Tag: serie a

Nils Liedholm: the Swede who conquered calcio

IN 1973, a tall, handsome Swede bought the Villa Boemia estate in the Monferrato hills in the Asti region of Italy. A verdant area known for its fine wines and amazing vistas, this…

Zvonimir Boban and the kick that started a war

There is one man who towers above the rest when it comes to the uncomfortable entwining of football and politics: Zvonimir Boban. The former AC Milan midfielder enjoyed a richly successful club career,…

Why Paul Pogba is the 21st century prototype footballer

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…

In celebration of Roberto Baggio: the divine ponytail

“Only those who have the courage to take a penalty miss them. I failed that time. Period.” These are the words of a man who has been forced to defend his reputation on…

Adriano: football’s monumental ‘what if’ tale

This feature is part of The Fleeting Fraternity A SINGLE SNAPSHOT of a player often reveals much more than the football they play. The way they carry themselves off the ball, how they…

The relationship between Mussolini and calcio

For something that is essentially an expendable pastime, football can wield an extraordinary amount of influence. The temporary truce between supporters of fierce rivals Zamalek and Al Ahly helped to overthrow Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak…

The pragmatic success story of Fabio Capello

Fabio Capello appeared to be on the brink. Two victories in his last 10 games in charge of the Russia national team prompted a crisis meeting with his bosses on Wednesday, talks that…

Lazio’s resurgence via the transfer market

ITALIAN FOOTBALL IS GOING THROUGH somewhat of a transitional phase, with both Milan sides failing to qualify for Europe for the first time in 60 years. At the other end of the scale…

The tragedy and triumph of Il Grande Torino

The history of football, like anything that hinges on so many disparate variables converging in one place, plays host to innumerable ‘what if’ moments. For all the relentless analysis, the rigorous preparation, the…

Liverpool’s miracle men of Istanbul

A phrase like “Hernán Crespo may just have won the Champions League for AC Milan … Liverpool were all over the place there”, or “They don’t come much simpler than that … Crespo’s…

A Tale of One City: Rome

This feature is part of A Tale of One City The balding man with whisps of thinning grey-speckled hair looked oddly familiar. His assuredness and graceful movement seemed at odds with his companions…

The mafia and calcio

NICOLA “COCO” CAMPOLONGO WAS EXECUTED, shot through the head along with his grandfather and an acquaintance. Their bodies were later found in a burnt out Fiat Punto on the outskirts of the southern…

The relationship between age and the regista

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…

Kaká: a footballer of rare substance

The year was 1966; the month, November. American singer-songwriter Little Richard had just performed a brief but energetic gig at L’Olympia in Paris. In the surroundings of one of the French capital’s most…

Antonio Cassano: an unhinged master

It was a wet December night at Stadio San Nicola in 1999 as FC Bari played host to Inter Milan in Serie A. Inter were already clear favourites prior to the game as…

Palermo and the decade of uncertainty

Illustration by Soccer Patterns. View more here Just seven short seasons ago, Palermo were the rising stars of calcio. The Sicilian outfit were enriched with young talents such as Edinson Cavani, Javier Pastore,…