial at Man Utd, spells in Portugal with Benfica and Monte Carlo with Monaco, Adu ended up back in his homeland trying to pick up the pieces of a life that should have been.
      Today, he’s without a club after playing for Swedish third tier side Osterlen FF.
      TEENAGE KICKS
      Hype can be a dangerous thing for any youngster and Adu’s story is a cautionary tale of much too much, much too young.
      In 2004, he became the youngest ever athlete to sign a professional contract with a sports club when DC United offered him a deal.
      Within three months, he made his debut to become the youngest ever MLS star.
      At 14, Adu became the youngest ever athlete to sign a professional sporting contractCredit: AFP – Getty
      Adu made his MLS debut at 14 and scored his first goal two weeks later to become the competition’syoungest ever scorerCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      America went wild for Pele, and he appeared in an ad for a soft drink company with the Brazil legend
      Two weeks later, he netted his first goal – a tap-in in a 3-2 loss to MetroStars.
      America went wild for their new son, who had arrived from Ghana when he was eight in 1997.
      He appeared in adverts for soft-drink giants Sierra Mist, alongside three-time World Cup winner Pele, who was mightily impressed.
      “Mozart started when he was five years old,” Pele said.
      “If you are good, you are good. God gave Freddy the gift to play soccer.”
      SIR ALEX TOOK A LOOK
      In 2004, at the age of 16, Adu landed a trial with Premier League giants Manchester United.
      Sir Alex Ferguson must have been a fan of the Championship Manager (now Football Manager) video game series, which predicted Freddy would become a global superstar in years to come. Fans of the game, in fact, still talk about him fondly as the greatest wonderkid you could sign.
      But the reality was far different. Although he impressed, work permit problems got in the way of any prospective United deal.
      “Freddy has done all right. He is a talented boy,” Fergie said at the time.
      “He’ll go back to the US and we’ll keep a check on him. When he is 18, we will have to assess what we can do next.”
      In iconic video game Championship Manager, Adu would become one of the world’s greats
      In 2004, Adu had a failed trial at Man UtdCredit: Getty
      WHERE DID IT ALL GO WRONG?
      But by 2006, DC United coaches began to lose faith in him.
      In terms of goals and assists, Adu’s numbers just weren’t good enough.
      Off field distractions and the pressure of having to be a success affected his form.
      “My family was really poor,” Adu told BBC Sport back in 2012.
      “My mum was working two or three jobs to take care of my brother and me. So if Nike come to you and say they want to give you a million-dollar contract and the MLS wants to make you the highest-paid player at 14, you can’t say no. You just can’t.
      “I said yes to everything that was asked of me and ended up doing a lot of appearances, a lot of promotion, a lot of interviews and it took away from the football on the field. People saw me more as a marketing tool.”
      Because of his lack of development, Adu was released to Real Salt Lake in 2007, where it all began to unravel.
      As Adu got older, his development seemed to stuntCredit: AFP
      Adu in action against Chelsea in a preseason friendly for DC United in 2005Credit: Reuters
      A JOURNEYMAN
      Astonishingly, Adu has played for 15 different sides
      It appeared that things might’ve been on track when he signed for Benfica after his stint at Real Salt Lake, but he only managed to play 17 games in four years.
      He was sent on loan to clubs including Monaco, Belenenses, Aris Thessaloniki and Caykur Rizespor, but failed to set the world alight.
      Adu then returned to the MLS with Philadelphia Union in 2011, where he enjoyed a decent spell before flopping at Bahia in Brazil, Serbian side Jagodina, and even a Finnish team, KuPS.
      There was also a failed trial with Blackpool in 2015, so he returned to the States to play in the semi-professional USL Championship for Tampa Bay Rowdies and later Las Vegas Lights.
      Even then, Adu was still getting commercial work – strangely from Hoover.
      He shared a sponsored tweet of a picture of himself vacuuming his home in a pair of joggers.
      Yet, in 2019, Adu maintained his desire in an ESPN interview that he was still determined to be a success.
      “I’m still plenty young. I’m not ready to give it up,” he explained.
      “Things haven’t gone the way that I would have wanted them to, obviously. But I love the sport too much to say I’m ready to give it up.”

      Adu returned to the US in 2011 with Philadelphia Union after several failed movesCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Today, Adu is without a club after being released by Swedish third tier side Osterlen

      Last year, the attacking midfielder had an ill-fated spell with Swedish third-tier side Osterlen.
      However, they accused him of lacking the fitness and mental strength to return to his best and cancelled his contract within a month.
      Perhaps, it was all much Adu about nothing.
      Freddy Adu shows he is still a world class talent as he works out on training pitch More

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      in Soccer

      Most bizarre contract demands revealed, from no space travel to weight clauses and free moves for Catalan independence

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      PLAYERS are valuable commodities.So when they thrash out contracts with the world’s biggest clubs, it’s important to get everything right and nothing’s left to chance.
      Footballers like Lionel Messi reportedly have bizarre clauses written into their contractsCredit: Getty
      But there are times when stipulations are put in place by player and club to protect their interests, to let them fulfil their hobbies, or managers just don’t trust them.
      SunSport looks back at the wackiest clauses added by players and clubs.Messi business
      Back in February, with Lionel Messi’s future STILL up in the air before his free transfer move to Paris Saint-Germain, talk of what he would look for in his new contract away from Barcelona began to surface.
      Some of the clauses in his current deal were leaked by El Mundo.
      They included an agreement to learn how to speak Catalan, he must ‘adopt an adequate personal conduct and pace of life’ and not engage in doping, and if Catalonia became its own country he could leave on a free transfer.

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      Lew the outdoor adventurer
      When Robert Lewandowski was running down his contract at Borussia Dortmund both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid were jostling for his signature.
      And in leaked documents, Real Madrid’s offer seemed far more lucrative.
      Alongside a £166,000-per-week deal and a £10m signing-on fee were several requests they didn’t want daredevil Lewandowski to do while he was their property.
      Skiing, paragliding, climbing, going on a motorboat and even riding a motorbike were big ‘no-nos’ for Madrid’s hierarchy… so that’s why signed for Bayern instead.
      Robert Lewandowski is still able to continue his outdoor adventures at Bayern MunichCredit: Getty
      Reina toyed with
      When negotiating a contract, it’s important to be 100 per cent clear about what is being stipulated.
      When German forward Giuseppe Reina moved to Arminia Bielefeld in 1996, he demanded the club build him a house for every year of his contract.
      The club accepted.
      However, Reina didn’t specify what size he required.
      And Arminia provided him with a house made of Lego for the next three years.
      Giuseppe Reina in action for Arminia Bielefeld, who only joined under strict circumstances
      Redondo locked out
      Former Real Madrid and AC Milan midfielder Fernando Redondo was excluded from Argentina’s 1998 World Cup squad for a bizarre reason.
      Manager Daniel Passarella had refused to pick homosexuals or players with earrings and long hair.
      Redondo was ‘guilty’ of the latter.
      He said: “I was in great form. But Passarella had particular ideas about discipline and wanted me to have my hair cut.
      “I didn’t see what that had to do with playing football so I said no.”
      Fernando Redondo’s long hair cost him his international career
      Cooking up a treat
      Congolese midfielder Rolf-Christel Guie-Mien moved from Karlsruher to Eintracht Frankfurt in 1999.
      However, he had one simple request: that his new club pay for his wife to have cooking lessons.
      We’re not sure Mrs Guie-Mien took too kindly to this demand.
      She was not available for comment at the time.
      Rolf-Christel Guie-Mien made it very clear to his wife he kitchen skills needed improvement
      Brought down to Earth
      Swede Stefan Schwarz moved to Sunderland in 1999 — but the Wearsiders had one stipulation the former Arsenal man had to adhere to.
      Schwarz was told that any potential flights into space would not be tolerated.
      The Black Cats chief exec John Flicking said at the time: “One of Schwarz’s advisers has, indeed, got one of the places on the commercial flights [into space, due to take place in 2002].
      “And we were worried that he may wish to take Stefan along with him. So we thought we’d better get things tied up now rather than at the time of the flight.”
      In fact, rather than managing to go up, his career ended when Sunderland went down in 2003.
      Stefan Schwarz is presented as a Sunderland player, alongside Peter Reid in 1999
      Razor weighed down
      Former Premier League and England defender Neil Ruddock once admitted to eating 212 steak and kidney pies every year.
      And Crystal Palace were advised Razor did come with some extra baggage when they signed him on a free in 2000.
      Ex-Eagles chairman Simon Jordan wrote in his autobiography: “On approaching West Ham I discovered he was a free transfer, although he did have a weighty salary — which was not the only weighty thing about him.
      “Harry Redknapp, the West Ham manager at the time, told me to put in a weight clause.
      “So I decided to put a 10 per cent penalty on the contract we were proposing to offer him if he was over the recommended weight of 99.8kg, which by the way was still frigging huge.”
      Ruddock’s Palace debut was allegedly delayed because the club couldn’t find a pair of shorts big enough for him.
      Neil Ruddock has never been one of the slimmest footballers
      Driving a Honda
      Japanese legend Keisuke Honda joined Botafogo in January 2020.
      But moving to Brazil’s crime-ridden city of Rio de Janeiro had the midfielder fearing for his safety.
      So he stipulated he would need an ARMOURED VEHICLE as part of the deal.
      More incredibly, Botafogo agreed.
      But his stay in South America did not last long and the 35-year-old is now at Suduva in Lithuania.
      Keisuke Honda signed for Brazilian side Botafogo – but only after an unusual request was grantedCredit: AFP or licensors
      Roy Keane perplexed as Micah Richards shows him viral video of Man Utd legend’s Fifa 21 self dancing which went viral More

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      in Soccer

      The rise of Newcastle target Eddie Howe, who credits his mum as his biggest inspiration and once signed his brother

      by

      FORMER Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe is being linked with Newcastle and Southampton.The boss, 43, is rumoured to be on the shortlist to take over from Steve Bruce at St James’ Park following their £300million takeover.
      Eddie Howe masterminded a miracle at Bournemouth and is now linked with the Newcastle jobCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      But it’s believed Howe will hold out to return to the South Coast, with Southampton.
      The tactician performed miracles with the Cherries, taking them from near-League Two oblivion to the Premier League in two spells with the club on a limited budget.
      The modest manager credits his mum Anne for being his biggest inspiration as she supported him through his dream of making it in the professional game.
      She even played in goal while her two sons fired shots at her and practiced in the park.
      Anne passed away in March, 2012 following a short illness, which Eddie admitted made him take stock of his life and return to Dean Court after a short stint at Burnley.
      The calm and assured gaffer is very loyal to his family, having once signed his now-retired half-brother Steve for Bournemouth in 2010.

      He also had to conquer the bitter disappointment of his playing days being cut short by a serious knee injury when he was just 29-years-old.
      However, that didn’t stop the grounded Amersham-born coach from rising to the top, sometimes against all the odds, to be touted as a future England manager.
      PLAYING CAREER
      Eddie began his footballing career with Bournemouth, making his debut for the South Coast side at the age of just 18.
      Three years later and he was surprisingly called up into the England set-up for the Toulon Tournament alongside the likes of Frank Lampard, Jamie Carragher and Emile Heskey.
      Over the years, Eddie Howe earned the respect of peers like legendary manager Arsene WengerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      As a promising player, Eddie Howe was picked to play for England’s under-21sCredit: PA:Press Association
      What was most surprising about his selection was he was the only League One player selected in the squad.
      In 2002, Harry Redknapp signed the ball-playing centre-half for £400k and he seemed destined for the big stage.
      But in only his second game for the club against Nottingham Forest, Eddie suffered an injury that was going to affect his life forever.
      After jumping to head a ball clear, he heard a click in his left knee. It turned out that he dislocated his knee cap and chipped a bone under the knee.
      It meant that the joint was never the same.
      He had two two operations, but doctors failed to discover he had a micro-fracture and he still felt pain when trying to run.
      Howe visited knee-specialist Dr. Richard Steadman, the man who rebuilt the knees of Alan Shearer and Ronaldo, who told him he would be able to play again but not at the same level.
      Howe told the Telegraph: “At the end, I was a shadow of the player I had been.
      “I was very keen to finish while people remembered me for the player I was rather than the player I had become.
      Eddie Howe suffered a serious knee injury when he was just 24-years-oldCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Eddie Howe knew he would never be the same player again after his knee injuryCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      “It was really tough, because the biggest challenge I found when I came back was that I wasn’t as effective.
      “I had lost a lot of my attributes that made me the player I was: my pace, my turning ability, my jump.
      “I wasn’t very big for a centre-half so I had to jump well and that was one of my strengths.
      “When I came back I was jumping about two feet lower. I struggled with my identity and I lost what I was.
      “Everyone forgets very quickly what you were and judges you on what you are – and I wasn’t very good. I found that period of my career very, very difficult.”
      He went to Swindon on loan in 2004, but didn’t get a game. Then a successful loan spell at Bournemouth the same year gave him renewed hope.
      In what became known as the ‘Eddieshare’ scheme, Bournemouth’s fans pulled together to raise money to pay the £21,000 transfer fee needed to sign him.
      Eddie repaid their faith by playing for a further three seasons, before he decided it was time to call it a day at 29 – no longer able to play through the pain barrier.
      Eddie Howe was re-signed by Bournemouth after the fans donated money to the clubCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Eddie Howe knew his playing days were over and he went into coachingCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      CATCHING THE COACHING BUG
      During this time Eddie was cutting his teeth coaching the reserve squad, but in September 2008 he was let go when first team manager Kevin Bond lost his job.
      Weeks later, Eddie was back at the club he loved and working with the youth set-up thanks to Jimmy Quinn, who reintroduced the aspiring manager to the fold when he was appointed boss.
      Then, Quinn was fired from the top job in December and Howe became caretaker manager during the interim.
      Despite losing his first two games, Howe was hired permanently in early 2009 and became an overnight success.
      The club managed to overturn a 17-point deficit and survived relegation from League Two.
      The following season Howe inspired his charges to promotion to League One, guiding them to eight wins from their first nine games.
      It was no surprise that mother Anne was there on the terraces, cheering Eddie and his team on.
      After all, she divided her time between Dean Court and Scotland, where Eddie’s half-brother Steve made his name at Dundee, Aberdeen, Falkirk and Partick Thistle.
      Eddie Howe was appointed Bournemouth boss when Jimmy Quinn was fired in 2008Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Steve Lovell played under half-brother Eddie Howe at BournemouthCredit: PA:Press Association
      Eddie Howe managed to overturn a 17-point deficit to save Bournemouth from League Two relegationCredit: PA:Press Association
      BOUGHT HIS HALF-BRO
      It did become easier for her though when Howe bought his brother to Bournemouth on a free transfer in 2010.
      In 2011, Eddie’s future was subject to speculation with plenty of clubs coveting the promising coach.
      He joined Burnley, but his world was rocked a year later when his beloved mum Anne passed away.
      Howe was living over 250 miles away in Manchester at the time, and he couldn’t carry on at the Clarets.
      He returned back to Bournemouth in 2012. Three years later he got them promoted to the Premier League.
      He told Bournemouth’s Daily Echo:  “My mum’s death certainly changed my perspective on a lot of things – on life, my career and everything.
      “When something like that happens, it makes you re-evaluate and realise what’s really important.
      “It was incredibly difficult to deal with and still is. When you lose someone you love so suddenly, it is very hard to take.
      Eddie Howe had a brief spell at Burnley from 2011-2012Credit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
      Eddie Howe quit Burnley after his mum Anne Howe passed away in 2012Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      “But when you can’t grieve properly because you are so far away and detached, it is even harder to deal with.
      “That is why coming back to this area and to this football club was a real comfort to me.
      “It certainly had a big impact in my personal life and made me a lot happier off the pitch. I was closer to people who had been affected and could also help them.
      “There were two totally different sides to coming back – the football part and the family side. They are totally different and there were more reasons to me coming back than I could ever talk about publicly.”
      Eddie Howe returned back to Bournemouth and led them to the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      DEDICATES IT ALL TO MUM
      Eddie realises that he is where he is today because of how he was brought up by his mum, who he’s incredibly thankful for.
      He told The Telegraph: “I do think the way I was brought up by my mum and the foundations she set me played a big part.
      “Most people will say that your parents and your childhood experiences are so important.
      “I certainly believe that to be the case for me. I was given some very good advice. I was brought up in a loving family and it has made me very focused on my work.
      Eddie Howe believes he is where he is because of his upbringingCredit: Getty – Contributor
      “Her passing away has fired me to try to achieve more in memory of her.
      “She lived for her kids, really … growing up in a house full of boys with football always around.
      “Steve and I were football mad and certainly inspired each other to play.
      “It’s usually the dads who are out in the park kicking ball around until late but it was really me with my brothers.
      “It was very much us with our mum, walking the dog or watching or sometimes acting as a goalkeeper!
      “She would support us in whatever we wanted to do and sometimes that was making the numbers up.
      “She is a big inspiration in my life because I want to carry on the good start she gave me. I want to make sure I don’t put that to waste.”
      It’s fair to say that Eddie has done far from that, which is why Newcastle, Southampton and Co could do far wrong but appoint this Mr Nice Guy.
      Eddie Howe’s half brother was a striker who played on the South CoastCredit: PA:Press Association
      Eddie Howe’s success saw him linked with both the Arsenal and England jobs in the pastCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      in Soccer

      Neymar feels strain of Pele’s legacy, it’s no wonder he says Qatar 2022 will be his final World Cup

      by

      NEYMAR has said that Qatar 2022 will probably be his last World Cup. He will only be 34 when 2026 comes round, but the mental strain is proving too much.
      There is an eerie echo of Pele in all of this. After falling to injury in the early stages of 1962 and being kicked out of 1966, Pele was adamant that he would not play Mexico 70.
      Neymar seems to be feeling the strain of Pele’s legacyCredit: AP
      He relented, of course, and left the global stage on a high. He would have been approaching 34 at the time of the 1974 World Cup. But nothing, not musical pleas or government campaigns, would change his mind.
      Pele remains Brazil’s all time top scorer – a remarkable achievement. South American sides have had many more games since the current marathon World Cup qualification format was introduced in 1996.
      With the lone exception of Brazil, all of the South American top scorers are current or recently retired players.
      And Pele, too, will almost certainly be overtaken by Neymar – perhaps in the course of the Qatar World Cup. This will seem like sacrilege to some.
      But it will be much easier to swallow if Neymar can lead Brazil to their first World Cup triumph in twenty years.
      The air of permanent adolescent makes it hard to believe, but the Paris Saint Germain star will be approaching 31 at Qatar 2022 – almost to the day the age that Pele was when he bowed out of international football with a pair of friendlies in 1971.
      It is an uncanny statistic that highlights the difference in the two careers – and the difficulties of trying to follow in Pele’s footsteps.
      Pele at almost 31 had done it all. He had won the World Cup three times. A brilliant teenager in 1958 and as a mature genius in 1970.
      Before he hit 31, Pele had already won three World Cups with BrazilCredit: Getty
      Neymar has had a torrid time at World Cups with injuriesCredit: Getty – Contributor
      True, injury prevented him doing much in 1962, which is a massive shame.  Back then he was at the peak of his powers – demonstrated clearly while playing for Santos in the second leg of the Club World Cup at the end of that year.
      The competition, still in its early years, was taken extremely seriously.
      And after only losing 3-2 in Brazil, Benfica of Portugal considered themselves as favourites back in Lisbon.
      Pele ran riot, scoring and making the goals that put Santos five nil up.
      In contrast, the World Cup has been cruel to Neymar. Just too young for 2010, he was forced out of 2014 by injury and, antics aside, did as well in 2018 as could have been expected on his recovery from a lengthy lay-off.
      He was also injured for the 2019 Copa America and missed Brazil’s triumph.
      The 2013 Confederations Cup and Olympic gold three years later are scant consolation.
      Qatar 2022 will define his international career. And the problem is that the bar set by Pele’s generation is so high.
      Pele set the bar high for Brazilians to follow in his footstepsCredit: Rex
      Neymar has said Qatar 2022 could be his last World CupCredit: EPA

      As far as the Brazilian public are concerned, there are only two possible outcomes in a World Cup; either Brazil win, or they lose.
      It is a harsh perspective on a 32-team competition, but that is how it is. And, to go into the gallery of genuine greats, Neymar will have to win.
      It is hardly a surprise, then, that he is feeling the strain.
      Neymar shows off incredible £10m personalised Mercedes helicopter More