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Teofilo Cubillas: Part 3 – Trials And Tribulations
Fresh from being top scorer in the 1972 Copa Libertadores, as well as winning South American Footballer Of The Year, the question was now which big European club would Teofilo Cubillas sign for? The smart money was on Italy, others said Spain, where fellow Peruvian Hugo Sotil had signed for Barcelona, or Portugal. Which…
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The Biggest Controversies in the History of the Euros
We all love a good footballing controversy, don’t we? Except of course when the controversy involves your team losing out on something. Famously invented by and named after Andrea Del Contro Verso, a Florentine donkey merchant in 1526, controversies have usually found their place in World Cup folklore. From the fat Italian dictator arranging…
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The Biggest Controversies in the History of the Champions League Final
Every football fan has probably felt robbed by referees at least once in their lives. Some, even make a career out of moaning about refereeing decisions from 20 years ago. And even though I think that refereeing mistakes are part and parcel of football, I can’t help but wonder how the all-time Champions League standings…
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Cândido de Oliveira: Portuguese Football’s James Bond?
If you’re a fan of Portuguese football or have just taken a look at their Super Cup results on your score app, you might have noticed that the Portuguese Super Cup is called the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira. Apart from being one of the only tournaments in world football to bear the name of a…
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The British Players That Reached Champions League Finals with Foreign Teams
When people generally think of Brits abroad, they either picture drunk Liverpudlians vomiting on strippers somewhere in Spain or David Beckham bringing British glamour and good looks to places like Los Angeles, Miami, Madrid, Milan or indeed the best stopover to buy some spices in the world. The old adage that British players don’t play…
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Dortmund – Real 4-1: Where are the BVB Players Now?
On June 1st the song “Are You Gonna Go My Way” will not only be a popular melody of American artist Lenny Kravitz, whose act will be opening the Champions League Final, but also the main thought of the players and fans as soon as they see the most coveted trophy in European club football…
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A Betzenberg Story: Kaiserslautern’s Imprint on the Beautiful Game
The annals of football history are strewn with tales of yesteryear. Be it former stars, clubs that once held a continent at their fingertips, and nations who otherwise seemed destined for greatness, looking back as a way of also looking forward is commonplace among professional sport. Football is no different. But so often, the influence…
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Teofilo Cubillas: Part 2 – A Star Is Born
With World Cup qualification for Mexico ’70 secured, Teofilo Cubillas saw football’s main set-piece tournament as a chance to announce himself to the world in Mexico. Peru were drawn in Group 4 with Morocco, Bulgaria and West Germany. Excluding the West Germans, who were strong tournament contenders, the other three teams were more or less…
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The Superstars of ‘Stokelona’: Where Are They Now?
Picture the scene: you’re playing some late-night FM or FIFA Manager Mode, you ignored your friends’ texts, the rotting dishes in the sink and you will surely regret this in the morning. You’re a few seasons deep in the game and then suddenly, whilst looking at the lineups before your Champions League game, you spot…
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The European Clasico Returns to Bavaria
Today, Real Madrid will take on Bayern Munich in Bavaria. It will be the 27th edition of this prestigious tie. Both teams have a long, twisted history between them; and it remains the most common fixture in Champions League history. Bayern are one step away from a chance at their 7th Champions League title, while…
