Cultured Football #255
Classic Kit. Aarhus. Yellow Wall. George Raynor. Egyptian King.
How to make a stone-cold classic
By Tom Ritchie for Bundesletter — German football culture
It may be difficult to imagine now, but one of the most revered football shirts of all time was met with uncertainty on its release. Now considered a classic, in 1990 West Germany’s kit marked a move away from tradition, shaped as it was by an outsider’s perspective and emerging technology. For some, it was quite simply too much.
AGF Aarhus’ Story: What made the Danish “sleeping giant” suddenly wake up?
By Bergas Brillianto for Analytics FC
Aarhus has long seen itself as something bigger than its recent past; a club with memory but little to show for it. Now, despite lacking any obvious financial strength or star power, that gap is closing.
The Yellow Wall is Dortmund’s only real (glorious) tourist attraction
By Uli Hesse for Glory / Football 365
When you’re from Paris, people will often ask you about art, fashion and food. When you’re from Rome, you will regularly have to answer questions about landmarks, history or architecture. When you’re from London, conversations might turn to music, films or museums. But when you’re from Dortmund, there is only ever one thing non-locals are interested in – football.
The unlikely story of the first English manager to reach a World Cup final
By Chris Evans for The Set Pieces / The Guardian
In England, George Raynor struggled even to receive a reply when a job opened up. Abroad, he built one of international football’s most remarkable records, winning an Olympic gold and reaching a World Cup final. To this day, however, recognition at home has never followed.
The Egyptian King
By Dan Krishan for Dan Krishan
There are players you admire and players who come to define your life as a supporter. Mohamed Salah became the latter at Liverpool. Records explain part of his emotional pull, but not all of it. Now he is leaving, and with him goes a way of experiencing the game for a generation of fans.
Each week on Cultured Football we pick the five great football stories from the previous seven days.
In Case You Missed It Here’s Last Week’s Most Read: Everything Frank McCourt touches turns to crap
By Brendan Dentino for Out in Left
In modern football ownership, wealth often arrives with promises of revival and ambition. Yet the distance between money and stewardship can be vast. The career of Frank McCourt offers a stark example of that, where clubs become stages for financial ambition rather than sporting care.
Bonus Read: Botafogo on the brink: From South America’s champions to relegation candidates
[Nathan Joyes for The Copa Club]
Poorly though McCourt’s teams do, that is nothing compared to what John Textor seemingly does at every club he owns.
It’s wonderful to learn more about George Raynor. I’ve got Ashley Hyne’s book about him on my reading list. He’s another of the English coaches best known abroad, like Jimmy Hogan or Bob Houghton.
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