Paul Scholes is arguably the most naturally gifted English midfielder since Paul Gascoigne, but his time at the top was marred by the circumstances surrounding his early international retirement, as well as his…
Tag: man utd
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…
When the idiosyncratically brilliant English winger Chris Waddle left his job in a sausage factory to sign professionally with Newcastle United at the relatively late age of 19, he thought all his childhood…
“He is a great goalscorer but a poor footballer.” These were supposedly the words of Dutch legend Johan Cruyff when discussing the qualities of his compatriot Ruud van Nistelrooy. The quote is…
Illustration by Luigi Coari Platini, Brady, Baggio, Del Piero, Tevez; all footballers blessed with authenticity and unique personality. Legendary, iconic names, bound together by one common denominator – they were all bestowed with…
This feature is part of The Fleeting Fraternity ROBERTO AYALA WAS an outstanding, imposing presence at centre-back for Argentina. During his decorated career, Ayala impressed at Napoli and Valencia, as well as River…
Illustration by Dave Flanagan IT IS THE SUMMER OF 1978 in the baking heat of a Marseille suburb, and AS Caillolais are 1-0 down to title rivals Vivaux-Marronniers. Only a win will…
This feature is a part of A Tale of One City Welcome to Manchester. After Carlos Tevez’s infamous multi-million pound move from Manchester United to cross-town rivals Manchester City, his new employers erected…
This feature is part of The Fleeting Fraternity NORMAN WHITESIDE never shied away from the big occasion. At 16 he became the youngest player to ever step out for Manchester United, while at…
This feature is part of The Fleeting Fraternity EVERY MAN WANTED TO BE HIM and every woman wanted to have him. Few players are capable of not only existing, but thriving on…
A rare breed in the modern game, the one-club star is something of an endangered species. Battling week in, week out to help their club get over the humps and bumps of season…
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…
AT THE 1958 Congress of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) in Rio de Janeiro, the president of UEFA, Henry Delaunay, put forward a proposal for a competition between the top clubs…
Part I: Eric Cantona: the early French years The making of Cantona the legend in England actually started with an ill-fated and short-lived spell at Sheffield Wednesday. Cantona didn’t feel right at Hillsborough and…
ARGUABLY THE MOST ICONIC FOOTBALL PHOTOGRAPH ever taken was snapped nowhere near a football pitch. One of the most indelible images of the 1914 World War One Christmas truce is that of an…
As featured on Guardian Sport THE NUMBER 10 INSIDE LEFT for Cork Celtic that day zipped around the field with ease, leaving the Bohemians defence consistently baffled. He feinted one way and then…
CHRIS SMALLING AND LUKE SHAW WERE THE ONLY TWO ENGLISHMAN STARTING FOR MANCHESTER UNITED in the clash against Chelsea last season at Old Trafford, having been signed for a combined total of £34…