Now regarded as world-class, it took an eventful, tricky but largely successful stint at Espanyol for Pochettino to become the manager he is today
Tag: la liga
Beyond being Real Madrid’s first-ever goalscorer, Irishman Arthur Johnson would also become the club’s first manager between 1910 and 1920
One quote aptly covers the career of Spain’s greatest goalkeeper: “There are only two goalkeepers: Ricardo Zamora on Earth and St Peter in heaven”
Happy birthday LaLiga – the all-encompassing machine that now attracts a billion viewers a year. It wasn’t always that way, though
Few managerial debuts at Real Madrid will ever be stranger than that of Wanderlei Luxemburgo, the man who took charge for six insane minutes
They were industrious and gritty, led by Antić and Simeone, and they surprised all of Spain to lift LaLiga and the Copa del Rey. Sounds familiar?
Who can forget those iconic, local shirt sponsors, proudly adoring local fans’ kits? They were good days. They’re also consigned to history for good
While Barcelona continue on a path towards Madrification today, it wasn’t long ago that Joan Laporta held Barça up as a beacon of Catalanismo
It took long bike rides, a shot of chance and a manager with complete confidence in him, but Jan Oblak now stands as one of the world’s best keepers
Peter Schmeichel often produced not only brilliant reactions with his saves but brilliant reactions to goals he could not save. He was a great animator between the sticks for Manchester United, and perhaps…
Ask any football follower about the greatest players to play the sport and Diego Maradona will gloriously be at the very top of most lists. A career that started and ended in…
This feature is part of Virtuoso As we look towards the next El Clásico tussle between Barcelona and Real Madrid, Lionel Messi approaches it as captain of the Blaugrana. The Argentine has…
This feature is part of Virtuoso It was November 2005, at the Santiago Bernabéu, when Ronaldinho took Real Madrid apart with such speed and flair that at least two nervous looking Madridistas…
This feature is part of Virtuoso Such is the money now found within football, it seems incomprehensible that Real Madrid’s Galácticos period will ever be replicated. Nowadays the presence of Manchester City,…
This feature is part of Virtuoso “He was physical perfection. He seemed like a mythical figure. I love Messi, I played many times with Cristiano and I adored him, Neymar is outstanding,…
Spanish rivalries transcend sport and are built on political and logistical foundations, and have been a matter of life and death in the past. As a result, many reputations are based on…
It is the opening day of the 2009/10 LaLiga season and all eyes are on Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu. In an all-white kit for the first time is Cristiano Ronaldo, the world’s…
Illustration by Matt Steven The number 10 was an important part of Juan Román Riquelme’s life. It would be the defining number on the back of his shirt – perhaps the last number…