People

When the inaugural professional league commenced in 1994, the untested teenage Li Xiaopeng was recruited by his home side Shandong Luneng and began an illustrious twelve-year association with the club. A rare player in the modern era, Li played for only one club during his career, helping Shandong to a league and cup double in … Read more

A handful of Dutch legends gathered for a dinner in an Amsterdam house. As the night wore on, the conversation inevitably turned to ‘who was the greatest Dutch player of all time?’ Instantly, the great striker Jan Mulder chose a player who had come close but never won the Ballon d’Or or even a Champions … Read more

As one of the greatest footballers in the world, Michael Laudrup adorned Europe in the 1980s and 1990s with his exceptional play. Best known for his time in both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, he brought opulence to the game. Football In the Genes Born on the 15th June 1964, in the town of Frederiksberg, … Read more

Steve Bull is remembered as nothing short of a hero by the supporters at Molineux. Stephen George Bull spent 13 seasons leading the line for Wolves, banging in a record 250 league goals and netting more than 300 times in all competitions for the club. The Early Years On the 28th March 1965, Steve Bull … Read more

Over a century ago, a young footballer by the name of Ricardo Zamora Martínez was to become Spain’s first and finest goalkeeper. Although Zamora’s genius allowed him the magnificent opportunity of playing for Spanish giants, who claimed him as their own, it was RCD Espanyol who nurtured and prepared him for the bright future he … Read more

Behind every magnificent football team is an extraordinary leader – someone who is the mastermind in navigating them to realize, what to many seems impossible, but which to him, is possible. For many years, that was Spain’s national team manager Vicente del Bosque. He was their heartbeat, the catalyst of their success, and the protector … Read more

Telmo Zarra secured his place in football’s history as Spain’s record goalscorer of all time, which continues to remain unmatched during his reign with Athletic Club Bilbao in the 1940s and 1950s. ‘Telmito The Fearful’ Telmo Zarraonandia Montoya was born on the 20th January 1921 in Erandio, Spain. Football was ever-present in his large family: … Read more

In 1999, Northampton Town Football Club dedicated a garden of memory to those football players who had lost their lives in the First World War. The centerpiece was a memorial to Walter Tull, a player of Afro Caribbean descent who became a British army war hero. Early Childhood Walter Tull was known to have spent … Read more

Born near the center of Rio de Janeiro in 1913, Leônidas Da Silva started playing in 1930, before soccer became a professional sport. Two years later received his first national call-up. At the 1934 World Cup in Italy, he scored Brazil’s goal in their only game, a 3-1 defeat by Spain. Leônidas had stints at three … Read more