Reputations in football are much quicker dismantled as it takes time to build them. Magdeburg are the latest example in this list. Or rather, their – now – former coach, Christian Titz. Towards the end of last season, Magdeburg were as comprehensively as surprisingly beaten by Münster: 5-0 was the result. The hopes for promotion…
A little post to say I’m still alive and that things are still running at An Old International. There is an urge to state some obvious things, however. As we reach the halfway mark of 2024, some remarks about writing and the future days of this little enterprise seem appropriate. This year has been slow…
Another splendid exhibition or rather art installation is still visible at the Philharmonie de Paris. It focuses on one player alone: Zinedine “Zizou” Zidane, captain of France’s first World Cup winning team in 1998. The installation shows the film “Zidane a 21st century portray” by Philippe Parreno and Douglas Gordon. In total 16 screens show…
What does it take to revolutionise football? Noise? It turns out character and convictions matter much more than noise. Wolfgang was one such character who resolutely walked his way and thus profoundly has changed German football. Mara Pfeiffer has written his biography. Wolfgang Frank was a German football coach who is not very well known…
an attempt to write a match report for #F95FCM with #AI from #chatgpt Read more →
Football is a simple game, it has often been said: 22 men separated into two teams try to kick the ball around and score more often than the other team. Based on this simplicity claim, Magdeburg cannot be but described as being awful at it in this division. As it stands, just before the second…
A player declares his career over after a public exchange about the political allegiances of some of his business partners. This leaves a particular aftertaste and sounds somewhat shallow. football and politcs When it comes to politics, football often kowtows with the wrong side of the spectrum. Exceptions only confirm the rule. One of those…
Magdeburg have done it. Again. They have saved themselves from going down to the fourth division by beating FC Saarbrücken away; one of the best teams this season had no chance in a 3-0 home defeat against Magdeburg who are by now one of the in form in Europe. What a turn around but also…
Magdeburg vs Rostock is one of a few derbies of the former DDR Oberliga. Both find themselves at opposite ends of the table and the clash could destine either club’s fate this season. For some months now Magdeburg fans must have a deja vu. Not at their own club, but at the Baltic Sea where…
Baris Atik is the man of the season even though he has only played since March and the seson is not yet over. His performances simply stand out in a team that lacked coherence and a player of his format. Form is temporary they say And class is permanent. However, this current form can save…