Philippe Coutinho

A failure to complete the current 2019/20 season could result in an £8.7bn drop in player values among Europe’s top ten leagues, according to a global accountancy firm.

The coronavirus outbreak has understandably brought all of Europe’s major leagues to a halt, with several countries such as France, Belgium and the Netherlands having cancelled the remainder of the season already.

Many of Europe’s other elite leagues are looking for ways to continue the season, with not only sporting integrity at stake, but massive financial ramifications that could completely change the landscape of modern football.

According to a report from KPMG, failing to play out the rest of this season could have an unprecedented impact on player values, with Europe’s top ten leagues set to suffer an £8.7bn setback – a 26.5% reduction in player value.

The Premier League would be hit hard by a decision to end the season now, with Manchester City possibly the club most affected as their squad’s value could drop by £839m. Liverpool’s player values would be set to drop by £792m, Manchester United £624m, Chelsea £601m and Tottenham £597m, with all the aforementioned English clubs in the top ten for those that would be most impacted.

That would likely have an almighty impact on clubs lower in the football pyramid – many of whom are already struggling financially – with less money finding its way to them.

Player values often deteriorate when a player is not playing as they get older, with 2019 Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi currently the player who is set to suffer the greatest depreciation in value. If the season isn’t completed, the Barcelona man’s value could drop by 27.5%.

However, even if the season is completed behind closed doors, player values will still take a nosedive, although it would be a significantly smaller figure than if the season isn’t finished at all. Player values would drop by 17.7%, just under £6bn, if the season is completed without fans in the stadium.

The Bundesliga is currently the league closest to restarting as the German first division is set to begin at a yet unspecified date towards the end of May. The Premier League, Serie A and La Liga are still somewhat further away from picking up where they left off prior to the suspension of football.

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Dani Alves is number 8 in 90min’s Top 20 Greatest Footballers of the Decade series. Follow the rest of the series over the course of the next two weeks.

?Daniel Alves da Silva: the facts.

The most decorated footballer of all time who, in the second half of his career, has won 25 club trophies in the last decade. For three different teams. In three different countries. 

The best right-back in the world (see: FIFPro World XI) seven out of the last ten years, beaten out by Maicon (2010) and Sergio Ramos (2014 and presumably 2019, although no position breakdown was released). MVP at the 2019 Copa America. 

Dani Alves: the opinions.

The best right-back of his generation. The most complete attacking full-back of all time. One of the most fun footballers to watch, full stop. Football’s greatest exponent of social media. The single best-dressed player of this or any other century. 

Dani Alves: Dani Alves.

Brazil’s right-back is a singularly fascinating player to watch, and that’s barely the half of what makes him one of football’s most beloved characters. 

Let’s rewind. 

The decade started with Alves at ?Barcelona, having earned his move to Catalunya with a series of utterly dominant performances for Sevilla, where he was right-back, right winger and number ten all rolled into one. That Sevilla team pivoted around his abilities, and won two consecutive UEFA Cups and a Copa del Rey; finishing just five points from the title one season to boot. 

His time in Andalusia may still be the most impressive spell of his career – but we’re here to talk about this decade, not the last one. This decade, which started when ?Alves was already 26 years old, when he had just one league title to his name. 

As we end the decade, he has nine. 

All of players on this all-decade list have been outstanding in their positions and some – Manuel Neuer, Arjen Robben for e.g. – have ushered in a new way of playing the role. Alves doesn’t fall into that second category, because there literally isn’t anyone who has the skillset to do all of the things that he does. 

Speaking just last week to ?The Guardian, he said: “I’ll be sincere, I created a new way of playing as a full-back. No false modesty. I am always adapting to my teammates. If they’re wide, I’ll go into the middle. If they’re attacking, I’ll help with the control. If the ball’s on the other side, I tuck in. I play as a creative midfielder from the back.”

He’s credited Pep Guardiola for his tactical nous in the past, but that doesn’t explain away Sevilla. Maybe Pep improved him – he improves most players – but Alves’ career is his own. The arrival of Juanfran at Sao Paulo this summer has allowed the three-time Champions League winner to move into what is essentially a wandering midfield role, which…at this point, why not? 

Barcelona gave up on him in 2016, letting him leave for free despite having him under contract for a further year. He signed for Juventus, promptly broke his leg and – at the age of 33 – fought his way back to full fitness in time to single-handedly put his new team in the Champions League final; controlling both legs against Monaco and either assisting or scoring all of Juve’s goals. 

Juventus, too, let him go a year early…so he went to Paris Saint-Germain and won six trophies in a two-year stint in France, because he’s Daniel Alves da Silva, and Daniel Alves da Silva doesn’t believe in the concept of being finished. 

Just this summer, his contract at the Parc des Princes ended. He went to the Copa America as a free agent and lifted not only the trophy, but the Player of the Tournament award. As an unattached 36-year-old. Dani. Goddamn. Alves. 

Sao Paulo isn’t a retirement home for him, they just happened to be the only club who would give him a contract to take him through to the next World Cup. He’ll be 39 when everything kicks off in Qatar, and Alves wants to be there. Imagine betting against him. 

In the meantime, he continues to be one of a relatively small handful of Brazilian footballers who has taken a stand against fascist president Jair Bolsonaro – calling on him to retract “remarks made during the campaign and treat all people as human beings, regardless of their gender, their social status or their sexual orientation.”

Bolsonaro (obviously) didn’t back down, but in a political climate which has seen a large number of big names endorse the hard-right leader – including Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Lucas Moura – Alves’ willingness to go against the grain and stand up for his own values say something about him as a man. 

A word on Alves the man, while we’re here. One of the most revisited moments of his career came at El Madrigal in 2014, when a Villarreal fan (David Campaya Lleo) threw a banana at him during a break in play. And not in the ‘you need a little pick-me-up, have an energy boost’ way. 

Alves picked the banana up, peeled it, took a bite and carried on with the game. The aftermath of the match – a reasonably spectacular one, a comeback to win from 2-0 down in the first game after Tito Vilanova’s tragic passing – was dominated by the incident. Players worldwide posted pictures on social media of themselves taking bites from bananas, a movement which Alves distanced himself from.

One of the most flamboyant athletes from any sport off the pitch, taking part in outrageous fashion photoshoots and the suchlike, there’s a seriousness to Alves that underlines his joking nature; speaking candidly (if pessimistically) about racial issues in the wider world and in the sport.

Sometimes, though, he’s just wacky. When Barcelona were knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid in Alves’ final season at the club, he posted a video on Instagram in which he dressed up as his wife, put on a falsetto voice and consoled himself for the defeat. Luis Enrique dropped him for the team’s next game, although no second video was forthcoming to console Alves for being left out of the team. 

He’s…look, he’s Dani Alves. There’s never been anyone else like him before, there will never be anyone like him again. We’ve only got a few years left of him, enjoy him while you can. 

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Number 20 – Arjen Robben: The Flying Dutchman Who Became a Modern Legend at Bayern Munich

Number 19 – Mohamed Salah: The Humble King Who Conquered Rome and Took Liverpool By Storm

Number 18 – Sergio Aguero: The Man Who Painted Manchester Blue With One Kick of a Football

Number 17 – Manuel Neuer: The Bayern Munich & Germany Legend Who Revolutionised Goalkeeping

Number 16 – Eden Hazard: The Brilliant Belgian Who Mesmerised Fans Across the World

Number 15 – Zlatan Ibrahimovic: The Man Who Needs No Introduction

Number 14 – Toni Kroos: The Underrated Jahrhunderttalent Who Was There for the Biggest Occasions

Number 13 – Giorgio Chiellini: The Juventus Legend Who Has Always Found a Way to Win

Number 12 – Marcelo: From Favela Kickabouts Under Grandad’s Watch to 4 Champions League Wins

Number 11 – Robert Lewandowski: Bayern Munich’s Best Foreign Player & Europe’s Most Underrated Star in History

Number 10 – Neymar Jr: Brazil’s Generational Talent Who Dictated the Greatest Champions League Night in History

?Number 9 – Gareth Bale: The Cursed Talent Who Went on to Conquer Europe Four Times

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We’ve got a cracker in store for you all here. Oh yes we do. We’re talking clutch goals that basically won a league title, top players getting put on their backsides by even more top players, some random Manchester United striker you’d completely forgotten about bagging a brace and a proper tearjerker moment.

All this and more occurred on 6 May. Can you believe it?

No? Didn’t think so, which is why we’ll give you all the engrossing details in this latest instalment of ‘On This Day’. Go figure.

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Dani Alves Turns an Age (Still) Less Than His Trophy Haul

It’s the day a smiley, tattooed Brazilian turns 37 years old. He isn’t, however, just any old smiley, tattooed Brazilian. He’s actually the most decorated footballer in the history of the game. A rather immense title to hold but one that is befitting of the kind of person Dani Alves is.

Sure, he may have flung himself about the pitch a bit more flamboyantly than to most people’s liking, but that doesn’t stop us celebrating the incredible longevity and success of this particular right back. Or wait, should we say attacking midfielder now? Whatever, who cares, he’s Dani Alves and he can play wherever the heck he wants.

Here’s to surpassing the 40-mark for trophies, Dani. Have a good’un.

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Ronaldo Masterclass Helps Inter Lift UEFA Cup – 1998

An all Italian UEFA Cup final was sure to be an engrossing affair, as Lazio and Inter took to Parc des Princes with victory in their sights.

The first-ever single-leg UEFA Cup final meant no more two-match nonsense, and people could all sit down and enjoy the entertainment in its full 90 minute glory. On this particular occasion, though, there was one player who stole the show and headlines with a virtuoso display that only he could have produced at the time. We’re talking about Ronaldo Nazario, of course.

The Brazilian was a six foot thorn in Lazio’s backside throughout, running rings around the opposition in his debut Inter season. There were flicks and tricks galore, with his outstanding performance capped by a 70th minute goal to round off a 3-0 win.

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Andres Iniesta Breaks Chelsea Hearts in Champions League – 2009

While it may have been Iniesta who broke Chelsea hearts, it was referee Tom Henning Øvrebø who ripped their spirits out of their chests, trod on them, gave them a red card, hurled Norwegian abuse at them and then handed those spirits back to the owners in paper bags labelled ‘semi-finalist’.

Iniesta’s injury-time equaliser to send Barcelona through to the Champions League final that season remains one of the most memorable moments in the competition’s recent history, although the main talking point of that infamous day remains the bizarre/controversial/downright deliberately shocking non decisions made by Øvrebø.

Depending on your point of view, the Blues could have had up to four penalties on the night, with even just one conversion from those spot-kicks leaving Barça with plenty to do to claw their way back into proceedings. A ‘what if’ moment, indeed.

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Diego Milito Hat-Trick Downs Milan in Derby della Madonnina – 2012

You have to beat your local rivals. It’s kind of obligatory. However, when your cross-city enemies are next up on the fixture list and they’re chasing the league title that season, then you really have to win. No questions asked.

For this particular Derby della Madonnina in 2012, that was the added incentive for Inter prior to kick-off, knowing that victory over their San Siro rivals would end Milan’s quest for the Scudetto once and for all, opening the door for Juventus to win Serie A.

It was Milito on the day who ensured their plan came off, scoring a fine trio of goals in a dramatic encounter that saw three penalties awarded. OK, it wasn’t the most glamorous hat-trick (two spot kicks and a tap-in), but it nonetheless did the damage. Oh, and so did Maicon’s outrageous fourth goal. Check that one out.

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James Wilson’s Debut Double Helps Man Utd See Off Hull – 2014

Robin van Persie was given the day off, so Ryan Giggs decided to thrust superstar prodigy, 100% going to make it at Old Trafford and future number nine Wilson into the starting lineup. For all that joking, though, that was the general consensus when the young striker finally got his chance in the senior squad.

So much went on during this match that it’s hard to forget it was also Nemanja Vidic’s final appearance as well as Michael Carrick’s last as skipper, but instead let’s focus on the ‘next big thing’s’ only, unfortunately, ‘big thing’.

A debut brace looked certain to catapult his career there and then, but that was as good as it has got for Wilson, who has since played for Brighton, Derby, Sheffield United, Aberdeen and now Salford City.

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Lionel Messi sits Jerome Boateng ON HIS ARSE – 2015

This was a special moment. Across the globe there were 4.0 magnitude earthquakes taking place as the collective thud of everyone’s jaws hitting the floor in astonishment caused on almighty ripple effect.

What was so magical about what the Argentine did is that the delicate finish he produced is lost in the midst of the sheer humiliation he inflicts on Boateng. Widely considered one of the finest central defenders in Europe at the time, the speed and guile with which Messi cuts onto his right foot is so frighteningly swift that the German’s ankles got in a twist and he fell flat on the canvas.

At that point of their Champions League semi-final, Bayern Munich were holding strong at Camp Nou, but the final flurry from Messi and co was Barça at their dizzying best, and Boateng simply couldn’t keep up. Glorious stuff.

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Gareth Bale Stunner Rescues Real Madrid Draw at Camp Nou – 2018

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Another match with multiple side notes, there is plenty to unpack. Firstly, it was a feisty affair, with tempers flying throughout. Sergi Roberto went that one step too far,, slapping Marcelo in the first half and receiving his marching orders. By this point, Luis Suarez had already opened the scoring before Cristiano Ronaldo netted his last ever Clasico goal to level matters.

Ten men Barcelona did pull back in front, with Messi netting his most recent goal against Madrid shortly after the restart.

It was down to Bale to drag Los Blancos back into the game, as he curled a fine first time effort beyond Marc-Andre ter Stegen. There was controversy prior to kick-off too. Real refused to give their rivals a guard of honour after Ernesto Valverde’s side secured a 25th La Liga title the previous weekend. Sore losers, or top-class sh*thouse behaviour?

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Arsene Wenger’s Final Home Match as Arsenal Manager – 2018

6 May 2018 is a day that will live long in the memory of Arsenal fans as Arsene Wenger bid farewell to his home supporters, leading his side out for the final match of his Gunners reign in the capital.

Tears were shed, disappointing moments were forgotten and successes were remembered. Plenty of goals were scored, too.

While his tenure had turned sour in the later years, it was a day to celebrate the magnificence of a man who had altered the landscape of English football for the better, revolutionised the game, and bagged a few trophies to boot. It’s all gone swimmingly since then.

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Vincent Kompany Raises the Roof (and the Net) Against Leicester – 2019

Clutch: (in sport) denoting or occurring at a critical situation in which the outcome of a game or competition is at stake.

Step forward Vincent Kompany. Knowing victory over Leicester would leave Manchester City needing just one final win over Brighton on the final day to ensure the Premier League title would be theirs that season, with 20 minutes remaining of their home clash with the Foxes and the scores level, hope was fading.

Not only that, but nerves were jangling and tensions was rising after Liverpool saw off Newcastle to temporarily place themselves two points above the Citizens two days prior. The game was locked at 0-0, and City didn’t look like breaking through.

So when Kompany picked the ball up 35 yards out and took a few strides forward unchallenged, what he would do next would fall under the ‘desperate’ category. He’s a big ol’ central defender, after all. They don’t score these. Unless, of course, you’re the captain of City, in which case you don’t just score them, you absolutely obliterate them.

The 25-yarder that smashed into the top corner was a goal worthy of winning any football match, but one you’d expect from anyone other than a centre back. Did it when them the league that year? Technically, no. Did it basically win them the league that year? Yeah, it kind of did.

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For more from Ross Kennerley, follow him on Twitter!

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Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic is ‘likely’ to leave for free once his contract expires in 2021, with the midfielder at ‘war’ with his current club over a potential move to Sevilla.

Rakitic made 31 appearances in all competitions this season before play was halted due to the coronavirus crisis, but only 15 of these came from the start.

The Croatian has been heavily linked with a move away from Camp Nou for some time, while his recent comments have only fuelled speculation. Speaking on his future, he was keen to reiterate that only he will decide his future, insisting he is not a ‘bag of potatoes’.

SPORT now report that it will be a ‘miracle’ if Barcelona and Rakitic are able to part ways on good terms. At this moment in time, the two parties want different things, and it is unlikely an agreement can be reached. But with the 32-year-old’s contract due to expire in the summer of 2021, the report adds that Rakitic has the upper hand in the ‘war’.

Rakitic penned a new deal with Barça back in 2017, and is said to have been promised an improved contract, but nothing has arrived. La Blaugrana now want to offload the midfielder, but Rakitic himself is keen to run down his contract as he holds out for a lucrative move away.

While there has been plenty of interest – and offers – for his services, the midfielder’s ‘only desire’ is to return to Sevilla, the club he left in 2014 to join Barcelona. However, his former club aren’t looking to pay a fee and, as a result, Rakitic is likely to leave for free once his deal expires.

Rakitic is set on returning to Sevilla as he owns a house there and his wife is also from the region, making it a suitable location for him as he enters the latter stages of his career.

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Barcelona’s first vice-president Jordi Cardoner claims the club have already missed out on up to €140m as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

The club have already agreed a temporary pay cut with their players of up to 72% which will continue until lockdown in Spain ends, although it’s expected that could reduce wages across the entire season by just 8%.

But as every branch of the club has been forced to stop operating like normal, Cardoner predicts the club will be between €120m to €140m worse off this year compared to their pre-season predictions, confirming Barcelona will certainly make an overall loss.

ESPN have broken down Barcelona’s expected losses at €50m through ticket sales and their museum, while another €39m would have come from La Liga’s broadcasters.

Barcelona also would have gained another €25m from ‘commercial income’.

“This is for sure, what we know today. These millions will be in our losses at the end of the year,” Cardoner told ESPN.

La Liga had been hoping to return as early as June, but it’s more recently been touted that September could be a more realistic timeframe, but Cardoner doesn’t think there will be full stadiums until the start of next year.

“Every day we have new input,” he added. “We want to be safe, to take care of our players and their health. This is priority number one, but also number two and three. We will not take risks.

“We want that if competition comes back it’s in the highest-safety way. If not, we are not ready to continue. We are talking about people, their lives, their families

“This is my point of view: this will be very difficult … La Liga can start with public not before February 2021.”

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If there was one thing Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois wasn’t going to say in interview, it’s that Barcelona deserve to win La Liga.

Much like you wouldn’t hear a Manchester United sole – willingly at least – admit Liverpool should be awarded the Premier League title, Courtois naturally has to talk up the fact that such accolades need to be won on the field.

It’s only fair, right? If Barcelona are the best team in the country, they have to prove that over the duration of a fully completed season, not one that’s been curtailed because the footballing authorities are panicking about next year’s television schedule.

Some would say at least.

Indeed, those appear to the sentiments – kind of – of Courtois too, as the devilishly tall Belgian goalkeeper looks to amuse himself during lockdown. The former Chelsea & Atletico Madrid keeper – yes, he played for Real’s bitter rivals don’t forget – also hasn’t forgotten that Barça struggled against Los Blancos this season, coming up short in their always overly-hyped Clasico clashes.

That’s reason enough in Courtois’ mind not to award the title to the Catalans.

“We are only two points behind Barcelona and if the season were to be cancelled and Barcelona declared champions would be unjust,” Courtois remarked to Belgian TV, via Marca.

“We drew with them and beat them this year, we were the better team. In the case of Liverpool, it would be different because I don’t even know how many points ahead they are.

“I want to finish the season.”

Courtois may end up getting his wish too, with lockdown measures in Spain relaxed over the last few days after two months of severe restrictions. Teams are expected to return to training shortly, but each club will be required to test all players, staff and administrators for Covid-19.

How – and if – the La Liga season will play out remains unclear at this stage, though staging all remaining games being closed games is a certainty.

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The transfer window is a wonderful thing.

It’s one of the most exciting times of every season for fans, who hope they’ll be able to get the next big thing on the back of their team’s shirt, but as each year has gone we’ve seen transfer fees go through the roof.

Paris Saint-Germain have signed both the most expensive player of all time and the 100th, as well as a few more in between, but where exactly do the Parisians rank when it comes to how much a club has spent on the most expensive players ever?

Well, why don’t we find out and hopefully have a little laugh along the way too…

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23. AC Milan

Total Spend: €42m
Most Expensive Signing: Leonardo Bonucci

Even as one of European football’s most successful teams, Milan have only spent enough to feature on this list on one occasion.

And it was to sign Leonardo Bonucci too, so the less said about this one, the better…

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22. VfL Wolfsburg

Total Spend: €43m
Most Expensive Signing: Julian Draxler

Just like with Bonucci at Milan, Julian Draxler’s 18-month spell at Wolfsburg was quite forgettable, although to this day he’s still the 89th most expensive player of all time.

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21. Newcastle United

Total Spend: €44m
Most Expensive Signing: Joelinton

Talking about signings to forget…

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20. Leicester City

Total Spend: €45m
Most Expensive Signing: Youri Tielemans

Leicester City had to pay out the nose to land Youri Tielemans on a permanent basis, but it certainly looks like it will all be worth it in the long run.

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19. Everton

Total Spend: €49.4m
Most Expensive Signing: Gylfi Sigurdsson

Gylfi Sigurdsson’s transfer fee was the equivalent of roughly 3,708,090 kg of Walkers English Creamy Toffee on Amazon.

We’ll let you decide what’s a better deal.

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18. JS Suning

Total Spend: €50m
Most Expensive Signing: Alex Teixeira

Does anyone else miss the days when Chinese Super League clubs would pay ridiculous transfer fees for distinctly average football players?

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17. Tottenham Hotspur

Total Spend: €60m
Most Expensive Signing: Tanguy Ndombele

There isn’t a person on planet earth who, if they could, wouldn’t spent €60m just to p*** off José Mourinho.

Great deal.

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16. Bayern Munich

Total Spend: €80m
Most Expensive Signing: Lucas Hernandez

There’s something about a team’s club-record signing being a left back which just doesn’t sit right with us.

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15. Guangzhou Evergrande

Total Spend: €84m
Most Expensive Signing: Paulinho

They’re China’s equivalent of Juventus or Bayern Munich.

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14. AS Monaco

Total Spend: €88m
Most Expensive Signing: James Rodriguez

How’s that re-build going, Dmitry Rybolovlev?

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13. SS Lazio

Total Spend: €104.81m
Most Expensive Signing: Hernán Crespo

It doesn’t matter how much money Lazio ever spend as the Irriducibili ultras will always steal the show, for better or, more likely, for worse.

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12. Inter

Total Spend: €111.48m
Most Expensive Signing: Romelu Lukaku

Before Romelu Lukaku moved to San Siro, Inter’s most expensive signing was Christian Vieri.

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11. Shanghai SIPG

Total Spend: €115.8m
Most Expensive Signing: Oscar

Shanghai SIPG have a front three of Marko Arnautovi?, Hulk and Oscar.

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10. Arsenal

Total Spend: €331.25m
Most Expensive Signing: Nicolas Pepe

Granit Xhaka is the 80th most expensive player of all time.

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9. Liverpool

Total Spend: €340.65m
Most Expensive Signing: Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool’s current crop is one of the best teams the Premier League has ever seen.

But, at the time of writing at least, they’ve never actually won the Premier League title.

And even Blackburn Rovers have won it.

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8. Juventus

Total Spend: €345.38m
Most Expensive Signing: Cristiano Ronaldo

Juventus only sign some of the most expensive players of all time or free agents.

There’s no in between.

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7. Atlético Madrid

Total Spend: €372m
Most Expensive Signing: João Félix

Right, don’t laugh, but Atléti’s four most expensive signings of all time are João Félix, Thomas Lemar, Diego Costa and Álvaro Morata.

Hey, we said don’t laugh!

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6. Chelsea

Total Spend: €414.38m
Most Expensive Signing: Kepa Arrizabalaga

Chelsea just shouldn’t be allowed to spend money at all, should they?

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5. Paris Saint-Germain

Total Spend: €628m
Most Expensive Signing: Neymar

Even after signing the two most expensive players ever, Paris Saint-Germain are only fifth..

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4. Barcelona

Total Spend: €704.42m
Most Expensive Signing: Philippe Coutinho

All that money and no one even comes close to a little Argentine who signed his first (albeit incredibly unofficial) contract on a napkin.

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3. Manchester United

Total Spend: €758.73m
Most Expensive Signing: Paul Pogba

Sir Alex Ferguson won the title with Adnan Januzaj, Nick Powell, Tom Cleverley and Alexander Büttner.

You’re really starting to run out of excuses here, Paul. #TeamSouness

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2. Manchester City

Total Spend: €807.8m
Most Expensive Signing: Kevin De Bruyne

Manchester City will tell you they did have a history before being taken over just over a decade ago.

We’re not convinced though.

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1. Real Madrid

Total Spend: €867.5m
Most Expensive Signing: Gareth Bale

The Santiago Bernabéu.

The only place on planet earth where how high someone’s transfer fee is directly relates to how much abuse they get on any given matchday.

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Life as a manager is bloody tough.

When everything goes right; the success is largely attributed to the players and when everything goes pear shaped; it’s the man pulling the strings from the sideline who’s first called into question.

And if persistent media scrutiny wasn’t bad enough, there’s also been times where the man at the helm hasn’t even been loved – occasionally hated – by his own fans.

So, following our earlier list of players who have been unfairly treated by their own supporters, it’s time to have a gander at some of the managers who endured a similar fate at previous clubs.

Here are six of em…

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Rafa Benitez (at Chelsea)

Things NOT to say before getting hired as Chelsea manager:

1. DO NOT attack their style of play.

2. DO NOT label the club’s greatest foreign export – Didier Drogba – a diver.

3. Please, god forbid, DO NOT slander the Stamford Bridge atmosphere.

But unfortunately for the Toy Story 2 ‘villain’, he failed to tick any of the above boxes before he was appointed interim Chelsea boss in 2012, meaning it was hardly surprising to see the home fans connote their dislike towards Benitez during his time in SW6.

Benitez’s reign was hardly disastrous, mind, he’d took a slumping Chelsea side to third in the Premier League and another European title in the form of the Europa League in 2013.

And despite the odd banner of gratitude aimed towards Benitez in the later days of his reign, the abuse he received throughout was certainly unjust.

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Steve Bruce (at Aston Villa)

Poor old Brucey eh.

Not only is he soon to lose his position – probably – as Newcastle boss after doing a fine job with f*ck all resources at his disposal in his first season, but there was once a time where he had a bleeding cabbage thrown at his chops during his stint at Aston Villa.

Sure, he once occupied the home dugout of the Villans’ arch-rivals Birmingham and yes, Bruce was overseeing a bad patch – haha – with the club 12th in the Championship, but did he deserve to be subject to such abuse in the form of a vegetable? I don’t think so.

Bruce had guided Villa to the play-off final just a few months prior.

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Jose Mourinho (at Real Madrid)

You feel like the ‘special one’ will end up on a similar list in five years time with Spurs after he inevitably guides the Lilywhites to their first piece of silverware in 278 years with the FA Cup in 2021, before things turn a little sour after a poor start to the 2023/24 campaign following a pair of courageous title challenges.

One can dream, eh?

But on this occasion we’re focusing on his spell at Real Madrid, with Mourinho alienating Madridistas before his 2013 departure due to his fraught relationships with Los Blancos stalwarts Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas.

Despite this, and the fact he was an eye-gouger, serial whiner and #UEFAlona conspiracy theorist; the counter-attacking machine he created at the Bernabeu in 2011/12 was worthy enough to love that man in Madrid for eternity – a side that special it scored 121 goals in La Liga and became the first Spanish side to muster 100 points in a single campaign.

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Mark Hughes (at QPR)

Don’t get me wrong, QPR were absolute tinpot at the start of the 2012/13 campaign with Mark Hughes at the helm, but the Loftus Road faithful never warmed to the Welshman despite guiding them to safety in 2012.

Sure, he might have had the personality of a breadstick, but Hughes certainly deserved a little more love from QPR fans. The Welshman oversaw victories at home to Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs in the second half of the campaign before a 1-0 victory over Stoke meant survival was in their own hands heading into the final day.

And we all know what happened next.

You have to consider whether we’d have been blessed with the iconic ‘AGUERRROOOOO’ moment if Neil Warnock remained in charge and had likely steered the R’s to the second tier before they arrived at the Etihad?

I think not #ThankYouMark.

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Sam Allardyce (at West Ham)

Ever since his revolutionary – seriously, it was – reign as Bolton manager came to an end in 2007, Big Sam Allardyce has often proved an unpopular appointment for several fan bases.

And in 2011, the West Ham faithful – i.e. ‘propa football’ enthusiasts and bubble-blowing dreamers – were forced to abandon their traditional principles when Allardyce arrived in east London to take charge of a squad recently demoted to the Championship.

Despite his plea to play ‘attractive football’ being as truthful as Ali Dia when he claimed to be George Weah’s cousin, Allardyce nonetheless overachieved with a sub-par Hammers squad; securing promotion in his debut season before guiding the club to back-to-back mid-table finishes in their return to the top-flight.

Results clearly meant little to nowt to the Hammer faithful, mind, with banners including ‘Fat Sam Out, Killing WHU’, highlighting their general displeasure at Allardyce’s style.

And despite improvements from a stylistic perspective in his final season at the helm, Big Sam left the club in 2015 – laying the foundations for Slaven Bili?’s successful spell in charge.

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Ernesto Valverde (at Barcelona)

The former Athletic Bilbao boss was certainly a little more pragmatic than his predecessors, with his style being one that wouldn’t exactly make you fall in love with La Bluagrana like Generation Z did when Pep Guardiola was at the helm.

But in the two-and-a-half years he was in charge, Valverde nonetheless delivered from a silverware perspective at Camp Nou; almost enjoying an unbeaten La Liga campaign as he won the double in his debut season, before securing back-to-back titles by a comfortable nine point margin in 2019.

Admittedly, his tactical naivety saw the Catalans succumb to a pair of miraculous comeback exits in the two Champions League campaigns he oversaw, but Valverde’s performance from a domestic standpoint certainly didn’t warrant the treatment he received in Catalonia.

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4 May is Star Wars Day, because ‘May the 4th’ sounds a bit like ‘May the force be with you.’

Yep, really.

Anyway, football and the nerd end of pop culture don’t exactly go hand in hand – but we wouldn’t be 90min if we didn’t at least try and draw some parallels.

You didn’t ask for it, but here are seven football figures and their characters within the Star Wars universe.

Sergio Ramos – Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader

By the end of the prequel movies, Anakin has present day Ramos written all over him; he’s edgy, brooding, unpredictable, merciless, and darkly, unconventionally handsome.

Over the course of the movies, he is steadily traumatised into becoming one of the best villains in the history of cinema. So yeah, there’s only one man for the job.

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Luke Skywalker – Mohamed Salah

In the most iconic scene of The Empire Strikes Back, widely accepted as the best Star Wars movie, Luke Skywalker clashes with Darth Vader in the big finale, ultimately ending in defeat for the protagonist, who requires surgery after damage to his arm.

This s**t writes itself.

Salah isn’t Ramos’ son, obviously, so we’ve got a plothole there, but we’ve got to take some liberties.

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Lionel Messi – Master Yoda

Small, wise, determined and committed to the cause – at times to his own detriment. He’s the best around, and while no one’s quite sure how he is as good as he is, no one dares question him either.

Also, left-footed. Yoda would definitely have been left-footed.

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David Beckham – Han Solo

The silver fox who uses his charm and good looks to get whatever he wants out of life, and backs it up with a lethal shot from distance.

We can even install Ryan Giggs as his Chewbacca – he has the chest hair for it.

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Phil Jones – Jar Jar Binks

Gangly, gurning, cumbersome, generally ridiculous looking, and no one’s quite sure why he’s even there.

Yet, regardless, he’s one of the characters everyone remembers.

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Jurgen Klopp & Xherdan Shaqiri – C-3PO & R2-D2

Here we’ve got the lanky, friendly brains of the operation, and his small cubic friend who never seems to leave his side despite the unconventional nature of their relationship.

They have their disagreements over the delegation of menial tasks, and though he’s less capable of eloquently expressing his thoughts, the smaller droid can give as good as he gets.

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For more from Robbie Copeland, follow him on Twitter!

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Newcastle have added midfielder Carles Aleña to a summer transfer shopping list which includes his Barcelona teammate Philippe Coutinho, according to a report.

With the proposed takeover of the Magpies by Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia nearing completion, there could soon be a major injection of transfer funds at St. James’ Park

Both Aleña, who has spent the season at Real Betis, and Coutinho, on loan at Bayern Munich, are seemingly out of favour at Camp Nou.

Spanish outlet Marca have suggested that a newly wealthy Newcastle could look to take advantage of the two players being frozen out in Catalonia by targeting a double deal.

Aleña, a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, struggled to reproduce the early promise which saw him nominated for the 2018 Golden Boy award, making just 24 league appearances over the course of four seasons with the Blaugrana.

The Spain Under-21 international was sent on loan to Betis in January after failing to break into the midfield at Camp Nou, and was starting consistently in a deeper midfield role for Los Verdiblancos until the suspension of Spanish football.

Coutinho, meanwhile, has notoriously failed to rediscover the swagger that provoked Barcelona to cough up a club-record €120m for his services when he was at Liverpool.

Having managed just five league goals for Barça last year, Coutinho was shipped out temporarily to Bayern, where he has experienced slightly more success, scoring eight goals in 22 league appearances with Die Roten chasing a 30th league title.

This is not the first time that Coutinho has been subject to interest from England after leaving Anfield, with Tottenham coming close to snaring the Brazilian playmaker last summer before their then-manager Mauricio Pochettino pulled out of the deal.

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