Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Kyle O'Sullivan

Hollywood actors who support unexpected football teams - from Leeds to Villa

We don't usually associate Hollywood actor with being football fans - but a load of them are very interested in our English teams.

Obviously the British celebs living in America have a keen interest in the beautiful game, with Keira Knightley being a lifelong West Ham fan and Idris Elba supporting Arsenal.

However, some A-listers who aren't from these shores are actually big 'soccer' fans and follow some very unexpected teams.

From Angelina Jolie loving Liverpool to Tom Hanks being part of the Aston Villa faithful, here's a look at some of Hollywood's football fanatics.

Tom Hanks - Aston Villa

Tom Hanks met then Villa manager Paul Lambert before a pre-season friendly (Getty)

The Forrest Gump and Saving Private Ryan actor is used to playing the hero, but he's actually a Villan.

Mr Hanks has confirmed his loyalties lie with Aston Villa due to his fondness for the club's name over anything else.

The two-time Oscar-winning actor likes Villa's 'old world name' and was quoted saying: "Aston Villa sounds like a lovely little place... it sounds like a spa."

He has appeared on red carpets waving a scarf in the club's colours, has been featured on Aston Villa TV and was invited as a guest when they played Portland Timbers in 2012.

When the club got relegated in 2015, Tom refused to give up on Villa and sent a message to fellow fans.

"This is a message to all the claret and blue: Hang on," he told them. There's not a club in the world that hasn't experienced this and there's not a club in the world that hasn't fought back.

"Aston Villa will see their destiny through. Hang on. Don't give up. Wear the scarves. Be proud."

Will Ferrell - Chelsea

Actor Will Ferrell (L) poses with Chelsea FC captain John Terry (AFP/Getty Images)

Will Ferrell got involved with 'soccer' in 2016 when he purchased a stake in MLS side Los Angeles FC in 2016.

The legendary comedian said: "Everyone from my parents who are in their late 70s to the kids, we have some other family friends who weren't even into soccer and now it's their favourite team."

The club finished top of MLS in their second season, winning the Supporters' Shield.

But he also has a love for Chelsea and acted as honorary club captain during a US pre-season game in 2009 against Inter.

The comedian also once made a crack at Jose Mourinho's tactics when he was manager, saying at the GQ awards: "Keep playing defence man, keep playing seven guys in the box. I love it, I love it."

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie - Liverpool

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie support Liverpool - and so does son Maddox (WireImage)

Brad Pitt once revealed his affection for Liverpool during an interview for his 2011 film Moneyball.

Asked who his favourite football team was, he replied: "I have some friends who are very close to Liverpool, so if I went another way I might be disowned."

Pitt's ex-partner Angelina Jolie is a well-known Kopite, which stems from the time she filmed Tomb Raider in North Wales.

During that time, adopted son Maddox spent three days receiving treatment at Alder Hey Hospital.

Maddox became a huge Liverpool fan as a result - and his love for the Reds seems to be spreading through Hollywood.

Samuel L. Jackson - Liverpool

Actors Robert Carlyle (left) and Samuel L Jackson pose for photographs outside Liverpool Town Hall (Press Association)

One of the biggest names in Hollywood, Samuel L. Jackson fell in love with Liverpool when he shot the 2002 film 51st State in the city.

He went to a game at Anfield and hasn't stopped supporting the Reds since.

When Liverpool won the Premier League in 2020, Jackson tweeted: "LIVERPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!"

Russell Crowe - Leeds United

Crowe loves Leeds (Getty Images)

The Gladiator star is a huge Leeds fan - and even did the voiceover for their Amazon documentary 'Take Us Home'.

The New Zealand-born actor explained how he had fallen for a club on the opposite side of the globe on Radio5 Live in 2015.

"I used to come home from sport in the afternoon, me and my brother, and watch Match of the Day.

"We're talking about a period of time in Australia when we had very few TV channels."

He was a child during the years Don Revie's ultra-successful team - and Crowe's love for the club no doubt grew fonder in the late 90s and early 00s when Leeds United had a healthy contingent of Aussie stars.

Sylvester Stallone - Everton

Sylvester Stallone is an Evertonian (Getty Images)
Sly came onto the pitch in 2007 (Getty Images Sport)

Rocky actor Sylvester Stallone is an Evertonian and even visited Goodison Park in 2007 for a game.

His affiliation to the Toffees is due to his friendship with club director Robert Earl - and he previously spoke of his regret of not buying out the club when he had the chance.

"If I knew what I know now I’d have snapped it up," he told The Daily Mirror.

"That was when football clubs were affordable but now it’s a billionaire’s game."

Elijah Wood - West Ham

Frodo is a Hammer (Press Association)

Lord of the Rings hero Elijah Wood got into football after starring as a football hooligan in Green Street.

In the movie, his character is an American who discovers a love for football and fighting - and even gets a West Ham tattoo.

The Frodo Baggins actor was initially courted by fellow Hobbit Dominic Monaghan to support Manchester United.

However, after watching West Ham for the first time for a scene in Green Street, he said: "F***ing hell, that's so much better" – and pledged his allegiance to the Hammers.

Mark Hamill - Wolves

Mark Hamill thought Wolves was just an animal (Getty Images for HISTORY)

Star Wars legend Mark Hamill got into a bit of a mix up originally, as he became a Wolves fan by accident.

When was asked on Twitter if he liked 'Wolves', Hamill thought that they had meant the animal and not the Molineux-based football team.

After realising what was going on, the Luke Skywalker actor confessed: "Everyone got so excited - I HAD to be a fan".

The club said it was made aware of the social media chat and added: "We sent a tweet to Mark, who replied to confirm that he has indeed now pledged his allegiance to Wolves - clearly he is a good judge!

"The force is certainly strong at Molineux at the moment with the team making an excellent start to the season, and it was perhaps fitting that yesterday's game against Millwall finished Obi Wan-Nil.

"There is always room in the Wolf Pack for The Last Jedi, and there is the open invitation for Mark to attend a fixture at Molineux should his Landspeeder ever be passing."

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney - Wrexham

Wrexham co-chairmen Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds (PA)

This acting duo shocked the world when they bought Wrexham in 2020 - and they've taken the club to their hearts.

The supporter-owned National League club voted in favour of the Deadpool star and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia actor's takeover bid after they voiced their plans over Zoom.

The duo want to use their own money to resurrect the 'sleeping giant' and have already made strong progress.

They've attended many games, even if they're still a bit wobbly on the rules, and even made a documentary.

Mark Wahlberg - Tottenham

Mark Wahlberg has a soft spot for Spurs (Getty Images North America)

The Ted and The Departed actor has a soft spot for Tottenham - and visited White Hart Lane in 2016 when he got some time away from filming Transformers.

He pledged his allegiance to the white and navy half of north London and got a snap with Ledley King and Dele Ali.

"We don't like Arsenal, we like these boys right here," he said while touching his Spurs badge, adding: "Tottenham baby!"

After watching Croatia's dramatic quarter-final penalty shoot-out win over Russia in the World Cup in 2018, he posted a video on Instagram to get support for Harry Kane.

He said: "Congrats to Russia on an amazing World Cup run. Croatia, great win. Harry and Dele – your turn now boys!"

Kevin Costner - Arsenal

Kevin Costner is a big Arsenal fan (Getty Images for Netflix)

While he was filming the Robin Hood movie in England, Kevin Costner became enamoured with the football philosophy and fan culture in the country.

He went to see Arsenal play at Highbury and was "taken with the emotion of it".

In his movie Criminal, the actor played a psychopath implanted with the memories of a dead CIA agent who was an Arsenal supporter.

He wanted to pitch a brief scene where his character mentions to a kid wearing an Arsenal scarf that he is a fan of the north Londoners as well, but the club denied permission as they felt the film was too violent.

In 2014, Costner visited the Emirates and told Arsenal TV: "I don't pretend to be a superfan or very knowledgeable.

"I don't know everything about Arsenal but they are my team. When I come here I try to see them play."

Do you have a story to share? Email webfeatures@trinitymirror.com

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.