Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports
Topics: Inter Milan, Champions League, Football, Harry Redknapp
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Inter Milan, Champions League, Football, Harry Redknapp
The winner of popular Sky One show Football's Next Star is now a manager, 15 years after he earned a contract to play for Serie A giants Inter Milan.
Ben Greenhalgh, a skilful winger from Orpington, was offered a six-month deal with the Italian giants following an impressive stint on Football's Next Star, a reality competition that aimed to find the so-called "next big thing".
After being one of the standout performers alongside the likes of Craig Walsh, Hicham Abdellah and Connor Smith, Greenhalgh was greeted with the line every contestant wanted to hear following a tense final episode.
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"Well done," said Inter Milan academy coach Marco Monti, a fan favourite throughout the series. "You have won a contract."
Greenhalgh opened up on his memorable stint on Football's Next Star in a 2019 interview with SPORTbible.
"Being on the show was probably my greatest moment in football," he said. "You're stuck in a dream world where everything just kept getting better and better. In my mind there was no pressure. I was just taking it all in.
"I had been under the radar for a few months since winning the show before it was aired but after the first episode my Facebook account crashed and that's when it all kicked in.
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"The show itself was a positive experience and I learned how to keep my head in tough situations like 'the danger zone' which was a lot more nerve racking than it looked because it would take us hours to film before we even found out who was going to stay."
He added: "Being chucked in the deep end with massive names like Vieira and Quaresma has helped me today to feel no pressure in games."
Greenhalgh initially impressed in Milan. In fact, he remains the only British footballer in history to get a Champions League winners’ medal while playing for the Nerazzurri, after they beat Bayern Munich in the 2010 final.
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Once his six-month contract came to an end, the winger re-signed for a following season before enjoying a four-month loan spell at Calcio Como. Sadly though, it never worked out at Inter and a failed trial at Brighton took place shorty after.
He would later enjoy spells at Concord Rangers, Ebbsfleet United and Scottish side Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Greenhalgh was also scouted to join talent agency Select Sport Artists, who originally cast him as Cristiano Ronaldo's body double. In fact, he's doubled for players such as Mesut Ozil, Gareth Bale, Robin van Persie, Luke Shaw and Lionel Messi.
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After a solid career in the lower leagues, Greenhalgh was named the player/manager of Isthmian League South East Division side Margate in 2024.
Upon his appointment as manager, Greenhalgh said: “It’s a privilege to, not only be part of this club as a player, but to join some great managers in the history books of Margate FC, is not something I take for granted."
He added: “I thank the club for this opportunity and look forward to steering us back to winning ways."
After finishing fourth in the league, Margate were beaten in their Isthmian South East play-off semi-final against Burgess Hill last month.
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The 33-year-old's career could have easily taken another turn if he had failed earn a contract at Inter Milan in 2010. Eight years later, Ben revealed that Harry Redknapp would have offered him a two-year contract at Spurs if he hadn't won the show.