His style has always been grounded in realism, but Allardyce’s spell at Bolton produced one of the most intriguing stories in Premier League history
In perhaps the toughest league to make it as a number 10, Alessandro Del Piero and Francesco Totti proved many wrong and rejuvenated the fantasista
Lazio had not been champions since 1974 but a team containing Simeone, Mancini, Ravanelli and Verón ensured that they won the title in their centenary year
This feature is part of The Football Italia Years Modern football is so often a race to the bottom. The league table is a final, inescapable judgement, what it presents is indisputable:…
The path was clear for Antoine Griezmann. Bayern Munich’s defence had opened up before him and, courtesy of a nicely weighted through ball from Fernando Torres, he was clean through on goal.…
This feature is part of The Football Italia Years Ronaldo was more force of nature than footballer. He was an irrepressible dribbler, a powerful runner and an unerringly precise finisher. In Italy,…
If you were to ask a Real Madrid fan about Fernando Redondo, there is a distinct likelihood they would begin with a smile. Given the title of ‘El Principe’, Redondo helped the…
This feature of part of The Football Italia Years Rome is a hub of culture, commerce, beauty and history. What with the Colosseum, the Forum, The Vatican and the constant drone of…
Somewhere along the line, the beautiful game was corrupted. Perhaps it happened early on, the result of a collective realisation of just how much people cared about football. Or perhaps it was…
Valeriy Lobanovskyi sat on the bench, hands clasped tight. With frown lines permanently etched into his forehead, he occasionally rocked back and forth. Even as a proven, successful manager he was an image…
Arsenal THE WORD ‘EMBROILED’ depicts imagery of a painful, laborious struggle with no real end in sight. Consequently, within the realms of football speak, the word is quite appositely associated with a…
THERE WAS A REDOUBTABLE AURA surrounding Jürgen Klopp as he arrived in England to replace Brendan Rodgers as Liverpool manager. His rambunctious presence jolted the media abuzz, his hysterical bursts of laughter and…
THE SMELL OF SUCCESS TAKES A LONG TIME TO WASH AWAY. For a football club with a history as illustrious as Manchester United’s, the odour develops a particularly powerful resistance. It lingers in…
Multiple theories persist regarding the conception of football styles. Specific styles can sometimes be traced back to the coaches and players directly implicated in their promulgation. However, some propose that there are more…
FOR THE GENERATION OF FOOTBALL FANATICS FROM WHENCE I CAME, the summer of 2015 will be a poignant one. Time, it appears, has flown. Now our idols, those we were besotted by –…
As featured on Guardian Sport A FEW WEEKS AGO, THERE WAS A SUDDEN FRISSON OF ENTHUSIASM surrounding Michael Carrick. Having played for Manchester United for nearly a decade and having been capped by…
THERE ARE MANY PURPORTED REASONS for Thessalonians to dislike Athenians. It just so happens that football provides an adequate vehicle for espousing such hostilities. Indeed, the sporting arena has acted as an opportune…
As featured on Guardian Sport “POOR OLD PACO PAVON, an honest but not exceptional central defender, had the misfortune that his name was seconded to Perez’s scheme. The Pavones were never given…