Well, instead of letting off steam to friends, family or randoms on X, we thought we’d sum up some of the things that really irritate us right now about watching and supporting football. As the 2023/24 season draws to a close, it seems like a good time to get a few things off our chest, though this list is far from exhaustive and, by its nature, is personal. No doubt you’ve got plenty of your own pet peeves and frustrations to add to it, and we’ve ignored some of the absolutely-bleedin’-obvious ones like VAR in general – though we’ve still got a bit to say about that too!

1) Not Showing Replays of Injuries

Don’t get us wrong, we don’t want to see anything truly horrific, or rubber-neck when a player is genuinely suffering some sort of life-changing incident. But these days, tackles that wouldn’t have been fouls 20 years ago, and injuries that players can literally just run off, are treated as if the player has lost a leg.

The overly cautious, paternalistic approach of the broadcasters is particularly strange when one considers that just about anyone with a mobile phone, no matter what their age, can access all sorts of truly morbid, grotesque and genuinely horrifying content with a few swipes of a screen.

But a bad tackle, an accidental collision of heads or a player even rolling an ankle, is deemed too much for us viewers to handle? Often these are key moments in games too, if a yellow or red card is awarded, or isn’t when it should be. But how would viewers know when they aren’t allowed to even see the incident?

In the last few weeks alone we’ve seen relatively minor incidents involving Everton’s Vitaliy Mykolenko and, separately, Man City’s Ederson, where the TV companies have decided we could not cope with seeing what actually happened. In both cases, the players played on, which shows just how terrible things were (even if both were subsequently withdrawn). It is not even a case of treating us like adults, because these are incidents that children can and should be able to handle and they are part and parcel of football.

2) VAR Bottling Decisions

VAR referee Bas Nijhuis (Credit: Robert Hoetink / bigstockphoto)

There are so many aspects of VAR that annoy just about everyone who watches football but for us, one of the most irritating, and less talked about, is the way VAR so often bottles the decision. Why is the referee so frequently requested to view the pitch-side monitor?

VAR consists of three people, who have as much time as they need to come to a decision in the privacy and relative calm of their little studio, portakabin, or whatever it is at “Stockley Park”. If they cannot reach a decision, then first, it obviously (and indeed clearly) wasn’t a clear and obvious error. Moreover, if they can’t decide between three of them, without the pressure of baying players and fans, why do they think the ref can?

Technically speaking VAR can only recommend the ref changes a decision but if it is a real error and they are sure, why not just recommend it and have the ref accept their call? Why waste more time, not least because the on-pitch referee almost always goes with the VAR recommendation anyway? And if VAR aren’t certain it is an error, then just stick with the original call. Aggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh! VAR, please go away!

3) Added Time

Whether fans are watching in the stadium, or at home, they have things to do, people to see, places to be. We love football but 95 minutes is plenty, we don’t need games stretching out to 110 minutes, especially if it means we miss our last train home, or we are forced to miss the end of the game; or we have to choose between staying to watch the final few minutes in the pub and our partner deciding they want to leave us for coming home late again!

Obviously much of this is down to VAR, but it is also due to ridiculously over-long goal celebrations and flagrant time-wasting. Rather than allowing these things and adding on time, why not enforce rules that already exist and punish offenders with a yellow card?

The “six-second rule” still exists, meaning goalkeepers have to release the ball within six seconds of picking it up. And yet keepers routinely catch a simple cross, fall to the floor, slowly get up, walk to the edge of the area, wait and then, 20 seconds or more after first collecting it, put it on the floor and resume play. As for goal celebrations, they are all well and good but should be kept brief, with play restarting within 30 seconds, not two minutes! Then we can all be tucked up in bed by 10.30 after midweek games!

4) Profit & Sustainability Rules

P & S rules, financial fair play, FFP, call it what you will: this is just a means for the established big clubs to keep control and maintain the status quo. The rules are set to change but the outcome is the same, if not worse: the clubs that are currently rich will be allowed to spend more than the rest, with no challengers allowed.

Newcastle are the best (but not only) example. Whatever anyone thinks about the Saudi takeover, the financial clout that the club should now have means they could challenge Man City. Let’s face it, as City head towards a fourth Premier League in a row and probably the double, things are rather boring. Having the Magpies challenge them would have provided new excitement and could have brought more world-class players to the PL.

The fly in the ointment being that, despite their owners essentially having limitless funds, Newcastle may have to sell their best players to stay within regulations. All this is annoying enough and we haven’t even touched on the way points deductions could have made a mockery of the whole competition, or the way that whilst Everton and Nottingham Forest have been punished, Man City’s 115 charges are being conveniently ignored!

The post Really Annoying Things About Football Right Now! first appeared on Rant About Football.

With 40 minutes of the game remaining the score still stood at 3-0. Given the mentality of some fans, we would not be surprised if some of the Bournemouth not-so-faithful were heading for the exit when the in-form Dominic Solanke made it 3-1 with a brilliant goal. At that stage optimistic supporters of the home side may have dared to dream about nicking a point, or perhaps even just getting a second goal and seeing where it took them.

They had a 12-minute wait for that second strike but then all of a sudden, after 64 minutes they were back level at 3-3. Forget the draw, we suspect at that point Bournemouth players and fans were fully expecting to win and, of course, they did. After Illia Zabarnyi’s scrappy second and Antoine Semenyo’s goal just after, Semenyo gave his team the lead with his second of the night after 83 minutes! Bournemouth went on to win the match 4-3 and leave Luton broken and demoralised, whilst sending the home crowd wild and with a story for the grandkids.

This amazing fightback must rank as one of the greatest in the history of the top flight. In fact, no side has ever come from more than three back to win a game in the Premier League era. Four other teams can match Bournemouth’s feat, whilst only two teams have done what the Cherries did in overcoming a 3-0 disadvantage in the second half!

Man United Turn Tottenham Tide in 2001

The first team to overcome a three-goal first-half deficit were Manchester United, the dominant side of the Premier League’s first 20 years or so. They trailed Spurs 3-0 at the break with Les Ferdinand among the scorers for the home team. In what is very much a classic of the Premier League era, United came out like a different side in the second half and blew their opponents away.

Andy Cole made it 3-1 after 46 minutes before Laurent Blanc and Ruud van Nistelrooy brought things level with around 20 minutes to go. Juan Sebastian Veron gave the Red Devils the lead and then David Beckham completed the comeback adding real gloss to make it 5-3 in the 87th minute.

Wolves Overcome Foxes

The second time a team achieved the incredible feat of coming back from three down at the break came just a couple of years later, in October 2003. Les Ferdinand was again among the early goalscorers, netting two in fact, as Leicester took charge of the clash.

However, proving that things aren’t over until the fat lady sings (or at least the ref blows the final whistle), Wolves battled their way back to win. Colin Cameron bagged a brace, whilst Alex Rae got the equaliser with around 20 minutes left. As the final whistle approached, Henri Camara made it 4-3 to send the home crowd into raptures and complete the comeback.

Other Three-Goal Comebacks

The other two games where PL teams overturned three-goal disadvantages were not quite such dramatic affairs, with the fightbacks at least beginning in the first half. The first time this ever occurred came quite early in the Premier League era when Leeds United stunned Derby County 4-3.

That game took place in November 1997 and saw County two up after 11 minutes and then three to the good just after the half-hour mark. Rod Wallace started the comeback in the 37th minute, Harry Kewell grabbing another in the first half. Late goals from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lee Bowyer brought all three points for the home side.

Less than 12 months later the now defunct/renamed Wimbledon made their own piece of history by coming back against the Hammers at the Boleyn Ground. John Hartson scored after seven minutes and then an Ian Wright brace had West Ham three up after just 27 minutes. Marcus Gayle gave the visitors hope in the 30th minute and added another after 77, Jason Euell making it 3-2 in between those strikes. Then with nine minutes on the clock, Efan Ekoku made it 3-4 to turn the atmosphere inside the ground well and truly sour.

From Three Down to Level

Over the years there have been several other comebacks from three goals down where teams have managed to salvage a draw. One of the most memorable saw Liverpool ahead 3-0 at Palace in May of 2014 with just 11 minutes of the game left. The hosts stunned the Reds by scoring three late goals to blow a hole in Liverpool’s title hope and leave Luis Suarez in tears. Now there’s a shame!

Other incredible games include Liverpool and Man United drawing 3-3 at Anfield, this time the Kop side achieving the incredible fightback, and Chelsea and United drawing by the same score. There have also been four occasions where a team has come back from 4-1 to draw 4-4 and one incredible contest which went from 5-2 to 5-5. Amazingly that game saw West Brom come from 3-0 and 5-2 to draw with Man United in Sir Alex Ferguson’s last game in charge.

Newcastle Kings of the Four-Goal Fightback

Only once in the Premier League has a team come from four goals down to take anything from a game. That occurred in 2011 when a stunned St James’ Park saw their beloved Magpies go four down after a mere 26 minutes. The game stayed that way until 68 minutes had passed and, once again, we suspect some of the home crowd will have left their seats to head home and, perhaps, drown their sorrows.

Any that did will probably still be kicking themselves as Newcastle mounted a staggering comeback. After 68 minutes Joey Barton scored a penalty and seven minutes later Leon Best gave the home crowd a sliver of hope. Another Barton penalty after 83 minutes meant the fightback really was on and then this stunning strike from the sadly deceased Cheick Tiote made it 4-4. What a goal – it won Goal of the Season – and what a game!

The post Best Premier League Comesbacks – The Teams Who Came Back From 3+Goals Behind first appeared on Rant About Football.

However, January 2024 was the moment Jurgen Klopp chose to announce his decision to leave Liverpool at the end of the season. Keen to stress his love for the club, the city, the fans, the team, and his staff, there was nothing complicated about his reasoning – following eight years in the hot seat, Klopp has deemed it is time to take a break, listening to his dwindling energy levels, and realising he can’t continue to do such a high-pressure job year after year after year.

So, that’s it Liverpool fans, only a few more months of the man who has reinvigorated and reinvented one of the most successful clubs in the history of the English game. Those eight years seem to have flown by, but what an eight years it has been. Here, we look back at the achievements of one of the most brilliant coaching minds of the modern era, the key signings which lit the Liverpool touchpaper, and speculate upon where Klopp may end up next.

The Trophies

coward_lion (bigstock)

Without a league title since the 1989/90 season and missing out on European success since that famous night in Istanbul, Klopp had a clear goal at the time of his arrival. His job was to restore the regular supply line of silverware to the Anfield trophy cabinet.

There have been near misses along the way – those Champion’s League Final defeats to Real Madrid in 2017/18 and 2021/22, and that agonising second-place finish to Manchester City in the 2018/19 Premier League season – despite amassing the third-highest points total in the history of the division at the time. However, even with those disappointments, it’s fair to say that Klopp has delivered on his brief, with the following added to the Liverpool list of honours during his glittering spell at the club.

• Premier League – 2019/20
• UEFA Champions League – 2018/19
• FA Cup – 2021/22
• EFL Cup – 2021/22
• UEFA Super Cup – 2019
• FIFA Club World Cup – 2019
• FA Community Shield – 2022

The Records

Such a consistent spell of success is impressive by any standards, but the manner in which Liverpool have blasted their way to glory has been equally eye-catching. Employing a brand of organised yet deadly attacking football, labelled “heavy metal” by Klopp, rather than tip-toeing their way to victory, the Reds have regularly blown almost everyone else away – as evidenced by the following records achieved during Klopp’s reign.

• Highest Ever Points Total by a Liverpool side – 99 in 2017/18
• Most Consecutive League Wins by a Liverpool Side – 18 (27 October 2019 – 24 February 2020)
• Longest Unbeaten Run in the League by a Liverpool Side – 44 (12 January 2019 – 24 February 2020)
• Longest Unbeaten Run at home in the League by a Liverpool Side – 68 (7 May 2017 – 17 January 2021)
• Most Consecutive Home League Wins in Premier League History – 24 (9 February 2019 – 5 July 2020)
• Most Consecutive League Games Scoring at Least One Goal by a Liverpool Side – 36 (10 March 2019 – 24 February 2020)

The Signings

Cosmin Iftode (bigstock)

Following such a successful spell at Borussia Dortmund, Klopp arrived at Anfield with a clear vision of how the game should be played. Having a strategy is only half the battle. Klopp would also need the players to execute his plan. Thankfully, the new man was given the immediate backing of the board and continued to receive substantial support in the transfer window throughout his time at the club.

With the final transfer window of his tenure having now come and gone, Klopp made a total of 43 signings for Liverpool. Inevitably, not all acquisitions hit the mark, but when Klopp got it right, he did so in quite spectacular style. Ranking his greatest signings is always likely to spark some debate, but we suspect the following five will feature on the lists of most fans.

• 1. Mohamed Salah – Signed for £34m from Roma in June 2017
• 2. Virgil van Dijk – Signed for £75m from Southampton in January 2018
• 3. Alisson – Signed for £56m from Roma in July 2018
• 4. Sadio Mané – Signed for £30m from Southampton in June 2016
• 5. Andy Robertson – Signed for £8m from Hull City in July 2017

More Silverware Incoming?

When taken together, the trophies, records, signings, and firm footing on which he leaves the club represents quite the legacy. However, there is still time for Klopp to add a little polish to that incredible record. Moving into his Anfield lap of honour, Klopp has at his disposal a Liverpool side that currently sits atop the Premier League, is into the Carabao Cup final, and still in the FA Cup and Europa League. Four trophies well within reach, and it would take a brave man to bet against him winning at least one of them and quite probably two.

Next Stop for Klopp

No sooner had the news of Klopp’s imminent departure hit the mainstream, than speculation began as to where he may end up next. An unnamed beach in Mallorca appears to be the overwhelming odds-on favourite for his most likely port of call as soon as the season ends, as the German boss takes a well-earned break to recharge his batteries.

How long that reboot will take is difficult to predict. Perhaps that will be it, and Klopp will live out his days in peace and tranquillity away from the limelight. However, given his continued love of the game and competitive spirit, it seems more likely that he will, one day, return to his role in the dugout. But where?

The European titans of Barcelona, Real Madrid, and PSG are all touted as potential destinations, as is an emotional return to Borussia Dortmund. However, if the betting markets are to be believed, a role with the German national side is the most likely option. With the German side slumping and performing like a side team farless than the sum of its parts, the job is surely Klopp’s for the taking if he wants it – a prospect which should probably strike fear into England and every other major footballing nation.

The post Auf Wiedersehen Anfield: Klopp to Leave at The End of The Season first appeared on Rant About Football.

However, whilst Namibia, a land known for its huge sand dunes, impressive wildlife and vast open spaces – it is the second-least densely populated nation on the planet – are no football giants, they are far from the worst team in the world. In fact, Namibia currently occupy the lofty heights of 117 in the FIFA rankings. And given there are 211 nations included, they are very much mid-table in global terms. So, who are the worst international teams in the world?

San Marino: 211 in the World (Dead Last)

San Marino is a UN nation state and is classed as a microstate. There are only four smaller countries in the world and it has a population of just 34,000. It is a landlocked enclave, entirely surrounded by Italy and, at the time of writing, props up the FIFA standings, down in a lowly 211th place.

San Marino, beaten 10-0 (at home!) by England in November 2021, did once reach the dizzying ranking of 118, back in 1993, but they have an average rank of 182. In December 2023 they were up in 210th, making it as high as 207th in the autumn of that year. However, they are unquestionably one of the very worst nations in the world when it comes to football and, right now, are technically the worst of them all.

There are almost countless ways of showing just how bad they are but one of the less obvious is the fact that their second-highest goalscorer(s) of all time have just two goals. Andy Selva, their goal king, has notched eight times for his nation, putting him way out in front, albeit with just one more international goal than Harry Maguire!

As for England, they have met San Marino eight times and won all eight by an aggregate total of 52-1, the closest contests being a trio of 5-0 wins for the Three Lions. Indeed, the microstate have never won a single game in qualifying for either the World Cup or the Euros. Their record at the former reads played 76, lost 74, with two draws and a goal difference of minus 344! In European Championship qualifying they have lost 85 out of 86 and their goal difference is even worse, at minus 360!

Bad as San Marino are, their results are no surprise given how small their pool of players is. Their population is some way shy of Salisbury’s 42,000, or the “whopping” 53,000 of Hereford. And we suspect those towns would struggle somewhat if they had to play England, Germany, Spain, Italy and other European heavyweights.

Nonetheless, San Marino have suffered some truly humbling defeats over the years. In 2006 they were thrashed 13-0 on home soil by Germany, their record loss. But perhaps the most telling stat when it comes to just how bad they are is that they won only one game in their whole history. They beat Liechtenstein 1-0 in 2004 and, in fact, also boast two draws from six games against the fellow minnow.

Is Anyone Worse Than San Marino?

As said, right now, San Marino are propping up the FIFA standings but they certainly have rivals for tag of “world’s worst team” in international football. An obvious place to start is the only team that San Marino have ever beaten, Liechtenstein. Another microstate, Liechtenstein is the sixth smallest nation on the planet and has a population of just 39,000.

Right now, however, they are flying high, up at 194 in the standings and ahead of another European minnow, Gibraltar (21st). Like San Marino, Liechtenstein once were ranked as high as 118 and whilst their average “score” of 155 is much better than their rivals, there is no doubt they are one of the worst football nations around. And they got beaten by San Marino, something no other side can say!

Anguilla Contenders for Worst of the Worst

Anguilla is a British overseas territory in the Caribbean and has a population of about 16,000. Currently behind only San Marino, their best ranking is far worse than the Italian enclave, standing at 189, whilst their average is a woeful 201. That said, they boast a massive eight wins in their history. They have beaten just three different teams though, British Virgin Islands, Saint Martin and Montserrat. Many would say they are worse than San Marino and this may well be true, their higher number of wins being a reflection of the fact that they play weaker local opponents, whereas San Marino are thrown in against European heavyweights (and England).

Gibraltar Rank 200 on Average

Gibraltar are currently ranked 201st but their average ranking is 200, marking them out as one of the worst nations in the world. Their highest rating came in 2018 when they hit 90th but they spent much of their history outside the world’s “best” 200 teams. Once beaten 14-0 by France, they boast eight wins against six different rivals. What’s more, they have a positive record against Liechtenstein, San Marino and Andorra and have played Armenia twice, winning one and losing the other. Whilst that average rank is among the very worst of the worst, those wins mean we feel they have to be considered to be better than San Marino (whom they have played twice, winning one and drawing the other).

Conclusion

As said, right now, San Marino are the worst national team in men’s football according to FIFA. The FIFA rankings do not always tell the whole truth but on balance it is hard to argue that San Marino are not “worthy” of their unwanted tag. Their average FIFA ranking is higher than some rivals due to their miraculous (and brief) ascent to 118th. However, the fact they have managed just a single win clearly marks them out as being simply dreadful.

Their head-to-head record is in negative equity against every side they have ever played. That said, they are certainly disadvantaged in that they play so many of their games against very decent opposition. In contrast, the likes of Anguilla, Bahamas and other island nations in the Caribbean, rarely, if ever, play anyone from beyond their own federation.

If Anguilla were to play San Marino there is every chance the European side would win. They have a population roughly twice the size and a stronger footballing culture. Who’s the worst side in the world? Well, seeing that it is a moniker nobody wants, we’ll let you decide!

The post The Worst International Football Teams In The World first appeared on Rant About Football.

We are not here to discuss Cooper though, nor the rights or wrongs of his dismissal. Instead we will be taking a look at the new man in charge. Who is Forest’s new manager and what is his record like?

“I’m very honoured. It’s a pleasure to be here at [Nottingham] Forest”

Nuno Espírito Santo says it ‘feels great’ being back in the Premier League pic.twitter.com/g1rRSOM8Lk

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 20, 2023

Who is Nuno Espirito Santo?

São Tomé and Príncipe

Nuno was born in São Tomé which is the largest island in São Tomé and Príncipe, an island nation off the mid-west coast of Africa. It was a Portuguese colony but was granted independence in 1975 and the new boss at Forest is Portuguese. He was born on the 25th of January 1974, shortly before independence was granted, but played youth football in Portugal having moved there at a young age.

He was a goalkeeper, which is statistically unusual for someone who goes into management. He never really thrived at any particular club, often spending short spells at sides, being out on loan, or acting as a second-choice stopped. He played in Portugal, Spain and Russia, appearing 69 times in the league for Merida, a total he didn’t match anywhere else.

Despite this, he did make the squad at a major tournament with Portugal. He was named in the party for the 2008 Euros but didn’t get on the pitch and, in fact, never represented his country at all at senior level. He earned one cap for the under-18s, three for the under-21s and five for the under-23s, as well as playing three times for Portugal B.

Despite this itinerant club career and lack of international joy, Nuno won a number of honours as a player and was a very decent keeper at his peak. No less a judge of player than Jose Mourinho signed him, for Porto, and he won four league titles and the Champions League with the Portuguese giants. He won many further trophies with them, all despite playing just 14 league games! He also won the Spanish Cup with Deportivo La Coruna, despite again rarely making the field of play!

He moved into coaching almost as soon as his playing days ended. In June 2010, at the age of 36, Porto said that would not be renewing his contract and by November he was the goalkeeping coach with Malaga. Less than two years later he made his first step into full management, with the relatively small Portuguese club Rio Ave.

Espirito Santo’s Managerial Career

Nuno showed early promise and helped guide Rio Ave into the Europa League for the first time. However, after a couple of years he moved to Spain (in July 2014), to a much bigger club in the shape of Valencia. He guided them to a fourth-place finish in his first season at the Mestalla, winning the Manager of the Month award no less than three times.

However, the following season went badly and the Portuguese boss left the club in November 2015. Less than a year later he was in charge at one of his former sides, Porto, where expectations were high. Despite leading the club to second, he was sacked after a trophyless campaign.

Nine days later, on the 31st of May, Nuno came firmly onto the radar of English football fans when he joined Wolves on a three-year contract. The team were in the Championship at that point but their new Portuguese boss did exactly what he was brought in to do and led the Black Country outfit into the Premier League. They won the second-tier title with two games to spare and were dominant.

The following season, in September, the Wolves boss became the first manager of the club to win the Premier League Manager of the Month award as his side began superbly in the top flight. They would finish seventh that term, qualifying for Europe and backed that up by finishing in the same position a year on. In September 2020 Nuno extended his contract with Wolves and the following month again won the Manager of the Month award.

However, the following May he left Wolves, reportedly by mutual consent, and joined Spurs in June 2021. His time at Spurs was short and epitomises so much of what is wrong with the modern Premier League. Tottenham won their first three games and Nuno was named the league’s best boss yet again, in August 2021. However, by the end of October pressure was mounting due to a bad run and on the 1st of November 2021 he was dismissed! Hero to zero in three and a bit months!

Saudi Calls

The Portuguese manager’s next move took him to Saudi; his love of Arab culture, cuisine and politics was well documented. Or was it the money? Either way, in July 2022 he was appointed boss of Saudi giants and football icons, Al-Ittihad. They won the league but in November 2023 Nuno was again dismissed, partly due to defeat in the AFC Champions League.

Who are Forest Getting?

So, we know about Nuno’s playing and managerial career, but what can Forest expect? Well, if his past is a guide to the future, the chances are that the former Wolves man won’t be at the City Ground for too long. Given the way the owners have treated Cooper, that might suit both parties.

Forest’s new boss took charge of 199 Wolves games, but his five other managerial posts lasted no more than the 80 games he was at his first cub, Rio Ave. Overall it has to be said that his winning percentage has been very solid and in his career to date it is a shade under 50%. At the two English clubs he has managed it was around the 47% mark and if he can replicate that at Forest the fans will surely warm to him.

What might be less appealing is the fairly stolid style of football his teams often produce. Nuno is a good organiser but he is not known for expansive play or great excitement. For Forest fans that could be an issue, especially if results are not good too. The fans were very much behind Cooper too, so Nuno may not instantly create the bond with them that was a large part of his success at Wolves.

The incoming boss may also face negativity given he has been sacked from his last two roles. Whilst Forest may benefit from his organisational skills – they have conceded 30 goals in 17 league games – there is a feeling that his spell with Wolves, the only one where he has really excelled, was perhaps the outlier, rather the norm. Forest fans, and the rest of us, will just have to wait and see!

The post Nottingham Forest Appoint Nuno Santo, But Who Is He? first appeared on Rant About Football.

Younger supporters – and less avid fans –may know relatively little about Pele, or Santos, the Brazilian club where he spent most of his career. However, Santos were recently relegated for the very first time in their history on the 7th of December 2023. Given they were founded in 1912 that is a lot of history and a very long, previously unbroken stay in the top tier of Brazilian football. We’ll take a look at what happened, the state of the club and give more general info about Santos, for those unfamiliar with this famous side.

Who are Santos: Quick Facts

Before we look in more detail at Pele’s former club, and what happened in their recent campaign to see them relegated, let’s deal with some basics, for those that think Santos is related to Santa!

• Founded – 14th April 1912
• Location – Santos, on Brazil’s east coast, in the state of Sao Paulo, about 50 miles south of the city of Sao Paulo
• Stadium – Vila Belmiro, or officially Estádio Urbano Caldeira
• Capacity – 16,068
• Shirt – black and white stripes
• Major honours – 3 x Copa Libertadores, 8 x Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, 1 x Copa do Brasil, 22 x Campeonato Paulista

Santos Relegated From Brazil’s Serie A

The format of Brazilian football’s top echelon has changed various times over the years but currently the top level of domestic football is the country-wide Serie A. It is a standard 20-team league, with 38 fixtures per side but unlike the Premier League and many other competitions, four sides are automatically relegated each campaign.

Whilst Santos have performed relatively well in the state tournament, the Paulista, their finishes in the full, nationwide, pro league, the Brasileirao, or Serie A, have been dipping for some time. They last won the Brazilian top flight back in 2004 when Robinho, of whom more later, was banging in the goals.

However, more recently they have been more of a mid-table outfit, 2016 and 2017 aside when they finished second and third respectively. They also finished runners-up in 2019 but since then they have been suffering from financial issues and results have steadily declined. We can see their final position over the past decade in the table below.

How 2023 Played Out

Santos struggled for all of the season after beginning the campaign with a defeat and a draw. A win followed and a better run took them to seventh after six games but that was as good as it got for the team nicknamed the Fish, or more prosaically, the black and whites. They didn’t win any of their next seven league games and just one of 13 to drop to 17th and into the relegation zone.

They rallied, however, and a nice run of results, including just two defeats in 12, took them up to 13th with just five matches to go. However, they failed to win any of those, with two draws and then three consecutive defeats to end the campaign seeing them miss out on an agonising last day for fans that have historically been so used to success.

They were still in the mix on the final day of the season, battling it out with Vasco da Gama to avoid joining the already relegated trio of America Mineiro, Coritiba and Goias. Santos were at home against Fortaleza, who were safely in mid-table, and with eight minutes of the season to go Santos were doing enough to stay up.

The match was all-square at 1-1, whilst rivals Vasco were also level. However, Vasco took the lead in the 82nd minute and would go on to win 2-1, whilst Santos conceded in injury time to lose by the same score. In the end they finished in 17th on 43 points and joined the other three sides in being demoted.

Vasco da Gama actually ended up in 15th on 45 points, with Bahia 16th on 44. This relegation for the iconic side leaves Sao Paulo and Flamengo as the only two teams never to have been relegated.

Santos Legends: Best 3 Santos Players

As one would expect from a club of Santos’ status, they have had so many hugely talented players over the years. Robinho, once of Man City and Real Madrid, played 138 league games for the team, scoring 65 goals, and was capped 10 times by Brazil. However, he, and other arguably world-class talents, such as Coutinho (not the ex-Liverpool one!), Pepe (sample quote: “I’m the greatest human striker in the history of Santos – because Pelé is from Saturn”, and even the legendary figure of Carlos Alberto, do not quite make the top three.

1) Pele

Choosing the number one really is an easy task because it can only be the incomparable Pele. The legend, who died almost a year ago, on the 22nd of December 2022, played over 650 games for Santos and, incredibly, banged in more than 640 goals (note that there are often discrepancies in Pele’s stats due to record-keeping at the time and what games and goals are included, for example unofficial matches and friendlies). He was a key part of the club’s most successful era and helped Santos win the South American equivalent of the Champions League in 1962 and 1963.

2) Neymar

Neymar is a controversial pick for second place because he “only” played for Santos 225 times and scored a “mere” 136 goals. And, of course, because the club have had so many exceptional players over the years. However, the man who also played for Barcelona and PSG was a key part of Santos’s win in the 2011 Copa Libertadores, was a great entertainer and, of course, surpassed Pele’s goal tally with his national side (79 and counting versus Pele’s total of 77).

3) Dorval Rodrigues

Dorval may have only played 13 times for Brazil but his impact with Santos should not be understated. A wonderful right-sided attacker, Dorval provided much of the firepower for Pele and was part of the same great side of the 1950s and 1960s. He played more than 600 games for the club and netted almost 200 goals, as well as serving up countless assists before assists were even a thing!

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Whilst the biggest fees are typically paid for strikers, wingers and other attacking midfielders, that is not to say that clubs have not shelled out some huge wads of cash for shot-stoppers. Indeed, in recent times, probably due to the increased importance in the modern game of a goalkeeper who can play out from the back, fees for keepers have soared. As you can see below!

Five Most Expensive Goalkeepers of All Time

Note that we have shown all fees in Euros as all the selling clubs used this currency. There can be discrepancies in reported fees due to exchange rate issues, plus the fact that fees are not always disclosed and often include add-ons and other complex clauses. However, the table above is an accurate reflection of the fees paid for the five most expensive goalkeepers of all time.

Kepa Arrizabalaga

To say that Kepa has struggled at Chelsea would be something of an understatement. They signed the Basque keeper from Athletic Bilbao in 2018 for a fee that remains a world record sum for a goalie. At 29 years old he is no longer a young player, though he still has a good six seasons or more in him, but he has to start delivering on the promise he showed in Spain.

When the Blues signed him, they thought they were getting a world-class stopper who would be their number one for a decade. However, things didn’t work out for him and after a steady start mistakes began to creep in. He was dropped and then in September 2020 Chelsea signed Edouard Mendy for £22m and he became their number one, with Kepa relegated to the bench.

Chelsea’s near-constant managerial changes and an ownership change which has seen them embark on the wildest spending spree in football history have not helped Kepa. But ultimately he just didn’t produce the goods and in 2023 he was loaned to Real Madrid as cover for the injured Thibaut Courtois (himself one of the world’s most expensive keepers having been sold by Chelsea to Real for around £35m). Prior to this, the club had signed Robert Sanchez from Brighton and so despite being capped 13 times by Spain, Kepa found himself unwanted at the Bridge.

Alisson

Alisson was very briefly the most expensive goalie in history but around a month later Kepa eclipsed him. Thankfully for the Brazilian, on the pitch it is he who has outshone the Spanish stopper. Alisson has been a huge hit at Anfield and is a big fan favourite. Liverpool fans would claim he is the best goalkeeper in the world and has been for some time and most experts would certainly put him in the top five or so.

The Reds had struggled for a top keeper for some time and so Jurgen Klopp spent a then-world-record fee of €62.5m on him, though some reports put the fee around €10m higher. It has been money well spent and the Brazilian, who battles it out with Ederson for the role of national team keeper, was vital to Liverpool’s Premier League title success. A great shot-stopper, he is perhaps the best in the world in one-on-ones, is exceptional with his feet and commands his box very well.

Gianluigi Buffon

An outlier on this list, having been signed over 20 years ago, Buffon is one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. His €52.9m fee in 2001 equates to around €85m today, which shows just how much Juve thought of him. He spent 18 years in Turin and played a massive 656 games for Juventus, playing well over 1,100 games in his career if we include his mammoth 176 caps for Italy that came over a 21-year international career!

Buffon’s longevity is one of his great strengths and he only retired in 2023 at the grand old age of 45, after a stint back with his first club Parma. He won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, earning his first club honours in 1999 when he helped Parma to the Coppa Italia, the Supercoppa Italia and the UEFA Cup. He never quite managed to win the Champions League, losing in three finals with Juve, but won his last trophy in 2021, meaning he lifted silverware in four different decades!

Andre Onana

Onana is in the early days of his Man United career following a big-money move from Inter Milan, where he helped the club to the Champions League final in 2022/23. He was immense in Inter’s run to the final and after a shaky start at Old Trafford has begun to make the incredible saves which earned him his move. He made a few errors early in his United career but is the sort of stopper who saves unsaveable efforts and boasts good distribution too. He will turn 28 in April 2024 so has a long career ahead of him and the Cameroonian, capped 36 times, may prove to be a rare good signing by the Red Devils.

Ederson

Ederson has won it all at Man City and were it not for Alisson (61 caps) he would have played far more than 25 times for Brazil. Quite possibly the best goalkeeper in the world with his feet, his distribution is stunning and the former Benfica man has plenty of highlights reels around the internet. He is a great goalkeeper too, athletic, commanding and possessing superb reflexes. His very high starting position is crucial to City’s style of play and at “just” €40m City fans must feel their club got a real bargain.

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FA Cup Finals That Could Be Classed As Derbies

As you will see from the games we’ve selected, some are more obviously derbies than others, such as the two Merseyside derbies in the 1980s. Many others might be more accurately described as “rivalries” than proper derbies. But we’ve left out some of the more tenuous rivalries, that are only specific to a relatively short period of the clubs’ histories, such as Arsenal versus Manchester United. We’ve also discounted some of those from the earliest days of the competition between teams which no longer exist, so these are the FA Cup final derbies we’re left with.

West Midlands Derbies – 1886/87, 1891/92, 1894/95, 1930/31

It could be argued that the first FA Cup final that involved a derby was way back in the 1886/87 season when West Midlands pair Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion met at the Kennington Oval. Technically, both sides have better-established derbies; Villa’s main local opponents are Birmingham City and the Baggies’ big local derby is really the Black Country Derby against Wolverhampton Wanderers. But neither of those matchups has occurred in the FA Cup final, so we’ll have to make do with the three early finals featuring Villa and West Brom (the Villans won two, the other went the way of the Baggies).

For an additional West Midlands Derby, we’ve thrown in the final from the 1930/31 tournament when West Brom beat Birmingham 2-1. It’s worth noting that between them, Villa (7), West Brom (5) and Wolves (4) have won 16 FA Cups between them… but poor Birmingham have never won it even once, having lost in the final twice.

Merseyside Derbies – 1985/86, 1988/89

Liverpool have appeared in 15 FA Cup finals (winning eight of them) while their Merseyside neighbours and rivals Everton have made it to the showpiece game 13 times (winning it five times). So it might come as a surprise to some that they didn’t meet in the final until the 1985/86 season. It was worth the wait, from a Liverpool perspective, as the Reds won 3-1 with Ian Rush netting twice and Craig Johnston scoring the other. The victory meant Liverpool won the league and cup double that season, pipping the Toffees in both.

Everton only had to wait three years to attempt to exact revenge as the sides met once again in the final in the 1988/89 tournament, poignantly just five weeks after the Hillsborough disaster. In what is widely regarded as one of the best FA Cup finals ever, Liverpool took an early lead through John Aldridge and despite plenty of chances for both sides, it looked like it would end 1-0 to the Reds. But Everton substitute Stuart McCall had other ideas and he scrambled in an equaliser with the last kick of normal time.

Liverpool legend Ian Rush then put the Reds back ahead in extra time, only for McCall to add another for Everton with a fantastic chest-and-volley effort. In the process he became the first substitute to score two goals in an FA Cup final. Unfortunately for McCall and Everton, Rush became the second man to achieve that feat as his deft header won it for the Reds.

London Derbies – 1966/67, 2001/02¸ 2016/17, 2019/20

Just as Manchester City and Manchester United have not met in the FA Cup (ahead of the 2023 final), north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have also never battled it out in the showpiece game. So the closest we get to London “derbies” in the final is the match between Tottenham and Chelsea (1966/67, 2-1 to Spurs) and the three finals between Chelsea and Arsenal (2001/02, 2016/17 and 2019/20 – the Gunners won all three).

Though these are games between teams from the same city, they perhaps aren’t really derbies in the fullest sense. However, given the rivalry to be crowned kings of the capital, there is always a bit of needle between them, so we think it is certainly valid to include them.

North West Derbies – 1976/77, 1995/96

Although Liverpool’s “proper” derby is against Everton, and Man United’s more logical derby is against Man City, many of the fans of both clubs would look to Liverpool versus Manchester United as a derby game and certainly the fixture they most want to win. The sides have won 20 FA Cups between them and appeared in 35 finals, but only faced one another in the final twice: in the 1976/77 tournament, and again during the 1995/96 season.

In 1977, Man United won 2-1 at Wembley thanks to goals from Stuart Pearson and James Greenhoff – not exactly household names compared to the big-name players that have played for the Red Devils before and since. But they did the business when it mattered and they’ll always have a special place in the hearts of United fans.

Things got even better for United in 1996, however. The footballing genius that is Eric Cantona scored the only goal of the game as Alex Ferguson’s Man United won the FA Cup to complete the league and cup double. In doing so, they became the first side to have won the double twice (having also achieved the feat in the 1993/94 season).

East Midlands Derby – 1897/98

Another derby that is arguably valid is the East Midlands one between Nottingham Forest and Derby County. This has taken place once, way back in the 1897/98 season when the sides played in the final at Crystal Palace. Forest ran out 3-1 victors, and though the more obvious derby might be Forest versus Notts County, over the years the matches against Derby have been seen by fans as more significant as they’ve been more likely to be in the same division and fighting for the same honours. And of course there is the Brian Clough factor too.

The post Derbies in FA Cup Finals: How Many Times Has the FA Cup Final Involved a Derby? first appeared on Rant About Football.

But what makes Sevilla’s achievement even more astounding is that they only won the competition for the first time in 2005/06 – hence they’ve won it in seven of the last 18 seasons, a staggering win percentage of almost 40%. Add to that the fact that Sevilla have never lost a Europa League final, and they truly over-achieve in Europe’s second-tier tournament.

So, in honour of Sevilla’s outstanding record in the Europa League, let’s take a look back at the seven finals in which they tasted European glory. (Note that we will generally use the term Europa League to refer to both the Europa League and its predecessor, the UEFA Cup.)

1. 2005/06 – Comprehensive Defeat of Middlesbrough

Sevilla got their first UEFA Cup triumph in May 2006 when they hammered English side Middlesbrough 4-0 in Eindhoven. Future Spurs and Real Madrid boss Juande Ramos was in charge at Sevilla and he guided his side to as comfortable a win as you are likely to see in a major final.

The goals from Luís Fabiano, Frédéric Kanouté and two from Enzo Maresca made the difference and Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren (who would soon take over as England manager) could do nothing to prevent Sevilla’s victory, despite having some decent players at his disposal, including Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Mark Viduka and, another future England boss, Gareth Southgate.

2. 2006/07 – Victory on Penalties in All-Spanish Final

Things were not so easy for Sevilla in their second UEFA Cup final, which took place at Hampden Park in Glasgow. Facing fellow La Liga side Espanyol, Sevilla took the lead after 18 minutes but were pegged back 10 minutes later. It stayed 1-1 until extra time when the holders once again took the lead (through Frédéric Kanouté), only to let it slip once more. With the match level at 2-2 after extra time, the final was decided by penalties, which Sevilla won 3-1 thanks to some poorly taken spot-kicks by three Espanyol players.

3. 2013/14 – Penalty Win after Benfica Bore Draw

There followed a bit of a gap before Sevilla landed their third win in the competition. The 2013/14 final of the Europa League (as it was now called) took place in Turin, Italy and the Rojiblancos faced Portuguese giants Benfica (who had won the European Cup twice, but never Europe’s second-tier competition).

Sevilla were managed by future Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, and his relatively cautious approach, coupled with Benfica’s lack of ambition, meant it was a rather tepid affair. With no goals scored after normal time and no breakthroughs in extra time, the final went to penalties. Sevilla once again saw things go their way and won 4-2 after two Benfica players failed to convert.

4. 2014/15 – Classic Final Ends in Narrow Win over Ukrainians

There were no accusations of caution levelled at Sevilla or Emery after the 2014/15 final as the Spaniards edged a five-goal thriller in Warsaw. Facing Ukrainian side Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (who have since been dissolved), Sevilla went into the match as favourites, but the underdogs gave as good as they got and actually took the lead after just seven minutes.

Sevilla struck back in the 28th minute and then edge ahead themselves three minutes later, but the game remained open and the Ukrainian side made it 2-2 just before half time. The second period saw chances for both sides but ultimately Sevilla’s quality won through and Colombian striker Carlos Bacca scored his second of the game after 73 minutes to hand Sevilla a 3-2 triumph and their fourth Europa League.

5. 2015/16 – Liverpool Outclassed by Scintillating Sevilla

Sevilla faced English opposition for the second time in a Europa League final when they came up against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in 2015/16. The German manager was in his first season at Anfield and was determined to bag some silverware, but Sevilla were vying for three Europa Leagues on the bounce and clearly they were enjoying an exceptional run in the competition.

In what was seen as a relatively evenly matched encounter, Liverpool struck first, Daniel Sturridge scoring after 35 minutes. Emery’s Rojiblancos were as hungry as ever, however, and scored three second-half goals (one from Kevin Gameiro and two from captain Coke) to claim a deserved 3-1 victory and become the only side in history to win the competition in three successive seasons.

6. 2019/20 – Sevilla Edge Victory over Inter

Now under the stewardship of future Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui, Sevilla scored three goals in a Europa League final once again and thus won their sixth Europa League… but only just. This time they faced Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan, a side that included such stars as Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, Argentina’s Lautaro Martínez and … er … England’s Ashley Young. It was Lukaku who struck first for the Italians, scoring from the penalty spot after just five minutes.

Sevilla had plenty of top players amongst their ranks too, however, and it was their Dutch striker Luuk de Jong who proved his worth in the final when he equalised after 12 minutes and then guided his side into the lead just after the half-hour mark. In a surprisingly open game, Inter hit back swiftly through Diego Godín before a goal from Lukaku ultimately settled it… but unfortunately for Inter, it was an own goal and Sevilla were once again victorious, running out 3-2 winners.

7. 2022/23 – Bad-tempered Affair Ends in Sevilla’s Favour

Finally we come to the 2022/23 final in which Sevilla faced Jose Mourinho’s Roma in Budapest. It was an ill-tempered match, both on and off the pitch, and the Spaniards, now managed by José Luis Mendilibar, were unable to create too many chances despite enjoying the majority of the possession.

The game was 1-1 after normal time and no further goals were scored in extra time. The sides only managed three shots on target each so it was no great surprise it ended up going to penalties. With their 100% record on penalties in Europa League finals (and indeed having never lost a final in the competition), it was also no surprise to see Sevilla win the day: they scored all four of their spot-kicks while Roma missed two, meaning Sevilla won 4-1 on penalties.

Once again the Rojiblancos proved they could grind out a result in the final of Europe’s second-tier tournament and their haul of seven wins in the competition leaves every other side trailing in their wake.

The post Sevilla’s Europa League Dominance: 7 Wins in the Last 18 Seasons first appeared on Rant About Football.

Should the Hoops get the job done on Saturday it will be their eighth domestic treble and fifth since 2016/17. That would move them ahead of Rangers in terms of trebles and also give them a 41st Scottish Cup. Over the past 10 years or so they have been by far the best team in Scotland but more generally, they and Rangers have dominated the football landscape north of the boarder. In this article we take a look at just how much the pair have controlled Scottish football and ask whether this is bad for the game.

Just How Dominant Have Rangers and Celtic Been?

With 14 trebles between them, and a 15th seemingly on the way, the Old Firm have clearly been hugely successful in Scottish football. When we drill down into those stats further their supremacy becomes even more striking.

Rangers have won the league 55 times, Celtic 53, with the next best Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs, all with four titles to their name. Put another way, the Glasgow pair have won the championship around 86% of the time. If we restrict our analysis to more recent times, we can see that no side has won the Scottish Premiership (or its forerunners) since Aberdeen’s last success in 1985. What’s more, the title has only left the Old Firm four times since 1965.

If we look at the Scottish Cup, the two giants are slightly less dominant, winning it “just” 74 times between them. Celtic have the upper hand here with 40 (surely 41 soon), to Rangers’ 34. Once again, though, if we look at the last 50 years or so only, we can see that Scottish football’s biggest two teams have been particularly successful.

Since 1968 it has gone to a non-Old Firm side just 18 times. This may seem like a lot but it should be remembered that the first Scottish Cup final was played in 1874 but neither Celtic nor Rangers got their hands on the trophy until 1892. Overall the pair have lifted the trophy around 55% of the time.

The League Cup, as in England, is the least prestigious piece of silverware on offer in Scotland. Founded in 1947, Rangers won the first ever League Cup and have won the competition 27 times in total. Celtic’s tally stands at 21, with Aberdeen next with six victories, ahead of Edinburgh duo Hearts (four) and Hibs (three). This means that between them the Old Firm pair have landed the Scottish League Cup approximately 63% of the time. Celtic have clearly taken a shine to the competition of late though, winning it in seven of the last nine seasons.

Is This Dominance Bad for Scottish Football?

It is not uncommon in any country for a small number of clubs to hold a virtual monopoly on silverware. However, there is a big difference between two or three clubs often vying for the title and the sort of dominance enjoyed by Glasgow’s two foremost teams.

For example, in England, whilst Man United and Liverpool are well clear of the chasing pack in terms of top-flight titles, one of the things that makes English football so appealing is that anyone can beat anyone. Moreover, there are often at least three or four teams challenging for the title, if not every season, then certainly over a period of a decade. In the last 10 years, for example, seven different clubs have finished in the top two. We just don’t see that in Scotland.

Almost 40 years have passed since the title left Glasgow and the reality is that it is a long, long time since any other club has even begun the season with the slimmest of hopes of topping the league table. Right from the first kick-off, all the rest are simply playing for third: not even second, but third. This lack of competition is surely bad for the sport in Scotland, but what can be done?

Will Anything Change?

The rich get richer, so the saying goes, and in football terms, those clubs at the top are, naturally, unwilling to relinquish their control. The battle at the moment is for the Gers to mount a challenge to the Bhoys. As for the rest, who cares, many might say. Such is the power enjoyed by Celtic and Rangers that any meaningful change is unlikely to occur. The giants of Glasgow hold all the aces and why would a turkey vote for Christmas?

Different options have been touted at various times, with the most obvious ways to try and make things more competitive being to introduce a salary cap, distribute more money to the lower teams, or even more radically, introduce some form of draft system. None of these are likely to happen though.

Another way that Scottish football would be made more competitive is an alternative route. Rather than bringing the chasing pack closer to Rangers and Celtic, what about if those two teams competed in England? This has been talked about for at least 30 years. But if anything, due to the way English and Scottish football have moved apart in financial terms since the huge success of the English Premier League, it now seems less likely than ever. So to answer the question, will anything change, we say no, unfortunately!

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