There have been some fantastic rugby union teams over the years, with a number of those coming from here in the United Kingdom.

While rugby union lags behind the likes of football, tennis and cricket, Six Nations matches are shown on free-to-air television each year – which can only be positive for the sport.

Best Rugby Teams Of All Time:

1. British & Irish Lions (1971)

2. New Zealand (1987-90)

3. England (2002-03)

4. Wales (1970s)

5. New Zealand (2015)

6. South Africa (1995)

7. British & Irish Lions (1974)

8. France (1994)

9. Barbarians (1973)

10. Australia (1984)

The Rugby World Cup is the pinnacle of the sport. Every rugby union player wants to lift the Webb Ellis Cup – though only a select number can achieve that feat.

This list is littered with World Cup winners. Rugby union betting odds would struggle to put these teams in order but we’ve had a go – scroll down for our take on the best international rugby union teams of all-time.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*

• Pep Guardiola was a hugely influential midfielder at Barcelona for over a decade

• After retiring as a player, he quickly developed into one of the world’s greatest managers

• Despite few commercial deals, his huge success in football has ensured a large net worth

Born on January 18, 1971, in Santpedor, Spain, Josep “Pep” Guardiola joined Barcelona’s academy at the age of 13 and having made his senior debut in 1990, played for over a decade at the club as a defensive midfielder.

While he was a hugely accomplished player, winning 47 caps for Spain and a wealth of domestic honours, he has gained even larger acclaim as one of the greatest managers of his generation, bringing huge success to not only his beloved Barcelona, but also Bayern Munich and Manchester City.

Such considerable achievements have seen him amass considerable wealth, a trend we can expect to continue for many years.

How Much Is Pep Guardiola Worth?

Though well remunerated as a player, Guardiola missed out on the remarkable financial boon that football has enjoyed in recent years, meaning that midfielders these days with half his ability are earning twice as much he would have acquired during his playing days.

It’s also worth remembering that coaches don’t tend to earn as much as players.

Before we get the violins out however and assume the Catalan is scraping by let it be said that Pep Guardiola has a net worth in excess of £35m.

The bulk of this enormous fortune derives from salaries and bonuses, working wonders for three of the wealthiest football clubs on the planet and being extremely well rewarded for it.

But the 53-year-old genius is also not averse to agreeing to sponsorship deals, while other business opportunities have been pursued.

Previously he has worked with Nissan and Gore-Tex, the outdoor clothing company. There is also a long-standing collaboration with Puma, the global sports brand who are manufacturers of Manchester City’s kit.

Additionally, there is an impressive property portfolio to factor in, as well as co-ownership of Tast Catala, a three-storey tapas restaurant in the heart of Manchester. 

When all of these lucrative income streams are combined, and when it is acknowledged that Guardiola is the second highest paid coach in the world – surprisingly lagging behind Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid – then even the most conservative football prediction anticipates the figure above to be dwarfed by the time the great man hangs up his tactics board. 

Pep Guardiola Salary

Most coaches earn less than the players they preside over. But Pep Guardiola is not most coaches. 

The virtual guarantee of success that his unique skill-set provides resulted in Manchester City offering a whopping £15m a year deal to initially lure the trophy-magnet to the North-West, a sum that has subsequently risen to £20m a year as Guardiola continues to stamp his authority, and sumptuous football, on the Premier League.

That equates to £385,000 a week, and only Kevin De Bruyne can top that, if marginally. 

Then there are his numerous performance-related bonuses on top of his basic salary, many of which will have been triggered given the substantial trophy haul he has engineered since arriving at the club.

The current Premier League betting odds suggest that he may be in line for another bonus this coming May.

Pep Guardiola Teams Coached

Guardiola has enjoyed stellar success at three different football clubs around Europe, not only bringing each club silverware in abundance but transforming them from the bottom up. 

He began his coaching career with Barcelona’s B team, gaining them promotion in his single season as manager.

He then moved to the senior team, who under his guidance became one of the greatest ever teams in Europe, winning two Champions League titles during his four-year tenure, as he created a team that reimagined football infinitely for the better. 

Pep then decided to take a sabbatical for a short period before taking on the role of Bayern Munich coach for a further three highly successful seasons. 

His arrival in Manchester in the summer of 2016 was accompanied by enormous interest, as well as a certain amount of scepticism that his possession-based fare could prove successful amidst the frenetic environs of English football.

After winning five Premier League titles and averaging 89.2 points per season it’s fair to say those doubters have been silenced since. 

Online betting odds suggest that Guardiola’s next challenge may lie in international football but, as things stand, Guardiola remains committed to Manchester City. 

A recently signed contract extension keeps him at the club until at least 2025, with those in the know confident he will stay for at least another year beyond that. 

Pep Guardiola Wife

Pep Guardiola and his wife Cristina Serra have been together since they were teenagers. They first met at the clothes store Serra Claret owned by Cristina’s parents, where she was working at the time.

The couple started to date, though it was not until 2014 that they would marry, in a low-key ceremony that mirrors their personal lives. Both Pep and Cristina like to keep their lives private, and rarely court any publicity.

Cristina has excelled as a journalist, writer and in the fashion world, but has dedicated much of her time to her family life and bringing up the couple’s children.

The nature of Pep’s career has made it difficult at times, with Cristina returning to Spain in 2019 with one of their children, to manage her fashion business. 

Pep Guardiola Children

Pep and Cristina have three children – Maria, Marius and Valentina, born in 2000, 2003 and 2008.

The eldest, Maria, is the most prominent on social media channels. Residing in London, she has over 120,000 followers on Instagram where she chronicles her travels and experiences. Like her mother, she is considered a fashion icon in her native Spain. 

The couple’s youngest two children are protected by their parents, and understandably little is known about them or their passions in life. 

An incidental aside has the youngest, Valentina, born on the same day, in May 2008, that Pep discovered he would be the new coach of Barcelona.

Pep Guardiola Trophies

Pep Guardiola has hoovered up trophies both as a player and manager. 

His success began at Barcelona, as part of the team that won the club’s first European Cup in 1992, the same year he won an Olympic gold medal, in addition to four successive La Liga titles from 1991 to 1994.

Two more domestic league titles followed, along with the Cup Winners’ Cup and two UEFA Super Cups. 

As a manager, his haul has increased further, reigning supreme in Spain with his boyhood club as they placed La Liga in a stranglehold. 

As well as three La Liga titles, the Copa Del Rey, the FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and the Champions League were secured, the latter twice. On the first occasion, Guardiola was just 38, making him the youngest coach to lift the coveted jug-eared trophy. 

Not surprisingly, at Bayern Munich he continued to sweep up honours, but his stint at the club was tarnished by a failure to win the Champions League. That has since been rectified at Manchester City, the last jewel to elude the Blues attained in Istanbul in 2023.

Domestically meanwhile, City have held sway throughout Guardiola’s time in charge, winning multiple FA Cup and League Cups and triumphing in the league in five of the last six seasons. 

Is it any wonder our Premier League predictions page routinely backs the Blues to succeed each and every August?

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

Without a doubt, darts is one of the most exciting sports on the planet. With major tournaments taking place on a regular basis throughout the year, it is one of the only sports without an extended break - which is great for punters looking at darts betting tips.

The rise of darts from pub game to global phenomenon has been something to behold. It has been fantastic to watch the sport evolve over the years – most of the greatest darts matches of all-time have taken place in recent times.

Best Darts Players Of All-Time:

1. Phil Taylor

2. Michael van Gerwen

3. Raymond van Barneveld

4. Eric Bristow

5. John Lowe

6. Gary Anderson

7. Dennis Priestley

8. Jocky Wilson

9. Martin Adams

10. Adrian Lewis

Players regularly record 100+ averages and major tournaments are now able to offer lucrative prize funds; 2024 PDC world champion Luke Humphries notched £500,000 for winning darts’ showpiece competition in January.

Hundreds of fabulous players have blessed the oche over the years but only 10 can feature on our list of the greatest darts players of all time. Without further ado, let’s take a look at these tungsten stars…

10) Adrian Lewis

With approximately £3 million earned in career prize money, Lewis deserves a place on this list.

Although some will argue that Lewis’ time as one of the best players in the world is now over, he still deserves plenty of praise for his darting achievements.

He became only the third man to retain the PDC World Championship in back-to-back years after winning it for the first time in 2011.
En route to lifting his maiden title, Lewis became the first player ever to hit a nine-dart finish in the World Championship final.

9) Martin Adams

A controversial inclusion. Adams has played in the BDO for the majority of his darts career – his decision not to switch to the PDC on a permanent basis was heavily criticised.

Sadly, we will never know just how good ‘Wolfie’ could’ve been. However, Adams was the star of his generation in the BDO and he should be remembered for his achievements.

With an impressive three Lakeside world titles, Adams is up there with the likes of Eric Bristow and John Lowe but we’ll get onto those two shortly...

8) Jocky Wilson

A true darts icon, Wilson was one of the sport’s greatest personalities.

An all-time favourite with crowds all over the United Kingdom, Wilson is remembered for his antics at the oche, from his famous darts walk on song to interacting with darts fans on stage.

However, it wasn’t all fun and games for Wilson; he did get serious occasionally. The darts lingo banter was fun but Wilson knew when to put his game face on.

During his illustrious playing career, Wilson won two world titles in 1982 and 1989. Wilson was one of the most memorable players to throw a dart and his legacy lives on.

7) Dennis Priestley

Priestley won two World Championship titles during his career but fell short in the final four times – all four defeats coming against Phil Taylor.

Had it not been for Taylor, Priestley could have gone down as one of the top three darts players ever.

Instead, he ranks seventh in our list. To sum up Priestley’s career; he averaged 101.4 when losing to Taylor in the 1996 final.

Taylor and Priestley were the only players to average 100 or more in the World Championship showpiece until Raymond van Barneveld in 2007.

6) Gary Anderson

Still ranked number 23rd in the PDC Order of Merit darts rankings, Anderson is the greatest Scottish darts player of all-time.

With two World Championship Darts final wins under his belt, as well as two Premier League titles, he more than holds his own at number six on this list.

He fell short time and time again in the BDO but has really raised his game in the PDC, with a number of impressive records, results and accolades, including twice being named PDC Player of the Year.

At his brilliant best, Anderson is quite possibly the only player on the planet who can outscore Van Gerwen.

5) John Lowe

Lowe was the first player to win the World Championship in three different decades and that is testament to his longevity at the top of the sport.

While not massively exciting on the oche, Lowe was consistent and effective – two traits needed to be successful in darts.

And boy, was he successful. One of the most famous darts terms players of his era, Lowe won three BDO world titles in 1979, 1987 and 1993, as well as winning the World Masters crown twice.

However, his most memorable moment was when he became the first man to hit a nine-dart finish on television in 1984.

4) Eric Bristow

The top four are some way clear of the rest. Bristow, known on stage as the Crafty Cockney, was the equivalent of darts royalty in the 1970s and 1980s – winning five World Masters titles and five World Championships during a whirlwind decade.

Unfortunately, dartitis struck and ended his spell at the top of the game.

Bristow deserves to go down as one of the greatest ever players and his influence in promoting darts in the aftermath of his playing career only enhances his status with darting fans across the world.

3) Raymond van Barneveld

Like Wilson, Van Barneveld is a fan favourite.

Darts odds followers often turn up to events in the famous orange clothing to show support for the Dutch player and ‘Barney’ has been involved in some of the most famous Premier League Darts moments.

After winning four BDO world titles in a seven-year stretch, Van Barneveld made the choice to switch to the PDC.

In 2007, he beat Phil Taylor in what has been labelled as the greatest darts match ever. Van Barneveld’s legendary status will live long in the memory. 

The Hague native has declined in recent years, but he still remains beloved by darts fans around the world. 

2) Michael van Gerwen

The best player in the world right now, Van Gerwen has the potential to challenge Taylor’s spot at the top of this list. You don't need to be a darts terminology expert to realise that.

MVG won the World Masters at just 17 years old and he has been one of the greatest players in the business ever since. With an incredible 48 major titles, Van Gerwen enters most tournaments as an odds-on favourite.

After lifting the Champions League in 2019, Van Gerwen has won every competition and is just 34 years old. In terms of actual ability, he might even be better than Taylor.

1) Phil Taylor

Taylor’s longevity keeps him at the top of our rankings for the time being. He is the nine dart finish king.

Without a doubt, the undisputed best darts player ever to step on the oche, Taylor has a sensational 16 PDC World Championship titles to his name and his place in darts history is now set in stone.

He won his first major trophy in 1990 and his final title in 2017 and he ranked as number one in the world for the majority of that time.

Taylor’s tally of 85 major titles is still some way clear of Van Gerwen and he is worthy of his status as our undisputed best ever darts players.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*

Plenty of horse racing betting punters will be looking for Cheltenham Day 3 tips come Thursday at the Festival, especially if the bookmakers have had a successful couple of days.

The third day of the Cheltenham Festival sees racing move to the New Course, which tends to bring stamina into play and that contributes to some fantastic racing.

Cheltenham Day 3 Tips:

• Turners Novices Chase

• Pertemps Network Final

• Ryanair Chase

• Stayers Hurdle

• Cheltenham Plate

• Mares Novices Hurdle

• Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase

The Stayers Hurdle is the highlight of Thursday’s racing at the meeting and punters will be looking for Cheltenham Day 3 tips on the feature race of the day.

Join us here at 888sport for full coverage of the Festival and free horse racing tips for Cheltenham Day 3 will be available via our team of experts. Good luck!

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

Cheltenham Day 2 tips at the Festival are popular, especially with the ladies as Wednesday is known as Ladies Day at Prestbury Park.

Fillies and mares will flock to Cheltenham in their numbers in a bid to beat the bookmakers and win some money in horse racing betting markets.

Cheltenham Day 2 Tips:

• Baring Bingham Novices Hurdle

• Brown Advisory Novices Chase

• Coral Cup

• Queen Mother Champion Chase

• Cross Country Chase

• Grand Annual

• Champion Bumper

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the highlight of Wednesday’s racing and punters will be keeping a close eye on Cheltenham Day 2 tips for betting help on the feature race.

Without further ado, it is time to check out the Cheltenham racecourse schedule and Day 2 tips at this year’s Festival. Good luck with all of your Cheltenham bets!

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

We only seem to look at the art of refereeing through a negative prism. 

Each and every Monday a contentious decision made by one of the 20 matchday officials on the Premier League roster is endlessly scrutinised and woe betide the ref in question if it’s not a subjective call, but instead a mistake. 

Then they are thrown to the social media wolves. 

Moreover, there are two well-known songs that are attributed to their trade. The first queries their parentage. The second insists they don’t know what they’re doing.

It’s not nice and it’s not clever. 

So let’s reverse that trend and celebrate these much-maligned individuals, because the truth is the Premier League down the years has produced some outstanding officials, just like it has outstanding players, managers and football betting moments.

And these ten were, and are, the very best of them.

Greatest Premier League Referees:

• Martin Atkinson 

• Mark Clattenburg

• Paul Tierney 

• Jeff Winter 

• Dermot Gallagher

• Anthony Taylor

• Graham Poll

• Michael Oliver

• Howard Webb

• Mike Dean

These officials have exhibited the skills and mentality required if you’re wondering how to become a referee.

Their careers haven’t been without criticism, but that is par for the course with refereeing at the highest level...

10) Martin Atkinson 

After refereeing up to Championship level for nine years, Atkinson was promoted to the national list of referees in 2004, immediately making himself known as an official who liked to let games flow.

In his first three years of presiding over top-flight fare he issued only eight red cards, a figure notably below the average.

Those of us who bet on the Premier League appreciate such an ethos. Give us a level playing field every time on which to base our decisions. 

From West Riding in Yorkshire, Atkinson retired in 2022, his final tally of 461 Premier Leagues the second highest of anyone. He also reffed three fixtures at Euro 2016. 

9) Mark Clattenburg 

Renowned as one of the world’s best referees, Mark Clattenburg prematurely departed the Premier League to work in Saudi Arabia in 2017. A stint in China followed, too.

Quickly ascending the ranks after turning professional, Clattenburg was FIFA listed by 2006 and took charge of his first Champions League match in 2008.

During his career in England, Clattenburg oversaw countless big matches, including various finals and derbies. 

He is now ensuring the rules are obeyed on ITV’s Gladiators. Contenders ready!

8) Paul Tierney 

Tierney’s reputation may have tailed off in recent seasons but he first emerged as the complete package. His sprinting was better than any of his peers, meaning he could keep up with play.

His decision-making was quick and unambiguous. Crucially, he forged a good working relationship with players who in time both liked and respected him. 

His most recent big appointment was the 2023 all-Manchester FA Cup final. 

7) Jeff Winter 

Deriving from Stockton-on-Tees, Winter had a no-nonsense demeanour that gave way to easy humour when tempers became frayed. There has not been a referee before or since better at defusing inflammatory incidents.

Additionally, his judgement was sound and his concentration levels consistently high, meaning controversial moments were kept to a minimum across his nine years at the top. 

Unfortunately – and the chief reason why he resides seventh here, instead of in the top three – Winter was thoroughly aware of how good he was, his personality and ego often ensuring he stood out. Ceding centre stage to the players was not for him. 

An autobiography, countless appearances on podcasts and now a regular on the after-dinner circuit all point to Winter enjoying the attention a little too much. 

6) Dermot Gallagher

One of the referees in the first ever Premier League season, Dermot Gallagher earned a position on the FIFA list in 1994, which he retained until 2002.

Gallagher officiated matches during Euro ’96 in England, which came just months after he took charge of the FA Cup final.

Granted an exemption to continue beyond retirement age, Gallagher was considered among the country’s best officials right up until he called it a day in 2007.

These days, he often pops up on Sky Sports to provide insight into refereeing issues. 

5) Anthony Taylor

Aside from repetitive complaints about his involvement in matches featuring the Manchester clubs, Wythenshawe born and raised Anthony Taylor has a stellar reputation around the world.

Taylor has had the honour of refereeing multiple FA Cup finals, a Nations League final and was part of the group of referees for the delayed Euro 2020, where he was widely praised for his response to Christian Eriksen collapsing on the pitch.

FIFA listed since 2013, Taylor remains among the best referees on the planet and he is set to feature in many more showpiece events. 

4) Graham Poll

If you can look past the infamous three yellow cards incident at the 2006 World Cup, Graham Poll has a CV matched by very few of his contemporaries.

Poll was selected to referee at three major international tournaments and oversaw the 2005 UEFA Cup final. 

He refereed over 1,500 matches in his career. Since retiring in 2007, the Hitchin native has remained in the public eye with newspaper columns and various podcast appearances. 

3) Michael Oliver

Ranked by Keith Hackett as the best Premier League referee in 2022, Michael Oliver has refereed multiple domestic finals, been included in the roster for a World Cup and had numerous Champions League appearances.

He has been FIFA listed since 2012 and joined the UEFA Elite in 2018.

Oliver is consistent in his decision-making, and mixes authority with calmness. Players and managers clearly trust his calls, which is a huge part of the battle for Premier League referees. 

2) Howard Webb

Previously one of the highest-paid Premier League referees, Howard Webb was often trusted with the biggest fixtures. Indeed, if there’s a bucket list for refereeing, Webb checked all the boxes. 

His career featured World Cup, FA Cup and Champions League finals, along with various other international and European fixtures. 

Upon his retirement in 2014, Webb fulfilled a role with PGMOL before becoming Saudi Arabia’s director of referees and occasionally working as a pundit on BT Sport.

He followed that up by working for MLS before returning to PGMOL as chief refereeing officer in 2022. 

1) Mike Dean

No list of Premier League referees great and good would be complete without Dean, his distinctive approach to his trade making him arguably the most famous official in modern times. 

Dean ‘s willingness to show his personality earned him celebrity status, an occurrence that would usually hinder a referee’s career.

Not so with Dean however, whose elite attributes cut through the internet memes and his eccentric mannerisms, making him one of the most respected officials in the business. 

Across 561 top-flight contests mistakes were rare and the whistle-blower from the Wirral was never afraid of making the big calls in front of potentially intimidating crowds. He was usually right, too.

Post-retirement his opinions are sought in-game for Sky Sports. In this regard he is like Peter Walton but not remote-control-throwingly terrible.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*

*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

As a rule, celebrity football fans get a bad rap, accused of aligning themselves with a glamorous club when in reality they would be hard-pressed to locate its ground without the aid of Sat-Nav.

Others meanwhile go a little leftfield, perhaps seeking some credibility. When, for example did we last see self-avowed Fulham supporter Margot Robbie at Craven Cottage tucking into a pie? Never, that’s when.

Such artifice absolutely does not apply to these ten well-known Manchester City fans, who all endured the rough times before the club’s transformative takeover in 2008.

Celebs they may be, but this bunch of rock stars, actors and newsreaders also happen to be true Blues.

10) Marco Pierre White 

The brilliant but hot-headed chef grew up in Leeds yet found himself captivated by the all-attacking Manchester City side of the Seventies. He is proud to this day to call Mike Summerbee and Joe Corrigan among his friends. 

Accumulating Michelin stars at record speed, the former boss of Gordon Ramsey fell out of love with the game in his twenties, his work all-consuming.

In recent years however, he has been drawn back to his first love, even establishing eateries within the Etihad and helping to revamp their matchday menus. 

9) Michael O’Leary 

Nicknamed the ‘Mourinho of aviation’, due to his outspoken demeanour, the CEO of Ryanair dreamed of becoming a centre-forward for City as a kid, growing up in Ireland, before switching his attention to cheap short-haul flights, a market where he amassed a considerable fortune.

So considerable in fact that in 2003 he was approached by the club and asked to become a stakeholder. Believing the club was heading in the wrong direction however he declined. 

Which goes to prove that even innovative and highly successful businessmen can be spectacularly wrong sometimes.  

8) Craig Cash 

Each and every August our Premier League predictions tip City to claim another crown, as they extend on their unprecedented era of dominance. 

This all must feel like a world away – or half the world, if we’re evoking the title track to the award-winning Royle Family sitcom that Cash co-wrote with Caroline Aherne – to the comedian’s formative years, stood on the Kippax, enduring largely mediocrity.

Cash recently admitted on a podcast that he has treated himself to a box at the Etihad, attending with his wife and friends and invariably returning home drunk on wine and success.  

7) Clive Myrie  

Myrie has recently won deserved acclaim for his brave reporting from the frontline of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Prior to that, the esteemed journalist made headlines when he succeeded John Humphrys as the latest host of Mastermind. 

To City fans however, he is better known as that guy off the telly who fails to hide his smile when relaying the latest misfortune to strike Manchester United. Legendary status has derived from less.

6) Badly Drawn Boy  

A season ticket holder for many years standing, Damon Gough aka Badly Drawn Boy had trials at Manchester United as a teen but already was starting to feel the pull of the stage. 

Besides, it would have been all kinds of wrong for this City obsessive to turn out in red, his love for the Cityzens life-long and profound.

The Mercury Prize winner, known for his trademark wooly hats as much as his lo-fi tunes, has enjoyed every minute of a remarkable rise that has seen the club favourites in the Champions League betting every season, but remains endearingly nostalgic about a time when City were perennial underachievers.

It’s fitting therefore that he sang a couple of songs after the Blues’ final ever game at Maine Road. 

5) Timothy Dalton

That’s right, James Bond is a Manchester City fan, though if we’re being entirely accurate, the super-spy also loves Rangers (Sean Connery) and Liverpool (Daniel Craig). Indeed, it could be argued that 007 is the very worst kind of glory-hunter.

Not so Dalton, who has followed the Blues through thick and thin since growing up in nearby Cheadle, even admitting recently that he used to sneak under the turnstiles as a boy to avoid paying. 

Now a seasoned and highly venerated actor, Dalton ensures he keeps up to date with all the latest developments at the club while on location, no doubt still pinching himself at times at their astonishing rise.

No doubt he was shaken and stirred last year when City finally secured Champions League glory. 

4) Ricky Hatton

The pinnacle of the former welterweight champion of the world’s achievements was successfully defending his belt in 2008 at a packed-out Etihad Stadium, the 55,000 present that evening a post-war record attendance at the time for a British boxing bout. 

The Pride of Hyde, more widely known as the ‘Hitman’ has Manchester City in his DNA, with his father turning out for the reserves before he was born.

He also has the club’s motto ‘Pride in Battle’ inked across his back while the explosive puncher entered his biggest fights to Blue Moon. 

3) Johnny Marr

The iconic guitarist first saw City play in 1972, aged nine and agog at the sight of Colin Bell and Francis Lee thrashing Wolves 5-2 and though he is now based in the US he still never misses a game, staying up all hours to tune in.

Which makes it rather fortunate that Marr is a rock star living rock star hours. 

The architect of some of music’s greatest guitar riffs with The Smiths, Marr faced a tough choice as a precocious teen, turning out for Manchester City’s youth side while befriending a certain Steven Patrick Morrisey. History tells us he very likely took the right career path. 

2) Jason Manford 

The popular comedian rarely misses an opportunity to chat City, either on his award-winning radio show or in interviews and additionally he enjoys a close affiliation with the club behind the scenes, on occasion appearing at City Square, the venue that hosts pre-match entertainment. 

Now a rising star in the world of musical theatre, he also belted out Blue Moon on the pitch in 2013. 

1) The Gallagher brothers 

Some might say that the Gallagher brothers have done as much to spread City’s good name across the globe as David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and the rest of them. 

At the height of Oasis’ fame, Liam and his generously-eyebrowed older brother Noel posed on the front cover of the NME, wearing retro City shirts while two gigs at Maine Road during the Nineties will live long in the memory.

Noel’s relationship with City goes deep, arguably the most influential songwriter of his generation a regular presence in the changing room following title wins and cup glories. 

Liam meanwhile attends games when tour commitments allow and is never shy in airing his sincere dislike of the club’s arch-rivals Manchester United. 

The Premier League odds for City and United are currently poles apart, sadly echoing the distance between these warring siblings.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*

It's a crucial month for Liverpool's future... off the pitch.

Because the big revolution is ready to start, after the exclusive story was revealed at the end of January: when Jurgen Klopp decided to leave the club, Liverpool owners FSG approached former director Michael Edwards to return and help rebuild the structure for the new era.

In that case, around January 30th, Edwards decided to reject Liverpool proposal. The owners made an initial approach but Michael was not convinced about returning in football traditional roles in general, it was not an issue with Liverpool; he was and remains very happy with his job as consultant.

But FSG decided not to give up as they returned with another approach in February to convince Michael Edwards and show him that he was the only, big candidate they wanted to run football operations at Liverpool and start the challenge to keep highest level for the Reds without Jurgen Klopp as manager, reference, legend.

Liverpool decided for a final attempt with decision expected in March; yes or no, zero space for long wait, otherwise Reds were going to move on and search for different candidate.

Thanks to positive meetings in the United States, Edwards started to be tempted and he's now really close to accepting the job, returning to Liverpool and becoming the face of their new project with final details being signed off in the next days.

Not only Edwards; because his first move will be to bring in a new director in the structure and sources guarantee that Richard Hughes will be the man, as he's leaving Bournemouth at the end of the season after fantastic work with CEO Neil Blake in recent years and he's set for a new chapter... with Liverpool ready to make it happen.

Edwards is the man who brought players lie Van Dijk, Alisson, Salah or Sadio Mané to the club, this is why the fans still love him and the owners believe that future will be bright under his management.

But also it will be an important summer at Liverpool as they are looking at offensive players (for example, Pedro Neto is one of the players monitored by the scouting department) and also at new centre back to add to their list. It will be an important summer at Anfield, in terms of decisions.

But the first two crucial steps are clear: Edwards together with the owners will work on the new manager to replace Klopp, difficult mission but Liverpool will be on it as they're still in a "fight" with FC Bayern to get Xabi Alonso, both clubs are pushing with different factors.

Then for Liverpool it's gonna be crucial to present their new project to top players like van Dijk, Salah and Alexander-Arnold to understand how to proceed in contract talks as soon as possible.

"New manager is not gonna influence my decision", Mo Salah said in public in the recent days. But all players, especially stars like them, want to understand club's planning and ideas for the future.

And the first key piece with Michael Edwards is ready for the Reds as crucial part of the revolution for the new era.