In an era of top-notch academies and huge international scouting networks, many players still rise from semi-pro football leagues to the top of domestic game. In a time when the financial gap between the Premier League and the rest is…
Features
Gael Kakuta – Chelsea’s Prodigy Who Lost His Way
In 2007, Guy Hillion, one of the most respected scouts in France described a 16-year-old Gael Kakuta as the “most gifted player of his generation”. It seemed like his outrageous ability and a talent surely destined for greatness and was…
Roman Pavlyuchenko – Tottenham’s Russian Cult Hero
During the Euro 2008, a resurgent Russian team under Guus Hiddink had an amazing run as they went on to reach the semi-finals. They defeated Greece, Sweden and Netherlands before losing out to the eventual champions Spain. Several players of…
Hachim Mastour – Rise and Fall of AC Milan’s Former Wonderkid
YouTube can be both a blessing and a curse for the modern footballer. In the case of Hachim Mastour, the latter has proven to be the case. That’s for later, though. This story does not start on the world’s biggest…
Ravel Morrison – Man United’s Biggest Disappointment?
From an early age, Ravel Morrison was scouted by Manchester United and he signed with his boyhood club in 2009. The 15 year-old quickly impressed everyone within the club and especially Red Devils legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The attacking…
The legacy of the late Jlloyd Samuel—the PL player who left to play in Iran
Not many outside of Iran will remember a player by the name of Jlloyd Samuel, who left the riches of the Premier League to take on the challenges from an unusual part of the globe. But his legacy will remain untainted in Iran for years to come.
Midas – The dream of a Nigerian football academy
Meet a man with a dream for Nigerian football: one that’s vast and wide, like the Serengeti, as all-encompassing as the Congo and as ambitious as climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. It’s the kind of vision that you don’t want vaporizing like a Saharan mirage—because you know what it’s like to have football fever.
David Wagner: The man taking the Terriers to new heights
David Wagner and Huddersfield Town have made a very good start to their Premier League season after a 45-year absence. Will they do enough to stay up?
How Brazil prepares the next generation of great soccer players
Brazil still holds the record for the most World Cups won by a country, so that means they must be doing something right—we take a look at exactly what.
FC Nantes: The current Ligue 1 minnows fabled by a rich history
FC Nantes may be minnows in Ligue 1 right now, but like so many so-called “minnows” they have such rich history that it almost seems fabled.