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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Soccer memories-Part 12

Did Bosman weaken the Serie A?

(Note: I would like to once again thank http://www.zani.co.uk/ for uploading this article http://www.zani.co.uk/did-bosman-weaken-the-serie-a )


Up until the summer of 1996, Italy’s Serie A was the strongest League on the planet. Italian clubs had monopoly on the best foreign players that money could buy. Short of Real Madrid and Barcelona of Spain, no team from other Leagues could compete to acquire the best.

England’s EPL was still in its early stages and not the financial force that it is now, while Germany’s Bundesliga and France’s Premiere Division were no match.
Italian clubs were regularly winning Europe’s top Clubs Competitions.
The seven sisters, as they were called (Juventus, AC Milan, Internazionale, AS Roma, Lazio, Parma and Fiorentina), were the desired destinations of most foreign stars.
However, this monopoly started to slowly crumble with the landmark Bosman Ruling of late 1995 and early 1996.
The Bosman Ruling, in addition to mandating free transfers at the term of a contract, also did away with foreign player restrictions.
This enabled all European Community member nations’ players to freely play in other member nations.

Photo From: World Soccer, April 1995
(the Belgian player Jean-Marc Bosman responsible for the landmark case bearing his name)

In that first summer (1996), all clubs across Europe made a frenzy of signings.
The top spenders were predictably Italy and Spain, as well as England.
Barcelona and Real Madrid tried to build (buy) super teams by bringing in the likes of Ronaldo, Blanc, Seedorf, Suker, Mijatovic, Illgner, etc.

Photo From: World Soccer, December 1996
(Ronaldo, one of Barcelona’s new signings for the first post-Bosman season)


English teams were not far behind. The growing global interest for the EPL enabled them to purchase the quality of players who otherwise, would have considered the EPL beneath them.
These included Latin players such as Italians, Brazilians and Argentines attracted by the financial and commercial incentives.
These included superstars like Gianluca Vialli, Gianfranco Zola, Juninho and Faustino Asprilla among others.
A team like Chelsea was too able to rise up from mid-table mediocrity by making efficient foreign signings as well as appointing Dutchman Ruud Gullit as manager.

Photo From: World Soccer, August 1995
(Ruud Gullit with Chelsea Manager Glenn Hoddle, Gullit was one of the first top name players to leave Italy for the EPL)

In fact foreign managers were almost unheard of in England in pre-Bosman days, but it became a popular trend. French Managers Arsene Wenger (at Arsenal) and Gerard Houllier (at Liverpool) brought with them new ideas and approaches to improve and innovate coaching, scouting and training in England.
While Italian clubs also started buying big, notably Moratti’s Internazionale, it was becoming more apparent that they would now have to compete with other Leagues to buy the best.
In addition, they were now even in danger of losing local talent to other Leagues.
It was unheard of, in the pre-Bosman days, for an Italian leaving the Serie A to play in another country. But now stars such as Zola, Ravanelli, Casiraghi, Panucci and Vieri were sold to English and Spanish clubs.
The Serie A remained relatively strong for the rest of the decade, however, by the new millennium, both the EPL and the Spanish la Liga seemed to have surpassed the once untouchable Serie A.
Serie A’s stranglehold on the Champions League was broken by multi-national Real Madrid (Galacticos) side of the late 90s and early millennium.

Photo From: World Soccer, December 1996
(Pedrag Mijatovic, one of Real Madrid’s new signings for the first post-Bosman season)

Manchester United and Arsenal were also performing consistently in Europe by winning and/or reaching Finals.
As the Serie A grew weaker, so did its financial muscle. Financial scandals and irregularities did not help matters either.
Teams like Juventus and Internazionale were resigned to lose superstars like Zidane and Ronaldo to Spain’s Real Madrid.
Fiorentina was bankrupted due to massive debts and took a few years to reclaim its place in the top division.

Photo From: World Soccer, September 1996
(Middlesbrough Manager Bryan Robson with new Italian signing Fabrizio Ravanelli)

The once attractive attacking teams of Lazio and Parma became average or mediocre teams after Sergio Cragnotti left Lazio and the Tanzi family pulled out of Parma.
While the Juventus implosion with the Calciopoli scandal further weakened an already weak league.
AC Milan did manage to win a couple of Champions League titles during this period, but it was generally an era dominated by Spain’s La Liga and the EPL.
There was a not too distant past, where a Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would have been playing in the Serie A without question, like Platini, Maradona and van Basten in their prime.
Only time will tell, how long the Spanish and English domination will continue.
Due to its increased profile, the EPL has attracted foreign owners like Roman Abramovich at Chelsea, the American Glazer family at Manchester United and Sheikh Al Nayhan at Manchester City, to promote its brand all over the world.
While Real Madrid and Barcelona continue to sign the best and play the best brand of Football.
When the bubble bursts, most likely Italian clubs will the primary beneficiaries as they have history on their side as being the pre-eminent League in Europe.
In the meantime, one must recognize the importance of a court case, started over two decades ago by a little known footballer that changed the balance of power in the world of Football.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Articles on Teams and Events-Part 17

An article about Players Freedom of contract dealing with Raymond Kopa and George Eastham, jr
(Magazine / Language : World Soccer, December 1963 / English)



Photo from : World Soccer, November 1965
(George Eastham and Sweden’s Henry Larsson, May 16, 1965, Sweden 1-England 2)

Photo From: Onze- Mondial, April 1991
(Raymond Kopa of Stade Reims)




An article about the exciting West Bromwich team of the late 1970s containing Cyrille Regis and Laurie Cunningham
(Magazine / Language : Mondial, April 1979 / French)


Photo From: Mondial, April 1979
(Cyrille Regis of West Bromwich Albion)




An article about Franz Beckenbauer’s search as West Germany Manager for a new libero
(Magazine / Language : Fussball Magazin, November 1986 / German)

Franz Beckenbauer’s search for Libero 1986



Photo From: Fussball Magazin, November 1986
(Klaus Aughentaler of Bayern Munich and Leverkusen’s Thomas Hoerster among the candidates for West German libero post World Cup 1986)

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Player Profiles-Part 18

Three profiles on German midfielder Rainer Bonhof, who played for Borussia Moenchengladbach and Valencia 
(Magazine / Language : World Soccer, September 1977 / English)
(Magazine / Language : Onze, October 1978 / French)
(Magazine / Language : World Soccer, December 1979 / English)


Photo from: Onze, May 1977
(Rainer Bonhof in action for Borussia Moenchengladbach, 1976/77)


Three profiles on Spain and Real Sociedad goalkeeper Luis Arconada
(Magazine / Language : World Soccer, November 1980 / English)
(Magazine / Language : Onze, February 1981 / French)
(Magazine / Language : Mondial, February 1982 / French)




Photo from:  World Soccer, October 1984
(Luis Arconada on the cover of World Soccer magazine)


Two profiles on German International Michael Frontzek, who played for Borussia Moenchengladbach and Stuttgart 
(Magazine / Language : Fussball Magazin, September October 1984 /German)
(Magazine / Language : Fussball Magazin, November 1989 /German)



Photo from: Fussball Magazin, September October 1984
(Michael Frontzek)



Friday, December 7, 2012

Interviews-Part 21

Three interviews with former Brazil Manager Telê Santana at various stages during his career
(Magazine / Language : World Soccer, April 1985 / English)
(Magazine / Language : World Soccer, June 1989 / English)
(Magazine / Language : World Soccer, October 1991 / English)



Photo from : World Soccer, January 1992
(Brazil Manager Telê Santana)



Three interviews and a Profile of Denmark legend Allan Simonsen
(Magazine / Language : Mondial, July 1979 / French)
(Magazine / Language : Onze, September 1979 / French)
(Magazine / Language : Foot Magazine, April 1984 / French)
(Magazine / Language : Mondial, June 1984 / French)




Photo from : Onze, May 1977
(Allan Simonsen in action for Borussia Moenchengladbach, 1976/77)



An interview with Italian and long time Internazionale Milano and 1982 World Cup Champion Gabriele Oriali just ahead of retirement
(Magazine / Language : Guerin Sportivo, April 29-May 5, 1987 / Italian)


Gabriele Oriali Interview


Photo from : Guerin Sportivo, April 29-May 5, 1987
(Gabriele Oriali in action for Internazionale Milano)


Thursday, December 6, 2012

Old Team Photographs-Part 11c

Photo From: World Soccer, July 1996
(Auxerre squad, France double winners 1995/96, with colored and dyed hair to celebrate the league title)
Photo From: World Soccer, September 1992
(Stuttgart squad, 1992/93)




Photo From: World Soccer, October 1978
(Real Madrid squad, 1978/79)

Photo From: World Soccer, April 1972
(Olympique Marseille squad, 1971/72)


Photo From: World Soccer, April 1970
(Valencia squad, 1969/70)


Photo From: World Soccer, October 1967
(Dinamo Zagreb squad, 1967/68)

Photo From: World Soccer, February 1965
(FC Koln squad, 1964/65)

Photo From: World Soccer, May 1961
(AS Roma squad, 1960/61)

Photo From: World Soccer, November 1960
(CSKA squad, 1960/61)

Photo From:  Onze, August 1985
(Algeria squad, 1985)

Photo From: Onze, May 1980
(River Plate squad, 1980)

Photo From: Onze, April 1979
(Sporting Gijon squad, Spain Runners-up 1978/79)

Photo From: Onze, Hors Serie 22, 1985
(Juventus squad, 1984/85)


Photo From: Mondial, June 1985
(Everton squad, May 15, 1985, Cup Winners Cup, Everton 3-Rapid Vienna 1)

Photo From: Mondial, March 1983
(Athletic Bilbao squad, Spanish Champions 1982/83)

Old Team Photographs-Part 11b

Photo From: Kicker 40 Jahre Bundesliga, 2003
(Borussia Moenchengladbach squad, Bundesliga Champions 1974/75)
Photo From: IFFHS, Issue 11
(Anderlecht squad squad, May 18, 1983, UEFA Cup Final, Benfica 1-Anderlecht 1)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, May 18-24, 1988
(Wimbledon squad, May 14, 1988, FA Cup Final, Wimbledon 1-Liverpool 0)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, June 17-23, 1987
(Napoli squad after winning the Coppa Italia and the double, June 13, 1987, Atalanta 0-Napoli 1)


Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, June 5-11, 1991
(Red Star Belgrade squad, May 29, 1991, Champions Cup Final, Red Star Belgrade 0-Olympique Marseille 0)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, April 29-May 5, 1987
(Dundee United squad, 1986/87)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, April 29-May 5, 1987
(Porto squad, 1986/87)

Photo From: Goal, June 1997
(Juventus squad 1977)

Photo From: Goal, August 1997
(Manchester United squad, 1955-57)

Photo From: Don Balon, Chile Edicion, January 21-27, 1997
(Juventus 1996/97)



Photo From: Chronik des Deutschen Fussbalss, 2005
(West Germany’s 1981 U-20 World Cup Champions)

Photo From: Calcio 2000, August 1998
(Perugia squad that went an entire season undefeated, 1978/79, though they finished runners-up to AC Milan)

Photo From: Calcio 2000, April 2000
(Benfica squad, 1961/62)

Photo From: Calcio 2000, February 2001
(An Internazionale squad from 1964/65)

Old Team Photographs-Part 11a

Photo from :Onze, February 1979
(Brazil squad, June 24, 1978, World Cup, Brazil 2-Italy 1)
Photo from : World Soccer, June 1967
(Italy squad, May 27, 1967, Italy 1-Portugal 1)


Photo from : World Soccer, September 1967
(Sweden squad, May 17, 1967, Sweden 1-East Germany 0)



Photo From: Foot Magazine, Issue 102, April 1990
(Spain squad, February 21, 1990, Sapin 1-Czechoslovakia 0)


Photo from: Soccer International, October 1992
(USA squad, July 31, 1992, Amistad Cup, USA 09-Colombia 1)


Photo from : World Soccer, September 1961
(Uruguay squad, June 30, 1954, World Cup, Hungary 4-Uruguay 2)

Photo from: BackPass, Issue 11, Spring 2010
(Northern Ireland squad, June 15, 1958, World Cup, West Germany 2-Northern Ireland 2)

Photo From: Österreichs Fußball Länderspiele Chronik 1902 – 1993, Author: Anton Egger
(Austria and France squads, May 5, 1946, France 3-Austria 1)

Photo from: Goal,  November 1997
(Brazil squad, May 27, 1934, World Cup, Spain 3-Brazil 1)


Photo from: Mondial, December 1985(more)
(USSR squad, April 27, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, Switzerland 2-USSR 2)


Photo from: Bialo Czerwoni 1921-2001, Author Andrzej Gowarzewski
(Poland squad, April 2, 1980, Belgium 2-Poland 1)

Photo From: Het Nederlands Elftal, De Histoire van Oranje, 1905-1989
(Holland squad, September 19, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Holland 2-Republic of Ireland 2)


Photo From: IFFHS, Danmark (1908-1940), Sverige (1908-10940)
(Denmark squad, June 12, 1919, Denmark 5-Norway 1)

Photo from: Onze, Hors Serie 7, 1978
(West Germany squad, June 12, 1977, Brazil 1-West Germany 1)


Photo From: One Hundred Years of Scottish Football, Author: John Rafferty, 1973
(Scotland squad for the match that turned out to be the Ibrox disaster that led to 26 deaths, April 5, 1902, Home Championship, Scotland 1-England 1)