Remembering Fergus Suter, the first footballer to get paid to play
Remember when David Beckham had to explain to the Yanomami tribe that he made a living by kicking a ball around? We take a look at the first person who employed himself…
Dirk Kuyt, Robin Van Persie, and the story of Feyenoord
A complex club like Feyenoord Rotterdam can only be truly understood by looking at two of its modern legends, Dirk Kuyt and Robin van Persie. When Nazi Germany bombed Rotterdam in a…
Chelsea’s new hire: Re-affirming football’s transformation
Chelsea’s earnest pursuit towards hiring a new technical director showed once again how the control of the game has shifted from the field to boardrooms. They aren’t the only ones building a…
Ronaldo, Messi, Pele: The GOAT debate is unending, and shouldn’t matter
You could like Cristiano Ronaldo or Leo Messi, or live by the art of Cruyff or the royalty of Pele. Football’s journey over time makes it impossible to compare eras. The “greatest…
Wolverhampton vs Manchester City: An exhibition of courage and spunk
Most would’ve expected City to bulldoze past Wolverhampton, but Nuno Santo’s men showed a strength of character that many bigger teams could learn from. We’ll drive our ships to new lands To…
Sven Ulreich: A life behind Neuer’s giant shadow
Life’s never easy as a reserve goalkeeper, much less if you lurk behind Manuel Neuer. Sven Ulreich has made an example out of his grit and work ethic. As the camera slowly…
Je t’aime, Liverpool: How to Talk About Love and Your Football Club
This feature talks about how Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool aided a small victory over depression by answering an age-old question: why do people and football fans keep falling in love? August 10 –…
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee: Arsenal’s tale of two strikers
Arsenal have top-class strikers in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette. Can Unai Emery unlock their hidden potential for the club’s success? It isn’t every day that you get to watch footballers live,…
El Dorado – Origin Story of Colombian Football: Part 2
From 1949-1953, Colombia may have had the strongest football league in the world. But was the so-called ‘El Dorado’ league such a glorious time for Colombian football? All that glitters is not…
Unai Emery: The long road from Basque Country to Islington
As the 2018/19 season kickstarts, Unai Emery faces the the unenviable prospect of following in the steps a football colossus. His ability to withstand the pressure of Arsene Wenger’s shadow will define…
Football has no home: Enough with the negativity
As we repeatedly stumble upon examples of banter and general negativity crossing lines and limits, it is maybe time to sit back and reevaluate how and why we watch football. I did…
Manchester United have their totem within reach, they just need to look
Five years since Fergie left, and Manchester United still look in transition. What’s gone so wrong with a club of this size? The key to their solution is probably lurking around the…
Chelsea: Next stop for Jorginho and Maurizio Sarri’s Neapolitan fine-arts
Chelsea’s two biggest hires this season can transform the way the club has looked at their own football identity. Jorginho and Maurizio Sarri promise an era filled with sunshine at a place…
Ajax Amsterdam: The dance between hope and pain
We explore the angst and optimism of AFC Ajax supporters, uncovering the factors behind the club’s decline and reasons to keep believing. As the old saying goes, there is no rest for…
Seattle Sounders: MLS, B-teams and a search for identity
With frequent rebranding and relocations, it wasn’t easy to be a soccer fan in USA, but the sport and its communal pull have both strengthened over time. Seattle Sounders and their B…
The finals of Euro 2016: The night of contradictions, the night of Pepe
The final of Euro 2016 served as the perfect stage a man who was fighting eleven men and his own reputation. It was Pepe’s night. 10 July 2016. Portugal v France. Final…
Finland: A Tale Of Hope and Close Misses
Finland are yet to occupy a space of any relevance in world football’s consciousness, but their story is one that needs telling. A lion’s share of you are probably familiar with the…
Mohammed Salah: More Than A Footballer
Over the last year, Mohammed Salah has not just been a successful footballer, but a much-loved missionary for his sport, country and community. “Look at this!” My mom burst excitedly through my…
To Football, With Love – A fan’s ode to the beautiful game
Between the despair of defeats to the elation when you see a mazy dribble, football is captivating, and takes us to great emotional heights. It’s The Beautiful Game indeed. On a bright…
‘What if?’ – The story of India’s lost opportunity at the 1950 World Cup
Known as a cricketing country around the world today, India’s football story would’ve been vastly different if only they made the trip to Brazil in 1950. Many among the capacity crowd in…
Cloak and Dagger of Sergio Ramos – The Glitch in the System
We believe in this holistic notion; we have to. But there are players like Sergio Ramos who are there to remind us about the glitch in the system. The beauty of football…
Don’t panic: The story of Juventus and mastering transition
In their journey to reclaim a place amongst Europe’s elite, Juventus have crossed many hurdles without breaking stride, and in that lies a great lesson for clubs across the world. Even in…
Blood, sweat and toil: The foundations for the legacy of Cristiano Ronaldo
In his relentless quest for personal improvement, Cristiano Ronaldo has given fans a most important life-lesson. There can always be someone more gifted around the corner, but if you work your backside…
Sunil Chhetri’s Appeal – The Uncomfortable Truth about Indian Football
When the captain of a national football team has to come on social media and request attendance at stadiums, the problem is much bigger than what meets the eye. The response to…