Article Archives ⋆ Page 2 of 24 ⋆ An Old International

Defensive Frailties

Followers of the 2. Bundesliga know that Magdeburg are a team to watch – that is when they are allowed to play, their idea of play is breathtaking. It is positive football that puts the emphasis on playing, passing and movements of the players. It is a joy to watch. However, this joy turned into…

Club Culture

Manchester United once was a club feared for their on-pitch resilience and ability to turn around matches late, i.e., in injury time. The departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 was a landmark moment in the club’s recent history. In the ten years since he left the managerial role, United have won four trophies; in the last ten years with Ferguson, there were 18 titles! Of course, not all this is related to Ferguson, but for most of the transfers he got it right.

What a difference a decade makes! Within a year, the club has to deal with two players who are alleged to have attacked their partners/girlfriends. And although the case against Mason Greenwood was dropped, there will always be a residue remaining – on both sides. The latest are accusations against Anthony, a Brazilian player whom United signed in 2022. He faces allegations of physical attacks by his girlfriend.

It is indicative of the culture at the club, one is inclined to say. A culture of scouting that seems to give little attention to the personal development of future players. Of course, there is never a guarantee that nothing ever happens – it is, however, an unfortunate coincidence that two players in a relatively short time span at the same club have problems of this sort.

The club have to look after themselves, first and foremost, of course. That is why Greenwood’s contract was terminated. The same scenario is likely to happen in the case of Anthony. His national team, Brazil, have dropped him over the issue and United are once more under pressure for all the wrong reasons.

a few words to think about

England may not have won the World Cup at the Women’s World Cup this year but their coach, Sarina Wiegman was named coach of the year in Monaco at a ceremony held in late August 2023. After receiving the award she politely asked if she could say a few words. And those words were remarkable.…

Red Star’s new shirt a reference to club’s history

The Parisian club Red Star have chosen to create their new shirt for the 2023/24 season with the help of artificial intelligence. OFFICIEL ! Le Red Star dévoile ses nouveaux maillots 2023/24.Pour dessiner ces maillots, Kappa et le Red Star ̀… ' , à partir d'images d'archives du club.Qu'on aime ou qu'on n'aime… pic.twitter.com/6TBU7mNGCA— Actu…

Not my game (anymore)

Barely a week is passing during this summer transfer window without news of some daring transfer proposal from a Saudi Arabian football club. It appears that ever since Cristiano Ronaldo has signed for Al-Nassr FC, his colleagues have followed suit. The latest arrivals are Karim Benzema, Sadio Mané, N’Golo Kanté, Jordan Henderson and Steven Gerrard.…

Magdeburg International: FC Magdeburg vs Sevilla

A pre-season friendly saw Magdeburg host Europa League winners Sevilla in Magdeburg. For Magdeburg this was the last test before the season begins while Sevilla are in the middle of their preparation. It’s been a while since any Magdeburg coach has lifted a European Cup – in fact, it’s almost 50 years – but there…

The talented Mr. Reus

Marco Reus is a fantastic player. Unfortunately, injuries have stood in the way of him winning silverware. Tom Ripley is a fine human being with a dark side: he is deceptive and manipulative but gets away with it. While the former misses out on trophies, the latter never misses his chance to escape. The fictional…

DFL – Developping Fumble-free Leverage

The German league association DFL fear that they will be left behind by the Premier League and other European leagues. The idea to bring in fresh money from external sources did not convince a large swath of clubs, shipwrecking the bid of the DFL. Just days before the most exciting season in a decade, German…

1. FC Magdeburg – A Sonnet

FC Magdeburg have managed to stay in Bundesliga 2 despite a shaky first leg of the season. Time for some praise. In Magdeburg, where warriors don their crest, A football team, renowned throughout the land, 1. FC Magdeburg, by fate’s behest, A tale of triumph, noble and grand. Upon the hallowed pitch, they take their…

Everybody’s Wrong

Who has the bigger ego and bigger balls? It seems that FIFA and some national football associations carry out their fighting on the back of the women’s game, potentially leading to the worst case scenario: a tv blackout for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Viewers and fans of female football in…