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Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentarySam Billings rescued England before Chris Jordan’s four-wicket haul demolished West Indies for a paltry 45, handing the tourists a 137-run victory in the second T20I and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.Man of the Match Billings’ career-best knock of 87 off 47 balls and a return to T20I form for Joe Root, who made 55 off 40, resurrected England’s innings from a dire 32 for 4 after 5.2 overs.Then Jordan’s remarkable 4 for 6 off two overs meant West Indies were never in the contest and they fell for the second-lowest T20I total, behind Netherlands’ 39 against Sri Lanka at the World T20 in 2014. It was the lowest total by a Full-Member nation, worse than the 60 posted by New Zealand against Sri Lanka at the same tournament and West Indies’ 60 against Pakistan in Karachi last year.With the top order tumbling around him, Root produced a composed innings, sharing an 82-run partnership with Billings to reach his half-century. It was the first time Root had reached double figures in four T20I innings and his tenth knock since he last reached fifty, in the 2016 World T20 final won by West Indies in Kolkata.When Root was run-out, scrambling to the danger end for a second with the fleet-footed Billings as Fabian Allen threw the ball in to wicketkeeper Shai Hope, the rescue mission fell to Billings and he chose to accept it willingly. Billings racked up 17 runs in one Sheldon Cottrell over, including a six to bring up his 50.Carlos Brathwaite had been economical through his first three overs, claiming 1 for 11, but he conceded 22 off his last over, including three fours to Billings and a six to David Willey. The pair put on a 68-run stand for the sixth wicket, before Billings was dismissed on the last ball of the innings, but not before he had scored 22 off the over, bowled by debutant quick Obed McCoy. Billings was dropped by Shimron Hetmyer on the third ball of the over and then picked up six thanks to a fumble by Brathwaite, who was trying to palm the ball back into play. Billings punished the next one for four before attempting another big hit and edging to the keeper.By then, he had led England to a respectable total, especially given their early position. West Indies had won the toss and sent England in on a pitch that was expected to improve as the match went on. Unfortunately for them, they were not in long enough for that to play out.Willey, who had questioned the noise around Jofra Archer’s World Cup prospects in the lead-up to the match, continued to press his own claims for a berth when he snared the wicket of Chris Gayle for just 5, caught simply by Root at mid-on. Willey had West Indies’ other opener, Hope, out cheaply too with Eoin Morgan holding the catch despite colliding heavily with Tom Curran as he took the ball.Then Jordan went on the rampage. He claimed the wickets of Darren Bravo, one of only two West Indies batsmen to reach double-figures, and Jason Holder with consecutive balls, and then dismissed Nicholas Pooran and Allen in his second over.The damage done, Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett cleaned up the West Indies tail, with England’s largest T20I victory secured inside 12 overs.

West Ham United are enduring a mixed season so far this year. They aren't in danger of getting relegated, but they don't look likely to challenge for a Champions League place either.

An impressive win away to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League last week was followed up by a 5-0 thrashing away to Fulham on Sunday, which only goes to demonstrate the topsy-turvey nature of the Hammers' form.

However, while they are stuck in ninth place in the league, they are joint top of their Europa League group and are once again flying on the continent. However, with only Manchester United scoring fewer goals than them in the top half of the league, David Moyes' men will need to start finding the back of the net more regularly to move up the table.

West Ham transfer update on Dominic Solanke from Fabrizio Romano

The Bournemouth striker has been a long-term target at the London Stadium.

ByChloe Chadwick Dec 11, 2023

So recent links to Chelsea's Armando Broja should excite the West Ham faithful, although it should no doubt worry Michail Antonio.

West Ham United transfer news – Armando Broja

According to Steve Kay of Football Transfers, Chelsea striker Armando Broja is a January transfer target for several Premier League clubs, including West Ham United who are 'leading the way.'

The publication claims that the Albanian international has an estimated transfer value of €20.5m, which works out to around £18m, which, for a player who has Premier League experience, sounds like a reasonable enough fee.

The "complete forward", as described by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, has struggled for game time in recent seasons, and while that has been primarily down to an unfortunate run of long-term injuries, his inconsistent form hasn't helped his cause.

However, during his loan spell at Southampton in the 2021/22 season, he showed the league glimpses of what he could do were he given the chance to lead the line for a topflight team, scoring six goals in 21 starts for the Saints.

One player who might not be so enthused about this link is Antonio, as the Jamaican striker would likely be the man to make way for the 22-year-old.

Armando Broja would take Michail Antonio's place

Antonio has been a reliable, if not spectacular, servant to the Irons for eight years, signing from Nottingham Forest in 2015 for a fee of £7m.

In the years since, he has played as a winger, a full-back and a striker for the club and has even claimed the title of West Ham's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer.

However, he scored just five goals in 33 league appearances last season and has found the back of the net only twice in 12 matches this season, which just isn't enough if the Hammers want to progress as a club.

When comparing Broja's underlying numbers to his potential new teammate, it becomes clear that he would be the better option up top for the Eastenders.

Broja

Antonio

0.27

0.20

1.92

2.78

0.77

1.11

2.31

1.00

87.5%

59.2%

1.92

1.89

3.08

3.78

0.77

1.44

While he doesn't necessarily blow Antonio away in the areas where he comes out on top and actually comes out second best for progressive carries and passes, the fact that he is 11 years his junior and so highly thought of makes the choice a no-brainer.

With a run of games in a settled team, the "devastating" forward, as described by former Juventus defender Sergio Porrini, is sure to come good and start banging in the goals.

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O São Paulo perdeu para o Santos por 1 a 0, na tarde deste domingo, no Morumbi. Porém, o episódio da discussão do técnico Fernando Diniz com o volante Tchê Tchê ainda foi assunto na entrevista coletiva após o clássico. O entrevero aconteceu na derrota para o Red Bull Bragantino, por 4 a 2.

Manchester United quer estrela do Dortmund, goleiro do Milan perto de renovação… Veja o resumo do fim de semana do mercado

Diniz disse que pediu desculpas ao elenco e também para o volante do Tricolor. Segundo o comandante, foi um erro que ele cometeu, expondo o grupo.

VEJA A SITUAÇÃO DO SÃO PAULO NO BRASILEIRÃO

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– Em relação ao Tchê Tchê, é um problema que estamos resolvendo internamente. Foi uma exposição. Conversei com o Tchê Tchê e com o grupo, e agora temos que andar para frente. Foi um erro que cometi. Pedi desculpas ao Tchê Tchê e ao time por tê-los exposto pela maneira como agi – afirmou, em entrevista coletiva.

Ele afirmou também que o episódio pode ser usado para fortalecer a relação entre o elenco e a comissão técnica com o objetivo de levantar o título do Brasileirão, que não vem desde 2008.

– A culpa tem uma curva que é benéfica, saudável, e depois traz prejuízo. Agora, é olhar para frente e temos que crescer como time, não afrouxar. Aquele episódio tem que servir para a gente ter relações melhores do que já tinha até o episódio acontecer – finalizou Diniz.

O São Paulo volta a campo no próximo domingo, contra o Athletico-PR, às 16h (de Brasília), na Arena da Baixada.

Paul Mullin is the leading goalscorer in English football for 2024, with the prolific Wrexham striker keeping USMNT star Josh Sargent from top spot.

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Red Dragons star in fine formNorwich star enjoying purple patchLeading the way for league goals this yearGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Mullin, who has been a revelation for Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney at SToK Racecourse, has become a centurion for the Red Dragons this season – with 100 goals for the club recorded in just 136 appearances.

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Mullin has been in fine form of late, earning him the League Two Player of the Month award for March, and nobody in the EFL or Premier League has been able to keep pace with him since the turn of the calendar year – with the 29-year-old finding the target on 13 occasions.

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United States international Sargent, who has hit his own purple patch at Championship play-off chasers Norwich, is the closest challenger to Mullin after registering 12 efforts in 2024. Ellis Simms of Coventry and Mark Harris of free-scoring League One outfit Oxford are the only other men to have reached double figures.

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England internationals such as Phil Foden and Ollie Watkins of Manchester City and Aston Villa respectively have nine efforts to their name this year, but they are trailing in the wake of Wrexham hot-shot Mullin as he looks to fire the Welsh outfit to back-to-back promotions.

Leeds United now look set to lose a bright young star at Elland Road despite their positive start in the Championship, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.

Leeds United's youth development

Over the test of time, Leeds United have a proud history of bringing young players through their academy system before giving them a chance to shine at Elland Road. In Daniel Farke's current squad, Sam Byram and Jamie Shackleton both started their careers at the Yorkshire outfit, while midfielder Archie Gray is regarded by many as one of the most promising players to ever come through at Thorp Arch, and his performances this term have caught the eye of the footballing elite.

According to The Daily Mail, the 17-year-old is being lined up by English top-flight giants Liverpool next summer in a swoop that could cost Jurgen Klopp more than £40 million to pull off. The report states that Gray, who has earned comparisons to Trent Alexander-Arnold due to his athletic ability and capacity to feature either as a central midfielder or full-back, is also being tracked by Everton and Crystal Palace as he continues to develop at Elland Road.

Born in 2006, Gray has taken to first-team life like a duck to water this term, making 17 appearances in all competitions for Leeds United (Gray statistics – Transfermarkt). Of course, Leeds fans all know what the feeling of losing one of their brightest homegrown stars is like, with the memory of Kalvin Phillips leaving for Manchester City in 2022 for a fee in the region of £45 million still fresh in the memory.

Now, history may be about to repeat itself for the Elland Road faithful, albeit on a much smaller scale, courtesy of a report from journalist Hay.

Manchester City agree Finley Gorman deal

Taking to social media platform X, journalist Hay has revealed that Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign Leeds United youngster Finley Gorman for a seven-figure sum, which is believed to be a British club record for a 15-year-old.

Finley Gorman statistics 2023/24 – Under-18 Premier League (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

5

Goals

2

Assists

1

Hay stated in full: "Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign highly-rated academy midfielder Finley Gorman from Leeds United. Seven-figure fee believed to be a British record for a 15-year-old."

As per reports from the Yorkshire Evening Post, several clubs, including the likes of Newcastle United, were interested in Gorman; nevertheless, he now looks set to move to the Etihad Stadium, which is home to some of the finest academy facilities in world football.

Sources have indicated to the outlet that he is one of the most exciting prodigies to come through the youth system at Leeds United in recent years. At the same time, his versatility is also an asset, given his ability to operate off the right flank or as an attacking midfielder.

Lower tier clubs are finding it increasingly more difficult to hold on to their most exciting youngsters due to the lure of elite academies and the opportunities they can present.

The older Bravo hit five successive sixes off Alzarri Joseph to turn a competitive game into a steep climb for the Patriots

The Report by Peter Della Penna02-Sep-2018CPL T20

Trinbago Knight Riders continued to uphold their role in the three-horse race for the regular season CPL crown, rejoining Jamaica Tallawahs and Guyana Amazon Warriors at the top of the table with a 46-run win over St Kitts & Nevis Patriots at Warner Park.Colin Munro’s consistency propelled the Knight Riders to another win as the New Zealander notched his fourth fifty in seven matches before Dwayne Bravo raided the Patriots attack with a whirlwind knock that included five successive sixes off Alzarri Joseph in the 19th over to put the target well out of reach for the Patriots.Attila the MunSunil Narine’s lean run of form in CPL 2018 continued when he was out slogging to long-on in the second over for 6. But Narine’s lack of runs – 56 in seven innings – has been covered by Munro’s ruthless run-making. Entering at No. 3, Munro ensured the innings didn’t skip a beat, striking an unbeaten 76 off 50 balls. Munro took 41 balls to reach his half-century, the slowest of his four fifties this season, but his innings was the perfect platform to give Dwayne a freewheeling license at the death. In the process, he reclaimed the CPL 2018 runs lead from Kieron Pollard with 346 at an average of 57.66.Zero to 30Dwayne entered with 20 balls left in the innings following the dismissal of Darren Bravo in the 17th, splicing Sheldon Cottrell to mid-off for 18. Dwayne came on strike for the start of the 19th over facing Joseph, who up until that point had been brilliant with figures of 3-0-13-2. Joseph had bowled both Chris Lynn and Brendon McCullum by beating them with sheer pace, but guile was needed to displace Dwayne from the crease and the ‘Champion’ dancer’s experience showed up the 21-year-old in the sequence that won the match.After a dot ball to start the over, Dwayne proceeded to smash five consecutive sixes. The first two were driven over mid-on and mid-off respectively before the third was flicked over deep square leg. The creme de la creme was the fourth maximum in the sequence. After three straight full balls had gone over the rope, Joseph tried a wide bouncer but Bravo stayed in his crease and used his wrists to uppercut it with enough oomph to clear the point boundary. When Joseph went full once more off the final ball, Dwayne drove him sweetly over wide mid-on.Munro took back the reins for the final over, driving a four and six over mid-off as part of an 18-run 20th off Cottrell to take TKR to 199. Munro’s strike rate was modest before the final burst, but he was efficient in only absorbing 12 dot balls, scoring off 76% of his deliveries in the end. He wasn’t particularly fluent during a 78-run third-wicket partnership with McCullum and played a back-seat role in the unbroken 66-run stand with Dwayne, but provided the spine that was central to another TKR win.Dr. PhilBehind Ali Khan and Dwayne, TKR has struggled to settle on a third pace-bowling option this season. Javon Searles, Shannon Gabriel and Kevon Cooper had all shuffled through the role with not much success. Searching for a solution, TKR called 22-year-old Anderson Phillip into the XI for his season debut and his performance was just what the doctor ordered for their success in the field.Anderson came on in the fifth over and had Chris Gayle edging a cut behind three balls later for the first wicket of the chase. Only an edged yorker through through fine leg by new batsman Rassie van der Dussen denied Phillip a wicket maiden. Patriots were 78 for 2 in 10 with Evin Lewis 49 off 34 balls, in a decent position for a major launch as has been the case for chasing teams in CPL 2018, but Phillip scuttled that plan by trapping Lewis two overs later for 53, beating him for pace with a full ball after Lewis shuffled too far across his stumps.Phillip came back in the 19th to mathematically clinch the match with the wicket of Brandon King, getting him caught off the leading edge. His figures were spoiled by a cosmetic four and six by Carlos Brathwaite later in the over but by then Phillip had provided a much-needed fillip that TKR had been missing from their third seam option.

Glasgow Rangers have been credited with an interest in bringing a new teenage forward to Ibrox, but a fresh report has revealed that he’s currently on trial with another one of his admirers.

What Rangers players are going out of contract?

The Light Blues will have seven of their squad members out of contract at the end of the season in the form of John Lundstram, Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, Kemar Roofe, Jon McLaughlin and Leon Balogun, as well as Abdallah Sima who is only on a season-long loan from Brighton and Hove Albion (Rangers contracts).

Therefore, new manager Philippe Clement may soon have to make a decision over their futures, and it’s believed that Barisic has already been offered a new two-year deal, whilst Ross McCausland will also get the chance to commit his long-term future to the Scottish Premiership outfit.

The Ibrox side may, as a result, have room to make more fresh additions next year should a lot of those stars leave upon the expiration of their current terms, and one player that the boss has set his sights on is Sunderland striker Mason Cotcher, who is a regular feature of the club’s academy at the Stadium of Light.

However, England’s youth international is yet to make his senior debut under Tony Mowbray, so he knows that he might need to move elsewhere should he want to be given the opportunity to break into the first-team fold, with the 17-year-old emerging as a target for the hierarchy north of the border.

Mason Cotcher transfer update

According to The Sunderland Echo, offering a transfer update on Mason Cotcher, Rangers, Brighton and Arsenal are all set to compete to secure the services of the centre-forward, who recently played for the Gunners.

“Eyebrows were raised among Sunderland fans after the youngster featured for Arsenal's under-18s this week, suggesting firm interest from the Premier League outfit. Cotcher featured for Arsenal's youth side on Teesside against Middlesbrough last Saturday in the under-18s Premier League Cup competition.

"The Echo also understands that Scottish giants Rangers and Arsenal's Premier League rivals Brighton and Hove Albion have also looked at the youngster ahead of a potential move. It remains to be seen if Arsenal, Rangers or Brighton will advance their interest in Cotcher.”

How many goals has Mason Cotcher scored?

Since the start of his career, Cotcher has posted ten involvements, nine goals and one assist, in 27 appearances which shows how prolific he can be in the final third (Transfermarkt – Cotcher stats), so should he put pen to paper in the near future, he could be a fantastic acquisition for Rangers.

In the northeast, Clement’s target is also a versatile operator having been deployed in four different positions over the grass since first bursting onto the professional scene, including everywhere across the frontline and even slightly deeper in the midfield, which will be yet another attractive attribute to chiefs.

Finally, Cotcher has started to make a name for himself on the international stage having made his first two appearances for England’s U17s at the beginning of this year, so he may well be a star in the making, and it could be a real coup if the club could beat their fellow competitors to his signature.

Rangers are searching for a new manager after the dismissal of Michael Beale, and a former Premier League boss is now believed to be a target.

Who is in the race to become Rangers manager?

Beale's time as Gers boss was brought to an end on Sunday night, with those high up at Ibrox feeling that a change was badly needed. A poor start to the season got even worse over the weekend, following a dispiriting 3-1 loss at home to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership, and a new face is now required in the dugout.

Now, Rangers are working hard on finding the best possible replacement for the Englishman, with a host of names already in the picture to take charge next. The likes of Graham Potter, Kevin Muscat and Pascal Jansen have all been mentioned as possible options, with the former currently out of work and the other two in charge of Yokohama F. Marinos and AZ Alkmaar respectively, but no decision has been made yet.

Now, another name has entered the race to become Rangers' next manager – one with plenty of experience in the Premier League.

Who has been added to Rangers' manager shortlist?

According to an update from Glasgow World, former Chelsea and Everton manager Frank Lampard is one of the candidates being looked at as Beale's potential successor at Rangers:

"Rangers have compiled a list of prospective new managers after sacking Michael Beale and are interested in speaking to Chris Wilder, Kevin Muscat and Frank Lampard among others. All three names feature prominently in the Ibrox club's early plans to replace Beale, who was relieved of his duties by the Ibrox board on Sunday.

"Lampard has managed in the English Premier League with Everton and Chelsea and was most recently caretaker manager at Stamford Bridge for the last 11 games of last season. He is also seeking a route back into football at a high level. The 45-year-old would command a considerable salary given his background south of the border.

"Rangers will cast their net far and wide in order to find Beale's long-term successor and are determined not to rush their next appointment."

Lampard is someone who could be a good choice for Rangers, even though his reputation as a manager arguably isn't the greatest it has been at the moment, following a challenging period in the past year or so.

The 45-year-old has had tough spells at both Everton and Chelsea recently, perhaps showing that he isn't quite at Premier League level, but the Gers could be the ideal place for him to rebuild, with the standard in the Scottish Premiership not as high league wide.

Lampard has still done plenty of good in his managerial career to date, guiding Derby County to the Championship playoff final and saving Everton from relegation, being praised by Jurgen Klopp, with the Liverpool manager describing the job he was doing at Chelsea at one point as "really good".

The England legend is also still a relatively young manager learning his trade, so he could develop into something greater at Rangers, finding it the perfect fit and proving to be an upgrade on Beale.

Newcastle United's past three results across all competitions showcase the new dynamic capabilities of a club on the rise.

Indeed, with a goalless draw against AC Milan at the San Siro in the Champions League group phase (Newcastle's first game in the competition for two decades) preceding a scintillating 8-0 victory over Sheffield United in the Premier League and a hard-fought 1-0 win over Manchester City in the Carabao Cup, the Magpies are very much on the rise.

With Eddie Howe at the helm, the Tyneside club are targetting prosperity on the continental stage for a lasting period, and have been making the requisite transfer moves to secure such success, with the likes of Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier all integral components of the resounding revival.

Replacing the deadwood has been an important part of this process, and while there remains residual elements of the former foundering ship, the likes of Matt Ritchie, Javier Manquillo and Emil Krafth's contracts are all set for expiry in the summer – with each player very much on the periphery.

This is not to say that they all deserve criticism, rather, Newcastle are moving in the right direction after the affluent PIF club takeover in 2021, and the squad is collectively burgeoning.

One player who departed before the cogs started churning that year and very much epitomised the ineptitude on the transfer front is Yoshinori Muto, who really did flatter to deceive after his exciting arrival from the German Bundesliga.

How much did Yoshinori Muto cost Newcastle?

With Rafa Benitez at the helm, Newcastle completed the signing of Muto from German club Mainz for around £9.5m, with the Toon seeking a replacement for rising star Aleksandar Mitrovic, who had been sold to Premier League rivals Fulham for £22m.

The Japanese forward had enjoyed some fruitful years with Mainz, scoring 23 goals and supplying 11 assists from 72 appearances, but failed miserably on Tyneside, quickly establishing himself as a non-entity.

Despite his hard-working approach and energy in the final third, he didn't perform to the standard expected, costing the club quite a pretty penny while he earned his wage at the St. James' Park side.

What was Yoshinori Muto's salary at Newcastle?

While Muto, who is now aged 31, was hampered somewhat by injuries over his two years at Newcastle, missing 14 matches between the 2018/19 and 2019/20 campaigns, he did not grasp the opportunities presented to him on the pitch.

Compounding the £9.5m price tag, Muto was provided with a £54k-per-week salary for his troubles, and while he was shipped out on loan to LaLiga outfit Eibar for the final of his three years with the Magpies, there is little to suggest that the Spanish side covered the entirety of his salary for that year.

With this in mind, Muto drained as much as £18m from Newcastle when combining his wages and the transfer fee paid for his signature, and having only scored twice from 28 outings while also failing to register a single assist, the dud actually cost around £9m per goal contribution, which really does illustrate the magnitude failure.

How well did Yoshinori perform at Newcastle?

The 5 foot 10 forward is one of many failed transfers littered across Mike Ashley's rule of the club, and it's no coincidence that the very atmosphere of Newcastle has been totally transformed since Howe and the new owners' arrivals.

In Germany, he was a solid, tenacious attacking outlet, scoring eight goals from 20 starts during the 2017/18 Bundesliga campaign – his last – and proving a menace with his ubiquity in offensive transition, as per Sofascore.

While Muto scored on his first Premier League start, in a 3-2 defeat against Manchester United, he would only earn a starting berth on five total occasions in the English top-flight that term, failing to add to his solitary strike.

Chastised for his "disappointing" spell with United by Sky Sports' Lyall Thomas, Muto's move to Eibar yielded similarly miserable results, scoring just three goals from 28 appearances.

While his departure indeed preceded Howe's arrival, the ace is a representation of just how wide of the mark the club was operating at before the lucrative revolution, with Isak – the club's record signing at £63m – positively immense and rising ever closer to the fore after an injury-hit maiden year – where he still scored ten times from just 17 starting appearances in the Premier League.

The Swede, who boasts four goals from seven games this term (including the winner against Pep Guardiola's City earlier this week), also ranks among the top 13% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes, the top 10% for progressive carries and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, underscoring a multi-functional prowess that evaded Muto's skill set.

Too often the erstwhile Magpie failed to grasp his chances and effectively contribute toward the efforts, and after making just two league starts across his second season, failing to score, it was clear he was deemed more than expendable.

It really is a far cry from the potential he once held at his feet. In 2015, Manchester United were eyeing one Sadio Mane and Muto to bolster the attacking ranks, and while, ultimately, neither were signed, it proves that the quality was there for the striker to cement a prominent role in Newcastle's team.

It didn't happen, and while all is well at St. James' Park now, his time at the club serves as a reminder of just how far Newcastle has come in such a short time.

Aston Villa are one of the most historic clubs in English football. And with that history comes plenty of famous faces donning the claret and blue we see at Villa Park on a weekly basis. From acting greats to sports stars and musical royalty to actual royalty, if Aston Villa hosted a celebrity lunch, they wouldn’t be short on impressive guests.

With that said, we at Football FanCast decided to take a deeper dive into the aforementioned famous faces, as we discovered 10 Aston Villa-supporting celebrities courtesy of Birmingham World and the Birmingham Mail.

10

Ian Bell

One of England's greatest-ever cricketers, Ian Bell MBE, kicks off the list. Bell is also sometimes known by his nickname, The Sledgehammer of Eternal Justice – which has to be one of the coolest, if not outright crazy, nicknames in all sports.

Bell had an outstanding career both domestically and with England that spanned over three decades, with his first professional game coming in 1999 and his final one 21 years later in 2020. In total, he earned 188 Test caps for England, scored 7727 runs, made 46 50s and 22 100s. He also excelled in ODI's, playing in 161 for England, scoring 5416 runs at a strike rate of 77.

His was a career full of unbelievable moments, and his retirement three years ago meant that James Anderson was – and just about still is – the final member of the practically mythologised 2005 Ashes series to be still playing.

Bell's love of Villa stems from his childhood in the 1980s when he fell in love with the team thanks to players like David Platt and Tony Daley, and he's been following ever since.

9

Chris Woakes

Another name, another English cricketing great. Granted, Chris Woakes isn't quite on the same level as Bell regarding all-time greats, but not many are. That said, Woakes is currently one of the best bowlers in England, and when he does eventually retire, he will be remembered as such.

The 34-year-old has had a fantastic career so far for both the club sides he's represented and whenever he's been asked to represent his country on the global stage. Since making his Test debut in the final Ashes Test of the 2013 tour, he has earned a further 48 caps.

While he's officially an all-rounder and can be handy with a bat – his 137 not out against India in 2018 proves that – his bowling gets him selected for international matches.

In his 48 Test matches, he has taken 148 wickets for an average of 29.13 and an economy rate of 3.03. He has also racked up five five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul. However, his most remarkable series in an England shirt probably came in this summer's Ashes when he was drafted to play the final three Tests and ultimately named the Player of the Series for his unbelievable performances against the Aussies.

His love for the Villans stems from his childhood and the stories his father used to tell him about the club.

8

Benjamin Zephaniah

In a list full of athletes, actors and musicians, a Birmingham-born poet comes next. Benjamin Zephaniah is almost certainly one the country's most famous and successful poets in recent memory, with the Times including him in their list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008.

While his poetry and writing have earned him a lot of attention over the years – and for good reason – he has also boosted his presence among the public with his role in the hit BBC drama Peaky Blinders.

Zephaniah's love of the Claret and Blue has been with him all his life, and he used to be a regular at games until fan violence in the 1970s and 80s stopped him from attending for many years.

7

Brendan Gleeson

Actor and film director Brendan Gleason is one of Ireland's most famous faces and has made his love for Aston Villa no secret over the years.

He played Alastor Moody in – you guessed it, Harry Potter – and also featured in Braveheart, Gangs of New York, Suffragette and 28 Days Later. He has been nominated for 45 awards in his career, winning ten.

His love for the club has rubbed off on his son – and fellow actor – Domhnall Gleeson, who told Aston Villa TV that the number of Irish players in the team when he was growing up was a big part of why he's now such a fan alongside his dad:

"We won the European Cup in 1982, I was born in 1983 – and then when I was growing we had the great team – Paul McGrath, Steve Staunton, Andy Townsend, Ray Houghton – I love Ray Houghton!

"These were brilliant Irish players and inspired me."

6

Oliver Phelps

Primarily known for his role in Harry Potter as George Weasly – twin to Fred Weasley – Oliver Phelps is also a diehard Villa fan and has been all his life.

Interestingly, Oliver and his brother had zero acting experience before landing their roles as the Weasley twins and skipped a day of school to audition for the parts. Oliver has also appeared in the television show Kingdom and the film A Minds Eye.

Just to show how much of a fan he is, Phelps went on ESPN's version of Mastermind and chose Villa's 2003/04 season as his specialist subject and managed to get a seriously impressive 16 questions correct in just 60 seconds.

5

Simon Le Bon and Roger Taylor (Duran Duran)

We weren't lying when we said music royalty. Simon Le Bon and Roger Taylor of the 1980s supergroup Duran Duran have been lifelong supporters of Aston Villa. The band have been nominated for 17 awards since their inception, winning 11 – including two Grammys.

Like Black Sabbath, the band was involved in Birmingham's Commonwealth Games, performing a medley of their greatest hits at the opening ceremony.

4

Dan Bailey

The first American on this list is former NFL star Dan Bailey. The 35-year-old had a brilliant career in the NFL, playing for the Dallas Cowboys and the Minnesota Vikings as a Placekicker.

Speaking to Aston Villa TV in 2014, the former NFL star explained that he has always been a fan of the club, with Gareth Barry being one of the reasons he started following them:

"I grew up following soccer and following specific players. A lot of those players played for Aston Villa, so I just grew fond of the team, and it all took hold from there. I have continued supporting them ever since.

"I was a big Gareth Barry fan. He was a lot of fun to watch. I loved the way he played and his style on the pitch.

3

Black Sabbath

Aston Villa could make a pretty good gig from their famous fan cohort.

Formed in Birmingham, Black Sabbath qualify as both notorious Villans in the football world, and notorious Villains in the bat community. Sabbath are arguably the most influential band to come out of the midlands, with many often crediting the group for spearheading the development of metal music due to their heavy sound.

Most of the band have been lifelong fans of the Villa, with bassist Geezer Butler admitting to invading the pitch "after every game" he attended as a younger man.

2

Tom Hanks

Arguably the most unexpected name on this list – and possibly the coolest – Tom Hanks picked Aston Villa because he liked the club's name, according to Birmingham World.

The 67-year-old is one of the most iconic actors in the world and has starred in some of Hollywood's biggest movies, including; Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, Catch Me If You Can and Sleepless in Seattle to name but a few of his blockbusters.

He is also among the most decorated actors working today, with an impressive 53 awards to his name and a frankly ridiculous 136 nominations for everything from writing, directing and acting. And if that wasn't enough, he's also an ordained minister and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama in 2016 for services to American film and advocacy work.

Hanks made his first visit to Villa Park earlier this year when he was invited into the director's box to watch the club host Arsenal – a game they would lose 4-2 in the end.

1

Prince William

It's no secret that The Duke of Cambridge is a massive Aston Villa fan, but that doesn't make it any less interesting or strange.

He's been seen at plenty of games in the past, including Villa's 2018/19 play-off final at Wembley – a game they won, beating Frank Lampard's Derby County to earn a spot back in the Premier League.

William explained the reason behind his support for the club in an interview with the BBC in 2015, saying:

"A long time ago at school, I got into football big time. All my friends were Chelsea or Manchester United fans, and I didn't really want to follow the run-of-the-mill team.

"I wanted to have a team that was more mid-table that could give me more emotional rollercoaster moments. Aston Villa has always had a great history."

As reasons go, it's a pretty respectable one, and with him set to be King one day, we're sure Villa are delighted with his decision.

So, there you have it, the ten most famous Aston Villa fans.

They'd certainly make some dinner party, with a range of celebrities in different fields. It's always good to see those new to the sport pick teams outside the traditional Big Six, and we aren't sure many clubs can boast a more interesting and famous set of fans than Villa.

We're not sure about you, but we'd love to see how a conversation between Tom Hanks, Ozzy Osbourne, Benjamin Zephaniah and Prince William would play out.