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'Imagine' - I could have played in all-star Juventus lineup but made Tottenham transfer decision instead

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‘Imagine’ – I could have played in all-star Juventus lineup but made Tottenham transfer decision inste... - talkSPORT
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Jermain Defoe revealed he was close to joining the legendary 2000s Juventus side before his return to Tottenham Hotspur.

Defoe spent the majority of his career terrorising Premier League defences up and down the country, scoring 162 top flight goals in a stellar career.

Things could have turned out differently for the 57-cap England international.

Prior to his January 2009 move from Portsmouth back to north London, an agent told Defoe that Juventus were interested in acquiring his signature.

He left Tottenham in January 2008 after nearly four years at the club to join Pompey.

In his 12 months stay he netted 18 goals and assisted five times in 36 matches.

A good stretch of form that attracted the eyes of Juve scouts and head coach Claudio Ranieri, who later went on to win the 2015-16 Premier League at Leicester City.

“I got a phone call before I went back to Tottenham in I think 2008,” Defoe said in an interview with WhoScored. “I remember my agent phoned me and said to me Juventus are interested.

“If Tottenham doesn't get over the line would you want to come to Juventus?”

The star-studded Juventus 2008 side also included Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Ballon d’Or winner Pavel Nedved, Claudio Marchisio and Alessandro Del Piero.

It was particularly Del Piero that Defoe marvelled about being his potential strike partner.

“Imagine,” he added. “You talk about forwards you’d love to play with, but actually, he played in Soccer Aid last year, and it was just like—wow. As a young centre-forward, growing up watching players like that, an iconic figure.”

Despite such a star studded team the Old Lady could only manage a second place finish behind Inter Milan in 2008/09.

Prior to that season the club had won successive Serie A titles in 2001/02 and 2002/03.

Defoe remained at Tottenham Hotspur for five more years until his move to the MLS to play for Toronto in February 2014.

He did return to the UK in the following winter transfer window to play for Sunderland, AFC Bournemouth and Rangers.

During the 2000s Italian league developed into arguably the most competitive European league as the years went on, proven by the legendary Inter Milan and AC Milan stars.

Inter was home to players such as Javier Zanetti, Ronaldo and Samuel Eto’o.

They won five consecutive league titles between the 2005/06 and 2009/10 campaigns.

Milan had David Beckham, Ronaldinho, Clarence Seedorf and Paolo Maldini, eventually winning the title in 2010/11.

However it was Juventus who had the last laugh as they claimed nine league titles in a row from the 2011/12 and 2019/20 seasons.

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Andrea Pirlo's exquisite free-kick for AC Milan in Tottenham Legends match has fans purring

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It's almost been eight years since Andrea Pirlo retired from football, but he hasn't lost his world-class free-kick abilities.

Pirlo is regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time thanks to a glittering career for both club and country.

He most notably starred for AC Milan and had a beautiful finish to his career at Juventus. Pirlo made 116 appearances for Italy and won the World Cup with them in 2006.

Pirlo's passing and creativity ensured he stood out on the pitch, with his free-kick technique also a sight to behold on many occasions.

And despite being 45 years old, he's still able find the back of the net from distance as shown in a charity match for the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation on Sunday.

The Italian was selected in a Milan Glorie side facing Tottenham Legends, who won 6-2 in north London.

With around seven minutes left on the clock, Pirlo stood over a free-kick roughly 25 yards out from goal and let fly with a powerful effort.

It flew into the top-right corner in a stunning tribute to his playing days, and fans were in awe of what they saw.

Posting on X, one said: "Class is permanent."

"It was so effortless," another added.

Even the Spurs account appreciated his genius when they said: "It would be rude not to post this from from Pirlo. Legend."

"It would be equally rude not to reply by saying timeless masterclass'," Milan responded.

Robbie Keane scored a hat-trick for Spurs in their charity match win, with Jermain Defoe, Sandro and Michael Brown also netting.

Cristian Zaccardo found a consolation goal for Milan, but Pirlo's strike was arguably the best of the lot.

Pirlo played for Italian sides Brescia and Inter Milan before signing for the latter's rivals in 2001, where he made 401 appearances.

He won two Serie A titles and two Champions Leagues with Milan ahead of a switch to rivals Juventus in 2011.

A further four league titles came his way in Turin before he ended his career in MLS with New York City FC, retiring in 2017.

Pirlo has since got into management, with touchline spells coming at Juventus, Turkish club Fatih Karagumruk S.K. and Sampdoria.

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Sol Campbell reveals the five clubs that tried to sign him from Tottenham before Arsenal

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One of the most controversial transfers in Premier League history, Sol Campbell actually could’ve gone anywhere.

The 73-time England international shocked the footballing world in 2001 when he swapped Tottenham for their fiercest rivals Arsenal.

The move came out of nowhere with journalists not even seeing it coming, and Spurs didn’t get a fee as the centre-back’s contract had expired.

Judas shirts were displayed at White Hart Lane in response and Spurs fans even got in trouble for death threats and disgraceful chants.

He couldn’t have picked a worst move in regards to Spurs, but as it turns out, Arsenal weren’t the only ones interested.

While speaking to Stick to Football, he was asked by Gary Neville about Manchester United trying to sign him and replied: “You bloody called me!

“I remember, I was having an afternoon nap, and the phone call came through and Gary asked me if I fancied United, I must have been about 21 then.”

Campbell explained that the move could’ve been reality too, adding: "It did go further, but he blocked it, [Alan] Sugar blocked it.

“He must’ve, it didn’t go further [after that]. I think a lot of players have had difficult times with him.”

The now 50-year-old went on to discuss other interest from a number of European giants.

“Bayern [Munich] came in earlier, but you don’t know – is it a newspaper phoning you up? Back in those days, you didn’t know," he said..

"Liverpool came down, but the manager didn’t come for the meeting. I went to Inter, had a chat with them.

“Barcelona came in at the end, but you just don’t know, it’s all propaganda. Arsenal obviously came in at the end.”

Having won a League Cup at Tottenham, Campbell would go on to claim two Premier League titles and three FA Cups at Arsenal before adding another cup with Portsmouth.

The results showed that the move was a wise one, although Campbell also admitted he didn’t have any affection for Spurs, or any other side for that matter.

When asked which team he supported as a child, he replied: “England!

“My local team was West Ham, but I never really connected with them.”

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How many ex-Tottenham stars have won a trophy since leaving? From Kieran Trippier to Luka Modric but no Harry Kane

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Tottenham have one last opportunity to lift their first trophy in 16 years this season as a host of ex-stars continue to claim silverware.

Spurs can only win the Europa League this campaign to deliver on Ange Postecoglou's bold pre-season vow that he always wins silverware during his second season at a club.

The Lilywhites' 2-0 defeat to Fulham on Sunday left them languishing in lowly fourteenth with European football as their remaining hope.

Tottenham crashed out of the Carabao Cup to Liverpool in the semi-finals, before Aston Villa ended their FA Cup dreams days later.

To add insult to injury, their EFL Cup conquerors failed to win the trophy at Wembley as another Premier League side ended their own lengthy wait for glory.

Newcastle, inspired by ex-Tottenham star Kieran Trippier, delivered Eddie Howe's side their first major domestic trophy since 1955.

Ironically, the only ex-Spurs star the fanbase would want to win trophies above the rest hasn't in the form of Trippier's England teammate Harry Kane.

Kane was in the Spurs youth ranks when the club last lifted a trophy - the 2008 League Cup - but has never won a major honour himself.

He is already Tottenham and England’s record goalscorer but the debate over his lack of medals blots his otherwise superb record.

After joining Bayern Munich, the striker missed out on a trophy in his debut season after the Bavarians endured their first trophyless season since the 2011–12 campaign.

He then lost his second successive European Championship final in the summer but has cause for optimism in the Bundesliga this time.

Here, talkSPORT.com looks at the 65 former Spurs players and managers who have lifted a team trophy since the club's last success.

Managers (Nine trophies)

Jose Mourinho - Roma

Titles won: Europa Conference League (2021/22)

Nuno Espirito Santo - Al-Ittihad

Titles won: Saudi Pro League (22/23)

Saudi Super Cup (2022)

Mauricio Pochettino - Paris Saint-Germain

Titles won: Ligue 1 (21/22)

Coupe de France (20/21)

Trophée des Champions (2020)

Andre Villas-Boas - Zenit Saint-Petersburg

Titles won: Russian Premier League (14/15)

Russian Cup (15/16)

Russian Super Cup (2015)

Players (202 trophies)

Gareth Bale - Real Madrid/ LAFC

Trophies won: La Liga (16/17, 19/20, 21/22)

Copa del Rey (13/14)

Supercopa de España (2017, 19/20, 21/22)

Champions League (13/14, 15/16, 16/17, 17/18, 21/22)

UEFA Super Cup (2014, 2016, 2017)

FIFA Club World Cup (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)

MLS Cup (2022)

MLS Supporters' Shield (2022)

Luka Modric - Real Madrid

Trophies won: La Liga (16/17, 19/20, 21/22, 23/24)

Copa del Rey (13/14, 22/23)

Supercopa de España (2012, 2017, 19/20, 21/22, 23/24)

Champions League (13/14, 15/16, 16/17, 17/18, 21/22, 23/24)

UEFA Super Cup (2014, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2024)

FIFA Club World Cup (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022)

FIFA Intercontinental Cup: 2024

Kyle Walker - Manchester City

Trophies won: Premier League (17/18, 18/19, 20/21, 21/22, 22/23, 23/24)

Champions League (22/23)

UEFA Super Cup (2023)

FA Cup (18/19, 22/23)

EFL Cup (17/18, 18/19, 19/20, 20/21)

FA Community Shield (2018, 2019, 2024)

Kieran Trippier - Atletico Madrid/ Newcastle

Titles won: LaLiga (20/21)

EFL Cup (24/25)

Emerson Royal - AC Milan

Titles won: Supercoppa Italiana (2024)

Lucas Moura - Sao Paulo

Titles won: Copa do Brasil (2023)

Supercopa do Brasil: 2024

Dimitar Berbatov - Manchester United

Titles won: Premier League (08/09, 10/11)

League Cup (09/10)

Community Shield (2010, 2011)

FIFA Club World Cup (2008)

Toby Alderweireld - Al-Duhail/ Royal Antwerp

Titles won: Qatar Cup (2022)

Belgium Pro League (22/23)

Belgium Cup (22/23)

Christian Eriksen - Inter/ Manchester United

Titles won: Serie A (20/21)

EFL Cup (22/23)

FA Cup (23/24)

DeAndre Yedlin - Newcastle/ United States/ Inter Miami

Titles won: EFL Championship (16/17)

CONCACAF Nations League: (19/20)

Leagues Cup: 2023

Erik Lamela - Sevilla

Titles won: Europa League (22/23)

Bryan Gil - Sevilla (Loan)

Titles won: Europa League (22/23)

Tanguy Ndombele - Napoli/Galatasaray

Titles won: Serie A (22/23)

Süper Lig (23/24)

Turkish Super Cup: 2023

Davinson Sanchez - Galatasaray

Titles won: Süper Lig (23/24)

Turkish Super Cup: 2023

Giovani Lo Celso - Argentina

Titles won: Finalissima (2022)

Juan Foyth - Villarreal/ Argentina

Titles won: Europa League (20/21)

World Cup (2022)

Etienne Capoue - Villarreal

Titles won: Europa League (20/21)

Cameron Carter-Vickers - Celtic

Titles won: Scottish Premiership (21/22, 22/23, 23/24)

Scottish League Cup (21/22, 22/23, 24/25)

Scottish Cup (22/23, 23/24)

Joe Hart - Celtic

Titles won: Scottish Premiership (21/22, 22/23, 23/24)

Scottish League Cup (21/22, 22/23)

Scottish Cup (22/23, 23/24)

Victor Wanyama - CF Montreal

Titles won: Canadian Championship (2021)

Jan Vertonghen - Benfica

Titles won: Primeira Liga (22/23)

Carlos Vinicius - PSV Eindhoven (Loan from Benfica)/ Galatasaray (Loan from Fulham)

Titles won: KNVB Cup (21/22)

Turkish Super Cup: 2023

Süper Lig (23/24)

Georges-Kevin Nkoudou - Besiktas

Titles won: Super Lig (20/21)

Turkish Cup (20/21)

Turkish Super Cup (2021)

Pierluigi Gollini - Napoli (Loan from Atalanta)

Titles won: Serie A (22/23)

Vincent Janssen - Monterrey/ Royal Antwerp

Titles won: Liga MX (19/20)

Copa MX (19/20)

CONCACAF Champions League (2021)

Belgium Pro League (22/23)

Belgium Cup (22/23)

Benjamin Stambouli - Paris Saint-Germain

Titles won: Ligue 1 (15/16)

Coupe de France (15/16)

Coupe de la Ligue (15/16)

Trophée des Champions (2015, 2016)

Paulinho - Guangzhou Evergrande/ Barcelona

Chinese Super League (2015, 2016, 2019)

Chinese FA Cup (2016)

Chinese FA Super Cup (2016, 2017)

AFC Champions League (2015)

LaLiga (17/18)

Copa del Rey (17/18)

Fernando Llorente - Napoli

Titles won: Coppa Italia (19/20)

Rafael van der Vaart - FC Midtjylland

Titles won: Danish Superliga (17/18)

Jermain Defoe - Rangers

Titles won: Scottish Premiership (20/21)

Adel Taarabt - QPR/Benfica

Titles won: EFL Championship (10/11)

Primeira Liga (18/19)

Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (2019)

Kevin-Prince Boateng - AC Milan/ Eintracht Frankfurt/Barcelona

Titles won: Serie A (10/11)

Supercoppa Italiana (2011)

DFB-Pokal (17/18)

La Liga (18/19)

Robbie Keane - LA Galaxy

MLS Cup (2011, 2012, 2014)

Supporters' Shield (2011)

Clint Dempsey - Seattle Sounders

Titles won: Supporters' Shield (2014)

US Open Cup (2014)

Giovani dos Santos - America/ Mexico

Titles won: Campeón de Campeones (2019)

CONCACAF Gold Cup (2011, 2015)

Lee Young-pyo - Al-Hilal

Titles won: Saudi Professional League (09/10, 10/11)

Saudi Crown Prince Cup (09/10, 10/11)

Teemu Tainio - Ajax/ HJK

Titles won: Eredivisie (10/11)

Veikkausliiga (2013, 2014)

Finnish Cup (2014)

Didier Zokora - Sevilla

Titles won: Copa del Rey (09/10)

Vedran Corluka - Lokomotiv Moscow

Titles won: Russian Premier League (17/18)

Russian Cup (14/15, 16/17, 18/19, 20/21)

Russian Super Cup (2019)

Roman Pavlyuchenko - Lokomotiv Moscow

Titles won: Russian Cup (14/15)

Harry Winks - Leicester City

Titles won: EFL Championship (23/24)

Paulo Gazzaniga - Fulham

Titles won: EFL Championship (21/22)

Jack Clarke - Sunderland

Titles won: League One Play-offs (21/22)

Josh Onomah - Fulham

Titles won: Championship Play-offs (19/20)

EFL Championship (21/22)

Jamie O'Hara - Billericay Town

Titles won: Isthmian League Premier Division (17/18)

Isthmian League Cup (16/17, 17/18)

Essex Senior Cup (17/18)

Hossam Ghaly - Al Ahly

Titles won: Egyptian Premier League (10/11, 15/16, 16/17, 17/18)

Egypt Cup (16/17)

Egyptian Super Cup (10/11, 14/15, 15/16)

Jake Livermore - Hull City

Titles won: Championship Play-offs (15/16)

Michael Dawson - Hull City

Titles won: Championship Play-offs (15/16)

Tom Huddlestone - Hull City

Titles won: Championship Play-offs (15/16)

Niko Kranjcar - QPR

Titles won: Championship Play-offs (13/14)

Radek Cerny - QPR

Titles won: EFL Championship (10/11)

Sebastien Bassong - Norwich City

Titles won: Championship Play-offs (14/15)

Adam Smith - Bournemouth

Titles won: EFL Championship (14/15)

Fraizer Campbell - Cardiff City (Loan from Manchester United)

Titles won: EFL Championship (12/13)

Zeki Fryers - Swindon Town

Titles won: League Two (19/20)

John Bostock - Notts County

Titles won: National League Play-offs (22/23)

Tomislav Gomelt - CFR Cluj/ FK Suduva/ NK Rudes

Titles won: Romanian Cup (15/16)

Lithuanian Supercup: 2022

First NL: 2022–23

Simon Dawkins - San Jose Earthquakes

Titles won: Major League Soccer Supporters' Shield (2012)

Major League Soccer Western Conference Regular Season Championship (2012)

Paul-Jose Mpoku - Standard Liege

Titles won: Belgian Cup (2017/18)

Tomas Pekhart - AEK Athens/ Hapoel Be'er-Sheva/ Legia Warsaw

Titles won: Greek Cup (2015/16)

Israeli Premier League (17/18)

Ekstraklasa (19/20, 20/21)

Polish Cup: (22/23)

Polish Super Cup: 2023

Bongani Khumalo - SuperSport United

Titles won: South African League (x4)

South African Cup

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‘Behave yourself’ – Ange Postecoglou in ANOTHER fan confrontation moments after Tottenham defeat

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A fan's three-word verbal jab sparked a heated confrontation with Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou's side failed to lay a glove on Fulham as the Cottagers ran out 2-0 winners on Sunday.

Rodrigo Muniz broke the deadlock in the 78th minute before former Tottenham defender Ryan Sessegnon added the second ten minutes later.

It was Tottenham's 15th league defeat this season, their equal-most since the 2008/09 campaign.

One fan at Craven Cottage took the opportunity to stick the boot into Postecoglou following the contest.

Instead of letting the fan's swipe wash over him, Postecoglou hit back.

As Postecoglou made his way to the dressing room, the fan said: "What was that? What was that? What was that?"

The Tottenham boss stopped dead in his tracks and stared down the fan, as Djed Spence and Mathys Tel tried to lead him away.

Postecoglou told the fan to 'behave' and made a calming gesture with his hand.

The Australian added: "You're a young man."

Tel also tried to intervene and said: "Hey, respect. Respect."

The fan continued to take aim at Postecoglou, which prompted the Aussie to reply: "Behave yourself."

Postecoglou then moved away as a Tottenham staff member questioned why the fan wanted to poke fun at the evidently frustrated manager.

The former Celtic manager's reaction was not the only clash involving a fan and a Tottenham figure on Sunday.

Tel, who only joined Spurs on loan in January, was captured talking to some of the away fans following the defeat.

Several supporters could be heard shouting, 'It's not good enough'.

But Tel tried to keep the fans onside and responded: "We need to be together."

As for Postecoglou, the incident at Craven Cottage was not the first time he had clashed with a fan.

Following a brutal 1-0 loss to Leicester City in January, which remains the Foxes' only win from their last 14 games, a Tottenham fan told Postecoglou: "You're taking us down, we're going down with you."

Postecoglou appeared to hear the fan's dig as he backtracked up the tunnel and looked to make eye contact with the fan before disappearing down the tunnel again.

The former Socceroos boss also copped an earful from Tottenham supporters following a 1-0 loss away to Bournemouth, where some labelled him 'Postenoclue'.

"They're disappointed and I got some pretty direct feedback, which is always healthy mate," Postecoglou said after the match.

Postecoglou will look to get Tottenham supporters back onside when Premier League resumes following the international break as they travel to Chelsea on April 3.

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'Need to be together' - Footage shows Mathys Tel talking to angry Tottenham fans in tense exchange

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Mathys Tel urged Tottenham fans to remain behind the team in a heated conversation with angry fans after yet another defeat.

Spurs were beaten 2-0 by Fulham on Sunday afternoon, their 15th league defeat of the season.

Goals from Rodrigo Muniz and former Spurs man Ryan Sessegnon secured all three points for the hosts at Craven Cottage.

The win sees Fulham climb to eighth in the table with nine matches remaining as they chase European qualification.

But for Spurs, the loss extends Ange Postecoglou's winless run in the competition to three matches.

And their slim hopes of a top half finish continue to fade as they remain 13th after 29 matches.

The visiting supporters made their feelings known at full-time as the players applauded the away end.

Forward Tel was even filmed speaking to some of the fans during a heated exchange.

Shouts of 'it's not good enough' could be heard from several supporters in footage shared to social media.

Meanwhile, Tel is seen responding by telling them: '"We need to be together".

The Frenchman started against Fulham, playing 77 minutes before being replaced by Wilson Odobert.

Tel has featured eight times since signing from Bayern Munich on loan on transfer deadline day.

However, he has scored just once in those matches, with his only strike coming in the FA Cup against Aston Villa.

Meanwhile, Postecoglou appeared to share the fans' frustrations after the match.

The Spurs boss told the BBC: "It's been a difficult campaign for sure.

"But I feel we've lost too many games that we should have got stuff out of, and this was one of those games.

"It's another international break we go into off a loss and you feel that. We just need to make sure we're ready for when we come back."

His side visit London rivals Chelsea on April 3 following the international break.

Tottenham's final chance of a trophy this season will also resume next month.

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WWE star takes potshot at Tottenham Hotspur as special belts of football clubs are released

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Tottenham Hotspur’s ongoing trophy drought was brutally highlighted by WWE superstar Drew McIntyre.

The north London club have regularly been the butt of jokes surrounding their failure to land a major trophy for the first time since 2008.

Ange Postecoglou’s men have one final shot at finally silencing their detractors after booking their place in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday night following a second leg win over AZ Alkmaar.

But for now, they remain an easy target for rival fans as their wait for silverware rumbles on.

Bizarrely, their most recent criticism has come from three-time WWE world champion McIntyre, who himself is an avid football fan.

The Scot has often displayed his affection for boyhood club Rangers and it appears the England vs Scotland rivalry is alive and well.

On Friday, WWE announced that it had released exclusive legacy title belts - priced at £425 - featuring the branding and colours of 13 European football clubs.

The featured teams included Manchester United, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Chelsea, West Ham and Old Firm duo Rangers and Celtic.

Also included were European giants AC Milan, Inter, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain.

But it was the inclusion of Tottenham that handed McIntyre too good of an opportunity to miss.

The 39-year-old knows all too well the importance of being an opportunist after claiming the Money in the Bank briefcase in 2024.

McIntyre brutally shared WWE’s post on X with the caption: “That’s the only title Tottenham have seen in years.”

Whilst not technically wrong, the wrestler sparked a huge debate in his comments section with fans either praising him or hitting the star back with some banter of their own.

Ironically, Tottenham could face Rangers in the Europa League final in May to break their trophy hoodoo.

The club’s have already met in this season’s league phase which saw Dejan Kulusevski score late on to earn the Premier League side a 1–1 draw at Ibrox.

With both clubs on opposite ends of the draw, a second meeting can only happen if both sides make it to the final in Bilbao.

Rangers saw off Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in a tense penalty shootout on Thursday and will face Athletic Bilbao in the quarter-finals.

Last year, McIntyre was given the prestigious honour of being inducted into the Scottish Wrestling of Hall of Fame by Glasgow’s Lord Provost, becoming the first active wrestler to do so.

He was handed the honour prior to WWE’s Clash of the Castle premium live event which took place at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro in June.

“It’s pretty surreal to be the only active wrestler to be inducted into the Scottish Wrestling Hall of Fame,” McIntyre said.

“But it’s even more surreal that it happened in Ibrox and, even more so, on the weekend where I’m wrestling Scotland’s first ever PLE for the World Championship. It’s all my passions as a kid coming together as one.”

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‘It is a dream’ – Mauricio Pochettino leaves door open for Tottenham return and abstains from Man United question

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Mauricio Pochettino has told talkSPORT he dreams of returning to Tottenham one day.

The Argentine manager also jokingly abstained from questions over his past links with the Manchester United job.

Pochettino was announced as the head coach of the United States men's national team in September after a one-year spell at Chelsea.

His Stamford Bridge tenure followed a five-and-a-half season stint at Spurs, during which he competed for two Premier League titles.

Fans chanted his name towards the end of Antonio Conte's dramatic reign in 2023, and it is clear the club is still close to Pochettino's heart.

Reflecting on his surprise Spurs exit in 2019 on talkSPORT Drive, he said: "To be honest, the day that I left the club always I was thinking one day to come back.

"It's not that I was thinking before the offer from the USA national team, I was thinking to come back.

"The day that I left I was thinking I would love to one day come back to Tottenham because like I told in the past, I said for me, I felt empty in the moment that I left.

"It was like an unfinished job and that is why. It's a feeling, it's a feeling, it's a dream.

"I don't know how you can take or I can explain or describe but I think for sure it's a club that is always going to be special for me.

"And I would like to one day to have the possibility again to try to arrive in a situation that we are back to finish in a different way."

Pochettino is no stranger to the Premier League given his experience with Southampton, Spurs and Chelsea.

He is considered one of the top coaches around, and Man United were famously linked with his services on more than one occasion.

The 53-year-old was a target before Erik ten Hag took charge in 2022, with talkSPORT also reporting his interest in the job following his Chelsea exit last summer.

talkSPORT Drive presenter and avid United fan Andy Goldstein was keen to know more on the rumours, but was left disappointed.

He asked: "One final question, and if you answer it I will send you a bowl of lemons… I’m a Manchester United fan, how close were you to managing my club?"

Pochettino responded: "Okay. Thank you very much! I will send my address."

Goldstein replied: "Do you not want the lemons?

"How close? Was there a conversation? That's my last question. Was there a conversation at one stage?"

Pretending to not understand the question, Pochettino responded: "Sorry, sorry, sorry. If I, sorry?"

Goldstein continued: "I was just asking, was there a conversation with United at any stage for you to take over there?"

But Pochettino didn't back down from his jokey response and said: "I don't… I cannot hear!"

Pochettino has already taken charge of the USMNT on six occasions, with wins coming in five of those matches.

He looks set to manage the United States when they host the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico.

However, his attention will currently be focused on the upcoming international break when they face Panama in the CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals on March 20.

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Europa League LIVE: Postecoglou under huge pressure as Tottenham look to flip Alkmaar tie, Man United welcome Sociedad, Mourinho and co at Ibrox

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The Europa League and Europa Conference League round of 16 ties will come to an end this evening.

In north London, Tottenham Hotspur face the most important game of the season as they look to overturn a 1-0 deficit against AZ Alkmaar.

Manchester United's tie with Real Sociedad is locked at 1-1 as the two teams head to Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, Rangers can seal a famous aggregate win over Fenerbahce after beating the Turkish giants 3-1 in the first leg.

And in the Europa Conference League, Chelsea have a narrow advantage over Copenhagen.

Europa League and Europa Conference League rounbd of 16 ties

Europa League

Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Roma (3-2)

Eintracht Frankfurt 4-1 Ajax (6-2)

Lazio 1-1 Viktoria Plzen (3-2)

Olympiacos 2-1 Bodoe/Glimt (2-4)

Europa Conference League

Cercle Brugge 2-0 Jagiellonia Bialystok (2-3)

Djugaarden 1-0 Pafos FC (1-1)

Lugano 3-1 NK Celje (3-2)

Rapid Wien 0-1 Borac Banja Luka (1-2)

You can recap of all the action in our live blog below...

Tottenham vs AZ Alkmaar: Team news

Right, we have the starting XIs for Tottenham's must-win Europa League tie against AZ Alkmaar.

The big news is that Micky van de Ven is fit enough to start alongside Cristian Romero at the heart of the Spurs defence.

The duo haven't played together since they started against Chelsea in December.

Archie Gray and Mathys Tel have been dropped to the bench while Wilson Odobert starts over Brennan Johnson.

Dominic Solanke leads the line.

Meanwhile, former Spurs striker Troy Parrott is up front for the Dutch side.

Can he come back to haunt Tottenham?

Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence, Bergvall, Maddison, Sarr, Odobert, Son, Solanke

Subs: Austin, Bissouma, Tel, Udogie, Gray, Johnson, Davies, Whiteman, Scarlett, Moore

AZ: Owusu-Oduro, Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, Wolfe, Clasie, Buurmeester, Koopmeiners, Sadiq, Poku, Parrott

Subs: Martins Indi, Verhulst, Belic, Dekker, Smit, De Wit, Meerdink, Zoet, Bouziane, Dijkstra, Van Dujin

War of words

Ahead of Fenerbahce's game against Rangers this evening, Allan Saint-Maximin has been axed from the squad.

The former Newcastle United winger has been dropped by Jose Mourinho, and a fierce war of words has started.

The Frenchman hit on Instagram with a message that read: "It will take more than this to defeat me.

"When a lie takes the elevator, the truth takes the stairs. It takes longer, but it always arrives in the end. If God is with us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31."

To which Mourinho said: “I didn't know Maxi had a talent for poetry. He used a poem about life and stairs. I'm good at that too.

“I can only say that when a footballer trains well, he will become fit, can climb stairs, and does not need an elevator, but if he doesn't train well if he comes in late and is overweight, he needs an elevator to go up because he gets tired very quickly on the stairs.”

'I was stating a fact'

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has defended his infamous trophy comments from earlier in the season.

The Australian essentially promised Spurs fans that they would win something this year because he always does in his second season.

As Tottenham prepare to face AZ Alkmaar in the second leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie against the Dutch side.

They are in the bottom half of the Premier League, and out of both domestic cups.

And with the Europa League Tottenham's last chance of silveware, Postecoglou has responded to his initial comments.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, he said: "I wasn’t making anything up. I was asked the question, and I answered it.

"Critics have used it for their own purposes, suggesting I’m making a bold claim, but I was stating a fact.

"Usually in my second season, I win things.

"That's the whole idea. The first year is about establishing principles and creating a foundation. Hopefully, the second year is going to win things."

Huge night

Attention now turns to the Europa League, as Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Rangers all look to make it through.

Meanwhile, in the Europa Conference League, we have Chelsea in action as well.

The biggest game is arguably in north London with Spurs taking on AZ Alkmaar.

They trail 1-0 from the first leg, and if they lose, their season is pretty much over, meaning the pressure on Ange Postecoglou is intense.

At Old Trafford, Man United are locked at 1-1 with Real Sociedad, so that tie can go either way.

However, Rangers are in a much better position, starting their game against Fenerbahce 3-1 up on aggregate.

And in the Conference League, Chelsea have a narrow 2-1 lead over Copenhagen.

Europa League

Europa Conference League

Cruel twist

REAL MADRID HAVE BEATEN ATLETICO MADRID ON PENALTIES!!

But wow, what way to decide such a highly-charged tie, with Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez's spot-kick registered as a miss despite striking the ball into the net.

But when kicking the ball, the former Manchester City star slipped and inadvertently kicked it twice before he beat Thibaut Courtois.

Atleti goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved a penalty to deny Lucas Vazquez but Marcos Llorente striking the crossbar allowed Antonio Rudiger to squeeze in the winning penalty.

Real Madrid's reward for their win is a quarter-final date with Arsenal.

The match was taken to extra time with Diego Simeone's men winning 1-0 on the night through Conor Gallagher's goal after just 27 seconds.

Vinicius Junior skied a penalty in the second half after Kylian Mbappe was fouled, but in the end it was Atleti who paid the penalty.

Job done

Arsenal and Aston Villa have sealed their places in the Champions League quarter-finals with both sides enjoying stress free evenings.

A much-changed Gunners side played out a 2-2 draw at home to PSV Eindhoven, going through 9-3 on aggregate.

An Oleksandr Zinchenko piledriver put Arsenal ahead on six minutes but they were pegged back by Ivan Perisic's tidy finish.

Declan Rice nodded Mikel Arteta's men back in front just before the break before Couhaib Driouech ensured the spoils were shared on the night.

Arsenal will face the winners of the Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid tie, which is going to extra time with the tie 2-2 at aggregate with Conor Gallagher's strike after 27 seconds giving Diego Simeone's men a 1-0 win after the 90.

Villa, meanwhile, breezed to a 3-0 win over Club Brugge, going through 6-1 on aggregate.

A brace from Marco Asencio and Ian Maatsen's deflected effort in the second half saw Villa through to the quarters.

They will face Paris Saint-Germain, who got the better of Liverpool on penalties last night.

GOAL - Aston Villa 3-0 Club Brugge (6-1 agg)

IT'S PARTY FOOTBALL FROM VILLA!

Marco Asensio is loving life at Villa Park, the Spaniard bagging his second of the night to put Aston Villa well on the way to the quarter-finals.

The strike, a low effort with his weaker right foot from close range, is his seventh goal in eight appearances for the club.

Elsewhere, Arsenal have been pegged back to a 2-2 draw at home to PSV Eindhoven, meaning Arsenal are 9-3 up on aggregate.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid have missed a glorious chance to go ahead against Atletico Madrid on aggregate with Vinicius Junior skying a penalty at the Wanda Metropolitano.

GOAL - Aston Villa 2-0 Club Brugge (5-1 agg)

ASTON VILLA HAVE ONE FOOT IN THE QUARTER-FINALS!!

That should be that with Marco Asensio and Ian Maatsen scoring against ten-man Club Brugge.

Asensio fired into the roof of the net after being picked out with an intricate through ball by Leon Bailey.

And their second of the night came just moments ago when Maatsen fired in from close range after fancy footwork by Morgan Rogers.

Villa fans, looks like you can start booking your tickets for Paris.

Half time

It's half time in all of tonight's Champions League matches, and it's looking good for the Premier League teams.

Arsenal are 2-1 up against PSV Eindhoven, 9-2 on aggregate, thanks to goals from Oleksandr Zinchenko and Declan Rice.

It's 0-0 at Villa Park with Aston Villa on track to book their place in the quarter-finals, having beaten Club Brugge 3-1 in the first leg in Belgium last weekend.

The flashpoint of the relatively uneventful match saw Brugge defender Kyriani Sabbe get sent off for bringing down Marcus Rashford with the Villa loanee through on goal.

Things are hotting up in Madrid with the Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid tie locked at 2-2 on aggregate with Conor Gallagher's strike just 27 seconds into the Wanda Metropolitano putting the home side ahead on the night.

GOAL - Arsenal 2-1 PSV Eindhoven (9-2 agg)

DECLAN RICE IS ON THE GOAL TRAIL

After his fine effort during their draw to Manchester United, Rice has got himself another goal.

This time it was a header as the midfielder nodded home a searching cross from the right by Raheem Sterling to give Arsenal the lead on the night.

The goal was a record-breaking moment for assist provider Sterling, who becomes the first English player to be involved in at least one goal for four different clubs in the Champions League.

Sterling had previously managed to contribute in the Champions League for Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea.

Arsenal are chasing a record of their own with one more goal seeing them equal the highest winning margin in a Champions League tie.

They'd equal City, who beat Schalke in the last 16 of the 2018/19 season, 10-2 on aggregate.

GOAL - Arsenal 1-1 PSV Eindhoven (8-2 agg)

Arsenal have been pegged back, not that it'll have much effect on deciding the victor of the last 16 tie.

Although a bug bear for Gunners fans will be the fact that PSV's equaliser has comes from a player who used to play for Tottenham.

A tidy finish by Ivan Perisic, who was a Spurs player between 2022-24, has seen the Dutch side go level on the night following a rocket of an opener by Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Just the six goals without reply for PSV to get now!

Should Arsenal get the job done as expected, they'll face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals.

GOAL - Arsenal 1-0 PSV Eindhoven (8-1 agg)

WHAT A HIT, SON!

Just in case there was any doubt over whether Arsenal would book their place in the quarter-finals, they now have a seven-goal advantage in their tie.

An unlikely source for the opener at the Emirates Stadium with Oleksandr Zinchenko scoring a superb goal from distance.

The left-back is playing in midfield tonight with Mikel Arteta making seven changes to the XI that started during Arsenal's 1-1 draw at Manchester United last weekend.

GOAL - Atletico Madrid 1-0 Real Madrid (2-2 agg)

THE STANDOUT TIE OF THE LAST 16 IS ALL SQUARE!

Atletico Madrid have taken the lead inside the first minute of the second leg clash against Real Madrid, to level the tie at 2-2 on aggregate.

The goalscorer is an unlikely one indeed with Conor Gallagher scrambling the ball home.

Former Chelsea midfielder Gallagher put the ball in from close range as he reacted first to a deflected low cross from the right by Antoine Griezmann.

This is just Gallagher's third goal for Atletico Madrid, and no doubt his most important one to date.

It's an historic strike for Gallagher too. Having scored after just 27 seconds this is the fastest goal scored by an Englishman in Champions League history.

Full time - Lille 1-2 Borussia Dortmund (2-3 agg)

Borussia Dortmund will meet Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals as they claimed a turnaround win over Lille.

After the two sides played out a 1-1 draw in Germany last week, it was advantage Lille at half time as they led 1-0 through Jonathan David's sixth-minute strike.

David's effort trundled between the legs of Gregor Kobel in a hairy moment for the Dortmund goalkeeper.

The Bundesliga giants had plenty of chances to get level before the break but for some super goalkeeping by Lucas Chevalier making great saves.

Meanwhile, Brazilian defender Alexsandro cleared a goalbound shot off the line with Chevalier beaten.

But Dortmund got their equaliser through Emre Can's emphatic penalty before a thunderous strike by Maximilian Beier denied the French outfit their first ever Champions League quarter-final.

Confirmed

Aston Villa are eyeing a Champions League quarter-final date with Paris Saint-Germain and continue their European fairytale.

In order to do that they need to preserve their 3-1 lead against Club Brugge ahead of the second leg at Villa Park tonight.

Listen to full commentary of Villa vs Brugge, live on talkSPORT.

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen, Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn, Rogers, Rashford, Watkins

Subs: Zych, Olsen, Disasi, Digne, Torres, Asensio, Onana, Bogarde, Bailey, Ramsey

Club Brugge: Mignolet, Sabbe, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper, Nwadike, Jashari, Talbi, Vanaken, Tzolis, Jutgla

Subs: Jackers, Romero, Vetlesen, Vermant, Nilsson, Skoras, Nielsen, Siquet, Spileers, Campbell

All change

Unsurprisingly, Mikel Arteta has rung around the changes to his Arsenal starting line-up for their clash against PSV Eindhoven.

The Gunners have a six-goal advantage going into the second leg at the Emirates Stadium tonight having thumped the Dutch side 7-1 in last week's first leg.

Only David Raya, Gabriel, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino have kept their place in the starting XI from their draw at Manchester United last weekend.

Arsenal: Raya, White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Jorginho, Zinchenko, Sterling, Merino, Tierney

Subs: Neto, Setford, Saliba, Partey, Odegaard, Martinelli, Timber, Trossard, Calafiori, Butler-Oyedeji, Kabia, Nwaneri

PSV: Benitez, Ledezma, Nagalo, Obispo, Malacia, Til, Schouten,

Babadi, Bakayoko, Perisic, Driouech

Subs: Drommel, Schiks, Karsdorp, Flamingo, Dest, de Jong, Lang, Boscagli, Bajraktarevic, Veerman, Land

The winner of this tie, which let's face it will be Arsenal, face either Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

GOAL - Lille 1-2 Borussia Dortmund (2-3 agg)

DORTMUND HAVE TURNED THIS TIE AROUND!!

The German side had plenty of opportunities to level in the first half after Jonathan David's early opener, but now they're on the verge of a place in the quarter-finals.

Dortmund got their equaliser on 54 minutes when former Liverpool star Emre Can struck home a penalty with an emphatic strike.

And moments ago Maximilian Beier put Dortmund ahead on the night and on aggregate with 65 minutes played.

A reminder, the winner of the tie will face Barcelona in the quarter-finals.

Half time - Lille 1-0 Borussia Dortmund (2-1 agg)

Lille are 45 minutes away from a first ever Champions League quarter-final.

They lead Borussia Dortmund 1-0, and 2-1 on aggregate, at the Stade Pierre Mauroy courtesy of Jonathan David's goal on six minutes.

An attack down the left saw the ball get crossed to David, who struck straight at Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, only for the ball to trundle through his legs and into the net.

Dortmund have asked plenty of questions though with Lille keeper Lucas Chevalier making saves, including multiple stops during an almighty goalmouth scramble that somehow didn't result in an equaliser.

Meanwhile, Brazilian defender Alexsandro cleared a goalbound shot off the line with Chevalier beaten.

GOAL - Lille 1-0 Borussia Dortmund (2-1 agg)

The French side strike first blood in the second leg through Jonathan David's opener on six minutes.

But it's some very questionable goalkeeping from Gregor Kobel as David's meek strike rolls through his legs and into the net.

After the two sides played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Westfalenstadion, it's Lille who will be going through as things stand.

The winner of this tie will come up against Barcelona, who got the better of Benfica, in the quarter-finals.

Feast of football

After a classic night of Champions League action we have some more mouth-watering fixtures on the continent.

Aston Villa will be looking to finish the job against Club Brugge as they take on the Belgian side, live on talkSPORT tonight at 8pm.

Arsenal are almost certain to finish the job against Dutch outfit PSV Eindhoven with the Gunners boasting a 7-1 advantage going into tonight's second leg at the Emirates Stadium.

It'll be a tight affair at the Wanda Metropolitano, with Real Madrid 2-1 up on aggregate against inner-city rivals Atletico Madrid.

Meanwhile, the early kick-off sees Lille lock horns against Borussia Dortmund with the two level at 1-1 on aggregate.

Lille: Chevalier, Meunier, Diakite, Alexsandro Victor, Ismaily, Mukau, Andre, Bouaddi, Cabella, David, Arnar Haraldsson

Subs: Mannone, Caillard, Mandi, Gudmundsson, Gomes, Sahraoui,

Fernandez, Bakker, Akpom, Andre Gomes, Mbappe, Cossier

Borussia Dortmund: Kobel, Gross, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Ryerson, Sabitzer, Can, Adeyemi, Brandt, Beier, Guirassy

Subs: Meyer, Yan Couto, Bensebaini, Ozcan, Reyna, Duranville, Chukwuemeka, Sule, Watjen, Kabar, Bynoe-Gittens, Lisewski

Injury updates

Liverpool manager Arne Slot also provided injury updates on Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate.

The England international limped off after going over on his ankle midway during the second half.

Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate could barely move as he left the field in extra time.

However, ahead of the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United, it's mixed news.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, he said: “Konate was just tired, but with Trent, I’d be surprised if he played on Sunday.”

'Incredible performance'

Liverpool manager Arne Slot was disappointed to see his side crash out of the Champions League, but he was delighted with the performance.

The Reds lost 1-0 on the night at Anfield, meaning they drew 1-1 with Paris Saint-Germain on aggregate.

But the French giants won 4-1 on penalties.

However, despite losing, Slot was proud of his players.

Speaking to Amazon, he said: "It was the best game of football I have ever been involved in.

"It was an incredible performance, especially if you compare it with last week. We were creating chances and then we were 1-0 down. We ran out of luck after last week.

"We played the perfect game, except for scoring a goal. It was similar to Paris last week, when they played the perfect game. And then in extra time, they were maybe a little bit better."

Oh dear

Curtis Jones' missed penalty in the shootout means he equals a pretty unwanted record.

He becomes just the second Englishman to miss a penalty in a Champions League shootout.

The Liverpool midfielder saw his penalty stopped by Gianluigi Donnarumma during the 4-1 defeat on penalties for the Reds tonight at Anfield.

He now joins John Terry on that list.

Redemption

Last week, Gianluigi Donnarumma faced one shot on target, and he let it past him.

Many people argued that the Italian should have done much better with Harvey Elliott's strike after getting a hand to it.

But this was his redemption story.

Throughout the game, he made a succession of punches and clearances, and then in the penalty shootout, the Italian denied Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones.

He then spent a long time after the game celebrating with the PSG fans, and why not.

Coming of age

Paris Saint-Germain have always been a team that have flattered to deceive in the Champions League.

They've had some of the best footballers in the world represent them in over the past few years, but it always felt like a bunch of individuals rather than a team.

But this Luis Enrique side is very different.

The recruitment model has shifted to buying young and hungry players, and this was a night they came of age.

The penalties from all of the PSG players were out of this world, and they will be a match for anyone.

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I faced Cristiano Ronaldo in the Premier League but now give keynote talks in corporate boardrooms

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Paul McVeigh's football career may not have been as glittering as some of his peers, but his journey from the Premier League pitch to the corporate boardroom is a story of transformation.

The former Tottenham Hotspur, Norwich City, and Northern Ireland forward has carved out a niche for himself.

He has blended his footballing experiences at the top level with his expertise as a psychologist to deliver motivational keynote speeches to some of the world’s biggest companies.

There has been plenty of life after sport for McVeigh, who has smashed the stereotype that professional footballers are not very intelligent. So much so that he even wrote a book called ‘The Stupid Footballer Is Dead’.

The cliche, and something McVeigh was told from an early age, was to enjoy football while it lasts… it will be the best days of your life.

That’s why even at 17 he was thinking about what was after the curtain came down on his career.

He told talkSPORT.com: “It was interesting because it's probably the complete opposite of where I am now, but I had a massive inferiority complex when I first came over from Northern Ireland.

“I actually think it really was highlighted whenever I met Jürgen Klinsmann. On my first day at Tottenham, I met this absolute superstar, World Cup winner, but I looked at him and just thought, there is no way in the world I'm ever going to get to that level of what Jürgen Klinsmann is.

“I just never thought I would ever do it. So to be able to have that as my benchmark from day one, to try and aspire to, and very quickly, I just started tying myself up in knots of going, people like me don't do this and we're never going to be able to achieve this.

“To be able to have that as your kind of mindset was a pretty destructive belief system that was kind of running rife in my life.

“Then I read a book by an American, let's call a personal development guru called Tony Robbins, and the book just completely changed my life.”

Klinsmann wasn’t the only star McVeigh encountered during his time at Spurs. Before he even signed for the club, he went over on trial at the age of 11 and ended up starring in a TV advert with Paul Gascogine just after Italia 90.

Managed by another World Cup winner, Ossie Ardiles, McVeigh also played alongside England legends like Teddy Sheringham and Sol Campbell. These early experiences were pivotal in shaping his understanding of excellence.

“To play up front with Teddy Sheringham, who had already starred for England in Euro ’96 and won the Golden Boot, was incredible,” he says. “It set the bar for the rest of my career. What I learned was that the difference between top players and world-class players wasn’t just technical ability—it was their psychology and mindset.”

This exposure to elite performers laid the foundation for McVeigh’s later career as a speaker and psychologist, where he frequently draws on these experiences to inspire others.

In his talks, McVeigh often uses Cristiano Ronaldo as the ultimate example of what can be achieved through sheer determination and an unrelenting mindset.

Having played against Ronaldo during the Portuguese star’s early years at Manchester United, McVeigh witnessed firsthand the stark contrast between Ronaldo’s raw potential and the finished product he would later become.

“When Ronaldo joined Manchester United as an 18-year-old, he wasn’t even in the top 10 players at the club, let alone the Premier League,” McVeigh explains. “He was a good young player, but he wasn’t like Wayne Rooney, who was head and shoulders above him at the time.”

But what set Ronaldo apart was his work ethic and his ability to improve consistently. McVeigh describes Ronaldo’s rise as a masterclass in the ‘aggregation of marginal gains’, the idea that small, incremental improvements can lead to extraordinary results over time.

“By 2008, Ronaldo had become unstoppable,” McVeigh says. “He’d won the Champions League with United, gone on to Real Madrid, and become a five-time Champions League winner. His dedication, drive, and belief in himself were unparalleled. It all came down to his mindset.”

For McVeigh, Ronaldo’s story is not just a footballing tale but a universal lesson in the power of self-belief and perseverance. “He’s the best example I’ve ever seen of someone reaching the very pinnacle of their profession—not just in football but across all industries.”

McVeigh retired from football in 2010 and his transition to the corporate world was anything but conventional.

Recognising a gap in the market, he set out to become the first Premier League footballer to deliver keynote speeches to global companies. “Football is the number one sport in the world, yet no one from the Premier League had entered this space,” he explains. “I saw an opportunity.”

He’s done just that and set up Football Business Speakers, where their talent roster includes the likes of Yaya Toure, Andy Cole, and Emmanuel Petit.

Looking back on his footballing career, McVeigh is quick to highlight the players and managers he admires most. Teddy Sheringham, he says, was the best player he ever played alongside, not just for his technical ability but for his humility and kindness.

“Teddy would sit with the youth team players and talk about their weekends. He didn’t have to do that, but he did.”

As for the best he ever faced? That honour goes to Thierry Henry and the Invincibles-era Arsenal team. “It was like men against boys,” McVeigh says. “Henry still haunts me to this day.”

One regret, perhaps, is never playing under Sir Alex Ferguson. “I would have loved to experience his management style,” McVeigh says. “The stories and legends about him are fascinating. He was the greatest.”

Whether he’s sharing lessons from his time at Tottenham, analysing the mindset of Cristiano Ronaldo, or inspiring business leaders to reach their full potential, McVeigh’s message is clear: success starts with the right mindset.

From the pitch to the boardroom, his story is one of transformation—and it’s far from over.

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