Liverpool star Alan Kennedy was a man of phenomenal deeds who lands somewhere between unlikely legend and joyous cult hero in football history
Tag: european cup
Partita Della Lattina has a nice ring to it. It rolls off the tongue with the beauty of the Italian language, almost rhythmic when spoken. The phrase comes across as playful –…
BEFORE WE START, two things need to be made clear. Football is the greatest sport on earth, and I don’t support a team. Taking these two elements into account allows me the…
Many seem to have forgotten the stunning exploits of Aston Villa between 1980 and 1982, who owe great thanks to the genius that was Ron Saunders
What are the 1980s famous for? Perhaps the rise of Madonna and Michael Jackson in pop, or MTV bringing a new era into music. Maybe the arrival of Michael Jordan on the…
THE DEMEANOUR AND ACTIONS OF JOE FAGAN were of a modest man who would give his time to anyone. No job was beneath him, and to have passed him in the street…
FLOODLIT NIGHTS at Molineux hold a special place in the pantheon of European football. In the early 1950s, international friendlies between the leading clubs from around Europe became a regular occurrence. These…
This feature is part of The Masterminds When one thinks of the Mighty Magyars, thoughts often run to The Galloping Major Ferenc Puskás, the powerful army side Honvéd and England’s first defeat…
This feature is part of The Masterminds SOME MANAGERS find it difficult to build one truly great team. Sir Matt Busby built three. At Old Trafford, the legendary Scot made Manchester United…
For many the European Cup final of 1960 between Frankfurt and Real Madrid remains the greatest club game ever. This is the story of the remarkable Eagles from Hesse.
This feature is part of The Masterminds “EVERY MANAGER DIES a little during a game. I’d rather die in a dug-out than moulder away in a director’s box.” Jock Stein, speaking in 1978. Many…
IN FOOTBALL, the greatest legacies are reserved for those who pioneer their way into folklore. Manager and players alike are remembered in the grandest terms by evaluating their role in changing the course…
FRANCISCO GENTO MAY NOT BE A NAME that many of today’s younger supporters will recognise, however he is one of the most successful and decorated players of all time at club level.…
This feature is part of The Masterminds The only way to simplify football is to make it complicated. As such, understanding who Brian Clough was and his impact on football seems appropriate for…
AS THE IRON CURTAIN descended over Eastern Europe following the Second World War, when Josef Stalin’s Soviet Union held onto – or at the very least controlled – the land that it had…
In sport, especially within the often wildly unpredictable world of football, there is rarely anything like a guaranteed winning bet. The Europa League final on May 14 2014, was, however, probably as close…
IMAGINE IF LONDON’S FOOTBALL CLUBS collaborated in European competition. Would a combined side of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham players stand a chance against major European cities, or would the likes of Barcelona, Madrid…