“The next young player who says he does not want to play for England should be ordered to ring the parents of a soldier who has died serving his...
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Roberto Baggio’s redemption: A story of two World Cup penalties
According to Buddha’s teachings, “it is not prayer, not grace and not sacrifice that brings redemption, but only knowledge. The knowledge lies within the power of the individual”. It...
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Success in Sardinia: Allegri and the Cagliari years
Massimiliano Allegri has arguably been Italy’s most successful coach of the last decade. During this time, he has compiled an enviable CV, winning the Scudetto at AC Milan in...
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Azzurri: The story behind Italy’s nickname and colours
Words fail us. When it comes to love or grief, they can never fully articulate how we feel inside. How can the word ‘love’ really convey what we mean...
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A vanished dream: the story behind Paolo Maldini’s bitter Milan farewell
It has become a familiar image in Calcio. The camera pans to the stand and picks out a legend of the club. But they are not there just to...
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Un maiale non può allenare: Carlo Ancelotti’s troubled time at Juventus
It was the final day of the 1999/00 Serie A season and as torrential rain and wind battered the Renato Curi stadium, Carlo Ancelotti and his Juventus side were...
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Parma Calcio 1913: Rising from the ashes
It took the court just 10 minutes to declare Parma FC bankrupt in March 2015. It was a quick decision, finally ending months of torment after the mismanagement of...
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TGU Book Review: World in Motion… The Inside Story of Italia ’90, The Tournament That Changed Football – by Simon Hart
For Azzuri fans, Italia ’90 was the one that got away. Stolen in Naples by the head of Claudio Caniggia and the lottery of penalties. From a footballing perspective,...
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A culture of violence: How political and social turmoil gave rise to Rome’s radical ultras
No matter how pithy the quote, football should never become a matter of life and death. Nor should it be considered ‘war minus the shooting’, though we are often...
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False dawns and quiet frustration: The story of Rivaldo at AC Milan
It is the summer of 2000 and the height of Serie A’s spending power. Inter have just signed the much sought after Spanish midfielder Javier Farinós from Spanish side...
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