Birmingham City's new signing Carlos Vicente has revealed that a phone call with NFL icon and Blues minority owner Tom Brady helped make his mind up to complete a marquee transfer from La Liga side Deportivo Alaves to the Championship. Vicente joins up with the ambitious West Midlands side as they aim to push for promotion to the Premier League, sitting just five points off the play-off places as we enter February.
Hansi Flick was seen being comforted by Raphinha as the Barcelona boss looked close to tears after a 3-1 victory over Alaves on Saturday night. The German manager was overwhelmed by emotions at the end of the match, and the Brazilian offered his support to the German coach. The results puts the Catalan giants on top of the table in Spain ahead of Real Madrid's fixture against Girona.
Lamine Yamal scored one and set up another as Barcelona came from behind to defeat Alaves 3-1 to rise to the top of La Liga on Saturday afternoon. Hansi Flick’s side bounced back from their Champions League defeat against Chelsea in midweek with a tight victory which saw them claim top spot ahead of Real Madrid’s trip to Girona on Sunday evening.
Manchester United, often simply referred to as "United," are one of the most iconic and successful football clubs in the world, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. The club was founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878 by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway depot at Newton Heath. The team changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to its current home, Old Trafford, in 1910.
Famous players
Manchester United have been home to some of the greatest footballers in history. Sir Bobby Charlton, a World Cup winner with England in 1966, is arguably the most iconic figure in the club's history. Other legendary players include George Best, known for his flair and skill, and Eric Cantona, who brought a winning mentality to the club during the 1990s. More recent stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, and Paul Scholes have also contributed significantly to the club's success.
Honours
Manchester United are one of the most decorated clubs in English football, having won a record 20 Premier League titles (formerly the First Division). They have also lifted the FA Cup 12 times, the League Cup five times, and the UEFA Champions League three times. The club's dominance in English football was particularly evident during the 1990s and early 2000s under manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Managers
Sir Alex Ferguson is undoubtedly the most successful manager in Manchester United's history. He spent 26 years at the club, leading them to an unprecedented era of success. Before Ferguson, managers like Matt Busby and Wilf McGuinness played crucial roles in shaping the club's identity. More recent managers, including David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, and José Mourinho, have faced the challenge of maintaining the club's high standards.
Stadium
Old Trafford, often referred to as the "Theatre of Dreams," is one of the most famous stadiums in the world. With a capacity of roughly 75,000, it is among the largest football stadiums in the United Kingdom. The stadium has hosted numerous major matches, including UEFA Champions League finals and FIFA World Cup matches.
Location
Manchester United are based in the city of Manchester, which is located in the northwest of England. The club's home ground, Old Trafford, is situated in the Trafford borough. Manchester is a major industrial city with a rich footballing heritage.
Owners
In February 2024, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe's company, INEOS, acquired a significant 25% stake in Manchester United. This acquisition granted Ratcliffe sporting control over the club, placing him in a position to influence key decisions related to its operations.
Ratcliffe has already made a substantial financial commitment to Manchester United. His large investments demonstrate his dedication to the club's success and his willingness to provide the necessary resources for its growth.
Frequently asked questions
When were Brentford founded?
Brentford were founded in October 1889, in West London’s Hounslow area. Initially, the local sportsmen formed the club to provide a permanent football or rugby team for the town. As fate would have it, 13 votes split 8-5 in favour of association football gave birth to the Brentford Football Club.
Who are the owners of Brentford?
Matthew Benham, a British businessman and lifelong supporter of Brentford, is the owner of the club.
What is Brentford's stadium called?
Brentford’s home ground is the Gtech Community Stadium, located in Brentford, West London. It was completed and opened in September 2020, replacing the club’s old Griffin Park ground. The stadium is a multi-purpose venue, hosting both football and rugby matches.
What is Gtech Community Stadium's capacity?
The Gtech Community Stadium has a capacity of 17,250 seats.
How many trophies have Brentford won?
Brentford are yet to win any major honours as a top-flight side.
How many Premier League (top flight) titles have Brentford won?
Brentford haven't lifted an English top-flight title so far, with their best campaign being a fifth-place finish in the 1935-36 season.
Who has made the most appearances for Brentford?
Brentford legend Ken Coote is the club's all-time leading appearance maker with 559 appearances to his name, which came between 1949 and 1963.
Who is Brentford's all-time top goalscorer?
With 163 goals in 282 games in all competitions, Jim Towers is Brentford's all-time top goalscorer. Towers spent seven seasons at the club between 1954 and 1961.
Which famous players have played for Brentford?
David Raya, Christian Eriksen, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins, Tony Craig, and Ken Coote are among the biggest names to have played for Brentford.
Which famous managers have been in charge of Brentford?
Steve Perryman, Thomas Frank, and Harry Curtis are some of the most famous managers to have been in charge of Brentford.
What is Brentford's nickname?
Their nickname was a happy accident. When a group of Borough Road College students cheered for Brentford players with the chant "Buck up, Bs," a journalist misheard it as "bees." This mistake eventually became the team's iconic nickname, The Bees.