Ex-Man Utd and England star Wes Brown declared bankrupt after glittering Premier League career

Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown has been declared bankrupt at High Court after splitting from his wife – having once earned £50,000-per-week at Old Trafford

Former Manchester United and England defender Wes Brown has been declared bankrupt at the High Court.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 26: Pundit Wes Brown looks on during the Carabao Cup Final match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on February 26, 2023 in London, England. — Wes Brown has turned to punditry since retiring in 2018 (Image: Getty Images)

The Mirror report that HMRC filed a bankruptcy petition against the former England international, which was rubber stamped at the High Court on April 12.

Brown earned as much as £50,000-a-week during his time at United. He won five Premier League titles, four domestic cups and the Champions League twice during his time at United.

The 43-year-old, who called time on his career in 2018 following a spell in India after 19 years in the Premier League and one in the Championship, has fallen on hard times financially.

Brown split from his wife Leanne, with whom he has three children, last year – 13 years after tying the knot. Leanne was to later find fame on reality TV show the Real Housewives of Cheshire.

In 2016, they slashed the asking price on their Prestbury mansion to £2.4million from £4.5m.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Wes Brown lifts the Premiership trophy after the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Everton v Manchester United at Goodison Park on May 11, 2003 in Liverpool, England. — Wes Brown won five Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson (Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)

LONDON - AUGUST 20: Wes Brown of England in action during the international friendly match between England and the Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium on August 20, 2008 in London, England. — Wes Brown had an extended career and made 23 appearances for England (Image: Getty Images)

In 2019, Leanne said: “Yes we’ve got a lovely life and all this money and I’m not saying the money isn’t great but when you’re in it you’re living in this bubble. Although the fans can be amazing they can also be very cruel.

“It must be hard [for footballers] to deal with to be on top one minute and hated the next for a bad kick or missing the goal. We are the ones that are left to pick up the pieces and bear the brunt of whatever is left at the end of their careers.

“Sometimes it’s hard being alone a lot. The lads are away a lot, especially if involved in a high-profile club and England international, too.”

Brown, who is thought to have earned around £1million-a-year at Sunderland, where he spent five seasons after leaving United, was recently honest about his fitness at the time.

Wes Brown And Wife Leane Brown Arrive At Manchester United Football Club'S 'United For Unicef' Gala Dinner Held At Old Trafford, Manchester — Wes Brown split from wife Leanne having married back in 2009 (Image: UK Press via Getty Images)

He admitted that he wasn’t in the best shape after moving on from Old Trafford, having once nabbed a pay rise after fighting on a bus.

He told Fore Fore 2 in March: “I had a think but I still wanted to play. I wanted to play but I knew it wasn’t up to the standard at United.

“When you are fit, it’s no problem. You’re getting up to your man quickly. I knew over the last couple of years, I just couldn’t do it.

“My game had changed a little bit. To be fair, with the injuries I had, I didn’t do too bad in the sense that normal people wouldn’t play as long with the two ACLs I had, but managed to get through it.”

SOURCE: dailystar.co.uk