Articles
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How Azerbaijani Football Fell Apart
Azerbaijani football is on a serious decline – and has been for around five years. There have been many factors that contributed to its demise, most notably financial problems in the country that have plagued the Azerbaijan Premier League. If you look at the game in Azerbaijan logically and sensibly, there is very little quality…
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The Best Serie A Underdogs Of The Past 10 Years
Predictability has become commonplace in the Serie A title chase in recent years, with Inter dominating the late 2000s under Roberto Mancini and José Mourinho, and with Juventus staking out a dynasty this decade. Since 2002, only Max Allegri’s 2010-11 side has managed to snatch the title from the two Italian giants’ grasps. Despite the…
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Klopp’s Stubbornness Is Holding Liverpool Back From Its True Potential
It’s been three years since Jürgen Klopp was appointed Liverpool manager. October 8, 2015 was the start of a revolution that has led the club back to where it’s supposed to be, fighting for titles both domestically and internationally. But while Klopp has turned the club into challengers, is he holding them back from becoming…
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The Rise, Revival, and Redefining of Óliver Torres
If you’re a Football Manager addict, a Career Mode junkie, or just some guy who likes to watch baby-faced Spanish midfielders dribble past an entire team, chances are you’ve heard of Óliver Torres. Having joined Atlético Madrid’s academy at age 13, the Extremadureño midfielder progressed through the youth ranks before landing himself a call-up to Diego…
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Abelardo Has Instilled A Fighting Spirit In Alavés
The 2018-19 LaLiga season has been one of surprises: pleasant surprises for some, unpleasant for others. Few would have expected Julen Lopetegui’s time with Real Madrid to end so abruptly, while perennial Europa contenders like Athletic Club and Villarreal are enduring dreadful starts to the campaign. But there have also been wonderful, positive stories near…
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Top 10 Serie A Summer Signings
1. Cristiano Ronaldo Not exactly a hipster choice. Few football fans, this writer included, believed Cristiano would actually leave Real Madrid. Like previous transfer sagas with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United, it looked more like a negotiation technique for him to get an improved deal at Los Galácticos, especially when, after the Champions League final,…
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The 12 Best Loanees in the Championship
Whether they arrive on loan from Premier League teams or work their way up through the academy, England’s best talents continue to cut their teeth and mature in the Championship. It’s the ideal stepping stone between the relative comfort of academy football and the harsh reality of the physical, demanding Premier League. 21 of the…
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Why USA’S Youth Development Continues To Stagnate
Cast your mind back to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Placed into the proverbial “Group of Death,” the United States Men’s National Team faced three difficult opponents: Germany, Portugal, and old foes Ghana. While many expected them to crash out at the group stage, the Stars and Stripes beat Ghana, tied Portugal, and lost…
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Community, Catalonia and Children; C.F. Martorell and Spain’s Sixth Tier
When one thinks of Catalonia, several prominent entities spring to mind. Independence, FC Barcelona and the imposing majesty of Montserrat. Living in the shadows of all three is C.F. Martorell. Based in the town of Martorell, around 22 kilometres northwest of Barcelona as the crow flies, the club finds itself in the sixth tier of…
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Sassuolo: The Manager Production Line
Located in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna, Sassuolo is a town that does not necessarily lure the attention of tourists or possess the historical significance that most of its Italian counterparts do. Situated about 16 kilometres away from Modena, Sassuolo is known in Italy for being an industrial town, especially for the production of ceramic…
