NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS and the Philadelphia Eagles are all set for the Super Bowl – and the chance to get their hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Tom Brady and the Pats are looking for a second straight triumph after an incredible comeback victory against the Falcons last year.
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Tom Brady marshalled another stunning comeback from 10 points down against Jacksonville to reach the Super BowlThe Eagles come into the biggest game in gridiron with backup quarterback Nick Foles under centre – who threw all over the Minnesota Vikings to ruin their chances of a home Super Bowl in Minneapolis.
But just who was Lombardi and why has his name been associated with the most sought-after trophy in American sport?
Who was Vince Lombardi?
ONE of the most legendary figures in American Football history, Vince Lombardi was a player, coach and executive in the NFL for over 30 years.
Born in Brooklyn in 1913, the young Lombardi seemed destined for the priesthood after enrolling at a New York Catholic College when he left school.
A keen football player throughout his youth, he continued to play – which was against college rules – and after four years ditched the course.
Lombardi won a football scholarship to Fordham Universtity, but was small and unathletic for a full-back and struggled to kick on – which eventually saw him drift away from the game.
It wasn’t until 1939, after a failed stint in a law school, that he turned his attention to football again and went into coaching.
Splitting his time between teaching and coaching high school team St Cecelia in New Jersey, Lombardi led the side for five years from 1942 and turned them into one of the best in the country.
Famed for his never-say-die attitude, Lombardi would join the New York Giants as an offensive co-ordinator in the early 50s after taking a US Military Academy side to a 7-1 record – with President JFK famously begging him to return years later.
His first head coach role came at the Green Bay Packers, where he arrived in 1959 and would stay for another eight seasons.
In that time, the Packers won SIX NFL Championships, including the first two Super Bowls – defeating Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in 1967 and the Oakland Raiders 33-14 the following year.
Lombardi is regarded as one of the most meticulous coaches to have ever played the game and is regularly touted as the best leader of any American sports team.
After a brief stint at the Washington Redskins, Lombardi died of cancer in 1970 aged just 57 – and the Super Bowl trophy was named in his honour.
He never had a losing season as a head coach in the NFL, compiling a regular season winning percentage of 72.8% (96–34–6).
What time does Super Bowl 52 start?
THIS years Super Bowl will be held at the impressive US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
It will take place on Sunday February 4, 2018 with kick off at 11.30pm UK time.
Minnesota is six hours behind Britain, meaning a 5.30pm start for the locals in the United States.
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How can I watch it?
IF you’re watching in the UK, the options to watch the Super Bowl are endless.
Sky Sports will show all the action LIVE from Minneapolis from 10pm, whilst you can also tune in on the BBC.
The game is available on Sky Sports Action, Sky Sports Main Event and also Sky Sports Mix – which is an entertainment channel and available without a sports subscription.
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