FOOTY FAIR

The Best Serie A Goals from 2015-16 Season (Video)

2016-07-22T10:03:00.003-04:00

With the 2016-17 Serie A season, which will mark Italy's 115th top tier competition, about to kick-off exactly a month from now, we take a look at the league's absolute best goals from the 2015-16 season.

From Eder's impressive footwork, to Paulo Dybala's incredible ability to curve the ball, last season in Serie A provided fans with some incredible net rattling tallies.

The Fall of AC Milan

2016-04-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

When one thinks of the giants of Italian club football, the two names that invariably come to mind are Juventus and AC Milan. But while Juventus are nine points up on second place Napoli at the top of the Serie A table and will almost certainly be crowned league champions for the fifth straight time, AC Milan are 28 points behind the Turin club and are in disarray.

Since 2014 the club has gone through a staggering five managers and I wouldn't put any money on managerial stability finding it's way to their side of the San Siro any time soon.

Milan followed up a disappointing eighth placed finish in 2013-2014 with a tenth place finish last term, far from where you'd expect a club like Milan to finish.

This season isn't going much better with the club sitting in a very distant sixth place with no hope of Champions League qualification and even the Europa League looking like a long shot.

This week, Milan played out a dull 0-0 draw with 17th placed Carpi that was memorable for what happened before than match rather than what happened during it.

Prior to kickoff, a group of actors dressed to look like the first team squad came out onto the pitch a performed a cringe worthy version of New Zealand's pre-match war dance the haka.

It was a marketing stunt for the club's sponsors Nivea. Milan dubbed the pre-match dance the Tekitanka and came out with some embarrassing nonsense about it being meant to promote male skin care.

Predictably, Milan's supporters were not impressed and neither were the people of New Zealand who aren't too fond of people or companies making fun of their traditional dance.

It's the latest embarrassing episode for the once proud club. But where did it all go wrong exactly?

A number of factors are involved, chiefly among them is the financial difficulties suffered in the past decade by the club's parent ownership group headed up by the controversial former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.

The successful Milan sides of the mid-2000's that won Champions League titles in 2003 and 2007 contained players like Alessandro Nesta, Filippo Inzaghi, Clarence Seedorf and Gennaro Gattuso were all kept past their sell by date and when these players were finally offloaded in 2012 and 2013 the club didn't bring in players of a sufficient quality to replace them.

This was compounded by the fact that the club lost two of its greatest stars, that still had some gas in the tank, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to big spending PSG.

While the club used to be among Europe's big spenders, the more frugal Milan side of today have had to make do with low cost signings and loans to get by.

The misstep hirings and then subsequent firings of former playing greats Clarence Seedorf and Filippo Inzaghi turned out terribly, as did the lack of patience afforded this season to Sinisa Mihajlovic who was fired earlier this month.

All in all, without additional investment and a bit of stability on the touchline it's hard to see Milan challenging Juventus for domestic supremacy any time soon.

Serie A Carpi FC's Lorenzo Pasciuti Scores Historic Goal

2016-01-09T14:03:00.003-05:00

Sitting second last in the Serie A table, Carpi Football Club's 2-1 victory over Udinese earlier today may have been the most exciting event for the club on most occasions. But on this day there was one thing that surpassed the joy of a rare top tier victory for the home club; a goal from little known 26 year old winger Lorenzo Pasciuti to open the scoring in today's match put his and the club's name into Italian football record books. On January 9, 2016 Lorenzo Pasciuti of the small northern Italian commune of Carrara became the first Italian player in history to score a goal in all top 5 divisions in the country, all while playing for the same club.

Having launched his modest football career with the youth ranks of club AlbinoLeffe, Pasciuti played first team football with three clubs before joining his current side Carpi in 2009. At the time the club was playing in Serie D, the fifth tier of Italian football. At the end of the 2009-10 season Carpi was promoted to tier 4, the Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. Finishing in first place of Group B in the fourth tier, it took the club a single season to be promoted once more, this time heading to 3rd tier Lega Pro Prima Divisione. During this instant promotion season Pasciuti scored five times and had now put the ball in the back of the net in both the 5th and 4th tiers of Italian football while playing for Carpi.

In the club's first season in the Lega Pro Prima Divisione, Carpi managed to secure a promotion playoff spot after finishing 3rd in the league standings. But their debut in Serie B would have to wait another year after losing in the promotion playoff final to Pro Vercelli. With Lorenzo Pasciuti now a regular in the side, and despite him scoring just one goal in 22 appearances on the season, Carpi was once more in a promotion playoff battle at the end of the year. This time around however, Pasciuti's club would claim their spot in Serie B after defeating F.C. Südtirol and US Lecce, with Lorenzo appearing in all 4 playoff matches.

Carpi's first season in Serie B (the club's first time in Italian 2nd tier football since 1928) was pretty balanced with the club finishing right in the middle of the pack in 12th place. The 2013-14 season also marked Lorenzo Pasciuti's first ever goals with Carpi in Italy's 2nd tier. Pasciuti scored twice on the year; once during an away 4-1 away thrashing of Padova and the other during a surprise 2-1 win against eventual league winner Palermo (also on the road).

The club's second year in Serie B was near flawless. With 22 league wins in 42 matches, Lorenzo Pasciuti and Carpi Football Club 1909 were headed to the top tier of Italian football having finished first in Serie A at the conclusion of the 2014-15 season. Lorenzo scored three times on the year, but unlike the previous season, this time every one of his goals came in front of the club's home crowd. Lorenzo Pasciuti was now headed to Serie A with only a single goal separating the (then) 25 year old from an unknown commodity, to Italian football record holder.

Carpi's start to the 2015-16 season in Serie A was as tough as one could imagine. In the club's first 18 matches Carpi conceded 33 times for a grand total of 11 losses, 5 draws and only 2 wins. Pasciuti was not enjoying a great time either; having started just a single match in the previous year from the bench, Pasciuti was now not in the starting line-up in the first 11 matches of the season (8 on the bench and 3 missed due to injury). On November 8, 2015 manager Fabrizio Castori started Pasciuti for the first time on the year and what would be Lorenzo's first ever start in Italy's top tier.

Getting back to regular health Pasciuti was given more time on the pitch and had started in three matches which saw him play the entire 90 minutes; all leading up to a day the club, the fans and Lorenzo Pasciuti himself would never forget.

Although it didn't seem that many knew it at the time, Pasciuti's 26th minute header against Udinese earlier today was actually quite a remarkable feat and the first of its kind in Italian football. In just 6 years Lorenzo Pasciuti has not only helped his club to four promotions and a first appearance in Italy's top tier since 1922, but has also in the process become the first footballer to ever score in all top 5 tier of Italian football with one club.

Watch today's highlights to see Lorenzo Pasciuti's record breaking goal:

Concepts: Every Serie A Crest "Americanized" by Graphic Artist

2015-12-23T15:27:00.002-05:00

Italian designer "Crowdgraphics" took his love of American sports to his countiry's football league by redesigning every Serie A (2015-16) club's historic badge to resemble the style of American team logos. I, personally am a more traditional kind of guy when it comes to football crests, nonetheless, it was very interesting to take a look at how Italian club identities may have looked if they were all designed by a sports logo artist from North America.

Let us know what you think. Would you suggest any of the clubs below to switch to their "Americanized" look? For me there is one crest that stands out and may be a pretty good alternative to the original; it's that of Atalanta.

5 Great Football Stars That Played for Parma

2015-06-22T16:00:00.000-04:00

With today's news of Italian side Parma FC declaring bankruptcy, I couldn't help but think of how wonderful the club was in the 1990's and early 2000's. In that short span Parma was able to capture the Coppa Italia title on three occasions, finish in a club record runner-up position in Serie A, win the UEFA Cup twice, and once win the European Cup Winners' Cup and European Super Cup.

Now, the 101 year old club will have to restart its life in Serie D; the amateur level. But instead of dwelling on the sad news I decided to celebrate the club's history a bit, taking a look at 5 incredible footballers that once wore the shirt of Parma Football Club.

Faustino Asprilla

Colombian forward Faustino Asprilla played in over 100 matches for Parma FC in his two stints at the club. In 1992 Parma became Asprilla's first club outside of Colombia when they outbid other Italian clubs to sign him from Colombian side Atlético Nacional for almost $11 million. After leaving for England in 1996 and spending two seasons with Newcastle United, Asprilla returned to Parma for another year.

Gianfranco Zola

Italian international Zola was part of Parma FC between 1993 and 1996, scoring 49 times in 102 appearances for the club before signing for London club Chelsea FC.

Fabio Cannavaro

The face of the 2006 World Cup winning Italy national team, star center-back Fabio Cannavaro spent a good majority of his career with Parma. A member of the club between 1995 and 2002, Cannavaro made over 200 appearances for the club before moving on to Inter, Juventus and Real Madrid.

Gianluigi Buffon

A fact that still manages to surprise football fans around the world; Parma FC was Gianluigi Buffon's first professional club. Coming up the ranks from its youth side, "Gigi" put in just under 200 appearances for Parma before moving on to Juventus where he became a legend between the posts.

Hernán Crespo

Argentine striker Hernán Crespo was signed by Parma in 1996 from his native and first professional club River Plate. In his five years with the club, Crespo made over 100 appearances, scoring 62 goals, averaging more than half a goal per game. Crespo's career would take him to various other clubs, but the Argentine returned to Parma once more in 2010 and retired from football in 2012 with Parma FC officially being the last professional club he had played for.

Football Club Minimalist Posters to Decorate Your House

2015-02-12T20:00:00.000-05:00

Ever wondered how you could support your favorite club without breaking that minimalist style of your interior decor? Well, you are indeed in luck because Hungarian designer Balázs Varga has come up with just the right solution.

In this project Varga designed the perfect way to mix the passion of a football fan with the minimalist approach to a stylish home, office or even mancave. His club posters could probably be produced on canvas or framed prints and will not ruin that 'chique' design that you or your girlfriend/wife have so carefully put together.

Here is the collection of club posters from Germany, England, Italy and Spain.

Top 10 Silvio Berlusconi Quotes

2015-02-10T12:00:00.000-05:00

The AC Milan owner is one of the most charismatic owners in World Football. Not only does he own one of the giants of Italian football he has also been the Prime Minister of Italy for three terms.

Now, one would think that the fact that he has an estimated net worth of US$9.0 billion and is a former Prime Minister would give this loose cannon a bit more stability and accountability. Instead he is a complete maverick, someone who plays by his own rules, says what he wants when he wants it and has no concern for what others may think of him.

Finding quotes to make a top 10 list wasn’t difficult, what was difficult was to narrow it down only to ten.

“Mussolini never killed anyone, he just sent dissenters abroad for vacation.”

“Only Napoleon did more than I have done. But I am definitely taller.”

“Barack Obama being young, handsome and sun-tanned is going to get along with you swimmingly.”

“Obviously the government of [Mussolini's] time, out of fear that German power might lead to complete victory, preferred to ally itself with Hitler's Germany rather than opposing it … The racial laws were the worst fault of Mussolini as a leader, who in so many other ways did well.”

“I am absolutely sure to be the most democratic man to ever become Prime Minister in Italy.”

“Go and read the black book on communism and you'll find that under Mao's China they didn't eat babies but they boiled them to fertilize the fields.”

“The women of the Right are certainly the most beautiful … the Left has no taste, not even when it comes to women.”

“They keep calling me a dwarf, but I'm taller than Sarkozy and Putin.”

“The public prosecutor … should be subject to regular examinations to attest to sanity.”

“I used all my playboy skills and courted the Finnish President.”

Sunday Trivia - 5 Faceless Players - Nerazzurri Edition

2015-01-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

This week on Sunday Trivia we feature F.C. Internazionale Milano. Can you guess all of these past and present Inter stars?

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An Old Lady, a Red Card and Teammate Drama - Podolski's Debut at Inter

2015-01-07T12:00:00.000-05:00

Debuting for his new club Inter Milan at the Juventus Stadium facing Serie A leaders Juve, German international Lukas Podolski must have prepared himself for a tough fought first game, but what he got to witness instead was a lot more than just good football.

Starting the match on the bench, Podolski hardly managed to warm his bench-seat up before the hosts went 1-0 ahead in just the fifth minute thanks to a goal from Argentine striker Carlos Tevez. After a decent first half however the score remained the same at the referee's whistle, with the Bianconeri leading by one.

Just 9 minutes after the restart Inter manager Roberto Mancini decided to utilize his new World Cup winning footballer, slotting Podolski in as a replacement for Serbian international Zdravko Kuzmanovic. The German seemed to adjust well to the pace of the Italian game, controlling the ball on many occasions.

In the 64th minute the German witnessed exactly what he most likely wished for since the first five minutes, a great pass towards Mauro Icardi inside the Juventus box and the Argentine made no mistake slotting the ball past Buffon for the equalizer. Podolski and his teammates would go on to scare the hosts on a number of occasions after that, coming close to scoring a winner, although in a number of instances they could have also conceded.

Then, a bit of chaos. Scenes that perhaps were as welcoming as Lukas would have hoped for in his very first match with Inter. In the 86th minute a two footed challenge from Mateo Kovacic saw Podolski's side go down to ten men.

But less than a minute after the sending off, the real treat of the match. As Mauro Icardi and teammate Dani Osvaldo break, Icardi carries the ball and instead of slotting it to the open Osvaldo on his right hand side Icardi decides to shoot at Buffon's goal, missing it completely. Osvaldo goes nuts, running towards Icardi looking to fight his teammate. What makes this moment so much fun is the look on Podolski's face as this is happening. His expression says it all! (see video below)

Macron Celebrates Lazio’s 115th Anniversary with New Kit

2015-01-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

Macron is helping SS Lazio celebrate the 115th anniversary by launching a new special eagle Lazio kit early this year.

The new Lazio kit will be based on the famous “Maglia Bandiera” which was used in the 1980’s and is looked at as one of the most iconic club kits in Italian football.

Based on that iconic kit, the new Lazio kit will feature an eagle graphic on the front of the kit, which was also part of the Lazio’s 1980’s club crest. The eagle design starts on the front of the jersey and it continues to the sleeves and back, as if the eagle was spread its wings.

The kit has two main colors; the top is white while the bottom part is sky blue. The shorts will also be in sky blue while the socks are white.

The original kit was designed in early 1980’s by former Lazio president Gian Chiaron Casoni, whose also owns the trademark to the design. In September of 2014 Lazio and Casoni’s family reached an agreement which allowed them to use the design during this year’s commemoration kit.

It is not known if the kit will be used for only one game or for the remaining of 2015.

Sunday Trivia - 5 Faceless Players - i Rossoneri Edition 2.0

2014-12-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

A second edition of our faceless AC Milan footballers.

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Any Given Sunday: Parma Needs to Pay up… Sucka!!!!

2014-12-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

I know that it sounds like I channeled my inner Booker T on this one, a bit of a wrestling reference for those that enjoy that kind of sports and entertainment, but I am sure that is exactly how it sounded to Parma when the Italian FA deducted points for failing to pay player wages.

Last month the Italian FA charged the Serie A club for not paying player wages dating back to November of 2013. A decision has been made now to fine the club President and director 5,000 euros each and deducting one point from the team.

As far as the point goes, it hurts the club since they are dead last in the league, but I wonder how able to pay these fines will these two gentlemen be. They can’t pay the salaries and you expect them to pay fines? Unless they start collecting money at the door of the stadium during home games, I can see this fine having very little effect on how they conduct business. The fine should have been larger and the money from the fine should have been used by the Italian FA to pay some of the salaries owed, not to line the treasury of the league.

Reports suggest that Parma is on the brink of being bought by a Russian-Cypriot conglomerate, making it the third Serie A club to have foreign owners.

This could be the lifeline that Parma needs. A quick injection of capital would help normalize the financial situation of the club and perhaps instill some level of confidence and hope in the players. Being last is no fluke and when your salaries are not paid on time how motivated are you to give 110% on the field every weekend. Perhaps as motivated as the guys running the club are to pay the salaries of the players.

10 Best Del Piero Quotes

2014-12-02T12:00:00.000-05:00

Del Piero is an icon of world football, but for Juventus fans he has reached almost a God like status. His love for the club and his determination to play under any conditions in order to help his beloved club win has made him a cult hero among the diehard Juventus fans.

He has left the club to continue his career but he will forever be linked with Juventus, and he will always be one of the classiest players you will ever see.

When we think of Del Piero we perhaps don’t think of great quotes or even of someone who is extremely outspoken, but he is someone that when he talks, everyone should listen as it is proven by the quotes below.

“Money is not everything. My ambition was football itself, not the money I'd make from it. If that brings me and my family a more comfortable lifestyle, then that's fine. But I don't spend my time between games and training sessions thinking about figures.”

“Luckily, thanks to the way my parents taught me, I think I can handle the fame in the right manner.”

“I even scored Monaco's goal too. Please, put it down as an own goal for me!”

“Italy have plenty of high-quality players. Newcomers need time to get adjusted to the set-up and the system of play. I'm very young, and although I think I have shown good quality in my international games, I realize that there are plenty of others competing for places.”

“As far as our fans are concerned, I'm the only one who counts; along with my teammates, obviously.”

“I'm the leading scorer in the cup, and that's lovely, but don't forget this is also a great moment for the whole squad, when the two things coincide you can't ask for more.”

“As captain, I must always be an example to my team-mates. I'm calm and I don't have any problem with the coach or with the club. My only goal is to be ready whenever I have the opportunity to play.”

“As for Sweden v Denmark it is hard for it to end 2-2. 0-0 and 1-1 are results which are easier to achieve but 2-2 would make you think of an accord between the two sides.”

“One bad showing will not stop us. Having so many games so close to one another on the one hand makes things very difficult but on the other it gives us the possibility to remediate things right away.”

"The championship was won by me and my teammates in equal measure, Naturally, it's nice to be the center of attention, and the fact that I've scored more goals than in past years and have scored more than my teammates has obviously given me a high profile. I've just tried to do my best as always... and I've definitely grown. But I have to thank my teammates and all those who have worked with us."

Weekend Recap - What a True Derby Looks Like (Juventus v. Torino)

2014-12-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

I must admit that when it comes to Serie A football, I personally am as intrigued by it as by any other league I follow less than often. Of course, as a true football man I keep an eye on the action knowing that it is indeed one of the better leagues in the entire world. So when I sat down to watch the Turin derby this past weekend I knew that more likely than not I was in for a treat.

I wasn't wrong, that's for sure. A rivalry that doesn't get played every season due to Torino's bouncing around between relegation and promotion back to the top tier, the Derby della Mole is intense every time nonetheless and this season's first meeting between the two was no different.

Not surprisingly home side and Serie A leaders Juventus enjoyed the majority of possession and looked deservedly the better team on the pitch. But once the final whistle blew I couldn't help but feel that Torino deserved at least a draw in this match; a match that was won by the otherwise mediocre on the day Andrea Pirlo with what was practically the last shot of the match.

The passion and intensity both clubs played with however was really the highlight of the weekend for me personally. A true derby dynamic both on the field and in the stands; the derby buzz was apparent to those watching on TV, and I can only imagine the electric atmosphere experienced by those who were lucky enough to be in the city, or even better, in the stands.

The Bianconeri went ahead after just 15 minutes, at which point I was sure Torino would not be able to get a hold of the match. But the Granata did not give up. Just 7 minutes after Juve went 1-0 up, Torino managed to do what they could not achieve since for over 12 years when they last scored against Juventus. Aside from braking their terrible scoring record against city rivals Juventus, Torino not only scored, but managed to secure what will likely be one of the best goals of the year thanks to Bruno Peres' incredible individual effort to put his team level. The Brazilian full-back took the ball deep in his own end and dashed to the right wing. With a burst of speed he left Juventus players "in the dust"so to speak, right before slotting the ball into Juve's net from just inside the box. (see goal highlight below)

The celebration said it all. It was a moment that was very dear and important for the supporters of a team who had not scored against their bitter rivals since February of 2002.

It was two former Juventus footballers who nearly gave Torino a 2-1 lead just after the restart when Amauri and Quagliarella combined, just for Quagliarella to put the ball on the wrong side of the bar.

Juventus would have the very last laugh however, as none other than Andrea Pirlo would slot in a scorcher with no time left on the clock. The stadium erupted in a fashion that would be acceptable for a championship winning goal. That's how important derbies are for football fans. (Pirlo's goal below)

I sat satisfied after the final whistle. Not because I prefer Juve to Torino and perhaps not even because the football was the best quality I have ever seen. I was happy because I watched two clubs who understand the importance of an otherwise not so important middle of the season match between league leaders and a club that is mediocre at best (at least in the standings); a match that would otherwise go under the radar to fans outside of Italy if it were not a local rivalry.

FULL HIGHLIGHTS

Juventus - Torino (2-1) - Full Highlights 30-11... by musicandother2014

Fiorentina Signs with Le Coq Sportif

2014-12-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

One of the most iconic sporting brands is Le Coq Sportif and they are looking at making a big splash in the football market in 2015. They will announce soon a partnership with Serie A club Fiorentina as they will be replacing Joma as the kit supplier.

Joma and Fiorentina had a three year deal that ends in 2015, and Le Coq Sportif is moving in quick to get their name on the Fiorentina kits.

Reports are emerging that Le Coq Sportif outbid Kappa and Umbro to be the kit supplier of Fiorentina. There are no contract details available to the public, so no information on the dollar amounts or the duration of the deal, but the partnership will start in the 2015-16 season.

Another team rumored to be moving to Le Coq Sportif is French side, Saint-Etienne. Their deal with Adidas is coming to an end and the French manufacture is the lead runner in getting the clubs signature.

Le Coq Sportif had a huge impact in the footballing world in 1982 and 1986 when they sponsored Argentina that would eventually win the tournament in 1986. From 2009 to 2012 Le Coq Sportif was the kit supplier of Everton in the Premier League but since then they have almost but disappeared from the football market.

Looking forward to see what they do in 2015, their kits used to be very classy.

Any Given Sunday: Secret Society of Italian Football

2014-11-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

Most of us have experienced or know someone who suffers from baldness, but it looks like one group of people have not only found the solution to this problem they have been able to reverse the effects of aging and losing their hair, former Italian footballers.

This could be the biggest revolution in the game of football since the addition of the goal line technology. Many players around the world have suffered the effects of male baldness, from as recently as Rooney to as far back Gazza, players have struggle to keep their wonderful hair going into the later stages of their career and into retirement. One group has clearly found the solution to this problem and they are no other than former Italian footballers.

They have been able to keep this new discovery quiet and amongst themselves, and not even all former Italian footballers have been privy to this information. I am sure Baresi would love to be given some idea of what he needs to do to follow the footsteps of some of his former teammates at the Italian national team.

Former players like Salvatore Schillaci, a hero for Italy at the 1990 World Cup or the even more famous former Juventus coach and currently Italy’s coach, Conte. These two men are only the tip of this iceberg; since they have a higher profile than some others their new spontaneous growth of hair has somehow gone unnoticed by mainstream media, but not by me. It is a scientific or perhaps a genetic conundrum how some of these players and more specific these two have been able to get better hair as they have got older while most of us see this process happening in reverse.

Could it be the food? Perhaps pasta, pizza or tomato sauces have a special ingredient that provides them with a rebirth of hair at a later stage in their life. Can’t be, otherwise all others would be following suit, and the fact is that this genetic improvement hasn’t been available to all and only a selected few. Could this be the start of a new secret Italian order that could have links as far back as the Templars? Perhaps in some of their travels a group of Italian international players discovered a rare relic that allows them to grow hair as they get older instead of losing it?

It is my believe that Conte is at the head of this secret organization, and that has allowed him to not only win domestic titles after domestic titles but also land the national team job. His hair as far as I have been able to gather has not improved his coaching skills but it has added to his incredible sex appeal and overall metrosexual look. It seems to me that whatever they have discovered is somehow linked to Paolo Maldini. It is very strange and mind boggling that the new hair is completely different in style and texture from their previous hair and it comes more in line with Maldini’s hair. Have they found a way to clone Maldini’s hair? This could be a huge leap in scientific knowledge.

For now the exact process or explanation has been kept out of reach of the public and other footballers, and they have been able to keep mainstream media in the dark, which shows how strong and powerful these man are. A new world order is upon us, and it will be one with incredible gorgeous and wavy hair.

Juventus Best Starting XI

2014-11-08T20:00:00.000-05:00

Juventus is one of the most historic Italian teams of all time.

If you don’t believe me ask any Juventus fan and they will be sure to agree with that statement. I always wanted to see who would the best starting XI of the last 20 years, so I survey the biggest Juventus fan I know and after much deliberation this is his list that we came up with.

GK - Gianluigi Buffon

The World's Most Expensive Goalkeeper, Buffon moved from Parma to Juventus in 2001 for 45 Million Euro, a record that stands today. Since then, Buffon has only gone on to become the best keeper of this generation. BUffon has an impressive trophy cabinet that includes 5 Serie A Championships, Domestic Cups, and several individual honours. Currently the Captain of Club and Country, "Gigi" is now 36 and closing in on 400 appearances for Juve, but sill puts in performances worthy of his nickname "Superman".

RB - Stephan Lichtsteiner

Arriving from Lazio in 2011, Lichtsteiner is an integral part of Juve's current dominance of Serie A. Blessed with good pace and incredible energy, he has earned the name "Forrest Gump". Whipping in a great cross or scoring the occasional goal, Lichtsteiner provides many assets in attack and defense. Closing in on 100 appearances.

CB - Ciro Ferrara

A rock at central defense for 10 years with the great Juve teams of the late 90's and early in the new Millenium, forming great partnerships at Centre Back over the years with the likes of Lilian Thuram, Igor Tudor, and Fabio Cannavaro. Ferrara won the Champions League in 1996 and Serie A titles in 1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, and 2005. He also went on to have a coaching stint with Juventus in 2010, though it did not go as well as his time as a player.

CB - Giorgio Chiellini

A throwback to the hard-nosed defensive style of days past, Chiellini is never one to shy away from a challenge. "King Kong" has anchored the Juve backline since their return from Serie B and the "Calciopoli" scandal of 2006, helping to bring back Juve's trademark tough defense. Among other team honours, he was a huge part of the "Invincibles" team from the 2011/2012 season, including a defense which only conceded 20 goals, lowest ever in Serie A's 38 game schedule. He can also score too, finding the net 31 times in all competitions since first featuring for Juve in 2005.

LB - Gianluca Zambrotta

Arriving from Bari in 1999, Zambrotta was later converted to a Left Back by then-coach Marcello Lippi, and went on to play both the Right and Left for the great Juve sides of the early 2000's. In 7 seasons with the Old Lady, Zambrotta won 2 Scudettos and 2 Italian Super Cups.

RM - Mauro Camoranesi

A player who was perhaps never truly appreciated in the Penninsula due to his status as an "Oriundo", a member of the National Team born outside of Italy, Camoranesi nevertheless had some great years at Juventus. Skillful on the ball, Camoranesi always relished the opportunity to dribble past a defender, and also scored 27 goals through 8 seasons. Part of 3 Scudetto winning teams (2 revoked from Calciopoli).

CM - Andrea Pirlo

"The Architect" has undergone a career renaissance since joining the Bianconeri in 2011, and has pulled the strings in the offence. A sublime passer of the ball, Pirlo has vision like no other currently playing. He is also deadly from set pieces, scoring 12 times in only 3 seasons, with mostly all coming from free kicks. Winner of 3 Serie A titles from 2012 through 2014. Class personified.

CM - Edgar Davids

The perfect foil to Pirlo's class on this best XI, Davids provided non stop energy and toughness to Juventus from 1997 to 2004. Easily identified by his long dreadlocks and protective goggles needed for glaucoma, he was described by Marcello Lippi as "My one-man engine room" and nicknamed "The Pitbull" for his marking ability. Davids won Serie A titles in 1998, 2002, and 2003.

LM - Pavel Nedved

Nedved came to Juve from Lazio in 2001, with the responsibility of filling the vacancy left by Zinedine Zidane. Nedved went on to become a club legend with Juventus, winning the 2003 Ballon d'Or as a member of the team, and leading them to an inspirational run to the Champions League final. Nedved is most remembered by Juve supporters for his incredible performance that year in the Semi-Finals versus Real Madrid. Though a red card in the second leg of that tie meant that he would miss the Final, which Juve lost. A tireless worker, Nedved won Serie A in 2002 and 2003. Nedved is still with the club as a member of Juventus' Board of Directors.

ST - David Trezeguet

Trezeguet arrived at Juve in 2000 having just given France the Euro title over Italy. However, "Treze-gol", as he was known to the Juve faithful, quickly repaid them. He scored 24 goals in his second season with Juve, winning Serie A Top Scorer, and 138 goals in 245 Serie A games. Trezeguet collected Serie A titles in 2002 and 2003, and will be forever in the hearts of supporters for sticking with the team through their demotion to Serie B, along with the likes of club legends Buffon & Nedved.

ST - Alessandro Del Piero

Wore the Number 10 shirt like a second-skin, Del Piero arrived in 1993 from Padova as a 17 year old, and went on to spend 20 years with Juventus. Dubbed by former Club President Gianni Agnelli as "Il Pinturicchio", a reference to the Renaissance artist, and as at the time, Del Piero was "understudy" to the legendary Roby Baggio. Of course, Del Piero became a legend in his own right, scoring 290 times in an incredible 705 games across all competitions. Many of those came from his trademark "Gol alla Del Piero"; by cutting in from the left side at the top of the box, and curling the ball into the far corner. Del Piero won a Champions League in 1996 and Serie A titles in 1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2003. He closed his Juve career by Captaining the "Invincibles" side of 2012 to one last Scudetto. Del Piero left Juventus as their all time leader in goals with 290 (186 in open play, 62 penalties, 42 free kicks), and minutes played with 48,363. When it comes to modern-era, Del Piero quite simply IS Juventus.

5 Facts About Marcello Lippi

2014-11-03T16:00:00.000-05:00

Champions League and World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi announced this week that he will be retiring from management after landing a fourth straight Chinese Super League title with Guangzhou Evergrande.

Although the former Italian National Team boss is stepping away from the bench, he'll continue on with Guangzhou as their Director of Football.

The following are five facts about his glittering career:

Only Coach to Win the UEFA Champions League, the AFC Champions League, and the World Cup

In 1996 Lippi led a terrific Juventus side that included players such as Gianluca Vialli, Alessandro Del Piero and Fabrizio Ravanelli to glory in the UEFA Champions League as they defeated Ajax 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Ten years later he was again at the helm of a side winning a major final on penalties. In charge of his country in Germany, Lippi guided Italy to their fourth World Cup title as they beat France 5-3 in the shootout after another 1-1 draw.

In 2013, he led Guangzhou Evergrande to AFC Champions League glory after winning the two legged final on away goals following a 2-2 draw away to FC Seoul and then a 1-1 return leg in China.

Managed Eight Clubs in Nine Years

The future Azzurri boss started his career at the bottom of the Italian football pyramid with Pontedera in 1985/1986, before moving on to Siena in 1986/1987, Pistoiese in 1987/1988, Carrarese in 1988/1989, Cesena in 1989/1990 to 1990/1991, Lucchese in 1991/1992, Atalanta in 1992/1993, and finally Napoli in 1993/1994.

It was in Naples where he caught the attention of the country's bigger clubs and after leading Napoli to a UEFA Cup place he was snapped up by Juventus in the summer of 1994.

Wrote a Book on His Coaching Philosophy

Lippi outlined his coaching philosophy in the book 'Il Gioco delle Idee: Pensieri e Passioni da Bordo Campo (A Game of Ideas: Thoughts and Passions from the Sidelines)'. In it, he stresses the importance of team unity and team spirit, with an emphasis on the best players not necessarily making the best team. He valued the relationships between his players and their willingness to follow the same plan over individual ability. He would, quite sensibly, adjust his tactical plans for the teams he managed based on the attributes of the players at his disposal, but would emphasize that players strictly adhered to these plans.

Coach With the Most UEFA Champions League Runners-Up Medals

Despite his tremendous success in both club and international football, Lippi has the unfortunate record of ending up on the losing side in three UEFA Champions League Finals. After leading Juventus to victory in 1996, his side were upset by Borussia Dortmund in the 1997 final, and then were narrowly beaten by Real Madrid in 1998. In his second stint with the Turin based club, he led Juventus to the 2003 UEFA Champions League Final at Old Trafford where they would lose to AC Milan on penalty kicks following one of the worst finals in recent years.

Managed the Second Highest Number of Matches for One Club in Serie A

In Serie A, where clubs are pretty quick on the trigger if a coach is deemed to be under-performing, Lippi was at the helm for a combined 405 matches Juventus over two stretches in Turin. Only Giovanni Trapattoni with 590 matches, also at Juventus, has coached more matches for one club in Italy.

Some of Italy's other clubs would be wise to look at the patience extended to both of these great bosses by 'The Old Lady' as Lippi would land five Serie A titles at Juventus which is just behind Trapattoni's six league championship wins.

Michael Bradley Still Believes Coming to TFC Was the Right Move

2014-10-18T18:00:00.000-04:00

With all of the hype of Jermaine Defoe signing for Toronto FC and the 'Bloody Big Deal' marketing campaign, the signing of American international Michael Bradley was perhaps slightly overshadowed.

Personally, I thought at the time that this was the most significant of Toronto FC's three Designated Player signings. Defoe was of course a big name, mercenary signing that had been lured by the generous pay cheque and a chance to play in a foreign league, and Gilberto was an unknown factor. Bradley was a 26 year old who was playing for Roma in Serie A and as an American knew what the MLS was all about, so therefore his signing was a legitimate 'big deal'.

Of the moves Toronto FC made last summer, this was by far the most significant and this disappointing season aside, could have the most resounding effect on the team.

This week though, American national team boss Jurgen Klinsmann took a soupy leak on Bradley and TFC's parade when he said that he would struggle to "keep at the same level in the MLS".

Although Klinsmann did say that the league is getting stronger, he openly worried that guys like Bradley and Clint Dempsey will suffer for playing in, what he perceives, is a weaker league.

This drew a furious response from MLS Commissioner Don Garber who said that, "I feel very strongly, having spent the last 24 hours thinking about this issue, that Jurgen’s comments are very detrimental to the league. Sending a negative message to any players that signing with MLS is not good for career or form is incredibly detrimental to U.S. soccer.

“I believe that it sends the wrong message to other young American players. I also think it’s going to send the wrong message to players we’re trying to sign from overseas.”

Garber said that Klinsmann's comments were "disappointing and, frankly, personally infuriating."

The MLS boss noted that Klinsmann's lack of respect for the MLS was evident when he didn't include Landon Donovan in the US squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

“I believe that Landon should have been in Brazil," Garber said. "I believe his treatment was inexcusable.”

Garber concluded by, essentially, saying that Klinsmann should keep his mouth shut regarding the MLS in future and thus not damage the image of the league.

For Bradley though, his playing time at Roma had diminished prior to his exit and he welcomed the move back to North America when it materialized.

"As a player it's always the same. You want to be at a place where you're valued as a player [and] as a person, in terms of what you bring to the table every day," Bradley said. "There's no doubt that now the opportunity to compete and play every day and step on the field each weekend, knowing that you have a big role to play, that that allows guys to improve."

Bradley has become a leader at Toronto FC and is the guy that other players and indeed fans look to. As Defoe has whined, moaned, gone down with injury and disappeared to England for a few stretches, Bradley has gotten his head down and work hard for the team.

Not making it into the MLS playoffs clearly hurt the US International and that stung far worse than Klinsmann's comments this week.

Of his national side boss' disparaging comments about the league and his move to TFC, Bradley said:

"I don't pay much attention to it, to be honest. I have thick skin and I have always had the mentality that as a professional you have to have such a commitment and concentration and determination in who you are and what you're all about that you're not willing to let anybody put you off that.

"I've certainly had moments in my career where people have challenged me, said that I've not been good enough, said that I'll never be good enough. But not only has that never stopped me, it continues to motivate me and fuel me even more."

Unlike his former teammate, Donovan, Bradley is still an integral part of the national side at the moment and he'll certainly be hoping, along with Toronto's many disillusioned fans, that his club side can make the correct moves in the MLS offseason to finally get over the hump and into the playoffs.

Only then will this move back to North America from Europe truly be seen as a good move for his career.

Serie A Nike Concepts by Davide Lanave (Gallery)

2014-10-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

That's right, Davide Lanave is at it again and this time he takes the brand Nike and proposes these Italian Serie A kits that looks absolutely fantastic.

You Try Being Jesus If You Think It's Easy

2014-10-14T18:00:00.000-04:00

Back in the day, footballers in the big leagues across Europe, didn't make that much more than the average working man or woman, and would regularly be seen in shops, pubs, or even on trains with the rest of the normal folks.

Somewhere along the line though salaries went into the stratosphere and footballers became part of 'the bubble' occupied by celebrities and cut off from the rest of us.

They bought big houses in exclusive gated communities, went on ridiculously expensive seven star holidays in Dubai, picked up super cars for extortionate prices and hired nannies to look after their kids, and occasionally have affairs with.

Yes, the life of the footballer at the elite level certainly became grand, but they lost their connection to the fans as a result.

In recent years the emergence of Twitter has given players a chance to reconnect with supporters though and it was in this spirit that Inter Milan defender Juan Jesus reached out to his 122,000 followers this week.

Ciao a tutti, solo per farvi un saluto. Comunque vada stiamo sempre insieme. Un abbraccio a voi #jj5 #forzainter
— Juan 5 Jesus (@juan5jesus) October 13, 2014

“Whatever happens we are always together. A hug to you,” the Brazilian centre-half Tweeted, rather innocently.

Unfortunately, with Inter sitting in tenth place in Serie A and playing some dreadful football so far this season, his tweet met with a bit of a backlash from some of the club's frustrated supporters.

One particularly annoyed fan of the Nerazzurri replied to Jesus' tweet with, “Whatever happens you always take your salary!! Wake up!! You need to win.”

The Brazilian international then adopted the typical, 'let's see you do better defense' when he countered with: “You’ve always got money on your mind. It’s easy for you to say, I’d like to see you on the field.”

To which the fan shot back that Jesus needs to "adopt a different mentality."

Jesus was not amused and fired back with the following:

“How about we swap places? I’ll give you my wages and you live my life (training, travel, games). According to you we do things for a laugh,” Jesus tweeted.

“You don’t know how much I suffer to lose even if it’s to half a goal.

“So do this: ensure that you do everything you can as a supporter and we’ll do our part on the pitch.”

I hope for Juan Jesus' sake that Inter's form improves and he himself plays a role in their better form, as he surely hasn't endeared himself to the Nerazzurri faithful with this little hissy fit.

Carlo Tavecchio Suspended for 6 Month for Racist Remarks

2014-10-08T06:00:00.000-04:00

The recently elected FIGC president, Carlo Tavecchio, has been suspended for six month of all official UEFA functions and events due to racist remarks he made during his campaign in July of this year.

His comments came during his campaign for president of the Italian federation and before the elections took place. Most Serie A clubs criticized publicly his comments and it was believed that those comments would end up costing him the elections, which ended up not happening.

“In England, they verify if the footballers have all the necessary requisites before they allow them to play. Here, it is the reverse, any ‘Opti Poba’ that used to eat bananas is now a starter with Lazio”, these were the comments made by Tavecchio during his campaign.

In addition to the suspension, Tavecchio will have to organize an event in Italy to promote awareness on the issue of racism in football and the fight against it that UEFA has been supportive off.

The punishment imposed by UEFA will not cause Tavecchio’s dismissal as FIGC president. The Italian federation has his own investigation and process in place but it has since been archived, so nothing will come from there.

How leagues, organizations and fans are going to clean up their acts when guys like Tavecchio win the elections to president of the Italian federation? It is impossible to take any of the programs UEFA and FIFA have in place seriously when all you do is suspend an official for six month for racist comments. The punishment is not severe enough, and in all honesty will not change how Tavecchio feels about foreigners or black players.

Racism is not going away, people may hide it, but deep inside they are what they are and their policies will always reflect their own personal views on such topics. Tavecchio could even have a great platform and ideas to modernize Italian football, but when your campaign is based on hatred and racism, it just turns away people from what he is trying to achieve.

Six month is too lenient, but the fact that the Italian federation archived their case is even more alarming, but then again what would anyone expect. They are not going to crucify their own boss. In the end it is an old boys club, and in that club you can’t be of any other race or background.

Controversial Refereeing Taints Juventus vs Roma Game

2014-10-06T21:00:00.001-04:00

Yesterday Juventus defeated Roma 3-2 in what was without a doubt a very controversial Serie A clash.

Two teams fighting for top spot in the table and the rivalry that exists between them was sure to bring out sparks, but when you add 5 goals and three of them coming from the penalty spot, comments about refereeing are sure to surface.

Juventus went ahead first on a penalty kick converted by Carlos Tevez after Maicon was call for handball in the penalty area. Replay video of the play shows that the handball is outside the box. The disadvantage did not discourage Roma that would take the lead with the next two goals in the match. One was a penalty kick converted by Totti and the second by Iturbe.

The lead would not be long lived; Juventus got another penalty when Pogba was taken down at the edge of the box by Pjanic. Once again the video replay shows that perhaps Pogba embellished the play and instead of a foul, it could have been a dive. Tevez scored his second goal of the game and the second from the penalty spot. Juventus would go on to win the game with a goal from Bonucci in the 86th minute; this one could not be disputed. A long range shot from outside the penalty area gave Juventus the 3 points but left many complaining about the refereeing.

Totti, the Roma captain didn’t measure his words following the match. Blaming the poor referee for a loss that in his mind and based on his team performance should be nothing short of a win. “For years the same old incidents keep happening. I don’t know if we were beaten by referees, but we certainly were not beaten by Juventus tonight.” The captain said following the game.

He tried to contain his words, but he was obviously upset, and he may receive a fine for his comments, but it is hard to keep your emotions in check following such a match and when you lose with 2 doubtful penalties against you.

This should be enough fuel to keep journalist writing and people wondering about calls and officials for at least another week in Italy or at least until the next match where a dubious penalty is called in favor of Juventus.

Beatles’ Football Stickers by Alberto Melloni (Gallery)

2014-10-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

Alberto Melloni created a small but incredible collection that illustrates stickers of the famous Beatles if they played for a Serie A side.

It is a small collection of four stickers; after all there were only four Beatles but one worth checking out. This is a must see for not only Beatles fans but also Serie A fans.

A big thank you to Alberto for the wonderful work he has done.

Asprilla Strikes Back with Fruity Condom Business

2014-09-26T15:00:00.000-04:00

The former Parma and Newcastle United striker Faustino Asprilla is entering a new world when it comes to a career path. The former Colombian international is launching a line of flavored condoms that he has designed, in his native Colombia.

He was known for scoring during his playing days, but he is now looking at helping those scoring in their love life. Asprilla has negotiated a contract with a Chinese manufacture, which will be making, distributing and selling his flavored condoms. He has also confirmed that the condoms will come in different sizes and flavors, in hopes to attract a wide customer base.

There is no word from Asprilla or his representatives if an “Asprilla” size will be also added to the collection. He did confirm however that his favorite flavor is guava, the main reason being that he had a guava tree outside the house in which he grew up in. Let us all get our collective minds out of the gutter on this one, and just say that he likes guava, as a fruit.

“It’s a good idea, and it is cool to contribute to safe sex campaigns,” he told Colombia’s El Tiempo newspaper. “I hope people like them, buy them and have fun with them.”

Good for Asprilla to take on such noble endeavor and what better product for a striker to get behind than condoms. I am waiting for Schmeichel to get behind a maxi pad product. Since he was a goal stopper perhaps the Schmeichel pads could stop even the heaviest of flows. If he does get the maxi pad product I want some royalties