1-For
the 1958 World Cup, the Brazilian National Team had a psychologist as part of
its staff.
As
part of his analysis, Dr. Joao Carvalhaes had asked each player to draw a human
figure. Based upon the results of this test, he would recommend which players
should be selected and which position would be more suitable (for example, for
poor drawings, the given player should be confined to the wings).
Pele
and Garrincha’s drawings were so poor and rudimentary that he recommended that
they should not play at all.
Thankfully,
Brazil’s Management ignored his recommendation.
 |
Photo
From: L’Annee du Football, 1983
(Pele
and Garrincha)
|
2-
Well-known English Businessman Robert Maxwell had resigned as Chairman of
Oxford United in 1987. He was to become Chairman of Derby County.
His
son Kevin Maxwell took over as Oxford United Chairman.
Early
in the 1988/89 a very controversial transfer occurred. Kevin Maxwelll sold
Oxford’s Welsh International Dean Saunders to his father’s club Derby County.
The controversy surrounded the conflict of interest (even though the teams were
in different divisions), as well as the cost associated with this in mind.
Oxford United Manager Mark Lawrenson resigned after a dispute with his Chairman
over this move.
 |
Photo
From: Shoot, November 19, 1988
(Dean
Saunders at Derby County)
|
3-
When French midfielder Ibrahima Ba joined AC Milan in the summer of 1997, AC
Milan started manufacturing his personalized jersey with the name Ba in the
back. However, Ba requested that the name at the back to be ‘Ibou’ (his
nickname).
As
a result thouands of already manufactured jerseys had to destroyed.
 |
Photo
From: World Soccer, October 1997
(Ibrahima
Ba at AC Milan, 1997/98)
|
4-On
June 8, 1947, France and Switzerland played a friendly in Lausanne (2-1 France
win).
In
the 53rd minute, Swiss Manager Karl Rappan replaced the injured
Rudolf Gyger by Rene Maillard.
A
substitution, even in a friendly, was against FIFA rules of the time.
English
referee George Reader stopped the match and asked France Manager Gaston Barreau
if he would accept it.
As
a sign of Sportsmanship, Barreau accepted despite the objections of his captain
Oscar Heisserer.
 |
Photo
From: L’Equipe, L’Equipe de France de Football, la Belle Histoire
(Erwin Ballabio kicking the ball out of net
after Jean Baratte had scored France’s second goal, Juen 8, 1947, Switzerland
1-France 2) |
5-The
day after the 1994 World Cup Final, Brazil goalkeeper Claudio Taffarel took a
taxi from the Anaheim Marriott on route to Brazil’s team hotel in Fullerton,
California.
When
he reached his destination, he realized that the had left behind in the taxi,
$60,000 in cash, passports and even his World Cup winners medal.
The
taxi driver, Juan Santo Blanco, returned the missing items to Taffarel, who in
turn rewarded him $1,000 cash, souvenir tie clips and a Brazil team sweatshirt.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 146, February 1988
(Claudio
Taffarel)
|
 |
Photo
From: Goal, Issue 2, November 1995
(Taxi
Driver Juan Santo Blanco)
|
