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| Johan Cruijff Returns To The Spanish Sidelines Posted: 02 Nov 2009 11:40 AM PST
Match practice and team chemistry might be an issue though, as they only play one game a year, a friendly at the Camp Nou in December. That Johan Cruijff is coaching one exhibition game in an unofficial manner isn’t a big deal. That it’s in Catalonia, home of Barcelona, where he masterminded the rise of the dream team more than 15 years ago, isn’t a big deal either – it’s Johan’s home. But his return to an official football title might beg the question, what’s next?. Last summer, Cruijff ‘returned’ to Ajax in a technical capacity only to fall out with Marco van Basten before anything could get off the ground. This also came before MvB fell out with himself. At 62, one of football’s greatest minds clearly has a few years left – and much to be said – so it’s possible this may very well be a test to get his feet wet. Or it may be the perfect employment for a 62 year old man: one day a year. Of course Cruijff and Catalonia doesn’t start and stop with the bench or FC Barcelona. His arrival in Catalonia in 1973 went about changing football culture, and it spawned a documentary just a few years back called En momento un dado (a well-known Cruijff-ism). It’s a wonderful little look into the heights of near Cruijff-mania, and would do a great deal in explaining what this move to the Catalonia bench means to the people, but you’re likely out of luck unless speaking either Dutch or Spanish. |
| Now Stephen Appiah Has a Day Job Posted: 02 Nov 2009 06:55 AM PST
I’m not sure what Appiah did between matches (my guess is a mix of rehab, fitness and playing Football Manager on his laptop) but you can bet he had those FIFA international dates circled on his calendar with a big bright highlighter pen. Appiah’s bizarre situation began with a knee injury while he was with Fenerbahçe. According to Appiah, the Turkish club screwed up his treatment and so he headed to Italy (where he had played in Serie A for both Juventus and Udinese) for rehabilitation. Appiah also ended his contract with Fener, which the club weren’t happy about, and so the midfielder found himself clubless and his career in legal limbo. Yesterday it was announced that – finally – the now 28 year old Appiah is is once again gainfully employed. He’s signed for Serie A side Bologna, so now he can spend the time inbetween Black Stars matches playing professional football. Here’s Appiah statement from his magnificently named personal website StepApp.com:
It’s my understanding that though Appiah is much loved in Ghana, not everyone was in favour of coach Milovan Rajevac continuing to pick and play the midfielder. There was also some suggestion that continued clublessness would have a negative impact on Appiah’s chances of making the World Cup. You know, the upcoming World Cup. The one that’s the first ever on African soil. So maximum respect to Rajevac for sticking with his captain, and maximum respect to Stephen Appiah for not giving up. I hope Apiah makes an impact at Bologna (currently fourth bottom of Serie A, so they could do with a boost) and that we see him captaining the Black Stars at World Cup 2010 next June. But here’s a question already… after signing Appiah in November, how happy will Bologna be when goes to Africa Cup of Nations 2010 in January? |
While Maradona is busy making a shamockery of the 
For a long while there, Stephen Appiah was an international footballer only. The midfielder has not played a kick of club soccer since late 2007, but still managed to captain Ghana through a successful World Cup 2010 qualification campaign. Which is ridiculously impressive when you think about it.| You are subscribed to email updates from World Cup Soccer - South Africa 2010 To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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