Analysis

The story of Joaquín is a perfect tonic for the ruthlessness of modern football. A Real Betis legend for these two stints separated by nine years, an old-school winger who rallied against the winds of change to keep playing in an era where he was unfashionable, and a beloved figure in Spanish football. This is the story of Joaquín, and the legacy he leaves the club. Early years To give him his full name Joaquín Sánchez Rodríguez was born in the Andalusian town of El Puerto de Santa María, a town known for producing fellow footballer José Manuel Pinto, but also comedians. Joaquín would be comfortable in the company of both as adoring fans would find out. Although he was from a town not far from Cádiz, Joaquín was a Bético, As are a lot of people in Andalusia. His youth career at Real B...

The 2022/23 league seasons are all rapidly coming to a close, so the discussions around European football are increasingly focused on the upcoming 2023 summer transfer window that opens up in a month. No position is more coveted on the open market than striker. Every top club needing a No. 9 is ready to pay a premium for the right player who can transform their domestic or Champions League title hopes. Let's rank the top 10 strikers who could be available on the 2023 summer transfer market, mixing established names with exciting up-and-coming stars. 10. Álvaro Morata, Atlético Madrid Álvaro Morata is one of the most underappreciated players in world football. The Atlético Madrid man is an excellent all-around player. There's a reason why so many acclaimed managers have coveted Mora...

After drawing 1-1 against Udinese, Napoli sealed the 2022/23 Serie A title, becoming champions of Italy for the first time since 1989/1990. Notably, the last time they won the Scudetto, they did so with Diego Armando Maradona as their superstar player. After his recent passing, their iconic home stadium took his name in his honor, and, thus, it seems only fitting that Napoli are back on top. The scenes of celebration after Napoli's title triumph, which has come after years of close calls and collapses (including one last season), are a reminder that there is, perhaps, no more beautiful footballing city than this one. Naples lives and breathes "Calcio", a working-class city that seems to bring the most romantic feelings of football, even in this cold commercialized era of the sport. A...

The 2022/23 LaLiga season has been another wild one, particularly the relegation battle. Although Barcelona had the title won weeks before the end of the season - arguably clinching it with a head-to-head win in the second Clásico of the league campaign - the Spanish top flight has remained compelling near the top of the table without a title race due to the unpredictability of the European places. Along the way, many players have had the opportunities to rise to the occasion to be the heroes for the clubs, even beyond title favorites Barcelona. Tons of young footballers elevated their teams to the European football conversation with strong breakout campaigns. Let's take a look at the 11 biggest breakout stars of the 2022/23 LaLiga season. Girona CM Aleix García Nobody had a more p...

It's safe to say that Tottenham‘s season under Antonio Conte didn't go anywhere near as many had originally expected. After guiding Tottenham back to the Champions League and being backed by the board, there was a sense that this would be the season that Spurs would finally break that long-awaited trophy drought. Not only this, many thought that they could be outside challengers to win the Premier League title. However, those Premier League chances quickly evaporated and so did their hopes of winning a trophy. Domestically, Nottingham Forest eliminated them from the EFL Cup and then Sheffield United would do the same in the FA Cup. Meanwhile, they were eliminated in the Round of 16 of the Champions League by AC Milan who had not reached the knockout stages of the competition since the 2...

On Saturday, April 29, AS Roma Women secured the first Serie A title in their history by defeating Fiorentina in a "playoff" fixture fought among the teams at the top half of the league table. It was the Giallrosse's 10th win in a row, meaning they had not lost a single league fixture in 2023, including all five of their last playoff matches. Now eight points clear of Juventus following last weekend's incredible 3-2 win over the Bianconere, Roma are proudly the holders of the Scudetto, breaking up Juve's monopoly of the most prized title in women's Italian football. Juventus had won the league in each of the last five seasons, but, now, Roma are on top. And it is fitting that they have won the title a week after beating the Bianconere, given their only two losses (or draws, for that ...

Tottenham's image as a club has drastically changed in the past decade, which has seen the club enjoy a meteoric rise. Although they qualified for the Champions League in 2010 and had future world-class players on their team (Luka Modrić, Gareth Bale, Dimitar Berbatov, etc), the perception around Tottenham was much different than what it currently is. Back then, Spurs were only known as a UEFA/Europa League team and not even taken into consideration for Champions League positions. Players viewed the club as a stepping stone to signing for bigger teams as Tottenham had been known for developing elite players and then making a profit off them. However, Tottenham's fortunes began to change in the 2014/2015 season when the team was in a transitional period and searched for a manager that...

The 2022/23 season clearly has not gone to plan for Liverpool. As the Reds head into their 30th match of the season, they sit eighth in the Premier League behind both Aston Villa and Brighton in the battle for the Europa League and Conference League positions, It is a profoundly disappointing position for the 2018/19 Champions League winners to be in, as they were in the Final of the most prestigious competition in European football just last season. Now, they are faced with the extremely likely prospect of not being in the 2023/24 Champions League - and with the very real prospect of no European football at all. Already, the conversation is shifting to the summer transfer window, as Jürgen Klopp, regardless of his lukewarm statements to the media, desperately needs his squad to be r...