Former England striker Andy Carroll has revealed the extent of his daily communications with YouTube star KSI as the two co-owners plot a miraculous rise for Dagenham & Redbridge. With the club currently in the sixth tier, the high-profile duo are working tirelessly behind the scenes to emulate Wrexham's success and ultimately bring Premier League football to East London.
Andy Carroll has started his Dagenham and Redbridge managerial career with a 1-0 victory over Torquay United on Saturday. Minority owner and YouTuber KSI was in the stands as the Daggers took three vital points, and Carroll, the former England striker, celebrated post-match with his family.
The "KSI era" at Dagenham & Redbridge has begun with a major clinical overhaul, as the National League South club confirmed the departure of manager Lee Bradbury. The decision comes just a fortnight after the high-profile YouTuber-turned-media personality was unveiled as a minority shareholder. In a sensational twist, former Liverpool and England striker Andy Carroll has been handed the reins on an interim basis.
Dagenham & Redbridge are officially "daring to dream" following the high-profile arrival of YouTube sensation and entrepreneur KSI as a major shareholder. The social media icon, whose real name is Olajide Olatunji, was unveiled as a key investor in the National League South side last week, marking a significant shift in the club's profile and ambitions as they look to climb back up the English football pyramid.
YouTube sensation KSI marked a surreal transition into football club ownership on Saturday as he watched Dagenham & Redbridge overcome National League South leaders Dorking Wanderers 1-0. In what served as a high-profile introduction to Victoria Road, the 32-year-old was spotted in the stands alongside a former England international striker.
KSI has, following his stunning move into football ownership, confirmed that Dagenham & Redbridge will be delivering a ‘Race To The Top’ documentary. Said production will initially be released on the social media star’s YouTube channel, allowing it to reach 17 million subscribers worldwide. The show will become a rival to the popular ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ series overseen by Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac in North Wales.
Al-Hilal are the most successful Saudi Pro League side ever, having won an astonishing 19 league titles. Their first-ever league title came at the end of the 1976-77 campaign. Currently, they are also the defending champions, having gone all the way in the 2023-24 season.
How many teams are in the Saudi Pro League?
Currently, there are 18 teams in the Saudi Pro League. In the first season ever, which took place in 1976-77, there were just eight teams. The number increased to 10 in the following season. Ahead of the 1981-82, Saudi Premier League and Saudi First Division merged to form one single league for the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification process. However, from the 1984-85 season, the number teams reverted to 12.
Who has made the most Saudi Pro League appearances ever?
Legendary Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Deayea holds the record for most appearances in the Saudi Pro League. Al-Deayea played for Al-Taee and Al-Hilal and managed 406 appearances inthe league.
Who is the all-time top scorer of the Saudi Pro League?
Majed Abdullah, also known as the Arabian Pele, is the league's all-time leading topscorer with 189 goals in 194 league games, all of them coming with Al-Nassr in a 21-year span. He is Al-Nassr's record goalscorer, with 259 goals in just 266 games.
Who has the most assists in the history of the Saudi Pro League?
Former Syrian midfielder Jehad Al-Hussain has registered the most assists in Saudi Pro League history, setting up 50 goals for his teammates in 208 games.
Who is the oldest player ever in the Saudi Pro League and how old was he?
Former Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary is the oldest player to ever feature in Saudi Pro League. El Hadary was 45 years and 81 days old when he featured for Al-Taawoun in April 2018.
Who is the youngest player ever in the Saudi Pro League and how old was he?
Teenage sensation Talal Haji, who plays for Al-Ittihad, is the youngest player to ever play in Saudi Pro League. Haji achieved this feat at the age of 16 years and five days when he came on as a substitute for Romarinho in Al-Ittihad's 2-1 win over Al-Fateh in September 2023.
Which famous players have played in the Saudi Pro League?
Cristiano Ronaldo, Riyad Mahrez, Karim Benzema, Roberto Firmino, N'Golo Kante, Sadio Mane, Yassine Bounou, Nacho, Aymeric Laporte, and Fabinho are among the most famous players to have played in the Saudi Pro League.
Which famous managers have managed in the Saudi Pro League?
Steven Gerrard, Laurent Blanc, and Stefano Pioli are some of Saudi Pro League's most prominent managers in history.
What is the biggest stadium in the Saudi Pro League?
The King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, which is home to Al-Shabab and Al-Riyadh, is the biggest stadium in Saudi Pro League. It has a capacity of 68,752.
Who is the most expensive player in the history of the Saudi Pro League?
Neymar is the most expensive player in Saudi Pro League history, costing a whopping £77.6 million when Al-Hilal bought him from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.