Caught between Ajax and Man City: The duality of supporting two clubs
Most people live and die by their beloved club and its colors. What about those who have eyes and heart for more? We explore the story of one such fan, who loves…
Mohamed Salah and The Pleasure of Discovery
Is Mo’ Salah’s improbable brilliance a rupture in the European-elite-club-football-spacetime-continuum? Across sports, genres and eras, there is something that snakes its tendrils around the psychology of obsession and unites fans across the…
A view from Paris: Paris Saint Germain and the limits of Ligue 1
We visited Paris Saint Germain to take stock of how what they have built is now their biggest weakness. It’s a cold Saturday in Paris, three days before Christmas, and there’s a…
Escaping the shadows: Federico Higuain in the MLS
Even with all the modern apparel technology, a jersey can still feel heavy when the name on the back means something. Not for Federico Higuain. Having been referred to as ‘Stormzy’s girlfriend’…
Juventus and Their Money – Serie A’s Silver Lined Dark Cloud
Juventus’ recent extravagance in the transfer market may give them a dark hue, but Serie A won’t mind the attention it is now getting. Art comes at a price. Look at the…
José Mourinho at Manchester United: Thirty months of playing with fire
After two and a half seasons of juggling the tightrope at Manchester United, José Mourinho has left. It was probably about time. José Mourinho is a good-looking man. Sharp facial features, salt…
Colliding airwaves: Is the world of football approaching overkill?
Football has become busier. There’s always some match on, some league to follow, some derby to hyperventilate over. Is there a thing like too much football? On 31 October, I found myself…
Milan ’96: The coming of age of Zinedine Zidane
Before the headers at the World Cup final, the volley at Glasgow, there was Milan in ’96, when Zinedine Zidane first gave the world a peek into his genius. Mystics teach union…
The story of Bengaluru FC – The Revolutionaries of Indian football
In Bengaluru FC, India have found a club who have set themselves a target of transforming Indian football from the roots. The Kanteerava doesn’t quite strike you as ominous. Located centrally in…
Admiration, Cristiano Ronaldo: Could we enjoy the work of a ruined man?
Cristiano Ronaldo has never pretended to be a perfect man, but is it time to draw the line between exemplary athlete and one fighting rape allegations? “This never happened. It will shock…
Simple Confession of Love To Stadium Atmosphere
Is there a more pure way of enjoying our sport than watching it along with the thousands of fellow pilgrims of the day? Stadiums are structures of brick and mortar, but on…
Hangin’ with the Kozakken Boys: The back alley of Dutch football
Our in-house Dutch football writer visited semi-pro club Kozakken Boys. While the spectacle was small, an important lesson was learned regarding the future of Dutch football. “Sorry, ik spreek geen Nederlands goed.”…
Harkes at The Wall, Part 3: Football, life and everything in between
We often use Shankly’s life and football quote for explaining the importance of football in our lives, but sometimes, life and football explain each other. I did not enter parenthood gracefully. There…
Harkes at The Wall, Part 2 – A trip to watch Seattle Sounders
Our in-house writer continues on his journey of football, this time as a father going to a Seattle Sounders game with his mates, some of them dads themselves. You can read part…
Marko Arnautovic: West Ham United’s figurehead and talisman
It isn’t often that you can pinpoint one moment in which one person’s life or the way they are perceived is changed beyond recognition. But that is undoubtedly the case for Marko…
The subversive and taboo movement of preferring players to their laundry
There was a time, not so long ago, that footballers belonged to teams. Today, the same teams chase the stars, just so that their kit gets brighter. On the afternoon of September…
Una Nueva Ilusion – Spain and Tiki Taka Goes Bang-A-Rang with Lucho
Whenever Spain lose a major international fixture, it is only natural for many to dedicate obituaries to the team’s possessional style of play, or what a number of folks have come to…
Harkes at The Wall, Part I: A football fan’s journey through fandom
Very often, our initial experiences in sport define our relationship with it. Our in-house writer takes us through his first time at a football stadium. My father is the best of men.…
Leon Bailey: King of The Club, Enigma of Jamaica
“The ball is my life, so I have to live it.” – Leon Bailey Currently at the ever-so-familiar crossroads of choosing his national identity, Leon Bailey is a prodigy that everyone wants…
Chelsea’s lucky jackpot: The resurgence of Ross Barkley
Under Maurizio Sarri, Ross Barkley seems to found his mojo, and the secret to that lies in shedding the tag of the next big thing. I completely understand why Antonio Conte spent…
Crying is ok: Tackling one of football’s oldest stigmas
Football is steeped in misplaced masculinity, and it is important to talk about myths and stigmas. Crying is one such act that is easily condescended at, overlooking the emotional, mental and physical…
What happened to Lauri Dalla Valle, the fallen heir of Fernando Torres?
Football is full of stories of players who made it against the odds, the young stars transforming potential into the real thing. But, there are even more players who never live up…
David Luiz: Captain, Geezer, Myshkin
Maurizio Sarri is revolutionising Chelsea football, but every such endeavour needs a leader. His best option may also be an unexpected one. David Luiz may not strike everyone as immediate captaincy candidate,…
Boston Gooners: A football fan club in a soccer nation
Our writer went to a pub in Boston on a Sunday, expecting the television to be screening the Arsenal vs Man United game. He opened the door to find 200 Arsenal fans…