FA CUP history-makers Harborough Town have surprised football fans once again after announcing the signing of former Tottenham star Sandro.
The Leicestershire outfit produced a giant-killing in the first round of the FA Cup as they ran out 4-1 winners over Tonbridge Angels.
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Ex-Tottenham star Sandro has sealed a shock transfer to Harborough TownCredit: https://www.instagram.com/harborough_town_fc/
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Sandro, 35, made 106 appearances for SpursCredit: Getty
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He starred with Ronaldinho and Neymar in the Brazil teamCredit: AFP
Harborough were playing a first-round tie for the first time in the club’s history against the Vanarama National League South side.
The Southern League Premier Central club – step seven of the English pyramid – struck first in the 41st minute before regrouping after conceding an equaliser to go on and register an emphatic win.
Their place in the second round saw them drawn against ex-Premier League side Reading.
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However, the club have now stunned fans by announcing the signing of 17-time Brazil international, Sandro.
The 35-year-old retired from football in September 2023 at the age of 34 after a career that also saw him star for West Brom, QPR, Udinese, Genoa, and Internacional.
Manager Mitch Austin said of the move: “What an unbelievable signing for the club, I really cannot express how I am feeling.
“I had a chance conversation with Sandro a couple of weeks ago and we got talking about football, told him about Harborough Town FC and the journey we are on and he has been messaging me ever since to sign on, totally unbelievable and gobsmacked is how I would describe this signing.
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“These sort of signings don’t happen every day but when you get a chance to sign an ex-professional footballer who has played at the highest level in the Premier League and Internationally with Brazil, you just cannot turn it down.”
Austin added: “Being a Tottenham Hotspur fan myself I knew all about Sandro.
“But when I looked back at a few photos online and there he was stood in a Brazil team photo with the likes of Neymar Jr., Ronaldinho, Thiago Silva, Dani Alves, Marcelo, I was like what is going on, pinch me!
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“But credit to Sandro he has kept himself really fit and is an absolute great guy, down to earth who when the Chairman and I met with him came across very genuine, polite and humble, you could really sense there was a real desire to get the signing done on his part, I am absolutely delighted to have him at our club.
“I think the players and staff around the club can learn great things from him and develop and watch his professionalism and understand what is needed if they want to progress and play at the highest possible level of the game.
“However long he stays we will all become better for it.”
Bees chairman Peter Dougan also said: “What can I say, Mitch has done it again!
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“I don’t know how but what a signing this is, a real show of intent from the club to be as good as they can.
“When I met Sandro I have to say there was trepidation, but really I cannot speak highly enough of him and his professionalism and will to make this signing happen.
“Everything about the signing was positive, what negative could there possibly be?
“He will certainly help all the players around him and what a time to be one of those players, I am sure they will relish him being at the club as should we all.”
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Sandro starred for Spurs between 2010 and 2014, making 106 appearances and scoring three goals.
Tottenham’s top 10 biggest signings: Hit or miss?
1) Tanguy Ndombele – £52.7m
Ndombele joined from Lyon in 2019 with huge expectations after shattering Tottenham’s transfer record.
But he would go on to play just 91 times for the club, scoring 10 goals and is now set to leave one year before the end of his contract.
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2) Richarlison – £49.3m
Richarlison almost broke the £50m mark when he arrived from Everton in 2022 as Harry Kane’s back-up.
And while his tally of 12 goals this season was a significant increase on the three from his opening Spurs campaign, he is being linked with a departure this summer.
3) Brennan Johnson – £46.8m
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Johnson was signed by Ange Postecoglou last summer and has impressed in patches during his first season in North London.
He scored five goals and 10 assists in 38 games and will look to build on that in the 2024/25 campaign.
4) Cristian Romero – £44.2m
Romero initially joined on loan from Atalanta in 2021, before his impressive displays saw him secure a permanent deal the following year.
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He is two games shy of 100 for Spurs and, while he can be reckless with his tackling at times, is beginning to form a promising partnership with Micky van de Ven.
5) James Maddison – £39.4m
Maddison was handed Kane’s No10 shirt after arriving at Spurs and hit the ground running with three goals and five assists in his opening 11 matches.
But after getting injured against Chelsea in October, he failed to return with the same sharpness – managing just five goal contributions in 15 league matches as he missed out on England’s final 26-man squad for the Euros.
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6) Davinson Sanchez – £35.7m
Sanchez joined Spurs from Ajax in 2017 and played more than 200 games across a six-year spell.
But he was always considered a somewhat erratic defender who did not play more than 20 games in a Premier League season from 2020 onwards.
7) Pedro Porro – £34m
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Porro was another signing who originally arrived on loan in January 2023, before he signed permanently last summer.
He has 54 appearances for Spurs under his belt, scoring seven goals and impressing under Postecoglou this season.
8) Micky van de Ven – £34m
Rapid Dutch centre-back Van de Ven was named Spurs Player of the Season in his first campaign at the club.
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His pace, athleticism, and technical ability on the ball have made him arguably Postecoglou’s best signing to date.
9) Moussa Sissoko – £29.8m
Sissoko came to North London for a substantial fee after being relegated with Newcastle and went on to enjoy five years at Tottenham, playing more than 200 games.
Unfortunately for the French midfielder, he is best-known for giving away a controversial penalty for handball in the first minute of Spurs’ 2-0 Champions League final defeat to Liverpool in 2019.
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10) Giovani Lo Celso – £27.2m
Lo Celso joined on loan from Real Betis in 2019 – a deal that was made permanent the following season.
He has 10 goals and eight assists in 108 games, with some Spurs fans still unsure about the Argentine.
Manager Brendan Rodgers says the performance, as well as the result, makes the 3-1 Champions League win over RB Leipzig the best of his career as Celtic manager.
Mikel Arteta has opened up on Edu’s departureCredit: Getty
Brazilian Edu, 46, is expected to join up with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakas as head of his expanding multi-club empire in a triple-your-money deal.
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The switch has the potential to leave Arsenal vulnerable in their recruitment strategy after their recent meteoric rise under Edu and Arteta to become Prem title challengers.
But Arteta said: “The plan and the vision that starts with the ownership [Stan and Josh Kroenke] – that is very clear and very ambitious – is going to continue.
“We have a very strong leadership team with an unbelievable know-how, a real passion and great feelings for the football club. We’re not going to stop where we are at the moment.
“Then across the club, the excitement, the passion, the understanding of where we want to take this journey remains intact.”
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Arteta hinted that the club are currently on the look-out for a replacement, admitting: “This means opportunities as well for somebody else to come and fulfil their role.”
Edu – an Invincibles hero who made 127 appearances from 2000 to 2005 – returned to the club in July 2019 as technical director before hiring Arteta five months later.
He was then appointed as Sporting Director in November 2022, and spoke of his long-term plans for the club just two months ago as Arteta signed a new three-year deal.
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Edu helped transform Arsenal during his tenure in north LondonCredit: Getty
Arteta added: “Everything happened very quickly. Obviously I loved working with him, I really enjoyed being alongside him in this incredible journey.
“From day one, we’ve been together. First of all, I’m very grateful personally for everything has done for me and for the amazing work that he’s done for the football club.
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“I think we both had this special chemistry working together, we really both enjoyed our roles and working together.
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“I’m very blessed that he’s been part of my life in such a beautiful place that I am right now, managing this incredible club and he’s been a massive part of that.
“He’s had an amazing opportunity now to do something else in a different role and he believes that it’s the right professional move for him.
“We have to respect that and from the bottom of my heart I think everybody really feels that we want the best for him and that’s it.
“We say thank you and we have to move on because that’s the reality of our industry.”
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Winger Bukayo Saka said: “We all know what Edu’s done for the club and he’s a top, top person. So first of all, we just want to wish him all the best.
“We all know what he’s done for the football club. He’s been involved in the transformation and getting us back to performing at the highest stage.
“So, we’re all grateful for him and we’re just wishing him all the best.”
Daniel Frunza sat backstage as he waited for his name to be called by someone from the UFC public relations team.
It would soon be his turn to speak with the media in attendance at the UFC Apex. Moments prior, Frunza (9-2) had earned a contract from promotion CEO Dana White for an impressive Contender Series finish by TKO over Vadym Kutsyi (17-2).
That’s when it hit him: His dream, or at least the first big one, was achieved.
“Even when Dana gave the contract, I was like, ‘Eh.’ It was like in a dream state,” Frunza recently told MMA Junkie. “But when I was in the back waiting for the interview, waiting for the media, I was like, ‘Oh my goodness. What the hell did I just do?’ That’s what kind of came to me, the realization. But it felt good because that’s what I was working for. That’s what I was there for. I knew what I was there for. I know what I’m fighting for.”
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Some of his motivations, Frunza is keeping close to his chest. In due time, he plans to tell his story and what makes him tick to the fullest extent. But for now, Frunza hopes to serve as an inspiration for the next generation of Romanian fighters.
One year ago, Diana Belbita and Nicolae Negumereanu were the country’s two lone representatives. Frunza, Bogdan Grad, and Alice Ardelean have since more than doubled that number.
“We’re going to lead the way,” Frunza said. “That’s what I want, to be honest. I will try to make it to the highest heights of the sport and be an inspiration for the new generation, for the young guys and show that it’s possible, and as a Romanian fighter, you can dream. If you work hard and you’re really dedicated, you can make it. What I want on a personal level is to lead the way and be an inspiration to the younger guys.”
Frunza, 30, was born in Romania, where he lived until age 14 when he moved with his mother to Italy. At 19, he picked up combat sports. His main motivation was living out the American dream, and he saw MMA as the most America-centric combat sport. Eventually, Frunza found his way to Miami, where he currently lives and trains.
While he has yet to receive his first UFC assignment, whenever that walk comes, viewers should expect to see a blue, yellow, and red flag draped over Frunza’s shoulders.
“I want to say to the UFC: Line them up. Just get them ready for me,” Frunza said. “That’s all I can say. That’s the only message that I’m going to give. Just line them up. I cannot wait to step back into that cage, this time in an official UFC event, and hopefully I would really fight with a crowd and entertain the people.”
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Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
Harborough manager Mitch Austin said the signing felt “totally unbelievable” and he was “gobsmacked” by Sandro’s decision.
“I had a chance conversation with Sandro a couple of weeks ago and we got talking about football, I told him about Harborough Town FC and the journey we are on, and he has been messaging me ever since to sign on,” he told the club’s website., external
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