Although there were still several hours left until the game would actually begin, thousands were already gathering outside Benfica’s home, the Estádio da Luz, by Eusébio’s bronze statue. There were people coming…
Tag: long read
There was a time when Scotland boasted some of the world’s best players. We rewind back to their memorable adventure at Argentina 78 under the divisive Ally MacLoed, and with the likes of Dalglish, Souness and Robertson amongst their ranks.
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.
The goal was scrappy. Patrick Kluivert, on as a late substitute, slipped and stumbled through the penalty area before somehow stabbing the ball home. With five minutes remaining, Ajax were ahead in the…
There may not be a clearer contrast in the career of one man at a club as there is with Graeme Souness at Liverpool, from legend to villain
It was infamy in Paris. Ginola was distraught, Houllier apoplectic. But the Bulgarians celebrated like never before. For one night only, God was theirs
During his still-short managerial career, Pep Guardiola has coached many modern-day legends, including Carles Puyol, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi, Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi. But there’s only one man he’s ever labelled as “the…
They are there for all to see; the burning intensity of the glare, the endless cavern of passion, and the relentless desire that seems to give an advantage in any confrontation. They’re ever-present in the sublime, the ludicrous,…
The fortunes of football clubs inevitably wax and wane over the years – some erratically, others less so. Promotions, relegations glory and despair are the spices that combine to produce the fare enjoyed,…
While Italy’s famed Catenaccio system may have been invented elsewhere, nobody used it to such devastating effect quite like the legendary Helenio Herrera
In the history of Scottish football, few shocks has as seismic an impact, despite being forgotten, as Berwick’s momentous win over Rangers
This feature is part of The Fleeting Fraternity As defining moments go, having a spike pierce your backside is one of the less edifying. As the carefree long-haired 20-year-old fell off the roof,…
From the depths of a 31-0 defeat, we look back at the remarkable redemption of American Samoa and their first competitve victory despite being FIFA’s lowest ranked side.
The career of Eamonn O’Keefe in Saudi Arabia is one of the least told but most bizarre stories in football. Welcome to a world of excess, greed, superstardom and a homosexual prince.
Led by a young, energetic Alex Ferguson, and featuring the vastly underrated Peter Weir, Abderdeen reached neights in an iconic year – 1983
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…
In what was one of football’s greatest games, France took on West Germany in 1982 in a game that featured legends, assaults and unforgettable football
SOMETIMES YOU HEAR A FACT, notice a name or log a date in your memory in the obscure hope that one day, you’ll be in a pub quiz team, or watching a television…