Relegation is possibly one of the most painful experiences a football fan can go through, apart from being a Manchester United fan of course. With the newfound wealth of super clubs, fans of Europe’s biggest sides might think their teams are insulated from such a horrible eventuality.   However, Manchester United this last season, Chelsea…

When Yaya Touré is discussed, the same images surface. The Champions League final at centre-back. The 20-goal season. The solo run against Aston Villa. Those moments became memories. As they solidified, Touré became widely regarded as one of his generation’s best midfielders.   Touré started at centre-back in the 2009 Champions League final, performing well…

“It is impossible to explain everything the streets taught me.  And it was a lot.” – Carlos Tévez.   Murder, crime, drugs, weapons. These were everyday realities in the Buenos Aires neighborhood known as Fuerte Apache. This is where Carlos Alberto Martinez grew up. His mother was an alcoholic. His father was shot dead. It…

Tottenham Hotspur were just two agonizing minutes away from becoming the first UEFA Europa League-winning team since 2018 to defeat the Champions League holders in the European Super Cup. However, normal service was resumed when it comes to Tottenham and trophies. Normal service was also resumed when it comes to who usually wins the UEFA…

When Afiga Mammadova walks into a football stadium in Baku, she does so with the calm assurance of someone who has seen almost everything the game can offer. The black-and-white Neftchi scarf around her neck is not a fashion choice or a nod to nostalgia. It is a statement of fact. At 69, she has…

ABC, is it really as easy as 123? Well not if you want to catalogue the best football team for each letter of the alphabet it isn’t. You are going to have some letters chock full of amazing teams and then some letters that force you to compare the Bolivian and Tanzanian league to see…

At the final whistle on 2 May 2004, Bolton Wanderers’ Reebok Stadium witnessed an astonishing outpouring. In the away section, inconsolable children and howling adults – some shirtless – were the picture of despair. Their team, Leeds United, had just lost 4-1 and been effectively relegated from the Premiership.   On the pitch, a distraught…

In the 1990s, when Azerbaijani football was still finding its post-Soviet identity, one man in a small western town dared to dream big. His name was Shahbaz Suleymanov, but everyone knew him simply as Sasha from Shamkir — the man who turned a struggling local team into a two-time national champion.   A successful entrepreneur…

Football has always been a game of roles evolving with time, and few positions demonstrate this better than the deep-lying playmaker. From Andrea Pirlo’s elegance to Rodri’s modern dominance, the role has transitioned from artistry to functionality without losing its soul. 1. The Pirlo Prototype: The Artist in Deep Midfield   Andrea Pirlo epitomized the…