Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 85 i Soccer 360 Magazine

The year of 2009 was a very different time for football. Lionel Messi had just won the Ballon d’Or, debates raged over whether he or Cristiano Ronaldo was the best player in the world. Barcelona and Real Madrid were battling it out for the Spanish title and Pep Guardiola was being hailed as the greatest manager on the planet. Ok, maybe not that different then. But as we head into a new decade it’s perhaps worth looking at just what has changed in the 2010s, and the repercussions which will follow into the next decade. On January 1 2010 the notion of clubs being taken over by wealthy foreign investors wasn’t exactly unknown. Manchester City were 18 months into their “project” and Roman Abramovich had transformed Chelsea into an English…

For five decades from its inception in 1956, the winner of the Ballon d’Or was decided solely by the votes of a panel of football journalists assembled by France Football. Little has changed since, but in 2006 the rules were relaxed to allow national team managers and captains to vote, giving at least some inside the game a say in the outcome. The current system sees the editorial team at France Football draw up a shortlist of 30 players, usually announced in late October. A jury of journalists is then put together which represents a large breadth of footballing nations, and each of them are asked to select and rank their top five players from the shortlist, taking several different aspects into consideration. These factors include how each player has…

PLAYER OF THE SEASON – CARLOS VELA Carlos Vela rightfully won the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award after a fantastic season that saw him lead Los Angeles FC to their first major trophy – the MLS Supporters' Shield – and break an MLS points record in the process. Vela also shattered the record for most goals in an MLS season, finishing with a total of 34. While LAFC ultimately failed to capture the League’s most prestigious prize, Vela was a big reason for his team’s success during the regular season and is quickly making a case for being the greatest player the League has ever seen. COACH OF THE SEASON – BRIAN SCHMETZER While Los Angeles FC’s head coach Bob Bradley was named the Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the…

GOING UP Carlos vela arrived in mls with a target on his back as not only one of the most popular players in the league and in north america, but also as one of the players that teams will target in order to prevent lafc from being a force. Stop vela, stop lafc was the thought process, but vela’s outstanding season has meant that he will go down as one of the best mls imports in history. GOING DOWN Imagine being in Major League Soccer for one season, it’s your inaugural year and it’s your time to shine. Now, imagine being so bad that you break the single season record for most goals conceded — in that debut season. Look on the bright side — it can only get better…

HE SWOOPS IN WITH A WINNING SMILE, PROBABLY A SMART LINE OR TWO IN SELF-DEPRECIATION AT HIS INITIAL PRESS CONFERENCES, AND DELIVERS RESULTS. THE GOOD The pattern of Jose Mourinho taking over a new team is well-established now. He swoops in with a winning smile, probably a smart line or two in self-depreciation at his initial press conferences, and delivers results. That’s what’s happening at Tottenham Hotspur, and Dele Alli is among the players benefitting most. Quite what went wrong in the first few months of the 2019-20 season for Mauricio Pochettino and Spurs has yet to be fully established. Perhaps it was that a squad made up of essentially the same 20 players for three years had stopped listening to the Argentine. Maybe the hangover of losing the Champions…

ANOTHER TITLE RACE It’s not that we’re anti-Liverpool, but we would hope that either Manchester City or Leicester City – or anyone else for that matter – can keep up with the runaway leaders a little longer. Last season’s title race was exhilarating and we want more of the same. FINAL DAY DRAMA A similarly tight relegation battle would be perfect as well. No one likes it when the teams dropping down to the Championship are known weeks before the end of the season. If Liverpool is already crowned then the least we can hope for is final day drama down the bottom of the table. CAPITAL CONSISTENCY Some stability in North London would be nice. There were some who thought that both Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal were a little…

BARCELONA DID NOT START THE SEASON WITH THE LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY THEY WERE AIMING FOR THE GOOD Barcelona did not start the season with the level of consistency they were aiming for, with coach Ernesto Valverde coming in for his annual criticism as autumn gave way to winter. However, despite struggling to click into top gear, they have enjoyed one big success story so far in 2019-20. Frenkie De Jong’s move to Camp Nou slipped under the radar in terms of transfers, with Antoine Griezmann moving to Catalonia and his former Ajax teammate Matthijs De Ligt joining Juventus. But De Jong has not only settled much quicker than the others, he has already established himself as a fans favourite inside four months. New midfielders are judged by the highest standards…

FAN REPRESENTATION Fan disgruntlement has grown in both force and regularity in recent seasons, with supporters from across La Liga unhappy with a lack of decisive action by both La Liga and the RFEF. Giving supporter groups a greater voice and role in decision making that affects them is a move that is vitally needed. AN EPIC TITLE RACE Barcelona have won four of the last five La Liga titles, with Real Madrid picking up one, and Zinedine Zidane’s side look set to push the Catalans all the way in 2020. Barca have won their last two titles by an average of 12.5 points as a winning margin – they are unlikely to have it so simple this time around. A FULL SPANISH SET All 7 spanish teams have qualified…

CONTE OPTED FOR A FRESH CHALLENGE, AND WITH ROMELU LUKAKU, DIEGO GODIN, STEFANO SENSI AND NICOLò BARELLA AS SIGNINGS, THE ITALIAN WAS ARMED FOR THE 2019-20 CAMPAIGN AHEAD. THE GOOD Inter have struggled for the best part of a decade to find a suitable successor to treble-winning manager Jose Mourinho in 2010. The charismatic Portuguese was initially replaced by arch-enemy Rafael Benitez, but the former Liverpool boss was not a popular choice on the terraces and barely lasted six months at the helm. Leonardo, Gian Piero Gasperini, Walter Mazzarri, Stefano Pioli and Luciano Spalletti all suffered similar fates but the Nerazzurri have finally found a coach capable of breaking the Juventus stranglehold on the division. Antonio Conte, a three-time Serie A-winning tactician with the Bianconeri, was in high demand during…

TACKLE RACISM It’s the elephant in the room. 2019 has been blighted with racism issues in Serie A. Lega Serie A simply has to make a much more concerted effort to stamp out the issue of racism. A signed letter from all 20 clubs promising to do more is a start. TV SHAKE-UP Agree on a new domestic TV deal for 2021-24. Spanish TV company Mediapro tried to buy the rights for this cycle, and are now back at the table to negotiate a new deal, with a reported €1.3bn a season offer. Let’s hope all 20 clubs agree. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CHALLENGE We have Cagliari, Roma, Atalanta and potentially Napoli all battling for one spot – the coveted last Champions League place. It’s rare that it’s so congested, and Cagliari…

THEIR ABILITY TO LAST THE COURSE OF A DEMANDING 34-GAME SEASON REMAINS TO BE SEEN THE GOOD A surprise early season front runner has become a consistent feature in recent Bundesliga seasons, and 2019-20 has been no different. Borussia Monchengladbach have emerged as genuine contenders to threaten Bayern Munich’s domestic monopoly as the busy winter period saw Gladbach top the table. Marco Rose’s side were dogged by inconsistency last season, with just two wins from their final five games of 2018-19 nudging them out of the Champions League qualification places. That poor run of form persuaded the club not to renew Dieter Hecking’s contract and bring in Rose. The former RB Salzburg boss was backed in the summer transfer market, and that has reaped rewards so this season. Replacing the…

A NEW WINNER It’s been eight long years since someone other than Bayern Munich was celebrating with the League title at the end of the season. It at least went to the very end in 2018-19 – this wasn’t the procession of years past – but it’s simply unhealthy for one team to dominate so much. UNION STAY STRONG Union Berlin became the 56th club to participate in the Bundesliga when they were promoted last season, and more representation for the capital – and the chance for a new set of fans to experience top flight football – is something to be encouraged. Mid-table in winter, here’s hoping they don’t sink in the spring. SANCHO STAYS PUT Jadon Sancho’s time at Borussia Dortmund appears to be souring, but the more…

CORINTHIANS KICK OFF Corinthians won the inaugural competition, beating fellow Brazilian outfit Vasco da Gama in January 2000. The São Paulo based outfit triumphed 4-3 on spot-kicks as both teams failed to break the deadlock in regular time. Dida, who swiftly moved on to play for European heavyweights Milan, was in goal for the victors. UNITED CONTROVERSY Manchester United caused controversy in the lead up to the debut tournament by pulling out of FA Cup in order to focus on world glory. Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad failed to get out of the group stages and the Scot later admitted his regret at the Red Devils’ domestic withdrawal. GOING JAPANESE The second edition did not take place until 2005 as São Paulo toppled English giants Liverpool 1-0 in Yokohama. Mineiro got…

With the 2019 Women’s FIFA World Cup such a roaring success, the rights to host the next edition - which will presumably be even more well-watched and lucrative - have never been a hotter commodity. The latest countries to throw their hat into the ring are Australia and New Zealand who submitted a formal joint-bid earlier this week. Barring a huge surprise bid, all the countries who will be considered as hosts of the global event have handed in their applications. If the Aussies and the Kiwi’s bid is a success, it will be the first time either nation will have hosted a World Cup, whether that be a men’s or women’s iteration. Like in the men’s game, the trend when putting together a package to host the Women’s World…

MANCHESTER UNITED With a squad short of quality and options, Manchester United rightly find themselves in Premier League mid-table, and hit a new low when defeated by Astana in November. Defenders, midfielders and forwards are all needed at Old Trafford. MILAN The struggling giants have taken a massive step back from last season’s Champions League push and now find themselves closer to relegation than top four. Wingers are the most important position for Milan to improve on, while Gennaro Gattuso would be welcomed back as coach. MANCHESTER CITY Although not in a disastrous position, Manchester City’s squad has become stale and big money signings haven't given what the club thought they were getting. New centre-backs and a controlling presence in midfield are what Pep Guardiola needs the most. NAPOLI After…

While Los Angeles FC fell short of getting the job done in the playoffs and winning the MLS Cup, they certainly had an impressive campaign that saw them break the record for most points in a season. LAFC ended the regular season with a total of 72 points, one more than the New York Red Bulls, who set the record just last year. Their +48 goal differential was also the best in MLS history and they equalled the record for most goals scored by a team in a single season with 85. They will continue to be a real force in 2020 as well.…

Despite not winning a single trophy for the first time since 2015, Toronto FC actually exceeded most people’s expectations of the club coming into the campaign. It was supposed to be a transition year after a season where they missed out on the playoffs and endured a hectic offseason. The club were in full scramble mode last January when both Sebastian Giovinco and Victor Vazquez departed the club. They each left a massive hole that needed to be filled. To top it all off, general manager Tim Bezbatchenko, who built Toronto FC’s treble-winning side in 2017, decided it was time he moved on as well, after being with the club since 2013. Bezbatchenko was quickly named president of the Columbus Crew on January 4 2019. Fans were more than just…

Is this the year that MLS breaks through in CONCACAF Champions League play? When it comes to CONCACAF Champions League Major League Soccer sure doesn’t like to pull surprises. Sure, on the field MLS sides find new and interesting ways to come up juuussst short in breaking through in the continent’s top competition. But generally speaking, the script is pretty standard at this point: MLS gets four-five teams in the competition, most get knocked out early, one or two make a deep run and get their fans hopes up, and then find some way to slip up. There are some reasons to hope that this year’s edition may be a little bit different. The main reason for this renewed sense of optimism are the clubs participating. As opposed to years…

GOING UP Southampton hit a nadir in their 9-0 home thrashing by Leicester, and the only way from there was up. While results haven’t been completely positive since, the Saints deserve some credit – consecutive home wins over relegation rivals Watford and Norwich provided a vital six points, and suggested all wasn’t lost for Ralph Hasenhuttl. GOING DOWN Eddie Howe is rightly lauded for his work at Bournemouth. Across two spells he has taken the Cherries from League Two into the Premier League, and made them an established top-flight team. But that work is under threat of a backward step. Bournemouth’s form to end 2019 was dire. Injuries were a factor, but every team has injuries. Coping with them is key, and where Howe has struggled.…

NEWCASTLE With the likelihood of a new owner becoming remote, Newcastle fans will want to see more performances like the draw with Manchester City at the end of November. Stability will be key but some grit and determination will be needed to survive the season. CHELSEA Can the Blues dream of Europe? After the club was handed a transfer ban it seemed as though Frank Lampard would do well to keep his team in the top half of the table. But Chelsea has been an ever present in the European places this campaign and could well ease out one of the predicted clubs for a Champions League spot at the end of the season. EVERTON Although there is no way that any true Everton fan would want to be anything…

GOING UP Granada have stood out as one La Liga’s new boys this season, but Jagoba Arrasate’s Osasuna have flown under the radar. Arrasate brought in some much-needed experience ahead in the summer, and they will be a tough nut to crack for some of the League’s more established names. GOING DOWN It’s not a surprise to see Leganes fighting relegation, as the side from the Madrid outskirts are always fighting an uphill battle in the top flight, given the difference in budget between themselves and most of the rest of the Division. But one win in their opening 15 games is dire stuff, and they already look doomed.…

GOING UP By the end of Matchday 14, Lazio talisman Ciro Immobile had an astonishing 22 goal contributions to his name and was seven goals clear of closest rival Romelu Lukaku in the standings. At his current scoring rate, Immobile is on course to be the Biancocelesti’s all time-top scorer by the end of the 2020-21 season. GOING DOWN Krzysztof Piatek endured a torrid autumn and was often replaced by starlet Rafael Leão as Milan regularly went in search of either an equaliser or breakthrough. With rumours intensifying of Zlatan Ibrahimovic returning to the club, the ex-Genoa hitman could find himself third in the pecking order and struggling for game time in the New Year.…

GOING UP Following the trend of the Bundesliga’s lesser lights challenging the heavyweights, Freiburg have really caught the eye in recent weeks. Experienced boss Christian Streich has kept a steady grip on the wheel so far this season, while the goals of Nils Petersen have pushed them into the conversation for a European spot. GOING DOWN Newly promoted sides SC Paderborn and Cologne are already finding the going tough in the top-flight. Both sides are already in relegation trouble, with just three wins in the first 24 games between them in 2019-20. Fellow new boys Union Berlin have established themselves in mid-table so far, but the early writing looks to be on the wall for the other new kids.…

It looks like football could be coming home in 2030. Well, in the sense that the international game’s showpiece tournament might be hosted on British soil for the first time since 1966 - as for the home nations' success in the competition, we'll have to wait and see… By that time, even emerging homegrown talents like Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho will be in their 30s and the footballing landscape will look radically different from its current state. Following successful efforts to assess whether a World Cup bid from Great Britain and Ireland would be practical, representatives from the Football Associations of each country in the union have been given the green light to formulate a concrete plan for the tournament. With bidding for the 25th edition of the most-watched…

'WHEN IT COMES TO STANDOUT PERFORMANCES IN THIS SEASON’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, BAYERN MUNICH IS THE PLACE TO START’ There is a school of thought that suggests that the Champions League doesn’t get going until the knock out rounds and nothing of note really happens in the group stage. But there have been some outstanding performances already this season – and there are a number of players and teams that will be hoping to continue their fine form into 2020. When it comes to standout performances in this season’s Champions League, Bayern Munich is probably the best place to start – and in particular Robert Lewandowski. The Bundesliga club were the only side in the competition to have a 100% record after the group stage and their talismanic Polish striker is…

‘RANGERS STAR MAN ALFREDO MORELOS HAS PROVEN THAT THE GOALS KEEP COMING, EVEN OUTSIDE OF SCOTLAND’ The Europa League, Europe’s secondary competition, has been overlooked by many since it’s rebrand from the UEFA Cup in 2009, but as we pass its 10th birthday a quick look at the history of the competition shows just how much it has evolved since its inception. Champions League heavyweights Atletico Madrid and Premier League giants Chelsea have lifted the trophy on two occasions each, while Jose Mourinho deemed the competition worthy of his efforts with Manchester United in 2017, defeating Ajax 2-0 in their final in Solna. So, it has the pedigree of champions, and with a spot in the Champions League up for grabs for the winners, who wouldn’t be interested? For struggling…

“IT WAS A MASSIVE ADVANTAGE FOR SEATTLE TO PLAY IN FRONT OF THEIR HOME FANS FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PLAYOFFS.” The Seattle Sounders shocked the world when they won their first MLS Cup back in 2016. The team had struggled throughout the season, fired head coach Sigi Schmid midway through the campaign and finished fourth in the Western Conference with just 48 points. In 2019, not many people had predicted they would win their second MLS Cup in four years, but when it was all said and done nobody was surprised when they were the team lifting the Philip F. Anschutz trophy on November 10. The Sounders entered the year looking to prove they were still a top team in the West and they did that throughout the…

THE GOOD It’s been quite the few years for the Seattle Sounders. Back in 2015, they hadn’t even managed to win one MLS Cup since their return to the top flight of football in the United States, but since 2016 they’ve been one of the most powerful forces to contend with. Their trio of MLS Cup Finals against Toronto FC will be matches – and occasions – that, for better or worse, will be remembered for some time. The 2019 edition will go down in folklore in the Emerald City. Seattle were hosting their first MLS Cup Final against Toronto, with the other two meetings in their protracted three-game series taking place north of the border. Toronto were eager to make it a double celebration following the spectacular triumph of…

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SUCCESS No MLS side has ever won the continent’s most prestigious tournament and 2020 could be the year that finally changes with the likes of the Seattle Sounders, New York City FC, Atlanta United, Montreal Impact and Los Angeles FC competing. The tournament kicks off in February and should be entertaining for fans and neutrals alike. COMPETITIVE EXPANSION TEAMS For the first time in MLS history, 26 teams will be competing in the League with the additions of Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF in 2020. Atlanta United and Los Angeles FC proved you don’t need to be in the League long to make an impact and hopefully we see the same with MLS’ two newest clubs. MORE LOCAL TALENT We’ve seen some MLS academy products make a…

“QUOTES” “We would like to have an attacking team, all the time. We can be aggressive. We can score a lot of goals. We can create a team that can be in that offensive mind all the time.” – New Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja wants to impose an attacking playing style “Players at the top level, they have three weeks, one month maximum, on break. I’m telling you, three months and a half of a break in a soccer season is Mickey Mouse. It’s amateur. It doesn’t happen in the world” – Vancouver Whitecaps coach Marc Dos Santos criticizes the long break between seasons for clubs that have been eliminated prior to the playoffs. “We need to find some more goals next year. Whether that’s a singular difference maker…

For years pundits, players and fans had been complaining about referees and the inconsistent decisions they made every weekend. It had virtually become part of the game. So the news that VAR – video assistance referee – would be introduced to the Premier League this season was greeted largely with applause – and a little relief. Other countries had already trialled the technology, with mixed results, but it seemed to be a positive move for a sport that had previously steadfastly kept to its principles of giving the man or woman in the middle the final say. Finally, wrong decisions would be easily overruled and football would be the winner. But in England, at least, that has not quite been the case. It is worrying that a profile of the…

“QUOTES” “But coming back, it’s a massive club, massive stadium, massive fans and it’s part of me growing up. Honest to God, I’ve been wanting to come back for years.I would have regretted it if I didn’t get to step on the pitch in the black and white again” – Andy Carroll is enjoying his second coming at Newcastle and believes he would have regretted had he not returned to St. James Park. “It’s very easy to compare the two of them, yeah. Both with skills, body shape, attitude, attributes - everything. The boy has every chance in the world to become a top, top player” – Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer thinks Marcus Rashford can be Man. Utd’s new Cristiano Ronaldo. “We had a bad time, we are…

Few subjects prickle fan sensibilities quite like the idea of games being played outside of their designated country. However, despite this appearing to be a cross-sport phenomenon, it is clearly most acutely felt by European football fans. Supporters from across Europe’s major Leagues grit their teeth at football being referred to as a commodity to be bargained with and sold off for an extra slice of profit. Liga’s reported dalliance with potentially playing at least one game a season in the United States has torn open a new line of argument within Spanish football. The focus of fan ire has been on the most outspoken individual on the issue, former La Liga President Javier Tebas. The 57-year-old has consistently operated as a controversial figure within Spanish football, clashing with fans…

“QUOTES” “There are some players who are in a bubble and you can't reason with them. He’s a different player in some respects and then in other ways he is a person just like any other and has to be treated as such.” - Real Mallorca boss Vicente Moreno believes Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi expects special treatment from referees because of his superstar status. “On my returning to the Bernabeu, I was going to go to the home changing room by mistake. I appreciate that later people would sing to me” - Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas shares his experience of returning to the Santiago Bernabeu for the first time since his departure to PSG. “If in December or when the season ends I do not feel that I…

Antonio Conte knew the size of the task when he took the Inter job last summer. How to stop the runaway train that he started? How best to topple the black and white dynasty? It’s a daunting task, trying to halt the juggernaut that is Juventus from winning a ninth consecutive Scudetto. Conte guided his old club to their first three, reinstalling the winning DNA that had been missing from the club in the aftermath of the Calciopoli scandal. Yet Conte was smart. He knew the likelihood of dethroning the Bianconeri in his first season on the Inter bench was highly improbable. This time, there was no similarities to his first season in Turin, when there was a power vacuum created at the top of the Italian game with the…

“QUOTES” “Milan are doing well by trying to buy Ibrahimovic as they are lacking a player with his charisma. He is a player who can give them a hand.” – Ex-Juventus coach Marcello Lippi thinks AC Milan could benefit from the inclusion of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. “If he is on the lips of the big clubs, it’s because he is demonstrating that he deserves to be. Today, he’s at Inter and I’m happy he’s here us to help us win. He can still grow and improve; I hope can continue to help us with goals and push the team on in general.” – Diego Godin hails the quality of his Inter Milan teammate Lautaro Martinez and feels thankful that the Argentine is with the Nerazzurri. “Everyone keeps saying we need to…

It goes without saying that this season has been a rather trying time for Bayern Munich. The Bavarian titans may be cruising along in the Champions League, where they have easily qualified for the round of 16 without fuss, but the same cannot be said about their domestic campaign. Simply put, sitting anywhere but the top spot is seen as a major issue for Bayern, who have dominated the Bundesliga so much over the past few seasons that winning the title has become par for the course. Yet, so far, the 2019-20 season has been hardly smooth sailing for Germany’s most decorated side, and it has ended up costing them dearly, with head coach Niko Kovac sacked before the season’s midway point. Football is a fickle business, and the managerial…

“QUOTES” “It’s the biggest and most successful club in Germany. To play for this club would be very special. But it’s not something I've been too busy dealing with so far.” - SC Freiburg star Luca Waldschmidt flirts with a move to Bayern Munich in the future. “My father is my role model, and facing his Eintracht Frankfurt team is my hardest game.” - Hoffenheim defender Benjamin Hubner says facing Eintracht Frankfurt is difficult for him because of his father Bruno Hubner’s (Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director) involvement with the Eagles. “I owe a lot to Hoeness personally. After my third shin fracture my contract expired. I was injured beyond the season and many did not think I would make a comeback. He still extended my contract for a year, which…