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The Wizard Of Alvalade: The Magic, the Madness and the Making of Ricardo Quaresma
Alvalade was where the spell was first cast. A boy born in Lisbon, but forged in the chaos of the streets, Sporting CP gave him his first stage, but never the script. He was never meant to follow one. To watch him play was to witness something uncoachable: feints that defied physics, crosses that curved…
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How the Back Pass Rule Changed Football Forever
The early 1990s were a period of enormous disruption and transformation in culture, economics, and geopolitics. The collapse of the Berlin Wall would trigger the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the subsequent end of the Cold War, signifying a new world order and a change in the global political landscape. The Maastricht Treaty…
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What if the Kalmar Union Had a National Football Team?
When is the last time you thought about the Kalmar Union? Yeah, I thought so too. Well, let me rectify that with today’s video where we take a look at a hypothetical national team. A team that is so packed with attacking talent that it could blow away any opponent on a good day, but…
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When Was the Last Time Manchester United Got Relegated?
There’s no other way to put it: Manchester United are hitting rock bottom. Last season, they finished eighth under Erik ten Hag, their worst-ever Premier League finish. Ten Hag managed to keep hold of his job thanks to his FA Cup Final victory against Manchester City, only to be sacked on October 28 after accumulating…
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The Wacky and Wonderful World of English Football Club Nicknames
Every club needs a few things to have an identity, to become more than a collection of yahoos running after a ball: namely a badge, a couple of colours and of course a couple of nicknames. The nicknames are arguably what make certain clubs feel alive. The best ones, the Reds, The Gunners, the Rossoneri…
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The Best Footballers That Became Politicians After Retirement
The post-playing career of a footballer can take many different turns. Some of them end up becoming coaches, others decide to become agents, whilst others decide to become involved in footballing associations. However, there are quite a few retired players who decide to abandon the world of football entirely and instead pursue a career in…
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The History Behind Italian Football’s Biggest Derbies
The Italians just make everything sound better don’t they? Something as bland as a cloud becomes a beautiful nuvola. The drowsiness encountered after a big meal might already make you feel bloated just hearing about it, but when you call it abiocca, all of a sudden you’re lounging in the sun, without a worry in…
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Johan Cruyff: The Architect of Barcelona’s Legacy
It was the 1992 European Cup (now Champions League) final at Wembley Stadium, London. The showdown was between Spain’s Barcelona and Italy’s Sampdoria. From today’s perspective, it’s easy to assume Barcelona was the favorite. But avid football historians know that Barcelona of 1992 wasn’t the powerhouse it is today. For both teams, the match…
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Casa Pia: The Geese Soaring High in Portugal’s Top-flight
When it comes to Portuguese football, three clubs typically dominate the attention of fans and outsiders: Benfica, Porto, and Sporting. After all, since the advent of Portugal’s top division in 1934, the championship has been won by one of these ‘Three Giants’ — with the exception of Belenenses 1945/46 and Boavista 2000/01. However, there is…
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The Best Penalty Stoppers in Premier League History
In the 53rd minute of their match vs. Everton, Manchester City were awarded a penalty. Erling Haaland stepped up to the spot, seeking to break his goal-scoring duck, and fired a low and powerful effort that was saved by Jordan Pickford. Bernardo Silva headed the rebound towards the path of Haaland who headed home, only…
