Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 108 i Soccer 360 Magazine

https://copafootball.com/ copafootball.com “SOCCER HAS MADE MANY ATTEMPTS TO CAPTURE THE IMAGINATION OF US SPORTS FANS” America, Oasis is coming. You have one last chance to prove you loved us all along.” So ran the announcement of the iconic Britpop band’s Stateside reunion shows, a wink and a nod to the fact that while the Gallagher brothers could always shift tickets across the pond, they were never the cultural phenomenon they were back in the United Kingdom. It appears America has taken that chance, with five sold out stadium shows in Chicago, East Rutherford and Pasadena to take place in 2025. The following year, of course, stadiums across the United States will be hosting another oft-misunderstood import as the sporting temples of the NFL swap the oval ball for the round…

FIRST SERIE A TITLE Formed in 1897, it did not take long for the men from Turin to reach the peak of Italian football. Wearing black and white shirts which were inspired by English club Notts County, the club from Piedmont claimed their first Italian championship in 1905. Juventus defeated Genoa and US Milanese in a regional group format competition to become champions of Italy. FIRST EUROPEAN TROPHY The Old Lady finally won their first continental title at the fourth attempt in 1977. Juventus defeated Athletic Bilbao on away goals over two legs to claim the UEFA Cup. The Turin giants had previously lost out to Ajax in the 1973 European Cup final and in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup against Ferencvaros in 1965 and Leeds United in 1971 respectively. A…

Marcus Lilian Thuram-Ulien, was born in Parma on 6 August 1997. The son of Lilian Thuram, who played for the Emilian team at the time, he is French of Guadalupian origin. He grew up in Italy, where he lived until 2006, before moving to Barcelona with his family and then settling in France. His playing career saw him blossom in the youth ranks of Sochaux, the team he made his professional debut for. From 2017 to 2019, he played for Guingamp before moving on to Borussia Mönchengladbach. He spent four seasons in the Bundesliga, where he made 134 appearances and scored 44 goals.. His blanket… in Ronaldo’s hands Throughout his childhood, Marcus couldn’t be separated from a blanket, just like the Peanuts character Linus. Back then, his dad, Lilian, was…

Antoine Griezmann’s assist for Angel Correa’s late goal in Atletico Madrid’s 2-1 win against the French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain was the France international’s 50th goal involvement in the Champions League. In doing so, he became the fourth French player to reach the milestone after Thierry Henry, Kylian MBappe, and Karim Benzema. New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim left a memorable departing gift for ex-club Sporting CP as the Lions demolished Premier League giants Manchester City at Estadio Jose Alvalade. Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick and Maximiliano Araujo scored the other goal for the hosts after Phil Foden gave the visitors an early lead. It was City’s biggest defeat since losing to Leicester City at home by 5-2 in September, 2020. Renato Sanches played a UEFA Champions League match for Benfica…

To say that 2024 has given us a lot to look back on is an understatement. There have been major men’s tournaments across four different continents accompanied by some extraordinary storylines, with Lamine Yamal emerging for Euro winners Spain, world champions Argentina reigning supreme at the Copa America, Qatar retaining the Asian Cup, and Ivory Coast triumphing at the Africa Cup of Nations despite sacking their coach partway through the competition. Elsewhere we have seen new formats introduced in Europe’s top club competitions, Bayer Leverkusen complete an unbeaten season in the Bundesliga to end rivals Bayern Munich’s dominance, a disputed Ballon D’Or ceremony, Emma Hayes began her reign as USWNT coach by winning the Olympic title, and Kylian Mbappe finally made his much anticipated move to Real Madrid. Looking ahead,…

Hansi Flick’s start to life at Barcelona has been filled with positivity. Strong results, a firm desire to challenge Real Madrid in the La Liga title race, and a mission to keep the Blaugrana in the Champions League reckoning, are all major ticks against the former Bayern Munich boss so far this season. Stories of standards being improved and a ruthless approach to lateness and poor attitude has only underlined the idea of a culture shift in play in Catalonia. However, Flick’s ability to call on an old friend has helped enormously in his early days at the club, with Robert Lewandowski back to his best. The pair won every major title during their time together in Munich and Flick has stated simply the best version of Lewandowski is back.…

Since the move to bring in new Barca manager Hansi Flick on May 29. 2024, Raphinha has tallied 15 goals in all competitions. Raphinha has scored in the last three Champions League matches during the League Phase and is leading all scorers with 8 points through the first four rounds of play. Raphinha was born 14 December 1996 in Porto Alegre, Brazil, the same city as Ronaldinho was born. Hansi Flick has had five captains on the 2024-25 Barcelona roster and Raphinha now wears the armband since the injury to goalkeeper Andre ter Stegen. Raphinha competed in his first Copa America this year for the Brazilian National Team and has already bagged 9 goals in 29 International appearances. Raphina began his career in second-flight Portuguese football with Vitória Guimarães B…

July 30, 1966, is a date etched in the minds of all English football fans no matter their age. Wembley Stadium was filled with 96,924 spectators, West Germany were the opposition and at 3pm Gottfried Dienst from Switzerland blew his whistle to signal kick-off for the World Cup Final. An action-packed 120 minutes of on-field action later and England lifted the Jules Rimet trophy to become world champions. Since then, the hype surrounding England at every major tournament is deafening. The song ‘Three Lions’ with the line ‘Football’s Coming Home’ is sung by England fans at every home and away game despite being viewed as arrogant by many opposition teams and supporters. However, there is an underlying message to the song which if listened to in its entirety depicts the…

Everton, one of English football’s most storied clubs, has endured a turbulent few years. They’ve narrowly avoided relegation twice, been hit with two separate points deductions for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, experienced multiple managerial changes, and faced intense protests from supporters directed at the board. Majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, at the helm since 2016, has overseen a string of costly transfer flops and high-profile managerial appointments. The club has been up for sale for much of this period, shifting between potential buyers in a prolonged saga. Investment group 777 Partners looked set to take over but failed to meet Premier League conditions, leading the deal to collapse after missed deadlines. Interest from Crystal Palace minority shareholder John Textor brought hope, with ambitious plans for the club,…

YOU GOTTA LIKE RYAN. It’s hard not to like Ryan Reynolds. In fact, I’ve liked him ever since I saw him in that movie where he’s buried alive with only a mobile phone with the world’s most powerful and long-lasting battery, and the world’s longest lasting cigarette lighter for company. Talk about stretching credulity. Hollywood eh! For Ryan, life is a tapestry of charm-infused versatility, blending the worlds of comedy, action, and entrepreneurial spirit. Born on October 23, 1976, in Vancouver, Canada, Reynolds began his acting journey in humble beginnings, landing roles in teen dramas like Fifteen and the sitcom, Two Guys and a Girl. His early years were marked by persistence, working steadily in Hollywood but not yet reaching the lofty heights of stardom. The big breakthrough arrived with…

‘THOMAS TUCHEL’S APPOINTMENT AS ENGLAND MANAGER HAS SEEMINGLY HANDED KANE’S ENGLAND CAREER A LIFELINE’ Nothing can be said to be certain except for death and taxes, Benjamin Franklin once wrote. Centuries on, and another thing that the world seems to guarantee is that Harry Kane will be scoring goals - so much so that to recall a time when he wasn’t hitting the net with relentless regularity is almost like trying to cast your mind back to a different lifetime altogether. In reality though, it has been a mere decade since he began his remarkable ascent to becoming one of the greatest finishers in living memory. Now 31 and entering the latter part of his career, it is staggering to think - despite how often we are now reminded of…

THE GOOD: EL TRAFICO IS BACK What makes a good football season a great football season is great derbies producing excellent matches. After a few years of bumpy results, the heated rivalry between Los Angeles FC (LAFC) and the Los Angeles Galaxy was back in 2024. The derby lovingly bestowed by the supporters as El Trafico, named for the terrible traffic in the City of Angels, came back into the limelight with the two teams battling at the top of the Western Conference. Fun names and proximity aside, what makes a good rivalry great are compelling matches. Both sets of supporters and those who love the beautiful game certainly received that this season from the two LA sides. LAFC drew first blood with a 2-1 win back in April with…

#10 BUNNY STRIKES IN SIXTY Khadija Bunny Shaw continued to tear up the FA Women’s Super League for Manchester City in 2024, scoring in 21 goals in 18 matches last year. The Jamaican international has continued her strong run this year leading City to the top of the FA WSL. Her scoring prowess was particularly on point against Tottenham, where she scored a goal in just the first minute of the match against their rivals. #9 100 GOALS FOR JIMENEZ There was a time when it was thought that Raul Jimenez’s career might have been over. After a sustaining a serious head injury during the 2021-2022 season the Mexican international has worked his way back into a consistent attacking form, first for Wolverhampton and then with Fulham starting last season.…

“BANDA SCORED THE ONLY GOAL DURING THE 2024 NWSL CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS AGAINST WASHINGTON” After eight long seasons, the Orlando Pride have finally reached the mountaintop in the National Women’s Soccer League. Thanks to a Barbara Banda goal just before halftime, the Pride earned a decisive 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit in the 2024 NWSL Championship, claiming their first title. Anytime a team earns their first Championship it is cause for celebration. But for the Pride players and supporters, it was that much sweeter because of the years of futility that the team had suffered leading up to it. Since entering play in 2016, the Pride had only one winning season and one playoff appearance both of which came in 2017. Since then, the club has had a rotating cast…

“I am delighted with my time at Barcelona because I can say that I played for the club I always wanted to play for. I am very proud.” – Joao Cancelo, now playing for Al Hilal, looks back on his short but memorable time at Barcelona with pride. “No doubts. For me, Lionel Messi is the best player in the world. When he gets the ball, you think: danger is near… When I faced him, I tried to take the ball from him, but he would move away from you as if you weren’t even there.” – Manchester City star and the freshly crowned Ballon d’Or winner Rodri explains why he believes Lionel Messi is the greatest footballer of all time. “Every goal gives me more strength. I know my…

Instagram SHIRTY Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford gets a jersey signed by New York Knicks player Jalen Brunson after they beat the Brooklyn Nets. Instagram HOLIDAY SNAPS Manchester United midfielder Casemiro shares a photo of his family trip to Orlando Instagram HAPPY BIRTHDAY Cristiano Ronaldo posts a heartfelt message to wish his sevenyear-old daughter Alana happy birthday. Instagram COZY LEO Lionel Messi shares a cozy Instagram post, posing with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo. Instagram ON THE MEND Udinese star Alexis Sanchez spending time with his dogs as he moves closer to regaining fitness. Instagram BABY GIRL ON THE WAY AC Milan star Theo Hernandez and partner, ZoeCristofoli, are expecting their second child. Zoe shared the heartwarming news through a video on her Instagram account. Instagram FIRST BIRTHDAY Neymar Jr. celebrating…

‘LAMINE YAMAL HAS TAKEN THE WORLD BY STORM IN 2024. ’ TEAM OF THE YEAR - BAYER LEVERKUSEN Former Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso guided Bayer Leverkusen to their first ever Bundesliga title in May and the DFB Pokal, remarkably going undefeated in their entire domestic campaign with the only loss in any competition coming against Atalanta in the Europa League final. They were quite simply phenomenal. PLAYER OF THE YEAR - RODRI The Spain midfielder lifted the Ballon d’Or in October despite Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid’s objections. Rodri was Player of the Tournament at Euro 2024 and was again a major driving force in Manchester City’s fourth successive title win, while his absence since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament has cemented the reality that he is…

GIANLUIGI BUFFON In a class of his own as the greatest goalkeeper in the long and illustrious history of Juventus. The charismatic shot-stopper won 10 Serie A titles over two separate spells in 19 years at the Bianconeri and stayed loyal to Juve when they were demoted to the second tier in 2006. CIRO FERRARA Adaptable, dependable, and successful, three words which sum up one of Juventus’ finest defenders. Whether deployed in the middle of the defence or the right flank, the Napoli born player always delivered. He won five Scudetti and the Champions League in an 11-year tenure from 1994 to 2005. GIORGIO CHIELLINI A fearless leader who put his body on the line to ensure the Old Lady dominated Italian football from 2010 to 2019. Rugged, athletic, and…

‘THE CLUB HAS NOW SIGNALLED A DISTINCTIVELY DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING THINGS’ When Qatar Sports Investments took control of Paris Saint-Germain in 2011 there was one major prize that its new owners coveted above all others. Thanks to the massive boost in wealth, domination of French domestic football was just about guaranteed. But it was continental power that the Qatari government-backed investment group desired. Champions League glory or bust. But that strategy has undoubtedly failed and now there are new plans afoot in the French capital. With the likes of Neymar and Lionel Messi, alongside homegrown talents like Kylian Mbappé, PSG did everything they could to justify their huge spending and become one of the elite - Champions League winners. But with Mbappé’s departure in the off-season, the club has…

WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2025 The 2025-26 Champions League Tournament will see modifications to the formatting of the event. The women’s event will resemble the Men’s Champions League format starting next season. The League Stage will replace the Group Stage as 18 clubs will compete to arrive at a pair of rounds labeled the knockout round playoffs and the knockout round phase. ADA HEGERBERG’S SCORING RECORDS SAFE AND SOUND The Norway native is a legend in women’s football Europe. Hegerberg set the individual event record of 15 goals during the 2017-18 Champions League Tournament and is on the Lyon roster to add to those numbers. Regarded as one of the best footballers in the world, Hegerberg has scored 64 goals in UEFA Champions League action and teammate Eugénie Le Sommer…

SPAIN REIGN SUPREME AGAIN Spain won their fourth European Championship in 2024, winning all seven games they played. Knocking off continental powerhouses Italy, Germany, France and England on their way to capturing the title just makes the feat even more impressive. With talented youngsters like Yamal, Pedri and Nico Williams starting for the squad, they will be devastating opponents for years to come. And remember, Spain also won the Olympic men’s title and the UEFA European U19 Championships, while the women’s team are reigning world champions. JESSE MARSCH AND CANADA ARE THE REAL DEAL After the Canadian women’s national team was caught spying on opponents with drones, many questions were being asked about the men’s national team as well. However, it was made clear that practice was stopped when Jesse…

Barcelona’s summer push for Nico Williams was one of the most public transfer sagas in La Liga in recent years. Gossip pages were filled with every detail of their interest in the Basque winger with television cameras and social media detailing his summer holiday and subsequent return to Bilbao. Despite Barcelona’s confidence over convincing him to join the growing contingent of Spain stars at the club - including his new partner in crime Lamine Yamal - he remained loyal at the Estadio San Mames in the final weeks of the transfer window. With his contract running until 2027, and a release clause set at €58m, Williams’ current side know they still hold some power in potential exit talks with their rivals, although his comments in the wake of opting against…

“DID YOU TUNE IN TO FOOTBALL’S VERY OWN REALITY TV SHOW, THE BALLON D’OR, OR SOON TO BE RE-NAMED ‘KEEPING UP WITH THE MADRIDISTAS!’” REALITY TV YOU COULDN’T MAKE UP Well, did you tune in to football’s very own reality TV show, The Ballon D’Or, or soon to be re-named ‘Keeping Up with the Madridistas!’ If you did, you may wish to share your secret of how to stay awake during that beauty contest where overpaid millionaires line up every year in the hope of receiving another of football’s shiny, golden paperweights awarded to the player with the best PR team. It’s a time when football pretends that it’s all about individual brilliance and not a team of ten other people setting up that final goal scoring moment, because hey,…

GREECE’S LONG WAIT ENDS In the summer of 2004 Greece were European champions, and since then the Azure and White haven’t beaten a top ranked FIFA side until visiting Wembley in October. A late Vangelis Pavlidis strike handed Greece not just their biggest scalp since the year they shocked the world, but their first victory over England, ever. It was deserved reward for a courageous performance. SCOTLAND SNATCH PLAY-OFF SPOT After Kamil Piatkowski hit a scorcher into the top corner to bring Poland level during their clash on the final match day, Scotland were heading towards automatic relegation to League B. That was until captain Andrew Robertson came up with a dramatic stoppage time winner to earn a promotion/relegation play-off place and send the Poles down instead. DEVASTATING DIMARCO This…

October’s Ballon D’Or ceremony declared Rodri the best player in the world, a deserved recognition given his pivotal role in Manchester City’s fourth consecutive Premier League title and Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, where he was also Player of the Tournament. Known for his elite defensive play, passing range, and attacking contributions, Rodri has established himself as the ultimate midfielder. Since February 2023, he has played 85 matches for club and country, with only one loss (the FA Cup final), setting a record for the longest unbeaten Premier League run by a single player and capturing eight trophies. Remarkably, all three of City’s Premier League defeats in the 2023-24 season came when Rodri wasn’t on the field, and City’s win ratio drops significantly without him. Unfortunately, a serious knee injury against…

2020-2021 Season: Reynolds and McElhenney’s takeover was finalized in February 2021. Wrexham finished eighth in the National League, narrowly missing the playoffs 2021-2022 Season: The club improved significantly, finishing second in the National League. They reached the FA Trophy final but lost to Bromley. Unfortunately, Wrexham missed out on promotion to the Football League after a dramatic 5-4 loss to Grimsby Town in the playoff semifinals 2022-2023 Season: This season marked a historic achievement as Wrexham won the National League title with a record-breaking 111 points, securing promotion to League Two for the first time in 15 years. Their promotion also saw a massive boost in international attention, thanks in part to the FX series Welcome to Wrexham, which attracted new fans globally and significantly increased merchandise sales 2023-2024 Season: Wrexham…

Mohamed Salah might still be destroying Premier League defences with Liverpool, but over in the Bundesliga another Egyptian king is truly making his name courtesy of his mesmerising performances in 2024-25. Omar Marmoush is leading the way in just about every attacking metric and his dual role as the leading marksman and chief creator has propelled Eintracht Frankfurt into believing that they can secure a top four finish and a place in next season’s Champions League. The 25-year-old has been one to watch in the Bundesliga for a few years, having spent three years in the first team at Wolfsburg before a spell on loan with Stuttgart ahead of joining Frankfurt in the summer of 2023. A return of 12 goals in 29 appearances last term was a sign that…

MVP AND BEST MIDFIELDER - LUCIANO ACOSTA, FC CINCINNATI This is tougher than it sounds. The average football fan will say, ‘Of course it is Messi! How can it not be Messi?’ But the question isn’t who is the league’s best player it is who is the league’s most valuable player. That Acosta doesn’t have the likes of Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suarez around him and yet has more assists (19 to Messi’s 16), key passes (108 to 32), expected goals (11.48 to 11.08) certainly helps his case. It is a tough call but Acosta earned his second consecutive MVP. BEST DEFENDER-JACKSON RAGEN, SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC Ragen proved that 2023 was no fluke, once again leading the stout Sounders backline to a top four showing in the Western…

Taking over a new job is never easy. No matter the position there is always the ‘feeling out period’ where one is learning new names, new phrases, new goals, and new expectations. For most jobs, the feeling out period is a bit of a grace period where an employee can make mistakes, grow, learn and get better with the new role. Sadly, for football managers that grace period just doesn’t exist and for Mauricio Pochettino with the United States and Jesse Marsch with Canada their new jobs come with plenty of lofty expectations. The life of a new football manager is always fraught with expectations but for Pochettino and Marsch the pressure seems to be even greater. The reasoning for this is clear: both teams will be hosting the World…

GOLDEN BOOT AND MVP TEMWA CHAWINGA (KC CURRENT) Chawinga was a force up top for the Current all season, scoring 21 goals and adding six assists. Her tenacity from the forward position was a major reason for KC making it to the NWSL Playoff Semifinals. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AND MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR: CROIX BETHUNE (WASHINGTON SPIRIT) Bethune showed that she was more than capable of leading the midfield in her rookie season for the Spirit notching ten assists. Bethune, who was drafted by the Spirit out of Georgia, won both awards despite missing the last two months of the season due to a meniscus tear. DEFENDER OF THE YEAR: EMILY SAMS (ORLANDO PRIDE) Sams led an experienced Pride backline to their first-ever NWSL Championship, blanking the Spirit 1-0…

MESSING AROUND Adidas Originals launched a one-of-a-kind partnership between two global superstars, Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, better known as Bad Bunny, and soccer legend Lionel Messi. The Bad Bunny & Messi Collection celebrates the connection between music and sport. Bad Bunny has long admired Messi, referencing the soccer superstar in his music, including five mentions in his latest album. Messi, in turn, has expressed his own admiration for the Puerto Rican artist, revealing that seven Bad Bunny tracks are included on his personal pre-game playlist. FLAGSHIP PUMA PUMA has opened the doors to its second North American flagship store in Las Vegas at the BLVD Las Vegas. The 25,000-square-foot retail space, spans an impressive three stories, redefines what it means to be a brick-and-mortar location in today’s rapidly evolving digital…

Kylian MBappe (December 20th, 26) France, Real Madrid Kylian MBappe walked into the spotlight at Monaco. Paris Saint-Germain bought him for €180 million where he won six Ligue 1 titles. Mbappe departed as the club’s all-time leading scorer when he transferred to Real Madrid in 2024. He won the World Cup with France in 2018 and led Les Bleus to the final again in 2022. MBappe scored a hat-trick in the final and won the Golden Ball, but it wasn’t enough to secure back-to-back victories for his country. Andi Sullivan (December 20th, 29) USA, Washington Spirit Andi Sullivan is a product of the Washington Spirit academy and remains a key player for the club. She has captained the team and is currently a pivotal figure in their midfield. Sullivan was…

‘MOTTA MADE KENAN YILDIZ A PERMANENT FIXTURE IN THE FIRST-TEAM AND HE HAS RISEN TO THE CHALLENGE’ There’s a new version of the Old Lady. La Vecchia Sign or a has been given a complete makeover after losing her way over the last few years. She had veered offshore into waters of disillusion until a forward-thinking new coach was appointed to lead her back to the promised land. Rebooted and reenergised, Juventus entrusted Thiago Motta with the mission of returning the most followed club in Italian football back to the summit of Calcio as for the Bianconeri, titles are not only demanded but expected. It’s only been four years since the 36-time Scudetto winners last celebrated winning Serie A. Yet it might as well be an eternity to exasperated supporters…

With your Father being one of the greatest defenders in the history of the game - were you every going to be anything but a football player? For me I started to play as soon as I could walk - maybe at 2 or 3 years old. As I got older and went to school - there were other interests that I liked and I found I was good at like basketball - but for me it has always been football. You are one of the top goal scorers in Italy so far this season - but you started as a winger didn’t you? It’s true and I did enjoy playing on the wing - but my Father and of course my coaches said we see you with the attributes…

BRADLEY BARCOLA Among the leading goalscorers in Ligue 1, Barcola joined the club in 2023 from Lyon and instantly looked the real deal, while being able to learn from Kylian Mbappé in his final season in Paris. Also happiest on the left, Barcola offers more defensively than the star he has replaced but looks most dangerous when running at opposing defenders. His goal tally only seems set to rise over the next few months. LEE KANG-IN His national side may be inconsistent recently but Lee Kang-in is demonstrating how South Korea continues to produce a steady stream of electrifying players. Now in his second season at PSG after playing in Spain for Valencia and Mallorca, Lee is now letting his talent do the talking. A dead ball specialist, he offers…

For a club considered one of the biggest in the Premier League, it has been quite a while since Spurs fans celebrated a trophy win of any kind. The League Cup triumph over Chelsea in 2008 is the most recent success, with the last European achievement coming over 40 years ago now. But the new format to this season’s Europa League does give the club renewed hope of breaking that trophy drought. Spurs may have lost out to Aston Villa when it comes to a Champions League place this year but the second-tier competition looks remarkably open. Form in the EPL so far has been decidedly, well, “Spursy”, but Ange Postecoglou’s side are considered one of the favourites to win the Europa League. Indeed, when at their best this team…

‘A PLACE ON PEP GUARDIOLA’S EVER-ROTATING CYCLE OF ATTACKERS, ALONGSIDE ERLING HAALAND, DID NOT APPEAL’ Julian Alvarez faced a crucial call on his club future ahead of the 2024-25 season with his position at Manchester City largely unchanged after retaining the Copa America with Argentina. Erling Haaland’s spot as the focal point of Pep Guardiola’s attack was set in stone and though highly impressive, Alvarez’s performances in wide areas over the previous two campaigns had not yielded the results he wanted. Despite his record at City, with 19 goals scored in all competitions in 2023-24, it looked as if his career was only heading in one direction in Manchester. A place on Guardiola’s ever-rotating cycle of attackers, alongside Haaland, did not appeal to the Argentinian and he pressed to leave.…

This season you have been one of Barcelona’s players - but you admitted that there have been times you had thought of leaving? Yes - it is no secret that I did not have the best start here. Self doubt started to creep in - and that is not a place you want to be as a player. I didn’t feel has though I had won the fans over - and there were times I really started to think about leaving. What turned things around for you? After The World Cup - I started to play a lot better. I started to score goals, to create goals, and of course when you play well and score goals you win the fans over quickly. Then when you win the fans -…

Thierry Henry Despite being the top scorer in the Premier League and leading Arsenal through an invincible season in 2003-04, Henry never won the Ballon d’Or. He finished second in 2003 and had years where he was arguably the best striker in the world, but nope, the award went elsewhere. I’m still scratching my head. Paolo Maldini One of the greatest defenders in football history, Maldini spent 25 years locking down Serie A and Champions League attackers. There was more chance of getting past a police identity parade than getting past him. His elegance, longevity, and pure defensive dominance somehow weren’t enough for the award, but hey, defenders are apparently in the “Ballon d’Or, Who the feck is he?” category. His omission proves the point that the hallowed committee of…

‘TO SEE MIKEL ARTETA DECIDE TO BRING HAVERTZ TO ARSENAL FOR £65M CAUSED MANY EYEBROWS TO BE RAISED’ ‘HAVERTZ WENT FROM A SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE TO A VITAL COG IN ARTETA’S TACTICAL SYSTEM’ The name of Kai Havertz will always be associated with one of the greatest achievements in the history of Chelsea Football Club, having scored the solitary goal against Manchester City in the 2021 Champions League final to deliver European football’s biggest prize to Stamford Bridge for a second time. It was a moment that immediately etched his name into the history books, but in years to come, the German forward’s lasting legacy may well emerge from his time with current club Arsenal. That is if his magnificent resurgence in 2024 is anything to go…

How important is it that Chelsea get back into The Champions League? It’s very important - The Champions League is not just a competition that Chelsea have been used to competing in - but one we have got used to winning. As a player that is where you want to be - and we know how important it is for the club and the fans. What are your long term ambitions with Chelsea? To win trophies - that’s what I believe we can do. First of all you have to win football games and you have to win football games on a consistent basis. That is what we are trying to do - and I am sure that the trophies will come. How do you prepare for the biggest games…

When he bade an emotional farewell to Liverpool back in May as he stepped down after eight and-a-half years in charge, everyone wondered what he would do next. A break from management was always on the cards despite frequent speculation linking him to the Germany national team while he was also mentioned in relation to the United States at one point, but when his new pasture was eventually announced in October, it’s fair to say that it wasn’t received with universal approval in his homeland. From the start of 2025 Klopp takes on the role of global head of soccer at Red Bull, the energy drinks giant which controls four clubs across the globe - namely Brazilian side Red Bull Bragantino, MLS franchise New York Red Bulls, the now perennial…

ALIGNING THE MLS CALENDAR WITH THE TRADITIONAL SOCCER CALENDAR WILL HELP MLS TEAMS LOOKING TO ADD PLAYERS, BUT ALSO SELL THEIR YOUNGER PLAYERS TO BIGGER CLUBS. As anyone who has followed Major League Soccer knows, the league has faced its fair share of roadblocks throughout its history. Although it has been successful in overcoming many challenges and long odds there are still many challenges that it faces in growing the game. Perhaps the most annoying challenge comes in the form of the schedule. Despite its many tweaks it has not quite found the right calendar to give it the best chance to create a game experience. That may be changing. In a recent report from The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio, MLS officials have discussed moving the league calendar with the regular…

GOALKEEPER ANNA MOORHOUSE (ORLANDO PRIDE) Moorehouse dominated between the posts for Orlando this season, registering 13 clean sheets while pushing Orlando to the top of the NWSL Standings (18-2-6, 60 points). In her third season in the league, Moorhouse has emerged as the best goalkeeper in the league and has given Orlando’s backline support as they stifle the opponent’s creativity. DEFENDER KERRY ABELLO (ORLANDO PRIDE) Alongside Moorhouse Abello led the Pride out of the back playing 2202 minutes while winning 33 tackles last season. Thanks to her defensive wizardry and sleek passes out of the back the Pride earned their first-ever trophy in the NWSL shield. DEFENDER JENNA NIGHSWONGER (NJ/NY GOTHAM FC) In her first season with Gotham, Nighswonger provided lockdown defensive work for a side the conceded only 20…

MANCHESTER WHO? Manchester United legend Roy Keane snubbed his old team by wearing a Tottenham Christmas jumper in a meeting with darts star Luke Humphries. Keane made the bold choice on an episode of The Overlap. THE BABY BLUES Manchester City aims to capture the hearts of young supporters by engaging children through creative initiatives. According to Daily Mail, the club is launching an ambitious project that includes the development of children’s TV programs. MOVIE STAR OWEN Former Liverpool, Real Madrid, and England star Michael Owen has been seen in Cairo participating in the filming of El Hareefa 2, reports The Sun. The movie is a sequel to the original El Hareefa, which ranked among the top ten highest-grossing films in Egypt last year. The storyline follows the journey of…

The greatest players of all time. Yes, well we’ve all seen the usual lists, at the usual times, containing the usual names. I won’t mention them here and of course those names wouldn’t garner much disagreement from me. But for every world’s greatest player there’s another great player out there whose recognition lingers in the shadows of obscurity, unheralded, unsung and little known. Such players are every part of the great history and tapestry of the beautiful game. if nowhere else, deserve a big shout out at least within the pages of Soccer 360 Magazine. Lakhdar Belloumi Nicknamed the ‘Wizard of Maghreb’, Lakhdar Belloumi is one of Africa’s greatest ever footballers and widely considered to be the greatest Algerian footballer of all time. A paragon of pitch prowess who displayed…

“IF MESSI CAN WIN THE BALLON D’OR ONLY ON THE BACK OF HIS INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL, THEN RODRI HAS MORE THAN A GOOD CASE FOR SQUEEZING OUT VINICIUS JUNIOR.” The Ballon d’Or has, generally speaking, always been a thoroughly unreliable barometer of footballing quality. Much like the Academy Awards for acting or directing, they are usually swayed by the familiar faces, seemingly based on past glories and profile more than whatever performances we have seen in the current qualifying year. There is a long and ugly history of the trophy going to someone who really did not deserve it, while others who had one spectacular campaign would not be rewarded for it. Combining it with the FIFA Player of the Year Award has only made that worse, spreading out the voting…