Old Match Photographs-Part 31b

Photo From: Don Balon, Edicion Chile, April 16-22, 1996

(Chilean striker Ivan Zamroano at Real Madrid)

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 15, January 1999

(Valencia’s Italian defender Marco Lanna and Barcelona’s Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert, 1998/99)

Photo From: British Soccer Week, Issue 619, February 25, 1998

(Dennis Irwin, Dean Sturridge and Nicky Butt, February 21, 1998, Manchester United 2-Derby County 0)

Photo From: AS Color, Issue 74, October 17, 1972

(Enrique Wolff and Amancio, October 11, 1972, Hispanity Cup, Spain 1-Argentina 0)

Photo From: World Soccer, October 2001

(Eusebio and Simao)

Photo From: World Soccer, March 1991

(Milan Jankovic and Luca Pellegrini, May 9, 1990, Cup Winners Cup, Sampdoria 2-Anderlecht 0)

Photo From: World Soccer, May 1981

(Rainer Bonhof , Simon Tahamata and Tony Woodcock, March 18, 1981, UEFA Cup, Koln 3-Standard Liege 2)

Photo From: World Soccer, June 1971

(Ajax’s Piet Keizer , April 28, 1971, Champions Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 3-Atletico Madrid 0)

Photo From: World Soccer, May 1961

(March 15, 1961, Champions cup, SV Hamburg 4-Burnley 1)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 143, December 2000

(Jorg Albertz, November 7, 2000, Champions League, Rangers Glasgow 2-AS Monaco 2)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 21, October 1990

(Metz and Croatia’s Aliocha Asanovic, 1990/91)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 94, October 1983

(Dinamo Kiev’s Anatoli Demianenko)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 5, May 1976

(Christian Lopez , April 20, 1976, France (Under 23) 2-USSR (Under 23) 1 )

Photo From: Mondial, New series, issue 3, June 1980

(Borussia Moenchengladbach’s Ewald Lienen)

Photo From: Mondial, Old Series, Issue 6, July 1977

(Juventus’ Franco Causio)

Photo From: Shoot, November 17, 1984

(Arsenal’s Paul Mariner and Tony Woodcock, 1984/85)

Photo From: Miroir du Football , Issue 32, August 1962

(Ferenc Puskas and Mauro, June 6, 1962, World Cup, Brazil 2-Spain 1)

Photo From: Voetbal International, Nummer 46, November 12-17, 1979

(Johnny Rep, November 7, 1979, UEFA Cup, Saint Etienne 6-PSV Eindhoven 0)

Photo From: Placar Nª 887 01-06-1987

(Douglas, May 23, 1987, Republic of Ireland 1-Brazil 0)

Photo From: kicker_WM-Sonderheft_1970

(Internazionale Milano’s Sandro Mazzzola )

Photo From: Hurra Juventus 1971 #10 ottobre

(Juventus’ Omar Sivori)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo-La Grande Storia Del Calcio Italiana-1933-1934

(1930s Ambrosiana-Inter goalkeeper Carlo Ceresoli)

Photo From: Fussball Magazin, Issue 5, September October 1981

(Stuttgart’s Dieter Muller, 1981)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2553, March 14, 1995

(Paris St. Germain’s Bernard Lama and Nantes’ Patrice Loko, 1994/95)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 1812, December 30, 1980

(Serge Chiesa at Olympique Lyonnais)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 1677, May 30, 1978

(Holland’s Robbie Rensenbrink)

Photo From: Football Magazine, Issue 7, August 1960

(USSR’s Viktor Ponedelnik, Czechoslovakia goalkeeper Viliam Schrojf making a save, July 6, 1960, European Championship, USSR 3-czechsolovakia 0)

Photo From: Foot Magazine, Issue 2, May 1981

(Standard Liege’s Simon Tahamata and Michel Renquin, 1980/81)

Photo From: Start1988_june06_№24

(Czechoslovakia’s Marian Masny, Anton Ondrus, Koloman Gögh)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, February 27-March 5, 1985

(Johann Cruyff guesting for AC Milan, June 16, 1981, Mundialito of Clubs, AC Milan 0-Feyenoord 0)

Photo From: Goal, Issue 8, May 1996

(David Beckham and Mark Bosnich, August 19, 1995, Aston Villa 3-Manchester United 1)

Photo From: Foot Magazine, Issue 103, May 1990

(Belgium’s Marc Emmers)

Photo From: EL GRAFICO Nº 3457 (07-01-1986)

(Bayern Munich and Denmark’s Soren Lerby)

Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a blog viewer (special thanks to Daniel Antonio Escobar Riquelme)

(Cruzeiro Dirceu Lopes, Tostao, Argentinean Roberto Perfumo and Piazza)

Photo From: Don Balon, Issue 189, May 22, 1979

(Kees Kist and Fulvio Collovati, February 24, 1979, Italy 3-Holland 0)

Photo From: Don Balon, Chile Edicion, January 28-February 3, 1997

(Yugoslavia’s Pedrag Mijatovic)

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 15, January 1999

(France’s David Ginola at Tottenham Hotspur, 1998/99)

Photo From: British Soccer Week, Issue 619, February 25, 1998

(Justin Edinburgh and Benito Carbone, February 21, 1998, Sheffield Wednesday 1-Tottenham Hotspur 0)

Photo From: AS Color, Issue 76, October 31, 1972

(Heraldo Becerra heading, October 25, 1972, Cup Winners Cup, Atletico Madrid 3-Spartak Moscow 4)

Soccer Memories-Part 22

Rejected Talent: Future Stars, not good enough at youth level

(Note: I would like to once again thank http://www.zani.co.uk/ for uploading this article http://www.zani.co.uk/rejected-talent-future-stars-not-good-enough-at-youth-level )

When one looks at a top Football Player, logically the assumption is that they were exceptional talents as youth. In most cases that’s accurate, as one would have to possess gifts at a very young age to make it as a professional.

However, throughout Football history, there have been players whose gifts were not self-evident or were judged inadequate to succeed as professionals.

French Legend Michel Platini is such a case. Though he performed impressively as a 20 year old for his club Nancy, it is astonishing that Lorraine neighbors FC Metz rejected him.

There are two stories about this great oversight. In one version it was Metz’s Team Doctor, after a number of physical tests, judged Platini not adequate to succeed as a professional. In another version, Platini would only join if his father Aldo was also part of the package with a job (which he got at Nancy).

Photo From: Mondial, old series, issue 27, February 1979

(Michel Platini with Nancy, 1978/79)

Another technically gifted French Talent from the 1980s and 90s, David Ginola was turned down by OGC Nice. He had to make his name with Toulon before starring for Paris St Germain and Newcastle United later in his career.

Other French Internationals who had to take different routes to stardom include long time goalkeeper Joel Bats who was barred as a youth at Sochaux by the more experienced Albert Rust and had to go to Auxerre and also striker Xavier Gravelaine, a contemporary of Didier Deschamps as a youth at Nantes, who was also shown the door and had to make his way through the lower divisions before eventually playing for sides like Paris St Germain and Olympique Marseille.

Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 71, March 1986

(France goalkeeper Joel Bats)

In the early 1990s, Croatia’s Robert Prosinecki was considered to be one of the greatest young talents of World Football and was an International for Yugoslavia in his early 20s.

As a youth he was coached by future Croatia National Team Manager Miroslav Blazevic at Dynamo Zagreb. Blazevic was so unconvinced by his talents that he went on to declare that if Prosinecki ever became a good player he would tear off all his diplomas.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 28, May 1991

(Robert Prosinecki with Red Star Belgrade, 1990/91)

When it comes to Germans, Bayern Munich is a difficult place to break through, some of the notable casualties include future West German and Stuttgart defender Bernd Forster (brother of Karl-Heinz) and future Bordeaux defender and Manager Gernot Rohr. Both failed to make the grade in a team full of Internationals.

There is the peculiar case of Italian defenders Giuseppe Bergomi and Franco Baresi. Each player was rejected by one of the Milanese clubs to serve their entire career with the other Milanese club, Bergomi with Inter and Baresi with AC Milan. Incidentally, Franco Baresi’s brother Giuseppe was accepted by Inter.

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 16, February 1999

(Internazionale Milano’s Giuseppe Bergomi)

Future Juventus defenders (both capped by Italy), Sergio Porrini and Gianluca Pessotto started at AC Milan’s youth teams but were released before making their breakthroughs at smaller teams.

Similarly another future Juventus and Italy International, midfielder Angelo Di Livio failed to make the grade at AS Roma and had to start out at the lower leagues.

Future Italy and AS Roma midfielder Luigi Di Biagio actually started at cross town rivals Lazio, but failed to make the grade.

Future Italy goalkeeper Francesco Toldo’s path was blocked at AC Milan, he therefore had to work his way up the lower leagues as well.

Defender Roberto Tricella was once seen as Gaetano Scirea’s heir apparent as Italy’s Libero under Enzo Bearzot; however, he was also rejected as a youth at Internazionale Milano before making a name for himself at Verona.

Similarly young Lazio striker Marco Di Vaio’s path was blocked by such talents as Signori and Casiraghi, therefore he had to work his way up the lower leagues as well.

When it comes to the British there are also many interesting cases. Future England Captain David Platt was rejected as a youngster at Manchester United. He had to go to Crewe and Aston Villa to achieve stardom.

Photo From: World Soccer, February 1994

(David Platt st Sampdoria, 1993/94)

Welsh International, the controversial Robbie Savage is another of Manchester United’s famous failures.

Scottish legend Kenny Dalglish was rejected as a trainee at West Ham United for reasons that only they would know.

Photo From: Onze, Issue 22, October 1977

(Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool, 1977/78)

Liverpool itself is also a tough place to break through especially during the competitive Shankly and Paisley eras. Future England International defender Dave Watson could not make it. He had to go through Norwich to eventually play for cross-town rivals Everton.

Republic of Ireland Midfielder Kevin Sheedy and Northern Ireland midfielder Jim Magilton were also released during this era. Sheedy eventually made his name at cross-town rivals Everton, while Magilton starred for Southampton.

Arsenal under George Graham was guilty of dispensing prolific striker Andy Cole and International defender Martin Keown. Though, Graham bought back Keown some six years later.

In Spain, Real Madrid is a tough jungle and many talented players had to make headway elsewhere blocked by International quality stars.

Hipolito Rincon is such a case, unable to make the first team; he joined Real Betis and was one of Spanish Leagues best goalscorers of the 1980s.

The list goes on: Ismael Urzaiz, Alvaro Negredo, Roberto Soldado, Alfonso Perez, Dani Garcia, Miguel Pardeza, and Sebastiano Losada.

These young Spaniards had to succeed away from Real’s tough environment.

I presume the lesson to be learned is to never give up after initial rejection.

Even the experts can be wrong or perhaps players need the right environment to flourish.

They need the less pressured atmosphere of a smaller club where they will get playing opportunities rather than being confined to the bench, way behind the pecking order.

 

Old Match Photographs-Part 23d

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 27, February 2000

(Penarol’s Alberto Spencer)

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 22 Supplement, August-September 1999

(Italy’s Angelo Sormani)

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 21, July 1999

(Internazionale Milano’s Swedish player Lennart Skoglund and Aurelio Scagnelalto of Padova)

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 19, May 1999

(Thierry Henry at Juventus, 1999)

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 19, May 1999

(Ronaldo and a young fan who resembles him, 1999)

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 18, April 1999

(Bologna’s Harald Nielsen scoring Bologna’s second goal in the 1964 Italian Serie A decider, June 7, 1964, Bologna 2-Internazionale Milano 0)

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 17, March 1999

(Austrian Wunderteam’s Franz Binder)

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 16, February 1999

(Brazil striker and 1950 World Cup top goalscorer Ademir heading the ball)

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 15, January 1999

(Fiorentina’s Brazilian from 1960s, Amarildo)

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 13, November 1998

(Parma’s Argentinean Striker Hernan Crespo, 1998/99)

Photo From: Backpass Issue 3, spring 2000

(Chelsea Manager Dave Sexton and Alan Hudson)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 83, December 1995

(George Weah with Liberia)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 69, October 1994

(David Ginola and Jorginho, September 14, 1994, Champions League, Paris St Germain 2-Bayern Munich 0)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 59, December 1993

(Barcelona’s Ladislao Kubala during the 1961 Champions Cup semifinal matches vs. SV Hamburg)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 46, November 1992

(Norwich City’s Jeremy Goss and Sheffield Wednesday’s Carlton Palmer, 1992/93)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 30, July 1991

(Anderlecht’s Dutch defender Adri van Tiggelen, 1990/91)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 21, October 1990

(Daniel Xuereb, Wilbert Suvrijn and Gheorge Popescu, October 3, 1990, Cup Winners Cup, PSV Eindhoven 0-Montpellier 0)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 4, May 1989

(Dan Petrescu at Steaua Bucharest, 1989/90)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 150, June 1988

(Steve McMahon and Dennis Wise, May 14, 1988, English FA Cup, Wimbledon 1-Liverpool 0)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 144, December 1987

(Porto’s Jaime Magalhaes)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 125, May 1986

(Steaua Bucharest’s Tudorel Stoica)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 116, August 1985

(Denmark’s Kenneth Brylle with PSV Eindhoven, 1984/85)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 93, September 1983

(Michel DeWolf at Ghent, 1983/84)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 102, June 1984

(Team Captains Frank Vercauteren and Graham Roberts, May 23, 1984, UEFA Cup, Tottenham 1-Anderlecht 1)