waroffutbol

  Several managers won their first silverware in their careers and ended the title drought for their teams at the same time. Being a gaffer for non-elite teams is definitely not easy compared to working for the elite ones. The limited transfer budget, lack of title-winning tradition or mentality or talents in the squad are the usual challenges for those clubs. Thus, the management do not normally set an impossible target for their managers, such as winning a major title. Finishing in the top four or six to qualify for Europe has been the common target so that the club could generate more revenue and gain prize money from performing in the continental competitions. Delivering silverware would be a huge bonus. However, some managers have been able to achieve something beyond, lifting their first trophy as a boss and ending the long title drought for their team. The most recent example is none other than Eddie Howe. He has just clinched his first major title and ended the lengthy titl...

  Only a few Norwegian goalkeepers can be considered the best in the European top five leagues, as they become the first choice in their clubs. Norway has already begun their campaign in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Erling Haaland and Co did not have much difficulty in securing their first wins after routing Moldova 5-0 and dismantling Israel 4-2. Such results definitely boost their confidence before taking on their toughest contender, Italy, in June. Gli Azzurri have been superior in their head-to-head record against Norway. They have clinched eight wins and only suffered three defeats in 15 meetings. In fact, Italy was the only team which beat them in both FIFA World Cup editions, USA 1994 and France 1998. Thus, Norwegian boss Ståle Solbakken would need all players to be in their top form to seal their spot in the final round automatically. Crushing Gianluigi Donnarumma and Co. would be a good start. Yet, such is definitely not going to be easy as they would strive to av...

  There have always been elite sides that have become the victims of the Champions League changing format throughout history. UEFA Champions League 2024/25 marks the new era with its renewed format like never before. The use of the league phase and Swiss system to determine the opponents for each team is really something that is never applied in European football.  Such is not the first change initiated by the European football governing body. In fact, it has been the fifth one in the competition's history. In its first edition with the new format, there have always been the top teams that headed to exit too early. In the current campaign, one of the favorites, Liverpool, has to end their hope to lift their seventh trophy after losing out to PSG on penalties in their own home turf. The Reds are the fourth top victims this season after the 2023 winner, Manchester City , and two Italian giants, Juventus and AC Milan.  Here are the elite victims in each UCL season wi...

  Barcelona and Benfica have met several times in the UEFA Champions League and led to their notable encounters in the competition’s history. Barcelona and Benfica are undoubtedly two of the European giants. Both have lifted the UCL/European Cup more than once, although the former has won more in the modern days. The latter, on the other hand, seems to have stumbled quite often in the summit or at the crucial stages due to presumably the curse of Bella Guttmann, the gaffer who ended Real Madrid’s dominance in Europe. Throughout history, Barcelona and Benfica have squared off ten times in UEFA’s top club competition. Some of their duels were decisive to their campaign. This season, they have already met in the league phase. The Catalan side crushed As Aguias 5-4 in one of the most entertaining matches this season. Such is definitely regarded as one of the best showdowns between the two in UCL history. Here are the other notable encounters between the two giants from two neighbor...

  Only a few South American managers have been able to win the French top tier in history. Ligue 1 is one of the European top five leagues today. Despite its decline following the departure of their global stars such as Neymar Jr, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, it remains attractive to lure new stars to compete there.  The most recent one is Georgia sensation, Kvicha Kvaratashelia who decided to leave Napoli and joined PSG in the transfer window or Argentine young star, Thiago Almada who signed for Lyon last January. Ligue 1’s reputation as the league which provides more chances for young players in the first team continue to be its main interests.  The well-known foreign managers are also keen on plying their trade there. The likes of Carlo Ancelotti, Marcelo Bielsa , Thomas Tuchel, and currently Luis Enrique and Roberto De Zerbi are some of those top names from abroad who have signed for the Ligue 1 sides.  Unfortunately, very few of them are from South A...

  The Madrid derby has displayed some of its best encounters in the European competitions. The Madrid derby is one of the fiercest local duels in Europe. It does not only represent the clash of two clubs but also the feud of two identities and social classes. Real Madrid has always been related to the rich, the royal family, the elite or those who are in possession of power, whereas Atletico Madrid is more rooted with the working class and the laymen.  No wonder that their style of play often hints at such ideas. Los Blancos is more into ball possession, attacking football, and domination. Los Rojiblancos is on the other side. They are the ones instilling tactics relying more on physical, defensive football and counterattacks.  Interestingly, there are more contradictions on these two teams, which signifies the depth of their nature. Real Madrid is led by Carlo Ancelotti, the serial winner in big clubs. He is currently the best manager in UCL history with five ‘Big ...

  A few Romanian managers have had remarkable spells in the European top five leagues. Romanian managers are not exactly considered among the elite bosses in Europe. Only a few can be considered so. A number of former stars have attempted to thrive as a gaffer, such as Dan Petrescu and Gheorge Hagi, but neither has managed to gain success in the major leagues yet. Recently, another former player began his managerial career, Christian Chivu. The ex-Inter Milan left back has been named Parma’s new boss to replace FabioPecchia. It is his first job on the senior side after six years in charge of the Inter Milan youth team.  It has been a while since the last Romanian boss was in charge of the Italian Serie A side. The last one was Mircea Lucescu, who led Inter Milan in the 1998/99 campaign.  Only time will tell if Chivu could thrive in the dugout at the top level. Yet, his 2-0 win over Bologna in his debut could signify his potential. He could certainly be inspired b...