As of Sunday night, SSC Napoli sit in second place in Serie A, just 3 points behind champions Juventus, 6 points ahead of Lazio and 9 points ahead of Milan giants Inter and AC. This is a remarkable achievement for the Azzuri of Naples, especially when you consider that just 9 years ago, the club were declared bankrupt and demoted to the third tier of Italian football.
At the age of just 22 years old, Blackburn Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes netted his 100th Football League goal on Saturday, in a 2-0 defeat of Bristol Rovers. With the Ewood Park side unlikely to achieve promotion this season, Rhodes’ goal scoring exploits mean that there’s every chance he will reach the big time before Blackburn do.
14 clubs, 3 continents, 8 countries, several thousand air miles and at only 30 years old, there’s far more to come.
Some have prematurely named him “the next Lionel Messi”. While at the age of 19, this comparison may appear a little unfair, there are definite similarities between the world’s greatest player and former Barcelona team-mate Mauro Icardi.
After Everton’s failure to sign transfer targets Leroy Fer and Alvaro Negredo on transfer deadline day, we look at David Moyes’ best signings during his reign at Goodison Park and why Everton chairman Bill Kenwright was wrong not to splash the cash this time round.
“I have nothing left to give the club, I’m empty”. These were the words of Juan Roman Riquelme, the day after his club – Boca Juniors – had been defeated by Brazilian side Corinthians 2 0 in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final, losing 3–1 on aggregate at Boca’s iconic Bombonera stadium in Buenos
Just 9 years ago, AS Monaco – the French principality’s only professional team – competed in the final of Europe’s premier club competition, losing 3–0 to Jose Mourinho’s Porto. Monaco defied all the odds to reach the Champions League final, beating both Real Madrid and a Chelsea side – then managed by Monaco’s current coach Claudio Ranieri – over two legs.
3 goals, 1 red card, countless yellows, the manager sent to the clubhouse, a late fight back, endless banter on the terraces and hundreds of missed chances. Oh, and the keeper went up for 3 corners as well.