Charlotte Harpur It was two o’clock in the morning and Bruno Simao could not sleep. He popped a pill to ease his mind and body. When he woke up the next day, unanswered calls and messages filled his phone screen. He had missed training with third-division Portuguese side Casa Pia, then coached by Ruben Amorim. […]
Elias Burke Football shirts were once an item of clothing for a) players to wear at work, and b) fans to sport on the terraces in solidarity with the lads out on the pitch. Now, what must seem abruptly to the uninitiated, they have become the uniform for British music festivals and a source of […]
Tim Spiers What’s in a nickname? That is a question The Athletic will be answering this week as we trace the origins of football clubs’ monikers in England, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and the rest of the world. First up, England… English football has a rich and varied history when it comes to nicknames, most […]
Philip Buckingham Manchester United and Chelsea share a problem they cannot hope to run away from. Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge might be able to narrate storied chapters of the Premier League’s history, but neither can project a compelling future. At least not in their current states. The famous homes of Manchester United and Chelsea […]
Gregg Evans Football shirts are not just fashion accessories for diehard supporters — they are seriously big business. With the Premier League’s popularity continuing to grow exponentially, and a global audience eager to buy into the ‘product’, a replica team jersey emblazoned with the name and squad number of a star player is an ideal […]
The Athletic UK Staff As the Premier League gets bigger and bigger, so – it seems – do the stadiums that play host to it. The vast majority of clubs in the top flight have either drawn up plans to expand their grounds to service the overwhelming demand or are poised to open gleaming new […]