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      in Soccer

      Footballers who have had their teeth fixed, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Roberto Firmino

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      MOVE over Paul Merson, Joe Jordan and Craig Burley… footballers in the modern world now want perfect teeth!The world’s best players and managers believe teeth hygiene is important, with many now investing thousands of pounds in getting their gnashers whitened and fixed.
      Joe Jordan was happy to play without his front teeth back in the 80sCredit: Getty – Contributor
      After all, with their lives under public scrutiny these sporting giants have made sure they will look their best on and off the pitch.
      Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Philippe Coutinho are just some who have invested money in their smiles… it’s definitely a marked improvement.
      Cristiano Ronaldo
      While at United Cristiano Ronaldo was in desperate need of a good dentistCredit: Reuters
      The Juventus legend always wears a grin these days, and it’s all because he has perfect teeth.
      When he was a teenager at Man United, they were slightly wonky, yellow and it’s fair to say his smile was gummy.
      Since becoming a global icon Cristiano Ronaldo has completely reinvented his teethCredit: AFP or licensors
      But after a few good years of solid wages earned at the Red Devils and Real Madrid, he wore a brace, had corrective surgery, whitened them up and now looks the superstar he is.
      Gareth Bale
      Before he was a global superstar Gareth Bale had yellow teethCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      Like Ronaldo, Gareth knew he had to invest in his looks to be recognised as one of the world’s leading talents.
      Once a pale teenage prodigy, he slapped on some fake tan. But it was his teeth that he really went to town on.
      As a Real Madrid star Gareth Bale improved his looks no endCredit: AFP or licensors
      Once neglected, they’re now pearly white and go nicely with the white of Real Madrid and Tottenham’s jerseys.
      Philippe Coutinho
      Philippe Coutinho wanted to get his teeth fixedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Growing up in Rio de Janeiro, it will be easy for any Brazilian kid to have poor teeth without proper access to a good dentist.
      So, as soon as Philippe hit the big time, he got his teeth whitened and he regularly beams his gnashers towards journalists in press conferences and on social media.
      Philippe Coutinho has teeth as dazzling as his play
      The Brazilian playmaker doesn’t look out of place among Barcelona’s elite, who boast a superstar squad full of prime examples of sports stars with great teeth too.
      Brendan Rodgers
      Brendan Rodgers teeth were in a frightful state when he first arrived at LiverpoolCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      Even managers aren’t immune to a little vanity here and there.
      Step-forward Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers, who has perfectly white teeth now he’s managed some top clubs.
      In his earlier press conferences, the Northern Irishman flashed a rotten smile that had us reaching for some floss.
      Brendan Rodgers is in the Champions League when it comes to dental hygieneCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow
      However, in recent years Brendan’s teeth are as impressive as Leicester’s form – absolutely sparkling.
      They even look good on the continent.
      Ronaldinho
      Ronaldinho was defined by his buck teeth lookCredit: Empics
      The former world’s best player was a bit slow on the up-take when it came to visiting the dentist.
      Throughout his playing days, Ronaldinho’s buck teeth were infamous not just because they stuck out, but also because they were yellower than the sun.
      Ronaldinho now has even more reason to smile with whiter teethCredit: Alamy Live News
      Now, Ron has more to smile about, not that he didn’t wear a smile on the pitch whenever he played.
      Wonder if he regrets not getting them done sooner?
      Gary Lineker
      Gary Lineker urgently needed to whiten his yellow teethCredit: Reuters
      The former Spurs and England legend didn’t have bad teeth during his playing days. However, they did need a good polish!
      Lineker now sports a proud set of sparkly whites presenting Match of the Day.
      Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker reportedly spends £500 whitening his gnashersCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The TV personality reportedly pays around £500 to get his teeth whitened by a top Harley Street dentist. The results are really remarkable.
      Roberto Firmino
      Roberto Firmino arrived in England with bad teethCredit: PA:Press Association
      It looks like Firmino shares the same dentist as his former team-mate Coutinho, if comparable snaps of the Brazilian are evidence enough.
      The hotshot forward has been a shining light for Liverpool since arriving on our shores and his teeth aren’t dull either.
      Now Roberto Firmino has the brightest teeth ever seen on a footballerCredit: Prime Media
      In fact, they might just be the brightest teeth known to humankind, and we’ve seen them brightening up stadiums around the Premier League this year.
      Judging by photos of when Firmino first arrived on our shores, he’s had them whitened and had some of the chips filled in too.
      Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino show off their pearly whitesCredit: Instagram, @roberto_firmino
      Jurgen Klopp
      Jurgen Klopp’s teeth needed whiteningCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
      There really is something in the water at Anfield…
      His football teams are dazzling, but his teeth certainly needed a good clean.
      So, it was no surprise that Klopp had decided enough was enough, out with the decay and in with a set of new teeth.
      Now Jurgen Klopp just loves to show off his new smileCredit: Reuters
      Klopp’s pearly whites have been proudly on display all season, although they’ve certainly been brighter than his team this campaign.
      Not only are they whitened, it looks like he’s had veneers fitted.

      Then there’s Jose, the dentist whisperer…
      Jose Mourinho believes perfect teeth make for perfect performanceCredit: PA:Press Association
      Spurs boss Jose Mourinho is reportedly a stickler for dental hygiene and insists his squads get checked by a dentist.
      When the Portuguese manager first arrived at Old Trafford, he reportedly insisted the whole squad went for a check-up.
      Jose Mourinho got a dentist to check his Man United team’s teethCredit: –
      He was said to have done the same at Chelsea, because he believes that having better teeth improves performance.
      While there’s no scientific evidence to suggest that, the British Journal of Sports Medicine claimed that the dental health of footballers is “poor and affects performance” in a recent study.
      Jose Mourinho has had great success with a team that has perfect teethCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      And who are we to argue with ‘The Special One’ who has won many titles over the years for various clubs. More

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      in Soccer

      Hannah Dingley is the first female to be head of an academy, and has been linked with the vacant Forest Green Rovers job

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      THE EFL certainly isn’t afraid of challenging stereotypes.Earlier this month, referee Rebecca Welch made history when she became the first female to officiate a men’s football league fixture.
      Hannah Dingley has been linked with the vacant managerial post at Forest Green RoversCredit: Rex
      And now, League Two’s eco-friendly Forest Green Rovers are giving serious consideration to hiring the first ever female manager in football league history.
      Owner Dale Vince has already shown an aptitude for change by cultivating an environmental-approach to the running of Rovers, as well as introduced their fans to a full-vegan menu.
      Reports suggest he could be set to hire from within and replace sacked Mark Cooper with Hannah Dingley.
      And the trailblazing coach has a head start, knowing the club inside out thanks to her current role as head of the club’s academy.
      A PLETHORA OF CANDIDATES
      In the days after Cooper was fired from his post, Vince revealed he received over 70 applications for the vacant managerial’s role.
      The green energy industrialist also said he wasn’t afraid to do something groundbreaking with his next appointment, and naming a female coach as his next manager wasn’t as far-fetched as it seems.
      “Our starting place is to have no prejudices,” Vince explained.
      Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince has said he’s considering making a groundbreaking appointmentCredit: PA
      Chelsea Women coach Emma Hayes was previously linked with a job in the men’s game at AFC WimbledonCredit: Getty
      “It’s entirely feasible we will appoint a type of coach that has not yet been seen in English football.”
      Back in February, Chelsea Women gaffer Emma Hayes was touted as a potential candidate for the top job at AFC Wimbledon.
      Vince understands that it’s time women get the same opportunities as their male counterparts, and he could be about to make a revolutionary change.
      He continued: “We don’t do things conventionally, we’re not constrained by the way things are always done and we’re quite pleased to be in a position where we can choose with a blank slate approach and say, ‘Let’s find the very best person for the job’.
      “Football is in need of evolution and change.”
      HISTORY MAKER
      Almost two years ago, Hannah Dingley was named head of Forest Green Rovers academy.
      It completed a remarkable journey for the ambitious coach, who has always had an incredible passion for the game.
      Dingley is currently head of the Forest Green Rovers academyCredit: Rex
      Forest Green Rovers, who released a kit made entirely from recycled plastic and coffee beans, are one of football’s most forward-thinking clubs
      She played at her primary school in a mixed team, but was not allowed to play from the age of 11 to 16 because she was a girl.
      Dingley told SunSport in 2019: “Those were the rules. At primary school you could play with the boys, but in secondary school boys were expected to play football and rugby and girls were made to play netball and hockey.
      “We lived in a small village and there were no nearby girls’ teams.”
      Dingley didn’t get the opportunities to develop her own ability as a player, so instead she turned to the next best thing.
      LEARNING THE GAME
      Determined to make her breakthrough in football, Dingley took on a work experience at Swansea.
      There, she studied first-team training sessions and was encouraged to take the pathway to coaching.
      She enrolled on a BTEC in Football Studies course at a college in Llanelli and was the only girl in her class.
      Dingley believes ability, not gender, determines successCredit: Rex Features
      “I was very single-minded. No one was going to stop me,” she said.
      Dingley also has a degree in PE and sports and sciences from Loughborough University, as well her Uefa Pro badges.
      COACH DINGLEY
      Having earned her stripes in the men’s game, Dingley deserves to be considered for a manager’s role at a senior men’s side.
      Before she was hired by Forest Green Rovers in 2019, she worked her way up to head of coaching at Burton.
      There was also stints at non-league clubs – notably as a first-team coach at Hinckley and assistant manager of Gresley for four years.
      Mark Cooper was sacked by Forest Green Rovers over the weekendCredit: PA
      Dingley, sat with her academy staff, could fill Cooper’s hot-seatCredit: Rex

      She has seen it all. “Fights on the pitch, fights off the pitch, handbags all over the place, lots of shouting and swearing at one another, someone having a sulk and storming off,” Dingley divulged.
      “But I must say everyone has been accepting and welcoming of me. I’ve learned that at first there is a feeling of, ‘Oh, she is a woman’, because of those unconscious biases I speak about.
      “But once I speak, the men all realise I know what I’m talking about.  If you know your stuff, you will succeed — whether you are a man or a woman.”
      Forest Green Rovers’ Jamille Matt’s fingers bent out of shape in horror injury before distraught striker stretchered off More

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      in Soccer

      Real Madrid wonderkid Vinicius Jr destroyed Liverpool, but has to add consistency to his game to become a true great

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      REAL MADRID missed out on Neymar. There was no way they were going to miss out on the next potential Brazilian superstar.And so they took a gamble. Vinicius Junior was a 16-year-old without a professional match to his name when Real spent around £40million on him almost four years ago.
      Vinicius Junior was the star of the show against Liverpool in the Champions LeagueCredit: EPA
      There were no guarantees that an outstanding youth prospect would go on to tip the balance at the highest level.
      The road between promise and reality is long and winding, and plenty of wonderkids have veered off the path along the way.
      But that performance against Liverpool last Tuesday made the transfer fee look like money well spent.
      Vinicius Junior was winning the game for Real Madrid even before he opened the scoring with a superbly taken goal.
      That devastating pace and those extra gears he has were sowing dangerous seeds of doubt in a Liverpool team already lacking confidence in its pressing game.
      They were unsure whether to stick or twist. Jurgen Klopp’s brand of heavy metal cannot be played in unplugged mode, and the young Brazilian was the cause of the confusion.
      Liverpool were too scared of him to press with conviction, leaving Toni Kroos with the space to hit Vinicius with raking passes over the top.
      Football pace is never just pure speed. It is changes of rhythm, choosing the right moment to go through the gears and, if it is going to end up in goals, being able to decelerate and keep the head still enough to finish with precision.
      £40m signing Vinicius Junior terrorised Liverpool with his paceCredit: EPA
      Zinedine Zidane is finally get the best out of Brazilian Vinicius Junior four years after he joined Los BlancosCredit: EPA
      So there was much more than velocity to admire in the two goals that Vinicius scored in Real Madrid’s 3-1 first leg win.
      There was the timing of the run for the first goal, and the way he broke off from the defender on the second.
      And there was the accuracy of his shooting, with two well placed attempts beating Brazil’s first choice goalkeeper.
      EARLY PROMISE
      This was the Champions League equivalent of the moment in South America’s Copa Libertadores when Vinicus Junior first indicated that he was on the way to being something special.
      It was March 2018. Real Madrid had already signed him, but he was too young to move across the Atlantic and so was still playing for Flamengo of Rio.
      They were a goal down away to Emelec of Ecuador when Vinicius was brought off the bench.
      He turned defeat into triumph with two wonderful goals. Despite the disappointment of watching their team lose, the Emelec fans sensed that they had been in the presence of something out of the ordinary.
      At the final whistle they queued up to have their photo taken with the teenage phenomenon.
      As a teenager Vinicius Jr exploded onto the scene with Flamengo before moving to SpainCredit: EPA
      Vinicius Jr has to add consistency to his game if he is to become a true greatCredit: Rex

      The question now is whether he can produce Tuesday’s level of performance on a regular basis.
      Doubts remain about his finishing and decision making – it is hardly surprising that someone who moves at that pace has problems with precision.  Was the first leg a fluke?
      There is no better place to prove that it was not than the second leg. 
      Liverpool are obliged to chase the game at Anfield. Hitting Vinicius on the counter attack will surely be a key part of Real Madrid’s strategy.
      Another match winning display will show that true greatness is within his grasp.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Real Madrid looking to cash in on Vinicius Jr after former £39m wonderkid branded ‘next Neymar’ hits ‘rock bottom’ More

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      in Boxing

      Meet Joe Smith Jr, the man who KO’d Bernard Hopkins, has his own tree surgeon business, and is aiming for a world title

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      JOE SMITH JR sits back in his chair, ponders the question posed to him, looks around the room, thinks a little more, and comes to a decision. “The craziest moment of his career?” he asks back. “I mean, looking back… Andrzej Fonfara, Bernard Hopkins, there have been some amazing times and unexpected moments in my career.

      “This Saturday I’m hoping to do that again and finally secure myself a world championship.”
      It’s been a long road for Smith Jr. He’s a simple man who’s lived the ultimate life of labour, sprinkled with lashings of the extraordinary.
      He began boxing at 13 at Heavy Hitters Gym in Ronkonkoma and began work, cutting down trees with his father, just a few short years later, before getting more fruitful work with Laborers Local 66 in Long Island, New York, where he grew up.
      Smith Jr held the constriction gig on his back but ploughed forward with a full-time pro boxing career in his sights, picking up the opportunities that worked their ways into his path.
      Signed to Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, it was time for Smith Jr to start seizing those opportunities. And he did, despite opening up as a 33/1 underdog in a fight with Fonfara in 2016.

      Smith Jr smashed Fonfara around the ring for over two minutes before the referee stopped proceedings in the first round. His next opponent? Only the legendary Bernard Hopkins, a fight in which he was another sizeable underdog.
      Hopkins never returned to the ring after his evening with Smith Jr. B-Hop was sent tumbling through the ropes, onto the arena floor and into retirement by a much stronger and hungrier man. TKO8.
      Smith Jr returned to work on the construction site the week after.
      “I literally went back to work after the Hopkins fight, just that week later,” he reminisces. “I worked for a couple weeks then I realised I had other big fights coming up. I stayed there a little longer but then when we opened our own business I stopped working full-tine.
      “I walked into the job site after the Hopkins fight and the guys were like ‘what the hell are you doing here? You just fought a legend knocked him out and you’re back here at work? Something’s off!’ I was like ‘I need to make money!’.

      Losses to Sullivan Barrera and Dimitry Bivol have followed, but so have emphatic wins over Jesse Hart and Eleider Alvarez.
      Next is Maxim Vlasov, for the vacant WBO light-heavyweight world title. And he’s finally the bookies’ favourite.
      The construction work has stopped, but Smith Jr now runs his own tree service business, Team Smith Tree Services, with his father. The dirty work now gets left to his own workers, while he gets down to business in the ring.
      But there was a time where Smith Jr wasn’t so convinced his boxing career would lead to anywhere special. Enter trainer Jerry Capobianco.
      The vacant WBO Light Heavyweight title is 𝙊𝙁𝙁𝙄𝘾𝙄𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙔 on the line in Tulsa. 👑⚖️ Joe Smith Jr. – 174.8 lbs⚖️ Maxim Vlasov – 175 lbs#SmithVlasov | TOMORROW | ESPN & ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/dZfUmgKV6e— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) April 9, 2021

      Smith Jr adds: “My trainer Jerry, he said ‘give me everything you’ve got for a few years and I’ll make you a world champion’. At first I was like ‘you crazy?’. But as my career went on I started getting the bigger fights I knew this guy wasn’t lying to me.
      “Now, I go into every fight the same way, that guy there opposite me is there to hurt me, he’s trying to take away what’s mine so I’ve got to go in there and stop him from doing that.”
      A big win over Vlasov sets up a huge unification fight with current 175lb king Artur Beterbiev, who turned 36 in January.
      “It’s going to be there that Beterbiev fight,” Smith Jr says.

      “I just need to win and set up an opportunity like that for myself. That’s the main thing on my mind, stay focussed on this fight, do whatever it takes to win and there’ll be some huge opportunities to come.
      “We’ll see what happens in the ring with Vlasov but I’m going to go after the stoppage of course.
      “He’s an aggressive fighter. He comes forward, throws a lot of punches.
      “A lot of the guys I’ve fought are more boxers and counter-punchers. But Vlasov will be busy and aggressive. Whatever he brings I’m prepared for it all.
      “I can’t wait to get in there on Saturday night. It’s been a long time coming, I can’t wait to put that belt above my head and walk out as a champion.”

      Newly married to his long-time girlfriend Kelly Reilly, Smith Jr plans to spend his hopeful post-win months relaxing back in Long Island, by the water where he can jet-ski. More simpleness accompanied by thrill.
      “I’m a big jet-skier,” he says. “I love going out on the boat too. That’s the sort of stuff I love to do.
      “I’m looking forward to the summer, once I win this fight we’ll go jet-skiing right by my house in Long Island. I can’t wait.” More

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      in Soccer

      Chelsea coach Neil Bath is the man behind Blues’ youth academy, and has developed £500 million worth of amazing talent

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      IN 2004, after 12 years with the club, Chelsea named Neil Bath as their academy director.Little did anyone know at that time, if you fast-forward 17 years, the fruits of his labours would be dominating the football landscape in England and overseas.
      Chelsea’s head of youth development Neil Bath has run the club’s brilliant academy since 2004 moulding £500m worth of talentCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      When the die-hard Blues fan, now 55, was installed in his new position he set about completely restructuring the West Londoner’s youth programme – with a greater emphasis on procuring and developing the best talent in London and the South-East.
      In the last year, the likes of Porto slayer Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Reece James, Callum Hudson-Odoi have been testament to his work – heralding a new dawn in the Chelsea first team of talented youngsters.
      While another Bath protege, Andreas Christensen made his 100th appearance in a Chelsea shirt in the FA Cup fifth round tie against Barnsley – the first academy graduate since John Terry to achieve that feat.
      And just as impressive are the ones who the club let go, including Declan Rice, Nathan Ake, Ryan Bertrand, Tariq Lamptey and more.
      German website Transfermarkt, which offers conservative transfer values of players, crunched the numbers.

      However, taking into account Hudson-Odoi was subject to a £70million bid from Bayern Munich in 2020, the transfer fees could be at least double those suggested figures.
      All in all, through the years, SunSport believes Bath has remarkably overseen the development – on and off the pitch – of around £500million worth of football talent.

      ‘AN INSPIRATION’

      In 2020, Bath, now head of youth development, was recipient of the Eamonn Dolan award in recognition of his excellent work in youth development for Chelsea.
      His former students queued up to pay their tributes to the man who moulded them into the players they are today for a clip on Chelsea TV.
      Mason Mount called Neil Bath an inspiration to him who helped him achieve his dream to play for ChelseaCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Tammy Abraham, lifting the FA Youth Cup, revealed his years working with Bath were the “best of his life”Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Mason Mount was one of the many graduates who shared his gratitude for his former coach. “I have nothing but praise to say about Neil,” he said.
      “He’s an inspiration to us all – all the academy players coming through.
      “I started in the academy when I was six-years-old and he helped me so much.
      “The way the academy is set up, the way we work, when we’re younger it puts us in the right mould to push us and keep getting better and better.
      “The winning mentality that he brings, it shows in every game we try to play and try to win, and it shows in the youth academy with how many trophies we’ve won.”
      While Tammy Abraham revealed his days working with Bath were the “best years of his life”.
      “He’s shown so much belief in the young lads and myself, and that’s what drew me to Chelsea,” he divulged.
      Bath chats with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in 2007Credit: AFP – Getty
      Former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard and his assistant Jody Morris show their appreciation for BathCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      ‘What they are doing at the academy is an amazing job, there’s nothing like it.
      “Them years I had in the academy were probably the best years of my life.”
      15 YEARS IN THE MAKING
      From the offset, Bath, who began working for Chelsea in 1992 as a part-time schoolboys’ coach, focused on developing Premier League talent, once a significant investment was made into the academy.
      In the exciting revamp, the club relocated its youth and first-team training facilities from Harlington to Cobham.
      As he put it on Chelsea’s website back in 2019, it was a plan that was 15 years in the making.
      “It’s what we’ve been working towards for 15 years since we restructured the Academy in 2004,” he said.
      “We’ve always been very clear that our job is not really to win youth trophies year after year, but to develop and produce Chelsea and Premier League players.”
      Bath added: “We have to set our ambitions high because we want to be the best football academy in the world and the number one choice for players and parents.”
      Chelsea fan Bath explained his masterplan was 15 years in the makingCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Bath oversees everything at the academy, here standing with Joe Edwards, ex-assistant manager Jody Morris and U23 Manager Andy MyersCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      PROOF IS IN THE WINNING
      Turning rough diamonds into winners is, perhaps, the hardest thing to do in youth football.
      But since 2010, Chelsea have proved their academy to be, if not the best, one of the most successful in world football.
      They’ve won the FA Youth Cup an astonishing seven times during that period, including five in a row from 2014 – equalling the record of the infamous Busby Babes of Manchester United that stood for 50 years.
      Their U18s have been national champions twice and southern champions four times.

      While on the European stage, the kids have won the Uefa Youth League twice.
      But it’s not all about making first class footballers. Developing the boy into a respectful and educated man is also part of the process.
      Bath has spoken in the past how he and his assistant Jim Fraser understand the importance of that.
      “We’re currently the reigning Premier League champions from Under-13 to U16, which is a really positive sign,” he said in 2019, “and we’ve just achieved our best-ever GCSE results.
      Chelsea’s youth teams have tasted incredible success since 2010Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Mason Mount lifts the FA Youth Cup in 2017 alongside Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi who are now first team starsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Ola Aina, Nathaniel Chalobah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Nathan Ake and Kurt Zouma pose with the Premier League trophy 2017Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      “We need to make sure these boys have all the characteristics and attributes, as footballers and as young men, to follow the likes of Ruben, Mason, Fikayo and Tammy.
      “When first-team coaching staff speak so highly about them as people, how they are humble and respectful, how they work so hard every day and set the standards in training, that’s also incredibly nice to hear and reinforces the culture we have built.”
      THE ONES THAT GOT AWAY
      Of course, not every young player is going to make it – that is the harsh reality of football.
      For every Mount, Loftus-Cheek, Abraham or Christensen there’s a Declan Rice, Eddie Nketiah, Tariq Lamptey and Nathan Ake that had to prove their worth elsewhere, and who would now command huge transfer fees.
      But perhaps the biggest star who slipped through the net was Kylian Mbappe.
      In 2012, the French superstar, then 13, was invited for a trial to Cobham. However, when he was asked to return for another trial, his mum refused point black.
      Daniel Boga, who worked as an international scout at Chelsea until 2014, explained to Goal: “He took a trial and didn’t end up convincing us because he didn’t offer enough defensively.
      “So, they asked his mother if he could come back for a second trial and she said no.”
      Mbappe was playing at a small club in the suburbs of Paris called Bondy at that time, and his mum Fayza believed he was destined for the top.
      Kylian Mbappe was on trial at Chelsea, but didn’t impress Blues coaches
      £70m-rated West Ham star Declan Rice was schooled at Chelsea’s academy before he was released in 2014Credit: Rex Features
      “My son will not go back, either they sign him now or within five years they’ll have to offer 50 million euros to tie him down,” she said as per Boga.
      The reason for Chelsea’s reluctance to sign Mbappe on the spot was that they didn’t see enough quality in him when he wasn’t with the ball.

      “Defensively, he wasn’t quite there,” Boga said.
      “When he received the ball he was incredible, but without the ball he didn’t do much.”
      It goes to show, you have to do more to impress Bath and his team to get your chance to learn at this fame academy.
      Mason Mount reacts to grabbing his first Champions League goal in Chelsea’s 2-0 away win against Porto More

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      in Soccer

      Man Utd kid Anthony Elanga, 18, idolised Arsenal legend Thierry Henry growing up and his dad was Cameroon World Cup star

      by

      MANCHESTER United’s youngsters have profited from the club’s Europa League campaign by getting valuable minutes and experience on the pitch.And we could see exciting forward Anthony Elanga handed his opportunity next, after he was seen getting on a plane to Granada for the quarter-final tie.
      Anthony Elanga is the latest promising talent coming through the Man Utd ranksCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      18-year-old forward and Swedish youth star Elanga won the prestigious Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award last seasonCredit: Sportsfile
      Elanga was spotted on the flight to Granada for the Europa League quarter-final tieCredit: Getty
      The 18-year-old Swedish youth star is the latest talent off the United conveyor belt that could be set for his debut in the competition.
      His dad Joseph was a professional footballer, who earned 17 caps for Cameroon and was called up to the 1998 World Cup squad.
      Last season, Anthony was handed the prestigious Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award, previously won by Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood.
      Elanga was rewarded for his rapid progress with a new long-term deal at Old Trafford.
      KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY
      Anthony’s father Joseph could say he taught him everything he knew.
      But the elder Elanga, now 41, wasn’t a forward like his son. He was a defender, who made a career for himself in Europe – in countries including Greece, Sweden and Denmark, before retiring in 2012.
      His best years were with Malmo from 2000-2005, who he won the Swedish championship with in 2004. He would join the club for one season again in 2010 and win a second league title.
      Joseph was a member of the Cameroon 1998 World Cup squad, but didn’t play a game.
      During his career, however, he did manage to gain 17 caps for his country.
      Joseph Elanga played in Europe for clubs including Malmo and Brondby (pictured here)Credit: Getty
      Elanga Sr played 17 times for Cameroon and was picked for their 1998 World Cup squadCredit: Alamy
      A THREAT UPFRONT
      United’s youth sides are blessed with promising forwards, with the likes of Shola Shoretire, Charlie McNeill and Dillon Hoogewerf all showing they have a bright future in the game.
      Like them, Elanga has the ability to play out wide or though the middle as a No9.
      Predominantly right-footed, he uses his pace and skill to beat his man, often cutting in before unleashing a shot on goal.
      His solo runs are reminiscent of a young Ryan Giggs, who could take three or four players out of a game in one swashbuckling gallop.
      Elanga has been with the Red Devils since the U12s, joining the academy from Sunday League side Hattersley FC.
      In March Elanga signed a long-term deal with the Red DevilsCredit: Getty
      Elanga has an eye for goal, scoring six times in 12 games for the U23s this seasonCredit: Getty
      Predominantly right-footed, Elanga likes to drift to the left and cut in towards goalCredit: Getty

      In 2019-20, after a prolific season with the U18 side with who he scored seven times in nine games, he was the recipient of the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award
      This season, he graduated to the U23s, where he has six goals and two assists in 12 Premier League 2 games. But his season was recently disrupted by a broken collarbone.
      HOPEFUL FOR THE FUTURE
      With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer giving youth a chance, Elanga – who scored two goals in five matches for Sweden’s U17s – has already excited the Norwegian boss in training.
      “He’s got an X factor, some attributes, it’s not like a gift, but he’s got the acceleration, pace, speed, that’s a given for wingers and he’s got qualities I like,” Solskjaer explained.
      “He’s a goalscoring winger, he’s confident, he likes to beat men, right foot, left foot, he’s got a great attitude.”

      Humble Elanga understands he has to work hard to achieve his goal of first team footballCredit: Instagram anthonyelanga
      Elanga can see a pathway to the United first team after seeing the likes of Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood flourish under Ole Gunnar SolskjaeerCredit: Getty
      Elanga is equally as positive for his future, and knows what he has to do to impress his boss.
      Back in November he told PA, “You look at the likes of Mason and Rashy, there is a pathway there.
      “It just shows you that if you’re willing to put the work into it and continue to work hard day in, day out in training there’s a pathway for you there.”
      HEROES IN THE GAME
      In an interview with The Athletic last year, Elanga revealed who he styles his game on.
      “Thierry Henry was my idol and I tried to match my game with his,” he said.
      “He was quick. He could play anywhere across the front three – striker, left wing, right wing – and that’s how I want to replicate my game.”

      Solskjaer says Elanga has an X-Factor about him and a promising futureCredit: Getty
      Elanga idolises Thierry Henry and tries to copy his hero’s gameCredit: Getty

      Manchester United legend Gary Neville caught a glimpse of Elanga in full flight, when he co-commentated on United Under-21s 6-0 win over Salford City in the EFL Trophy last year.
      He said the youngster was a “nightmare to play against” and called his goal “Thierry Henry-esque.”
      If he’s half the player Henry was, United have got themselves some talent here.
      Solskjaer says Man Utd striker Marcus Rashford in doubt for Granada match More

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      in Soccer

      How Chelsea star Thiago Silva almost died from tuberculosis aged 21, and his wife saved his career

      by

      THIAGO Silva is one of the best defenders of his generation, but over a decade ago the Brazilian was weeks away from death after catching tuberculosis.The Chelsea centre back, 36, was diagnosed with the bacterial infection while at Dynamo Moscow in 2005.
      Chelsea centre back Thiago Silva became one of the best defenders of his generation after tuberculosis scareCredit: Getty
      In 2005 while playing for Dynamo Moscow Silva was diagnosed with tuberculosisCredit: Dynamo Moscow
      At just 21 years old, Silva was hospitalised for six months while Russian doctors treated him for the condition he contracted six months before the illness was detected.
      The tuberculosis was so advanced, docs even considered removing part of his lungs to ensure his survival.
      But his mother, Angela, and wife, Isabelle stepped in and advised against surgery that would’ve put pay to Silva’s football dreams before it had even started.
      “That would have ended my career, I needed guardian angels to take me away,” Silva told AP.
      DEFENSIVE DYNAMO
      Silva was signed by Dynamo from Porto in January, 2005 for a fee of around £3.5m.
      Despite not playing a single game for the Portuguese giants, other than a smattering of matches in the reserves in the second division, Dynamo took a punt on the unknown entity.
      The Russian club’s President, Alexei Fedorychev had big plans for Dynamo that year, bringing in seven players from Portugal that January.
      He even appointed experienced Brazilian manager Ivo Wortmann to ensure the language barrier wasn’t a problem for any new arrivals and his team could challenge for the Premier League.
      But club doctors were surprised that Silva was getting tired so quickly.
      Silva goes toe-to-toe with Robert Lewandowski in the Champions League finalCredit: Manu Fernandez
      They also were shocked that most of their new recruits were bought without proper medical checks.
      Silva became very ill, suffering with symptoms including a high temperature, coughing fits and severe sweating.
      Clearly it wasn’t a case of the flu, he was sent to hospital where doctors conducted a series of tests to determine what was wrong.’TWO WEEKS FROM DEATH’
      They were stunned to learn he was suffering from tuberculosis, and had been for six months prior to their discovery.
      Simply put, doctors told him he was two weeks away from death and was extremely lucky the disease was caught when it was.
      “In 2005 I was sent out on loan to Dynamo Moscow, but the city was horrible, I was cold and got ill,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport magazine Sport Week back in 2011.
      “I was in hospital for six months. I was 10kg overweight and, despite everyone else in the hospital being so skinny and not wanting to eat, I was always hungry.
      Doctors said Silva was two weeks away from death if he remained untreatedCredit: AFP or licensors
      “My mother said I didn’t look ill, but I couldn’t move.
      “The doctors would tell me to get up and go for a walk, but I couldn’t do it. This disease is also contagious, so I was put in isolation, only able to play computer games and go on the internet.
      “Every now and then a doctor would come in and give me an injection, three or four times a day, plus 10-15 pills.
      “I eventually found out that I’d had tuberculosis for six months. The doctors said if another two weeks had passed, I might not have been able to recover.
      “I almost died. This is why, whenever I play, I think back to those moments in Russia.”THREAT TO HIS CAREER
      During his treatment, medical staff advised the central defender he needed to have a part of his right lung cut out to survive the ordeal.
      Effectively, that would’ve meant he would have to quit football.
      Thiago Silva’s wife Isabelle went against doctors’ advice of surgery to remove some of his lungCredit: Instagram @thiagosilva_33
      Brazilian star Thiago Silva’s mum Angela convinced her son to carry on playingCredit: Bruno Henrique/ Divulgação
      “I told them no one would open my husband up and end his dream,” wife Isabelle told AP.
      “I am not a doctor, but no one believed he should go through surgery.
      “To see him wearing the Brazil shirt is a victory for us all, especially those that know him from those days.”
      During that dark time, Silva thought about retiring, despite being given a clean bill of health. It was the second time in his life he considered quitting the game.
      “I had thought of quitting football altogether,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport magazine Sport Week.
      “There was another occasion when I went to Flamengo for a trial and after two sessions they said I could go, as I was no better than any of the players they already had.
      “I told my mother I didn’t want to play football anymore, as nobody wanted me.
      “However, she said in that case I’d have to go work for my brother, so I immediately changed my mind and looked for another club!”
      SECOND COMING
      Silva’s adventure/nightmare in Russia ended in 2006 when he returned back to his homeland with Fluminense.
      Ivo Wortmann gave Thiago Silva a second chance at FluminenseCredit: Coritiba
      At Fluminense, Thiago Silva managed to rebuild his careerCredit: AFP – Getty
      Thiago Silva earned a move to AC Milan in 2009 and has since become one of the world’s best defendersCredit: Getty – Contributor
      His redemption came from a familiar face too. Wortmann, a man responsible for bringing him to Dynamo in the first place, had moved back to Brazil too.

      Believing in Silva’s talent, he told Fluminense he’d be their coach if they bought his protege too.
      They did, and the rest, as they say, is history. Silva showed his promise, earning moves to AC Milan, PSG and now Chelsea.
      And he could finish his first year in London as a Champions League winner.
      talkSPORT set out minimum expectations for Chelsea next season amid busy transfer window More