Sport Features

MAN UTD legend Roy Keane is certainly not afraid of sporting new bearded looks.Through the years, the former midfield hardman has experimented with his facial hair.
Roy Keane’s facial hair has divided opinion – but what style looks best?
From designer stubble to full-on caveman, the Sky Sports pundit has experiments with plenty of different styles.
But, which one is the best?
We have rated Keano’s beards out of 10 – starting off with a fan favourite.
Caveman
Quite a few times on punditry duty, we’ve been treated to Keano embracing his inner caveman.
Read more football news
This unkempt, bushy beard shows of a bit of grey and hints at Captain Birdseye.
SunSport says: Unkempt, and a nod to the packaging on the fish fingers we loved as kids, it definitely accentuates Keane’s masculinity. But, it is a little untidy.
Beard Rating : 7/10
Aye aye Captain Birseye: Roy Keane appears on ITV with a bushy beardCredit: ITV
Wyatt Earp
It’s a handlebar tasche that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the wild west, or the Village People.
Most read in Football
The ex-Red Devils captain showed he wasn’t afraid to experiment with this facial style.
SunSport says: Very few men can pull off this type of tasche – and sadly, for us at least, Keane isn’t one of them.
Beard rating: 3/10
Roy Keane shows off his handlebar moustache
Clean-cut
There’s no doubt about it, when Keane goes for a full shave it knocks the years off.
Here, on duty for Sky Sports, he goes hirsute. But does he look better with a bit of stubble?
SunSport says: Oddly enough, having absolutely no facial hair on Keane’s face looks a bit strange now, even if he does look younger.
Beard rating: 5/10
A clean-cut Roy Keane reports for Sky Sports duty
Billy Connolly
As comedians go, none have been funnier than Billy Connolly.
Fans on Twitter went wild when Keane showed off a moustache and soul patch combo akin to the Big Yin during ITV’s World Cup coverage in Qatar.
SunSport says: As funny as Keane can be when it comes to his pundit work, leave the comedy tasche and stork to the professionals.
Beard rating: 2/10
Is it Roy Keane or Billy Connolly?
The Goat-ee
Keane bossed the midfield when he played for United in the nineties and noughties.
But, as he lined up for a Champions League game against Fiorentina in 1999, he showed off an impressive goatee that must have inspired Ricky Gervais when it came to David Brent and The Office.
SunSport says: A goatee that has outgrown the rest of the beard takes effort and grooming – and Keane has pulled it off here.
Beard rating: 8/10
Roy Keane can lay claim to being the GOAT-ee
Hipster
Roy sometimes like to keep his beard, but has it groomed and clipped to keep it under control.
However he doesn’t seem the type to splash out on hipster paraphernalia like beard shampoo, and balm.
SunSport says: Gives Roy a rugged look, without looking like a gnarly old sea dog.
Beard rating: 7/10
Credit: Getty
Designer stubble
It’s the beard choice for many an action hero – think Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger – who all rocked designer stubble.
Keane does it with some aplomb – signing autographs for fans and getting a kiss from a female admirer.
Read More on The Sun
SunSport says: The proof is in the pudding – designer stubble has won him an admirer. The best of the bunch.
Beard rating: 9/10
Designer stubble made Keane a favourite with the ladies More

BRIGHTON’S FA Cup hero Kaoru Mitoma is, literally, a student of the game.The Japanese winger, 25, has been a sensation for the Seagulls – scoring against Arsenal and Liverpool this season.
Brilliant Kaoru Mitoma is literally a student of the gameCredit: Instagram
Mitoma jumps for joy as his late winner sinks Liverpool in the FA CupCredit: Reuters
But, at the age of 19, he doubted his own ability and chose to snub a professional contract in his homeland in favour of a degree.
He enrolled at the prestigious University of Tsukuba, where he studied physical education and learned about sports science and his body.
It was there he starred in the college team, before writing his thesis on the art of dribbling – a skill that has served him well in the Premier League and seen him torture the likes of Ben White and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Not ready physically
Mitoma began training with four-time champions Kawasaki Frontale at the age of 11.
read more football features
After impressing coaches, he was offered a professional contract.
However, the teenager admirably turned it down – admitting his shortcomings.
“I just felt I wasn’t ready physically and that I wouldn’t be in the first team immediately,” Mitoma told The Athletic.
“I thought the best step was to get more playing time and get better.”
Most read in Football
Instead, he signed up to do Physical Education at the University of Tsukuba – which is consistently ranked in Japan’s top 10 universities.
It not only gave Mitoma the opportunity to understand the human body, it also allowed him to blossom as a footballer.
In the Far East, playing university football is recognised as a higher standard than its European equivalent.
Mitoma was selected to represent Japan at the 2017 and 2019 Universiade tournaments, as well as the 2018 Asian Games and the 2019 Toulon Tournament with the U23 national team.
Playing in the Kanto University Soccer League with Tsukuba, he was also named in the all-league XI in his final three seasons.
He also celebrated winning the Denso Cup in 2019 with his team-mates.
All this while majoring in physical education.
Mitoma, wearing the No9 jersey, was a star for his university football team
In Tsukuba Mitoma studied physical education and made plenty of friends
Dribbling wizard
Renowned for his pace and unique dribbling ability, in his final year at university Mitoma was tasked with writing his thesis.
He chose to focus on the art of dribbling – thinking of his own skills and what makes a good dribbler.
“It was the easiest subject for me to choose because I love football and dribbling is what I love to do,” he explained.
“There were no rules on how much to write, but I progressed with it by analysing my team-mates that were good and not-so-good dribblers and trying to find out why that was.
“I put cameras on the heads of my team-mates to study where and what they were looking at and how their opponents were looking at them.
“I learned that the good players weren’t looking at the ball. They would look ahead, trap the ball without looking down at their feet. That was the difference.
“I was one of the better dribblers at that time, but not exceptional.”
Putting his own thesis to practice, he wrote: “I am conscious of shifting the opponent’s centre of gravity. If I can move the opponent’s body, I win.”
He concluded: “The power of my characteristic dribbling has doubled.”
The art of dribbling was the subject of Mitoma’s thesisCredit: Getty
Graduation & making it pro
In 2018, Mitoma signed pro for Kawasaki Frontale – finally making his debut in 2020 after the Covid outbreak halted the football world.
Aged 22, in his first full debut season, he hit double figures – becoming just the fifth rookie to score as many in J-League history.
Even more impressively, the midfielder notched 12 assists – more than anyone else in the competition.
A meagre 18 months after he handed his dribbling thesis in – he was signed by Brighton.
The fee – just £3million – appears to be a bargain now.
Last season, he spent time on loan at Union SG in Belgium’s top league – where he acclimatised to European football and scored eight times in 29 games.
This campaign, ex-boss Graham Potter thrust the talent into the first team – used initially as an impact player from the bench to bamboozle defenders with tired legs.
The World Cup break also acted as a springboard for the wideman.
After coming through the ranks, Mitoma shined for Japan’s national teamCredit: AFP
Just 18 months after completing his thesis, Mitoma was signed by Brighton for £3mCredit: Rex
Qatar
Many felt Mitoma was underused by Japan in Qatar – making all his four appearances as a sub.
But, that didn’t stop him from playing a major role in the most controversial moment of the tournament.
His cut-back, when the ball was seemingly out against Spain, contributed to his country’s 2-1 triumph – knocking Germany out at the group stages.
Like a Shakespeare play, there was tragedy too – when he missed a spot kick in the last-16 defeat to Croatia.
Since then, Mitoma has returned as a man on a mission.
He has mustered three goals in five Premier League games, including a recent stunner against Leicester City in a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool were also dumped out of the FA Cup by Mitoma’s quick-feet and calmness in front of goal – deep in injury time – as he volleyed home.
Controversially, Mitoma assisted Japan’s winner against Spain in the World CupCredit: AP
Mitoma scored against Arsenal at the Emirates in the League CupCredit: AFP
With Brighton letting the likes of Leandro Trossard go, and the increasing likelihood of Moises Caicedo leaving one day soon too, it is almost inevitable their new talisman will command a substantial fee.
Expect it to draw in another massive profit on the meagre £3million they paid.
Read More on The Sun More

FOOTBALL may have been a good earner for Martin Braithwaite, but it’s outside the beautiful game he’s made his fortune.The much-maligned striker, 31, is currently plying his trade at Espanyol.
Martin Braithwaite now plays for Espanyol, after flopping at Barcelona
Outside of football, Denmark striuker Braithwaite has made a £216m fortune
But, in truth, he could retire tomorrow thanks to his incredible business acumen.
The Denmark star’s companies are believed to be worth a staggering £216million.
His biggest is a property business in the US that offers affordable housing in historically black neighbourhoods.
Braithwaite has also invested in a clothing line, as well as a high-end restaurant with entrepreneur wife Anne-Laure.
read more football
While, she also runs her own healthy meal delivery service – meaning they have an empire that even Lord Sugar would be enviable of.
It started with homes
Back in 2017, Braithwaite invested £617,000 with his brother Philip Michael into NYCE Companies in the US.
In its first year, it grew to be worth a stunning £7.2million. Now it’s said to be worth somewhere in the region of £180million.
What they did, essentially, was something desperately needed for communities in Philadelphia and New Jersey.
Most read in Football
They went into areas associated with black Americans and built affordable homes.
Within six years, they have around 1,500 apartments – and are constructing a further 500.
“I always had this American side, and I think maybe that’s why my mindset is maybe more American: dreaming big, doing amazing things, writing goals down,” Braithwaite told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
“In Denmark, we have an amazing system protecting the people. Everyone is good. No one needs anything. In America, it’s not really the same thing.”
Alongside his brother Philip Michael, Braithwaite has established a huge property portfolio
Their venture NYCE Companies provides luxury and affordable housing
NYCE properties are found in historically black neighbourhoods in New Jersey and Philadelphia
The Tech mansion
The forward-thinking pair have also established The Temple – a smart home project aimed at tech-savvy and business-minded students and creators.
Found near Temple University’s campus in Philly, the building is modelled after Silicon Valley’s famous ‘hacker house’ where young entrepreneurs live and work together as they being their startups.
High-tech devices, including virtual reality leasing, AI-powered VIP concierge, and keyless/facial recognition make The Temple the place to be if you want to be the next Mark Zuckerberg.
It was set up with a goal to narrow the Millennial Wealth Gap, a rising economic disparity between white and non-white millennials.
Braithwaite, who has been a major activist in the Black Lives Matter movement, is keen to provide African-Americans greater opportunities in the tech industry and entrepreneurship.
They have set themselves a target to create 100,000 millennial millionaires by 2030.
The Temple is a smart home project aimed at tech-savvy and business-minded students and creators
Food and Fashion
Not content with a property portfolio, Braithwaite also has an interest in fashion and food.
Alongside his gorgeous wife Anne-Laure he runs a clothing label and a restaurant.
Trente is a women’s line that is believed to have enjoyed huge success in her native France, since it was set up in 2019.
Martin and self-confessed foodie Anne-Laure also co-own a restaurant on Barcelona’s Gava beach called Gave.
It specialises in vegetarian dishes, and came soon after Braithwaite moved to the city from Leganes.
Which led to his wife’s next venture.
Braithwaite’s wife Anne-Laure runs a fashion label and they co-own a restaurant
Foodies the Braithwaites believe in healthy eating
The Braithwaite family own a beachside restaurant that serves vegan food
Their latest creation
Aside from raising four children and maintaining a football career, the Braithwaite’s latest idea is an offshoot from their restaurant.
Braithwaite’s Kitchen provides healthy meals at home – again elaborate vegan and vegetarian dishes – designed especially for busy families and athletes that want to eat healthy but don’t have the knowledge or time to cook.
‘Each meal plan is personalised to every customers needs,’ they boast on their stylish website.
Prices aren’t listed, and isn’t known how well the business is doing yet – given it’s in its infancy stage.
However, you can bet it’ll be a success if past ventures are anything to go by.
Braithwaite’s Kitchen provides healthy meals delivered to your home
Forbes rich list
Because of his incredible success away from football, he made the list of richest in sport on Forbes’ annual list last year.
His earnings of £85,000-per-week at previous club Barcelona were dwarfed by his team-mates.
However, his wealth boosted by his companies meant the former Middlesbrough striker was the richest at club the AFTER Lionel Messi left for PSG.
Braithwaite was asked to mutually end his contract earlier in the summer when Xavi deemed him surplus to requirements and no one submitted bids for him.
But Braithwaite refused, allegedly demanding a £4m pay-off with his contract paid out in full. 
Just hours after his release from Barcelona, the free agent signed a three-year contract with city-rivals Espanyol.
Read More on The Sun
When it rains, it pours for Braithwaite who seemingly can’t do anything wrong when it comes to making money. More