From Martin O'Neill to James McClean and Conor Bradley, the north west has always been a hotbed for major talent
The north west has been home to some of the best footballers to come from this island. From Irish League winners to World Cup Best XIs, it has always been a hotbed for talent.
Here, in no particular order, we look at 15 players capped by Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland who have left a lasting legacy.
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Scottish Sun
40 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Paul Pogba ‘agrees deal with next club' as ex-Man Utd star posts cryptic four-word message about return to football
The midfielder looks set for a new league after his rumoured agreement POGBA-CK Paul Pogba 'agrees deal with next club' as ex-Man Utd star posts cryptic four-word message about return to football Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PAUL POGBA appeared to drop a massive hint on his future after posting a picture wearing a REAL MADRID shirt alongside a cryptic message. Pogba, 32, is still without a team after agreeing the mutual termination of his contract at Juventus in November following his 18-month doping ban - but has now reportedly agreed terms with his next club. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Paul Pogba has shared pictures of him training in a Real Madrid shirt Credit: 7 Fans are convinced that the shirt is a hint at Pogba's future Credit: 7 Pogba was working out with NFL star Tyreek Hill Credit: 7 Pogba is still without a club after his 18-month doping ban came to an end Credit: The former Manchester United midfielder was slapped with an initial four-year ban for taking banned substance DHEA last year, but saw that punishment slashed to just 18 months after a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration of Sport. Pogba has been able to return to football since March following the end of his ban. Now it looks like the World Cup winner has dropped a hint over where he could be heading next, after he posted photos of himself training in a Real Madrid shirt alongside the caption: "I think it's time". Fans are convinced that the cryptic post is confirmation that Pogba will be heading to the Bernabeu to join Madrid ahead of the new campaign. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL FOOTBALL TRAGEDY Three football fans dead & at least 70 injured in stadium disaster One wrote: "Pogba to Real Madrid - HERE WE GO". While another added: "Welcome to Real Madrid". A third commented: "Time to join Real Madrid". And a fourth posted: "Hope it's time for you to join Real Madrid". 7 Pogba has agreed a deal with a new club, according to reports Credit: 7 The Frenchman is unlikely to join Real Madrid Credit: CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS However, a switch to Madrid seems unlikely in reality - with reports suggesting that Pogba has already agreed a move to Ligue 1 club Monaco as his return to football. It's claimed by French outlet Le Parisien that Pogba will pen a two-year deal with Monaco ahead of the new campaign. 'I take responsibility but...' - Paul Pogba breaks silence as ex-Man Utd star gives first interview since doping ban The 91-time France international insisted he was still able to play at the top level in an interview in October, eyeing a return to the national team. He said: "That's what I hope [to play for France]. It's in my mind for sure but I have to be ready for that. "There's players there that deserve to be playing and deserve to be in the national team. "I have to win my place back in the team again."
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Rangers star Nicolas Raskin ‘high on list of transfer targets' for Premier League side who've followed him for 18 months
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WOLVES are reportedly weighing up a stunning summer transfer swoop for Rangers star Nicolas Raskin - hoping to fight off rivals Aston Villa. The Ibrox midfielder's stock has risen sharply this year, as he finished the season in fine form for Gers before impressing for Belgium in their World Cup qualifiers earlier this month. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 3 Nicolas Raskin in action for Belgium against Wales this month Credit: Getty 3 He had a stellar season at the heart of Rangers' midfield Credit: Reuters 3 Molineux Stadium, home of Wolverhampton Wanderers Credit: Getty Raskin, 24, won the Light Blues' player of the season award and the club would no doubt demand a club record fee from whoever tries to tempt him away from Glasgow. Calvin Bassey was sold to Ajax for a fee north of £18million in 2023, and Raskin still has two years remaining on his current deal. New Rangers head coach Russell Martin wants to build his team around Raskin and is making a pitch for the player to sign a bumper new contract with improved financial terms. Doing so would put the Ibrox side in a strong negotiating position should Wolves, Aston Villa or indeed another club come calling. According to the Daily Record, Wolves have been tracking Raskin for 18 months and despite a summer of upheaval at Molineux, he remains high on their list of summer transfer targets. Midlands rivals Villa have also been credited with interest in the midfielder, a move that could see him link up with Scotland hero John McGinn. Raskin joined for £1.7m Gers in 2023 as Michael Beale's second signing of the January transfer window that year. The player himself has publicly said he wants to stay with Rangers. He was asked about his future and his thoughts on a new boss at the end of last season. And Raskin said: "I've been enjoying myself this season and it's not so often that you can enjoy yourself at a club. Rangers-daft pub goes up for sale in Scots town "So I'm really happy here, two more seasons in my contract. as Long as the club wants me, I'll be here and we'll see what happens. "I like Barry [Ferguson], but it's not my decision. "The thing is we need to be successful next season. So it's going to be who's coming in and how do we do that? How do we be successful? "Barry's been great for me and my statistics can show it. I've been much more efficient and going forward for the team. "So Barry's been great for me. I think he's a great guy. "It's going to be a big change in the summer. So who knows what's going to happen? I don't know. "So let's just wait and see." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Luke Littler and Luke Humphries dubbed ‘rabbits in headlights' by darts legend
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LEGENDARY referee Russ Bray admits the pressure left Luke Littler and Luke Humphries looking like 'rabbits in headlights' at the World Cup. Top seeds England were dumped out of the last 16 after losing 8-4 to Germany in Frankfurt. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Russ Bray has said that Luke Littler and Luke Humphries looked like 'rabbits in headlights' at the World Cup of darts Credit: Getty 4 Littler and Humphries were favourites to win but went out in the last 16 Credit: X formerly Twitter / @SkySportsDarts World No.1 Humphries and world champion Littler were favourites to win the major but fell at the first hurdle. Legendary referee Bray believes the weight of expectation left the pair frozen. He said: 'With the two Lukes they looked like rabbits in headlights. They just couldn't get their game going at all. 'They were under a lot of pressure I think because of the hype, and you know world number one and two. READ MORE IN DARTS WORLD OF TROUBLE Luke Littler fires 4-word dig at World Cup of Darts winner who taunted him 'People were saying they were going to win and nobody will touch them. I just thought that caught up with them a little bit.' 'The Voice of Darts' questioned how well the duo gelled as a team. He added: 'And they are both very much individual players. I know dart players are. 'It's very much different being an individual and going out on your own than it is playing as a team. You've got a different mindset.' CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Bray also reckons the lethal Lukes rhythm was disrupted by the stop-start nature of doubles play. He explained: 'The two Lukes are also very much rhythm players. They're out of rhythm because they are not following the next player. Being made an MBE shows I've helped 'change face of darts' says Luke Humphries 'They throw their three darts, and they have to wait for another six before they get back on again. There are lots of things involved.' Northern Ireland won the tournament for the first time with an epic victory over Wales in a final-leg decider. While others tipped the Three Lions for the title, Bray saw it differently He revealed: 'If I'm being honest, I didn't expect the Irish boys to win it [Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney] — but I also didn't expect England to either. 'I thought Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton would be the ones to win it — alongside Scotland, would you believe, who got absolutely blasted out of sight.' Gerwyn Price was quick to claim that England's failure was down to Littler and Humphries not playing as a team. He said: 'I think you need a connection. I think you need to have that camaraderie off the stage. 'When all the teams first turned up on the first day, the only two players who didn't turn up together, didn't sit together, didn't play as a team. 'I'm not saying who they are. But they didn't win their first game. But you need to turn up together. You need to be as a team. "You practice together, you sit together, it's a team ethic. It didn't show with England and it showed on the board. 'They are great players individually. But you need to be a team. 'I wanted them to do well but they didn't. I'm not just saying that, but they were rubbish!' Meanwhile two-time world champion Dennis Priestley, 74, slammed world the pair for "letting their country down" after the early exit. 4 Gerwyn Price claimed Littler and Humprhies didn't act as a team during the tournament Credit: Getty
