Offside Sarah

interleaning:

Cruyff and Neeskens, 1974.

Wow, Ronaldinho was so adorable before all the fame, trophies, and glory! 

(via pitchinvasion)

Reading Rec: TNC’s Deadline Day Exclusive Interview with Tom Williams

Interesting interview on pursing career in journalism, #Euro2012, titles races across Europe,fielding ‘B’ sides in Championship, and more… 

Read the full interview at Transfer News Central. 

afootballreport:

By Eric Beard

Doesn’t vehement hatred get kind of boring after a while? I mean, sure, if you want to let a little schadenfreude and anger out a couple of times a year, that’s fine. Everyone’s entitled to their fair share of irrational fandom. Maybe I’m not as creative as the Spanish press and [insert name of your Superclub]’s fans, but hatred gets kind of circular after a while. Millions and millions of fans watched the superb match at the Camp Nou on Wednesday night, where violence and drama were plentiful. They saw Messi assist and Ronaldo score. They saw a comeback that arguably could have overshadowed Liverpool’s triumph in Istanbul. The match, in itself, was fantastic, but the shoving, pushing, accusing, and general unabashed conduct that has become the status quo took over as the final whistle approached.

Unprofessionalism can be as equally entertaining as it is surprising, don’t get me wrong. But only if it’s unexpected (and relatively non-violent). I remember seeing an MLS playoff game in 2007 between the New England Revolution and the Chicago Fire. Michael Parkhurst of New England had been presented two awards before the match: the MLS Defender of the Year award and the Fair Play award. Within 20 minutes of kickoff, Parkhurst gave away a freekick, which prompted an inordinately audible Cee-Lo Green-esque “eff you!” for everyone in the stands to feast their ears upon. It was appalling, yet also hilarious given Parkhurst might as well have been the league’s Dalai Lama. When is the last time you heard say, “that Pepe, he’s amusing isn’t he?” When expected, unprofessionalism is quite simply as boring as it is disgusting.

With Spaniards consuming a half dozen Clásicos every year, stories elsewhere are welcome, yet difficult to be granted attention by the Spanish media. Two unexpected figures have been uniting Spanish fans, one though genius and one through sheer spirit. The first is Marcelo Bielsa, the manager of Athletic Bilbao, who has done remarkably well in his first season with the Basque club. Bielsa has earned the full support of Athletic fans, managing to get results through an enjoyable style of play. The second is a Spanish club based in Spain’s Segunda División B, Group 2 named CD Mirandés, who have managed to somehow transcend the boundaries of what is imaginable for a club that can only seat 6,000 in its stadium. Indeed, Mirandés did the ineffable by progressing into the Copa del Rey semifinals courtesy of an injury-time winner from Pablo Infante, Mirandés’ midfielder-turned-Spanish hero. 

Read More

captainfabfro:

I love Pepe but I love Marcelo more in this pic… it’s like he’s keeping an eye out so no one tries anything funny

(via thelastcartonrouge)

Wow, Diego is TINY… 

bundesligaclassic:

After the 1982 World Cup, Maradona transfered to Barcelona where he was welcomed by former Borussia Mönchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern München coach Udo Lattek (right). The pair later had a difficult relationship after Lattek left without Maradona after the Argentina failed to show up to the team bus on time.  Also pictured is Argentina coach Cesar Luis Menotti.

Remembering Bernd Schuster…as a traitor. 

bundesligaclassic:

Before his move to the Bernabeu, Bernd Schuster (top row, second from right) spent eight successful years with Barcelona where he moved after his great performances caught their attention at the 1980 European Championship. 

thetruefootball:

Cruyff working at a shoe store when he was a teenager.

Reading Rec: Soccer predictions for 2012 - Ben Lyttleton

What to expect or what you should want from football in 2012, including Euro 2012 predictions, manager merry-go-rounds, tackling stigma of depression, Jose finally besting Pep, and more! See the full article at Sports Illustrated. 

Reading Rec: The FIFA Ballon d'Or: Yay For The Right Choice, Yay For Those Who Got It Wrong

A short excerpt: 

“I suppose you could approach the question ‘who do you think is the best in the world?’ as an objective matter, but taking the subjective route is both more fun and more human. It is a fundamental principle of democracy that people are allowed to be objectively wrong for their own reasons, however petty or personal they might be. That’s the point of people; that’s what opens democracy up to such galling manipulation by those that can afford to spend money to change the way people think. It’s a problem in politics; it’s a godsend in football.”

To read the rest, visit SB Nation

pitchinvasion:

Messi. Ten years old. Already Messi.