| SMERTIN | Alexey ___, former Russia and Chelsea midfielder; recently named as the Russian FA's new anti-racism inspector (7) |
| WILLIAMS | American rapper and singer-songwriter recently named as UN ESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Arts, Education and entrepreneurship (8,8) |
| PHARRELL | American rapper and singer-songwriter recently named as UN ESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Arts, Education and entrepreneurship (8,8) |
| USSR | Former Russia (1,1,1,1) |
| BORZOI | Large silky-coated dog breed also known as the Russian wolfhound; Russian, 'swift' (6) |
| PLAIN | It is as clear as the Russian steppe (5) |
| DECO | Ex-Portugal and Chelsea midfielder who won the Champions' League with Porto and Barcelona (4) |
| KANTE | Former France and Chelsea midfielder; 2016-17 FWA Footballer of the Year (5,5) |
| NGOLO | Former France and Chelsea midfielder; 2016-17 FWA Footballer of the Year (5,5) |
| SIMONFANSHAWE | Who was named as the new Rector of the University of Edinburgh? (5,8) |
| WADHURST | Hastings line station serving town recently named in the Sunday Times as the best place to live in the UK (8) |
| NGOLOKANTE | France and Chelsea midfielder; 2016-17 FWA Footballer of the Year |
| SWIFT | Recently named by Forbes as the highest earning celebrity of the past 12 months. (5) |
| HALLGRIMSSON | Who was recently named the new manager of the Ireland men's football team? (12) |
| PELE | Brazilian Edson Arantes do Nascimento became this legend of soccer, named as the top athlete of the |
| NKUNKU | Christopher ...... , France and Chelsea midfielder (6) |
| ZIYECH | Hakim ...... , Morocco and Chelsea midfielder; seasonlong Galatasaray loanee (6) |
| FABREGAS | Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder, Cesc ... (8) |
| CAICEDO | Moises, Ecuador and Chelsea midfielder (7) |
| PARISJACKSON | The King of Pop's daughter who was recently named an ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation: 2 wds. |
