How Man City legend went from footballer to shirt supplier for David Bowie and appeared in movies before getting statue | The Sun
MIKE SUMMERBEE went from being a footballer to a shirt supplier for David Bowie after hanging up his boots.
The Manchester City legend also became a movie star before being immortalised outside the Etihad Stadium with his own statue.
Summerbee joined City in 1965 from Swindon, signing in a deal worth £31,000.
He went on to score 68 goals from midfield in 452 appearances for the club during a golden era for City.
During his 10 years in sky blue, Summerbee won six major trophies, including a league title and the European Cup Winners' Cup.
However, he also had a successful shirt-making business outside of football which proved popular with celebrities.
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Summerbee's customers included Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone as well as Bowie.
He had also previously ran a clothes shop with Manchester United star George Best.
Reflecting on their business partnership, he told SunSport in 2021: "We didn’t sell many clothes but there were plenty of girls in there. They were there to see George, not me.
"He was like a film star, a Beatle, such a great-looking man and such a lovely man.
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"He was the best man at my wedding, we ran the business together and we had a flat together.
"We were friends not rivals. We didn’t talk about football much."
After retiring in 1980, Summerbee would launch his own movie career after a phone call from Bobby Moore.
The World Cup-winning captain approached him about starring in the 1981 classic Escape to Victory.
Summerbee appeared as Sid Harmor alongside the likes of Stallone, Pele and Michael Caine.
Despite his fashion and film careers, Summerbee remained close to City after retirement, working with the commercial department and on the matchday programme until 2006.
He has since been a club ambassador and is regularly seen in the stands at the Etihad.
The 80-year-old has now been immortalised outside the ground as well, after the unveiling of a new statue.
City have honoured three club legends by unveiling the sculptures of Summerbee, Colin Bell and Francis Lee.
The trio made a combined 1,280 appearances for City, with Bell and Lee also part of the sides which won the league and European Cup Winners' Cup in 1968 and 1970, respectively.
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