Thesefootballtimes
What do Napoli and Diego Maradona mean to a generation of younger fans?
What do Napoli and Diego Maradona mean to a generation of…
“WHAT DISTINGUISHES NAPLES from other large cities is something it has in common with the African kraal: each private attitude or act is permeated by streams of communal life. To exist, for the northern European the most private of affairs, is here, as in the kraal, a collective matter. “At midday, they [local children] lie […]
The unfulfilled career of Gianluigi Lentini, once the world’s most expensive player
The unfulfilled career of Gianluigi Lentini, once the world’s…
IN THE SUMMER OF 1992, Fabio Capello[1] and AC Milan found themselves within the enviable situation of trying to improve upon perfection. The previous season, domestically at least, had been word-perfect for AC Milan. While they might have been nursing a one-season ban from European competition, in Serie A they swept to the title without a loss. […]
Why Maurizio Sarri represents Chelsea’s best option in replacing Antonio Conte
Why Maurizio Sarri represents Chelsea’s best option in…
IN 2016, Maurizio Sarri memorably said: “If I saw my team defending and counter-attacking after 30 minutes, I would get up and return to the bank because I would not be having fun.” It’s music to the ears of fans of the beautiful game – especially Chelsea fans disillusioned with Antonio Conte’s defensive approach, derided[1] […]
Comedy, turmoil and power: Florence through Viola lenses
Comedy, turmoil and power: Florence through Viola lenses
THERE IS NO CITY quite like Florence. Quintessentially Italian in culture, its history is both artistically rich and intertwined with political upheaval. The architecture is breath-taking, food and wine exquisite, and day-to-day life blissfully nonchalant. In short, the peninsula’s central metropolis has beauty in abundance. Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance and home to […]
The understated finesse of Roberto Donadoni
The understated finesse of Roberto Donadoni
HE WAS A creative midfielder who never piled on the goals but was rather known for his ability to make his teammates look good. He was a wonderful dribbler in a pre-YouTube age when plays were rarely watched repeatedly millions of times by fawning fans. He was the go-to player on set pieces, able to deliver […]
Reynald Pedros: from French prodigy to pariah in a single penalty
Reynald Pedros: from French prodigy to pariah in a single…
NOT FOR A MOMENT did Reynald Pedros even entertain the thought of leaving his hand by his waist as his squad delegated penalty duties between them. Offering his services was exactly the type of responsibility he, and any other player of his nature, would willing assume. Emboldened by his abundance of talent, and his youth […]
How Ciro Immobile reclaimed his status as one of calcio’s deadliest goalscorers
How Ciro Immobile reclaimed his status as one of calcio’s…
THE COMMON ATTRACTION we often have with footballers derives from what these individuals accomplish with the boots laced up and between the lines. Whether it’s a timely back-heel that comes off with ease, the elegance of a proper build-up resembling that of a well-rehearsed choreography, or a defensive stalwart’s refusal to concede even the slightest […]
The art and controversy of Daniel Passarella, Argentina’s greatest defender
The art and controversy of Daniel Passarella, Argentina’s…
THIS SUMMER MARKS the 40th anniversary of when Argentina first won the World Cup, a triumph shrouded in controversy from a time that cast a shadow over South America’s second largest country. Winning the World Cup is the pinnacle of any player’s career. For Argentina, it has been lifted twice, both times by legends of […]
Lost in translation: why the Italian game is never the same in English
Lost in translation: why the Italian game is never the same…
AS A FOOTBALL FAN living in the United States, it blows my mind how many games are available on television these days. I’m 33 now and can easily remember the days when I would record Champions League games on VHS and then trade them with my friend who had a satellite dish and could watch […]
A potted history of key South American figures in Serie A
A potted history of key South American figures in Serie A
THE CROWD AT THE GIUSEPPE MEAZZA WAS DELIRIOUS. Mauro Icardi just converted a penalty in the 90th minute to clinch a 3-2 win for Inter over AC Milan in the Derby della Madonnina. As the stadium announcer belted out “Mauro”, the fans emphatically responded with shouts of “Icardi” while the Argentine held his shirt aloft […]