Cultured Football #230
Unsalted Bread Rivalry. Enzo Francescoli. Vinicius Jr Gamble. xG Is Rubbish. Bus Driving Coach.
Pisa, Fiorentina and unsalted bread
By Chris McMenamy for Tito
The centuries-old disdain between Florence and Pisa runs deeper than football, rooted in salt shortages, sieges, poets’ insults and Renaissance arrogance. This weekend marks their first derby in over thirty years, with Pisa’s fight for points colliding against Fiorentina’s fragile form. History, myth and pride linger in every corner of the rivalry, ensuring that what unfolds at Arena Garibaldi will carry far more weight than just three points.
Enzo Francescoli
By Tommy Potter for Football Heritage
In an age of Maradona and Zico, Uruguay’s answer was Enzo Francescoli, a slender playmaker whose elegance with the ball earned him the nickname “The Prince.” From Montevideo Wanderers to River Plate, Paris, Marseille, Cagliari and back again, his career spanned continents, titles and generations of admirers, none greater than Zinedine Zidane who named his son after him.
Vinícius Junior and Alverca’s bold gamble on the Primeira Liga
By for PortuGoal
A global superstar’s name on the door brings attention, but it does not guarantee stability. FC Alverca’s new era under Vinícius Jr. and his investor group comes after years of churn, with entire squads overturned and a dependence on short-term fixes. Now, with over thirty new signings, a rookie Primeira Liga coach, and a €15m budget, the club stands at a crossroads. Can this project can turn exposure into something lasting?
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‘Expected goals is a clueless development’: Martin O’Neill on the changing world of management
By Donald McRae for The Guardian
Few managers straddle football’s past and present like Martin O’Neill. Reflecting on his abrupt sacking at Nottingham Forest, he recalls the ruthless speed of modern ownership, his scepticism of directors of football, and his disdain for the jargon of data-driven analysis. Even so, the passion for the game that shaped his career remains undimmed.
Bonus Read: No Longer The Beautiful Game
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Football’s latest evolution looks less like artistry and more like an arms race of size, structure and set pieces. What happens when the beautiful game forgets to be beautiful?
From Bus Driver to La Liga
By for
Ninety-sixth-minute goals, tears of survival, and touchline celebrations that mirror the stands; Manolo González has lived Espanyol’s recent story as much as he has managed it. Once a bus driver juggling shifts with youth coaching, he worked his way through Catalunya’s lower leagues before guiding Espanyol back to La Liga and keeping them there against the odds.
Cultured Football cuts through transfer gossip and noise to share football writing worth your time. Each week, we pick five stories that inform, surprise, and remind you why the game matters.
In Case You Missed It Here’s Last Week’s Most Read: Russia no more: Uzbeks turn to Turkey
By John Duerden for How Football Explains Asia
For years Uzbekistan flirted with the big stage but fell short. That changed in 2025, with a Premier League signing, long-awaited World Cup qualification and, crucially, a new pathway opening in Turkey. The latter, thanks to a rule change in the Süper Lig that made Uzbek players highly sought after, has shifted the country’s football destiny. The story of a nation’s football awakening is only just beginning.
Turns out the ‘Unsalted Bread Rivalry’ goes all the way back to the 12th century, talk about holding a grudge. With Pisa finally back in Serie A after 34 years, it’s great to see this centuries old feud get a modern chapter. With them playing to a draw yesterday, it will be interesting to see what happens when they play again at Fiorentina in February.