The Soccer Geek

Welcome to my history of soccer. In this article I’ll take you through some of the major advances in the development of the modern game. If you would like to know more about the distant roots of soccer, then just read my article on the origins of soccer which addresses that much earlier period of history. Otherwise, let’s press on with the growth of the modern game. I’ve divided this article into a few different sections of the game, so it’s not just one long line of narrative.

Let’s go!

The Governing Body

FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) is the world governing body of soccer. With its HQ in Zurich (Switzerland) the organisation was founded in 1904 and began admitting non-European members in 1909 when South Africa joined. Argentina and Chile were added in 1912, and the USA entered in 1913.

After the First World War the governing body had only 20 members but the legendary Jules Rimet took charge on 1st March 1921 to start a 33 year reign which would see the membership grow impressively to 85. Having left after WW1, Britain rejoined the ranks in 1946. Now FIFA has 208 memer countries – that’s more than the United Nations! It also represents 200 million active players.

The World Cup

The 1st FIFA World Cup opened in Montevideo on 18th July 1930. Only 4 European teams took part so, in retaliation, the champions Uruguay refused to enter the competition 4 years later in Italy. For the 1934 event there were no group stages, only knock out rounds, and Italy beat Czechoslovakia in the final. France hosted the tournament in 1938 on which occasion Italy were again victorious. Brazil hosted in 1950 after the Second World War, then it was Switzerland in 1954.

Since then the popularity and accessibility of soccer has grown exponentially. An audience of 37 billion people watched the France 98 World Cup, for example, including 2.7 million people at the football grounds themselves. In 2010 South Africa hosting the tournament marked a new era for the progression of African soccer on the world stage.

The Rules

In 1863 the Cambridge Rules were rewritten to form the game’s first coordinated regulations. Later the two teams in a match would each have an umpire, whilst a referee stood on the sidelines only to be consulted if the former two could not agree. In 1891 the referee took his place, however, and the umpires became linesmen or assistant referees.

The infamous offside rule underwent revision in 1866, 1925 and 1990, before the laws as a whole were revised in 1997 and a number of subsequent modifications have taken place. In 1958 substitutes were allowed for the first time, in 1970 the red and yellow cards were brought in, in 1992 the keeper is denied the chance to pick up a back pass, in 1994 the technical area was created, in 1996 linesmen became assistant referees, and the rest – as they say- is history.

The Kits

In the 1880s teams started to wear uniform kits for the first time, mainly consisting of knee-length socks and knitted jerseys. In the 1990s shorts became slightly shorter so that knees were visible, and striped shirts with collars became fashionable. By the 1930s there was much more variation, with shorts generally becoming shorter and baggier.

In the 1950s lightweight shirt fabrics were introduced and kit designs became more expressive. The 1960s saw plain, lightweight kits dominate, before the 1970s witnessed truly ’short shorts’ and the introduction of player numbers. The 1980s marked a trend towards even lightweight shirts, until the 1990s brought on a brief interlude of crazy patterns and colours. Nowadays teams generally have a home, away and third strip, each branded with the logo of the main kit sponsor. Goalkeeper jerseys are commonly a lot tighter than they once were, with less padding and greater style.

The Ball

The first footballs were inflated pigs’ bladders stuffed with straw or sawdust. By the 19th and early 20th centuries, this design has progressed slightly to animal bladders wrapped in leather. But the balls still lost their shape during games and became very heavy in wet conditions. Modern balls have since been made of leather or plastic with a waterproof coating, measuring 68-70 cm (27-28 inches) in circumference and weighing 410-450g (14-16 oz).

The Money

In 1885 English footballers turned professional so they could start being paid for their work. In 1901, however, the English Football Association set the maximum wage for a footballer at £4 per week. Since those humble beginnings the money involved in the game has gradually increased and, in recent years, as risen astronomically.

Indeed Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer from Machester United to Real Madrid was worth a world record breaking £80 million. Wages can now easily stretch to well over £100,000 per week, whilst the clubs and players alike are involved in mega-sponsorship deals raking in millions in revenue each year. So in many respects you could say the history of football has to a great extent become a history of money!

Well there we have it: the history of soccer on a single page. Of course there is much else to be said, but hopefully this article has served as a useful if brief summary of some of the main developments. If you would like to add any further information or insights, please feel free to do so in the comments section at the end.

Have fun,

Soccer Geek

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Hi there,

(ancient Chinese game cuju)

Here’s a brief survey of the origins of soccer, tracing the game right back to its very earliest roots. The examples included below barely resemble the modern game as we know it today, but the latter nonetheless derives from these ancient ball-kicking sports. If you would like a history of the modern game of soccer, have a look at my history of soccer which covers the more recent period. Otherwise, let’s go through the distant origins!

Cuju

The ancient Chinese game called cuju, also known as Tsu Chu, is believed to have been the first instance of a ball-kicking activity. The game became popular in the 2nd century BCE. The aim of the game was to kick a leather ball filled with feathers through a 30-40cm hole in a piece of silk held up by two 10 metre (30 foot) poles or bamboo canes. Obviously this is a long way from the actual sport of soccer, but everything has to start somewhere, and football began here!

Kemari

Kemari was a Japanese game which developed out of cuju. It was first played in around 600 CE, though it has been restored in recent times. The aim of this game is to keep the ball in the air. All the players must work together so there are no winners or losers.

Harpastum

The Romans played a game called Harpastum, which they imported to England when they invaded, in which there were two teams each trying to get a small ball over the opponent’s boundary line on a rectangular pitch with lines to mark the edges and the centre. Players would pass it amongst themselves, with a great deal of trickery involved, but the use of the feet was strictly limited so it did not much resemble soccer. There was also a lively Greek game called Episkyros but sadly few details of this remain.

Medieval Football

The first time soccer began to be created in anything like the form we know it today was in medieval Europe. However the games were often little more than popular brawls between entire villages and towns. By the 16th century English public schools (i.e. fee-paying schools) already played football. There was as yet minimal uniformity to the game, though, as each organisation played with different rules so it could not be coordinated as a recognised sport across the country, let alone the continent or the world.

The Modern Game

The British spread the popularity of football throughout the world in the 19th century. By 1881 some teams had begun to wear co-ordinated kits, and 1885 they turned professional. By the turn of the twentieth century soccer had become a spectator sport for thousands of fans. In 1901, for example, the English FA Cup final between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United attracted 110,000 of them!

To learn what happened next in the development of the modern game, just read my article on the history of the modern game of soccer.

Thanks for reading this article on the origins of soccer. If you have any further information or thoughts to add to the above post, I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.

Have fun,

Soccer Geek

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This post is a list of famous soccer quotes, not to be confused with my previous compilations of funny football sayings and inspirational quotes! This post, instead, gives a number of wide-ranging statements about the game from top players, managers, and referees from past and present. I hope you get some enjoyment from reading them.

“Someone said ‘football is more important than life and death to you’ and I said ‘listen, it’s more important than that’” (Bill Shankly)

“I am a special one” (Jose Mourinho)

“I did not see it” (Arsene Wenger)

“God bless whoever invented football. It was the English, I think. And what a fantastic idea it was” (Paolo Rossi)

“Whoever invented football should be worshipped as a God” (Hugo Sanchez)

“There are two certainties in life. People die, and football managers get the sack” (Edin Hand)

“Football is passion, multitude, the joy of living” (Jorge Dominguez)

“The cleverest do maths, the next best write books. Dancers are the cleverest with their feet, next are footballers” (Johan Cruyff)

“The only thing that has never changed in the history of the game is the shape of the ball” (Denis Law)

“In his life, a man can change wives, political parties or religions, but he cannot change his favourite football team” (Eduardo Galleano)

“Football is simple. But the hardest thing is to play football in a simple way” (Johann Cruyff)

“Football is an excuse to make us happy” (Jorge Valdano)

“There are no right or wrong, or fair results. There’s just the final score” (Otto Rehhagel)

“Thank you for letting me play in your beautiful football” (Eric Cantona)

“If you don’t want success it’s not worth playing – winning trophies is the main thing” (Steven Gerrard)

“The future of football is feminine” (Sepp Blatter)

“My job is not to change the game but to make it work to everyone’s satisfaction” (Referee Perluigi Collina)

“Everyone plays their part. If we win anything, then it will be together, not as individuals” (Jose Mourinho)

“The midfield is the most crucial area of the game, the one where matches are won or lost” (Sven-Goran Eriksson)

“Reputations do not win matches and trophies, only goals can do that” (Alfredo di Stefano)

“For a professional sportsman, being injured is like living in a stranger’s body” (Robert Pires)

“The differences between the big teams and the so-called smaller teams have become smaller” (Otto Rehhagel)

“It’s thanks to football that a small country could become great” (Roger Milla)

Thanks for reading my list of famous soccer quotes. I hope you found them useful and entertaining. If you are looking for more of the same thing, take a trip to my list of inspirational soccer quotes. Meanwhile, let me know your favourite quote from the list above in the comments section below.

Have fun,

Soccer Geek

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Rally car driving and soccer are probably two things you would not normally put together. Still, I think there are some important transferable lessons that we as soccer players can take from rally car driving and use them to improve our performance.

You can draw lessons from all sorts of things in life, so in this post I’d like to suggest a few ways we can apply what we learn from rally driving to the beautiful game of soccer. So get in gear, take off the handbrake, and off we go!

Listen to Your Instructor

If you go to a commercial rally driving centre for novices, then you should have an instructor with you in the car at all times, and it’s imperative that you listen to their directions (not suggestions, but instructions). If you think about it, this is just the same as when your manager or coach directs you in a soccer game. People go through everyday life oblivious to what people are telling them because they are hearing not listening, but in rally driving or soccer you do this at your peril. Really listen and take on board the message, whether it’s to slow down, change position or whatever.

Trust Your Instructor

But listening is not enough, you need to really trust your manager or coach. For them to do their job effectively, you need to believe in them wholeheartedly and to trust what they are telling you. This will benefit you individually, and the team, and the manager. So to listen to your instructor, really listen, you first need to trust.

Hold Your Position

In children’s soccer games you will often see a whole crowd of players chasing after the ball. Professionals know how to hold their position until the time is right to make a move. Being in the wrong position on a racing track could be dangerous as it will make turning bends difficult and may obstruct other drivers. Being in the wrong position during a soccer match could cost your team a goal (especially if you are a defender or goalkeeper).

Read the Road Ahead

More than just getting the right position on the pitch, top soccer players know how to read the game like rally drivers can read the road ahead. Just as when you’re driving you need to anticipate the next bend and plan your move accordingly, in soccer you need to prepare for the most likely outcomes of a given situation and anticipate what’s going to happen next. In this way you can be ready for danger, rather than just reacting to it.

Put Your Foot Down

You accelerate out of the bend and you hit the straight. Now you put your foot down. Sometimes in football you need to move fast, too, really fast. So work consistently on you sprinting in training so that when it comes to a match you can race to the next ball quicker than the opponent. Pace can give you an extra half a yard, and that can make all the difference. Players like Theo Walcott are at their strongest when moving at pace.

Control Yourself

Cars have been known to crash, and soccer players have been known to lose their temper. Whereas crashing at high speeds on a race track could cost you the car or your life, in soccer it may be a booking or a red card. Still, it’s best to avoid swearing or fouling too often, so a little caution is always in order.

Stay Protected

But however calm you can remain in a heated situation, you can’t account for others. Just as you should always wear a seat belt in a car, rally driving or otherwise, it’s essential that you wear quality shin guards and boots in soccer. I have seen a number of horrific injuries and any steps you can take to minimise that threat are surely worth taking.

You’re At the Wheel

When you’re driving the rally car you may be taking instructions, but ultimately you are at the wheel and you are therefore in control of your destiny. In soccer, when the ball is at your feet you are responsible for its fate. It is up to you what to do with it. When looked on in the right light, that knowledge can be empowering. So seize control and make some magic happen!

Turn on the Style

The best lap is driven smoothly. In soccer attractive play is arguably the best, and that is often best achieved by committing to simple football. Be stylish, but adopt the smooth style of simplicity.

Play to Win

Going fast and hard down the straight, beating your time, winning the race. These features of rally driving all resemble the determined, winning mentality of many top soccer players. You need to cultivate a competitive streak – this desire to win will give you the extra edge and make you work that much harder for victory.

Celebrate

When you are victorious, make sure you reward yourself by celebrating. In everyday life we rarely truly reward ourselves for our achievements, however minor, but in soccer it’s quite common to see strikers celebrating their goals and keepers punching the air after a penalty stop. Celebrating when things go well will attach a good feeling to that outcome in your mind, providing an extra incentive to reach it again in the future.

Practice Makes Perfect

However well you performed on the road to victory, you will not have reached perfection. Practice may not make absolute perfection but it does ensure improvement. Keep training hard and little by little you will see the results.

Thanks for reading. I hope you can take something from this post and apply the lessons to your soccer training and matches. Best case scenario it helps your soccer game but, with any luck, you’ll also be inspired to try rally driving!

Have fun,

Soccer Geek

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This post is a list of famous Brazilian soccer players. On the whole they are some of the finest players to ever grace the sport because of the beautiful way in which they play the game. Their style has also paid off in results, as the country has won no fewer than 5 World Cup titles. Their Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, which held 210,000 fans in 1950, is the largest football arena in the world greatly reflecting their passion for the sport.

The name Brazil has become synonymous with their yellow and blue colours- even their nickname is ‘Little Canary’. But it wasn’t always so. Up until 1950 they played in white, and only changed when a 19 year old fan designed them a new kit to compensate for their lack of success in the World Cup that year.

But enough general Brazilian football trivia. Let’s get to the famous Brazilian soccer players:

Dida

He made 91 appearances for the national side between 1995 and 2006, winning the World Cup in 2002. In 2005 IFFHS ranked him the world’s 2nd best goalkeeper, and in the same year he was FIFPro goalkeeper of the year.

Gilmar

IFFHS ranked him the best Brazilian goalie of the 20th century, after he played in 3 World Cups and won in 1958 and 1962. He played 94 games in total for his country. And all this when he played in sober fashion and was less than 6ft.

Claudio Taffarel

This goalie put in 101 international displays from 1987 right through to 1998. He won the World Cup in 1994, was a runner-up in the 1998 World Cup, and got a silver medal at the 1988 Olympic games.

Nilton Santos

He made the Brazilian squad for 4 World Cups, winning in 1958 and 1962, and put in a total of 75 performances for the country throughout his career. He played over 1000 games for a single club at the domestic level.

Lucio

He was a World Cup winner in 2002, won the fair play award at the 2009 Confederations Cup, and was included in the 2010 FIFPro World XI. He has played 68 competitive matches for the country, plus friendlies.

Djalma Santos

He played 98 times for Brazil between 1952 and 1968, winning the World Cup in 1958 and 1962. He was selected for a total of 4 consecutive World Cups for the country, and at club level played for Palmeiras.

Roberto Carlos

Roberto Carlos the 2nd best player in the world by FIFA in 1997, before helping Brazil to the World Cup final in 1998 and to World Cup glory in 2002. He played 125 times for Brazil, scoring 11 goals, and domestically played for the likes of Real Madrid, Inter and Corinthians. He made the FIFA World Cup All-Star team in 1998 and 2002, and he was selected in the FIFA 100.

Cafu

Cafu made 142 appearances for Brazil between 1990 and 2006, making him the highest capped Brazilian international footballer of all time. In March 2004 Pele named him amongst the 125 greatest living footballers. He is twice a World Cup winner, and was South American footballer of the year in 1994.

Dunga

He played 91 times for Brazil, winning the 1994 World Cup and making the team of the tournament in that year and in 1998. He played for 10 club teams, becoming the most valuable player in the J league in 1997, before managing the Brazilian national team after he retired from his playing career.

Gilberto Silva

Gilberto, who helped Arsenal to their ‘Invincibles’ unbeaten season in 2004, is an excellent solid defensive midfielder who has clocked almost 100 caps for his country. He scored the 1st ever competitive goal at the Emirates Stadium.

Rivelino

The midfielder played for his national side between 1965 and 1978, famed with a fantastic left foot. He is unofficially credited with scoring the fastest ever goal in football, directly from the kick off. He scored 26 goals in 92 games for the national side, was  FIFA World Cup winner in 1970, and appeared at 2 other World Cups.

Jairzinho

This winger scored in every game of the 1970 World Cup, in which Brazil were victorious. He made his international debut aged 19 in 1964, 4 years after making his professional debut at just 15.

Zico

Dubbed the best Brazilian never to have won the World Cup, he played 52 times for the nation between 1971 and 1989 and participated in a total of 3 Worls Cups without victory. Zico said of his career: “I’d like to be remembered as someone who loved what he did, as someone who was consistently very professional and keen to improve, as well as someone who always played fair and dedicated himself body and soul to football”.

Socrates

Spoken as a true artist of his sport, Socrates once said that ‘beauty comes first. Victory is secondary. What matters is joy’. This very much reflects the wonderful way Brazil have traditionally played the game. He played for the country between 1979 and 1986, in the team alongside Zico, Falcao and Junior. He captained the side in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups. His trademark move was the blind heel pass (heel pass while looking the other way).

Paulo Roberto Falcao

At one time the world’s highest paid footballer with £10,000 per week, was a midfielder who played 274 times at club level. He made 34 appearances for Brazil and has since gone onto manage Brazil and Japan amongst other teams.

Kaka

Kaka was ranked FIFA World Player of the Year in 2007. He broke the world transfer record (which has since been broken again) when he moved to Madrid for a massive £56 million. He was included in the FIFPro World XI for 2006, 2007 and 2008. He won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002.

Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005,  as well as finishing in 3rd place for 2006. He scored 32 times in 88 games for Brazil, winning the World Cup in 2002 and making the tournament’s all-star team. He was European Footballer of the Year in 2005, and was included in the UEFA Team of the Year in 2004, 2005 and 2006. He was FIFPro World Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006.

Garrincha

Garrincha, who played with a deformed spine and one leg longer than the other, is seen by many as the best ever Brazilian footballer. He won the World Cup in 1958 and 1962, also winning the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe in the latter tournament. In total he scored 12 goals in 50 showings for Brazil. He was made an inductee to the Mastercard Team of the Century.

Rivaldo

He scored 34 goals in 74 appearances for Brazil, and has played for 13 club teams including Barcelona and Milan. He was FIFA World Player of the Year and European player of the year in 1999. He made the all-star team at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups and was included in the FIFA 100.

Robinho

Robinho has played more than 80 games for Brazil, scoring 25 goals. He has played for Real Madrid, Manchester City (£32.5m transfer and £160,000 per week) and Milan. He now wears the number 70 jersey for Milan.

Pele

Edson Arantes do Nascimento is widely considered the greatest ever footballer. He won the World Cup 3 times in 1958, 1962 and 1970, winning the Silver Ball in 1958 and the Golden Ball in 1970.  In 1999 he was voted player of the century by the International Football Federation of Football History and Statistics. He scored 77 times for the country in total between 1957 and 1971. In 2000 FIFA ranked him footballer of the century.

Ronaldo

Lionel Messi has said Ronaldo is ‘the best striker I’ve ever seen’. He was included in the Brazil squad for the 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cups, finishing runner up in 1998 and winning in 1994 and 2002. He is the world’s top scorer in World Cup finals, with 15 goals in 4 tournaments. He scored 62 times and won 97 caps for his country overall, and was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1996, 1997 and 2002.

Bebeto

He played for 14 club teams, scoring a total of 177 goals in 342 games, whilst scoring 39 goals in 75 games for his country. He was South American player of the year in 1989, and was a World Cup winner in 1994.

Romario

Romario put in 55 performances for his country between 1987 and 2005, winning the Golden Ball at the 1994 World Cup. In total, at club and international level, he scored over 1000 career goals before retiring altogether in 2008 aged 40.

Well there we have it, the key details of some of the most famous Brazilian soccer players of all time summarised in a single post. A quick question for the comments section below, who is your favourite of all the players on this list?

Have fun,

Soccer Geek

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If you’re looking for a list of famous Spanish soccer players then you’ve come to the right place. Here I’ll run through the names and some factual info from some of the greatest Spanish footballers to grace the beautiful game. At the end, feel free to let me know your favourite player on the list!

Iker Casillas

Casillas is the winner of a European Super Cup, Inter Continental Cup, the 2010 World Cup, 2 Champions Leagues, 3 Spanish Super Cups, 4 La Liga titles and the European Championship of 2008. He has been the Real Madrid first choice goalie since 1999 and was named the best goalkeeper in Europe by UEFA in 2008 and 2009. He was also FIFA keeper of the year in 2009 and the IFFHS goalkeeper of the year in 2008 and 2009.

Ricardo Zamora

He played 46 times for Spain in a 16 year international career from 1920 till 1936. At club level he played for both Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as Espanyol and Nice. He was ranked in the IFFHS 5th in goalkeeper of the century.

Pepe Reina

Reina, somewhat overshadowed by the place of Iker Casillas in the Spanish national team, has thrived at club level in England. He was awarded the Barclays Golden Glove in 2006, 2007 and 2008, whilst earning the status of Liverpool player of the year in 2010. He has now made over 300 appearances for the club.

Carlos Puyol

Puyol made the FIFA team of the year in 2008 and 2010, as well as the FIFPro World XI in 2007 and 2008. He was ranked the best centre-back in the 2006 Champions League and the 2006 Spanish player of the year. He won Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup and a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics. He has won 4 Spanish league titles, 4 Spanish SuperCups, 1 Inter-Continental Cup and 2 Champions Leagues.

Marquitos

He won 5 European Cups, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 1 Spanish Cup, and 5 Spanish League titles. He played 158 games for Real Madrid between 1954 and 1962, as well as playing for Racing Santander amongst other teams.

Jose Antonio Camacho

Camacho put in 81 displays for his country from 1975 untill 1988, finishing runner-up at the 1984 European Championship. He has won 2 UEFA Cups, 9 League titles, 5 Spanish cups, 1 Spanish leage cup, and 2 Spanish super cups. He made 414 appearances for Real Madrid.

Fernando Hierro

Even as a defender Hierro scored 29 goals in 89 appearances for his country. At club level he won 5 La Liga titles with Real Madrid between 1989 and 2002. He played 439 times for Madrid, scoring 102 goals and winning 5 League titles, 4 Spanish Super Cups, 2 Intercontinental Cups, 1 Spanish league cup, and 3 Champions Leagues. He made the World Cup all-star team in 2002 and was the UEFA Best Defender in 1998.

Miguel Angel Nadal

He played 208 games for Barcelona and 279 for Mallorca. He played 62 times for Spain, scoring 3 goals. He has won 3 Spanish Cups, 3 Spanish SuperCups, 5 Spanish League titles, and 1 Cup Winner’s Cup amongst other trophies. He is the uncle of the tennis superstar Rafael Nadal!

Xavi

Xavi won the 2008 UEFA Euro Championship and the 2010 World Cup, and has also won 5 La Liga and 2 Champions League titles. He has won 4 Spanish Super Cups, 1 UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup. He made the FIFPro World XI in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He was the player of the tournament at Euro 2008.

Andres Iniesta

He has won Euro 2008, for which he made the team of the tournament, and the 2010 World Cup. He was named the best Spanish player of 2009 and made the FIFPro World XI in 2009 and 2010. He was part of the all-star team of the 2010 World Cup, the 2009 and 2010 UEFA Team of the Year, and got 2nd place for the Ballon d’Or 2010.

Amancio Amaro

He scored 11 times in 42 games for Spain between 1962 and 1974. He scored 119 goals in 344 games for Real Madrid, with whom he won 9 League titles. He got 3rd place in the 1964 Ballon d’Or.

Luis Suarez

Suarez was European Footballer of the Year in 1960, and was victorious in the 1964 European Championship final- playing despite injury. As a midfielder, Suarez set up both Spain’s goals in that final. Overall he scored 14 goals in 32 games for the national side, whilst putting hundreds of displays at club level for Barcelona and Inter amongst others.

Andoni Zubizaretta

Zubizaretta made 126 appearances for the national side between 1985 and 1998. He also played 629 club games for teams including Barcelona and Valencia. He was the Spanish player of the year in 1987. He is a winner of 6 Spanish League titles and the Champions League amongs many other achievements.

Cesc Fabregas

Arsenal captain Fabregas, who took over the number 4 shirt from former captain Patrick Vieira, broke into the Spanish nation team in 2006 aged just 18, three years after winning the Golden Shoe and the Golden Ball at the FIFA Under 17 World Championships. He won Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup with the full national team. He made the UEFA Team of the Year in 2006 and 2008.

Alfred Di Stefano

Di Stefano scored 23 times for Spain between 1957 and 1961 over 31 games. At club level he has scored 376 goals in 520 games for teams such as Real Madrid and Espanyol. He was ranked Spain’s player of the year 4 times and made the FIFA 100, as well as winning the Ballon d’Or twice.

Fernando Morientes

Morientes scored 27 times for Spain between 1998 and 2007 over 47 games. Between 1997 and 2005 he scored 72 times in 182 performances for Real Madrid, with whom he won 3 Champions Leagues, 2 Intercontinental Cups, and 3 Spanish SuperCups amongst other honours. He was the 2004 Champions League top scorer.

Emilio Butragueno

Butragueno scored 26 goals in 69 appearances between 1984 and 1992, including 4 goals in a 5-1 hammering of Denmark in the 1986 World Cup. He was a prolific striker for Real Madrid and was nicknamed ‘The Vulture’ for his uncanny ability to snap up chances.

Raul

Raul Gonzales Blanco topped Spain’s all time goalscorers list by netting 44 goals between 1996 and 2006, putting in 102 performances. He had won 3 Champions League titles with Real Madrid.

Fernando Torres

Torres, nicknamed ‘The Kid’, was top scorer and player of the tournament at the Under 19 European Championship in 2002. He transferred from Atletico Madrid to Liverpool in 2007 for £26 million, before moving to Chelsea for a massive £50 million. At international level he scored 3 goals at the 2006 World Cup, including a great goal in Spain’s 4-0 victory over Ukraine, before winning Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup with his country.

Francisco Gento

At club level Gento was very succesful with Real Madrid in the 1950s and 1960s. He won the European Cup 6 times and was part of Spain’s victorious team at the 1964 European Championships.

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Well that’s the end of my post on famous Spanish soccer players. Now I just have two questions for you: who is your favourite Spanish footballer?; and which other players would you add to this list?

Have fun,

Soccer Geek

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In this article I narrate the story of the goalkeeper Bert Trautmann who went from Nazi villain to Manchester City legend in a matter of years. Below I’ll share some history and facts about his life, together with some footage of his amazing FA Cup winning performance in 1956. He played on with a broken neck, and bare hands as all keepers played back then, making a couple of vital stops before the game was out to seal the victory

Boy Soldier

In 1932, even before the Nazis came to power, the Hitler Youth had already amassed a membership of 100,000. By 1934, a year after Hitler took office, that figure had risen to 3.5 million. By 1939 it had become the largest youth movement in world history. In those years Trautmann was an active member of the organization and then, aged 17, he moved on to volunteer for the army. His regiment numbered 1000 men, but by 1945 he was one of only 90 who remained alive. He was a Luftwaffe paratrooper who was awarded the Iron Cross.

Signing On

When Trautmann was signed by Manchester City in 1949, the British fervour against Germany and the Nazis was so strong that 20,000 fans poured out onto the streets to protest against the transfer. However Dr Altmann, the communal Rabbi, asked for him to be given a chance despite his origins and, within a month, the situation had mostly settled down. Now, many years later, he holds an OBE for promoting Anglo-German relations.

1956 FA Cup Final

On 5th May 1956 Manchester City won the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium with a 3-1 victory over Birmingham City. Manchester City scored in the 3rd minute and then Birmingham equalised in the 15th, before Trautmann’s team pushed ahead again in the 62nd and 64th minutes with two further goals.

With 17 minutes to play Birmingham could have clawed their way back into the game but for Trautmann’s bravery to dive at feet. He was knocked unconscious but continued to play. He was not yet known that he had broken his neck and, before the game was out, he completed two further diving takes at the opposition attackers’ feet! By the end of the match the Manchester fans were chanting ‘for he’s a jolly good fellow in recognition of his heroism’.

Here is a news commentary of the match and the ultimate guide on how to win the FA Cup using only your bare hands and a broken neck! Have a watch:

Personal Hardships

Trautmann had a baby (Freda) with his first girlfriend (Marion) but left them soon after the birth, and could only support them on the £35 per week we earned at Manchester City. Since then, fortunately, he has made up with the pair. The major personal tragedy of his life was the road death of his 6 year old son (John) only a month after the 1956 FA Cup victory. He had two more sons afterwards, but he admits his wife never recovered from the tragedy.

A Great Legacy

In total Trautmann made 508 appearances for Manchester City, winning the FWA Footballer of the Year Award in 1956.  In addition he played for St Helens Town and Wellington Town, before becoming a club manager and going on to manage 4 teams at international level (Burma, Tanzania, Liberia and Pakistan). In 2004 he was given the OBE and in 2005 was inducted to the English Football Hall of Fame.

Signing Off

I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief history of Bert Trautmann and his victory in the 1956 FA Cup final. Evidently he was a very brilliant, brave, professional goalkeeper from whom aspiring keepers can learn a lot.

Have fun,

Soccer Geek

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Here’s an information post about African Footballer of the Year. From 1970-1992 this award was voted for by France Football magazine and since then by CAF. So far Samuel Eto’o has won it four times, and he is followed by George Weah (3) and Abedi Pele (3). Sadly Michael Essien has never yet won 1st place, though he has finished 2nd or 3rd in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, whilst brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure have never yet been recognised.

• 1970: Salif Keita (St-Etienne/Mali)
• 1971: Ibrahim Sunday (Asante Kotoko/Ghana)
• 1972: Cherif Souleymane (Hafia Conakry/Guinea)
• 1973: Tshimen Bwanga (TP Mazembe/Zaire)
• 1974: Pal Moukila (CARA Brazzaville/Congo)
• 1975: Ahmed Faras (SC Chabab Mohammedia/Morocco)
• 1976: Roger Milla (Canon Yaounde/Cameroon)
• 1977: Tarak Dhiab (Esperance/Tunisia)
• 1978: Abdul Razak (Asante Kotoko/Ghana)
• 1979: Thomas Nkono (Canon Yaouande/Cameroon)
• 1980: Jean Manga-Onguene (Canon Yaounde/Cameroon)
• 1981: Lakhdar Belloumi (GCR Mascara/Algeria)
• 1982: Thomas Nkono (Espanyol/Cameroon)
• 1983: Mahmoud El-Khatib (Al-Ahly/Egypt)
• 1984: Theophile Abega (Toulouse/Cameroon)
• 1985: Mohamed Timoumi (FAR Rabat/Morocco)
• 1986: Badou Zaki (Real Mallorca/Morocco)
• 1987: Rabah Madjer (Porto/Algeria)
• 1988: Kalasha Bwalya (Cercle Brugge/Zambia)
• 1989: George Weah (Monaco/Liberia)
• 1990: Roger Milla (Cameroon)
• 1991: Abedi Pele Ayew (Marseille/Ghana)
• 1992: Abedi Pele Ayew (Lille/Ghana)
• 1993: Rashidi Yekini (Victoria Setubal/Nigeria)
• 1994: Emmanuel Amuneke (Zamalek/Sporting Lisbon/Nigeria)
• 1995: George Weah (Milan/Liberia)
• 1996: Nwankwo Kanu (Ajax/Inter/Nigeria)
• 1997: Viktor Ikpeba (Monaco/Nigeria)
• 1998: Mustapha Hadji (Deportivo La Coruna/Morocco)
• 1999: Nwankwo Kanu (Arsenal/Nigeria)
• 2000: Patrick Mboma (Parma/Cameroon)
• 2001: El Hadji Diouf (Lens/Senegal)
• 2002: El Hadji Diouf (Lens/Liverpool/Senegal)
• 2003: Samuel Eto’o (Real Mallorca/Cameroon)
• 2004: Samuel Eto’o (Real Mallorca/Barcelona/Cameroon)
• 2005: Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona/Cameroon)
• 2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea/Ivory Coast)
• 2007: Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla/Mali)
• 2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal/Togo)
• 2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea/Ivory Coast)
• 2010: Samuel Eto’o (Inter/Cameroon)

Well that was the list of winners of African Footballer of the Year from the whole history of the ranking. I hope you found the information helpful. Who do you think is the greatest ever African soccer player?

Have fun,

Soccer Geek

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In this post I’ve compiled a list of my top 10 soccer midfielders of all time. They include wingers, central holding midfield players, and play-makers from past and present. These figures are distinguished by their immense quality, something which is often demonstrated in their astonishing achievements, individual honours, goals and international caps. When you’ve finished reading the post, add your own list of favourite midfielders in the comments section at the end.

1. Diego Maradonna

From 91 caps for Argentina, Maradonna scored 34 goals. He won the 1986 World Cup and finished runner up at the 1990 competition. He won the Golden Ball in 1986 and the Bronze Ball in 1990. He was also the winner of FIFA Goal of the Century for his effort in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England. He was placed in the FIFA 100 and was ranked the FIFA Internet Player of the Century.

2. Zinedine Zidane

Zidane was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998, 2000, and 2003, as well as winning the Golden Ball in 1998 and captaining France to victory on their home turf in that year. He was a runner-up in the 2006 World Cup, winning the Golden Ball that year. His transfer from Juventus to Real Madrid cost the Spanisg giants a staggering £49 million.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2008 after he had earned the third spot in 2007. He holds the record for being the most expensive player in soccer history after Real Madrid paid Manchester United £80 million for his transfer. He scored 84 goals in 196 appearances for United, and scored a brilliant 54 times in his first 57 games for Madrid. He plays forward too, but in he 2004 was a midfielder in the team of the tournament for Euro 2004, as well as in the UEFA Team of the Year 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.

4. Lothar Matthaeus

Having participated in an amazing 5 World Cups, he was victorious in 1990 after coming runner-up in 1982 and 1986, and winning the UEFA European Championship in 1980. He was ranked European Footballer of the Year in 1990 and FIFA World Player of the Year in 1991, as well as German Footballer of the Year in 1990 and 1999. He was captain of the national team, earning an astounding 150 international caps for the country.

5. Giuseppe Meazza

He won the World Cup with Italy in 1934 and 1938. He scored 243 goals in 361 games for Inter. He scored a record 31 goals in his debut season in Serie A, which he won 3 times and in which he was top goal scorer 4 times, as well as winning the Italian Cup. He is Inter’s highest ever goal scorer and the 3rd highest ever scorer in Serie A. A striker as well, hence the amazing goals record, Meazza is a legendary attacking midfielder. 27th April 1930, he scored a hat-trick within 3 minutes in a match against Roma!

6. Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho, a forward or attacking midfielder, was ranked FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005,  as well as making 3rd place in 2006. He has scored 32 times in 88 appearances for Brazil, winning the World Cup in 2002 and making the all-star team in that year. He was European Footballer of the Year in 2005, whilst making the UEFA Team of the Year in 2004, 2005 and 2006. He was FIFPro World Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006.

7. Sir Bobby Charlton

Sir Bobby Charlton put in 105 appearances for England between 1958 and 1970 (making him the 4th most capped player of all time for England) scoring a brilliant 49 goals in that time (making him the highest ever scorer). He won the Golden Ball with his 1966 World Cup winning effort, making the competition’s all-star team in that year and again in 1970. In 1994 he was selected for the World Cup’s all-time team.

8. Kaka

As an attacking midfielder, Kaka was FIFA World Player of the Year in 2007, and broke the world transfer record (subsequently broken again) when he moved to Madrid for a massive £56 million. He was included in the FIFPro World XI for 2006, 2007 and 2008. He was a World Cup winner with Brazil in 2002.

9. Xavi

Xavi, winner of the 2008 UEFA Euro Championship and the 2010 World Cup, has won 5 La Liga and 2 Champions League titles. He was won 4 Spanish Super Cups, 1 UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup. He made the FIFPro World XI in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He was the UEFA Euro player of the tournament in 2008.

10. Michel Platini

Michel Platini is the highest ever scorer for France with 41 goals from 72 appearances. He won the UEFA European Championship in 1984, in which he was the top scorer with 9 goals, whilst finishing 4th and 3rd in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups. He was European Footballer of the Year for 1983, 1984 and 1985, as well as being an inductee of FIFA 100 and being included in the Mastercard Team of the Century.

Thanks for making your way through this list of my top 10 soccer midfielders of all time. I hope you enjoyed the reading. For my part, I would love to read your list of favourite footballing midfielders so please feel free to drop that info in the comments section below.

Have fun,

Soccer Geek

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Before a game I always take a close look at the sky and the ground because the weather can play an important part in a match. In this post I’ll go through some weather conditions and point out a few of the advantages and pitfalls with respect to playing soccer. At the end, I’ll ask you which are your preferred weather conditions for soccer.

Freezing & Icy

Rating: 1/10

When the ground is icy and frozen over, it is deadly hard and will seriously hurt to fall on, ripping your skin to pieces! If it snows then that is admittedly rather more fun, but the game becomes much harder work when you have to trudge through a white blankett every foot you move the ball. In fairness, these conditions usually warrant a game being cancelled.

Cold & Windy

Rating: 2/10

The main disadvantage that I see here is that the wind can play havoc with the direction of the ball. When a strike hits a hard looping shot, as a goalie I have on occasion been guilty of conceding a goal when the wind loops the ball over my head and embarassingly into the back of the net. The wind of course makes it very risky to play the ball in the air from corners, free kicks, goal kicks, drop kicks etc. because a strong wind could take it anywhere. If it’s a really bitter wind, then you can’t exactly wrap up your face from the cold either.

Hot & Sunny

Rating: 4/10

In most circumstances I love a blue sky and sunshine, but when it comes to soccer I admit I wish it away. For goalkeepers, and for other positions such as defence, the sun in your eyes is a nightmare and makes it nearly impossible to take crosses or make headers sometimes. Playing in the extreme heat can also be quite uncomfortable, whilst a further problem arises from the hard dry ground which hurst to fall on. At least the day looks nice though.

Wet & Rainy

Rating: 6/10

The annoything thing when it’s raining is that it’s just so slippery. There’s also the issue of getting extremely muddy and ruining your nice clean kit and, unlike the pro’s, we don’t get a fresh new one for free at half time. As a goalie, moreover, a sopping wet pitch can make the ball skid off the ground and therefore very hard to hold onto. All that said the sensation of the rain is actually usually pleasant, and it’s really fun for slide tackles!

Mild & Cloudy

Rating: 10/10

Whilst it’s boring on most days, this is undoubtedly my favourite kind of weather for playing soccer because it’s not too hot nor too cold, and most importantly because the sun does not get in your eyes. It’s not too windy so your kicking is more reliable, and that of your opponent easier to read, so all in all boring is ideal!

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Well I hope you enjoyed that quick list of the best and worst whether conditions for soccer. As I concluded at the end there, my favourite is definitely mild and grey because these are the most predictable, reliable and convenient conditions for playing, even if they are a bit boring. As a fan or spectator I would of course take a completely different decision and go for the blue sunny day!

Have fun,

Soccer Geek

P.S. Which are your favourite and most hated weather conditions for soccer?

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