Persistence has been the key to success for many top level footballers, but few does it apply to quite so comprehensively than the unassuming and grounded Brazilian whose unwavering dedication led to glory. As a youngster, he refused to skip training sessions after long school days preceded by his paper rounds. Brought up in the…
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On Zé Roberto’s 43rd birthday, Gabriel Jesus took to social media in order to thank “a man who helped [him] no end in [his] arrival as a professional”. His “biggest reference” and an “excellent person”. Given Zé Roberto’s age and the fact that Jesus, who turned 20 himself recently, has only been plying his trade…
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With creative attacking footballers there tends to be stand-out, pivotal moments in their careers; wonderful flashes of genius or spectacular goals that are fondly recalled after they retire. There are countless examples. For Roberto Baggio, the supremely gifted Italian, the magic moment came at the 1990 World Cup when he delicately weaved past several Czech…
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As Edison Flores sprinted down the left flank, he had three options. He could either cut inside and shoot, lay it off in the middle and make a run, or pick out a cross for Paolo Guerrero. Thankfully for Flores and his team, he opted for the last option. Guerrero timed his run and just…
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False 9, Regista, Libero; these are all terms that will undoubtedly be familiar to the typical football enthusiast. As indeed will the players associated with them, the likes of Lionel Messi, Andrea Pirlo and Franz Beckenbauer, often considered to be the closest and most successful representations of the roles they occupy, and the tactical implications…
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Join host Jim Hart and co-host and senior writer for TFT Jon Townsend for a unique interview with former Bayern Munich and Germany under-21 midfielder Frank Gertser. Frank talk about his career and his exciting project, German Football Experience, a unique football school in Frankfurt where he has partnered with Justin Rose. Listen on iTunes…
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There are very few modern-day managers who you’d argue have success ingrained into their genetic makeup. Even the most partisan of Pep Guardiola followers, for example, will be happy to admit the Spaniard hasn’t exactly been at his best at Manchester City this season. Similarly, José Mourinho, despite success during his stints at Porto, Inter and Chelsea…
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Reporting for preseason training in the summer of 1971, not many at Bayern Munich recognised Gerd Müller. To those even remotely familiar with the career of Der Bomber, this would seem perplexing. Still aged just 25, Müller had scored 10 goals in six appearances at the 1970 World Cup, been crowned Germany’s first FIFA Ballon…
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This feature is part of The Fleeting Fraternity Imagine being billed as the next superstar of German football. Imagine the sheer immensity of the pressure, the constant spotlight on your every move. Imagine the reams of newspaper inches printed in dedication to a dip in form or a mistake in a game. Imagine, just for one…
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Werder Bremen were in trouble. Viktor Skrypnyk’s side was only one point above the relegation zone entering the winter break during the 2015-16 Bundesliga season. Thankfully, Bremen managed to pick up a win and a draw from their first three matches of the New Year. The storied club was five points away from the bottom…
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André Schürrle embarked on a powerful, driving run down the left wing, and lifted a hopeful ball towards the six-yard box, picking out the awaiting Mario Götze. The substitute immaculately controlled the ball on his chest, before sweetly volleying the ball into the far corner via his left-foot past a hapless Sergio Romero. With less…
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German sporting dominance was often viewed with an air of suspicion on the British Isles, thanks to World War sentimentality, relative economic strength, and historical state-sponsored doping for political gain by the East Germans. Jürgen Klinsmann never represented the East, but he still drew abuse when he first took to British shores to sign for…
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The tenure of Pep Guardiola at German giants Bayern Munich will be remembered for a number of things: the dominance on the ball, the switches in emphasis from central penetration to wing superiority, and the drastic improvement of several players under his watchful eye as they moved towards the world-class bracket. That said, one of the…
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Born to a World Cup-winning father in Mazinho, Thiago and Rafinha Alcántara have been surrounded by football and its culture for as long as they can remember, including growing up with cousin and current Valencia forward, Rodrigo. The two brothers came through the ranks at Barcelona, at the famous La Masia academy, typically calm on…
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Bad timing was in Pepe Reina’s blood. His father, Miguel, while in goal for Atlético Madrid in the 1974 European Cup final, was guilty of perhaps the most ill-fated premature celebration in European football history. With the Spanish side leading 1-0 in extra-time of their final against Bayern Munich, the story goes that Miguel was…
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