Latest news with #BrandonWilliams
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Forgotten former Man United star makes first appearance in 578 days - as he goes on trial with new English club after dangerous driving sentence
Former Manchester United player Brandon Williams, who was sentenced for dangerous driving, has made his first appearance in 19 months. The full-back came on as a substitute for Hull City, where he is on trial, during their 2-1 friendly win over Sunderland on Tuesday night. In May Williams was handed a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after crashing his Audi A3 at almost 100mph on August 20, 2023. The 24-year-old, who was once paid £3.4million a year as a promising young defender, had been 'driving erratically' in his Audi A3 before hitting a Ford Fiesta and careering into the central reservation of the A34 in Cheshire. On Tuesday, Championship side Hull gave him 15 minutes off the bench for his first outing since he played on loan for Ipswich against QPR in a 0-0 draw in December 2023. Williams said in May that he wanted to be '100 per cent focused' on his football again and 'kick on' with a new club, wherever that may be. 'It hurts me watching football now because I just want to be there, I just want to play. I miss being in a team, on the coach, travelling to games, having meals together and just doing things,' he said. 'I want to have that feeling again of winning and being around the changing room environment. 'I've had loads of teams trying to get me out - America, Europe and England - but I haven't been ready. I want to go somewhere 100 per cent focused and kick on. 'I would like to experience that different culture. I'm only 24 so I could do three or four years abroad. Definitely Europe at a good club or an upcoming club.' Williams admitted he had been trying to show off to a female passenger who was sitting next to him, and a witness is said to have filmed him with a balloon by his mouth. Prosecutors said it was 'fortunate' nobody was seriously injured or killed. Judge Eric Lamb also banned Williams from driving for three years and ordered him to do 180 hours of unpaid work. The homegrown Man United talent announced last June that he would leave the club at the end of his contract, and when the incident took place - in August 2023 - Williams had been on loan at Ipswich Town.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 'open to reuniting with former Manchester United star' as the Besiktas boss considers handing the 24-year-old a career lifeline
Besiktas manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly debating a move for a former Manchester United star. After a glittering playing career at Old Trafford that saw him etch his name in club folklore, Solskjaer went on to spent nearly three years in the hot seat at Old Trafford as manager between 2018 and 2021. In January, Solskjaer took his first managerial position since being sacked by United and led Besiktas to a fourth-place finish in the Turkish Super Lig. And as he prepares for his first full campaign in charge of the Black Eagles, Solskjaer is said to be eyeing a former Man United player to help shore up his defence. According to a report from The Sun, the Norwegian is open to a move for United academy graduate and former England youth international, Brandon Williams. Williams thrived under Solskjaer's leadership at Old Trafford, and was handed his senior debut by the Champions League winner in September 2019. The 24-year-old would go on to make 36 appearances in all competitions in what appeared to a breakout campaign for the latest Carrington graduate tipped for success in the game. However, Williams subsequently found first team opportunities difficult to come by and was sent out on loan with spells East Anglia with both Norwich and Ipswich. During the latter of the two, Williams fell out of favour at a promotion-chasing Tractor Boys side under then-boss Kieran McKenna as his off-field problems began to come to the fore. In May Williams was handed a 14-month suspended jail sentence for dangerous driving. The defender had been 'driving erratically' in his Audi A3 before hitting a Ford Fiesta and careering into the central reservation of the A34 in Cheshire at almost 100mph. Williams admitted he had been trying to show off to a female passenger who was sitting next to him, and a witness is said to have filmed him with a balloon by his mouth. Prosecutors said it was 'fortunate' nobody was seriously injured or killed. Judge Lamb, sitting in the Chester Crown Court, told Williams 'there was no reason for driving in the way you did' but said there was 'strong personal mitigation' after committing the offence at a time of depression. Williams, who had been partying shortly before the crash, was told he had been 'stupid' and earned 'too much too soon'.
The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer considers transfer reunion with unemployed former Man Utd star, 24, at Besiktas
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER is considering handing a career lifeline to an unemployed ex-Man Utd star. The former first-team regular has not played for over a year after being released in June 2024 following an unsuccessful loan spell at 3 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking to bring a familiar face to Besiktas Credit: Getty 3 Brandon Williams was handed his Man Utd debut by the Norwegian, but has been without a club for a year Credit: Kenny Ramsay But as the man who handed the player his debut back in 2019, Solskjaer believes he is well placed to relaunch his career at Turkish side Besiktas. After coming through the academy, Brandon Williams made his debut against But the return of Shaw to form in 2021 saw Williams loaned out to Beskitas' deficiencies at the back were brutally exposed in the Europa League yesterday as a brutal counter-attacking display saw visitors Shakhtar Donetsk run out 4-2 winners in Istanbul. READ MORE MAN UTD NEWS In 2023, Williams crashed his Audi in a 99mph horror smash. Then this year, the ex- Sentencing, Judge Eric Lamb said: "There was no reason for driving in the way you did." Chester Crown Court heard the defender was with a female passenger at the time of the crash and was "showing off". Most read in Football She was seen filming him at one point as Williams reached speeds of 99mph with a balloon in his mouth, it was said. He lost control of the Audi A3 before it collided with a blue Ford Fiesta and then smashed into the central reservation. 'You ain't well man' - Rio Ferdinand screams at Wayne Rooney's driving as Man Utd stars reunite for US road trip Three of the occupants of the Fiesta, which was written off, were injured with one saying she "felt she was going to be killed". Should Williams move to Besiktas, he will be reunited with a former team-mate, though not a particularly memorable one. Milot Rashica and Williams played together in the Norwich team that finished bottom of the Premier League in 2022 after Unlike Williams, however, Rashica has managed to rebuild his career, becoming a key man in the Turkish Super Lig with, first, Galatasaray, and, then, Besiktas. Former Chelsea star Tammy Abraham is also in Solskjaer's squad at Besiktas, on loan from Roma. 3
The Sun
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer considers transfer reunion with unemployed former Man Utd star, 24, at Besiktas
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER is considering handing a career lifeline to an unemployed ex-Man Utd star. The former first-team regular has not played for over a year after being released in June 2024 following an unsuccessful loan spell at Ipswich. 3 But as the man who handed the player his debut back in 2019, Solskjaer believes he is well placed to relaunch his career at Turkish side Besiktas. After coming through the academy, Brandon Williams made his debut against Liverpool and then went on a run which saw him slot in at left-back ahead of Ashley Young and Luke Shaw. But the return of Shaw to form in 2021 saw Williams loaned out to Norwich, where he was in and out of the team and unable to prevent the Canaries getting relegated. Beskitas' deficiencies at the back were brutally exposed in the Europa League yesterday as a brutal counter-attacking display saw visitors Shakhtar Donetsk run out 4-2 winners in Istanbul. In 2023, Williams crashed his Audi in a 99mph horror smash. Then this year, the ex- Man Utd ace pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving and driving without insurance and was handed a 14-month suspended sentence. Sentencing, Judge Eric Lamb said: "There was no reason for driving in the way you did." Chester Crown Court heard the defender was with a female passenger at the time of the crash and was "showing off". She was seen filming him at one point as Williams reached speeds of 99mph with a balloon in his mouth, it was said. He lost control of the Audi A3 before it collided with a blue Ford Fiesta and then smashed into the central reservation. 'You ain't well man' - Rio Ferdinand screams at Wayne Rooney's driving as Man Utd stars reunite for US road trip Three of the occupants of the Fiesta, which was written off, were injured with one saying she "felt she was going to be killed". Should Williams move to Besiktas, he will be reunited with a former team-mate, though not a particularly memorable one. Milot Rashica and Williams played together in the Norwich team that finished bottom of the Premier League in 2022 after arriving in East Anglia with high expectations. Unlike Williams, however, Rashica has managed to rebuild his career, becoming a key man in the Turkish Super Lig with, first, Galatasaray, and, then, Besiktas. Former Chelsea star Tammy Abraham is also in Solskjaer's squad at Besiktas, on loan from Roma.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
Former Man United star Brandon Williams breaks his silence after receiving suspended jail sentence for dangerous driving - and drops hint over his future in football
Brandon Williams has stated his intention to restart his football career after he was handed a two-year suspended jail sentence for dangerous driving on Friday. The former Manchester United defender had been 'driving erratically' in his Audi A3 before hitting a Ford Fiesta and careering into the central reservation of the A34 in Cheshire at almost 100mph. Williams admitted he had been trying to show off to a female passenger who was sitting next to him, and a witness is said to have filmed him with a balloon by his mouth. Prosecutors said it was 'fortunate' nobody was seriously injured or killed. Judge Eric Lamb also banned Williams from driving for three years and ordered him to do 180 hours of unpaid work. The homegrown Man United talent announced last June that he would leave the club at the end of his contract, and when the incident took place - in August 2023 - Williams had been on loan at Ipswich Town. But despite being now without a club, the 24-year-old remains optimistic about his prospects. 'I would like to thank my legal team headed by Richard Littler KC and Philip Williams of Blackfords LLP for establishing that I was not under the influence of any substance at the time of the accident,' Williams shared in a statement via his legal representatives as he spoke for the first time on Tuesday. 'I have always accepted that my driving that day fell below the standard that is expected of me. 'It was never my intention to cause injury to anyone but I am responsible for the standard of my driving. I make no excuses. 'I have learnt from this experience and will ensure there is no repetition. 'I wish to apologise again to those who were involved in the accident. Now that the case has concluded I look forward to resuming my career with a new team later this year.' Judge Lamb, sitting in the Chester Crown Court, told Williams 'there was no reason for driving in the way you did' but said there was 'strong personal mitigation' after committing the offence at a time of depression. Williams, who had been partying shortly before the crash, was told he had been 'stupid' and earned 'too much too soon'. As a promising young defender for United, Williams was once paid £3.4million a year. Former Red Devils manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had singled out the player for being 'as brave as a lion' and having an 'absolutely great attitude' that would make him a 'top, top player'. Williams made 51 appearances for United, and earned one cap for England's under-21s. The player has previously spoken of his desire to restart his career, most recently telling former Man United star Ben Foster on his The Fozcast podcast that being away from the game had been painful to the point of 'hurting' him. I go into this mode where I just don't care. I have this switch where I don't care what happens. They [family and friends] wanted me to get back to football but they could see I'd fallen out of love with. 'It hurts me watching football now because I just want to be there, I just want to play. I miss being in a team, on the coach, travelling to games, having meals together and just doing things. 'I want to have that feeling again of winning and being around the changing room environment. 'I've had loads of teams trying to get me out - America, Europe and England - but I haven't been ready. I want to go somewhere 100% focused and kick on. 'I would like to experience that different culture. I'm only 24 so I could do three or four years abroad. Definitely Europe at a good club or an upcoming club.'
