Sadio Mane was born and raised in Bombali, Senegal, a town built on the banks of the Casamance River.

Forbidden from playing sport as a child it wasn’t until the age of 15 when the future Champions League winner’s potential was unearthed, the youngster running away to the capital city of Dakar whereupon his abilities were spotted by a local club.

Soon after Generation Foot came calling, a team that has won the Senegalese top division three times in recent years, and what’s the betting Mane scored an abundance of goals there, eventually attracting French side Metz to make a move. 

Alas, there is scant evidence to be found of his scoring feats on home soil.

What we do know is that it only took 19 appearances for struggling Metz to entice RB Salzburg into making a €4m bid and once settled in Austria the forward began a pattern the world of football has since become very familiar with. 

Coming in off the left flank, Mane would use his blistering speed to terrorise defences, in doing so carving out opportunities for both himself, and his team-mates.

A £11m move to Southampton followed, and not only did this represent a quantum leap for his career but it was a big money-jump too, the player now benefitting from the lucrative rewards of the Premier League. 

After impressing on the South Coast he joined Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool revolution, his £34m fee making him the most expensive African footballer at the time.

From there, it has been a consistent story of goals, success and silverware, not least winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal in 2022. 

That same year the Bundesliga was won with his next club Bayern Munich, before the immense riches of the Saudi Arabia proved impossible to turn down.

All of this glory, along with a decade and more of devastating football, has made Sadio Mane an extremely wealthy individual.

How Much Is Sadio Mane Worth?

Sadio Mane’s current net worth is estimated at around £25 million, a sum largely made up of Premier League and Bundesliga wages, bonuses and signing-on fees.

As we’ll discover, that is set to mushroom very shortly. 

A late bloomer in many regards, the forward has made up for it since, accruing £5m-plus per year in wages alone during his latter seasons at Liverpool before enjoying a bumper pay rise when joining Bayern. 

Away from football, his list of endorsements isn’t as comprehensive as some other Premier League stars, though he has had partnerships with Indonesia Tourism and Western Union.

There has also been two lucrative affiliations struck up with sporting behemoths New Balance and Nike, each bringing in several million pounds per annum.  

For the latter, Mane took part in a high-profile campaign that included a television advertisement. 
A recent move into property may also prove prosperous, Mane reputedly purchasing four luxury apartments in Dakar. 

What Is Sadio Mane's Salary?

Across six seasons on Merseyside, Mane established himself as a feared and prolific forward, a pivotal part in Jurgen Klopp’s exhilarating side that brought pride and trophies back to Anfield. 

In 2019 the Champions League was won, a sixth for the club. Twelve months later Liverpool won their first ever Premier League title. 

That success has continued, and each summer the Reds are tipped in our Premier League predictions to come good.

Only then a pay dispute began to rumble on, with Mane wanting more than the £100,000 he was receiving going into the final year of his contract.

Though six-figures was a substantial amount it was still less than some other top-flight stars, James Maddison, Kurt Zouma, Danny Ings and Victor Lindelof to name just four

From Liverpool’s perspective they were more than happy to increase Mane’s salary, he being so important to them, but restricted by their wage structure they were certainly not prepared to go as high as £350,000 a week. 

That was the lofty number on the table from Bayern Munich, a figure that had Mane ranking alongside the highest-paid players in world football.

With a subsequent move to Al Nassr, that is truer now than ever before. 

Transfer To Bayern Munich

It was not simply a large hike in wages that lured Mane across the continent in the summer of 2022. 

Seen to be in Mo Salah’s shadow on Merseyside, this was a chance for Mane to strike out on his own, accepting a new challenge, albeit one that has FC Hollywood annually priced up as strong favourites the Bundesliga odds. 

To the surprise of precisely nobody, Mane lifted a league crown in his inaugural campaign in Germany. Minus Mane, a second was expected this term but, against all expectation, Bayer Leverkusen have had something to say about that. 

From Liverpool’s standpoint meanwhile, the sale was ultimately beyond their control while furthermore, recouping almost all of their original £34m outlay was a shrewd deal for a player with just a year remaining on his deal.

All the same, Jurgen Klopp was under no illusions about Mane’s Anfield legacy.

"It's a big moment. There is no point in anyone trying to pretend otherwise. One of Liverpool's greatest ever players is leaving and we must acknowledge how significant this is.

"He leaves with our gratitude and our love. He leaves with his status among the greats guaranteed and he leaves in a moment where he is one of the best players in world football.”

Al Nassr Career

And then came the twist, as one of the best players in world football became the latest star to jump aboard the Saudi gravy-train, joining Al Nassr in a £24m deal last summer.

Playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in the Middle East is set to skyrocket Mane’s finances into another orbit entirely, his £650,000 a week wages exceeding anything available in Europe or indeed elsewhere.

Should Mane see out his three year commitment to playing in an inferior, but emerging, league, he will bank a reported £136m tax-free.  

Charity

Growing up in a village 250 miles from Dakar, Sadio Mane’s route to professional football was not straight-forward. He ran away from home at 15 to pursue his dream, eventually becoming a world name and scoring goals watched by millions.

Mane, though, has not forgotten where he came from, becoming renowned for his philanthropy.
Around 70% of families live in poverty in the area Mane grew up, and his father tragically passed away at a young age because there was no hospital in the village.

Along with spending hundreds of thousands to build a school, the former Liverpool star invested almost half a million pounds to create a public hospital.

His support of the Senegalese population is not limited to gaudy donations, however.

He has backed the building of a petrol station and post office, and according to the Liverpool Echo, provides each family with £65 per month and an internet connection. 

Mane is an optimistic and uplifting personality, who has changed the lives of people in Senegal far beyond his performances for the national team. 

Sadio Mane Statistics

• Metz B 2011 – 12 appearances, two goals

• Metz 2012 – 23 appearances, two goals

• Red Bull Salzburg 2012-14 – 87 appearances, 45 goals

• Southampton 2014-16 – 75 appearances, 25 goals

• Liverpool 2016-22 – 269 appearances, 120 goals

• Bayern 2022-23 – 25 appearances, seven goals

• Al Nassr 2023-Present – 26 appearances, 10 goals 

• Senegal – 107 caps, 43 goals

Sadio Mane Honours

• Austrian Bundesliga – 2013-14

• Austrian Cup – 2013-14

• Premier League – 2019-20

• FA Cup – 2021-22

• EFL Cup – 2021-22

• Champions League – 2018-19

• Club World Cup – 2019

• Africa Cup Of Nations – 2021

• CAF Team of the Year – 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023 

• PFA Team of the Year – 2016-17, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2021-22

• Premier League Golden Boot – 2018-19

• UEFA Team of the Year – 2019

• Africa Cup Of Nations Player of the Tournament – 2021

• African Footballer of the Year – 2019, 2022

• Onze d’Or – 2019

• IFFHS Men’s World Team – 2019

• PFA Fans’ Player of the Year – 2019-20

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

It's the third and final day of the 2024 Grand National meeting and over 75,000 horse racing fans are expected to walk through the gates of Aintree Racecourse on Saturday 13th April.

The antepost horse racing odds have been open for the Grand National for many months now and office sweepstakes across the country have taken place. But who will win on Day 3 at Aintree this year?

We've got you covered for Aintree Day 3 tips but feel free to click here you are looking specifically for a Grand National pinstickers guide. Our horse racing writer has worked his way through all seven races on the card - including the feature race of the entire week!

All eyes will be on Aintree for the big race, with millions expected to tune in across the country. So without further ado, it's time for Steve Mullington (@mulldog) to get stuck into the action with his Day 3 tips ahead of the 2024 Aintree Grand National meeting.

Aintree Day 3 Selections

1.20pm - William Hill Handicap Hurdle (3m½f)

Punters will be taking a trip to the payout counter rather than one to Trumpton if Cuthbert Dibble (NAP) can land the opening race on Grand National day.

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ six-year-old hasn’t put a hoof wrong this season, and after victories at Chepstow and Haydock on heavy going, Cuthbert Dibble ran a screamer in the Pertemps Network Final at the Cheltenham Festival.

Conditions are once again ideal for this Kayf Tara-gelding and he is well worth a punt at around 10/1 in our horse racing betting.

Others with live chances include Monmiral who actually won the Pertemps and White Rhino should he make the cut.

1.55pm - Mersey Novices' Hurdle (2m4f)

Caldwell Potter (NAP) for Paul Nicholls is looking like the horse they all need to beat in this contest as he bids for the three-timer after wins at Navan and Leopardstown at the end of last year.

Formerly trained by Gordon Elliott, the six-year-old was snapped up in the New Year at the horse dispersal sale for the Caldwell family horses and this will be his first run for his new yard.

Not here to simply make up the numbers, Personal Ambition for the Ben Pauling yard can step up again from a Grade 2 to a Grade 1.

2.30pm – William Hill Handicap Chase (3m1f)

Anthony Honeyball’s Kilbeg King (NAP) may not have won since April when he landed a valuable Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown, but since then he has been running with credit  in very esteemed company over fences and is well overdue a change of luck.

Sam Twiston-Davies takes the ride and at odds of around 12/1, the 140-rated chaser must have a solid chance off 10st 10lbs.

Ben Pauling’s Twig enters calculations too. Second in the Ultima Chase the nine-year-old is bound to be on the premises from the get go and he may well just stay out there in front all the way.

3.05pm – Liverpool Hurdle (3m1f)

My eyes totally lit up when I saw Olly Murphy’s Strong Leader (NAP) declared for this race as he has his ideal conditions and the trip is just perfect for him.

Last year as a six-year-old he was flying home late in the Top Novices’ Hurdle here at Aintree and over this longer trip he has a live chance of scooping the pot.

Dashel Drasher cannot be written off either. He’s won here before and if there’s a horse you want on your side to grind away in a testing finish then its Jeremy Scott’s veteran.

4.00pm – 2024 Aintree Grand National

However much I love Corach Rambler, I just do not believe that he will go back-to-back but I do think he’ll figure in the podium places. Odds of 5/1 in the Grand National betting look extremely short and I’m looking for some much better value.

I Am Maximus (NAP) won the Bobbyjo Chase and we all know that the winners of that contest sometimes do the double here. He’s also an Irish Grand National winner so all the omens are good.

Vanillier was the runner-up to Corach Rambler in last year’s race and Gavin Cromwell has carefully plotted him to go one better on Saturday. He looks sure to be involved.

Out an outside price, don’t be shy at backing the twelve-year-old Roi Mage at each-way odds. He’s owned by the same chaps who had Aurora’s Encore and they would love to win this race again.

He’s been campaigned nicely this season and the ground will be just perfect for him.

5.00pm – Maghull Novices’ Chase (2m)

By far the best horse she’s ever trained, Sarah Humphrey could well send out an Aintree winner this weekend with Nickel Back (NAP).

Winner of the Scilly Isles at Sandown, don’t be surprised if they don’t see this eight-year-old for dust.

Dangers include Matata and Master Chewy.

5.35pm – Weatherbys NH Flat Race (2m)

My friends own I’m A Lumberjack (NAP) and they’re alright! Understandably they’re very excited and I do believe their runner has a great chance of winning.

Trained by Alan King, the five-year-old got a little bit out of his ground at Newbury last time but was finishing at a rate of knots in the closing stages. Navajo Indy has stamped the form this week so his prospects look superb.

Others to keep an eye on are No Questions Asked and Step Out.

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

La Liga teams are the most successful in European Cup history, lifting the trophy on 19 occasions.

Selecting a greatest ever La Liga XI is no easy feat. Comparisons need to be made between the dominant teams of decades past and the golden era 21st century icons.

La Liga All-Time Best XI:

• Iker Casillas

• Dani Alves

• Gerard Pique

• Sergio Ramos

• Roberto Carlos

• Xavi

• Andres Iniesta

• Zinedine Zidane

• Johan Cruyff

• Lionel Messi

• Cristiano Ronaldo

Some names, like Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga betting, are locks. Other positions were more contentious.

Our team lines up in a 4-3-3 with marauding full-backs from Brazil and an entirely non-Spanish front line featuring three of the most important players in the history of the sport.

The midfield was perhaps where the decisions were trickiest, with some big names left out of the XI. 

Wherever La Liga ranks among the best leagues in European football, there’s no denying the strength of this team. It’s the the most impressive of any we’ve compiled so far.

The most successful teams in Formula One history have had sustained periods of dominance. The four teams with the most constructors titles still feature as fans search for an F1 bet. Others have come and gone.

With eyes so often focused on the Drivers’ Championship, the constructors can often be forgotten.

Most Successful F1 Teams:

• Ferrari - 16 Titles

• Williams - 9 Titles

• McLaren - 8 Titles

• Mercedes - 8 Titles

• Lotus - 7 Titles

• Red Bull - 6 Titles

• Cooper - 2 Titles

• Brabham - 2 Titles

• Renault - 2 Titles

It has often been a forgone conclusion in recent years, but there are notable instances throughout F1 history of teams winning the constructors despite not having the title winning driver. 

The team with the most Grand Prix wins unsurprisingly sit far clear with the most constructors titles. Here are the most successful teams in F1 history, with only nine winning the Constructors Championship on more than one occasion…

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*

• Jermaine Jenas was a talented midfielder who graced the Premier League for over a decade.

• After injury forced early retirement, he has forged a new career in the media.

• While having a fairly modest net worth, his TV gigs should see him consolidate his wealth.

Born in Nottingham, on February 18th, 1983, Jermaine Jenas had a tough upbringing where money was sparce. By his own admission his family often ‘played hide and seek’ from bailiffs.

It was also there, growing up on a deprived council estate, where the youngster regularly encountered racism due to his mixed English and Afro-Caribbean heritage.

Football then was a release and excelling for his school team and other local sides he soon grabbed the attention of Nottingham Forest who – after a successful trial – offered the youngster a contract on turning sixteen. 

Alas, if Forest’s Premier League odds are bleak right now they were even worse back in 1999. Just a few weeks prior to Jenas signing professional forms, Forest were relegated. 

Quickly establishing himself as a box-to-box midfielder of note, however, it wasn’t long before the talented teen was hot property, with Newcastle United swooping in 2002. The £5m fee made Jenas the most expensive teenager in British football. 

The player’s time in the North-East was by and large a success, winning the PFA Young Player of the Year in 2003 and making over 250 appearances for the Magpies.

It was also while playing for the Premier League club that international recognition arrived, Jenas making the first of his 21 outings for England against Australia in a friendly.

Later, Tottenham came calling, their offer of £40,000 a week too good to turn down, but unfortunately injuries were starting to take a toll, a situation that only worsened across his eight years in North London.

One particular highlight does stand out from his spell in the capital though, with Spurs defying the football betting and finally winning a trophy in the form of a League Cup.

In 2016, aged just 32, Jenas officially retired from the game, leaving it a rich man but not as wealthy as may be imagined. 

To compensate for that, he already had a second career in mind.

How Much Is Jermaine Jenas Worth?

According to online sources, Jenas is reported to have a net worth of £2 million, a figure that presumably pales to many of his contemporaries but is still a substantial sum.

After hanging up his boots financially secure for life due to sensible investments, he entered the world of football punditry whereupon he immediately impressed with his pragmatic takes and measured co-commentary work. 

Not that Jenas is reluctant to air strong opinions when called for, whether that is criticizing VAR or offering up some contentious Premier League predictions.  

Freelancing for the likes of TNT will have no doubt been financially rewarding but it was a £200,000-a-year deal struck with the BBC that saw his earnings rocket.

As part of the ‘golden handcuffs’ agreement, Jenas regularly appears on Match of the Day along with its sadly now defunct spin-off show MOTDx. He does punditry stints for Radio 5 Live and presents The One Show three times a week.

Naturally, by becoming a household name and regularly appearing in people’s living rooms Jenas’ earning power has increased significantly and this is reflected in commercial partnerships struck beyond television and radio.

A collaboration with the clothing retailer Jacamo will have comfortably brought in a six-figure sum while elsewhere an initiative launched alongside B&Q in 2023 is designed to encourage energy saving measures for those struggling to meet their domestic bills. 

Jenas has also recently fronted a campaign promoting skincare products for dads with L’Oreal, Paris. 

The former player turned TV star lives in a large £1m home in Hertfordshire with his family and two pet dogs. 

Wife

Jenas is married to Ellie Penfold, with whom he has three children. The couple met when Jermaine was a Tottenham player.

The couple keep their personal life private, but Jermaine has commented in an interview how he fell instantly in love when he first met Ellie, but that love was not instantly reciprocated, as Ellie found him too arrogant.

He won her over and they were soon engaged, marrying two years later in 2011. They have been together ever since. 

He has called Ellie a rock who was especially supportive during his many injury problems. Down-to-earth, with little interest in football herself, she helps keeps him grounded. 

While Ellie has been a successful model in the past, little is known about her, as she never courts publicity. Her Instagram account is set to private, though she sometimes appears on the posts uploaded by her husband to his own account.

Children

Jermaine has four children – three with Ellie, and a daughter Sancha from a previous relationship, who now lives in the United States with her mother.

Jermaine and Ellie have two daughters, Geneva and Olivia, and in October 2021 welcomed their first son into the world, who they named Jacob Anthony. 

Jermaine has spoken of his pride at being a parent in the past and while the family keep a low profile, you can see the loving nature of the family on his social media posts. The ex-footballer had previously spoken about how he wanted a son, so Jacob’s arrival will have been extra special. 

The One Show

Like several other ex-footballers, Jenas has branched out and made a name for himself away from the sport that made him successful. 

Having appeared in a couple of editions, he started co-presenting the One Show on BBC One with Alex Jones in 2020, the magazine-type programme that airs on weekday evenings, discussing topical stories with live guests, a staple of British TV since 2006

Jenas found himself spending a lot more time on the famous green sofa that features on every show, after becoming an instant hit with viewers. Many commented on how they found him articulate, relatable, relaxed and well-informed.

In 2021, he was announced as a permanent host, from Monday to Wednesday each week and it was during his debut as a full-time presenter that he announced that he and Ellie were expecting another child. 
 
On one occasion, early into his tenure, he had to present a show solo due to Alex Jones falling ill and he has clearly taken to his newest challenge like a duck to water.

Match of the Day

Post-retirement Jenas immediately set about creating a name for himself as a TV football pundit. He was an ITV panellist for their Europa League coverage, and later joined BT Sport to provide analysis for live games. 

His media career eventually led to a role as a studio pundit on Match of the Day, with his calm, impartial style proving a success. It is rumoured that BBC football bosses are so impressed with him that he is being groomed as a long-term successor to main presenter Gary Lineker. 

He is sure to be interested in such a move, having previously called the Match of the Day presenting gig the biggest job in television.

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

Building a dynasty in MLB is harder than NBA or NFL. The natural variables in the sport, and the element of fortune in postseason baseball, make it difficult to win a string of titles, even if you’ve got a superior roster throughout the regular year. 

Leading the online MLB betting is no guarantee of grinding out playoff wins. World Series winners come from nowhere, surging from wildcard spots or stunning 100-win teams.

This has become a more common occurrence with postseason expansion - having a bye for the Wild Card Round is not necessarily an advantage. 

Greatest MLB Dynasties:

• San Francisco Giants (2011 - 2014)

• New York Yankees (1996 - 2001)

• Cincinnati Reds (1970 - 1979)

• Oakland Athletics (1972 - 1975)

• New York Yankees (1947 - 1953)

Winning postseason games is small sample size stuff. There are different challenges, both mentally and physically, with the intensity of postseason play.

And, of course, there’s more than a dollop of fortune involved - particularly when travelling to some of MLB's biggest stadiums.

Some of these all-time great MLB dynasties existed when the perils of the postseason were much less, when being the best team in your league propelled you straight to the World Series.

Others had to navigate round after round, seeing off red-hot opponents and maintaining momentum. We have picked five of the greatest MLB dynasties, featuring a couple of entries from the Yankees and two Bay Area juggernauts…

Both Liverpool and Manchester United have been prominent fixtures within English football from the get-go, the Merseysiders winning their first league title as early as 1901, their future fierce rivals following suit a mere seven years later. 

That was an era dominated by the great Billy Meredith who inspired United to all manner of silverware and though Liverpool had fantastic teams in the days of baggy shorts and net-less goals they had to wait several decades for their own stonewall legend to emerge. 

As football resumed from the devastation of World War II, so substantial was Billy Liddell’s influence on his team they became known for a spell as ‘Liddellpool’.

Soon after, an exhilarating young side christened as the ‘Busby Babes’ lit up Old Trafford on a fortnightly basis, that was until the awful events on a Munich runway on February 6th, 1958, curtailed their immense promise.

The widespread goodwill and heartfelt admiration for how the club managed to rebuild itself – going on to win a European Cup just a decade later – in part explains how Manchester United went from being a big club to a globally renowned behemoth.

As for Liverpool, their critical turning point occurred around the same time, with the appointment of Bill Shankly. 

What came next was half a century of shared dominance, as first Liverpool enjoyed a stranglehold on English football for an entire generation, before ceding to United who did likewise.

In those fifty years, from 1963/64 to 2012/13 either United or Liverpool won the league title on 28 occasions. 

And so to the modern era, and a sustained period of struggle apiece for these huge institutions.

Though they are now routinely cast as favourites in the latest football odds and betting under Jurgen Klopp it took Liverpool 28 attempts to secure their inaugural Premier League crown. United meanwhile have consistently floundered post-Sir Alex Ferguson. 

What is interesting however, is that these years of underachievement have not unduly impacted on either club’s stature.

They still sell shirts by the millions each season. They are still held up as the standard bearers of the English game. They are still written and talked about more than any of their peers.

All of which leads us to the obvious conclusion that in the modern game results and trophies won are not everything.

Indeed when determining the scale of a football club it requires five different factors to be weighed up, these being success on the pitch; a club’s fanbase and reach; a club’s history versus the now; their commercial might; and lastly, and most abstractly, their status and standing, both domestically and around the world.

Calculating which is the bigger club therefore, from Manchester United and Liverpool, is a more difficult task than it first appears.

Regardless, let’s start with their respective returns on the pitch, with United leading the way for league championships, with 20 to Liverpool’s 19, but the Merseyside giants boasting twice as many European Cup / Champions League successes. 

Add in a welter of FA Cups and League Cups and between them they are unquestionably the most successful teams in English football.

In reality though, would a young boy or girl, looking around for a club to support, choose one based on titles won in previous eras?

Even United’s magnificent sides of the Nineties would feel sepia-tinged and too attached to the past to a ten-year-old, while Kenny Dalglish conjuring up magic on a muddy field would be positively prehistoric. 

No, it’s who they are now that truly matters, to a player weighing up signing for either club, or to a potential new supporter. And in this regard, Liverpool are lightyears ahead of their major rival.

Revitalised under Klopp, the Reds have a clear identity and a winning formula that derives from an exciting, attacking brand of football. Watching them as a neutral, it is hard not to be seduced by it all.

By stark comparison, and as previously stated, United have floundered this last decade, searching in vain for an identity and never more than a couple of defeats away from their next crisis.

After assessing their successes on the pitch and their histories – both of which are storied and esteemed – to the now, at this juncture, Liverpool edge it as the bigger club.

Turning our attention to their respective commercial heft though tilts the contest back to an even keel. 

Forbes recently valued Manchester United as the second most valuable club in the world, it’s £4.9 billion valuation based not on what takes place on the Old Trafford pitch but on the aggressive, highly competent work done off it.

For having long recognised that they are a brand as much as a football club, United have considerably strengthened their position in the market place in recent years with a slew of business partnerships, with everyone from noodle companies to luxury car manufacturers. 

To put some context on that, across 2023/24, it is estimated that the club will bring in $324m in sponsorship revenue, a figure unsurpassed in the British game.

Moreover, this is a club that saw the value in expanding their brand recognition into then untapped territories long before others did, ingratiating themselves with Australia, Asia and the US and in doing so becoming the footballing version of the New York Yankees. 

In the last financial year, they brought in £113.3m from merchandise sales alone, a great deal of it purchased overseas.

It should be said that Liverpool are hardly slouches in this regard either. To United though they pale. 

Which, in a roundabout way, leads us to their fan-bases, both colossal and far-reaching, but again it’s United who come out on top.

A recent study concluded that the Red Devils have 82 million online fans, compared to 45 million Liverpool followers, while United’s own website insists they have a ‘global community of 1.1 billion’ supporters.

We can quibble about how sincere some of that support is but that would only be reductive. The plain truth is that in terms of reach, nobody compares to the Mancunian reds.

And this leads us directly to the final consideration, that of each club’s standing.

Ask a random stranger in Jakarta or Brisbane to name an English club and who would they say, United or Liverpool?

Ask a fan of a club that has just achieved promotion from the Championship where they are most looking forward to visiting next season and would the answer be Old Trafford or Anfield? Granted, the second response is more negligible but still, United win out.

If the question concerns who is currently more admired for their footballing ability then it’s a different story. But Manchester United is England’s biggest club, in so many ways.

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

• Gary Lineker is one of the most famous football presenters on television

• Lineker scored 48 goals for England, making him the nation’s third highest goal scorer

• The Match of the Day presenter agreed to take a £400,000 pay cut recently

If you’re familiar with betting on football, you’ll be familiar with Gary Lineker. One of the most recognisable faces in the sport, Lineker is here, there and everywhere.

An expert at hitting the right tone, Lineker is the best football broadcaster around. In terms of longevity, he is the presenter that aspiring youngsters look up to.

Much has been made of Gary Lineker salary figures over the years but there is no doubting that he is exceptionally talented. He sets the benchmark for broadcast journalism.

Without further ado, it is time to dive into Lineker’s net worth and personal life. A football icon around the world, he will be sorely missed when he eventually decides to step down.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP Photo*

NBA referee salaries are inevitably a hot topic. The officials in the world’s best basketball league are under the spotlight all year long, with controversy inevitable.

Their decisions can go a long way to swinging NBA odds, whether they are ejecting star players or making a pivotal call in crunch time. 

It’s rare officials are praised, making it an unforgiving role. Fans and commentators are quick to question their decisions.

Even in the heat of a live betting contest, you will see NBA referees facing criticism from players and coaches alike.

This isn’t a job for the faint-hearted, particularly in the hostile environment of Playoff games. The scrutiny has increased in recent years with the publication of the last two-minute report.

NBA Referee Salary Information

NBA fans will be familiar with the high-profile referees. These officials are seen talking to camera when replay is used, and will often be shown in conversation with the league’s greatest stars.

Naturally, officials are not as well compensated as the coaches and players, but there’s still plenty of money to be made throughout a career as an NBA referee.

Let’s learn a bit more about the life of an NBA referee and how much you can earn as an official in the biggest basketball league in the world.

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

• John Burridge is the oldest Premier League player of all-time

• Nine of the 10 oldest players to appear in the Premier League era were goalkeepers

• Teddy Sheringham is the oldest outfield player by three months and 21 days

It’s time to dive into some Premier League history. We’re looking at some names of football betting past as we go down the list of the oldest players to play in the Premier League.

Plenty will be familiar to Premier League odds regulars. Many of these players were topflight stalwarts, playing many years in the Premier League before setting age-related records. 

So starting with one of the best goalkeepers of his generation, here are the 10 oldest players in the history of the Premier League.

Edwin van der Sar – 40 years, 6 months, 23 days

Edwin van der Sar might only sit 10th on this list, but his achievement is as special as anyone’s. Van der Sar was still Manchester United’s first choice goalkeeper in 2010/11, making 33 Premier League appearances.

Those with a good sports betting memory will recall how good van der Sar was even after his 40th birthday. He retired in the summer of 2011, following Manchester United’s Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.

The Dutch great could have played several more years at the highest level. Instead, he went on to become CEO of Ajax. 

Teddy Sheringham – 40 years, 8 months, 28 days

One of Millwall’s youngest goal scorers, few strikers in world football can rival Teddy Sheringham’s longevity.

He worked his way to the top at club and international level, but that wasn’t enough. Sheringham extended his career, even after his peak, playing for West Ham and Colchester.

It was in the claret and blue of the Hammers that Sheringham made an appearance just a few months before his 41st birthday in 2006. Never dependent on athleticism, Sheringham's quick mind never slowed down, which allowed him to play at the highest level at an age when most players are way off the pace. 

Jens Lehmann – 41 years, 5 months

The eccentric Jens Lehmann was between the sticks during one of the best periods in Arsenal’s history. Having held the Premier League trophy aloft, Lehmann returned for a second stint at a trickier time.

Arsenal were not the same force. Their goalkeepers were taken down by various injuries. It was a needs must signing for a club on the cusp of turmoil. 

Lehmann started against Blackpool to set this record, and stayed with the club until the end of the season when he announced a second retirement.

Kevin Poole – 41 years, 5 months, 11 days

Some would put Kevin Poole in the journeyman category. Perhaps that’s fair given the number of clubs he played for, but Poole also enjoyed lengthy stints with Leicester and Burton.

He was playing for Bolton, however, when he set this record. Even after that appearance in 2005, he spent almost a decade playing in the Football League.

Poole was active in the Burton squad into his fifties, partly because a young Jordan Pickford was recalled by Sunderland.

Neville Southall – 41 years, 5 months, 25 days

Appearing for Bradford against Leeds in 2000, Neville Southall was still a couple of seasons away from retirement. It was his only Premier League outing of the season, however.

Southall is an Everton legend. While most of his career was before the Premier League was founded, he spent several seasons as first choice for the Toffees after the revamp.

World Soccer even named Southall in their 100 Greatest Players of the 20th Century. Since hanging up his boots, Southall has become has become a passionate campaigner and popular figure on Twitter. 

Mark Schwarzer – 42 years, 5 months, 8 days

Although Mark Schwarzer’s career finished as a backup with Leicester (where he set this record) and Chelsea, he spent well over a decade as one of the league’s most reliable shot stoppers.

First with Middlesbrough and then Fulham, Schwarzer was a model of consistency both in fitness and performance. He was even named Fulham’s Player of the Year.

Schwarzer is the all-time leader in caps for Australia. Just as impressively, he’s also the leading non-British appearance maker in the Premier League era.

Brad Friedel – 42 years, 5 months, 23 days

A holder of numerous records, Brad Friedel had an epic Premier League career. No player has appeared in more consecutive games than Friedel’s tally of 310.

He holds the club records as the oldest player for Spurs and Aston Villa. The 450 Premier League appearances are the most by any player from north or south America.

It wasn’t just durability, though. Friedel was among the league’s top goalkeepers throughout his time in England, even when he was deep into his thirties. 

Friedel was named to the Premier League Team of the Year in 2002/03, and was ranked as the 30th-best goalkeeper of the 21st century by IFFHS. 

Steve Ogrizovic – 42 years, 7 months, 24 days

Steve Ogrizovic was the second oldest player in Premier League history when he started for Coventry in 2000.

The Sky Blues went on to win the match 4-1, and while Ogrizovic has since been outdone by Alec Chamberlain, he remains third on this list over two decades after his final top flight outing.

Nicknamed ‘Oggy’, the long-serving goalkeeper holds the record for the most appearances ever for Coventry. He also played in their FA Cup winning side in the 1980s.

On top of an impressive goalkeeping career spanning four decades, Oggy managed to find time to represent Shropshire at cricket.

Alec Chamberlain – 42 years, 10 months, 23 days

Replacing Ben Foster during Watford’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle in 2007, Alec Chamberlain became the second oldest player in the history of the Premier League. It was his first appearance in the top flight since the 1999/2000 campaign.

Chamberlain made his name with Colchester in the 1980s. He spent five years at Luton before a shorter stint with Sunderland.

He called Watford home for over a decade, though, and even went on to work as a goalkeeping coach at the club after he retired.

John Burridge – 43 years, 5 months, 11 days 

John Burridge is the long-time record holder. Burridge became the oldest player in the Premier League way back in 1995 when he started in goal for Manchester City in a 3-2 loss to Queen’s Park Rangers.

Having made his debut for Workington in 1969, Burridge enjoyed a career spanning almost three decades. His Premier League tenure was admittedly limited, with just four total appearances in the competition.

Aside from this record, Burridge’s career is best remembered for his seasons with Blackpool, Crystal Palace and Sheffield United. 

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*