Scoring one world-class free kick in a Champions League quarter final is good going. But to net two in the space of 12 minutes? That must be an extraordinary feeling. Declan Rice has probably never struck the ball as cleanly as he did for his brace of free kicks against Real Madrid in April, with …
Declan Rice Joins the Conversation for the Best Free Kick Goals of All Time Read More »
Even if his teams have a habit of playing a trudging, conservative style of football on the pitch, life is never dull off it when José Mourinho is prowling the technical area. The Portuguese is into his third decade as a top-tier head coach, and despite having two Champions League wins – not to mention …
The Most Controversial Moments of José Mourinho’s Managerial Career Read More »
A shiny trophy. A bottle of nice Champagne. Even a cash prize would do. But four boxes of eggs? They do things a little bit differently when it comes to awarding the Man of the Match trophy in Norway. Bryne FK, the small Norwegian club where one Erling Haaland learned his trade as a youngster …
Eggs’cellent Prize Joins Ranks of Football’s Strangest Man of the Match Awards Read More »
How do you increase interest in a competition that nobody really wants to play in? Easy: you pump up the prize money pot. Because cash is, quite literally, the only currency that counts in modern football. FIFA have taken the point on board, and have announced an eye-watering increase to the prize fund for the …
Shambolic. Humiliation. Crisis. Plenty of football teams have been inextricably linked to words like that over the years, but very rarely could such adjectives be used to describe the fate of the Brazilian national team. The Selecao, as they are known, can be described as the heavyweight champions of football: they have won the World …
What Has Happened to Brazil: The Undisputed Champions of World Football? Read More »
Most football fans are aware of the concept of the golden boot: an annual award given to the player that scores the most goals in a particular competition. What goes somewhat under the radar, however, is the European Golden Shoe: a trophy (in the shape of a golden shoe, naturally) that rewards the ‘best’ goalscorer …
Arsenal’s Premier League season has been a mix of resilience and missed chances, sparking interest in their future prospects. As they strive for higher standings, their potential to regain top-tier status is questioned. Key areas for advancement include defensive consistency, like securing more clean sheets, and enhancing midfield creativity. With these improvements and strategic signings, …
There are many things that the average football fan can complain about, but for supporters of Burnley and Sheffield United, boredom is not one of them. The Clarets and the Blades are closing in on promotion from the Championship as the 2024/25 season reaches its business end; as far as the league table is shaping …
Burnley and Sheffield United Join Ranks of English Football’s Most Prolific Yo-Yo Clubs Read More »
Readers of a certain vintage will no doubt be traditionalists; those who believe that sporting history is just as important as the present. So the news that Manchester United intend to leave Old Trafford, their home since 1910, to move to a shiny new stadium built practically next door will dampen the spirits of Red …
It was a Champions League tie for the ages. The rivalry between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid is more than just geographical: these city neighbours have financial and socio-cultural differences that pit the haves of the Galacticos against the have not’s of the bulldog spirit Atleti. Real claimed a 2-1 victory in the first leg …
Julian Alvarez’s ‘Double Kick’ Penalty: The Reason Why It Was Disallowed Read More »
