Sport Features

Subterms

    More stories

    • 238 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Mykonos is the luxury hotspot loved by footballers like Maguire, Alli and girlfriend Ruby Mae with clubs and beaches

      by

      THERE’S no need to whisper it quietly, Mykonos is enjoying a renaissance among football’s elite.
      The glorious Greek island that boasts stunning beaches and nightclubs played by world-renowned international DJs has become the go-to place for the Premier League’s best.

      18

      Harry Maguire and partner Fern Hawkins have been staying in MykonosCredit: Instagram / @_fernhawkins

      18

      Ruby Mae, Dele Alli’s girlfriend, showed of their luxury holiday in Mykonos on InstagramCredit: instagram.com/rube_mae
      Particularly attractive this summer, because of its exclusion from the quarantine list (for now), England stars Harry Maguire and Dele Alli, plus Gunners pair Rob Holding and Callum Chambers have recently holidayed there.
      Manchester United trio Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Scott McTominay have also visited the island this summer.
      Danny Drinkwater, Ben Chilwell, Jack Grealish and Tammy Abraham also jetted out at the end of their seasons.
      And here’s what they’ve been enjoying.

      IT’S A BEACH LIFE
      After a long season on grass, nothing will beat the feeling of sand between the toes on the Platis Gialos Beach, while enjoying the searing heat.
      Temperatures in August average 29 degrees during the day, with a low of 24 degrees in the evening.
      So if you’re footballer looking for relaxation and a good tan, you can’t do any worse than Mykonos.
      Ornos is another wonderful spot for peace and quiet, ideal for a footy star and his missus to sunbathe on and enjoy a dip in the sea.

      But the beaches aren’t all about relaxation.
      Just like Ibiza, Mykonos has its own party beaches – Paradise, Super Paradise, and Paraga.
      At night these places come alive.

      18

      Footballers like Kaka are attracted to the beaches of MykonosCredit: The Mega Agency

      18

      Wayne Rooney tops up his tan on holiday in Mykonos in 2017Credit: Splash News

      18

      PSG star Kevin Trapp and Izabel Goulart enjoy a romantic beachside kissCredit: The Mega Agency

      18

      Platis Gialos Beach is commonly used for sunbathing by locals and footballersCredit: Rex Features

      18

      Footballers like Rob Holding enjoy the warm evening temperatures of MykonosCredit: Instagram / @rholding95
      NIGHTLIFE
      Of course, footballers love to let their hair down.
      And they deserve it after giving their all for club and country.
      Lucky for those headed to Mykonos, the nightlife on the island is off the charts – with incredible bars and exclusive nightclubs attracting the biggest VIPs.
      Cavo Paradiso has been regarded as one of the meccas of the dance music scene since it opened its doors 27 years ago.
      The likes of Calvin Harris, Carl Cox, Erick Morillo and Fatboy Slim have all played epic sets for punters at this superclub perched on a hill above Paradise Beach.
      Then there’s the Bonbonniere Mykonos nightspot that’s become the place to be seen since 2015, and has attracted celebrities including Nicole Scherzinger and Lindsay Lohan.
      It boasts the most expensive champagne on the island – delivered to your table in a giant Fabergé Egg.

      18

      Cavo Paradiso is one of the most famous nightclubs in the world

      18

      The Rooneys get ready for a night out on the tiles

      18

      Man Utd star Brandon Williams with girlfriend Shanice Eastmond get ready for a night on the Greek islandCredit: Instagram / @shaniceeastyy
      EATING OUT
      Greek fare – grilled meats and tasty seafood – fit perfectly into an athlete’s diet.
      So any food-conscious footballer will take delight in indulging in the local cuisine.
      The restaurant they tend to flock to is Nammos – a beachfront spot that offers a mix of Greek and Italian specialties, with the occasional Arabic dish tossed in for good measure.
      The Nammos meatballs are a must, while lavish diners will wolf down lobster or crab at prices as much as £100-per-head.
      Standard mains start at around £18, with light sushi also available. It’s not cheap, but you are amongst the jet-set.

      18

      Footballers like Callum Chambers will be conscious of what they eat and still manage a workout while on holiday

      18

      Haute cuisine is prepared at Nammos restaurant
      DELE’S DIGS
      When Dele Alli and his beautiful girlfriend Ruby Mae stay on the island, they opt for the exclusive KENSHŌ Boutique Hotels and Villas in Ornos Beach.
      And they aren’t the only famous faces to have dropped into the five-star resort.
      Over the years supermodels Bella Hadid and Alessandra Ambrosio have soaked in a hot tub or relaxed by their private pools found with their suites.
      And you’d have to be earning footballers’ wages to stay here.

      18

      Ruby Mae poses on the balcony of her suite at KENSHO Boutique Hotels and Villas

      18

      A suite at KENSHO Boutique Hotels and Villas costs around £550-per-night during peak seasonCredit: kenshomykonos.com

      18

      A-list clientele including supermodels Bella Hadid and Alessandra Ambrosio have stayed at KENSHO Boutique Hotels and VillasCredit: kenshomykonos.com

      With prices starting at around £550-per-night, that won’t make a dent in Alli’s £100k-per-week salary.
      KENSHO also boasts a charming restaurant with sea views, serving Asian and Latin dishes.
      If it’s good enough for Dele, it’s good enough for us.

      18

      Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham visited with his partnerCredit: Instagram / @tammyabraham1

      18

      Jack Grealish spent time at a training camp on the island

      18

      Danny Drinkwater and Ben Chilwell met up in MykonosCredit: Instagram @dannydrinkwater

      Dele Alli’s girlfriend Ruby Mae looks stunning as she shows off her hottest party wear More

    • 250 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Chelsea signing Xavier Mbuyamba has been called the ‘new Van Dijk’ and was schooled by Barca at La Masia academy

      by

      BARCELONA’s loss might be Chelsea’s gain.
      The Blues have added towering defender Xavier Mbuyamba to their ranks, after he reportedly cancelled his contract with the La Liga giants.

      8

      Dutch defender Xavier Mbuyamba has been snapped up by ChelseaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      And the 18-year-old Dutch defender comes with the some pedigree.
      Standing at 6ft 5in, not only is he a man-mountain, his composed style has drawn comparisons to Liverpool star Virgil Van Dijk.
      However, he is something of a late bloomer.
      AN UNKNOWN ENTITY
      As is standard with Dutch players coming through the youth system, it’s normally the big two – Ajax and PSV – who have first dibs on the best talents coming through.

      But Mbuyamba slipped through the cracks.
      And he was ignored by the national team at youth level too.
      “It is strange that they never came, but the same applies to the KNVB,” Mbuyamba told Dutch TV station RTL.
      “I was called up for the first time [to the Under-19s squad] in November 2019. The staff immediately said that they thought it strange that I had never been noticed before.”

      8

      At 16 Mbuyamba broke into the MVV Maastricht first teamCredit: Getty – Contributor

      8

      Impressed by his talents, Patrick Kluivert recruited Mbuyamba to the La Masia academyCredit: Instagram mbuyamba.x
      CLUB BREAKTHROUGH
      Mbuyamba made his debut at the age of 16 in the unfashionable Dutch second division with MVV Maastricht.
      Soon, the world’s biggest clubs starting taking notice of him.
      Barcelona academy director Patrick Kluivert invited him for a trial at La Masia.
      Chelsea also registered their interest, and he trained with the West Londoners for a week.
      But, swayed by the prospect of appearing in Barcelona’s B side and then the first team, he opted for the move to Spain in 2019.

      8

      Mbuyamba had hoped to break into Barcelona’s B side this seasonCredit: Instagram mbuyamba.x

      8

      Despite impressing for Barcelona’s under-19 team, Mbuyamba found his chances of progression limitedCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      8

      Mbuyamba bravely decided to leave Barcelona by mutual consentCredit: Instagram mbuyamba.x
      WHERE DID IT ALL GO WRONG?
      Mbuyamba’s hopes of prospering with Barça hit a halt when the B side refused to give him a starting role.
      Having starred for their under-19 team in central defence and at right-back, it was hard for the ambitious centre half to stomach.
      However, a divide between La Masia and the B team was said to be one of the reasons for Mbuyamba’s lack of opportunity at a higher level.
      He also had hoped a loan deal would help him gain valuable first team experience, but Barcelona saw it differently.
      Initially, they demanded around £1.8million for his talents. But his contract was cancelled by mutual consent, and he is now available as a free agent.
      WHAT’S NEXT?
      Chelsea were one of four Premier League clubs who made offers to Mbuyamba.
      Real Madrid, Juventus and other European giants were also monitoring the situation.
      And what are the Blues getting for their money?

      8

      Mbuyamba has been compared to Virgil Van DijkCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      8

      West London is Mbuyamba’s next destinationCredit: Instagram mbuyamba.x

      Powerful aerially, Mbuyamba boasts that same rapid recovery speed Van Dijk utilises to snuff out danger.
      He’s also remarkably comfortable in possession, given his height, and is at ease playing the ball out of defence.
      Lampard will enjoy getting a tune out of him at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground.

      Chelsea ‘make £20m move’ for John Stones as centre back remains top transfer target for Frank Lampard More

    • 288 Shares169 Views

      in Boxing

      Dillian Whyte was shot twice, stabbed three times, and was a dad at just 13 – but still he achieved his boxing dream

      by

      DILLIAN Whyte is set to return to the ring in Eddie Hearn’s back garden to fight Alexander Povetkin this Saturday in a Matchroom Fight Camp finale.
      The plush surroundings are a long way from how far he has come.

      12

      Dillian Whyte’s road to the glory has been anything but smoothCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      12

      The Body Snatcher Whyte was shot twice and stabbed three times before making it in the ringCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      ‘The Body Snatcher’, as he is frighteningly nicknamed, grew up in the concrete jungle of Brixton as a self-confessed thug, where he had to use his fists to get himself out of bother.
      But that didn’t always work when guns and knives were brought to the fight.
      As a street kid, the 31-year-old British heavyweight boxer was shot twice and stabbed three times on the mean streets of South London, as gangs ran rife.
      And as soon as he became a teenager, Whyte’s life changed dramatically when he became a father for the first time.

      However, that hasn’t stopped the 6ft 4in brawler from succeeding in life – who recently saw his name cleared of any doping charges as he still targets a world championship title fight.
      GUNS OF BRIXTON
      Whyte was born in Jamaica in poverty, and his mum left the family home in Portland when he was just a toddler to find a job in London.
      “Man when I was growing up in Jamaica we suffered, suffered, suffered,” he told BBC Sport last year.
      “Some days we couldn’t eat, we’d go to bed hungry. She left me with people who didn’t take very good care of me.

      “They were taking the money my mum was sending and was telling me she wasn’t sending anything.”
      By the age of 12, Whyte and his brother Dean joined his mother in Brixton. But soon he was wayward, corrupted by the cruel, impoverished surroundings he was growing up in.

      12

      Whyte’s mum left the boxer when he was two-years-old in Jamaica and moved to LondonCredit: Instagram

      12

      When Whyte was 12 he moved to Brixton to rejoin his mum
      He was stabbed three times, once sewing himself back together instead of heading to his local A&E at King’s College Hospital in Camberwell.
      Whyte was also shot twice after getting caught in a gang war in Clapham, and painfully had to remove a bullet from his leg because he didn’t want to bother his hard-working mum.
      “I took the bullet out and hid out,” Whyte told The Telegraph.
      “It was out of respect for my mum. I didn’t ever want to bring police to her house.
      “Doesn’t matter what I did or how bad I was, I showed respect for her. If I was ever injured, I couldn’t go to the hospital in case they alerted my mum, so I did what I had to do.”
      At school and growing up on an estate, Whyte was often asked to take on bullies, who he gladly put on their backsides in exchange for change and sandwiches.
      “I’ve always been a fighter,” Whyte told the Daily Mirror. “I’ve never had a choice. Growing up I had to fight to survive.
      “Kids used to pay me to fight bullies for them, I swear. At schools and around my estate. The bullies were older and bigger than me.
      “Sometimes they gave me food, it could be sandwiches or it could be money. I think £2 was the most I got and £2 was a lot back then. You could buy a hell of a lot of sweets for £2 back then.”
      TIME INSIDE CHANGED EVERYTHING

      12

      A threat of spending life behind bars changed Whyte foreverCredit: Dave Pinegar – The Sun
      In his late teens, Whyte found himself in prison in Bristol awaiting trial and facing up to 20 years behind bars.
      An emotional visit from his mum and sister opened his eyes, and he hated seeing them upset.
      “My older brother died and she was saying she didn’t want to lose another son,’ Whyte told the Daily Mail.
      “As bad as I was, I never wanted to disappoint my mum.
      “When she came to the prison in Bristol, she said, ‘Son, we’ve been through so much in life’. I looked at my mum’s face and the tears rolling down her cheeks and I felt bad and I felt ashamed.”
      It made Whyte change his ways for the better.
      BOXING BECAME HIS REDEMPTION

      12

      A life in the ring was soon to save Whyte

      12

      Whyte began life as a kickboxer training at Miguel’s GymCredit: PA:Press Association

      12

      Whyte also competed in the MMA, flooring his only opponent Will Riva
      Whyte needed something to channel his anger and aggression growing up, and he found it in the discipline of boxing.
      It’s fair to say that Miguel’s Gym provided him with the platform to build another life for himself.
      “I didn’t do too well at school, to be honest, but boxing saved me and changed my life,” Whyte once said.
      “And it was going well, because I knew it was my best chance in life.”
      But originally, Whyte tried his hand at professional kickboxing. And he was a success too.
      He was a two-time British heavyweight kickboxing champion, claiming the BIKMA Super Heavyweight British Championship title, and was also a one-time European K1 champion.
      He ended his K1 career with an impressive record of 20 wins and just one loss, before turning to MMA.
      In 2008, he fought at the Ultimate Challenge MMA – defeating Mark Stroud with a hugely destructive left hook only 12 seconds into the first round.
      DADDY DAYCARE
      When he was just 13-years-old, Whyte became a father for the first time. He has since had two more children.
      But it was becoming a teenage dad that meant he had to grow up quick.
      “I was a dad at 13-years-old so I have been looking after kids and I had to rush my mental state, growing up a lot faster,” he told 1 News.

      “When you become a dad it changes everything, where most kids were running around I’m working two jobs and doing other things to get money to feed my children.

      “I’m trying to win these fights so my kids have a good life and make sure they don’t have to struggle the way I struggled.”

      12

      At the age of 13 Whyte became a father for the first time. He has since had two more children
      AMATEUR HOUR
      In 2009, Dillian began a career in boxing at amateur level.
      And for his first fight, at the age of 20, he couldn’t of fought anyone tougher.
      Whyte squared off against future heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua, and in truth he battered him.
      Joshua was floored in one round, with his opponent on the front foot throughout their three-round fight. In the end, Whyte was the victor by unanimous decision.
      In another contest, he left another amateur opponent in a coma after knocking him out – thus earning his vicious ‘The Body Snatcher’ moniker.
      But Whyte’s amateur career was short-lived after a dispute with the ABA regarding his kickboxing background, and he was forced to turn pro in 2011.

      12

      As an amateur, Whyte famously defeated Anthony Joshua

      12

      Whyte, posing with Tyson Fury, also one put an opponent in a coma after knocking him out in a amateur fightCredit: Instagram
      JUST SAY NO
      In 2012, Whyte failed a drug test after his victory over Hungary’s Sandor Balogh.
      He tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine (MHA), which he claimed he mistakingly took with a nutritional supplement called Jack3D, and was handed a two-year ban.
      Whyte appealed a year later, but the ban was upheld even though a tribunal accepted he didn’t knowingly take MHA.
      “The supplement was described on the container as ‘an ultra-intense muscle supplement, giving strength, energy, power and endurance’,” Charles Flint QC, the chairman of the appeal tribunal, said in 2013.
      “It was plainly intended to be a performance-enhancing supplement which an athlete should only take after having taken great care to ensure that it does not contain a prohibited substance.

      ‘STRONGER THAN EVER’
      Holyfield looks incredible for 57 as he works up sweat ahead of return

      shot at history
      Mike Tyson fights Deontay Wilder in simulation of boxing’s biggest punchers

      ANT-AGONIST
      Whyte threatens to CHIN Joshua at Fight Camp and blasts ‘it’s not WWE’

      Exclusive

      LUKE HERE
      Whyte claims Tyson Fury’s real name is LUKE.. and he changed it to sound ‘harder’

      WEIGH TO GO
      Whyte’s amazing body transformation having spent lockdown training in Portugal

      WBC CLASH
      Whyte vs Povetkin: UK start time, live stream, TV channel, undercard & ring walks

      WHYTE ON RICE
      AJ predicts Whyte will struggle vs Povetkin and calls rival out for rematch

      WHYTE NOISE
      AJ won’t face Fury if he is stripped of WBC belt and will take on Whyte instead

      “The athlete took no steps to make any proper enquiries of his manager or coach, any person with medical or anti-doping expertise, or the sports authorities, as to whether the supplement was safe to take.”
      Although that set him back, Whyte is now stronger than ever.
      From life experience alone, he’s certainly worth it.

      12

      Despite a drugs ban in 2012, Whyte has got his career back on trackCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

    • 250 Shares199 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd new boy Marc Jurado holds record for fastest ever youth goal scored for Barcelona at just FIVE seconds

      by

      HE’S no slouch, that’s for sure.
      Manchester United are on the verge of announcing the exciting signing of Marc Jurado, 16, from Barcelona in a deal reported to be worth £1.5million.

      Man Utd have announced the signing of wonderkid Marc Jurado from BarcelonaCredit: PA:Press Association

      Jurado famously scored the fastest ever goal at youth levelCredit: PA:Press Association
      Jurado confirmed the move on Instagram, and is believed to be waiting for international clearance before United announce the deal themselves.
      The Catalans will be sad to see him go, after it was said they offered the galloping right back a three-year contract, which he snubbed.
      And Red Devils fans will be licking their lips at this clip of the incredible talent scoring the fastest recorded youth goal ever – just five seconds after kick off!
      Meet the talent that could become a star at Old Trafford.

      QUICK OFF THE MARK
      Back in 2013, in a game against Viladecans, Jurado made a statement for Barcelona’s U10 side.
      From kick off, the electric defender was switched on to intercept a pass, before racing past two players and cooly slotting the ball past the keeper.
      Not only did it get people talking about him, the strike earned him a place in the record books.
      Jurado’s goal was the fastest ever recorded at youth level – an impressive five seconds.

      After just five seconds from kick off Jurado scored in an U10 game for BarcelonaCredit: PA:Press Association
      WHO IS HE?
      Jurado was born in Sabadell, some 18 miles from Barcelona, in Catalunya.
      He showed promise playing for his local team, CFU Can Rull before he joined La Masia at the tender age of seven.
      Jurado was considered an important part of Barcelona’s future, and after tying down Ansu Fati and Ilaix Moriba to long-term contracts their hierarchy were hopeful Jurado would follow suit.
      But, it is believed that he feels he would have a better chance of first team football playing for United.

      Jurado had been with Barcelona since he was sevenCredit: PA:Press Association
      WHAT KIND OF PLAYER IS HE?
      A modern full-back in the Spanish mould of Bellerin, Jurado does his best work going forward.
      Blessed with bags of pace, he constantly looks to overlap and provide an attacking threat on the right-hand side.
      He was one of the best players in Barcelona’s Cadet A team this season, and it was expected that he was going to promoted to their Juvenil B side.
      HE’S GOT COMPETITION
      As good as Jurado is, he can’t expect to walk straight into United’s team anytime soon.

      Blessed with pace, Jurado is renowned for his galloping runs on the rightCredit: PA:Press Association

      Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 22, has made the right back position his own since arriving from Crystal Palace in a £50million deal, and will take some shifting.
      However, Jurado will offer the England defender the healthy competition for places that every good side needs.
      And in a few years, we might just see a United team dominating again – like they did in the 90s and noughties.

      Man Utd hero Eric Cantona, 53, rolls back the years as he scores amazing volley after effortlessly performing keepy-ups More

    • 238 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Chelsea target Andre Onana became Ajax NO1 after Barcelona snub, and funded an electric grid for his mother’s hometown

      by

      CHELSEA have made the signing of a goalkeeper a priority after £72million Kepa Arrizabalaga’s disastrous tenure between the sticks at Stamford Bridge.
      Their chief transfer target is £30million-rated Ajax NO1 Andre Onana, according to reports.

      9

      Chelsea have made Ajax star Andre Onana a transfer target this summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      9

      Charitable Onana has a foundation and provided electricity for his mum’s village in CameroonCredit: Instagram / @foundation_andreonana
      The Cameroon international was a revelation in the club’s Champions League run to the semi finals in 2019.
      And the 24-year-old has made sure he’s shared the wealth accrued from his fame with his homeland.
      Last week, it was reported that Onana uses part of his salary to fund an electric grid that provides electricity for a small African town.
      He began his youth career at Barcelona, but annoyed the Catalan giants when he snubbed an offer of a contract to join Ajax at 18.

      The decision was clearly the correct one, though, as Onana has gone on to become one of Europe’s most sought-after keepers.
      CHARITABLE CAUSE
      Born in Cameroon, it wasn’t Onana’s intention to support his mother’s hometown Mengueme.
      But, having signed a new £20,000-per-week contract last year, he decided he had to give something back.
      Onana put his money to good use, funding a power grid that provides electricity for the Essoessam population.

      He, literally, took the people of Menguene out of darkness and curbed their reliance on kerosene lamps.

      9

      The £20,000-per-week Onana funded a power grid in MengueneCredit: Instagram / @andreonana.24

      9

      The Andre Onana Foundation was set-up in 2016 to help young African childrenCredit: Instagram / @andreonana.24
      And that’s not his only charitable contribution.
      In 2016, Onana set up his foundation to help young African children, providing them means to a better education, giving them access to medical care, as well as help to those affected by terrorist attacks.
      “I know first-hand what many children in my country are suffering,” he revealed.
      “Inside me I feel that I must help them to have a better future.”
      IMPORTANCE OF SAMUEL ETO’O
      Onana’s success is partly down to former Barcelona star Samuel Eto’o.
      A prodigy of the legendary striker’s academy in the Cameroon, he linked up with the La Masia Academy at 14.
      “I’m very thankful for what he did for me coming from his foundation,” Onana told OmaSportsTV.
      But it didn’t quite work out for Onana in Catalonia.
      In 2014, Barcelona were hit by a FIFA ban for breaking the rules of signing foreign youngsters.
      That meant Barça youngsters had their development halted because they couldn’t play any competitive games for 18-months.

      9

      Legendary Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o’s Academy discovered OnanaCredit: AP:Associated Press

      9

      At 14, Onana moved to Barcelona Credit: Instagram / @andreonana.24

      9

      However, Onana failed to get a break at BarcelonaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      When he returned, playing for Barcelona against Ajax in an Under-19 UEFA Youth League game, he won man-of-the-match and alerted Ajax’s coaching staff.
      FRUSTRATION
      At 18, Onana grew frustrated with his chances at the Camp Nou.
      He was adamant he belonged in Barcelona’s B team, and saw a path to the first team blocked with the arrivals of Claudio Bravo and Marc Andre ter Stegen that summer.
      There was only one thing to do.
      Barcelona offered him a contract, but Ajax’s sales pitch was more attractive. He moved to Amsterdam to develop his game further, much to the annoyance of Spanish legend Andoni Zubizaretta.
      And when first-team keeper Jasper Cillessen moved in 2016, ironically to Barcelona, manager Peter Bosz decided 20-year-old Onana was going to be his NO1.
      CHANCES HAMPERED
      Although a dream move to the Premier League is in the offing, Onana’s chances of progressing to a bigger club could’ve happened sooner.

      9

      After moving to Ajax at 18 Onana established himself as Ajax’s NO1 two years laterCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      9

      Onana was once told that the colour of his skin would be a problem for a big clubCredit: Instagram / @andreonana.24
      After a breakthrough season in 2016-17, helping Ajax reach the Europa League final, an unknown club began negotiations with him.
      However, the shot-stopper revealed he was told that the colour of his skin would be a problem for fans and the move was quashed.
      “It is not easy for a black goalkeeper to reach the top,” Onana told Dutch outlet Het Parool, with the quotes also carried by Marca.

      “They decided not to sign me because a black goalkeeper would be difficult for their followers.
      “It wasn’t because they didn’t think I was good enough. I consider it a compliment.”
      That club’s loss could certainly be Chelsea’s gain.

      Chelsea and Everton chasing shock move for Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster, 37, after Hornets relegated More

    • 288 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      How Red Bull gave a fifth tier German team wings, turned them into RB Leipzig and made them the most hated in Bundesliga

      by

      TONIGHT, RB Leipzig will take on French giants PSG in what promises to be a Champions League semi-final with plenty of goals.
      However, aside from The Red Bulls very own supporters, German football fans will most likely be cheering on Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Co.

      11

      RB Leipzig’s players celebrate beating Atletico Madrid to reach the Champions league semi finalCredit: Getty – Pool

      11

      The club are owned and financed by the Red Bull energy drink companyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      For RB Leipzig are the most hated team in Germany, thanks in part to the way they were formed, have been financed, and gone against the country’s fundamental approach to the beautiful game.
      Founded by Red Bull chief Dietrich Mateschitz in 2009, when the energy drink company bought fifth tier SSV Markranstadt, their success story knows no bounds.
      Four promotions in just eight years saw RB Leipzig enter the Bundesliga, where they’ve provided a genuine threat to Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund’s dominance.
      And now, they’ve got the biggest game in their history – and one step away from the biggest game in club football, the Champions League final.

      BACK TO THE BEGINNING
      In 2006, Mateschitz proposed the idea of bankrolling a German football club.
      Initially, he set his sights on another Leipzig club – FC Sachsen Leipzig – but the German FA refused to sanction the move.
      St Pauli, 1860 Munich and Fortuna Dusseldorf were also targeted, with protests from fans putting pay to any developments with those teams.
      However, for the 2009-10 season, after years of negotiations and research, they bought the licence of fifth division team SSV Markranstadt.

      The message was clear, they were going to start at the bottom and rise to the top.

      11

      Red Bull chief Dietrich Mateschitz founded RB Leipzig in 2009Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      11

      Today, RB Leipzig welcome around 40,000 supporters to their Red Bull Arena after initially attracting around 2,100 fansCredit: Reuters
      POLITICS
      Before Leipzig came along, the football landscape in East Germany was bleak.
      There hadn’t been a team from the the former Eastern Bloc state competing in the Bundesliga since Energie Cottbus were relegated in 2009.
      There was a huge potential for a team to succeed in that region.
      In their debut season, an average of 2,150 fans followed the team’s transition – a far cry from the 38,000-plus who cheer them on at the Red Bull Arena.
      But their business model didn’t endear them to the rest of Germany.
      BENDING THE RULES
      DFB laws state that German clubs must operate under the ’50+1′ rule. That means fans who are members own the majority of shares and can influence decisions regarding the club, like ticket prices.
      RB Leipzig are a little different, though. Their rivals feel they exploited the system by having just 17 members who can vote, with most linked to the Red Bull company.
      And many are irked that Red Bull cheated a law that says German clubs can’t be named after sponsors.

      11

      RB Leipzig exploited the 50+1 rule and have just 17 membersCredit: Getty – Contributor

      11

      Borussia Monchengladbach fans protest at the Red Bull ArenaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The club’s official name is actually RasenBallsport Leipzig, which translates to LawnBallsport Leipzig.
      They’ve been given the tag the ‘most hated club in Germany’ and still face protests every game from opposition fans.
      And when they’re playing at home, the away end at the Red Bull Arena is often boycotted.
      Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke once called RB Leipzig “a club built to push up the revenues for Red Bull”.
      SUCCESS STORY
      In defence of Leipzig, they haven’t quite bought success the way many imagine – with owner Mateschitz sitting on a £21billion fortune and able to flex his muscle in the transfer market.
      They invested in players no older than 23 when the project began, built a state-of-the-art academy and training centres, while preaching a brand of attractive attacking football that their reserve and youth teams must adhere to.
      Of the current first-teamers, Danish striker Yussuf Poulsen was signed in 2013 at the age of 19, when the club were languishing in the third division.
      Lukas Klostermann was discovered at Bochum in 2014, aged 18. Austrian midfielder Marcel Sabitzer moved in 2014, at just 20.
      Swedish playmaker Emil Forsberg swapped Swedish champions Malmo for RB Leipzig in 2015 for second division football.

      11

      Swedish playmaker Emil Forsberg has been with RB Leipzig since they were a second division sideCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      11

      Dayot Upamecano has blossomed into one of Europe’s best defendersCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      11

      The recent sale of Timo Werner to Chelsea shows that RB Leipzig are a selling clubCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      While, players like Liverpool’s Naby Keita were discovered by a pool of network scouts around the world, with former Reds boss Gerard Houllier holding the position of head of global football for the firm.
      His links to the French market have been imperative, with RB Leipzig stealing a march on talents like in-demand defender Dayot Upamecano and Christopher Nkunku, who swapped PSG for the Leipzig experiment.
      But, as has been proven with Keita and most recently Timo Werner who joined Chelsea, they are a selling club if the price is right.
      In their first season in the Bundesliga, they finished runners-up. Since then, they’ve come sixth, third and third again this term.
      OWE IT ALL TO RALF
      The arrival of Ralf Rangnick at the club in 2012 is heralded as the moment RB Leipzig established their own identity.
      After he was appointed sporting director, successive promotions followed with his blueprint for the club shining through.
      Then he became manager himself and helped the club gain promotion to the top flight.

      11

      Ralf Rangnick is credited with creating the blueprint for RB Leipzig’s successCredit: EPA

      11

      Rangnick, who was head of sport and development at RB Leipzig, left his role last month because he wants a return to managementCredit: Getty – Contributor
      He has stepped in twice to manage the Bundesliga giants, when they’ve been in between managers and was head of sport and development for the whole Red Bull regime until last month.
      Back in July, Rangnick was touted to fulfil a similar role at AC Milan and help rebuild the fallen Serie A giants.

      But the Italians refused to meet his £6.4million contract release clause and the deal was called off.
      He has since walked away from RB Leipzig, and is ready to step back into management.
      Clearly, whoever he manages will benefit from his blueprint. They might just make the last four of the Champions league.

      RB Leipzig shock Atletico Madrid as Germans earn their first Champions League semi-final spot More

    • 263 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Lionel Messi was branded aloof for Argentina yet rose to the challenge, but Barca is different and he really could quit

      by

      FIFTEEN years ago, on August 17th 2005, Lionel Messi made his senior debut for Argentina.  It was not a happy occasion. 
      The 18 year old came off the bench in the second half of a friendly away to Hungary.

      5

      Lionel Messi cuts a forlorn figure as Barcelona are thrashed by Bayern MunichCredit: Manu Fernandez

      5

      At 18 Messi was sent off within five minutes of his Argentina debutCredit: AFP
      He was instantly in the action, picking up possession and running with the ball tied to his left foot.
      But he could only give a brief glimpse of his extraordinary promise. As he broke through once more, a defender tried to stop his progress by hanging on to him.
      Trying to break free Messi swung an arm behind him, the defender went down and – absurdly – the referee reached for his red card. Messi’s first appearance for his country lasted less than five minutes. 
      Perhaps it prepared him for the frustrations to come. Messi has scored more goals for Argentina than anyone else, and will presumably become their most capped player.

      There are many times when he has carried the side. The senior title, though, has remained elusive.
      There were three finals in consecutive years – the 2014 World Cup followed by two versions of the Copa America – and each time Argentina got close without getting their hands on the silverware.
      AGE IS AGAINST HIM
      Time is running out. There is a Copa America next year and the 2022 World Cup. And by then Messi will be 35. 
      Recent evidence would seem to indicate that Messi is content to play the wise old owl in an Argentina squad going through a process of rebuilding.

      5

      At last year’s Copa America Messi appeared a changed character from the aloof personality he was described asCredit: EPA
      There had always been criticisms of his aloof behaviour. But during last year’s Copa America he was a changed man – a much more outgoing, encouraging, vocal figure clearly working hard to take on the burden of leadership.
      Some thought he might retire from international football after Russia 2018. Instead, he seems enthused by the challenge. 
      But there is no need for him to play the same role at club level. He cannot change his country.
      HE COULD LEAVE BARÇA
      He can change his club – and with his time at the top level running short, the temptation to leave Barcelona must be throbbing in his head like a persistent headache. 
      No one who has followed Barcelona’s form over the last few years can have been truly surprised by what happened against Bayern Munich.
      Collapse after collapse, with the cracks getting wider. Well run clubs replace players a year before it seems necessary.
      The spine of the side – the likes of Pique, Busquets, Suarez – has grown old together – too old to carry out the team’s gameplan.

      5

      Messi can’t change his country, but he can change his clubCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      5

      It might be time for Messi to take his skills elsewhereCredit: Reuters

      Huge amounts have been spent – badly – on players around the edges of the side, attempts to shoehorn the likes of Coutinho and Griezmann into roles for which they are not well suited.
      A huge rebuilding job has to take place, which may take years before the club can compete effectively at the highest level. And finances are tight. The task is immense. 
      Lionel Messi appears to have committed himself to being part of one long term restructuring effort with his country. He could be forgiven for chasing short term success with a club. 

      Lionel Messi and Barcelona look on in terror as Coutinho scores Bayern Munich’s 8th goal More