The Manchester United coach driver was another suffering at the wheel of misfortune after losing his keys on the morning of the Chelsea game. He broke the window to get in, setting off an alarm which disabled the engine.

Happily for the red-faced employee, the problem was quickly rectified, but it was the quote from a club spokesman that really caught the eye - "there was nothing sinister about it". Phew.

There were no such engine problems for Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery when he decided to go for a little joyride on the team bus, taking out two road signs as he went for a lap around the hotel where the players were staying. The club were not amused, given the French international's lack of a bus licence, but as you can see from the video, Ribery found the whole experience hilarious.

El Hadji Diouf was yet another footballer having a bit of car trouble. The midfielder's black cadillac spluttered to a halt (much like his career) on Newcastle's Tyne Bridge, causing snarl-ups for two hours. Probably not the best place for a Sunderland player to be stranded.

Toon striker Andy Carroll marked his second game for the first team with a goal against West Ham, but it was the youngster's dodgy braided hairdo that was getting all the attention after the match. Carroll admitted "I've had some stick for it and I will probably get even more now", before taking his dog-on-a-string to an all night squat-rave.

David Beckham knows a thing or two about daft haircuts, but he let his football do the talking on his AC Milan debut, earning praise from all quarters. He refused to quash rumours that he might stay on in Italy, but as his former boss Alexei Lalas astutely pointed out - "David Beckham is not bigger than the Galaxy."

Derby County got the result of the week, beating Manchester United in the League Cup under the watchful eye of new boss Nigel Clough.

Stand-in manager David Lowe became a hero just for one day before handing over the reins to Cloughie. Lowe had spent the previous day coaching the club's under-eight side so it must have been nice for him to have a decent adult conversation after the match with the likes of Wazza and Ronaldo.

And finally, congratulations to Gary Neville on the birth of his first child - and for manfully resisting the urge to call it after his Dad. The poor girl would never have forgiven him. www.itvtoolbar.com