Not all times to see football players changing their career to politics but few of them did it. We know former players like Romario who was elected to the Brazilian senate representing the state of Rio de Janeiro, former Chelsea and AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko who recently joined Social Democratic Party of Ukraine.

Former Liberia striker George Weah also joined the senate of Liberia after he failed to run for a Presidency due to lack of formal education.

Now let’s take a look at 10 active Premier League players who could become politicians after their retirement. This judgement is based on their manners on the pitch, self confidence, self-esteem, self-control, self-reliance or their presence of leadership.

Manchester United could be set with for a Europa League date with Roma, Fiorentina or Lyon in the next round, as Jose Mourinho’s side beat Zorya Luhansk 2-0 in Ukraine on Thursday to be sure of a place in the last 32.

This means United could be paired with Group E winners Roma, Group J winners Fiorentina or Champions League drop-outs Lyon.

The Old Trafford side will avoid fellow group runners-up Villarreal and Celta Vigo. They will also be kept apart from Tottenham, who enter the competition after being knocked out of the Champions League.

United’s potential Europa League last-32 opponents: APOEL, Saint-Etienne, Zenit St Petersburg, Roma, Ajax, Shakhtar Donetsk, Schalke, Fiorentina, Sparta Prague, Osmanlispor, Copenhagen, Lyon, Besiktas, Athletic Bilbao/Genk.

• The draw will take place in Nyon on Monday.
• United will play the first leg of their last-32 tie at home on February 16.
• The second leg away from home will take place on February 23, ahead of a clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
• The final of the Europa League is scheduled for May 24 at the Friends Arena in Solna, Sweden.

Who do you wish Manchester United to draw among all these teams?

Full article at Manchester Evening News

African football has continued to grow despite challenges of lack of facilities and poor management across the continent. A quick check at how other continents are doing and you will notice that more players from Africa are playing in Europe top leagues than as compared to Asia, South America and North America.

Today, we can all agree that it is difficult to find any big team in Europe without a player either from Africa or has roots in the continent.

So as we continue to celebrate the success of our football let us take a look at 12 most expensive African footballers ever in history;

12. Jay-Jay Okocha- – €20 Million

Jay Jay Okocha is the only footballer in the history of football that was so good that he was given his name twice. The former Nigerian footballer is actually regarded as the man who inspired Brazilian magician Ronaldinho. He had everything any footballer would dream for talk of confidence, technique, creativity and dribbling skills, everything.

In 1998 French giants Paris Saint-Germain decided to pay Turkish side Fenerbahce €20 Million to get the man in Paris and the fans loved him. In 2002 he joined Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League and later Hull City.

11. Medhi Benatia- €26 million

Bayern Munich paid €26 million to sign Morocco International Medhi Benatia from Serie A side AS Roma in the summer of 2014. He had an ok season at Allianz Arena before joining Italian giants Juventus on a season long loan last summer.

10. Samuel Eto’o -€28 Million

Cameroon football legend and Africa most decorated footballer Samuel Etoo surprised the World when he decided to ditch InterMilan for Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala. There was no guessing the reason because when the details of the deal emerged, he was top of the World in salary with a €20 million annual pay after tax. He scored 14 goals in 36 appearances in 3 years and then he joined Jose Mourinho again this time at Chelsea. Etoo has won all trophies available in Club level and national level apart from the World Cup.

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Brazilian football great Ronaldinho is ready to come out of retirement to play for Chapecoense in an effort to help rebuild the club after the devastating plane crash in Colombia on Monday night.

The Brazilian outfit lost 19 players in Monday night’s tragic plane crash, which took the lives of 76 people, including manager Caio Junior and his coaching staff.

• The funerals of the Chapecoense players will take place later today, with Fifa president Gianni Infantino travelling to Brazil to attend.
• Brazilian clubs decided to loan out players to them for free and sent a request to the Brazilian FA stating that the club should be immune from relegation for three years.
• While Ronaldinho is yet to confirm his intentions, His agent and brother Roberto Assis made it clear the veteran is determined to help out.
• Argentine great Riquelme, who last played for Argentinos Juniors in 2014, has also offered to come out of retirement to play for Chapecoense.

Read full article at Independent