When Saturday Comes | The half decent football magazine

Remote control

The Iraqi media have been critical of Zico’s managerial performance and his reluctance to live in Baghdad, writes Sam Green

Since being appointed manager of Iraq last August, Zico has repeatedly made it clear that his principal aim is to guide the troubled nation’s football team to the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil. Despite being well positioned to lead the 2007 Asian champions to the tournament in his homeland, the 58-year-old has discovered that winning over the Iraqi media is a more complicated issue.

Thursday, March 1st, 2012 - The Archive

Keeping faith

Adam Bate considers why so few former goalkeepers have been managers in the Premier League

Joey Barton may have felt he was insulting Neil Warnock by likening him to the eponymous film hero Mike Bassett, but there is no identikit for the football manager. All sorts of folk have trodden the touchline in England, but only two goalkeepers have ever managed in the Premier League. Nearly two decades on from Mike Walker’s sacking at Everton, it is surely high time we asked the question: where are all the goalkeeper managers?

Thursday, March 1st, 2012 - Book reviews

Hot off the press

Nick Dorrington on how footballers’ private lives are rich in gossip for sections of the Peruvian media, whether the stories are true are not

On the corner of every third street in every medium-sized Peruvian town people gather to stare intently at newsstands with an awe that suggests the advent of print press is still, to them, a new phenomenon. Very few of them ever buy the newspapers and magazines displayed; it is the headlines on the front and back pages that stick with them for the rest of the day.

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011 - The Archive

Southern comforts

Footballing tensions in Ireland have worsened recently over several cases of defection and perceived poaching, reports Aaron Rogan

Gerry Armstrong’s goal against Spain in the 1982 World Cup finals will live long in the memories of Northern Ireland supporters. His new role within the Irish Football Association (IFA) could be vital for the future success of the national team. Over the last few years, the south’s Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has begun selecting an increasing number of northern-born and capped players to represent the Republic. Armstrong has been appointed as “elite player mentor” to persuade younger players to stay within the north’s set up.

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011 - The Archive

Little wonders

While the other World Cup winners celebrated the competition’s first 50 years, England stayed at home, writes Neil Andrews

The Mundialito tournament – or Little World Cup – that kicked off in December 1980 was one of those rare occasions when FIFA managed to get everything right. Designed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first ever World Cup, all six previous winners of the trophy were invited to Uruguay, the first hosts in 1930, to contest the title of Champion of Champions. All seven games were to be played at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo and the organisers were determined to set a celebratory tone. However, the English FA seemed to misunderstand this wave of nostalgia and declined to take part, just like they did first time around.

Friday, October 21st, 2011 - The Archive

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Stories

Remote control

The Iraqi media have been critical of Zico’s managerial performance and his reluctance to live in Baghdad, writes Sam Green

Keeping faith

Adam Bate considers why so few former goalkeepers have been managers in the Premier League

Hot off the press

Nick Dorrington on how footballers’ private lives are rich in gossip for sections of the Peruvian media, whether the stories are true are not

Southern comforts

Footballing tensions in Ireland have worsened recently over several cases of defection and perceived poaching, reports Aaron Rogan

Little wonders

While the other World Cup winners celebrated the competition’s first 50 years, England stayed at home, writes Neil Andrews