Introduction
Editor’s Note – Jonathan Wilson
Jonathan Wilson’s Editor’s Note from Issue Six
Portugal
The Curse of the Golden Whistle – Ben Shave
How corruption and inefficiency have squandered the legacy of Euro 2004.
The Flight of the Eagles – Luis Catarino
In the early sixties Benfica rose to topple Real Madrid, only to be cursed by Béla Guttmann
The Pretenders – Andy Brassell
Only two sides outside Os Tres Grandes have won the Portuguese title. For both a repeat seems unlikely.
The Dragon’s Cap – Vitor Sobral
Porto’s rise in the late seventies was inspired by the innovative coaching of José Maria Pedroto
Interview
Antonín Panenka – Karel Haring
The Czechoslovakia great discusses how his famous dinked penalty came about and the impact it’s had
Euro 2012
The Essential Backdrop – Jonathan Wilson
Euro 2012 raised major questions about the nature of fandom and what comprises a tournament
The First Twitter Tournament – Barney Ronay
In Euro 2012, newspapers were very rarely first with the news as social media came into its own
Theory
Directing the Pianists – Philippe Auclair
Brendan Rodgers discusses the importance of possession football and what he’s learned from José Mourinho
Ivan the Reasonable – Antonis Oikonomidis
Ivan Jovanović explains his philosophy and how he hopes to build on Apoel’s success last season
The Rise of the Technocrats – Tim Vickery
How attitudes to the dictatorship shape Brazil’s change of approach in the seventies
The Second Coming – Federico Farcomeni
Zdenĕk Zeman talks about attacking, romance and his challenge after returning to Roma this season
Photo Essay
River’s Return – Anibal Greco
Images of River Plate’s battle to win promotion from the purgatory of Nacional B
The Lost
The Paper Tiger – David Bartram
How politics and society have stood in the way of a Chinese boom
The Coach on the Couch – Iain Macintosh
Is being addicted to Football Manager a medical condition?
The Far Corner – James Young
How football in the north-east of Brazil struggles to keep up with the giants of the south
Polemics
Care for the Community – Gabriele Marcotti
Could a radical rejig of television schedules help create a greater bond between clubs and their fans?
Location, Location, Location – Tom Dart
Which is more important? How it looks or where a stadium is?
Fiction
The Limping God – David Ashton
His football career ended by injury, John Brodie’s life is going nowhere until he is sucked into the world of crime.
Greatest Games
Spain 1 Ireland 0 – Dermot Corrigan
World Cup qualifying play-off, Parc des Princes, Paris, 10 November 1965
Eight Balls
Classic Footballs – Sheridan Bird
A selection of the best footballs through the ages
