Eric Cantona was an enigma. He was one of the few footballers who embraced the essence of being ‘crazy’ and revelled in his image of being a ‘rebel’. Because of his actions, Cantona acquired the tag of being a ‘journeyman’ who changed clubs as a result of his longing for a place which he could…

Paris Saint-Germain are known for a lot of reasons. Their dominance in the French league, their entertaining collapses in the Champions League, their willingness to dump a mere €402 million on two attacking players despite having a midfield that’s overrun every time they face decent opposition, and of course, their infamous ultras.    Known as…

In football, there are an elite set of teams within which a philosophy of refusing to settle for second best is instilled within their roots and fortified by their fanbase. In Scotland, a seemingly respectable second place would be deemed as humiliation by both Celtic and Rangers and only the fierce Glasgow rivals. When it…

This season has been at times calamitous for Arsenal. Finishing eighth, crashing out of the domestic cup competitions and two tepid performances in the Europa League semi-final against Villarreal has left a bitter taste in the mouth of fans. Add the vociferous protests against owner Stan Kroenke over the doomed European Super League, but also…

Last season, İstanbul Başakşehir won the league title; this season, they are fighting relegation. Whilst Başakşehir are the most extreme and recent example of these drastic swings in form, they’re far from the only club that’s had its share of highs and lows. In Turkey, it is clear that flying high for a certain amount…

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), European football’s administrative body, have had talks regarding establishing a third continental competition since late 2015. Commencing at the start of the 2021/22 season, The Europa Conference League is the fruit borne from the years of discussion.   This tournament is designed to give teams from nations smaller…

Wout Weghorst’s repeated exclusion brings to the forefront a somewhat strange history of players groomed at the Alkmaar club and their position in the Netherlands national team.   It’s business as usual for Wout Weghorst. The in-form striker was on target once again in VfL Wolfsburg’s 2-1 win over Werder Bremen. The 28-year-old’s 17th league…

At around 10 pm local time on the 27th May 2015, Ukraine’s fifth-largest city of Dnipropetrovsk rejoiced and stood in awe as Nikola Kalinić scored the goal to allow the minnows of European football, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk to take the lead in the biggest match of the club’s 97-year tenure; the UEFA Europa League Final. Though…

On Friday afternoon, BILD broke the news that Ralf Rangnick was set to become Schalke’s Sporting Director for the 2021/22 season and plan for life in 2. Bundesliga as their inevitable relegation looms large. The report highlighted his plans and desire to help Schalke on their way back to the Bundesliga and subsequent success. The…

As made in no uncertain terms by FIFA in their 62-page didactic handbook, for football to remain such an entertaining, fair and accessible sport, integrity must remain one of its cornerstones. In what might be received as somewhat rich due to their own internal history of corruption scandals, football’s international governing body maintain in their…