Once a blue, always a blue... Rooney pays visit to watch old club Everton in the FA Cup

 putting his feet up at home.

Manchester United are already out of the FA Cup, so they weren't in action as the fifth round took centre stage.

Watching on: Wayne Rooney was joined by Alan Stubbs (right) at Everton

But Rooney showed football will always be his first love as he took a trip to watch his former club Everton.

The Toffees were in action against Championship side Blackpool on Saturday and Rooney joined his old pal Alan Stubbs in the crowd.

When he played for Everton, Rooney once famously showed off a T-shirt after he scored that screamed: 'Once a blue, always a blue'.

Now and then: Rooney (left) at Goodison and with his famous T-shirt

Former hero: Rooney started his career at Goodison Park

When he suddenly joined United shortly afterwards, Everton fans were quick to remind him of his pledge - and they have given him abuse ever since.

But Rooney was happy to join the supporters who turned against him as David Moyes' side aimed for a place in the quarter-finals.

Guardiola ready to replace Wenger as Arsenal plan to move manager upstairs

Arsene Wenger's 16-year reign as Arsenal manager is under increasing pressure after Saturday's 2-0 FA Cup fifth-round defeat at Sunderland - and the revelation that Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola could replace him in the summer. 

Senior sources at Arsenal have indicated that plans are being discussed to move the Frenchman into the boardroom after another season of disappointment looks certain to condemn the club to missing out on a trophy for the seventh year running. 

Waiting in the shadows: Barcelona's coach Josep Guardiola

 

Arsenal's 4-0 capitulation at AC Milan last week effectively sealed their exit from the lucrative Champions League and sounded alarm bells for club directors already facing the prospect of failing to qualify for next season's competition because of erratic Premier League form. 

Since American Stan Kroenke became majority shareholder, Arsenal have looked to increase their global popularity and the income from it. 

The team's success is the key to that and Wenger appears to have run out of ideas on how to stop his side's decline. 

On the hot-seat: Arsene Wenger cuts a lonely figure at Sunderland

Arsenal are also aware that there is likely to be a limited window in which they could lure Guardiola from Barcelona, while his contract situation there remains uncertain. 

The highly-regarded 41-year-old coach will be a free agent at the end of the season and refuses to rule out a move despite pressure from the European champions to sign a new deal.

'I can't be at such a demanding club without being certain that I have the strength to do it,' said Guardiola on Saturday night, in response to questions about a new contract. 

Going through: Kieran Richardson (right) fires home the opener for Sunderland

'I still don't have it clear in mind. When I am sure then the club will know. To renew my contract, I have to feel it. We have been together for four years and the decision needs to be thought out thoroughly.

'I feel that it is better to have a bit more time. If that is okay then fine, if not then too bad. I have to be true to myself.'

Sing when you're winning: Kieran Richardson celebrates giving Sunderland the lead

Because his 300 fish need va-va-room: Thierry Henry rebuilds his £6m home to fit in FOUR-STOREY 5,000 gallon tank

gallons of water to fill, house 300 fish and cost a staggering £250,000 to build. 

This is the giant aquarium footballer Thierry Henry is so keen to have that he wants to rebuild his luxury home to accommodate it.

The former Arsenal striker has lodged controversial plans to demolish his £5.9 million North London house – which was completed only in 1999 and is described as one of the finest examples of modern architecture in the UK – and replace it with a larger property.

His proposals detail the extravagant four-storey aquarium.

Fish Fan:  Thierry Henry, seen here with model Gisele Bundchen, is to splash out £250,000 on a four-storey fish tank at his North London home

As well as the vast cost of construction, the 15ft long by 3ft wide tank will set Henry back £12,000  a year to run, including weekly inspections at about £50 an hour. The annual bill for fish food alone would be £2,500.

The French footballer – who fronted the ‘va-va-voom’ TV adverts for car firm Renault – is the latest in a long line of celebrities including Madonna, the Beckhams, Cher and Premier League footballers Stephen Ireland, Joe Hart and Micah Richards, to splash out on opulent fish tanks.  

Ireland has reportedly spent more than £100,000 on his 13ft aquarium, and is now believed to be planning a shark tank under his kitchen floor.

But Henry’s super-size version will dwarf them all.

Elaborate: The 15ft long by 3ft wide tank will set Henry back £12,000 a year to run, including weekly inspections at about £50 an hour. The annual bill for fish food alone will be £2,500

His aquarium will actually be made up of four separate tanks, one for each storey of the house.
Each will be made of Perspex-like material and will give the optical illusion of one giant aquarium – but will be cheaper to clean, run and maintain than a single tank.

One industry expert last night  said the £12,000-a-year bill for  heating, cleaning and lighting the tanks would be just a fraction of the £80,000 it would cost to maintain one huge tank.

Each aquarium will require a filtration system to ensure the water stays clean and fresh. Experts say there are 2,000 species of marine life suitable for the tanks, ranging from smaller breeds of shark to clown fish, yellow tangs, blue tangs and angel fish.

It has been suggested that the celebrity obsession with aquariums has nothing to do with a fondness for fish.

One tank designer, who asked not to be named, said: ‘Our client list tends to be male-dominated and they are looking for status symbols and showpieces.’

Henry, Arsenal’s all-time leading scorer with 229 goals, now plays for the New York Red Bulls.
The 34-year-old returned to the  US this week following a short loan spell back at Arsenal during the American league’s mid-season winter break. 

Plans: Henry intends to rebuild his Hampstead home, although the original architect Sir Richard MacCormac is opposed to the demolition

But the star, who divorced his wife Claire Merry in 2007 and is now dating Bosnian model Andrea Rajacic, is keen to maintain his  London base, in Hampstead, to be close to his daughter Tea.

Henry’s new home will be taller than the existing one and include  a bar, a cinema and a swimming pool. Despite spending at least £2 million on rebuild costs, the finished house is likely to be worth at least £10 million.

The footballer is keen to highlight the eco-features of the new home, which includes extensive glass panelling to capture natural light and a so-called ‘biodiverse’ roof, which will incorporate plants and trees.

But the house’s original architect, Sir Richard MacCormac, is opposed to the proposed demolition.

Sir Richard, who also designed  the Wellcome wing of the Science Museum, said last night: ‘I don’t think you improve sustainability by demolishing a house which is just 13 years old.

‘It surprises me that someone  who can afford to build a new house and who claims to be serious about architecture should not simply build another one elsewhere.

‘I think my original design is well regarded locally and I think a lot of people are going to be upset.
‘The existing house has a very deliberate low-key design to ensure that it would not look out of place in the conservation area.’

There is also opposition from The Twentieth Century Society, which champions modern architecture and is considering applying for the building to be listed to block the demolition plan.

The society’s director Catherine Croft said: ‘There are so few  fabulously well designed modern homes like this that we shouldn’t be knocking them down.’

Camden Council said the application would be debated by councillors  in March.

British boxing's night of shame: Police seek former world champion David Haye after sensational post-fight confrontation with rival Dereck Chisora

• Police release Dereck Chisora but confirm he could still be charged with grievous bodily harm
• Officers also want to speak to David Haye but believe he may have left Germany early this morning
• Investigation follows ugly scenes last night after British boxers and their entourages brawled following world heavyweight title fight
• Haye's manager suffers a gash on his forehead and claims to have been 'glassed'

British boxer Dereck Chisora has been freed without charge by Munich police after the bloody brawl with rival UK fighter David Haye that shamed their sport.

Haye's whereabouts remain unknown and he is still wanted for questioning.

Chisora last night lost to Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko on a points decision in a heavyweight title fight, and the fracas happened at the post-bout press conference.

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Take that: David Haye launches a right hook which catches Dereck Chisora on the jaw during the press conference brawl in Munich last night

Clash: Dereck Chisora exchanges blows with David Haye during the post fight press conference

Enemies: Chisora and David Haye get up close and personal during the brawl

A spokesman for Munich police said Chisora was free to return to England after being detained in the German city to answer questions about the altercation.

But he could still face charges of causing grievous bodily harm.

Haye was not at his hotel this morning and did not turn up for his scheduled flight, the spokesman added.

Asked to confirm that Chisora had been released, the police spokesman replied: 'Yes.'

The boxer's trainer Don Charles was also arrested and questioned as part of the official investigation into the incident.

It followed ugly scenes last night when the two heavyweight boxers brawled with each other in the Olympiahalle, Munich.

Police said they are scrutinising videotapes from the fight to try to determine what happened and if other people should be prosecuted.

A police spokesman said before Chisora's release: 'Police picked up Mr Chisora at the airport at approximately 10.30am (German time) and are bringing him in for the investigation.

Injury: Adam Booth, trainer of David Haye, bleeds from a nasty gash on his forehead. He claimed to have been 'glassed' during the brawl

'They also picked up Mr Chisora's trainer for questioning.

'The police went to the hotel to speak to them but we had been informed they had just checked out.

'At present we do not know where Mr Haye is.

'We are currently looking for him. He was not at the hotel this morning and we have not seen him at the airport.'

The police spokesman said the investigation was 'only at the very initial stages' and said there had been no arrests following the bloody brawl.

The brawl began after Chisora allegedly mocked Haye for his poor performance against Klitschko's brother Wladimir last year and tried to goad his rival into a future bout.

Chisora then confronted Haye during the press conference and the two men grappled around the room with onlookers and entourages getting involved. 

At one stage Haye swung a camera tripod violently at Chisora's trainer Don Charles after trading blows with him, while Chisora brandished a glass bottle moments later.

Haye's manager Adam Booth suffered a gash on his forehead and claimed to have been 'glassed'.

Police arrived as the incident calmed down and were on hand as Chisora eventually left the arena some time later. 

After putting up a decent showing against Klitschko, Chisora and his promoter Frank Warren appeared to be trying to goad Haye into a high-profile fight between the two Londoners.

He said: 'David, you and me can get it on in London. Be quiet. David Haye is an embarrassment. Sky Sports don't do Box Office because of David Haye. He messed up Box Office for all the young fighters and I'm going to give him two slaps for that.

'If David Haye is a fighter he should fight me. Let's fight, me and you.'

Chisora also repeatedly shouted 'David, how's your toe?' at Haye, referring to the injury he blamed for his loss to Wladimir Klitschko.

Haye, ignoring a low-key win for Chisora last year, retorted: 'You've had three losses in a row (sic).'

Chisora then said: 'Do you want to tell me to my face? Tell me to my face!'

Tension: David Haye shouts at the direction of Dereck Chisora shortly before the brawl started

Weary: Chisora can be seen after the press conference brawl with blood on his T-shirt

Chisora then left the stage, approached Haye and went nose-to-nose before appearing to push the former champion and initiate the brawl which lasted at least five minutes.

While the Klitschkos stood and watched, Haye left the scene while Booth, with blood running down his face, shouted at Chisora: 'Derek, man-to-man, I want to know who glassed me. Someone hit me with a bottle.'

Chisora answered: 'Did you see me with a glass?'

Chisora was, in fact, seen with a bottle in his hand, but he was wrestled away by a security guard.

After being confronted by Booth, Chisora told Haye's trainer-manager: 'If you and David want it (the fight), then we can do it. Either in the ring or outside the ring. You let me know. I want it.

'You tell him; his entourage has got nothing on my entourage. I'm going to find him. Your boy had a bottle.'

Even by boxing's often chaotic standards the unsavoury incident was shocking, drawing gasps and cries of alarm as those involved fell about the room, knocking equipment over.

Where it should have stayed: Vitali Klitschko had earlier beaten Dereck Chisora on points

During the melee, Booth and Haye criticised the Ukrainians' manager Bernd Boente for not agreeing a fight between the Englishman and WBC champion Vitali.

After watching the unexpected drama unfold, Wladimir Klitschko told the BBC: 'I'm totally disappointed, it went a little too far, the sport of boxing shouldn't be like that. Bloody faces in the press conference... fighting in the ring, not out. I'm really surprised.'

A fight between the two domestic rivals had not been too far-fetched a possibility either after Chisora's brave showing against Vitali.

Few expected him to last beyond the opening round, especially after he angered the 40-year-old by slapping him and the pre-fight weigh-in and then spitting water into brother Wladimir's face in the ring.

But he was composed throughout the bout and, although he lost comfortably on points (118 - 110 twice and 119-111), he did his chances of becoming a world name no harm at all.

Spit storm: Chisora was caught on camera blasting Wladimir with water before the fight

Temperatures rising: Chisora continued to goad his opponent, even after the defeat

'I came here to fight and that's what I did and the only thing that beat me today was experience,' he said of his performance. 'An experienced fighter today won the fight . Did he hurt me? No.'

Chisora also felt he could have done better than he actually did, adding: 'I'm very disappointed with myself, I didn't really work my jab, which I wanted to do.

'I'm very disappointed with myself but you know what I gave a great fight and all the fans at home and all over the world know that I gave a great fight. I didn't come here to get paid I came here to win and the only thing that beat me tonight was experience.'

Haye, who was commentating for BoxNation, spent the evening calling out Vitali, who he hopes to fight this summer, despite technically being in retirement.