Sports Calendar

= 16. Craig Bellamy (West Ham United), £9 million - Wales forward who missed most of last season with injuries but still managed to pick up £75,000 a week. That’s almost £4 million before tax.

= 16. Michael Essien (Chelsea), £10 million - Ghana midfield player who has just signed a new five-year Stamford Bridge contract worth about £100,000 a week. Hit the jackpot when he joined Chelsea from Lyon for £24 million three years ago.

= 13. Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), £11 million - Cheer up, Nic. You’re pocketing £75,000-a-week and playing for one of the best teams in the world while the rest of us are worrying about our gas bills.

= 13. Joe Cole (Chelsea), £11 million - Chelsea’s Mr Nice Guy has a lucrative boot deal with adidas which supplements a Stamford Bridge salary that is expected to rise to £80,000 a week this season.

= 13. Ashley Cole (Chelsea), £11 million - England left back who earns £80,000-a-week at Stamford Bridge after acrimonious move from Arsenal two years ago. Emerged financially unscathed after disastrous foray into the world of publishing with 'My Story'.

= 11. Kieron Dyer (West Ham United), £12 million - Broke a leg soon after moving to Upton Park last summer but that has not stopped £80,000 rolling into his bank account every week.

= 11. Emile Heskey (Wigan Athletic), £12 million - Another player who was born at the right time to take advantage of rocketing wages in English football. Has earned excellent wages at Leicester City, Liverpool, Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic.

= 9. Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), £13 million - Public Enemy No 1 in Leeds but who cares when you were picking up £60,000 a week in Liverpool for doing virtually nothing (list compiled before Kewell's move to Turkey).

= 9. Didier Drogba (Chelsea), £13 million - Ivory Coast forward who is convinced that he deserves more than £90,000-a-week at Stamford Bridge. Earns another £20,000-a-week from endorsements and commercial deals.

8. Damien Duff (Newcastle United), £14 million - Ireland winger who made a small fortune from his £17 million transfer from Blackburn Rovers to Chelsea but now has to get by on £70,000-a-week at St James' Park and Lucozade endorsement.

7. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), £15 million - The Portuguese winker has been in Los Angeles trying to find new ways of cashing in on his name and fame. Must be diffuclt having to survive on wages of £120,000 a week.

6. John Terry (Chelsea), £16 million - JT never sheds a tear when his bank statement drops through the letterbox of his Surrey mansion every month. Mr Chelsea takes home about £140,000 a week and has a boot deal with Umbro worth £4 million.

= 4. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), £19 million - The G-Unit is still sitting pretty despite turning down Roman Abramovich’s millions three years ago. Earns about £120,000-a-week at Anfield and supplemented his income last year with a best-selling autobiography and £1 million-a-year adidas deal.

= 4. Frank Lampard (Chelsea), £19 million - Having to make do on £115,000 a week a Stamford Bridge while negotiations have stalled on a new £150,000-a-week 5-year deal. Also has a £1 million-a-year boot deal with adidas.

3. Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), £28 million - Blockbusting moves to Leeds United and Manchester United, the advice of superagent Pini Zahavi, shrewd investments and Nike and Ben Sherman deals mean that the England defender will always be able to get his round in.

2. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), £35 million - Can look forward to a life of luxury when he retires thanks to £115,000-a-week wages, deals with Nike and Coca-Cola and the earning power of his other half, Coleen.

1. Michael Owen (Newcastle United), £41 million - The England forward has been investing his money wisely since he made his name at Liverpool and is on the verge of signing a new lucrative contract at Newcastle United. Also has a £2 million-a-year Umbro boot deal.

SOURCE: SUNDAY TIMES RICH LIST

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