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      in Soccer

      Inside Wayne Rooney’s £20m ‘Morrisons mansion’ that boasts full-size football pitch, two fishing lakes, cinema and pool

      by

      WAYNE ROONEY is returning home to England and his family – and will be living in his £20million “Morrisons mansion” that has a full-size football pitch, two fishing lakes, cinema and a pool.The Manchester United and England legend has just been named as the new manager of Birmingham City and replaces the axed John Eustace at St Andrews.
      Wayne, Coleen and the rest of the Rooney family moved into their dream home in 2021Credit: Instagram
      Their £20m Cheshire home was dubbed the ‘Morrisons mansion’ during constructionCredit: BackGrid
      The house sits on a whopping 40 acres of land and has two fishing lakes, a cinema and pool
      Rooney is believed to have paid over £4m to a Cheshire property developer to build the gated home
      He will be joined at Brum by Arsenal and Chelsea icon Ashley Cole and former United team-mate John O’Shea who will be working alongside him as coaches.
      Rooney left MLS side DC United at the weekend after they failed to make the play-offs.
      He had been living with his coaching staff in Washington while wife Coleen and their four sons, Kai, Klay, Kit and Cass remained in England.
      However, after joining the Tom Brady-backed Blues he will be getting all the support he needs from his family as he returns home to join them full-time at their lavish Cheshire mansion.
      READ MORE ON SPORT
      Rooney, 37, and Coleen, also 37, boast a sizeable property portfolio, including homes in Florida, USA, the Caribbean and across the UK.
      But the jewel in the crown is their six-bedroom £20m palatial house which sits on a 40-acre piece of land.
      Built from scratch, the family moved in in December 2021.
      It is said to be located in Cheshire and is named High Lake Manor.
      Most read in Championship
      Rooney and his partner could even technically call themselves the lord and lady of the manor.
      We revealed back in its development how United’s all-time top scorer had a full-size football pitch installed at the property and it comes complete with a seating area.
      The five-a-side pitch even boasts changing rooms with showers for his mates – although he was blocked from installing floodlights because of his mansion’s rural location.
      He also boasts a garage for his collection of cars, a cinema, swimming pool, and even two man-made fishing lakes.
      Rooney is thought to be a keen angler.
      The house had been previously mocked for looking like a Morrisons supermarket by neighbours due to its size and architecture.
      But, unlike a Morrisons, it now boasts an orangery, bar, TV room, snooker room, cinema and wine cellar.
      And the luxury Rooney pad also has a huge indoor swimming pool surrounded by a glass pavilion, a hot tub, plunge pool, steam room and “his” and “hers” changing rooms.
      But that is not all – it boasts an extensive patio, landscaped gardens and a luxury car garage.
      Rooney is believed to have paid over £4m to a Cheshire property developer to build the mansion, which also has a guest toilet and separate lifts.
      That second lift also connects the main space to the basement floor, which sports a sprawling gym, pool, Jacuzzi and cinema room.
      The decision to build their dream pad came after raiders tried to break into Rooney’s Cheshire home in 2016 before cops pounced.
      READ MORE SPORT FEATURES
      The ex-striker grew up in a council house in Liverpool – but he has shown off his real estate skills with his sprawling Barbados villa, which he rents out for £25,000 a week.
      He snapped up a £320,000 waterfront apartment in the Sunshine State of Florida in 2007 and splashed out £450,000 on a detached home in Liverpool for his parents to live in.
      Now he and Coleen, who are believed to be worth around £115m, own properties across the globe after getting together aged 16.
      Rooney burst through the ranks at boyhood club Everton as a teenager and starred for England at Euro 2004 before a big-money move to Manchester United.
      Under Sir Alex Ferguson he went on to lift the Champions League and the Premier League title five times.
      Rooney surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton’s record for both United and England to become the record goalscorer for club and country – the latter now being overtaken by Harry Kane.
      He made an emotional return to Everton in 2017 and finished that season as their top scorer before moving to the MLS to sign for DC United.
      The then veteran bagged 23 goals in 48 matches for the American side but headed back to England to join Championship club Derby County in the 2020/21 season in a surprise move.
      The property has a full-size five-a-side pitch in it for the kids to play inCredit: INSTAGRAM
      Rooney had been living away from his family in America while managing DC UnitedCredit: Instagram / @waynerooney
      The mansion has a garage for his collection of cars, a cinema and a swimming pool
      Rooney then retired from playing to take over as manager when the Rams were rock bottom of the table.
      He guided them to safety but resigned at the end of the following campaign after Derby were relegated to League One following a huge points deduction and returned to become boss at DC United.
      Rooney was in charge for 52 games, racking up just 13 wins and 26 defeats, before his departure but will now be tasked with guiding Birmingham back to the big time under their new American owners.
      After being announced as manager, Rooney said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining Birmingham City football club at such an exciting time.
      “It is very clear that they have a plan and are committed to realising their ambition for the club. We are fully aligned on what is expected.
      Read More on The Sun
      “I have been building my managerial career, putting myself in challenging environments, to get me ready for this opportunity.
      “It’s a project that gives me a sense of purpose and I can’t wait to get started.”
      The £20m mansion was dubbed a ‘Morrisons mansion’ when this snap emerged in constructionCredit: The Mega Agency
      Fans claimed it looked like the front of the supermarketCredit: Wikipedia
      The basement floor sports a sprawling gym, pool, Jacuzzi and cinema roomCredit: The Mega Agency More

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      in Boxing

      Inside Tommy Fury’s glam lifestyle including wife Molly-Mae Hague, living in £3.5m mansion and driving a £130k Mercedes

      by

      TOMMY Fury has built himself an enviable lifestyle by thinking outside of the boxing.The fighter took time out of his career to star on Love Island in 2019 and it was the best decision he ever made.
      Tommy Fury lives an enviable lifestyle
      Fury found fame alongside Molly-Mae Hague on Love IslandCredit: Rex
      First, he met the love of his life Molly-Mae Hague and the pair set up a dream life together.
      Then, they splashed out £3.5million on a stunning Cheshire home, which the Pretty Little Thing ambassador added her design chic too.
      To top it off, Fury has been seen driving a top of the range Mercedes G Wagon worth £130,000.
      And there’s the small matter of his amazing watch collection, including a £50,000 Rolex Day-Date.
      Read more sports news
      Love Island
      Almost overnight, Tommy – the brother of heavyweight champ Tyson Fury – became a millionaire.
      Despite building a promising boxing career, he decided to go on Love Island.
      First, to find love. Second, to raise his profile.
      Unlike many contestants on the ITV hit show, he achieved both – falling for Molly-Mae Hague.
      Most read in Boxing
      The pair were the darlings of the fifth series, although remarkably they finished as runners-up.
      But clearly they were not losers as their winning life together now suggests.
      Appearing on Love Island certainly made Tommy a household name outside of boxing.
      Amusingly, though, he said he never watched it before he went on as a contestant or after.
      In an interview with Tom Moore, he said: “I never watched Love Island before doing it and I’ve not watched it since, didn’t even watch my own series back.
      “But it was one of those things, Love Island has given me the platform of a world champion already.
      “It put me out there, it helped me step out the shoes of being Tyson’s little brother, which was all I was called growing up, which isn’t a bad thing.
      “It’s amazing to be related to the best fighter there’s ever been, in my opinion. So that was amazing but it helped born me.
      “Everybody knows me now for Tommy Fury and what I’m like and my own personality.”
      On Love Island Fury and Hague became fans’ favouritesCredit: Rex Features
      Fury and Hague finished as runners-up but they have since amassed an estimated £10m fortune togetherCredit: Rex
      Home
      After Love Island, they first set up home at a £325,000 two-bedroom flat in Manchester.
      The pair made the property their love nest, before they decided to move to bigger and better digs.
      They then splashed £3.5million on a beautiful Cheshire abode in 2022.
      It boasts a staggering six bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, 5,000 sq ft of land and tranquil grounds.
      Dubbed the Molly-Maison, Hague regularly gives eagle-eyed fans a tour of the property on YouTube.
      She explained that several bedrooms in the house were being converted – one into a filming room for her videos and another for a dressing room.
      The pretty social media influencer added that the couple had been searching for an ideal home for three years.
      Molly-Mae shared a clip online revealing the house’s spare bedroom – with a large Buddha portrait and elaborate hanging lights.
      Neighbours include Marcus Rashford and Jordan Pickford.
      Molly-Mae showed off their stunning Cheshire home on YouTubeCredit: YouTube
      Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae paid £3.5m for the propertyCredit: YouTube
      Molly-Mae revealed one of the bathrooms on her YouTube channelCredit: YouTube
      Cars
      Fury has a net worth of more than £4million thanks to several sponsorships and endorsements as well as his boxing pay cheques, according to reports.
      His biggest purse came through his fight against Jake Paul in 2023, when he received a guaranteed £1.6million.
      On top of that, Fury netted a 35 per cent of the pay-per-view share.
      He has more than 4.8million Instagram followers and makes thousands of pounds every day from social media.
      And like his famous brother, Tommy is a petrol head and has been seen behind the wheel of some luxury cars.
      He has a preference for Mercedes, with his pride and joy being a C43 AMG that has a £61,000 price tag.
      But the most expensive car in his garage is a Mercedes G-Class that costs £130,000.
      The G-Wagen is characterised by its boxy styling and body-on-frame construction.
      The 2022 Mercedes-Benz G-Class takes 5.5 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill and 13.3 seconds for the quarter-mile.
      Tommy has also been seen sharing a £32,000 Mercedes A-Class Saloon with Molly-Mae.
      The sportiest car we’ve seen him with is the BMW i8 that’s an expensive £106,000.
      Fury shows off his £130k Mercedes G-ClassCredit: Instagram
      A BMW sports car also features in Fury’s car collectionCredit: instagram
      It has all the characteristics of a full-blooded sports car with its long wheelbase, short overhangs and a solid posture.
      Unlike all-electric vehicles, the i8 features a synchronous electric motor and a 1.5-litre TwinPower Turbo engine – giving drivers the flexibility to select between gasoline, electric, or an efficient blend of both.
      Wife
      Tommy’s wife Molly-Mae is a force to be reckoned with.
      They say behind every great man is a greater woman, and you can certainly say this is the case here.
      She has become the ultimate role model for young women, appearing down-to-earth and incredibly likeable.
      And Molly-Mae has expanded her business portfolio wisely to amass her own fortune, said to be around the £6million mark.
      Alongside her tanning moisturiser Filter by MollyMae she was the creative director for Pretty Little Thing from 2021 until she stepped down from the role in 2023 to concentrate on motherhood.
      Molly-Mae Hague is a brand ambassador for Pretty Little ThingCredit: Getty
      Fury and Hague got engaged in 2023Credit: Instagram
      Molly-Mae quit her creative director role at Pretty Little Thing to concentrate on motherhoodCredit: Splash
      Fury is the proud dad to daughter BambiCredit: Instagram
      But she stayed on as brand ambassador, which she has done since 2018.
      Back in February, Tommy and Molly-Mae celebrated the birth of their daughter Bambi.
      Months later, the happy couple revealed they were engaged – with Tommy dropping down to one knee to pop the question while on a luxurious trip to Ibiza.
      Watches
      Over the years, Tommy has been spied wearing a variety of high-end watches.
      Although, he and Molly-Mae were the subject of a 2021 burglary that led to a reported £800,000 worth of jewellery being stolen.
      So, it’s not clear what watches Tommy has now.
      He did have an amazing Day-Date White Gold Rolex worth an astonishing £50,000.
      Fury is a fan of Rolex watches and had a Day-Date White gold timepiece worth £50k
      A £40k Rolex Submariner also featured in Fury’s collection
      His preference has always been Rolex, with a Submariner worth £40,000 also part of his collection.
      Read More on The Sun
      Finally, a classy Yacht Master II that retails at £18,000 completes his watch collection.
      And there’s still plenty of time to add to it. More

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      in Soccer

      Chelsea star Conor Gallagher overcame worrying heart problem which left him ‘dizzy’ and threatened his career

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      CONOR GALLAGHER overcame a heart problem to become a Chelsea and England star. The midfielder begun his journey to stardom at local side Epsom Eagles before the Blues snapped him up aged eight.
      Conor Gallagher underwent heart surgery as a teenagerCredit: Getty
      There was a 3 per cent chance his condition would not be curedCredit: Instagram @conorgallagher92
      Conor Gallagher is going out with Aine May KennedyCredit: Instagram @ainemaykennedy
      Gallagher impressed in the club’s academy and eventually earned a call-up to the England Under-17s.
      He was part of the side that sealed World Cup glory for the Young Lions in 2017 alongside Phil Foden, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Morgan Gibbs-White and Jadon Sancho.
      Gallagher was rising through the ranks and pushing to make his first senior appearance when his career was nearly taken away from him.
      In the summer of 2018, while in pre-season training with Chelsea, the then 18-year-old felt his heart beating strangely fast.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Gallagher then fell ill in the subsequent days and went for checks amid concern something was seriously wrong, having suffered similar problems while with England.
      He explained to The Guardian in 2020: “It was quite a tough one-v-one session and it was too much for me.
      “I felt a bit dizzy and had to pull out of training and that’s when I got the checks, scans, and when they saw something was wrong.”
      It was revealed that Gallagher would require minor heart surgery to solve his irregular heartbeat.
      Most read in Football
      Gallagher dates Irish model Aine MayCredit: Instagram @ainemaykennedy
      Gallagher was in England’s 2022 World Cup squadCredit: Sunday Times
      He had to be put under general anaesthetic for 45 minutes and there was a three per cent chance the problem would not be solved, potentially endangering his footballing career.
      Gallagher said: “I just thought: ‘That can’t happen.’ 
      “I was a bit nervous but in my head I knew I would be fine and push on from that.”
      The heart issue was fortunately fixed and with added motivation to make the most of his career after almost losing it, he set about trying to force his way into the Chelsea XI.
      Gallagher explained: “I think it was good for me, because sometimes when you’re injured it gives you time to reflect and makes you even hungrier to come back and do well.
      “I remember saying to my mum before the surgery: ‘I just want to get it done so I can work as hard as I can again.’
      “Ever since then I think that’s when I really started to push on. I think it made me not take anything for granted.
      “I got physically stronger and quicker and my all-round game has improved since I came back from that.”
      Gallagher missed all of pre-season in 2018, needing two months to recover from the surgery.
      Chelsea showed their support by handing him a new contract after he recovered.
      And he rewarded their faith as he won the academy player of the year award that campaign and even picked up a Europa League winners medal after being named on the bench for the victory over Arsenal in the final.
      Gallagher went out on loan to Championship sides Charlton and Swansea for the 2019/20 season.
      He then got a chance to shine in the Premier League with West Brom and Crystal Palace.
      His good performances saw him earn a senior England call-up and he was in the squad for the 2022 World Cup.
      He finally returned to Chelsea and played 45 matches in a turbulent 2022/23 campaign under managers Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Frank Lampard.
      Gallagher has also been trusted by boss Mauricio Pochettino, who handed him the captain’s armband for the first time in a Carabao Cup win over AFC Wimbledon in August 2023.
      Away from the pitch, he has found love in stunning girlfriend Aine May Kennedy.
      Read More on The Sun
      The Irish beauty is a professional dancer and model.
      She regularly shares her glam lifestyle on Instagram, where she has over 51,000 followers.
      The couple often holiday togetherCredit: Instagram @ainemaykennedy
      She is an influencer from CorkCredit: Instagram @ainemaykennedy More

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      in Soccer

      Brazil teen Endrick is next in line to succeed at Real Madrid, following £60m transfer, and is heir to Neymar’s throne

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      THROUGH the decades Brazil has produced generational talents who have taken the game to another level.Pele, Zico, Ronaldo, and Neymar all became icons of their own era – with some of those showcasing their talents on the European stage.
      Endrick is the latest generational talent to hail from BrazilCredit: Getty
      Aged just 17, he is expected to follow in the footsteps of Neymar and Ronaldo by starring in LaLigaCredit: Getty
      The next in line to follow those luminaries is Endrick, 17 only in July, but who is already carrying the weight of expectation of a nation desperate for success.
      It’s been 21 years since the Samba Boys last won the World Cup.
      However, a golden generation is on its way. And it’s being made at Real Madrid, with the expectation they will lead their country to glory.
      In 2022, it was announced Los Blancos had signed Endrick on a huge £60million deal.
      Read more football news
      He will join his fellow countryman Vinicius Jr, who has established himself as one of Europe’s most feared wingers, and the talented Rodrygo who has still to find his feet in Spain.
      For this season, Endrick is playing for Palmeiras, where he has trained since he was just 11, before he will link up with his new teammates in the 2024.
      The buzz about his natural ability began when he was just a kid,
      “I don’t see a ceiling for him.”
      As is with the modern age, Endrick’s youth career has played out on social media.
      Most read in Football
      Just type in his name on YouTube and hundreds of videos will appear of the youngster bamboozling the opposition.
      From scoring goals from the halfway line to beating four or five men or overhead kicks, his repertoire for the spectacular is there to see in a variety of clips.
      In five years he reportedly scored 165 goals in 169 games for Palmeiras youth teams.
      While in 2021, he attracted plenty of attention when he played in the Campeonato Paulista finals in three different age categories: U15, U17 and U20.
      Around that time, the club’s academy director Joao Paulo Sampaio tipped the teenager for the world stage.
      “If injuries respect him, I don’t see a ceiling for him,” Sampaio told AS. “As far as is humanly possible.
      “He has quality, a strong personality and a champion mentality. In that regard, he resembles Cristiano (Ronaldo). He trains hard, is kind and has humility. We love him very much because he makes himself loved. He tries to please everyone around him.
      “He has everything to be a world star in the future.”
      On his own game, Endrick has said: “I’ll always fight. I’ll be persistent and try until the last minute I’m in the game. I never give up, I pressure defenders, I run more than anyone else on the pitch.”
      Buzz about Endrick has been in overdrive since 2021Credit: AFP
      On the pitch, Endrick says he is a fighterCredit: Reuters
      Debut season
      Labelled the ‘hottest commodity in Brazilian football’, it was inevitable Endrick would break some records.
      He made his debut in 2022, aged just 16 years two months and 16 days – becoming the youngest debutant in Palmeiras’ history.
      Just shy of three weeks later, the talent announced his arrival with a brace in a 3-1 win over Athletico Paranaense.
      His two goals weren’t enough to break Toninho de Matos’ youngest goalscorer record in the Brazilian championship achieved in 1978 at just 15.
      But, after all the hype and talk, Endrick delivered and had landed.
      A scramble for his signature would begin.
      Europe’s top clubs linked
      Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid, PSG were just some of the clubs romanticising with the idea of bringing Endrick to their club.
      The Blues moved fast, inviting him to their Cobham training ground.
      Endrick became Palmeiras’ youngest goalscorer with a brace against Athletico ParanaenseCredit: Getty
      Teen prodigy Endrick visited Chelsea’s Cobham training ground with a view to signing for the Blues
      The Premier League giants put on a show to convince him his future belonged in England.
      They enlisted the help of Brazil icon Thiago Silva to sell the project to Endrick.
      Many at Stamford Bridge felt that had done the trick, although a stumbling block was said to be the contract on offer – with an element of the deal performance-related.
      Months later, Endrick’s head was turned when he visited the Ciudad Real Madrid training ground.
      First, he was taken aback by the incredible facilities on offer.
      Second, the pathway to the first team appeared more plausible. Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo had similarly been plucked from Brazilian football at a huge cost, and had become established first team stars.
      There was nothing stopping Endrick from doing the same.
      Real, who had been chasing their man for years and coordinated with the same scout who found Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Federico Valverde to seal the deal, had got their man.
      But all hasn’t gone to plan
      The 14-times Champions League winners paid a premium of £60m for the then 16-year-old.
      READ MORE SPORT FEATURES
      After his Real Madrid deal was announced, Endrick suffered a dip in formCredit: Getty
      Endrick was moved to tears on the bench after suffering a goal draught
      That has, seemingly, made him a target to now be shot down.
      To comply with Fifa’s rules, Endrick won’t be able to join his new club until he turns 18.
      In the meantime, he has had another season in Brazil where he has suffered his first character-building crisis of confidence.
      A goal drought saw Endrick reduced to tears on the bench, after he was hauled off.
      His manager, strict disciplinarian Abel Ferreira, admitted he should “have given Endrick a hug” when he was hooked.
      Ferreira threw his support the prodigy’s way.
      “You have to be calm. Nobody likes criticism. There is tremendous pressure on him to score five or six goals and he tries to deal with it himself. The goal will appear at the right time. You just have to be calm and keep smiling,” he said.
      Back in April, Endrick also hit out at the pressure he is under and the talk of him as the ‘new Pele.’
      “Sometimes I ask myself: Why are there so many stories about me?” Endrick revealed to Brazil’s GQ.
      “I didn’t ask for this. There are situations that cross a line. ‘Ah, he’s the new Pele.’ Man, nobody is going to be Pele, he’s the king of football.”
      A target for the hatchet men, Endrick is now a marked man because of his reputationCredit: AP
      2024 promises to be a defining year in Endrick’s developmentCredit: EPA
      Endrick has had his ups and down. A target for the hatchet men, he has been kicked from pillar to post because of his reputation.
      Read More on The Sun
      Back in April, a goal against Agua Santa in the Paulista Championship Final was coupled with a typical swashbuckling run that took out the opposition defence.
      2024 is a fresh start for Endrick’s blossoming career. Expect him to make a splash when he arrives in Madrid. More

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      in Soccer

      Inside Kate Abdo’s rise from job at Greggs and kiss behind bins to host of CBS and joking about her breasts with pundits

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      GORGEOUS presenter Kate Abdo is as relatable as she is likeable.The 42-year-old beauty is now starring on CBS Sports in the US, where she hosts their Champions League coverage.
      Glam Kate Abdo has stolen the show on CBS SportsCredit: Getty
      Abdo hosts CBS Sport’s Champions League coverage, alongside Thierry Henry, Micah Richards and Jamie CarragherCredit: Instagram @kateabdo
      Glam Abdo is one of the rising stars of sports broadcastingCredit: AFP or licensors
      And she has become firm buddies with pundits Thierry Henry, Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher, who she has built an instant rapport with.
      But, despite being brilliant on TV, Kate couldn’t hold down a job at Greggs when she was a youngster.
      Amusingly, she was sacked after getting her tongue-pierced, which meant she struggled to talk to the customers.
      The cheeky Mancunian also revealed on air that her first kiss was behind the bins at school.
      Read more kate abdo news
      While, she has also been very honest about her boobs.
      Rising star
      Bilingual Abdo has been a rising star in broadcasting since her first job in 2005.
      She worked for Germans Deutsche Welle, before scoring a job at Goal! The Bundesliga Magazine.
      Eventually she scored a presenting job with DW in 2009, hosting coverage in German and English.
      Most read in Football
      After a stint at CNN, Adbo left for Sky Sports Germany where she appeared on pay per view boxing events, European football coverage, transfer deadline day and Sky Sports News shows.
      She worked in the US for Fox Sports, but it’s with CBS Sports she has become a household name in the States.
      She works for the American TV channel’s Champions League output, and constantly shares banter with the show’s pundits.
      Micah Richards, Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry clearly enjoy working with Kate, who they are happy to have a laugh with.
      Working at Greggs
      Case in point, her outrageous Greggs reveal.
      During coverage of Newcastle vs PSG, the Manchester United fan confessed she once worked at the famous British bakery.
      Abdo, who loves boxing as a workout, was an employee in the Stretford branch of Greggs before becoming an esteemed broadcaster.
      The revelation left Carragher and Richards in stitches as they could not believe it.
      Abdo added: “I wasn’t dripping Louis Vuitton quite as much back then.”
      Designer girl Abdo shows off her high-fashion choicesCredit: Instagram @kateabdo
      Abdo joked her breasts weren’t as big as this mock-up of her working in Greggs
      When she’s working out, Abdo likes to do boxingCredit: Instagram @kateabdo
      But before she could explain any more about her time in the role, the producers put up a photoshopped picture of her in Greggs attire.
      To which she brilliantly replied: “My breasts have never been that big.”
      That caused much laughter pitch side from her peers, who couldn’t believe what she said.
      First kiss
      Personal revelations have always been part of Kate’s reportoire.
      Just ask a lad by the name of Matthew Barker.
      Abdo was pressured to reveal her first kiss after being grilled on live TV by Henry, Carragher and Richards.
      The show’s Champions League coverage regularly features a segment called “In The Mixer” where Abdo quizzes the three ex-players with controversial questions about football and their own personal lives.
      And Abdo was set to begin another edition of the game when the tables were turned on her.
      Abdo has interviewed all the greats, including Cristiano RonaldoCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Abdo is now a permanent fixture on CBS SportsCredit: Reuters
      During CBS Sport’s Champions League coverage, Abdo stunned the pundits by revealing where her first kiss took placeCredit: Getty
      As she prepared to start, Richards interrupted as he pulled out his own cards – with Henry and Carragher following suit.
      And the trio went on to ask Abdo a series of questions, most shockingly about when she had her first kiss.
      When asked, Abdo put her head on the desk in embarrassment, before saying: “But my mum and dad are watching! Oh no!”
      She then went on to add: “It was behind the bins at school. It was private. It was classy and I was keeping it secret!”
      Henry, Carragher and Richards, falling about laughing, then pressed Abdo on what the man’s name was.
      To which she reluctantly replied: “His name was Matthew Barker.”
      She speaks three languages fluently
      Although she spent her young years in Manchester, by 17 she moved to Spain.
      She became fluent in Spanish, attending the University of Malaga and studying Translating and Interpreting.
      Well travelled Abdo also spent time living in France and Germany, continuing her studies at the University of Salford with a first-class B.A. (Hons) in European Languages.
      Because of her experiences abroad, Kate is fluent in Spanish, French and German, as well as her natural tongue.
      Read More on The Sun
      That makes interviews with the cream of European football a cinch for the talented presenter.
      No wonder Abdo is becoming as in-demand as her counterpart Laura Woods.
      Stunner Abdo is fluent in four languages – English, German, French and SpanishCredit: Instagram @kateabdo
      Abdo has enjoyed a remarkable riseCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      in Soccer

      What happened next to forgotten Man Utd wonderkids who were meant to become world-class but never made it

      by

      MANCHESTER UNITED have a reputation for bringing through world-class talent from their youth team. The Red Devils have produced hot prospects for several decades from Marcus Rashford to the iconic Class of 92.
      Federico Macheda burst onto the scene as a teenagerCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Plenty that have tried to follow in their footsteps went on to never make it.
      Here are five forgotten Man Utd wonderkids that didn’t live up to the hype.
      Federico Macheda
      It’s impossible to forget Macheda’s stunning debut as a 17-year-old.
      The substitute cut in brilliantly and bent a curling effort into the top corner to complete a 3-2 comeback against Aston Villa in 2009.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Then his second appearance, the Italian striker again came off the bench to score inside 46 seconds versus Sunderland.
      Macheda would eventually get loaned out to Sampdoria, QPR, Stuttgart, Doncaster and Birmingham, failing to impress at all but the latter.
      United then permanently sold him to Cardiff and he went on to have a spell with homeland side Novara in Serie B.
      Macheda eventually stopped his journeyman style and spent four years at Greek club Panathinaikos, scoring 40 goals in 116 matches.
      Most read in Football
      He is now at Ankaragucu in the Turkish Super Lig.
      Macheda scored a stunning winning goal on his debutCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Darron Gibson
      Gibson was tipped as a star of the future when, winning the prestigious Jimmy Murphy player of the year award.
      He made his debut for United in 2005 before being loaned out to Royal Antwerp and Wolves.
      Gibson returned to Old Trafford in a squad player role for a couple of seasons and was handed an improved three-year contact.
      The midfielder started in the League Cup final in 2009 and scored a goal in Man Utd’s Champions League semi-final win over Schalke in 2011.
      The Irishman soon left for more first-team chances, joining Everton and then Sunderland.
      After good initial performances, injuries plagued his career and he was then charged with drink driving and failing to stop after a collision in 2015.
      Gibson would then get arrested again for a similar alleged offence three years later in a £75,000 Mercedes and he was suspended by Sunderland.
      He hung up his boots in 2021 after time at Wigan and Salford.
      Darron Gibson scored in a Champions League semi-finalCredit: Reuters
      David Bellion
      Bellion burst onto the scene at Sunderland and Man Utd signed him in 2003, following the Black Cats’ relegation for £2million.
      The French striker drew comparisons to Thierry Henry but netted just eight goals in two seasons at Old Trafford.
      He was subsequently loaned to West Ham in 2005 for more minutes but failed to make an impact in the capital, scoring once in just ten matches.
      Bellion then went to his homeland club of Nice for two seasons.
      He would then spend seven years with Bordeaux, dipping in and out of form, although he did feature as a back-up striker as they won the Ligue 1 title in 2009.
      He ended his career at Paris-based club Red Star and went on to be their creative director.
      David Bellion never made it at Man UtdCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Mads Timm
      Timm was plucked from the Odense youth-team in 2000 and made his one and only appearance in a Champions League group match two years after.
      However, he flopped at Man Utd and was nearly sacked when he received a 12-month sentence in a young offenders institute for reckless driving, racing team-mate Callum Flanagan on a public road, resulting in a nasty crash.
      Timm was called a “f****** idiot” by Sir Alex Ferguson and he later claimed the legendary boss was a “control freak” and his players were a “slave army”.
      The Dane had a forgettable spell at Walsall on loan before going back to Odense.
      He retired aged 25 due to falling out of love with football.
      Mads Timm was called a ‘f****** idiot’ by FergieCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Ravel Morrison
      Rio Ferdinand claimed Fergie “thought he was the best youngster he had seen”, but Morrison didn’t live up to the hype.
      After starring in the United academy, the troubled midfielder left for West Ham in 2012 with boss Sam Allardyce, saying “he needed to start a new life away from Manchester.”
      It has been claimed he owned three cars although he couldn’t drive.
      Morrison impressed in cameos for the Hammers, netting a sublime solo goal against Tottenham in 2013, which was a goal of the season contender.
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      West Ham let the wonderkid go after reported off-pitch issues and he went on to play for Cardiff, Birmingham, QPR, Lazio, Atlas, Ostersund, Sheffield United and Middlesbrough.
      Wayne Rooney eventually took him under his wing, signing him at Derby and DC United.
      Ravel Morrison was highly-rated by Sir Alex FergusonCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      Biggest football kit fails including shirt banned for hidden Nazi swastikas and Aston Villa’s ‘sweaty’ fabric gaffe

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      FOOTBALL kits are a huge business.Every year, the world’s leading clubs will change up their shirts for a different design.
      Aston Villa’s 2023-2024 jersey had a major design flawCredit: Getty
      We’ve seen some incredible kits over the years that have become collector’s items.
      But, we’ve also had some absolute stinkers that have had bigger problems than just their design.
      And they have become iconic for all the wrong reasons.
      SunSport looks at the biggest kits fails, starting with a Premier League and a fabric issue.
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      Aston Villa 2023-2024
      Football kits should be made to feel light and airy to encourage a good performance.
      They should also be able to be able to handle the sweaty athletes that wear them.
      Aston Villa’s 2023-2024 jersey did none of that, and was a huge disaster for the English giants.
      During games, players appeared to be drenched as the shirts clung to their bodiesCredit: Getty
      The Castore-made jerseys appeared drenched when the club was in Europa League action against Legia Warsaw.
      Most read in Football
      Fans online said it looked the players had taken a shower in them.
      It could also have explained why they lost 3-2 in Poland.
      Worse still, reports said that Villa’s women’s team dreaded wearing it.
      Fiorentina 1992-1993
      The Serie A giants were caught in a race row in the early 90s with an away strip Gabriel Batistuta and Co had to wear.
      Sponsored by 7 Up, that bit looked retro and cool.
      But a closer inspection of the pattern on the shoulders and arms revealed a hidden design that looked like a swastika.
      Unfounded rumours claimed the club, who were famous for the fascist allegiances during World War II, purposefully included the Nazi symbol onto the fabric.
      Fiorentina soon pulled the shirt and said in a statement: “Fiorentina and the manufacturers, Lotto, would like to underline that the optical [swastika] effect is purely a matter of chance.”
      To add insult to injury, the club were relegated that season.
      Gabriel Batistuta models Fiorentina’s controversial 1992-1993 away jerseyCredit: Alamy
      On closer inspection, the pattern looked like swastikas
      Man Utd 1996-1997
      As excuses go for losing away Southampton, blaming the kit is a bit lame.
      But that’s exactly what Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson did when his side wore their infamous grey shirt in 1996
      Fergie claimed the shirt blended into the crowd and his players couldn’t pick their passes out.
      3-1 down at half-time, they were ordered to change their shirts.
      Worth noting the score finished 6-3, so they lost the second half too.
      Man Utd’s grey shirts were a design flaw for apparently blending into the crowdCredit: Alamy
      Huddersfield 2019-20
      A publicity stunt, but one that epically failed and cost The Terriers a fine for misconduct.
      The drama unfolded before a preseason friendly against Rochdale, when Town marched out with a shirt that had a HUGE Paddy Power sponsorship banner across the jersey.
      Looking more like beauty pageant contestants than a football team, it infringed on the FA’s sponsorship rules that read,  ‘one single area not exceeding 250 square centimetres on the front of the shirt’.
      The FA banned the shirts, so it is unclear if it was something that would have continued for the rest of the season, or was just a joke for that game.
      Huddersfield Town’s Paddy Power joke backfired when they were finedCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Barcelona 2015-2016
      When it comes to history, don’t break tradition.
      Barcelona fans had got used to icons like Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff and Lionel Messi wearing the famous vertical red and blue stripes.
      But there was uproar when the stripes were changed to horizontal for the 2015-2016 season.
      A poll in a Spanish newspaper revealed that 78 per cent of Barcelona fans hated the shirts.
      The experiment lasted just one season, before Barcelona reverted back to their famous design.
      Interestingly, the Catalans also tried a break from the norm with a checked pattern that didn’t catch on.
      Barcelona’s horizontal stripes caused controversyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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      Cameroon 2002 & 2004
      Cameroon have often been experimental with their shirt designs, and they feature TWICE.
      At the 2004 African Nations Cup, they wore a onesie in the knockout stages created by Puma.
      Fecafoot, the country’s football federation, was fined £125,000 and they were docked six qualifying points from their World Cup group.
      After an appeal, common sense prevailed and the points were reinstated.
      Two years prior, Cameroon caused an even bigger stir when they opted for a vest top akin to an NBA basketball team.
      It proved to be a success, as they lifted the Africa Cup of Nations.
      However, before the World Cup Fifa hit them with a rule that football shorts have to have sleeves.
      Cameroon went sleeveless for the 2002 Africa Cup of NationsCredit: Getty
      Two years later, Cameroon wore a Puma designed onesieCredit: AFP
      Cardiff City 2012-2013
      The Bluebirds played in blue. Simple.
      So, when controversial former Malaysian chairman Vincent Tan wanted them to play in red, imagine the commotion it caused.
      His reasons were because red was a lucky colour in Malay culture, so they rebranded in 2012.
      He added it was part of ‘major and significant’ investment into the club
      A red dragon was also added to the club’s badge too.
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      Amazingly, this lasted until 2015 when Tan bowed to fan pressure to change back to blue.
      The kit was changed instantly and the badge was redesigned to feature a bluebird on it.
      Cardiff City changed their colours from blue to red in 2012Credit: Getty
      The brainchild of former owner Vincent Tan, fans revolted and in 2015 they went back to blueCredit: PA:Press Association More

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      I’m an ex-Premier League star – now I sell swimming pools but fans keep ringing me up to sing France’s World Cup anthem

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      FORMER Premier League star Stephane Guivarc’h has swapped grassy pitches for water as he is now a swimming pool salesman.The Frenchman played for Newcastle and won a World Cup during his career.
      Stephane Guivarc’h has a very different career from when he was a footballerCredit: Federation Franchise Natation
      The former Newcastle star now sells swimming poolsCredit: Tanguy Piscines Bretagne | Constructeur de Piscine
      He works for a company that is run by his childhood friendCredit: Tanguy Piscines Bretagne | Constructeur de Piscine
      Guivarc’h played for Newcastle during his careerCredit: Getty
      The Magpies bought the striker for £3.6million in 1998 after he won the World Cup but he ultimately failed at St James’ Park despite scoring on his debut against Liverpool.
      Guivarc’h, 53, arrived at Newcastle with an impressive goalscoring record in France but could not replicate it in England.
      He was sold just months later to Scottish giants Rangers for £3.5m, where he spent one year before returning to France to see out his career.
      Since retiring in 2002, Guivarc’h has drastically switched his career as he entered the leisure business as a swimming pool salesman at a friend’s company.
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      Unlike many former footballers, the retired striker is happy not to have spent much time in front of the camera and is happy with his “balanced life”.
      He told RMC: “I have been in the swimming pool business for 17 years.  The boss of the company is a friend of mine.
      “It started off because the business was a plumbing firm that was doing work on my house.
      “My friend then told me he was planning to create a swimming pools division, and that he was looking for a sales rep.
      Most read in Football
      “As I was unemployed at the time I told him I’d give him a hand – and 17 years later on I am still working with him.
      “I am out on the road all day, things are going very well and I am back home in the evenings.
      “I lead a balanced life. I don’t need to constantly seek to be in front of a camera or a microphone in order to exist.”
      However, just because he is selling swimming pools doesn’t mean he does not get recognised by French football fans.
      Occasionally he will be spotted and will end up speaking to clients about football for even longer than the swimming pool.
      Speaking to The Times, he said: “The first time I meet a customer, if they’re a football fan, it’s not uncommon to spend half an hour talking about swimming pools and an hour talking football.
      “It’s nice, it allows you to connect with somebody’s passion rather than just talking pools, pools, pools. They like to share a moment.
      “But it’s also a professional relationship. You don’t win every deal, there’s a competitive aspect there too.”
      With the swimming pool business being based in the village of Concarneau in Brittany, France there is a very common topic that comes to mind.
      He scored on his debut against Liverpool for the MagpiesCredit: Getty
      After only playing four times Guivarc’h left to join RangersCredit: Alamy
      He added: “The ’98 finals had a huge impact, as they were the first time France won the World Cup.”
      Guivarc’h’s fame from the tournament even sees him be called up by fans with his phone number available on the business’ website.
      He added: “My mobile number is on the company’s website, and fans still phone me up to sing the France World Cup anthem I Will Survive.”
      Guivarc’h has previously admitted that he could have stayed in football.
      After retiring he was the sporting director at Guingamp for six months but left the club after a fallout with the president.
      He said: “My mum then died, and I looked after my dad while I had my house built.
      “My childhood friend – who is now my boss – was fitting a water tank one day when I jokingly told him I could be a salesman for his swimming pool firm.
      “That put a flea in his ear.  He phoned me later on, we spoke the next day and I’ve now been with his company since.”
      Guivarc’h played 14 times for FranceCredit: Getty
      He helped the team win the World Cup in 1998Credit: AFP
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      Guivarc’h left Rangers having helped the club win a Scottish double with the league and cup titles.
      He rejoined his former side Auxerre where he spent the next two years of his career.
      It was his third spell with the club having played there twice either side of a spell at Rennes before joining Newcastle.
      He played 60 games in the French league scoring 25 goals before leaving in 2001.
      In the last year of his professional career, he was at Guingamp, but he only featured 11 times, scoring one goal.
      Guivarc’h played 14 times for France scoring one goal which came in a friendly game against South Africa in 1997.
      He was selected for the World Cup squad in France’s home tournament in 1998, and played in all six games of the tournament.
      He was awarded with a Knight of the Legion of Honour – the highest order of merit in France – following the victory.
      Former UEFA president Michel Platini revealed that the fixture for the 1998 World Cup final was fixedCredit: AFP
      Former France midfielder Michel Platini later claimed that the final was a fix to make sure that the team would not face Brazil until the final of the competition.
      Platini successfully got a change in the rules keeping France and Brazil separated until the final, having been named co-president of the World Cup Organising Committee in 1992.
      Platini added: “If we finished first in the group and Brazil finished first, we could not meet before the final.
      “We did not work until we were bored for six years to organise the World Cup not to do some little shenanigans.
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      “When you are at home, you want to be able to enjoy things.
      “You think the others do not do it for their World Cups? France against Brazil in the final, that was the dream of everyone.” More