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Ranking the 5 best managers in Serie A for 2023

28Jan

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Analysis

Ranking the 5 best managers in Serie A for 2023

Many of the most acclaimed managers in world football have made their names in Serie A. From Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid to current Tottenham manager Antonio Conte (formerly of Chelsea), there are plenty of former Serie A managers who have found success abroad. There are even those who excelled in Serie A, left for successful stints elsewhere, and are back in Calcio as elite managers, Maurizio Sarri and the incomparable José Mourinho come to mind here. But who are the current best managers in Serie A? Where do the likes of Sarri and Mourinho stack up among the top managers in the league in 2023? Before I continue, though, I would like to give an honorable mention to Simone Inzaghi. He has done great things for Inter Milan and was an absolute star while in charge of Lazio. But h...

Appreciating José Mourinho’s unforgettable Real Madrid legacy

26Jan

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Analysis

Appreciating José Mourinho’s unforgettable Real Madrid legacy

José Mourinho joined Real Madrid in 2010 after accomplishing one of the most incredible managerial feats in the modern era. He won the treble with Inter Milan, making them the only Serie A club to have accomplished this feat. He did this by knocking out his former club Chelsea in the Round of 16, Pep Guardiola's Barcelona in the semifinals, and another dynasty-level side in Bayern München in the Final. It was an incredible run by Mourinho, who had previously won the Champions League with FC Porto in an even more unprecedented feat. He then went on to dominate the Premier League with Chelsea, putting the London club on the map as one of the elite clubs in European football. After reaching the pinnacle with Inter, Mourinho joined Real Madrid at an important time for the club. Despite s...

25Jan

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Analysis

The 5 most underrated Serie A players

Serie A continues to grow and get more credit for being an incredibly entertaining and unpredictable league, shedding the stereotype that it is highly defensive in the process. But while players like Rafael Leão and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are getting major mainstream plaudits, there are so many wonderful players in Serie A who remain underrated. That includes players at top clubs like Napoli, the current league leaders. Here are five of the most underrated players in the Italian top flight. They are not the only undervalued players, but they stand out for being top-quality footballers who receive precious little recognition from the average fan of European football. Monza CB Armando Izzo Monza center back Armando Izzo has long been one of the most productive defenders in the Italian...

Ranking Cristiano Ronaldo’s 5 best teammates at Al-Nassr

9Jan

By Amadis HaliNo Comments

Analysis

Ranking Cristiano Ronaldo’s 5 best teammates at Al-Nassr

In the few days since Cristiano Ronaldo announced his shock move to Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr, numerous rumors have followed about who will join him in his new team. Early reports have suggested that the club is pursuing deals for an old friend of Ronaldo’s, former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, and an old foe in current Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets. Recent headlines have linked the Riyadh side to possibly making a move for Luka Modrić. Fans have also been quick to point out that other stars such as Marcelo and Isco are free agents at the moment as well and are worthy candidates to reunite with Ronaldo. Right now, however, Al-Nassr are at the top of the table in the Saudi Pro League, and their squad already possesses a few familiar faces who Ronaldo can feel confident wil...

Why Bayern are the team to watch for a Harry Kane transfer

8Jan

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Analysis

Why Bayern are the team to watch for a Harry Kane transfer

Bayern München are in the market for a new No. 9. Everyone knows it. After selling Robert Lewandowski in the summer transfer window to Barcelona so that the Polish superstar could embark upon a new challenge in an effort to obtain more respect for his legacy, Bayern decided to stand pat at striker. Their plan was to use Sadio Mané in the middle just like Liverpool did in the previous season, making him someone the likes of Leroy Sané, Serge Gnabry, and Kingsley Coman could play off of on the wings. Jamal Musiala and Thomas Müller would support him more centrally. Though there were some promising moments at the beginning, Mané didn't play his best football up top for Bayern. After Bayern moved him back to his best position on the left, he returned to his usual form. Eric Maxim C...

1Jan

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Analysis

Why Real Madrid don’t make major moves in January transfer market

As the footballing world enters another January transfer market, teams like Liverpool and Chelsea have already made major moves, such as signing Cody Gakpo and Benoît Badiashile, to help buoy their top-four chances. Real Madrid signed a player with even more potential than those two, inking Endrick to an expensive deal that could exceed his 60 million euro release clause if he does indeed fulfill that potential. However, manager Carlo Ancelotti has already publicly ruled out any further winter moves, putting an end to the speculation that Real Madrid could sign a player to give them an edge in the LaLiga title race with Barcelona or in their pursuit of a successful Champions League title defense. Los Blancos could have taken a punt on Cristiano Ronaldo, as there was plenty of spec...

28Dec

By Joseph ZebedeeNo Comments

Analysis

The Rise and Current Malaise of Sevilla

Sevilla have been one of the premier clubs in Europe over the past decade, and yet they are looking at a relegation battle this season in LaLiga. So, how did a team which finished 4th last season end up in such a predicament? A brief history of Sevilla Sevilla are historically not super successful, at least not compared to other clubs who have won major European competitions. Their only LaLiga title was in 1946, yet they have six Europa League titles in the modern era. The Nervionenses spent the majority of their history until the 2000’s flirting with relegation at best and financial catastrophe at worst. A revolving door of club presidents and a disastrous affair with Diego Maradona in the 1990s did nothing to help the situation. Things had to change. The 2000/01 season saw Sevi...

19Dec

By Javier MartinezNo Comments

Analysis

Explaining why LaLiga is in decline

LaLiga is in serious decline and all you have to do is tune in to a game to see why. The quality of play is subpar, the stadiums are partially empty, and many teams are in financial turmoil. Worst of all, the league is struggling on the continental level as we saw in this season's Champions League where three of the four LaLiga sides failed to even get out of the group stage. Sevilla: Didn't even compete in their group. Atletico Madrid: Finished last in a group that included Porto, Bayer Leverkusen, and Club Brugge. Barcelona: Knocked out for the second consecutive season in the group stage. If that wasn't bad enough, LaLiga continues to get weaker every season as its best players and managers leave to sign for the lucrative Premier League; many of which are not even signing ...

2Dec

By James CormackNo Comments

Analysis

Lionel Messi’s ultimate fairytale will not define his indisputable legacy

Argentina, for so long, had just given it to him and prayed, pleading for divine intervention. For some, Lionel Messi is God, but the magic man himself has previously rebuffed such metaphysical comparisons. "I think it's very exaggerated to call me that [God]," he once said. The Argentine superstar is currently embarking on a potentially legacy-cementing World Cup campaign in Qatar, with his country progressing into the round of 16 as Group C winners following a comfortable 2-0 victory over Poland in their final group encounter. The performance and subsequent result epitomised why the latest iteration of La Albiceleste entered the tournament as one of the favourites. No longer are they utterly reliant on their magnificent protagonist for salvation, as Alexis Mac Allister and Julian A...

20Nov

By Joseph ZebedeeNo Comments

Analysis

Is the “Pure CAM” Dying Out?

No. 10 on the back of a footballer means more than any other number historically, it means they are a special player. Someone with magic in their boots and the privilege of being purely offensive, at least it did. In 2022 as football becomes more positionless the era of the pure attacking midfielder might be dying out. Diego Maradona, Rivaldo, Francesco Totti, Michel Platini, and Ronaldinho. Those are just a few names in the pantheon of great attacking midfielders. Purely offensive footballers, out on the pitch to do the undefendable and inadvertently become sources of joy for millions watching around the globe. Bruno Fernandes, Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Joelinton, and Jamal Musiala are all currently listed on Transfermarkt as mainly being attacking midfielders. De Bruyne ha...