Local derbies in football get no closer than when the two teams share a home stadium. Think of the Derby della Madonnina, which pits AC Milan and Inter Milan against one another at the San Siro. And then there’s the Derby della Capitale between Lazio and Roma at the Stadio Olimpico. But if we discount …
PSG vs Paris FC Takes the Spoils as the ‘Localist’ Local Derby in World Football Read More »
The Football League Cup final between Aston Villa and Rotherham United back in 1960 may not feature in the minds of many fans of the beautiful game. But, in its own way, that particular contest – which was won by the Villains – was something of a trailblazer: it was the first time that a …
It’s one of the most confusing terms in football and in employment in general. What is gardening leave? Does it mean that a manager has been sacked, or is there any way back for them? Do they have to spend their time in the doldrums tending to their daisies and petunias? QPR head coach Marti …
Gardening Leave in Football: Is It the End of the Line for a Manager? Read More »
From the Bernabeu to the Mumbles… it’s been quite some journey for Luka Modrić. The Real Madrid midfielder, who is still playing at the highest level at the age of 39, has confirmed that he expects to stay in football after his career has come to an end. And that will come in the business …
Luka Modrić Joins the Ranks of Footballers Investing in Unlikely Clubs Read More »
There’s plenty that will argue that the magic has gone out of the FA Cup; especially since the Football Association decided to move the semi-finals to Wembley Stadium – in a sense, devaluing the thrill of qualifying for the final at the famous venue. But there are many others who will defend the FA Cup …
How the FA Cup Semi-Final Became One of English Football’s Best Games Read More »
It seems unthinkable – preposterous, even – that the English Premier League would ever go bankrupt. Some of its member clubs generate revenue on a par with multinational conglomerates, while the Premier League itself, as a commercial entity, banked £118 million in profit during the 2023/24 season. But the financial picture in some of Europe’s …
Non Bien: The Financial Crisis That Could Spell the End for France’s Ligue 1 Read More »
Football is currently enjoying its ‘bigger is better’ era. The European Championship was expanded to 24 teams for its 2016 edition, which means that the competition has officially trebled in size in the past 30 years alone. The Champions League’s revised format for 2024/25 saw the tournament increase its number of participants from 32 teams …
Expansion Era: How Many Teams Will Play at World Cup 2030? Read More »
There is a debate to be had over which is the best league in world football; many observers of the English Premier League will offer the EPL as the finest in the sport, whereas others will promote the case of the German Bundesliga, Spanish La Liga or even one of the South American divisions. As …
If there was one thing that the global health crisis reminded us about football, it’s that fans make the game. When matches are played out in front of zero fans in sterile atmospheres, something is lost from the beautiful game. It’s also true that supporters, through tickets sales and match day spending on food, drink …
Why Are Manchester United Converting Fan Seats to Corporate Hospitality at Old Trafford? Read More »
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 »
