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FourFourTwo UK - August 2016 AvxHome - in PDF
FourFourTwo UK - August 2016 AvxHome - in PDF
FourFourTwo UK - August 2016 AvxHome - in PDF
EUROV 2I E0W16
RE
P8
MAN
UNITED &
MOURINHO
TWO GIANTS WHO’LL
WIN IT ALL OR TEAR
EACH OTHER APART P42
THINGS YOU
DIDN’T KNOW
ABOUT 66 P66
August 2016 £4.75 www.fourfourtwo.com
THE GERMAN
GEORGE BEST P88
E D I TO R’ S L E T T E R
EDITORIAL
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442workexperience@haymarket.com And so Portugal are champions of Europe.
Editor Hitesh Ratna It’s a win that few saw coming, especially
Managing editor Huw Davies
Art editor Anthony Moore after three draws in the group stage and
Deputy art editor Tom Chase
Features editor James Maw that injury to Cristiano Ronaldo in the final.
Staff writer Andrew Murray
Staff writer Chris Flanagan Yes, 2016 is officially the year of the underdog.
Chief sub editor Gregg Davies
Performance editor Ben Welch
Turn to page eight to relive their triumph and all of the other
Performance writer Alec Fenn
Videographer Andre Hoo
Euro 2016 highs and lows, from Welsh heroics and Iceland’s
Global digital editor Gary Parkinson Haka to England’s horror show (or you could skip that bit).
Deputy digital editor Gregor MacGregor
Digital features editor Joe Brewin As the tournament was reaching its climax,
Social media executive Harriet Drudge
Digital apprentice Ben Clark an altogether different story was unfolding in
Editorial secretary Sarah Weetch
Thanks to Tim Barnett, Mike Wescombe, Chris Dean and
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One-on-One: Pierre van Hooijdonk
The former Nottingham Forest striker and Dutch
36 international answers your questions, from scoring
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54 Meet the men who moulded today’s top bosses,
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105 Go with your gut and keep your head in the game
107 Arda Turan on finding the space to create chances
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REVIEW
It was quite a month in France, and FFT scribbled it
From Dimitri Payet’s stunning winner to start the
way to the final in Saint-Denis, this is how it happe
Words Nick Harper, Si Hawkins, Louis Massarella, Nick Moore, Chris Flanagan, Andrew Murray
W
hen Euro 2016 began back Golden Boot. And there was
on June 10, we had a few slightest chance that either
questions. Would the French Ireland or the Republic of Ire
crumble under the pressure emerge from difficult groups
of being hosts, having won We at FFT were confident t
the previous two major tournaments predictions, inklings and wild
held on their own patch? Could England the dark would come to pas
go all the way? Would the addition of would be good news for our
eight extra teams lead to the likes of account balance but, we fea
Wales, Iceland and Hungary stinking out a disaster for our Euro 2016
the tournament? Questions, questions… After all, where’s the fun in G
But there were things we knew for marching predictably to the
certain, too. Portugal were going to be Fortunately we were so wr
all Ronaldo and no trousers. Spain were 2016 saw upsets, drama, wo
guaranteed semi-finalists. Nobody was howlers, ripped shirts, burst
going to stop Harry Kane, Thomas Muller commentators and every na
and Zlatan Ibrahimovic from rattling in Europe adopting a terrifying
goal after goal in their quest for the chant. Relive it all with us no
EUR O 2016
REVIEW
David Guetta
shrieks at the
GROU P A Stade de France
FRIDAY JUN E 10
2 FRANCE
Giroud (57), Payet (89)
1 ROMANIA
Stancu (65 pen)
THE GOOD
Plenty of positives for the hosts: Paul
Pogba looks every inch the tournament's
Parisian posterboy with some luscious
roll backs and fine through-balls; N’Golo
Kante plays his muscular henchman “What was the
to perfection, and jinking genius Payet keeper doing?”
puts on a 20-minute masterclass to
send even the most shruggy French
local into Tricolore-waving raptures. “oh no!” like a pantomime five-year-old
when Romania score their equaliser and
THE BAD later commending Payet for “animating
Dimitri Payet picks his
Very little to hate, although Romania’s the animation”. Nope, us neither.
spot… and his moment
(albeit understandable) lack of attacking
intent suggests that the Euros' new THEY SAID WHAT?!
format may lend itself to bus-parking “After one or two of their performances
on an unprecedented scale over the
coming days. Get it forward, lads!
Payet's stunner sent even th should be counting
ngs that they even
THE UGLY
shruggy French into raptu e flight,” said Roy
vator’ Keane, in
While Paris parties, Marseille burns. Or, dence-boosting
at least, a handful of bozos in England d as he assessed
shirts chant “ISIS, where are you?” MEANWHILE, IN... tableau is the capa rish squad before
outside the Queen Victoria pub and …Luebbenau, Germany, the Teutonic Mark Pougatch. He departed Dublin
scuffle with some local dunderheads – obsession with soothsaying animals joined by Emmanu e tournament.
leading to a couple of arrests and a light continues, as Flocke the Humboldt Petit – resembling
tear-gassing. This one may run and run. Penguin – who lives at a health spa, a wealthy Game of IC MOMENT
the lucky, endangered swine – predicts Thrones brothel ke s tears of joy as
THE CRAZY a Die Mannschaft victory over Ukraine who opines intellig s subbed after his
The ITV ‘reporting’ – or shouting – of with some strategic waddling. There’s about France’s rece uster (left). It’s all
2013 Wimbledon tennis champ Marion no point, mate, you’re never going to problems and how actor to start with
Bartoli and former Manchester United top that Euro 2008 octo-oracle, Paul… the woe: “football ’ erworks this early
goal-plunderer Louis Saha from the Paris the quality to bring dings, but if we had
fans’ park is utterly deranged. “COME PUNDIT WATCH ’appiness”. Over on that on the opening
ON – ALLEZ LES BLEUS!” bellows Bartoli ITV have upgraded their personnel since wireless, 5 Live’s Th major tournament,
like a one-woman hen party, as Saha Euro 2012’s punditry hate crimes. Sitting Henry demonstrate robably fancy
performs an uncomfortable jig. Weird. at the head of an Eiffel Tower-based such nous, bellowi le blub, too.
...but Berezutski
strikes
late for Mother Ru
ssia
Schweiny busts
a gut to clinch it
for the Germans
THE UGLY
More unsavoury scenes on the streets,
this time in Nice, which fails to live up
to its name when local thugs attack
Northern Ireland supporters before
their team’s game with Poland. On the
pitch, Croatia’s Vedran Corluka battles
on manfully after coming off worse from
a clash with the feisty Cenk Tosun. But,
after three stoppages to have his head
bandaged – white, blue, white again –
even the most ardent Terry Butcher fans
agree that this is all getting a bit silly.
THE CRAZY
GROU PS C+ D Modric wheels Germany are in Kroos control at the
away after his Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille as Teutonic
SUNDAY JUN E 1 2 wonder strike Toni torments Ukraine. So why don’t
they, you know, mark the Real Madrid
midfielder? Former Fulham man Danny
0 TURKEY from golfing hair-sponge Rory McIlroy –
while the world champions’ triumph,
“Love Modric. Murphy in the BBC commentary box
can’t believe it, and neither can we.
1 CROATIA
Modric (41)
if predictable, comes from an unlikely
source: the head of former Everton
Can we not all MEANWHILE, IN...
MATCH RATING OOOOO stopper Shkodran Mustafi, who’s only
in the side because of injuries to both chip in to bring ...Marseille, it transpires that Jamie
Vardy’s new wife, Rebekah, was among
Mats Hummels and Antonio Rudiger. those tear-gassed by riot police amid
1 POLAND him back to the ugly scenes between fans of England
Milik (51) THE GOOD and Russia. This, as UEFA threaten to
0 NORTHERN IRELAND A tidy German midfield trio. Toni Kroos
and Mesut Ozil both provide sumptuous
English game?!” throw out the two teams and the hosts
announce an alcohol ban around the
MATCH RATING OOOOO assists, the latter's perfect cross expertly fan zones and stadiums. Shame.
thumped in by Bastian Schweinsteiger.
With Robert Lewandowski too busy bar the red and white badge, and Gerry PUNDIT WATCH
2 GERMANY tussling with Jonny Evans, meanwhile, Armstrong's classy co-commentary As Slaven Bilic continues to run the show
Mustafi (19), Schweinsteiger (90+2) Arkadiusz Milik is always Poland’s most on BBC One. Let’s hope that he’s not on ITV with his blend of knowledge and
0 UKRAINE likely goalscorer, his neat left-footed
finish enough to get the White Eagles
restricted to Northern Ireland games. wild hand gestures, it’s a busy day for
Gary Lineker over at the Beeb. As well
MATCH RATING OOOOO up and running. Special mentions, too, THE BAD as having some decent one-liners, the
for Turkey’s striking trackie tops, all black A day of missed sitters across the anchorman is the target of a leaky roof
Channel, with Turkey’s Ozan Tufan, in the Eiffel Tower-overlooking studio.
WHAT'S THE STORY? Croatia’s Darijo Srna and Ukraine’s
It’s starter’s orders for the front-runners Yevhen Konoplyanka – even though THEY SAID WHAT?!
(Germany), dark horses (Croatia) and his scuffed effort does draw a heroic “He’s in his prime, he’ll only get better.”
probable also-rans (sorry Northern goal-line clearance from Jerome Alan ‘confused’ Shearer on Toni Kroos.
Ireland). The first two, plus Poland, are Boateng – left wondering what the
in danger of ‘doing an England’ before French is for ‘cow’s arse’ and ‘banjo’. MAGIC MOMENT
securing the the victories that their Kyle Lafferty’s overhead kick from 25 It just has to be Luka Modric’s dipping,
dominance deserve. In truth, Michael yards out (left) also makes for painful first-time volley winner against Turkey.
O’Neill’s team rarely look like holding out viewing. But the honours go to Croatia’s “Love Modric......” tweets a salivating
for the draw that they seem set up for – Ivan Perisic, whose dazzling wing-play, Jamie Carragher, "can we all not chip in
despite a motivational video message sadly, is not matched by his hairdo – on & bring him back to the PL?!” Hear, hear.
TUESDAY JUN E 14
0 AUSTRIA
2 HUNGARY
Szalai (62), Stieber (87)
1 PORTUGAL
Nani (31)
1 ICELAND
B. Bjarnason (50)
GIC MOMENT
gary’s supporters are phenomenal:
r trademark slow-handclap chant
nds like Come On Eileen for nutcases,
Stieber’s late clincher against the
trians sparks a group hug between
entire squad and 2,738 fans, while
nager Bernd Storck – a man who's so
gdog he makes Vicente del Bosque
madcap – wells up with tears of joy.
ungary fans’
ow-clap chant
ounds a bit like
ome on Eileen
or nutcases
EU R O 2 0 16
REVIEW
GROUPS A+ B
TH UR S DAY JUNE 16
2 ENGLAND
Vardy (56), Sturridge (90+2)
1 WALES
Bale (42)
0 UKRAINE
2 NORTHERN IRELAND
McAuley (49), McGinn (90+6)
0 GERMANY
0 POLAND
MATCH RATING OOOOO
...after Bale’s
free-kick had
beaten Hart
“This enough
passion for
you, eh?”
tournament. Joe Hart isn’t much better. no one will come off. After twiddling Shearer-Ferdinand match-up produces THEY SAID WHAT?!
He has one job to do all game – palm his thumbs on the touchline for seven no fireworks or fisticuffs whatsoever – Ahead of Ireland’s clash with Belgium,
Bale’s well-struck but routine free-kick minutes that seem more like a lifetime, what made sense on paper fell flat in Roy Keane revisits an old theme by
away to safety – yet he fails abysmally. he finally gets on for the final three. 3D. Similarly, the experiment of sticking confirming he’d have happily kicked
Robbie Savage and Martin Keown in the Eden Hazard around in training had he
THE UGLY MEANWHILE, IN… same commentary box at the Stade moaned that he wanted to leave for
If Joe Hart’s hapless flapping doesn’t ...celebrity love story news, Taylor Swift Bollaert-Delelis in Lens yields friction another club. “That's nothing personal,
cause him sleepless nights, the fact and that Night Manager bloke are now but no punches, sadly. And not even ITV I would do that to anybody who was
he has let down the kids really should. confirmed to be ‘in a secret romance’. can rescue the night. The usually reliable talking about possibly wanting to leave
Rewind to the tunnel, pre-game, and Obviously it’s no longer secret and they ‘Bilic + Wright + AN Other' formula that all the time,” smirks Keane with that
Hart attempts to rally his troops with probably won’t still be canoodling by has served them so well thus far falls murderous glint. “If it was true – that
a Churchillian battle cry – if Churchill the time you read this, but there we go. flat for the late game. It doesn’t help they wanted to leave and had a poor
had suffered from Tourette’s. “Right that the Germany-Poland clash is attitude to training – then I would kick
boys, pride, get that ball, move that PUNDIT WATCH a bit of a dud, or that the AN Other is them in training, yes. But I have kind of
f***ing ball, c’mon,” roars the rather It’s a quiet day/night on Planet Pundit. charm vacuum Lothar Matthaus. Not done that with most players, I suppose,
pumped-up custodian, failing to note The BBC’s calculated Hartson-Saunders, even Wrighty and Slaven can save that. even the lads who didn't want to leave.”
the BBC camera capturing every word.
A Corporation apology duly follows. MAGIC MOMENT
Dele Alli’s role in England’s winner is
THE CRAZY subtly sublime – to the point of going
In easily the most surreal match of the unnoticed. As Roy's Boys push for a late
tournament so far, Northern Ireland’s winner, the ball falls under the starlet's
win over Ukraine is stopped when the feet. Surrounded by red shirts but aware
heavens open and God rains down of Sturridge to his left, Alli flicks the ball
a barrage of head-sized hailstones. into the striker’s path and the substitute
Later, the Irish take time-wasting to does the rest. Alli was quiet by his own
an amusing new level as Paddy McNair Lewy still can't high standards, but that single moment
prepares to come on, only to find that hit the target and deft touch more than compensate.
FRIDAY JUN E 17
1 ITALY
Eder (88)
0 SWEDEN
MATCH RATING OOOOO
2 CZECH REPUBLIC
Skoda (76), Necid (89 pen)
2 CROATIA
Perisic (37), Rakitic (59)
3 SPAIN
Morata (34, 48), Nolito (37)
0 TURKEY
MATCH RATING OOOOO
Petr Cech can’t
keep out Ivan's
WHAT'S THE STORY? delightful dink
Today we learn nothing that we didn’t
already know. This Italy team probably
is the worst in 50 years after all, but it’s
still altogether Italian enough to make
the knockout stages with a game to
spare. The Azzurri conjure a single
moment of quality in the whole game
against an equally clueless Sweden –
Eder running at a sweating Andreas
Granqvist, who lands on his arse and
raises a white flag as the little Brazilian
thumps home. In the celebrations that
follow, Antonio Conte avoids bloodying
his nose and his wig stays on, so all in
all it’s a good day for him. Then we learn
that Croatia without Luka Modric may Sergio Ramos
struggle – 2-0 ahead against the Czechs does his best to “Nice try,
with him pulling every string; a panicking imitate Ibrahimovic mate”
mess as soon as he hobbles off. That
only confirmed what we had already
suspected. And we learn that Spain
remain comfortable in possession and Conte avoids bloodying his nose reveals that when he talks to people:
“I always ask them, Iniesta or Xavi?”
should go far. Plus ça change, indeed. What, always, Lee? Everyone? Every
and his wig stays on, so all in all single time? Have a day off, Dicko.
THE GOOD
The quality of goals is impressively high.
The run and drive of both Eder and Ivan
it’s a good day for the Italy coach THEY SAID WHAT?!
“This guy is just too much. One time he
Perisic, Ivan Rakitic’s dink, both Czech lost the ball, I nearly fell off my chair.”
goals – one a clever header, the other an BBC pundit Thierry Henry assesses Luka
emphatic penalty – and Spain’s 21-pass flares (above right) as well as fighting MEANWHILE, IN... Modric’s contribution in Croatia’s draw
move for Alvaro Morata’s second strike. with each other as the Czechs mount …dead-ball news, Tony Pulis is getting with the Czech Republic with a little bit
their riposte. UEFA open an investigation increasingly angry on co-commentary of drool hanging from his bottom lip.
THE BAD that could end with them being either duties for ITV. “I've been disappointed
Sweden are dismal again – even poor sent home or politely asked not to let it by the set-pieces at this tournament,” MAGIC MOMENT
Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He spoons over happen again. “These are not really says Captain Cap while watching the In the opening moments of the second
a gaping goal from inches out against Croatian supporters. These are sports holders Spain, of all teams, in possibly half against Turkey, el maestro Iniesta
Italy. While it may have been flagged terrorists,” says Croatia boss Ante Cacic. the most Pulis comment ever heard. does what only he can do, taking a ball
offside, it sums things up quite nicely. on the halfway line, nonchalantly lifting
THE CRAZY PUNDIT WATCH it over an onrushing opponent’s head
THE UGLY Croatia defender Domagoj Vida’s lank Days after announcing that if he could and haring off into the distance. Over
Croatia’s knuckle-dragging hooligan little ponytail might be classed as crazy. have any super power it would be to in the ITV studio, superfan Lee Dixon
minority ruin the game by throwing Snip it off, son, you're fooling nobody. be Andres Iniesta for a day, Lee Dixon makes a terrible mess of his trousers.
THE UGLY
Slovakia find themselves in the wars
against England. Peter Pekarik (bottom)
sees claret after a stray Ryan Bertrand
arm to the nose, while fellow defender
Jan Durica cops Jordan Henderson’s
well-struck volley to the chops and
Martin Skrtel blocks Dele Alli's fierce
drive a bit further south. All of this after
Migjen Basha does a passable Nigel de
Jong impression against Romania the
night before – the Albanian midfielder
GROU PS A+ B Taylor nets lucky to escape with a yellow card after
his first goal his early flying tackle on Ovidiu Hoban.
SUNDAY JUN E 1 9,
since 2010...
THE CRAZY
M O NDAY JUN E 20 It’s a bad night for German apparel
during Switzerland-France. Four of
the Swiss' Puma shirts rip – prompting
0 ROMANIA Rio Ferdinand to ask Puma-sponsored
MEANWHILE, IN...
0 SWITZERLAND …the Germany camp, Mats Hummels
MATCH RATING OOOOO Calculators at the ready, because things Albania’s supporters… again. Of the PUNDIT WATCH
are about to get complicated. In Lyon, 25,000 who make the trip from Tirana Over on BBC Four, Manish Bhasin heads
Albania finally register the win that their to Lyon, a special mention must go to up the Beeb’s C-team to cover Romania
0 RUSSIA energetic displays deserve courtesy of the young fan donning the, er, classic vs Albania, with the better-than-this
THE BAD
And the household names?
Not so good. Glenn Hoddle
spits curious fury at Spain’s
David de Gea for Croatia’s
“Pick this
one out,
Lawro”
EUR O 2016
REVIEW
GROU PS E+F
3 HUNGARY
Gera (19), Dzsudzsak (47, 55)
3 PORTUGAL
Nani (42), Ronaldo (50, 62)
2 ICELAND
Bodvarsson (18), Traustason (90+4)
1 AUSTRIA
Schopf (60)
0 ITALY
1 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Brady (85)
0 SWEDEN
1 BELGIUM
Nainggolan (84)
EUR O 2016
REVIEW
“Skyfall seems
appropriate”
MEANWHILE IN…
…Glastonbury, Adele’s set concludes with
the blubsome Someone Like You. Flick over
to the Northern Ireland highlights and it’s
perfect knocked-out montage music.
PUNDIT WATCH
The Beeb clearly love a bit of beef. “Dean
Saunders and Neil Lennon will be refereed
LAST 16 Shaqiri’s stunner by Alan Shearer,” joshes Gary Lineker before
wasn’t enough Wales vs Northern Ireland, fully aware that
SATURDAY JUNE 25 for the Swiss it was Shearer who once volleyed Lennon’s
head. Things get a little bit spicier when
Neil suggests Norn Iron should hit Gareth
SUNDAY JUN E 26
2 FRANCE
Griezmann (58, 61)
1 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Brady (2 pen)
3 GERMANY
Boateng (8), Gomez (43),
Draxler (63)
0 SLOVAKIA
MATCH RATING OOOOO
0 HUNGARY
4 BELGIUM
Alderweireld (10), Batshuayi (78),
Hazard (80), Carrasco (90+1)
Griezmann heads home to
MATCH RATING OOOOO draw France level in Lyon
M O NDAY JUN E 27
2 ITALY Pelle finishes
Chiellini (33) Pelle (90+1)
off the holders
0 SPAIN
MATCH RATING OOOOO THE BAD more movement than England’s whole PUNDIT WATCH
Even mid-game, Iceland aren’t taken attack, leaping onto the dugout roof Ever wondered what Sky Sports do
entirely seriously. “Should Roy drop Hart to celebrate Graziano Pelle's clincher when England are on terrestrial TV?
1 ENGLAND for the quarter-final?” ponders presenter and hoofing a ball away with hilarious They get Steve McClaren to watch it
Rooney (4 pen) Mark Pougatch at the break, blissfully frustration. Chelsea will quickly knock for them. The former Three Lions boss
THE GOOD
Every Iceland player is “absolutely
outstanding,” says Shearer, which
makes no sense but, hey, he’s upset.
He even offers to replace Hodgson
himself, which is generous. Iceland’s
actual standout is defender Ragnar
Sigurdsson, who not only equalises but
nearly scores again with an overhead
kick and last-ditch-tackles Jamie Vardy.
Giorgio Chiellini is similarly valiant for
the Azzurri, bundling in their first goal
and repelling everything that Spain can
muster; mind you, without David de Gea,
Vicente del Bosque’s dethroned champs
would have been buried by the interval.
Aron Gunnarsson
leads Iceland’s
celebrations
EUR O 2016
REVIEW
QUARTE R- F INALS
TH UR S DAY JUNE 30
1 POLAND
Lewandowski (2)
1 PORTUGAL
Renato Sanches (33)
(PORTUGAL WIN 5-3 ON PENALTIES
AGIC
OMENT
s the victors
“I didn’t know elebrate their
you could storic result,
do that!” eir huddle
ms a big
art shape.
ry fitting.
1 ITALY
Bonucci (78 pen)
(GERMANY WIN 6-5 ON PENALTIES)
MENT
of which there
“You’re not
000, perform
booing any
a one last time
more...”
whistle sounds.
ny less impressive.
THE UGLY
Both sides wear cornea-curdling away
strips after it’s deemed that Portugal’s
home red clashes with the Welsh’s
‘charcoal’ effort. There are also a large
amount of empty seats – an absolute
crime considering the amount of Wales
F IN A L
SUN DAY JULY 10
1 PORTUGAL
Eder 109
0 FRANCE (AET)
MATCH RATING OOOOO
THE FFT
AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE
TOURNAMENT
Antoine Griezmann: After
emerging from the bench to
nod home a late, late winner against
Albania, the pacy forward lit up Euro
2016 and ended up with the Golden
Boot, having been the first Frenchman
to net more than five goals at a single
finals since Michel Platini at Euro 1984.
YOUNG PLAYER OF
THE TOURNAMENT
Renato Sanches: The Bayern
Munich-bound midfielder
has proven why there was such great
interest in his signature after just 24
league outings for Benfica. Steadily
working his way into Fernando Santos’
starting XI, the 18-year-old will be his
country’s great hope for years to come.
GOAL OF THE
TOURNAMENT
Xherdan Shaqiri: Although
fellow stars Dimitri Payet,
Cristiano Ronaldo and Hal Robson-Kanu
gave him a run for his money, Shaqiri’s
overhead scissor-kick to (briefly) thwart
Poland took everyone’s breath away.
DEFINING MOMENT
Payet’s 89th-minute winner
against Romania was the
hosts’ Sliding Doors moment:
draw the opening match and Les Bleus
could crumble. Instead, the West Ham
playmaker’s magisterial strike set up
a tournament chock-full of late drama.
Champio hi on ITV
s are
amount of motivation can overcome
the fact that he can’t actually move.
suits, Krychowiak Kroos
says MAGIC MOMENT
Sports Personality of . Witty. Eder scored precisely no goals in 15
pushing Gareth Bale appearances during a forgettable spell Guerreiro Kimmich
third place in the odd Y with Swansea before departing for Lille Bonucci Boateng
D in February. He hadn’t even been the
PUNDIT WATCH T?! best Eder at this tournament, outshone Buffon
BBC trio Alan Sheare ust by that little Brazilian bloke up front for
Thierry Henry and Rio s Italy, before he cuts inside and thumps Substitutes: McGovern, Chester, Pepe,
Ferdinand look like th BBC in a sensational winner. The celebrations Hector, B. Bjarnason, Blaszczykowski,
have come straight f ntator are understandably euphoric and will Pogba, Dzsudzsak, Özil, Ronaldo, Bale
a funeral – either tha owbray live long in Portuguese memories. Manager: Fernando Santos
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ONE-ON-ONE
Was he madder than Di Canio? Does he
regret going on strike at Forest? Why
does he not get on with Van Persie? And
could a cat really manage a football club?
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY...
“People in England think I’m a bad guy, an What was it like to make your Netherlands Below Thirty-four played for Holland?’ I was there almost like
a**hole, but I’m not,” Pierre van Hooijdonk debut while playing your club football with goals fired Forest a fan thinking: ‘Look, there’s Bergkamp! There
explains as he puts his crutches to one side what was a relatively unfashionable team? to the First Division is De Boer!’ Clarence Seedorf made his debut
and sits down with a smile to chat to FFT. Wim Nijsink, Rotterdam title in 1997-98, but in the same game. We shared a room and I’ll
The forward made plenty of headlines I’m still the last player to be capped while he failed to kick on never forget him taking his clothes off to reveal
during a sometimes controversial career – playing for NAC Breda. I came on for 15 at the City Ground a physique that was unbelievable! I’d done so
his three-month strike at Nottingham Forest minutes for the national team and I was much just to get a bit of muscle when I was
remains one of the most infamous sagas in thinking: ‘I don’t mind if this is the last time, younger – I worked in a sports shop, and three
Premier League history – but the former Dutch I’ve been capped’. I could say: ‘Hey, have you mornings a week I’d train at an army base
Footballer of the Year is ready to tell his side when the shop wasn’t busy. I said to Clarence:
of the story when we meet at the WestCord ‘Are you working out?’ He said: ‘Not at all’. He
Fashion Hotel on the outskirts of Amsterdam.
The 46-year-old arrives with his foot in
FACT FILE was 17 and for him it was all just natural.
plaster, having damaged ankle ligaments Full name Petrus Ferdinand i you end up moving to Celtic in
playing amateur football a few days earlier, van Hooijdonk d you know much about the club
but the striker-turned-television pundit is Date of birth 29/11/69 ou arrived at Parkhead?
as outspoken as ever. Indeed, he’s soon Height 6ft 4in Position Strik oth, Glasgow
pondering what would happen if all football Place of birth Steenbergen, o weeks after my Holland debut.
managers were eventually replaced by cats. Clubs 1989-91 RBC Roosen they could buy me then, because
Dave Bassett beware, he’s not a fan... 69 games (33 goals); 1991-9 n stamped as a national team player.
Breda 115 (81); 1995-97 Ce was how I was presented in Glasgow
Why did NAC Breda release you as a young (56); 1997-99 Nottingham F y’d signed a Dutch international,
teenager, but then re-sign you at 21? (41); 1999-00 Vitesse Arnh if he’d only played for 15 minutes.
Martien, Breda (28); 2000-01 Benfica 35 (2 now much about Celtic, but I played
I was originally a midfielder, but when I was 2001-03 Feyenoord 79 (62) as a kid and I had Celtic, because
14 they said that I wasn’t good enough for 2003-05 Fenerbahce 63 (35 was unusual. There were only seven
them. That was hard. At that young age you 2005-06 NAC Breda 20 (8); hough, because I always broke them.
are living a dream and when they tell you it’s 2006-07 Feyenoord 43 (8)
over, you believe it’s over, because you expect International dn’t won a trophy for six years
them to have the vision to say ‘good’ or ‘not 1994-2004 Netherlands 46 u arrived. Did you know what
good’ about you. They were right, I wasn’t one Playing honours Scottish C when you popped up with the
of the best midfielders. But when they signed English First Division 1998 goal in the Scottish Cup final?
me again, I was a striker and scoring a lot of UEFA Cup 2002; Turkish milton
goals. Going back to the team you supported Super Lig 2004, 2005; Dutc rrived they had just lost the League
from childhood, the team who decided not to Footballer of the Year 200 against a First Division team (Raith
continue with you, there is no better feeling. nd I was shocked by the standard.
ft Lifting the 1995 very soon. I wasn’t earning a lot, but I went
Old Firm action
ottish Cup after there for the challenge. But after the cup goal
vs Rangers
oring the winner and scoring a lot the year after, I didn’t hear
in 1995-96
low Savouring anything. Eventually they said: ‘Yes, you can
omotion to the get more money if you extend your contract’.
mier League I said: ‘That’s not what we agreed’. After that
low left Di Canio they announced they’d doubled my wages.
ed a close shave It was a great bit of PR, but double was still
“A only half of what the best players were getting.
I just wanted to be up there where I belonged
– with Thom, Di Canio and Cadete. They put
me in the reserves to put pressure on me and
I asked Guus Hiddink: ‘What should I do?’ He
If we’d played NAC Breda, we’d have lost big said he could only select me for the national
time. I scored my first goal nine minutes into Andy Goram saved your penalty team if I was playing. This was 1997 and in
my debut against Hearts and it was one of in the Old Firm match in 1996? 1998 it was the World Cup. I thought: ‘If I have
my best goals, so the fans felt: ‘OK, this guy Stephen Mullan, via Facebook one chance of playing in a World Cup, it’s now’.
is a decent player’. Looking at the goal, they I missed some penalties in my career, If I hadn’t been in the national team, I would
probably thought I was the new Maradona! that was one of the ones that mattere probably have stayed at Celtic longer. But my
There was big pressure on our Scottish Cup run in a season when we missed out on th aim was to play at the World Cup, and I did.
and in the final we played Airdrie, another First title even though we only lost one
Division team. Scoring the winner really made league game. I enjoyed the games Do you have any regrets about your
me a fans’ favourite. People came up to me with Rangers, but the rivalry could go comment while at Celtic that ‘£7,000 is
cryi ho had gone through those six a bit far. Once I was driving to the city enough for a homeless person, but not
That feeling was incredible from the training ground. I was at enough for a top-class footballer’?
from then on we became some traffic lights and a teenager Stephen McIlroy, Greenock
roper team. Within months opened my door and spat at me. I can explain. I had a column in a paper, where
had a team that would I enjoyed it at Celtic, but I was an someone would call me and write it up into
e hammered NAC Breda. easy target because you could a column. I wanted to make a comment to
always see me from a distance. explain to the supporters that I wasn’t talking
Cadete and yourself about peanuts. I said: ‘OK, the offer they have
Amigos during your Would you have changed anything made is a lot of money for ordinary people, but
as the maddest? about your departure from Celtic? for a top Celtic player it isn’t, because people
lmarnock Paul Donnelly, Valencia like Di Canio and Thom are paid more’. I’ll
People forget Andreas Thom, too. He was No. I had an agreement when never forget when I woke up the next day,
calmer but he was one of the best players I signed that if I did the business, I would always put Radio Clyde on and they
I played with. Jorge was a pure striker - goals, the club would knock on my door said: ‘After the break, news and sport, with
goals, goals. Sometimes they used to tell me:
‘get in the f***ing box’ because I wanted to
play with the ball at my feet, but when Jorge
arrived I played the same way and no one
noticed because he was there. Paolo was an
example for me. He went to the gym every
day before training, so I did too. He was
hilarious, too – he’d shave his pubic hair in
front of us all in the dressing room and we’d
be saying: ‘What are you doing?’. But he gave
the team a bit of arrogance. He was class.
ON E - ON - ON E
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JOSE MOURINHO
“I’M OT
AFRAI OF THE
CONSE OF
MY DECISIONS”
These are the words inscribed on the inside of Jose’s wrist watch –
a credo that has delivered success and strife in equal measure.
The question now: will this inability to compromise make
or break Manchester United? Time to find out...
“Mourinho scares opponents by himself. My you down easily. He’ll be very well prepared
on opponents, better than anyone.”
God he’s a bad loser. He demands perfection” “FOOTBALL IS A RESULTS BUSINESS BUT
IT’S A CASE OF SUBSTANCE AND STYLE.
MOURINHO DELIVERS BOTH OF THEM ”
Preparation is where Mourinho really excels.
“Mourinho scares opponents by himself,” Above Mourinho led Similarly, if he sees something that he Meticulous in his research, there’s a plan for
Julio Cesar (pictured top left), the Special One’s Inter to a Serie A, does not like, Mourinho will act. During each game. Individually tailored dossiers are
first-choice keeper at Inter, tells FFT. “My God, Italian Cup and pre-season preparations with Real Madrid delivered to every member of the starting XI
he’s a bad loser. He lives on the edge, so if Champions League in 2011, he sacked every chef at the club. to study, every eventuality considered.
a player doesn’t have a strong personality, Treble in 2010 Unhappy with the colour of the grass at Los He’s even capable of turning the opposition’s
he may suffer a drop-off in performance Below Manchester Blancos’ UCLA training base in California the greatest strength into its biggest weakness.
because Mourinho demands perfection. United managers, same summer, he demanded that all of the “David Silva is the main man, the creative
“He lives and breathes football 24 hours past and present pitches be resurfaced, at great expense. force for Manchester City,” says Higginbotham,
a day, and the group ends up absorbing this. The key to Mourinho’s management style of Chelsea’s February 2014 visit to the Etihad
Every player must follow that lead. Perhaps is an understanding of the power of public Stadium. “He was playing on the left wing,
this is the big secret behind all his titles.” speaking, as well as psychology. with Branislav Ivanovic at right-back for
Part of Mourinho’s methodology is to “That’s definitely one of his strong points,” Chelsea. He had Petr Cech hit his goal-kicks
create a mystique around his club, the agrees Benni McCarthy, who won the 2004 towards Silva for Ivanovic to win every header.
theory – learned under Professor Manuel Champions League under Mourinho at Porto. He knew that Silva wouldn’t track back, so he
Sergio while at university in Lisbon in the “United should have gone for Mourinho probably wasn’t that surprised when it was
mid-1980s – being that the less the after Ferguson, he would have been the Ivanovic who scored the game’s only goal.”
opposition knows, then the better best option in difficult circumstances. The defensive masterclass served up by
your chances of winning. Under Mourinho, players will have more Mourinho’s 10-man Inter Milan at the Camp
“He changed a lot of things freedom, they’ll also help put the fear Nou to reach the 2010 Champions League
at Inter,” says former Nerazzurri factor back into opponents visiting Final (at Barcelona’s expense) is proof of the
left-back Maxwell, “especially at our Old Trafford. That’s been lost.” Special One’s nous, but there’s much more
training ground. He wanted more To re-establish that aura, the first to his teams than mere spoiling tactics.
privacy for us to work. That’s one item on Mourinho’s agenda is the “It’s a case of substance and style,” believes
of the most important issues for defence. True, no team conceded Higginbotham. “When Chelsea won the league
him. He wants every player to feel fewer than United’s 35 Premier in 2014-15, they’d scored as many goals as
comfort in our daily routine.” League goals last season, but this Manchester City by January, playing some
SABRY MANUEL VILARINHO JESUALDO FERREIRA VITOR BAIA ALEX FERGUSON LIVERPOOL FANS ANDERS FRISK
NOVEMBER 2000 DECEMBER 2000 JANUARY 2002 SEPTEMBER 2002 FEBRUARY 2004 FEBRUARY 2005 MARCH 2005
After criticism from Benfica’s new chief Jose turns down a Shortly after taking Fergie refuses to Celebrates a goal in Claims he saw Barça
the midfielder seven had promised to Benfica return with the reins at Porto, shake Jose’s hand the Carling Cup final boss Frank Rijkaard
matches into his first bring back former Ferreira as his No.2, Mourinho drops after defeat by Porto. by pressing his finger enter the referee’s
managerial job, at coach Toni, so Jose later saying he’d had keeper Baia, then “I understand,” Jose to his lips in front of dressing room at
Benfica, Jose issues an ultimatum: more success in three suspends him sniped. “You’d be the Liverpool fans, half-time during a
lays into the either extend my years than Ferreira in after a training sad if your team who react furiously. Champions League
‘always contract or 30. “This is the story ground row. got dominated tie at Camp Nou,
offside’ I quit. No of a donkey who has “He wanted by opponents adding that he
Egyptian extension worked for 30 years to make a built on 10 ‘wasn’t surprised’
in a press was offered, but never became statement,” per cent of when Didier Drogba
conference. and so he quit. a horse,” he added. Baia said. the budget.” was later sent off.
ARSENE WENGER FRENCH FA SOUTH CENTRAL CRISTIANO RONALDO ROMAN ABRAMOVICH CLAUDIO RANIERI THE ITALIAN MEDIA
OCTOBER 2005 AUGUST 2006 AMBULANCE SERVICE APRIL 2007 SEPTEMBER 2007 AUGUST 2008 MARCH 2009
Calls the Frenchman Mourinho claims OCTOBER 2006 Jose says Ronaldo is His relationship with The newly appointed Accuses journalists
‘a voyeur’ who spends Claude Makelele Claims that Petr Cech ‘lying’ if he claims Chelsea’s owner Inter coach chooses of ‘intellectual
too much time is being treated had to wait half Man United aren’t deteriorates after to describe the prostitution’ after
talking about like ‘a slave’ by an hour for an favoured by disagreements about Juve manager they echo Luciano
Chelsea, after the federation. ambulance at refs, adding: transfers. Mourinho as ‘old and Spalletti’s view that
being irked France’s head Reading are “And if you departs the Blues. he has not Inter’s Mario Balotelli
by the coach Raymond rejected by lie you may even won dived in a draw with
Arsenal Domenech calls NHS chiefs, never reach anything’ Roma. Jose adds that
manager’s the terminology who say it the level - and he both Roma and Milan
comments ‘staggering and was seven which he later brands will finish the season
in the press. insulting’. minutes. aspires to.” him a ‘loser’. with ‘zero titles’.
MARCELLO LIPPI MUSLIM LEADERS MARIO BALOTELLI PEDRO LEON KARIM BENZEMA PEP GUARDIOLA TITO VILANOVA
AUGUST 2009 AUGUST 2009 MARCH 2010 SEPTEMBER 2010 JANUARY 2011 APRIL 2011 AUGUST 2011
“Would Fabio Capello Sparks fury after Axes Balotelli from Jose allegedly tells Drops Real Madrid’s Sent off in the first leg Pokes Barcelona
have responded with suggesting Sulley the Inter Milan squad the new recruit that only fit striker, having of the Champions assistant Vilanova
the name of a team? Muntari’s form has ahead of their crucial even if the Real already made it League semi, Jose in the eye during
Or Vicente del dipped because European match Madrid team clear that the suggests refs favour a touchline scuffle
Bosque? They are of fasting due away against plane crashes forward didn’t fit Barcelona. “One day at the Camp Nou in
too intelligent,” to Ramadan. Chelsea after and he’s the his system, I would like Josep Spanish Super Cup.
he says after “He should talk a row with the only player saying: “If Guardiola to
the Italy less,” explains young striker, remaining, I cannot win this
boss tips a Muslim who is said to he still hunt with a dog, competition
Juventus spokesman be ‘bitter’ at won’t then I’ll hunt properly,”
for the title. in Italy. the decision. play. with a cat.” he says.
IS MOURINHO
Wherever the line is, Mourinho will either a Machiavellian operator where the end
cross it, or jump up and down on it until justifies the means. Even after the game,
it finally buckles of its own free will. he claimed not to know “this Pito Vilanova
ANTHONY SHAW He needed to create a strong bond in the favour of David Moyes. “Mourinho is a really
YES
team so he looked for a common enemy good coach, but that’s as far as I’d go.”
SEASO N TICKET HOLDER for the team to attack: the journalists.
“It began one day, talking about a lack of
The situation at United may have required
a change, but the rather stilted conversation
“Alex Ferguson once claimed that Manchester trust. By the end of the season, he’d stopped between Mourinho and Charlton at Carrington
United’s manager needs to be the most important person at the attending the press conferences and the at the former’s unveiling would indicate that
club, with complete control over his players and staff. Since he Nerazzurri had won everything.” the latter’s stance may not have altered.
stepped down, David Moyes and Louis van Gaal have both failed Nothing particularly untoward here. Not “The problem is,” one Gestifute executive
to gain the control required: they sold established players and until Mourinho and Ramazzotti got into told Torres in his book, “that when things do
then failed to get an effective contribution from their squad. a fight by the Inter team bus in December not go well for Mou, he doesn’t follow the
That will change with Mourinho. He’s achieved more in football 2009 following a 1-1 draw with Atalanta. club’s line. He follows Jose’s line.”
than the majority of the players and will immediately command “A lot of water has gone under the bridge The unseemly episode involving former
respect. They’ll be desperate to work for him. The same could since that little episode,” smiles Ramazzotti. Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro is a case in point.
also be said for Ryan Giggs, but United couldn’t afford to take “All I can say is that those were very unique It smacked of a diversionary tactic, intended
such a risk with an unproven manager. He should prove himself days. I wasn’t in the mood for jokes or to be to distract from an uninspiring 2-2 draw at
elsewhere, like Luis Enrique did at Roma and Celta Vigo prior to messed around. He said that I became the home to Swansea, but blew up into a court
managing Barcelona. Jose has craved this position for many most famous Ramazzotti, after Eros, one of case for constructive dismissal because
years: he’ll be willing to adapt and work relentlessly to succeed.” Italy’s most famous singer-songwriters.” Mourinho was too stubborn to apologise for
It’s a world removed from the much criticising an employee for doing their job.
calmer character that United’s players Yet Mourinho’s willingness to settle the case
will come to experience every day. in June – and avoid text messages and emails
EOIN DONAGHY “Mourinho with the media is totally different being made public – would indicate that he’s
NO
to the Mourinho with the players,” says former willing to rein in the personality and ego for
CONTRIBUTOR TO FANZINE Inter full-back Maxwell. “I wouldn’t say that the club he’s always wanted to manage.
UNITED WE STAND he’s arrogant, but when you face the cameras,
you have to find a way to protect yourself and
United suits would certainly hope so.
The Carneiro situation proved the beginning
“Mourinho’s not the man for me. I understood the concerns he has his own way of doing that. of the end of his second Stamford Bridge
about appointing Ryan Giggs, but I would have given it to him “He’s always having a laugh with his players. sojourn, because she was so well liked by the
anyway because I’m a dreamer. The rewards would have been When you carry so much responsibility, it is Chelsea squad. Mourinho lost the respect of
worth the risk. What was the point of grooming Giggs to be impossible to behave the same way when the dressing room. Fostering a siege mentality
Louis van Gaal’s successor and going on about a mythical answering tricky questions from reporters.” is critical to Mourinho’s man management,
‘Man United Way’ if, when it came down to it, it all went To be accepted at Old Trafford, even if Sir and is why players so readily take to his
out of the window in favour of a short-term dividend? Alex Ferguson wasn’t backward about coming methods, especially in the early days.
What’s the worst that could have happened under our forwards when criticising officials, Mourinho
greatest-ever player? We might have gone a few more years must also soften his frequent diatribes and
without a league title, perhaps? Boo f***ing hoo. It’s only been accusations of conspiracies aimed at referees.
three years since the last one, not f***ing 23. Giggs as the “Mourinho was the same at Porto,” says
manager would have given us something pure – something Benni McCarthy. “But he’s right! Why should
that was ours and ours only, not something bought off a shelf. refs get away with murder with costing teams
But here we are, sitting in the big top. Mourinho’s poisonous, points? If a referee doesn’t do his job properly
Machiavellian ways are our future now. So let’s get on with it.” then he should be criticised. If the referee has
a good game then Jose’s the first to applaud
him, but that doesn’t make headlines.” Courting controversy:
The Special One’s eye gouge of then United’s new boss loves
Barcelona assistant manager Tito Vilanova to create a siege mentality
during the 2011 Supercopa is indicative of
IKER CASILLAS PE PE ARSENE WENGER EDEN HAZARD SERGIO RAMOS DAVID LUIZ’S MUM RAFA BENITEZ
AUGUST 2011 MAY 2013 FEBRUARY 2014 MAY 2014 NOVEMBER 2014 MARCH 2015 JULY 2015
Casillas speaks with Pepe speaks out after The Portuguese Hazard appears to When Ramos slates When Luiz was sold Benitez is appointed
Barça captain Xavi Mourinho criticises responds to claims criticise Mou when Cesc Fabregas and to PSG, Jose indicated at Real Madrid and
and the duo vow to Casillas and says that that he ‘fears to fail’ he says Chelsea’s striker Diego Costa the Brazilian wouldn’t his wife says ‘we tidy
curb bad behaviour he regrets not signing by branding Wenger tactics leave him for pulling out of a be missed. Luiz scores up Mourinho’s
in El Clasico for the first-choice keeper ‘a specialist in failure’. doing things ‘all by Spain squad with to knock Chelsea messes’. Jose
good of both clubs Diego Lopez earlier. “Eight years without myself’. Jose retorts: injury, Mourinho out of Europe and hits back,
and Spain. Jose Jose’s response? silverware, that’s “He’s not the kind points out the the centre-back’s saying that
then sees this as “Pepe’s problem failure,” he says. “If of player ready to defender ‘is not mum takes to she should
a betrayal and has got a name - I do that in Chelsea, sacrifice himself 100 a doctor’ – the social media focus a lot
falls out with Raphael I leave and don’t per cent for the team pair fell out at to taunt his more on
his No.1. Varane.” ever come back.” and for his mates.” the Bernabeu. former boss. Rafa’s ‘diet’.
THERE ARE
“He protects players,” says Benni McCarthy, it was Roberto Mancini who had bought me.
“all of whom suffer from pressure and nerves. I thought that I deserved the chance to prove
Players appreciate playing without a dark myself. He was always honest with me, but it’s
GOING TO BE
cloud over their head because he’s gone to impossible not to become frustrated because
war with the media for them. I hope that we all want to be playing football.”
I can have that ability when I manage.” Mourinho demands unswerving loyalty from
SOME CHANGES
Mourinho also regularly takes his players his players. If he doesn’t feel it, paranoia sets
out individually to dinner, finding out more in. At Real Madrid, he became convinced that
about their families and including himself there was a mole in the dressing room who
in the minutiae of their daily lives. was leaking both team line-ups and tactics
AROUND HERE…
To repair an already fracturing relationship to the press, after correct predictions that
with his Real Madrid squad in the autumn of he would use Pepe in a midfield role during
2011, Mourinho organised a barbeque at his a 1-1 draw with Barcelona in April 2011.
house in Pozuelo, on Madrid’s plush outskirts, “His eyes started to mist up. I’d never seen
to help clear the air. Nine months later, Los him in such an emotional state before,” wrote Michael Cox assesses the tactical
Blancos were crowned Spanish champions. Madrid’s reserve keeper Jerzy Dudek in his
His difference to the standoffish Louis van autobiography. “‘Where is the rat? Who is it? tweaks Mourinho will make at Old
Gaal couldn’t be greater. Orders had to be Maybe it is somebody who has played here the Trafford: deep, disciplined, dynamic
followed on the Dutchman’s say so. Players longest? How can you destroy what we’ve been
would open emails from Van Gaal on their working for all week? You screwed me over. But
phones and then leave them idle for 20
minutes, so the tracker planted inside the
email would register that they had been
you screwed yourselves and your families and
friends too. I will get to the f***ing source’.”
Dudek goes on to suggest that Mourinho
1 U NIT ED W IL L PL AY M U C H DEEP ER
Jose Mourinho doesn’t park the bus every game, but United
will unquestionably play deeper than last season. Under Louis van
‘read’ for an adequate amount of time. believed the mole to be goalkeeper Iker Gaal, they defended close to the halfway line and allowed space
“Mourinho tries to take the maximum from Casillas, whose wife Sara Carbonero is in behind – which helped them achieve the joint-best defensive
his players,” former Chelsea left-back Filipe a high-profile TV presenter. By the end of record in last season’s Premier League. Mourinho will ask his team
Luis told FFT earlier this year. “I think that’s Mourinho’s three-year Real Madrid spell, his
one of the reasons he loses the dressing room relationship with Spain’s World Cup-winning
sometimes. He asks so much of his players captain had irrevocably broken down.
that some can’t handle it for too long.” T RA DIT IO NAL D EFEND ER S
The Brazilian lasted just a season in SW6 MOURINHO VS GUARDIOLA: THE Jose likes old-school, no-nonsense
before returning to Atletico Madrid at the RESUMPTION OF HOSTILITIES defenders who concentrate on their
beginning of 2015-16, finishing the season In all of this, of course, there is an elephant job – defending. It’s difficult to imagine
as a Champions League runner-up. in the Mourinho room. Or city. He goes he will continue with Daley Blind (left)
Problems arise when players start to tire of by the name of Josep Guardiola Sala. at centre-back, preferring an aerially
the constant mental demands Jose places on Once the former Barça boss had been dominant player. He’s also unlikely
them to overcome a perceived foe, from other named as Manchester City’s new coach for to use converted wingers like Ashley
teams or managers, to journalists or referees. 2016-17, there was an inevitability to Jose Young and Antonio Valencia as the
“Maybe it can win matches for you, but rocking up just 20 minutes south-west of full-backs, because he requires players
sometimes it’s not enough,” says Maxwell. the Etihad. The yang to Guardiola’s yin and who will tuck inside and offer close
“Last season, Chelsea did much better under the Moriarty to the Catalan’s Sherlock. The
Guus Hiddink because there’s so much stuff prospect of both in Manchester just fits.
that can motivate that another controversial The pair fell out after Barcelona promoted
comment won’t make a difference.” Guardiola ahead of the Special One after T W O SE A RAT E SY ST EM S
Some players feel cast aside by Mourinho’s Pep’s solitary season as Barcelona B coach. Van Gaal may have sat with a tactics board on his lap, but he
combative approach. “I felt I didn’t have any “Mourinho is a winner,” explained Man rarely made game-changing strategic decisions. Mourinho, on the
kind of relationship with him,” former Inter City’s chief executive Ferran Soriano, who other hand, always trains his players in two separate systems:
winger Kerlon, he of the seal dribble, tells FFT. as a vice-president at the Camp Nou giants 4-3-3 and 4-3-1-2 early in his career, now usually 4-3-3 and
“It felt like he didn’t want me at Inter because was privy to that 2008 decision, in his book 4-2-3-1. He’s not afraid to make dramatic changes at an early
MODERN
Mourinho, Simeone, Pep... Big Sam:
none of them could have succeeded
without these trailblazing pioneers
FOOTBALL
MARCELO
BIELSA
THE PROMOTER OF
MODERN PRESSING
Few people have inspired quite as many of
the world’s current crop of top managers as
Marcelo Bielsa. “He’s the best coach the planet
currently has,” Pep Guardiola said in 2012.
Despite that tag, Bielsa’s honours list is
surprisingly threadbare – a couple of titles with
Newell’s Old Boys, another with Velez Sarsfield,
a gold medal as coach of Argentina’s Olympic
team in 2004, and that’s about it.
But it’s the way that Bielsa’s sides play the
game that has made him almost messianic.
A whole-hearted dedication to attack thanks
to an ambitious 3-3-3-1 formation was backed
up by an intense pressing strategy that has
since been adopted by managers from Diego
Simeone and Tata Martino to Jorge Sampaoli
and Mauricio Pochettino. Pressing had been
around long before Bielsa became a coach, but
never had it been used quite so aggressively
and persistently. “My football in defence is very
simple – we run all the time,” he once said.
Nicknamed El Loco, Bielsa has been known to
pace out pitch measurements before deciding
on his game plan. His 2015 was disappointing
– he resigned as Marseille boss after only one
year – but Chile’s Copa America win earlier that
summer was largely down to the tactics he
had implemented before stepping aside in
2011. It’s far from the only trophy triumph his
methods have inspired, one way or another.
BRIAN
CLOUGH
THE ULTIMATE
MOTIVATOR
To say Cloughie was an unqualified success
as a motivator of men would be daft. This was
a manager, after all, whose opening gambit
at Leeds in July 1974 was to tell his players
that they should throw their medals in the bin
– a horrible miscalculation that helped earn
him the boot just 44 days later. Plenty of
squad members elsewhere, who he often
lambasted and occasionally punched, loathed
Clough just as much as the blazer-wearing
boardroom bores he perennially raged against.
But when he got things right, Clough’s
players would run through brick walls for him.
Bristling with a heady combination of wit,
intelligence, menace and northern football
savvy, his force of personality meant that he
became a gaffer-as-God: amid a desert of
stuffy bosses spouting clichés, he was an oasis
of cocksure brio. Clough told Forest fans that
he could walk on water. And they – and his
teams – loved him for it. A First Division title
and two European Cups simply proved it.
Clough knew how to make a team better
than the sum of its parts, and was never afraid
to field mavericks. His greatest skill was the
motivational “word in the ear”. Clough talked
average-looking players like John Robertson
into becoming world-beaters. “It was easy
working for him if you were committed,” said
his Forest skipper John McGovern. “He had
that knack of saying the right things in the
right way. And he was always right.”
MATT
In the sack-happy landscape of the Premier qualities helped him communicate with this
League, it’s tough to comprehend the sheer raw talent brilliantly. A focus on long-term
scale of the job Matt Busby was allowed to planning allowed him to hone three great
BUSBY
do at Old Trafford between 1945 and 1969. sides at a club that had been trophyless since
He was a revolutionary from the very start: 1911: the FA Cup winners of 1948, the Busby
prior to the Second World War, managers Babes of the 1950s, and the post-Munich air
tended to have a limited role in the buying disaster European champions of 1968. Busby
and selling of players. However, Busby took was a visionary, too: in 1956 he went against
CREATOR
bosses – but none used that new oomph to first English club to take part in the European
create a dynasty as impressive as Busby’s. Cup, which he believed was a key part of the
A former pit boy who was charm personified future of the sport. He wasn’t wrong.
and never forgot a name, Busby’s powers of
FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS
persuasion helped him lure the best young
prospects to Old Trafford, while his teacherly Alex Ferguson
BELA RINUS
Appointed manager of Racing Santander in
1920, he introduced a short-passing game at
VALERIY
LOBANOVSKYI
THE STATISTICIAN
JIMMY HOGAN
There was one place that Andriy Shevchenko
really wanted to visit after netting the winning
penalty for Milan in the 2003 Champions THE MAN WHO INSPIRED
League Final. Soon, he was back in Kiev with THE MAGICAL MAGYARS
the trophy, placing it next to the statue of
the late Valeriy Lobanovskyi. “It was his big A kind of wandering football referencing
dream,” Shevchenko said of his former shaman, Hogan had a direct a popular
Dynamo Kiev boss. “He is not here, but I’m influence on several great Spanish idiom.
so glad I’ve won it – and he won it, too.” international sides. Best Munoz inherited a talented but
Unlike most statues, Lobanovskyi is not known was the trailblazing ageing squad, transforming it to such
depicted standing dominantly: instead he’s pass-and-move Hungary outfit a degree that his 15-year reign produced
sitting on a bench, deep in thought, analysing. epitomised by Ferenc Puskas: following one of nine league titles, as well as the Cuarta and
In a managerial career that ran from 1969 to the English game’s nadirs – the 6-3 defeat at the Quinta for good measure – Real beat
2001, he analysed football like no one before – Wembley in 1953 by the Magical Magyars – Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 in the European Cup
sending scouts to compile opposition reports the president of the Hungarian FA famously final in his first season in charge, before
and bringing in a computer from Moscow to told journalists: “Jimmy Hogan taught us a comeback triumph over Partizan Belgrade
keep performance stats on his own players. everything we know”. The quiet Lancastrian in 1966 that Munoz described as one of the
“When I was a player it was difficult to was long retired by that point, but Hungary most extraordinary performances of the era.
evaluate players,” Lobanovskyi explained. had perfected a style that he had devised. Madridista Munoz became the first person
“There were no videos, no real methods of During a spell with Budapest’s MTK, Hogan’s to win the European Cup as both a player
analysis. Today players know that the morning insistence on versatility, fast running and and coach, proving that it was possible to
after the game, a sheet of paper will be pinned short passes on what he called “the carpet” graduate pretty much straight from the
up showing all the figures. If a midfielder has became ingrained in the national psyche. football pitch to the manager’s hot seat.
fulfilled 60 technical and tactical actions in the He then repeated the feat in three other
FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS
course of the match, then he has not pulled countries. His talks during a tour of the
his weight. He is obliged to do 100 or more.” Netherlands in 1910 helped to shape Dutch Kenny Dalglish
Lobanovskyi combined his duties for club methods, while a spell in Germany was equally
and country during three spells in charge of powerful: when Hogan died, his son received
the USSR, guiding them to the final of Euro 88
in Munich. At club level, he won 12 league
a letter calling him the “father of modern
football in Germany”. As a coach, he also HELENIO
titles and two UEFA Cup Winners’ Cups. instilled his ideas into the 1930s Austrian
Wunderteam. Much to England’s detriment,
HERRERA
FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS THE HIGH PRIEST
he was treated with suspicion by the FA.
Sam Allardyce OF CATENACCIO
FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS
Gusztav Sebes, Hungary coach, 1949-57 Arguably the first superstar
manager, Herrera was the
man who turned the focus
BOY
& THE OTHER
KICKABOUT
COLLEAGUES
Interviews Chris Flanagan, Alec Fenn
It’s Monday Night Football, bu know it. FFT meets the surgeons,
soldiers and coffee-shop workers who lock horns at their local Powerleague
FIVE-A-SIDE TEAMS
ARMED FORCES
“Our team is a mixture of army, navy
and RAF personnel,” explains Jamie
Ministry of Defence. There may well be
a bit of fear when opponents find out
“Wedidn’tgofor shall we say. We play in red and white.
It’s actually the same kit as the Gibraltar
Lee. “We’re all based in the Ministry
of Defence in Whitehall and we play
they’re playing us. They tend to put that
extra bit of effort in, probably because thecamouflage national team, but that’s a coincidence.
It’s just because we happened to be
kit,aswewould
every Tuesday night in Docklands. they know we’re all in the armed forces. scrolling through a website and that
“The team name is because we have “The RAF guys are good in the air. was the only kit we could all agree on.
taken inspiration from Jamie Vardy, even They play up front, so the clichés are “We didn’t go for a camouflage kit,
though none of us are actually Leicester
fans. It’s a play on words with two WWE
quite fitting. A guy called Tommy runs
the show for us and our goalkeeper is
struggletopick I don’t think that would really work.
We’d struggle to see each other, and it’d
wrestlers called the Hardy Boys, plus
we’ve added M.O.D. to our name now so
nicknamed the Flying Potato – he’s not
in the RAF, he’s in the navy, but he’s
eachotherout” probably end up like that Man United
game [at Southampton in 1996] when
that people know we’re representing the called that because he’s a bigger bloke, they had to change shirts at half-time.”
FIVE-A-SIDE TEAMS
NEUROSURGEONS
shifts, with operations throughout, so opponents realise that we are actually
occasionally colleagues will come down a group of neurosurgeons. Do we have
and play football while they’re waiting a cerebral style of play? I don’t know,
“There’s a lot of pressure at work, so can only make it every two or three for an operation to start. The pitches are we just go out and try not to get beat!
it’s crucial to unwind,” says Ed Rice. weeks because of the hours we work, only 10 minutes from the hospital, so if “When we started we were absolutely
“When we play football there’s no so we have a squad of about 15 players. you know that an operation isn’t going terrible, but we’ve gradually improved
pressure, it’s just pure enjoyment. “We have doctors, physios and nurses to happen until 10pm, you can have over time. We try to play as a team.
“Our team is made up of players who – and about six or seven of our squad a game before you go and do the op. There isn’t one person who is the brains
work in the neurosurgery department at are people who can operate. People “Our team name does refer to our of the team, as we’re all the brains –
Leeds General Infirmary. Some people sometimes do 24-hour solid on-call profession, but I don’t know whether our we’re a neural network on the pitch.”
“There are two stories behind the blackjack and roulette dealers. There’s
team name,” explains Phil Denison. a lot of extravagant personalities in the
“Firstly, most of the team are poker squad – a lot of people are in the casino
dealers and in one five-card poker business – and you can tell on the pitch!
game the final card is a river card. “The ace in our pack is a guy called
Players hate it and they always say Ethan. He’s been offered professional
it’s the one they lose their money contracts with two clubs in America but
on the most, so we thought it would decided to stay in England and study at
make a good name. Ironically, one university here instead. He’s a midfielder
of the casinos got shut down after with electric pace, and he can get up
the floods last year so, again, the and down the pitch all game long.”
river name seemed a good fit.
“Unsurprisingly we do like to gamble
“Unsurprisingly
and play attacking football. Everyone
in the team wants to score and be the
hero. We’re very open and our mentality
is that we will outscore the opposition.
We have quite a big squad because
thisteamlikes
a lot of the players work shifts, so we
have to chop and change the team.
togamble.We
“I’m the manager of the poker side of
the casino and I’d say 50 per cent of the trytooutscore
the opposition”
squad are poker dealers. But we have
also got two bar staff and a couple of
2
Another goal-line controversy
It’s 1966, and England beat West Germany at Wembley – experimented and Nobby Stiles, wearing No.9, scored the
thanks to a linesman’s intervention. So far, so familiar. But only goal (above) - England were booed off. Alfred Heiss
this was February 1966, and a pre-World Cup friendly. After ‘equalised’, but the ball rebounded from behind the line
a disjointed performance – Three Lions boss Alf Ramsey and the linesman flagged instead for a corner-kick.
4
have qualified – but the FAI nations boycotted qualifying,
agreed to stage a play-off tie in unhappy that the winners
Paris, rather than the UK, after from their zone would face
their opponents a play-off against the Asian
Spain offered to
hand over all the
Moore tried to zone winners for a place in the
tournament. South Korea also
quit West Ham
£25,000
7 North Korean
anthem silenced
North Korea’s qualification caused a diplomatic
headache as the country was not recognised
by the British government. One of the stamps
designed by the Post Office to commemorate
the tournament was banned by the Foreign
Office for featuring the North Korean flag, and
the playing of national anthems was cancelled
except for the opening match and the final.
No one put 8
their hat
on England
“England will not win the World Cup,” Jimmy
Hill declared before the finals. “But don’t
blame Alf. No one would win with this lot.”
Despite home advantage and the presence
of three truly great players – Gordon Banks,
Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton – bookies
offered odds of 10-1 on England winning.
Brazil called
against England were thrown into chaos… by
a Boy Scout troop. The two-time World Cup
winners arrived at a local sports centre to
find a Scouts’ sports event in progress. They for ban on tea
had to work out back at their hotel instead.
Random drug tests were introduced for players
for the first time, with Brazilian official Carlos
Nascimento asking FIFA for clarification on
some of the new rules. “Our players drink an
awful lot of coffee,” he explained. “If we are
not allowed to drink coffee, then England
should be banned from drinking tea.”
did not even sell out willing to put up foreign fans after
being caught on the hop. Ticket sales
in the North East had been slow, but
Although the tournament set a new record for a Sunderland organising committee
overall attendances, not all games sold out. spokesman said on the eve of the
There were empty seats for England’s opening Italy-Chile group game at Roker Park:
match against Uruguay. The attendance was “Hundreds of supporters have come
officially 87,148, but The Times reported that to the town hoping to pay at the gate.
25,000 of the seats at the 100,000-capacity Our list of people prepared to offer
Wembley Stadium were left unoccupied. them beds is totally inadequate.”
21 Spain wouldn’t
drink local tap water
British holidaymakers know all about the perils
of ‘Spanish tummy’, but Spain manager Jose
Villalonga was more concerned about ‘English
belly’ when they pitched up in Birmingham.
West
Germany
24
He banned his players from drinking the local
tap water, explaining: “This is a precautionary
measure against potential stomach upsets.”
were
supposed
Only £4 to be rubbish
for the refs
While the players stayed in hotels, referees
22 West Germany were not favoured before the
tournament, with their odds at 28-1 after the
were put up in B&Bs with a daily allowance draw placed them in a group with Argentina,
of only £4. Cyril Jackson, of the English Switzerland and reigning European champions
Referees’ Association, claimed: “They are the Spain. Although they’d won the World Cup in
best referees in world football and should be 1954, a national professional league had only
treated royally while they’re in England, but been set up in 1963 and it was generally felt
this isn’t happening. It’s all very mean.” that Uwe Seeler and Karl-Heinz Schnellinger
(left) were their only world-class players.
Mexico had
28
a bullfighter
up front
Mexico striker Enrique Borja (right) played
in ’66 after turning his back on a career as
a bullfighter. Borja, 20, revealed before facing
England: “My father was a top bullfighter and
I fought them in the training ring, but decided
the horns were very dangerous. Football is less
dangerous, so I switched. Jackie Charlton is big
and strong like a bull, but I would still prefer to
face him than a bull. He has no horns!”
35
Franchi
at centre of
blame game
Italy’s explanation for their poor performance
was unusual. Desperate to spread the blame,
coach Edmondo Fabbri insisted his players had
been drugged at the behest of Artemio Franchi,
40
who was plotting to oust federation president
Giuseppe Pasquale and who would give his
name to Fiorentina’s home stadium. Many
players signed statements backing Fabbri’s
‘Seen’ Connery met England
claims, although the wording was suspiciously
similar and some – notably Giacinto Facchetti In the Swinging Sixties, England manager Alf Ramsey was a throwback to the buttoned-up 1950s,
and Sandro Mazzola – eventually recanted. taking elocution lessons so he could speak in the polished, upper-middle class tones typified by the
It did not save Fabbri’s job, or his reputation. BBC’s ‘received pronunciation’. The transformation wasn’t entirely successful. On a visit to Pinewood
He later lamented: “I’ve had to go through Studios, England players cracked up when Ramsey introduced them to “Seen Connery”. He was
my whole life with the burden of Korea.” touchy about his accent. Believing that Bobby Moore and Jimmy Greaves were mocking it, he once
told a colleague: “We’ll win the World Cup without those b******s.” Well he was half right, at least.
36 No bonuses
for communists
North Korea’s reward for their win over Italy
was to be sent on a five-mile training run
41
before breakfast. Their FA chairman Kim Pickles strangled
Eung-Sir insisted there was no question of
the communist state paying them bonuses.
while chasing a cat
He said: “In our country they play for honour.
When we go home, perhaps the government We still don’t know who stole the World Cup
will then make them Merited Sportsmen.” from Westminster Hall on March 20, 1966.
Petty thief Edward Betchley, who demanded
a ransom for the trophy, was jailed for two
37 Record-breaking years for ‘being concerned in a larceny after
without subs
had won the previous two World Cups.
Referees weren’t kind to the South
46 Players told Americans: Portuguese winger Morais
not to smoke The 1966 World Cup was the last with no
substitutes, despite the Football League
wasn’t even booked by English official
George McCabe for chopping down Pele.
allowing them during 1965-66. This meant an The British Embassy in Mexico City received
Many teams banned tobacco, with FIFA’s injury effectively reduced a team to 10 men, bomb threats, while the staff at the British
technical report noting that “players were encouraging some countries to rough-up star ambassador’s residence in Montevideo had
expected to cut down smoking”. Some balked opponents - the most famous example being to be saved from an angry mob by police.
at this, not least 60-a-day Brazilian midfielder Portugal’s battering of Brazil’s Pele (below).
Gerson, who liked a puff at half-time. The
Charltons enjoyed a smoke too, although
Bobby never lit up before training was finished. 52 54 Eusebio
gatecrashed
a wedding
47 The star sides
of ’62 struggled Michael and Tina Taylor had some unexpected
guests at their wedding – the Portugal squad.
None of the four semi-finalists from the 1962 Eusebio & Co. were in the mood to celebrate
World Cup made it further than the group at Manchester’s Wilmslow Hotel after they
stage in 1966. Defending champions Brazil and had knocked out Brazil when the couple held
Chile suffered early exits, while Czechoslovakia their reception there. The players joined the
and Yugoslavia failed to qualify for the event. party and Eusebio even posed for some snaps.
58
England’s players were paid £60 a game, Tofiq Bahramov had no doubt the ball had
with a £1,000 bonus for winning the trophy. crossed the line for England’s controversial
Radox Bath Salts paid Bobby Moore £750 third goal. When Swiss referee Gottfried
and Geoff Hurst £250. Justice Brightman Dienst ran to the touchline, the Azerbaijani
ruled the Radox payments were not taxable linesman made it clear, primarily through
because they were an “accolade rather gestures – Dienst did not speak Russian or
than remuneration for services rendered”. Azerbaijani – that Geoff Hurst had scored.
of the party 63 Final heroes why he had given the goal and replied:
UEFA A LICENCE
COACHING BADGES
CLASS OF 2016
T
he sound of boisterous teenage boys no busman’s holiday. This coaching boot
and the barking voices of men grows camp will enable them to go and work at
louder as FourFourTwo approaches an any academy on the planet, and manage
11-a-side pitch on a bitter June morning. at every level below the Premier League.
Nearby, the occupants of two dugouts On the pitch, Fabrice Muamba and former
huddle together for warmth: laughing and Burnley midfielder Wade Elliott are leading
exchanging stories like a pack of mischievous a possession-based training session. The pair
school kids. But this isn’t a random bunch of are learning how a manager and coach work
acne-ridden teens. Kevin Phillips and Luke together to conduct a practice in tandem.
Chadwick look out from one of the shelters, They’ve been given a problem to solve. They
while Freddie Kanoute and Darren Powell are only allowed to play on a limited area of
are interested spectators in the other. the pitch and will have fewer players at their
It’s 9am on a Thursday and FFT is at the FA’s disposal than they’d first thought.
St George’s Park headquarters for the sixth day “It’s a simulation exercise based on what
of a UEFA A Licence coaching course, finding would happen at a club,” says course director
out exactly what’s required to become one Geoff Pike, who talks with the gusto of an East
of the country’s next top managers. End cabbie. “When I was a youth coach at
A total of 82 current and former players are Leyton Orient, the first team would come over
here on an eight-day residential stay, but it’s after 20 minutes and take away two of my
players. We teach them to have a Plan B. “As a player you’re used to starting at 10
If they can solve the problem, their credibility and finishing at 12,” Phillips adds. “As a coach
is then enhanced in the eyes of the players.” it’s 8am and you don’t finish until four or five.
At a cost of £6,055, the course isn’t cheap – It took a lot of getting used to, but I was lucky.
although the PFA picks up 50 per cent of the Nigel gave me a lot of leeway, as he knew
tab for retired players and those still playing that I was going through a transition.”
the game. There’s a further 20 per cent It’s a working day that Jay Blackie would
discount for FA Licensed Coaches’ Club happily swap. The Brighton and Hove Albion
members – a free membership service women’s captain combines her playing career
available to those taking their badges.
There are no shortcuts, though. All of the
with life as a high-school teacher.
“I’m normally up at 6.30am, I work in school
“It’s been brilliant learning
participants must hold a UEFA B Licence
before applying. Each application is then
from eight to four, coach from six to eight and
then train from eight to 10,” she says. “I get off people who have won
titles and European Cups”
vetted by the course director, who assigns home at midnight and go straight to bed.”
places to those with the best credentials. She was meant to be on a women-only
The intensity of the programme is relentless. course in February, but then had to defer
Most of the days run from 9am to 7.30pm – because of her playing season. This week is
the final session can often last until 9pm – her half-term break – the only time she can
and combine practical work on the pitch fit the course into her packed schedule. Above Kevin Phillips, Former Manchester United youth team coach
with theory sessions in the classroom. Blackie is the only woman taking part in the Fabrice Muamba and Paul McGuinness is delivering a two-hour talk
For some, it’s been an eye-opener. “I’ve programme. Unlike her male peers, there is no Freddie Kanoute in a room that’s been wallpapered with notes
never drunk so much coffee in my life,” jokes financial help for those in the women’s game. compare notes and A3 posters covered in tactical annotations.
former Sunderland striker Phillips, as the “I’ve had to pay for the full lot,” she continues. He shows pictures of Alex Ferguson playing
players move inside for a mid-morning break. “Luckily my dad has been able to help me out.” games with academy players, and Danny
He joined Derby County as a first-team coach Opportunities are also slim. Only a handful of Welbeck and Marcus Rashford laughing on
in September, having previously worked at managers in the women’s game are full-time, summer trips abroad during their early teens.
Leicester – largely under Nigel Pearson, who yet all coaches are still required to pass their “It’s important that young players have fun,”
has now followed him to the iPro Stadium. A Licence before moving into a top job. he says. “Before training we’d put on a DVD of
Blackie and the rest of the George Best, Maradona or Ronaldo doing some
coaching tribe leave their coffee tricks and ask: ‘who wants to be Maradona?’
cups and go their separate ways. “We did a lot of work with Marcus Rashford.
Some head for classrooms, others He always wanted to be the No.10 and drop
back outside for coaching practice. deep, but we wanted him running in behind
FFT opts for the warmer option. because of his pace. We taught him to receive
COACHING BADGES
the ball side on and burst past defenders. Right A sticky says Pike. “How do you get your players to
However, we didn’t just tell him what to do. situation for the understand what you want them to do?
We taught him that it was fun to score goals prospective coaches All too often we see managers giving their
and said that people would notice him a lot players too much information.”
more if he scored more goals. We want Phillips weighs into the debate. “Working
coaches to have fun with players.” with Claudio Ranieri was an eye opener,”
But how much fun can coaches have, when he says. “He’s got wonderful humour, he
they have got mouths to feed and a mortgage understood English banter. In meetings he
to pay? “There’s pressure to earn a living,” says would take stick and give it back. But the key
Morecambe’s manager, Jim Bentley. “I played was that his instructions were so clear. Players
most of my career at League Two level and would come out of meetings and say to each
I have to earn money to pay bills. You’re other: ‘I know what I’m doing on Saturday’.
always looking over your shoulder.” I’ve been in a lot of dressing rooms where
After five years in charge of the Shrimps, he’s players have come out feeling confused.”
already the fifth longest-serving manager in Muamba remembers working with Arsene
English football. The average tenure is just 17 Wenger at Arsenal. “He’d always give the
months. But having finished two places above players the responsibility to find a solution,
the fourth tier’s relegation zone last season, rather than just giving the answer,” he says. in his club environment for a minimum of
he knows his future is far from certain. “It gave the players confidence and created a further 30 hours of one-to-one sessions.
“Hopefully I’ll move my way up the divisions, trust between them and the manager.” All coaches will undergo the same process.
but I may have to work in non-league at some FFT has clocked former Blackburn, Crystal “It’s not an exam,” Bailey says. “In schools
point,” the 40-year-old concedes. “Tactically Palace and Bolton striker Matt Jansen slipping we teach kids to pass exams, but that’s not
I need to get better and I want to be an out of a set of double doors. This afternoon learning. We want to work with the coaches
adaptable coach who can work with young he’ll lead a coaching session in which he must while they’re on the job – that’s how you learn.
players as well as senior players, so this teach a defence which passes they can allow Once we think they’re competent in all areas
course has been brilliant for that – it’s been the opposition to make and which they must of the trade, they’ll get their certificate.”
fascinating learning off people who have won prevent. By the time we catch up with him, Bailey says Jansen still has room for
European Cups and Premier League titles.” he’s stood in the middle of a vast indoor pitch improvement. “We’re looking at how he’s
Lunch is a hot buffet served in a canteen, wearing a headset like an aerobics instructor. organised the session, how he’s managed
where groups of coaches then discuss the He’s being filmed, while two tutors stationed the session, and his observation and
morning’s work. Much of the chitchat is about on the touchline are monitoring his every communication skills. Sometimes his
how to get instructions across to players. move and listening to every instruction. positioning prevents him from seeing
“The aim of the course is to get them Neil Bailey has been assigned as Jansen’s certain things, but we’ll work on that.”
to understand the ‘how’ bit of coaching,” tutor. After the eight-day course, he’ll visit him According to Pike, it’s a common mistake
made by former players as they get used to
seeing the game from a coach’s perspective.
“I remember working with Dennis Wise on his
B Licence,” he recalls. “He was stood in the
centre circle doing a session, but he hadn’t
said a word to any of the players. After 10
minutes, I tapped him on the shoulder and
said: ‘Are you OK, Dennis?’ He said: ‘What the
f*** is going on?’ He’d only ever watched the
game from a player’s point of view.”
Jansen immediately watches his session
back on a large widescreen TV by the side of
the pitch. He’s also given a code by a member
of staff, which he can use to view the footage
on a laptop or the TV in his bedroom.
But can this blur of technology really help
prepare him for the harsh reality of working
in non-league football? It’s a world away from
the 38-year-old’s day-to-day existence. He
has spent the last 12 months in charge of
Conference North side Chorley, after being
promoted from assistant manager to replace
ex-Blackburn team-mate Garry Flitcroft.
T I M E TA B L E
9am PRACTICAL 10.30am BREAK 12.30pm LUNCH 3pm BREAK 6.30pm DINNER
FILMED SESSION
Fabrice Muamba and 11am THEORY 1.30pm PRACTICAL 3.30pm THEORY 7.15pm TUTOR
Wade Elliott (above) Talk from former Man FILMED SESSION Seminar discussing PEER GROUPS
O F T H E D AY
deliver practice on United youth coach Matt Jansen teaches how to use fitness Tutors watch the
defending against Paul McGuinness on a defence which work within training training sessions
a No.10. Limited creating a winning passes they can allow sessions. Coaches are back alongside the
number of players culture. Coaches gain and which they must given advice on using coaches and then
at coaches’ disposal understanding about prevent. Practice performance analysis provide feedback.
and small area of how players learn in monitored by tutor to communicate with
pitch available. a fun environment. and filmed for review. their players better. 7.30pm FINISH
“You can make a formation look as simple years, the number of high-intensity sprints per
game has increased on average by five per
“You do not need to spend millions on the “When you’ve managed Barcelona and Bayern
Munich, you don’t need to look at Leicester
ONLY
an occasion. Without missing a beat, Pfleghar
said: “Well, then just pack a toothbrush. We’ll
find you some clothes tomorrow in London.”
Netzer, realising his friend was deadly
serious, protested. “How do you think that’s
going to work?” he asked. “I can’t just leave
without telling anyone. And I won’t be able
to get out of the country.”
Real Madrid’s rules were rigid. The players
had to inform the club about any long journey.
What’s more, Real had collected all passports
– partly to avoid the scenario of any of their
players forgetting his travel documents, and
partly to render clandestine trips impossible.
COOLER
ACTION REPLAY
ACTION REPLAY
“I’ve spoken to the people at the embassy,” that Netzer was relaying an order from
Pfleghar said. “They have a passport substitute Weisweiler, so he didn’t ask any questions.
for you.” As Netzer would find out the next Netzer walked back to the bench. Passing
morning, they had more for him: a high-collar Weisweiler, he casually said: “Now I’m
coat and a wide-brimmed hat. It was not the playing.” Then he took off his tracksuit top.
most elaborate of disguises, and as he was When the Gladbach supporters saw this,
walking through Madrid airport, Netzer felt they cheered their lungs out. This was more
sure his cover would be blown at any moment. than just a cup final for them, it was also
After all, he was a star player for one of the a derby between fierce local rivals, and finally
biggest clubs in the world. Seven months Weisweiler had come to his senses and would
earlier, he had signed a contract that netted bring on the player who was, according to the
his hometown club Borussia Monchengladbach chant the fans now started up, “the best man
800,000 Marks (the equivalent of £140,000 at in the world”. Nobody knew the truth. Nobody
the time) and made the 28-year-old German knew that Netzer was actually bringing himself
the highest-paid member of Real Madrid’s on. It wasn’t until Weisweiler’s death in July
illustrious squad. “That’s more than half the 1983 that the full story of that June afternoon
team together is earning!” vice-president at the Rheinstadion finally came to light.
Raimundo Saporta cried when Netzer Three minutes into extra time, Netzer moved
demanded a salary of 350,000 Marks per through midfield, passed the ball to Rainer
year. They eventually settled on 295,000. Bonhof and continued his run. Bonhof played
It was a spectacular transfer – not to the ball back into Netzer’s path – and the
mention a controversial one. The West midfielder drilled it into the top corner with
German national coach Helmut Schon was a first-time left-footed strike from 12 yards.
unhappy that Netzer, a key member of the It was the goal that won the cup for Gladbach,
stylish team that had won the 1972 European and also Netzer’s last goal on German soil.
Championship, was moving abroad just one After the game, a reporter asked Netzer
year before a World Cup on home soil, and about Real Madrid. Netzer said he was looking
joining a club that might not release him for forward to joining the Spanish giants. Then he
internationals. In June 1973, two days before added there was one worry. “A journalist told
the cup final between Gladbach and Cologne, me that the rules are pretty strict in Spain,” he
the German magazine Kicker said there was revealed. “He said I might have to cut my hair
a “secret Netzer plan”. Bayern Munich, the and wear a tie. But that’s out of the question.
paper speculated, might sign him on loan I’m willing to consider a tie, but nobody will
from Real for one year, until the World Cup. get me to the hairdresser’s.”
It was a tantalising prospect. People were
still talking about the day West Germany
“I’m willing to consider And indeed, as he was walking towards his
gate at Madrid airport, where the plane to
defeated England 3-1 at Wembley in April
1972. The game still looms large in German a tie, but nobody will get London was waiting, Netzer still sported the
famous blond mane a generation of English
me to the hairdresser’s”
football lore, mainly because of the magical football fans would forever associate with that
interplay between both Netzer and Franz 1972 game at Wembley. The image of the tall
Beckenbauer. When Netzer surged forward, and dashing Netzer, wearing West Germany’s
sweeper Beckenbauer covered for him. When green away shirt, his long hair illuminated by
Beckenbauer decided to move upfield, Netzer the floodlights as he easily rode lumbering
dropped back and closed off the gaps. So Top Taking on the Berti Vogts argued with their captain for tackles, came to symbolise a defeat which, in
would the two now be reunited in Munich? Soviet Union in the a long time, until he finally relented and the words of author David Downing, “knocked
Alas, the “plan” never came to fruition. final of Euro 72 travelled to the stadium with the squad. the incipient cockiness out of English football”.
Schon wasn’t the only coach unhappy about Above Netzer was At half-time, it was 1-1. Weisweiler must
Netzer’s transfer. Gladbach’s iconic manager rarely understated have felt he had made his point, because Netzer had worn his hair like this since
Hennes Weisweiler went into a huff, too. He Below “I’m going to during the interval he approached Netzer and the late 1960s, when he became the first
had spent the previous 10 years having spats play over there now, told him: “You’re getting into the game now.” German player whose locks went way below
with Netzer about next to everything, from gaffer. Got it? Good” Netzer barely looked up. “Me?” he said. “No, the collar. Back then, this was more than
the team’s tactics to the player’s lifestyle. no way.” It was not the time or the place for a fashion statement. A 1971 book about
The main reason for their clashes was that one final quarrel, so Weisweiler walked away Netzer’s life was called Rebel on the Ball,
Netzer had an innate aversion to any f ther word. The two men most because he always did things differently.
authority, while Weisweiler was a cont for Gladbach’s transformation He had listened to Bob Dylan and the Rolling
who distrusted marquee players. A few , unfashionable second-division Stones when his team-mates were into the
down the line, the coach would ne of the most exciting sides on banal mainstream pop known in Germany
shock the whole of Barcelona by t watched the second half in as schlager music. At a time when a typical
subbing Johan Cruyff. Now he om either end of the bench, footballer married his school sweetheart,
decided to show another midfield much space between them as Netzer was dating a gorgeous, somewhat
maestro who was boss. Weisweiler nder the circumstances. mysterious goldsmith who always dressed
benched Netzer, the team’s captain, fo the final whistle rang, it was still in black. While even German superstars like
what was supposed to be his final gam ring the break before extra time, Beckenbauer still had something provincial
in Gladbach’s colours, the German Cup r strolled across the pitch while about them, Netzer mingled with creative
When Netzer learned of this snub, on crowd was chanting his name. types, artists and filmmakers.
day of the match, he was so enraged t noticed young Christian Kulik lying Hurrying through Madrid’s airport in his
went to his hotel room and packed his the ground, looking exhausted. disguise, trying not to attract any attention,
ready to walk out on the team. Herber Can you continue?” Netzer asked. Netzer wondered if he was really a rebel. He
Wimmer, the man who covered all the ’ve got nothing left,” Kulik said. felt flattered by the term, but he also thought
in midfield that Netzer couldn’t be bot tzer nodded his head and told his people were taking things too far. It was the
with, later recalled how Jupp Heyncke mate to come off. Kulik assumed age of the student protests and people liked
to draw parallels between politics and football. couldn’t resist anything that was out of the Below Gunter mixes that Netzer was a football player. Diamond’s
It was said that Bayern Munich’s possession ordinary. As he later said in his autobiography, the drinks at Lovers’ enthusiasm quickly cooled, though, when none
game stood for the old, conservative men who with considerable understatement, Netzer Lane, watched by other than Dean Martin explained that the
were running the country, while Gladbach’s was always a little bit “restless”. Germany team-mate game Netzer was talking about was soccer.
aggressive transition game represented the Netzer arrived in London without being Wolfgang Overath Netzer wondered what the people back
young and progressive opposition. Essayist recognised. Pfleghar took him on a shopping Bottom left Not home would say if they could see him now.
Helmut Bottiger memorably wrote that spree so that he wouldn’t look out of place many early-1970s Apart from being called a rebel, people also
Netzer’s trademark long passes, which often among the Rat Pack jet set, then the two footballers would be said he was a playboy and compared him to
instigated Die Fohlen’s counter-attacks, friends travelled on to Los Angeles and, finally, found at an art fair George Best. In a way, this was silly. Netzer
“were breathing the spirit of utopia”. on a small private plane to Las Vegas. While Bottom right Being didn’t drink and he had only a fraction of
When asked a few years ago how he used his team-mates were preparing for the game ignored by Hennes the affairs the press attributed to him. But he
to handle all of this brouhaha, Netzer replied: in Murcia, Netzer sat down to watch Frank Weisweiler... again could see where his reputation came from.
“Football lent itself to such things back then. Sinatra. He was sharing a table with celebrities He used to own a bar-cum-discotheque in
Sometimes I was amused, because there like Sammy Davis Junior and Neil Diamond, sleepy Monchengladbach called Lovers’ Lane
was no deeper meaning to what we did. We who became very excited when he learned that attracted people from far away because
were not political, we were athletes. I read barkeeper Picco made the best cocktails
the literary and arts sections because I was around. When Netzer opened the place in
interested in what people said. But I didn’t 1971, Weisweiler groaned: “This is the end”,
take any of it very seriously.” imagining his star playmaker dancing and
But if he wasn’t a rebel – why did he do these partying until the early hours.
things? Why was he secretly boarding a plane There was also his fascination with cars.
to London, breaking half a dozen club rules? Before he turned 20, Netzer had driven
He was hardly stupid. He knew exactly what a Mercedes, a Porsche 911 and a Jaguar
would happen if he was spotted by a reporter E-Type around his tranquil hometown. He sold
or a fan, if the club found out that, instead of the Jag to Beckenbauer when a yellow Ferrari
getting back into shape, he was crossing eight Dino 246 GT caught his eye. It was this car
time zones to schmooze with Ol’ Blue Eyes. which almost killed him in June 1970. Netzer
Real, already out of the title race not least survived the crash, but sustained injuries that
because Netzer had got off to a slow start at made him miss the World Cup in Mexico.
his new club, would probably fire him on the As Sinatra took to the stage, opening with
spot. The best explanation he found for why Come Fly With Me, another World Cup was
he always did these things was that he less than five months away. Netzer would
hardly feature in that tournament either,
partly because he wasn’t in the best physical
shape after his injury-strewn first season in
Madrid, and partly because Schon’s preferred
playmaker was the less unpredictable
Wolfgang Overath. This may explain why
Netzer is an icon in Germany, where he’s
remembered as the best player in the best
team the country ever had (the 1972 side),
while he never quite got the recognition he
deserved abroad. His timing on football’s
biggest stages was simply not the best.
And sometimes he was just plain unlucky.
Take the day of arguably his greatest game,
October 20, 1971. Gladbach hosted Inter
Milan in the European Cup. A classic Netzer
pass set up Heynckes for the opener. Shortly
before the break, Netzer whipped a 25-yard
free-kick into the top corner to make it 4-1.
Then, seven minutes into the second half,
Gladbach’s No.10 dropped deep to lose his
marker. He started a move near his own box,
then ran through midfield until he suddenly Left Big sad eyes, Who knows, he may have acquired the
appeared in Inter’s penalty area. Heynckes doleful expression... knack of being himself and at ease no matter
crossed from the left and Netzer elegantly and a bassett hound the circumstances on that last weekend in
chipped the ball into the far corner with the Below “Me? Have January 1974, when he hung out with some
outside of his right foot. The final result was my hair cut? Never!” of the world’s biggest celebrities in Las Vegas.
a jaw-dropping 7-1 win for the German side. Bottom Trying to go On the day after the Sinatra show, Netzer met
There was only one problem. It was all for incognito can prove the father of the bride in person. At one point,
nothing. In the first half, a Coca-Cola can tricky when you’re Ol’ Blue Eyes looked at Netzer and Pfleghar
thrown from the stands had hit Inter’s in a green Ferrari and said: “Do you guys want to see Elvis?
Roberto Boninsegna, who went down and He’s performing at the Hilton today.” Within
was stretchered off. German fans remain an hour, the two Germans sat together at
convinced the Italian was feigning his injury. a table right in front of the stage, a bottle of
Five years ago, even the referee of the game, champagne between them, while Thus Spake
the late Jef Dorpmans from the Netherlands, Zarathustra came blaring out of the speakers
told a German TV crew: “I’ve always believed and the King strolled onto the stage wearing
he was faking it.” Still, Inter filed a protest, had been during his active career. Many a jumpsuit as white as Real Madrid’s shirts.
the game was replayed and ended as a 0-0 were surprised when Hamburg made him n Tu da onl ix days after Pfleghar had
draw, a result that eliminated Borussia. general manager later that same year, but phone, a still jet-lagged
Netzer’s haul of silverware at club level, they were the same people who had always k training in the Spanish
though impressive, was also not quite what underestimated his business sense. Netzer der Ignacio Zoco asked
it could have been if he had played for a club hadn’t opened Lovers’ Lane because he was watched any television
like Bayern or gone abroad earlier. He was partial to a bit of nightlife, but because he end. Netzer shook his
loyal to Gladbach (also because he knew he wanted an investment and something to co, who was about to
was the undisputed star there), although he concentrate on away from football. o popular singer Maria
felt Weisweiler’s high-tempo game was not He went on to build the Hamburg team that natra’s comeback show
suited to winning league titles. It was an would beat Juventus in Athens to win the 1983 Netzer froze.
eternal bone of contention between them. European Cup before restlessness stirred again swears there was a guy
Netzer argued that you sometimes had to and he lost interest in the administrative side ience who looked just
conserve energy and couldn’t always attack of the game. He then made a fortune buying co added. “You must
straight after winning the ball back, which and selling football broadcasting rights and pelganger, Gunter.”
led to one of Weisweiler’s great one-liners. eventually ended up in front of the camera Decades would go by
Asked to relay the shortest definition of himself – between 1998 and 2010, Netzer before Zoco heard the
the offside rule, he said: “Offside is when was one of the most popular football pundits rue story. But he should
the tall asshole passes the ball too late.” in Germany, admired not only for his wit, but have known: there was
Netzer himself, though, was never one to his frankness and self-deprecating humour. body quite like Netzer.
rue missed opportunities. After winning
a couple of league titles with Real Madrid,
and spending one season with Grasshoppers
in Switzerland, he wrapped up his playing
As Netzer said in his autobiography, with some
days in 1977 – and immediately became as
daring and inquisitive in his second life as he understatement, he was always a little ‘restless’
PLANET
YOUR PASSPORT TO THE GLOBAL GAME
Bordeaux is one of France’s most Esplanade des Quinconces. But sadly it was a real ‘wow’ moment, and not in There was a better response, however,
beautiful cities – but would you be has not had the desired effect, with the a good way. It looks like a postcard. when Bordeaux launched their 2016-17
able to work that out from looking heavily-decorated, purple, pink and blue “If you know the city then you can home shirt a week later. Based on
at the team’s new third kit? mishmash taking a trashing on social identify the monuments. You have to a design from the club’s successful
Fresh from a disappointing campaign, media since its launch. A poll in regional wonder if it’s a partnership with the 1980s period, it has gone down a storm
in which Les Girondins finished 11th in newspaper Sud Ouest revealed that local tourist office. To be honest, it’s with the supporters. “The new home kit
Ligue 1, the club attempted to celebrate three-quarters of voters had a negative rare for fans to be opposed to a new is great. In fact it’s every bit as beautiful
the local area by plastering their new reaction to the rather garish garment. kit as strongly as we are to this one. as the third kit is horrid,” Pietrelli says.
shirt with some of the city’s famous “It’s horrible,” says Nicolas Pietrelli, “2015-16 wasn’t great for us on the Safe to say we know which of the two
monuments, including the Place de la who runs fansite WebGirondins.com. pitch. When the new kit came out we will be stuffed in the bargain bins of
Bourse, the Porte d’Aquitaine and the “When we saw the colour and design it thought: OK, the bad news continues.” south-west France come Christmas.
Romania Ex-Universitatea Craiova owner Adrian Mititelu is in the money - the league and FA were ordered by a court to pay him €220m for incorrectly dissolving the club
[ INTERVIEW ]
Why did you decide to leave Some people have labelled this How hard was it to miss out on There were rumours that you had
Europe and join up with LA Galaxy Galaxy squad as the most talented qualification for Euro 2016? an offer from Manchester United
at the beginning of the year? in the 20-year history of MLS. Has It was very disappointing. With the during Louis van Gaal’s time in
It was always in the back of my mind that created a lot of expectation? standard of football that the Dutch charge of the club. Is that true?
to come to the United States one It’s normal. When you bring in some national team has to offer, everyone Rumours are rumours for a reason.
day and play football, especially for quality players like Steven Gerrard, always expects us to be qualifying If there was any interest, then it’s
a team like Galaxy. For me, it’s the Ashley Cole, Giovani dos Santos, for every major tournament. So it’s something that my agent had to
biggest club in the country. It was Robbie Keane (below), Jelle van really bad, especially for the younger deal with, not me personally, so
always a dream to experience living Damme or myself, com on of Dutch players who I never heard anything about it.
in America. They made contact with with the rest of the have got a lot of
my agent asking if I would be keen. team, you have to ble experience in Is Manchester City still a special
I wasn’t playing a lot at Milan and expect the pressure ce at Euro 2016. club for you, after playing more
I thought it was a great opportunity. to be on. But I’m we will have to than 100 league games for them?
really grateful that hrough another Of course, Manchester is a second
Was the LA lifestyle a factor? I can play alongside lifying campaign home for me. City will always have
Of course. Los Angeles is the type someone like Stevie in d wait two more a place in my heart – especially as
of city that suits me. I like America midfield. What he’s rs to have a chance I was with them from the very start,
a lot. I’ve got a family with two done in the game ove edemption. I hope when we hadn’t experienced the
children, so I have to think about a span of almost 20 will qualify for the success the club have gone on to
their futures as well. I could see years is absolutely orld Cup, but it’s not achieve. I was fortunate to be a part
myself living here after my career incredible. He really is iven. It still hurts of the team that was growing up to
is over. I’m a huge fan of American a football legend, not hat happened, but championship level. I still have a lot
sports too, particularly the NBA and only for Liverpool, but s football. I was also of love for the supporters, too. I will
the NFL. Pittsburgh Steelers is my in general. Playing wit rt of a team that got always be blue for the rest of my life.
team. I follow that much more than him truly is an honour. t t iu t two consecutive
European football to be honest. World Cups, and not many players Not everyone realises that Sergio
Robbie Keane has gone to his get to do that. I’m very proud of that Aguero’s dramatic injury-time goal
Did any of the Galaxy players get second European Championship group and my generation in general. that won Man City the Premier
in touch and try to convince you as a Galaxy player. At 31, do you League title in 2011-12 started…
to move over to California? still see a future for yourself with During your career you’ve been [interrupting eagerly] With me! Yes,
Not directly, but I spent some time the Dutch at international level? given a lot of nicknames, but I helped to set it up. I gave the ball
in Los Angeles three years ago for Yes, I’ve not retired from playing for which one is your favourite? to Mario Balotelli and he then gave it
my rehabilitation after I tore my Holland. It’s a little bit more difficult There have been so many, like King to Aguero, who scored. It’s nice to be
Achilles and I spoke to Robbie Keane once you are overseas – flights are Kong de Jong, the Terrier, the Pitbull, part of history and that moment was
then. He told me a lot of positive longer and time zones are different, the Lawnmower and the Destroyer. special, for sure. Winning a league
things, so I was already aware of but it’s not impossible. For me it’s My favourite? I like the Lawnmower championship in England in that
the whole atmosphere within the not a problem. I’m not retiring from a lot because it was given to me in fashion – you will never experience
club and the culture around soccer the national team unless I can’t play England by Manchester City’s fans. anything like that ever again. But it’s
in the United States. That helped any more or somebody tells me: And maybe King Kong de Jong, too, all about Galaxy for me now. I want
me to make my decision. ‘You’re not going to get selected’. because that one just sounds nice! to win and hold a trophy here.
3 16 28 1
Interview Martin Harasimowicz
Number of career red Months since the latest Minutes gone when he Goal scored in 104 league
cards: one for Milan and of his 81 Netherlands made THAT tackle in the appearances for Man City,
two while with Hamburg caps, in March 2015 2010 World Cup Final vs West Ham in 2011
Colombia Suspended for poking a ball boy in the eye, Santa Fe manager Alexis Garcia was unrepentant. “I stuck out my hand and the boy came with his face,” he insisted
NOW
THAT’S A
NICKNAME
Nigel de Jong isn’t the only player
to have had a rather creative
moniker bestowed upon him
BIG ASS
One imagines Dragan Vujovic didn’t
entirely appreciate the name given
to him during his playing days with
Buducnost, but it was
a compliment. Honest.
While the term ‘Guzo’
implies laziness, it was
actually a tribute to the
way Vujovic’s supreme
skill and vision more than
made up for a perceived
reluctance to run around.
A bit like the Montenegrin
version of Matt Le Tissier.
DRAGON HEAD
The good news for Rom
winger Catalin Muntea
was that he had quite
amazing nickname. Th
bad news was that it re
to the fact that most pe
thought he had a mass
bonce. Still, it didn’t stop
moving to Atletico Madr
HAMSTER
Nicknames don’t come
much more intimidating than this.
No one wanted to
face the Hamster,
otherwise known
as former Russia,
Spartak Moscow
and Fenerbahce
striker Vladimir Beschastnykh - so
called not because he spent half the
match running in a wheel by the side
of the pitch, but because he had high
cheekbones like the rodent. We can
see it, now that it’s been pointed out.
BEAR STRANGLER
One imagines that the Hamster would
squeak with fear and head for the hills
with a month’s supply
of sunflower seeds
rather than risk being
marked by the Bear
Strangler, aka the
former Fenerbahce and
Words Chris Flanagan
Germany Following Hannover’s relegation, a local brothel offered disconsolate fans ‘15-minute quickies’ together with the slogan ‘After Going Down, Something Comes Up’
WHAT DO
YOU MEAN,
WE ONLY
BEAT THE
CHAGOS
ISLANDS?
Abkhazia win the world’s most “We faced political pressure The Chagossians, who
Panjab (in blue) go clos
in the final while, below
Abkhazia fan drums up
e
, an
support
a tournament for unrecognised “We took a big gamble taking group matches 5-0 before the a penalty shootout. The hosts’ year. “This time it is the World
states and minorities that took the World Football Cup over to 13-goal thriller against Szekely victory sparked a pitch invasion Football Cup – next time the
place just as the Euros were Abkhazia,” ConIFA President Land determined they’d finish from joyous supporters inside Euros or the World Cup.”
preparing to kick off. The Dutch Per-Anders Blind, a Swedish the tournament in 10th place, a packed-out Dinamo Stadium Watch out Argentina,
didn’t qualify for this one, either. businessman, tells FFT. leaking 22 goals in four games. in Sukhumi. A public holiday Abkhazia mean business.
[ Museum piece ]
THE DEAD DERBY SEAGULL
Museum Feyenoord and Sparta Rotterdam Weirdness rating
Will the real dead seagull assassination. The Dutch he handed it over to Feyenoord,
please stand up? Oh, they international was playing who put it in their museum.
both are already, mainly against Sparta in 1970 when But their rivals claim that the
because they’ve been his goal-kick struck the flier bird was a Sparta fan, blocking
stuffed and then glued to like a guided missile, bringing Treijtel’s clearance, and that
their respective plinths. it crashing down to earth. they have the real gull. They’ve
Eddy Treijtel would like to And he got a surprise when even got experts to assert that
be remembered for the 11 a taxidermist turned up at his the gull in Feyenoord’s musuem
Words Ben Clark
years he served Feyenoord, front door a few months later only visits Rotterdam during the
winning the UEFA Cup in with the gull now very much spring and couldn’t have been Feyenoord insist this
1974. Instead, he is recalled stuffed. Not wanting a reminder the one hit in autumn. Maybe it is the genuine arti-gull
for a piece of accidental avian of his inadvertent bird butchery, was just pining for the fjords.
Argentina Top division club Tigre have announced plans for a new ‘Passion Ticket’ - a microchip that fans can have implanted in their arm to open turnstiles on matchdays
R
“UH! GATO OES,
ES!” “Let me
d cate
ou…”
One afternoon, somewhere Taxi and Netshoes displayed on The club’s head of marketing,
in Sao Paulo, Corinthians had the big screen for everybody to Gustavo Herbetta, says: “The
a brainwave. Instead of fans join in. Predictably, they didn’t. campaign was launched with
wasting their breath singing “Everyone laughed,” fan Eder the purpose of winning an
Sassuolo
about the players or the team, Sguerri tells FFT. “Nobody really award in the Cannes Festival
why not get them to chant understood what it was about.” again, and also finding an
about the sponsors instead? The scheme was quickly alternative way of earning
It was a cunning plan, and mothballed, thwarting hopes money for the training ground.
a deal was struck. The more
fans sung about the sponsors,
of entering the campaign into
the Cannes Film Festival and
“If we had reached a level of
voices, brands would have paid
ITALY
and the louder they chanted, following in the footsteps of us an amount we discussed.
the more money would be paid. a bizarre 2013 movie about ‘the Our supporters didn’t take part Why should I care?
Needing cash for a new Corinthians epidemic’ – with in it, but the extras did their bit The Neroverdi (the Black and Greens) outperformed many
academy training facility, the lines like ‘we are a disease, and the club got paid for it. more glamorous clubs – including Milan and Lazio – to finish
six-time Brazilian champions a bunch of insane people “The expectation we had was sixth in Serie A during 2015-16 and qualify for Europe for the
planned to raise around 35 without a cure’. Scary stuff. confirmed – no one can own first time. They were in the fifth tier i 199
million Reias (£7 million) the way that the fans support.”
through this novel scheme. “We’ll sing what So for now, supporters will Impressive. Wh
Around 300 hired extras were we want…” continue with their normal their manager?
brought in to lead the singing songs about the players - at Eusebio.
during a league match against least until Corinthians unveil
Novorizontino at Corinthians’ their new forward line. Two Eusebio? Surely
49,000 arena, with lyrics for guys who are called Netshoes not. That isn’t
chants about Gatorade, Easy and Easy Taxi, apparently. even possible?
Well, not THAT Eusebio. This is
Eusebio Di Francesco, a former
Roma and Italy midfielder, who was appointed in 2012.
T H E T EA M SH EE T
ever since he arrived at the club?
Well, not exactly. He guided the Neroverdi into Serie A just
12 months later but was sacked midway through their first
season in the top flight – only to be reinstated as head coach
Name words Nick Moore; Corinthians words Marcus Alves
Turkey Besiktas supporters offered to buy 25 million copies of Poland defender Kamil Glik’s autobiography in a bid to persuade him to join the club from Serie A side Torino
retold ]
[ Great goals
JESUS
NAVA S 005
thletic Bilbao, La Liga, 2
vs A
What could possibly be any “Imagine one day playing for “That was a very important All I wanted was a shooting
better than playing for your the club that you’ve always day for me,” he says. “San opportunity. I escaped from
boyhood club? Scoring your loved, the club that I used to Mames was a spectacular two defenders and just hit it
first goal for that club by watch on TV,” the Manchester football stadium, Athletic’s really hard with my left foot.
Words Felipe Rocha; Illustration German Aczel
dribbling from the halfway City winger tells FourFourTwo. supporters are noisy. Every It was a great strike.
line and then launching Navas had made his debut footballer liked to play there. “There aren’t many with
a screamer into the corner 17 months earlier, gradually “I was just past the halfway my left that I can remember, Navas would help the
from outside the area? Yes, becoming an important line, I tried to cut inside but but that was a nice one.’’ Rojiblancos to win the UEFA
that might just about do it. member of a Sevilla squad realised that wasn’t going to Nice indeed, and Sevilla’s Cup in each of the next two
Jesus Navas did exactly that that also included Dani Alves work. I turned back to the wing 3-1 win that day helped them seasons - and five years later
for Sevilla back in 2005, at the and Sergio Ramos. But it was and ran past the first defender. to beat Athletic Bilbao in the he played his part as Spain
tender age of just 19. A mere his strike at Athletic Bilbao’s “Then I saw it was difficult to race for the UEFA Cup spots, lifted the World Cup in 2010.
reminder of the moment is old San Mames Stadium that go all the way on the right and after a spell of eight seasons But sometimes that first
enough to make him grin. established him as a new star. decided to shift inside again. without European football. goal is the sweetest.
Why all the fuss? Reasons for aggro Maddest moment Cult figures
Motagua and Olimpia are There’s been many a title tussle Carlos Valladares’ decision to With his side 2-0 up during
Honduras’s two leading sides between the pair with Olimpia cross the divide in the 1940s a derby clash in the 1960s,
and their fierce rivalry dates crowned champions 30 times and sign for neighbours Olimpia Motagua’s Fermin Navarro
all the way back to their first to Motagua’s 13 – and tensions after leaving Motagua did not decided to stop the ball and sit
Words Damon Townsend
encounter in 1929. The Eagles have often spilled over. Clashes go down well. Angered by the on it rather than fire it into an
and the Lions both use the between Olimpia’s hardcore perceived disloyalty of El Diablo empty goal. “There were five
Tegucigalpa national stadium La Ultra Fiel and Motagua’s (The Devil), some disgruntled minutes remaining and we had
and in a country that has the Revolucionarios are common, Fans are frisked after Motagua fans responded by a bet to see who could pull off
world’s highest murder rate, with mass fighting seen in the a shooting in 2013 taking Valladares’ kit on to the most outrageous stunt,”
violence is never far away. stands during a 2014 derby. the pitch and setting fire to it. he later explained about it.
Iran Persepolis keeper Sosha Makani was hit with a six-month ban - with his decision to wear garish ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ trousers before a game cited as a reason
Mainz’s Pablo
de Blasis
and Christian
Clemens
celebrate anot
her win
j
in February 2015. To celebrate,
his 82-year-old father travelled
to the new coach’s first game
in charge against Eintracht
Schmidt discusses Frankfurt, to watch football
his plans for the club’s in a stadium for the very first
next calendar fundraiser time. He was also joined by
Schmidt’s six siblings and
scores of friends, who cheered
Football? Nah, it’s just working as a mechanic – a role The naked teamtalk Who should get the him on from the stands with
not dangerous enough which later led to working in Schmidt moved into coaching Mainz job? Er, me? the help of several traditional
Born in a tiny village in the the German Touring Cars series. immediately after hanging up The one-time mechanic later Swiss cowbells. Mainz won 3-1
Swiss Alps, and a childhood He also opened up a business his boots in 2001, spending two took charge of FC Thun’s and finished the campaign in
friend of FIFA’s shiny-headed supplying motor-racing tyres years as assistant coach at youth team before forming 11th place in the Bundesliga.
new supremo Gianni Infantino, and repairing luxury Porsches, FC Raron in Switzerland’s sixth a friendship with Mainz youth
Schmidt never played football before branching into textiles. tier before becoming the club’s boss Thomas Tuchel as a result Pack your thermals, it’s
professionally – not helped by Well, why not? Until recently manager. His most memorable of a friendly between the two -11 where we’re going…
the fact that he tore his knee he ran a factory with his sisters, moment? A calendar to raise clubs. When Tuchel became Schmidt’s first full season as
ligaments on seven separate although they’re looking after it funds, which featured a picture manager of Mainz’s first team Mainz boss started promisingly
occasions. Three times it these days – presumably while of an entirely nude Schmidt in 2009, he brought in Schmidt and when the winter break
happened on the pitch, with Schmidt concentrates on trying issuing tactical instructions to to lead the reserves. The Swiss came around they were eighth
FC Naters and FC Raron, but his to persuade his Mainz players his team. Something about one guided Mainz II to promotion in the table. How to prepare
love for extreme sports proved that what they really need is up front with two just behind and then made an unlikely TV then for the crucial second half
more perilous. Schmidt twice a new carpet for their living supplying the ammunition, appearance in 2014 following of the season? Warm-weather
damaged his knee while skiing, room Knockdo n pric lad ! by all accounts Tuchel’s resignation. A local training in Dubai? La Manga?
and twice more while mountain journalist hotfooted it into No, get your tents ready, lads,
biking, but that wasn’t even the Mainz’s central square to ask we’re going camping in the
worst of it. In yet another skiing supporters who they thought Alps. Oh, and wrap up warm,
race, he broke two vertebrae in should step in to replace Tuchel it’s -11C. Thankfully the squad
his neck but carried on anyway, – stopping Schmidt to ask for responded positively to being
before collapsing on the finish an opinion, not realising he was sent off to a snowy wilderness
line and being airlifted off to talking to one of the candidates 2,700 metres above sea level,
hospital, narrowly avoiding for the job. Schmidt’s answer and they improved to seal sixth
paralysis in the process. Crikey. obviously wasn’t persuasive spot in the second half of the
enough – Mainz appointed Bundesliga campaign – enough
Part-time mechanic, Dane Kasper Hjulmand instead. to snare a place in the Europa
Words Michael Yokhin
Netherlands Eljero Elia celebrated Feyenoord’s KNVB Cup victory with a tattoo of the trophy. Just two problems: it said ‘Fenenoord’ and the date of the match was wrong
MISERY IN
Italy’s second city fac es yet another yea r witho ut Champions League football as Int
er and
hard times?
un de rachie ve. Why ha ve tw o of Europe’s greatest clubs fallen on
AC continue to
When Real Madrid defeated since purchasing the club in “They are ridiculing the name We hope for more help from at least provided some hope
neighbours Atletico Madrid 1986, no longer possesses the and the history of Milan. We the investors. The future [of for the Nerazzurri after an
to win the Champions League financial means to keep the can’t put up with this rubbish the club] depends on it.” awful period on the field.
final in May, few stadiums in Rossoneri relevant. Despite any more,” read a recent Berlusconi’s preference has The club have now failed
Europe could have provided repeated claims that the club statement from the club’s been to sell to fellow Italians, to qualify for the Champions
a more fitting backdrop than is close to being sold on, vice leading ultra group, which although interest from China League for five successive
the San Siro in Milan. president Adriano Galliani has ended with a plea to “get emerged in the spring. seasons, with early promise in
That final, though, was the made countless errors on the rid of Galliani or sell Milan!” Chinese investors agreed 2015-16 eventually fading as
first Champions League match occasions that funds have been “I feel great disappointment a takeover of city rivals Inter they slid to a fourth-placed
at the venue for more than two made available. Fans watched thinking about all the trophies Milan last finish, piling the pressure on
years. There will be none in as Galliani conducted bad deals the club have won in the last month, coach Roberto Mancini.
2016-17 either, as the city’s from Luiz Adriano and Andrea 30 years,” says former Milan which The former Lazio and
two giants continue to flounder. Bertolacci to Alessandro Matri striker Maurizio Ganz. “I’d put Manchester City boss
Between them, AC Milan and Giampaolo Pazzini. a veil over the last five years. is Inter’s seventh
(seven) and Inter (three) have That was compounded with “In the seasons when Milan coach since they won
been crowned champions of managerial appointments such made history, they didn’t need the Treble under Jose
Europe on 10 occasions, but as Clarence Seedorf and Pippo to search for players, to scout. Mourinho in 2010.
right now an 11th triumph Inzaghi, former players who They used to buy the best
seems some way away. had little experience of leading players without thinking
The Rossoneri finished the a team before being handed about how much they
2015-16 Serie A season down the reins. Cristian Brocchi were paying. Recently
in seventh place, 34 points became Milan’s fifth coach in when they have had
short of champions Juventus. two years when he replaced to go into the market
They were even further behind Sinisa Mihajlovic in April. with a set budget,
in the two previous campaigns, everyone can see
when they could only manage the difference.
10th and eighth respectively.
Owner Silvio Berlusconi, who
had bankrolled a remarkable
period of sustained success
Words Adam Digby; Additional reporting Emanuele Giulianelli
Ecuador Pelileo thrashed Indi Native 44-1, with Ronny Medina netting 18, but the result won’t make the Guinness Book of Records as it ‘only’ took place in the third division
MILAN
Indonesian entrepreneur A penalty king, the Slovenian “There’s always pressure
Erick Thohir helped to partly saved six spot-kicks in a row at when you want to compete for
rebuild after the Nerazzurri’s one point and is now only two big prizes. A club like Inter has
nadir, a ninth-placed finish stops shy of matching Gianluca to compete year in, year out.” “Altogether now… the
in 2012-13, modernising the Pagliuca’s Serie A record of 24. Whether Inter will be ready wheels on the bus…”
club’s management structure “I joined Inter Milan at a time to compete for that big prize
Ultras really
and employing some sharp when there was a changing of in 2016-17 remains to be seen.
business minds off the field, the guard, in terms of a new Securing a long-awaited return
but on it the team remains generation of players and the to the Champions League is one
are getting
unsuccessful and incoherent. club’s ownership,” Handanovic thing, overhauling dominant
“Milan couldn’t spend but tells FFT. “It’s a unique, special Juventus to win the Scudetto
Inter have spent a lot and club. There has been a huge could be quite another.
very badly,” says Ganz, who turnover in the playing staff Italy’s last three European
younger
played for both San Siro sides. and a new approach will take champions may have been
Geoffrey Kondogbia - bought time. It’s only natural that you Milanese, but it will require
for €31 million - and Stevan struggle at times with such a sizeable power shift in Serie
Jovetic have struggled to find a massive turnover of players. A before either of the city’s
their best form, while Xherdan “It has been strange, but clubs see days like that again.
Shaqiri departed Italy almost every team goes through Second-tier success is child’s play
as quickly as he arrived. unsuccessful periods in for Spain’s four-year-old superfan
One player who has been far football. It’s happened
more successful has been 2012 to Manchester United,
signing from Udinese, Samir Liverpool and AC Milan. Budding football fan Paula megaphone, even though
Handanovic, a steady presence You can’t expect to see may only be four years old, they were just feet away.
in the Inter goal whose form changes overnight, as but that hasn’t stopped her Things got even more
earned links to Barcelona and it takes years to build from leading the way with bizarre after Alcorcon beat
Manchester United before he a team that’s able a megaphone at Alcorcon. Leganes 2-0. “She took to
inked a new three-year deal to compete at When the Spanish Segunda the field once again and then
in January – although that has the top. The Division outfit invited their started singing, it really was
not prevented club are fans to watch the team’s a rather funny day,” Gil adds,
more rumours working final training session before possibly wondering whether
of a move to towards a key clash against rivals the whole thing had been
the French that. Leganes, the ultra group’s some sort of weird dream.
champions, motivator-in-chief was Alcorcon have no plans to
PSG. a little bit younger than
anyone expected. Armed
with a megaphone, Paula
belted out chants for the
initially confused Alkor
Hooligans to join in with.
“We didn’t know who
she was,” explained
the journalist Aimara
Garteizgoxeascoa Gil of the draft her in as a motivational
Alcorcon Sport website. “The coach at this stage – but
hooligans had stayed behind having just missed out on
to cheer the team on, and the play-offs and a chance
this girl just appeared with of promotion to La Liga for
a megaphone. Everybody the first time in the club’s
started going mental.” 45-year history, they could
Such was her popularity probably do worse than call
that a #FansDePaula hashtag upon Paula’s inspirational
soon took hold on Twitter, powers again next season.
Words Simon Harrison
and she was soon given the Just as long as she sticks
opportunity to head to the to usual chants. These days
dressing room and cheer the the ultras are a bit shaky on
players on personally (above) the lyrics to Humpty Dumpty
– still shouting through the and Hickory Dickory Dock.
Czech Republic Top flight officials Marek Pilny and Jiri Jech were banned after appearing drunk during a game. The staggering Pilny fell over; Jech urinated behind the goal
:( 86(
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VISIT US ONLINE
fourfourtwo.com/performance
TRUST
YOUR
GUT p shake
or a pint? So do you listen to your head
or your heart? Neither. There’s another
voice you should be lending an ear to...
With the sun blazing and the But why should you be listening
smell of a sizzling barbecue to the muffin top hanging over
wafting through the air, running your skin-tight shorts? Surely you
laps around the local park isn’t can’t be depending on the bulge’s
too high on your to-do list. judgement – that’s the thing that
Cue internal slanging match. Do the coach will be prodding with
it. No. Get up and go. No. Move it disappointment when you return
you lazy so-and-so. No. Argh! for the first day of pre-season.
Which voice should you listen to? “Your gut holds a lifetime of
Hector Bellerin Gavin Allinson Arda Turan Chris Edmundson
Arsenal’s lightning Top sports Barcelona and Turkey’s Elite strength and
quick full-back nutritionist dynamic midfielder conditioning coach
The Spaniard on how to become the Consume the correct meals for your The Catalans’ pass master reveals the Our fitness guru helps you ease back
ultimate modern-day defender by body type and hit your fitness targets secrets to finding time and space to into pre-season and avoid injuries
adding extra pace to your game. with a little help from our food expert. create chances for your team-mates. with his fun, but challenging circuit.
PERFORMANCE
WE WAS
ROBBED
The emotions felt by fans during
games have been likened to those of
someone being robbed – with similar
stress-hormone release and heart
palpitations – triggering sleep
disturbance, indigestion and an
increase in levels of the potentially
dangerous cortisol in the blood.
10 THINGS
WE’VE LEARNED THIS MONTH
Studies and authors: Ohio State University Medical Center, USA (‘We was robbed’); The Wellington Hospital / www.simonmoyes.com (‘Dog days are yoga’); University of Gothenburg, Sweden (‘Sing when you’re chilling’);
Evolution and Human Behavior (‘Fear the fuzz’); Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore (‘No pain, much gain’); University of the Basque Country, Spain (‘Don’t jump!’); Loughborough University (‘Salt it out’);
Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Unit, University of Palermo, Italy (‘Pitch perfect’); Sports Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran (‘You’re not fit to referee’); Loughborough University (‘Hit the bottle’)
PERFORMANCE
Arda Turan
Barcelona midfielder
& Turkey captain
Did you
a foul, buying your team some time.
If you’re struggling to get into the
game, drop deeper to receive the
knoew ? g
adin
ball off full-backs and centre-backs. a s le
son
ur s er’s
There will be more room and less In the fo urkish midfield July
eT a in
up to th move to Barç r
chance of you giving the ball away. lion d playe
€34 mil Atletico Madri sing
Most importantly, look for space 0 15 , n o tte r pa s
2 oast be uran’s
between midfield and attack. You could b a Liga than T 27
u ra cy in L to tal of 1
won’t be a top player if you can’t do acc om a
cent, fr Rojiblan
cos
this. At Barcelona, Lionel Messi and 84 per for the
games
Neymar mostly use this space, but
Andres Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic and
myself always look for openings.
When the opposition man-mark
Interview Recep Ozerin
a manager discovers you have It’s important you start watching in a position that I’m not used to.
the potential to be an effective defenders and their positioning – Doing your homework will help to
playmaker or defensive-minded then you need to do some extra ensure you make the right decisions Left-back Kenedy used
midfielder. They might be right, defensive training and tactical on the pitch. These small details his attacking instincts
so you have to listen to them. work to get a feel for the role. can be decisive during a game.” to net against Norwich
Arsen
ne
c
tical a ant to suc l’s
a
th
streng ed
t if yo
the lo flank, says aniard
on the neering Sp
bucca
PERFORMANCE
“At Barcelona I was a winger, but when I joined Arsenal “As a right-back the most important part of your job “The movement of the right winger on your team is
they moved me to right-back. I thought that I would be is knowing when it’s best to attack and when it’s safer really important if you want to be an attacking threat
better in an attacking role, but Steve Bould and Bacary to hold your position and defend. You often see players from right-back. It’s up to him to work alongside you
Sagna helped me to adapt to the new position, which get caught high up the pitch, which then leaves them to create space down the flanks. Overlapping the
was key. Talking to two top-class defenders who really vulnerable to the counter-attack. If you sprint down winger on the outside is the most effective way of
know the role offered fantastic insight. I also used my the wing and your team loses possession in midfield, opening up the defence from a wide area, because
experience as an attacker to help make the switch – the opposing winger will have plenty of space to attack if you decide to run infield instead, there’s less space
I know the positions on the pitch that wingers prefer to into. You need to make sure you are alert at all times and a lot more players crowded into a small area.
take up and what areas they want to play in.” to avoid leaving yourself exposed defensively.” This increases the chances of you losing possession.”
4 Don’t skip leg day 5 Try different sports 6 Train the brain
Build bigger, stronger pins Be open to alternative techniques Gain a psychological advantage
“I’m naturally very quick, but I do lots of extra gym “I only competed in track and field once when I was “I had a youth coach at Barcelona called Victor
work with the coaches at Arsenal to help improve my at school because it wasn’t very popular back home Sanchez who taught me about the importance of the
speed. Squats, single-leg squats and split squats have in Spain. However, I did play a lot of basketball, in mental side of the game. He told me stories about life
Interview Andrew Murray
improved the strength of my legs over time. I also work addition to football, which has helped to make me and advised the squad which books we should read.
on my running technique, and the way my knees and a much better footballer as they’re similar sports. We won the Nike Premier Cup at under-15 level and it
hips move. It’s the same type of training that Olympic Taking part in a number of different sports can really was then that I realised how much having a positive
sprinters do, but you can apply it to football just as improve your co-ordination and ability to move in mindset and clear goals can help you achieve success.
easily. If you do the same thing then you can get different directions. This is important if you want to If you educate yourself and then apply that intelligence
quicker, even if you’re not a naturally fast player.” have a long career in football, or any other sport.” on the pitch, it can lead to improved performances.”
PRO
TIP CRA “If you want to run faster you
need to tweak your technique.
Improving leg strength is crucial,
so focus on the back and front
jump explosively, you would suit
a higher load and lower reps - so
PICK Footballers often let their
foot hang loose when they
squat. Start off with three sets of
8-10 repetitions to build up your
try five sets of five reps instead.
A player whose game is based
Add some extra power sprint, whereas sprinters general strength, and then tailor more on endurance would be
and pace to your game keep it tense, producing sets and reps to suit your position. better off doing three sets of 15
with this advice from more force when they hit For example, if you’re a winger reps with moderate weight.
Interview Alec Fenn
the former Team GB the floor. This change and your game is based on power As your strength improves, try
100m, 200m and can make a big and making lots of sprints, or some single-leg exercises such as
relay sprinter difference. you’re a defender who needs to Bulgarian split squats or step-ups.”
[ Fitness ]
TRANSFORM
YOUR GAME
Sculpting a pitch-ready body for next season? Whatever your shape, we’ve got you covered
Spend hours in the gym but can’t put on weight? It’s OK, we understand. You’re just ‘big boned’. Do you bend over to tie your shoelaces and sprout
Chances are you’re an ectomorph. “You’ve a fast “Endomorphs have a slow metabolism and a six-pack? Halabi says: “Some people are blessed
metabolism, which means you burn more calories therefore a tendency to store body fat,” says with muscle mass and low body fat. They process
at rest,” says conditioning coach Karl Halabi. Halabi. “They can put on weight very easily.” food well and respond quickly to weight training.”
THE WORKOUT
THE WORKOUT
“Compound lifts like squats, “Try two minutes running at 75 Halabi says: “Kettlebell exercises
deadlifts and clean and jerks per cent of top speed,” says Halabi. and Olympic lifts [the snatch,
use multiple muscle groups and “Rest for two minutes, repeat five and the clean and jerk] will
stimulate an increase in testosterone,” times. By doing high intensity interval training, maximise a gifted athlete’s potential by
explains Halabi. “This will help build muscle.” you’ll be burning calories long after you finish.” improving power, strength and speed.”
NUTRITION
NUTRITION
“Consume 500 calories more per day,” “Cut back on carbs like rice, potatoes or pasta,” “Training burdens the immune system,”
says sports nutritionist Gavin Allinson. explains Allinson. “A spinach and mushroom says Allinson. “Eat lots of fruit and veg.
“Try a protein and carb shake, followed omelette, or salmon and stir Red cabbage, beetroot, carrots and
by chicken and rice with peanut sauce.” fried veg, are good options.” squash will all aid your recovery.”
nutritionist Kerry Kayes. colours,” says fashion and “Set small, achievable wide trousers or slim-fit recommends Kayes. anything,” adds Khan.
“The gains will be much lifestyle stylist Jerry Khan. weekly targets of one clothing,” Khan says. “That way you’ll stay “Try a skinny or tailored
more noticeable and “Charcoal and a lighter or two pounds to help “A single-breasted jacket focused and won’t take fit suit to emphasise
help to boost morale.” shirt will work well.” you stay motivated.” will flatter your shape.” your body for granted.” your fine physique.”
[ Health ]
WAYS
3 TO
BREATHE
EASY
Nobody wants to spend pre-season panting
like a dog. These simple breathing techniques
will help you take control of your tiring lungs
1 Bend over
Have you ever laughed at head and another group who were bent
the fat guy bent double trying to catch over with their hands on their knees.
his breath five minutes into a 90-minute The results were conclusive. It turns
game? Prepare to wipe that smug grin out that bending down while gasping for
off your face, because the joke’s on you. air brings down heart rate 22 beats per
Why? Well, scientists at Western minute faster than staying upright.
Washington University decided to find And guess what? One of sport’s
out the most effective way of reducing biggest icons – basketball legend
heart rate in between bouts of exercise. Michael Jordan – spent his entire career
The boffins tested participants stood doing exactly that. Add it to your game
upright with their hands behind their and you too could breathe like a baller.
grow,” says McConnell. “In one study then cause a blockage in your airways”.
five minutes of training per day for That’s the last thing you need when
four weeks improved the displays of you’re a wheezing mess, willing the ref
cyclists in time trials by five per cent. to blow his whistle and end the agony.
[ Fitness ]
The Pistol
“Stand on one leg and put
your arms and other leg out
in front of you,” advises Chris
START
EARLY,
SERVE
gym-free
squats Edmundson, former Blackpool
conditioning coach. “Lower
yourself until your
UP ACE
REST
standing leg 2016-17
off-season
SETS 5-8 PERIOD
REPS 5-8 1-2 MINS is at 90
degrees, Make sure you
then return are ready to hit
workout
to the start position.” your peak when
the campaign
kicks off with
FFT’s summer
Ditch the bench presses and the training tips
barbells. Ease your way back into
shape in five easy-to-follow steps
[ Recovery ]
RED
SO
CEN
plug their headphones into a dock and frostbite be claiming a few toes? The RECOVERY RATING
“SO.S. please play music inside the chamber. We can cold does wonders for the imagination.
someone help me” confirm that Caribbean vocals do very At last, a knock at the door signalled
little to thaw out frozen chest hair. the end of this three-minute torture.
4
1
3
1. Belt out a winning 2. Watch your clothes 3. Whisper sweet 4. Outlast the
solo performance go up in flames nothings to a mop wall of silence
Words Alec Fenn; Illustration Bill McConkey
NOTABLE VICTIM Andriy Shevchenko NOTABLE VICTIM Wimbledon’s NOTABLE VICTIM Nicky Butt was NOTABLE VICTIM Gerd Muller’s Bayern
was made to sing in front of his Chelsea Crazy Gang tested the humour of John forced to chat up a mop in front of Man Munich team-mates refused to speak to
team-mates on the Blues’ tour of the Hartson by torching his brand new suit, United’s first team while David Beckham him for two weeks. A round of applause
USA. They pelted him with bread rolls. before soaking the charred remains in had to, er, get up close and personal marked the end of his initiation period.
a puddle and letting down his car tyres. with a photo of Clayton Blackmore.
SURVIVAL TIP “Remember, nerves are SURVIVAL TIP “If you’re shut out by
only adrenaline,” says public-speaking SURVIVAL TIP “If you’ve got a bad SURVIVAL TIP “Just throw yourself your team-mates, have a laugh with
expert Simon Bucknall. “Put your chin temper, walk away from the situation,” into it,” says confidence coach Martin your coach and get to know him – it
down and take two deep breaths from says clinical psychologist Isabel Clarke. Perry. “You’ll earn respect. Being out of might help you get a place in the team,”
your stomach before you start.” “Exercise can defuse feelings of anger.” your comfort zone will give you a boost.” says sports psychologist Richard Nugent.
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NUMBER PLATE
FOR SALE
To receive a FREE programme plus a copy
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please send your name and address to:
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andersmankert@yahoo.co.uk
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Tim Cahill
Australia’s all-time top goalscorer selects a side comprising the best
players he has come up against over 18 years with club and country
CM CM
AM
STEVEN
GERRARD
PAUL
SCHOLES
3
RW LW RYAN GIGGS
RONALDINHO The consummate all-round
midfielder who I have long
admired for his longevity.
MANAGER
DAVID MOYES
CRISTIANO CF ALEXIS He was my boss at Everton
RONALDO SANCHEZ for eight years, and is the
man I would
nt to put in
arge of my
m team. A top
Interview Sam Pilger