England World Cup squad barber talks trims and trust

England World Cup squad barber talks trims and trust8 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleJack GrayandNaomi de Souza,BBC Newsbeat BBCAhmed Alsanawi, also known as A-Star, will often share tricks he plays on footballers in the chair Plane tickets? Check. Football boots? Check. The weight of a nation's hopes on your shoulders? Check.But there's another thing no self-respecting footballer heading to the World Cup would be without.A fresh trim.That's where barber Ahmed Alsanawi, also known as A-Star, comes in.He's the barber to much of the England squad, in charge of keeping players looking their best before a big game.His work has made him a social media star, responsible for some of the most-requested looks, including Jack Grealish's long-on-top, shaved-at-the-sides cut.Before he jetted out to the USA, Alsanawi spoke to BBC Newsbeat about how he became footballers' go-to hair stylist, and what it's like to travel with the team during a World Cup.Ahmed also has a barber shop in Chessington, SurreyAlsanawi says he got his big break working at Chelsea, where he cut players' hair for three years."I met John Terry, Eden Hazard," he says, adding that posting about his work on social media got the attention of other Premier League stars."Then I connected with Pogba, a couple of the City players, Jack Grealish."A-Star Barbers grew through word of mouth, boosted online by players sharing their experiences in the chair, and now has 1.3 million Instagram followers. Social media has been "massive" for the barbering industry, says dad-of-three Alsanawi, whose Instagram is filled with videos of him giving players including England vice-captain Declan Rice fresh trims.He also names musicians such as rapper Dave among his clients.But any regulars hoping to get a cut from the man himself at his shop in Chessington, Surrey, might be out of luck for the next six weeks as he attends his fourth World Cup.If all...