4 Jul 2014

Unlucky number for keeper

5:44 pm on 4 July 2014

A footballer in England has been dumped from his side because he was born on what his club's new eccentric owner believes is an unlucky date.

Massimo Cellino, who has taken ownership of Leeds United, has a bizarre belief that the number 17 is unlucky.

As a result, he's reportedly told Leeds' manager not to play star keeper Paddy Kenny, who was born on May 17, in goal.

Kenny, 36, is Leeds' second-highest paid player, pulling in nearly $20,000 a week. But the unfortunate goalkeeper has been told by his boss to start looking for a new job.

This is not the first time Cellino has reacted strangely to the number 17.

Back when he owned Italian side Cagliari, he requested all number 17 seats from the Serie A club's ground be changed to 16B.