Premier League footballers in Cheshire are turning to MMA fighters for protection after a spate of burglaries targeting players and their families. More than 20 such incidents have occurred in north-west England in recent years, prompting the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) to urge players to consider hiring private security.
Paul Hughes, a former bodyguard for David and Victoria Beckham, now runs a security firm serving high-profile clients from Manchester United, Manchester City, and Liverpool. He described a recent violent robbery where intruders threatened a player and his friends, stealing watches and emptying a safe. Hughes noted that many wealthy residents rely on police, but his clients increase security when players are away, sometimes stationing two or three guards at their homes.
Hughes conducts security checks up to three times daily, with overnight guards posted after dark. Clients can alert guards via a panic button. He criticises players for flaunting wealth, saying, 'Someone gives you 60 grand, you think, 'Oh great, I'm going out,' and you go out and blow it all. The press are all over it taking pictures of you buying your nice cars and your fancy watches, so every man and his dog now knows you've got this property and they know that you're going to have it on you as a target.'
Hughes believes clubs and the Football Association should do more to protect players, but also urges players to take responsibility. His firm provides round-the-clock security for homes worth £4-20 million, often hidden behind electric gates and trees, with amenities like cinemas, pools, and tennis courts.
