From the bleak adversity of war sprang the most unexpected of opportunities for one pioneering footballer. As Europe was emerging…
Calcio Travel Notes: Padova
The city of Padova is a hidden gem…albeit hidden in plain sight. A picturesque walled city with a quarter of…
Once Upon A Time In Padova: The Making Of Alessandro Del Piero
The verdant slopes to the north of Treviso are dressed with orderly rows of vines. In this idyllic rural landscape,…
No Such Thing As Bad Publicity? The Not-So-Supercoppa Italiana
On Thursday evening, Napoli and Fiorentina players lethargically performed before a few thousand impassive customers, in a soulless stadium thousands…
Calcio Travel Notes: Empoli
Empoli is not typically regarded as one of the pearls of the Tuscan necklace. Located betwixt two of the region’s…
Dragons and Devils – The Welshman Working His Magic at AC Milan
Tony Roberts has a footballing résumé that reads like a work fiction. It is certainly worthy material for a feature-length…
Classic Encounters: Padova 2-1 Inter, 10th December 1995
Emerging against the backdrop of the Balkan conflict, Goran Vlaovic was a precocious young talent. The teenager’s midas touch in front…
Inferno, Purgatory, Paradise: The Forgotten Chapter of Batistuta’s Florentine Story
“Florence has not forgotten Batistuta”, declared the city’s Mayor as he conferred honourary citizenship upon the Argentinian in 2016. Over…
Classic Encounters: Padova 2-0 Milan, 16 October 1994
Newly-promoted Padova were enduring a torrid start to their 1994/95 campaign. Anchored to the bottom of Serie A with a…
Demetrio Albertini: Coming Of Age
In the annals of Italian football, few names resonate with the same reverence as Demetrio Albertini. “The Metronome” was a symbol…
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