Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku and Nicolas Otamendi among stars revving up the revival in ultimate 70s status symbol Rolls-Royce
George Best proudly posed beside his Silver Shadow more than 40 years ago and now the archetypal British car that signified style and elegance has made a resurgence among the super rich
ROLLS-ROYCE is back and bigger than ever with a number of top footballers getting behind the wheel of the ultimate Seventies status symbol.
Some 46 years ago it was the legendary George Best who posed proudly beside his white Silver Shadow.
Bobby Moore was seen in one too but it was the Manchester United icon's ride - which sold for £12,584 at auction in 2016 - that boasted leather seats, a walnut trim and electric windows.
Malcolm Allison, the cigar-chomping, fedora-wearing former Manchester City boss would turn up to training in his white Rolls-Royce.
Kevin Keegan posed proudly beside one and former United chairman Louis Edwards had one in his garage.
Nowadays, ultra rich footie stars can blow up to £70,000 on a new Roller - and that's only on the interior!
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Manchester United star Paul Pogba has been pictured cruising along in his black Rolls-Royce Raith - which will set you back quarter of a million quid.
Team-mate and Old Trafford striker Romelu Lukaku cruises into training in his £250,000 custom Rolls-Royce Phantom.
The £250,000-a-week striker even got a red and black spray paint job on his motor to match the colours of the club he plays for.
But that's not the only customisation an owner can get.
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Cocktail bars are commonplace - and some have even requested their doors to be filled with diamonds.
But by far the most luxurious feature available in these supercars is the incredible starlight headliner.
Some 1,340 lights looks like stars in the night sky above your head as you drive.
Each "constellation" can be crafted to the individual and the whole thing takes more than 17 hours to complete.
Nicolas Otamendi wore a backwards baseball cap and shades when he rocked up to Man City training in his Roller last year.
And former Barcelona star Samuel Eto'o nonchalantly ate a banana while sat on the bonnet of his £250,000 ride.
While the prices and interiors might have changed, the prestige that goes with owning a Rolls-Royce has not.
Tom Hartley, one of the world's leading luxury specialist car dealers for more than 40 years, said: "It's the ultimate symbol. I get asked all the time what is my favourite car - there is no other car that gives you that symbol of success like a Rolls-Royce.
"Whenever anyone talks to you about something - [the best] will be the Rolls-Royce. It could be the Rolls-Royce of furniture.
"Bugatti is more money but if you compare quality, it's always the Rolls-Royce.
History of an icon
The Rolls-Royce is one of the world's most iconic car manufacturers. Here is how it became so.
- 1904 - The original Rolls-Royce company is founded by Charles Stewart Rolls and Frederick Henry Royce.
- 1914 - Designed first aero engine at the start of World War I
- 1940 - Rolls-Royce starts participating in the development of the jet engine.
- 1971 - Problems with the development of the RB211 jet engine cripple the company and it is taken into government ownership.
- 1987 - The company returns to the private sector.
- 1998 - BMW acquire the rights for Rolls-Royce plc for £40m.
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"You can have everything from a cocktail bar, to DVD players in the car, to starlights on the inside of the roof which cost £7,000.
"It's so easy to chuck £50,000 or £60,000 of extras on a standard car. Even a standard car is full of luxury.
"You can have quilted leather, a fridge, diamonds in the doors. It's never-ending. It's easy to put £70,000 - which is the price of a good car - inside there in accessories.
"No other car has got the presence of a Rolls-Royce."
And it is not limited just to footballers.
Boxing legend Henry Cooper had one, as did Major champion golfers Tony Jacklin and Greg Norman.
These days Conor McGregor can show off his and fight rival Floyd Mayweather even had one turned into a limousine.
That is one of six the 50-0 boxer owns, which come at a combined cost of a massive £2.1million.