In classic IShowSpeed fashion, the YouTube sensation once left former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp visibly furious. Last year, during Klopp's final months as the Reds' boss, Liverpool suffered a shock 4-3 defeat in the FA Cup quarter-finals to Manchester United thanks to youngster Amad’s winner in the dying seconds of extra time.
But when a frustrated Klopp sat down for his post-match press conference at Old Trafford, he discovered a piece of paper laid out on the table in front of him. He held aloft what was a signed Red Devils contract, making clear his confusion. But all was not as it seemed.
The contract was actually a gimmick, signed by YouTuber and streamer IShowSpeed, real name Darren Watkins Jr. The internet star, who regularly goes viral for his wild behaviour in videos, visited Old Trafford last year due to his love for club legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
United treated the 20-year-old American to a tour of the dressing room, presented him with his own jersey, and even allowed him to sign a fake contract in the press room as though he had secured his dream move. It remains unclear whether the contract was deliberately left behind to unsettle Klopp after the match, but the Liverpool boss was certainly taken aback.
Speed had played in a charity football match with fellow YouTube stars, the Sidemen, at the London Stadium just months before in September 2023. And in a thrilling announcement live on air by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, Speed this week was confirmed as a player for the 2025 edition of the Sidemen Charity Match.
With the game set to unfold at a sold-out Wembley Stadium in London this Saturday, Speed – who has over 36million YouTube subscribers – had previously cast doubt on his return, having hinted at retirement from exhibition football matches following another goalless showing at last month's Match for Hope 2025 in Qatar. He played against Henry during that match, with the Gunners icon urging him not to give up on his fledgling career just yet.
Speed, apparently by coincidence, found himself in England days before the Sidemen’s upcoming event. He appeared on CBS Sports’ coverage of the Champions League on Wednesday, joining the likes of Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards. As Speed aired his grievances about his poor performances, Henry cut in with the heart-warming revelation: "Before you feel like that, you've been chosen as the captain of the team. That's the present that they gave me to give you."
He pulled out a captain's armband and asked: "Are you gonna stop or are you gonna play now that you're the captain?" Speed couldn't hide his mischievous smile as he responded: "Wait, the captain of the YouTube Allstars? Come on, put me on, man. I'm in, man, come on!"
As the weekend’s highly-anticipated event approaches, all eyes will be on where Speed will turn up next, with the YouTuber known for his cheeky pranks and appearing in random places – for example, the Gloucestershire annual cheese rolling contest, which he attended in 2024.