Michael Lintorn

I shun legendary sportsmen like Lionel Messi, Rafael Nadal and Michael Schumacher and instead opt to idolise the goods-but-not-greats of the world like Ezequiel Lavezzi, Gael Monfils and Robert Kubica, the logic being that there is more joy to be had celebrating the scarce highs of their careers.

There are two pretty large exceptions to that rule though: my all-time favourite player Alessandro Nesta holding a genuine claim to being the best defender of my limited lifetime and my clubs of choice West Ham and Lazio spending most of their existence being neither good nor great!

The first bet I remember winning came backing Brazil to win 2-0 with Ronaldo scoring first in the 2002 World Cup Final. Approximately three of my ten thousand scorecasts since have come good.

My greatest ever win was supposed to come backing Dimitar Berbatov to be Premier League top goalscorer in 2010-11 at 40/1, but the dead-heat finish proved a bit of a choker.

Sport is, rather sadly, my life, with my main “achievement” of recent years being to make it to each of West Ham’s 48 games in 2010-11. I had started off describing the plan as “the perfect season”, though oddly that title didn’t seem quite so appropriate come May!

• Betchecker: Big odds on Betfair as Chelsea prevail in Portugal
• Serie A: Ranieri out as Inter hint at finally playing the long game
• Opta Stats: Prolific Arsenal star to boost tally against Aston Villa
• Opta Stats: Penalty at Liverpool, clean sheet for Man United
• Betchecker: Huge odds offered on Betfair as QPR stun Liverpool
• Opta Stats: Manchester United v Fulham
• Opta Stats: West Brom v Newcastle
• Opta Stats: Stoke v Manchester City
• Opta Stats: Swansea v Everton
• Opta Stats: Sunderland v QPR
• Opta Stats: Norwich v Wolves
• Opta Stats: Liverpool v Wigan
• Opta Stats: Bolton v Blackburn
• Opta Stats: Arsenal v Aston Villa
• Opta Stats: Chelsea v Tottenham
• Three trophies still up for grabs as Bayern Munich return to form
• Juventus v AC Milan: Del Piero to inspire big-match Bianconeri
• Bolton star Fabrice Muamba's condition is gradually improving
• Opta Stats: QPR v Liverpool
• Opta Stats: Everton v Arsenal
• Opta Stats: Tottenham v Stoke
• Opta Stats: Manchester City v Chelsea
• Opta Stats: Blackburn v Sunderland
• Betchecker: Big Betfair prizes as Malaga and Napoli refuse to lose
• Opta Big Match Stats: Wolves to be left in turmoil by Man United