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Revisiting Ajax’s Shock Victory over Real Madrid in 2019
In September 2010, a Martin Jol-led Ajax took on Real Madrid in a group stage match in the Champions League at the Santiago Bernabéu. This wasn’t the strongest Ajax side – recent times had suggested they weren’t strong enough to compete with the top level of Dutch football, let alone European football, yet here…
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Tactical Analysis: Jürgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund
After spending the start of the decade in the shadow of the Premier League and La Liga, German football enjoyed a resurgence in the mid-2010s. 2013 saw an all-German Champions League Final between Jürgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund and Jupp Heynckes’ Bayern Munich, whilst the following year saw Joachim Löw’s Die Mannschaft write their names into…
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From Show Games to Ballon d’Or: The Progress of Women’s Football in Norway
The footballing world was in awe and dwelled in emotion as FCB Femeni won against Atleti Femenino in the Supercopa Femenina on January 23. Virginia Torecillia’s return to the pitch for the final few minutes after undergoing surgery for a brain tumour was an emotional moment. As for awe, well, who isn’t in awe…
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The Best AFCON Players in the History of the EFL Championship
The African Cup of Nations has had a long and rich history affiliated with Europe’s top leagues, and the inherent quality that comes with playing at the elite level as well as the subsequent exposure leads to at least one representative from the big five leagues within most AFCON squads. In England’s second-tier specifically,…
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A Quick History of the FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup is known for being the biggest soccer competition in the world. It sees national sides from all over the globe compete for glory in a tournament that runs every 4 years. As well as displaying some fantastic talents, the tournament also makes for some very exciting betting opportunities, and there…
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Cardiff City’s 1927 FA Cup Triumph
Since its establishment in 1871, the Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup, has solidified its status as the oldest national football competition in the world and a pillar of European football. The annual tournament has been won by 44 different teams, none more so than Arsenal, who have lifted the trophy a record 14…
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Manchester United 2007-09: Sir Alex Ferguson’s Greatest Masterpiece
During his 26-year reign at Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson built various legendary teams that enjoyed success over the years, most notably the 1999 treble-winning side. However, his most successful period in terms of trophies was from 2007 to 2009, where he won three consecutive Premier League titles, one Champions League title, one FA Cup,…
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Farcical Consequences: The 1965 Bundesliga Scandal
When the inaugural season of the Bundesliga ended in May 1964 with FC Koln winning the league, there were high hopes within the German Football Federation (DFB) the second season would go without a hitch. But the 1964-65 season would be engulfed in scandal that would affect Berlin’s football clubs and lead to a change…
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How Swan Songs Are Meant to Be: Baggio’s Brescia Brilliance
The magic of Roberto Baggio was his timeless nature. He transcended eras, starting in the rough and tumble of the 80s – a decade dominated by the blissful freedom of the number 10 – hallmarked by Diego Maradona, Michel Platini and Gheorghe Hagi amongst others. A period Baggio was all too happy to cut his…
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Unpredictable Magic In, Status Quo Out: The Crazy 2021 in Mexican Football
On Monday of this week, a Ballantine’s harvested in 1954 was just opened in the city of Guadalajara, the second most populated city in Mexico, and certainly the cradle of all Mexican stereotypes – mariachi, tequila, food, women’s beauty and passion from football fans. According to a study published jointly by the Pan American…
