Vinnie Jones, one of football’s ultimate hardmen, once named the five toughest opponents he ever faced. The former Wimbledon midfielder played in an era when blood, sweat, and tears were poured into every game, and referees often turned a blind eye to the antics of mavericks who would do anything to get inside an opponent’s head.

The most famous image of Jones came during a clash between Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang and Newcastle, when he grabbed Paul Gascoigne by the testicles to put him off. The photo became iconic, perfectly capturing his in-your-face style. But in a time that was anything but PG, ‘The Axe’, as he was nicknamed by some, was far from the only hardman on the pitch.

In a 2012 interview with the Daily Mail, Jones revealed the five players even he admitted to fearing, despite his fearless reputation. Surprisingly, Duncan Ferguson did not make the cut.

Vinnie Jones Named 5 Hardest Players He Played Against

Bryan Robson – Manchester United

In the world of football hardmen, Roy Keane’s voice carries real weight – so the fact he described his former captain, Bryan Robson, as “tough as nails, brave, and a proper leader” tells you everything you need to know about Manchester United’s ‘Captain Marvel.’

Robson was a no-nonsense midfielder who played the entire 1982 World Cup with a dislocated shoulder, and teammates often remarked that when he went in for a 50/50 challenge, it was really more like 80/20 in his favour.

Steve McMahon – Liverpool

Named by Vinnie Jones as his ‘Only Real Rival’ for the title of ‘Hardest Man in Football’, Steve McMahon brought a certain steel to the Liverpool team of the late-80s that claimed three league titles and two FA Cups with their free-flowing system. “I’d kick my own brother if necessary – it’s what being a professional footballer is all about,” McMahon once said.

Even when he was being taken out by Jones at Wembley, he managed to give some back – elbowing the Wimbledon man in his cheek on the way down, leaving a scar that Jones still wears today. During a clash at Anfield later on, he would get full revenge, too, when his studs-up challenge left Jones’ foot requiring eight stitches.

Terry Hurlock – Millwall

Terry Hurlock was sent off 13 times in his career and booked more than 100 times – astonishing even for that era. Players often joked that he looked more like a nightclub bouncer than a footballer, and that his glare alone could put you off your game.

He was called up to the England B team in 1989, which shocked some pundits who said his style was “too brutal” for international football. But it also showed how respected he was for his sheer presence. Dubbed ‘Terry Warlock’, Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock revealed that Hurlock once ripped a pub door out of a wall when asked what he was going to do to Vinnie Jones when Millwall played Wimbledon, leaving his teammates in shock.

Roy Keane – Manchester United

This list could surely not have been complete unless Keane featured. There’s no doubt he was a special footballer, but it was his extra bite into tackles which earned him the respect but also – at times – the disrespect of his teammates and opponents. Just ask Alf-Inge Haaland, who was on the receiving end of a challenge widely regarded as one of the worst in Premier League history.

Famous for his memorable battles with Patrick Vieira, his surprisingly lovable personality has trickled over into his punditry career. ‘Keano’ can be spotted next to the likes of Gary Neville and Micah Richards, bemoaning about how ‘football has changed’, although he may have mellowed slightly in recent years.

Carlton Palmer – Sheffield Wednesday

Carlton Palmer’s reputation is a bit different from someone like Hurlock or Keane. He wasn’t really considered a “hardman” in the same sense – his name is more often remembered for his stamina, awkward-but-effective style, and the fact he was as tall and strong as he was fast.

“There were so many good lads playing in my day you were always guaranteed a battle,” Jones said. “If I had to pick the hardest out I’d go for Bryan Robson, Steve McMahon, Terry Hurlock, Roy Keane and Carlton Palmer. Why Carlton? He was so big, he’d run away from you and you’d never catch him!”

Brighton CEO Paul Barber has confirmed that Tottenham have made a second bid to sign Jan Paul van Hecke ahead of the summer transfer window.

Tottenham have been showing an interest in signing Van Hecke ahead of the summer transfer window, with manager Roberto De Zerbi clearly keen to work with one of his former players.

Spurs may need defensive reinforcements in the summer transfer window, with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero both linked with departures.

De Zerbi could be looking to bring in players that he knows he can trust as he aims to guide Spurs into the top half of the Premier League table.

Reports emerged this week that Tottenham had made a bid to sign Van Hecke, but it appears they’ve made another one as the Brighton CEO speaks out.

Brighton CEO Speaks on Tottenham Interest

Speaking live on Talk Sport, Brighton CEO Barber has confirmed that Tottenham have made a second bid to sign Brighton defender Van Hecke.

Brighton appear to be standing firm with the Dutch defender as they understandably don’t want to lose him this summer.

Tottenham’s second bid was rejected by the Seagulls. It will be interesting to see whether Spurs return to the negotiating table once again.

Tottenham Should Walk Away

With reports suggesting that Tottenham’s initial offer was in the region of £70 million, it could be time for the North London club to walk away from a deal.

That would suggest that Spurs’ second offer was even more, which clearly shows that Brighton aren’t going to let him go on the cheap.

Van Hecke would undoubtedly improve Tottenham, especially if they lose van de Ven and Romero, but there are certainly question marks as to whether he’s worth over £70 million.

At this stage, Tottenham should be walking away rather than continuing to negotiate, as there is undoubtedly better value elsewhere in the centre-back market.

In just seven days, the UFC is scheduled to host their much publicised event at the White House, home of the President of the United States, Donald Trump. However, recent news has emerged which could threaten the card.

Trump will be celebrating his 80th birthday on the same day as the event, which is being branded as UFC Freedom 250. The President is a long-time ally of the UFC and its CEO, Dana White, having helped the promotion in the early days of Dana’s ownership by hosting UFC 30 and 31 in The Trump Taj Mahal, now known as the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.

Naturally, the event has proven controversial, with some arguing that the UFC shouldn’t be mixing sport and politics. The world’s leading MMA promotion has been undeterred, though, booking a stacked card for the landmark event.

UFC Freedom 250 Fight Card Explored

The card will be headlined by the clash for the undisputed UFC lightweight title between undefeated Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. Also featured will be a collision between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight strap.

There will also be high-level bantamweight action as “Suga” Sean O’ Malley faces Aiemann Zahabi. Further down the card, much-loved MMA veterans Derrick Lewis and Michael Chandler also have bouts.

The event, which Trump has compared to the opening of the Eiffel Tower, has reportedly cost well over $60 million to put together. Those lucky enough to be given access inside the gates will total 4,300 people, while an additional 100,000 fans will watch on a big screen from nearby Ellipse Park.

Unfortunately, the heavily sought-after 4,300 tickets weren’t available to the public. Instead, they’ve been split amongst White House staff, UFC officials, officials of the UFC’s parent company, TKO, and members of the military, who themselves have to meet size requirements to get hold of a ticket, with preference given to junior service personnel who are genuine UFC fans.

The Major Issue Facing UFC Freedom 250

Unfortunately for both the UFC and President Trump, it now appears that there is a genuine chance that the card could be prevented from taking place.

When speaking about the event previously, White was clear that only one thing would stop UFC Freedom 250 from happening.

“We’ve gone over this, you know. If it rains, we’re going. If it snows, we’re going. The only thing that will stop us is lightning.”

The challenge of predicting the weather forecast can often make it a cruel mistress. There is always a chance that the heavens open and severely affect the running of an event or even cancel it entirely.

Regrettably for the veteran matchmaker, lightning is exactly what the UFC could face next Sunday, according to the long range weather forecast.

Per Accuweather, there is a 65% chance of rain on the day of the card, which would be bad enough for an outdoor event. Most concerningly, though, there is a 39% chance of thunderstorms.

In the event of a thunderstorm, the company would be obligated to suspend the show. It is not believed that there is a reserve location where the fights could take place.

For now, Dana is receiving regular updates from the military as the UFC hope to avoid the worst-case scenario.

“We’re working with the military. The military knows the weather ten days out, and they’ll notify us every two hours, ten days out, seven days out, they’ll notify us every hour.”

The UFC boss looks set for a nervous week ahead of arguably the biggest show that he will ever promote.