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Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I joined Inter Milan after winning a TV competition then won the Champions League and body doubled for Cristiano Ronaldo
JOSE MOURINHO was the last Inter Milan manager to lead the club to Champions League glory. And an ex-pro golfer turned player-manager in the Isthmian League South East Division had a front-row seat after winning a place in the Italians' squad on a TV talent show. 15 Ben Greenhalgh won Football's Next Star in 2010, earning a pro contract at Inter Milan 15 Greenhalgh filled in as Cristiano Ronaldo's body double Credit: INSTAGRAM @bengreenhalgh17 15 He is now player-manager at Margate in the eighth tier Credit: INSTAGRAM @bengreenhalgh17 15 The winger nutmegged Patrick Vieira as a teenager Credit: Sky 1 And he'd already had a stint as Cristiano Ronaldo's body double. Ben Greenhalgh won the first and only series of Football's Next Star, which aired on Sky in 2010, earning a six-month professional contract at Inter aged just 17. And, only months later, he found himself sitting just behind Mourinho as he masterminded a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League final to complete the Treble. Greenhalgh was not part of the matchday squad ,in fact he never made a first-team appearance for Inter. READ MORE ON INTER MILAN SAN SIRO HERO Acerbi beat cancer twice before guiding Inter to Champions League final But he DID get a winner's medal at the Bernabeu. Now a player-manager at non-league Margate, Greenhalgh, 33, told SunSport: 'Looking back, it's absolutely mental. To be part of Inter's best season ever is incredible. 'I sat two rows behind the dugout. 'I didn't celebrate much, I almost wish I'd run on the pitch and got even more involved. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS 'I jumped at the opportunity to take the Champions League medal. We got given about five extras. 'They might have been for players Mourinho cast out who weren't there like Ricardo Quaresma and Marko Arnautovic. Where are they now: The unusual careers of former footballers 'It's the best story I'm ever going to have in football. It will stick with me forever and I'm really happy about that.' The Champions League final on May 22, 2010 came 401 days after Greenhalgh made his Welling United first-team debut on his 17th birthday. But his stratospheric rise from Bexley to the Bernabeu came from his victory on the short-lived TV talent show. He was actually unaware of the trials when his Kent FA team went for what they thought was a regular training day in London until spotting cameras, Inter coaches and presenter Jamie Redknapp. Out of 20,000 hopefuls, Inter's scouts whittled it down to 40 before a final ten were invited out to Milan. Greenhalgh admitted: 'No one knew what was going on because a show like this hadn't been aired before. It's the best story I'm ever going to have in football. It will stick with me forever and I'm really happy about that. Ben Greenhalgh 'Now those shows are quite nostalgic. 'I don't know why it's never come back because it did really well. One night it beat Strictly for viewers. 'I watched it in Italy, already playing for Inter. People were trying to contact me and find out if I was the winner. 'I remember my Facebook crashed with friend requests.' Redknapp took 17-year-old Ben under his wing, even giving the youngster his mobile number to mentor him. Ironically, Greenlagh reckons his career could have turned out better had he NOT won the show - because Redknapp said his dad Harry would have signed him at Tottenham. 15 Greenhalgh picked up a Champions League winner's medal in 2010 despite not playing Credit: Getty 15 Jose Mourinho had an 'aura' about him but made the kid feel at ease straight away Credit: AP 15 Greenhalgh impressed the Inter scouts to win out of 20,000 entrants Credit: SKY 1 15 Jamie Redknapp presented the one-off Sky TV show Credit: SKY 1 15 Greenhalgh would love to see another similar series Credit: SKY 1 But the winger would not trade the Inter memories, winning the Champions League and training under the Special One. Greenhalgh, who had Inter kits growing up, said: 'It's pretty surreal given just how monumental Inter Milan are as a football club. 'Meeting Jose was very nerve-wracking. 'He had an unbelievable aura, he was the best manager in the world then. 'He was so respectful to me and put me at ease straight away. 'Suddenly, I was thrown into training with Lucio, Quaresma, Mario Balotelli, Wesley Sneijder, Diego Milito, Samuel Eto'o, Javier Zanetti made everything look effortless at 39. 'I nutmegged Patrick Vieira but it didn't make the show!' But Greenhalgh's opening training session at Inter was not his first time rubbing shoulders with footballing stardom. Because aged just 16, he got a gig as Ronaldo's body double through a football choreographer friend who worked on Nike and adidas adverts. Greenhalgh also played the likes of fellow left-footers Mesut Ozil, Robin van Persie and Gareth Bale, protecting the players from going into tackles and risking injury. I nutmegged Patrick Vieira but it didn't make the show! Ben Greenhalgh Greenhalgh said: 'Cristiano was my idol. No one could shock me as much. It was crazy, he'd just won the Champions League at Manchester United. 'We had a couple of funny moments. 'The media got hold we were in a gym shooting an advert and suddenly about 100 cameramen hovered outside. 'I was dressed as Ronaldo so I ran down the street under an umbrella. All the journalists followed and Ronaldo slipped out the back door unnoticed. 'Doing Ozil was probably the best one because we're similar creative players and used to have kickabouts between sets.' Greenhalgh, though, had to give up his job as 'Ronaldo' because he couldn't abandon training to fly from Milan to Madrid to film more adverts. In the end, he stayed at Inter for 18 months, which included a fruitful loan stint at Como, scoring eight goals in 12 games. Como wanted to make a deal permanent when his extended Inter contract expired in 2011 but Italian football's financial disarray meant the club could not afford to pay him. So he returned to England, joining Brighton in League One. 15 Greenhalgh is still playing 50 games per season at 33 Credit: MARGATE FC 15 He had an 18-month stint as a PGA professional golfer alongside non-league football Credit: INSTAGRAM @bengreenhalgh17 15 He got down to a scratch handicap while dropped out of the Inverness team Credit: INSTAGRAM @bengreenhalgh17 15 The winger spent 18 months with the Italian giants Credit: Inter Milan 15 Greenhalgh wants to keep playing until he turns 40, just like Ronaldo Credit: INSTAGRAM @margatefc_ 15 He is hoping to climb the managerial ladder in the long run Credit: INSTAGRAM @margatefc_ The Seagulls were flying on their progression through the leagues and he could not break into the team and suffered a similar struggle at Birmingham. That saw Greenhalgh drop back into non-league, returning to where it all started at Welling, still only 19. It was a stint at Inverness, though, that ironically launched Greenhalgh into a pro career in a different sport. He added: 'I haven't got John Hughes to thank for much at Inverness for dropping me… but he made me a very good golfer. 'I was on the course every day. I went to Scotland a six handicapper and got down to scratch. 'Back in England, I passed my playing ability test to become a PGA professional. 'I did it for 18 months, won one pro competition, breaking the course record at Addington, which I can cling on to. 'But I couldn't play the big tournaments because of my football matches at the weekend. I was a footballer playing golf.' CAN'T JAV IT Now settled as coach of Dartford's academy and 'building something' as player-manager at Margate - who lost in England's eighth-tier play-offs last month - Greenhalgh wants to keep playing like his body double Ronaldo until he is 40 before climbing up the ladder as a gaffer. But whatever else Greenhalgh achieves - whether as a footballer, coach or golfer - he will always have that Champions League medal, even if an Inter legend comes calling again. Greenhalgh explained: 'Zanetti's partner messaged me five years ago asking if he could buy my Champions League medal off me for the Inter museum. 'I might have made money but I knew I'm obviously never again going to top it so it'd be hard to part with it. 'The Libertines sponsor Margate's kit and this year we've gone Inter Milan style because of my links. 'I want to try and get Zanetti a Margate shirt to put it up in his restaurant. 'Hopefully, it's a good year for Inter Milan and hopefully it's a good year for Margate.'
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I joined Inter Milan after winning a TV competition then won the Champions League and body doubled for Cristiano Ronaldo
JOSE MOURINHO was the last Inter Milan manager to lead the club to Champions League glory. And an ex-pro golfer turned player-manager in the Isthmian League South East Division had a front-row seat after winning a place in the Italians' squad on a TV talent show. Advertisement 15 Ben Greenhalgh won Football's Next Star in 2010, earning a pro contract at Inter Milan 15 Greenhalgh filled in as Cristiano Ronaldo's body double Credit: INSTAGRAM @bengreenhalgh17 15 He is now player-manager at Margate in the eighth tier Credit: INSTAGRAM @bengreenhalgh17 15 The winger nutmegged Patrick Vieira as a teenager Credit: Sky 1 And he'd already had a stint as Cristiano Ronaldo's body double. Ben Greenhalgh won the first and only series of Football's Next Star, which aired on Sky in 2010, earning a six-month professional contract at Inter aged just 17. And, only months later, he found himself sitting just behind Mourinho as he masterminded a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League final to complete the Treble. Greenhalgh was not part of the matchday squad ,in fact he never made a first-team appearance for Advertisement READ MORE ON INTER MILAN But he DID get a winner's medal at the Bernabeu. Now a player-manager at non-league Margate, Greenhalgh, 33, told SunSport: 'Looking back, it's absolutely mental. To be part of Inter's best season ever is incredible. 'I sat two rows behind the dugout. 'I didn't celebrate much, I almost wish I'd run on the pitch and got even more involved. Advertisement Most read in Champions League CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS 'I jumped at the opportunity to take the Champions League medal. We got given about five extras. 'They might have been for players Mourinho cast out who weren't there like Ricardo Quaresma and Marko Arnautovic. Where are they now: The unusual careers of former footballers 'It's the best story I'm ever going to have in football. It will stick with me forever and I'm really happy about that.' Advertisement The Champions League final on May 22, 2010 came 401 days after Greenhalgh made his Welling United first-team debut on his 17th birthday. But his stratospheric rise from Bexley to the Bernabeu came from his victory on the short-lived TV talent show. He was actually unaware of the trials when his Kent FA team went for what they thought was a regular training day in London until spotting cameras, Inter coaches and presenter Out of 20,000 hopefuls, Inter's scouts whittled it down to 40 before a final ten were invited out to Milan. Advertisement Greenhalgh admitted: 'No one knew what was going on because a show like this hadn't been aired before. It's the best story I'm ever going to have in football. It will stick with me forever and I'm really happy about that. Ben Greenhalgh 'Now those shows are quite nostalgic. 'I don't know why it's never come back because it did really well. One night it beat Strictly for viewers. 'I watched it in Italy, already playing for Inter. People were trying to contact me and find out if I was the winner. Advertisement 'I remember my Facebook crashed with friend requests.' Redknapp took 17-year-old Ben under his wing, even giving the youngster his mobile number to mentor him. Ironically, Greenlagh reckons his career could have turned out better had he NOT won the show - because Redknapp said his dad Harry would have signed him at Tottenham. 15 Greenhalgh picked up a Champions League winner's medal in 2010 despite not playing Credit: Getty Advertisement 15 Jose Mourinho had an 'aura' about him but made the kid feel at ease straight away Credit: AP 15 Greenhalgh impressed the Inter scouts to win out of 20,000 entrants Credit: SKY 1 15 Jamie Redknapp presented the one-off Sky TV show Credit: SKY 1 15 Greenhalgh would love to see another similar series Credit: SKY 1 Advertisement But the winger would not trade the Inter memories, winning the Champions League and training under the Special One. Greenhalgh, who had Inter kits growing up, said: 'It's pretty surreal given just how monumental Inter Milan are as a football club. 'Meeting Jose was very nerve-wracking. 'He had an unbelievable aura, he was the best manager in the world then. Advertisement 'He was so respectful to me and put me at ease straight away. 'Suddenly, I was thrown into training with Lucio, Quaresma, Mario Balotelli, Wesley Sneijder, Diego Milito, Samuel Eto'o, Javier Zanetti made everything look effortless at 39. 'I nutmegged Patrick Vieira but it didn't make the show!' But Greenhalgh's opening training session at Inter was not his first time rubbing shoulders with footballing stardom. Advertisement Because aged just 16, he got a gig as Ronaldo's body double through a football choreographer friend who worked on Nike and adidas adverts. Greenhalgh also played the likes of fellow left-footers Mesut Ozil, Robin van Persie and Gareth Bale, protecting the players from going into tackles and risking injury. I nutmegged Patrick Vieira but it didn't make the show! Ben Greenhalgh Greenhalgh said: 'Cristiano was my idol. No one could shock me as much. It was crazy, he'd just won the Champions League at Manchester United. 'We had a couple of funny moments. Advertisement 'The media got hold we were in a gym shooting an advert and suddenly about 100 cameramen hovered outside. 'I was dressed as 'Doing Ozil was probably the best one because we're similar creative players and used to have kickabouts between sets.' Greenhalgh, though, had to give up his job as 'Ronaldo' because he couldn't abandon training to fly from Milan to Madrid to film more adverts. Advertisement In the end, he stayed at Inter for 18 months, which included a fruitful loan stint at Como, scoring eight goals in 12 games. Como wanted to make a deal permanent when his extended Inter contract expired in 2011 but Italian football's financial disarray meant the club could not afford to pay him. So he returned to England, joining 15 Greenhalgh is still playing 50 games per season at 33 Credit: MARGATE FC Advertisement 15 He had an 18-month stint as a PGA professional golfer alongside non-league football Credit: INSTAGRAM @bengreenhalgh17 15 He got down to a scratch handicap while dropped out of the Inverness team Credit: INSTAGRAM @bengreenhalgh17 15 The winger spent 18 months with the Italian giants Credit: Inter Milan 15 Greenhalgh wants to keep playing until he turns 40, just like Ronaldo Credit: INSTAGRAM @margatefc_ Advertisement 15 He is hoping to climb the managerial ladder in the long run Credit: INSTAGRAM @margatefc_ The Seagulls were flying on their progression through the leagues and he could not break into the team and suffered a similar struggle at Birmingham. That saw Greenhalgh drop back into non-league, returning to where it all started at Welling, still only 19. It was a stint at Inverness, though, that ironically launched Greenhalgh into a pro career in a different sport. Advertisement He added: 'I haven't got John Hughes to thank for much at Inverness for dropping me… but he made me a very good golfer. 'I was on the course every day. I went to Scotland a six handicapper and got down to scratch. 'Back in England, I passed my playing ability test to become a PGA professional. 'I did it for 18 months, won one pro competition, breaking the course record at Addington, which I can cling on to. Advertisement 'But I couldn't play the big tournaments because of my football matches at the weekend. I was a footballer playing golf.' CAN'T JAV IT Now settled as coach of Dartford's academy and 'building something' as player-manager at Margate - who lost in England's eighth-tier play-offs last month - Greenhalgh wants to keep playing like his body double Ronaldo until he is 40 before climbing up the ladder as a gaffer. But whatever else Greenhalgh achieves - whether as a footballer, coach or golfer - he will always have that Champions League medal, even if an Inter legend comes calling again. Greenhalgh explained: 'Zanetti's partner messaged me five years ago asking if he could buy my Champions League medal off me for the Inter museum. Advertisement 'I might have made money but I knew I'm obviously never again going to top it so it'd be hard to part with it. 'The Libertines sponsor Margate's kit and this year we've gone Inter Milan style because of my links. 'I want to try and get Zanetti a Margate shirt to put it up in his restaurant. 'Hopefully, it's a good year for Inter Milan and hopefully it's a good year for Margate.' Advertisement Greenhalgh's final prediction FORMER Inter Milan Champions League winner Ben Greenhalgh believes his old side will be crowned Kings of Europe again. Ex-Inter man and Football's Next Star winner Greenhalgh was sat behind the Bernabeu dugouts as Diego Milito scored twice for Jose Mourinho's side against Bayern Munich to secure a 2-0 victory in the 2010 final. And the Margate player-manager reckons fans are in for a treat on Saturday night. Greenhalgh said: 'It's going to be a really good game of football, a top game. 'If PSG don't score early on, and Inter show the defensive manner in which they play, and how well they are well-packed and well-organised, I think it will frustrate PSG. 'Inter are a team that definitely jump at teams when they're frustrated. They play in that manner and they've got that brilliant fighting spirit. 'If they can antagonise them in that way, which as a fan is good to watch, it's good to watch how well Inter seem to wind other teams up. 'I think if they can manage to let the game go in that manner and stop the attack and threats that PSG have early on, then I think they'll grow in confidence in the game. 'But if they let PSG get too much confidence, I think they'll be tough to come back and beat.' Greenhalgh, though, is confident his old side will come out on top against PSG in Munich. He added: 'I'm going to go for 2-1 Inter Milan in extra time. I think Inter Milan will score first then PSG will need to go on the front foot for the final 15-20 minutes. 'Then I think Inter Milan will do them in extra time. 'Lautaro Martinez has been such a good leader. He reminds me of Diego Milito leading that front line. 'Martinez will be the matchwinner. 'Inter as a club need to win the Champions League to get them back to the good days.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
📺 Champions League winner: This pro kickstarted his career on TV
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here. From dishwasher to millionaire? Anyone can do that. From substitute player to regular team member? Many can do that. Advertisement But from TV show participant to Champions League winner? Only one person has achieved that so far – Ben Greenhalgh. The following story is something nobody will believe you when you tell it at the next pub evening. The Brit Ben Greenhalgh already knew in 2009 that he was quite good at playing football, when he applied for the TV show Football's Next Star. And yet, the then 17-year-old had never managed to get into a youth academy of a professional club. So why not go on the show – if the winner would get a six-month contract with a Champions League club? Easy decision. Ben Greenhalgh came, saw, and conquered. Eight episodes after his first appearance, the left winger had actually made it through. Against 20,000 other applicants. We repeat: 20,000. In the end, he held a contract for Inter Milan's youth department in his hands. The logical consequence? Advertisement Just half a year later, the Englishman actually won the Champions League with the Nerazzurri. Before that, he had convinced coaching legend José Mourinho so much that he included him in the Champions League squad. At the age of 18, Greenhalgh was thus at the very top of the football world – and the fairy tale continued. Without having played a single game for the professionals, Inter gave the TV star a one-year contract and then loaned him to Como. With the lakeside team, he mainly played in the youth team, before returning to England. Was that it? Not quite: until 2025, the current manager of non-league club Margate FC still played for several semi-professional clubs – mostly in the fifth tier of English football. And because a sports career rarely comes alone, Greenhalgh suddenly made a name for himself in another discipline in 2015. Advertisement He joined the PGA Tour and became a professional golfer for several months. A man who has convinced José Mourinho of his abilities can apparently do anything. 🤯 📸 CHRISTOPHE SIMON
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The 'family' club led by a Champions League winner
A non-league football player-manager says he knows how influential he can be at the club as he brings Champions League experience to the Kent lower leagues. As a teenager Ben Greenhalgh took home a Champions League medal with Inter Milan but now plies his trade with eighth-tier side Margate FC. The former Maidstone and Dartford midfielder says he aims to "go in, put my most into it and hope the club succeeds". He says: "There's a lot of special things about non-league. I think it's a bit more real because you know the fans, and you know how influential you can be to that club." Greenhalgh was 17 when he featured on Sky's Football's Next Star, and won a year's contract at Inter Milan. First team manager Jose Mourinho took an interest in the academy, which meant he often trained with the first team in a year that they won the treble. He travelled with the squad to Madrid, alongside the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Javier Zanetti, and Samuel Eto'o, and they beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the Champions League final. It's a story celebrated by Margate fans, who have a song about him, singing "Champions League, he's won that too, now he's at Margate, playing in blue." Formed in 1896, Margate FC benefits from the rock'n'roll backing of The Libertines, who sponsor the club's shirts and own a hotel in the area. Links with The Libertines mean the shirts' appeal goes well beyond Margate fans, with kitman Frankie Empsom saying: "It's a godsend for a non-league club like ourselves, something like the sales of the shirt eases the costs paid out for the running of the club." Frankie looks after the kits for seven teams who play at Margate, using two washing machines which he calls Gert and Daisy. He said: "The fact they play in a white kit away can be a nightmare." The club plays in the Isthmian League South East, the eight tier of English football, and is described as "family-orientated", Frankie's sister, Maggie, says. Alongside Frankie, Maggie sells the programmes, and her daughter, Terry, is famous at the club for banging her drum on the sidelines. Terry went to her first game in 1978 when her uncle Frankie was supposed to be babysitting. Maggie joked: "I never should've let him babysit." Terry has only missed four games in the last 13 years, most recently when she started a new job at a nearby care home, which you can see from the club's Hartsdown ground. "They can hear me from there so they know when it's matchday. "I said when I started I'll work all the hours you want but not a Saturday or a Tuesday night," she said. Asked why she does it, she said: "It's almost like therapy, because if you've had a bad week and can get all the angst out by cheering the lads on, it's very cathartic." Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Project set up by football club to help homeless The Libertines sponsor football team Margate FC
BBC News
21-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Margate FC's Champions League winner and rock'n'roll sponsor
A non-league football player-manager says he knows how influential he can be at the club as he brings Champions League experience to the Kent lower a teenager Ben Greenhalgh took home a Champions League medal with Inter Milan but now plies his trade with eighth-tier side Margate former Maidstone and Dartford midfielder says he aims to "go in, put my most into it and hope the club succeeds".He says: "There's a lot of special things about non-league. I think it's a bit more real because you know the fans, and you know how influential you can be to that club." Greenhalgh was 17 when he featured on Sky's Football's Next Star, and won a year's contract at Inter team manager Jose Mourinho took an interest in the academy, which meant he often trained with the first team in a year that they won the travelled with the squad to Madrid, alongside the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Javier Zanetti, and Samuel Eto'o, and they beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the Champions League a story celebrated by Margate fans, who have a song about him, singing "Champions League, he's won that too, now he's at Margate, playing in blue." Formed in 1896, Margate FC benefits from the rock'n'roll backing of The Libertines, who sponsor the club's shirts and own a hotel in the with The Libertines mean the shirts' appeal goes well beyond Margate fans, with kitman Frankie Empsom saying: "It's a godsend for a non-league club like ourselves, something like the sales of the shirt eases the costs paid out for the running of the club."Frankie looks after the kits for seven teams who play at Margate, using two washing machines which he calls Gert and said: "The fact they play in a white kit away can be a nightmare."The club plays in the Isthmian League South East, the eight tier of English football, and is described as "family-orientated", Frankie's sister, Maggie, says. Alongside Frankie, Maggie sells the programmes, and her daughter, Terry, is famous at the club for banging her drum on the sidelines. Terry went to her first game in 1978 when her uncle Frankie was supposed to be babysitting. Maggie joked: "I never should've let him babysit."Terry has only missed four games in the last 13 years, most recently when she started a new job at a nearby care home, which you can see from the club's Hartsdown ground."They can hear me from there so they know when it's matchday. "I said when I started I'll work all the hours you want but not a Saturday or a Tuesday night," she why she does it, she said: "It's almost like therapy, because if you've had a bad week and can get all the angst out by cheering the lads on, it's very cathartic."
