Credit: AFCALICE “We don’t have a lot of black goalkeepers at the top and people already have in their mind that black goalkeepers are not confident or they make too many mistakes”. – André Onana, one of the World’s best young goalkeepers. This episode will challenge both the writer and the reader to change … More Episode 7: How Racism On The Pitch Works
Jurgen Klopp: “One of his finest qualities has always been with his back to goal, shielding the ball. The fact that he has become a world-class striker is down to his work ethic in training and his ambition. The way he motivates himself is extraordinary.” The Best Number 9 of the Decade: In the hunt … More Episode 6: How Robert Lewandowski Works
The French Enigma Basile Boli? No, I hadn’t heard of him either. But, in May 1993, Boli scored a unique goal in the history of French Football. His goal in a 1-0 victory for Marseille over Milan in the ’93 European Cup Final represents the only winning goal scored for a French club in the … More Episode 5: How French Football Works
With an artful swoosh of his left foot in May 2002, Zinedine Zidane legitimised the Galácticos Project and won the Champions League for Real Madrid. Inside two seasons, Florentino Pérez’s vision had overseen the arrival of Figo, Zidane, and a La Liga and Champions League title. Unlike the Summer of 2000 (Figo), and 2001 (Zidane), … More Episode 4: How the Galacticos Worked: Part 2
In 2001, at a Champions League awards ceremony in Monte Carlo, Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez scribbled a note on a napkin and passed it to Juventus’ Zinedine Zidane. “Quieres venir a jugar al Madrid?” (“Do you want to come and play for Madrid?”). Zidane’s answer, an emphatic “Yes”, written in English. Dubbed as The … More Episode 3: How The Galacticos Worked: Part 1
Alfredo Di Stéfano Real Madrid is a club which has defined, and is defined by the European Cup. Since Alfredo Di Stéfano’s generation won the first 5 in a row between 1956 and 1960, success or failure for Real Madrid has been defined by this competition. In fact, that Hala Madrid anthem you hear before … More Episode 2: How Real Madrid Works: Total 80s Edition
Boca’s Final Day Title and a premature goodbye to Daniele De Rossi ¡Bienvenido Daniele! On 26th July 2019, Boca Juniors announced the signing of a World Cup champion, a player with 616 appearances for A.S. Roma, and 117 for the Italy National Team. De Rossi had spoken of his admiration for Boca whilst still in … More Episode 1: How Boca Juniors Works
Sunday 18th August 2019, around 23:50 local time, and Diego Simeone is frantically running up-and-down the touchline, gesticulating at his players and orchestrating the crowd, straining every resource and trick available to get Atletico their 1-0 against Getafe. It is the 93rd minute, 10-man Getafe have not had a single shot on target, yet that … More Simeone’s Atlético: A Revolution?
Zidane: From Meritocracy to Nepotism? On 21st November 2016, Rafa Benítez lost his only La Liga Clásico 0-4 in the Bernabeu. It was a total massacre that exposed the obvious flaws of the Modric-Kroos-James midfield romanticism of Florentino Pérez’s dreams. Benitez’s first and only Clasíco XI was as far removed from a ‘Benítez team’ as you … More Zidane: From Meritocracy to Nepotism?
Figure 1: The imposing Santiago Bernabéu two hours before kick-off. Champions League Round of 16 1st Leg, Real Madrid v Napoli. Articulating the atmosphere, grandeur and enormity of the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu is all but impossible. Even the most seasoned sport writer could not hope to truly encapsulate the feeling of sitting alongside 80,000 Madridistas, … More The Endless Pursuit of Impossible Expectations
How Football Works 