The irony of the announcement yesterday was that only a few weeks ago the bold Gerard was given an apartment in Grozny by the leader of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov. What’s not ironic is that once more a club tumbles from the top flight amidst financial turmoil.  Meanwhile CSKA are crowned Champions of the first season under the new format which the RFS President is hinting at changing back from July – May to the more sensible Summer season.

This Friday (17/05) FC Tom Tomsk, who earlier in the season were unable and unwilling to pay wages, were awarded a licence to play in the Premier League, on the back of what is a mystery. A disastrous outing in the Premier last time shed light on the lack of interest in the club and only for a government handout they’d be bust. Winning promotion means a Siberian club in the top flight, though how they will survive without massive central funding will be interesting.

The penultimate round of the Premier League saw a few unusual results (Samara beating a lacklustre Rubin) and some very strange on pitch antics. Shirokov’s red card for Zenit for a rude gesture to the visiting fans in the aftermath of his tap in, surprised many, except those who know the laws of the game. A couple of weeks ago in Ireland there was an incident with Ardee’s Ross Gaynor, now it was a St. Pete’s boy gesturing to Volga NN fans. Given that it was in injury time and the match was almost over, some apologists claim he should have been warned, yet from the RFS President, rules have to be obeyed by fans, players and clubs. This was the application in its purest. The commentators were embarrassed by his action and agreed with the referee, however TV bosses made sure that the slo-mo replays cut away before the “up yours”.

Meanwhile Spartak celebrated a chance to stay in a Europa League spot with some outrageous refereeing. FC Krasnodar have every reason to feel hard done by though from a neutral point of view there was no bias towards the Muscovites, just dreadful decisions by a referee who went card happy and reason blind. Although, anyone who saw the Alania-Spartak match last July will remember the same referee giving decisions that were certainly odd and definitely in favour of the visitors from Moscow. However it would be unfair and incorrect to claim he was bought or biased, though this didn’t stop the “Bulls” owner Galitsky from taking to Twitter to lambaste the official. Referee’s are human and can have off days, however the reactions of club owners and officials need to be tempered. The RFS have yet to wallop twitter or media outbursts by owners and officials, when they do, Russian football is going to be fun.

On a parting note, around the country celebrations are taking place for clubs who are moving up divisions and heads are down in those who went down. A thought must be spared for the Russian Under-17’s who went on a slalom run to the European title in a gruelling penalty shootout. Great respect must be given to the players and coaches involved, and warning given to the RFS and clubs, these are young stars who can do something, maybe only 1 or 2 will make the full Senior side, though they must be cherished now and developed as much as possible. Do not let them end up like the disastrous and pampered ice hockey team who looked like strangers on ice when they crashed out of the World Championship quarter finals. Hockey showed its leading place in Russian sport with the release of the woeful “Legend No. 17” movie and when the team looked like doing something everybody watched, football is playing catch up, so success at under-age is a great way to start.

Two interesting quotes from Borussia Dortmund coach Jürgen Klopp from separate interviews, both of which allay fears for his club’s future competitiveness domestically and in Europe. Dortmund play their much wealthier country rivals Bayern Munich in the first all-German final in Champions League history. Despite a magnificent European campaign, the gap between Dortmund and Bayern are striking, with Klopp’s men finished 25 points behind ‘Die Hollywood’ in the Bundesliga table.

Between 2003 and 2012, five different clubs won the Bundesliga title (Werder Bremen 2004; Bayern 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010; Stuttgart 2007; Wolfsburg 2009; Dortmund 2011, 2012) This season has created a huge gap between Bayern and the rest. The transfer of Mario Götze for €37 million to Bayern cements the distance between both.

The margin of victory for Bayern domestically is not a singular phenomenon. Barcelona won La Liga and are currently leading Real Madrid by 13 points with two games left in Spain. Manchester United won the English Premier League by 11 points, Juventus were victorious by 9 points in the Serie A and PSG, who won the French title, currently lead Marseille by 10 points in Ligue 1. Benfica and Porto, and Ajax and PSV were involved in very competitive title races in Portugal and Holland respectively. For the most part though, a major club has comfortably claimed the major title in their country.

There was a time when the European Cup/Champions League produced winners from smaller, less financially powerful country’s and also champions from major countries who never really dominated for large periods. In the 1980′s alone, Aston Villa (1982) Hamburg (1983), Steaua București (1986) and PSV (1988) won Europe’s premier club competition. In the 90′s Red Star Belgrade (1991) and Marseille (1993) were victorious, while Ajax triumphed in 1995 with a squad heavily built on academy players. Between the 70′s and the end of the 1990′s, Holland, Greece, Italy, Spain, England, France, West Germany, Portugal, Sweden and Yugoslavia were represented in finals.

The romantic notions of the European Cup end there. In the past eight years, the top four leagues (England, Germany, Italy and Spain) have monopolised the finals. Bayern, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea should continue to be challengers in the coming years. Manchester City’s millions will surely result in them threatening the semi-finals or better consistently. France will likely join the party in the next few years, with PSG and Monaco’s financial clout making them formidable. Outside of them, only really Juventus are set up to be contenders in Italy, and Dortmund and Arsenal can surely not pose a constant threat when they continue to sell their best players.

The Champions League has never had so few potential winners. The financial muscle of certain clubs has made it tougher and more cut throat. Whether Uefa’s financial fair play plan has any impact or not will remain to be seen. A European shootout between super powers would still be a tantalising prospect, but the chances of a club with a stringent budget such as Dortmund making a final seem as unlikely as ever. It is clear that European football is as elitist as it has ever been.

First off there was the Alice band for men, sported by Steffi Graff looky-likey Claudio Caniggia. Then we had Don Diego and his Mafia roccocco look; half Argentinian street urchin, half Paulie Gaultieri from the Soprano’s. And who can forget Mario Kempes and Alberto Tarantini for going ‘natural’ thoughout the seventies and eighties?

Okay, we also have Javier Zanetti, with his suave good looks and tailored suits, ‘Che’ Guevara and his prototype combat rock look, as well as Jorge Luis Borges with his snappy mind and snappier slacks but, on the whole, the final reckoning of Argentinian fashion exports doesn’t make pretty viewing.

Diego Simeone is, sartorially speaking, a man who slots with ease into the negative column of that balance sheet. Last Friday night – in the presence of Royalty, no less – he donned a black three quarter length anorak with faux-fur black hood, black suit, black shirt, black inch-wide tie – last seen being sported by Neville Staples from The Specials, and – you guessed it – black Patrick Cox shoes, unseen since the mid-nineties. No, no, no, no, no…

However, when it comes to tactics, motivation and gamesmanship, he clearly knows a thing or two as Atleti scraped the Copa Del Rey in extra time against Real Madrid. The bare facts will show that Madrid took an early lead through a header from Ronaldo, Atleti equalised through Diego Costa and then went on to win the thing with a near-post header from Miranda – judging by his expression the most surprised man in the stadium. The reality was slightly different.

Mourinho was sent from the dug-out for reverting to spoilt-brat type and endlessly ‘getting in the face’ of the fourth official, Ronaldo saw red late-on for endeavouring to commit the most stylish foul ever and Atleti substitute Gabi saw red for two quick yellow cards in extra time. The sole purpose of the latter’s entry seemed to be to waste time and kick as many of the opposition as possible. He succeeded on both counts although the red card didn’t preclude him from gathering trophy and medal with his child in tow. You’ve got a lot to answer for Dennis Wise!

In between all this thrilling nonsense, Madrid hit the bar more often than George Best on St. Patrick’s night, Atelti scorer Diego Costa got in a tasty right handed jab on sidelined Madrid man Pepe – but only because he beat his manager to it – and the whole was presided over by a referee who, in the most trying of circumstances managed to make correct call after correct call throughout the 120 minutes. Well done, Sir. Just a shame you didn’t notice the pugilists slugging it out on the fringes.

And well done Atleti. Another season, another trophy and the interminable thrill of a Bernabeu cup final victory against the enemy.

We’ll start in La Segunda, where Elche sat back and enjoyed the sight of their immediate rivals Girona and Alcorcon failing to get all three points against Villarreal and Barcelona B respectively, which thrust the Green and Whites of Alicante province into Primera dreamland without to having kick a ball. Villarreal are now second and looking good for an immediate return to the big time after besting Girona by four goals to one which leaves Girona’s team and fantastic away support thinking of play-offs. Alcorcon will probably be joining them alongside Las Palmas and Almeria who took advantage of Elche’s hangover with a two-one home win. Sneaky.

Big League started on Saturday afternoon when Valencia got a Champions League boost with a one-nil away win at Getafe, although a two one away win for La Real that night against Sevilla saw both them and the Seville outfit held back in their respective Euro hunt.

One of the biggies of the weekend was up next when good Granada turned up and gave themselves a hefty dose of staying-up medicine with a three nil win over fellow struggler’s, Osasuna. The chaps from Andalucia are now on 39 points which may – just – see them home. The Pamplona Irregulars are back in the dark place dangling two points above the trap door with two games to go.

Sunday’s first encounter saw Rayo Vallecano travel to Levante and come away with three valuable points. Levante will be broadly happy with the season, although performances in recent weeks may be a little worrying for some looking to next year’s challenges. Rayo’s three-two win sees them move back into the Europa League spots, although the combined wisdom of the Spanish League Federation and UEFA (that’s alot of wisdom) will have a say in what happens with appeals by Malaga and Rayo against measurses seemingly designed to really piss off their fans measures that may see them expelled from EuroDreamLand before even getting there. Understand that? No. Neither do we.

Next up Depor moved out of The Zone with a two nil life giver against Espanyol. No doubt Depor fans went all red, white and green a couple of hours later when Bilbao ensured their own safety with a late comeback to win two-one by beating a Zaragoza team who are now wading through the soft-squelch of you-know-what in the bottom three.

FACT ALERT! FACT ALERT! Thanks to Daniel Last of Brighton, England for supplying the information that La Romadera – home of Zaragoza – possesses Europe’s deepest goal nets. I’m sure that’ll will be a balm for those pre-occupied with prospect of second flight football in Aragon next season, Danny. An El Balonazo T-Shirt is on it’s way to you.

Sundays final game saw Barcelona and Valladolid clash in Camp Nou. You know who won so I won’t bother. What you may not have seen is Spain’s first three-pronged civil partnership take place on a football pitch, when Carles, Rigobert and Eric tied the knot in an intimate ceremony with only work colleagues, Shakira and one hundred thousand people shouting ‘Visca’ at every opportunity. One of the grooms didn’t seem too thrilled on his big day…

Mallorca play Betis tonight. Anything but a win will spell curtains for the Islanders. Betis need to the win too. Not good for the Islanders.

Finally, the El Balonazo Grand tour of 2013 came to an end last night. Paul and Dave El Balonazo spread the gospel of competitively priced Football Fashion from the unseasonably cold plains of Madrid to Villarreal, Levante and Cuenca. Massive thanks and big love go to; everybody in Villarreal but particularly the family who supplied us with beer and tales of the champions league, the staff at the UD Levante trinket store and the Avenida Bar in Valencia – although, it must be said, not to the bullet headed grunts who spat at us for having the temerity to be ‘wrong’.

Additional amor to Wicklow Wednesday man Deaglán and his globetrotting pal Daryl, Cillian – the Bohemian of Blanchardstown and Danny ‘Hasselblad’ of Hove. Respect to all the Girona fans in the vertiginous away end at Villarreal for sticking it out despite the on-pitch travails and apologies to the the older gent in front of me who I inadvertently kneed in the head due to Luton Town style seating. Although the peck on the cheek his wife received from this slightly squiffy, poorly shaved Englishman surely made up for any wrongdoing…

In Cuenca, thanks go to the Frank Bough look-a-like fourth official, the Talavera subs who let one of our number prove his inability on the ball during half time for the benefit of the paying public at the Estadio Fuentesanta and especially the TV crew from Castilla La Mancha Television for their patience with our on-air swearing marathon during broadcast.

Finally we wish the best to Randy the Bull (above) and his splendid testicles. Randy scoured the fiesta stalked streets of Villarreal in an attempt to skewer any one of a number of polyester clad youths with inadvisable haircuts who spent their pre-match moments goading the poor creature. We hope you made it, Randy.

By El Balonazo // Twitter

Matthew Glazier of

On 3 March 2013, goals from Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon helped Tottenham to win the north London derby and go seven points clear of Arsenal.

After the match, Arsene Wenger admitted that finishing in the top four of the Premier League looked a difficult prospect, with Ladbrokes offering 3/1 about the Gunners making the Champions League places.

The Frenchman said: “We have to fight and it will be difficult now, because we dropped points that we couldn’t afford to drop. But we will fight and we will keep our spirit.”

Wenger was true to his word, with Arsenal galvanising and edging out Tottenham by a single point to claim fourth spot on Sunday. But what were the main reasons why the Gunners were celebrating at St James’ Park last weekend.

1) The central defence partnership of Koscielny and Mertesacker

At the start of the season, it would have been hard to imagine Thomas Vermaelen playing second fiddle to Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, although that is exactly what has happened over the past few weeks.

It was fitting that Koscielny scored the winner against Newcastle as the Frenchman’s performances have been excellent, with just two goals conceded in Arsenal’s last six matches. Mertesacker bagged the only goal at Craven Cottage and the pair are directly responsible for fourth place.

2) Arsenal’s win against Bayern Munich

So the defensive horror show at home to Bayern seemed to indicate that the Gunners were leagues apart from the cream of Europe, although Arsenal then went to the Allianz Arena and claimed a 2-0 win. This was just ten days after losing at White Hart Lane and essentially sparked the team’s unbeaten run which lasted all the way to the end of the season.

3) Tottenham’s participation in the Europa League

Andre Villas-Boas declared at the start of the season that Spurs would be trying to win the Europa League and he was as good as his word. Unfortunately, you have to say that fielding a first-team from the word go backfired, especially towards the end of the season when Spurs lost 3-2 at Liverpool just days after beating Inter Milan.

Similarly, extra-time in the San Siro the following week then led to a lacklustre performance against Fulham which saw the Cottagers win 1-0 at White Hart Lane. A 2-2 draw with Basel was followed by another 2-2 draw at home to Everton and the damage was done.

Harry Bronsdon believes that everybody should get behind the team in yellow for this weekend’s Champions League Final.

1- Jürgen Klopp

Is there a more likeable manager in world football than Jürgen Klopp?

Since Klopp came to Dortmund in 2008 he has dramatically improved a team that was only a few years earlier close to folding. He made shrewd signings such as Pizczek (on a free) Hummels (discarded by Bayern), Subotic (came from Mainz with Klopp) and numerous others. He transformed the team over just a few years, finishing sixth and fifth in his first two seasons. Then came the trophies, the first was a Dfl Supercup, beating Bayern in the final in 2008. It was clear he had certainly changed things for good. This is where his status elevated to a legend, from there he won two consecutive Bundesliga trophies and a German Cup last year, beating Bayern emphatically 5-2.

Everything is likeable about Klopp, his team’s style, his touchline passion, his relationship with the players and fans. He actually says interesting things in interviews unlike most managers of today. He is too good for any other team in modern football today, by that I mean if he leaves Dortmund, where is there that would match him so perfectly as Dortmund do. I just can’t imagine him working under a Russian Oligarch or a Saudi Sheikh. But undoubtedly he will leave sometime, just hopefully not for a while yet. Hopefully we will see a Klopp Guardiola rivalry for a few years at least.

2- Dortmund’s style

A large reason so many neutrals have started enjoying and therefore followed die Scharzgelben is because of their aesthetically pleasing football. They attack quickly through quick passing and the front four combine to great affect. Add to that a great centre-back partnership in Subotic and Hummels, plus the ever reliable Pizczek and Schmelzer who both provide great attacking width. They link well with Kuba and Reus and allow both the two attackers to drift inside. Gündogan has grown massively in the past two years, his midfield performances have been so good Klopp didn’t put Nuri Sahin straight back in the team upon his return. Weidenfeller has been excellent too, yet has still not been called up for the German National team.

Dortmund combine fast, incisive attacking when on the ball with a tremendous pressing off it. Similar to Barcelona in many ways, although Dortmund tend to attack a bit quicker when they have the ball. In the final it is likely Bayern will dominate possession, Dortmund will have to counter-attack, taking up space that Bayern leave. Problem is for Dortmund Bayern have no real weak spots. If Van Buyten plays, it could be him who Dortmund target as he’s the weakest of the centre-backs.

3- A one off chance/ The Underdogs?

It has taken Dortmund time to build their team and now that they have reached fruition as shown by being in the Champions League final, naturally the big teams are now circling for many of Dortmund’s finest. Götze is already off, Lewandowski almost sure to go with him. Hummels and Gündogan are the latest linked with moves away from the Westfalenstadion. So if Dortmund don’t take this opportunity how long will it be before they are back in with a chance with such a great first eleven as is currently the case. Unlike Bayern who will be appearing in their third final in four years, Dortmund haven’t got to the final since last time they won it, in 1997. It’s hard to envisage Dortmund appearing so frequently in finals over the coming years.

Bayern Munich are a very likeable team, they play well, are well run, although that really goes without saying as it’s generally the case throughout the Bundesliga. They have masses of money compared to the rest of the league, this is what makes it such an incredible achievement Dortmund have surpassed even them, the mighty Bayern in the previous two years. Dortmund’s financial restraints are a thing Bayern never have to worry about. In a way though Dortmund must be thankful for Bayern’s vast wealth as the Bavarians loaned them around €2M back in 2003 when Dortmund were in financial turmoil.

At the start of this season Bayern paid €40m for Javi Martinez, while Dortmund paid €17m for Marco Reus although this was unusual, it was their biggest transfer since Márcio Amoroso back in 2001, a Bundesliga record at the time. Bayern actually failed in trying to sign Reus who chose his boyhood club instead. This was after Dortmund had just won the double, so more money was coming in, prior to that Klopp had only paid small fees for what have turned out to be very talented players, Lewandowski only €4.5m, Kagawa better still was only €350,000. Whoever Dortmund’s scout is, he is deserving of a new contract after his work of the last few years.

4- Götze’s parting gift

Just over 24 hours prior to Dortmund’s emphatic 4-1 victory over Real Madrid the news broke of Mario Götze’s impending summer transfer. It was the worst news at possibly the worst time. Maybe only the day before the Champions League final against Götze’s new team could have been worse. Klopp took Götze to one side before the game and helped get him prepared for what he may face. It worked! Götze provided the assist for the first of Lewandowski’s four and didn’t seem affected by the news, nor did the team as a whole.

This transfer was shocking as there had been no rumours of it coming and because Götze has been at Dortmund since he was a kid. It was not surprising that Bayern bought one of the best players in the Bundesliga, they have been doing this for years. But this transfer took someone right at the heart of Dortmund to their rivals. It showed a lack of loyalty on Götze’s part, which is disappointing, maybe he thought Dortmund had gone as far as they could and the lure of playing for Bayern and under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola was too hard to resist. I have since heard that Götze turned down a mammoth offer from Man City that would have been more lucrative, whether this is true or not it’s something to be thankful for that it didn’t happen.

5- The best fans in the world? 

Another aspect of what makes Dortmund so likeable to a neutral are their fans, thanks in part to having a 80,000 capacity, less in European competitions. Built for the 1974 World Cup, Westfalenstadion is a perfect stadium for football, stands tight to the pitch unlike so many stadiums with a mixture of terracing and seating. The South Stand (Südtribüne) is where most of the noise emanates, holding 25,000 fans I suppose it shouldn’t be such a surprise. The banners too (see before the Malaga game) make it a great sight panning round at each stand before and during a game.

For the final Dortmund have had 500,000 apply for it tickets, sadly only 24,000 are available to Dortmund and Bayern, with 27,000 going to UEFA sponsors, therefore only suppressing the all German atmosphere. Borussia Dortmund’s popularity naturally has risen with the success they have achieved in the last few years, although Bayern still dominate when it comes to fans, with further success Dortmund’s fan base will naturally only increase further.

Various international players over recent seasons have further propelled Dortmund’s following outside of Germany. Due to Pizczek, Lewandowski and national captain Blaszczykowski Dortmund have become more popular in Poland,  I have even heard of them being referred to as Polonia Dortmund. Shinji Kagawa has also definitely helped get them more attention in Japan too.

So this Saturday night, let’s hope for a yellow glow radiating in the London sky.

Harry is the man behind the A Random Ball blog.

Last week’s expulsion and subsequent banning of Aiden McGeady meant they were left without a player with the bottle to take on defenders and throw himself into the game. His team-mates certainly did take on the second part, with a slightly different trajectory. The examples of diving and play-acting reached a crescendo in the dying seconds as Jose Manuel Jurado chased the ball back on the right wing, was easily dispossessed and threw himself to the artificial turf, allowing the Samara player to launch a nearly costly attack on the Spartak goal. Not even the most hardcore Spartak fans were defending his actions and subsequent inaction.

It has been so with Spartak for too long. A club without silverware for almost a generation and seemingly hanging on for the move to the under construction “Okritie Arena/Stadium” in the suburb of Tushino. They’re building, always building, while everyone waits for the finished product. Instead of bringing in a new generation of fans who have moved up in the world and on with their ideology, this season marked more lows in how the Spartak “fans” show their love for the club, and none of them attractive for new fans to push the club on. On the Sunday after the match, walking along the bank of the Moscow river opposite Tushino, I saw at one end of the old airfield abandoned planes. At the other the skeleton of the new stadium. It was there in Tushino where the Soviet Air Fleet Day was annually held, showing off the latest in USSR-built air power triumphs of Soviet aviation and military advances. Now the Ilyushin-14 that sits restored in the area will be testament to a new form of entertainment and not one that will be as energising as 22 years ago.

In 1991 an ambitious local invited legends of rock like AC/DC, Metallica and Pantera to the airfield to host the first Monsters of Rock in the former Soviet Union. Figures range from between 150-500,000 of punters who showed up for the event, yet Spartak will soon have the opportunity to surpass this flash in the pan by bringing tens of thousands in every second week in the season and turning a fertile hunting ground in North-West Moscow into their domain. And yet, and yet. Who in their right mind would run the gauntlet of showing up to stand (the “real fans” won’t sit) next to people who chant “White Power” when they’re going to away matches in Europe, make monkey noises or obscene chants, and who misbehave in shows of club love when things don’t go their way. It’s not a place to bring children and it doesn’t inspire players either. Yet club officials won’t confront it.

Nothing on or off the field suggests that the tens of millions pumped into the club by oligarch Leonid Fedun is achieving the required results. Frequent spats with other clubs and the FA by Fedun and his club officials do not improve or even begin to rehabilitate the image of Spartak in the neutral or opposition eyes. And more worrying, yesterday (Friday 17/05) Fedun stepped down from his position in Lukoil, the company he co-owns and from which he finances the club, such events too often have dire consequences. While opponents will always go against them, losing the neutrals is what Spartak cannot continue to do. When their fans regularly smash up seating in their own and host stadia, cause fights in the street and misrepresent what the club stands for, it’s not only the club name but brand that loses value and in pure business terms club branding is going to be more and more important as FFP and reality dawns on Russian clubs.

Ultimately it is all about leadership and the lack thereof. The lack of a personality or leader to grab the game by the scruff of the neck with visitors Krylia Sovetov visibly wilting in the muggy Moscow heat cost Spartak the win. Leadership and direction on the pitch is a mirror of what is going on off it. It is not for nothing that Alex Ferguson and the Manchester United Directors achieved such success for a long period, there was communication, cohesion, trust and belief – everyone knew what their job was and they got on with it. In Spartak, and other clubs who find themselves off the pace despite sufficient investment in operations, such best practice is rarely followed…

As I stated before, Valery Karpin is one of the gentlemen of Russian football and at any other club would be a successful Coach or GM, but he wouldn’t be both. As a player he had vision, intelligence and class, as a person he has the same, plus he’s a nice guy. A former colleague, now back coaching in Ireland, told me (when a club officer stated that a certain first teamer should be treated nicer as he was a “nice guy”) “Alan, we can have a team of nice guys and win nothing and we’re both out of a job, or we get players in who can do a job and stay working.” I agreed with him then and I agree with him now. How Spartak long for a Roy Keane on the pitch and a Sam Allardyce off it, yet the majority of “fans” who come to matches waving red scarves wouldn’t want to build, they want to win because it is the right of Spartak to do so, yet in their hearts they know that something major has to change, and fast. With a new stadium to move to, it could prove a fitting coffin on the banks of the Moscow river if the club flotation takes it the way of Hajduk Split or worse, Portsmouth.

In fact, every sour point in Mourinho’s managerial career resurfaced during his chaotic spell at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Whether it was a fall-out with the president (Benfica), a physical clash with a rival coach (União de Leiria), brutal mind games (Porto), despicable accusations (Chelsea) or a fraught relationship with the national press (Internazionale), Mourinho encountered, and encouraged, all of the above-mentioned at Madrid.

The fact that 2012/2013 was the first season that Mourinho did not win a trophy for 11 seasons was a fitting epitaph for the period – a farcry from the Portuguese initially bonding with Florentino Pérez over his longing for another Champions League.

Ultimately, Mourinho’s spell at Madrid was a failure – La Décima was not secured in three attempts.

Of course, many will argue that Mourinho came up against one of the best teams of all-time, Barcelona, but, in truth, only 2010/2011 can be used as an excuse for Mourinho.

After all, in 2011/2012, Madrid won La Liga and avoided Barcelona in the Champions League and with Mourinho putting a clear emphasis on the Champions League in 2012/2013, again,  a markedly weaker Barcelona were again avoided.

Ironically, though, one of the positives that Mourinho will point to in his reign is that in his 16 brutal El Clásicos as Madrid manager, he lost just six times.

Also, there has been clear progression at the Bernabéu since that 5-0 defeat on 29 November, 2010, with Madrid reaching three Champions League semi-finals in a row and progressing past the quarter-final stage for the first time since 2003.

The signs were all there that Mourinho would eventually deliver: ousting Jorge Valdano as technical director; close relations with Pérez; being the first coach to have his name chanted at the Bernabéu; an entente with traditional Madrid figures over his philosophy; and outlasting Josep Guardiola.

However, 20 January, 2012 should have tolled the bell.

Between Sergio Ramos questioning Mourinho’s on the field perceptions over set-pieces – given that the Portuguese has never played football at the highest level – and Iker Casillas disputing Mourinho’s statement that the Spanish members of the squad were protected by the media, this was an irrevocable split.

Many have since painted the picture that it came down to age-old Iberian rivalry but, in truth, even the Portuguese members of the squad – who Mourinho has certainly elevated, be it Pepe or Fábio Coentrão  – soon grew exasperated with Mourinho.

Still, there is no doubt that had Mourinho won the 2011/2012 Champions League – placing him alongside Bob Paisley as the only manager to win three European Cups – he would have walked.

It all comes down to Béla Guttmann’s theory that three years is the absolute maximum one can stay at the club and in Mourinho’s experience, two seasons usually is enough to achieve his objectives.

It has always soured, somewhat, in the third season – as evident with a fairly modest haul of an FA Cup and League Cup with Chelsea in 2006/2007.

Instead, Mourinho stayed put at the Bernabéu and while his recovery post-Christmas was remarkable – given squad morale and a new low in hierarchical and media relations – Mourinho’s failure to capture La Décima will be an eternal blot on his record.

Sure, the pressure was immense but it could be argued, to an extent, that winning Internazionale’s first European Cup for 45 years, in 2010, was just as draining – albeit, they were not among the tournament favourites like Madrid.

Still, while much has been made of the appearance and health strains Guardiola endured as Barcelona manager, the same can be said of Mourinho since he joined Madrid.

At Internazionale, Mourinho still harboured the glint in his eye, the tie that was slightly loosened and the trim physique; at Madrid, Mourinho has looked weathered, bloated and, in his casual bomber jackets, far from the trailblazing figure he once was.

In truth, if ever Mourinho needed a reinvigorating break from football – just like in 2007, after leaving Chelsea – it is now.

In fact, such is the growing predictability of Mourinho, the likes of Jürgen Klopp have become the new benchmark for charisma and tactical ingenuity and Mourinho was never seriously in the frame for the Manchester United job.

The Mourinho Bible, which has been such a pivotal part to his success, may need some revisions.

However, unlike other managers, there remains a safehaven for Mourinho to rebuild: Chelsea – an unimaginable thought just six months ago.

Sure, Mourinho has always been linked with Chelsea in the five occasions the job has become vacant since he departed in 2007, but there was never anything in it but feint fan hope.

Clearly, the dynamic of convenience has shifted: Mourinho needs Chelsea and the associated warmth and sanctuary just as much as the fans pine for the return of the Special One.

Citing the rocky bench of Stamford Bridge as a safehaven may seem an ironic statement, but given that the last manager under Roman Abramovich to serve beyond two seasons was Mourinho, it is not as far-fetched as it seems.

The Russian holds a long-standing admiration for Mourinho  – evident in Abramovich purchasing a rare £2 million 612 Scaglietti Ferrari for Mourinho just days after their parting -  and Abramovich looks as though he is willing to put their previous differences behind them in the hope of replicating and furthering the success of 2005-2007.

To some, it is a recipe for disaster; for others, there is a genuine belief that Mourinho could build yet another dynasty at Stamford Bridge.

After all, given that, out of Chelsea’s current 24-man first-team squad, only Petr Čech, Henrique Hilário, Paulo Ferreira, Ashley Cole, John Terry, John Obi Mikel and Frank Lampard played under the Portuguese, there is genuine excitement among the likes of Branislav Ivanović and Eden Hazard in having the opportunity to work with the Special One.

The unexpected awarding of a one-year contract extension to Lampard already shows the influence Mourinho is exercising and with a £100 million expected summer spree, returning home could be the perfect tonic for Mourinho to reclaim not only his hunger but, also, his crown as the world’s greatest manager.

England squads have never been predictable. Even under the unimaginative Mr. Capello, rumour-mongers would be thrown off the scent, usually by the Italian omitting the most in-form players and including the same old guard (see the 2010 World Cup squad announcement, where an audible collective groan could be heard across the country).

While Hodgson’s selection format isn’t completely watertight either, he does see the value in resting some of the more regular starters for friendlies, and it’s for those reasons that goalkeeper Alex McCarthy has become a household name in the past 24 hours following his call-up to the national squad.

Perhaps unknown to many, Reading fans will sing his praise all day long. McCarthy is an academy graduate at Reading, having worked his way up through the ranks and various loans to cement his place in the first team. His path has not been easy by any stretch, but following a series of top performances, few can argue against his inclusion for the friendlies versus Ireland and Brazil.

McCarthy’s loan repertoire had included Woking, Cambridge and Aldershot before a particularly fruitful 2009/10 loan at Yeovil Town saw him keep 12 clean sheets in 44 appearances and give the Reading hierarchy the first glimpses of his potential. Yeovil’s manager Terry Skiverton said of McCarthy: “Alex has been fantastic for us this season and not just on the pitch. When you need your keeper to make two or three good saves he has stepped up to the mantle. He’s always trying to gain that extra edge and is often up the local gym looking after himself.” A glowing review of a player whose noticeable humility is as worthy as his clear shot-stopping ability.

A short loan at Brentford at the start of 10/11 followed, before he returned to Berkshire in what would become his breakthrough season. In February 2011, the Royals’ first choice ‘keeper Adam Federici injured himself in a 1-1 draw with Watford. McCarthy came on late in the game to mark his debut with a quite remaining ten minutes. Many were unsure of McCarthy’s ability to hold fort between the sticks, especially with Reading looking to keep up a late season revival and push for the play-offs. But did he disappoint? Absolutely not. McCarthy’s first full game versus Millwall was won, and he saved a penalty in the following fixture – a vital 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace – where he also made two vital close range saves to keep the Royals in the running. He gained more attention as Reading travelled up to Goodison Park for the fifth round of the FA Cup. Again he took the plaudits, especially for a sensational point blank stop on Leon Osman, as Matt Mills secured the victory.

McCarthy retained his place in goal for the following 11 fixtures, including the FA Cup Quarterfinal loss to Manchester City, before Adam Federici was reinstated for the final two games of the season, and perhaps harshly on McCarthy, the playoff semis and final. His stint in the first team had given himself and the fans a taster of what was to come, but 2011/12 would represent a backwards step in the promising goalkeeper’s career. Federici remained as Brian McDermott’s first choice, and McCarthy found league appearances hard to come by, being restricted to the League Cup. McCarthy expressed a desire to play first team matches regularly, and was loaned to both Leeds and Ipswich during the season which Reading won the Championship.

Despite not playing a part in the title-winning team, McCarthy had captured the hearts of the Royals’ fans with his fleeting heroics at the club, as well as impressing in the two recent loan spells. There was little doubt that Federici would begin the Premiership campaign in August 2012 though, given his stalwart efforts the previous season. Unfortunately for the Royals, Federici couldn’t quite keep up that level of performance, gifting Stoke and Chelsea goals in the first two games of the season. McCarthy was entrusted with the jersey for the following nine games and impressed mightily against QPR and Swansea, and looked like one of very few players to shine for the Royals. Whispers began in October about a possible future for the Three Lions, but were cut short following an injury. After tipping an Adel Taarabt effort wide at Loftus Road, McCarthy collided with the post and required shoulder surgery. There were questions over whether he would return to contribute to the Royals’ season, but return he did with aplomb.

New manager Nigel Adkins used his first two games in charge to try out Federici and third choice ‘keeper Stuart Taylor, and gave McCarthy a shot in his third game, when Liverpool travelled to the Madejski. McCarthy produced one of the finest goalkeeping displays surely in Premier League history to keep the score at 0-0, and was lauded by teammates, pundits, and former figures in the game. Match of the Day waxed lyrically about his performance, while Brendan Rodgers hailed him as a top talent. The Premier League sat up and took notice of Alex McCarthy.

Alex McCarthy seems to be a genuinely humble, nice and focused guy. He’s hungry to play, but has never thrown his toys out the pram, especially during the 2011/12 season when his future at Reading was questioned. His lanky frame doesn’t undermine his acrobatic prowess, nor his strength. You’ll often see him commanding his centrebacks, and he has copious amounts of confidence in himself, without letting it spill over into arrogance.

The reaction to McCarthy’s call up to the England squad has been mixed. When looking at the other options, he’s surely earned this . Fraser Forster had a fantastic experience in the Champion’s League with Celtic, but since they were knocked out hasn’t had to compete on the highest stage. David Stockdale at Hull could prove his worth in the Premier League next season, as could Jack Butland. If McCarthy doesn’t move in the summer, he’ll be in the Championship with Reading which will surely hamper his international ambitions. But until then, in Alex England have a capable, eager, young third choice goalkeeper.

With most of the European leagues wrapping up over the next few weeks, there are plenty of bargains to be had if you like to buy football gear online.

As always, Nike are one the leaders when it comes to football wear both on and off the field, and from next season they will take over from Umbro as Manchester City’s official supplier. Ahead of the summer sale at the Nike store, it’s well worth having a browse and drawing up a shopping list.

One of our favourite sites to buy from is Subside Sports, though be warned – being on their mailing list is dangerous with bargains dropping into your inbox every few days! If you like your obscure football shirts then this is the place for you such is their diverse range of options.

Over the past few years, JD Sports have become more than just a store to walk into and they now boast a very good online service, which includes free delivery options. As well as being able to pre-order next season’s Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Bayern Munich kits, you can also pick up 2012/13 shirts at bargain prices as well as some great looking retro tops by Score Draw.

Kitbag has earned a reputation as a reliable option, and as well as doing , they are a great place to pick up some accessories if you play yourself. With everything from goalkeeper gloves and shin pads to base layers and training equipment, Kitbag ticks most of the boxes.

Another of the big hitters, UK Soccer Shop, is also must see for the jersey junkies out there and you can get up to 70% off selected shirts in their clearance section.

Mike Ashley’s SportsDirect.com is renowned for its cheap prices and they’re a handy one to check out, particularly if you have kids to buy for.

With less football to watch over the next few months and plenty of time on your hands, these sites might come in handy if you feel the need to give your credit card a workout!

A week after Sir Alex Ferguson and Paul Scholes announced they’d be retiring, another Manchester United legend announced his plans to call it a day.

Cue broken hearted women – and men – everywhere, as after this season David Beckham: the player will be no more.

To many, he ceased to be when he decided to swap La Liga for Los Angeles. For some – those without much interest in football – he never really existed at all. He was a celebrity, a brand; the fame, the fortune, the fashion, and of course the pictures of him in his underwear all seemingly transcended what he did on the pitch.

But it was on the pitch that he made his name, and on the pitch where he was happiest. Strip away all the trappings that led to his becoming the global football icon of his generation, and you’re left with a man who just loved to play the game, especially for his country.

The lofted goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon; the perfectly-placed corners against Bayern; *that* free-kick (and, indeed, entire performance) against Greece – and countless carbon copies as well; the penalty against Argentina. An endless amount of inch-perfect crosses; Hollywood balls from a player who was total box-office.

There were moments of controversy too: his red card at France ’98, for a petulant kick on Diego Simeone, contributing to the end of England’s World Cup campaign; the boot to the face, from Sir Alex, contributing to the end of his United career. Yet he always bounced back.

Manchester, Madrid, LA, Milan, Paris. Fashion capitals of the world – and, er, Manchester – they love a star, and Becks has certainly been football’s, if not all of sport’s, biggest. While he may have used this celebrity to boost his own sponsorships and earnings, he never stopped promoting the game either.

He is the soccer player who appeared on US chat shows, giving an ‘English game’ global appeal, in the States and also, notably, Asia. He’s the ‘only-cares-about-the-money’ player who gave his final wages to a children’s charity. He’s the man who helped lead the successful bid for London 2012, and it would’ve been London 2018, too, were it not for FIFA being, well, FIFA.

It’s easy to be cynical. There are times when one could have wondered what mattered more to him, yet surely he has proved time and again – the loan moves to Milan, the flights around the world to make any contribution he could to England – that football was first.

Certainly, for all the media furore that has surrounded him, he has conducted himself in a far better manner than many of his peers. Not the most talented of his generation, he epitomises how far hard-work and determination can take you. You can see why Sky, China, The FA and all those others who are likely eyeing him up want him to be an ambassador for them and the game. For any youngster taking up the game, he’s the perfect role mode

20 years, 115 international caps, ten league titles in four different countries, some stunning moments, thousands of slightly confused heterosexual men.

Brand Beckham will continue to grow, but it’s the footballer who deserves to be remembered.

Farewell, Becks. *sniff*