[The Guardian] The Knowledge

"My wife is a heartbroken Cruz Azul fan," writes Ricardo Mora. "This past week they lost their fifth consecutive final. Here in Mexico we have short tournaments with just 17 games and then a post-season. Cruz Azul managed to get to the last three finals and lost them to Santos, Toluca and Monterrey. In between they also competed in the Concacaf Champions League and reached the final in the last two seasons losing to Atlante and Pachuca. Is there any other fan out there with such a heartbroken heart as my wife? Has this ever happened to any other team in such a short span?"

Firstly, Ricardo, you might want to break the bad news. It's even worse than you thought. "As a British Cruz Azul fan living in Mexico City for the last 13 years, I can assure you that the situation is actually worse for your wife than you think," writes Louis Loizides. "Cruz Azul have lost their last seven finals, not just five. Prior to the five finals you mention, they also lost the league final in December 1999 against Pachuca and then the final of the Libertadores against Boca Juniors the following year. Just thought you should know."

But comfort is at hand. Mrs Mora should just be glad she isn't a Benfica fan. "While not exactly the same thing, I thought of Benfica winning its first two Champions League finals (in 1961 and 1962), and since then losing in 1963 (against Milan), 1965 (against Internazionale), 1968 (against Manchester United), 1988 (against PSV Eindhoven) and in 1990 (against Milan)," writes Hugo Carreira. "It's called the curse of Béla Guttmann (who, having won those two titles, was sacked and left Benfica saying they would never win it again in the next 100 years. Only 52 more to go)."

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"The banter took an interesting turn in the pub when one of my mates claimed that a player-manager at Carlisle once placed himself on the transfer list, then sold himself to another club. Can this possibly be true?" enquired Stephen Guilfoyle back in 2006.

While we would never advocate believing everything you hear down at your local, Stephen, on this occasion the banter is spot-on. Ivan Broadis, born in Poplar, east London in 1922, is the man at the centre of this tale, although, as John Briggs notes, "the Football League read his signature incorrectly and he was registered as Ivor, by which name his has been recognised ever since." Ivor's early playing career took in amateur appearances for Finchley, Northfleet, Finchley again, Tottenham, and Millwall, before he became the youngest player-manager ever at Carlisle - in 1946 - at the tender age of 23.

"Although his time as manager of the club could be regarded as being average, Broadis laid the foundations for the future, and when he left in January 1949 (replaced by one Bill Shankly), United were in a far healthier state than when he had taken over," explains the club. "Still registered as a player, he sold himself to Sunderland for £18,000 claiming that it was in the best interests of the club that he leave, providing Carlisle with suitable financial reimbursement for the transfer. The fans were not convinced, but accepted his move out of respect for the money it produced. Ivor is officially the first ever manager to transfer himself to another club."

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"After seeing that Nani has managed to rule himself out with an injury suffered while attempting an overhead kick in training, I was wondering what would be the most ridiculous way in which a player has cost themselves a World Cup appearance?" asked Steven Maley last week.

Ridiculous? World Cups? Raymond Domenech seems the natural place to start. "If Robert Pires is to be believed his reason for missing out on the World Cup in 2006 was being a Scorpio," writes Diego Black. Not sure if that can be considered the player's fault but damn ridiculous in any event."

The Knowledge favourite's second-favourite goalkeeper (after our old friend Lutz Pfannenstiel) Jean-Marie Pfaff cost himself a World Cup appearance in 1982 for disclipinary reasons after apparently pretending to drown in the swimming pool at the Belgium team hotel.

Whether Wayne Bridge's decision to miss this World Cup was ridiculous is open to interpretation, as, to a lesser extent, is Roy Keane's decision to walk about of the Ireland camp in 2002.

Injury-wise, as many of you pointed out, Brazil captain Emerson ruled himself out of the 2002 tournament after injuring a shoulder while mucking about in goal in training and the Spain goalkeeper, Santiago Cañizares, missed the same tournament after severing a tendon in his foot after dropping a bottle of aftershave on it.

In a slightly different direction: "Another story is the one about the Yugoslav captain in 1950," writes Eberhard Spohd. "Right before the beginning of the match against Brazil Rajko Mitic ran against the dressing room door and severely cut himself. But that didn't cost him the appearance in the game: the wound was stitched up an Mitic followed his team on the field after the kick-off. As far as I know it's the only match in World Cup history not to begin with 22 players on the pitch." Quite what he was doing running into a door in the first place is open to question.

And though he didn't miss a World Cup game, it's always worth remembering that Norway defender Svein Grondalen had to withdraw from an international during the 1970s after colliding with a moose while out jogging.

Beat Barcelona, win a trophy.

 
Toate echipele care au invins Barcelona sezonul asta au castigat cate ceva:

Rubin Kazan - Prima Liga Rusa

Sevilla - Cupa Regelui

Atletico Madrid - Liga Europa

Inter Milano - Liga Campionilor

[Sid Lowe] The Sids 2010! The complete review of the past La Liga season

Every single week this season, right up until the final week, one lucky Real Madrid player was chosen to give an official interview. And every single week this season, right up until the final week, the backdrop was the same: a webpage with the glorious and proudly prophetic headline "Real Madrid win their 10th European Cup". Fortunately, they didn't look remotely silly because Madrid did indeed win their 10th European Cup on Saturday night and at their own stadium too, Marca's editorial on Monday morning gleefully declaring "football proves Madrid right", while they dedicated a wraparound cover to the greatest Madridista triumphs.

But while the Madrid sports media tried to sell their club's rip-roaring Champions League success, the rest of the country couldn't help noticing a sixth successive last-16 knockout against Olympique Lyon. Or a season that ended with the Second Coming looking rather like the First Going, Madrid finishing empty-handed. The good news for Madrid was that despite the presence of Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben, they avoided the embarrassment of watching Barcelona contesting the final. And worse still, winning it. Even T-shirts couldn't rescue Pep Guardiola's side against Inter in the semi-final.

[The Guardian] The longest team name

"Is Verein für Leibesübungen Borussia Mönchengladbach the longest team name in football?"

Far from it chaps. "I'd like to nominate my team, UCD, in the League of Ireland Premier Division," said Kevin Burke. "Under some universities act a few years ago, we officially became University College Dublin, National University of Ireland Dublin, Association Football Club (81 letters). There are some who'll suggest that, with that hideous new crest, it should now (unofficially) be University College Dublin Dublin, National University of Ireland Dublin, Association Football Club (87 letters). This would translate into Irish as Cumann Sacair Ollscoil na hÉireann Baile Átha Cliath Baile Átha Cliath, Ollscoil Náisiúnta na hÉireann Baile Átha Cliath, which is 102 letters and a comma."

Not bad, Kevin, but a rival school of learning trumps it. "I think you'd have to go some to beat the full name in Thai of Bangkok University FC," claimed Liam O'Brien. "This would include the longest place name in the world, using the official Thai name for Bangkok. When translated into English, it would run to 189 characters as follows: Samosorn Maha Vittiyalai Krungthep Mahanakorn Boworn Rattanakosin Mahintara Yutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noparat Rajathani Burirom Udom Rajaniwet Mahasatharn Amorn Phimarn Avatarn Sathit Sakkatattiya Vishnukarm Prasit."

But there's an even longer name in the very same city! That of Thai Pro League side Bangkok Bravo. "Should they ever wish to refer to themselves by their full (English translated) name," noted Dale Farrington, "they would be called: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit Bravo Association Football Club (196 characters). Try fitting that on a pools coupon!"

[The Guardian] Football all-year round

"The Uruguayan championship 2007-08 started on August 18 2007," Pablo Miguez wrote last week, "and finished last Wednesday with Defensor Sporting crowned champions. Now, a mini-league with the top six teams will be played to see which teams will play the international competitions. It will end on July 20. That means the season will be 11 months and two days long. Which makes me wonder, has there ever been a longer season?"

Firstly, Ian Williams writes to explain the remarkable 1997-98 season in South Africa. "Back in 1997-98, the South African League season kicked off on August 1, running through until May, with the cup final taking place on May 17. Unfortunately, the rules were such that, when the final finished in a draw, even after extra-time, a replay was the only way by which the contest could be resolved. However, due to preparations for the 1998 World Cup, a national training camp was scheduled for May 19. As the two finalists, Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, had players with the national team, the replay could only take place on July 26."

But, Jostein Nygard can beat that. The Norwegian FA found itself in a mess when it tried to bring in a revised league system. "Before the Norwegian FA introduced a nationwide first division playing from spring to autumn in 1963, they had to finish off the old two-group 'Main League' which ran from summer to summer," says Jostein. "What they did in the last season of the 'Main League' was to combine the two eight team groups into one 16 team league, starting on July 30 1961, and ending on 21 October 1962. This works out at 14 months, 21 days."

[The Guardian] The most prolific scoring streaks ever

George Camsell went on an amazing scoring run for Middlesbrough in the old Second Division in 1926-27. In 12 consecutive league games, starting on October 16 and finishing on New Year's Day 1927, Camsell scoring run went: 1, 1, 1, 4, 1, 4, 1, 2, 4, 5, 2, 3 - a total of 29 goals. In fact, during that season Camsell scored 59 goals in 37 league games to set a new Football League record.

1) Masashi Nakayama (Jubilo Iwata, Apr 15-Apr 29 1998, 16 goals in four games)
Owen Goodyear and Stephen Whitehurst write in to offer Japanese poacher Nakayama's short and sweet streak back in 1998. "As my Japanese ex-girlfriend reminded me on an almost hourly basis, he scored hat-tricks in four consecutive J-League games - 16 goals in all," writes Owen. "Oh, and he has the fastest ever international hat-trick for good measure, three minutes and three seconds against Brunei in 2000."
His streak: 5, 4, 4, 3.

2) Coen Dillen (PSV Eindhoven, Jan 27-Mar 31 1957, 20 goals in nine games)
"He doesn't beat George Camsell, but Coen Dillen deserves a mention," writes Martijn ter Haar. Dillen, nicknamed "Her Kanon", banged in 43 goals in the 1956-57 season, an Eredivisie record.
His streak: 3, 4, 2, 2, 1, 2, 2, 1, 3.

3) Gerd Müller (Bayern Munich, Sep 27 1969-Mar 3 1970, 23 goals in 16 games)
Der Bomber's stunning scoring streak certainly beats Camsell for longevity. Oliver Alexander wrote in to suggest this six-month spell as the swinging 60s gave way to the savage 70s. "Note that the actual sequence of matchdays was quite a bit shuffled due to inclement wintery conditions," writes Oliver. "Also, Müller missed one match due to injury." The story of that season, with Bayern missing out to a Berti Vogts-inspired Borussia Monchengladbach, is here.
His streak: 1, 4, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1

4) Owen Coyle (Airdrie, Sept 15-Sept29 1990, 12 goals in four games)
Not a name you'd expect to see on this list, it's fair to say, but Coyle had a remarkable fortnight early in the 1990-91 season. "He went supernova scoring 17 goals in Airdieonians' first seven games," writes Steve Guy, "and only scored three more in the league for the rest of the season." His best uninterrupted run came after a hat-trick against Forfar.
His streak: 3, 2, 3, 4

5) Steve Bloomer (England, Mar 9 1895-Mar 20 1899, 19 goals in 10 games)
"As a Derby County fan it's always useful to look up Steve Bloomer's record in these cases," writes David Hopkins. "Bloomer scored in each of his first 10 England games - 19 goals in total." And that's as good an international spell as we can find.
His streak: 2, 1, 1, 5, 2, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2

6) Refik Resmja (Partizan Tirana, Feb 18-Mar 4 1951, 24 goals in four games and May 5-Jun 10 1951, 18 goals in six games)
Probably our favourite name on this list, if only because of the improbable 14-year-old-playing-in-the-Under-9s scoring figures. The opponents weren't of a particularly high standard (Puna Gjirokaster, Spartaku Qyteti Stalin and so forth), but his flurry of goals has no equal in top-flight world football. Even then, his tally of 59 goals in 23 games in a team total of 136 in 26, weren't enough to bring Partizan the title. They finished two points behind city rivals Dinamo.
His streaks: 6, 7, 7, 4 and 3, 4, 1, 4, 5, 1.

7) José Saturnino Cardozo (CD Toluca (Mex) Sep 21-Nov 24 2002, 19 goals in 11 games)
Cardozo began his streak on September 21 with a solitary goal against Queretaro and ended it on November 24 with a goal against Santos in the final game of the regular season. In between, the Paraguayan banged in 17 goals in nine games. He also scored six goals in five post-season games to help his side to the title.
His streak: 1, 3, 1, 3, 1, 2, 1, 4, 1, 1, 1

8) Dave Mooney (Cork City, Jun 1-present, 11 goals in six games)
Mooney makes this list by virtue of potential. The Cork City striker, writes Lorcan Connolly, has scored five braces in his last six games and once in the other. "With City's next two games being against whipping boys Cobh and Finn Harps, there's every reason to believe his remarkable run will continue," writes Lorcan. Mooney didn't play in Monday's 1-0 win over Cobh, so his run his still alive.
His streak: 2, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2 ...

9) Rodion Camataru (Dinamo Bucharest, May 17-Jun 25 1987, 21 goals in seven games)
One of the greatest Romanian forwards of all time, Camataru hit a purple patch in a prolific season at the end of 1986-87. The striker scored a remarkable 21 goals in the final seven games of the season, finishing the campaign with 44, exactly double the number of his nearest rival, the current Romania manager and then Steaua Bucharest forward Victor Piturca.
His streak: 1, 3, 3, 2, 4, 5, 3

10) Mario Jardel (FC Porto, Oct 29 1999-Jan 15 2000, 18 goals in nine games)
It's sometimes easy to forget that the portly figure who warmed the Bolton Wanderers bench in 2003 and 2004 was once the most lethal striker on the planet. At the beginning of the new millennium, the Brazillian was in the middle of a nine-game scoring spree that included three hat-tricks in four games leading up to Christmas.
His streak: 2, 1, 1, 3, 1, 3, 3, 2, 2

[The Guardian] Funny footballer names

"Zambian Laughter Chilembe has played in Zimbabwe for Caps United FC, while I also know about Suprise Moriri from Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa. But my favourite is one called Have-A-Look Dube playing for Njube Sundowns here in Zimbabwe! Any more strange/funny/good/ridiculous football names anyone can dredge up?"

"A quick look reveals some other odd-named players plying their trade in Zimbabwean football for Caps United," begins Mark Baker. "Givemore Manuella, Gift Makolonio and Method Mwanyazi are great names, but they pale into comparison beside Limited Chicafa and the outstandingly-named Danger Fourpence." Staying in Africa, there's also Stephen Sunny Sunday, who plays for Polideportivo Ejido, and South Africa's Naughty Mokoena and Tonic Chabalala. "Surely there can't be any stranger than Austrian side SC Schwanenstadt's marauding midfielder Osa Guobadia?" offers Andy Ferguson, who'll have to do better than that. "He has the name Ice Cream on the back of his shirt." More like it.

A very popular suggestion was Brazilian forward Creedence Clearwater Couto, whose parents were - fortunately - big fans of the American songsters, while there were also calls for former England internationals Harry Daft and Segar Bastard (who, incidentally, refereed an FA Cup final, played cricket for Essex and owned a racehorse).

However, it would be remiss of us to ignore Anthony Philip David Terry Frank Donald Stanley Gerry Gordon Stephen James Oatway - Charlie to his friends ("I'm named after the QPR 1972-73 promotion-winning team for those of you that have been on the moon all the time I've been at [Brighton]") - or three of our favourites: Australian keeper Norman Conquest, Seychelles star Johnny Moustache, and Congolese striker Bongo Christ.

[The Guardian] Most capped captains

Last week we suggested Gheorghe Hagi and Paolo Maldini as most capped opposing captains with a combined total of 234 in the Euro 2000 quarter-final between Romania and Italy.

But that mark was broken at this summer's tournament when Holland trounced the French in their Group C encounter a fortnight ago. Step forward skippers Lilian Thuram (winning his 141st, and penultimate, cap) and Edwin van der Sar (picking up his 127th), who therefore managed 268 caps between them.