World Soccer - February 2021

PREVIEW: THE BIG STORIES OF 2021
February 2021
£5.99
6 OF THE BEST
AFRICAN DIAMONDS
PLAYER
The African young guns making BIOGRAPHY
waves in Europe this campaign
IN THE NEWS
JACK
HEADLINERS GREALISH
Yunus Musah Have England finally
Carlos Tevez found their new
Real Sociedad Gazza?
Carlos Queiroz
EyeWitness
DAC DUNAJSKA STREDA PLUS
PAOLO ROSSI TRIBUTES
MARCUS RASHFORD SOUTH AMERICAN LEAGUES ROUND-UP
AL AHLY SOUTH AFRICA PHILIPPINES A-LEAGUE
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February 2021
24
FEATURES THE WORLD THIS MONTH
People in the news...on and off the pitch
4 In pictures
13 Jim Holden Time to go for Joachim Low
14 Keir Radnedge CAF presidential elections
16 Jonathan Wilson England’s tactical dilemma
18 Obituaries
20 ESM XI
27
HEADLINERS
22 Mino Raiola
23 Yunus Musah
24 Carlos Queiroz
25 Hulk
26 Real Sociedad
28 Paolo Rossi 27 Carlos Tevez
In memory of an Italy legend
EYEWITNESS
32 Egypt 36
36 England
42 Slovakia & Hungary
FACE TO FACE
60 Conor Coady
SPECIAL REPORT
64 FIFA rankings
70
TALENT SCOUT
68 Second-tier stars
46 Player biography 6 OF THE BEST

Jack Grealish 70 African diamonds
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
72 The rise of Manchester United
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What to look out for this year
88 CONCACAF Champions League

AFC Champions League
MLS Cup play-offs
South America
Exclusive reports from our worldwide Japan

network of correspondents South Africa
P L U S 82 Global diary 83 Northern Mariana Islands 90 Philippines 92 A-League squads 94 Results, tables, fixtures 98 Stadiums
WORLD SOCCER 3
THE WORLD THIS MONTH
The global game caught on camera
4 WORLD SOCCER
Switzerland…Bayern’s Robert
Lewandowski is named The
Best FIFA Men’s Player ahead
of Cristiano Ronaldo and
Lionel Messi via video link
WORLD SOCCER 5
Argentina…Palmeiras
forward Rony celebrates
with an acrobatic backflip
after scoring in the Copa
Libertadores semi-final
against River Plate
Spain…Barcelona
presidential candidate
Joan Laporta launches
his campaign with this
poster – just metres
from Real Madrid’s
Bernabeu stadium
England…Sebastien Haller
scores a sensational bicycle
kick for West Ham United
against Crystal Palace
in the Premier League
6 WORLD SOCCER
IN PICTURES
France…Istanbul
Basaksehir assistant
coach Pierre Webo
looks on during the
rearranged fixture
v PSG – the original
game was postponed
after alleged racist
comments from
the fourth official
Qatar…Ulsan Hyundai players

celebrate with club owner
Han Young-seuk after winning
the AFC Champions League
Mexico…Club Leon celebrate

beating Pumas UNAM in the
2020 LigaMX Guardianes final
as they’re crowned Mexican
champions for the eighth time
WORLD SOCCER 7
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INFORMED
STAY
INSPIRED.
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FROM THE
ASSISTANT
EDITOR
Last month’s issue of World Soccer was all set and ready
to go to the printers, before the seismic news of Diego
Maradona’s death meant that a drastic re-write was in
order. Sadly, the bad news didn’t stop there. Shortly
afterwards, Argentina mourned their former national
team coach Alejandro Sabella as well, before Italy lost
their own World Cup hero, Paolo Rossi. A week later,
Gerard Houllier passed away, and British football has
since said goodbye to Jim McLean, Tommy Docherty
and Colin Bell. We’ve done our best
to celebrate the lives of these great
men (page 18-19), while our man Congratulations
in Italy, Paddy Agnew, has his own to the club
tribute for Rossi on page 28. champions of
In amongst all the gloom, there Africa, Asia and
are some beams of light, and none CONCACAF...who
brighter than Marcus Rashford. now proceed to
Ryan Baldi has been back to the the upcoming
Manchester United star’s roots to Club World Cup ENGLAND
speak to some of the people that
helped make him the hero that he Trippier case set
is today (page 36). The forward is set for a big year, to rumble on
and he’s not the only one – he’s likely to be joined in England defender Kieran Trippier’s ten-week
England’s Euro 2020 squad by Jack Grealish (page 46) ban for a breach of gambling regulations has
sparked a debate about the validity of certain
and Conor Coady (page 60), while Nick Bidwell has betting markets and football’s role in policing
picked out a whole host of other talking points for them.
Trippier, who was also fined £70,000,
the rest of 2021 (page 54). was found guilty after transcripts of messages
Finally, congratulations to the club champions showed him discussing his move to Spain in
the summer of 2019 with friends, who then
of Africa, Asia and CONCACAF – Al Ahly of Egypt placed bets on the transfer going ahead.
(page 32), Ulsan Hyundai from South Korea (page 78), The England defender even told one friend
and Tigres of Mexico (page 76) – who now proceed to to “lump on if you want”, later asserting that
the messages were just “banter”.
the upcoming Club World Cup. At the time of writing, we Yet the case has raised doubts, with many
are still waiting to find out who will be joining them in observers questioning why bookmakers should
offer odds on markets that are so open to
Qatar, with the Copa Libertadores final still to be played. manipulation by insider knowledge, or indeed
However, next month’s why it is The FA’s responsibility to uphold the
validity of such markets. Last year, Daniel
issue will feature coverage Sturridge was handed a four-month ban for
of both competitions, a similar offence, following an appeal from
as well as the Copa The FA who argued the original six-week ban
(four of which were suspended) “wholly failed
Sudamericana. to reflect the gravity of the case”.
Trippier’s ban is now suspended while Atletico
Jamie Evans, Assistant Editor appeal the decision, with coach Diego Simeone
insisting his team are being unfairly unpunished.
10 WORLD SOCCER
GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE
“I am obviously very honoured to have been recognised by my peers

around the world who vote for the FIFPRO World XI. At the same
time, it did come as a surprise...I haven’t played since March”
Megan Rapinoe questions her inclusion in the World XI, emphasising the need for more exposure of the women’s game
Banned…Trippier
joined Atletico
Madrid in 2019 HEROES VILLAINS
MARCUS THURAM
The 23-year-old Monchengladbach forward
was hit with a six-match ban and a €40,000
fine from the DFB after seeing red for spitting
at an opponent in his side’s 2-1 league defeat
to Hoffenheim. In addition, Gladbach also fined
Thuram a month’s wages, around €150,000,
reportedly the biggest sanction in the club’s
history. “That is not in my character and must
never happen,” he said on Instagram afterwards.
Celebrating…Lee and Sadio Mane
DEJPHON CHANSIRI
SADIO MANE Under the Thai businessman’s ownership,
In November, the Liverpool forward chatted Sheffield Wednesday have had an eventful
via Zoom with Lee, a Liverpool fan and food 12 months. Last summer they were docked 12
bank volunteer. “You know me, I like to copy points – later reduced to six – for breaking EFL
celebrations – if you have any celebrations spending rules, and in December the PFA was
show me now,” Sadio asked. Kissing his fingers called in over unpaid wages. The most recent
and raising them to the sky, Lee replied: twist in the club’s rollercoaster year came when
“For my Grandad.” Sure enough, when Tony Pulis was fired after just 45 days in charge.
Mane next found the net, in the 7-0 win
over Crystal Palace, he happily obliged. COVID RULE BREAKERS
Further incidents occurred over the festive
DEJAN LOVREN period of footballers flouting lockdown rules.
EUROPE
Following the devastating earthquake in Tottenham players Giovani Lo Celso, Erik Lamela
More awards rain Petrinja, Croatia, which killed seven people,
the former Liverpool defender pledged to
and Sergio Reguilon were pictured with West
Ham United’s Manuel Lanzini over Christmas,
down on Bayern accommodate victims at his hotel on the
coast. “Dear citizens of Petrinja, I am making
while Crystal Palace captain Luka Milivojevic
apologised for breaching coronavirus rules
Bayern Munich capped a memorable 2020 my hotel in Novalja available to the 16 most after he attended a New Year’s Eve party
by adding yet more gongs to their impressive endangered families,” the Zenit centre-back with Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic.
collection at the Best FIFA Football Awards, wrote on Instagram. “If you need temporary
although coach Hansi Flick did miss out on accommodation, contact my team.” LEEDS UNITED FANS
the manager’s prize. In the women’s category, Some fairly innocuous observations about Leeds
Lucy Bronze was named Player of the Year. SKY from Amazon Prime pundit Karen Carney ahead
Having been a vocal supporter of racial of their 5-0 win over West Brom in December
2020 BEST FIFA AWARDS equality throughout the Black Lives Matter led to an extraordinary reaction on social media.
Men’s Player Robert Lewandowski movement in 2020, Sky have pledged First from the club itself, who made light of the
Men’s Coach Jurgen Klopp £3 million of funding to Kick It Out. The comments following the victory, and then from
Men’s Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer anti-racism charity have been underfunded fans, who flooded Carney’s Twitter account
FIFPRO Men’s XI Alisson, Trent over recent years, relying on relatively small with so much sexist abuse that she was forced
Alexander-Arnold, Sergio Ramos, Virgil sums from The FA, EFL and PFA, but their to close her personal account on the platform.
van Dijk, Alphonso Davies, Kevin De Bruyne, new partnership with Sky will be a big boost.
Thiago, Joshua Kimmich, Lionel Messi,
Robert Lewandowski, Cristiano Ronaldo NINO
By scoring in Elche’s Copa del Rey clash with
Puskas Award Son Heung-min Bunol, the 40-year-old striker made history as
the competition’s oldest-ever goalscorer. Then,
Women’s Player Lucy Bronze a few weeks later, the ancient striker became
Women’s Coach Sarina Wiegman the first player in history to play 700 games in
Women’s Goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi Spain’s top two divisions (129 in La Liga and
FIFPRO Women’s XI Christiane Endler, 571 in Segunda). His next target will be to
Lucy Bronze, Wendie Renard, Millie Bright, break Donato’s record as La Liga’s oldest
Barbara Bonansea, Veronica Boquete, Tobin scorer. Ironically, “niño” is Spanish for “kid”. Hounded…Karen Carney
Heath, Delphine Cascarino, Megan Rapinoe,
Pernille Harder, Vivianne Miedema
WORLD SOCCER 11
“The energy was gone for a while. Then stopping will go through
your head. But a little voice in my head kept me from doing that…
I really want to play for the club, but of course it is all frustrating”
Arjen Robben reveals he’s already contemplated retiring for a second time due to injuries
Dominik
SZOBOSZLAI
(RB Leipzig)
At the start of December, Szoboszlai
and RB Salzburg seemed set for a
January filled with straight-batting
questions about the player’s future,
with several of Europe’s biggest clubs
– including Real Madrid, Arsenal and
Juventus – all queuing up to sign him.
But in mid-December, Salzburg
announced that the playmaker would
be joining their sister club, RB Leipzig
for €20 million, and speculation over
his future was ended – for now at least.
The 20-year-old will hone his skills in the
Bundesliga, but a big-money offer will
probably arrive for him in a few years.
And it is clear to see why. The left-
footed Hungarian is a graceful dribbler
with quick feet and an eye for goal, as PEDRI Cody GAKPO
he proved in the Euro 2020 play-off (Barcelona) (PSV)
versus Iceland. With just seconds left on The 18-year-old winger has provided a Eindhoven born and bred. Ended 2020
the clock, he glided up the pitch before rare positive for Barca after striking up a as one of PSV’s top three league scorers
firing home from the edge of the box. promising partnership with Lionel Messi. with Donyell Malen and Noni Madueke.
There is surely much more to come.
Timothee PEMBELE James TAVERNIER
(Paris Saint-Germain) (Rangers)
The 18-year-old defender made his The right-back scored or assisted 19
Champions League debut and scored Scottish Premiership goals by the New
his first PSG goal before Christmas. Year – more than anybody in the league.
Brian BROBBEY Nadiem AMIRI

(Ajax) (Bayer Leverkusen)
The powerful striker was singled out by An early contender for the 2021 Puskas
Ajax director Edwin van der Sar as one Award for his stunning wondergoal versus
to watch after making his Champions Eintracht Frankfurt: a slick move finished
League debut in December. with an outrageous backheel.
12 WORLD SOCCER
Jim
HOLDEN
AT THE HEART OF THE GAME
Time to go for Jogi Low

Joachim Low has stayed on too long
as Germany coach, a reality confirmed
beyond any doubt when his team lost
6-0 to Spain in the Nations League.
He is suffering from a problem
granted to only a few exceptional
managers – the longer they defy
common sense and deny the inevitable,
the more agonising it becomes for fans,
players and themselves.
The most compelling example is
Arsene Wenger. He was an outstanding
manager for longer than anyone could
expect at Arsenal. That didn’t prevent
his last two years becoming a torment
as the home crowd turned on a hero.
Wenger resisted; his pride, ego and
obsession blinding him to reality.
Another contrary example is Jurgen
Klopp. He was brilliant at Borussia
Dortmund for six years before a final
few months of torment. He had the
wisdom, self-awareness and humility criticism,” he said at the World Cup Time’s up…Low Low’s response was to shake up his
is under pressure
to walk away of his own volition. qualifying draw. “But we are sticking to after the 6-0 defeat
team; axing experienced players like
Perhaps this is a matter of time. our plan. There is no need to make Mats Hummels, Thomas Muller and
Klopp had not been at Dortmund long drastic changes. We are absolutely Jerome Boateng and trusting in youth.
enough to be fooled into believing he convinced of the road we have taken.” This was a reasonable decision, but it
should remain forever. Low has been Low spoke knowing he had been caused controversy with the insensitive
in charge of Germany for 14 years given strong support by his employers way it was handled. It also had to work,
– 189 international matches – with a at the DFB after the 6-0 thrashing by to be backed up by results. Instead,
magnificent win rate just over 63 per Spain, despite a hostile public mood. there was that crushing 6-0 defeat.
cent. He won the World Cup in 2014 Loyalty is usually to be admired in this Even this could not make Low resign.
and reached the final of Euro 2008. sporting world bedevilled by so much The DFB are equally culpable for
His longevity matches that of Helmut short-term thinking. But not always. keeping him. It’s not as if Germany is
Schon (1964-78), but no other major The crisis for the German national bereft of high-class coaches – Klopp,
national team coach comes near in team is not just about poor results and Thomas Tuchel, Julian Nagelsmann
modern times. Sir Alf Ramsey spent 11 slipping down the FIFA rankings. More and Hansi Flick can all be considered
years with England – 113 matches and pertinent is that domestic TV ratings among Europe’s elite caching talents.
one World Cup triumph. Vicente del have plummeted for games. There was A new narrative is now popular in
Germany following the recent success
A new narrative is now popular in Germany… of Bayern Munich. It says that the
the national team flourished at a time when Flick national team flourished at a time
when Flick was Low’s unheralded
was Low’s unheralded assistant, and the Bayern assistant, and the Bayern coach was
coach was the real brains of the outfit the real brains of the outfit. True?
Only the pair of them will know.
Bosque had eight years with Spain – also a sceptical reaction to a move by What is certainly true is that Bayern
114 games and a World Cup win. Italy’s the DFB to promote the side as “Die Munich continue to have success
Enzo Bearzot lasted nine years – 88 Mannschaft”; a term used more by despite changing coaches frequently.
games as another World Cup winner. foreigners than within Germany itself. Even if the DFB cannot tempt Flick
Low is defying logic as he tries to It was designed to create the sense to be the next coach of Germany, the
defy a cavalry charge of critics. He of a new beginning after the disaster example of Bayern’s renewal following
pretends the problem does not exist. of the 2018 World Cup. It would have a decisive change of leadership is
“I’m always open to constructive been wiser just to change the coach. surely the one for them to follow.
WORLD SOCCER 13
Keir
RADNEDGE
THE INSIDER
Shadow hangs over CAF presidency as elections approach

Shakira belted out: “This time for
Africa!” from the opening match at
the 2010 World Cup through to the
final. It was, briefly, but not any more.
Sepp Blatter, then FIFA’s president,
bore a missionary’s obsession with
bringing the complex continent up
to speed on and off the pitch through
football. That was one of Blatter’s
better ideas and he saw the World
Cup as the means to open the door.
Political shenanigans had seen the
2006 finals sent to Germany so the
2010 award was restricted, with South
Africa outbidding Morocco and Egypt.
FIFA threw means and money at the
project, and its success owed much to
the night-and-day efforts of secretary-
general Jerome Valcke (now, like
Blatter, on the naughty step).
Bear in mind, the IOC has never
dared take the Olympic Games to
Africa at all. the wonderful footballers that Africa This time for abroad the more impoverished the
Back in 2010 South Africa was has sent out into the world game. Africa…the 2010 leagues they leave behind.
World Cup was
alone among the African nations Of course, it’s easy to point a finger a high point for In 2019, Infantino grew so frustrated
equipped to stage and support the of blame at individuals. Good and bad African football with CAF that he sent in his Senegalese
finals. But that was a tournament with apples are running football in Europe, secretary-general Fatma Samoura as a
“only” 32 teams. No African nation Asia and the Americas. It’s just that one-woman “normalisation committee”.
could host the 48-team brainchild of bad apples have inflicted the greatest She reclaimed centralised control over
current FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, disease upon the body politic of World Cup TV rights and trimmed back
and it is impossible to envisage any African football and within CAF. the executive committee’s per diems
two or three or four neighbours World Cup performance is a cash culture. But the longer she stayed
the more she was resented and resisted.
Directors and officials have betrayed the wonderful Samoura fled back to Zurich last
year, coincidentally just before the
footballers that Africa has sent out into the world game COVID pandemic brought international
and most national sport juddering to
sinking regional rivalries to co-host. handy, if simplistic, guide to progress a bankruptcy-threatening standstill.
The sad truth is that the World and then stasis. I witnessed Zaire’s There are no easy answers. Perhaps
Cup finals will not be heading back nine-goal collapse against Yugoslavia even no answers at all. But effective
to Africa any time in the foreseeable in West Germany in 1974 but then, leadership from and within CAF
future. Morocco may continue to later, Cameroon’s overturning of should be a start.
extend its record of unsuccessful bids defending champions Argentina in The 54 full member associations of
but Asia will have hosted the finals 1990, Senegal’s matching defeat of CAF can shortly pull the leadership
twice (Qatar in 2022 and, probably, France in 2002 and the penalties
China in 2034) before any further pyrotechnics of Ghana’s 2010
calendar gaps open up. quarter-final against Uruguay.
Logistics and international football More than 1,000 African
politics are two barriers. A third is the footballers populate leagues across
confused state of African football Europe with the likes of Mo Salah and
itself – the administration, that is, not Sadio Mane international icons at the
the players. Directors and officials, top of the English Premier League
Disgraced…
who failed consistently to put their alone. The conundrum is that the CAF president
own houses in order, have betrayed more young Africans are drawn Ahmad Ahmad
14 WORLD SOCCER
ROMELU
LUKAKU
No player in
Internazionale’s
history has scored
50 goals as quickly
as the Belgium ace,
reaching the target
in just 70 games.
back on course. On March 12 in Rabat, the way a first bid for the presidency
Morocco, CAF will stage its presidential in 2013 was blocked when a worried
election. This will be African football’s Hayatou changed the eligibility rules. KARIM
most important ballot in a generation Senghor is president of the Senegalese BENZEMA
after decades of corruption and cronyism. federation but it’s unlikely he is being The striker recently
CAF has had only six presidents: encouraged by compatriot Samoura on surpassed left-back
Roberto Carlos’
Abdel Aziz Salem (Egypt, 1957-58), behalf of Infantino. In any case, he has
record of 527 Real
Abdel Aziz Moustafa (Egypt, 1958-68), been on the CAF executive committee Madrid appearances
Abdel Halim Muhammad (Sudan, for less than a year. Northern neighbour by a non-Spaniard.
1968-72), Ydnekatchew Tessema Yahya, from Mauritania, might be worth The Frenchman is
(Ethiopia, 1972-87), Issa Hayatou watching though. He was the FFRIM’s now closing in on
the all-time top ten.
(Cameroon, 1988-2017) and, since national teams director then general
2017, Ahmad Ahmad from Madagascar. secretary before becoming president in
Ahmad emerged from virtually nowhere 2011. Either man might seek to fashion a CORNELLA
four years ago to end Hayatou’s reign self-seeking regional deal ahead of the The Spanish third-
with behind-the-scenes support from vote. But, Motsepe is definitely the most tier side, who play
in the shadow of
Infantino. Ahmad promised competition intriguing of the quartet.
Espanyol’s stadium,
upgrades, administrative reform and The South African mining mogul is stunned La Liga
financial transparency but has created one of the richest men on the continent leaders Atletico
only dirt and derision. A FIFA ethics with Forbes reporting his personal worth Madrid 1-0 in the
investigation and five-year ban – as $2.1 billion. He is being promoted Copa del Rey.
pending appeal – should prevent by SAFA president Danny Jordaan who
him standing for re-election. knows all about the snakes and ladders
The investigation followed charges of African football politics.
that Ahmad, allegedly, paid $20,000 Motsepe did not help his image last PELE
After Messi and
in bribes to various FA presidents, that January when he told US President Ronaldo overtook
he inappropriately axed an equipment Donald Trump that Africa loved him. goal records of
contract with Puma in favour of a Motsepe cosied up to Trump during the his, Pele’s old club
little-known French company named World Economic Forum in Davos. Critics Santos insisted that
Tactical Steel and that he over-spent attacked his assumption of the right to Leo is still 447
goals short of the
$400,000 on cars in Egypt and speak on behalf of Africa as a whole. full record, which
Madagascar. He was also accused of The owner of Mamelodi Sundowns includes friendlies.
harassing four female members of the claims the support of influential Nigeria,
CAF staff. Ahmad has denied it all. Botswana and Sierra Leone but faces an
So this is the scenario surrounding uphill battle, for all his millions: no-one SEKOU KOITA
the leadership of African football. That from Anglophone Africa has ever headed & MOHAMED
is without even delving into erratically- CAF. The Arab-speaking and Francophone
CAMARA
The RB Salzburg
organised national associations and lobbies have always wielded far superior duo both failed
leagues where lack of funds, vote-rigging influence in the corridors of power. This drugs tests after
and match-fixing are exacerbated by the time around Anouma, Senghor and taking medication
plundering of talent by greedy agents Yahya will probably negotiate the path for altitude sickness
while on international
selling youngsters the European dream for a single Arab/Francophone candidate duty with Mali.
before abandoning them to their fate. before election day.
The task of leading CAF into a brave, Still, all four challengers for Ahmad’s
new era was tough enough before COVID. crown have time to press their case, LIGUE 1
Now it is infinitely more challenging. drum up and count the promises before The French top
flight was plunged
Four men believe they can do a better realism cuts in. The outcome may be
into crisis after their
job than beleaguered Ahmad: Jacques important for the world game, but it’s primary broadcaster
Anouma (Ivory Coast), Augustin Senghor crucial for CAF. As Shakira sang: Mediapro pulled
(Senegal), Patrice Motsepe (South Africa) You’re on the front line the plug early on
and Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania). Everyone’s watching their €814 million-
per-season deal.
Anouma is an old hand at CAF and You know it’s serious
FIFA politics. The 69-year-old has played We’re getting closer
a major role in local politics and business This isn’t over
(Air France and Renault) and was a CAF The pressure’s on,
delegate to the FIFA exco-turned- You feel it . . .
council from 2006 to 2015. Along This time for Africa!
WORLD SOCCER 15
Jonathan
WILSON
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
Southgate’s search for perfect balancing act

Major tournaments are very rarely
won by the most attacking team.
International football is, of necessity,
less complex than club football.
Managers have far less time to
prepare their players and their squad
will often change radically from one
meet-up to the next. So functionality
prevails. It’s simply not possible to
impose the sort of complex attacking
systems that dominate at the highest
level of club football, and that’s why
international sides can often seem
so slow and lacking in fluency,
particularly when faced with
a massed defence.
In turn that’s why frustration so
rapidly sets in. An audience watches a
national team struggle to take apart a
disciplined opponent and immediately
the call is for whichever creator
happens to be in form to be
introduced, for the side to be built
around them, despite the fact that no
top-level side has been built around
one player for at least 30 years. Add unlikable side. He needlessly invited Under pressure… to the Netherlands and the Czech
Southgate has been
in the fact that Gareth Southgate has pressure late on against Colombia criticised for his
Republic, and the 5-3 win over
been in charge of England for four and was slow to react when England defensive approach Kosovo.
years now, a period after which lost control of midfield against Defensively vulnerable sides do not
familiarity has seemingly begun to Croatia, but broadly speaking Russia win major international tournaments;
breed impatience among both media 2018 was a success for England. it’s 50 years since the World Cup
was won by a team that was not
Defensively vulnerable sides do not win major fundamentally pragmatic. So in 2020,
Southgate returned to something
international tournaments...so in 2020, Southgate more functional and reinstated his
back three. At its most basic level,
returned to something more functional and the 3-4-3 he has adopted makes
reinstated his back three sense for national sides. The three
central defenders protected by two
and public, and the conditions are To Southgate’s credit, he kept deep-lying midfielders provide a
in place for a largely self-induced evolving and switched to a 4-3-3,
meltdown this summer. which both allowed England to make
At the World Cup, England were better use of their fleet of quick
solid enough with their back three, attacking wide players and gave them
clever with set plays and had in Harry an extra body in central midfield to
Kane a forward who, despite being combat the sort of issues that had
out of sorts, kept scoring goals. The undermined them against Croatia.
draw was kind, and often that is That brought a memorable win away
enough. Southgate’s two obvious to Spain in the Nations League –
achievements were in generating the even if, having raced into a 3-0 lead,
quasi-club atmosphere he had seen England were clinging on by the end.
inspire Wales at Euro 2016 and, In their ten games in 2019, England Options…England’s
though his obvious decency and scored 38 goals, but they also looked attack has plenty of
strength in depth
dignity, making England a far less very vulnerable defensively in defeats
16 WORLD SOCCER
REPORTS WE COULDN’T MAKE UP
and to the Antwerp supporters,

because they are magnificent and
wonderful supporters. They have
always supported me,” he said later
via the club’s Twitter account.
naturally solid base, while the wide

forwards have latitude without their
movement much disrupting the
4 PUPPY PITCH INVADER
It seems that this column
would not be complete without
a tale of an animal interrupting a
game of football. This time the story
defensive shape. is from Bolivia, where a dog not only
In terms of offering solidity, it has ran onto the pitch, but did so with
1
largely worked. In eight games in 2020, ALL I WANT FOR Leonid Slutsky… a substitute’s boot in his mouth.
AKA Mariah Carey
England conceded just four goals. Two CHIRSTMAS IS…WHO? The clash between Nacional Potosi
were penalties, one of which probably How about this for a video and Tigre was eventually paused
wasn’t a foul; one was a direct free- title that you never thought you’d so that Cachito the dog could be
kick that wasn’t a foul; and the other see: “Former Russia and Hull City scooped up and handed in to local
squirmed in via two deflections, a touch manager Leonid Slutsky covers authorities, but two days later, he was
off the keeper and the post. But there Mariah Carey’s All I Want For in a local shelter after being hit by a
has been a corresponding diminution Christmas Is You.” car. This story has a happy ending,
of England’s attacking prowess. Now managing Rubin Kazan, though: Tigre midfielder Raul Castro
Southgate, it’s fair to say, is still Slutsky was enlisted by his club to stepped in to adopt the dog.
working on the balance. Against star in their Christmas video, and
Belgium at Wembley in October,
England in the first half suffered a
problem similar to that faced against
Croatia in the World Cup as they were
overrun in midfield. Southgate has been
the results are incredible, with the
49-year-old’s auto-tuned vocals
accompanied by scenes of him on
stage and sat at the Christmas table,
while his players dance around
5 I’LL DRINK TO THAT
Lionel Messi’s time at
Barcelona may be running
out, but at least he stuck around
long enough to score his 644th
criticised for a failure to make tactical it opening presents. goal for them, breaking Pele’s
in-game changes, but there he pulled record for goals at a single club.
Mason Mount deeper, advanced the
wing-backs and solved the problem as
England had the better of the second
half. That versatility, perhaps, is why he
rates Mount so highly.
2 MUSICAL MASCOT
Bizarrely, that’s not this
month’s only musical story.
This one is from Brazil, where
somebody at Corinthians has noted
To mark the occasion, Budweiser
went to the trouble of producing
644 individually-numbered bottles
of beer, and sending them out to
the 160 goalkeepers that Leo has
Can he afford a more creative player that the club have never lost a game scored past.
deep in midfield, as he tried by using when Taylor Swift releases a new Big nights surely followed for
Mount there against the Republic of album. The singer-songwriter’s latest Diego Alves and Gorka Iraizoz, who
Ireland and Iceland in November? Jack record, evermore, was sandwiched in received 21 and 18 respectively, with
Grealish is in form and has become between a draw and a victory for the Iker Casillas and Andres Fernandez
something of a cause celebre, but by Brazilians, stretching the lucky streak taking 17 each.
playing him on the left Southgate loses to nine consecutive albums and 18 “Thanks for the beers. I’ll take it as
a player whose natural game is to run matches. As a result, fans of the a compliment,” said Gianlugi Buffon
beyond Kane when he drops deep. That club have now adopted Swift of his two bottles, while Jan Oblak
could perhaps be balanced by using a as their unofficial mascot. Cheers…Oblak also congratulated the Barca star
more direct, quicker player on the right opens up his beer after cracking open ten bottles.
(Raheem Sterling? Jadon Sancho?)
rather than Mount who started there
away against Belgium, but does that
then mean there’s no place for Marcus
Rashford? And where can he fit Phil
3 DIDIER LAMKEL ZE
At the end of 2020,
World Soccer brought you
the story of Didier Lamkel Ze –
the bad boy of Belgian football who
Foden, who excelled against Iceland? had found himself out of favour at
The nature of international football, Royal Antwerp. As if determined to
and probably especially in this most live up to his reputation, the striker
exhausting of seasons, means a lot began 2021 by attempting to force
of those decisions may be made for through a move to Panathinaikos and
him by injury or other external factors. arrived at his club’s training ground
But at the moment, England have a wearing the shirt of their biggest
relatively solid base and a range of rivals, Anderlecht. Unsurprisingly, his
differing options both in midfield and new attire didn’t go down well, with
either side of Kane. From that point of Sportwereld.be capturing images of
view, if the recent Nations League is security staff preventing him from
regarded as preparation for the Euros, entering the building.
the negativity is difficult to understand. “I want to apologise to the club
WORLD SOCCER 17
“It was a pleasure to share so much with you.

Alejandro was a great person who left his mark
on my career and whom I learnt a lot from”
Leo Messi pays tribute to his former Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella
OBITUARIES
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE World Cup
hero…Rossi
EUROPE Returning…
Pochettino
Paris Saint-Germain sacked Thomas
Tuchel and replaced him with former
Spurs boss MAURICIO POCHETTINO.
CHRISTIAN GROSS became

Schalke’s fourth coach this season
following the short-lived reigns of Huub STALE SOLBAKKEN was named
Stevens and Manuel Baum, who had Norway coach, replacing Lars Lagerback,
replaced David Wagner. Elsewhere, after seven years at FC Copenhagen.
BO SVENSSON took over at Mainz.
ETIENNE CAPOUE completed
SAM ALLARDYCE was appointed a £2 million move from Watford to
West Bromwich Albion manager, Villarreal, while JOAKIM MAEHLE
replacing SLAVEN BILIC, who later joined Atalanta from Genk for £9m.
Big Sam…another joined Chinese side Beijing Guoan.
rescue mission
WILLIAM SALIBA, SEAD KOLASINAC PAOLO ROSSI (1956-2020)
Nantes replaced Christian Gourcuff and RADJA NAINGGOLAN completed In early December, Italian football
with former France coach RAYMOND loans to Nice, Schalke and Cagliari. mourned one of its most iconic figures
DOMENECH, and Nice promoted when 1982 World Cup hero Paolo Rossi
ADRIAN URSEA from assistant coach MARIO BALOTELLI ended his search died at the age of 64, following a losing
following the departure of Patrick Vieira. for a new club by joining Serie B’s Monza. battle with lung cancer.
At an emotional funeral in Vicenza,
Arsenal outcast… CONCACAF many of his World Cup team-mates
William Saliba admitted that they had not even known
Mexican outfit America hired ex-Real he was terminally ill. Despite Rossi’s
Madrid coach SANTIAGO SOLARI. legendary status, he was not one to
make a fuss.
In MLS, Atlanta United appointed Rossi will be forever remembered
GABRIEL HEINZE as their new coach. for his role in that largely unexpected
triumph in Spain. In one of the great
World Cup stories, Italy coach Enzo
Appointments, sackings and loans Bearzot included the 26-year-old
striker, despite the fact that he had only
played three games in the previous two
EUROPE CONCACAF years, because of a bitterly contested
(by him) two-year match-fixing ban.
Borussia Dortmund parted company KYLE BECKERMAN, the MLS record Bearzot’s gamble, however, paid off.
with head coach LUCIEN FAVRE. appearance maker announced his After three poor opening round draws,
retirement from playing. Italy exploded into life in the second
In Spain, DIEGO COSTA was released round when Rossi scored a hat-trick
by Atletico Madrid after falling out of ASIA in an epic 3-2 defeat of tournament
favour at the club, while Athletic Bilbao favourites Brazil.
fired boss GAIZKA GARITANO. Coach GIOVANNI VAN Two more goals against Poland in the
BRONCKHORST left Guangzhou semi-final, and the first of Italy’s three
AZ Alkmaar sacked ARNE SLOT after R&F after just one year in China. goals in the final against West Germany
speculation linking him with Feyenoord. saw Rossi end up as the tournament’s
The Dutchman later confirmed that he Released… Golden Boot winner.
will replace DICK ADVOCAAT when Diego Costa In the words of Italian prime minister
he retires at the end of the season. Giuseppe Conte, Rossi was the player
“who realised a dream for an entire
Sacked…Favre
Cypriot champions APOEL sacked generation with his goals in the
ex-Republic Of Ireland manager MICK summer of 1982”.
MCCARTHY after just two months (Appreciation, page 28)
in charge of the Nicosia club. Paddy Agnew
18 WORLD SOCCER
“Loved that man to bits. He changed me as a person and as a

player, and got Liverpool back to winning trophies. RIP Boss”
Jamie Carragher with a heartfelt message to the late Gerard Houllier
ALEJANDRO SABELLA (1954-2020) 2000-01, when Liverpool won the the club’s first, and only, top-flight
Sabella was the mastermind behind League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup. league title, having won back-to-back
Argentina coming within minutes of He may have added a league title to League Cups in 1980 and 1981.
a penalty shoot-out against Germany his trophy haul the following season, When Rangers tried to hire him in
in the 2014 World Cup final. Once the were it not for a serious heart operation 1983 he turned them down, partly due
disappointment of Mario Gotze’s late in October 2001. In spite of that, he still to their policy of not signing Catholics,
goal subsided, Sabella and his players guided the Reds to second, with the and partly out of loyalty to the squad
returned home as heroes. Beaten finalist… help of assistant Phil Thompson. “Gerard that he’d built at Tannadice Park. Four
Sabella with his
Sabella was already a legend in captain, Messi Houllier was my mate,” Thompson told years later he was almost rewarded with
the city of La Plata. With a midfield The Guardian. “He is a massive part in another trophy, as United reached the
marshalled by Juan Sebastian Veron, the history of Liverpool Football Club. final of the UEFA Cup, yet were beaten
Sabella led Estudiantes to the 2009 He leaves a great legacy.” over two legs by IFK Gothenburg.
Copa Libertadores, the club’s fourth,
before losing in the Club World Cup final TOMMY DOCHERTY (1928-2020) COLIN BELL (1946-2021)
to Barcelona thanks to a late Leo Messi Docherty crammed an awful lot into While Manchester City have achieved
goal. The showdown between European an incredible football career that lasted huge success in the last decade, none
and South American sides is rarely so over 40 years. of their expensively-acquired stars have
closely contested. Having started at Celtic, he spent quite yet managed to surpass the
Sabella made his professional debut at the majority of his playing career at “King of the Kippax” as the club’s
River Plate as a classy playmaker in the Preston North End, before moving south most revered player.
1970s, before becoming one of the first to join Arsenal and then Chelsea. His Signed from Bury aged 20 in 1966,
Argentines to play in England. Sheffield managerial career began at Stamford Bell developed into one of the country’s
United had travelled to Argentina to sign Bridge in 1961 and over the next six most complete midfielders over a 13-year
Diego Maradona, but were put off by the years he nurtured a number of Chelsea career at City, scoring 153 goals in 501
price. Sabella joined instead, and played greats including Bobby Tambling, Peter games. Those figures would undoubtedly
for the Blades and Leeds United. Bonetti, Terry Venables, Peter Osgood have been much higher if it wasn’t for
Revered by his former players, news and Ron Harris. a knee injury that curtailed his career.
broke that Sabella had been rushed to Later he took charge of Scotland, Nevertheless he was the star of the
hospital the day Argentines lined the for whom he had won 25 caps and finest Manchester City side of the 20th
streets to mourn Diego Maradona. appeared at two World Cups as a player, century, winning a league title, one
With the passing of both Maradona but left just before qualification for the FA Cup, two League Cups and the
and Sabella, Argentines mourn two very 1974 World Cup was secured to take European Cup Winners’ Cup. With
different men who were largely responsible charge of Manchester United. His time team-mates Mike Summerbee and
for the national team’s greatest success at Old Trafford was highly turbulent: the Francis Lee, Bell formed a formidable
– and joy – in recent decades. “Holy Trinity” of George Best, Bobby attacking trio, both of whom were
Joel Richards Charlton and Denis Law all departed among the first to pay tribute.
under his watch, and the club was “Colin was a huge star for Manchester
GERARD HOULLIER (1947-2020) relegated. He took them back to the top City but you would never have known
In December, Jurgen Klopp received flight as Second Division champions, but it,” said Summerbee. “Kevin De Bruyne
The Best FIFA Men’s Coach award, yet left shortly after winning the 1977 FA Cup. reminds me a lot of Colin in the way he
his success at Liverpool may not have The rest of his career featured spells plays and the way he is as a person.”
been possible without the man that at Derby County, QPR and his old club “He was a very good player
had passed away just days before. Preston, as well as Sydney Olympic and technically and had the ability to
Gerard Houllier was the man that South Melbourne, before taking his score goals,” added Lee. “He goes into
dragged Liverpool into the 21st century, notorious wit around the country the top five City players of all time.”
modernising the club from its “boot as an after-dinner speaker.
room” past into a club capable of City legend…
competing in Europe once again. As JIM MCLEAN (1937-2020) Colin Bell
well as his work in turning the Melwood In stark contrast to Docherty,
training ground into a state-of-the-art Influential…Houllier
McLean spent his entire managerial
facility, Houllier played a key role role in salutes Steven career with just one club. Of all the
developing the likes of Steven Gerrard, Gerrard managers to have taken charge of
Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen. over 1,000 professional matches in
The trio were not the first players to European football, he is the only
owe their careers to Houllier; as France’s one of the post-war era to do it
technical director, he had already helped with one team: Dundee United.
develop many of the 1998 World Cup- Having worked as a coach at local
winning squad, including Thierry Henry rivals Dundee, McLean took the United
and David Trezeguet. job in November 1971, and remained in
His crowning achievement came in charge for 22 years. In 1983 he lifted
WORLD SOCCER 19
THE WORLD THIS MONTH GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE
DECEMBER 2020
ESM XI
EUROPEAN SPORTS MEDIA
SEASON RANKINGS
Cumulative votes through the season
Jan Mario Theo Hakan Karim
GOALKEEPERS Oblak Hermoso Hernandez Calhanoglu Benzema
Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid) 14 Atletico Madrid Atletico Madrid Milan Milan Real Madrid
Edouard Mendy (Chelsea) 5 ●●● ●●● ●●● ●●● ●●●
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan) 4 ●● ●●● ●● ●●
David De Gea (Manchester United) 2
Ederson (Manchester City) 2
Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) 2
Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) 2
Andrea Consigli (Sassuolo) 1 HERNANDEZ
Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad) 1
Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg) 1
David Marshall (Derby County) 1 CALHANOGLU
Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur) 1
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) 1
Antonio Adan (Sporting) 1 HERMOSO
Alisson (Liverpool) 1 BENZEMA
DEFENDERS
Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) 14
Angelino (RB Leipzig) 10
MODRIC
Theo Hernandez (Milan) 9 OBLAK
Mario Hermoso (Atletico Madrid) 7 LUKAKU
Andy Robertson (Liverpool) 6
Achraf Hakimi (Internazionale) 5
Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid) 5 UPAMECANO
Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund) 5
Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich) 5
Stefan Savic (Atletico Madrid) 5 LEWANDOWSKI
Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig) 4
David Alaba (Bayern Munich) 4
Ben Chilwell (Chelsea) 4
FERNANDES
Juan Cuadrado (Juventus) 4
HAKIMI
Simon Kjaer (Milan) 4
Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid) 4
Kurt Zouma (Chelsea) 4
Thiago Silva (Chelsea) 3
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) 2
Joao Cancelo (Manchester City) 2
Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) 2
Danilo (Juventus) 2
Ruben Dias (Manchester City) 2
Jose Fonte (Lille) 2
Reece James (Chelsea) 2
Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund) 2
Sergio Reguilon (Tottenham Hotspur) 2
Alessio Romagnoli (Milan) 2
John Stones (Manchester City) 2
Lucas Vazquez (Real Madrid) 2
Francesco Acerbi (Lazio) 1
Dayot Achraf Luka Bruno Robert Romelu
Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur) 1 Upamecano Hakimi Modric Fernandes Lewandowski Lukaku
RB Leipzig Internazionale Real Madrid Manchester United Bayern Munich Internazionale
Jordan Amavi (Marseille) 1
●● ●●● ●● ●●●●● ●●●●● ●●●
Dedryck Boyata (Hertha Berlin) 1 ●● ●● ●● ●●●●● ●●●●● ●●
Cala (Cadiz) 1
Davide Calabria (Milan) 1
Sebastian Coates (Sporting) 1 Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) 8 Leon Bailey (Bayer Leverkusen) 1 Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid) 7
Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur) 1 Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) 6 Jonathan Bamba (Lille) 1 Romelu Lukaku (Internazionale) 7
Dodo (Shakhtar Donetsk) 1 Diogo Jota (Liverpool) 5 Ismael Bennacer (Milan) 1 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) 6
Jean-Kevin Duverne (Brest) 1 Luka Modric (Real Madrid) 5 Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo) 1
Fabinho (Liverpool) 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) 6
Casemiro (Real Madrid) 4 Phil Foden (Manchester City) 1 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) 5
Faitout Maouassa (Rennes) 1 Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad) 4 Papu Gomez (Atalanta) 1
Felipe (Atletico Madrid) 1 Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) 3
Hakan Calhanoglu (Milan) 3 Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) 1
Nicolas Gavory (Standard Liege) 1 Franck Kessie (Milan) 3 N’Golo Kante (Chelsea) 1 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 3
Vincenzo Grifo (Freiburg) 1 Houssem Aouar (Lyon) 2 Davy Klaassen (Ajax) 1 Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) 2
Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund) 1 Toko Ekambi (Lyon) 2 Koke (Atletico Madrid) 1 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) 2
Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich) 1 Lars Stindl (Borussia Monchengladbach) 2 Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo) 1 Ciro Immobile (Lazio) 2
Michael Keane (Everton) 1 Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City) 2 Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio) 1 Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) 2
Joules Kounde (Sevilla) 1 Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) 2 Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig) 1 Burak Yilmaz (Lille) 2
Harry Maguire (Manchester United) 1 Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich) 2 Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) 1 Pote (Sporting) 1
Chancel Mbemba (Porto) 1 Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich) 2 Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Roma) 1 Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo) 1
Willi Orban (RB Leipzig) 1 Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich) 2 Mason Mount (Chelsea) 1
Pepe (Porto) 1 Anwar El Ghazi (Aston Villa) 1
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham Hotspur) 2 Leandro Paredes (Paris Saint-Germain) 1
Zaidu Sanusi (Porto) 1 Olivier Giroud (Chelsea) 1
Max Kruse (Union Berlin) 2 Yusuf Yazici (Lille) 1
Niklas Sule (Bayern Munich) 1 James Rodriguez (Everton) 2 Sadio Mane (Liverpool) 1
Pau Torres (Villarreal) 1 David Silva (Real Sociedad) 2 FORWARDS Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) 1
Raphael Varane (Real Madrid) 1 Angel Di Maria (Paris Saint-Germain) 1 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) 30 Alvaro Morata (Juventus) 1
Kyle Walker (Manchester City) 1 Benjamin Andre (Lille) 1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Milan) 14 Kevin Volland (Monaco) 1
James Maddison (Leicester City) 1 Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund) 11 Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea) 1
MIDFIELDERS
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) 18 ESM MEMBERS: A Bola (Portugal), Fanatik (Turkey), Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Germany), La Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy),
Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur) 14 Kicker (Germany), Marca (Spain), Nemzeti Sport (Hungary), Sport Express (Russia), Sport/Foot (Belgium), De Telegraaf (Netherlands),
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) 9 TIPS Bladet (Denmark), ElfVoetbal (Netherlands), World Soccer (England)
20 WORLD SOCCER
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Headliners
Mino Raiola
Agent to the superstars making headlines once again
H
e is arguably
one of the most
powerful men in
world football,
yet most fans
would probably
find it hard
to identify him. His family were
immigrants from southern Italy to
Netherlands when he was a baby, yet
nowadays he controls a global football
players agency worth anything up
to €50 million or more.
He is, of course, the 53-year-old
“super” agent Mino Raiola, a man
whose current book of megastar
clients includes Paul Pogba, Gianluigi
Donnarumma and Zlatan Ibrahimovic
to name but three. The thing about
Raiola, though, is that not everybody
in the trade likes him.
For many, he is the embodiment
of that modern trend which would
have us believe that big transfer fees
and financial considerations have
eliminated the romantic heart of
football. For others, he is a supremely
capable agent who does a great job furthermore that he might return to Agent…Raiola and COVID times, both the asking price
for his clients, no matter how many Juventus at the end of the season. Ibrahimovic at the (between €55m and €75m) and
2018 World Cup
delicate feathers he has to ruffle. Worse still, these comments were Pogba’s current annual salary of
One club that has come to know made on the eve of United’s vital, last £15 million present problems.
Raiola well, for better or for worse, is day Champions League group clash That salary, for instance, is more than
Manchester United. Right now, United with German club RB Leipzig, a game double that of Juventus stars such as
fans must feel like they are looking they lost 3-2 to crash out of the vice-captain Leonardo Bonucci (€6.5m),
at one of their old movies. In 2012, competition. Solskjaer commented Argentine Paulo Dybala (€7.3m) or
as agent to a very promising youth- Brazilian Arthur (€5m). In short, Pogba
team player, Paul Pogba, Raiola would almost certainly have to take a
masterminded a free transfer for the
“There are one or two football wage cut at Juventus. Furthermore,
then 18-year-old Frenchman to Italian agents I simply do not like and Juventus, a club renowned for its
cracks Juventus. Four years later, United Mino Raiola, Paul Pogba’s agent, is shrewd husbandry, would probably
bought Pogba back for £89 million. one of them. I distrusted him from want to first offload a big name such as
Club manager at the time, the Dybala or even, heaven forbid, Cristiano
legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, felt that
the moment I met him” Ronaldo before they could contemplate
Sir Alex Ferguson
Raiola had “robbed” United of their a “heavy” deal like that involving Pogba.
talented youngster. Subsequently, he Heavy deals, however, and
made no secret of his poor opinion bitterly the next day that “Paul’s agent” multinationals are not matters that
of Raiola, writing in a 2015 book: should “realise that this is a team sport worry Mino Raiola. When Zlatan
“There are one or two football agents and that we work together”.
I simply do not like and Mino Raiola, “The guy should never be dealt with
Paul Pogba’s agent, is one of them. again by this football club,” said former
I distrusted him from the moment Red Devils captain Gary Neville on
I met him.” Sky Sports. “They can’t go and sign
Right now, however, it looks like it another player with that agent. They
is happening again. Current United cannot do that – enough is enough.”
manager, Norwegian Ole Gunnar Will we see a repeat of 2012? Not
Solskjaer, was distinctly unimpressed necessarily. There is no doubt that
when Raiola told Turin-based sports Pogba was highly valued by the club Returning…Raiola
has spoken out about
daily, TuttoSport, that Pogba was during his Juventus years (2012-2016). Pogba returning
unhappy at United, implying Yet Turin sources suggest that, in these to Juventus
22 WORLD SOCCER
PEOPLE ANDPEOPLE
PLACES IN THE
AND PLACES NEWS
IN THE NEWS
Yunus Musah
Highly-rated Valencia midfielder sparks
international tug-of-war
I
Ibrahimovic in November asked in a n November 2020, England goal against Getafe at the age of 17
tweet who had given Electronic Arts youth international Yunus years and 338 days saw him become
the permission to use his name and Musah made his senior the second-youngest goalscorer in
face in EA Sports’ hugely popular video international debut, aged the club’s history.
game, FIFA 21, Raiola soon waded into just 17. But not for England. Musah has operated on either wing
the burgeoning and complex argument The Valencia teenager in Javi Gracia’s 4-4-2, but played a
with a threat of legal action. turned out for the United number of positions throughout his
Classic Raiola: never one to be over States against Wales in Swansea, youth career. His inventive touch,
impressed by big names or big tasks. immediately forming a promising accomplished technique, speed and
From a tough, hardworking, family- partnership with Juventus’ 22-year- willingness to take players on make
oriented southern Italian background old Weston McKennie in midfield. him the ideal modern midfielder.
(his restaurant owning, Dutch immigrant Joined by 21-year-old Tyler Adams Those senior club appearances
father used to work 18-hour days), of RB Leipzig, the trio looked every on the flanks for his club make his
Raiola, like him or not, has got to bit the future of the USA engine room transition back to midfield for the USA,
where he is on the basis of hard work in a 0-0 draw, and did so again in a and his assertive, polished performance
and sheer “nous”. Everyone agrees subsequent 6-2 win against Panama. against Wales, all the more impressive.
that he does a great job for his players, As these were friendlies, Musah is He certainly didn’t look like a 17-year-
who he tends to see as “family”. not tied to the USA just yet. He was old making his international debut.
His attention to detail, to his players’ born in New York to Ghanaian parents, USMNT general manager Brian
every minor practical or psychological lived in Italy for ten years, then moved McBride, along with sporting director
need and above all his ability to cut a to England in 2012 where he played Earnie Stewart, play a key role in
good deal means that a Who’s Who for Arsenal’s academy. This gives him bringing players with dual nationality
of world-class players have passed a number of options at international into the USA camp. So far, they have
through his stable (and his bank level, and while the USA have got in convinced the likes of Gio Reyna and
account). Raiola also “knows” football. first, England are still keen. Sergino Dest to turn out for the USA,
He has worked in football since his Musah’s residence in London and and hope to do the same with Musah.
teenage years with HFC Haarlem, the appearances for Arsenal’s youth teams England are similarly committed to
city to which his family emigrated. meant England was the convenient attracting players, with a department at
As early as 1988, he was involved choice to further his development St. George’s Park – known as the Player
in the transfer of Frank Rijkaard from at youth international level. Insights team – tasked with tracking and
Sporting to Milan. Today his clients After leaving Arsenal for a clearer analysing players that qualify for the
include not just Ibrahimovic and Pogba path to first-team football, he joined Three Lions. Indeed, the Sunderland-
but also Armenian Henrikh Mkhitaryan Valencia, initially playing for their born Reyna was one such target, but
(Roma), Belgian Romelu Lukaku (Inter), B team but soon impressing enough ultimately lost to the USA.
Dutchman Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus), to break into the senior squad. On The FA are keen to avoid a repeat
Norwegian Erling Haaland (Borussia making his senior debut against and haven’t given up on Musah, with
Dortmund) and Italian Moise Kean Levante at the start of the season, Under-21 manager Aidy Boothroyd
Debutant…Musah
(Paris Saint-Germain). played 79 minutes Musah became the youngest foreign having spoken to the player’s family.
Each time, one of those players has against Wales player to appear for the club. His Yet the USA are building one of the
moved clubs, Raiola has made money, most exciting player pools in their history,
sometimes a lot of money. For example, and the opportunity to be a part of that
he is believed to have earned a cool ahead of a home World Cup in 2026
€20m from Pogba’s 2016 move from may be too good to turn down.
Juventus to Manchester United. When, At club level, Musah has committed
not long afterwards, he bought a Miami to Valencia, signing a new contract until
villa once owned by infamous Mafioso, 2026, which contains a £90 million
Al Capone, critics commented that he release clause. The official video that
could afford it. After all, according to announced the deal may offer a clue
Forbes, his sports agency stable, limited as to where his international future lies:
to 70 or so “upmarket items”, last year “My story begins in the Bronx, New
returned a $700m turnover in York,” it begins. “As a child, I had the
negotiated deals. opportunity to travel to England…it
Raiola may not be liked by everyone isn’t easy to leave home, and it’s even
in the trade but there is no denying he tougher to move so far away. A new
is good at what he does and that he way of life, a new home, rainy, cold
owes his success to his own unique afternoons on muddy pitches.” Hardly
talents – as well, of course, to a ringing endorsement of the country
those of his players. he played 32 youth games for.
Paddy Agnew James Nalton
WORLD SOCCER 23
Headliners
Carlos Quieroz
The experienced Portuguese coach has been sacked by Colombia
W
ithin just
five days,
the whole
project
was up
in smoke.
Two heavy
World Cup qualifying defeats and the
game was up for Colombia coach
Carlos Queiroz. First in Barranquilla
and a worst-ever home defeat in
the sweaty Caribbean port saw Los
Cafeteros crash 3-0 to Uruguay.
“I take full responsibility,” lamented
Portuguese coach Queiroz. “But the
most important thing is to put the
game behind us and focus on Ecuador.”
In the dressing room the sparks were
already flying. That was Friday the 13th.
But the nightmare had only just begun.
Nobody imagined a game in the
Andean-hilltop capital of Quito was
ever going to be easy. Ecuador were
flying high in the qualifiers under new
coach Gustavo Alfaro and boasted an
enviable exhibition of youth talent.
Nevertheless, the Ecuador starting XI have reason to proudly express our Sacked…Quieroz Queiroz had, however, made efforts
against Colombia still contained just immense gratitude,” the Mozambique- looks on during to win over the press. He attended
Colombia’s 6-1
one European-based player. A point in born coach posted on Instagram. defeat in Ecuador Colombian league games, invited
Quito was the objective. It would have “Onwards Colombia!” cherry-picked journalists over to the
at least steadied the ship. Ever since his unveiling as Jose federation offices where he worked
Yet within eight minutes Colombia Pekerman’s replacement in February and slept, and began a series of
were two goals down. Before half-time 2019, Sir Alex Ferguson’s former training camps involving local players.
and trailing 4-1, Queiroz had already assistant had found it tough to
made four subs. By full-time the convince fans his modern European Carlos Queiroz’s time was up. The
Colombian commentary team was style could assimilate Colombian
silent, dumbfounded as they wrestled idiosyncrasies. Antagonising these humiliation was too much. This was
to digest the 6-1 final scoreline. concerns was his refusal to consider Colombia’s worst defeat since 1977
Queiroz’s time was up. The humiliation a No.10 in his favoured 4-3-3. “Our
was too much. This was Colombia’s players play in Europe but they’re not It was a deliberate departure from
worst defeat since 1977. “Shameful,” European,” Colombian idol Carlos the reign of the hermit Pekerman.
howled the front page of the following Valderrama moaned. “We’re South Strained…Quieroz Results too had been solid if not
day’s El Tiempo newspaper. American. That’s why they [European failed to get the spectacular. Eliminated on penalties
best out of James
It didn’t take long for rumours to clubs] buy us, not because we run Rodriguez in a in the quarter-finals at the 2019
spill of a changing-room bust-up. a lot and fight hard.” 4-3-3 formation Copa America by Chile, Colombia
Post-Uruguay fists were allegedly went home without conceding a goal.
raised, one player supposedly lifted “It doesn’t matter if my style is rock
from the floor by his throat. Team ‘n’ roll or samba, I just want to win,”
star James Rodriguez was forced into Queiroz boasted.
releasing a statement rejecting the But amid the resolute displays
“disinformation of these slanderous” expected from one of the world’s
reports. No apology was included for greatest defensive coaches, it was
his part in the most ignominious week clear Colombia had lost their swing.
for Colombian football in decades. Teams began to work out how to shut
Two weeks later, Queiroz was gone. down Queiroz’s circuits of play. If plan
Halfway through a contract that ran A failed to ignite, then against better
up until the 2022 World Cup, he sides Colombia quickly found
departed stage left. “When saying themselves in trouble.
goodbye isn’t easy, it means we only After dispatching a shambolic
24 WORLD SOCCER
PEOPLE AND PLACES IN THE NEWS
Hulk
The Brazilian leaves the Chinese Super
League after four and a half years in China
T
Venezuela 3-0 in their opening here have been runners-up. Perhaps even more
CONMEBOL qualifier, Colombia then plenty of famous impressive were the 12 assists, second
met Chile in Santiago. A blistering foreign players only to Argentina’s Ezequiel Lavezzi.
start was suddenly grounded when heading to China In 2018, Hulk starred again with 13
right-back Stefan Medina limped out in recent years. goals and 12 assists (a rare achievement
of the game. Colombia crumbled, Some – such called a “double-double” in China),
falling behind 2-1 and only scraping as Carlos Tevez linking up with Oscar and the best
a point at the death. – failed spectacularly, but there have Chinese player Wu Lei, the league’s
Behind the scenes, some players been major successes. After four and top scorer with 27. This trio made SIPG
were reportedly beginning to grumble a half largely excellent years, Hulk an irresistible attacking force and it
about the special treatment afforded will be missed, despite something produced a first championship title.
to James Rodriguez while everyone of a sour ending. It wasn’t just about the quantity but
else was expected to sacrifice for the The Brazilian arrived at Shanghai the quality of some spectacular strikes.
cause. As key players were mystifyingly SIPG from Zenit Saint Petersburg in Hulk, powerful and aggressive, made
dropped and others asked to play out the summer of 2016 when the Chinese Shanghai feared while fans loved him
of position, Queiroz’s team selection Super League spending spree was at – the average attendance at the club
became increasingly discombobulated. its height. The fee was a reported went from 12,000 in 2014 to 30,000
Queiroz had done himself no £46 million, then the most ever paid three years later. He was active on
favours by suggesting he’d have no by an Asian club, though Shanghai Chinese social media and for all his
problem picking Boca Juniors winger would pay even more to Chelsea to skills, perhaps his most important
Sebastian Villa – currently being bring in Oscar a few months later. achievement was a basic one –
investigated for domestic abuse – for Shanghai were not one of the giving 100 per cent in every game,
the national team. “If every man who traditional powers of Chinese football, something that not all imports to
receives a punch from a woman went but SIPG (Shanghai International Port Asia manage.
to the press, the world would be Group) took over in 2015 and took That commitment was questioned at
screwed,” Queiroz unwittingly bleated things to a whole new level. Fans’ favourite…Hulk the end, though. All knew Hulk would
was a big hit with the
into an open microphone. Hulk helped Shanghai reach SIPG supporters be out of contract at the end of 2020
In the end though, Colombia’s the quarter-finals of the 2016 AFC and, at the age of 34, ready to leave
spectacular collapse left his position Champions League in the club’s first China especially after a tough league
untenable. Slumped in seventh appearance. The following year, the Shanghai hero… season in which all players had been
Hulk in action during
position, the federation opted for Brazilian scored 17 goals as the Reds the AFC Champions confined to hotel rooms for months.
a reset despite the absence of a finished as Chinese Super League League in November Shanghai boss Vitor Pereira, suggested
plan B. “We’re starting from scratch,” that not all in the team were pulling
federation president Ramon Jesurun their weight and it became apparent
admitted. “But ideally it will be a that he meant, primarily, Hulk.
Colombian coach.” Shanghai, despite adding Marko
Pekerman was initially courted, Arnautovic and Aaron Mooy from West
while former Mexico coach Juan Carlos Ham United and Brighton and Hove
Osorio would have been a strong shout Albion respectively, struggled to a
had it not been for a disastrous recent fourth-place finish in the league and
spell that resulted in his sacking at then headed to Qatar to play the AFC
Atletico Nacional. Hernan Dario Champions League in November.
Gomez, who took Colombia to the The team got out of the group,
1998 World Cup, was also fancied by a feat almost overshadowed by Hulk
the federation, but is fiercely unpopular seeming to give the boss a mouthful
with almost everyone else. before storming off down the tunnel
The most unifying candidate after being substituted in a 2-1 defeat
remains Reinaldo Rueda, most recently to Yokohama F. Marinos of Japan.
Chile coach, who led Atletico Nacional He was left out of the team for the
to the 2016 Copa Libertadores. It next three games as Shanghai were
remains to be seen whether an eliminated. “I want the players with
agreement can be reached for his the right spirit to play,” said Pereira
release. Yet whoever succeeds Queiroz when asked about Hulk. “This is my
will have their work cut out. When the decision [not to play him] and that
South American qualifiers resume in is why he is not here.”
March, the new coach will face the It was a sad ending but Hulk
ultimate baptism of fire – at home will always be fondly remembered
to table-topping Brazil. in Shanghai.
Carl Worswick John Duerden
WORLD SOCCER 25
Headliners
Real Sociedad
The Basque outfit from San Sebastian are flying high in La Liga
W
ith a third
of the
season
played,
Real
Sociedad
had proven
to be a force to be reckoned with. Their
flying start gave them 26 points from
their first 14 matches, including seven
wins. They were also La Liga’s top scorers
with a tally of 24 goals, scoring more
than three goals in five different games.
Their strong defensive backline was
even more impressive, conceding just
eight goals, with the rock-solid Atletico
Madrid the only team with a better
defensive record. Their best results
included a 0-0 draw with champions
Real Madrid and a 3-0 win at Real Betis.
The coach behind it is Imanol Aguacil,
who mainly utilises a rigid and well- figure, yet this is no one-man team. Key man…Mikel midfield general and in many ways is
Oyarzabal has been
drilled 4-1-4-1 or 4-2-3-1 formation. Spanish international Mikel Oyarzabal an underrated figure of Spanish football.
on fire this season
Their early-season success had been has been a consistent performer for He had a difficult spell in the Premier
underpinned by last season’s sixth- many a year. Now, he has reached new League, unable to settle on Tyneside
placed finish, when solidity was mixed heights as the team’s top scorer with with Newcastle United. Yet, his return
with creative genius: the Scandinavian seven goals in his first 11 La Liga to La Liga has rejuvenated his career
duo of Alexander Isak and Martin games. His ability on the left wing and and he’s been a consistent performer
Odegaard propelling the San Sebastian as a striker make him their principal in his three years with the club.
side to Europa League football and the danger man, combining great crossing Real Sociedad are a team that have
Copa del Rey final against Basque arch- ability with a goalscorer’s instinct. When gradually grown in recent seasons. They
rivals Athletic Bilbao (a game which he is on form, so is the team. have matured into a well-polished and
is scheduled to take place in April, The winger has taken on the primary
hopefully in front of a full stadium). goalscoring responsibility, although Oyarzabal has been a consistent
As the Norwegian returned to Real the strikers Isak and Willian Jose
Madrid, Real Sociedad found a ready- continue to be a handful for opposition
performer for many a year. Now,
made replacement in the magician defenders. On the right is Cristian he has reached new heights
that is David Silva. After a decade Portu, a very skilful and classy
of success at Manchester City, the performer on his day, as is Adnan entertaining side, possessing a mixture
midfielder from Las Palmas returned Januzaj, who has improved notably into of defensive solidity and attacking flair.
to Spanish shores. It represented a a more mature and well-rounded figure That blend of steel and silk will
notable coup for the club, with early since his time with Manchester United. concern Manchester United, their
signs suggesting he still has the vision, While the forwards’ numbers are opponents in the second round of the
elegance and defence-splitting passes eye-catching, one of the team’s Europa League. The draw offers echoes
to give his team another dimension, standout performers goes under Magician… of 2011-12, when the Red Devils also
albeit without 100 per cent fitness. the radar. Mikel Merino is the side’s David Silva travelled to the Basque Country after
Silva’s style fits perfectly into the being eliminated from the Champions
team’s ethos of patiently building from League group stages. Then it was
the back, taking as many touches as Marcelo Bielsa’s Athletic Bilbao cast
desired to arrive in the final third of as the exciting upstarts, defeating Alex
the pitch. They pick and choose their Ferguson’s side both home and away
moments to cut through an opponent. to seal a 5-3 aggregate victory.
Sometimes they overdo it, but they Athletic went on to reach the Europa
remain loyal to their cultured philosophy. League final that season, and if Real
So far, it is an approach that has Sociedad can spring a similar surprise
reaped rewards. Patience is the virtue at Old Trafford, they will believe that
that had guided them to the top of they have the momentum to mount
the table. And deservedly so. a similar campaign.
David Silva is naturally the standout David Whitworth
26 WORLD SOCCER
PEOPLE AND PLACES IN THE NEWS
Carlos Tevez
Boca Juniors striker to enter club politics when he retires in 2021
R
umours of Carlos Maldini, Pirlo, Kaka and Shevchenko
Tevez’s imminent three years later for the same trophy.
retirement broke Tevez made his debut in between
late last November, those two trophies, touted as one of
leading “El Apache” to the most exciting young talents in world
immediately deny the football. He was South America’s Player
reports, confirming Political rivals…
of the Year in 2003 and 2004, and
he was staying at Boca Juniors. “When Tevez and Riquelme again in 2005 after joining Corinthians.
I take a decision about my future you’ll were team-mates His success in Europe, in particular at
at the 2006
be the first to know!” he cheerily told World Cup
the Manchester clubs and Juventus,
supporters on Instagram. only added to his legend. When he
Tevez’s contract with Boca ends later Maradona, unveiling one of El Diez’s returned to Argentina in 2015, over
this year. He turns 37 in February, an Boca shirts beneath his own. 60,000 supporters packed out the
age at which many players would be Aged 36, Tevez was Boca’s top Bombonera for his presentation.
considering calling time. And yet, over goalscorer in the calendar year. The Tevez enjoys cult status at Boca,
19 years since his debut for the club, club’s recognised strikers like Franco arguably shared with only the likes
Tevez signed off last year with some Soldano and Ramon Abila were of Riquelme and Maradona. Yet the
of the best form of his career. misfiring, meaning coach Miguel Angel question remains over how much longer
He scored six goals in the last Russo was looking to Tevez, as well he will play. And then there is another
seven games of the 2019-20 league bigger question – what comes next?
campaign to help Boca pip arch-rivals Tevez enjoys cult status at Boca, The rumours of his retirement
River Plate to the title on the final day included versions to the effect that he
last March. It was Tevez’s goal that
arguably shared with only the likes would move into club politics under the
secured the title, at home to Diego of Riquelme and Maradona former president Daniel Angelici, who
Maradona’s Gimnasia. lost the 2019 club elections after failing
Perhaps the low number of games as 30-year-old Eduardo Salvio, to to come good on his promise of major
over the course of the year, due to the score. And while Boca’s supporters silverware.
pandemic, benefitted senior players like have warmed to Salvio, Tevez is the It is unclear what sort of capacity
Tevez. When the Copa Libertadores last of the club’s idolos still playing. Tevez would occupy. He does have the
resumed in September, he was mobile Every December, Boca dust off experience of his contemporaries to
and sharp, employed behind a main the club’s photo album to pore over consider. Diego Milito recently stepped
striker. With his brace against Caracas the memories and anniversaries from down as football director at Racing over
in the group stage, he joined Martin the early 2000s’ unprecedented differences of opinion with the president,
Palermo and Juan Roman Riquelme success on the South American while Juan Sebastian Veron has been
on the podium of Boca’s all-time top and international stage. Winning a successful president of Estudiantes
scorers in the competition. His goal three Copa Libertadores titles in since 2004. Closer to home, Riquelme
against Internacional in the last 16 four years, Boca ratified their 2000 is Boca’s vice-president, naturally
Fans’ favourite…Tevez
provided the opportunity for him celebrates with Boca Intercontinental Cup win over Real overseeing the football department.
– and Boca – to pay tribute to supporters in March Madrid with a defeat of the Milan of Tevez is expected to continue playing
while Boca challenge for a record-
equalling seventh Copa Libertadores
crown (at the time of writing, Boca had
progessed to the semi-finals). But here
is the rub. Any success and silverware
would further empower the board of
directors who he may then run against
in future club elections.
Joel Richards
Tribute…Tevez
celebrates with
Maradona after his
title-winning goal
WORLD SOCCER 27
eyewitness Paddy Agnew reports
ITALY
Italy mourns a
World Cup legend
Paddy Agnew pays tribute to Paolo Rossi
As football icons go, Paolo Rossi always
came across as an approachable guy.
Rossi, who died in early December at the
age of 64 after a losing battle with lung
cancer, was a living legend, a national
hero, one of the most celebrated of
Italians, but he dealt with all that very
lightly.
I moved to Italy in the winter of
1985, three years after his moment
of crowning glory in the summer of
1982, when his six goals power-blasted
Italy to an unexpected World Cup win
in Spain. Even at the distance of three
years, the echoes of that triumph were
palpable, be it through TV ads featuring
the heroes of 1982 or through well
founded sports media concern that
there would be no repeat show at the
following year’s 1986 World Cup in
Mexico.
A four-year-old child could have
worked out that many Italians still felt
excited by and proud of that victory, Legend…Rossi was had a “light touch” on and off the field.
Italy’s first World Cup triumph since inducted into Italian Milan great, Paolo Maldini, whose career
football’s Hall of Fame
the far-off days of the Mussolini-Pozzo in January 2017 was just beginning as Rossi’s ended in
team in 1934 and 1938. By the time 1987, put it this way: “For me, Paolo was
I arrived in Italy, however, Rossi’s career so many things. He was the hero of
was clearly on a downward spiral during 1982, a World Cup in which my father
his difficult (and only) season with Milan. was part of the Italian coaching staff. For
He had missed the first ten games of all Italians, he was a legend...I will always
the season through injury and he ended recall him for his light touch. He was
up scoring just two Serie A goals, a superstar but at the same time an
admittedly both in a 2-2 derby absolutely normal person.”
draw with Internazionale. When I met up with Rossi in the
Looking at his goals now, people summer of 1997, ten years after he
might be inclined to dismiss him as had retired from football, I experienced
a “poacher”. Yet, he was much more that “absolutely normal person” for
than that. He was a player whose speed myself. I had been fortunate enough
of mind and foot, whose footballing to be hired as an interpreter for a six-
intelligence more than compensated part BBC documentary, Golden Boots,
for his lack of weight and muscle. presented by Gary Lineker. This was
He was no big central target man, no a history of the World Cup that focused
Gigi Riva. A more apt comparison would on the leading goalscorers at various
be Muhammad Ali: he would float like a tournaments.
butterfly and sting like a bee. One of the Interviews had been set up with
adjectives most often used about Rossi a cast of living legends, including the
during the many tributes paid to him by 1982 coach Enzo Bearzot, ex-Inter
colleagues was that he was “light”. He and Italy midfielder Sandro Mazzola
28 WORLD SOCCER
eyewitness
Winner…Rossi lifts
the1982 World
Cup trophy after
scoring in the final
and, of course, Paolo Rossi. Without earning more money as a real

exception, they were all delighted to estate dealer than he had earned
meet Lineker and exchange stories as a footballer. He might have been
with him. exaggerating a little, but this was a
Rossi spoke no English and Lineker different time – before the Internet,
no Italian, but they struck up an almost mobile phones, satellite TV, VAR, the
immediate empathy and understanding. Champions League or the Premier
Two leading goalscorers in consecutive League. This was a time when, even
World Cups – Rossi in ’82 and Lineker after winning the World Cup, Rossi
in ’86 – they needed no introduction to and his wife could walk around Turin,
one another. Half the time, in my role exchanging banter with fans. Today, he
as official interpreter, I was rendered would probably be accompanied by
redundant because they immediately a bodyguard, and travel around in a
got the other’s drift. limousine with dark tinted windows.
That interview took place in Vicenza Not knowing Vicenza, I rang Rossi Reunion…Lineker When the news of Rossi’s death
where Rossi’s career had really kicked as we drove up to the city, both to and Rossi met again was announced, Lineker said on social
in Russia during the
off in the 1977-78 season when, as a confirm that we were on the way and 2018 World Cup media: “How terribly sad. A wonderful
young player on loan from Juventus, to ask where we should meet. By that striker and a lovely man. Scored a World
he scored 24 goals for the newly- stage of his life, Rossi had done a lot of Cup hat-trick in one of the greatest
promoted side, in the process attracting interviews, so he immediately suggested games of all time against Brazil. A true
the attention of Italy coach, Bearzot. we meet up at the Santuario della finisher’s life has finished way too soon.”
Hence, when he retired from football, Madonna di Monte Berico, a splendid Just like his life, Rossi’s career was
he settled in Vicenza where he became baroque Basilica which sits high on a also curtailed prematurely by injury.
successfully involved in the real estate hill overlooking the city. He knew only I recall talking to the late Ray Wilkins,
business. too well that it would make for good then a Milan player, back in the autumn
That day, he admitted that he was TV images. of 1986. He had just played alongside
30 WORLD SOCCER
ITALY
out that his professional career really Clash…Rossi holds him to the World Cup in 1978. Despite
only lasted seven seasons. Not only off Paul Breitner the fact that he had only two previous
during the1982
was it curtailed by injury but, of course, World Cup final caps, Rossi was a key man in Italy’s
he also lost two years, between the attack, and rewarded the faith shown
ages of 24 and 26, to that infamous in him with three goals in Argentina,
ban for alleged involvement in the 1980 earning the Silver Ball in the process,
“Totonero” match-fixing scandal that and helping to make Italy a seriously
led to the arrest of 13 players and the good side in their fourth-placed finish.
relegation to Serie B of both Milan The myth of Pablito was born.
and Lazio. If Bearzot’s first gamble was big,
the second one was monumental. Four
years later, he insisted on making Rossi
As in many epic dramas, however, an automatic first choice in attack in
the nightmare had a happy ending Spain, despite the fact that he had
only played three games in two years
At the time, Rossi was a Perugia because of his suspension. The rest,
player, on loan from Vicenza having of course, is much loved history.
left Juventus in a then world-record Rossi’s death, coming just days after
deal which valued him at around that of Diego Maradona, clearly marks
Rossi for a season. When I asked him €2.5 million. His alleged crime the passing of an era. Even though he
about the legend of Italian football, related to a 2-2 Serie A away draw won league titles, the Coppa Italia, a
he shook his head ruefully, saying that with Avellino, in which he had scored Cup Winners’ Cup and a European Cup
Paolo was “a fantastic guy” but “he has both goals. To his dying day, Rossi with Juventus, his name will forever be
got serious injury problems”. claimed his total innocence, saying associated with La Nazionale and Spain
Indeed he had, retiring from football that his only crime had been to chat ’82. He was the handsome lad who,
less than a year later in 1987 at the for 50 seconds with “some guy” for a few months one summer, took
age of just 31. Of average height and presented to him by a team-mate an entire country by the hand and
slender build, Rossi was arguably not the day before the game. led it out to dance in the streets.
Remembered…fans
built for the intense wear and tear of “Some guy” had suggested that lined the streets of Rest in peace, Paolo Rossi,
football. He had joined Juventus as a Avellino were open to the idea of a Vicenza in tribute one of nature’s gentlemen.
16-year-old, having been spotted in the draw. Next day, Rossi told his Perugia
Florence youth club, Cattolica Virtus. team-mates about the incident and
Ironically, the man who spotted him they all dismissed it, vowing to play to
was Luciano Moggi, then working in the win, he always claimed. On the basis
Juventus youth-team set-up but later of the “50 second chat”, the football
to become the villain of the piece in federation judges gave him a three-year
the infamous “Calciopoli” match-fixing ban, subsequently reduced to two years.
scandal of 2006. Like many great Years later, he still insisted: “I lost two
champions, Rossi’s early career was years of my career, from 24-26, for
not easy. By the age of 19, he had something I didn’t do. For a 50
already had three cartilages removed second conversation.”
from his knees. In the end, as Ray As in many epic dramas, however,
Wilkins pointed out, that physical the nightmare had a happy ending.
frailty curtailed his career. National coach Bearzot had already
Indeed, Rossi himself often pointed taken a big gamble on Rossi by taking
WORLD SOCCER 31
eye
witness Mark Gleeson reports
EGYPT
The African super-club

Al Ahly have overcome extreme adversity to
become champions of Africa once again. Now
they’re setting their sights on bigger things
Ordinarily, the forces buffeting up reclaiming their position as Africa’s
against Al Ahly would have buckled most successful club.
any club. But the Egyptians have For almost ten years, the Cairo
shown remarkable resilience in giants have had to deal with
32 WORLD SOCCER
African champs...
Al Ahly celebrate
victory over arch-
rivals Zamalek
WORLD SOCCER 33
eyewitness
extraordinary socio-political and followed by their first Champions from the terraces to the political arena
economic circumstances, and yet League title in seven years, stretching and for several heady months looked
finished the decade back at the top their record number of titles to nine. to be steering Egypt to a democratic
after claiming the African Champions Egypt has been both volatile and future.
League in November. vulnerable since the Arab Spring, the But as Egypt embarked on its new
They now hope to take that further social revolution that broke out in late elections, so the old security order
forward in February, as they compete 2010 and, for a short while, promised extracted a bloody revenge.
at the Club World Cup for the sixth radical change across the Arabic- In early 2012, rival fans of Al Masry
time, hoping to make an impact on speaking world. set upon Al Ahly supporters in the Port
the tournament in Qatar. Its genesis was in Tunisia but its Said Stadium as the police and army
The repression that has followed the height was in Tahrir Square, Cairo, turned a blind eye. 74 people were
Arab Spring in Egypt, the 2012 Port where the daily demonstrations killed, some thrown from the top of
Said Stadium disaster, the suspension of eventually toppled the long-standing the stands, and over 500 injured.
domestic football, banning of spectators military regime of Hosni Mubarak It had a deep impact on the team at
and the subsequent economic blows and lifted the 31-year-old state the time, precipitating the retirement of
should have had them on their knees, of emergency. talisman Mohamed Aboutrika and the
but instead Al Ahly completed a triple They were led by Al Ahly’s ultras, who, return to Portugal of coach Manuel
triumph at the end of 2020 – with in the absence of any formal opposition, Jose, architect of the dominance in
domestic league and cup success transferred their organisational ability Egyptian and African competition
over the previous ten years.
The massacre led to the immediate
suspension of the domestic competition
in Egypt, although Al Ahly kept playing in
the Champions League and remarkably,
without any local competition to sustain
them, won the 2013 edition.
Two seasons of the Egyptian
LEFT
T: Emptyy seats… Premier League were ultimately lost
fans were banned
from the Champions
and Al Ahly did feel the pinch. Losing
League final to their namesakes from Benghazi in
neighbouring Libya in the early stages
of the 2014 Champions League was
BELOW: Verdict…
Al Ahly supporters a low point.
celebrate aftter The long-term impact of the Port
Al Masry fans are Said massacre was to close stadiums
a
EGYPT
There have been exceptions here go,” explains prominent Egyptian TV

and there when wary authorities have analyst Amr Shaheen.
allowed crowds in, when it has been “Ahly are not a club who set targets.
in the best interests of the Egyptian They have to win everything in front of
national team or the Egyptian clubs them,” he adds.
playing in continental club competition New coach Pitso Mosimane seconds
to have a rowdy crowd behind them. this: “They have the right attitude for
World Cup qualifiers, crucial the game, they go for it.”
Champions League games and the He was a surprise appointment from
hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations South Africa, where he admits he was
– a failed effort to paint a situation often bemused in his home country
of normality – have seen spectators by a laissez-faire attitude from some
allowed back but now with the players. “There were some games
COVID-19 pandemic, they are where we’d ask ourselves, ‘what
firmly closed again. happened to the team today, why
The shutout over the last eight years are you not committed’. You won’t
has cost Al Ahly millions in lost revenue, find that here in Egypt – the culture
as keeping the ultras from organising and mentality is on another level.
on the terraces remains a priority for They go for it and they bash each
the military regime, whose grip on Match-winner… Al with a stable board and conservative other…they are big boys here.”
power is now firmer and more Ahly’s Magdy Afsha approach that has little of the knee-jerk Al Ahly’s Champions League success
celebrates his winning
Draconian than ever. goal against Zamalek actions so prevalent in the Arabic- means they compete in the Club World
But Al Ahly’s record is a lesson in speaking sports world. Cup in Qatar, looking for a much-
hardiness. They have kept up a constant But they still shred through coaches improved performance on past flops.
presence in the Champions League, with the likes of Juan Carlos Garrido, While the likes of Moroccan giants
shrugging off all the adversity while still Jose Peseiro, Martin Jol, Patrice Raja Casablanca and DR Congo’s TP
remaining the dominant domestic force. Carteron, Martin Lasarte and Rene Mazembe have finished runners-up
They were Champions League Weiler having come and gone, in major breakthroughs for the African
runners-up to Wydad Casablanca none lasting more than a year. game, Al Ahly have disappointed,
in 2017 and losing finalists again 12 notably suffering embarrassing loses
months later when they let slip a 3-1 to Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia in 2005
lead from the first leg against Esperance “Ahly are not a club who set targets. and Adelaide United in 2008, even
of Tunisia, losing 4-3 on aggregate. They have to win everything in front though they have been to the
It all finally came together again in of them” competition considerably more
November against arch-rivals Zamalek times than any other African side.
Egyptian TV analyst Amr Shaheen
in the delayed 2020 final. Having weathered all the difficulties
“The Champions League title is of the last decade at home, there is
very precious for the team because Swiss-born Weiler, formerly at the a sense it is now time for the club to
we haven’t won it since 2013,” said helm of Nurnberg in the Bundesliga elevate their profile at events like the
influential veteran midfielder Walid and Anderlecht in Belgium, laid the Club World Cup and match the South
Soliman. “This generation realised an foundation for the 2020 success, American and European opposition.
historic achievement and gained a great but left during last year’s lockdown. “They want to win everything,” adds
dose of confidence that will help them “Ahly are a club that needs to Mosimane. “When I came they said you
in the coming ten years. feel total commitment from its must win the Champions League. Then
“It’s so difficult for Ahly to lose titles. coaches. Weiler had his family back it is, ‘no, you must win the Egyptian
We have motivation that sets us apart in Switzerland and wasn’t sure about Cup’. Then the CAF Super Cup. Then
from the other teams,” he added. staying and as soon as there was that the Club World Cup. You always have
The club has kept its prominent place hesitation, they were happy to let him to do more, it is never enough.”
in Cairo society, even despite the actions
of its supporters. They, however have
to be differentiated from the club’s
members, numbering around 150,000,
who enjoy access to a sprawling country
club on chic Zamalek island, with
impressive grounds, a mini stadium
and offering 24 different sports.
It is led by Mahmoud Al Khatib,
among the legends of the game in
Egypt, who challenged incumbent
Mahmud Taher for the club presidency
back in 2017.
Taher had a good image as a solid
businessman and the steady hand on
the rudder, but Al Khatib’s star appeal
was too strong a lure for the electorate. Club World Cup…Al
Fee-paying members vote for the Ahly were beaten 5-1
by Monterrey in their
club’s administration and have kept last appearance in the
Al Ahly on a remarkably even keel competition in 2013
WORLD SOCCER 35
e witness
Ry Baldi eports
ENGLAND
Marcus Rashford:
Manchester’s superhero
How the Manchester United and England
forward went from promising youngster
to a national treasure
Back in April, as the coronavirus underworked. But, little did Hancock
pandemic was tightening its grip on know, the altruistic efforts of one
the United Kingdom, health secretary Premier League player in particular
Matt Hancock used a televised public were already supporting the vulnerable
briefing to take aim at Premier League and would soon inspire a nation.
footballers, suggesting they needed to “How can I help?” wrote Marcus
“make a contribution, take a pay cut Rashford when he first approached
and play their part”. FareShare via email in February.
It was a craven attempt to The Manchester United forward had
deflect focus from the scrutiny the been inspired by the food-distribution
government’s handling of the virus charity’s ActiveAte initiative the previous
was beginning to draw, and to jab an summer, which sought to supply food
accusing finger at a group often viewed to vulnerable children during school
by the wider populace as overpaid and holidays, and was concerned the
36 WORLD SOCCER
eyewitness
Mural…a tribute
to Rashford in
Withington,
Manchester
looming pandemic would see yet more Fletcher Moss – who’d previously reared
kids from low-income households Manchester United stars Wes Brown,
go hungry in the months to follow. Danny Welbeck and Jesse Lingard –
“It’s very rare to have an inbound as a five-year-old that signposted
offer, and an offer that says: ‘What a route to a more comfortable
do you need and how can I help?’” existence.
says Alyson Walsh, FareShare’s
commercial director.
By the end of June, Rashford had
helped raise around £20 million for
FareShare, shattering his initial target
of £100,000. He’d also lent his support
to the Black Lives Matter campaign,
spoken out against online bullying
and successfully campaigned the
government to overturn its decision
not to extend the free-school-meals
scheme over the summer holidays
and implement a £120 million “COVID
Summer Food Fund” which reached
1.3 million children.
Rashford’s efforts are informed by his
own experiences. The 23-year-old has
spoken openly about how important
free school meals were to him as
a child, and how hard his mother,
Melanie, a single parent of five,
had to work and budget to keep
the family fed. “It’s definitely
because he remembers his
family, he remembers he
was on school dinners and
how difficult it was for
his mum,” says Dave
Horrocks, chairman
of Rashford’s first
grassroots club,
Fletcher Moss
Rangers.
And it was the
gift for football
Hero…Rashford
Rashford displayed has earned many
upon joining plaudits this season
38 WORLD SOCCER
ENGLAND
Scholarship) scheme. That meant an

increased training schedule, attendance
at the club’s affiliated Ashton-on-Mersey
School and a move to live with host
parents close to the school and the
training complex at Carrington. “That
was the important point for him
because it gave him extra stability,”
says Paul McGuinness, a prominent
former United youth coach.
Early signs of the conscientiousness
and empathy that have marked out
Rashford’s activism this year can be
found in his progression through
United’s academy. The 20-time
champions of England make a
concerted effort to instil such values
in their youngsters – “right is might”
was first coined by former director
of youth football Jim Ryan, and is
an often-repeated mantra within the
Carrington hallways. Politeness to all
staff and visitors is demanded, and
on tournament trips abroad, the boys
take turns making speeches to thank
their hosts, presenting pennants to
opponents and gifts to hotel workers.
“Marcus would have had to do it a
few times,” says Colin Little, the United
Under-18 coach. “They all get a chance
at it, to go and speak to the man in the
canteen or go and give him a signed
shirt. I’m sure other clubs are doing it,
but when I got here, I’d never seen it
before. You look at Marcus now, and you
think, wow, what a good spokesman.”
Manchester born Wearing the famous red shirt on
and bred…Marcus tournament jaunts gives United’s
has been at United
since the age of seven youngsters a small taste of the fan
attention thrust upon the club’s
senior stars. When, as a 16-year-old,
He shone on the Mersey Bank When he was just 11, in recognition Rashford was part of a travelling squad
playing fields of West Didsbury, where both of his exceptional talent and participating in the Milk Cup in Northern
Fletcher Moss are based, once scoring his difficult circumstances, Rashford Ireland, he revelled in pleasing the
12 goals in a single game and revelling became the youngest player ever young supporters who’d queued up
in nutmegging the coaches or scoring enrolled into United’s MANUSS for an autograph or a moment’s
from the halfway line. The young striker (Manchester United Schoolboy interaction with a future hero.
was seven years old when Horrocks “They were getting quite big crowds,”
received a call from a United scout remembers McGuinness. “There are
inviting Rashford to train with the
“It’s very rare to have an inbound kids coming up, wanting autographs.
Premier League club. offer, and an offer that says: ‘What He would be one of the ones who really
Rashford would exhaust himself in do you need and how can I help?’” engaged with the fans and engaged
those early sessions with United, to the Alyson Walsh, FareShare commercial director
point he’d fall asleep against one of his
older brothers, Dwaine or Dane, on the
drive home. But then, when he’d arrive
back at the modest, terraced family
home – initially in Withington and
Fallowfield, later in Wythenshawe –
he’d spring back to life, practising his
touch by throwing a ball against a
sloped roof and controlling it as it fell,
or racing to join his friends kicking a
ball around beneath the cherry tree
in front of his house.
“He was getting as much football
Helping out…
as possible,” says Horrocks, “because teaming up with
that’s what he wanted to do.” charity FareShare
WORLD SOCCER 39
eyewitness
with the kids. He saw it as part of the one-v-one contests in a small, caged in a 5-1 victory, and followed it up three
idea that he’s in a privileged position, all-weather pitch as an undersized days later with another brace, against
that these kids, he could make them 12-year-old training with the U18s. Arsenal, on his Premier League debut.
happy and he could do positive things.” But it also applies to his ability to deal “I had to explain to him the set
That empathy, his desire to give with setbacks and welcome unexpected pieces,” Frans Hoek, one of Van Gaal’s
something back and help others less opportunities. When a bout of Osgood- assistants, remembers of the ad-hoc
fortunate, is something Tosin Kehinde, Schlatter disease – a painful knee preparations for the Midtjylland game.
a friend and former youth team-mate, condition common among adolescent “I went to him. I looked him in the eyes.
recognised instantly in Rashford. boys – temporarily corroded his mobility Of course, he must have been nervous,
“He did speak about how his and scythed his trademark pace, for but it didn’t show. He was concentrated
upbringing shaped him into the person example, he focused on sharpening other on what he had to do. He made a very
he was,” Kehinde says, “and how much skills, dropping into central midfield and strong impression on me. That look in
he loved the team he was at, Fletcher broadening his passing arsenal. his eyes, it was, ‘Ok, I have a chance
Moss. He always talked about going And when, in February of 2016, a now and I can show them.’
back and seeing the kids whenever he pre-game injury ruled Anthony Martial “He’s a different character, and
could. That showed a little bit of the out of a Europa League showdown with different characters can do incredible
side of him we’re seeing right now. Midtjylland at Old Trafford, United’s things, things that surprise you. The
“When you’re playing for Manchester coaching staff didn’t hesitate in elevating beautiful thing for me is, he has a
United and England, with some people an 18-year-old Rashford to the starting platform because of the player he
it might go to their heads and change line-up for his first-team debut. is and he’s using it to help other
their characters a little bit, but never “I’m not going to change anything,” human beings.
has that been the case with Marcus.” Louis van Gaal, United’s manager at the “Mature is a very good word for him.”
And the fruits of Rashford’s charitable time, told his staff in the changing room. It should have come as little surprise,
nature were abundant long before his “Marcus is going to come in. He’s capable then, that Rashford conducted himself
work with FareShare and his vocal of doing it. I’m confident in that.” like an adult among squabbling children
activism in 2020. At Christmas time in Van Gaal’s confidence, of course, when Parliament, by a margin of 322
2018, the United superstar personally was well placed. Rashford exhibited to 261, voted against a Labour Party
delivered care packages – containing a veteran’s poise as he scored twice motion to, as Rashford had implored,
thermal clothing, underwear and
toothpaste – to Manchester’s homeless;
he partnered with Selfridges on a
similar campaign the following year.
He’s been back to visit pupils at one of
his old schools, too, dispensing advice
and words of inspiration. He even once
handed over £1,000 to ensure all the
children could take home a chocolate
selection box at Christmas. One day he
hopes to establish his own foundation.
While United’s academy might
have provided a platform upon which
his nascent selflessness was able to
flourish, those who worked closest with
Rashford in the youth ranks cannot
– and do not – claim credit for the
extent of his altruism.
“That comes from God, I think,
a young man to do that,” says Tony
Whelan, United’s assistant academy
director. “That comes from within,
that comes from him. I don’t think it’s
something that anybody else should
take credit for in that sense. For us
to see it with a young boy within our
tenure at the club, those that have
been around him and have had the
privilege to work with him, it does
give you a sense of pride.”
Almost universally, in conversations
with those who have worked closely
with Rashford along his journey from
academy fledgling to Old Trafford icon,
the word “mature” recurs.
It applies to his above-the-curve
talent, which saw him taking on the Impact…
likes of future first-team colleagues celebrating his
debut goal v
Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard – both Midtjylland
almost five years his senior – in
40 WORLD SOCCER
ENGLAND
extend free school meals into October’s children in low-income families outside
half-term break and beyond. He has, on of school term time – cafes, restaurants,
numerous occasions, appealed to MPs pubs and even local councils around the
to put aside party politics and sniping country began to pledge to fill the gap.
for the greater good, aiming to smooth Rashford’s Twitter timeline was alight in
tensions more tribal even
than those he has
overcome in earning “He has a platform because of the
the support of rivals fans, player he is and he’s using it to
players and clubs. He also help other human beings.”
took to social media to Former Manchester United coach Frans Hoek
request that his followers
refrain from directing
abuse at these politicians, late October as he retweeted these
citing his own experience as a target for organisations, notifying his followers of
online bile as something no one should where the free food for the vulnerable ABOVE: Charity… recognition from the Football Writers’
have to endure. could be found. Marcus with his Association, the City of Manchester and
mother Melanie
Inspired by Rashford’s fight against He was awarded an MBE in the the Pride of Britain awards. Rather than
child food poverty and sharing his Queen’s birthday honours in October, allow these accolades to bookend a job
BELOW: Black Lives
despair at the decision to curtail the to add to the PFA Merit Award and Matter…he has also well done, though, Rashford’s admirable
scheme – which had provided meal lent his support to the off-field work continues. In November,
vouchers worth £15 a week to anti-racism campaign he forced yet another about-face from
the government, with prime minister
Boris Johnson calling the United striker
to confirm a pledge of £170 million to
combat child food poverty through the
winter and into the new year.
This announcement came just days
after Rashford teamed up with Burberry
to launch a series of initiatives to help
disadvantaged people, including a
£25,000 grant to two youth clubs
he attended as a boy and a donation
to FareShare that will finance
200,000 meals.
In a letter to his ten-year-old self
he penned for the campaign, Rashford
wrote: “For a young boy who says so
little, one day you will have a voice
that speaks for many.”
With boundless reserves of empathy
and the courage of his convictions,
Rashford has effected real change
and emerged as an icon and
role model for a generation.
Contribution made. Part
played. And then some.
eye
witness Peterjon Cresswell reports
SLOVAKIA & HUNGARY
DAC: the forefront of

Hungary’s expanding
football empire
In Budapest and Debrecen, Szeged the population of Dunajska Streda is
and Kisvarda, Miskolc and Mezokovesd, ethnic Hungarian.
football-mad Hungarian prime minister Significant areas of Transylvania in
Viktor Orban has built spanking new modern Romania, much of northern
football stadiums to host domestic Serbia, plus pockets of northern Croatia
matches which invariably attract and Slovenia, still contain substantial
relatively few paying customers. Hungarian communities. These
Average pre-pandemic attendances territories were also lost after World
for the top-flight NBI in 2018-19 was War I – and a century later, they are
just over 3,000, and even below that also welcoming new stadiums, in
modest benchmark the season before. Sepsiszentgyorgy, Backa Topola
The team in Szeged has never played and Osijek, where top-flight – and
in the top tier. sometimes European – football are
His folly is best illustrated by the played a long way from Budapest.
Pancho Arena, the first and most Orban’s extension of his 30-strong
incongruous of these developments, stadium empire to the far reaches of
which is set in the tiny hamlet of Felcsut the pre-1918 kingdom is not just about
where Orban spent part of his youth. his football obsession. It’s also a political
Even the narrow-gauge railway running move. One of the cornerstones upon
to the stadium has been renovated, as which his Fidesz party has built its
if offering the few visitors a journey relentless national rule since 2010 has
through Orban’s childhood. been the granting of dual citizenship
But this phenomenon has not been to Hungarian minorities outside the
limited to Hungary. Beyond its borders, borders. This measure was adopted
the gleaming new MOL Arena stands the same year that Fidesz swept back
near the centre of unassuming to power with a landslide victory. In
Dunajska Streda, or Dunaszerdahely gratitude, Magyar voters in Slovakia,
to the many Hungarians who live in Transylvania and Serbia almost
this sleepy town in Slovakia. This is unanimously scrawl an X next to Fidesz
the home of DAC, currently in with at every election. While Budapest voted
a credible shot at a first Slovak title. for a non-Fidesz mayor in 2019, 96
For ten straight rounds of the current per cent of the diaspora wanted an
campaign, they led champions Slovan Orban-led government for the fourth
Bratislava, although when the league time of asking in 2018.
adjourned for a winter break in MOL, as in the MOL Arena,
December, the holders had moved stands for Magyar Olaj- es Gazipari
five points clear with four matches Reszvenytarsasag – Hungarian Oil &
remaining. Gas PLC, the country’s main energy
DAC stands for Dunaszerdahelyi provider. The DAC owner is boyhood fan
Atletikai Club, formed in 1904 when this Oszkar Vilagi, of Hungarian extraction,
area of southern Slovakia was still part who started out as a lawyer before
of Hungary. Even today, a century after moving into politics and high-level
the treaty that ceded the region to the business. Along with advising foreign
nascent Czechoslovakia, 80 per cent of investors on the Slovak market,
42 WORLD SOCCER
Viktor Orban…
Hungary’s football-
mad prime minister
is investing in
football beyond his
country’s borders
eyewitness
he acted on behalf of MOL in its
acquisition of its Slovak counterpart,
Slovnaft. The Hungarians duly found a
place for him on the board of Slovnaft,
where he has been chairman and CEO
for over a decade.
In 2011, Vilagi joined the board
of directors at MOL, the same year
that Orban’s Hungarian government
acquired 21 per cent of the oil giant,
a stake that has since risen to 25 per
cent. It was also around this time that
Orban began building stadiums – first
at Felcsut, then Ferencvaros, with whom
DAC fans have a cross-border fraternity.
In 2014, Vilagi bought DAC, whose
main achievement until then had been
a solitary Czechoslovak Cup win, on
penalties, in 1987. Keeping his club
competitive in the Slovak Super Liga,
Vilagi set about creating an MOL-
branded soccer hub of a UEFA-rated
four-star stadium and ten-pitch football Zsolt Kalmar…DAC
and Hungary star
academy. Constructed in two stages,
the MOL Arena cost €22 million,
€2m coming from MOL, €4.4m Photographed at the opening
from the Slovak State and the City of ceremony of the academy in November
Dunajska Streda, which has 25.6 per 2018, the Hungarian prime minister was
cent ownership. MOL has 22.5 per a surprising absence when the MOL
cent. The EHCS Group, a brokerage Arena was unveiled three months later
and acquisitions company headed by – although many of his compatriots
Vilagi’s daughter Reka, has a controlling made the trip up
interest of 51.9 per cent. from Budapest.
The MOL academy required an Opened to [Hungary president] Viktor Orban’s extension of
investment of €14m. The Slovak FA is a celebration of his 30-strong stadium empire to the far reaches
thought to have put in nearly €3m for Hungarian culture of the pre-1918 kingdom is not just about his
the stadium and academy, while Orban’s – a pig-killing,
government provided €7.4m. It covers plentiful palinka
football obsession. It’s also a political move
an 18-hectare complex southwest of brandy and an
town, near a four-star spa hotel, with appearance by national swimming hero carried the colours of the Hungarian
ten full-sized pitches, three smaller Katinka Hosszu – the MOL Arena holds flag across the grassy surface, heavy
ones, two stands and a gym. A policy 12,700, around half the local population. metal veterans Pokolgep blasted out
of selling on young players was soon It was close to capacity, every home seat “Nelkuled” (“Without You”), signature
illustrated when Ivory Coast striker sold, for its grand curtain-raising match: anthem of Hungarians living outside the
Issouf Bayo, whose ten league goals DAC v Slovan Bratislava, in 2019. country’s current borders. Then came
had put DAC in title contention for It turned out to be a day of songs, the soft penalty, scored by Andraz
the first time, went to Scottish giants smoke bombs and soft penalties. As the Bernd Storck…guided Sporar of Slovan, given by referee Filip
Celtic for €2.25m in 2019. explosive mist of red, white and green Hungary to Euro 2016 Glova, whose previous key decision had
been to rule out a DAC goal for offside.
Glova was later called in by the Slovak
FA and not given another top-flight
game for a whole month.
Slovan went on to win the title, then
again in 2020. That summer, Bernd
Storck came to DAC. The former
Hungary national team coach had
already taken the Magyars to their
first major finals for 40 years, beating
Austria and drawing with eventual
winners Portugal at Euro 2016. The
German arrived in Slovakia two years
after Marco Rossi had led DAC to a
highest-ever third place in the league.
The Italian is now the current Hungary
coach, responsible for a recently
successful qualifying campaign that
swept the national side to another
Euro finals this summer. Two of their
44 WORLD SOCCER
SLOVAKIA & HUNGARY
MOL Arena…
home to DAC
matches will be played at the national

Puskas Arena in Budapest – another
Orban new-build.
Storck, meanwhile, has two current
Hungarian internationals at his disposal,
most notably club captain Zsolt Kalmar.
Used by Rossi at DAC in 2018, the
wide midfielder scored a vital goal in
Hungary’s Euro play-off win in Bulgaria in
October 2020. Back in Dunajska Streda,
Pancho Arena…
the ginger-haired Kalmar is also enjoying Orban’s next
a purple patch at club level, the top football project
scorer and a near ever-present as DAC
bid to knock Slovan off their perch. its name – but the design is pure Orban and Oszkar Vilagi both
Connections between Dunajska Streda Magyar. The turrets and intricate vaulting understand the long-term value of
and Hungary extend beyond the football reflect the organic Hungarian style of football academies. While the one at
pitch and the business around it. The Imre Makovecz, drawn up shortly DAC has yet to bear fruit, the star pupil
whole town centre was redesigned by before he died. produced by Puskas Akademia now
that most distinctively Hungarian of The same radical Hungarian architect plays for Osijek in Croatia. Laszlo
architects, Imre Makovecz. A short walk who revamped the centre of Dunajska Kleinheisler, a surprise pick by then
along the main street, past the Cafe Streda bowed out with this stadium national team coach Bernd Storck, shot
Budapest, takes you to Sport utca. Turn as his swansong, a church-like to glory when his goal in Oslo powered
the corner and ahead glowers a sleek construction in wood – Makovecz was Hungary past Norway and onto Euro
grey edifice entirely at architectural odds a devout Catholic – for a football team 2016. Soon Kleinheisler and Osijek
with the quaint one-storey houses representing a village half its size. But will run out in a new stadium, almost
around it: the MOL Arena. also like Dunajska Streda, the football completed by the banks of the Drava
Over the border in Hungary, the complex in Felcsut is also an academy River that forms the border between
Pancho Arena dominates the hamlet – in fact, Puskas Akademia, as the Hungary and Croatia.
of Felcsut where Viktor Orban grew up. top-flight club also based there is And who owns NK Osijek? Lorinc
“Pancho” is how Spanish fans referred to named. It hosts the annual Puskas Meszaros, a former gasfitter whose ties
Ferenc Puskas when Hungary’s greatest Cup for Under-17s, invariably involving with Orban’s ruling party allowed him
player was winning European Cups for the juniors from Pancho’s old clubs to become mayor of Felcsut for seven
Real Madrid and that gives the ground of Honved and Real Madrid. years – and the richest man in Hungary.
WORLD SOCCER 45
Jack Grealish
PLAYER
BIOGRAPHY
JACK
Jack Grealish is the talk of the town after a sensational
season for both Aston Villa and England, captaining his
boyhood club in the Premier League and becoming
a key man ahead of Euro 2020
Words: Nick Bidwell
S
ublime Brazilian-like ball dribbled right through the team. He
skills. Lashings of boldness was very small. It was like looking at
and imagination. Exceptional Maradona.”
ability to dribble at pace. Slicked After introducing himself on the
back hair. Socks at half-mast revealing touchline to Jack’s mother Karen,
shin pads the size of a postage stamp. Thomas straight away enquired if the
On the field of play, Jack Grealish has youngster would like to join the Villa
no trouble standing out in a crowd. academy. The response? A big, fat yes.
It’s what he’s always done, even Like his father Kevin, Jack was a Villa fan
cutting a conspicuous footballing figure through and through, a claret and blue
as an infant. Just ask long-serving disciple from top to toe. He was only
Midlands talent spotter Jim Thomas, four years old when he attended his first
who first clapped eyes on Jack when game at Villa Park in January 2000 –
the Birmingham-born showstopper was a pulsating 3-2 FA Cup win over Leeds
just six years old. Thomas, whose list United. At seven he was a season ticket
of discoveries includes Villa, Liverpool holder and regularly went on the road
and Rangers winger Mark Walters, to away games.
Manchester United wide-man Lee Growing up, Jack was particularly
Sharpe and Derby County striker Dean fond of Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor,
Sturridge, still has vivid memories of a virtual one-club man who spent 13
that damp Sunday morning back in seasons in the first team there, is the
2002, turning up at a park in the club’s all-time leading Premier League
Shirley district of Solihull and watching goalscorer and won three caps for
open-mouthed as the kid in the England. Agbonlahor was still at Villa
oversized shirt turned on the style when Grealish first broke into the club’s
for Highgate United in a six-a-side first team as a 19-year-old in 2015 and
encounter. was a privileged witness to all of Jack’s
“You couldn’t fail to miss him,” early career milestones: his first start in
Thomas told the Birmingham Mail last the FA Cup against Blackpool in January
year. “As soon as I’m there, he’s got the 2015; his full Premier League debut in
ball in his own penalty area and has a 3-3 home draw with QPR in April; his
WORLD SOCCER 47
BIOGRAPHY
pivotal role the same month as Villa was obsessed with the game from the fresh frontier to reach. As a schoolboy,
upset Liverpool 2-1 in an FA Cup semi- earliest of ages. All he wanted to do Jack trained with Villa three nights a
final; his subsequent appearance in was kick a ball, and that was what he week, yet he would have happily made
the final (albeit in a 4-0 hammering by did: in the school playground, in the the 30-mile round trip on a daily basis.
Arsenal at Wembley), and first Premier back garden of the family home in His hunger was insatiable.
League goal in a 3-2 loss at Leicester. Solihull in the West Midlands, a local Villa, well aware that they had a gem
Agbonlahor and Grealish form quite park or any other space where he, his in their midst, treated him with great
the mutual appreciation society. Jack elder brother Kevan and his cousins care in the academy ranks. On the one
singles out Gabby as one of his role could do their thing. Coming of age… hand, giving him plenty of licence to
models, while the latter never tires of Nor did he ever want for desire. Every the 2015 FA Cup express himself and exploit
semi-final was a
returning the compliment, happy to day he had a new trick to master, more turning point in his rare poise, guile and
describe Jack as the most gifted player work to do on his weaker left foot, a Grealish’s career vision. On the other,
he played with and comparing the
25-year-old to Barcelona and Spain
midfield great Andres Iniesta.
Grealish is just one branch of a
towering oak of a Villa family tree.
His dad Kevin was on hand to soak up
the atmosphere at every Villa triumph
of the last 40 years – their stunning
league title in 1980-81, the conquest of
the European Cup the following season
and the 1995-96 League Cup – while
his great, great grandfather Billy Garraty
pocketed an FA Cup winners’ medal
with the Villa way back in 1905. Garraty
earned one England cap; Jack already
has trumped him on that score, with five
senior appearances for the Three Lions.
With roots like that, there was always
every chance that Grealish would
successfully climb the football ladder.
He had the natural flair to die for, and
NextGen Series…the competition that gave

Jack his first taste of continental competition
Jack Grealish
Up-and-coming…
Grealish clashes with
Chelsea’s Andreas
Christensen in 2013
Team-mates…Gabby Agbonlahor was a

big influence on Grealish’s early career
teaching him good habits. In those

days, he would often be deployed in
age-groups a couple of rungs above
his own and would often be used wide
on the left, the rationale being that he
would have a little more protection
away from the trenches.
The developmental plan was a good
one. At the age of 16, in March 2012,
he enjoyed his first taste of the Premier
League scene, picked by then-Villa
manager Alex McLeish to sit on the
bench during a 4-2 home defeat to
Chelsea. The next season he was in
Europe, starring in the Villa Under-19
side that won the UEFA NextGen
Series – the continent’s leading youth
competition. Of all those young Villa
heroes, Jack was the only one to go
on to establish himself at the club.
A few more of his rough edges were
smoothed off during a loan spell in
2013-14 at English third-tier side Notts
County, where the hurly-burly style of
play and County’s season-long struggle
against relegation toughened him up.
He was kicked from pillar to post, yet
still came back for more.
Without his sterling efforts that season
– five goals, seven assists – Notts County Timeline
would not have
hauled themselves AU G 14 , 2 013 S E P 13 , 2 013 M AY 7 , 2 014
out of the drop
“He was very small. It was like
Makes his debut Joins Notts County After returning
zone at the death. looking at Maradona” for the Republic of on loan for a year, from Nottingham,
Throughout Talent scout Jim Thomas Ireland Under-21s going on to make he makes his Aston
the campaign, he as a late substitute 37 League One Villa debut in a 4-0
in a 4-1 victory over appearances for defeat to Manchester
proved pure entertainment gold, the Faroe Islands. the Magpies. City in the Premier
exemplified by his first-ever senior goal, League.
a wonderful effort in a 3-1 win over
WORLD SOCCER 49
BIOGRAPHY
Gillingham in December. Here was the

Grealish we have come to know and
love, picking up a loose ball on the edge
of the box, effortlessly gliding past four
defenders and firing high into the net.
The aftermath was memorable too,
with Jack rushing to the main stand to
embrace his dad, receiving a booking
for over-celebrating, then pointing
upwards, a tribute to his late younger
brother Keelan, who passed away from
cot death in 2000 when Jack was just
four years old.
Then-Notts County manager Shaun
Derry remembers Jack as a “chirpy”
individual, who played with “freshness”.
“He didn’t really seem to understand
the importance of training at the time,”
Derry told the Birmingham Mail. “He
just wanted to play football, to play
five-a-side games and full matches.
When he did turn out and was on
form, he was unplayable.”
Upon his return, Grealish earned
his first senior run-out – a two-minute
cameo versus Manchester City in May
2014 – yet struggled for first-team
opportunities under Paul Lambert. The
former Scotland midfielder generally more regard for Grealish’s maverick Promotion…Villa beat was huge, with a lot of expectancy and
gave the impression that Grealish was abilities, and within a couple of months Derby County in the pressure,” said Sherwood afterwards.
2019 play-off final
too raw and too ill-disciplined, once of Sherwood’s arrival, Grealish was “It didn’t faze him. He grew.”
referring to him as a “baby”. featuring in Villa’s shock FA Cup With Grealish’s profile growing on
All was to change, though, when semi-final victory over Liverpool, the pitch, more attention came off it.
Lambert was replaced by Tim Sherwood undoubtedly the watershed moment In 2015, the tabloids made a song and
in February 2015. The latter had much of his career. “That Liverpool game dance of him inhaling laughing gas
and a couple of months later, pictures
emerged of him sprawled on the street
during a holiday in Tenerife. In the
autumn of 2016, Villa fined him for
attending a rowdy late-night party that
got out of hand at a Birmingham hotel,
and he still has plenty of maturing to
do: in December he was banned from
“That Liverpool game was huge, with a lot

of expectancy and pressure. It didn’t faze
him. He grew”
Ex-Villa manager Tim Sherwood
driving for nine months and fined over

£80,000 for two motoring offences.
Equally controversial was his decision
back in 2015 to switch international
Carabao Cup…last allegiance from the Republic of Ireland
season Villa reached
the final thanks to to England. Grealish, who qualified for
Grealish’s displays the Republic through his grandparents,
A P R 19 , 2 015 M AY 30 , 2 015 S E P 13 , 2 015 S E P 28 , 2 015 A P R 16 , 2 016

Produces a man Plays the entirety Scores his first Confirms he will Villa’s relegation
of the match of the FA Cup Villa goal, a represent England from the Premier
performance as final at Wembley long-range shot at international League is confirmed
Villa overcome Stadium as Villa against Leicester level, having turned with a 1-0 defeat to
Liverpool in the lose 4-0 to City in a 3-2 defeat down a senior Manchester United.
FA Cup semi-final, Arsenal. in the Premier call-up from the
winning 2-1. League. Republic of Ireland.
50 WORLD SOCCER
Second City
derby…Grealish
celebrates striking
the winner against
Birmingham City
represented them at various under-age international retirement,” snarkily wrote

levels, but when push came to shove, one Ireland supporter. That tweet, to
he chose to nail his colours to the say the least, has not aged well.
country of his birth. In September, almost five years after
“I thought about it for a long time, switching his international allegiance,
spoke with my family and my agent, but Grealish made his England debut off
in the end, it came from me,” Grealish the bench against Denmark. A month
explained in the Daily Telegraph in 2016. later, he made his first start in a friendly
“If I fulfil my ability, I feel I can play for against Wales. “Excellent,” read the
England in years to come. I was born match reports. “Outstanding.” “Inventive.”
here, as were my parents, so I feel “An impressive all-round display.”
more English than Irish.” “He is a different type of player to any
Inevitably, many Irish fans took it that we have,” said Gareth Southgate
badly. They had seen Grealish as one after the game. Yet for a long time, the Midfield magic…this everybody is fit, Southgate may still
of their own, someone so committed to England manager had resisted calls to season Grealish has prefer others.
starred alongside
his roots that as a schoolboy he played include Grealish in his squads, insisting Ross Barkley and For fans, there is no doubt: Grealish
Gaelic football to a high standard for that the likes of Raheem Sterling, Jadon John McGinn in the should be among the first names on the
a leading Birmingham club. Now he Sancho and Marcus Rashford were all Villans’ midfield team sheet, although this popularity is
was turning his back on them and the better options in his front three. In spite relatively new. The playmaker has often
backlash was especially brutal on social of more impressive performances in the been accused of diving, in spite of the
media. “Congratulations on your autumn, there is a sense that when fact that he attracts rough treatment.
M AY 2 6 , 2 018 M A R 10 , 2 019 M AY 27 , 2 019 JUL 26, 2020

Plays all 90 minutes Captains the team After winning a club Scores the goal that
as Villa are beaten in the Birmingham record ten games in ensures Villa’s safety
1-0 by Fulham in derby at St. Andrew’s a row, he captains on the final day of
the Championship and is assaulted by Villa to victory in the season. Voted
play-off final at a pitch invader, yet the play-off final, Villa’s Player of the
Wembley. goes on to score beating Derby Season by both the
the winner. County 2-1. players and fans.
WORLD SOCCER 51
BIOGRAPHY
Next generation…he is one of several

exciting young England attackers
Last season he was fouled 167 times

in the Premier League – more than
anybody else in the division, a record
that he also held in the Championship
the year before.
Just like his time at Notts County,
the three seasons that Grealish spent
in England’s second tier played a vital
role in toughening him up. His arrival in
2016-17 came off the back of a season
in which his boyhood club had been
relegated with a pitiful 17 points, where
he himself had played 16 games and
lost every single one – another at the ensuing furore; then, finally, Key man…Grealish The heroics continued the following
unwanted record. jubilant as he celebrated scoring the impressed during season, with a late goal v West Ham on
England’s autumn
The pain of relegation affected winner with his own fans. internationals the final day guaranteeing Villa’s Premier
Grealish more than most of his “Best day of my life,” he grinned to an League survival. A summer transfer was
team-mates, as did the pressure from interviewer after the game. “To come widely expected yet resisted, with a five-
fans to get back up again – pressure here for the first time as captain of year contract signed in September.
that increased with each passing year. Aston Villa and score the winner That deal has not put an end to
The Villans finished 13th in their first – it’s what dreams are made of.” the transfer rumours, but it has helped
season, and more hurt followed in From that point on, Villa were swell Aston Villa’s asking price to around
2017-18 when they lost the play-off unstoppable. With Grealish in the team £100 million. As have his performances
final against Fulham at Wembley. they won all but one of their remaining – not only with England but also at club
The defeat was a huge blow, and games, overcoming local rivals West level, most notably in the 7-2 destruction
the hangover was felt into the following Bromwich Albion in the play-off semi- of Liverpool. But it will not be easy for
season. In October, with the club lying finals, before edging out Derby in the
14th, manager Steve Bruce was sacked final. It was his third Wembley final with
and replaced by Dean Smith. A fellow Villa and first taste of victory, for once “If I fulfil my ability, I feel I can
boyhood Villa fan, the former Brentford getting his hands on the trophy instead play for England in years to come.
boss quickly struck up an excellent of lying inconsolable on the pitch. I was born here, as were my parents,
relationship with Grealish. In March, so I feel more English than Irish”
following a three-month injury absence,
the midfielder was named captain for Grealish on his international future in 2016
a home clash with Derby County, and
was instrumental in a 4-0 victory. Jack to sever the ties that bind him to
A week later, he retained the Villa Park, his home from home for
armband for the Second City derby almost two decades.
at Birmingham City. Ten minutes in, A big decision on Grealish’s future is
the game took an extraordinary turn approaching; things are getting serious.
Changed
when a home fan ran onto the pitch allegiances…
But you wouldn’t know it. He continues
and punched Grealish in the back of Grealish earned to carry on playing with every bit of
the head. Pictures from the day show 19 caps for the nonchalance that his junior-sized
Republic of Ireland
him looking shocked, then slightly youth teams
shin pads suggest, knowing that
embarrassed, laughing nervously he is living the dream.
SEP 8, 2020 S E P 15 , 2 0 2 0 OCT 4, 2020

Makes his England After weeks Scores one goal and
debut as a 76th of speculation, assists three as Villa
-minute substitute commits his future inflict a stunning 7-2
in a 0–0 draw with to Aston Villa by defeat on Liverpool
Denmark in the signing a new five- – the Reds’ biggest
UEFA Nations year contract. ever Premier
League. League defeat.
52 WORLD SOCCER
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f
SPECIAL FEATURE
The BIG
stories
of 2021
...before they happen
Nick Bidwell takes a look at
the year’s burning questions
1
IS THE EUROPEAN SUPER However, there are simply too many
LEAGUE A REALISTIC key protagonists ready to object. UEFA
POSSIBILITY? president Aleksander Ceferin has
Clearly a raft of the deemed the proposed breakaway as
continent’s top clubs – “insane”, Champions League holders
including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich are not at all interested,
Atletico Madrid and many of the while La Liga supremo Javier Tebas
Premier League’s finest – regard provided the ultimate of put-downs:
a period of pandemic-induced “These underground schemes only
recession as the ideal moment look good when drafted in a bar at
to make the project happen. five o’clock in the morning.”
2
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE
HOLD FOR THOMAS TUCHEL
FOLLOWING HIS EXIT FROM
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN?
Put simply, the German boss’
days at the Parc des Princes were
numbered long before his contract was
terminated in December. Tuchel’s main
beef was that he was not sufficiently
respected in France. Last season, for
example, he almost achieved a brilliant
clean sweep, winning the domestic
championship, Cup and League Cup,
plus Champions League silver. Yet still
had large swathes of the Gallic media
gunning for him, criticising his tactics
and his side’s lack of defined identity.
Sources in England and Germany say
Chelsea may be his next port of call, with
Not on my watch… current Blues boss Frank Lampard under
UEFA president Ceferin pressure following a patchy run of form.
54 WORLD SOCCER
SPECIAL FEATURE
James Rodriguez…Everton
are shoving two fingers up
to the established order
Solskjaer and
Lampard…playing
legends turned
managers
4
WILL TOP PLAYERS KEEP
GETTING TOP JOBS?
The sight of legendary players
patrolling the touchlines was
undoubtedly a theme of
2020, with Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)
and Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) following the
likes of Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Steven
Gerrard (Rangers), Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
(Manchester United) and Vincent
Kompany (Anderlecht) into the dugout.
Between them, there have been
enough positive moments to suggest that
this policy is not merely a marketing tool
or a sop to star-struck fans, although
not enough to conclude that it is a
bulletproof strategy either. Whether
the aforementioned coaches have the
wherewithal to lead a wining team at
a high level like Zinedine Zidane (Real
Madrid) or Pep Guardiola (Barcelona)
have done remains to be seen.
Struggling…30 league
matches without a win
5
WILL SCHALKE AVOID
THE DREADED DROP?
One of the biggest clubs in
German football, an outfit
3
Frustrated… ARE WE HEADING FOR A with a huge fanbase, glorious
Thomas Tuchel
MORE OPEN AND EQUAL past and tradition for a never-say-die
PREMIER LEAGUE? mentality, the Gelsenkirchener will have
It certainly looks that way. to perform the mother of all recoveries
Liverpool’s packed treatment if they are to avoid relegation from the
room has made them vulnerable; while Bundesliga for the first time since 1988.
the frailties of the two Manchester giants In their opening 14 games this season,
are there for all to see (despite United’s the Royal Blues could not muster a single
revival over the festive period); and victory (taking their winless run to 30
Arsenal appear to be withering in the Bundesliga matches), costing the jobs
post-Wenger era. of first David Wagner in September
Suddenly top-four pretenders are and then Manuel Baum in December.
mushrooming, including Jose Mourinho’s Huub Stevens, who guided the club to
re-tooled Tottenham and Chelsea safety in 2018-19, was put in temporary
(despite a poor recent run), with Aston charge, but now ex-Tottenham manager
Villa, Leicester City, Southampton, West Christian Gross has been installed – his
Ham, Leeds, Everton and Wolves all first job in Europe for almost a decade.
aiming to upset the established order. Every aspect of the club speaks imminent
Has the economic consequences of disaster: bare coffers, poor management
COVID-19 and playing behind closed decisions, unmotivated players looking
doors spawned a brave new world? for excuses and supporters in uproar.
WORLD SOCCER 55
SPECIAL FEATURE
8
Peter Pan...
Ibrahimovic CAN SCOTLAND SHINE
AT EURO 2020?
About to take part in their
first international tournament
since the 1998 World Cup in
France, the Scots may appear to be a
workaday outfit on paper, only boasting
a smattering of Grade A individuals.
But write them off at your peril. In just
a year-and-a-half in charge, manager
Steve Clarke has pieced together a
cohesive, hard-working unit with that
happy knack of battling through against that this is their time. Two Euro 2020
adversity. Belief and momentum are fixtures at home at Hampden Park and
crucial commodities in football and after a tussle with the “Auld Enemy” England
twice winning penalty shoot-outs in the at Wembley will make for added
play-offs, the feeling in the camp is psychological bonuses.
6
CAN THE MILAN
REVIVAL CONTINUE?
Ten years have passed since
Milan last won the Scudetto,
and only a few months ago
coach Stefano Pioli was looking ripe for
the axe. Yet the 55-year-old saved his
job by stringing together a remarkable
run of form that has continued into
the new campaign and, after remaining
unbeaten in the league throughout 2020
since lockdown, his team are well placed
to end Juventus’ dominance of Serie A.
Assuming that evergreen Swedish
striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic stays fit and in
form, anything is possible. The 39-year-
old Peter Pan shone like a beacon in the
first half of 2020-21, setting an example
to his team-mates by providing goals,
spectacle, combativeness and leadership.
Golden oldie…
Quagliarella
7
CAN WE EXPECT MORE
GOLDEN OLDIE EXPLOITS?
Thanks to strides in sports
and medical science, beefed
up back-up crews, better
pitches and more rotation, 30 and
40-something pros have never had it
so good. Hats off to the likes of Chelsea
striker Olivier Giroud (34), Montpellier
defender Vitorino Hilton (43), Bologna
forward Rodrigo Palacio (38), Real Betis
wing wizard Joaquin (39), Sampdoria
front-man Fabio Quagliarella (37),
Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Makoto
International
Hasebe (37) and many, many others. wilderness…
We’re all benefitting from their extra Thomas Muller
few years in the sun.
56 WORLD SOCCER
SPECIAL FEATURE
9
Winless streak…Arsenal’s1-0 home defeat to
WILL THOMAS MULLER Burnley came during a seven-game winless run
RETURN FOR GERMANY?
Coach Joachim Low won’t
have a job for much longer
if he can’t find a solution
to Germany’s alarming slump. But in
Thomas Muller, he may have a saviour.
Discarded from the national team in
March 2019, the Bayern star has been
in the form of his life in 2020, playing a
vital role in the Bavarians’ treble-winning
success, and he’s not slowed down in
Ending the long the current campaign. With 100 caps,
wait…Scotland 38 international goals and five major
10
celebrate reaching
Euro 2020 tournaments under his belt, he offers HAVE ARSENAL marks hang over key figures: owner Stan
a wealth of pedigree and experience FINALLY TURNED Kroenke, who has overseen a sustained
in addition to his outstanding form. THE CORNER? period of decline; technical director Edu,
The R-word was whose appointment in 2019 has failed
even mentioned to arrest the slide; and “super” agent Kia
among Arsenal fans after they took just Joorabchian, perceived to have obtained
eight points from their last 12 league an input into the club’s transfer strategy.
games before Christmas, but wins versus Between them, these key decision-
Chelsea, Brighton and West Bromwich makers have inadequately dealt with the
Albion to close out and then start the futures of several players, most notably
New Year saw them turn the tide. While William Saliba and Mesut Ozil, creating
relegation is unthinkable for a club that an inharmonious squad. Arsenal have
has been in the English top flight longer some immensely talented young players
than any other (102 years), missing out in Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and
on European football for the first time Kieran Tierney, and did tidy business last
since 1995-96 would also be a failure. summer capturing Thomas Partey and
It was then, in 1996, when Arsene Gabriel. If Mikel Arteta can rid the club
Wenger was appointed, but the stability of the bad apples and deadwood, the
he installed has evaporated. Question future will look eternally brighter.
11
WHAT WILL THE
NETHERLANDS
BRING TO
EURO 2020?
The Dutch left a
huge hole when they failed to qualify for
Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018. How
we missed those mythical tangerine
jerseys, their classy, progressive style
of play and the massed ranks of their Netherlands...back in the big time
orange-clad fans. Their current squad
arguably is the strongest they have had worries: is new coach Frank de Boer
for some time, featuring players of the up to the job? And will centre-back
calibre of Van Dijk, De Jong, Wijnaldum, extraordinaire Virgil van Dijk recover
Depay, Van de Beek and Bergwijn. Two from injury in time for the main event?
12
Returning...
Blanc IS QATAR
A BREEDING
GROUND FOR
ELITE COAHES?
A great recent
mystery was the total disappearance of
Laurent Blanc who, since being sacked by
PSG in 2016, had not worked at all. Until
December that is, when the ex-France
coach was appointed by Al-Rayyan.
The Qatar Stars League may not be
considered elite level, yet it is already
home to a coach tipped for Champions
League football in Xavi. If both Blanc
and Xavi can land big jobs off the back
of their exploits in the Middle East, other
managerial wannabes could be tempted.
WORLD SOCCER 57
SPECIAL FEATURE
13
Mbappe or Haaland…
WHO WILL the next Galactico?
REAL MADRID
PLUMP FOR:
HAALAND
OR MBAPPE?
In a perfect world, Real Madrid president
Florentino Perez would like to bring in
both these young starlets, showcasing
them in what would be an irresistible
front-line. But given the huge potential
cost of the operation, Perez probably
will prioritise Mbappe, who has never
hidden his desire to play for Los Blancos.
Mbappe’s current deal with PSG runs
out in the summer of 2022, but sources
in France say the Ligue 1 champions are
enticing him to stay by attempting to
lure Lionel Messi to the French capital.
However, until Mbappe puts pen to
paper, Real are confident that PSG will
be forced to offload the young ace this
summer, and believe an offer around
€190m will be enough to swing the deal.
On loan…
Morata joined
Juventus from
Atletico Madrid
last summer
14
WILL LOAN
MOVES BE
INCREASINGLY
IN VOGUE?
With clubs hit
hard in the pocket by the long-lasting
effects of coronavirus, personnel costs
will have to be reduced considerably
and it makes perfect sense to spurn
eight-figure permanent transfers for a
far more affordable loan fee. In terms
of risk versus reward, it’s the obvious
manoeuvre: bring in a good quality
player for a year or two and then if it all
works out, trigger a right-to-buy option.
Even a club of the standing of Barcelona
will have to extensively play the loan
market. The Catalans are in a dire
economic situation at the moment, in
debt to the tune of €488m, including
€200m of revenue lost to coronavirus.
58 WORLD SOCCER
SPECIAL FEATURE
On the move…
David Alaba
16
HOW WILL RB Leipzig’s French defender Dayot
BAYERN MUNICH Upamecano has cooled, deterred by
REPLACE DAVID his mammoth €50 million release
ALABA? clause. Rumours abound that Bayern
After the Austrian will look for an in-house solution
defender turned down another contract instead, offering a chance to French
offer at the end of 2020, Bayern’s focus youngster Tanguy Nianzou – who
has switched from convincing Alaba to joined from PSG in July – or German
stay to finding his replacement. Under-21 international Lars-Lukas
Those with their ear to the ground at Mai, who is currently on loan at
the club claim the Bavarians’ interest in second division Darmstadt.
17
WILL DEMBELE
FINALLY SAY YES?
Talented but also
injury-prone and
erratic, Barcelona’s
French winger Ousmane Dembele is
notoriously headstrong too. In each of
the last two summers, the 23-year-old
has been the man Barca cannot shift,
twice refusing to play ball after deals were
struck with Manchester United and PSG.
Dembele, who joined Barca from
Dortmund for €105m in 2017, has never
managed to nail down a permanent spot
in the Blaugrana line-up. He is adamant
Unwanted…
he still has much to offer at the Nou Dembele
Camp. Barca bosses are far less sure.
15 18
Salary cap
supporter… IS A SALARY CAP IS BELGIUM
Karl-Heinz THE ANSWER TO COACH ROBERTO
Rummenigge
FINANCIAL WOES? MARTINEZ RIGHT
Clubs in the English THAT 2021 WILL
third and fourth BE A “GREAT
tiers recently adopted this American YEAR” FOR HIS SKIPPER HAZARD?
sports model – with total squad wages A good call, with one major caveat –
pegged at £2.5 million and £1.5 million that the highly-skilled winger stays fit
respectively – and there may soon come and well. Since arriving at the Santiago
a time when other leagues do likewise. Bernabeu in 2019 from Chelsea, Eden
While EU competition rules makes Hazard has missed over 30 games with
such a ceiling highly problematic, many injury, more than the sum total of his
European football movers and shakers call-offs in seven years at Stamford
appear to be coming around to the idea. Bridge. This season, he has only started
These include German federation chief a handful of matches for Real and
Fritz Keller, Bayern Munich chairman contracted coronavirus in November.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Cagliari Time to shine… Let’s hope the New Year brings better
president Tommaso Giulini and Bernard Hazard has just luck for the little Belgian ball-artist.
turned 30
Caiazzo, a director at Saint-Etienne. The Red Devils captain deserves it.
WORLD SOCCER 59
CONOR COADY
“The goal
against Wales
is on repeat in
our house”
The England defender talks about Wolves’ rise,
his former club Liverpool and Euro 2020…
The last three and a half winning season was incredible, but to play have to look at ourselves and make sure we are
seasons have been some in the Premier League is a dream. That was improving. If we are doing that, we are going in
ride for Wolverhampton always my goal when I moved to Wolves the right direction.
Wanderers. It owes much to because it’s a big club with a fantastic fan
Nuno Espirito Santo. Just how good is he? base. So many teams struggle when they You signed a new deal with Wolves,
He is incredible. The club has completely go up, but we just seemed to thrive. but there was speculation involving
changed direction since he arrived. It is Qualifying for the Europa League and then your old club, Liverpool…
testament to him and his staff that we’ve come getting into the quarter-finals on the back of I know people will find it hard to believe
so far in that short time. We knew the calibre a first season in the Premier League was an because I grew up there, but it’s not entered
of the man when he came in. He’d managed amazing achievement. We were beaten by my head. I just love everything about being
in the Champions League and it was an Sevilla but they were a top, top team that at Wolves: the manager, the fans and my
exciting opportunity for us all to improve went on and won it. That was a sad moment, team-mates. I think in life, when you come
and get better under his guidance. but when you look back now it’s been quite across something as special as this, it’s very
It’s not just what he’s done for me as a player, some journey. hard to move away from it. I’ve got so much
but as a person. I’ve matured so much. I just gratitude for what this football club has done
need to keep listening to him and improving Having established yourselves in the top for me. I have no regrets with how my career
every day. That’s what he does; he makes half of the Premier League, what is the has gone. I left one of the biggest clubs in the
every one of us in the squad better. next step for Wolves? world to establish myself in a first team and
When a big job becomes available we all We don’t set objectives, but it would be a then I found Wolves. Every time I play for this
have a bit of a panic! He deserves to be linked dream come true to win a trophy with Wolves. club is an honour. I’m proud to be the captain
with the biggest sides because he is that good That would be incredible. I can only imagine of this team. We aren’t just team-mates, we
a coach. It’s important we make the most of the emotion of that, but there’s no point putting are great friends in that dressing room.
having him at our club. No one stays forever, unwanted pressure on yourself. We’ve never
but we are delighted he is with us now. done that before and it’s served us well. One man who has gone from Wolves to
Everyone wants to play in the Champions Liverpool is Diogo Jota. Are you surprised
What has been your personal highlight League too, but there are so many quality he’s become so important to their attack?
of the rise and rise of Wolves? teams in the Premier League, that we’d be a No, because I know his quality as a player.
There have been so many. The Championship- bit arrogant to set that as a target. I think we When he moved a lot of people were texting
60 WORLD SOCCER
61
CONOR COADY
Wolves hero…
Coady has been
at the heart of
Wolves’ rise
a back-up to anyone. I expect him to be it was going to be and more. My wife videos
a massive success. my kids watching their Dad play for his country
From our point of view, whenever you – and the goal against Wales is on repeat in
lose anyone of Diogo’s calibre, you are going our house! I don’t need to watch because I’ll
to miss them. He was great for us, but football never forget it. Being involved with England is
moves on. just amazing and a very proud achievement
for me and my family.
Your form for Wolves has led to England
recognition. At the age of 27, did you What is the England manager Gareth
wonder if it would happen? Southgate like to deal with?
I’ve dreamed about it all of my life. I can’t speak more highly of him, but it’s
I represented my country at various levels not just the way he is with me. You see him
as a kid and it was a massive honour. Over speaking with the others and the way he
the years, I saw other lads from my age group handles the media and different situations
Melwood playing in the Premier League every week and that arise. He’s absolutely fantastic.
graduate…Coady getting full England caps, so you do wonder if
played one Premier
League game for
the chance has gone. Do you already feel very much a part
Liverpool after My career path has been different. They of the England group?
coming through were ready but I wasn’t, and I had to drop down I’ll never take anything for granted. I have to
their academy
a league. I had to learn more about football, see how the season goes and keep playing well
get better and become a man. It’s been a great for Wolves. The England manager, the staff and
me to ask what he’s like. The biggest journey and I wouldn’t change any of it. the players all make you feel so welcome and
compliment I can pay him is that he has Even now, I can’t really put into words how get you involved right away. There are some
an incredible mentality. He has such a strong I felt when I got that call from the manager. truly world-class players in the squad, so to go
desire to win, to score goals and play well for Walking out with that shirt on and singing the and share a pitch with them is a real privilege.
his team. I knew that he wouldn’t want to be national anthem – it was everything I thought I’m 27, but I’m still learning from these
62 WORLD SOCCER
Leaders…Nuno Espirito Santo with his club captain
I just need to keep focusing on my club, listening You just hope the world is in a better place with
to our manager every day and keep looking to the pandemic because the atmosphere around
improve. I’ve not thought about going to the the country should be electric.
Euros because I don’t want to put unwanted
pressure on myself. It’s not something I’ve How far can England go and who will
done in the past and I won’t start now. be the main contenders this summer?
We’ve got world-class players and a fantastic
What do manager so you’d hope the group can go far.
“I know people will find it hard to believe you think of I’ve got the experience of training and playing
because I grew up there, but [re-joining England’s group: with them now, but also know their quality from
Croatia, Scotland facing a lot of them in the Premier League.
Liverpool] has not entered my head” and the Czech It’s hard to make predictions now, as you
Republic? It’s don’t know who will be in each country’s squad,
surely a great incentive to know but we should be confident in ourselves given
that Wembley is a major venue… the lads who could be pulling on an England
Any player would tell you it would mean shirt. You’d expect the usual suspects to be
everything for them to be involved there. It’s pushing for the trophy. There are some
a great group of teams and there will be some amazing countries involved and it’s
interesting battles. It’s not often a competitive going to be a really exciting
tournament comes around where some games tournament.
players. It was obviously fantastic to be called are on home soil. It really is goose-bump stuff. Interview by Paul Hassall
up for the November internationals, but then it
became an absolute nightmare having to leave
the camp early [due to injury]. Hopefully, I can
earn more chances in the future.
England got to the World Cup semi-finals

with a back three and Southgate still sees
it as an option. Does that work in your
favour for the Euros?
I’ll do anything to help the England team. If
it’s a back four and I’m called upon, then great.
If it’s a back three, I offer some experience
because I’ve played the system for years.
Other clubs play different formations so
maybe that’s an area I can contribute, but
we are talking about world-class players
who have won leagues and Champions
Leagues. They can all adapt. As long as
I can be useful to the cause, I’ll be happy.
Do you feel that if you maintain form

with Wolves you’ll be in that squad “Absolutely
in the summer? fantastic”…
To go to a major tournament with England Coady is a fan
of Southgate
representing Wolves would be amazing, but
WORLD SOCCER 63
FIFA rankings
Top of the world…

Belgium have been
top of the FIFA world
rankings since 2018
64 WORLD SOCCER
SPECIAL
REPORT
CLIMBING
THE
LADDER
Steve Menary examines the issues
with changes to the FIFA rankings
S
ince being introduced in Tom Saintfiet, the well-travelled Belgian
December 1992, the FIFA coach, who has managed all over the
World Ranking has routinely world and took over the Gambia in
been the subject of controversy. July 2018.
In nearly three decades, only eight “Since 2018, they’ve changed the
teams have topped the list: Argentina, FIFA rankings so that you can win fewer
Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, the points if you win a friendly. Before it
Netherlands, Spain and most recently, depended on how strong your opponent
Belgium, who unlike their predecessors was and if it was home and away, but
have never won a senior international now the points are worth much less.”
trophy. Prior to 2018, the world rankings
This sort of anomaly is why the were calculated using a points system
rankings are questioned, but the system that allocated average points for each
is most contentious with countries lower game, including friendly matches.
down. This system prioritised qualifiers, and
“A couple of years ago it was easier countries that did well in those games
with a few good results and regular could protect their ranking by avoiding
matches during FIFA dates to climb friendlies.
up faster for the lower-ranked teams,” As the system averaged out points,
says German coach Michael Weiss, playing and losing a friendly, particularly
who has coached the Philippines and at home to a lower ranked side, hit the
left Mongolia in January 2020. “At the ranking. So, countries playing fewer
time if you beat, for instance, a team friendlies benefited more than those
ranked ten or 20 places higher you looking to actually play more games.
would automatically jump ten spots up. In 2017, Poland and Switzerland were
“In my case in Mongolia, we reached in the top five after only playing a single
several milestones during my three years friendly in the previous year. Wales were
and got results in Malaysia, Laos and ranked as high as eighth in October
Cambodia, and beat Myanmar at home. 2015 following a 17-month break from
Myanmar were 130th in the rankings friendlies.
but we only moved up a few spots. Ten There was a different problem in Asia,
years ago a victory for a 190th-placed where two thirds of the countries are
team versus 130th would have meant outside the top 100. Steve Darby, who
a minimum of ten or 15 spots up.” has managed Thailand and coached Laos
Research by website We Global from 2015 to 2016, explains: “When I
Football, which analyses football ratings, was with Laos, the world rankings had
shows that half of the teams on the started to become important as people
FIFA rankings have moved six places realised that seedings in tournaments
or fewer in the last two years. relied upon them. It became possible
“It’s almost impossible to climb the for smart administrators to plot their
FIFA rankings and it’s affecting every friendlies to try to gain a better
country that is lower ranked,” agrees seedings via the rankings.
WORLD SOCCER 65
SPECIAL REPORT
“Laos found it difficult. It was points are exchanged from the losing final stages of major tournaments.
economically more attractive to have team to the winning team. [But] FIFA He explains: “FIFA defined
Thailand at home with low costs and disregarded the home advantage. It is exemptions from the zero-sum
a full house but probably get beat, widely known that, especially in national approach: for matches played in the
than to travel to Nepal and win but team football, home advantage plays knockout stages of continental or
face massive air fares. a role in the determination of a World Cup final tournaments a team
“Another danger was that it opened match result. Studies showed that it can’t lose points anymore. The points
an avenue for match-fixers to arrange determines some 6% of the match exchanged are calculated normally but
friendlies under this guise and result, while in club football it only they are not subtracted. This means a
manipulate the results.” determines some 4%. huge advantage for teams reaching
Friendlies were being fixed in Asia, “FIFA also disregarded the goal those knockout stages.
Africa and also Europe, such as the difference and uses lower weights than “That’s partly why Belgium, France
2011 matches in Turkey between Bolivia Elo for corresponding match types.” and Brazil are so far in front points
and Latvia, and Estonia and Bulgaria. When the new system started, the wise of the rest of the current top ten
FIFA took action and in 2018 Nations League began in Europe and Gaming the system… in the ranking. This also makes
Poland achieved their
changed the rankings to reduce CONCACAF to replace friendlies staged highest ranking by changes at the very top of the ranking
the value of friendlies and boost in fallow years, when there was no avoiding friendlies quite rare.”
competitive games, particularly at World Cup or continental qualifying,
major championships. The new system but Nations League qualifiers carry only
was based on an independent system, marginally more points than friendlies.
called the Elo ratings, but with crucial In contrast, the Elo system offers 20
differences. points for a friendly win and 40 points
Ed Jagers, a Dutch software analyst, for a continental qualifier.
who runs an independent website, “This explains why the FIFA ranking is
Football-Rankings.info, explains: much less volatile than Elo,” adds Jagers,
“This system is a zero-sum calculation who says that the biggest difference is
method where for each played match, the approach to points won in the
Friendly…Wales
hosted the USA
in November
FIFA rankings
In contrast, the Elo system is much of their managers.

more representative of performances, “Bigger countries are not going to
particularly amongst the smaller nations. play smaller countries in friendlies,” says
For example, Tom Saintfiet’s Gambia St. Lucia coach Jamaal Shabazz. “If it’s
have produced a string of impressive without dictating too much there must
results against significantly higher- be some method to allow smaller
ranked opponents since he started countries to get that opportunity. Even
in 2018. These include victories over if it is to be used as target practice.
Benin, Angola and Gabon, and two “I think if once in two years a smaller
draws with Algeria in Africa Cup of ranked country with ambition is allowed
Nations qualifying, and a friendly victory a friendly against a powerhouse, it gives
over 2018 World Cup finalists Morocco. you an indication of how far you’ve got
In the FIFA rankings, Gambia are 157th to improve physically technically and
– four places behind Eswatini, who have tactically.”
not won any form of international for The consequences of the changes
more than 20 matches. But in the mean that not only are smaller
corresponding Elo rankings, Gambia countries unable to challenge
are 114th and Eswatini are 177th. themselves, but making significant
With smaller countries such as Well-travelled…Tom kept the previous points from the old moves up the rankings is almost
Mongolia, Laos or Gambia less likely to Saintfiet has coached system,” says Tom Saintfiet, who adds: unachievable.
several lower-ranked
reach later stages of continental finals, countries “Probably this rule was created to keep Michael Weiss adds: “For lower-
improving their FIFA ranking to get a the big teams higher up the FIFA ranked teams it’s very difficult as they
better seeding is now harder and the rankings and countries like the USA really need to participate in all FIFA
transition to the new system has not and Netherlands to go to the big designed periods and need victories
helped. against stronger teams, preferably
“The strange away, which is difficult to achieve as
thing is that they “It’s almost
impossible to climb the FIFA rankings most lower-ranked teams mostly start
and it’s affecting every country that is lower preparation late for certain prestigious
ranked” tournaments.”
FIFA says its aim with the new
Tom Saintfiet, Gambia coach
rankings is to encourage teams that
perform well in major championships,
tournaments. Remember, in the last particularly at the finals. A FIFA
tournament they were not there.” spokesperson explains: “The main aim
While this was perhaps the only fair of the new formula that was introduced
way of making the change, for countries in August 2018 was to identify an
that were higher up the rankings in algorithm that is not only intuitive, easy
2018 staying there – and guaranteeing to understand and improves overall
a better seeding – is easier. accuracy, but also addressed feedback
All this is why smaller countries, received about the previous model and
bogged down by the current system, are provides fair and equal opportunities for
unable to make any significant moves all teams across all confederations to
up the FIFA rankings. In the reduced ascend the FIFA Ranking.”
window for friendlies, particularly in With no prospect of another revision,
Europe and CONCACAF, countries smaller nations are likely to be left
are also looking up the rankings permanently lagging behind their
for opponents to the frustration bigger rivals in the FIFA rankings.
FIFA ranking explained Frustrated…

St. Lucia head
coach Jamaal
The method of calculation adds/subtracts points for Shabazz
individual matches to/from a team’s existing points total.
Points added or subtracted are partially determined
by the two teams’ relative strength, including the
expectation that teams higher in the rankings
should fare better against lower-ranked sides.
• 5pts Friendly match outside FIFA window
• 10pts Friendly match inside FIFA window
• 15pts Group match in Nations League
• 25pts Play-off and finals of Nations League
• 25pts Qualification for regional tournaments
(Euros, AFCON, etc.) and World Cup
• 35pts Regional finals up to quarter-final
• 40pts Regional finals from quarter-final
• 50pts World Cup finals up to quarter-final
• 60pts World Cup finals from quarter-final
Steve Menary
WORLD SOCCER 67
SE
TIE CO
R ND
ST -
AR
Words Jamie Evans S
Michael OLISE
In a sentence
Another Jude Bellingham: an exciting,
skilful, teenage midfielder impressing
in the Championship.
What they say

“For a player of that age and quality,
you’ve got to say he’s worth
£30 million-£40 million now.”
Former Reading
defender Matt Mills
“Michael is super talented, but he also

has to keep learning. We all see huge
potential in him.”
Reading manager
Veljko Paunovic
3
THINGS YOU
The story so far DIDN’T KNOW
2020 saw the likes of Jude Bellingham, ABOUT OLISE
Eberechi Eze, Ollie Watkins and Said
Benrahma leave the Championship for ● In 2019, Olise played for France
huge fees, and Olise is being tipped Under-18s at the Toulon Tournament,
to follow them in 2021. playing in group-stage victories over
Guatemala and Qatar.
The 19-year-old first arrived in ● In spite of those appearances, he
England for trials at Chelsea and then is also eligible to play international
Manchester City, but failed to earn football for England and Nigeria.
a contract with either before joining ● His younger brother Richard is
Reading’s academy in 2016. He made also a young footballer, playing as
a defender in Chelsea’s academy.
his full debut in the second half of
2018-19 and his progress continued
into the following campaign, but this
season he has really shone in a
Reading side that is outperforming
expectations, fighting for promotion
to the Premier League.
The attacking-midfielder plays with
a style that is highly pleasing on the
eye, with balance, poise and flair. He
is capable of gliding past defenders or
beating them with a trick, combined
with a left foot that can slice open
defences. At the start of December,
no teenager in the Championship or
Europe’s top five leagues had created
as many chances as him.
The next step

The long list of prestigious European
clubs that have been linked with Olise is. Some reports say Reading have the Championship assist charts,
is testament to how highly rated he slapped a £40 million price tag on his creativity is a clear strength, as is
head, while others suggest he has an his versatility to play out wide or
£8 million release clause. It is likely as a No.10 behind the front-line.
“Michael is super talented...we that the FA will attempt to enlist him
for international duty as well. Weaknesses
all see huge potential in him” More goals will come with maturity,
Reading manager Veljko Paunovic Strengths as will discipline; he has been guilty
Having spent the season at the top of of petulant yellow cards this season.
68 WORLD SOCCER
TALENT SCOUT
Bryan MBEUMO Bright OSAYI-SAMUEL

Brentford Queens Park Rangers
Mbeumo was a part of While Eberechi Eze has been
the thrilling Brentford impressing in the Premier League,
front-line that came so terrorising full-backs for fun at
close to promotion in Crystal Palace, his replacement at
2019-20. Yet while the Loftus Road has been doing exactly
other members of the the same thing in the Championship.
Bees’ attacking trident At the start of December, nobody
– Benrahma and had completed more dribbles in
Watkins – were snapped the English second tier than the
up by Premier League 23-year-old, and he is catching
sides, Mbeumo stayed. the eye of several scouts.
The Frenchman scored
16 goals last season,
yet this campaign he
has mainly turned Antoine SEMENYO
provider for prolific
new boy Ivan Toney. Bristol City
Recruited from a local college at the
age of 17, Semenyo is an extremely raw
talent that can occasionally lack tactical
Espanyol knowledge and decision-making. Yet in
Nico MELAMED Melamed fits the terms of ability, few in the Championship
mould of the finest can match him. He has both the pace and
Spanish midfielders: bullish strength to shrug off defenders,
diminutive, nimble and is happiest when running at them
and accomplished with the ball at his feet. Remarkably
technically. The 19- two-footed, he has been a key figure in
year-old grew up just City’s attack this season, demonstrating
outside Barcelona, why Chelsea tried to sign him in 2019.
and joined Espanyol’s
academy at 11. Last
season he was a B
team regular, scoring
seven goals in the Alex CENTELLES
Spanish third tier and
earning a first-team Almeria
debut in June. He was Valencia’s academy has produced
powerless to prevent a long line of outstanding Spanish
them being relegated, left-backs, including Jordi Alba, Juan
yet has caught the eye Bernat, Alex Grimaldo and Jose Gaya,
of some big clubs. and Centelles hopes to add his name
to that list having left the Mestalla in
October. Tall, strong and quick, the
Spain Under-19 international impressed
Janis ANTISTE on loan at Famalicao in Portugal last
season, while this campaign he is helping
Toulouse Almeria push for a return to La Liga.
There is a well-worn
cliché that being
relegated allows a
club to refresh with
a raft of new players, Tyrese CAMPBELL
but with Toulouse
there is some truth to Stoke City
it. Leading the line for Son of ex-Arsenal and Everton striker
them this season has Kevin, Campbell’s development had
been the 18-year-old been accelerating this season before
Antiste, who scored a serious knee injury ruled him out for
six goals in his first 13 the rest of the campaign. Unlike his
games of the season. old man, Tyrese plays as a winger
He is highly rated rather than through the middle –
thanks to his natural allowing him to rack up both goals
predatory instincts, and assists – and he was topping
and is developing both charts for his club this season
well in Ligue 2. before his cruel injury in December.
WORLD SOCCER 69
African
diamonds
African talent is now abundant in the top leagues
of Europe – Mark Gleeson runs his eye over the
stars who have been making waves this season
1 Amad DIALLO
MANCHESTER UNITED
The teenager only featured as a time in the last 15 minutes. Traore

substitute for Atalanta in a season responded with a dribbling slalom
and a half in the first team, yet still down the right flank, before cutting
managed some Champions League in to score a seventh with a
minutes, a Serie A goal and a big blistering left-footed shot –
move to Manchester United. becoming the first player born
His Serie A debut came in in 2002 to score in Serie A.
October 2019 after Atalanta had He moved to Italy as a youngster,
gone 6-1 up against Udinese, and grew up in Parma and was signed
Gian Piero Gasperini thought by Atalanta aged 13. His elder
it appropriate to give the then brother Hamed Traore plays for
17-year-old Ivorian some playing Sassuolo on loan from Empoli.
2 Lassina TRAORE
AJAX
Five goals in a record-breaking

13-0 victory for Ajax against
VVV-Venlo earlier in the
Eredivisie campaign catapulted
Traore to the fore, but it is the
injury to the Brazilian Antony
that has granted him more
playing time to profit from.
Long earmarked for success
after being spotted in Bobo-
Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, Ajax
parked Traore at their affiliate
club in Cape Town until he
turned 18, and then tied him
down to a lengthy contract
in the Netherlands. The
impetuosity of youth is still
evident in the number of good
opportunities squandered,
but his physical presence and
willingness to work will see Ajax
surely make a good profit off
him when the time comes to
move up to a bigger league.
70 WORLD SOCCER
6 OF THE BEST
3 El Bilal TOURE
REIMS
The attacking powerhouse is already half century.

cemented in the Mali national team’s Born in the Ivory Coast to
starting line-up, and is beginning to immigrant parents, he moved back
make an impact on Ligue 1 as well. to Mali at the age of 15 and was
Reims have him tied down on a in the team that won the African
five-year contract and on his debut Under-20 Championship in 2019.
last January, Toure asked to take a He has worked hard to become
penalty that he had won, converted more of a bustling striker, using his
it, and subsequently become the body as much as his technical ability
club’s youngest goalscorer in a to lead the line and create chances.
4 KAMALDEEN Sulemana
NORDSJAELLAND
Simply known as Kamaldeen, mazy skills and finishing prowess

the talented 18-year-old winger (eight goals in his first 24 league
came through the Right to Dream games) suggest that may not be
academy in Ghana and made an too hyperbolic.
immediate impact after signing An international debut last
a five-year deal in Denmark October in a friendly against
in January 2020. Mali has marked him out among
Nordsjaelland head coach a new generation of Ghanaians
Flemming Pedersen says the with the ability to see their
creative dribbler has the potential country dominate African
to be an “African Neymar,” and his football in the near future.
Silas
5 Odilon KOSSOUNOU
CLUB BRUGGE 6 WAMANGITUKA
STUTTGART
A positive COVID-19 test for Seven goals in his first 12 games in the
regular centre-back Brandon Bundesliga have allowed the Congolese
Mechele allowed Kossounou to to pick up where he left off last campaign,
get a starting berth with Belgian where his goals helped Stuttgart win a
champions Club Brugge, and place back in the German top flight.
the talented teenager seized One of them earned him a booking for
his chance, becoming a regular “disrespect” after he walked the ball into
in the back-line. the net versus Werder
Now just turned 20, he has Bremen, earning him
turned around his profile after headlines for the
initially proving unconvincing wrong reason. Last
when joining from Swedish season he had also
side Hammarby in 2019. been pegged as
Coaches have worked hard “flashy”, but the pacy
on his positioning, moving him striker – originally
from right-back to centre-back, from Kinshasa via
while encouraging his aggression. France’s fifth tier
Playing in the Champions League – has found German
group phase has been a massive football to his liking.
boost to his confidence and since Speed is his primary
the return of international football commodity but he
last October, Kossounou has is also maturing and
collected four caps for his improving quickly too.
country, the Ivory Coast. Has a bright future.
WORLD SOCCER 71
Women’s Football
Glenn Moore
The rise of
Manchester
United Women
In only their second-ever WSL season,
the Red Devils are leading the title race
At the start of 2018 Manchester gained an understanding of how the
United’s women’s team did not even club were going to support me.”
exist. By the end of 2020 they were Though in pole position to succeed
England’s top club, four points clear Neville with the Lionesses it was an
in the Women’s Super League. Even opportunity Stoney knew she had
given United’s resources it has been a to seize. She did so because “of the
meteoric rise, though for Casey Stoney, history, the scale of the club, and that it
the manager, “it isn’t about December, was going to be a blank canvas – I was
it is about May. There is a long way to going to get to build this club from the
go and a lot of games to play.” bottom up. They knew I knew women’s
Stoney, 38, won 130 England caps football better than they did and they
and spent the best part of two decades allowed me to just get on with it. It was Comeback…United of the talent which had left. When
in the top flight with Arsenal, Chelsea, a unique opportunity you never get in celebrate their United disbanded their women’s team
equaliser against
Liverpool, Charlton and Lincoln, twice football.” Manchester City they maintained their girls’ programme,
winning the title. One of the reasons Stoney was able to handpick all thought to be a requirement of having
she never played for United was that her staff and players, and decide the a boy’s academy. Back came players
the club disbanded their women’s team, philosophy and environment. It was like such as Katie Zelem (Juventus), Millie
which was amateur and played in the running her own fantasy football team. Turner (Bristol City) and Ella Toone
lower divisions, in 2005, soon after the The catch was she had ten weeks to (Manchester City). All were young,
Glazer family bought the club. The new recruit and bed all them in before the as were recruits Leah Galton, Jess
Sigsworth and Lauren James (brother
“I was going to get to build this club from the bottom up… of Chelsea defender Reece). To provide
experienced leadership Stoney raided
It was a unique opportunity you never get in football” Liverpool for England internationals
Manchester United manager Casey Stoney Siobhan Chamberlain, Alex Greenwood
and Amy Turner. “I wanted a young
owners declared the team “unprofitable” start of the season. With a licensing team that I felt we could develop,
and “not part of the core business.” round providing a chance to leapfrog coach and could get promotion
A dozen years later, with the WSL the lower levels United opted to start in the first year,” she said.
thriving and England having reached in the second tier Championship, giving United won their first match
successive tournament semi-finals, the the team a chance to settle. But the against Aston Villa 12-0 and romped
women’s game began to look as if it expectation was immediate promotion. Manager… to promotion. Based at Leigh Sports
could be profitable. United, meanwhile, Stoney began by bringing back some Casey Stoney Village, a 12,000-capacity venue
were encountering increasing criticism west of Manchester shared with rugby
for their stand, the lack of a female league’s Leigh Centurions, they quickly
team cast in sharp relief by Manchester attracted a strong and vocal fanbase.
City’s successful investment. Having begun the campaign with a
So, in May 2018, United announced stylish video launch, they ended it with
they were forming a women’s team. At a trip to China for Stoney and several
the time Stoney was England’s assistant players on behalf of a United sponsor,
manager, working under former United flying first class. “Manchester United,”
men’s player Phil Neville. “I heard about said Stoney, “just did things differently.”
the opportunity through Phil,” she told For their first season in the top flight
World Soccer. “I never expected to get Stoney added more experience in Dutch
the job. When I heard I’d got it all the midfielder Jackie Groenen and England
cogs were going about how I was going defender Abbie McManus. Focusing
to do things. I went to the London office on a solid defence with a leavening of
and met [CEO] Ed Woodward, explained attacking flair United came fourth – “the
my vision for the women’s team, and best of the rest” behind the big three of
72 WORLD SOCCER
Close shave…Juventus
almost caused an upset
LYON GIVEN MAJOR

Star performer…
FRIGHT IN EUROPE Barca’s Caroline
Holders Lyon twice trailed in Graham Hansen
their Champions League round
Chelsea, City and Arsenal. of 32 first leg with Juventus
Last summer they added depth and before taking the match 3-2
class, notably in the form of American and the tie 6-2 on aggregate.
World Cup winners Tobin Heath and Glasgow City, quarter-finalists
Christen Press, hired, said Stoney, last season, lost to Sparta
for their “winning mentality” and the Prague while Slavia Prague
example they would set as well as their went out to a 95th-minute
ability. Heath has been more influential goal from Fiorentina. Chelsea
than the injury-and-illness-hit Press, and Manchester City progressed
but both have raised the team’s profile with big wins versus Benfica and
Stateside with United struggling to keep Kopparbergs/Goteborg respectively. Spain with a 100 per cent record,
pace with demand for replica shirts. The last 16 draw is in February. three games in hand and a 57-2 goal
However, it is notable that the difference. Caroline Graham Hansen
homegrown core remains with many POWER SHIFT IN was the standout player with four goals
of the original squad, including Zelem, FRANCE AND GERMANY… and nine assists. Heading the chase
the Turners and Toone, regular starters Lyon have won the last 14 French were new old rivals Real Madrid, in
this season. titles and Wolfsburg the last four in their debut season. Also on a perfect
Having held champions Chelsea Germany, but going into the winter ten victories, Juve had a three-point
on the opening day, United won five break they both trailed to Paris lead over Milan in Italy, spearheaded
matches, including a 1-0 defeat of Saint-Germain and Bayern by 11-goal striker Cristiana Girelli.
Arsenal, then came back from a 2-0 Munich respectively. PSG
deficit in the Manchester derby to draw had only dropped points KERR LEAVES SCOTS
2-2. Three more wins sent them into in a draw at third-place After Scotland’s failure
the Christmas break four points clear of Bordeaux, whose to qualify for Euro
Arsenal with Chelsea two points further Jamaican striker 2022 manager
adrift, albeit with two games in hand. Khadija Shaw was Shelley Kerr stood
Stoney revealed their progress leading scorer (14 down. She had
has been quicker than anticipated goals). Bayern been in the post
and added claiming one of the three Munich, after four for four years.
Champions League qualifying places successive seasons
remains this year’s prime target. “If I as runners-up, Departing…
FEW STARS IN
compare our budgets to some of the have a dozen Shelley Kerr AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE
others we probably shouldn’t [win the straight wins. A low-key W-League
title] so it won’t be a failure [if we don’t],” began in late December,
she said. Then she added: “But there is …BUT NOT IN SPAIN AND ITALY shorn of many Matildas and National
a winning mindset in that dressing room. Champions Barcelona and Juventus Women’s Soccer League stars due,
We will fight every game to finish as led their respective leagues at the respectively, to players moving to
high as we can.” break. Barca were two points clear in England and a schedule clash.
WORLD SOCCER 73
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WORLD SOCCER 75
CONCACAF Champions League
MARTIN DEL PALACIO LANGER
Mexico on top once again

Tigres extend the dominance of the competition by Mexican clubs
ust over 20 years the US national team over Mexico have found the remedy for the league’s
J
ago, a young girl in the last 16 at the 2002 World Cup, woes in the regional tournament. One
named Britney everything seemed to indicate that year earlier, they had signed one of
Spears turned the there would be a definitive changing the best players their arch-rivals had
world of pop music of the guard in the confederation. produced in recent times: Carlos Vela.
upside down. It was a mirage. Two decades With the mercurial playmaker in
In movies, American Beauty won have passed and MLS haven’t won scintillating form, they seriously
the Academy Award with the best the regional tournament again. On the threatened to finally break the
performance of Kevin Spacey’s contrary, during that 20-year span, they inexhaustible Mexican streak.
career. Mark Zuckerberg had not yet had to watch their LigaMX arch-rivals Spearheaded by Vela’s inventiveness,
entered college and the Twin Towers clinch 14 consecutive titles, the largest the Black and Gold saw off LigaMX
still dominated the New York skyline. dominance of a regional tournament rivals one by one in the competition.
It was the year 2000, and LA by a country in any confederation, In the round of 16 they eliminated
Galaxy had just won the MLS’ second in football history. Winners…Tigres Leon (who, a few months later, would
lift their first-ever
CONCACAF Champions League in 2020, however, threatened to be CONCACAF Champions become Mexican champions) by erasing
three years. Added to the victory of different. One side, LAFC, seemed to League trophy a 2-0 defeat in the first leg in Mexico
ew
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76 WORLD SOCCER
WORLD SERVICE
Head-to-head… Andre-Pierre Gignac and NYCFC’s

Alexander Callens square up in the quarter-final
Club World Cup in February, and with

their victory they extend the dominance
of Mexican clubs in the CONCACAF
Champions League to 15 consecutive
editions, to the
Tigres can perfectly be considered delight of the fans
and the Mexican
Opener…Rossi scores with an emphatic 3-0 victory in LA. the team of the decade in Mexico press, who greatly
in the final for LAFC That was way before the pandemic celebrated the
interrupted, forcing the final rounds of From that minute on, the Mexican triumph of their representative in
the tournament to be played in the third side took complete control of the game, Orlando on social networks.
week of December, at a single venue – and one of the biggest differences Those same social networks did
Orlando, Florida. Yet the “Angelinos” between LigaMX and MLS was not exist 20 years ago. Today, Britney
kept pace, deservedly defeating two of highlighted. While Tigres have a group Spears is no longer the world’s top pop
Mexico’s “Big Four” teams – America of seasoned veterans, most of LAFC’s star, Kevin Spacey has been cast off
and Cruz Azul – in the quarter-finals players had almost no experience in from Hollywood under a cloud, and the
and semi-finals. international competitions, and at the One World Trade Center rises in the
Their rivals in the final, however, moment of maximum pressure, it place where the iconic Twin Towers
would be a completely different animal. showed. once stood.
Winners of four LigaMX titles in the In the 70th minute, former Mexico Yet, as so many things have changed
last five years, Tigres can perfectly be international Hugo Ayala headed in a between 2000 and 2020, one has not.
considered the team of the decade in corner at the near post to tie the score, Despite LAFC’s valiant effort, an MLS
Mexico. The only title that had escaped and in the 84th minute, Gignac broke side still has not been able to break the
them in that period was the CONCACAF LAFC fans’ hearts by finishing from just LigaMX dominance and take home the
Champions League, and with a core outside the box following an excellent CONCACAF Champions League. And
made up of numerous Latin American run by Rodriguez. Just like that, the that will linger, once again, in everyone’s
internationals and spearheaded by the American dream was over. minds as they try yet again to break the
excellent French striker Andre-Pierre Tigres will thus travel to Qatar to be curse when the competition restarts
Gignac, the team from the city of the CONCACAF representative in the in a couple of months.
Monterrey saw this edition as their
golden opportunity to finally get the Match winner…
title that eluded them for so long. Gignac celebrates
Despite this, when the time came, for scoring Tigres’
second goal
three quarters of the match, it looked
like LAFC were going to achieve the
feat. After controlling their dangerous
rivals in the first half, the Americans
managed to open the scoring on the
hour mark when their Uruguayan
starlet, Diego Rossi, exquisitely finished
a Mark-Anthony Kaye through ball,
lobbing it over Tigres’ Argentinian
goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman.
Five minutes later, Vela had the
chance to seal the match, but crashed
his shot into Tigres defender Luis
Rodriguez, when he seemed to have an
open net to finish. That miss completely
changed the momentum of the match.
WORLD SOCCER 77
AFC Champions League
JOHN DUERDEN
Ulsan crowned S
outh Korea’s Ulsan
Hyundai ended
a difficult year by
defeating Persepolis
champions of Asia of Iran 2-1 in the

final of the AFC
Champions League on December 19
in Doha, Qatar.
Marathon tournament finally comes to an Goals number six and seven in
the tournament from joint-top scorer
end in Qatar almost a year after it began Brazilian striker, Junior Negrao, also
the leading goal-getter in the 2020
K League, gave Ulsan what was a
deserved win after Persepolis had
taken the lead.
It also gave the Tigers a second
Asian title to add to the first won in
2012. For Persepolis it is a second final
defeat in three years and the Tehran
club, one of the best supported on
the continent, are still waiting for a first
Asian crown. Iran have been waiting
since 1993 when Pas won the old
Winner…Junior Asian Club Championship.
Negrao nets the
decisive second goal That fact rankles in the football-mad
from the penalty spot country but at least the 2020 AFC
78 WORLD SOCCER
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Re
vi
ew
Fans…some supporters were allowed inside the ground, alongside cardboard cutouts
Qatar hosted all the games after the Yokohama F. Marinos, got out of the
action resumed and did well. There was group stage with little fuss. That was
a major outbreak among the Al Hilal not true of Guangzhou Evergrande.
squad in September but most believe The Chinese team were champions in
that this had started before the team 2013 and 2015, yet went home early.
left Saudi Arabia. In the end, over 30 Led by Oscar, Shanghai SIPG arrived
players and staff tested positive which in Qatar with concerns over team spirit
resulted in the defending champions and a falling out between coach Vitor
being forced to withdraw despite already Pereira and Hulk. That relationship
having booked a place in the knockout didn’t improve and Hulk played no
stage. part in the last two games after giving
Persepolis eventually came through his boss a mouthful upon an earlier
in the west, defeating Al Nassr of Saudi substitution.
Arabia in a semi-final penalty shoot-out, Perth Glory and Sydney continued
and had to wait more than two months Australia’s struggles in the tournament,
to find out their final opponent from the though at least Melbourne Victory
eastern half of the draw. squeezed past Seoul into the knockout
The three Australian teams had not stage before being knocked out by
Champions… played since August and were almost Ulsan. The Korean Tigers then went on
Ulsan Hyundai treating the trip to Qatar as pre-season to end Chinese representation in the
lift the trophy
for the new A-League campaign that quarter-finals, defeating Beijing Guoan.
was due to kick off on December 27. Beijing had been China’s sole hope after
Perth Glory, Sydney and Melbourne Kobe saw off SIPG in the second round.
Victory were worried that if they Iniesta picked up a knock and played
reached the final then they would little part as Kobe then squeezed past
Suwon Bluewings of
The 2020 AFC Champions League is Korea in the quarters
before losing to Ulsan
finished, a full 11 months after it had in the last four.
started. It was a real slog It was Ulsan’s
eighth successive win,
be quarantined back home for a tournament record, and going into the
Christmas and the start of the season. final they were the favourites against a
Chinese teams had been stuck in Persepolis team that had not played in
hotel rooms, except for training and December and were missing four key
games, since July when the league players due to injury and suspension.
season finally kicked-off. Shanghai It was a good game, with Mehdi Abdi
Champions League is finished, Celebrating... SIPG, Shanghai Shenhua, Guangzhou scoring against the run of play after 45
a full 11 months after it had started. Junior Negrao Evergrande and Beijing Guoan travelled minutes, but there was still time before
It was a real slog. Most teams had to Qatar in Hazmat suits as soon as they the break for Junior to equalise, scoring
played one or two group-stage games finished the last game of the season. from the rebound after his penalty had
before the tournament was originally Korean teams finished a week earlier been saved. Early in the second half he
suspended due to coronavirus (though while the Japanese season was still made no mistake with another spot-kick
three of the four Chinese sides didn’t carrying on forcing the three J.League and Ulsan held on to win a second title
even manage one) back in March. The clubs to split their squads. for the club and number 12 for the
restart was pushed back to June and It went better than expected. Andres country. As the celebrations started,
then September and October for the Iniesta starred for big-spending Vissel officials could breathe a sigh of relief
western zone, and November and Kobe in their first continental campaign that it was all over for a few weeks – at
December for the east. and along with 2019 J.League champions least until qualification for 2021 begins.
WORLD SOCCER 79
MLS Cup play-offs
JAMES NALTON
Columbus Crew crowned

champions for second time
Club-record signing Lucas Zelarayan stars in MLS Cup win against Seattle Sounders
s Columbus Crew existence was threatened as recently as the franchise to Austin, Texas. He, rightly,
A
captain Jonathan two years ago. faced stiff opposition to the move from
Mensah lifted the The Crew’s home since 1999, where fans who fought to keep one of the
MLS Cup following this 2020 final took place in front of original MLS clubs in their city.
his side’s 3-0 1,500 fans, was Major League Soccer’s The battle lasted over a year, uniting
victory against first “soccer-specific” stadium. It set the soccer communities in Columbus, Ohio
Seattle Sounders, it signified more standard for clubs all across the league, and beyond, and after much wrangling
than just one of the most convincing but the Crew were almost not here to the Crew were taken over by a new
MLS Cup final wins. make this final piece of history. Champions…Columbus ownership group who made sure the
Crew celebrating their
It represented a victory on and In 2017, the then-owner, Anthony first MLS Cup victory club stayed put.
off the pitch for a club whose very Precourt, announced plans to move since 2008 As part of this next era, the Crew will
ew
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WORLD SERVICE
Impressive… Frustrated…
Lucas Zelarayan Raul Ruidiaz
Jonathan Mensah... move to a new downtown facility in the sixth-placed Sounders – but were Prior to Zelarayan’s performance in
celebrating victory 2021. Though some games will be missing key players. Pedro Santos and the final, the standout performer in the
Darlington Nagbe tested positive for
played at the old ground next season, play-offs had been another Argentine
this MLS Cup victory was a fitting COVID-19 in the week leading up to the playmaker, Minnesota United’s Emanuel
game in what was a cruel blow for both
bookend to the stories written over the Reynoso.
years at what has been an important players. The 25-year-old came into his own
Though all eyes were on Lodeiro,
arena for the sport in the United States. during the post season, registering seven
admiring pre-match glances were also
Caleb Porter’s side had only lost once assists and a goal in three games. On
in the MAPFRE Stadium in 2020, but made towards the Crew’s own South this form, the former Boca Juniors man
American creator-in-chief, Lucas
were up against it going into the final. looks set to be one of the league’s
Zelarayan. The 28-year-old Argentine
Seattle were favourites and were taking standout players in 2021.
was named MLS Newcomer of the Year
part in their fourth MLS Cup final in five The early rounds of the play-offs
seasons. for 2020 after joining from Mexican treated fans to some typical MLS
side Tigres.
Their Uruguayan playmaker, Nicolas unpredictability. Nashville defeated
Lodeiro, missed out on the 2020 MVP Zelarayan opened the scoring in the fellow expansion side Inter Miami,
first half of the final and also saw off last season’s MLS
This MLS Cup victory was a fitting bookend to with a left-footed Cup runners-up, Toronto FC.
volley too hot for Supporters’ Shield winners
the stories written over the years at what has Sounders keeper Philadelphia Union were knocked out
been an important arena for the sport in the Stefan Frei to by New England Revolution, but the
United States handle. Six minutes biggest story of the early stages emerged
later he set up during a penalty shoot-out between
award to Alejandro Pozuelo of Toronto Derrick Etienne Jr. who finished coolly Orlando City and New York City.
FC but was seen as the star player going for the Crew’s second. Orlando celebrated a win when Pedro
into this game, likely to give Seattle the Two goals would have been enough Gallese saved Valentin Castellanos’
edge. but Zelarayan struck again, finding the penalty, but replays revealed that the
Columbus finished fourth in the top corner in the final ten minutes and goalkeeper had stepped off his line.
overall regular season table – a position making him the clear and deserved Gallese was shown a yellow card as a
that meant they hosted this final against winner of the MLS Cup MVP award. result – the problem being, this was his
second booking so yellow turned to red.
Orlando couldn’t make a substitution
during the shoot-out, so it was left to
defender Rodrigo Schlegel to wear the
gloves for the remaining spot-kicks.
Of course, this being MLS, Schlegel
then saved Gudmundur Thorarinsson’s
penalty, securing his place in soccer
folklore.
Orlando celebrated again, but soon
realised they needed to score another
themselves in order to win. It was duly
dispatched by Benji Michel, making it
third-celebration lucky for the home
side.
Luckily for the league, plenty of
drama was saved for the latter stages.
Reynoso’s Minnesota narrowly lost out
to Seattle in a stirring semi-final, before
Columbus lifted their first MLS Cup
Celebrations…Columbus Crew are set to leave the MAPFRE Stadium later this year since 2008 in an historic final.
WORLD SOCCER 81
Istanbul Basaksehir 5-1.
DECEMBER 3-DECEMBER 31, 2020
SOUTH KOREA: K League outfit
FC Seoul name former South
Korea international Park Jin-sub
as their new head coach.
TURKMENISTAN: Altyn Asyr
win the Turkmenistan Cup,
defeating Kopetdag Ashgabat
3-0 on penalties after a 1-1
draw in the final.
Thursday December 10
Stories from the four corners of the football world BRAZIL: CAS rule Santos will have
to pay €2.9m to Barcelona due to
a breach of contract over Gabriel
Thursday December 3 Barbosa. The Catalan side had first
SWITZERLAND: Albanian capital refusal on the Brazilian as part of
Tirana is chosen to host the first the deal that brought Neymar to
final of the UEFA Conference the Nou Camp, yet they were not
League when it launches in the informed when Internazionale
2021-22 season. The Nations made an offer for the striker.
League draw pits Spain against EUROPE: The Europa League tie
hosts Italy in one semi-final, and between Villarreal and Qarabag
France v Belgium in the other. is postponed due to a COVID-19
CANADA: For the second time outbreak in the Azerbaijani team’s
in three years, Bayern Munich’s squad. Meanwhile, the Under-21
Alphonso Davies is named the Renamed… European Championship draw
2020 Canadian Player of the Year. Napoli’s stadium takes place, with Netherlands
EUROPE: In the Europa League, drawn alongside arch-rivals
Tottenham Hotspur draw 3-3 in a at the top of the Bundesliga table. League, Tottenham Hotspur pile Germany in Group A.
thriller with LASK, Celtic lose 4-2 ITALY: Juventus come from behind the pressure on Arsenal manager FRANCE: Antoine Griezmann cuts
to Milan, Arsenal thrash Rapid to beat Torino 2-1 in the Turin Mikel Arteta by winning the North ties with Huawei due to China’s
Vienna 4-1 and Rangers edge derby, thanks to a last-gasp goal London derby 2-0. treatment of Uyghur Muslims.
out Standard Liege 3-2, while by defender Leonardo Bonucci. ITALY: A 2-1 win at Sampdoria ITALY: Brazilian forward Robinho
Leicester City go down 1-0 to SPAIN: Cadiz stun Barcelona with helps Milan extend their impressive has his nine-year prison sentence
Zorya Luhansk in Ukraine. a 2-1 La Liga victory, their first form to eight wins in ten games, confirmed by an Italian court.
NETHERLANDS: Former Everton over the Catalan side since 1991, their best start since 1954-55.
and Real Madrid winger Royston to move up to fifth in the table.
Friday December 11
Drenthe is declared bankrupt. FRANCE: Kylian Mbappe scores
Monday December 7 HAITI: FIFA announce that
his 100th goal for Paris Saint- COLOMBIA: Former Porto, they will send an emergency
Friday December 4 Germain in a 3-1 victory over Atletico Madrid and Colombia management team to run football
FIFA: FIFA agree to delay the European hopefuls Montpellier. striker Jackson Martinez in Haiti, with Yves Jean-Bart
new 24-team Club World Cup SINGAPORE: Albirex Niigata S announces his retirement. believed to still be running the
by a year, meaning that the 2021 win the Singapore Premier League show despite his ban last month.
tournament will continue to stick title for the fourth time.
Tuesday December 8 EUROPE: Ukraine ask UEFA to
to the seven-team format, with EGYPT: Al Ahly complete a FIFA: Qatar will join Europe’s draw lots to decide the result of
Japan set to be the hosts. Champions League, Premier qualifying Group A non- their cancelled Nations League
ITALY: Napoli’s stadium is officially League and domestic cup treble competitively, in order to prepare clash with Switzerland.
renamed the Diego Armando for the first time since 2006 after for hosting the 2022 World Cup.
Maradona Stadium. beating Tala’ea El Gaish in the EUROPE: PSG and Istanbul
Saturday December 12
Egypt Cup final on penalties. Basaksehir walk off the pitch ITALY: Paolo Rossi’s funeral takes
Saturday December 5 during their Champions League place in Vicenza, but sadly his
GERMANY: Bayern Munich draw
Sunday December 6 match in protest after the fourth house is burgled while his wife
3-3 with RB Leipzig in a key clash ENGLAND: In the Premier official is accused of using racist is in attendance.
language. Manchester United are BRAZIL: Fluminense legend
eliminated after a 3-2 defeat to Escurinho dies aged 90.
RB Leipzig, while Juventus win SOUTH AFRICA: Motjeka
3-0 at the Nou Camp thanks to Madisha, defender for Mamelodi
a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo. Sundowns and South Africa,
LIBYA: Ali Mergini resigns as coach dies in a car crash – just weeks
of the Libyan national team. after Anele Ngcongca.
SPAIN: Real Madrid beat rivals
Wednesday December 9 Atletico 2-0 in the Madrid derby,
EUROPE: Monchengladbach closing the gap between them
reach the Champions League to just three points.
knockout stages in spite of a 2-0
Walk off…PSG and Istanbul defeat to Real Madrid while PSG
Sunday December 13
Basaksehir players protest
win their rearranged clash with NETHERLANDS: Ajax forward
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Northern Mariana
STEVE MENARY
Pacific Ocean pioneers

How a group of parents created an international football team
particularly Koreans and Chinese, but
the islands have been under US control
since World War Two and players need
a US passport to play for the national
team.
Saipan has a population of around
50,000, where there is a flourishing
league of 12 clubs in two leagues with
veterans Bogdan and Tan still playing in
the second tier for Shirley’s FC. Another
10,000 people live mainly on Rotan
and Tinian, where NMIFA has set up
a youth section.
At youth level, the game is flourishing
but many players choose to head to the
United States to attend college at 18,
which prompted the NMIFA to hold
training camps in San Diego and Dallas
in the past to get the national team
together.
Despite all of these challenges a
team has been fielded in qualifying for
the EAFF Cup and, in June 2014, a first
victory was recorded with a 2-1 win
ifteen years after Northern Mariana… all of these invites but a lot of the great over Macau. That success has not been
forming, the the team line up for players on Saipan couldn’t play because emulated, but the gap is narrowing
F Northern Mariana
Islands have finally
been accepted as
a full Asian Football
a pre-match photo
they didn’t have a US visa. Even though
I was old, I was an able body so I played
and got a cap.”
according to forward Sunjoon Tenorio,
who attends Warner Pacific University
in Oregon.
He explains:
Confederation member, but face a wait “I think there was
before playing their first senior game “[As] full members we will be a gap between us
as an AFC member. blessed with many opportunities and Mongolia, but I
The NMIFA was formed by a group for our programme and our players” do feel the gap has
of US soccer parents, who came to been decreasing
Saipan, the largest of the 14 islands Northern Mariana Islands forward Sunjoon Tenorio over the years.
that make up the Northern Mariana With Guam and
archipelago, and found that organised The problem is the complicated Macau I feel like we competed and it
football had died out. ethnic and political make-up of the wasn’t as one-sided as it has been in
Thriving…the
“There was football but it was all domestic league is
islands. The game is most popular the past.
in the Korean community,” says Wes also going strong amongst the immigrant community, “Now that we are full members we
Bogdan, a superior court judge and will be blessed with many opportunities
one of those early pioneers, who for our programme and our players as
helped set up a new league. “When well. We still have a long way to go to
they saw we had lines and nets, they be amongst the top teams, but I do feel
joined us.” like with the new opportunities we will
The league took off and, in 2008, get we will only improve and work our
Northern Mariana were accepted as way towards competing and maybe
full members of the East Asian Football winning against some of the bigger
Federation. Under president Jerry Tan, Asian countries.”
the islands began to play internationals With the local league suspended due
against other EAFF members but finding to coronavirus and no senior national
eligible players was complicated. games scheduled, Northern Mariana’s
Bogdan explains: “When we first players must wait before taking their
set up a national team, we sent out next step up the international ladder.
WORLD SOCCER 83
South America
TIM VICKERY
Fighting back…
the pandemic
has put a great
strain on South
American football
2020 league round-ups

South American leagues find a way to crown their champions
hen coronavirus struck last March, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay followed suit, extending
W
Europe had to decide how to finish their leagues until the end of February. Elsewhere,
championships that were already in in order to wrap up 2020 before the start of 2021,
the closing straight. South America’s some creative thinking was called for. Despite all the
task was more complicated. differences, one thing held true across the continent;
Argentina aside, everyone now matches were played behind closed doors. Champions…Olimpia lift
the Clausura in Paraguay,
organises their season by the calendar year. The The first national league back in action was the first South American
2020 campaign had barely started when the action Paraguay, which restarted on July 21. The country nation to return to action
was interrupted. Administrators on the continent were
faced with the challenge of improvising entire league
championships. They came up with different solutions,
which was hardly a surprise, for two reasons. First,
a variety of formats are used across the continent
– there is nothing like the European consensus in
favour of the league system. And also, they had
different timescales to work within, either because
COVID-19 hit some countries harder than others,
or because governments and health authorities took
a different view on when it was possible to return.
With the international competitions, the Copas
Libertadores and Sudamericana, a decision was made
to retain the existing structure of the tournaments,
despite the six-month break between mid-March and
September 15. The solution was to push back the finish
date from late November to the end of January – a
cramming of fixtures which, as we will see, has had
an effect on events in some of the league campaigns.
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Quincy Promes is arrested

Peruvian
which played in a single city, Valencia or Barinas. The on suspicion of being involved
champions… group winners met in a final, where the traditional in an alleged stabbing, a charge
Sporting Deportivo Tachira were beaten 2-0 by Deportivo La that he denies.
Cristal
Guaira, a team from Caracas who were founded in ITALY: Cristiano Ronaldo marks
2008 as Real Esspor and now have their first title. his 100th game for Juventus with
The South American country with most a double against Genoa, taking his
coronavirus deaths per capita is Peru, where goal tally for the Italians to 79.
the authorities responded by moving the entire CROATIA: Former Austria, Croatia,
championship to the capital city of Lima in a bid to Albania, Stuttgart and Fenerbahce
limit the spread of the disease. The eventual restart coach Otto Baric dies aged 87.
date was August 18. For the first time the top flight
was made up of 20 teams. In the Apertura they met
Monday December 14
each other home and away. To shorten things they UEFA: The draws for the
were divided into two groups for the Clausura, with Champions League and Europa
the group leaders playing off for the right to meet League knockout round is made
the Apertura winners in the two-legged grand final with PSG v Barcelona, Atletico
divides its season into two separate championships, – which was a contest between two of Lima’s Madrid v Chelsea, Real Sociedad v
the Apertura and Clausura, with the 12 teams playing traditional big three. In another triumph for Roberto Manchester United and Benfica v
each other home and away in both. The Apertura Mosquera, a coach with an impressive body of work, Arsenal the most eye-catching ties.
was completed as scheduled, with Cerro Porteno in Sporting Cristal beat Universitario 3-2 on aggregate MEXICO: Leon beat Pumas UNAM
top form at the restart, powering to a 33rd league to land their 20th title – and finish the decade with 2-0 (3-1 on aggregate) in the
title with a comfortable five-point margin. It ended a record of coming out on top in every even year. Guardianes 2020 LigaMX final.
a run of four consecutive titles for Olimpia, and Amazingly, the other local giant, Alianza Lima, were UAE: Dutchman Bert van Marwijk
with a disappointing exit in the group phase of the relegated – despite never having to leave their home is reappointed as head coach of
Libertadores, this brought an end to the reign of city. They threw money at the problem, appointing a the United Arab Emirates’ national
Argentine coach Daniel Garnero. But they would sequence of big-name coaches, but perhaps team – a year after he was sacked.
be back, under Nestor Gorosito, another Argentine. suffered from the Copa Libertadores fixture pile COLOMBIA: Santa Fe are
For the Clausura, the teams played each other up, found themselves sinking in quicksand and crowned champions of the Liga
just once, with the top eight qualifying for a knockout could not dig themselves out. Femenina for the second time
competition. Olimpia beat Cerro Porteno on penalties There was a big-name relegation in Ecuador too after beating America de Cali
in the quarter-final, but in the final found themselves (restart date August 14), where El Nacional of Quito 4-1 on aggregate.
two goals down to Guarani – who had reached the went down, while two other giants disputed the title.
second round of the Libertadores and may have Two phases were played, the 16 teams meeting each
Tuesday December 15
been jaded as a result. Olimpia, for whom Roque once per phase, with the winners meeting in the ENGLAND: Manchester City are
Santa Cruz was once again in fine form, hit back to final. Liga of Quito (LDU) drew 1-1 on aggregate held to a draw by West Bromwich
equalise, and in spite of playing the last 20 minutes with Barcelona of Guayaquil, and for the second Albion in Slaven Bilic’s final game
with ten men, held out to force a penalty shoot-out. consecutive year endured a nightmare penalty shoot- in charge. Elsewhere, Chelsea lose
The vital kick was missed by Raul Bobadilla, the out, leaving Barcelona to celebrate a 16th title. 2-1 to Wolverhampton Wanderers,
Guarani striker who stripped himself near naked And there was a 15th league title in Colombia for while midfielder Danny Drinkwater
when celebrating a goal in the semi-final. This time, America de Cali – proof for relegated sides that there is sent off for violent conduct in
though, Olimpia could celebrate their 45th title. is life after the second division. A traditional giant, an Under-23s game.
While Paraguay were first back, Bolivia (November especially in the ’80s, they went down in 2011 and
27) and Venezuela (October 14) were last to restart spent half the decade in the second division. Their
Wednesday December 16
– which may have something to do with the fact that league win at the end of 2019 was their first in over IFAB: It is announced that
both lost their FA presidents to COVID-19. a decade, and now they successfully defended their concussion substitutes will
In both cases a much-shortened campaign ended title. After a September 12 restart, the 20 teams be trialled in 2020.
with an unusual winner. Bolivia scrapped the Clausura, played each other once, with the top eight qualifying JAPAN: Vissel Kobe midfielder
made the Apertura the sole championship and had for the knockout phase. America overcame Junior Andres Iniesta is ruled out of
to cram in fixtures to play all 26 rounds by New of Barranquilla, the most successful side of recent action for four months following
Year’s Eve. It turned into a La Paz duel, with the big times, in the semis before holding off a reaction from a muscle tear, putting his
two Bolivar and The Strongest beaten to the title by Santa Fe of Bogota to win the title 3-2 on aggregate. long-term future in doubt.
Always Ready, a team whose last win had been in KUWAIT: Kuwait SC add more
1957. Promoted in 2019, Always Ready spent almost silverware to their trophy cabinet
all of the last three decades out of the first division, after beating Al Arabi 1-0 in the
but now have enough money behind them to Kuwait Super Cup at the Jaber
Al Ahmad International Stadium.
UAE: Seven-time United Arab
In order to wrap up 2020 Emirates Pro League champions
before the start of 2021, some Shabab Al Ahli Dubai announce
creative thinking was called for the return of former coach Mahdi
Ali to replace departing boss
Gerard Zaragoza.
assemble a squad of veterans, guided over the ENGLAND: Liverpool beat
line by Omar Asad, another Argentine coach. Tottenham in a top-of-the-table
In Venezuela the administrators played a game Ecuadorian Premier League clash thanks to a
of damage limitation. The 17 teams (Zulia and LALA champions… stoppage-time header from Brazil
Barcelona
pulled out) were divided into two groups, each of striker Roberto Firmino.
WORLD SOCCER 85
GERMANY: Bayern Munich
striker Robert Lewandowski scores Japan
the 250th goal of his Bundesliga
career with a brace in a 2-1
victory over Wolfsburg. MIKE PLASTOW
Thursday December 17
RUSSIA: The nation’s ban from
all major sporting events after a
doping scandal is reduced from
Kawasaki lead
from the front
four years to two by CAS.
Friday December 18
USA: Weston McKennie is named
US Soccer Male Player of the Year
ahead of Christian Pulisic and
Kawasaki Frontale seal third J.League title in style
Sergino Dest. Samantha Mewis
is named the Female Player of 020 was the year of Kawasaki
2
the Year, while Gio Reyna wins Frontale in the J.League. Frontale
Young Player of the Year. clinched their third title in four
GERMANY: Youssoufa Moukoko years in record-breaking fashion
becomes the Bundesliga’s with four matches left to play and
youngest-ever goalscorer by in the best possible way, 5-0 at
scoring in Borussia Dortmund’s home to the only team still mathematically able
2-1 defeat to Union Berlin. to catch them, second-placed Gamba Osaka.
AUSTRALIA: A-League side They repeated the act in more modest fashion
Melbourne Victory announce on New Year’s Day by defeating Gamba 1-0 in
the signing of former Premier the Emperor’s Cup final to seal a memorable
League defender Ryan Shotton. league and cup double.
Strikeforce…Kawasaki’s Kaoru
Frontale coach Toru Oniki, now 46 and in his Mitoma (L) and Leandro Damiao (R)
Saturday December 19 fourth year at the helm, said he had told his players
ENGLAND: Liverpool thrash to aim for the title from day one; that now more already 75, the highest since
Crystal Palace 7-0 at Selhurst than ever, in the COVID-19 crisis, Frontale had to the first division switched to
Park. Their nearest rivals Everton lead the way for Japanese football. Oniki applauded its present 18-team format in
also win, beating Arsenal 2-1 at their “tremendous rivalry on the training ground, 2005. In the same period, their
Goodison Park, while Manchester and team spirit on the pitch.” 24 wins were already the most.
City win 1-0 at Southampton. Akihiro Ienaga, the J.League’s Player of the Year Their title, secured with four games left to play, was
GERMANY: Bayern Munich last time Frontale won the title in 2018, was the the fastest. Their goal tally, 79, was still five shy of the
come from behind to beat rivals hero on the day against Gamba with a memorable record, but they still had time to set a new record,
Bayer Leverkusen 2-1. Robert hat-trick. Former Brazil striker Leandro Damiao which they duly did, ending with 88 in total.
Lewandowski’s brace ensured he opened the scoring and Manabu Saito added the Frontale also set and then beat their own club
ended 2020 with 47 goals in just fifth in the last minute of normal time with his record for consecutive wins with runs of ten and
44 games and helped Bayern first goal of the season. then 12 straight league victories. Kashima Antlers
usurp Leverkusen in top spot. In almost every way, it was a record-breaking still hold the league’s all-time record for that with
CHINA: Shandong Luneng beat season in Japan played, of course, in remarkable 16 straight wins in 1998-99.
Chinese Super League champions circumstances against the background of the In their final game, Frontale recovered from
Jiangsu Suning 2-0 in the final coronavirus. Except for the opening weekend a two-goal deficit to beat Kashiwa Reysol 3-2,
of the Chinese FA Cup, denying in February, the entire 34-game first division ending the campaign 18 points clear of their
Cosmin Olaroiu’s team a league season, normally played across nine and a half nearest challengers.
and cup double. months, had to be completed in five and a half. Oniki started the season with a new 4-3-3
The intensity was always going to benefit the formation that added extra punch to the attack
Sunday December 20 team with the best squad and Frontale proved from after last year’s slip in penetration. The rest was
SCOTLAND: Celtic win the the first that theirs was the squad to beat. Oniki partly down to the coach and players having
postponed 2020 Scottish FA Cup used his full complement of substitutes in almost been together for so long, but Oniki’s cause was
final against Hearts on penalties, every match and it hardly mattered who appeared helped, too, by the continuing emergence of young
sealing an unprecedented fourth where in the rotation. When Frontale struggled to players such as Ao Tanaka in rear midfield, speedy
domestic treble in a row. make headway in the first half, the fresh substitutes Reo Hatate on the right wing and, most prominently
ITALY: Milan’s Rafael Leao scores scored more often than not against their tiring of all, homegrown Kaoru Mitoma, who scored 13
the fastest goal in Serie A history opponents in the second. goals from wide on the left in his first season as
after just six seconds in a 2-1 win Their football was more compact this year. a professional after graduating from Tsukuba
over top-four rivals Sassuolo. The forwards defended better. The short passes University.
connected brightly, especially in the box. The The veterans produced as well. Yu Kobayashi,
Monday December 21 changes of tempo and penetrating long balls the league’s top scorer in 2017, netted 14. Leandro
ENGLAND: Fabio Silva becomes frequently caught their opponents off-guard and Damiao remained the perfect target man, scoring
Wolves’ youngest goalscorer, and the finishing was pinpoint with any number of 13, and Ienaga was composure personified with his
replaces Cristiano Ronaldo as the players able to score. holding-up skills, deft, one-touch play and 11 goals.
youngest Portuguese player to The statistics tell the story. At the moment when Frontale had three of the J. League’s top eight top
score in the Premier League. Frontale clinched the title, their points total was scorers. In all, nine Frontale players were named in
86 WORLD SOCCER
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Frontale also set and then beat their own

club record for consecutive wins with runs instead saving their best for
of ten and then 12 straight league victories last in the Asian Champions AWARDS
League. The main but very
Player of the Year/Top Scorer
the J.League’s Best XI – Jung Sung-ryong, Miki distant challengers were Nagoya Grampus, Kashima
MICHAEL OLUNGA (Kashiwa)
Yamane, Shogo Taniguchi, Jesiel, Kyohei Noborizato, Antlers and the two Osaka teams, Gamba and
The Kenyan striker was runaway
Ienaga, Tanaka, Hidemasa Morita and Mitoma – Cerezo. Gamba Osaka and Nagoya Grampus will join top scorer with 28 goals. Tall, quick
where they were joined by the league’s top scorer, Frontale in the 2021 ACL, while Cerezo advance to and deft on the ground, his impact
Michael Olunga (Kashiwa Reysol), and runner up, the qualifying play-off round. was strongly reminiscent of Patrick
Everaldo (Kashima Antlers). The season closed with two cup finals rather Mboma’s for Gamba Osaka in 1997.
Special mention must be made of Kengo than the usual one. Mitoma scored Frontale’s
Champion Manager
Nakamura, capped 68 times for Japan, who winner against Gamba in the Emperor’s Cup on New
cemented his legend status at the club he had Year’s Day, and FC Tokyo won the League Cup final, TORU ONIKI (Kawasaki Frontale)
In only his fourth season as a
been with since 2003, when Frontale were still in postponed from November due to a COVID-19
manager, Oniki became the third
the second division, with a goal on his 40th birthday cluster infection at Kashiwa Reysol, 2-1 against man to win three J.League titles as
on October 31. He announced his retirement at the Reysol on January 4. There was no relegation this coach following Oswaldo Oliveira
end of the season the following day. season due to the special measures but Tokushima (Kashima Antlers) and Hajime
Nakamura’s presence, always huge, only grew Vortis and Avispa Fukuoka were promoted from Moriyasu (Sanfrecce Hiroshima).
with time and these three titles in four years, after Division Two, meaning the first division will be
Manager of the Year
his personal triumph of being named 2016 J.League played with 20 teams in 2021 and four clubs
TSUNEYASU MIYAMOTO
Player of the Year, will also be remembered as his will be relegated next season.
(Gamba Osaka)
own crowning achievement. There is even a strong The former Gamba and Japan
case for ascribing last year’s dip in form to the Top goalscorer… defender lifted Gamba to second in
search for the post-Nakamura team, which Kashiwa Reysol’s the table in his third year in charge.
Oniki appears to have forged this season. Michael Olunga
The home crowd enjoyed seeing Frontale clinch Best Young Player
the title – something they were denied in 2017 AYUMU SEKO (Cerezo Osaka)
and 2018 – and the atmosphere, with drums and After three seasons playing for
Cerezo’s Under-23 team in the
clapping but no cheering, was not at all bad with
J.League Third Division, the
12,000 fans allowed into the stadium. tall, 20-year-old centre-back
Last year’s champions, Yokohama F. Marinos, emerged as a key figure for
never really challenged, and big-spending Vissel Cerezo’s top team this year.
Kobe also made no impression in the J.League,
WORLD SOCCER 87
South Africa
MARK GLEESON
Changing of the guard

Traditional giants of South Africa, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates,
are in real danger of being left behind by Mamelodi Sundowns
s professional football in South become as much of a must-be-seen-at social Champions…
A
Africa marks a 50th anniversary, gathering, like a glamourous day out at the races, Mamelodi Sundowns
have now won three
21 of the 49 previous league as it is a derby between old foes. consecutive South
championships have been won Sponsors still flock to the teams, television viewing African league titles
by the Soweto giants Kaizer numbers for their matches are high but, on the field, on two occasions
Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. the two clubs have long since been usurped by a
They dominated the early days, collecting trophies new pretender – Mamelodi Sundowns – and left far
and building up a legion of supporters that easily behind in not only the tussle for trophies, but in the
spills over from their base in the giant township in market for players too.
the outskirts of Johannesburg, through the rest of It used to be the dream for most South African
the country and across the borders. kids to join the Chiefs or Pirates. The rest were but
The derby between the two clubs is often cited also-rans. But the money of mining magnate Patrice
among the biggest in world football, filling up the Motsepe, who owns Sundowns, has changed the
cavernous 90,000-seater Soccer City. It has a marketplace over the last decade and now the lure
violent history but over the last decades has of top salaries proves a lot stronger than childhood
88 WORLD SOCCER
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Investing… WSL: Japan captain Mana

Sundowns owner
Patrice Motsepe
Iwabuchi joins Women’s Super
League side Aston Villa, while US
World Cup winner Alex Morgan
confirms that she will leave
Tottenham and return home.
USA: Former USA midfielder
Kyle Beckerman announces his
retirement after 21 MLS seasons
and a record 498 matches.
Tuesday December 22
SWITZERLAND: FIFA files a
criminal complaint against former
president Sepp Blatter over the
finances of its loss-making soccer
museum in Zurich.
SPAIN: Atletico Madrid secure an
important victory at third-placed
Real Sociedad, winning 2-0 in San
Sebastian. Lionel Messi breaks
loyalty. Chiefs and Piratesturned to Gavin Hunt, one of the most successful Pele’s record of goals for a single
can no longer afford the coaches in the country, for the new season that club, moving onto 644, while Real
best and while their brandskicked off in October. But his efforts at attempting Madrid announce the return of
remain highly visible, the a turnaround have been stymied by a one-year Iker Casillas to the Bernabeu as
omnipotent aura is fast transfer ban on the club, since confirmed by CAS, the club’s Foundation deputy CEO.
slipping as they repeatedlyfor signing Madagascar international Andriamirado ENGLAND: Championship side
fail in their bid to get back
“Dax” Andrianarimanana. Chiefs claimed he was Brentford knock Newcastle United
onto the winners’ podium. contract free and did not pay a transfer fee but out of the Carabao Cup quarter-
It has been nine years Fosa Juniors took the case to Zurich and FIFA finals with a 1-0 victory, while
since Pirates last won the found otherwise. Arsenal are thumped 4-1 at
league title and six for The mistake is reflective of a general malaise at home by Manchester City.
Chiefs, who have had a family-run club where accountability is low and FRANCE: Lille owner Gerard
a series of calamitous leaves Chiefs now with a squad with too many Lopez confirms that the Ligue 1
setbacks. youngsters and too many key players past their club is for sale.
They reached the FA sell-by date. Predictably they have struggled and ITALY: Juventus suffer their first
Cup final in 2019, pitted sit in the bottom half of the South African Premier defeat of the season, with Juan
against second-tier League standings and, although relegation is unlikely Cuadrado sent off in a 3-0
to be a threat, they do loss at home to Fiorentina.
not look like breaking CONCACAF: Confederation
The money of mining magnate Patrice their duck any time president Victor Montagliani
Motsepe, who owns Sundowns, has soon. announces the CONCACAF
changed the marketplace over the They are fortunate Champions League will
that South African expand in 2023.
last decade league matches JAPAN: Urawa Red Diamonds
remain behind closed announce that head coach
opposition in what looked doors so the pressure from success-hungry fans is Tsuyoshi Otsuki will leave
a routine assignment, only at least kept at bay – for the moment. the club to be replaced by
to lose to unheralded TS Pirates, however, have some light at the end of Spaniard Ricardo Rodriquez.
Galaxy as they gave away their tunnel. They won the Top Eight Cup final against SOUTH KOREA: Jeonbuk
a penalty in stoppage time Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 in December, halting a run Hyundai Motors announce
at the end of the match. of four successive cup final defeats and brought their Kim Sang-sik will replace
Last season, with the six-year trophyless run to an end. South Africa has Jose Morais as head coach
former Bundesliga coach Ernst Middendorp in three annual knockout trophies - the FA Cup and of the K League champions.
charge, Chiefs had as much as a 13-point lead at League Cup (this season cancelled because of a lack UZBEKISTAN: Pakhtakor
one stage and when the league was suspended in of available dates) plus a competition for the clubs head coach Shota Arveladze
March as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they still had that finished in the top eight in the league the announces his resignation from
a comfortable four-point advantage with eight previous season. the Uzbekistan Super League
matches left. It has taken a year, with the COVID crackdown in champions.
The season resumed in a bio-secure bubble in between, for another German coach Joe Zinnbauer TURKEY: Ozkan Sumer, former
Johannesburg in August and although Chiefs won to make his mark and get Pirates looking formidable player, coach and president of
only two out of seven they were still expected to again. Pirates will certainly be title challengers in this Trabzonspor passes away.
beat relegation-threatened Baroka FC in their new campaign and after some clever pre-season
final game and pip Sundowns to the title. Instead, purchases could go all the way.
Wednesday December 23
they drew, producing a dreadful, nerve-ridden The two Soweto giants remain a major talking ENGLAND: Tottenham
performance as they let the championship point but no longer command near exclusive focus. and Manchester United join
slip out of their grasp. It is now a much more democratic landscape in Manchester City and Brentford
Middendorp was promptly fired and the club South Africa. in the Carabao Cup semi-finals
WORLD SOCCER 89
Philippines
JOHN DUERDEN
Looking
to bounce
back
stronger
United City are crowned
champions of the 2020
Philippines Football League
as the sport continues to
battle for relevance
he 2020 Philippines Football
T
League (PFL) was a sprint not
a marathon with the season
starting on October 28 and neighbours such as Thailand, Malaysia and others. Winners…United
ending on November 9. Each of What is of immediate concern looking ahead to City celebrate
the six teams played each other 2021 is the number of teams in the league that has
once to give a total of five games, far fewer than fallen from eight when the league started in 2017 to
the 24 that took place in 2019. In the end United six in 2020 with founder members such as Davao
City ended up as champions, collecting 12 points Aguilas, Ilocos United and Meralco Manila falling
to finish above Kaya-Iloilo and book a place in the by the wayside.
play-offs for the 2021 AFC Champions League. They had been there at the start when the
Fans should be happy a league took place at all. PFL replaced the United Football League. The
The Philippines is the only country in Southeast old competition was concentrated mainly around
Asia where football is not the number one sport. Manila, but the capital is not a hotbed of the game
This presents long-term challenges in growing the in the country, and it was hoped that taking the
game in this former American colony which has game to more football-friendly provinces in this
long preferred “The Three Bs” - basketball, billiards sprawling archipelago would give it a boost.
and boxing. It also made the global pandemic There have been encouraging signs. The national
especially dangerous for the Philippines which team, once the whipping boys of Southeast Asia,
does not yet have the deep football foundations of have made great strides over the past decade and
by beating Stoke City and Lazio, with Theo Hernandez Crew sign two-time MLS Golden Real Madrid player and brother to
Everton respectively. netting a stoppage-time winner. Boot winner Bradley Wright- club legend Paco, passes away.
TURKEY: Despite taking City rivals Inter keep the pressure Phillips on a free transfer.
the lead, champions Istanbul up by beating Verona 2-1.
Saturday December 26
Basaksehir sink further towards FRANCE: The Ligue 1 title
Thursday December 24 URUGUAY: Central Espanol
the bottom of the table after losing race intensifies with each of ARGENTINA: Boca Juniors beat midfielder Maximiliano Pereira
4-1 at Fenerbahce, with two of the top three winning. Lille beat Racing Club 2-1 on aggregate in tragically dies while swimming by
their players also sent off. Montpellier 3-2, yet surrender top the final quarter-final of the Copa a waterfall in his home country.
SPAIN: Real Madrid re-join spot to Lyon on goal difference Libertadores, joining River Plate, ENGLAND: In the Premier League
Atletico Madrid at the top of La after their 3-0 win over Nantes. Palmeiras and Santos in the Boxing Day clashes, Arsenal end
Liga on 32 points – albeit having One point behind, PSG maintain semi-finals of the competition. their seven-game winless run by
played two more games – by the pressure with a 4-0 thrashing SCOTLAND: Kilmarnock legend beating Chelsea 3-1, Everton move
beating Granada 2-0 at home. of Strasbourg, which proves to be David Sneddon passes away. up to second with a 1-0 victory
ITALY: Milan’s unbeaten start Thomas Tuchel’s last game in at Sheffield United and Leicester
to the season continues with a charge of the capital club.
Friday December 25 score a late equaliser at home to
thrilling 3-2 victory at home to USA: MLS Cup winners Columbus SPAIN: Antonio Gento, former top-four rivals Manchester United.
90 WORLD SOCCER
WORLD SERVICE
qualified for the 2019 Asian Cup for the first time. has been encouraging but other issues always loom.
The country’s clubs have also done well at the AFC If making waves in the media is tough, then so is
Cup, the continent’s version of the Europa League attracting corporate support. It means that the
that is reserved for “developing nations” but the league was fortunate to tie up a three-year deal
league still struggled to make headlines at home. with Qatar Airways at the end of 2019 just before
In March, Green Archers United decided to the onset of coronavirus. Financial details were not
withdraw after just one season, saying they had not released but the company has still been paying out
received the publicity they would have liked. “We despite the lack of games. The investment has been
were hopeful that the media coverage promised in crucial.
the 2019 Philippines Premier League PPL/PFL More is needed as the league’s commissioner
season would materialize,” the club said. Coco Torre knows. “The dynamics have always been
“Unfortunately, this did not happen and has put in shifting, and we are putting together the best long-
question the viability and sustainability of fielding term strategic plan for us to move forward,” Torre
a team and participating this year.” The Archers will said. “If we want a more competitive and exciting
still be involved in football and youth development league, we need more clubs as it would also mean
but were stepping back from the frontline. league stability. Football in the country is still
Another blow came ahead of the season. Global developing, that’s why we need to raise awareness,
Cebu, with four titles from 2010 to 2016, finished build brand equity through a good product, and
bottom in 2019 and had their licence revoked from entice more sponsors to the sport.”
the country’s Games and Amusements Board after That is the ideal solution. The Philippines football
failing to pay players and staff. scene is one of the friendliest in Asia and deserves
Had the Azkals Development Team not a wider audience. That remains to be seen but at
been added for 2020 then there would have been least there should be more games in 2021.
just five teams and probably
no season at all meaning
that the youngsters were more
than welcome. This catchily-
titled club (“Azkals” is a term
meaning “streetdog” and is a
widely-used nickname for the
national team) was led by
Sheffield-born Scott Cooper,
who worked at Chester City
and Leicester City before
making a name for himself in
Thailand, the Philippines and
The football on the pitch has been

encouraging but other issues always loom.
If making waves in the media is tough,
then so is attracting corporate support
Indonesia. The kids did alright,

collecting nine points from
their five games, conceding
just two and finishing in third Mike Ott…the midfielder
place. was the league’s top-
scoring Philippine
The football on the pitch
Villa both end in 1-1 draws. Leeds United. Elsewhere, Arsenal due to a number of coronavirus
Sunday December 27 SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Pro seal back-to-wins by beating cases at the West London club.
ENGLAND: Sam Allardyce League outfit Al Nassr announce Brighton away, and Sheffield ITALY: Mario Balotelli scores
collects his first point as West the departure of head coach United’s winless run continues within five minutes on his debut
Brom manager, pulling off a shock Rui Vitoria by mutual consent with a 1-0 defeat at Burnley. for new club Monza.
1-1 draw at Anfield, in spite of following a string of poor results.
Liverpool boasting almost 90%
Wednesday December 30 Thursday December 31
possession in the first half.
Tuesday December 29 SPAIN: Atletico Madrid keep ENGLAND: ALK Capital
SPAIN: A Messi-less Barcelona their 18th clean sheet in a row complete their takeover of
Monday December 28 drop more points at home, against Getafe, winning 1-0 to Premier League club Burnley.
ENGLAND: Everton v Manchester this time after a 1-1 draw with extend their advantage over Real SPAIN: Real Sociedad win the
City is called off due to COVID-19, strugglers Eibar, to fall behind Madrid, who draw 1-1 at Elche. Basque derby 1-0 thanks to a
with Everton seeking clarification Sevilla who move into the top ENGLAND: Liverpool are held to a goal by winger Cristian Portu.
for the postponement from The four by beating Villarreal 2-0. second draw in a row, this time at SCOTLAND: Motherwell manager
FA. Elsewhere, Crystal Palace v ENGLAND: West Bromwich Albion Newcastle United, while Fulham’s Stephen Robinson resigns after
Leicester and Chelsea v Aston are thrashed 5-0 at home by trip to Tottenham is postponed three years in charge at Fir Park.
WORLD SOCCER 91
AUSTRALIA: A-LEAGUE 2020-21
SQUADS
*Denotes that the player was

announced on a scholarship deal
ADELAIDE UNITED
GOALKEEPERS
1 James DELIANOV (21) 20.10.99
33 Dakota OCHSENHAM (21) 28.09.99
*46 Joe GAUCI (20) 04.07.00
DEFENDERS
2 Michael MARRONE (33) 27.01.87
3 George TIMOTHEOU (23) 29.07.97
*15 Noah SMITH (20) 15.12.00
21 Javi LOPEZ (Esp) (35) 21.01.86
22 Michael JAKOBSEN (Den) (35) 02.01.86
23 Jordan ELSEY (26) 02.03.94
34 Yared ABETEW (21) 15.06.99
MIDFIELDERS
4 Ryan STRAIN (23) 02.04.97
6 Louis D’ARRIGO (19) 23.09.01
7 Ryan KITTO (26) 09.08.94
8 Stefan MAUK (25) 12.10.95
16 Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS (24) 26.06.96
18 Joe CALETTI (22) 14.09.98
26 Ben HALLORAN (28) 14.06.92
FORWARDS
9 Tomi JURIC (29) 22.07.91
*14 Domenic COSTANZO (19) 08.10.01
*17 Mohamed TOURE (16) 26.03.04
*19 Yaya DUKULY (18) 17.01.03
24 Pacifique NIYONGABIRE (20) 15.03.00
29 Kusini YENGI (22) 15.01.99
35 Al Hassan TOURE (20) 30.05.00
COACH
Carl VEART (50) 21.05.70 Experienced…Adelaide United’s new signing Tomi Juric has made 41 appearances for Australia, scoring eight goals in the process
BRISBANE ROAR CENTRAL COAST MARINERS MACARTHUR FC MELBOURNE CITY MELBOURNE VICTORY
GOALKEEPERS GOALKEEPERS GOALKEEPERS GOALKEEPERS GOALKEEPERS
1 Macklin FREKE (22) 06.01.99 1 Mark BIRIGHITTI (29) 17.04.91 1 Adam FEDERICI (35) 31.01.85 1 Tom GLOVER (23) 24.12.97 1 Matt ACTON (28) 03.06.92
21 Jamie YOUNG (Eng) (35) 25.08.85 20 Adam PEARCE (24) 08.01.97 16 Nick SUMAN (20) 28.02.00 33 Matthew SUTTON (20) 07.03.00 20 Max CROCOMBE (Nzl) (27) 12.08.93
DEFENDERS
42 Ahmed TALEB (18) 04.12.02 *30 Marko BULIC (18) 24.05.02
DEFENDERS DEFENDERS
2 Jake MCGING (26) 22.05.94 DEFENDERS DEFENDERS
3 Corey BROWN (27) 07.01.94 3 Lewis MILLER (20) 24.08.00
3 Antony GOLEC (30) 29.05.90 2 Scott GALLOWAY (25) 25.04.95 2 Storm ROUX (Nzl) (28) 13.01.93
5 Tom ALDRED (Sco) (30) 11.09.90 5 Stefan NIGRO (24) 10.08.96
6 Aleksandar JOVANOVIC (31) 04.08.89 3 Scott JAMIESON (32) 13.10.88 3 Adama TRAORE (Civ) (30) 03.02.90
6 Macaulay GILLESPHEY (Eng) (25) 24.11.95 11 Jack CLISBY (28) 16.02.92 4 Harrison DELBRIDGE (28) 15.03.92 4 Nick ANSELL (26) 02.02.94
7 Ivan FRANJIC (33) 10.09.87
16 Josh BRINDELL-SOUTH (28) 28.10.92 15 Kye ROWLES (22) 24.06.98 13 Nathaniel ATKINSON (21) 13.06.99 5 Ryan SHOTTON (Eng) (32) 30.10.88
12 James MEREDITH (32) 05.04.88
19 Jack HINGERT (30) 26.09.90 21 Ruon TONGYIK (24) 28.12.96 19 Ben GARUCCIO (25) 15.06.95 15 Aaron ANDERSON (20) 25.09.00
13 Yianni NICOLAOU (21) 05.01.00
*27 Kai TREWIN (19) 18.05.01 32 Max BALARD (20) 20.11.00 22 Curtis GOOD (27) 23.03.93 19 Dylan RYAN (20) 10.06.00
15 Aleksandar SUSNJAR (25) 19.08.95
*28 Izaack POWELL (18) 12.02.02 MIDFIELDERS
*36 Kerrin STOKES (18) 11.12.02 *32 So NISHIKAWA (19) 18.06.01
23 Walter SCOTT (21) 02.10.99
29 Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS (18) 06.11.02 *38 Jordan BOS (18) 29.10.02 MIDFIELDERS
4 Joshua NISBET (21) 15.06.99 MIDFIELDERS
MIDFIELDERS 6 Leigh BROXHAM (33) 13.01.88
MIDFIELDERS 6 Gianni STENSNESS (Nzl) (21) 07.02.99 4 BENAT (Esp) (33) 19.02.87
7 Rostyn GRIFFITHS (32) 10.03.88 7 Callum MCMANAMAN (Eng)(29) 25.04.91
8 Danny KIM (22) 28.05.98 7 Stefan JANKOVIC (Srb) (23) 11.11.97 5 Mark MILLIGAN (35) 04.08.85
8 Aiden O’NEILL (22) 04.07.98 8 Jacob BUTTERFIELD (Eng) (30) 10.06.90
10 Riku DANZAKI (Jpn) (20) 31.05.00 8 Oliver BOZANIC (32) 08.01.89 8 Denis GENREAU (21) 21.05.99
10 Florin BERENGUER (Fra) (31) 01.04.89 13 Birkan KIRDAR (29) 25.04.91
14 George MELLS (23) 23.05.97 10 Daniel DE SILVA (23) 06.03.97 10 Loic PUYO (Fra) (32) 19.12.88
14 Naoki TSUBAKI (Jpn) (20) 23.06.00 14 Jay BARNETT (19) 14.02.01
15 Jesse DALEY (23) 16.10.97 14 Daniel BOUMAN (22) 07.02.98 11 Tommy OAR (31) 11.12.89
16 Taras GOMULKA (19) 16.09.01 16 Brandon LAUTON (20) 03.03.00
25 Rahmat AKBARI 22 Michal JANOTA (Pol) 19 Michael RUHS (18) 27.08.02
(20) 20.06.00 (30) 29.07.90 18 Connor METCALFE (21) 05.11.99 17 Elvis KAMSOBA (Bdi) (24) 27.06.96
21 Jake HOLLMAN (19) 26.08.01
26 Jay O’SHEA (Irl) (32) 10.08.88 23 Dan HALL (21) 14.06.99 20 Adrian LUNA (Uru) (28) 12.04.92 22 Jake BRIMMER (22) 03.04.98
22 Liam ROSE (23) 07.04.97
33 Keegan JELACIC (Nzl) (18) 31.07.02 *25 Matthew HATCH (20) 24.09.00 *37 Bernardo OLIVEIRA (16) 16.03.04 *46 Joshua VARGA (18) 07.02.02
24 Charles M’MOMBWA (22) 14.03.98 *39 Idrus ABDULAHI (17) 22.09.03
34 Alex PARSONS (21) 06.01.00 *26 Jaden CASELLA (20) 10.03.00 FORWARDS
29 Antonis MARTIS (Cyp) (20) 08.09.00
FORWARDS FORWARDS FORWARDS 9 Rudy GESTEDE (Ben) (32) 10.10.88
31 Lachlan ROSE (21) 10.05.99
9 Jamie MACLAREN (27) 29.07.93 10 Robin KRUSE (32) 05.10.88
7 Jai INGHAM (Nzl) (27) 14.08.93 12 Marco URENA (Crc) (30) 05.03.90
FORWARDS 11 Craig NOONE (Eng) (33) 17.11.87 11 Ben FOLAMI (21) 08.06.99
9 Masato KUDO (Jpn) (30) 06.05.90 19 Matt SIMON (35) 22.01.86
9 Milislav POPOVIC (23) 06.03.97 15 Andrew NABBOUT (28) 17.12.92 23 Marco ROJAS (Nzl) (29) 05.11.91
11 Joey CHAMPNESS (23) 27.04.97 *29 Alou KUOL (19) 05.07.01 14 Moudi NAJJAR (20) 26.06.00 17 Stefan COLAKOVSKI (20) 20.04.00 *25 Luis LAWRIE-LATTANZIO (18) 20.02.02
23 Dylan WENZEL-HALLS (23) 15.12.97 30 Jordan SMYLIE (20) 28.02.00 27 Matt DERBYSHIRE (Eng) (34) 14.04.86 23 Marco TILIO (19) 23.08.01 *36 Gianluca IANNUCCI (19) 18.06.01
77 Scott MCDONALD (37) 21.08.83 31 Damian TSEKENIS (19) 16.04.01 33 Markel SUSAETA (Esp) (33) 14.12.97 *35 Raphael BORGES RODRIGUES (17) 11.09.03 *39 Lleyton BROOKS (19) 21.03.01
COACH COACH COACH COACH COACH
Warren MOON (38) 27.05.82 Alen STAJCIC (47) 02.11.73 Ante MILICIC (46) 04.04.74 Patrick KISNORBO (39) 24.03.81 Grant BREBNER (Sco) (42) 06.12.77
92 WORLD SOCCER
SQUADS
NEWCASTLE JETS PERTH GLORY SYDNEY FC WELLINGTON PHOENIX WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS
GOALKEEPERS GOALKEEPERS GOALKEEPERS GOALKEEPERS GOALKEEPERS

1 Tando VELAPHI (33) 17.04.87 1 Andrew REDMAYNE (32) 13.01.89 20 Vedran JANJETOVIC (33) 20.08.87
1 Lewis ITALIANO (30) 10.12.90 1 Stefan MARINOVIC (Nzl) (29) 07.10.91
30 Daniel MARGUSH (23) 28.11.97
33 Liam REDDY (39) 08.08.81 20 Tom HEWARD-BELLE (23) 11.03.97
23 Jack DUNCAN (27) 19.04.93 20 Oliver SAIL (Nzl) (25) 13.01.96 50 Oliver KALAC (18) 09.11.02
50 Cameron COOK (19) 16.08.01 *30 Adam PAVLESIC (18) 30.07.02
DEFENDERS DEFENDERS Noah JAMES (19) 14.02.01
DEFENDERS DEFENDERS
2 John KOUTROUMBIS (22) 06.03.98 2 Liam MCGING (22) 11.12.98 DEFENDERS
3 Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS (24) 07.06.96 2 Patrick FLOTTMANN (23) 19.04.97 2 Ziggy GORDON (Sco) (27) 23.04.93
3 Jason HOFFMAN (31) 28.01.89 3 Luke DEVERE (31) 05.11.89
4 Darryl LACHMAN (Cuw) (31) 11.11.89 3 Ben WARLAND (24) 04.09.96 4 Dylan MCGOWAN (29) 06.08.91
4 Nigel BOOGAARD (34) 14.08.86 5 Nicholas WALSH (18) 15.10.02 4 Te Atawhai HUDSON-WIHONGI (Nzl) (25) 27.03.95 5 Daniel GEORGIEVSKI (Mkd) (32) 17.02.88
4 Alex WILKINSON (36) 13.08.84
22 Lachlan JACKSON (25) 12.03.95 7 Luke BODNAR (20) 19.05.00 5 James MCGARRY (Nzl) (22) 09.04.98 6 Tass MOURDOUKOUTAS (21) 03.03.99
6 Ryan MCGOWAN (31) 15.08.89
24 Connor O’TOOLE (23) 04.07.97 13 Osama MALIK (30) 30.09.90 6 Tim PAYNE (Nzl) (27) 10.01.94 13 Tate RUSSELL (21) 24.08.99
7 Michael ZULLO (32) 11.09.88 25 Phillip CANCAR (19) 11.05.01
44 Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY (35) 11.03.85 22 Joshua RAWLINS (16) 23.04.04 12 Matthew RIDENTON (Nzl) (24) 11.03.96
16 Joel KING (20) 30.10.00 *29 Daniel WILMERING (20) 19.12.00
23 Dane INGHAM (Nzl) (21) 08.06.99 13 James MCGARRY (Nzl) (22) 09.04.98
MIDFIELDERS 21 Harry VAN DER SAAG (21) 29.10.99 *33 Mark NATTA (18) 28.11.02
28 Mason TATAFU (18) 17.04.02 16 Louis FENTON (Nzl) (27) 03.04.93 34 Patrick ZIEGLER (Ger) (30) 09.02.90
5 Ben KANTAROVSKI (29) 20.01.92 23 Rhyan GRANT (29) 26.02.91
Kosuke OTA (Jpn) (33) 23.07.87 *39 Thomas AQUILINA (19) 02.02.01
6 Steven UGARKOVIC (26) 19.08.94 MIDFIELDERS 21 Joshua LAWS (22) 26.02.98
MIDFIELDERS *Mohamad AL-TAAY (20) 15.06.00
11 Ramy NAJJARINE (20) 23.04.00 5 Alex BAUMJOHANN (Ger) (33) 23.01.87 MIDFIELDERS
10 Daniel STYNES (22) 29.08.98 MIDFIELDERS
14 Ali ABBAS (Irq) (34) 30.08.86 8 Paulo RETRE (27) 04.03.93 7 Reno PISCOPO (22) 27.05.98 8 Jordan O’DOHERTY (23) 14.10.97
11 Declan HUGHES (20) 27.05.00
*18 Jack ARMSON 10 Milos NINKOVIC (Srb) (36) 25.12.84 8 Cameron DEVLIN (22) 07.06.98 14 James TROISI (32) 03.07.88
14 Giordano COLLI (20) 12.03.00
*25 Jack SIMMONS (18) 04.04.02 17 Anthony CACERES (28) 29.09.92 10 Ulises DAVILA (Mex) (29) 13.04.91 17 Keanu BACCUS (22) 07.06.98
15 Brandon WILSON (23) 28.01.97
19 Chris ZUVELA (24) 21.01.97 18 Graham DORRANS (Sco) (33) 05.05.87
*27 Lucas MAURAGIS (19) 04.09.01 16 Nick SULLIVAN (22) 25.02.98 14 Alex RUFER (Nzl) (24) 12.06.96
26 Luke BRATTAN (30) 08.03.90 23 Kosta GROZOS (20) 10.08.00
32 Angus THURGATE (20) 08.02.00 17 Diego CASTRO (Esp) (38) 02.07.82 19 Sam SUTTON (Nzl) (19) 10.12.01 24 Anthony LESIOTIS (20) 20.04.00
19 Chris IKONOMIDIS *28 Calem NIEUWENHOF (19) 17.02.01
FORWARDS
(25) 04.05.95 23 Clayton LEWIS (23) 12.02.97 *26 Jarrod CARLUCCIO (19) 08.02.01
27 Bryce BAFFORD (19) 05.06.01 FORWARDS 38 Ali AUGLAH (18) 11.03.02
9 Roy O’DONOVAN (Irl) (35) 10.08.85 FORWARDS
88 Neil KILKENNY (35) 19.12.85 9 BOBO (Bra) (36) 09.01.85 FORWARDS
13 Maki PETRATOS (20) 11.09.00 9 David BALL (Eng) (31) 14.12.89
FORWARDS 11 Kosta BARBAROUSES (Nzl) (30) 19.02.90 7 Bruce KAMAU (25) 28.03.95
*15 Tete YENGI 11 Jaushua SOTIRIO (25) 11.10.95 9 Bernie IBINIE (28) 12.09.92
9 Bruno FORNAROLI (Uru) (33) 07.09.87 12 Trent BUHAGIAR (22) 27.02.98
17 Valentino YUEL (26) 12.10.94 18 Luke IVANOVIC 15 Mirza MURATOVIC (21) 14.01.00 10 Simon COX (Irl) (33) 28.04.87
18 Nicholas D’AGOSTINO (22) 25.02.98 (20) 06.06.00
19 Kosta PETRATOS (22) 01.03.98 17 Tomer HEMED (Isr) (33) 02.05.87 11 Kwane YEBOAH (26) 02.06.94
25 Carlo ARMIENTO (21) 04.06.99 27 Jordi SWIBEL (21) 13.04.99
27 Nicolai MULLER (Ger) (33) 25.09.87
*26 Archie GOODWIN Andy KEOGH (Irl) (34) 16.05.86 *33 Pat WOOD (18) 16.09.02 18 Ben WAINE (Nzl) (19) 11.06.01
*37 Stefan NIKOLIC (30) 16.04.90
COACH COACH COACH COACH COACH
Craig DEANS (46) 07.05.74 (Interim) Richard GARCIA (39) 04.09.81 Steve CORICA (47) 24.03.73 Ufuk TALAY (44) 26.03.76 Carl ROBINSON (Wal) (44) 13.10.76
WESTERN UNITED
GOALKEEPERS
1 Filip KURTO (Pol) (29) 14.06.91
30 Ryan SCOTT (25) 18.12.95
DEFENDERS
2 Aaron CALVER (25) 12.01.96
3 Brendan HAMILL (28) 18.09.92
4 Andrew DURANTE (Nzl) (38) 03.05.82
5 Dylan PIERIAS (20) 20.02.00
6 Tomoki IMAI (Jpn) (30) 29.11.90
13 Ivan VUJICA (23) 20.04.97
19 Josh RISDON (28) 27.07.92
22 Tomislav USKOK (29) 22.06.91
MIDFIELDERS
10 Steven LUSTICA (29) 12.04.91
14 Max BURGESS (26) 16.01.95
17 Joshua CAVALLO (21) 13.11.99
20 Victor SANCHEZ (Esp) (33) 08.09.87
21 Sebastian PASQUALI (21) 07.11.99
23 Alessandro DIAMANTI (Ita) (37) 02.05.83
*25 Luke DUZEL (18) 05.02.02
*26 Nicolas MILANOVIC (19) 14.11.01
27 Jerry SKOTADIS (20) 07.03.00
FORWARDS
7 Besart BERISHA (Kvx) (35) 29.07.85
8 Lachlan WALES (23) 19.10.97
11 Connor PAIN (27) 11.11.93
12 Stefan ZINNI
(ages as of 22.01.21)
(24) 06.07.96
*29 Ayom MAJOK
33 Apostolos STAMATELOPOULOS (21) 09.04.99
COACH
Mark RUDAN (45) 27.08.75 Dangerous…Simon Cox made over 500 appearances in England’s Football League before joining Western Sydney Wanderers in January 2020
WORLD SOCCER 93
Club football GROUP F San Jose Earthquakes: Marcinkowski -

P W D L F A Pts Jungwirth, Alanis, Lopez (Thompson 102), Lima,
Napoli 6 3 2 1 7 4 11 Salinas (Cowell 87), Judson (Calvillo 115),
Real Sociedad 6 2 3 1 5 4 9 Espinoza, Yueill, Wondolowski, Fierro (Rios 87).
AZ 6 2 2 2 7 5 8
EUROPE
GROUP H Rijeka 6 1 1 4 6 12 4 Nov 22 - Minnesota
P W D L F A Pts Minnesota United 3 (Molino 22, 79, Lod 54)
PSG 6 4 0 2 13 6 12 GROUP G Colorado Rapids 0
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2020-21 RB Leipzig 6 4 0 2 11 12 12 P W D L F A Pts HT: 1-0. Ref: Unkel (USA)
Manchester United 6 3 0 3 15 10 9 Leicester City 6 4 1 1 14 5 13 Minnesota United: St Clair - Boxall, Dibassy,
Matchday 5 Istanbul Basaksehir 6 1 0 5 7 18 3 Braga 6 4 1 1 14 10 13 Gasper, Gregus, Molino, Lod, Finlay (Kamara 68),
Zorya Luhansk 6 2 0 4 6 11 6 Hairston (Alonso 80), Reynoso (Hayes 83),
Dec 1: Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukr) 2 Real Madrid AEK Athens 6 1 0 5 7 15 3 Dotson.
(Esp) 0; Lokomotiv Moscow (Rus) 1 RB Salzburg EUROPA LEAGUE 2020-21 Colorado Rapids: Yarbrough - Wilson,
(Aut) 3; Borussia Monchengladbach (Ger) 2 Rosenberry, Abubakar, Acosta (Mezquida 81),
GROUP H
Internazionale (Ita) 3; Marseille (Fra) 2 Matchday 5 Price, Namli (Vines 72), Lewis (Benezet 46),
P W D L F A Pts
Olympiakos (Gre) 1; Atletico Madrid (Esp) 1 Bassett, Rubio, Andre Shinyashiki (Galvan 81).
Milan 6 4 1 1 12 7 13
Bayern Munich (Ger) 1; Liverpool (Eng) 1 Ajax Dec 3: Sivasspor (Tur) 0 Villarreal (Esp) 1; Milan Lille 6 3 2 1 14 8 11
(Ned) 0; Atalanta (Ita) 1 Midtjylland (Den) 1; Nov 22 - Oregon
(Ita) 4 Celtic (Sco) 2; Qarabag (Aze) 1 Maccabi Sparta Prague 6 2 0 4 10 12 6
Porto (Por) 0 Manchester City (Eng) 0 Portland Timbers 1 (Villafana 82)
Tel-Aviv (Isr) 1; Zorya Luhansk (Ukr) 1 Leicester Celtic 6 1 1 4 10 19 4
FC Dallas 1* (Pepi 90+3)
City (Eng) 0; AEK Athens (Gre) 2 Braga (Por) 4;
Dec 2: Istanbul Basaksehir (Tur) 3 RB Leipzig *FC Dallas win 8-7 on penalties (aet)
Gent (Bel) 1 Slovan Liberec (Cze) 2; Red Star GROUP I
(Ger) 4; Krasnodar (Rus) 1 Rennes (Fra) 0; HT: 0-0. Ref: Villarreal (USA)
Belgrade (Srb) 0 Hoffenheim (Ger) 0; Lille (Fra) P W D L F A Pts
Manchester United (Eng) 1 Paris Saint-Germain Portland Timbers: Clark - Mabiala, Villafana,
2 Sparta Prague (Cze) 1; CSKA Moscow (Rus) 0 Villarreal 5 4 1 0 14 5 13
(Fra) 3; Borussia Dortmund (Ger) 1 Lazio (Ita) 1; Zuparic, Bonilla (Farfan 94), Valeri, D. Chara, Y.
Wolfsberg (Aut) 1; Feyenoord (Ned) 0 Dinamo Maccabi Tel-Aviv 6 3 2 1 6 7 11
Ferencvaros (Hun) 0 Barcelona (Esp) 3; Juventus Chara (Loria 95), Williamson (Paredes 45), Mora
Zagreb (Cro) 2; LASK (Aut) 3 Tottenham Hotspur Sivasspor 6 2 0 4 9 11 6
(Ita) 3 Dynamo Kiev (Ukr) 0; Club Brugge (Bel) 3 (Ebobisse 88), Polo (Bodily 105).
(Eng) 3; Royal Antwerp (Bel) 3 Ludogorets (Bul) Qarabag 5 0 1 4 4 10 1
Zenit (Rus) 0; Sevilla (Esp) 0 Chelsea (Eng) 4 FC Dallas: Maurer - Bressan, Hedges,
1; Rangers (Sco) 3 Standard Liege (Bel) 2; CFR
Hollingshead, Nelson (Pepi 85), Reynolds,
Cluj (Rou) 0 CSKA Sofia (Bul) 0; AZ (Ned) 1 GROUP J
Matchday 6 Ricaurte (Twumasi 80), Thiago Santos (Barrios
Napoli (Ita) 1; Slavia Prague (Cze) 3 Hapoel Be’er P W D L F A Pts 86), Jara, Picault (Ziegler 110), Ferreira
Sheva (Isr) 0; Granada (Esp) 0 PSV (Ned) 1; Tottenham 6 4 1 1 15 5 13
Dec 8: Zenit (Rus) 1 Borussia Dortmund (Ger) 2; (Tessmann 61).
Molde (Nor) 3 Dundalk (Irl) 1; Real Sociedad Royal Antwerp 6 4 0 2 8 5 12
Lazio (Ita) 2 Club Brugge (Bel) 2; Barcelona (Esp) (Esp) 2 Rijeka (Cro) 2; Roma (Ita) 3 Young Boys LASK 6 3 1 2 11 12 10 Nov 24 - Washington
0 Juventus (Ita) 3; Chelsea (Eng) 1 Krasnodar (Sui) 1; Benfica (Por) 4 Lech Poznan (Pol) 0; Ludogorets 6 0 0 6 7 19 0 Seattle Sounders 3 (Lodeiro 18, Ruidiaz 66,
(Rus) 1; RB Leipzig (Ger) 3 Manchester United Nice (Fra) 2 Bayer Leverkusen (Ger) 3; Morris 80)
(Eng) 2; Dynamo Kiev (Ukr) 1 Ferencvaros (Hun) Omonia (Cyp) 2 PAOK (Gre) 1; Arsenal GROUP K Los Angeles FC 1 (Atuesta 77)
0; Rennes (Fra) 1 Sevilla (Esp) 3 (Eng) 4 Rapid Vienna (Aut) 1 P W D L F A Pts HT: 1-0. Ref: Stott (USA)
Dinamo Zagreb 6 4 2 0 9 1 14 Seattle Sounders: Frei - O’Neill, Gomez, Tolo
Dec 9: Midtjylland (Den) 1 Liverpool (Eng) 1; Matchday 6 Wolfsberg 6 3 1 2 7 6 10 (Torres 90+1), Lodeiro, Jones (Smith 70), Joao
Paris Saint-Germain (Fra) 5 Istanbul Basaksehir Feyenoord 6 1 2 3 4 8 5 Paulo, C. Roldan, A. Roldan, Ruidiaz, Morris
(Tur) 1; Ajax (Ned) 0 Atalanta (Ita) 1; Bayern Dec 10: Bayer Leverkusen (Ger) 4 Slavia Prague CSKA Moscow 6 0 3 3 3 8 3 (Delem 90).
Munich (Ger) 2 Lokomotiv Moscow (Rus); Real (Cze) 0; CSKA Sofia (Bul) 3 Roma (Ita) 1; Los Angeles FC: Sisniega - Harvey (Mohammed
Madrid (Esp) 2 Borussia Monchengladbach (Ger) Standard Liege (Bel) 2 Benfica (Por) 2; Dundalk GROUP L Mounir 56), Murillo (Ginella 73), Segura,
0; RB Salzburg (Aut) 0 Atletico Madrid (Esp) 2; (Irl) 2 Arsenal (Eng) 4; Lech Poznan (Pol) 0 P W D L F A Pts Blackmon, Kaye, Atuesta, Vela, Wright-Phillips
Manchester City (Eng) 3 Marseille (Fra) 0; Rangers (Sco) 2; PSV (Ned) 4 Omonia (Cyp) 0; Hoffenheim 6 5 1 0 17 2 16 (Opoku 46), Blessing, Torres (Perez 55).
Internazionale (Ita) 0 Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukr) 0; Rijeka (Cro) 2 AZ (Ned) 1; Rapid Vienna (Aut) 2 Red Star Belgrade 6 3 2 1 9 4 11
Olympiakos (Gre) 0 Porto (Por) 0 Molde (Nor) 2; PAOK (Gre) 0 Granada (Esp) 0; Slovan Liberec 6 2 1 3 4 13 7 Eastern Conference First Round
Hapoel Be’er Sheva (Isr) 1 Nice (Fra) 0; Napoli Gent 6 0 0 6 4 15 0
GROUP A (Ita) 1 Real Sociedad (Esp) 1; Young Boys (Sui) Nov 21 - Florida
P W D L F A Pts 2 CFR Cluj (Rou) 1; Sparta Prague (Cze) 0 Orlando City 1* (Nani 5 pen)
CONCACAF
Bayern Munich 6 5 1 0 18 5 16 Milan (Ita) 1; Ludogorets (Bul) 1 LASK (Aut) 3; New York City 1 (Chanot 8)
Atletico Madrid 6 2 3 1 7 8 9 Hoffenheim (Ger) 4 Gent (Bel) 1; Dinamo Zagreb *Orlando City win 6-5 on penalties (aet)
RB Salzburg 6 1 1 4 10 17 4 (Cro) 3 CSKA Moscow (Rus) 1; Celtic (Sco) 3 Lille HT: 1-1. Ref: Chapman (USA)
Lokomotiv 6 0 3 3 5 10 3 (Fra) 2; Maccabi Tel-Aviv (Isr) 1 Sivasspor (Tur) 0; USA: MLS CUP PLAY-OFFS Orlando City: Gallese - Jansson, Antonio Carlos,
Tottenham Hotspur (Eng) 2 Royal Antwerp (Bel) Smith (Schlegel 101), Ruan, Nani, Pereyra (Michel
GROUP B 0; Braga (Por) 2 Zorya Luhansk (Ukr) 0; Eastern Conference Play-In Round 105), Junior Urso, Oriol Rosell (Perea 83),
P W D L F A Pts Wolfsberg (Aut) 1 Feyenoord (Ned) 0; Slovan Mueller (Miller 90+4), Dike (Akindele 83).
Real Madrid 6 3 1 2 11 9 10 Liberec (Cze) 0 Red Star Belgrade (Srb) 0; Nov 20 - Massachusetts Sent off: Ruan 87, Gallese 120+8.
B. M’gladbach 6 2 2 2 16 9 8 Leicester City (Eng) 2 AEK Athens (Gre) 0; New England Revolution 2 (Gil 38, Bou 90+5) New York City: Johnson - Tinnerholm (Ibeagha
Shakhtar Donetsk 6 2 2 2 5 12 8 Villarreal (Esp) p Qarabag (Aze) p Montreal Impact 1 (Quioto 61) 90+5), Callens (Scally 120+1), Chanot, Matarrita
Internazionale 6 1 3 2 7 9 6 HT: 1-0. Ref: Marrufo (USA) (Thorarinsson 114), Moralez, Ring (Rocha 114),
GROUP A New England Revolution: Turner - Buchanan Medina, Parks (Acevedo 90+5), Mackay-Steven
GROUP C (Caldwell 50), Farrell, Kessler, Jones, McNamara (Ismael Tajouri 90+5), Castellanos.
P W D L F A Pts
P W D L F A Pts (Nguyen 63), Polster, Gil, Bou, Bunbury
Roma 6 4 1 1 13 5 13
Manchester City 6 5 1 0 13 1 16 (Rennicks 86), Buksa. Nov 21 - Ohio
Young Boys 6 3 1 2 9 7 10
Porto 6 4 1 1 10 3 13 Montreal Impact: Diop - Brault-Guillard, Fanni, Columbus Crew 3 (Pedro Santos 26 pen,
CFR Cluj 6 1 2 3 4 10 5
Olympiakos 6 1 0 5 2 10 3 Binks, Corrales (Kizza 46), Sejdic, Camacho, Nagbe 46, Zardes 68)
CSKA Sofia 6 1 2 3 3 7 5
Marseille 6 1 0 5 2 13 3 Maciel (Okwonkwo 57), Jackson-Hamel (Toye New York Red Bulls 2 (Clark 23, White 90)
57), Quioto, Bojan. HT: 1-1. Ref: Chilowicz (USA)
GROUP B
GROUP D Columbus Crew: Room - Afful, Mensah,
P W D L F A Pts
P W D L F A Pts Nov 21 - Tennessee Williams, Valenzuela, Pedro Santos, Nagbe,
Arsenal 6 6 0 0 20 5 18
Liverpool 6 4 1 1 10 3 13 Nashville 3 (Leal 14, Mukhtar 24 pen, McCarty 57) Zelarayan, Etienne (Diaz 81), Artur, Zardes.
Molde 6 3 1 2 9 11 10
Atalanta 6 3 2 1 10 8 11 Inter Miami 0 New York Red Bulls: Meara - Parker, Long,
Rapid Vienna 6 2 1 3 11 13 7
Ajax 6 2 1 3 7 7 7 HT: 2-0. Ref: Elfath (USA) Duncan, Pendant, Royer (White 59), Valot
Dundalk 6 0 0 6 8 19 0
Midtjylland 6 0 2 4 4 13 2 Nashville: Willis - Zimmerman, Lovitz, Romney, (Romero 76), Davis (Rzatkowski 76), Yearwood
McCarty, Godoy (Anunga 74), Mukhtar (Jones (Casseres 51), Clark (Stroud 76), Barlow.
GROUP E GROUP C
67), Leal (Bwana 67), Muyl (Washington 80),
P W D L F A Pts P W D L F A Pts
Johnston, Cadiz (Rios 67). Nov 24 - Connecticut
Chelsea 6 4 2 0 14 2 14 Bayer Leverkusen 6 5 0 1 21 8 15
Inter Miami: McCarthy - DeLaGarza, Powell, Toronto 0
Sevilla 6 4 1 1 9 8 13 Slavia Prague 6 4 0 2 11 10 12
Ambrose (Sweat 76), Figal, Nealis (Pellegrini 33), Nashville 1 (Rios 108)
Krasnodar 6 1 2 3 6 11 5 Hapoel Be’er Sheva 6 2 0 4 7 13 6
Matuidi, Pizarro, Trapp (Ulloa 63), Morgan, After extra-time
Rennes 6 0 1 5 3 11 1 Nice 6 1 0 5 8 16 3
Agudelo (Carranza 63). HT: 0-0. Ref: Sibiga (USA)
Toronto: Westberg - Gonzalez (Fraser 111),
GROUP F GROUP D Western Conference First Round Mavinga, Auro (Gallacher 101), Bradley, Piatti
P W D L F A Pts P W D L F A Pts (Priso-Mbongue 101), DeLeon (Akinola 62),
B. Dortmund 6 4 1 1 12 5 13 Rangers 6 4 2 0 13 7 14 Nov 22 - Kansas Pozuelo, Osorio, Laryea (Gallardo 111), Altidore
Lazio 6 2 4 0 11 7 10 Benfica 6 3 3 0 18 9 12 Sporting Kansas City 3* (Espinoza 4, Ilie 47, (Mullins 82).
Club Brugge 6 2 2 2 8 10 8 Standard Liege 6 1 1 4 7 14 4 Busio 90+1) Nashville: Willis - Zimmerman, Lovitz, Romney,
Zenit 6 0 1 5 4 13 1 Lech Poznan 6 1 0 5 6 14 3 San Jose Earthquakes 3 (Fierro 22, Salinas 34, McCarty, Mukhtar (LaGrassa 111), Leal (Anibaba
Wondolowski 90+7) 118), Muyl (Washington 105+1), Anunga (Jones
GROUP G GROUP E *Sporting Kansas City win 3-0 on penalties (aet) 105+1), Johnston, Cadiz (Rios 71).
P W D L F A Pts P W D L F A Pts HT: 1-2. Ref: Saghafi (USA)
Juventus 6 5 0 1 14 4 15 PSV 6 4 0 2 12 9 12 Sporting Kansas City: Melia - Reid, Puncec, Dia, Nov 24 - Pennsylvania
Barcelona 6 5 0 1 16 5 15 Granada 6 3 2 1 6 3 11 Lindsey, Espinoza (Hernandez 90+3), Ilie, Busio Philadelphia Union 0
Dynamo Kiev 6 1 1 4 4 13 4 PAOK 6 1 3 2 8 7 6 (Kinda 98), Russell, Gerso Fernandes (Hurtado New England Revolution 2 (Buksa 26,
Ferencvaros 6 0 1 5 5 17 1 Omonia 6 1 1 4 5 12 4 90+3), Shelton. Buchanan 30)
94 WORLD SOCCER
HT: 0-2. Ref: Dickerson (USA) MLS Cup Final Semi-Finals – 2nd Leg Dec 2 - Sao Paulo
Philadelphia Union: Blake - Gaddis (Fontana Palmeiras 5 (8) (De Paula 29, Veron 49, 60,
76), Glesnes, Wagner, McKenzie, Bedoya, Jamiro, Dec 12 - Ohio Dec 5 - Leon Willian 52, Danilo 90+3)
Jose Martinez (Ilsinho 46), Aaronson (Elliott 62), Columbus Crew 3 (Zelarayan 25, 82, Etienne 31) Leon 1 (2) (Campbell 18) Delfin 0 (1)
Przybylko, Sergio Santos (Burke 62). Seattle Sounders 0 Guadalajara 0 (1) HT: 1-0. Ref: Herrera (Arg)
New England Revolution: Turner - Farrell, HT: 2-0. Ref: Marrufo (USA) HT: 1-0. Ref: Montano (Mex)
Kessler, Jones, Carles Gil (Mancienne 89), Columbus Crew: Room - Afful, Mensah, Dec 2 - Montevideo
Caldwell, Polster, Buchanan, Bou (McNamara Williams, Valenzuela, Zelarayan, Etienne Dec 6 - Mexico City Nacional 0 (0)*
78), Bunbury (Rowe 66), Buksa (Rennicks 89). (Jimenez 83), Artur (Alashe 88), Morris, Diaz Pumas UNAM 4 (4)* (Dinenno 4, 37, Gonzalez Independiente Medellin 0 (0)
(Francis 90), Zardes. 41, Vigon 89) HT: 0-0. Ref: Benitez (Par)
Western Conference Semi-Finals Seattle Sounders: Frei - O’Neill (Medranda 77), Cruz Azul 0 (4) *Nacional win 4-2 on penalties
Gomez, Tolo (Smith 46), Lodeiro, Jones HT: 3-0. Ref: Ramos (Mex)
Dec 1 - Washington (Svensson 46), Joao Paulo (Bruin 60), C. Roldan, *Pumas UNAM progress after finishing higher
Dec 2 - Cochabamba
Seattle Sounders 1 (O’Neill 49) A. Roldan (Leerdam 60), Ruidiaz, Morris. in the regular league standings
Jorge Wilstermann 0 (1)
FC Dallas 0
Libertad 2 (5) (Cardozo 67, 79)
HT: 0-0. Ref: Sibiga (USA) Final – 1st Leg
HT: 0-0. Ref: Loustau (Arg)
Seattle Sounders: Frei - O’Neill, Gomez, Tolo, MEXICO
Lodeiro, Jones (Leerdam 68), Joao Paulo (Torres Dec 10 - Mexico City
LIGA MX 2020-21 Dec 3 - Rio Grande do Sul
87), C. Roldan, A. Roldan, Ruidiaz, Morris (Smith Pumas UNAM 1 (Gonzalez 72)
P W D L F A Pts Gremio 2 (4) (Ferreira 3, Rodrigues 90+7)
90+1). Leon 1 (Gigliotti 89)
Leon (C) 17 12 4 1 27 14 40 Guarani 0 (0)
FC Dallas: Maurer - Bressan, Hedges, HT: 0-0. Ref: Hernandez (Mex)
Pumas UNAM 17 8 8 1 29 17 32 HT: 1-0. Ref: Roldan (Col)
Hollingshead, Nelson (Barrios 58), Reynolds, America 17 9 5 3 31 22 32
Ricaurte, Thiago Santos (Ferreira 87), Tessmann Final – 2nd Leg
Cruz Azul 17 9 2 6 23 16 29 Dec 9 - Buenos Aires
(Mosquera 81), Jara, Picault (Pepi 80). Monterrey 17 8 5 4 26 21 29 Dec 14 - Leon de los Aldamas Boca Juniors 0 (1)*
Tigres UANL 17 7 7 3 27 16 28 Leon 2 (3) (Gigliotti 12, Moreno 83) Internacional 1 (1) (Fabra 48 og)
Dec 3 - Kansas
Guadalajara 17 7 5 5 20 17 26 Pumas UNAM 0 (1) HT: 0-0. Ref: Tobar (Chi)
Sporting Kansas City 0
Santos Laguna 17 7 4 6 24 20 25 HT: 1-0. Ref: Perez (Mex) *BocaJuniors win 5-4 on penalties
Minnesota United 3 (Molino 27, 35, Dibassy 39)
Pachuca 17 6 7 4 18 14 25
HT: 0-3. Ref: Fischer (Can)
Necaxa 17 7 3 7 16 20 24
Sporting Kansas City: Melia - Reid, Puncec, Dia
SOUTH AMERICA ASIA
Toluca 17 6 3 8 23 28 21
(Luis Martins 56), Lindsey, Espinoza (Hernandez
Puebla 17 6 2 9 22 25 20
78), Ilie, Busio (Kinda 56), Russell, Gerso
Juarez 17 4 7 6 16 19 19
Fernandes (Hurtado 68), Shelton.
Mazatlan 17 4 4 9 24 31 16 COPA LIBERTADORES 2020
Minnesota United: St Clair - Boxall, Metanire,
Tijuana 17 4 3 10 12 27 15 AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2020
Dibassy, Gasper, Alonso (Dotson 72), Gregus,
Atlas 17 3 5 9 13 20 14 Round of 16 – 1st Leg
Molino (Hayes 88), Lod, Finlay, Reynoso East Region
Queretaro 17 3 4 10 23 28 13
(Hairston 80).
Atletico San Luis 17 3 2 12 16 35 11 Nov 24 - Curitiba
Athletico Paranaense 1 (Bissoli 57) Group E
Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
River Plate 1 (Diaz 90)
GUARDIANES 2020 FINAL PHASE HT: 0-0. Ref: Rojas (Col) Nov 21 - Al Rayyan
Nov 29 - Florida
Orlando City 1 (Urso 33) FC Seoul 1 (Chu-young 66 pen)
New England Revolution 3 (Carles Gil 17 pen, Quarter-Finals – 1st Leg Nov 24 - Quito Beijing Guoan 2 (Fernardo 8, Alan 60)
Bou 26, 86) LDU Quito 1 (Julio 45+2)
HT: 1-2. Ref: Chilowicz (USA) Nov 25 - Puebla Santos 2 (Soteldo 7, Marinho 59 pen) Nov 24 - Doha
Orlando City: Rowe - Jansson, Antonio Carlos, Puebla 2 (Fernandez 1, Mosquera 37 og) HT: 1-1. Ref: Rapallini (Arg) Beijing Guoan 3 (Renato Augusto 22, Alan 34,
Smith (Michel 78), Miller, Nani, Pereyra, Junior Leon 1 (Mena 43 pen) Wang Ziming 74)
Urso (Robinho 87), Oriol Rosell (Perea 66), HT: 2-1. Ref: Miranda (Mex) Nov 24 - Avellaneda Melbourne Victory 1 (Iannucci 78)
Mueller (Akindele 78), Dike. Sent off: Pereyra 60. Racing Club 1 (Fertoli 13)
New England Revolution: Turner - Farrell, Nov 25 - Zapopan Flamengo 1 (Barbosa 15) Nov 24 - Doha
Kessler, Jones, Carles Gil, Caldwell (McNamara Guadalajara 1 (Calderon 81) HT: 1-1. Ref: Herrera (Ven) FC Seoul 5 (Seung-gyu 20, Han-min 54, Ju-tae
90), Polster (Nguyen 78), Buchanan (Bye 67), America 0
67, 71, In-gyu 90+2)
Bou, Bunbury (Rowe 67), Buksa (Mancienne 90). HT: 0-0. Ref: Rojas (Mex) Nov 25 - Manta Chiangrai United 0
Delfin 1 (Ramires 69 og)
Nov 29 - Ohio Nov 26 - San Nicolas de los Garza Palmeiras 3 (Gabriel Menino 18, Rony 36 pen,
Tigres 1 (Pizarro 46) Nov 27 - Doha
Columbus Crew 2 (Pedro Santos 99, Zardes 103) Ze Rafael 60)
Cruz Azul 3 (Escobar 30, Rodriguez 54, Romo 71) Melbourne Victory 0
Nashville 0 HT: 0-2. Ref: Gonzalez (Uru)
HT: 0-1. Ref: Montano (Mex) Beijing Guoan 2 (Jonathan Viera 9, Zhang
After extra-time Yuning 35)
HT: 0-0. Ref: Villarreal (USA) Nov 25 - Quito
Columbus Crew: Tarbell - Afful, Mensah, Nov 26 - Pachuca Independiente Medellin 0
Pachuca 0 Nacional 0 Nov 27 - Doha
Williams, Valenzuela, Pedro Santos, Nagbe,
Pumas UNAM 1 (Alvarez 7) HT: 0-0. Ref: Raphael Claus (Bra) Chiangrai United 2 (Bill 40, 89)
Zelarayan (Cadden 116), Artur, Diaz (Boateng
HT: 0-1. Ref: Galvan (Mex) FC Seoul 1 (Chu-Young 59)
109), Zardes (Nemeth 113).
Nashville: Willis - Zimmerman, Lovitz, Romney, Nov 25 - Asuncion
McCarty, Mukhtar, Leal (Washington 90), Muyl Quarter-Finals – 2nd Leg Libertad 3 (Enciso 46, Cardozo 69, Martinez Nov 30 - Doha
(Bwana 105), Anunga (Jones 73), Johnston 90+6) Beijing Guoan 3 (Viera 23, Renato Augusto 43,
(Miller 105), Cadiz (Rios 90). Nov 28 - Leon Jorge Wilstermann 1 (Osorio 74) Zhang Yuning 90+3)
Leon 2 (3) (Perg 5 og, Mena 30) HT: 0-0. Ref: Anderson Daronco (Bra) FC Seoul 1 (Ju-tae 89)
Western Conference Final Puebla 0 (2)
HT: 2-0. Ref: Ramos (Mex) Nov 26 - Asuncion Nov 30 - Doha
Dec 7 - Washington Guarani 0 Chiangrai United 2 (Tiatrakul 47, Verzura 82)
Seattle Sounders 3 (Bruin 75, Ruidiaz 89, Nov 28 - Mexico City Gremio 2 (Jean Pyerre 56, Pepe 86) Melbourne Victory 2 (Brimmer 8 pen, Folami 27)
Svensson 90+3) America 1 (1) (Martin 75) HT: 0-0. Ref: Guerrero (Ecu)
Minnesota United 2 (Reynoso 29, Dibassy 67) Guadalajara 2 (3) (Calderon 31, 72) Dec 3 - Doha
HT: 0-1. Ref: Elfath (USA) HT: 0-1. Ref: Perez (Mex) Dec 2 - Porto Alegre Beijing Guoan 1 (Alan 76)
Seattle Sounders: Frei - Roldan, Gomez, Internacional 0 Chiangrai United 1 (Punya 55)
O’Neill, Tolo (Smith 70), Roldan (Leerdam 70), Nov 29 - Mexico City Boca Juniors 1 (Tevez 63)
Paulo (Bruin 73), Jones (Svensson 77), Lodeiro, Pumas UNAM 0 (1) HT: 0-0. Ref: Ostojich (Uru) Dec 3 - Al Rayyan
Morris, Ruidiaz. Pachuca 0 (0) Melbourne Victory 2 (Rojas 5, Brimmer 23 pen)
Minnesota United: Clair - Metanire (Dotson 40), HT: 0-0. Ref: Hernandez (Mex) Round of 16 – 2nd Leg FC Seoul 1 (Hyun-Soo 64)
Boxall, Dibassy, Gasper, Gregus, Alonso, Finlay
(Kamara 69), Reynoso, Molino, Lod (Schoenfeld Nov 29 - Mexico City Dec 1 - Buenos Aires AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP E
90+4). Cruz Azul 0 (3) River Plate 1 (2) (De La Cruz 84) P W D L F A Pts
Tigres UANL 1 (2) (Quinones 83) Athletico Paranaense 0 (1) Beijing Guoan 6 5 1 0 12 4 16
Eastern Conference Final HT: 0-0. Ref: Ortiz (Mex) HT: 0-0. Ref: Valenzuela (Ven) Melbourne Victory 6 2 1 3 6 9 7
FC Seoul 6 2 0 4 10 9 6
Dec 6 - Ohio Semi-Finals – 1st Leg Dec 1 - Sao Paulo Chiangrai United 6 1 2 3 5 11 5
Columbus Crew 1 (Artur 59) Santos 0 (2)*
New England Revolution 0 Dec 2 - Zapopan LDU Quito 1 (2) (Zunino 66) Group F
HT: 0-0. Ref: Villarreal (USA) Guadalajara 1 (Macias 52 pen) HT: 0-0. Ref: Pitana (Arg)
Columbus Crew: Tarbell - Afful, Mensah, Leon 1 (Navarro 38) *Santos win on away goals Nov 18 - Al Rayyan
Williams, Valenzuela, Nagbe, Artur, Diaz HT: 0-1. Ref: Ortiz (Mex) Perth Glory 1 (Aspropotamitis 81)
(Boateng 80), Zelarayan, Santos, Zardes. Dec 1 - Rio deJaneiro Shanghai Shenhua 2 (Xinli 7, Yu Hanchao 38)
New England Revolution: Turner - Buchanan Dec 3 - Mexico City Flamengo 1 (2) (Willian Arao 90+3)
(Rowe 70), Farrell, Kessler, Jones (Rennicks 85), Cruz Azul 4 (Alvarado 2, Baca 8, Romo 13, 90+5) Racing Club 1 (2)* (Sigali 65) Nov 21 - Al Rayyan
Caldwell (McNamara 70), Polster, Gil, Bou, Pumas UNAM 0 HT: 0-0. Ref: Tobar (Chi) Ulsan Hyundai 3 (Bit-garam 19, 41, Ki-hee 63)
Bunbury (Bye 61), Buksa. HT: 3-0. Ref: Rojas (Mex) *Racing Club win 5-3 on penalties Shanghai Shenhua 1 (Zhu Jianrong 89)
WORLD SOCCER 95
Nov 24 - Al Rayyan
FC Tokyo 0
Shanghai Shenhua 1 (Yu Hanchao 72 pen)
Dec 1 - Al-Wakrah
Yokohama F. Marinos 4 (Bunmathan 17, Marcos
Junior 51, Nakagawa 71, Bum-keun 83 og)
JAPAN
J.LEAGUE 1 International
Nov 24 - Al Rayyan
Perth Glory 1 (Stynes 71)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1 (Gustavo 54 pen)
Dec 1 - Al-Wakrah
Gamba Osaka 34
Nagoya Grampus 34
P
Kawasaki Frontale (C)34
W
26
20
19
D
5
5
6
3
9
L
9
F
88
46
45
A
31
42
28
Pts
83
65
63
football
Ulsan Hyundai 2 (In-sung 89, Junior Negrao 90+3) Shanghai SIPG 0
Nov 27 - Al Rayyan
Sydney FC 4 (Wilkinson 28, Brattan 33,
Buhagiar 57, 60)
Cerezo Osaka 34
Kashima Antlers 34
FC Tokyo 34
18
18
17
6
5
6
10
11
11
46
55
47
37
44
42
60
59
57
AFRICA
Ulsan Hyundai 2 (In-sung 87, Junior Negrao 89)
Perth Glory 0 Dec 4 - Al-Wakrah
Kashiwa Reysol 34 15 7 12 60 46 52 AFCON 2022 QUALIFICATION
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 34 13 9 12 46 37 48
Sydney FC 1 (Buhagiar 29)
Nov 27 - Al Rayyan Yokohama F. Marinos 34 14 5 15 69 59 47 Group A
Yokohama F. Marinos 1 (Saneto 18)
Shanghai Shenhua 1 (Moreno 86) Urawa Red Diamonds 34 13 7 14 43 56 46
FC Tokyo 2 (Leandro 61, Abe 82) Oita Trinita 34 11 10 13 36 45 43 Nov 11 - Conakry
Dec 4 - Doha Guinea 1 (M. Camara 44)
Consadole Sapporo 34 10 9 15 47 58 39
Shanghai SIPG 0 Chad 0
Nov 30 - Al Rayyan Sagan Tosu 34 7 15 12 37 43 36
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2 (Gue-sung 16, 32 pen) HT: 1-0. Ref: Maarouf (Egy)
FC Tokyo 1 (Nagai 1) Vissel Kobe 34 9 9 16 50 59 36
Ulsan Hyundai 2 (Bit-garam 44, 85) Yokohama FC 34 9 6 19 38 60 33
AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP H Nov 13 - Bamako
Shimizu S-Pulse 34 7 7 20 48 70 28
P W D L F A Pts Mali 1 (El Bilal Toure 33 pen)
Nov 30 - Al Rayyan Vegalta Sendai 34 6 10 18 36 61 28
Yokohama F. Marinos 6 4 1 1 13 5 13 Namibia 0
Shanghai Shenhua 3 (Moreno 62, 72, Yu Shonan Bellmare 34 6 9 19 29 48 27
Shanghai SIPG 6 3 0 3 6 10 9 HT: 1-0. Ref: Moussa (Nig)
Hanchao 73) Jeonbuk 6 2 1 3 8 10 7
Perth Glory 3 (Fornaroli 45+2, Armiento 58, Sydney FC 6 1 2 3 8 10 5 JAPAN Nov 15 - N’Djamena
Kilkenny 86 pen)
J.LEAGUE 2 Chad 1 (Ahmat 45)
Round of 16 P W D L F A Pts Guinea 1 (Keita 24)
Dec 3 - Doha
Tokushima Vortis (P)42 25 9 8 67 33 84 HT: 1-1. Ref: Sanogo (Bfa)
Shanghai Shenhua 1 (Bi Jinhao 60) Dec 6 - Al Rayyan Avispa Fukuoka (P) 42 25 9 8 51 29 84
Ulsan Hyundai 4 (Jeong-in 3, Sang-heon 24, Beijing Guoan 1 (Alan 59) Nov 17 - Windhoek
V-Varen Nagasaki 42 23 11 8 66 39 80
Johnsen 75 pen, 90) FC Tokyo 0 Namibia 1 (Kambindu 39)
Ventforet Kofu 42 16 17 9 50 41 65
Giravanz Kitakyushu 42 19 8 15 59 51 65 Mali 2 (Koita 12, Doumbia 37)
Dec 3 - Al Rayyan
Dec 6 - Al Rayyan Jubilo Iwata 42 16 15 11 58 47 63 HT: 1-2. Ref: Adelaid (Com)
Perth Glory 0
Ulsan Hyundai 3 (Johnsen 65, 86, Du-jae 77) Montedio Yamagata 42 17 11 14 59 42 62
FC Tokyo 1 (Adailton 8) GROUP A
Melbourne Victory 0 Kyoto Sanga 42 16 11 15 47 45 59
Mito HollyHock 42 16 10 16 68 62 58 P W D L F A Pts
AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP F
Dec 7 - Doha Tochigi SC 42 15 13 14 41 39 58 Mali 4 3 1 0 7 3 10
P W D L F A Pts
Vissel Kobe 2 (Iniesta 31, Nishi 50) Albirex Niigata 42 14 15 13 55 55 57 Guinea 4 2 2 0 6 3 8
Ulsan Hyundai 6 5 1 0 14 5 16
Shanghai SIPG 0 Tokyo Verdy 42 13 15 14 48 48 54 Namibia 4 1 0 3 3 6 3
FC Tokyo 6 3 1 2 6 5 10
Matsumoto Yamaga 42 13 15 14 44 52 54 Chad 4 0 1 3 2 6 1
Shanghai Shenhua 6 2 1 3 9 13 7
Dec 7 - Doha JEF United Chiba 42 15 8 19 47 51 53
Perth Glory 6 0 1 5 5 11 1
Yokohama F. Marinos 2 (Erik 20, Onaiwu 90+1) Omiya Ardija 42 14 11 17 43 52 53 Group B
Suwon Bluewings 3 (Tae-hwan 57, Min-woo 82, FC Ryukyu 42 14 8 20 58 61 50
Group G Nov 12 - Entebbe
Suk-jong 87) Fagiano Okayama 42 12 14 16 39 49 50
Uganda 1 (Lwaliwa 86)
Nov 22 - Doha Zweigen Kanazawa 42 12 13 17 57 67 49
Quarter-Finals South Sudan 0
Suwon Bluewings 0 Machida Zelvia 42 12 13 17 41 52 49
HT: 0-0. Ref: Nkounkou (Cgo)
Guangzhou Evergrande 0 Thespakusatsu Gunma 42 15 4 23 40 62 49
Dec 10 - Al Wakrah
Ehime FC 42 8 10 24 38 68 34
Ulsan Hyundai 2 (Junior Negrao 21 pen, 42) Nov 12 - Ouagadougou
Nov 25 - Doha Renofa Yamaguchi 42 9 6 27 43 74 33
Beijing Guoan 0 Burkina Faso 3 (L. Traore 2, 25, Dabo 90 pen)
Guangzhou Evergrande 1 (Furuhashi 55 og) Malawi 1 (Phiri Junior 80 pen)
Vissel Kobe 3 (Furuhashi 44, Douglas 74, Dec 10 - Al Wakrah SOUTH KOREA HT: 2-0. Ref: Dahane (Mtn)
Iniesta 84) Vissel Kobe 1* (Furuhashi 40) K LEAGUE 1
Suwon Bluewings 1 (Sang-hyeok 7) P W D L F A Pts Nov 16 - Nairobi
Nov 28 - Al-Wakrah *Vissel Kobe win 7-6 on penalties (aet) Jeonbuk (C) 27 19 3 5 46 21 60 South Sudan 1 (Okello 36 pen)
Vissel Kobe 0 Ulsan Hyundai 27 17 6 4 54 23 57 Uganda 0
Guangzhou Evergrande 2 (Talisca 17 pen, Semi-Final Pohang Steelers 27 15 5 7 56 35 50 HT: 1-0. Ref: Houngnandande (Ben)
Ai Kesen 36) Sangju Sangmu* (R) 27 13 5 9 34 36 44
Dec 13 - Doha Nov 16 - Blantyre
Daegu FC 27 10 8 9 43 39 38
Dec 1 - Doha Ulsan Hyundai 2 (Johnsen 81, Junior Malawi 0
Gwangju FC 27 6 7 14 25 35 25
Guangzhou Evergrande 1 (Wei Shihao 72) Negrao 119 pen) Burkina Faso 0
Gangwon FC 27 9 7 11 32 46 34
Suwon Bluewings 1 (Sang-hyub 53) Vissel Kobe 1 (Yamaguchi 52) HT: 0-0. Ref: Ahmed Djama (Dji)
Suwon Bluewings 27 8 7 12 36 21 31
After extra-time
FC Seoul 27 8 5 14 27 30 29
Dec 4 - Doha GROUP B
Final Seongnam FC 27 7 7 13 23 44 28
Vissel Kobe 0 P W D L F A Pts
Incheon United 27 7 6 14 24 37 27
Suwon Bluewings 2 (Gun-hee 49, Burkina Faso 4 2 2 0 5 2 8
Dec 19 - Al Wakrah Busan IPark (R) 27 5 10 12 25 37 25
Sang-hyub 68 pen) Uganda 4 2 1 1 3 1 7
Perspolis 1 (Abdi 45) *Sangju Sangmu are relegated to K League 2
Malawi 4 1 1 2 2 5 4
Ulsan 2 (Junior Negrao 45+4, 55 pen) after moving its franchise city for the 2021 season
AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP G South Sudan 4 1 0 3 2 4 3
P W D L F A Pts
Vissel Kobe 4 2 0 2 4 5 6 CHINESE SUPER LEAGUE SOUTH KOREA Group C
Guangzhou Evergrande 4 1 2 1 3 2 5 GROUP A K LEAGUE 2
Suwon Bluewings 4 1 2 1 4 4 5 P W D L F A Pts P W D L F A Pts Nov 12 - Cape Coast
Johor Darul Ta’zim* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Guangzhou E. 14 11 1 2 31 12 34 Jeju United (P) 27 18 6 3 50 23 60 Ghana 2 (A. Ayew 19, 81)
*Johor Darul Ta’zim withdrew meaning all their Jiangsu Suning* (C) 14 7 5 2 23 15 26 Suwon FC (P) 27 17 3 7 52 28 54 Sudan 0
matches were deemed null and void Shandong Luneng 14 7 3 4 19 11 24 Gyeongnam FC 27 10 9 8 40 37 39 HT: 1-0. Ref: N’Diaye (Sen)
Shanghai Shenhua 14 5 6 3 16 15 21 Daejeon Hana Citizen 27 11 6 10 36 35 39
Group H Shenzhen 14 5 2 7 20 20 17 Seoul E-Land FC 27 11 6 10 33 30 39 Nov 12 -Johannesburg
Guangzhou R&F 14 4 3 7 14 28 15 Jeonnam Dragons 27 8 14 5 31 25 38 South Africa 2 (Tau 55 pen, Zungu 90)
Nov 19 - Doha Dalian Pro 14 2 5 7 18 21 11 Ansan Greeners FC 27 7 7 13 18 34 28 Sao Tome and Principe 0
Sydney FC 1 (Buhagiar 8) Henan Jianye 4 1 3 10 14 33 6 Bucheon FC1995 27 7 5 15 19 36 26 HT: 0-0. Ref: Sibandze (Swz)
Shanghai SIPG 2 (Li Shenglong 63, 79) *Jiangsu Suning win the title after winning the FC Anyang 27 6 7 14 27 38 25
Championship stage play-offs Chungnam Asan 27 5 7 15 20 40 22 Nov 16 - Port Elizabeth
Nov 22 - Doha Sao Tome and Principe 2 (Soares 12, Harramiz 75)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1 (Gustavo 24) Semi-Final Play-Off South Africa 4 (Zwane 39, 87, Tau 70, 88)
Shanghai SIPG 2 (Lu Wenjun 11, Hulk 82 pen) CHINESE SUPER LEAGUE HT: 1-1. Ref: Tawel Camara (Gui)
Nov 25 - Changwon
GROUP B
Gyeongnam FC 1 (Kyung-min 70) Nov 17 - Omdurman
Nov 25 - Al-Wakrah P W D L F A Pts
Daejeon Hana Citizen 1 (Edinho 61) Sudan 1 (Abdelrahman 90)
Shanghai SIPG 0 Shanghai SIPG 14 10 2 2 26 11 32
HT: 0-0. Ref: Yong-woo (Kor) Ghana 0
Yokohama F. Marinos 1 (Amano 90) Beijing Guoan 14 8 4 2 36 19 28
Chongqing Dangdai 14 7 3 4 22 19 24 HT: 0-0. Ref: Bondo (Bot)
Final Play-Off
Nov 25 - Al-Wakrah Hebei China Fortune14 7 3 4 25 23 24
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1 (Sung-eun 44) Wuhan Zall* 14 5 2 7 16 16 17 Nov 29 - Suwon GROUP C
Sydney FC 0 Shijiazhuang* (R) 14 4 5 5 18 21 17 Suwon FC 1 (Byong-jun 90+8 pen) P W D L F A Pts
Qiangdao Huanghai 14 2 4 8 15 27 10 Gyeongnam FC 1 (Choi Jun 27) Ghana 4 3 0 1 5 1 9
Nov 28 - Al-Wakrah Tianjin TEDA 14 0 3 11 8 30 3 HT: 0-1. Ref: Jong-hyeok (Kor) South Africa 4 3 0 1 7 4 9
Yokohama F. Marinos 1 (Onaiwu 21) *Shijiazhuang Ever Bright are relegated after Suwon FC are promoted to K League 1 after Sudan 4 2 0 2 5 3 6
Shanghai SIPG 2 (Cai Huikang14, Ricardo Lopes 55) losing in the relegation stage play-offs finishing higher in the league standings Sao Tome and Principe 4 0 0 4 2 11 0
96 WORLD SOCCER
Group D Nov 14 - Cairo Nov 17 - Dar es Salaam

Egypt 1 (El Wensh 54) Tanzania 1 (Salum 48)
Nov 12 - Franceville Togo 0 Tunisia 1 (Khaoui 11)
Gabon 2 (Bouanga 8, Aubameyang 55) HT: 0-0. Ref: Hakizimana (Rwa) HT: 0-1. Ref: Alvacao (Moz)
Gambia 1 (Jobe 81)
HT: 1-0. Ref: Attiogbe (Tog) Nov 15 - Moroni GROUP J
Comoros 2 (Fardou Ben 22, Mattoir 49) P W D L F A Pts
Nov 14 - Kinshasa Kenya 1 (Nyakeya 36) Tunisia 4 3 1 0 7 2 10 February 2021 Vol. 61 No. 6
DR Congo 0 HT: 1-1. Ref: Weyesa (Eth) Equatorial Guinea 4 2 0 2 5 5 6
Tanzania 4 1 1 2 4 5 4 GROUP EDITOR
Angola 0 Stephen Fishlock
HT: 0-0. Ref: Selmi (Tun) Nov 17 - Lome Libya 4 1 0 3 5 9 3
Togo 1 (Nya-Vedji 90+3) ASSISTANT EDITORS
Nov 16 - Bakau Egypt 3 (Afsha 18, Sherif 32, Trezeguet 52) Group K Jamie Evans & Jared Tinslay
Gambia 2 (Modou Barrow 49, Musa Barrow 79) HT: 0-2. Ref: Sy (Sen)
Nov 12 - Abidjan STAFF WRITER
Gabon 1 (Ecuele Manga 89) Sam Straw
GROUP G Ivory Coast 2 (Gervinho 48, Haller 55)
HT: 0-0. Ref: Ndabihawenimana (Bdi)
P W D L F A Pts Madagascar 1 (Voavy 59)
DESIGN
Egypt 4 2 2 0 5 2 8 HT: 0-0. Ref: Guirat (Tun) Sean Phillips, atg-media.com
Nov 17 - Talatona
Angola 0 Comoros 4 2 2 0 4 2 8
Kenya 4 0 3 1 4 5 3 Nov 13 – Niamey PICTURES
DR Congo 1 (Kebano 63) Niger 1 (Oumarou 73 pen) Pictures copyright: Getty Images
HT: 0-0. Ref: Gomes (Rsa) Togo 4 0 1 3 2 6 1
Ethiopia 0
Thanks this issue to
Group H HT: 0-0. Ref: Corneh (Lbr) United City Football Club’s Instagram account
GROUP D
P W D L F A Pts
Nov 12 - Lusaka Nov 17 - Bahir Dar EDITORIAL
Gambia 4 2 1 1 8 6 7
Zambia 2 (Mwepu 45+2, Sikombe 67) Ethiopia 3 (Gebremichael 13, Mohammed 43, Kelsey Media, The Granary,
Gabon 4 2 1 1 5 4 7 Downs Court, Yalding Hill,
Botswana 1 (Orebonye 45) Kebede 70)
DR Congo 4 1 3 0 3 2 6 Yalding, Maidstone,
HT: 1-1. Ref: Ndala (Cod) Niger 0 Kent, ME18 6AL
Angola 4 0 1 3 2 6 1
HT: 2-0. Ref: Williams (Sle)
Nov 12 - Algiers ADVERTISING AND SPONSORSHIP
Group E Talk Media Sales: David Lerpiniere
Algeria 3 (Bounedjah 31, Feghouli 42, Mahrez 67) Nov 17 - Toamasina
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HT: 2-0. Ref: Alioum (Cmr) Ivory Coast 1 (Kessie 15 pen)
Mauritania 1 (N’Diaye 30)
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Burundi 1 (Ntibazonkiza 79)
Nov 16 - Harare CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Phil Weeden
HT: 1-0. Ref: Allaou Mahamat (Cha) GROUP K MANAGING DIRECTOR Kevin McCormick
Zimbabwe 2 (Musona 44, Dube 82)
P W D L F A Pts PUBLISHER Steve Brown
Nov 13 - Casablanca Algeria 2 (Delort 34, Mahrez 38) SUBS MARKETING DIRECTOR Gill Lambert
HT: 1-2. Ref: Ismail (Sdn) Ivory Coast 4 2 1 1 5 4 7 SENIOR SUBS MARKETING MANAGERS
Morocco 4 (Hakimi 10, Ziyech 31 pen, 33, Madagascar 4 2 1 1 9 5 7 Nicholas McIntosh & Rochelle Gyer-Smith
Aboukhlal 64) Ethiopia 4 2 0 2 5 3 6
Nov 16 - Francistown PRINT PRODUCTION MANAGER
Central African Republic 1 (Mafouta 25) Niger 4 1 0 3 3 10 3 Georgina Harris
Botswana 1 (Gaolaolwe 6)
HT: 3-1. Ref: Traore (Mli) PRINT PRODUCTION CONTROLLERS
Zambia 0 Kelly Orriss & Hayley Brown
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Rwanda 0
Cape Verde 0 Group J Group E
HT: 0-0. Ref: Rakotojaona (Mad)
Nov 11 - Cairo Dec 4 - Doha
GROUP F Libya 2 (Al Warfali 55 pen, Bettamer 58) Qatar 5 (Hatem 9, Afif 33, 90+2, Ali 72 pen, 78)
P W D L F A Pts Equatorial Guinea 3 (Miranda 33, Obiang 90+1, Bangladesh 0
Cameroon 4 3 1 0 7 1 10 Obama 90+4) HT: 2-0. Ref: Yaacob (Mas)
Mozambique 4 1 1 2 5 8 4 HT: 0-1. Ref: Gassama (Gam)
Cape Verde 4 0 4 0 2 2 4 ● A Bola (Portugal) ● De Telegraaf (Netherlands)
GROUP E
Rwanda 4 0 2 2 0 3 2 Nov 13 - Rades ● ElfVoetbal (Netherlands) ● Fanatik (Turkey)
P W D L F A Pts ● Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Germany)
Tunisia 1 (Msakni 18 pen) Qatar 6 5 1 0 16 1 16 ● La Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy)
Group G Tanzania 0 Oman 5 4 0 1 11 4 12 ● Kicker (Germany) ● Marca (Spain)
● Nemzeti Sport (Hungary) ● Sport-Express (Russia)
HT: 1-0. Ref: Carvalho (Ang) Afghanistan 5 1 1 3 2 11 4 ● Sport/Foot (Belgium) ● TIPS Bladet (Denmark)
Nov 11 - Nairobi India 5 0 3 2 3 5 3 ● World Soccer (UK)
Kenya 1 (Juma 65) Nov 15 - Malabo Bangladesh 5 0 1 4 2 13 1
Comoros 1 (M’Changama 26) Equatorial Guinea 1 (Salvador 27)
HT: 0-1. Ref: Ibrahim (Lby) Libya 0 All remaining group stage matches in Asian
HT: 1-0. Ref: Mantemera (Zim) World Cup qualiying recommences in March 2021
WORLD SOCCER 97
Home comforts...MAPFRE
Stadium has been the home
STADIUMS
of Columbus Crew since1999
MAPFRE STADIUM
Location: Ohio, United States
Team: Columbus Crew
Built: 1999
Capacity: 19,968
G
iven that Columbus Crew are will go down in history as Major League
expected to move into their Soccer’s first soccer-specific stadium. GREATEST GAMES
new $300 million stadium Having been built in only nine months
later this year, The Black and
Gold’s 3-0 win against Seattle Sounders
at a cost of $28.5m in 1999, the MAPFRE
Stadium has quickly fallen behind the 2003September 28
USA Women 3-0 North Korea Women
in the MLS Cup final in December was a quality of other newly built soccer- In the first competitive game to be played by the USWNT
fitting way to play out one of their final specific stadiums in the United States. at the Columbus Crew Stadium, April Heinrichs’ side secured
games at the MAPFRE Stadium. Once relocated to the New Columbus a comfortable 3-0 victory against North Korea in the 2003
Women’s World Cup group stage. It was a particularly
Previously known as the Columbus Crew Stadium, the club’s hierarchy plan memorable game for college senior Cat Whitehill, as she
Crew Stadium, the 19,968-seater arena to redevelop their current stadium into scored twice within an 18-minute period in the second-half.
the team’s training centre, as well as a
community sports park.
In addition to being the home of
2013September 10
USA 2-0 Mexico
Columbus Crew, the MAPFRE Stadium This World Cup qualifier was the USA’s fourth consecutive
victory against their neighbours. Eddie Johnson’s 49th-minute
will also be remembered for hosting goal cut the tension inside a roaring Columbus Crew Stadium.
several memorable international matches Around 30 minutes later, Landon Donovan tapped home to
Ageing…the view from for both the United States men’s and double his country’s advantage, much to the delight of the
outside the stadium home crowd. After the game the players re-emerged from
women’s sides.
the tunnel to celebrate again after Honduras and Panama
drew, ensuring an automatic qualifying spot for the USA.
Victory...Columbus Crew
2020December
lift the 2020 MLS Cup
12
Columbus Crew 3-0 Seattle Sounders
In what is likely to be one of the last big matches at the
Historic… MAPFRE Stadium, an inspired display from club-record signing
USA celebrate Lucas Zelarayan secured Columbus Crew their first MLS title
beating Mexico
since 2008. The Argentine was the first player to score twice
back in 2013
in an MLS Cup final since Alecko Eskandarian back in 2004.
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World Soccer - February 2021

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PREVIEW: THE BIG STORIES OF 2021

FOREIGN LANGUAGE SEASON PREVIEW MAGAZINES

ORDE R IN G INFO RMATIO N £60

46 Player biography 6 OF THE BEST

Follow World Soccer online

FOOTBALL 24-7 SAVE

88 CONCACAF Champions League

Exclusive reports from our worldwide Japan

The global game caught on camera

Qatar…Ulsan Hyundai players

Mexico…Club Leon celebrate

3 ISSUES Don’t miss this special

“I am obviously very honoured to have been recognised by my peers

Brian BROBBEY Nadiem AMIRI

Time to go for Jogi Low

Shadow hangs over CAF presidency as elections approach

Southgate’s search for perfect balancing act

REPORTS WE COULDN’T MAKE UP

and to the Antwerp supporters,

naturally solid base, while the wide

“It was a pleasure to share so much with you.

CHRISTIAN GROSS became

“Loved that man to bits. He changed me as a person and as a

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and, of course, Paolo Rossi. Without earning more money as a real

The African super-club

There have been exceptions here go,” explains prominent Egyptian TV

Scholarship) scheme. That meant an

SLOVAKIA & HUNGARY

DAC: the forefront of

matches will be played at the national

NextGen Series…the competition that gave

Team-mates…Gabby Agbonlahor was a

teaching him good habits. In those

Gillingham in December. Here was the

“That Liverpool game was huge, with a lot

driving for nine months and fined over

A P R 19 , 2 015 M AY 30 , 2 015 S E P 13 , 2 015 S E P 28 , 2 015 A P R 16 , 2 016

represented them at various under-age international retirement,” snarkily wrote

M AY 2 6 , 2 018 M A R 10 , 2 019 M AY 27 , 2 019 JUL 26, 2020

Next generation…he is one of several

Last season he was fouled 167 times

SEP 8, 2020 S E P 15 , 2 0 2 0 OCT 4, 2020

Subscribe today Great reasons to subscribe

Subscribe online at shop.kelsey.co.uk/WSP120

England got to the World Cup semi-finals

Do you feel that if you maintain form

Top of the world…

In contrast, the Elo system is much of their managers.

FIFA ranking explained Frustrated…

What they say

“Michael is super talented, but he also

The next step

Bryan MBEUMO Bright OSAYI-SAMUEL

The teenager only featured as a time in the last 15 minutes. Traore

Five goals in a record-breaking

The attacking powerhouse is already half century.

Simply known as Kamaldeen, mazy skills and ﬁnishing prowess

LYON GIVEN MAJOR