Soccer Chronicles

He played as a striker for the likes of Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham and Nagoya Grampus. He spent seven years with Leicester City(1978-1985), netting 103 goals in 209 games(Leicester City's 7th all-time highest goalscorer), also winning the 1982/1983 Old English Second Division top scorer award. He was also a member of the Foxes' squad who won the Football League Second Division in 1980. At Tottenham Hotspur, he scored 80 goals 138 games between 1989 to 1992, also winning two trophies At international level, he is England's third all-time highest goalscorer with 48 goals in 80 caps. He played five games in the 1986 World Cup and was top scorer of the tournament with six goals, winning the Golden Boot , making him the first English player to have done so. He scored the second quickest hat-trick ever at a FIFA World Cup tournament against Poland, the second English player to score a hat-trick at a World Cup. He finished second at the 1986 Ballon d

Happy Birthday to former Manchester United Midfielder Ryan Joseph Giggs(born Ryan Joseph Wilson) who turns 46 today. Giggs began his career with Manchester City, but joined Manchester United on his 14th birthday in 1987. He made his professional debut for the club in 1991 and spent the next 23 years in the Manchester United first team. The Welsh former international is one of only 25 players to have made over 1,000 career appearances. He is also the most decorated player in football history(he won 34 trophies at Manchester United). Giggs made 963 appearances(Manchester United's record appearance maker) for United between 1991 to 2014. He also has the second-most Premier League appearances (632). At international level, he scored 12 goals in 64 caps for Wales. He is now the manager of the Wales national team and a co-owner of English non-league side Salford City.

On This Day In 1998, 18-year-old Steven George Gerrard made his professional debut for Liverpool, coming on as a 90th minute substitute for Vegard Heggem in a 2-0 Premier League win over Blackburn Rovers. Gerrard was made the Reds' captain in 2003(aged 23, Gerrard was the youngest player in the club's history to hold such position). In 2005, Gerrard led Liverpool to a historic fifth European title, and being named Man of the Match as he scored Liverpool's first goal and won a penalty kick as Liverpool came from 3–0 down to defeat Milan in what became known as the "Miracle of Istanbul". Despite collective and individual success, Gerrard never won the Premier League, finishing runner-up with Liverpool on three occasions. Gerrard is Liverpool's third most appearance maker and fifth highest goalscorer of all-time. His 114 Premier League assists is the most by a Liverpool player in the competition's history. GERRARD AT LIVERPOOL(1998-2015) 710 Games 186

Arsenal won exactly the same number of points in Unai Emery’s 51 Premier League games as they did in Arsene Wenger’s final 51 games in charge (88 points).  Unai Emery named nine different Arsenal captains during his 78 games in charge, with only one of those players wearing the armband on more than 20 occasions (Laurent Koscielny, 24).  When Arsenal play Norwich City on Sunday, it'll be 56 days since their last Premier League victory. This is their longest wait for a league win within a season since the 56 days between January 1st and February 26th 1994.  JUST IN: Arsenal have sacked head coach Unai Emery. The 48-year-old has left the club following Arsenal's worst run of form since 1992 with the Gunners winless in seven games and eight points off the top four in the Premier League. A 2-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League in Thursday proved to be the final straw for the Gunners' hierarchy, who had hoped to be able to wait until the end of the

On This Day In 2000, Martin Palermo scored two quick goals(3', 6') as Boca Juniors beat Real Madrid 2-1 to win the Toyota European South American Cup(officially known as the intercontinental Cup). It was given the aforementioned name due to sponsorship reasons. Roberto Carlos' 12th minute strike turned out to be a mere consolation. Prior to the game, Real Madrid were the winners of the 1999/2000 UEFA Champions League while Boca Juniors were the winners of the 2000 Copa Libertadores

On This Day In 2015, Jamie Vardy became the first player to score in 11 consecutive Premier League games, netting Leicester City's only goal in a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at King Power Stadium. With this, the then 28-year-old surpassed the previous record holder Ruud van Nistelrooy who scored in 10 consecutive league games, across two seasons in 2003. Vardy's run ended on 5 December 2015 when he did not score in a 3–0 win at Swansea City , having done so he would have equalled the English top-flight record of 12 consecutive scoring matches set by Jimmy Dunne for Sheffield United in 1931–32.

In all European competition, Valencia have faced nine English teams in home matches, registering a win over seven of them (Arsenal, Leeds, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd, Nottingham Forest and Stoke), failing against only two opponents – Chelsea (3) and West Brom (1). #VALCHE(2-2 FT) Mateo Kovacic has scored his first goal in 122 appearances across all club competitions, netting his first goal for Chelsea on his 71st appearance, and with his 45th shot. #VALCHE(2-2 FT) Christian Pulisic has now scored as many goals in his last seven matches in all competitions as he managed in the previous 36 beforehand (6 goals - Borussia Dortmund + Chelsea). #VALCHE(2-2 FT) In all European competition, this is Napoli’s 10th away match in England – they’ve won none of their previous nine (Won 0, Draw 1 Lost 8), facing six different English teams in that time (Arsenal, Burnley, Chelsea, Leeds United, Liverpool and Man City). #LIVNAP(1-1 90') RasenBallsport Leipzig's

On This Day In 2007, Cristiano Ronaldo's late strike(a free-kick) gave Manchester United a 2-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon(Ronaldo's former club)  to ensure they finish top of Group F in the UEFA Champions League. On This Day In 2008, Filippo Inzaghi struck a late equaliser to break Portsmouth's hearts and send AC Milan into the UEFA Cup's last 32. Ronaldinho was also on target for Milan while Younes Kaboul and Nwankwo Kanu where all on target for the Tony Adam side. The game ended 2-2. On This Day In 2011, Gary Andrew Speed's  body was found dead in the garage of his home by his wife Louise. Although the facts were not fully established, it was reported that Speed had died by suicide. It could be recalled that Speed played for the likes of Leeds United, Newcastle United, Everton, Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United. In a club career which lasted for 22 years,  he scored a total of 135 goals in 841 games, also winning three trophies. He also scored 7

Born in lesi, Marche, Italy. He had served as an altar boy in his youth. He spent 15 years(1982-1997) with Unione Calcio Sampdoria, netting 168 goals in 566 games, also winning seven trophies which include the 1990/1991 Serie A title. He is the club's all-time leading goalscorer and Serie A top scorer of all-time with 132 goals in 424 games. He also played for Bologna, Lazio and Leicester City He scored 9 goals 26 caps for the Italy U-21s and was part of the team which reached the semi-finals in the 1984 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship and finished runners-up in 1986 edition of the tournament. At the senior level, he scored 4 goals in 36 caps for Italy and was part of the squad which finished third at the 1990 FIFA World Cup. In two spells at manager of Inter Milan(2004-2008, 2014-2016) he won seven trophies, including three consecutive Serie A title(2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08). At Manchester City, he won a total of three trophies during his four-year stay with

On This Day In 1992, 26-year-old French striker Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona joined Manchester United from Leeds United for a transfer fee of £1.2 million. Cantona was handed the number 7 jersey, a squad number he kept for the rest of his Manchester United career, and which already had iconic status, having previously been worn by club legends including George Best and Bryan Robson. He was best remembered for launching a 'kung-fu' style kick into the crowd, directed at Matthew Simmons(a Crystal Palace fan) in a game against Crystal Palace on 25 January 1995. This came after Cantona was sent off by the referee for kicking Palace defender Richard Shaw. Consequently, he received an eight months ban from football-related activities(plus other fines). He was also stripped of the captaincy of the French national football team by national coach Aimé Jacquet. He also captained the Red Devils in his final season(1996/1997) at the club. His final competitive game came against West Ham o

Happy Birthday to former Vitória, Villarreal and Arsenal defender Gabriel Armando de Abreu, commonly known as "Gabriel Paulista" who turns 29 today. He spent two years with Arsenal where he won two FA Cups and one FA Community Shield, also netting once(vs AFC Bournemouth on 28 December 2015) in 64 games for the Gunners. On 20 March 2015, Gabriel was called up to the Brazil national football team for the first time, replacing the injured David Luiz for friendly matches against France and Chile. However, he did not feature in either match. Since making his debut for Valencia in September 2017, he has scored no goals in 89 games, also winning the Copa del Rey in 2019. He became Manchester United's youngest goalscorer(17 years and 355 days, now the club's second youngest goalscorer after Federico Macheda) when he scored his first senior goal for the club in what was his Premier League debut, a 5-0 win over Stoke City on 15 November 2008. In all, he scored 29 goal

After a brief loan period at Eibar(2000/2001 season), he was appointed as team captain(aged 21) of Real Sociedad by then-manager John Toshack . He succeeded in the role, taking the club to second place in the 2002–03 season. At Liverpool, he scored 19 goals in 210 games. He won the 2005 UEFA Champions League in his first season, under manager Rafael Benítez , scoring the equalising goal in the Final against AC Milan. He also won the 2006 FA Cup and  Community Shield and the 2005 UEFA Super Cup. Like won Euro 2008, Euro 2012 and the 2010 World Cup.  He also played for Bayern Munich between 2014 to 2013.  He is the seventh most capped player in Spain's history, netting 16 goals in 114 caps. He won Euro 2008, Euro 2012 and the 2010 World Cup.  Xabi Alonso Olano is 38 today. 

On This Day In 2000, 29-year-old Trinidad and Tobago striker Dwight Eversley Yorke became the first non-English player to score 100 Premier League goals, netting Manchester United's third goal in a 3-0 win over Derby County. In all, Yorke played for Aston Villa,  Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City netting 123 goals in 373 Premier, League games, making him the seventh non-english player with the most Premier League goals. He is also the second non-European player with the most Premier League goals, only behind Sergio Aguero.  On This Day In 2003, Thierry Henry scored twice as Arsenal humbled Inter Milan 5-1 in a UEFA Champions League Group B game played at San Siro. With this, the Gunners became the first English club to beat "La Beneamata"(a nickname for Inter Milan) at San Siro, their home ground. 

On This Day In 2009, 27-year-old Jermain Defoe scored five goals as Tottenham Hotspur spanked Wigan Athletic 9-1 at White Hart Lane. This included the second-fastest hat-trick in Premier League history, which was scored in seven minutes(51', 54, 58,). In doing so, Defoe became only the third player to score five goals in one Premier League match, after Alan Shearer and Andy Cole. Dimitar Berbatov and Sergio Agüero have subsequently equalled this feat. Tottenham's eight second half goals became a Premier League record for the most goals scored in a single half in Premier League history. While Defoe who scored five of those goals became the only player to do so in a single half of Premier League football. Spurs' 9-1 win over Wigan Athletic is the joint-eighth biggest win margin by any team in Premier League history. It is also the joint-tenth highest scoring games in Premier League history. On This Day In 2014, 27-year-old Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as FC Barcelo

Happy Birthday to former Julius Berger, Maccabi Haifa, Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton, Blackburn Rovers, Guangzhou R&F, Al-Rayyan, Reading, Kayserispor and Coventry City striker Yakubu Ayegbeni who turns 37 today. At Maccabi Haifa, he, became the first  African and the fifth youngest player to score a UEFA Champions League hat-trick, netting all three goals in a 3-0 win over Greek side Olympiacos F.C. on 24 September 2002. He is the second highest African goalscorer in Premier League history with 96 goals. Capped 57 times by the Super Eagles, Yakubu is the third highest scorer in the history of the Nigeria national football team with 21 goals to his name. At the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Yakubu notably missed an open goal from three metres against South Korea in the last Group game, but later went on to score a penalty in an eventual 2-2 draw. The announced his retirement from football on 22 November 2017. For more visit A former midfielder, throughout his

At Manchester City, he scored 8 times in 183 appearances. He won a total of three trophies during his time with the Citizens, including the 2013/2014 Premier League title. Since making his professional debut for Sevilla in 2003, he has scored 39 goals in 484 games(he is currently on his second spell with the club), winning six trophies. A Spain international since 2009, he has scored 5 goals in 42 caps, also winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2012 European Championship. He was part of the Spain squad who finished runners-up at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. Jesús Navas González is 34 today. Happy Birthday to former Leeds United, Aston Villa and Manchester City midfielder Fabian Delph who turns 30 today. He spent a better of his career with Aston Villa where he scored 8 goals in 134 games between 2009 to 2015. He was also a member of the Villa squad who finished runners-up at the 2009/2010 League Cup final (behind Manchester United) and the 2014/2015 FA Cup final(behin

On This Day In 1994, Everton beat Liverpool 2-0 in a Merseyside Derby match played at Goodison Park. Thanks to goals from Duncan Ferguson and Paul Rideout. This was Joseph Royle's(pictured) first game in-charge of the Toffees. On transfer deadline day of 1997 Royle was not permitted to sign two Norwegians (Tore André Flo and Claus Eftevaag) by chairman Peter Johnson, which led to his resignation. The Toffees were just four points above the relegation zone when Royle resigned, their form having dipped since the sale of Andrei Kanchelskis to Fiorentina two months earlier.  JOE ROYLE'S FIRST SPELL AS MANAGER(November 1994 - March 1997) 118 Games 47 Wins 36 Draws 35 Losses 2 Trophies On This Day In 2012, Chelsea parted company with manager Roberto Di Matteo, following their 3–0 away loss to Juventus in the Champions League, which all but eliminated them from the competition. The Italian tactician had lasted just eight months as manager of the Blues despite winning