Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Manchester City, Football, Premier League, FA Cup, Manchester United, Pep Guardiola
Patrick Rowe
Topics: Manchester City, Football, Premier League, FA Cup, Manchester United, Pep Guardiola
A former Manchester City player is now living off benefits with just £2 left in his bank account, according to reports.
Pep Guardiola's side are currently at the height of their powers. Following a historic treble winning season in 2022/23, City are now in prime position to secure another Premier League trophy this season.
As well as this, they will also face local rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final, in a bid to complete an impressive domestic double.
The reigning champions sit in second place currently, just one point behind leaders Arsenal. City do hold a game in hand on their title rivals, as we approach the next round of fixtures this weekend.
When most people think of players who have played within teams such as City, they think about the lavish lifestyle that will almost certainly follow given the amount of money professional players receive.
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However, this isn't always the case - things are certainly more complicated for the club's former goalkeeper Eike Immel.
According to The Sun, the German is now living off benefits in a council house with just £2 in his bank account - despite being a millionaire during his career with City, Borussia Dortmund and Stuttgart.
The 63-year-old spent three seasons in England, where he made 50 appearances in total.
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He went on to retire from the game in 1997 and was later declared bankrupt in 2008. His wife and children also left him amid the financial issues he was experiencing.
He now lives in a flat in the town of Stadtallendorf and has opened up on his current situation. "Money wasn't a concern for me in the past. I used to live the life of Riley," he told Stat 1.
"Sometimes my mobile phone bill came to 10,000 euros [£9,000] a month.
"One Christmas I spent £25,000 on clothes for my new girlfriend.
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"I paid £1m for my home, but at one point the bailiffs were at my door. The tax office said I owed them £800,000, and I was unable to pay it.
"I did things that any normal person would say can't be true. I hadn't given enough thought to the future. Dealing with money is not one of my strengths.
"I now live on £972 a month in benefits. £491 of that goes on rent, leaving me with just £481 for other expenses.
"It is a real battle to make ends meet. Sometimes I just have £2 left.
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"The furnishings in the flat have all been given to me, and a friend who runs a local restaurant lets me eat for free.
"I am thankful for the help. But I wish it didn't have to be this way."