The search for the next Liverpool manager is over, as the club have agreed a compensation with Swansea City for their manager Brendan Rodgers. The 39-year-old is expected sign a three-year contract with the Anfield club and his appointment is likely to be officially confirmed within 24 hours.
Liverpool finished eighth in the league and sacked Kenny Dalglish just after the season finished. The Reds finished 17 points away from a Champions League qualification spot, but won the League Cup and reached the FA Cup final. On the other hand, Rodgers guided his Swansea side to an impressive eleventh position finish in their debut campaign in the top flight, including a 1-0 win over Liverpool on the final day.
Brendan Rodgers will be unveiled in press conference at Anfield on Friday and here we explain why the Northern Irishman could be a great appointment for the Reds.
1. Will be given time by the owners
When the new Liverpool owners, FSG took over the club in October 2010 Roy Hodgson was already the manager at that time and so they had no choice but to stick with him. When the current England manager was sacked in January last year, the Liverpool fans called for Kenny Dalglish as their man to replace the former Fulham boss, and so to please the fans, the owners appointed the King. But now after sacking Dalglish, the owners have chosen their man and Rodgers is completely their choice and not forced upon by anyone.
Rodgers’ main objective would be to rebuild the club and take them back to their glory days, but the owners would surely know that it can’t be achieved in a season or two. It would take time and unlike the Chelsea chairman Roman Abramovich, FSG would completely stick with him and give him their complete support during his time at Anfield.
2. Will bring back the ‘Pass and Move’ football
The Koptites love talking about their old days when they were the most dominant team in England during the 70s and 80s. Why were they so dominant during those days? It’s mainly because of the philosophy and way of working that defined the club both on and off the field. Off the pitch: it was Bill Shankly’s vision he had for Liverpool. He saw beyond the football club and decided use the city’s characteristics to define the culture of the club and make it one of the best in the world. On the pitch: it was the ‘pass and move’ football which meant playing football where possession was prized. There is no doubt Brendan Rodgers gets his teams playing that kind of football.
Rodgers grew up watching the great Liverpool teams that completely dominated England football and the Northern Irish coach is the great admirer of ‘The Liverpool Way’. In an interview, the former Reading boss said: “That Liverpool was a truly great side. It was two-touch football. Pass move pass move.” This will be music to the ears of the older Liverpool fans, who saw their club go from the best-football playing team in the country to the physical and defensive play under Gerard Houllier. While Rafa Benitez’s teams played better football than the Houllier’s, the Spaniard still used more defensive tactics against the big teams and would settle for a draw against them rather than going for the win. Roy Hodgson’s short reign saw similar football to his two predecessors. Kenny Dalglish brought back the pass and move philosophy when he returned for his second stint but his team found it difficult to get the right results and in his last match they were complete dominated by Rodgers’ Swansea. Now the Anfield faithful would be delighted to watch their team boss oppositions once again.
3. Can get the Right results without spending Much
Rodgers is one of those managers who doesn’t need money to get the right results from his team. Swansea got promoted to the Premier League last summer by winning the Championship playoffs. It was obvious that the Swans won’t be spending a lot during the summer and with a net spend of just around £10m, Rodgers constructed a team that was capable of beating the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool and even Arsenal and also finishing eleventh in their debut season in the Premier League.
As we have seen last summer, the Liverpool owners aren’t shy of spending money but after Dalglish failing to provide with the right results they will be reluctant to spend the same amount of money this season. Rodgers is perhaps the right man who can spot talented and hungry for success players who are normally overlooked by other managers and develop them into top quality players. The same way he has developed the likes of Leon Britton, Scott Sinclair, Nathan Dyer, Angel Rangel, Michel Vorm and the latest of them Gylfi Sigurðsson – who has had an outstanding loan spell with Swansea and could follow his former boss to Anfield.
4. Represents the Future of the club
Kenny Dalglish when stated he would take two cup finals over a top-four league finish just showed how much football had change since his time. Dalglish came back after almost 11 years out of management and surely a lot of things had changed in football – like the environment surrounding the game, the arrival of top foreign players and rival managers and most importantly increase in the media scrutiny – since his past glory days. The demands are very high especially at a top club like Liverpool and there were some indications that the pressure was getting the better of Dalglish and he was still living in the past.
Rodgers at the age of 39 represents the future of British football management. He has learned his trade under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea and has also traveled the continent to learn from different football cultures where the ball is treated as a special prize. The to-be new Reds boss is a huge fan of the Barca’s tiki-taka style of football and he recently said: “The example of the Barcelona model was a great influence and inspiration to me. When I was at the Chelsea academy that was how my players would play, with that high, aggressive press, combined with the ability to keep the ball.” Many pundits across England think he could be a very shrewd appointment for the club and I am sure the Liverpool fans will certainly hope so.
Population 10.7 million Area 131,990km2 Capital Athens Currency Euro Official Language Greek
FOOTBALL FACTFILE
Football Asocciation Ελληνική Ποδοσφαιρική Ομοσπονδία (EPO) Official Sitehttp://www.epo.grYear of formation 1926 Euro Ranking 10 World Ranking 14 National Stadium Athens Olympic Stadium, Athens Well-known club sides Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, PAOK Leading goalscorer Nikos Anastoppious (29) Most capped player Theodoros Zagorakis (120) European Championship finals attended 1980, 2004, 2008 Best European Championship performance Winners 2004 Playing Record in European Championship P114 W55 D22 L37 Odds of winning UEFA EURO 2012 66/1
JOURNEY TO POLAND/UKRAINE
Given the lack of attacking talent at Greece’s disposal it’s dismissive, but not entirely dangerous to say it would be a miracle for them to repeat their achievements of 2004 in Poland & Ukraine. While our hats remain firmly tipped at the most awesome of achievements, we are quite sure that for Greece at least lighting will not be striking twice.
Goals are simply too hard to come by for this team at the moment. They were the lowest scoring of all the UEFA EURO 2012 qualified countries, finding the net an impoverished 14 times in their 10 games and even recalling 32-year-old Angelos Charisteas from the international wilderness.
The good news for Greece fans is that they were resilient defensively. Under Otto Rehhagel, they were miserly in gifting opportunities and remain as unyielding now, conceding just five goals in qualifying.
Unfortunately for the neutral then, it would appear Greece will sit tight, defend as a unit with 10 mean behind the ball, and look to benefit from the minimal opportunities they create. they were the kings of narrow wins in qualifying, so why commit sporting suicide at the main event?
We’re forgetting one thing in all this negative points though: they were undefeated in their group and forced Croatia into a play-off dogfight. While being no pushovers, they will hold little feat going into the finals.
HOW THEY GOT THERE
03/09/2010 – Group F – Greece 1-1 Georgia
07/09/2010 – Group F – Coratia 0-0 Greece
08/10/2010 – Group F – Greece 1-0 Latvia
12/10/2010 – Group F – Greece 2-1 Israel
26/03/2011 – Group F – Malta 0-1 Greece
04/06/2011 – Group F – Greece 3-1 Malta
02/09/2011 – Group F – Israel 0-1 Greece
06/09/2011 – Group F – Latvia 1-1 Greece
02/10/2011 – Group F – Greece 2-0 Croatia
11/10/2011 – Group F – Georgia 1-2 Greece
HOME AND AWAY KITS
GROUP FIXTURES – GROUP A
Friday, 08/06 – Poland v Greece (Warsaw, 17:00)
Tuesday, 12/06 – Greece v Czech Republic (Wroclaw, 17:00)
Saturday, 16/06 – Greece v Russia (Warsaw, 19:45)
FINAL SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Kostas Chalkias (PAOK FC), Michalis Sifakis (Aris Thessaloniki FC), Alexandros Tzorvas (US Città di Palermo).
Karagounis scored the opening goal in the opening game of UEFA EURO 2004 against hosts Portugal, and, to the football world’s shock, lifted the trophy 22 days later in Lisbon. He embodies the battling spirit of the side, which sometimes gets him on the wrong side of the referees. Karagounis holds the record for the most yellow cards in the European Championship. A tough player indeed.
THE KEEPER – ALEXANDROS TZORVAS
Moved to Italy and the Sicilian capital of Palermo for the start of the 2011/12 season and has received a mixed reception after some patchy performances. he remains the first choice for his country though, and has earned consistently good reviews after Greece’s fine defensive performances during the qualification period. Will be a much busier man at this tournament.
STAR MAN – SORITIS NINIS
Born in Albania to Greek parents, Sotiris Ninis is Fernando Santos’ trump card, his diamond in the rough if you like that. In a side somewhat weighed down by seniority and dogged experience Ninis, who plays in the hole behind the strikers, provides the spark, the enthusiasm and the guile that can lift this Gree team to better things. He possesses great vision, the ability to pick the right pass and a fearsome shot. He won the Greek Young Footballer of the Year in 2007 and 2010, and will be looking turn some heads this summer.
THE MANAGER – FERNANDO SANTOS
The task of replacing Otto Rehhagel was never going to be an easy one. Fernando Santos’ predecessor delivered the most unlikely trophy in football history to Athens in 2004 – but to his credit, Santos has made an immediate impact. He has led Greece to UEFA EURO 2012 as group winners, brusing aside Slaven Bilic’s Croatia in the process. His approach bears similarities with Rehhagel’s – physical teams that are tough to break down – and steering Greece through Group A will probably be limit of his ambitions here.
TOURNAMENT PREDICTION
Group Stage – It won’t be easy for the Blue-Whites to get out of their group. They will not have passionate home support of co-hosts Poland, lack the flair of Russia and the attacking threat of Czech Republic. Even though Greece will be hard to break down, but their lack of creative midfielders and quality strikers will be the main reason behind their failure to get out of the easiest looking group at the tournament. A solid defence and team spirit are unlikely to be enough.
Everton have revealed their new away kit for the 2012/2013 season. The stylish black strip with striking yellow detail is the first Everton kit to be unveiled for next season with new shirt manufacturers Nike.
The shirt features a discrete collar and is made from Dri-Fit fabric which is lightweight and manages perspiration, keeping players dry and comfortable for 90 minutes and beyond. The shirt is also part of Nike’s Considered Design programme aimed at reducing environmental impact, and consists of 100 per cent recycled material.
Everton captain Phil Neville told evertontv:
“When you are associated with a brand like Nike and you look down and see that swoosh on your chest then it makes you feel good. It is a really nice kit, all black, and I think the fans will be really pleased with it – the players certainly are.”
This season’s away shirt was unveiled for the first time on Wednesday on evertonfc.com and also to an exclusive audience of loyal supporters who went to every one of the Blues’ home and away games during the 2011/12 season. The dedicated supporters were not only the first to see the away kit but also enjoyed the opportunity to speak with Chief Executive Robert Elstone and Blues legends Graeme Sharp and Ian Snodin.
The strip will officially be released on 23 June with a special event at a revamped Everton Two store in Liverpool city centre. The full strip is available to pre-order online at evertondirect.com now. It will be available to buy on 23 June at Everton One, Everton Two and online.
Everton Players’ Reaction On New Away Kit
Long-serving defender Tony Hibbert said:
“Black and yellow is a good combination and it is a really nice looking kit. I have had plenty of Nike gear in the past, it is one of the biggest manufacturers and one of the best you can have. I think to have Nike as we do now and see the kits and the designs it has to be good for the Club. The kits look unbelievable.”
Skipper Phil Neville likened it to Barcelona’s changed strip from last term, and joked:
“I just hope it makes us play like Barca! “But it is a really nice kit, all black, and I think the fans will be really pleased with it – the players certainly are. The leisure gear looks really nice as well. Everyone knows Nike produce some of the best casual stuff in terms of sports clothing and this is no different.”
Key midfielder Marouane Fellaini added:
“I like it a lot – it is a nice kit, a really nice shirt. I really like Nike designs and being involved with them is good for Everton.”
Player of the Season John Heitinga wears Nike kits for his national team, Holland, and he added:
“It is Nike and I have been contracted with for them for a long time personally so I think it is a good sponsor and also very good for the Club. The designs are fantastic and with this kit I think we are already 1-0 up.”
The Science Behind The Kit
The level of science involved in the design and production of football kits reaches new heights season after season – and the Everton’s new Nike kit is no different. Below is an explanation, provided by Nike, for some of the processes carried out and design features you’ll see with the black away kit unveiled yesterday.
“From a performance standpoint the shirt is made from our proprietary Dri-FIT fabric which is lightweight and wicks sweat away from the athlete to keep them dry and comfortable for 90 minutes and beyond. The shirt is part of our ‘Considered Design’ programme aimed at reducing environmental impact and consists of 100 per cent recycled material.
“With the away kit we wanted to use a classic silhouette that highlights the club rather than design. The colours are commercially very strong while the shirt features a discreet collar and concealed button placket that does not interfere with the player’s performance. The short is a lightweight, woven fabric – slightly longer and slimmer fit than previous patterns we’ve used – and again is from our ‘Considered Design’ programme.
“The sock in each case is a Dri-FIT fabric that pulls perspiration away from the skin to keep the player dry and comfortable, while a dynamic arch bridge provides a supportive compression fit and a stable feel. In addition to the anatomical left and right foot design, the channel-cushioned sole aids wicking perspiration and cushions the sole and Achilles for comfort.”
Population 38.5 million Area 312,685km2 Capital Warsaw Currency Zloty Official Language Polish
FOOTBALL FACTFILE
Football Asocciation Polski Związek Piłki Nożnej (PZPN) Official Sitehttp://www.pzpn.plYear of formation 1919 Euro Ranking 39 World Ranking 65 National Stadium National Stadium, Warsaw Well-known club sides Wisla Krakow, Lech Poznan, Legia Warsaw Leading goalscorers Wlodzimierz Lubanski (48), Gregorz Lato (45), Kazimierz Deyna (41) Most capped players Michal Zewlakow (102), Grzegorz Lato (100), Kazimierz Deyna (97) European Championship finals attended 2008 Best European Championship performance Group Stage 2008 Playing Record in European Championship P93 W38 D25 L30 Odds of winning UEFA EURO 2012 66/1
JOURNEY TO POLAND/UKRAINE
On June 8 2012, Poland will open the 14th European Championship in the Warsaw National Stadium against Greece, in front of nearly 60,000 fervent home supporters. The lowest-ranked team in the tournament – 33rd in Europe and 68th in the world, behind Panama and the Cape Verde islands and Uzbekistan – Polland will desperately want to give a good account of themselves against the 2004 champions, who will also find it difficult to advance from Group A.
Naturally, being the co-hosts, Poland have not had to qualify and thus have not experienced a competitive match for some time. Various friendlies against opposition from all over the globe paint a pretty scattered picture: they have beaten Ivory Coast and Argentina, held Germany to a draw, but lost to Lithunia and Italy.
“We have made mistakes,” said head coach Franciszek Smuda during a recent rallying call, “but that happenings in friendlies – we will only be 100% ready in May 2012. We’ve met big team and, in most cases we didnt feel inferior. The players gained belief that they can perform during the finals. We are heading in the right direction.”
Poland were not always the relative football minnows that they are today. They reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in 1974 and 1982 thanks to the exploitds of Grzegorz Lato and Zbigniew Boniek. Howerer, Austria/Switzerland in 2008 was their first appearance at a European Championship finals and they finished bottom of their group.
The current Polish team’s main strength is that they are young full of beans and very eager to impress. They style of counter-attacking football may leave the more ageing teams flat-footed and in Robert Lewandowski they have a genuine goal-scoring threat. A win UEFA EURO 2012’s opening match may see them through to the quater-finals, any further, though, and things are likely to become unstuck.
HOW THEY GOT THERE
Qualified as hosts.
HOME AND AWAY KITS
GROUP FIXTURES – GROUP A
Friday, 08/06 – Poland v Greece (Warsaw, 17:00)
Tuesday, 12/06 – Poland v Russia (Warsaw, 19:45)
Saturday, 16/06 – Czech Republic v Poland (Wroclaw, 19:45)
FINAL SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Wojciech Szczęsny (Arsenal FC), Przemysław Tytoń (PSV Eindhoven), Grzegorz Sandomierski (KRC Genk).
Defenders: Sebastian Boenisch (SV Werder Bremen), Marcin Kamiński (KKS Lech Poznań), Damien Perquis (FC Sochaux-Montbéliard), Łukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund), Marcin Wasilewski (RSC Anderlecht), Jakub Wawrzyniak (Legia Warszawa), Grzegorz Wojtkowiak (KKS Lech Poznań).
Midfielders: Jakub Błaszczykowski (Borussia Dortmund), Dariusz Dudka (AJ Auxerre), Kamil Grosicki (Sivasspor), Adam Matuszczyk (Fortuna Düsseldorf 1895), Adrian Mierzejewski (Trabzonspor AŞ), Rafal Murawski (KKS Lech Poznań), Eugen Polanski (1. FSV Mainz), Ludovic Obraniak (FC Girondins de Bordeaux), Maciej Rybus (FC Terek Grozny), Rafał Wolski (Legia Warszawa).
Forwards: Paweł Brożek (Celtic FC), Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund), Artur Sobiech (Hannover 96).
THE CAPTAIN – JAKUB BLASZCZYKOWSKI
Jakub Blaszczykowski or ‘Kuba’ as he is referred in the Bundesliga, is a fairly young national team captain at 26, but he is a commanding presence in the middle of the park nevertheless. He was voted Polish Football of the Year in 2008 and 20120, and was also voted the Borussia Dortmund Player of the Year by the fans in 2008, ahead of Neven Subotic and Alexander Frei.
THE KEEPER – WOJCIECH SZCZENSY
Wojciech Szczesny has gently ousted his countryman Lukasz Fabianski from the number one jersey at Arsenal and a series of steady performances have solidified his stats as the Gunners’ main man between the sticks. He is only 22, has tremendous agility and awereness, and a brutish command of his area for someone so young. You just hope his lack of experience doesn’t cost him this summer.
STAR MAN – ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI
After craving out a regular starting place alongside his captain, Jakub Blaszczykowski, in the title-winning Borussia Dortmund side of 2010-11, Robert Lewandowski is the ner darling of Polish football. A 23-year-old forward with genuine eye for chance, Lewandowski represents Poland’s chief goal threat on home soil this summer. In the 2-2 friendly draw with Germany in September last year his instinctive, 55th-minute opener gave an indication of his predatory potential. His current international scoring record is very decent, goal every three games, but he’ll need to better that for success in the finals.
THE MANAGER – FRANCISZEK SMUDA
Franciszek Smuda spent most of his playing career in the MLS, but returned to his home country after a 16-year hiatus in 1993 to coach Stal Mielec. He then led Widzew Lodz to two consecutive domestic titles and into the Champions League, and also win the title with Wisla Krakow and the Polish Cup with Lech Poznan. Was asked to take the reins of the national team after their faliure to qualify for the World Cup 2010 and has bravelu put his faith in the young Borussia Dortmund contingent.
TOURNAMENT PREDICTION
Quarter-Finals – The White Eagles will hope that home advantage will drive them on, and as we have seen with previous hosts, support can act as the clichéd 12th man. If Lewandowski can keep up his fine form and others step up to the plate, a second round finish is not beyond them.
Finally and hopefully the Eden Hazard transfer saga is over as he is set to join ‘Champion’s League Winners’ or ‘European Champions’ Chelsea, after he announced his decision on his twitter page yesterday.
Chelsea defeated Bayern Munich in the finals of the Champions League this month and have qualified for the next season’s Champions League as the holders of the tournament after having finished sixth in the Premier League. There is no official announcement by either Lille or Chelsea about the transfer but its has been hugely speculated for the past two-three days that the clubs had agreed a fee in the region of £33m and the player had made up his mind about signing for the Blues over Manchester City and Manchester United.
Here we analyze Eden Hazard’s move to Chelsea and what does it mean for the club.
Is the transfer a Done Deal?
No. No transfer is a done deal until its confirmed and announced by both the clubs involved. Eden Hazard has just made his choice that he wants to join Chelsea but the club have refused to confirm the transfer in a statement to the Associated Press stating: “As with all transfers when we have something to announce, we will announce in the usual way.”
That means there is still time for other clubs like City and United to come in and hijack the deal. The transfer won’t be a done deal until the two clubs agrees a fee and the player passes a medical. And there have been no official reports from either Lille or Chelsea that things have been agreed.
What the does Eden Hazard signing means for Chelsea?
Eden Hazard is one of the most sought after players in world football and Chelsea beating the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City for his signature means a lot for the club. When Didier Drogba announced he would be leaving the club in the summer after his contract expired, the Chelsea fans were worried and looked at Juan Mata and Fernando Torres as their primary force of attack. But now with Eden Hazard signing surely the future is bright at Stamford Bridge.
With the arrival of Eden Hazard – who has 20 league goals and 15 assists for Lille this season – Chelsea now boast an incredibly impressive midfield with the likes of Juan Mata, Frank Lampard and Ramires already in it. All of them are great passers of the ball and can score some important goals as well. Chelsea looked more a defensive minded team last season especially in the Champions League, but now with the arrivals of Kevin De Bruyne, Marko Marin and Eden Hazard they certainly have more versatility in the final third.
The midfield of the Stamford Bridge club now is a powerhouse which consist the likes of Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel, Ramires, Florent Malouda, Oriol Romeu, Marko Marin, Kevin De Bruyne, Josh McEachran, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard. There not many teams in the world who can boast that much of talent and depth in the middle of the field.
Where will Eden Hazard play for Chelsea?
Hazard started the last season on the wings for Lille, but as the season progressed he was moved in the center by coach Rudi Garcia and was given the role of the main playmaker of the team. That drastically increased his performances for the Ligue 1 side and saw him end the season with 20 goals – including a hat-trick in his last game for the club – and 15 assists.
According to the recent reports in the Daily Mail, Hazard said he wanted to play the same role that he played for Lille, the number10 role for his new club, that is the role just behind the striker, the role of main playmaker. He would be playing the exactly same role at Stamford Bridge. The Blues played with a 4-2-3-1 formation under Roberto Di Matteo and if the Italian becomes the next permanent coach of the club then that formation would fit Hazard perfectly, as he would be the main man just behind Fernando Torres.
With his brilliant passing skills and creativity Hazard would perfectly fit in the role which he has asked for and at the same time could help Torres prove his worth to the club. Torres by no means had a bad season as compared to his first six months at the club but now with the arrival of Hazard expect Torres to get some more chances to score some more goals this season. I always said Chelsea needed a playmaker to get the best out of Torres and now finally they have got Eden Hazard.
At the same time the arrival of the Belgium international will also help to fill the void left by the departing Salomon Kalou. As stated before Hazard started his career on the wings and so when needed Hazard could also play on either wings. His ability to play with either foot, dribbling and pace would cause major trouble to fullbacks.
Why did Hazard choose Chelsea over United or City?
According to the reports in the Daily Mail, Hazard stated he would choose the club that would guarantee him more playing time and would also give him the number10 role. Chelsea were the best option among the three that would satisfy his demands. They desperately needed a playmaker as they can’t depend on Frank Lampard anymore to perform all season as he isnt getting any younger so Hazard was always going to be the main man around whom the team would be build, if he joined the Blues.
United play an orthodox 4-4-2 formation which meant Hazard would have to play on the wings where he would have faced some stiff competition from Antonio Valencia, Nani and Ashley Young for a starting place or he would have settle in the center of midfield besides Michael Carrick. Both the roles didn’t guarantee him much playing time as he wanted and neither gave him the number10 role which asked for. At City, Hazard would have faced some tough competition from David Silva and Samir Nasri for the role he wanted and at the same time he won’t have got the same amount of playing time he would get at Chelsea.
Many people would say Chelsea offered him more wages than the other two clubs but I feel there is no harm for the player to go for more money if he has chance to do that. We have seen in the past that money does buy success and Chelsea have proved that on many occasions, so going to Chelsea was not just about the money.
Will Hazard be a hit in the Premier League?
No one can say whether he would be a hit in the Premier League or will turn out to be Chelsea’s next big money signing that flopped. Hazard is a great talent and has the potential to be one of the best players in the Premier League but he needs to work hard. He won the Ligue 1 Player of the Year twice in the row with Lille but that doesn’t mean he would be a hit in the Premier League. He isn’t going to be as dominant at Chelsea as he was with Lille because Premier League is completely a different ball game compared to Ligue 1. The standard of the Premier League game is on a very higher level compared to any other league and we have seen many talented players come to the Premier League and failed. I just hope he lives upto his hype and reaches his potential as well as establishes himself as a Chelsea fan favourite.
It doesn’t seem possible that almost four years have passed since Iker Casillas and Spain lifted the Henri Delaunay Cup in Vienna. But with the qualifying campagin completed, the draw for the finals made and most of squad being announced, the countdown to UEFA EURO 2012 has begun.
Since its inception in 2960, the UEFA European Championship has gone from strength to strength with every tournament. Only four nations competed at the first finals in France, but in 2016 the number of participating teams will have expanded to 24. UEFA EURO 2012, though, will have the same format we have become used to since Euro 96 with 16 nations fighting it out for the trophy.
UEFA EURO 2008 in Austria & Switzerland was a resounding success. Spain were worthy champions and the brand of football they played gave fans across the world great pleasure. It was also the second time the tournamnet had been successfully staged across two joint host countries, and Poland and Ukraine will provide another exciting dimension as the finals head east. Millions of football fans will be present in Poland and Ukraine this summer to watch the action unfold, and soak up the unique atmosphere. Billions more will be glued to television sets, cheering their countried on from homes, offices, and pubs throught Europe and the world.
With just 10 days remaining for the first match to kickoff in Warsaw, the anticipation for the finals is getting bigger and bigger day by day. Here we provide you with a complete guide to get you in the mood for the finals. I hope you enjoy the tournament and the complete guide.
Overview
The final tournament of the 14th UEFA European Football Championship will be held in Poland and Ukraine from 8 June to 1 July 2012. It will be the third time that the final tournament is jointly hosted by two countries (after Belgium/Netherlands in 2000 and Austria/Switzerland in 2008).
Sixteen national teams will compete in a total of 31 matches to be crowned European champions. The format of four groups of four teams will be used for the last time in this tournament. The competition format will change for the next edition in 2016 as the lineup of participants competing in the final tournament will be increased to 24.
The UEFA EURO 2012 matches will be played in eight stadiums, four in Poland – Gdansk, Poznan, Warsaw, Wroclaw – and four in Ukraine – Donetsk, Lviv, Kharkiv and Kyiv. The opening match will take place in Warsaw on 8 June and the final on 1 July in Kyiv. No fewer than 1.4 million fans will be expected at the stadiums and the matches will be broadcast live in more than 200 territories around the world.
MATCH SCHEDULE
VENUES & STADIUMS
Eight cities have been selected by UEFA as host venues. In a return to the format used at Euro 1992, Euro 1996 and Euro 2008, each of the four groups will be based around two stadiums each. The host cities Warsaw, Gdansk, Wroclaw, Poznan, Kiev, Lviv are all popular tourist destinations, unlike Donetsk and Kharkiv (the latter having replaced Dnipropetrovsk as a host city in 2009). The obligatory improvement of the football infrastructure includes the building of new stadiums: Six of the eight venues are brand new stadiums just built for the tournament, while the remaining two (in Poznan and Kharkiv) have undergone major renovations to improve them. Three of the stadiums will fulfill the criteria of UEFA’s highest category stadiums.
POLAND
National Stadium, Warsaw Capacity 50,000 Club to be confirmed
Built on the site of the old Tenth Anniversary Stadium on the eastern bank of the Vistula, the facade of the new National Stadium Warsaw resembles a waving Polish flag. It will host the opening match of UEFA EURO 2012 on 8 June and is expected to become the new home of the Poland national team.
Games Poland v Greece (8/6), Poland v Russia (12/6), Greece v Russia (16/6), 1 x QF (21/6), 1 x SF (28/6).
Municipal Stadium, Wroclaw Capacity 40,000 Club WKS Slask Wroclaw
Designed in the shape of a Chinese lantern, the newly built Municipal Stadium Wroclaw was official openined with a Geroge Michael concert on 17 September 2011. Two months later Italy’s Mario Balotelli scored the first international goal at the new ground in the 2-0 win against Poland.
Games Russia v Czech Republic (8/6), Greece v Czech Republic (12/6), Czech Republic (16/6)
Municipal Stadium, Poznan Capacity 40,000 Club KKS Lech Poznan
Renowned for its excellent atmosphere, the original stadium was inagurated in 1980 and has undergone major renovation work to bring it up to standard for UEFA EURO 2012. The new Municipal Stadium Poznan opened its door for the first for a Sting concert on 20 September 2010.
Games Republic of Ireland v Croatia (10/6), Italy v Croatia (14/6), Italy v Republic Ireland (18/6)
PGE Arena, Gdansk Capacity 40,000 Club KKS Lech Poznan
Located in Gdnask’s Letnica neighbourhood, construction of the PGE Arena began in 2008 and was completed in 2011. The exterior is designed to resemble amber, which has long been extracted along the Baltic coast. Poland’s 2-2 draw with Germany on 6 September 2011 was the first ever match played in the new stadium. The stadium will host three group C games and one quarter final.
Games Spain v Italy (10/6), Spain v Republic of Ireland (14/6), Croatia v Spain (18/6), 1 x QF (22/6)
UKRAINE
Olympic Stadium, Kyiv Capacity 60,000 Club Ukrainian national team
With a 60,000 capacity and a striking new transparent roof, the new-look Olympic Stadium is UEFA EURO 2012’s largest venue and will host the final on 1 July. Ukraine’s first match at the renovated groud was a thrilling 3-3 draw against Germany on 11 November 2011.
Games Ukraine v Sweden (11/6), Sweden v England (15/6), Sweden v France (19/6), 1 x QF (24/6), Final (1/7)
Donbass Arena, Donetsk Capacity 50,000 Club FC Shakhtar Donetsk
The Donbass Arena was opened in August 2009 and boasts UEFA elite status, qualifying it to the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League finals. Home to UEFA Champions League regulars FC Shakhtar Donetsk, it will stage five matches during UEFA EURO 2012, including a semi-final.
Games France v England (11/6), Ukraine v France (15/6), England v Ukraine (19/6), 1 x OF (23/6), 1 x SF (27/6)
Metalist Stadium, Kharkiv Capacity 35,000 Club FC Metalist Kharkiv
First build in 1926, the stadium has undergone several facelifts down the years, none more striking that its current guise. Known locally as the Spider Arene because of its roof supports resemble an arachnid’s legs, it was first known as the Traktor Stadium, named after a local tractor production plant.
Games Holland v Denmark (9/6), Holland v Germany (13/6), Portugal v Holland (17/6)
Arena Lviv, Lviv Capacity 30,000 Club to be confirmed
Constructed specifically for the finals, this two-tired stadium offers fans perfect slightlines, while a walkway at the back of the lower tier provides a sense of space. The Arena Lviv, which opened on 29 October 2011, will host three Group B matches.
Games Germany v Portugal (9/6), Denmark v Portugal (13/6), Denmark v Germany (17/6)
LOGO & SLOGAN
The purpose of the logo and slogan is to give UEFA EURO 2012 its own personality, to help promote the tournament and to enhance the prestige of one of the world’s biggest sporting events by providing an easily recognisable identity, while at the same time bringing in a distinctive flavour of the host countries. The official logo and slogan for UEFA EURO 2012 were launched at a special event in Kyiv’s Mykhailivska Square on 14 December 2009.
The logo
The logo takes its visual lead from wycinanka art, a traditional form of paper cutting practised in rural areas of Poland and Ukraine. The wycinanka art form symbolises the fauna and flora of the local regions in a tribute to mother nature, representing the worship of the land and true respect for continuous growth, prosperity and fertility.
The slogan – Creating History Together
UEFA EURO 2012 is the next chapter in a story that started back in 1960 with the first edition of the UEFA European Football Championship. The staging of the final tournament in Poland and Ukraine, the first in central and eastern Europe, will definitely have a prominent place in history books.
Everyone involved in UEFA EURO 2012 including organisers, host countries, host cities, players, travelling supporters and fans at home are all contributing to another chapter of European and football history.
MASCOT
Following the footsteps of Trix and Flix at UEFA EURO 2008 in Austria and Switzerland, Slavek and Slavko are dterminded to prove once more that two are better than one. A mascot introduced for the first time in a UEFA European Championship in 1980 when Pinocchio took to the pitch for Italy and they have been mainstay ever since. Slavek and Slavko have alreadt made their mark with nearly 40,000 people voting in a poll to choose their names. UEFA EURO 2012 ambassador Zbigniew Boniek believes Slavek, wearing the white of Poland in a No20 shirt, could be something of a luck charm for his nation. “This number was good for the national team, it brought me a lot of luck,” he said. “As No20 I scored three famours goals against Belgium at the 1982 World Cup while Grzegorz Lato had this number too.” His Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Shevchenko added: “I have seen that the mascots can play good football too and that is good sign for the tournament.”
AMBASSADORS
Some of the biggest names in Polish and Ukrainian football are helping to promote the tournament as UEFA EURO 2012 ambassadors. Former internationals Zbigniew Boniek and Andrzej Szarmach are flying the flag for Poland, while FC Dynamo Kyiv and Ukraine greats Oleh Blokhin and Andriy Shevchenko are doing everything they can in Ukraine, both on and off the pitch, to help ensure the championship’s success. “It is very important for Ukraine, not only in terms of football development but also for the development of the country and its poeple,” said Shevchenko, who will captain Blokhin’s national side next summer. Boneik, capped 80 times by his country and a member of the Poland team that finished third at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, is looking forward to showing his native land in the best possible light. “It is a fantastic opportunity to show the world what a great country we are,” he said. “I would say to all the fans: come to Poland and see what we have to offer – amazing historical sities and extraordinary countryside and cities.”
VOLUNTEERS
A competition record 23,965 people from across the world have applied to work as volunteers during the tournament from which number 5,500 have been selected to provide support for UEFA’s staff at the event. Volunteering is vital to ensure the smooth running of a successful EURO, and all positions had been made available in 20 different areas of operations from ticketing to transport and accommodation. Former Poland and world heavyweight boxing champions Vitaliy Klitschko both gave their backing to the recruitment drive, with the latter declaring: “I know how many people expect a miracle from EURO 2012, but it will not happen unless each of us contributes to the success of the football festival.”
MATCH BALL
The official match ball for UEFA Euro 2012 is the Adidas Tango 12, which is designed to be easier to dribble and control than the reportedly unpredictable Adidas Jabulani used at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Complete detailed information about the ball over here.
MUSIC
The official UEFA EURO 2012 song is “Endless Summer” by the German singer Oceana – whose 2009 hit Cry Cry topped the charts in Poland and Ukraine as well as other European countries, and featured a video shot in Kyiv. In addition, UEFA has retained the melody that was composed by Rollo Armstrong of Faithless on its behalf for the 2008 tournament. The official Polish song for the tournament is “Koko Euro Spoko” by the folk band Jarzebina. The Republic of Ireland has also produced an official song: “The Rocky Road to Poland” recorded by a collaboration of Irish performers has already reached number 1 in Ireland.
TICKETS
Tickets were sold directly by UEFA via its website, or are to be distributed by the football associations of the 16 finalists. Applications had to be made during March 2011 for the 1.4 million tickets available for the 31 tournament matches. Over 12 million applications were received, which represented a 17% increase on the 2008 finals, and an all-time record for the UEFA European Championship. Owing to this over-subscription for the matches, lotteries were carried out to allocate tickets. Prices varied from €30 (£25) (for a seat behind the goals at a group match) to €600 (£513) (for a seat in the main stand at the final). In addition to individual match tickets, fans could buy packages to see either all matches played by one team, or all matches at one specific venue. In May 2012 UEFA will start sending tickets to fans which bought tickets also immediately UEFA will start selling additional tickets on ticketing website.
TROPHY
Spain’s Iker Casillas had the pleasure of becoming the first captain to lift the updated version of the Henri Delaunay Cup in June 2008, with the new trophy a fitting replacement for the prize that has been synonymous with the UEFA European Championship. The second version of the trophy is based on the original designed by Arthus-Bertrand in 1960 and named after Henri Delaunay, the former president of the French Football Federation and UEFA’s first general secretary, from the body’s founding on 15 June 1954 to 9 November 1955. It is 18cm higher and 2kg heavier than the original, made of sterling silver, and has retained its historical name. The trophy was reincarnated to reflect the scale and size of Europe’s most prestigious international tournament.
The responsibility for creating the original went to Pierre Delaunay, son of Henri, the visionary behind the competition. Henri Delaunay died in 1955 before seeing his idea come to fruition, but the updated prize is testament to his enduring legacy, maintaining its classic style. Minor differences between the original and updated version include the silver base being enlarged to make it stable. In addition, the names of the winning countries that had appeared on the plinth have been engraved on the back of the trophy, which weighs 8kg and is 60cm tall. Unlike the original, which was the work of the Chobillon goldsmith and was later bought by Arthus-Bertrand in Paris, the making of the modern equivalent was entrusted to Asprey London. Asprey, renowned silversmiths, jewellers and goldsmiths, have a long history of trophy-making stretching back to the America’s Cup, which their sister company Garrard produced in 1848. UEFA wanted to improve on the quality but also the scale of the trophy, and have a focal point for the event – it was felt that the original trophy was too small to do this.
At the start of the season, Jack Butland wouldn’t have ever dreamt of being on the plane to Poland-Ukraine as a part of England 23-man squad for the Euros. But nine months later, an unfortunate injury to Norwick keeper John Ruddy means the 19-year-old Birmingham keeper has been called into Roy Hodgson’s team, taking the youngster straight into the big time.
Who is Jack Butland?
The question is a very good one. We havent seen Butland playing in the Premier League or the Championship or even in the League One this season. Even the fans of Birmingham City – who are his employers – have only seen him if they have seen their reserves or the under-18s in action. But ask the people of Cheltenham and they will have nothing but praises for the young keeper who has appeared 24 times for them during his two loan periods at the club this season.
Yes, surprised? Cheltenham Town who play in the nPower League Two is Butland’s only club – so far – for whom he has played first team football. At six feet four inches, Butland is a commanding presence in the box and an athletic, agile shot stopper, and he has made full use of his stature to keep eleven clean sheets this season and has conceded just 26 goals. He has been one of the reasons for Cheltenham’s success this season which has seen them qualify for the League 2 playoff final against Crewe at the Wembley on Sunday.
Butland joined the Birmingham Academy in 2007 but hasn’t yet played a single game for the Blues. The best he could get was a place on the bench during the recent Championship playoffs. Despite having yet to make single appearances for the first team, the young keeper has already ‘Young Player of the Season’ award at St Andrews in May 2010 for his performances with the Reserves and England U-17s.
He has been involved with England setup since 2008 when he made his debut for the Under-16s against Northern Ireland and kept a clean sheet as the Young Lions won 6-0. Since then Butland has represented the Three Lions at every age group and was the key member of the U-17 squad that won the European Championship in Liechtenstein in May 2010. He was later called up for the Under-20s for the 2010 Under-20 World Cup in Colombia. He kept three clean sheets during the tournament and conceded just one goal against Nigeria, which in the end led to England’s downfall as they later failed to score.
His performances did not go unnoticed and he was later called up for the England Under-21s by boss Stuart Pearce. Butland made his debut in the 6-0 win over over Azerbaijan Under-21s in a Euro 2013 qualifier, and has since gone on to make a total of six appearances before being called-up as a replacement for John Ruddy in the senior team yesterday.
Who has been the man behind Butland’s success?
Butland comes with a huge promise and could be one of the stars in the future but much of that credit must be given to Birmingham City’s and current England goalkeeping coach David Watson. Watson, who has 178 appearances as a keeper for Barnsley, has been the key to not only Butland’s success but also has enhanced the careers of former England keeper Ben Foster and the current number one Joe Hart during their times at St. Andrews. And in Butland, it looks like he has moulded another potential shot-stopper for the Three Lions in the future.
What are his chances of playing at the Euro 2012?
To be quite honest the chances of him playing for England at Euros are zero. Joe Hart is England’s number one choice keeper and Robert Green will be his backup in case Hart suffers an injury, hope it doesn’t happen. So, Butland will only get a chance to play if both Hart and Green are suspended or injured and that looks highly unlikely. But expect to see a lot of him in the future, maybe during the friendlies after the Euros or during the qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup or 2016 Euros.
What an exciting season of football it has been across Europe this year. Real Madrid, Manchester City, Juventus all won their first ever league titles in years, while Montpellier won the Ligue 1 for the first time in their history and Dortmund made it two in two years in the Bundesliga. Chelsea shocked the footballing world by winning the Champions League against all odds and Atletico Madrid defeated their Spanish rivals Athletic Bilbao to win the Europa League in Bucharest.
As we draw to an end to league football across Europe for the season and as we move closer to the European Championships in Poland & Ukraine in the summer, we look at the eleven best players and one manager who form our European Team of the Season 2011/12.
Gianluigi Buffon (GK) – Juventus
He has been a loyal servant to the Bianconeri having stayed at the club through the Calciopoli Scandal and the relegation to Serie B in 2006/07. At 34-years of age, many thought he was past his peak but he has proved everyone wrong. Except for that one blunder against Lecce, the 2006 World Cup winner was back to his best and with 21 clean sheets and just 16 goals conceded, he has to be the best keeper around Europe this season ahead of the likes of Iker Casillas, Joe Hart or Manuel Neuer.
Lukasz Piszczek (RB) – Dortmund
The Poland international has been sensational for Dortmund this season as they went on to do the domestic double by winning the Bundesliga and the DFB Pokal. The 26-year-old has had an outstanding season for the Bundesliga champions this year and he comes in this team ahead of the German captain Philipp Lahm and Barcelona’s Dani Alves. Piszczek has been very good both offensively and defensively for his side and he is the leading goal scorer as a right back this season with 4 goals.
Mats Hummels (CB) – Dortmund
He is the second Dortmund and Bundesliga player in this team and truly deserves his place. Hummels has been a rock in the defence for the Bundesliga champions this season and his partnership with Nevan Subotic in center of that Dortmund defence, has conceded just 25 goals this season. He is in the team ahead of the likes of Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol and Thiago Silva and is there for a good reason as he has been able to stop Bundesliga’s top strikers like Mario Gomez, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Lukas Podolski, Raul, Claudio Pizarro and Marco Reus from scoring any goals against BVB this season.
Vincent Kompany (CB) (C) – Manchester City
What a season this man has had. He led City to their first ever league title in 44 years and also scored the most important goal against Manchester United in the Manchester derby at the Etihad stadium which decided the title. Like Hummels, Kompany has been a rock in that City defence and the Premier League champions have missed him badly whenever he was injured or suspended. The Belgium international who has scored three goals and created one this season is also Premier League’s Player of the Year. He has been a true leader on and off the pitch and has also been an inspiration for his City team-mates and that’s why he is also the captain of this team.
Jordi Alba (LB) – Valencia
This year has been a dream year for Jordi Alba. The left back who came through the ranks at La Masia has been in form for Valencia this season, making the step up to the national team to become Spain’s first choice left back. With 2 goals and 5 assists, Jordi Alba has been a key member of the Valencia team that finished third for the third time in a row. With his performances attracting interests from the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona, dont expect him to be around at the Mestalla next season. The young Spaniard is in the team ahead of Philipp Lahm, Ashley Cole and Patrice Evra.
Andrea Pirlo (CM) – Juventus
For me Pirlo has to be Serie A’s Player of the Season. Many thought the Italian international was past his prime and finished when he left Milan for free last summer and joined Juventus. But like Buffon, he has answered his critics by the performances on the field. The veteran was a standout in his debut match against Parma as he put in an outstanding performance in 4-1 win and as the season progressed he got better and better. With 13 assists and 3 goals to his name in 37 league appearances this season he has proved everyone that he is far from finished and is surely a player to watch at the Euros this summer.
Yaya Toure (CM) – Manchester City
David Silva, Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero got all the praise for guiding Manchester City to their first ever league title in 44 years but Yaya Toure has played a key part as well. He play like what Patrick Vieira use to play during his times at Arsenal and is the driving force in the heart of the City midfield. The Blues missed the Ivorian badly when he was on international duty during African Cup of Nations but ever since his return he has been inspirational in their bid for the title. He also scored the two important goals for City at Newcastle in penultimate game of the season that got them one step closer to the title.
Mesut Ozil (CAM) – Real Madrid
For an attacking midfielder with an advanced role Mesut Ozil doesn’t score enough goals but has been a vital part of Real Madrid team this season as they went to win their 32nd La Liga title. The German international has just 7 goals in 52 appearances this season but has created 23 goals which is only second best to Lionel Messi (28). His movement off the ball is one of the best in the world at the moment and has been consistently the best attacking midfielder for the last two years for both club and country. He is in the team ahead of David Silva because he guided Los Blancos to the semi finals of the Champions League and also created the goal for Cristiano Ronaldo against Barcelona which handed the league title to Jose Mourinho’s men.
Cristiano Ronaldo (RW) – Real Madrid
The Portuguese failed to win the Golden Boot or the Pichichi Trophy this season as he ended just four goals behind Lionel Messi but it was Ronaldo who had the last laugh as Real Madrid went on to win their first ever league title since 2008. With 46 goals in the La Liga and 60 in all competitions, the former Manchester United player has played a pivotal role in helping Mourinho’s men win their 32nd La Liga title and also reaching the semi finals of the Champions League this season. The 27-year-old’s winner against Barcelona at Camp Nou guaranteed that the league title will be heading back to Madrid.
Lionel Messi (LW) – Barcelona
It hasn’t been a good season for Barcelona as they finished second behind Real Madrid in the league and were knocked out by eventual winners Chelsea in the semi finals of the Champions League but on a personal note it has been Messi’s best season as he continued to break more records. He went on to become the club’s all-time highest goalscorer this season with 252 goals in all competitions and also set a new record of goals in a European season with 72. He also created a new record of most number of goals scored in the league with an incredible number of 50 goals.
Robin van Persie (ST) – Arsenal
The Dutcman has single-handedly carried Arsenal on his shoulders and guided them to a third place finish in the Premier League after having one of their worst starts to the season. He scored 30 league goals this season and those goals consisted of both stunning striker and poacher like finishes which proves what a complete striker he is. The PFA Player of the Year and the Premier League Golden Boot winner has been a true leader for the young Arsenal side on the pitch and has brought them back from the dead too many times this season. He is the key to any future success that is in store for Arsenal and the Gunners must do everything possible to keep him at the club.
Antonio Conte (Manager) – Juventus
It was a tough choice to choose between Conte and Jose Mourinho as both led their clubs to league success after many years but in the end it was Italian for me. The former Juventus fan favourite was appointed as the new coach at the start of the season and did a tremendous job in his first season by lead the Bianconeri to their first ever Scudetto title since 2006. In the process Juventus stayed unbeaten in the Serie A through out the season, winning 23 and drawing 15 games. Conte also guided the Zebras to their first ever Coppa Italia final since 2004 only to be beaten by Napoli 2-0. The Italian who joined in May last summer has now signed a new contract which will see him stay at the Juventus Stadium for the next three years.
Substitutes
Petr Cech (Chelsea), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Xavi (Barcelona), David Silva (Manchester City), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).
According to his agent, Eden Hazard is deciding on his future and will make his decision before 2nd June after agreeing terms with all the three clubs. The three clubs are believed to be Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United.
Manchester City – the newly crowned Premier League champions – and Chelsea – the European champions – both present Hazard with a great proposal which would see him earn a huge wage compared to what he would earn at Manchester United and would also provide him with a chance of competing for the Premier League and Champions League title which he would also get at Manchester United but not with Lille. But personally I think he should choose Manchester United as his next destination, not because I am an United and I want to see him at Old Trafford but because it would be perfect for both the club and the player.
Why Eden Hazard is perfect for Manchester United?
With all the goal scoring threat and the fire power that is mainly associated with Manchester United, its very hard to think that the Red Devils lost the Premier League title just because Manchester City had a better goal difference. It’s not that their strikers let them down but its was mainly because of the lack of a playmaker with a goal scoring ability.
Eden Hazard would be the perfect answer to the problem. That is if he decides to join Manchester United. To be honest, Manchester United have never replaced Cristiano Ronaldo when he left for Madrid three years back. Since his departure, United have always missed a player who could create and score goals. Eden Hazard seemingly fits the same category as Cristiano Ronaldo. His abilities would be welcomed by Sir Alex Ferguson as he looks to address the lack of creativity in the centre of midfield. Beyond the abilities possessed by Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes, United need a X-factor which they have lacked since the departure of the Portuguese skipper. Not only have they missed the flair and the X-factor that the Portuguese possessed, they have also missed his goals. Beyond Wayne Rooney’s 27 in the league campaign only Javier Hernandez has managed double figures with 10 goals in 28 appearances, while Danny Welbeck has just nine goals to his name from 30 games. Hazard has the flair and trickery like Ronaldo but his 17 goals in 37 Ligue 1 games this season also tell us about his goal scoring abilities. Like Ronaldo, Hazard primarily operates on the wide areas and possess pace and trickery which allows him to cut inside to speed through midfield and trouble the defence. United already have Valencia and Nani/Young on the wings, so if Hazard does come to United he will play more centrally as Ferguson did with Ronaldo.
One thing for sure, the Belgium star would get more money at Chelsea or City but he would be more used on the flanks at the Stamford Bridge club and even at City. At Chelsea, with the likes Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda both expected to leave this summer, the next Chelsea manager or Roberto Di Matteo could use Eden Hazard to provide the width and may also play Juan Mata more centrally. At City, Mancini may permanently move David Silva or Samir Nasri in the centre of the midfield and if Adam Johnson leaves this summer because of the lack of opportunities at the Etihad Stadium then Eden Hazard could well be a great option on the wings.
If you see the following attack charts (thanks Sam Cunningham and Dominic King at the Daily Mail), Hazard is very similar to Cristiano Ronaldo. He is capable of attacking from almost anywhere on the field and could really be a great option for Manchester United in the middle just behind Wayne Rooney. At the same time, he would also take some burden off Wayne Rooney’s shoulder of scoring goals.
Why Manchester United is perfect option for Eden Hazard?
Love it or hate it but Manchester United is one of the most famous clubs in world football. Signing for the Red Devils would make Hazard one of the most famous footballers in the world and a global icon because of his talent, skills, enthusiasm and the fair he brings to the game.
United have a number of great youngsters like Javier Hernandez, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Anderson, Rafael, David De Gea and add Hazard to that and United could be dominating English and European football for many years to come. The list doesn’t even include the likes Wayne Rooney, Nani, Antonio Valencia or Nemanja Vidic.
On footballing terms, moving to Manchester United will always be a smart move. He would be the club’s main man around whom the team would be built, he would be played more centrally which would allow him to get involved in the game more and score or create more goals. Keeping in the mind the history of the club he would get more chances of winning trophies at Old Trafford than any other club. He would also be developed by one of best managers in world football and would be regularly playing in front of 76,000 fans at Old Trafford.
On financial terms, he would be paid less in wages than what he would be paid at City or Chelsea. But overall he would earn more or almost similar at Old Trafford than what he would earn at Chelsea or Manchester City because of the brand that Manchester United is. Signing for Manchester United will bring him more sponsors like what happened with Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney when they signed years back. If he gets the famours no.7 jersey that was previously worn by the likes George Best, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, then he would be a global superstar. This move would also please Nike, who are the club’s sponsors as well as Hazard’s sponsors and may even give the player a big new contract.
Finally, playing for Chelsea or Manchester City will give him fame but only in England or maybe in Europe but Manchester United is global brand that has a great support not only in England and Europe but also in Asia and America. I hope Hazard keeps all this in mind and makes the right decision about his future.
It’s been less than 4 days since Drogba scored the two most important goals in Chelsea’s history which won them their first ever Champions League title, now the club and the striker have confirmed that the striker won’t be signing a new contract and will leave in the summer.
Actually, the news didn’t come as a surprise to many as it was quite rumoured since January that the striker won’t be signing a new deal at the club and will be moving on in the summer. In fact it’s the perfect time for the Ivorian to call it and end to his Stamford Bridge career as he will be leaving the club on a high note after guiding them to their first ever European success.
Now, it’s time for Chelsea to move forward and begin to search for the player who will fill in Drogba’s shoes at the club.It would be very difficult for the club to find some one like Drogba – who has done a lot for the Blues both on and off the field – but they will have to do their best to find an ideal replacement. Here, we look at the ten players who could replace the Ivorian at the club.
10. Papiss Cisse/Demba Ba (Newcastle United)
They both were unheard of in England before they joined Newcastle United and now they both are very well known throughout the world. They both have been a revelation for Newcastle this season helping them finish 5th in the league above Chelsea and securing a Europa League spot for the next season. Demba Ba has scored 16 goals this season, while Cisse has 13 to his name and both would perfectly fit in the Chelsea squad of superstars. But the move down to South looks unlikely this season as Alan Pardew would be very reluctant to let any one of them leave this summer, especially after qualifying for Europe.
9. Andre Schurrle (Bayer Leverkusen)
At only 21 years old, Andre Schurrle is a future star of German football. Despite his age he already has 12 international caps, notching up an impressive five goals in the process, and is expected to be Lukas Podolski’s understudy in Poland and Ukraine this summer. Chelsea are known to be interested, but he has only signed for Bayer Leverkusen in 2011, so it’s unlikely the German side would let him go unless the Blues pay above the odds.
8. Luuk De Jong (FC Twente)
With 43 goals in 62 games for FC Twente, Luuk de Jong is one of the most prolific young strikers in European football. By the time he finished his 23rd league game for the Dutch side this year he had averaged a goal per game, including goals with both feet and his head, leading him to be linked with a series of big European sides like Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Inter Milan etc to name a few. De Jong does come from one of the weaker European Leagues however, so it would be risky to put too much faith in him from Chelsea’s perspective, but at the same time players coming from the Dutch league like Robin van Persie, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Dirk Kuyt have flourished in the Premier League.
7. Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli)
The Argentine is not as prolific in front of goal as his team-mate Edinson Cavani, but arguably more spectacular. Lavezzi is one of the jewels in Napoli’s crown. The Agrentine has been a success story for Napoli since join the newly crowned Copa Italia winners. Known for flourishing in a strike partnership, Lavezzi could be a brilliant foil to Torres. There have also been rumours about a fall out with current club president and the club have confirmed that the player may leave him if his buy-out clause of €31m is met.
6. Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid)
He has fallen down in the pecking order at Real Madrid just because Karim Benzema is playing so well. The Argentine is a real goal scoring threat and at just 24-years he is still has plenty of time to develop into one of the best strikers in the world. He has all the skill you want in a striker and has loads of experience at the highest level considering his age. He has already scored 103 goals in 220 matches for the La Liga champions during his six years at the club. The former River Plate striker’s future at the Bernabeau is in doubt. PSG and Chelsea rumoured to be the possible destination if he decides to leave the club.
5. Hulk (FC Porto)
He has been linked with a move to Chelsea for years now but nothing ever has materialized. This season again with Andre Villas-Boas coming in rumours were high but they went off when the transfer window closed but now again the rumours have started again and some papers also go on to state that the two clubs have agreed a fee and the Blues are in advanced talks with the player. Whether its true or not remains to be seen. Speaking about the player, the Brazilian is known for his physical presence and goals from the wing, but after failing to shine against English clubs in the past, the Blues may have concerns over his suitability to the English game.
4. Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao)
The 27-year-old target man has been Athletic Bilbao’s star this season with 29 goals in all competitions. The 6ft 5in striker has been key in Bilbao’s success in the Europa League this season, which saw they reach the final of the tournament only to be beaten by Atletico Madrid. On their way to final they defeated Manchester United both at home and away and Llorente scored important goals in both the legs. The Bilbao youth academy player has also attracted interest from the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham, so if Chelsea want to sign him they will face some stiff competition and will have to sign him before the Euros or else could risk being priced out.
3. Edinson Cavani (Napoli)
The war for Edinson Cavani’s signature rages on, with Chelsea understandably desperate to grab him after his performances against them in the Champions League. A deal to bring both the Uruguayan and strike-partner Lavezzi together would be ideal, but realistically it would be a difficult move to orchestrate for any club. City are thought to be leading the race for Cavani currently as they are ready offer him huge wages, so Chelsea will need to pull out the stops to ensure that the man who has scored 33 goals for Napoli this season doesn’t end up at the Etihad.
2. Falcao (Atletico Madrid)
If the Colombian striker was a hit at Porto then he has been super-hit at Atletico Madrid this season. The striker who was linked with a move to Stamford Bridge last summer before signing the Red and White side of Madrid, has scored 36 goals this season for the Los Colchoneros and is only behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the goal scoring list. The former River Plate striker has won the Europa League twice in two season and has scored in both the finals. According to reports in England, he is Chelsea’s number one target to replace Drogba but the European champions will have to pay as much as £50m to acquire his services who still has four years left on his contract.
1. Fernando Torres/Romelu Lukaku/Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea)
Torres is a natural successor to Didier Drogba that Chelsea have got. The £50m striker hasn’t yet justified his price tag and maybe this could be the perfect opportunity for him to rise to occasion and come out from the shadows of Drogba. The Ivorian himself has tipped Torres to be the future and it could be true as we all know that the Spaniard has immense of talent and potential in him to become the next Chelsea legend. The Blues already have young talented strikers in their squad in Romelu Lukaku and Daniel Sturridge. The European champions with the help of a good coach could develop the duo while Torres becomes the main man at the club to fill in the big shoes of Didier Drogba.
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