Trivia and Facts-Part 25

1-During his first stint at Real Madrid (1996/97), Italian Manager Fabio Capello objected to Fernando Sanz being part of the first team squad.

Fernando Sanz was the son of Real Madrid President Lorenzo Sanz.

Capello insisted that he was not questioning his playing ability, but that the dressing room should be a sanctuary for the team from the management, where everyone can speak freely.

According to Capello, Fernando Sanz’s presence made this impossible.

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, September 18-24,1991

(Fabio Capello, September 15, 1991, Juventus 1-AC Milan 1)

Photo From: World Soccer, January 1996

(Real Madrid President Lorenzo Sanz)

2- German midfielder Bernd Schuster returned to German soccer by joining Bayer Leverkusen in 1993. He had been playing in Spain since 1980.

His last international appearance was in 1984 and had been out of national team reckoning for nearly a decade.

His performances for Leverkusen were so impressive that there was a media clamor for his inclusion and re-integration in the national team.

Schuster declared that he would be open to the idea if called upon, but did not want in any way put any pressure on Manager Berti Vogts.

Ultimately, Vogts nixed the idea and said that he would not be doing Schuster any favors by selecting him for a game or two and not again and in any case he had other players available for the same position, such as Andy Moeller.

Photo From: World Soccer, May 1995

(Bernd Schuster with Bayer Leverkusen, 1994/95)

Photo From: World Soccer, May 1995

(Bernd Schuster with Bayer Leverkusen, 1994/95)

3- During the 1992 UEFA European Championships, France manager Michel Platini was heavily criticized for his team’s defensive tactics during all press conferences.

He finally responded that Soccer is ‘not like Figure Skating, they don’t hand out points on style.’

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, April 1989

(Michel Platini on the cover of Onze-Mondial as France National team manager)

4- For France’s match vs. Belgium in Brussels on May 7^th, 1905, the kick off time was delayed and played at a later time than scheduled.

As a result France goalkeeper Georges Crozier was forced to leave the match with 25 minutes left in order to catch a train.

France Captain Fernand Canelle took his place in the net and conceded two more goals for a final score of Belgium 7-France 0.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2700, January 6, 1998

(Georges Crozier, April 22, 1906, France 0-Belgium 5)

Photo from: Capitaines des bleus depuis 1904, Author Vincent Duluc

(Fernand Canelle, February 12, 1905, France 1-Switzerland 0)

5- Scotland International Tommy Bogan’s career lasted one minute.

He was selected for Scotland for their War Time International vs. England on April 14, 1945 at Hampden Park.

During Scotland’s first attack, he collided with England goalkeeper Frank Swift and left the field with knee ligament damage.

He had not even touched the ball.

He was replaced with Leslie Johnstone who scored Scotland’s goal, in a one to six loss.