As Kim Jong-un is revealed as a Manchester United fan, we look at other despots and tyrants’ football teams including Robert Mugabe the Chelsea supporter
From Josef Stalin to Osama Bin Laden, take a look at which club some of the world's most-feared historic leaders followed
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EARLIER this week, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was revealed to be a huge Manchester United fan.
A close friend of the nuclear tyrant revealed to SunSport how he loves the beautiful game and never misses a major football tournament.
Italian senator Antonio Razzi confirmed the crackpot dictator had told him during private conversations of his love for the Red Devils.
But when asked if Kim compared himself to any United heroes such as Eric Cantona or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Razzi told The Sun: “No, Kim is Kim — he is the only one.”
However, Kim Jong-un is by now means the only fearsome world leader in history to support a famous football club.
Check out a list of nine other despots and the football club they supported...
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ROBERT MUGABE - Chelsea
ZIMBABWEAN dictator Mugabe has been ruling over the African nation since 1987.
Infamously dubbed "The Butcher of Harare" for his actions, he is a massive football fan - with Chelsea his club of choice... despite a love of Barcelona.
On watching football, Mugabe, 93, once said: ‘I followed you and watched some of your games, but I am a Chelsea and Barcelona supporter and I always want them to score.’
"When I watch soccer, I do not want anyone to disturb me.
"Even my wife knows where to sit because while they are scoring in the field I will also be scoring at home, kicking everything in front of me.”
OSAMA BIN LADEN - Arsenal
BEFORE he led one of the world's most-wanted terrorist groups, Bin Laden was a big fan of Arsenal.
Spending time at his family home in London, the Saudi Arabia-born tyrant often frequented Highbury - even buying his kids replica kits.
Gunners fans even made up a chant about him: "Osama, woah-oh, Osama, woah-woah-woah-woah, he's hiding in Kabul, he loves the Arsenal."
Yet Arsenal officials were less thrilled, banning Bin Laden from the ground.
COLONEL GADDAFI - Liverpool
FOLLOWING the demise of the Libyan leader, a Liverpool FC mug was found amongst his personal belongings.
His son, Al-Saadi, even went on to attempt to become a professional football star... before becoming a director at Juventus, where he invested heavily.
At one point, the younger Gaddafi had reportedly considered buying a stake in the Reds.
JOSEF STALIN - Dynamo Moscow
DYNAMO MOSCOW were founded by feared KGB boss Lavrentiy Beria... no pressure on the players then.
So it's hardly a surprise communist leader Stalin was a big fans.
In fact, after the USSR lost to Yuogslavia at the 1952 Olympic Games, he ordered the disbanding of rivals CSKA Moscow... as a large contingent of the national side came from the team.
IDI AMIN - Hayes FC
UGANDAN dictator Amin was responsible for around 500,000 deaths under his brutal regime.
But Amin spent 15 years in the British army... where he found out all about Hayes FC - now known as Hayes and Yeading FC after a 2007 merger.
A fellow office in the army would go on and on about Hayes, constantly singing their praises, converting Amin in the process.
GENERAL FRANCO - Real Madrid
FRANCO is remembered as a one-time fascist dictator of Spain.
But on top of that he is one of few to switch his allegiances from Atletico to Real Madrid.
The dictator started off following Los Rojiblancos, before a series of European Cup victories for Los Blancos saw him swap sides.
RADOVAN KARADZIC - Inter Milan
BOSNIAN SERB Karadzic was one of the world's most-wanted for his war crimes.
He was chased for his genocide of Muslims and Croats, before he went into hiding.
However, he was spotted watching Inter Milan after they signed Serbian duo Sinisa Mihajlovic and Dejan Stankovic,
NICOLAE CEAUSESCU - Steaua Bucharest
UP until the Romanian Revolution in 1989, the national army were in charge of European giants Steaua Bucharest.
Dictator Ceausescu got to live out the dream of all football fans in the world... but playing Football Manager for real, in taking over the club's transfer policy.
He even enforced the transfer of players, including Gheorghe Hagi without the agreement of the player of their original club.
The side went on to win the Romanian top-flight six years in a row... before lifting the European Cup in 1986.
ADOLF HITLER - Schalke*
IT was once reported that Nazi dictator Hitler was a Schalke fan.
The rumour spread mostly as the Gelsenkirchen side won the league title six times during the reign of the Third Reich.
However, in 2008, Schalke’s head of PR - Gerd Voss - addressed the rumour head-on, categorically denying the claims.
Read the incredible full letter to the publication's editor, below..
