RCD Mallorca suffered a heartbreaking blow at the end of the 2016-17 season. With one game left to play, the club's return to Spain's third tier, La Segunda B, was confirmed thanks to relegation as a result of a 20th-placed finish. It had been over 30 years since the islanders last faced the ignominy of the third division.
It’s been 20 years to the day since Cristiano Ronaldo made his debut at the youth level for Portugal. He was only a 16-year-old at the time, but he was also just one year away from a meteoric rise through Sporting’s system that would see him become the first to play for the club’s U-16, U-17, U-18, B team and first team all within the same season.
After Diego Forlán stepped into one back in 2002, unleashing a howitzer from nearly 25 yards out that was still rising when it flew into the corner, you could sense the relief and outpouring of ecstasy from both the Old Trafford crowd and the Uruguayan forward.
The 1996-97 season marked the 125th year of football at Chesterfield's historic Saltergate Recreation Ground, but never in its history had the stands been witness to the type of events that took place on the afternoon of February 22, 1997.
A week earlier, Chesterfield had defeated Premier League club Nottingham Forest at Saltergate to advance to the FA Cup quarterfinals for the first time in club history, and the Spireites looked to continue that good form as they pushed for promotion.
The U.S. women’s national team has a remarkable record of reaching the semifinals in every Women’s World Cup. It’s a major reason why we often refer to the USWNT as the greatest sports team of all time. But the road to the final four hasn’t always been easy, and in 2011, the USWNT came closer than ever to an early exit. Only a stunning late Abby Wambach goal vs Brazil — I’d argue the greatest goal in U.S. soccer history — saved the Americans from a quarterfinal exit.
Not long ago, the American soccer landscape was a barren wasteland devoid of talent. Americans either played for boring MLS teams or obscure European clubs, always moving laterally and rarely improving.
Kids these days have Christian Pulisic at Chelsea and Sergiño Dest at Barcelona. We had a promising central defender at Birmingham City that now works at a financial company. Man, they have it easy.
Christian Pulisic is better than Landon Donovan. That’s not my opinion — that’s Landon Donovan’s. At the age of 22, Pulisic has established himself at Chelsea. Donovan, at 22, was experiencing one of his least productive MLS seasons with an average San Jose Earthquakes team.
10. Looking for Eric (2009)
9. Shaolin Soccer (2001)
8. Diego Maradona (2019)
7. Green Street Hooligans (2005)
6. Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
5. Africa United (2010)
4. The Damned United (2009)
3. Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos (2006)
2. The Two Escobars (2010)
1. Next Goal Wins (2014)
Scoring a goal against Mexico is a dream for every American soccer player. Clint Dempsey’s 57 goals for the USMNT is tied for the most in history, but none of those 57 came against America’s rival down south.
When Dempsey stepped up to take a penalty against El Tri in 2013, every fan expected him to bury it, right? This wasn’t the case, as one of the greatest players in U.S. history lasered his shot six yards wide of the goal. Why would Dempsey do this? We have a pretty good idea.
Date: Sept. 10, 2013
With soccer tactics constantly changing, certain types of players are not always accommodated.
Roles like the libero, trequartista, striker partnerships and burly center backs have become, or are quickly becoming, outdated in modern football. Other roles like ball-playing goalkeepers, false nines and wingers that cut inside onto their stronger foot have become very trendy.
This often leaves current players wishing they had played in a previous decade and former players wishing their career had started a little later. Ah, what could have been.