In a somewhat unlikely turn of events, Everton manager Sean Dyche has landed a cameo in the music video for the latest single by UK indie band Blossoms.
Eyebrows were first raised on Monday when Blossoms released a brief teaser for the song, entitled "What Can I Say (After I'm Sorry)." The accompanying clip saw Dyche making a special appearance as a boss-like figure who sent the five band members out on an undisclosed mission.
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The full song and video was then released two days later, revealing the full extent of Dyche's involvement in the project.
Clad in suit and tie, the 52-year-old begins on familiar footing with the Toffees coach delivering a team talk of sorts at his luxury pad having cherry-picked the quintet to pull off a "special job" on his behalf.
The band then set out on Dyche's orders, venturing through rural England in their temperamental camper van. Alas, an untimely breakdown sees them forced to put a call into the gaffer from the side of the road.
Dyche then appears again to give Blossoms another of his trademark gruff pep talks over the phone before impatiently suggesting that they find a way to get things back on track. Sure enough, the band are able to locate a garage and get their vehicle up and running as night descends.
Soon they arrive at their chosen destination. Disguises are donned and a daring raid takes place after which they successfully flee with a trailer fully laden with swag. However, the spoils are not revealed before the video ends with an abrupt "to be continued" cliffhanger.
Lead singer Tom Ogden later revealed just how he and his bandmates came to work with Dyche on their latest music video, saying that the two parties actually met while sharing a VIP box at a Rick Astley concert in Manchester earlier this year.
Sean Dyche. Football manager. Music video star. 🎸
— Everton (@Everton) May 1, 2024
The backstory of the gaffer's link-up with @BlossomsBand. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/ChrPD61CLs
A lengthy conversation about their respective musical tastes then took place over the course of the night, and two months later Dyche was filming a special cameo for Blossoms' latest music video.
Dyche has often spoken about his musical tastes in the past and in particular his love for the Manchester club scene in the 1980s.
"I remember the first time I heard the Stone Roses, and all that era with that 'Madchester' vibe," he told ESPN's Mark Ogden in 2018. "The rave scene as well. That was a big era for me because I was 17, 18, 19 around that period. So that was important, musically.
"I've always had an open mind to it. I was never trend-specific on bands."
Hailing from Stockport in Greater Manchester, Blossoms saw their self-titled debut album nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2017. Since then, they've released two further albums (with a third now imminent) along with over 20 singles -- though only their most recent effort has involved an active Premier League manager in any capacity.
However, Dyche isn't the only notable footballing figure to appear in a music video. In fact, several have blazed the trail before him over the years.
Lionel Messi
As per usual, Messi stole the show last year when he came striding out of the tunnel at the Inter Miami CF stadium during a video for the song "Trofeo" by Colombian pop star Maluma.
José Mourinho
Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Mourinho was tasked with holding his finger to his lips in order to defiantly shush the haters while standing next to Stormzy in the rapper's video for "Mel Made Me Do It."
Ronaldinho
The video for Bad Bunny's 2023 single "Where She Goes" featured a number of celebrity cameos including one Ronaldinho, who flashed up briefly during the video while performing keepy-uppies on a beach.
Eric Cantona
Former Oasis singer and Manchester City fan Liam Gallagher was happy to have United icon Cantona appear in his video for "Once." Fittingly, Cantona played a king while Gallagher appeared briefly on screen as the Frenchman's attentive butler.
Peter Crouch
A known fan of indie music, Crouch made an appearance in a 2015 video for the song "Gen Strange" by UK band Peace in which the former England target man was seen sitting in a car and nodding his head to the music.
Chris Waddle
As fans of Sheffield Wednesday, The Artic Monkeys were happy to include a blink-and-you'll-miss-it archive clip of Owls hero Waddle in action for the club as part of the trippy video for their 2011 single, "Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair."
Vinnie Jones
However, surely the strangest clash of worlds must have occurred in 2002, when infamous enforcer-turned-Hollywood actor Jones appeared in the medieval-themed video for Westlife's chart hit "Bop Bop Baby."