Cultured Football #101

Borussia Dortmund's Rise and more

Mar 04, 2023

By Adam Khan for The German Football Weekly / 1,644 words

For stretches during the pre-World Cup part of the season, it looked as if this was going to be another wasted year for Borussia Dortmund. All that has changed and they have gone from a club struggling to keep up with the race for Europe to one that is now in the running for the Meisterschale. Three key changes have allowed them to make the shift.

How did Valencia get to this crisis point and what happens next?

By Joseph Zebedee for The Trivela Effect // 1,639 words

There are few manager who get sacked after winning a trophy, particularly when it comes with a club who are not overly familiar with success. However, that’s what happened to Marcelino at Valencia who are now in deep trouble. Having just sacked Gennaro Gattuso, are they too big to go down?

Three Young Stars in Ligue 1 You Need to Know About

By Mohamed Mohamed for The Analyst // 1,716 words

When transfer windows open each year, clubs turn to France in search for the next diamond. It isn’t going to be any different this year and these three are likely to be on many managers’ shopping lists.

Hi, this is Paul Grech, editor of Cultured Football. Every week, I sift through numerous football articles to carefully select the cream of the crop that I'm confident you'll enjoy. If you're finding any pleasure in reading this newsletter, I would be very grateful if you could spread the word to your fellow football enthusiasts.

By Jack Wills for Heart of Football // 1,167 words

Dundee United look destined for relegation from the Scottish Premiership. That, however, is not the worst of their problems.

‘Project DNA’: How Japan’s J1 League became a ‘flair factory’ for Europe’s top clubs

By Daniel Storey for iNews // 1,321 words

Where once they were a novelty, it is no longer unusual to see a Japanese player in European football. In fact, it seems that where once clubs used to look at South America in search of flair, they are now added Japan to their list. A trend that is unlikely to slow down following the success of Kaoru Mitoma and his dribbling skills.

Something Else We Loved This Week: Libero Magazine

It took some time but the alternative football magazine Libero is back with their third issue that focuses exclusively on calcio.

This issue of the magazine features a diverse range of articles on Italian culture, history, and sport, including Italian translations, a discussion of fascism and football, an interview with Tim Parks, a tribute to Agostino Di Bartolomei, and a retrospective on Serie A's greatest imports. Additionally, readers can enjoy in-depth articles on football legends such as Totti, Capello, and Maradona, as well as insights into the new faces of Serie A.

The magazine also includes fascinating pieces on Superga, Calciopoli, and Fiorentina in Serie C2, as well as a feature on Baggio at Italia 90. Finally, readers can delve into the intriguing work of Anne O'Brien and learn about the dynasties that have shaped Italian football.

Follow Libero on Twitter and buy a copy here.

Last Week’s Most Read: What's Boehly's plan at Chelsea?

By Grace Robertson for Grace on Football // 1,591 words

I was not aware that, apart from Chelsea, Todd Boehly has also taken control of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organisation behind the Golden Globe Awards, and is looking to expand the brand. That link to Hollywood makes everything much clearer.