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Inside the Politicised World of Hungarian Football
On the 24th of May 2023, the Romanian Cup Final was set to be disputed between current holders Sepsi OSK and Universitatea Cluj. The game ended in a 0-0 draw and extra time was not sufficient to split the two teams. Then in the penalty shootout, Sepsi managed to cling on and reverse their fortunes…
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Mario Zagallo: Adeus to One of Brazil’s Greatest Managers
In the hallowed corridors of football’s history, there exists a rarefied air reserved for the immortals. Every manager and player aspire to sip from the cup of glory, the FIFA World Cup, at least once. Yet, imagine a maestro who not only tasted victory four times but orchestrated a symphony of triumph for a fifth. Such…
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The Greatest Managers in Football History
Pep Guardiola is undoubtedly the best manager of all time! Or is he? With most media outlets falling over themselves praising Pep’s treble win, I think the mania surrounding him is a bit exaggerated. He is no doubt a brilliant manager and tactician, but you cannot look past the prestige of the teams he managed…
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Bulgarian Football’s Harrowing Descent into Corruption and Mediocrity
On July 16th, 1994, 12:30 pm, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, the third-place playoff game of the World Cup was about to start between Sweden and the surprise of the tournament, Bulgaria. Even though the Swedes would smash the Bulgarians 4-0, it was nonetheless one of the finest achievements of an Eastern European…
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The Remarkable Rise of the Luxembourg National Team
On the 9th of September, Iceland, the perennial overachievers of the late 2010s were defeated 3-1 by Luxembourg, a team we all grew up watching get hammered by almost everyone. So, what about Luxembourg? Well, what about it? Whether you only see it fit to be used just for storage or know it exists and…
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Through the Looking Glass of Big Data: SSC Napoli 2015/16 and the Vindication of Maurizio Sarri: Part Three
Part III: Valentine’s Day heartbreakers and (quite a few) record-breakers Fresh from their first “Winter Champions” title in the 21st century, Napoli strolled to five straight victories in the new year, led by six goals from Gonzalo Higuain, who had taken his record to 24 goals in as many games. Jose Callejon had also…
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12 Iconic Stadiums That Are No Longer with Us
A stadium being demolished is one of the most heartbreaking events in football. Whilst many fans might see their team moving to a newer, more modern venue with gleeful anticipation, others lament the lost memories that they have made in the stands of the old ground. Newer stadiums also tend to be a bit sanitized…
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Through the Looking Glass of Big Data: SSC Napoli 2015/16 and the Vindication of Maurizio Sarri: Part Two
Part II: A First Campione D’Invierno (Or, Tuscan Men Love to Curse) After a faltering start to the season with a paltry two points from the first nine, it was the first match in the Europa League against Club Brugge where Napoli began to show signs of life. By the end of the Rafa…
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Through the Looking Glass of Big Data: SSC Napoli 2015/16 and the Vindication of Maurizio Sarri: Part One
Before Luciano Spalletti’s new-look Napoli led by Kvicha “Kvaradona” Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen conquered the Serie A in 2022/23 for the first time since a certain Argentinian had led them to the Scudetto over 30 years prior, it was the unassuming rise of Maurizio Sarri seven years prior that had seemingly marked the start of…
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Eden Hazard’s Teammates from His Final Chelsea Match: Where Are They Now?
At the beginning of October, news broke that Eden Hazard decided to hang up his boots at only 32 years old. Whilst he accomplished more in his career than most footballers his retirement was, in a way, shrouded in sadness due to how it came about. After 7 years leading the line for Chelsea and…
