• France international Eric Cantona is best known for his time at Manchester United

• Financial figures estimate Eric Cantona’s total net worth at £20 million

• Since retiring from football, Cantona has tried his hand at acting and has appeared in several television adverts

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The iconic Eric Cantona was one of the most technically gifted footballers in Premier League history, lighting up the top flight for the best part of six years.

Playing at the same time as the likes of Paul Gascoigne and Paolo Di Canio, Cantona found himself caught up in controversy on more than one occasion during his time in England.

A key figure in Premier League Odds odds, Cantona led the line with aplomb and the France international helped the Red Devils to four titles in the 1990s.

Football fans around the world remember Cantona for that kung fu kick altercation with a Crystal Palace supporter but it is important to remember his positive achievements.

Voted as the club’s greatest ever player by a fan magazine in 1999, ‘King Eric’ will live long in the memory at Old Trafford for his goals and entertaining style of play.

In terms of talent, you could even make a strong case for Cantona ranking as one of the best Premier League strikers but his lack of longevity hinders that claim.

Here, we look at Eric Cantona wealth figures as well as his football career. Still relevant in the public domain from time to time, Cantona remains a key icon in the sport…

Net Worth

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Eric Cantona has an estimated net worth of £20 million.

The Frenchman’s wealth has been built up throughout his football career but a decent sum will have been earned during Cantona’s acting roles.

Continuing to make regular appearances at football events, Cantona is likely to continue earning money from the sport for the rest of his life.

As one of the most iconic figures to ever play the game, he is a sought-after prospect for commercial deals and endorsement opportunities are likely to be presented to him.

While his net worth is relatively small compared to fellow United legend David Beckham, Cantona has opted to steer clear of big business brands and keeps a relatively low profile in that regard.

Kung Fu Kick

One of the most iconic moments in Premier League history, Eric Cantona sent shockwaves across the football world when he kung fu kicked a fan in January 2005.

The incident occurred during Manchester United’s trip to Crystal Palace, with Eagles fan Matthew Simmons feeling the full force of Cantona’s boot.

The Frenchman took offence to Simmons’ racist remarks, taking matters into his own hands in a bid to literally kick racism out of football.

Cantona had clearly been provoked, with the France international continuing to refer to Simmons as “the hooligan” when discussing the events that night.

The authorities were involved and a trial was confirmed, resulting in Cantona receiving an eight-month ban. Cantona, angry and disillusioned with the situation, travelled back to France during the period.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson labelled Cantona’s move as “defiant charisma” – and that sums up the Frenchman’s entire career to a tee.

Despite murmurs that Cantona would leave United, he returned and kept the Red Devils at the forefront of football odds for the rest of his time at Old Trafford.

Wife

Eric Cantona has been married twice, tying the knot to Isabelle Ferrer in 1987. They had two children together before separating and eventually divorcing in 2003.

Eric and Isabelle share two children; son Raphael, who is now 33 years old, and daughter Josephine who is 26.

Four years after his divorce, Cantona started dating French actress Rachida Brakni and it was love at first sight.

They tied the knot in 2007 and gave birth to son, Emir, in 2009 while Selma was born four years later in 2013.

Rachida won a Cesar Award for most promising actress for her role in Chaos and featured alongside her husband in The Kooples.

Champions League Draw Speech

In August 2019, Eric Cantona gave one of the strangest speeches in the history of football after accepting the UEFA president’s award at the Champions League draw.

Whether you’re massive into Premier League predictions or not, you’d do well to decipher the meaning behind Cantona’s words on that summer evening in Monaco.

The audience were perplexed, with only a ripple of applause after the speech that suggested those in attendance had no idea what the Frenchman was talking about.

We’ve provided the full transcript from the Cantona UCL draw speech below:

“As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods, they kill us for their sport.

“Soon the science will not only be able to slow down the ageing of the cells, soon the science will fix the cells to the state and so we will become eternal.

“Only accidents, crimes, wars, will still kill us but unfortunately, crimes, wars, will multiply. I love football. Thank you.”

Quotes

Cantona has always been a charismatic figure and his arrogant comments in the media have provoked a mixed response over the years.

Having said that, you could almost forgive the Frenchman for his confidence given he is arguably one of the top 10 Premier League signings.

Here, we look at some of Eric Cantona’s greatest quotes – from the cocky to the bizarre.

• “Become a legend? But I am already.”

• “I prefer to play and lose rather than win, because I know in advance I’m going to win.”

• On the greatest moment of his career: “I have a lot of good moments but the one I prefer is when I kicked the hooligan.”

• “I stopped playing football because I’d done as much as I could. I needed something which was going to excite me as much as football had excited me.”

• After Zlatan Ibrahimovic joined Manchester United: “There can only be one king in Manchester, but you can be the prince if you want.”

• On being inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame: “I am very happy and very proud, but at the same time I am not surprised. I would’ve been surprised not to be elected.”

• In Looking for Eric: “I am not a man. I am Cantona.”

• Following the tragic passing of George Best: “After his first training session in heaven, George Best, from the favourite right wing, turned the head of God who was filling in at left back.”

• On football supporters: “I’m so proud the fans still sing my name, but I fear tomorrow they will stop. I fear it because I love it. And everything you love, you fear you will lose.”

• In that press conference: “When the seagulls follow the trawler, it’s because they think sardines will be thrown in the sea. Thank you very much.”

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

 

 

• Peter Schmeichel was one of the best goalkeepers in world football during his heyday

• The Manchester United legend won five Premier League titles at Old Trafford

• According to estimates, Peter Schmeichel net worth figures stand at £20 million

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If you grew up watching football in the 1990s, you’ll know all about Peter Schmeichel and his exploits at Manchester United.

‘The Great Dane’ was a pillar of consistency during his eight year tenure at Old Trafford, helping the club to complete an unprecedented treble in 1998/99.

United defied the football betting odds on that occasion and Schmeichel was the man tasked with lifting the European Cup in the absence of club captain Roy Keane.

Widely regarded as the greatest goalkeeper in Premier League history, Schmeichel was an imposing figure between the posts but also had incredible agility and athleticism.

In many ways, he was the ‘perfect’ goalkeeper and his impact was key to United dominance in Premier League predictions throughout the decade.

Nowadays, Schmeichel has gone into punditry and the Denmark legend regularly appears on television – his perspective is always well received by football fans across the country.

Without further ado, it’s time to take a look at Peter Schmeichel net worth figures. Given his success on the pitch, you probably won’t be too surprised by his wealth estimates…

Net Worth

According to online reports, Peter Schmeichel’s estimated worth is valued at £20 million. It is important to remember that this figure is only an estimate though.

In addition to his football salary, Schmeichel has scored plenty of endorsement deals since retiring from the sport – including an advert for a famous Danish bacon brand.

While exact renumeration sums are rarely revealed to the public, we can safely assume the fee paid for this advertising scheme was reasonably high.

In addition, Schmeichel appeared alongside former teammate Dennis Irwin in a marketing campaign for Aperol Spritz in 2014. This campaign was publicised on national television…

Still working in football as a pundit, Schmeichel further adds to his bank balance with regular appearances on Sky Sports and BBC while he worked for BeIN Sports during Euro 2020.

Former Clubs

Peter Schmeichel enjoyed a prolific 22-year career in professional football, starting his trade with Gladsaxe-Hero in his native Denmark.

Within three years, Schmeichel had been picked up by Hvdivore before joining Danish giants Brondby in 1987.

Schmeichel helped Brondby to four Danish Superliga titles during his time at the club before making the switch to Manchester United – one of the richest football clubs in the world.

Five Premier League titles, three FA Cups, a League Cup and a Champions League later, he parted ways with the Red Devils in favour of a move to Sporting Lisbon.

After a couple of years in Portugal, Schmeichel returned to the Premier League for a season with Aston Villa before a swansong 12 months at Manchester City.

Despite Schmeichel’s decision to play for United’s arch rivals at the end of his career, he is still widely regarded as a club legend at Old Trafford.

Honours

Brondby (1987 - 1991)

• Danish 1st Division/Danish Superliga: 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991

• Danish Cup: 1988–89

Manchester United (1991 - 1999)

• Premier League: 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99

• FA Cup: 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99

• Football League Cup: 1991–92

• FA Charity Shield: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997

• UEFA Champions League: 1998–99

• European Super Cup: 1991

Sporting CP (1999 - 2001)

• Primeira Liga: 1999–2000

• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2000

Aston Villa (2001 - 2002)

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2001

Denmark (1987 - 2001)

• UEFA European Championship: 1992

Goals

Peter Schmeichel is known for his unique goal-scoring ability, notching 11 goals throughout his professional football career.

Schmeichel is one of six goalkeepers to score a Premier League goal, with the Great Dane bagging an injury time volley in Aston Villa’s defeat to Everton in October 2001.

Becoming the first goalkeeper to defy Premier League odds by scoring in the top flight was some feat, with almost three years passing before Brad Friedel scored against Chelsea.

He even managed to score for his beloved Denmark, scoring from the penalty spot to give the Danes a 2-1 lead against Belgium.

Denmark were pulled back and had to settle for a draw but that goal remains one of the highest points in Schmeichel’s international career.

Wife

Peter Schmeichel has been married twice, firstly tying the knot with Bente Schmeichel before remarrying Laura Von Lindholm in 2019.

He lived with Bente for over 30 years before the pair’s divorce was finalised in 2013, and she is the biological mother to both of Peter’s children.

Peter then started dating former Playboy model Laura in 2014 though it wasn’t always plain sailing for the couple with the pair separating before rekindling their romance.

Von Lindholm now works as a nutritionist and the couple tied the knot in 2019 after Peter plucked up the courage to pop the question.

Speaking on social media after the proposal, the Denmark legend revealed: “She said yes, so that makes me the lucky one.”

Son

Football is a family affair in the Schmeichel household and son Kasper has blossomed into one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League over the past decade.

Kasper grew up in Denmark but spent most of his schoolyears at Hulme Hall Grammar School – though also studied in Portugal after his father joined Sporting Lisbon.

Having struggled to make an impact at Manchester City, Kasper went out on loan to several clubs before thriving at Notts County.

He earned a move to Leeds United before joining Leicester City in 2011, helping the Foxes to clinch promotion from the Championship before lifting the Premier League title in 2015.

At the time of writing, Kasper has 77 Premier League clean sheets to his name. It might be a tad far-fetched for the Denmark number one to match his father’s tally of 128…

Now 35 years old, Kasper has two children of his own: a son, born in 2010, and a daughter, born in 2012. Will one of his kids keep the Schmeichel football family going?

Autobiography

Peter Schmeichel released ‘One: My Autobiography’ in September 2021 and it has been a huge hit with football supporters around the world.

With some iconic tales from his time at Old Trafford, including a hazy recount of that night in Barcelona, and other footballing stories, it truly is a must read.

In addition, Schmeichel goes into detail about his family background, discussing his father’s demons and Kasper’s unbelievable journey with Leicester City.

If you want to learn more about Peter Schmeichel’s life away from sport, this Sunday Times bestseller is about so much more than footballing legacy.

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

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 18th December 2021

• Stephen Hendry earned the nickname ‘Golden Boy’ after turning professional at just 15 years old

• Estimates value Stephen Hendry net worth at £12.4 million

• The Scot won an incredible 36 ranking titles throughout his illustrious career

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Born in 1969, Stephen Hendry burst onto the scene as a youngster to take the snooker world by storm.

The Scottish star made the step up to professional shortly after his 15th birthday and always looked destined for greatness.

A popular choice in snooker betting picks for every competition, Hendry was the dominant force in the sport throughout the 1990s.

It was a golden decade for ‘Golden Boy’, beginning with his first World Championship title at just 21 years old.

Taking inspiration from the likes of Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor, Hendry was determined to succeed on the biggest stage of all.

That hunger and desire contributed massively to his success, with Hendry going on to clinch 36 ranking event titles – a figure only surpassed by Ronnie O’Sullivan.

Whether you want to know about Hendry’s greatest 147 breaks or his career earnings, 888sport is the place to be. Scroll down for our complete Stephen Hendry net worth guide!

How Much Is Stephen Hendry Worth?

Estimated figures for Stephen Hendry are hard to come by and it must be stated that the accuracy of such numbers can be challenged.

Some websites predict Hendry’s wealth at over £30 million while others value his estate at less than £10 million.

Realistically, we can assume the snooker legend’s net worth is somewhere between those two figures. Celebritynetworth report Hendry’s wealth at approximately £12.5 million.

We’ll get onto Stephen Hendry snooker prize money figures in the next section but taking those into account, the £12.5 million estimate sounds fairly acceptable.

Career Prize Money

Snooker can be very lucrative if you’re good at it and luckily for Stephen Hendry, he was one of the greatest players to grace the snooker table.

As well as holding records for most years ranked as the world number one and the most century breaks in a career, Hendry held the total snooker prize money record for over a decade.

According to online sources, Hendry won around £9 million in snooker prize money during his career – a figure eclipsed by Ronnie O’Sullivan in recent years.

While ‘The Rocket’ was around at the same time as Hendry, O’Sullivan has extended his playing career into the modern era and prize money is now on a whole new scale.

Hendry’s career earnings are remarkable given the competitive nature of the sport during that era – he was undoubtedly snooker’s dominant force during his heyday.

Considering he ended his career with a staggering 36 ranking titles and 38 non-ranking titles, Hendry’s total wealth from snooker could have been a lot higher…

Honours

Stephen Hendry is synonymous with the World Snooker Championship, claiming the sport’s biggest prize a record seven times throughout his career.

Like Steve Davis in the 1980s, Hendry dominated the competition between 1990 and 1999 – winning five world titles in a row during the period.

In addition, Hendry sat atop the snooker world rankings for eight glorious years, cementing his status as the greatest player of his generation.

All of that success contributed to a hefty bank balance and estimates value Stephen Hendry net worth at £12.4 million, with the majority coming from his career earnings.

Is Hendry The Greatest?

The ‘greatest’ debate is subjective of course but you can certainly make a strong case for Stephen Hendry ranking as the best snooker player of all-time.

Devoting his entire life to the game, Hendry lived, breathed, and slept snooker throughout his playing career and he remains heavily involved in the sport.

However, being passionate about snooker doesn’t mean you’re the greatest. In Hendry’s case, he has the tournament wins and individual records to support his case.

While younger fans may claim Ronnie O’Sullivan is the greatest, purists will point towards Stephen Hendry or Steve Davis as worthy of top spot in this discussion.

‘The Rocket’ has broken many of Hendry’s records but longevity isn’t always an indicator to rely on – though all three aforementioned players are brilliant in their own right.

Snooker Punditry

Since retiring from the sport, Hendry has made a smooth transition to the commentary box and he is now a leading icon for both the BBC and ITV.

Known by his adoring fans as ‘The King of the Crucible’, Hendry has established himself as one of the leading snooker pundits around.

He is refreshing to listen to, focusing on the finer details of a snooker match while offering a ‘no holds barred’ perspective on his former peers.

Hendry can come across as brash at times but his passion and charisma come through in his commentary style – and his love for the sport is stronger than ever.

In terms of snooker pundit salary figures, those are unknown and remain private between Hendry and his employers. As one of the top snooker commentators around, Hendry brings in an audience...

However, we can assume that he earns a handsome figure while working for some of the biggest terrestrial television channels in the United Kingdom.

Luxury Lifestyle

You could be forgiven for assuming the life of a snooker player isn’t exactly extravagant but in Stephen Hendry’s case, he is certainly living the good life.

While he lost his beautiful Perthshire home to ex-wife Mandy, Stephen has a scintillating collection of luxury cars, including a Ferrari 348 and Tivoli XLV.

In addition, Hendry reportedly owns a Rexton 2.2 and you’d get decent betting odds that the Scot has other vehicles on his books.

Reports claim Hendry now lives down in Berkshire with Lauren Thundow, his girlfriend of four years.

As long as he remains a central component on BBC’s snooker coverage, Hendry is likely to have the money to splash out on fancy cars and house updates in the future.

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

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 16th December 2021

• Steve Davis is one of the most successful snooker players of all-time

• With over £5.5 million earned in career prize money, Davis has made a healthy living from the sport

• Davis is still benefiting financially from snooker, working as a pundit for the BBC on some of the biggest competitions

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Snooker is one of the most popular sports on the planet and Steve Davis has been a leading figure since dominating the table in the 1980s.

If you’re into snooker betting, chances are you’ll have seen clips of Davis winning the World Championship title. He was the player to watch during that particular era…

Younger fans will recognise Davis from his work as a snooker analyst on the BBC, with the six-time world champion featuring at every major tournament.

According to online sources, Davis was the first professional snooker player to become a millionaire as a direct result of sporting success.

With an extensive trophy cabinet and a hefty net worth balance to match, Davis has built a lucrative portfolio throughout his snooker career.

Currently the only player to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, Davis kept snooker referees busy during his heyday – racking up over 350 century breaks.

One of the most successful snooker players of all-time in terms of accolades and career prize money, Davis is one of the richest figures in the sport’s history.

Without further ado, we’re going to take a look at Steve Davis net worth figures, as well as his career achievements and life away from the snooker table.

How Much Is Steve Davis Worth?

Having turned professional in 1978, Steve Davis enjoyed a prolific snooker career and his success at the table ensured a lucrative bank balance from the sport.

According to several websites, the six-time world champion is worth an estimated £30 million – and that figure is likely to grow if he remains employed with the BBC.

It is important to remember that the snooker prize money offered during Davis’ peak years was nothing compared to the sums offered to tournament winners in 2021.

However, Davis put that money to good use and has managed to ensure a comfortable life for his family despite hanging up his cue in 2016.

While he no longer competes professionally, Davis remains a central figure in the sport and his role as one of the leading BBC snooker analysts looks secure.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Steve Davis enters the greatest snooker player conversation. Does he pip Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stephen Hendry to top spot though? That’s a debate for another day…

Career Prize Money

It will come as no surprise to learn that Davis has made a pretty penny from his snooker exploits, particularly after topping the World Snooker rankings for seven years.

There is some discrepancy when it comes to Steve Davis career prize money totals, and that is often the case when you’re discussing the finances of famous sporting figures.

A couple of websites state his career earnings as £11 million but World Snooker’s official press release upon his retirement values Davis’ total prize money at £5.5 million.

This figure sounds accurate, especially given the discrepancy in earnings in the 1980s to the present day tournaments. If only Davis had been born 30 years later, eh?

Throughout his illustrious career, Davis played at The Crucible a record 30 times and was recognised with an OBE for his services to snooker in 2001.

Having recorded 355 century breaks and over £5.5 million in prize money during his 38 year career, it is fair to say that Steve Davis will go down in history as a snooker legend.

Retirement

After 38 glorious years in professional snooker, Steve Davis made the difficult decision to step down and retire in 2016.

Davis ended his career with 355 century breaks, having dominated the sporting landscape for an entire decade. That in itself is some accomplishment.

Upon announcing his retirement, Davis received messages of support from former rivals, peers and current players – as far as snooker goes, Davis was as iconic as they come.

“It has been fantastic. The game will move on to other places but I feel like the grandfather of the sport,” said an emotional Davis.

“I will still do exhibitions and enjoy snooker and be part of it. Hopefully I’ll be with the BBC team for as many years as they want me.

“I’ll still be involved in the coaching and schools project because I think those things are important. I just don’t want to play anymore. It’s too hard, it’s just too hard.”

Incredibly, Davis claims the greatest moment of his 38-year snooker career was missing the black ball in that World Championship final in 1985.

“Beating John Higgins in 2010 was just the most amazing match I’ve ever played. When are you not supposed to win and then you do is a great feeling.

“If I had retired earlier – as Stephen Hendry did – I wouldn’t have had that moment. Beating Ronnie O’Sullivan when I wasn’t supposed to at the Masters was the same.

“But I think the best moment of my career was missing the black against Dennis Taylor, because it showed how much snooker was appreciated by the public.”

Despite the disappointment of that defeat, it is testament to Davis’ nature as a person that he acknowledges the image of the sport is greater than his own regret.

Honours

Steve Davis’ list of titles and trophies is certainly extensive, with the Englishman winning 28 ranking titles throughout his illustrious career.

With six world titles, three Masters trophies and four UK Championships to his name, Davis is one of the most successful players in the history of the sport.

He became the first player to win snooker’s Triple Crown – claiming the World Championship, UK Championship and Masters title in the same season.

Many remember Davis’ loss to Dennis Taylor at The Crucible in 1985 but it would be unfair to focus too much on that given his longevity and success.

In fact, Davis won 28 of his 41 finals in ranking events – some ratio. His tally of 28 titles puts him in illustrious company behind O’Sullivan, Hendry and John Higgins.

BBC Snooker Analyst

Davis remains a key figure in the sport, offering his words of wisdom in the commentary box as one of the principal snooker analysts for BBC Sport.

In addition, Davis is a director for governing body, the WPBSA, and is the figurehead for the sport’s Cue Zone Into Schools initiative.

Davis has managed to boost his overall wealth by taking on the television role, with the six-time world champion appearing at almost every major competition.

While the ambassadorial roles are unlikely to pay the bills, Davis keeps himself relevant in the sport and that can often lead to other business opportunities.

As one of the best snooker commentators around, Davis is likely to be prominent in the BBC commentary box for the coming years.

Is Steve Davis A DJ?

Bizarrely, Davis has thrown himself into a rather surprising career change – going from the snooker table to DJ turntables.

In fact, Davis made a shock appearance at Glastonbury in 2016 and was invited to return to the Somerset music festival in 2019.

Davis is a keen lover of techno music and goes by stage name ‘DJ Thundermuscle’ when he is performing. At 64 years old, you have to admire his dedication and desire to succeed.

In addition, Davis has been involved in the creation of a new band called The Utopia Strong, with the group looking to release a music album in the near future.

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

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 15th December 2021

• Scroll down for player ratings on England friendlies, Euro 2020 matches and World Cup qualifiers
• The likes of Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling have thrived in average England ratings this year
• Find England player ratings on EVERY international here at 888sport!

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There’s nothing quite like representing your country – whether it’s an international friendly or a European Championship qualifier.

England are one of the biggest national teams on the planet, with football betting fans from all over the world tuning in to watch the Three Lions.

With the likes of Harry Kane, Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho lining up, England are exciting to watch and fans are dreaming of World Cup glory at Qatar 2022.

However, international football predictions followers still have doubts over whether England are good enough to lift the Jules Rimet Trophy.

For example, Harry Maguire has come under scrutiny after a poor run of performances for Manchester United. But when he puts the England shirt on, he’s been a different player.

Another player who has been unfairly targeted is Jordan Pickford. One of the best England goalkeepers in recent times, Pickford faces constant pressure for the number one jersey.

While Gareth Southgate’s side fell agonisingly short in their pursuit of glory, it was a year to remember for the Three Lions and we’ve compiled England player ratings for EVERY match!

San Marino vs England Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's 10-0 victory over San Marino in November 2021.

• Aaron Ramsdale - 7
• Conor Coady - 6
• Harry Maguire - 7
• Tyrone Mings - 7
• Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6
• Kalvin Phillips - 6
• Jude Bellingham - 7
• Bukayo Saka - 8
• Emile Smith Rowe - 8
• Phil Foden - 7
• Harry Kane - 9

England vs Albania Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's 5-0 victory over Albania in November 2021.

• Jordan Pickford - 7
• Reece James - 8
• Kyle Walker - 6
• John Stones - 6
• Harry Maguire - 7
• Ben Chilwell - 6
• Kalvin Phillips - 6
• Jordan Henderson - 8
• Phil Foden - 6
• Harry Kane - 8
• Raheem Sterling - 7

England vs Hungary Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's 1-1 draw with Hungary in October 2021.

• Jordan Pickford - 6
• Kyle Walker - 6
• John Stones - 8
• Tyrone Mings - 6
• Luke Shaw - 5
• Declan Rice - 6
• Phil Foden - 6
• Mason Mount - 5
• Jack Grealish - 7
• Raheem Sterling - 5
• Harry Kane - 5

Andorra vs England Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's 5-0 victory over Andorra in October 2021.

• Sam Johnstone - 7
• Kieran Trippier - 6
• John Stones - 6
• Conor Coady - 7
• Ben Chilwell - 7
• James Ward-Prowse - 7
• Bukayo Saka - 8
• Jesse Lingard - 6
• Jadon Sancho - 9
• Tammy Abraham - 7
• Phil Foden - 9

Poland vs England Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's 1-1 draw with Poland in September 2021.

• Jordan Pickford - 6
• Kyle Walker - 5
• John Stones - 7
• Harry Maguire - 6
• Luke Shaw - 6
• Declan Rice - 8
• Kalvin Phillips - 7
• Mason Mount - 6
• Jack Grealish - 5
• Raheem Sterling - 8
• Harry Kane - 7

England vs Andorra Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's 4-0 victory over Andorra in September 2021.

• Sam Johnstone - 6
• Reece James - 6
• Tyrone Mings - 5
• Conor Coady - 6
• Kieran Trippier - 4
• Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6
• Jude Bellingham - 7
• Jordan Henderson - 6
• Bukayo Saka - 8
• Jesse Lingard - 8
• Patrick Bamford - 5

Hungary vs England Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's 4-0 victory over Hungary in September 2021.

• Jordan Pickford - 6
• Kyle Walker - 6
• John Stones - 6
• Harry Maguire - 7
• Luke Shaw - 7
• Declan Rice - 8
• Kalvin Phillips - 7
• Mason Mount - 7
• Jack Grealish - 8
• Raheem Sterling - 8
• Harry Kane - 6

Italy vs England Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's penalties defeat to Italy in July 2021.

• Jordan Pickford - 9
• Kyle Walker - 7
• John Stones - 8
• Harry Maguire - 8
• Kieran Trippier - 7
• Kalvin Phillips - 8
• Declan Rice - 8
• Luke Shaw - 9
• Raheem Sterling - 6
• Harry Kane - 7
• Mason Mount - 6

England vs Denmark Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's 2-1 victory over Denmark in July 2021.

• Jordan Pickford - 6
• Kyle Walker - 8
• John Stones - 7
• Harry Maguire - 7
• Luke Shaw - 7
• Kalvin Phillips - 7
• Declan Rice - 6
• Bukayo Saka - 7
• Mason Mount - 7
• Raheem Sterling - 8
• Harry Kane - 8

Ukraine vs England Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's 4-0 victory over Ukraine in July 2021.

• Jordan Pickford - 8
• Kyle Walker - 7
• John Stones - 8
• Harry Maguire - 8
• Luke Shaw - 9
• Declan Rice - 9
• Kalvin Phillips - 8
• Mason Mount - 7
• Jadon Sancho - 6
• Harry Kane - 9
• Raheem Sterling - 8

England vs Germany Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's 2-0 victory over Germany in June 2021.

• Jordan Pickford - 8
• Kyle Walker - 8
• John Stones - 8
• Harry Maguire - 8
• Kieran Trippier - 7
• Declan Rice - 8
• Kalvin Phillips - 7
• Luke Shaw - 8
• Bukayo Saka - 8
• Harry Kane - 7
• Raheem Sterling - 8

Czech Republic vs England Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's 1-0 victory over Czech Republic in June 2021.

• Jordan Pickford - 7
• Kyle Walker - 7
• John Stones - 7
• Harry Maguire - 8
• Luke Shaw - 7
• Declan Rice - 6
• Kalvin Phillips - 6
• Bukayo Saka - 8
• Jack Grealish - 8
• Raheem Sterling - 8
• Harry Kane - 7

England vs Scotland Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's 0-0 draw with Scotland in June 2021.

• Jordan Pickford - 7
• Reece James - 6
• John Stones - 6
• Tyrone Mings - 6
• Luke Shaw - 5
• Declan Rice - 5
• Kalvin Phillips - 5
• Mason Mount - 6
• Phil Foden - 5
• Harry Kane - 3
• Raheem Sterling - 4

England vs Croatia Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's 1-0 victory over Croatia in June 2021.

• Jordan Pickford 6
• Kyle Walker 6
• John Stones - 8
• Tyrone Mings - 7
• Kieran Trippier - 6
• Declan Rice - 7
• Kalvin Phillips - 8
• Mason Mount - 7
• Phil Foden - 6
• Harry Kane - 5
• Raheem Sterling - 8

England vs Romania Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's 1-0 victory over Romania in June 2021.

• Sam Johnstone - 8
• Ben Godfrey - 7
• Ben White - 7
• Tyrone Mings - 6
• Luke Shaw - 7
• Kalvin Phillips - 6
• James Ward-Prowse - 7
• Jack Grealish - 8
• Jadon Sancho - 6
• Marcus Rashford - 6
• Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 6

England vs Austria Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's 1-0 victory over Austria in June 2021.

• Jordan Pickford - 7
• Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6
• Conor Coady - 5
• Tyrone Mings - 6
• Kieran Trippier - 6
• Declan Rice - 5
• Jude Bellingham - 7
• Bukayo Saka - 8
• Jesse Lingard - 6
• Jack Grealish - 8
• Harry Kane - 6

England vs Poland Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's 2-1 victory over Poland in March 2021.

• Nick Pope - 6
• Kyle Walker - 6
• John Stones - 5
• Harry Maguire - 7
• Ben Chilwell - 7
• Kalvin Phillips - 6
• Declan Rice - 8
• Mason Mount - 8
• Phil Foden - 7
• Harry Kane - 7
• Raheem Sterling - 8

Albania vs England Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's 2-0 victory over Albania in March 2021.

• Nick Pope - 6
• Kyle Walker - 6
• John Stones - 7
• Harry Maguire - 7
• Luke Shaw - 8
• Declan Rice - 7
• Kalvin Phillips - 6
• Mason Mount - 8
• Phil Foden - 7
• Raheem Sterling - 8
• Harry Kane - 9

England vs San Marino Player Ratings

Our player ratings following England's 5-0 victory over San Marino in March 2021.

• Nick Pope - 6
• Reece James - 7
• John Stones - 7
• Conor Coady - 7
• Ben Chilwell - 9
• James Ward-Prowse - 7
• Kalvin Phillips - 8
• Mason Mount - 9
• Jesse Lingard - 7
• Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 8
• Raheem Sterling - 7

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

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 15th December 2021

• The Football Pools was a revolutionary form of football gambling that began almost 100 years ago.
• Its growth after the 2nd World War saw millions of people play every week.
• Online and other gambling options has seen its popularity decline in recent times.

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Guide To Pools Betting

From humble beginnings in Liverpool, England, when three friends invested £50 apiece of their own money to set up a new type of betting on football matches, the Football Pools survived the Great Depression, court cases, the Blitz and more to grow into a phenomenon, for many decades the most popular way of putting on a football bet.

For millions, the ritual of clutching their coupons while checking the scores on a Saturday afternoon was an integral part of a weekend - though plenty still sit waiting to see the football pool result today.
It was the inspiration of one man who saw the game’s potential that helped this exciting new game take off. At its height, 14 million people played the Pools every week, and it is easy to see why its popularity endured down the years.

Despite its relative decline it remains to this day, making the Pools the world’s oldest football gaming company. Here, we look at the poolresult history and how it works.

Football Pools History

Few people will know that the origins of the Football Pools lie with its creator John Jervis Barnard, who saw a market for betting on the outcome of football matches.

The idea was a game where those who successfully predicted results received winnings from the “pool” of money collected that week.

Barnard doubted the idea would ever make him a fortune, but when he met John Moores its eventual success was guaranteed.

Moores saw its potential, and along with two friends Colin Askham and Bill Hughes, invested £150 into trying to make it work. Back in the early days of the UK pool result coupon, it was certainly hard work...

They printed four thousand coupons and handed them out at Old Trafford on a Saturday afternoon. The Pools was born, and it eventually made Moores a billionaire.

Their scheme was not an instant success however, and was almost abandoned, but Moore kept faith and bought his two friend’s stakes, a decision they greatly regretted.

Eventually the coupon caught the imagination of the British public, under the name of Littlewoods, and its success saw rival companies such as Vernons start up, eager to reap similar rewards.

But really, in the hearts of the nation, there was only one ‘Pools’, which from strength to strength with huge prizes, and eventually embraced technology, with coupons being checked electronically rather than by a huge team of women, who at one point were checking five million slips each week.

The use of big-name celebrities posing with weekend pool result winners holding huge cheques helped maintain its popularity until the rise of new forms of competition weakened its grip on the market.

Football Pools Format

While the name ‘Football Pools’ is instantly recognisable for millions over a certain age, many younger football fans will be unaware of its existence and betting format, so allow us to explain.

Different games can be played, but the essence of the Pools is that participants fill in their predictions concerning who they expect to win or draw specific matches on an official coupon.

Originally, these coupons could be picked up outside football grounds, or for most people a “Pools Man” visited homes once a week.

Get the majority of the predictions correct and you had a chance of making big money. For games that were postponed, usually due to adverse weather, a special panel sat to decide what they thought the result would have been.

The most popular game played on the coupon down the years is the Treble Chance. From the selected list of fixtures, players choose eight fixtures they think will be a score draw.

If it is a stalemate they get three points, two points for a no-score draw and a single point if one team is victorious. Like all Pools formats, those with the highest points total win a part of the pot.

For all games the principle essentially remains the same – show your skill with an expert correct score prediction or ten, and you’ll win big.

Pools Betting Trivia

A game with such a rich history is bound to give rise to plenty of fascinating trivia, much of it surrounding its landmark wins. 1950 was a big year, as it saw the first £100,000 winner.

Just three years later that amount was doubled, but it was not until 1972 that the first half-a-million-pound winner was announced: a Mr Grimes of Hampshire.

Many people played the pools as a syndicate to increase their chances of a big win, and it was a group of nurses in Wiltshire that scooped a cool million in 1986.

The biggest win ever is just shy of £3 million, but there have been plenty of hard-luck stories too from those forgetting to put on their bets, or by wasting their fortunes.

The Pools shut down during the Second World War as the coupon printers were utilised by the government to produce call-up papers, while Pools employees contributed to the war effort by sewing, rigging and packing parachutes.

Workers delivered 20,000 parachutes within the first three months of the war, and it was a 24/7 operation.

Unsurprisingly, the popularity of the Pools has spread around the globe. This week's pool result is enough to grip fans into catching the final score updates at 4.45pm on a Saturday afternoon.

A similar game in Europe is called Toto, and the most popular games abroad tend to involve players predicting victories as well as draws, sometimes known as betting tips 1x2, the three symbols entered on the coupon representing a home win, draw and away win.

Pools In Decline

There are two distinct developments in gambling that have seen the Football Pools suffer a decline over the past twenty-five years or so.

The first nail in the coffin came as early as 1994, and the introduction of the National Lottery. This gave people a new way of dreaming of untold riches, with bigger prizes and what’s more, it required no sporting knowledge or skill to participate.

It may have been deceptive, but the Lottery seemed an easier way to win big for many.The second nail was provided by the growth of the internet and online betting.

By the start of the 21st century most bookmakers had an online presence, allowing those wishing to make a football prediction for money varied ways to do precisely that.

Nowadays, you can bet on almost anything you desire and the growth of online gambling has made the Pools look rather old-fashioned. Once the National Lottery moved online too, the future was bleak.

Pools operators had to widen their own services to stay afloat, and a Football Pools company remains in operation to this day, though there is no man knocking on to collect your coupon from you.

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

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 14th December 2021

The Christmas Hurdle is a Grade One race run over two miles at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

There are eight hurdles to be jumped in all in the race which forms leg two of the "Triple Crown of Hurdling" alongside the Fighting Fifth and the Champion Hurdle itself at the Cheltenham Festival.

Epatante was the fifth winner of this race to then go on to win the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, following in the hoof prints of Lanzarote, Dawn Run, Kribensis and Faugheen.

Currently there are seven horses that have won the Christmas Hurdle multiple times since its inaugural running.

These include Coral Diver (1969, 1971), Lanzarote (1973, 1975), Kribensis (1988, 1989), Intersky Falcon (2002, 2003), Harchibald (2004, 2008), Binocular (2010, 2011), and Faugheen (2014, 2015).

Jonjo O'Neill's great mare, Dawn Run won the Christmas Hurdle in 1983. Dawn Run went on to win the Champion Hurdle that same season, before her sensational victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1986.

This race evolved from a handicap race held at Kempton Park on Boxing Day during the 1960’s known as the Kempton Park Handicap Hurdle, to be changed in 1969 to the more aptly named Christmas Hurdle.

The purse for the Christmas Hurdle itself is fairly generous. The top three times in the Christmas Hurdle over the last 20 renewals are:

• 2016 - Yanworth (3:45.20)
• 2003 - Intersky Falcon (3:46.25)
• 2014 - Faugheen (3:46.30)

The slowest time was Darlan (4:15.80) in 2012.

Christmas Hurdle Winners

• 2020 - (3:47.30) Silver Streak (IRE) 7-y-o 11-7 13/2 (Adam Wedge/Evan Williams)
• 2019 - (3:55.25) Epatante (FR) 5-y-o 11-0 2/1F (Barry Geraghty/Nicky Henderson)
• 2018 - (3:46.90) Verdana Blue (IRE) 6-y-o 11-0 11/2 (Nico de Boinville/Nicky Henderson)
• 2017 - (3:57.50) Buveur DAir (FR) 6-y-o 11-7 2/11F (Barry Geraghty/Nicky Henderson)
• 2016 - (3:45.20) Yanworth (GB) 6-y-o 11-7 5/4F (Barry Geraghty/Alan King)
• 2015 - (3:47.70) Faugheen (IRE) 7-y-o 11-7 1/4F (R Walsh/Willie Mullins)
• 2014 - (3:46.30) Faugheen (IRE) 6-y-o 11-7 4/11F (R Walsh/Willie Mullins)
• 2013 - (3:55.20) My Tent Or Yours (IRE) 6-y-o 11-7 11/8 (A P McCoy/Nicky Henderson)
• 2012 - (4:15.80) Darlan (GB) 5-y-o 11-7 3/1 (A P McCoy/Nicky Henderson)
• 2011 - (3:50.60) Binocular (FR) 7-y-o 11-7 5/4F (A P McCoy/Nicky Henderson)

Christmas Hurdle Statistics

• Age: 8 of the last 10 winners were aged either 6 or 7.
• Price: 6 of the last 10 favourites/joint favourites have won, 10/10 winners came from the top three in the horse racing odds.
• Last Run: 7 of the last 10 winners won on their last run before the Christmas Hurdle, 10/10 winners ran within the last 41 days. 5/10 winners ran in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Newcastle) on their last run, 3 of the 5 won, 1 placed.
• Previous Course Form: 7/10 winners had at least one previous run at Kempton, 7/10 winners had at least one previous win at Kempton.
• Previous Distance Form: 10/10 winners had at least six previous runs over 15-17 furlongs, 10/10 had at least five previous wins over 15-17 furlongs.
• Previous Hurdle Form: 10/10 winners had at least six runs over hurdles, 10/10 winners had at least five wins over hurdles, 10/10 winners had at least four wins over hurdles.
• Rating: 8/10 winners were rated 157 or higher.
• Graded Wins: 7/10 winners had at least one previous win in a Grade 1 race, 10/10 winners had at least one win in a Grade 1-3 race.
• Season Form: 10/10 winners had at least one run that season, 8/10 winners had at least one win that season.

Leading Trainers

Nicky Henderson has trained the Christmas Hurdle winner a remarkable eight times during his career with Geos (2000), Landing Light (2001), Binocular (2010, 2011), Darlan (2012), My Tent Or Yours (2013), Buveur D'Air (2017) and Epatante (2019) all scoring for the Seven Barrows legend.

Who will represent the yard in this year's renewal? Our 888Sport Nicky Henderson stable tour can be found here.

Other trainers who have registered multiple wins in the Christmas Hurdle are Noel Meade (4 wins), Jonjo O'Neill (2 wins) and Willie Mullins (2 wins).

Unbelievably 12-times champion trainer Paul Nicholls has sent a total of 18 runners to the race without recording any wins.

Leading Jockeys

The former champ, AP McCoy won the Christmas Hurdle five times in total with Straw Bear (2207), Binocular (2010, 2011), Darlan (2012) and My Tent Or Yours (2013).

Adam Wedge and Nico de Boinville have fared well in this contest in recent years.

Christmas Hurdle 'Trial' Races

The usual pre-trial for the Christmas Hurdle is the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle with the best of that bunch making their way over to Kempton at Christmas.

Punters should keep a watchful eye on last season's Champion Hurdle as the division often contains the same horses each campaign.

The ante-post betting for the race will also be available for a few weeks leading up to Boxing Day which gives punters plenty of opportunities to make their positions.

Remember to return to this blog nearer the time to check out our horse racing tips for the Christmas Hurdle.

Starting Prices

Looking back at the SP’s over the last 20 renewals, the biggest priced winner was Jazz Messenger in 2006 at odds of 10/1.

Horses at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals have produced 11 winning favourites in that time.

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

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 14th December 2021

• Former British number one Greg Rusedski has been a prominent media figure since retiring from tennis

• Rusedski has a net worth of roughly $6 million

• Read below for more on Rusedski’s wealth obtained throughout his career

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Greg Rusedski was a tennis betting force at his peak.

A former British number one and Grand Slam finalist, Rusedski’s achievements might since have been overshadowed by Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu, but that shouldn’t diminish the impressiveness career.

Since hanging up his tennis whites for the final time in 2007, Rusedski has followed the heavily trodden path from court to studio.

The Canada-born star has been a commentator and pundit for various networks, giving the odd tennis prediction in newspaper columns, too.

Net Worth

Estimates of Greg Rusedski net worth vary, though the majority come in around the $6 million mark.

His $8,944,841 in career prize money clearly makes up a large portion of that wealth, accompanied by his post-playing salaries in the media and various endorsement deals.

Compared throughout their careers, we’ll continue the Greg Rusedski versus Tim Henman theme here.

Rusedski’s net worth is a long way off Tim Henman net worth. Placed alongside other British tennis stars, Rusedski comes out on top, however, with a net worth over double that of Dan Evans and marginally more than Jamie Murray.

Wife

Rusedski’s wife is Lucy Connor. The couple have been married since 1999 after meeting at a youth tournament in which Connor was a ball girl and Rusedski was competing.

In 2020, the couple applied to set up a yoga and wellness retreat in Sussex. Lucy Rusedski was also in the headlines when her handbag was stolen while out for a meal in London.

Family

Born in Montreal to an English mother and a father of Polish and Ukrainian descent, Rusedski was regarded as a starlet in Canada through the 1980s.

Unsurprisingly, it was a bit of a controversial decision in Canada when he opted to represent Great Britain, though Rusedski claimed this for was ‘lifestyle reasons’.

The father of two children with Lucy Connor, Rusedski has a daughter (born in 2006) and a son (born in 2009).

Speaking to the Daily Express in 2015, Rusedski named his family and friends as the number one thing he couldn’t life without.

The former British number one said, “Being a professional tennis player means that you are on the road all the time and although it was exciting it was lonely and I missed my family and friends.

“Now I am retired there is nothing I like more than spending some quality time with loved ones. On Sundays, I enjoy going to the pub for a roast or round to a friend’s house with my children.

"When it’s my turn to cook I make roast lamb with Yorkshire pudding, crispy roasties and honey-roast carrots. It always goes down a treat.”

Highest Ranking

Far from featuring among the list of the players with the most tennis Grand Slams, Greg Rusedski still made it up to a world ranking of fourth.

He competed in an era with some all-time greats, like Patrick Rafter, Peter Sampras and Goran Ivanišević, yet Rusedski held his own.

Twice reaching fourth in the world (in October 1997 and between May and June in 1998), Rusedski also achieved his two best year-end rankings in those years, finishing sixth in the world in 1997 and ninth in 1998.

Rusedski vs Henman

Late-1990s and early-2000s British tennis is commonly associated with Tim Henman. Though never a favourite in Wimbledon betting, it was Henman with the hill, and who’s heartbreak is most often recounted.

The gap between Henman and Greg Rusedski was minimal. Henman attracted the spotlight of the British press, and the scrutiny that came with it, but Rusedski had a Grand Slam final appearance to his name and won four more singles titles.

Both had a career-high ranking of fourth in the world, yet Henman was a more reliable performer on the Grand Slam stage.

He reached the quarter-final or better at 10 Slams. Rusedski only reached the last eight twice in his career, one of which was on his way to the US Open final.

Henman had the edge over Rusedski in Davis Cup action. As a doubles partnership they were particularly effective, winning numerous matches.

Although productive, teammates for Great Britain, they weren’t always best of friends away from the court. There was a clear rivalry in the early years, a contrast of personality and style that didn’t always mesh.

In 2008, Rusedski spoke to The Guardian about his relationship with Henman. He said, “It was good to have two players spurring each other on. I think it's always better than just having one.

“That competitiveness forced us to improve our game. At the time we were playing we wished there was even more depth - it would have been nice to have more than two.

"For [Andy] Murray, right now, that's the challenge he has; it's only him and there's nobody even close. That's the thing about playing tennis in England - it's big fish, small pond syndrome.”

He also touched on the contrast between the two, which laid the foundation for that minor friction.

“As characters we are completely opposite: I was outspoken and fiery, Tim was more reserved.

"We have similarities, too: we're born on the same day a year apart [Rusedski is the older], we both married Lucys, we both have little girls. But personality-wise, we're different.”

In a surprising coincidence, Rusedski’s final Grand Slam match was against Henman. Defeat in that 2006 encounter secured an 8-2 career record for Henman against his Davis Cup teammate.

US Open Final

Greg Rusedski reached the 1997 US Open final, losing to Pat Rafter in four sets.

Benefiting from a favourable draw, Rafter was the first seeded player Rusedski faced in the competition with Mark Philippoussis, Carlos Moya, Gustavo Kuerten and Pete Sampras all eliminated in the top half of the bracket before potential matchups with Rusedski.

Rusedski’s loss meant the first Grand Slam of Rafter’s career, and he went on to defend his title in 1998.

While it was obviously gutting to lose having got so close, Rusedski still made history, becoming the first British male to reach a Slam final in 20 years.

It was just the second time a man representing Britain had played in a Grand Slam final since Fred Perry competed in three Slam finals in 1936, winning two.

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

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 14th December 2021