Shortly after signing for Brentford, teenage forward Michel Boni sustained an adductor injury that left him with difficulty walking and kept him out of action for three months. But what he did have was the relentless backing of Tiffany and Steve, a married couple who just weeks before were total strangers to him. "I had never gone through that, so it was really difficult. "Having them means I can go home to a safe place, rest, recover, and focus on what I want to focus on." So how can total strangers build up the kind of affectionate, trustful bond that allows young players to go on and thrive at the top level?

Source: BBC January 03, 2026 08:01 UTC